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The Mountains #1
Fire on the Mountain
Fresh out of college, Jake Landon’s heading to the mountains for a season as a forest ranger. A gap year before returning to school might give him enough time to sort out his residency and his sexuality—he’s deep in the closet and a complete rookie. Some crusty old partner who speaks three words a day won’t entice him.
Except his partner turns out to be Kurt Carlson: confident, competent, and experienced. He's also young, hot, friendly, and considers clothing optional when it’s just two guys in the wilderness.
Sharing a small cabin with this walking temptation is stressing Jake’s sanity—is he sending signals, or just being Kurt? How would Kurt react if he found out his new partner wants to start a fire of a different kind? Jake’s terrified—they have to live together for five months no matter what.
Enough sparks fly between the rangers to set the trees alight, but it takes a raging inferno to make Jake and Kurt admit to the heat between them.
Except his partner turns out to be Kurt Carlson: confident, competent, and experienced. He's also young, hot, friendly, and considers clothing optional when it’s just two guys in the wilderness.
Sharing a small cabin with this walking temptation is stressing Jake’s sanity—is he sending signals, or just being Kurt? How would Kurt react if he found out his new partner wants to start a fire of a different kind? Jake’s terrified—they have to live together for five months no matter what.
Enough sparks fly between the rangers to set the trees alight, but it takes a raging inferno to make Jake and Kurt admit to the heat between them.
215 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 1, 2009
27 people are currently reading
770 people want to read
About the author
P.D. Singer
59 books172 followersP.D. Singer lived in Colorado with her slightly bemused husband, one young adult, and seventy-nine pounds of pets. She was a big believer in research, first-hand if possible, so the reader can be quite certain PD skied down a mountain face-first, had been stepped on by rodeo horses, acquired a potato burn or two, and rethought a novel that included sky-diving.
When not writing, playing her fiddle, or walking the sheddiest member of the family, she could be found with a book in hand.
When not writing, playing her fiddle, or walking the sheddiest member of the family, she could be found with a book in hand.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 162 reviews
November 29, 2022
Epic fail. And it makes me sad to say so, because from a technical standpoint, Singer's writing is rock-solid. The mechanics are all in place: impeccable grammar and the ability to craft interesting sentences results in smooth, readable prose.
Unfortunately there's more to writing good fiction than just having the mechanics down. There's a need for some level of nuance, subtlety, and subtext. Without those... Well, reading this book was like being whacked upside the head with the clue stick, brutally and often.
The author wants the reader to understand that Jake is ATTRACTED to Kurt. Whack! That Jake LUSTS after him. Whack! That Jake can think of almost nothing BUT him. Whack! The result is that Jake's level of obsession with Kurt is ridiculously over-the-top. He doesn't come across as enamored or lovesick, but as pervy — and eventually downright creepy. By the time he's masturbating while secretly watching Kurt in the woods, there's a real stalker vibe going — like maybe Jake's a serial killer-in-training.
Well, at least that would have been an interesting direction for the story to go. Way more interesting than what we get, which includes a long day where the drama is focused on the fact that Jake has no clean underwear. NO CLEAN UNDERWEAR. Oh, the horror! THE HORROR! There's lots of page space devoted to this crisis.
Conflating drama out of nothingness is what this book is about. Faux drama, faux conflict, faux angst. Along the lines of: oh my god I just had my first-ever sexual experience so I need us to talk about our feelings but oh no we can't talk because there are people around us but we MUST TALK ABOUT OUR FEELINGS or I can't stand it but uh-oh now there's a forest fire which is trivial in comparison and its only significance is that now we CAN'T talk about our feelings and oh god I'm sure he hates me although there's no reason why he would I just made that up in order to feel all angsty and shit and now I need to run away from him but oh no maybe he'll run away from ME instead and if only we could TALK ABOUT OUR FEELINGS because that's what 22-year old guys like me CRAVE after having sex is to TALK ABOUT OUR FEEEEEELINGS and without that I am suffering oh look at me suffer —
There's no nuance anywhere. How do we know who the bad guys are? Because they're BAD. How bad are they? Why, they're so bad that even their manners are bad! You can identify the bad guys because they're so rude, the dastardly creatures. And those townie girls who are crushing on Kurt? They aren't merely flirtatious young women — no, they're aggressive and relentless eyelash-batting predators pushing themselves into men's personal space while staring at their crotches and insistently demanding to visit the men's cabins. And all this while on the job as a cashier at the grocery store. A scary place, that grocery store.
Okay, enough with the ranting already. It's not like I haven't read bad fiction before. But there's something so disappointing about reading bad fiction written by someone who seems to have the tools to write good fiction! Is sensitivity to nuance and tone something an author can learn? If so, PD Singer has the potential to write something better — so, so much better — than this book.
Unfortunately there's more to writing good fiction than just having the mechanics down. There's a need for some level of nuance, subtlety, and subtext. Without those... Well, reading this book was like being whacked upside the head with the clue stick, brutally and often.
The author wants the reader to understand that Jake is ATTRACTED to Kurt. Whack! That Jake LUSTS after him. Whack! That Jake can think of almost nothing BUT him. Whack! The result is that Jake's level of obsession with Kurt is ridiculously over-the-top. He doesn't come across as enamored or lovesick, but as pervy — and eventually downright creepy. By the time he's masturbating while secretly watching Kurt in the woods, there's a real stalker vibe going — like maybe Jake's a serial killer-in-training.
Well, at least that would have been an interesting direction for the story to go. Way more interesting than what we get, which includes a long day where the drama is focused on the fact that Jake has no clean underwear. NO CLEAN UNDERWEAR. Oh, the horror! THE HORROR! There's lots of page space devoted to this crisis.
Conflating drama out of nothingness is what this book is about. Faux drama, faux conflict, faux angst. Along the lines of: oh my god I just had my first-ever sexual experience so I need us to talk about our feelings but oh no we can't talk because there are people around us but we MUST TALK ABOUT OUR FEELINGS or I can't stand it but uh-oh now there's a forest fire which is trivial in comparison and its only significance is that now we CAN'T talk about our feelings and oh god I'm sure he hates me although there's no reason why he would I just made that up in order to feel all angsty and shit and now I need to run away from him but oh no maybe he'll run away from ME instead and if only we could TALK ABOUT OUR FEELINGS because that's what 22-year old guys like me CRAVE after having sex is to TALK ABOUT OUR FEEEEEELINGS and without that I am suffering oh look at me suffer —
There's no nuance anywhere. How do we know who the bad guys are? Because they're BAD. How bad are they? Why, they're so bad that even their manners are bad! You can identify the bad guys because they're so rude, the dastardly creatures. And those townie girls who are crushing on Kurt? They aren't merely flirtatious young women — no, they're aggressive and relentless eyelash-batting predators pushing themselves into men's personal space while staring at their crotches and insistently demanding to visit the men's cabins. And all this while on the job as a cashier at the grocery store. A scary place, that grocery store.
