Rating: 5 stars out of 5
It’s typical of video game programmer Josiah Simmons to be the last one on the plane on the way to the biggest meeting of his career. Though he’s (mostly) coping with his ADHD, he can’t handle another distraction. But he also can’t ignore his rugged seatmate—especially once he learns the military man’s a fan of his game.
Ryan Orson refuses to let his severe injuries pause his career as a navy SEAL. He’s got hours of grueling physical therapy ahead of him, and no time for anything that might get in the way of his return to active duty. But that doesn’t mean he’s above a little first-class flirtation with geeky-cute Josiah.
When a delay strands the pair in St. Louis, they agree to share a hotel room and a night of gaming. Neither expects their new connection to move to the next level in the light of day. Opposites may attract, but is this game over before it’s even begun?
My love affair with this series began with Status Update (#gaymers, #1) where I met Adrian Gottlieb, video game designer of Space Villager and his lover geoarchaeologist Noah Walters and solidified with Beta Test (#gaymers, #2) and the couple of that story, graphic designer Ravi Tandel and Tristan Jones. Now comes Connection Error (#gaymers #3) by Annabeth Albert and it turns out, that yes here’s a couple I can love as much as the original I first fell in love with, that of video game programmer Josiah Simmon and injured Navy seal Ryan Orson.
Josiah popped up first in Beta Test during a gaymers party that Ravi and Tristan attended. He was a stand out character there and clearly needed his own story so I was thrilled to see Annabeth Albert give him one here. But what made him interesting there makes him a deeply layered, fascinating character here.
Young, he has a severe case of ADHD, to the point that he lives at home, has a strict schedule and medications he uses to help him control it and function. He’s highly successful at his job at Space Villager and about to lead a group of programmers into a new stage of development for the game. Its a hugely busy and scary time for Josiah. And due to Albert’s wonderful way with characterization, we see into the heart of Josiah. His nerves, his fears, the way he functions or sometimes doesn’t at the office…every part of his life. By giving us…this open, stubborn and sometimes fragile Josiah (a very believable one), we are quickly pulled into his life and connected to him.
Sitting on a plane heading to the same destination as Josiah? That would be injured Navy Seal Ryan Orson. His character surprised me. I’m not going to go into anything here. Read the story. But having Ryan here, real, hurting, stubborn, and impossible not to give your heart to made this story for me. Connecting him with Josiah? Amazing. Watching them work together to find a common ground for a relationship made for a book I never wanted to put down.
Annabeth Albert doesn’t do fast romances. Her characters have their own issues to work through, sometimes they have personal blinders on, sometimes obstacles of their own making stand in their way to happiness. Whatever. It always takes a while for them to work through their differences and believe they can be happy themselves and with another person. I love that about her stories. Sometimes gritty, painful, and real. So that when it works, when the main characters such as Josiah and Ryan realize that a future is possible together, well the joy and love just flows making the story and romance all the sweeter.
Plus…Space Villager. Yep. I still want the game.
This is the third book in the series. In each book we get to see some of the couples from the previous stories. I love that too. I don’t know where the next couple is coming from but I can’t wait to read it. This is one of my favorite series. I highly recommend this story and all the #gaymer novels.
Cover art is terrific and works for the story.
Sales Links
Carina Press | Amazon US | Amazon UK | Barnes & Noble | Google Play | Itunes | Kobo Books
Book Details:
ebook
This book is approximately 66,000 words
Published September 2016 by Carina Press
Original TitleConnection Error
ISBN139781459290679
Series: #gaymers – Add to Goodreads here:
Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words 
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