After three winters in Antarctica, Simon Bancroft is an old hand on the ice. The harsh weather and extreme isolation aren’t for everyone, but he enjoys the tight-knit community at McMurdo Station… and lately he’s enjoyed watching the hot new researcher, Asher Delaney, who’s recently arrived to study the aurora. But Simon’s just a janitor. Asher doesn’t even know he exists. When Simon’s friends … friends propose a wager, he gets a chance to introduce himself to Asher at last. But Asher defies all of Simon’s assumptions, and suddenly he finds himself reevaluating everything he thought he knew about Asher, himself, and falling in love at the bottom of the world.
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What a delightful read this was. The in Antarctica located, isolated McMurdo Station has a close community and Simon works there, as a janitor, for his third winter. He has all the time to dream and fantasize. And fantasize he does! The most delicious daydreams about the new hot researcher Asher. He wants this tall, rugged man badly, it’s been a while. Simon made himself some rules: no strings, certainly not dating, only enjoy the warmth and sexiness of each other’s body in his bed. But with a head full of fantasies he lacks confidence. Even worse, Asher doesn’t see him. And when he finally does he is not the person Simon expected him to be.
From the first page, I was into this story. It wasn’t a ponderous story but it’s one where the feelings were real and the characters were lovable. The moments where the men connect were deliciously sexy, super kind, sweet and considerate. The way the story was written made the whole picture enchanting. The environments were wonderfully original. It wasn’t hard to picture the panorama with the way the author presented them. The feelings and thoughts of the two men felt real and with the right weight, they made my heart leap at times.
For 105 pages this story is quite enough and developed, no unnecessary distraction from the outside world. Because in the end, the story is all about the connection between Simon and Asher, against the background of stunning auroras and the beautiful breathtaking landscape of Antarctica!
I would rate this 3.5 stars.
Set at the McMurdo station in Antarctica, this story is told through the first person POV of a janitor named Simon. It follows his crush on Asher, a new researcher. With them stuck there for four months to over winter, Simon is afraid of rejection and making it awkward in an enclosed space where they can’t avoid each other, even if they want to. What starts out as a harmless bet, made in jest to get Simon to talk to Asher, ends up being the albatross around his neck as his thoughts change from lust to care. Sweet, shy, and awkward, Asher is not who Simon thought he was. Simon seems to suffer from low self-esteem and has no interest in a real relationship. Fantasies aren’t usually the same as reality, and Simon has to navigate what he thought he wanted vs. what he actually wants.
I understand just wanting to play the field, not wanting to get serious. I don’t understand Simon’s panic at the thought of a relationship; by the time he changes his mind…he has hurt Asher by not realizing he was already in one. Part of what happens is his fault for not communicating to Miranda and Oli that his feelings about Asher had changed, but it was none of their business and he didn’t really owe them an explanation. In fact, they are more acquaintances than friends. They’re not malicious, but they are self absorbed about their own amusement and thoughtless in their actions throughout the book.
Though this is enjoyable, there isn’t much detail. The Aurora is colorful and pretty. It’s cold and there is much ice. Simon is never really described even when he is looking in the mirror so all I know is he has: a flat stomach; a round butt; his bangs to the side; and a smaller physique than Asher. Several months pass and not much happens. The sex scenes start slow and build up as their intimacy increases; these are the best described scenes in the book. Overall, I think they make a cute couple because Asher is actually a nice guy. Who wouldn’t want to date him?
The cover is by Brooke Albrecht. I assume the cover is Asher, who is described as a fit, tall man with blond hair that goes darker down his face and green eyes. I think the cover is very striking and matches the story well.
This was a sweet romance set in another world. It is interesting and I learned a lot about living in a place I hear little about with a job I had never heard of. The story is sweet and predictable with interesting side characters as well.