Okay, enough with the ranting already. It's not like I haven't read bad fiction before. But there's something so disappointing about reading bad fiction written by someone who seems to have the tools to write good fiction! Is sensitivity to nuance and tone something an author can learn? If so, PD Singer has the potential to write something better — so, so much better — than this book.
November 11, 2012
Sexy fire rangers, lovely scenery, a slow build up to a wonderful, tense and often painfully obvious attraction. A really good adventure and Jake and Kurt are gorgeous, hunky men working their way through a solid friendship first then thankfully seeing the light and becoming lovers so beautifully. Nicely paced and the writing is good, I enjoyed this sweet, erotic romance.
November 12, 2012
3.45*
I really liked the setting, the rangers in the mountains, the setting with the cabin, lake, forest ..different and interesting.
Jake is firmly in the closet and has decided to take a break from school and joins the rangers for a season, there he is partnered with Kurt.
There was a lot of action and drama, but not enough of the relationship building for my taste, that part sort of dragged, and then when it finally moved forward it was rushed and although it was probably realistic what was going through Jake's head, I'm not a fan of a lot of internal musing.
And a pet peeve of mine is the solo jerk-off scenes, I really really don't like those, and this one had way too many for me!
But, I can see how this one might actually appeal to a lot of people, since it really is a nice, calm sweet build up between the guys, I just didn't love it.
ETA all the girls chasing the rangers reminded me of all the ones in the movie An Officer and a Gentleman trying to get one of the boys..it's probably accurate, but still ..annoying !
I really liked the setting, the rangers in the mountains, the setting with the cabin, lake, forest ..different and interesting.
Jake is firmly in the closet and has decided to take a break from school and joins the rangers for a season, there he is partnered with Kurt.
There was a lot of action and drama, but not enough of the relationship building for my taste, that part sort of dragged, and then when it finally moved forward it was rushed and although it was probably realistic what was going through Jake's head, I'm not a fan of a lot of internal musing.
And a pet peeve of mine is the solo jerk-off scenes, I really really don't like those, and this one had way too many for me!
But, I can see how this one might actually appeal to a lot of people, since it really is a nice, calm sweet build up between the guys, I just didn't love it.
ETA all the girls chasing the rangers reminded me of all the ones in the movie An Officer and a Gentleman trying to get one of the boys..it's probably accurate, but still ..annoying !
August 10, 2010
I think my biggest problem with the story -- even if the writing is good -- is how slow things progress. I mean, I'm not one who loves wham-bam-sex, I like story with relationship building ... but this one, I don't know, probably because of all of those narrations about the fire fighting (though it's pretty good narration) before getting to the main course, it made me impatient. I like the two guys, but it's just too darn slow *sigh*.
November 18, 2009
Every once in a while I read a story that makes me appreciate destiny’s hand in love. Two people meet, be it on the job, on the street or at a store and fate has brought them together for a reason. It’s all the more interesting when those two people happen to be gay men...because all too often you can feel like you are the only gay person in this big old world.
Fire on the Mountain is one of those books. Jake and Kurt are fire rangers stationed together in the mountains of Colorado. The story is told from the POV of Jake who is in his early 20’s and gay. He’s out to himself but not out on the job. He slowly realizes he’s developing feelings for Kurt. He has no idea if Kurt is gay or not and he’s desperate not to screw up because it’s just the two of them stationed at this ranger’s cabin.
The slow building of Jake’s attraction to Kurt grabs you and makes you wish the best for him...you hope it turns out that Jake is “cut from the same cloth”. The steady pace of the story and Jake’s gradual coming out is fantastic. Being able to follow his thoughts as he struggles with his attraction, his insecurities and his desires really pulls you into the character and story.
One of the best things about this story is that these two talk. Jake vocalizes his insecurities about his inexperience in gay sex. It’s not your average “perfect” sex scene. They fumble and their fumbling only adds to the heat. It’s not often that you really feel the joy and shock a person experiences when they encounter a physical feeling for the first time. It’s not often (at least for me) in romance books that you read two characters, one novice and one a little more experienced, talking about sex in such a plain and honest way:
“...stutters to a stop to think of what to say next. ‘Buttholes are small. I don’t want to hurt you.’
‘Buttholes are stretchy. You won’t.’ He sounded confident, and I wanted to believe him.”
Moments like that put a smile on my face.
I loved this story and I highly, highly recommend that others read it. It’s a fun, sexy and believable story. There are some suspenseful forest fire scenes as well.
Fire on the Mountain is one of those books. Jake and Kurt are fire rangers stationed together in the mountains of Colorado. The story is told from the POV of Jake who is in his early 20’s and gay. He’s out to himself but not out on the job. He slowly realizes he’s developing feelings for Kurt. He has no idea if Kurt is gay or not and he’s desperate not to screw up because it’s just the two of them stationed at this ranger’s cabin.
The slow building of Jake’s attraction to Kurt grabs you and makes you wish the best for him...you hope it turns out that Jake is “cut from the same cloth”. The steady pace of the story and Jake’s gradual coming out is fantastic. Being able to follow his thoughts as he struggles with his attraction, his insecurities and his desires really pulls you into the character and story.
One of the best things about this story is that these two talk. Jake vocalizes his insecurities about his inexperience in gay sex. It’s not your average “perfect” sex scene. They fumble and their fumbling only adds to the heat. It’s not often that you really feel the joy and shock a person experiences when they encounter a physical feeling for the first time. It’s not often (at least for me) in romance books that you read two characters, one novice and one a little more experienced, talking about sex in such a plain and honest way:
“...stutters to a stop to think of what to say next. ‘Buttholes are small. I don’t want to hurt you.’
‘Buttholes are stretchy. You won’t.’ He sounded confident, and I wanted to believe him.”
Moments like that put a smile on my face.
I loved this story and I highly, highly recommend that others read it. It’s a fun, sexy and believable story. There are some suspenseful forest fire scenes as well.
November 17, 2011
4.5 stars
You are gay. You are a fire ranger who is basically in the middle of nowhere in the mountain area in Colorado. Worse, you are stationed in a small cabin with this sexy, smart man who is your 'mentor'. Two of you are in the confine of the cabin 24/7, with only once-per-week trip to a nearby small town. What would you do?
