MF - True North (Compass #1) by Aria Wyatt

 

Amazon Link - Available in KU 
Goodreads Link

Lena

I’m a woman in exile.

Well . . . okay, maybe that’s a little extreme. My boss called it a temporary leave of absence, right before he offered me a promotion on my way out the door.

What does one do with two weeks to kill and big life decisions to make? If you’re me, you hop a plane to Alaska for a solitary retreat.

I wanted silence and tranquility. The time and space to think. I wasn’t prepared for what I got: THE Wes Emerson.

The Australian actor is too gorgeous—and too irresistible—for his own good. An infuriating mix of cocky and charismatic, he’s made it his mission to antagonize me.

But no matter how much I want to believe his flirting is genuine, I’m not stupid. Let’s be real, Wes is way out of my league, and I’ll be an afterthought as soon as this vacation is over.

Wes

It was supposed to be a guys’ trip.

Just me and my best mates at a remote lodge in Alaska’s Far North. They promised a breather from the stifling attention. Nature. Seclusion. Two weeks with no cameras, no autographs, and definitely no women.

Tell that to the snarky New York nurse who snagged the resort’s last vacancy.
Lena Hamilton is the wildcard I never expected to be dealt.

She’s got a dirty mind and a smart mouth. She doesn’t just rattle my cage, she bites back, pushing buttons I didn’t know I had. Her soft heart and fiery spirit make me ache for things I’ve sworn off for years. Something more. Something deeper.

Lena doesn’t believe I truly want her, but when we find ourselves at the mercy of the Alaskan wilderness, she has no choice but to trust me.

My Rating - 4.5 Stars!

True North is the first book in Aria Wyatt's Compass series. 

Wes and Lena meet on a wilderness Alaskan trip. Lena's just looking to get away, never expecting to find herself on a trip with the famous actor Wes and his friends. 

The two have nothing in common, as well as living on opposite sides of the world. The two flirt, and are full of push and pull for a long time.  

Both have some major baggage. It takes a while for Wes's issues to be revealed, but when they are, I feel deeply in love for this man who's drowning in guilt. And then there's Lena who's suffering from PTSD and definitely needs some healing. 

With plenty of twists and turns, Lena, Wes, and his friends end up trying to survive the elements. It's a crazy and long ride, with several heart stopping moments. The deal with injuries, hunger, thirst, dangerous animals, and more.

The writing is good and the storyline is full of adventure, romance, and heat. The main characters are fabulous and the secondary characters are all intriguing.  I love the friendship between the guys and all their banter.

True North is an enjoyable wilderness romance. I'm excited to see what Aria Wyatt has in store for this series next.

Spirit Bear by RJ Scott

Amazon Link

Goodreads Link

BLURB

Animal expert and TV personality Dominic Novak left more than a legacy for conservation and an instinctive love for animals behind when he was killed.

He left a son, Aiden, who craved the instinct with animals that his father had ... and a pupil, Mitchell, whose life changed after hearing Dominic lecture on conservation at college.

Aiden is hiding, scared of people finding the real him, hiding his identity from the world, and keeping a lid on his grief.

Could working together at a census on a grizzly bear sanctuary in British Columbia be the making of Aiden. or will it end up destroying him?

REVIEW 

My Rating - 4 Stars!

RJ Scott's Spirit Bear is a fun novella. 

Aiden grew up in the public eye, and wants to spend 2 weeks without anyone knowing who he is. It's a great story, as I love the hidden identity idea and it's wonderfully executed. And I adore Aiden's awkwardness, as he's so realistic. He suffers from self-esteem issues and has been keeping to himself, and it shows.

The bear trip is fun and enlightening, as the two young men not only discover their mutual attraction, but also become friends. The writing has wonderful descriptions of the scenery, making me feel like I am there and enjoying the view with them. Neither man expected to fall in love, but sometimes you just can't pass up on the prefect person for you.

RJ Scott really manages to make Spirit Bear come to life with some well developed characters, a fun storyline and a whole lot of things that just make you feel good. It's a story full of love, tenderness, and a whole range of emotions. It's a great read when you want a quick pick-me-up.