I was super excited to read the last (latest??--I hope!) installment of the Arctic series by Annabeth Albert. Adorable and bubbly Owen is looking for something new in his life after overcoming some a huge health battle, and decides to volunteer as an assistant to Park Rangers in the wilds of Alaska over the long winter months. Rigid, I-have-rules-and-boundaries, everything is black-and-white Quill is not the least impressed that his best friend took a new job and he now has his comfortable, dependable, and stable routine upended when Owen is assigned to work with him.

I liked this book. I didn't love it as much as the previous two; it always felt like a little something was missing. The characters had some really funny banter and some sweet and endearing moments, but I felt as though I never really figured out what exactly made these two really like each other. They clearly liked each other, but I guess I was looking for something a little... more. What moved them from beyond friends to lovers and boyfriends?

I loved the universe that Annabeth has created with this series and would definitely read more if it continued.

This opposites attract m/m romance about park rangers was my least favourite of this contemporary series set in Alaska (which could've been funded by the Alaska tourist board as reading these books has made me want to visit so much!) though was still an enjoyable read with some great steamy and romantic moments. I think the trope of one character being so reluctant to embark on a romance and the other one trying to persuade him can easily slip into feel a bit dubiously consensual and put me off in places here, perhaps the emotionally unavailable gruff type of character is just not for me.

I have to admit this isn't my favorite of the series. I had a hard time connecting to the characters and rooting for them. Particularly Quill. I just...his angst felt so ridiculous to me. I mean I get it, but like...meh. And I also didn't connect much with Owen much, though more than with Quill. Because I didn't connect much with them, the plot was kind of meh. I really think all of this is a me thing, and others won't have the issue I had. There's nothing really wrong. I just didn't click. That's why I'm marking it 3 stars. It was just...fine. I didn't hate anything. I just also didn't love anything. Also explained why it took me so long to finish it.

I’ve loved all the books in this series and this book was no exception. This book was the right mix of heart and heat and this author’s writing is so good, I’ll definitely be reading more.

Readers who have been following the Frozen Hearts series have already met Quill, although it was very briefly. He was one of Toby and Reuben's rescuers in Arctic Wild. Other than a quick cameo from a couple of other characters, that's pretty much the only connection between Arctic Heat and the other books in the series. That means that Arctic Heat could easily be read as a stand alone. I've really enjoyed the other books in the series though, so of course I'm going to recommend that you read the rest ;)

Owen was fortunate enough to be able to live life to its fullest after his recovery from cancer. Quill was living the life that he had always wanted with little or no drama. Neither one of them expected to find romance in the process. Especially Quill.

Owen was out, Quill was not. Owen was looking forward to spending time with Quill, but Quill wasn't so sure. The attraction was there, but Quill wasn't ready to take a chance. Watching his defenses crumble was fun and frustrating at the same time.

It took a dangerous situation to make both men face what was right in front of them...

ARCTIC HEAT is the third book in the Frozen Hearts series, and although we stay in Alaska, we see a very different side of it. There is less emphasis placed on the beauty of the region, and more on the natural dangers that exist every winter.

In this story, we meet up with Owen, a cancer survivor, and Quill, a Ranger. Owen is out but Quill is firmly in the closet as he doesn't want to become the "gay poster boy" for the Rangers. They both have their own baggage from their pasts.

This is very much a slow-burner, filled with angst, and forced proximity. Like I said, there is less description of the surrounding area, and more detailing the kind of accidents that can happen, both natural and manmade.

Although I liked both Quill and Owen, I didn't connect with them like I have done with previous characters in this series. They both had things I liked about them, the same as they both had qualities I disliked.

On the whole, this was a book I enjoyed reading, but it didn't tick as many boxes for me as other books by Ms Albert. I would still definitely recommend it though, especially for those who like to meet up with previous characters when they make an appearance.

Really enjoyed reading this book. You just imagined being in the winter all sucked in by the wonderful way it’s written. Great plot. Wondering how it’s going to play out for the characters. Very good

I have a really love hate relationship with certain narrative tropes found in Annabeth's work. Most of them really work for me. But the kind of person who doesn't want a relationship, paired with the person who is willing to take less just to have that person... it's not what I really love reading.

As a result, this book came across as a little lack lustre for me personally.

Owen was an amazing character, someone who had come out the other end after a cancer scare and was determined to grab life by both hands and live it to its fullest. In that vein, he's decided to volunteer in Alaska for the winter.