That's what Jake feels when he's stationed with Kurt. Everyday contacts with the other man has driven him crazy. Kurt is his mentor and his friend, but Jake really wants him to also be his lover. Unfortunately, Jake is aware that any move on his part might end in disastrous result. So, he keeps his feeling with himself, even though he feels the pang of jealousy whenever the town' single women flirt with Kurt. While Kurt has never stayed with any of those women, perhaps because of his kindness, he never flatly rejected them either. He's only avoiding them. Just when Jake almost cannot stand his urge anymore, a disaster happens. One that would change their lives together. That is, if they survive.
I really enjoyed reading this book, including the earlier part. The 'mundane' everyday interactions between them basically give us a glimpse of their lives through Jake's eyes. Some readers might feel bored that for almost half of the book nothing really happens. I, on the other hand, enjoy reading such simplicity. It builds the feeling of their closeness that is the foundation of what would happen on the second part. Kurt's first action toward Jake is a bit surprising, but I guess it's understandable. I also like the characters. Yes, they have their doubts, but they don't flee from the situation.
Such a sweet (without giving you toothache) story that give you a warm feeling (beside the fires in the story, of course).
You are gay. You are a fire ranger who is basically in the middle of nowhere in the mountain area in Colorado. Worse, you are stationed in a small cabin with this sexy, smart man who is your 'mentor'. Two of you are in the confine of the cabin 24/7, with only once-per-week trip to a nearby small town. What would you do?
That's what Jake feels when he's stationed with Kurt. Everyday contacts with the other man has driven him crazy. Kurt is his mentor and his friend, but Jake really wants him to also be his lover. Unfortunately, Jake is aware that any move on his part might end in disastrous result. So, he keeps his feeling with himself, even though he feels the pang of jealousy whenever the town' single women flirt with Kurt. While Kurt has never stayed with any of those women, perhaps because of his kindness, he never flatly rejected them either. He's only avoiding them. Just when Jake almost cannot stand his urge anymore, a disaster happens. One that would change their lives together. That is, if they survive.
I really enjoyed reading this book, including the earlier part. The 'mundane' everyday interactions between them basically give us a glimpse of their lives through Jake's eyes. Some readers might feel bored that for almost half of the book nothing really happens. I, on the other hand, enjoy reading such simplicity. It builds the feeling of their closeness that is the foundation of what would happen on the second part. Kurt's first action toward Jake is a bit surprising, but I guess it's understandable. I also like the characters. Yes, they have their doubts, but they don't flee from the situation.
Such a sweet (without giving you toothache) story that give you a warm feeling (beside the fires in the story, of course).
September 8, 2012
Opening Line: “Fires would be part of my summer-I’d know that even before ever getting up to the mountains.”
This was a fantastic little find (thanks D) containing not only a very satisfying friends to lovers romance but complete escapism due to J.D Singer’s vivid descriptions of the Colorado park setting and obvious research she’s put into forest firefighting. Her descriptions are so accurate that at times I was shaking my head, is this author a fire ranger in her spare time? We also get some absolutely breathtaking action scenes so that by the end I could smell the smoke and wanted to wash the ash from my clothes. Oh yeah and then there’s the man love…
After a disastrous weekend college road trip sends our narrator Jake back into the closet, all he can think about is getting the hell away from everyone and everything until he can sort out his sexuality. A six month stint as a forest ranger in the mountains of Colorado sounds just about perfect; beautiful scenery, loads of exercise, lakes full of trout and a quiet, judgement free life in an isolated cabin away from it all. Sure he’ll have to contend with directing the odd tourist or scout group back to town, maybe even risk his life with a potential forest fire but hello adventure.
Arriving in the tiny town of Meeker Colorado Jake (for whatever reason) expects to be partnered up with a “crusty old mountain man” for his first fire season instead he gets “the” Kurt Carlson; experienced, popular, self-confident (because he’s good at everything) and gorgeous. Kurt is everything Jake wishes he could be and he’s immediately drawn to him in a hero worship sort of way. This is one friendship he can’t risk ruining though so for now he’ll just keep his emerging feelings and dirty thoughts to himself. We the readers on the other hand get pagefulls of lusty angst and masturbation (not that I’m complaining)
The two become fast friends, filling their time (and a good early portion of the story) with the day to day routines of forest ranging and dealing with potential fire hazards. Because Kurt already has a couple years under his belt he takes on the role of mentor, teaching this rookie all he’ll need to know about fighting fires and living in the bush. This is when Fire On The Mountain takes on a Brokeback Mountain sort of quality; it’s just two men cut off from civilization, living in their own little world, completely reliant on each other. Of course both assume the other is straight, dancing around the obvious signs they’re each putting out until a life or death situation forces the truth to the surface. They want each other.
Their first time together is…. oh yeah, finally! And then *big sigh* as a subsequent forced separation tugs at your heart. Jake unable to sleep unless he gets into Kurt’s sleeping bag; remembering the missed opportunities, overanalyzing the relationship. His anticipation and even fear of seeing that person again was so relatable. Will he still feel the same? Or was it a onetime thing? “I wanted to believe that night was more than the product of fear and impending death. I didn’t want to be the last novelty before oblivion”.
This was a well written, engrossing story and I can’t wait to see where this series goes from here. I should mention that Singer has also included the short story INTO THE MOUNTAINS, which takes place two years prior and is told from Kurt’s POV. It’s an excellent addition to the story as a whole, tying the two together and giving us a look into Kurt’s somewhat obscure character (due to the Jake’s 1st person POV) It was nice to finally get a look into his head and learn why he had some of the fears he did, It also arcs us back to how he first became a Ranger. If you’re at all scared of heights though, look out, this is one exhilarating story. Damn is P.D Singer a rock climber too? Cheers. 311jb4.
*Originally reviewed for my friend D over on PANTS OFF REVIEWS http://pantsoffreviews.blogspot.com/ check it out :)
This was a fantastic little find (thanks D) containing not only a very satisfying friends to lovers romance but complete escapism due to J.D Singer’s vivid descriptions of the Colorado park setting and obvious research she’s put into forest firefighting. Her descriptions are so accurate that at times I was shaking my head, is this author a fire ranger in her spare time? We also get some absolutely breathtaking action scenes so that by the end I could smell the smoke and wanted to wash the ash from my clothes. Oh yeah and then there’s the man love…
After a disastrous weekend college road trip sends our narrator Jake back into the closet, all he can think about is getting the hell away from everyone and everything until he can sort out his sexuality. A six month stint as a forest ranger in the mountains of Colorado sounds just about perfect; beautiful scenery, loads of exercise, lakes full of trout and a quiet, judgement free life in an isolated cabin away from it all. Sure he’ll have to contend with directing the odd tourist or scout group back to town, maybe even risk his life with a potential forest fire but hello adventure.
