Arctic Heat is the third (and I think final) book in the Frozen Hearts series, a great collection of standalones set in the wilds of Alaska. The series consists of all slow burn romances with great characters, but each with enough originality and a different path to the couple’s happily-ever-after to ensure it never feels dull and repetitive.

I really liked Owen and Quill and how this opposites attract romance came together. I’m always partial to the quiet, gruff characters using harsh words as a shield and I enjoyed seeing Owen dismantle Quill’s walls piece by piece while staying true to his own wants and needs. The dialogue between Owen and Quill was a good balance between light fun with some seriousness, making Arctic Heat an enjoyable, easy read. However, it was the heat that really surprised me with this book. Though I’ve come to expect a good amount of chemistry between this author’s characters- particularly regarding the emotional connection- the physical chemistry and sexy scenes in Arctic Heat were enough to chase away any winter chills. If you’re in the mood for a slow burn romance that lives up to its name, I’d definitely recommend Arctic Heat.

A Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words Review
Rating: 5 stars out of 5

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.

As it turns out with Annabeth Albert's Frozen Hearts series, third time really is the charm.  With Arctic Heat all the elements come together in this third installment of her series that's set in Alaska to provide the reader with a remarkable heartwarming romance to remember.  It is my clear favorite to date with characters I immediately connected with, situations I understood and related to, and a rich, layered dynamic between the main characters that was so interesting, vulnerable and amazing that you couldn't stop reading.

Plus there was all that starkly gorgeous landscape they were living in.

And while the men's pasts stood like shadows around them, it was the fascinating give and take between the men in the present, their chemistry that kept you bound to them and the story. The fluctuating differences in dominance in their  relationships in and outside the bedroom, in Owen's dominance in bed and Quill's outside on the snow, both yin and yang in different elements of each other lives.  Just so perfect, watching as they maneuvered and figured it out for each other.

The dialogues and conversations felt authentic to the men and the dynamic happening between them.  The scenes often moving, the action when it happens hairraising.

What a story!  And did I say there is a dog too?

How I loved that ending.  And this story.  As I said it's my favorite novel of this series to date.  I highly recommend Frozen Hearts and most definitely Arctic Heat. The last with a passion!

Cover art by Carina Press art department is lovely and works for the characters and storyline.

Arctic Heat sounds like my kind of read, at least on the surface. In reality, the story was much too slow for me. I felt like it was unnecessarily drawn out with a lot of focus on the mundane, day to day stuff. The rescues and various maintenance tasks were interesting, but I would've much rather read about the Alaskan countryside than how many times these guys made coffee. Suffice it to say that I was bored for a lot of this one.
As far as the romance goes, it was as slow-moving as the story. I can get behind a good slow burn, but this was pushing it. I get that Quill was resistant, but it grew repetitive, and by forty percent in, I really didn't care all that much if he did give in. I think part of that comes from Owen being so pushy. Quill may not have actually said the word no, but it was implied a lot. Of course, Quill comes around, or there wouldn't have been much of a romance, but I had a hard time liking Owen.
The big problem to overcome came from where I expected, and I'm not a fan of the big changing moment used here either. Both have been done and done again. Given the length of the book, I would think a little more time could've been spent on a more original problem and on an ending that didn't feel so rushed. It felt like it took forever to get there only to be pushed through to the end.
This third in the Frozen Hearts series also gave me a few problems structurally. We get both Owen and Quill's points of view in a chapter, but there was no designation to let the reader know that, and I really didn't notice a big difference in either voice. Both of those things led to confusion about who was doing what and when. I'm an adult, I can figure it out as I read, but more than once, I'd be part way through and realize the point of view had changed.
I realize that my opinion is probably not the popular one, it rarely is, but I just found this one much too easy to set aside and even harder to pick back up.