This is where he meets Quill, who is fairly dour from the get go. He doesn't want to be paired with Owen for not much more reason than because Owen is attractive. He has been working as a ranger for a number of years and doesn't want anything to change the status quo or the way he is viewed by his peers.

For me, the part that made me interested in the story came far too late in the game--an accident that leaves Owen in hospital and brought Quill face to face with what he really wants--and therefore I found this novel one of the more difficult ones I've read by this author.

owen han made a promise to himself after surviving testicular cancer. he was going to live life to find his joy. crossing things off his bucket list became his newest goal, and wintering in the alaskan wilderness is a dream come true. when he is posted to quilleran ramsey's station he's hopeful that the initial spark that lit between them during training will mean good things for the long cold alaskan winter he's signed himself up for.

but quill is a tough nut. it's not even that he's closested, although he isn't expressly out, he's just supremely introverted. and has a million and one hang-ups that make relationships a challenge. he likes owen, but he's also terrified of the emotional devastation owen's absence will wreak on his already vulnerable heart.

because quill is all heart. he seems like his is all gruff and prickles, but he is the sweetest cinnamon roll who ever rolled.

anyway, arctic heat is a clear case of opposites attract and find perfection. and another great entry in the frozen hearts series.

**arctic heat will publish on september 23, 2019. i received an advance reader copy courtesy of netgalley/carina press in exchange for my honest review.

My favourite of this series so far.

I really enjoyed the opposites attract dynamic of Owen and Quill.

And I'm usually a reader that enjoys a good supporting cast of characters throughout, this book didn't have that since Owen and Quill were by themselves a lot and I didn't mind that all, the author keep it interesting and the pace flowing that both caught and held my attention. And the other characters were still wonderful, and once again I loved contrast between Owen's family and Quill's, like a mirror of Owen and Quill, it highlights and builds on their personalities.

An adorable, cute story. Lots of chemistry, and a little bit of action too. A fun, lovely read.

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Sarah – ☆☆☆☆☆
I think this is my favourite in the series so far! When Owen volunteers to spend a winter in an Alaskan state park, he doesn’t expect to share his winter with a gorgeous, and very closeted, park ranger. At first, Owen’s bubbly personality and impressive outdoor skills don’t seem to have much of an impact on the surly ranger. But as the winter gets colder, Quill starts to thaw and something special flares between the two men.

As with all of these books, I love the beautiful Alaskan scenery. This one is an exciting read and I loved the details of Quill and Owen’s lives in the park. From mountain rescue to avalanche response to plowing walkways and parking lots, this story introduces a life I’d never considered before.

The best part of this book are the characters and the unlikely relationship between the out-and-proud financier from San Francisco and the antisocial Alaskan mountain man. It’s a slow simmer of heat and attraction set against an icy backdrop and I loved every moment. I love the fun and play that Owen brings to Quill’s life even as Quill teaches Owen about his life as a park ranger. There is a balance to their connection and this was a complete pleasure read.

This series has me seriously wanting to visit Alaska and if there are any hunky straight guys there, I'll fly out tomorrow. I really enjoyed this novel in the series, the two characters Owen and Quill had such different personalities it made a really interesting adventure for them both. Owen was such a fun and happy character, though underneath he was hiding plenty of doubts about who he was and where he was going. I loved the way he pushed Quill's buttons and brought out both the best and the worst in him. I can't imagine spending an entire winter in Alaska, let alone spending it with someone who seemingly doesn't want you there. There was plenty of emotion, chemistry and humour in this novel and I was barracking for them both throughout, I so hoped that Quill would wake up and see that he was allowed to have feelings and allowed to change his ideas about what a perfect future entailed for him.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Carina Press for providing me with a copy of this novel in return for an honest review.

I have really enjoyed this series, in large part because it really makes me feel like I am in Alaska with these guys! The detail and imagery is just fantastic, it’s definitely it’s own part of the story. Owen and Quill, man did I totally fall in love with these two. They are so very different but so very perfect for each other.

Owen is a cancer survivor and determined to live a full life, crossing things off his bucket list. That’s why he is volunteering in Alaska during the winter. Quill lives a quiet life as a ranger in Alaska, enjoying the peace and solitude. Owen ends up as Quill’s volunteer partner for the winter and neither man expects the connection they share right from the start. Their chemistry is undeniable and even though Quill lives a closeted life, he can’t deny wanting Owen. And well Owen, he certainly isn’t shy about how much he wants Quill. Eventually they give in, although it’s supposed to be just a winter fling thing, nothing more. Well, of course that’s not how it stays, these two develop real feelings for each other, but taking that next step, seems to be a struggle, especially for Quill.

