Arctic Heat

(Frozen Hearts #3)
Annabeth Albert
Add to Goodreads

Buy Amazon | B&N | Apple | Google 
Release Date September 23, 2019

A lasting connection needs more than simply surviving a winter together—they’ll have to outsmart danger, let down their defenses and open their hearts.

Owen Han has a fresh lease on life—he’s kicked cancer’s ass and is roaring through his bucket list. The former investment banker hopes to find his next challenge in Alaska, volunteering alongside park rangers and fulfilling his childhood dreams of snowy winters and rustic life. Of course, those dreams did tend to feature big strapping mountain men in vivid detail…

Ranger Quilleran Ramsey would like to be anywhere other than dealing with newbie volunteers. And really, the only thing he needs less than a green volunteer “partner” is the flirty attentions of a buff city boy who doesn’t look ready to last a week, let alone an Alaskan winter. They’re all wrong for each other, even if Quill’s traitorous body enjoys the flirting more than it should.

As the weeks pass, the two snowbound men give in to temptation. But can their seasonal romance last until spring? For them to have a future together, each will have to trust the other…while hoping that the harsh elements and omnipresent dangers don’t destroy what happiness they’ve found in the moment.

One-click with confidence. This title is part of the Carina Press Romance Promise: all the romance you’re looking for with an HEA/HFN. It’s a promise!

Owen Han has a new lease on life and is taking time to check off items off of his bucket list. So he is training to be a winter volunteer in an Alaska park. He is friendly, talkative, confident, intelligent, and determined. He is comfortable in his own skin and does not hide his sexuality. He is a natural-born leader and people gravitate to him.

Quill Ramsey is the opposite. He is a seasoned Ranger used to dealing with the harsh winters and danger. He is a bit older, reserved, stoic, and a loner. It takes him time to warm up to people, but he does care about his close friends. He has issues and has been hurt and not accepted in the past so he does not share his real self with that many people.
These two meet during training and it is game on. Owen is not afraid to go on the pursuit. But Quill is equally vocal about avoiding temptation and being professional...even if he was never going to see Owen again.  But when circumstances change with assignments and a friendship starts sneaking in, things are going to be more complicated. Add in some secluded, hot winter nights and dangerous elements and they might have more than they can handle.

This is about building trust, acceptance, and fighting for what is really important. It is told in dual points of view and I liked both of these guys. Owen was just so good-natured, positive, and eager. And Quill really wanted to be gruff and distant, but Owen just kept pulling him in. But Quill was also closeted, closed-off, and afraid of being hurt or hurting Owen. And Owen can only push so far before someone gets hurt. Feelings are messy and their diverse looks at the future are hard to merge. But in the good times when they let themselves, it was sweet to see how they had the potential to balance each other.

This book is a slow burn romance based on close proximity, friendship, and undeniable chemistry. I honestly kept losing attention and putting it down, so it did seem to drag at times. It is based more on their issues and relationship building than a lot of external drama or even the Alaskan atmosphere although that did pick up more towards the end. But it also became more emotional and raw, and I got more invested.

Quill's decisions involved more than just choosing Owen or even a relationship...it would involve exposing himself in a way that he was not sure he was prepared for. But Owen is a man who knows how short life is and he is not about to settle for less than he is worth. And they would both have to be willing to sacrifice something and take a risk if they choose to take a chance.

Add to Goodreads
Buy Amazon | B&N | Apple | Google
Kim's 4 star review

He’s built a quiet life for himself in Alaska. But it doesn’t stand a chance against the unrelenting pull of a man who’s everything he shouldn’t want.

Ex-military mountain man Griffin Barrett likes his solitude. It keeps him from falling back into old habits. Bad habits. He’s fought too hard for his sobriety to lose control now. However, his gig as a wildlife guide presents a new kind of temptation in superhot supermodel River Vale. Nothing the Alaskan wilderness has to offer has ever called to Griffin so badly. And that can only lead to trouble…

River has his own methods for coping. Chasing adventure means always moving forward. Nobody’s ever made him want to stand still—until Griffin. The rugged bush pilot is the very best kind of distraction, but the emotions he stirs up in River feel anything but casual, and he’s in no position to stay put.

With temptation lurking in close quarters, keeping even a shred of distance is a challenge neither’s willing to meet. And the closer Griffin gets to River, the easier it is to ignore every last reason he should run.

Publisher’s Note: Arctic Sun deals with topics some readers may find difficult, including sobriety and eating disorders.