Arriving in the tiny town of Meeker Colorado Jake (for whatever reason) expects to be partnered up with a “crusty old mountain man” for his first fire season instead he gets “the” Kurt Carlson; experienced, popular, self-confident (because he’s good at everything) and gorgeous. Kurt is everything Jake wishes he could be and he’s immediately drawn to him in a hero worship sort of way. This is one friendship he can’t risk ruining though so for now he’ll just keep his emerging feelings and dirty thoughts to himself. We the readers on the other hand get pagefulls of lusty angst and masturbation (not that I’m complaining)
The two become fast friends, filling their time (and a good early portion of the story) with the day to day routines of forest ranging and dealing with potential fire hazards. Because Kurt already has a couple years under his belt he takes on the role of mentor, teaching this rookie all he’ll need to know about fighting fires and living in the bush. This is when Fire On The Mountain takes on a Brokeback Mountain sort of quality; it’s just two men cut off from civilization, living in their own little world, completely reliant on each other. Of course both assume the other is straight, dancing around the obvious signs they’re each putting out until a life or death situation forces the truth to the surface. They want each other.
Their first time together is…. oh yeah, finally! And then *big sigh* as a subsequent forced separation tugs at your heart. Jake unable to sleep unless he gets into Kurt’s sleeping bag; remembering the missed opportunities, overanalyzing the relationship. His anticipation and even fear of seeing that person again was so relatable. Will he still feel the same? Or was it a onetime thing? “I wanted to believe that night was more than the product of fear and impending death. I didn’t want to be the last novelty before oblivion”.
This was a well written, engrossing story and I can’t wait to see where this series goes from here. I should mention that Singer has also included the short story INTO THE MOUNTAINS, which takes place two years prior and is told from Kurt’s POV. It’s an excellent addition to the story as a whole, tying the two together and giving us a look into Kurt’s somewhat obscure character (due to the Jake’s 1st person POV) It was nice to finally get a look into his head and learn why he had some of the fears he did, It also arcs us back to how he first became a Ranger. If you’re at all scared of heights though, look out, this is one exhilarating story. Damn is P.D Singer a rock climber too? Cheers. 311jb4.
*Originally reviewed for my friend D over on PANTS OFF REVIEWS http://pantsoffreviews.blogspot.com/ check it out :)
November 1, 2016
3.5 Stars
Jake Landon is deeply in the closet and doesn’t quite know how to get out of it. For years, hiding his sexuality has made him feel safer and less exposed. But when he joins the rangers to spend his summer fighting fires in the Colorado Rockies, the last thing he expects is to be assigned a partner as tempting as Kurt Carlson.
This story has a deliciously long slow-burn romance, and although Jake and Kurt come together in a spectacular fashion later in the book, most of the story is measured out with a growing friendship, lots of secret pining, and many (sometimes intense) moments that highlighted the everyday tasks and responsibilities of the boys in their roles as rangers.
I was also pleasantly surprised by the humour in this story; it was completely random and often awkward, but I was amused. The characters themselves had an interesting dynamic and sometimes the interactions were weird and uncomfortable, but I think that made it all the more realistic.
What I didn’t find realistic was some of the dialogue. I feel like they said each other’s names way too often for two guys who were alone in the woods together. I get that this was probably done to reiterate who was who to the reader, but we aren’t stupid and we can separate one person from the other when only two are involved. I was also a little turned off by some of the language used later in the book when the two finally got down and dirty. They used phrases which felt extremely juvenile and turned me off what was happening. Still, regardless of these dialogue issues, I really liked Jake and Kurt as a romantic pair.
The story was definitely engaging, particularly when it came to the day-to-day roles and responsibilities and the living conditions of the rangers themselves. It’s not something I’ve ever put much thought into before now, but this story opened my eyes up a fair bit. It seems like quite a scary and intense position to take on and I can’t help but admire the men and women who work in these types of environments on a regular basis.
Jake Landon is deeply in the closet and doesn’t quite know how to get out of it. For years, hiding his sexuality has made him feel safer and less exposed. But when he joins the rangers to spend his summer fighting fires in the Colorado Rockies, the last thing he expects is to be assigned a partner as tempting as Kurt Carlson.
This story has a deliciously long slow-burn romance, and although Jake and Kurt come together in a spectacular fashion later in the book, most of the story is measured out with a growing friendship, lots of secret pining, and many (sometimes intense) moments that highlighted the everyday tasks and responsibilities of the boys in their roles as rangers.
I was also pleasantly surprised by the humour in this story; it was completely random and often awkward, but I was amused. The characters themselves had an interesting dynamic and sometimes the interactions were weird and uncomfortable, but I think that made it all the more realistic.
What I didn’t find realistic was some of the dialogue. I feel like they said each other’s names way too often for two guys who were alone in the woods together. I get that this was probably done to reiterate who was who to the reader, but we aren’t stupid and we can separate one person from the other when only two are involved. I was also a little turned off by some of the language used later in the book when the two finally got down and dirty. They used phrases which felt extremely juvenile and turned me off what was happening. Still, regardless of these dialogue issues, I really liked Jake and Kurt as a romantic pair.
The story was definitely engaging, particularly when it came to the day-to-day roles and responsibilities and the living conditions of the rangers themselves. It’s not something I’ve ever put much thought into before now, but this story opened my eyes up a fair bit. It seems like quite a scary and intense position to take on and I can’t help but admire the men and women who work in these types of environments on a regular basis.
August 28, 2012
I really enjoyed this book. Jake and Kurt were adorable. Yeah, the story was slow to progress but I actually loved the slow burn of friends-to-lovers. There really isn't much angst or any major obstacles other than them coming out of the closet to each other. The sexual tension was smoldering and the sex was scorching!!
I was a bit disappointed at the abrupt ending...until I figured out it was a series. Then I was a little more disappointed. And since I am not a huge fan of same couple sequels I will pretend those don't exist...for now.
At the end, the was a short story titled Into the Mountains, which I believe is about Kurt and a previous bad "experience". I chose not to read it.
I was a bit disappointed at the abrupt ending...until I figured out it was a series. Then I was a little more disappointed. And since I am not a huge fan of same couple sequels I will pretend those don't exist...for now.
At the end, the was a short story titled Into the Mountains, which I believe is about Kurt and a previous bad "experience". I chose not to read it.
February 27, 2016
Overall book rating: 4 Stars
Audio book: Narrator - FinnSterling - 3 Stars
Book cover: 3 Stars
This book made me giggle. I think I was in the mood for something like this it was sweet and funny in a weird way.