This is the third installment in the Frozen Hearts series. It is a MM contemporary adventure romance set in Alaska. The main characters in this book have emotional baggage that makes the pairing interesting. This book also deals with the setting in a much harsher way than the previous books in the series, as it is set in the winter in Alaska. The characters were well developed and the pace of the story is just right. It was a wonderful story. Though it is the third installment, it can be read as a stand-alone.

Arctic Heat is the third book in the Frozen Hearts series by the talented Annabeth Albert. I'm a huge fan of Annabeth's and Arctic Heat is my favorite book in the series! I enjoyed the other stories, but there was just something about Quill and Owen that got me. Owen is living life. He's out and proud and has a bucket list. Quill is in the closet, reserved and a little grumpy. There's initial attraction there but when they are going to be spending the entire winter together, Quill just can't act on it. Quill's job is his life. He's a ranger and he doesn't have time for any relationships. Owen turns out to be the breath of fresh air Quill has been looking for his entire life. He decides to take a chance, but it has to be kept a secret. Owen is ok for that, for now. But when his feelings start to change, will Owen convince Quill to take a real chance on them? When danger finds them, Quill has a decision to make. Be the one for Owen or let him go. This story was so great! I loved the dynamic between Quill and Owen. They come from different places, are complete opposites, but they just mesh. Owen loves taking care of Quill and Quill loves having Owen around. Their relationship is comfortable and sexy. Overall, it's an emotional ride with laughs, tears and sexiness.

Another great book in this series!

I'm really sorry to see the Frozen Hearts series come to an end. I did a bucket list trip to Alaska in May of 2018 with family and friends. Annabeth Albert had just announced that she would be writing a series set in Alaska but I knew it would be quite a while before the first book would be published.

I don't know if the fact that she was writing this series made my trip even more exciting or not but I'm sure it didn't hurt. I'm no photographer but I was inspired so much on that trip that I took more pictures with my iPhone than I have of any other trip I've ever been on.

As I've read each book in this series it's brought back wonderful memories of the beautiful things I saw in Alaska. We were very fortunate to have fantastic weather with very few clouds and only a little rain. There were a lot of young people working in the various venues and I was reminded of this while reading Quill and Owen's story.

Quill is captivated by Owen and his zest for life but he's afraid to take a chance on a relationship. He's not out to his co-workers and has good reasons for not wanting to come out or be involved in any drama.

Owen has survived cancer and facing that devil changed his outlook on life. He's got a bucket list and spending the winter in Alaska is on it. No amount of discouraging from a hot park ranger will keep from fulfilling his commitment as a volunteer.

Arctic Heat touched my heart in many ways. I'm a cancer survivor like Owen, and having faced that it changed my outlook on a lot of things, just like it did for Owen. Owen's cancer was also the same kind that my nephew had when he was in his early 20's. Reading about what Owen went through was a little hard even though he – and my nephew – survived.

Arctic Heat has just the right amount of angst – enough to keep things interesting but not so much that I was cringing a lot while I read it. While this is a bit of a slow burn story at first, there's also a nice amount of heat going on once Quill gives in and decides to enjoy Owen for as long as he's there.

Arctic Heat is a book that held my attention from start to finish. I should have known better than to start reading it in the evening. I couldn't put it down and stayed up until 5:00 a.m. reading it; thank goodness I'm retired!

Annabeth Albert is one of my favorite authors of M/M romance and I can't wait to read whatever she has coming up next.

A review copy was provided by the publisher via NetGalley but this did not influence my opinion or rating of the book.

***Reviewed for Xtreme-Delusions dot com***

I struggled to get into this series and none of these novels really worked for me. I felt a similar disconnect with Arctic Heat, which features two extremely opposite men - one of whom is deeply in the closet. Owen, with his optimistic and hopeful view of life and it's opportunities, is a likeable guy. Quilleran, surly, tense and repressed, is not. I liked the idea that these two would find balance in each other - but Owen simply felt like an overeager, pushy puppy dog, and Quill his miserable owner/babysitter. I just couldn't get into them or their story.

