ARCTIC HEAT by Annabeth Albert
Series: Frozen Hearts #3
Publisher: Carina Press
Release Date: Sept. 23 (ebook/audio), Oct 1 (print)
Length (Print & Ebook): 89,000 words
Subgenre: m/m contemporary romance/ action adventure m/m romance, interracial romance
Warnings: None.
Series: Frozen Hearts #3
Publisher: Carina Press
Release Date: Sept. 23 (ebook/audio), Oct 1 (print)
Length (Print & Ebook): 89,000 words
Subgenre: m/m contemporary romance/ action adventure m/m romance, interracial romance
Warnings: None.
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!
This book is approximately 89,000 words
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!
This book is approximately 89,000 words
Buy links
Praise for ARCTIC HEAT:
“Annabeth Albert's delightful characters and thoughtful emotional touch give a lovely spin to opposites attract when they're forced together in a cabin in the woods. We root for these guys--lone wolf Quilleran is a true foil for Owen, who is enthusiastically embracing his new lease on life.” -Bestselling Author, Amy Lane
“I really enjoyed the story. It was a fun read and believe it or not, I have been to the Hatcher Pass area of Alaska. The story was fun, sexy and passionate enough to melt an Alaskan snow field.” -Bestselling Author, Andrew Grey
“I eagerly await every new Annabeth Albert release and ARCTIC HEAT did not disappoint. Sexy and snowbound with a touch of danger - do not miss this one!” -Bestselling Author, HelenKay Dimon
“Arctic Heat by Annabeth Albert ... Owen and Quill are so wow...witnessing their friendship build is tangible and engaging ...Albert’s ability to have characters connect without needing sex is astounding and speaks to this author talent!” -Denise, Shh Mom’s Reading Book Blog
Excerpt
“Tea for everyone. Then a hot shower and lots of
blankets,” Owen declared as they entered the building, bossy streak making a
blessed reappearance right when Quill really needed to not be the one thinking.
If Owen had a plan, so much the better because Quill wasn’t good for much
besides stripping off his gear, stowing his piece, stomping upstairs, and
flopping into a kitchen chair. Owen draped one of the blankets from the couch
around his shoulders before doing the same for himself, wearing it like a cape
as he made tea. “Bourbon in yours? I found a bottle in the cabinet the other
week.”
“Yeah.” Quill didn’t often imbibe, but he needed
the burn of the liquor even more than any warmth-giving properties. The bourbon
was there exactly for nights like this one where Quill had done his best and it
still hadn’t been enough. Fucking universe and its random acts of cruelty.
After adding a healthy glug of liquor to each of
their mugs, Owen shoved a cup at Quill. He also put a plate of cookies from the
batch that got baked on the table. “Here you go. Eat something so the alcohol
doesn’t hit too hard.”
“Feels like I should be the one taking care of
you,” Quill admitted after he’d had a few sips of tea, let the warmth and burn
work past the tightness in his throat and chest.
“We can take care of each other,” Owen countered,
pulling his chair close to Quill’s. “That’s what we’re here for, right?”
A few hours ago, Quill would have argued that being
alone was the best way to cope with something like this—find a way to push
through and on to the next day either with the aid of some strong drink or just
a restless night spent replaying the events until sleep did its thing, softened
the edges of the awfulness. But when Owen grabbed his hand, squeezed, and
looked at him with such compassion in his eyes, Quill couldn’t find it in
himself to pull away.
“Yeah,” he said, even as he knew that he shouldn’t
let himself come to need Owen like this, to lean on him. He and Hattie had
always tended to retreat to their own corners after a hard shift, and he prided
himself on being a strong man. Sure, accidents like this affected him as they
would anyone, but he’d always tried to handle those emotions on his own. Harsh
memories of his father’s comments about men who showed their feelings didn’t
help any, but lately all those memories, all the family drama, seemed more
distant. Less sharp.
And funny how without that mantle of a painful
past, his present seemed somehow more hopeful, old wounds and past fears no
match for Owen. In fact, they’d been on the verge of another disagreement when
Owen had dropped everything to come help. And now here he was, taking care of
Quill yet again. Owen simply didn’t seem to have it in him to hold a grudge too
long. Quill would be a fool to pull away now, even if he knew the next night
like this, the inevitable one after Owen left, would hurt that much more. But
that moment, all he wanted to do was hold Owen close, take every comfort he
offered from Christmas lights to hot toddies to underdone gingerbread to that
strong hand of his, holding on when Quill needed it most.