Audio book: Narrator - FinnSterling - 3 Stars
Book cover: 3 Stars
This book made me giggle. I think I was in the mood for something like this it was sweet and funny in a weird way.
June 29, 2012
Smokin' hot m/m romance about two guys fighting forest fires together in the Rockies. I enjoyed the added flashback short story in this edition.
November 1, 2015
More like 3.5 stars
Pretty sweet story but a little too much inner-monologue and self-doubt coming from Jake.
The forest fire-fighting stuff was entertaining and informative.
Pretty sweet story but a little too much inner-monologue and self-doubt coming from Jake.
The forest fire-fighting stuff was entertaining and informative.
Read
September 1, 2009One of the complaints I heard most from gay romance authors is that the genre often doesn't respect the reality. In today time it's not so easy to be gay or to come out, and all those romances where people are out and proud, and happy and comfortable, are not realistic. Coming out is still an issue for most gay men, and often to gather the courage to do it takes years and you arrive well over 20 years old without having done so.
In Fire on the Mountain there is a similar situation; Jake is the new arrive on a mountain ranger station and he is paired with Kurt to patrol a small patch of mountain. They have to spend six months in a small cabin, most of the time alone. Jake is gay but he has not yet done coming out. More, he is scared to do that. All his sexual experience amounts to some mutual strokes with one night stands when he was still in the city. Now he has a big crush on his fellow fire ranger Kurt, but he fears to let it knows since if the feeling is not mutual, he has to still spend six months with the man. And so Jake is suffering the pain of hell being unwillingly teased by Kurt and by the forced proximity. But maybe it's not so unwillingly: in Kurt's action I read something that makes me thing that he is teasing Jake for real, and with a clear purpose in mind.
The story is basically simple; what I find most interesting is, like I said, the process of coming out of a twenty something young man, Jake, and all his insecurities. He is not experienced, everything is unknown and scaring. Even the physical aspect of the thing, how to have sex, what he wants or what his partner doesn't want, is something to be worried about; not to give too much details, but for example Jake is worried about his measures (let us say that he is bigger than usual), and he has never had the chance to be encouraged by someone like him.
On this perspective, the story is pretty sweet, Jake is apparently a big and strong man, but inside he is still a novice. He is not able to speak his desires not since he is shamed, but since he exactly doesn't understand them. On the other hand, I didn't rightly framed Kurt: I have the feeling that he is more experienced, and we know that he is not at his first sexual experience with a man, but still, like Jake, more than face the matter full front, he tries to walk around it. If not for a dangerous experience they share, I don't know if these two men would have ever found the courage to come clear to each other. This is exactly what I was saying at first: coming out is not so simple.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B003156QBS/?...
In Fire on the Mountain there is a similar situation; Jake is the new arrive on a mountain ranger station and he is paired with Kurt to patrol a small patch of mountain. They have to spend six months in a small cabin, most of the time alone. Jake is gay but he has not yet done coming out. More, he is scared to do that. All his sexual experience amounts to some mutual strokes with one night stands when he was still in the city. Now he has a big crush on his fellow fire ranger Kurt, but he fears to let it knows since if the feeling is not mutual, he has to still spend six months with the man. And so Jake is suffering the pain of hell being unwillingly teased by Kurt and by the forced proximity. But maybe it's not so unwillingly: in Kurt's action I read something that makes me thing that he is teasing Jake for real, and with a clear purpose in mind.
The story is basically simple; what I find most interesting is, like I said, the process of coming out of a twenty something young man, Jake, and all his insecurities. He is not experienced, everything is unknown and scaring. Even the physical aspect of the thing, how to have sex, what he wants or what his partner doesn't want, is something to be worried about; not to give too much details, but for example Jake is worried about his measures (let us say that he is bigger than usual), and he has never had the chance to be encouraged by someone like him.
On this perspective, the story is pretty sweet, Jake is apparently a big and strong man, but inside he is still a novice. He is not able to speak his desires not since he is shamed, but since he exactly doesn't understand them. On the other hand, I didn't rightly framed Kurt: I have the feeling that he is more experienced, and we know that he is not at his first sexual experience with a man, but still, like Jake, more than face the matter full front, he tries to walk around it. If not for a dangerous experience they share, I don't know if these two men would have ever found the courage to come clear to each other. This is exactly what I was saying at first: coming out is not so simple.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B003156QBS/?...
September 1, 2016
DNF at 17%.
I honestly couldn't push myself to finish this book. I didn't care for the narrator and had a very hard time connecting in any way to the story.
February 7, 2017
True rating: Wavering between a 4.25 to 4.5 ... I need to mull this one over and I'll explain. Give me a day or two to collect my thoughts and this is one book I won't forget to review. I promise!!
Note: Though I'll probably review tonight. Oh and read my updates, they are fantastic review markers :-)!!
Now I am off to read the 2nd book! I'm really into their story and cannot wait to find out what's next for these lovebirds :-)!!
Definitely very recommended :-)!!
P.S. I'll be purchasing the Bundle for this series!!
Note: Though I'll probably review tonight. Oh and read my updates, they are fantastic review markers :-)!!
Now I am off to read the 2nd book! I'm really into their story and cannot wait to find out what's next for these lovebirds :-)!!
Definitely very recommended :-)!!
P.S. I'll be purchasing the Bundle for this series!!
June 8, 2012
I liked the story and the writing was good, but for me it seemed a little to slow to move the story along and I found myself wanting to skim through parts. Kurt and Jake were likeable characters, but there was a lot of inner dialog which seemed to take over too much for me.
December 2, 2012
I really enjoyed this book, the only reason it didn't get five stars is that the ending was rushed then cut off.
December 28, 2012
3.5 stars - This was a pretty interesting adventure romance about Jake, fresh out of college but still deep in the closet, who signs up for a six-month stint as a forest ranger since he thinks being stuck in the woods watching out for fires will solve his problems of (not) dealing with being gay, especially since he’ll probably be partnered with some Grizzly Adams old man who he won’t be tempted by at all. But Fate says, “Think again!” and his partner is the young, experienced ranger Kurt, who is also super hot, and Jake is questioning his fool-proof plan, and wondering how long he can last until his secret is out.
What I liked: Knowing nothing about rangers and what they need to do to fight forest fires, I really dug all the information about Jake and Kurt’s work, and Singer does a great job here providing consistent details to set the scene and their actions, never forgetting what clothing they need, the supplies they have to carry, and what steps they take to protect the woods as well as themselves. It was neat to read about.