Sweet, slow burn, opposites attract. It was....nice.

The third in the series she set in Alaska, this time we get the introverted park ranger and extroverted volunteer. Of course they are paired together.

I really loved the story- Owen the volunteer trying so hard to at least be friends with Quill. Hearing about all that they do as rangers and volunteers. The Northern Lights, the super short days, the cabin fever.

I just didn't really feel the heat with Owen and Quill. And even though I really liked Owen, I just didn't see him living a remote life like that. Several times in the book he stated he was going crazy from not having anyone to talk to.

The story is definitely readable- especially if you are a fan of the author and/or Alaska. I'm just not going to put it in her top ten.

Owen Han has a new lease on life after surviving cancer. He’s making his way through his bucket list, determined to live his life for himself while he discovers what he really wants. His latest stop is volunteering alongside park rangers for the winter in Alaska. The gorgeous vistas are nothing to sneeze at, but the real beauty is his partner: stoic Ranger Quill Ramsey. Owen would never want to be in a relationship with someone buried as deeply in the closet as Quill, but sharing a little body heat never hurt anyone, right?

Annabeth Albert proves that the warmest of personalities can win over even the most guarded of hearts in Arctic Heat. Ms. Albert’s third entry in the Frozen Hearts series is a slow burn romance that will melt your heart by the end.

Owen has a sunny personality and a determination to win people over that made me smile. He’s the opposite of Quill, a quiet, authoritative ranger who struggles with his attraction to Owen. Quill has had a host of negative life experiences that have impacted him and it’s easy to understand why he struggles to keep his relationship with Owen professional even while the sizzling attraction keeps drawing them together. I liked Quill a lot; his shyness, loneliness, and vulnerability called out to me and I was looking forward to seeing him find joy, companionship, and love with Owen. I liked that Owen was bold and sexy and brought Quill out of his shell, though at times Owen seemed to lack patience and empathy. It’s understandable in a way because his life prior to their meeting was vastly different from Quill’s. Neither man is perfect, but their flaws make them interesting. Their romance is slow burn, which is both good and bad. On the one hand it felt like they really got to know one another, on the other the book did move at a glacial pace for the first half of the story.

The life of an Alaskan park ranger is as important to the story as the romance and the research Ms. Albert did really shows. Quill and Owen’s duties, the beauty they see, and the dangers they face are fascinating. All in all, I enjoyed Arctic Heat. I struggled with the slow pace in the beginning, but Owen and Quill’s happily ever after at the end felt earned.

It took me a while to get truly invested in Arctic Heat, but I did. And in the end, I love this Annabeth Albert comfort/hurt story. The third book in the Frozen Hearts series, it is easily read as a standalone.

Quill has always had social issues, preferring to be off on his own. Stuck helping to train Owen as a park ranger, he discovers that the newbie is a social person who happens to thrive with others. This difference in their personalities is a large and wonderful aspect of this tale.

Owen's a beautiful character who's survived cancer and is enjoying his second chance at life. With Quill, he's grasping onto his second chance at love. Quill's firmly stuck in the closet, with no plans of ever coming out. But eventually he gives into the chemistry he has with Owen, leading to some hot scenes.

I love the depth of their character growth and self revelations. Quill's a man who's always been held back by fear; a man unable to be true to himself. This quote explains it all.

"Quill might be good at keeping him alive, but Owen liked to think he was equally good at making Quill feel alive."

In the end, they are a sweet couple who end up changing one another greatly.

The writing is wonderful, making it easy to feel the lay of the land, the feel of the elements, and the danger of their situations. My only problem was the slow start.

My favorite, however, may be the aspect of human touch in this story. It's very interesting and well explored, leading to some thoughtful moments.

Overall, Annabeth Albert's Arctic Heat is a wonderful read. It's a compelling, relationship driven, OFY romance that had me riveted by the end.

