Title: Frozen Hearts
Series: Beyond Reality #3
Author: Susan Stoker
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Blurb: Working as a camera operator for a hard-nosed producer isn’t all fun and games. Kina is seriously thinking about making this reality show her last. She’s known as being ‘cold-as-ice’ when it comes to men, which is appropriate since they’re filming in Alaska. Before she can figure out what she wants to do with her life she had to make it through this show. The contestants aren’t exactly lumberjack material and the challenges range from ridiculous to downright dangerous.
The Alaskan reality show is Jonathan’s last gig before he goes to work in security with his brother. The shoot would be completely miserable except for the fact that the one woman in the world who is meant to be his is also a camera operator on the show. He has no idea how he’ll manage it, but he is determined to win her heart and convince her to move to Arizona to be with him.
Following in the footsteps of the contestants isn’t a walk in the park for the camera operators. Fighting boredom and drama within the crew, hiking across glaciers, and camping in the Alaskan wilderness isn’t as safe as it seems on television. An injury on the set will either bring Jonathan and Kina together, or tear them apart for good.
Thoughts: This is the last book in the Beyond Reality series and we knew it was going be Jonathan and Kina. This is Jonathan’s last job as a camera operator before heading home to Arizona and working with his brother. Set in Alaska, this show is a reality show about manly men. After getting burned on his last reality dating show, the producer has decided to steer clear of the dating shows for now. This show is completely different from the others and it means the cameramen (and woman) get more free time. Jonathan already knows Kina is his One, but Kina isn’t like most girls. She has some serious trust issues and she’s always waiting for the shoe to drop in a relationship. When Jonathan pursues Kina hard, she doesn’t know how to act. Every time she thinks she has him pegged to be just like her exes, he shocks her. Jonathan knows Kina needs trust and control to feel comfortable in the relationship and he is doing whatever he can to show her he’s in it for the long haul. Is a few weeks in Alaska enough time to convince Kina to trust Jonathan? Can Jonathan and Kina survive out in the harsh Alaskan wilderness?
I really loved the whole Beyond Reality series – Frozen Hearts included. I loved the unusual idea of a book based on a reality show. It gave me a different perspective than I expected on these shows. The characters were interesting, the location was interesting, the writing was great. It was a dual POV, which I prefer. I really wasn’t expecting the situation at the end and it made it different from #2. I honestly wasn’t a fan of the instalove idea for Jonathan. I had the same feelings with Dean in #2. I do appreciate that it was something that he had to work at though. Kina wasn’t easy to win over and I liked that she was tough.
I’ll be sad to see the series go, but I look forward to seeing what Susan gives us next time. 🙂
Grade: A-/B+