I really enjoyed their story, it definitely went to my heart. I felt for these guys in the difficult times, and understood their struggles. For Quill, I really felt like this was a journey of self discovery, accepting and loving himself and finally allowing himself to love Owen. These are definitely two people who deserve that in life. Overall, another enjoyable read from Annabeth Albert, I fell in love with these guys and their journey through the Alaskan winter!

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.

Arctic Heat is the third book in Annabeth Albert’s Frozen Hearts series of contemporary m/m romance novels. I haven’t read any of the other books in this series- or any of Albert’s other books- but the blurb piqued my interest.

Owen is a cancer survivor, and this polarizing incident has led him to reevaluate everything about his life. As the story begins, he has set aside his career as an investment banker, and arrived in Alaska in search of adventure as a national park volunteer.

Quill has spent his entire career as a park ranger. He’s quiet, he keeps to himself, and he thrives on predictability. The last thing he needs is to be partnered with someone gregarious like Owen- who looks completely unprepared for the harsh Alaskan winter.

One thing leads to another, and Owen and Quill begin a no strings attached relationship. But they’re sharing the staff quarters at a ranger station, so keeping things unattached becomes more complicated than either of them anticipated.

This was such a good book. It’s an interesting take on the forced proximity trope; for the majority of the book, Owen and Quill are at the same little ranger station, and aside from the tourists passing through, they don’t interact with anyone else for long stretches of time. It’s clear that they both have feelings for each other, but they have different philosophies about what is going to happen when Owen’s session as a volunteer comes to an end.

I really loved how Owen and Quill both grew over the course of the book. Quill finds himself challenged in ways he didn’t expect. He doesn’t talk about his personal life with anyone, and he hasn’t really been in a relationship before. Likewise, Owen has embarked on a journey of personal growth, and while he didn’t plan to find a romantic partner on this quest, he’s open to the possibility.

I’ve alluded to those moments of being stuck together in the ranger station, but I ought to mention that Owen and Quill’s work is not all drudgery, and there were some pretty intense scenes too.

I would absolutely recommend Arctic Heat. This book has a nice mix of sweet and angst. Owen is just delightful, and while Quill is much more reserved, he’s likeable too. I am pleased to have discovered a new author, and I’m looking forward to catching up on Albert’s earlier books.


I received a copy of this book from Netgalley/the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Alaskan Adventure

Arctic Heat is an opposite attract, age gap, slow burn , emotional and sexy MM Romance .

I love Annabeth Albert's detailed and vivid descriptions of Alaska , so much so that Hiking and Fly Fishing are now on my Bucket List.

I liked reading this book. It's an entertaining and easy to read , even though it deals few few heavy topics.


I just reviewed Arctic Heat by Annabeth Albert. #ArcticHeat #FrozenHeartsSeries #NetGalley

Once again Annabeth Albert takes us back to the Alaskan wilderness with Arctic Heat and this is, by far, my favorite of the series. Seclude one grumpy ranger with a vivacious winter volunteer and the heat rises as the temperature outside plummets.

Thirty-Six-year-old Owen Han has a second chance at life, having beat the monster of cancer. Entertaining a new outlook, he left his dull 9 to 5 investment banking job behind and plans to complete a bucket list. A winter in the Alaskan wilderness – CHECK!

Running from family drama and an ex, forty-something burly ranger Quilleran (Quill) Ramsey has settled into a life of solitude deep in Alaska. Living with a list of self-imposed rules, his life is just the way he wants it… until, a social butterfly named Owen enters his carefully created sanctum.

Quill and Owen could not be any more completely opposite. Yet, from the moment they cross paths there is a spark and an unspoken connection. Owen’s strong will and force of nature presence make him immediately likable. On the other hand, Quill’s gruff personality and internal struggles give a standoffish vibe. Still, there is a huge heart hidden beneath the gruff facade. So of course, Quill is my book crush, I just want to give the big lug a bear hug.

Owen manages to break though Quills defenses and the quiet times they share are sweet and endearing. There isn’t an insta-love, maybe insta-lust, but not insta-love for the pair. Owen and Quill slowly build a friendship as they tackle the day to day routine. Through it all a connection evolves and with it comes trust, respect, and attachment. Unfortunately, there is a fair amount of turmoil as Quill tries to maintain his carefully constructed existence.

