Not for me.

How can an author pack so much feeling into only 100 pages?

I've always said I don't like novellas because I don't have time to get to know and bond with the characters. I now have to stop saying that. Keira Andrews made me a convert.

There is nothing missing in this short story. I met and got to know Jack and Kin. Two strong, capable men. Each with lingering aftershocks of trauma in their past. While we only see a few days of their time together, I'd still call this a slow-burn.

We are allowed glimpses into the turmoil they each feel from their pasts. But it isn't until they share the details with each other that we also learn them. The men come together naturally, with emotion and the heartwarming touch of a another's empathy.

I loved reading about it.

Review ARC kindly provided by IndiGo Marketing & Designs

Most people he met fit into neat little boxes in his mind, but Captain Jack Turner seemed determined to messily squeeze into the books and crannies.

I really like novellas, but some stories just aren't meant to fit into 100-ish pages. This is one of them, imo. I really enjoyed this story of an army captain with PTSD falling for the ranger guiding him across the Arctic, but I really felt like it should have been... less dense? Or way longer. This has all of the major story beats of a 300-page novel, but just very condensed. I felt like I was watching a speedrun of a videogame. And the fact that it happens within two days made it even worse. Not that this is insta-love; it was at least realistic in that aspect. Things just happened super quickly, and by the time I was warming up to the characters, the book was over. But despite that, I still had a good time with this. I love a good tropey read, and this was forced proximity, cuddling for warmth, sharing a bed (sleeping bag)... all the greatest hits. There were some things about cold weather/frostbite that uhhh IDK if they were accurate, but hey, it's a romance. I'm willing to buy what you're selling. Also not sure about the First Nations rep, but it's not something I can comment on.

Listened to the audiobook as read by Joel Leslie, who is and remains one of my faves. Andrews writes really good romances, and I loved this for the survival aspect and the hurt/comfort. I just wish it was longer.

Content warnings:

Spoiler

war, bombings, death of loved ones, PTSD

.

Merged review:

Most people he met fit into neat little boxes in his mind, but Captain Jack Turner seemed determined to messily squeeze into the books and crannies.

I really like novellas, but some stories just aren't meant to fit into 100-ish pages. This is one of them, imo. I really enjoyed this story of an army captain with PTSD falling for the ranger guiding him across the Arctic, but I really felt like it should have been... less dense? Or way longer. This has all of the major story beats of a 300-page novel, but just very condensed. I felt like I was watching a speedrun of a videogame. And the fact that it happens within two days made it even worse. Not that this is insta-love; it was at least realistic in that aspect. Things just happened super quickly, and by the time I was warming up to the characters, the book was over. But despite that, I still had a good time with this. I love a good tropey read, and this was forced proximity, cuddling for warmth, sharing a bed (sleeping bag)... all the greatest hits. There were some things about cold weather/frostbite that uhhh IDK if they were accurate, but hey, it's a romance. I'm willing to buy what you're selling. Also not sure about the First Nations rep, but it's not something I can comment on.

Listened to the audiobook as read by Joel Leslie, who is and remains one of my faves. Andrews writes really good romances, and I loved this for the survival aspect and the hurt/comfort. I just wish it was longer.

Content warnings:

Spoiler

war, bombings, death of loved ones, PTSD

.

I really like this author and this novella did not disappoint! I was able to get this book free through the monthly Kindle Lending Library, but I would have been more than okay paying for this one.

I thought it was really interesting that it took place in far northern Canada, which isn't something I've read before. Great characters, wonderful connection, and a satisfying conclusion.

[3.5] when life gets so busy, you don’t even time to play the daily wordle