Blog Tour Exclusive Q&A:
Q: Does one of the main characters hold a special place in
your heart? If so, why?
AA: Both characters, Quill and Owen, are special to me for
different reasons. Quill, my grumpy park ranger, is special to me because he’s
a more mature hero, but he’s also unaware of the extent of his own loneliness. Giving
Quill the HEA he deserves was immensely satisfying. Owen, my optimistic new
volunteer assigned to Quill, is special because he represents a character that
I’ve wanted to do for a long time—one who survived a major medical scare and
now has a second lease on life and is determined to make the most of each day.
Q: What was the inspiration for the story?
AA: My amazing critique partner and best friend, Wendy
Qualls, came to me with the idea of how in remote areas, park rangers are often
snowed in together for months at a time. I loved the idea immediately, and we
started brainstorming. I brought in a lot of my favorite tropes—opposites
attract, age gap, close proximity, building friendship, adventure, working
together, and more as the plot started to take shape for me. Then later, I came
up with the idea of making it series set in Alaska, and worked that plot bunny
into the series. Book Three seemed to fit best for this one, so that’s where it
landed, but initially it was the first plot bunny, and everything else sprang
from that one.
Q: What is the key theme and/or message in the book?
AA: Love finds us where we least expect it, but most need
it. Neither Owen nor Quill expects to find the love of their lives when they’re
snowed in together for an Alaskan winter, but love has a way of finding people
when they need it most and of healing old wounds and giving fresh courage. I
really wanted to show how love can provide the best fresh start of all, even
when we stay in the same place we’ve always been or when we venture thousands
of miles out of our comfort zone—love finds those who need it most.
Q: What is the significance of the title?
AA: ARCTIC HEAT is actually the coldest book in the
series—tons and tons of snow and snowed in fun. The heat totally comes from the
chemistry between the main characters!
Q: If you had to describe the main characters in three
words, what would those three words be?
AA: As the story opens, Quill is grumpy, lonely, and loyal.
He’s grumpy about being assigned a new volunteer, lonely from long hours alone
and with his BFF now assigned elsewhere, and he’s loyal to his job. Meanwhile,
Owen is optimistic, fun, and adventure seeking. He’s an optimist who survived a
health scare and now is seeking fun and adventure in Alaska.
Giveaway:
1 winner will receive paperback copies of ARCTIC SUN, ARCTIC WILD, and ARCTIC HEAT + a Swag Pack! Open Internationally, must be 18 to win.
1 winner will receive paperback copies of ARCTIC SUN, ARCTIC WILD, and ARCTIC HEAT + a Swag Pack! Open Internationally, must be 18 to win.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
What I thought about Arctic Heat
Owen has a bucket list and has volunteered to spend a winter in Alaska. During orientation he's intrigued by Ranger Quill and they really hit it off right away. One problem -- Quill is very private and that's the crux of most of their conflict. When they are stationed together, the lines Quill tries to draw get very blurry.
What I love about this series is the location. Alaska provides many opportunities for rescue drama, and that's exactly the make-or-break point for Owen and Quill. I did find the build up to this moment a bit slow for my taste and Quill's reaction seemed out of character after a full book of him fighting his feelings. I did like both of these characters although I wasn't always sure they were right for each other. There is a satisfying HEA that left me with a good feeling.
Another nice installment in this Frozen Hearts series.
An ARC was provided for review.
Meet Annabeth Albert
Annabeth Albert grew up sneaking romance novels under the
bed covers. Now, she devours all subgenres of romance out in the open—no
flashlights required! When she’s not adding to her keeper shelf, she’s a
multi-published Pacific Northwest romance writer. Emotionally complex, sexy,
and funny stories are her favorites both to read and to write. Her critically
acclaimed and fan-favorite LGBTQ romance series include the #FrozenHearts,
#OutOfUniform, #Gaymers, #PortlandHeat, #RainbowCove and #PerfectHarmony series.
To find out what she’s working on next and other fun extras,
check out her website: annabethalbert.com or connect with Annabeth on
Twitter,
Facebook, Instagram,
and Spotify! Also, be sure to sign up for her newsletter for free ficlets,
bonus reads, and contests. The fan group, Annabeth’s Angels, on Facebook is also a great place for
bonus content and exclusive contests.
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