I also liked Jake and Kurt, and their slow evolution from colleagues to friends to lovers was nice to read. They’re also a good “equal partnership” couple where one isn’t falling into a set role, but they both support each other, protect each other, and are open and very willing to switch things up in the bedroom (or the outside, as things seems to be.)
What was harder for me: People have mentioned the slow pace before, and it is slow, but what worked less for me were some overall pacing issues and Jake’s over-ruminations.
For the pacing, there’s a big climatic fire about half-way through the story, which leads to things, and then there’s a slow unspooling as our MCs get together. The pacing never really picked up after the fire though, and I kept thinking that maybe something else exciting would happen, something “post-coitus,” but it didn’t, and the book (DSP’s release from this year) ends at a little over 80%. The rest of the book is a short story set two year’s prior that shows what led to Kurt joining the rangers. I wish there had been something else to help pick up the pacing—an action or event outside of the sex, which I was a little bored by, and the epilogue was nice, but very short and because it was coming around the 80% mark, I didn’t really realize it was the epilogue until it was over.
Jake’s ruminations also really slowed the pace down. That boy was a thinker, and he spun around on the same conflict and worry for a long time unless that was replaced by a new worry, and he thought about that for a while. Around the 30% mark, as he internally lamented about his attraction to Kurt and how he was worried that if Kurt found out about him, that he’s be rejected (or worse), I was left thinking, “Jake, sweetie, I’ve been with you the entire book. I fully 100% understand your core conflict. You don’t need to tell me about it again.” After the fire at the midway point, and he started to over-ruminate about his worries that related to that, I started to skim until the next action piece or dialogue. So, I wish some of the writing there had been tightened up.
So overall, I thought parts of this were really interesting, the fire part was especially riveting, and I wished more action scenes had been included to help keep the pacing up. I know this is the beginning of a series, and even though I had some issues with this book, I am interested in checking out the sequels, especially since I hear the recent sequel Blood on the Mountain is pretty exciting. My only hope is that Jake’s over-thinking mind might be tightened up a bit by then.
What I liked: Knowing nothing about rangers and what they need to do to fight forest fires, I really dug all the information about Jake and Kurt’s work, and Singer does a great job here providing consistent details to set the scene and their actions, never forgetting what clothing they need, the supplies they have to carry, and what steps they take to protect the woods as well as themselves. It was neat to read about.
I also liked Jake and Kurt, and their slow evolution from colleagues to friends to lovers was nice to read. They’re also a good “equal partnership” couple where one isn’t falling into a set role, but they both support each other, protect each other, and are open and very willing to switch things up in the bedroom (or the outside, as things seems to be.)
What was harder for me: People have mentioned the slow pace before, and it is slow, but what worked less for me were some overall pacing issues and Jake’s over-ruminations.
For the pacing, there’s a big climatic fire about half-way through the story, which leads to things, and then there’s a slow unspooling as our MCs get together. The pacing never really picked up after the fire though, and I kept thinking that maybe something else exciting would happen, something “post-coitus,” but it didn’t, and the book (DSP’s release from this year) ends at a little over 80%. The rest of the book is a short story set two year’s prior that shows what led to Kurt joining the rangers. I wish there had been something else to help pick up the pacing—an action or event outside of the sex, which I was a little bored by, and the epilogue was nice, but very short and because it was coming around the 80% mark, I didn’t really realize it was the epilogue until it was over.
Jake’s ruminations also really slowed the pace down. That boy was a thinker, and he spun around on the same conflict and worry for a long time unless that was replaced by a new worry, and he thought about that for a while. Around the 30% mark, as he internally lamented about his attraction to Kurt and how he was worried that if Kurt found out about him, that he’s be rejected (or worse), I was left thinking, “Jake, sweetie, I’ve been with you the entire book. I fully 100% understand your core conflict. You don’t need to tell me about it again.” After the fire at the midway point, and he started to over-ruminate about his worries that related to that, I started to skim until the next action piece or dialogue. So, I wish some of the writing there had been tightened up.
So overall, I thought parts of this were really interesting, the fire part was especially riveting, and I wished more action scenes had been included to help keep the pacing up. I know this is the beginning of a series, and even though I had some issues with this book, I am interested in checking out the sequels, especially since I hear the recent sequel Blood on the Mountain is pretty exciting. My only hope is that Jake’s over-thinking mind might be tightened up a bit by then.
February 10, 2010
I originally got this book because Jenre’s Well Read raved about the sequel and thus prompting me to read the first book in the series. While I may not have enjoyed this offering as much as Jen did, there are some interesting aspects to the book. The fire fighting depiction is really stunning in detail and authenticity, which helps the book since the romance aspect is rather weak and diluted. The setting and strong sense of work in the fire scenes kept the book interesting, although more time and attention to developing the characters and the romance would have helped the book.
The book opens with a scene of Jake and Kurt fighting a mild fire and preventing it from spreading. Once the last embers are out, Jake struggles with his attraction to Kurt and sets up the pace and plot of the book. Told in first person from Jake’s POV, Jake and Kurt are fire fighters and spend the time in the book with Jake fighting his attraction while working alongside Kurt at their job. The story goes into extensive detail about their job as forest rangers and introduces multiple life threatening harrowing fires they must tirelessly work to put out. This keeps the two men mostly busy and any down time is spent with Jake masturbating about Kurt. There is only one sex scene at the very end, a gratuitous and unnecessary scene but without it there would only be the numerous masturbation scenes of Jake’s.
The setting is similarly well developed and the crisp wind and mild temperatures of the time come across very well. This helps keep the first half of the book interesting and entertaining even while the connection between the two men stutters and develops incredibly slowly. Although the story gives tremendous detail about fire fighting, the actual characters are not nearly as thorough. There is one comment about Jake being a forest ranger in between school but why did he choose that particular job? Is there a background or training needed? What is his family like and his history? What experiences have led him to be the way he is and shaped who he is? None of these questions are answered and I left both characters lacked depth from their surface characterization. Jake and Kurt appear to simply exist in the time and place of the actions and events in the book, even with the vague reference to Kurt having been hurt in the past, without the much needed context. Additionally Jake’s virginal status is mentioned numerous times but the reasons are vague and indistinct.
By about halfway through the book I was getting bored and struggled to finish the last half as the men are separated for most of it. The attack of conscience Jake has and how he convinces himself his feelings for Kurt are unwelcome lingers on slightly too long. His inexperience forgives part of the extended angst and Kurt’s actions clearly show the truth, so this angst ended up being too much instead of just right. This combined with the too many solo masturbation scenes which had me skimming until the story moved on.
