Owen Han is making it happen. Life, bucket list, living the life he SHOULD have been living. Enough of making OTHER people happy. It's time to work on his own happiness. This realization didn't come sipping a glass of wine watching the sunset in a white sand beach, it came after he overcame cancer. Which is what he is doing in Alaska volunteering for the winter. Another line in his bucket list to make his life HIS OWN.
Quilleran "Quill" Ramsey couldn't be more different, highly introverted (closeted gay). Being a Ranger is EVERYTHING to him and he doesn't need anything else. Life is as good as it's going to get. He has a few family members but he isn't interested in a relationship with them or a deep relationship with other people. Okay, he has a great friend in Hattie but she needs time now with her girlfriend Val now that their baby is on it's way. He didn't think it's going to mean he will be stuck with the gorgeous and tempting Owen... Too bad, yet he won't allow the too smiley, too nice guy to change up his routine (and professionalism). He'll do his thing, Owen probably won't last that long anyway....
Owen is frustrated with Quill, it's not just him not wanting them to enjoy each other sexually, it's also him barely allowing them to become friends. Waking up before dawn leaving Owen instructions is how they start, yet Owen still cooks and leaves Quill little boxes with food. It's getting hard for Quill to ignore the guy, especially as he's not only EXTREMELY nice he is also a good backup to have. They work well together and that's the truth of it.
Once a friendship is built though getting to the sexual part doesn't take that long.. They both want each other, and have been from the start. Only thing is, this is temporary.. Owen has more on his bucket list and even if he didn't his life (and family) is in California. Quill doesn't do hookups OR relationships, it's just a big mess he would rather take no part in, but it's hard ignoring Owen and his attraction to him. Also a relationship with a closeted guy is not something Owen is thrilled about even if he knows he COULD have so much more with Quill if things were a bit different. Quill becomes resigned to having some sort of a secret relationship with Owen while he's here but once winter is over everything is going to go back to how it used to be. He won't be the "Gay Ranger" everyone takes about. Especially since Owen won't be around for long anyway so why bother?
When Owen tries to offer Quill a bit more than they have - a chance for a future it more than backfires. But Quill doesn't stay indifferent for long when he realizes what a life WITHOUT Owen is going to be like. He might have survived without him UNTIL now, but after HAVING him in his life NOTHING is going to stay the same once he's NOT there (anymore).
While Quill and Owen couldn't have been more different, they were sweet and endearing together. They complimented each other. They managed to be exactly what the other needed while allowing them both to still be true to who they are.
Sometimes you need to get to the other side of the world or just give someone or yourself a HUGE chance in order to find true happiness.
I kindly received this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
This book is out TOMORROW - 23 September 2019 - Pre Order it through the links below.
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.
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.
Connect with Annabeth:
Website / Newsletter / Fan group / Goodreads / Amazon / Twitter / Facebook / Instagram
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.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
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Rating:
★★★★ |
E-Book
Edition |
368
pages
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Read on:
11-17 Sep. 2019
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ABOUT THIS SERIES
Frozen Hearts is a Contemporary MM Romance series by Annabeth Albert.
They center around a local Alaskan Native (for the first two - a pilot,
the 3rd is a ranger) falling in love with an outsider luring him - and
us - to the beautiful landscape and loving arms.
Books:
1. Arctic Sun [Griffin Barrett & River Vale] (Published 1 April 2019) ★★★★
2. Arctic Wild [Tobias "Toby" Kooly & Reuben Graham] (Published 3 June 2019) ★★★★½
Books:
1. Arctic Sun [Griffin Barrett & River Vale] (Published 1 April 2019) ★★★★
2. Arctic Wild [Tobias "Toby" Kooly & Reuben Graham] (Published 3 June 2019) ★★★★½
3. Arctic Heat [Quilleran "Quill" Ramsey & Owen Han] (Published 23 September 2019) ★★★★
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