The conflicts between them are emotional and disparaging. My heart was breaking as the tears slid down my cheeks during the mother of all their skirmishes. It appears that Owen may just not be enough to shatter the past, which binds Quill so tightly. AND… just when you see a glimmer of hope, disaster strikes. Okay Annabeth, reach in and tear my heart out why don’t you? Yet, a masterpiece is born with Albert’s expert writing and ability to intertwine these elements convincingly.

Arctic Heat has all the components of a great romance. It begins with a connection and the character building is superb. There is a hunky man wearing a uniform. Owen and Quill have strong personalities in different ways, but learn to meld those differences into something beautiful. The Alaskan wilderness provides a gorgeous backdrop for their intimate moments of exploration with each other, solidifying their intense sexual compatibility. And, oh did I mention there is a man in uniform!

Arctic Heat is third in the Frozen Hearts series with cameo appearances that cross between the stories, but it can absolutely be read as a standalone.

It takes talent for an author to freshen up a well-used romantic trope like the grizzled ranger and the newbie forced together during winter storms. Annabeth Albert’s “Arctic Heat” is as fresh as new powder after an Alaskan snowstorm.

Annabeth Albert pairs forty-something veteran Ranger Quilleran (Quill) Ramsey, whose dysfunctional upbringing and initial relationship force him in the closet, with Owen Han. Second generation Vietnamese-American Owen’s open, optimistic outlook was foisted upon him by testicular cancer two years earlier. Now healthy, Owen volunteers for a seven-month winter stint with the park service, after giving up his lucrative investment banker career.

“Arctic Heat” may be insta-lust, but the opposites-attract couple know they are too dissimilar for a future together. Albert deftly sets up these differences. For Quill, “Wanting was dangerous, an emotion he hadn’t felt in years, and he wasn’t welcoming it now.” In contrast, Owen tells Quill how he survived chemotherapy. “’When I was at my sickest, I made a bucket list of sorts – everything I’d always wanted to try and had been too chicken to go for… It really got me through some dark days, thinking of things I’d do with a second chance.’” An Alaskan winter is on Owen’s list.

When Albert peels back the hidden layers of the men’s personalities readers have to wonder: Quill may be hard working and brave as he protects the wilderness and its inhabitants, but is he cowardly to hide his sexuality? And is Owen actually as mature as he acts? For example, shortly after hearing the horrific response Quill received when he came out to his dad years earlier, Owen seems frustrated by Quill’s hesitancy to be in a relationship. Woah! For a moment it makes Owen appear shallow, until we learn how Owen was changed by his bout with cancer. Aha, I thought! He’s simply guarding his heart. And sure enough, Owen soon fights for a full life again.

Likewise, when Quill has every reason to pull back, he demonstrates surprising empathy, realizing Owen has made all the overtures thus far. “Trust Owen. Was that really all he needed to do? For all of it. Professionally. Romantically. Emotionally.” And when Quill steps up to the line, he’s all in. Sigh!

Like most developing relationships, the men trade who moves forward and who pulls back. Readers might be mildly peeved by the men’s immaturity, only to realize we sold them short. And don’t many of us misjudge ourselves and our loved ones? “‘I’m not going to resent you for giving me this gift of myself, of the best possible version of my life,’” Quill tells Owen.

Okay, I’m a sucker for any psychological drama that unveils our many facets of defensiveness and leads its characters down a path to self-acceptance. Without ever preaching, Albert does just that in “Arctic Heat.” Add in some hawt love on chilly nights, a few choice cooking scenes, and the Aurora Borealis, and my hardened wariness about the trope absolutely melted. You can definitely refresh your winter spirit with this heart-warming standalone romance in the Frozen Hearts series.

Owen is easy to quickly love. An outgoing, gregarious man who has survived cancer and is out fulfilling his bucket list.

Quill pulled me in with his quiet, steadfast ways. He was someone I could see myself feeling very comfortable and secure with.

Owen and Quill had opposite personalities but they are exactly what the other needed to get past old and new hurts.

A lovely slow-burn romance that can absolutely be read as a stand-alone novel.

For me, romance needs to be fun and/or heartbreaking. I’ve gotta have a great time with the leads. I’ve gotta cry over them.

I never reached that point with Owen or Quill. Quill in particular is reserved in a way that doesn’t often resonate with me, and his reticence made the romance burn too slow for my tastes.

I did like the details of manning a winter ranger station, and I suspect the romance will work better for big time slow burn fans.