Rating: 4.25 stars
Buy Link: Amazon | iBooks | Amazon UK
Length: Novel

Harry Matheson and Toby Webley are political rivals. They have always been on opposing sides of British politics and their verbal sparring is legendary. When circumstances have just the two of them traveling together to a conference on a private plane, they think the worst they have to endure is a few hours of being uncomfortable. Until the plane goes down in the Scandinavian wilderness, leaving Harry and Toby alone and on their own in frigid temperatures.

The men attempt to put aside their differences for the sake of survival and every minute is intensified as they figure out their next moves. Harry was captivated by Toby the first time he ever saw him, but Toby shut down any chance of conversation and the men became notorious rivals instead. Harry always knew that being gay and being a politician were impossible for his future, so he’s been living a lie in his personal life for the sake of his family and his party.

Now, the men are running from hungry wildlife and armed terrorists, while desperately trying not to freeze or starve to death. As the men put aside their differences, they realize that there is more to the other than they originally thought and a slow heat sizzle rages into a full blown inferno as they spend every minute together in life and death situations. It seems the men are on the way to falling for their enemy.

The Unlikely Pair follows The Unlikely Heir in the Unlikely Dilemmas series. There is a connection between Harry and Toby to the main characters from the first book, and while I appreciated having the entire backstory, you could start here if you wanted.

This book hit me just right for the most part. I liked the setup with the rivalry between Harry and Toby as they have a verbal sparring that can be entertaining at times. They first met years ago and Toby took an instant and complete dislike to Harry, which has always left Harry feeling off balance. Although Harry will never show this, as he’s been brought up to embrace that appearances are everything.

The men find themselves in a harrowing situation and they have to work together if they want to survive; while saving themselves, they also save each other. They form a truce, they build a friendship (and a fire), and they fall in love. The scenes in the wilderness are compelling and tension filled as the men struggle to survive while being faced with many obstacles. This is not a survival guide and for the most part I could go with and enjoy how their circumstances played out.

This is a long book at over 400 pages and I was entertained through most of it. The start of their story is a kidnapping plot, which stalled out for me. While Harry and Toby get their HEA, the larger plot continues into the next book. That’s fine on its own, but there wasn’t even enough discussion of this part of the plot late in the book. It was mentioned in broad terms, with comments like, “the police don’t have enough information yet,” which didn’t work for me.

The personal plot did get a little twisty and poignant as Harry and Toby learn more about each other and there is plenty of steam to keep them warm in the wilderness. I do look forward to the next book, which will feature a new couple, but will continue the larger plot. Harry and Toby are all kinds of entertaining as they go from rivals, to reluctant survival partners, to more and their story is worth the read.