Owen and Quill make an interesting couple, one is out and proud and the other is so far in the closet he can't even see the light seeping in under the door. Annabeth Albert does an amazing job bringing these two together and giving them each what they need in order to form a friendship and a deep love for one another.

This has been a great series and Owen & Quill's story was a wonderful addition to it. I loved the slow pace that solidified their friendship and helped cultivate it into something deeper. Yes there is a bit of an age difference and yes they come from two different backgrounds but their friendship conquered that and their love conquered everything else.

Annabeth has taken us on another journey to the picturesque state of Alaska and like Owen, I have it on my bucket list....yes we have bucket lists for the same reason but mine does not include being a forest ranger for the winter there because lets face it I wouldn't survive the cold but I would most definitely go there for a couple of weeks on vacation to see all that the beautiful state has to show us.

I swear each time I have read a book in this series I have felt as if I was there looking at the beautiful scenery because of the Annabeth Albert writes, she makes you feel as if you are right there with them watching everything unfold as it's happening and it's a beautiful thing.

If you enjoy MM Romance, Interracial Romance, May-December/Age-Gap Romance then I urge you to grab a copy of this book because it is definitely worth the read.

Happy Reading!!!

**I have voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Readers Copy of this book for my Blog, Nadine's Obsessed with Books**

I am very grateful that Carina Press are happy to approve me lots of their releases from Netgalley. I love them all, but especially this author who tries to create interesting and immersive plots and diverse characters who have struggled and continue to work out who they want to be.

I feel Quill doesn't think that enough in the beginning of this book. He is clearly a strong believer of keeping the status quo. Fortunately, Owen has arrived in his life to break him out of the predictable life he thinks he's best suited for, and of course, that is not going to be easy or without consequences.

I loved Owen's confidence and liveliness at the beginning of the novel. Trying to remain upbeat and positive in the middle of an Alaskan winter, will prove to be tough, but he is such a determined character, open and earnest, that he constantly keeps readers invested in his happiness.

When we see Quill through Owen's eyes, we see what a generous and caring person he is. But when we are inside Quill's head, we also see the other side: his lack of self esteem, and self worth. His assurance that he isn't (good) enough for Owen. His repressed sexuality and the causes for that.

Albert makes every sentence matter and she builds up the character development in authentic ways, because we believe the boys' anxieties, and we understand how hard it is for them to take a risk on love.

Highly enjoyable and interesting. Loved glimpses of previous Albert's couples.

Thanks to Netgalley and publisher for approved advanced copy. Arctic Heat will be out on September 26 (like tomorrow or something).

Oooh, this might be my favorite book in the Frozen Hearts series. This is just classic Annabeth Albert - delicious slow burn, amazing chemistry between the two characters, a well-written approach to sex and its role in a relationship, and a lovely HEA fairy tale ending for Owen and Quill.

Owen is volunteering in the Alaska wilderness for the winter and spring seasons and is stationed to work along side Quinn. I loved the total opposites attract scenario here, as Owen is vibrant and chatty and living life to the fullest after surviving cancer, whereas Quill is living a shell of a life, hiding from emotional connections, having gone through a rough childhood and past relationship.

I really enjoyed the slow burn here. Although the attraction is there right from the start, it takes a while for Quill to be okay with acting on it. But Owen is so great about talking Quill through things and helping Quill see that it's okay to talk about things, that sex can be messy and fun and wonderful.

This story had some great elements of working in Alaska (this series makes me want to go visit Alaska!), some great hurt/comfort from Owen getting sick and also from an avalanche, and then lots of communication and working on the relationship. The ending is pretty epic HEA and I just loved this one.

I received an arc from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Arctic Wild is still my favorite in the Frozen Hearts series, but I liked this one, too. If I were assigning tropes, I’d probably call this an opposites attract, out for you romance with a healthy dose of hurt/comfort.

