What do you say about a book where the only people who behave like actual adults are 8 and 18 years old?
Let’s start with the things that drew me to this book: the author is Keira Andrews, who’s a staple in the mm genre. While rarely getting me to rate her with 5 stars, her books are on the good side.
Then there’s the narration: you can’t go wrong with Greg Boudreaux, and the audio was (still) included in my audible subscription. So there’s that.
And for the most part, I actually thought I might end up rating it 5 stars: there’s Jason, a single 25yo father to an 8 yo daughter, Maggie. Maggie LOVES everything involving nature, be that collecting rocks, hiking, knowing everything about wildlife - you name it, and she either knows it or she’s keen on knowing about it. What better vacation than to go camping in Montana?
Ben is a 41yo ranger there, who still hasn’t moved on after breaking up with his ex 2 years prior (who’s also his boss, but thankfully that’s not really the focus here). And for some reason, Jason immediately catches Ben’s attention, and he starts trying to find out if Jason is gay. And if he’s interested in more.
Jason IS gay, but not knowingly - Maggie is the result of an high school “experiment” with his best friend, and his entire focus since then is his daughter (Maggie’s mom died early on).
So yeah. Gay awakening and all that.
Only that there’s a killer in the loose in the woods, and said killer takes Maggie hostage.
And that part I loved (not that he took her hostage ofc, but how it was written). Jason’s anguish, his intense, sometimes irrational focus on getting his daughter back, that part I couldn’t stop listening to. Also the way he turned to Ben, desperate to have someone to lift the pressure and ease the burden., felt completely natural.
I have children, and I would go through hell for them. So yeah. Loved it, and could relate.
The part AFTER the rescue though 🙄 OMG. Jason’s thoughts and acting was incredibly immature. Hell, his daughter and his 18 year old brother (whom he hadn’t seen for almost 8 years) acted more mature. And yes, I’m aware that an 8yo doesn’t talk and think like that. But you’re not discussing your sexual inclination with your child the way Jason did, and why you stopped talking to your parents. The only explanation I have, is that Jason was on his own for too long, and sometimes sees Maggie as his equal and not as the child she is. Same goes for his brother: getting relationship advice from an 18yo you haven’t seen since he was a child is… weird 😅
Still, with 5 stars for the first half, 3 for the second, I’ll give it (generous) 4 stars. Not perfect, but kept me well entertained for the most part.