The writing is decent and really the best parts are the fire fighting. If you’ve never read a book that uses such intimate knowledge affectively, this may hold your attention and give a fascinating view of a setting and job not often well depicted. The immature and inexperienced Jake wears slightly as a first person narrator and showing more of Kurt’s personality would have improved the story, as well as a tighter connection. However clearly reader opinion will vary and if nothing else, I can recommend the book for the descriptive quality, which is higher than a good number of books offer.
January 1, 2011
Though each book in this series can stand alone, it's hard for me to separate them into individual stories, because they're so inter-woven. The characters become deeper and more 'real' with each edition, but that doesn't by any means indicate that they're not already very real from Page One of Book One. the whole series is like a layer cake, with each layer adding something you didn't consider missing, but yet enhances the whole. The author doesn't 'talk down' to her audience. Have you ever read one of those stories where you can tell the author did a ton of research on their subject and couldn't wait to spoon-feed all their newfound knowledge to the reader? This is the polar opposite of that. PD brings you into this world, shows you around, introduces you to everyone, and invites you to follow along and watch as the various lives and circumstances inter-twine and play out.
There is action, there is adventure, there is mystery, peril, tons of love and some really hot romance. The plots make sense, with no ankle-wrenching holes for the reader to fall into. The characters are realistically flawed--some of them all the more loveable for it, and some not so much. This is a series I hope just keeps going.
There is action, there is adventure, there is mystery, peril, tons of love and some really hot romance. The plots make sense, with no ankle-wrenching holes for the reader to fall into. The characters are realistically flawed--some of them all the more loveable for it, and some not so much. This is a series I hope just keeps going.
August 9, 2013
This is a slowly-building romance between Jake, a young college guy doing a short-term job as a fire fighter in the Colorado Rockies, and Kurt, the slightly older and more experienced ranger he's teamed with. There is a lot of sexual tension which lasts through much of the book, and some nicely heated scenes once the tension is resolved.
The descriptive atmosphere of this one is well done, with details of the guys' mountain life that make the situation vivid. There are some nice little moments of humor, and the angst of attracted-to-the-straight-guy isn't overdone, although it lasts a long time. The romance arc is fairly predictable, but the adventure plot kept me reading along.
My edition included a nice little short story at the end, that gave a lot of insight into Kurt's viewpoint. Although it happens earlier in time, I think it would be a mistake to read it before the novel. It serves well as a look back at a formative event for Kurt. I enjoyed getting to know him better, since the novel is exclusively from Jake's POV, and in some ways Kurt was the more interesting guy. The story was a nice bonus.
The descriptive atmosphere of this one is well done, with details of the guys' mountain life that make the situation vivid. There are some nice little moments of humor, and the angst of attracted-to-the-straight-guy isn't overdone, although it lasts a long time. The romance arc is fairly predictable, but the adventure plot kept me reading along.
My edition included a nice little short story at the end, that gave a lot of insight into Kurt's viewpoint. Although it happens earlier in time, I think it would be a mistake to read it before the novel. It serves well as a look back at a formative event for Kurt. I enjoyed getting to know him better, since the novel is exclusively from Jake's POV, and in some ways Kurt was the more interesting guy. The story was a nice bonus.
December 29, 2015
Die Geschichte von Jake und Kurt ist eine wundervolle und fast gänzlich ruhige Story um das Suchen und Finden zweier Männer in einem nicht gerade ungefährlichen Job, der den beiden auch ordentlich Feuer unterm Arsch macht und das im wahrsten Sinne des Wortes.
Ich habe das Lesen sehr genossen, auch wenn ich mir zwischendurch die Haare raufte, weil die beiden so offensichtlich umeinander herumschlichen, das wäre selbst einem Blinden aufgefallen. Nur Jake ist planlos, dabei sind Kurts Annäherungsversuche alles andere als subtil. Ich sage nur: geklaute Unterwäsche. Aber Jake ist völlig unerfahren und das merkt man auch, denn er macht sich unzähligen Gedanken, ob Kurt nun Signale sendet oder vielleicht doch nicht, bis es am Ende ein Waldbrand ist, der endlich Schwung in das Ganze bringt.
Was mir ein bisschen fehlte, war mehr Hintergrund zu den beiden, das kam am Ende so holterdipolta, vor allem bei Kurt.
Trotzdem, die Story ist wirklich schön zu lesen, ich kann sie nur empfehlen.
Ich habe das Lesen sehr genossen, auch wenn ich mir zwischendurch die Haare raufte, weil die beiden so offensichtlich umeinander herumschlichen, das wäre selbst einem Blinden aufgefallen. Nur Jake ist planlos, dabei sind Kurts Annäherungsversuche alles andere als subtil. Ich sage nur: geklaute Unterwäsche. Aber Jake ist völlig unerfahren und das merkt man auch, denn er macht sich unzähligen Gedanken, ob Kurt nun Signale sendet oder vielleicht doch nicht, bis es am Ende ein Waldbrand ist, der endlich Schwung in das Ganze bringt.
Was mir ein bisschen fehlte, war mehr Hintergrund zu den beiden, das kam am Ende so holterdipolta, vor allem bei Kurt.
Trotzdem, die Story ist wirklich schön zu lesen, ich kann sie nur empfehlen.
February 3, 2010
4.5 stars as I've only read it once so far. I've been saving this one for a while. I knew it would be good and I wanted to savour it properly. It was well worth the wait. The detailed background of fighting forest fires in the Colorado Rockies is built naturally through rookie ranger Jake's eyes. The slow build-up as the relationship between Jake and his work partner Kurt deepens was beautifully done. Jake's worries and fears are real and understandable. And the ending was exactly right for the couple.
What makes it even better is that I don't have to wait for the sequel, Snow on the Mountain, to be published! I will wait a little longer to read it though so that I don't have a big gap before the third novel, Fall Down the Mountain, is released. Although there is the Christmas short featuring Jake and Kurt to help fill the wait.
What makes it even better is that I don't have to wait for the sequel, Snow on the Mountain, to be published! I will wait a little longer to read it though so that I don't have a big gap before the third novel, Fall Down the Mountain, is released. Although there is the Christmas short featuring Jake and Kurt to help fill the wait.
December 31, 2013
Another sweet, sweet love story - two guys, stuck together in a ranger's cabin on a hill dance around each other for the summer, but finally manage to figure out that they both want the same thing: each other...
Good, if a little predictable plot, great landscape descriptions that really put me right next to Kurt and Jake into the colorado mountains. A tad over-angsty with Jake's 1st person POV narration. Smooth and enjoyable writing and a wonderful, if a bit self-purposeful happy end. I can recommend it.
