Reviewed by Taylin
TITLE: Arctic Heat
SERIES: Frozen Hearts #3
AUTHOR: Annabeth Albert
PUBLISHER: Carina Press
RELEASE DATE: September 23, 2019
LENGTH: 368 pages
BLURB:
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.
REVIEW:
Having survived cancer, Owen has a bucket list. Volunteering to help a ranger in the Alaskan winter is one that he can tick off. However, he didn’t expect to meet someone and fall in love.
Quill likes his ranger life. It has minimal human interaction, is quiet, and gives him something to deal with, other than his closeted emotions. The last thing he needs is to have feelings for a volunteer who, come spring, will leave him feeling cold and hurt. He has no intentions of being anyone’s quick fling. It doesn’t help that Owen has similarities to his first boyfriend and a relationship that doesn’t leave him with happy memories.
The instant attraction between Owen and Quill is something neither man expected, and despite a kiss early in the story, Quill backs off giving various excuses.
Initially, Owen comes over as a bit over the top, and Quill somewhat reserved, almost in hiding. Though they soon grow on you. Quill sees everything as his responsibility. Whereas Owen, while in chemo, was stripped of his freedom, is determined to keep the independence he’d gained and live life to the full. This means seducing the hot ranger.
Arctic Heat is told in the third person from the viewpoints of Quill and Owen. Technically it is good, too, with an excellent combination of scene-setting and dialogue.
The more I learned about the characters, the more I liked them. I totally got Owen’s ‘go get it’ ethos, and it was lovely to read a story starring a character with such a positive outlook. Quill’s strong silent type, with inner turmoil, was simply delicious to read.
For a good portion, the story is a game of seduction with the backdrop of Alaska. The men come from opposite ends of the emotional spectrum and meeting in the middle was going to be a big ask. Their characters are akin to iceberg vs the sun.
Quill liked his conflict-less solitude and Owen’s constant flirting he could repel. But proposed friendship was another game. Friendship allowed other feelings to emerge. Polite but distant was the way he intended to go, a method that had Owen’s extrovert soul struggling. But Quill had his reasons for staying in the closet. Whereas, Owen was out and proud with no intention of ever entering the small closed-off room.
Heavy snowfall has the men getting up close and personal, and breakthroughs are made. However, at some point, both realize that going their separate ways is going to hurt bad.
While reading, I learned loads about winter first aid. It’s clear that the author did a lot of research. I greatly enjoyed the scene-setting and the inner turmoil that is generated. I especially loved some of the emotional expressions, e.g. like a grenade missing its pin. They were phrases I’d not read before.
Arctic Heat is an emotional drama as opposed to a physical one. There are ranger-based rescues, and when they happen, they are excellent – especially as the stakes become high. I came to care for Quill and Owen and enjoyed reading about their journey.
RATING: 
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