ETA: Reread it just now and bumped the rating up for the sheer enjoyment of this story. Can't fathom anymore what bothered me about it last time around.
Good, if a little predictable plot, great landscape descriptions that really put me right next to Kurt and Jake into the colorado mountains. A tad over-angsty with Jake's 1st person POV narration. Smooth and enjoyable writing and a wonderful, if a bit self-purposeful happy end. I can recommend it.
ETA: Reread it just now and bumped the rating up for the sheer enjoyment of this story. Can't fathom anymore what bothered me about it last time around.
December 27, 2012
I loved this book the first time, and even more this time. Possibly because this time I read the new, improved edition. But it also could be that it gets better with rereads, as the very best books are wont to do. So while I rated it 4 stars in 2010, it's 4.5 stars in 2012.
I loved how very nearly perfect Kurt has just enough flaws to keep him from being insufferable. And I like Jake and enjoy seeing the world through his eyes, painful though that can be at times.
I also really enjoyed finally getting to see what had happened to Kurt in Yosemite. It gave me a much deeper understanding and appreciation of him, and of what Jake means to him.
I loved how very nearly perfect Kurt has just enough flaws to keep him from being insufferable. And I like Jake and enjoy seeing the world through his eyes, painful though that can be at times.
I also really enjoyed finally getting to see what had happened to Kurt in Yosemite. It gave me a much deeper understanding and appreciation of him, and of what Jake means to him.
March 17, 2013
A fabulous story when you want something light and entertaining with a bit of excitement and a happy ending.
Two gorgeous young men, spending months together, pretty much isolated in the national park. One has had a bad experience and is looking to hide his sexuality. The other is totally gorgeous - blonde, buff and rides a motorcycle!
Jake lusts after Kurt and finds it hard to control his physical responses to the man but remains very much in the closet. Kurt doesn't make it easy, providing lots of temptation. It takes an extreme situation to force them to be honest about their desires.
Two gorgeous young men, spending months together, pretty much isolated in the national park. One has had a bad experience and is looking to hide his sexuality. The other is totally gorgeous - blonde, buff and rides a motorcycle!
Jake lusts after Kurt and finds it hard to control his physical responses to the man but remains very much in the closet. Kurt doesn't make it easy, providing lots of temptation. It takes an extreme situation to force them to be honest about their desires.
July 11, 2010
What set this apart from other books I've read of this genre is that I actually learned a thing or two along the way. The story never dragged or raced, but was perfectly paced.
The scenes were described in adequate detail to be pictured clearly, while not falling prey to over-wordiness. While some books I've read toss two totally unsuitable people together and tie them neatly, but unbelievably together, the relationship between Jake and Kurt never once taxed credibility-- I could really see them as a couple.
The scenes were described in adequate detail to be pictured clearly, while not falling prey to over-wordiness. While some books I've read toss two totally unsuitable people together and tie them neatly, but unbelievably together, the relationship between Jake and Kurt never once taxed credibility-- I could really see them as a couple.
April 23, 2017
3.8 Stars
Slow-building romance but sexy once their attraction catches fire. (See what I did there?) Yes, some of it was predicable and some of it was left a little unresolved - not a cliffhanger but enough of a tease that I'm definitely interested in the next one...
Slow-building romance but sexy once their attraction catches fire. (See what I did there?) Yes, some of it was predicable and some of it was left a little unresolved - not a cliffhanger but enough of a tease that I'm definitely interested in the next one...
July 20, 2012
This review was posted at Under the Covers
This is an emotional story about how two young men deal with their feelings and attractions, how they deal with being gay and how they deal with falling in love.
Landon is young and wasn't expecting to be attracted to his assigned partner when he signed up as a ranger. He's supposed to spend the summer in a cabin in the middle of the wilderness and patrol for fires. While in the forest, alone with his partner Kurt, who happens to be a vet at this position and is showing him the ropes, he can't help but feel an attraction to him.
It's so sweet to see Landon try to hide his attraction thinking Kurt was not gay and would not appreciate any advances, but then it was great for them to build their relationship without having sex come in the middle of it right from the start. Being in close quarters with each other they got to know each other, even flirt a bit. It takes a life or death moment to get these two to open up about their sexual attraction and then they don't hold anything back.
It was a sexy and fun and sweet story and I even enjoyed the short story at the end about Kurt's past and the ranger who made an impact on HIS life.
This is an emotional story about how two young men deal with their feelings and attractions, how they deal with being gay and how they deal with falling in love.
Landon is young and wasn't expecting to be attracted to his assigned partner when he signed up as a ranger. He's supposed to spend the summer in a cabin in the middle of the wilderness and patrol for fires. While in the forest, alone with his partner Kurt, who happens to be a vet at this position and is showing him the ropes, he can't help but feel an attraction to him.
It's so sweet to see Landon try to hide his attraction thinking Kurt was not gay and would not appreciate any advances, but then it was great for them to build their relationship without having sex come in the middle of it right from the start. Being in close quarters with each other they got to know each other, even flirt a bit. It takes a life or death moment to get these two to open up about their sexual attraction and then they don't hold anything back.
It was a sexy and fun and sweet story and I even enjoyed the short story at the end about Kurt's past and the ranger who made an impact on HIS life.
July 29, 2011
This was my first experience of PD Singer's writing, and I was very pleasantly surprised by the beauty of her descriptive detail. She made the forest park setting come alive with vivid description, but never so much as to become overwhelming. The forest fire scene was particularly dramatic and by far the most memorable scene of the book - I think that will remain seared into my memory for a long time.
Kurt and Jake are both young men and this shows in a certain lack of depth to their characterisations and emotional immaturity. Some reviewers have seen these things as a problem, but for me it fit well with the age of our twenty-two year old narrator. The plot didn't hold any big surprises, but as it was more of a rites-of-passage story, I didn't mind the predictability of this. There was a nice easy chemistry between the two of them, and they interacted in a suitably blokeish manner at all times.
If you enjoy reading about younger, virginal characters and relish a bit of descriptive detail, I don't think you can far wrong with this one. Highly recommended.
Kurt and Jake are both young men and this shows in a certain lack of depth to their characterisations and emotional immaturity. Some reviewers have seen these things as a problem, but for me it fit well with the age of our twenty-two year old narrator. The plot didn't hold any big surprises, but as it was more of a rites-of-passage story, I didn't mind the predictability of this. There was a nice easy chemistry between the two of them, and they interacted in a suitably blokeish manner at all times.
If you enjoy reading about younger, virginal characters and relish a bit of descriptive detail, I don't think you can far wrong with this one. Highly recommended.
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