Quill and Owen are certainly very different. Owen is an out-and-proud extrovert who craves human interaction. Quill is an introvert who would much rather be alone than have to deal with other people; he’s also firmly in the closet and plans to stay there. However, when the two of them are assigned to work together, they get to know each other in a way that allows them to look past their differences and make a connection.

Part of that connection involves Owen taking care of Quill, who definitely needs it. Owen is a natural caretaker, the kind of person who wants to make other people feel good, and being a very bossy person he’s not willing to take no for an answer when he thinks he can help. Quill definitely needs caring for, but he resists because he doesn’t want to get too close to Owen. Partly that’s because Owen is only going to be in Alaska for a season, but Quill also has some deep-seated trauma that works against his wanting to come out and openly be in a relationship with a man. So, Quill spends a fair amount of the book resisting his feelings for Owen and pushing him away when he feels threatened—maybe too much so depending on your mileage for that sort of thing as a reader.

The turnaround in Quill’s feelings about being out happens very quickly. It felt almost too fast for me, given his previous resistance, even though the author sets up a dramatic scenario that reinforces his change of heart. Still, when Quill goes all in on the relationship and starts making romantic declarations to Owen, I found it about as hard to resist as Owen does.

So, overall, I enjoyed this book. If you’re a fan of Annabeth Albert’s writing and enjoyed the other two in the series, you should definitely give this one a read.

A copy of this book was provided through NetGalley for review; all opinions expressed are my own.

3.5 Stars rounded Up

Another compelling entry in Albert’s “Frozen Hearts” series, ARCTIC HEAT brought together two opposite characters Owen Han and Quilleran Ramsey spending Alaskan winter in remote ranger post. It’s a slow burn romance between two captivating men; Owen a cancer survival and Quill a super introvert (childhood) abuse survivor.

I loved how despite the tribulation he had gone through Owen maintained his sunny view on life. One of the traits often found in Albert’s character that really liven up the tone of the story even when dealing with dark or difficult aspect (of the plot). Quill and Owen’s budding relationship also felt effortlessly genuine and honest. To me the less steamy rate this book had (compared to the previous entries) gave sway to deeper connection the men had (considering their background and disposition).

Although part of “Frozen Hearts” series, ARCTIC HEAT could be read as standalone. Those who have read all of Albert’s books might find a couple cameos from her earlier books, but not necessarily mean spoil anything for those who haven’t (read those books). For premise as cold as mentioned here, this is one of a heartwarming story I’ve read. In their own ways, both MCs fought for their happy beginning (even when situation seemed to be against them) - a lift me up read that was truly recommended for the fans of Annabeth Albert’s writings.


Copy of this book is kindly given by the author/publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Owen and Quill

Quill was something, closed up behind high walls, where no one can reach or hurt him.
He has the exterior of a man who has his life altogether. With Owen, as the new volunteer guy who will help him, the park ranger, in the next seven months, close by, Quill is grumpy with the purpose to hold him on arm length. Owen will leave after he scraps this from his bucket list, so no point to come out or get close even if it seems so right.
Owen is the opposite, easy talking and easy-going, positive thinking and all in for a sexy time when possible. Kicking cancer he knows life is too valuable and too short to waste. It takes a lot of work and patience to unravel Quill, but oh boy, when he’s finally unraveling, it’s a sight for the eye. Closing down is natural for Quill, how can he trust and open his sensitive heart, without being hurt.

“A resonant bass note of understanding that made his soul, not his lips, not his libido, want a piece of Owen.”

With a defect generator, they have to sleep in the only space with more warmth.
When Quill finally wants to let his heart speak, he’s afraid it is too late.

What a beautifully, widely, written journey, about opening and rising from frozen inner contained feelings. To see Quill bloom was something for the eye. He is such a precious man. Owen is the very best, open, clear and cheerful. Bit by bit we get to know both men.
Their daily life as park rangers is diversified by activities and all are captivating to experience.
I loved both men, so opposite and with their characteristics. One determined and the other not even want to give it a try. An extraordinary story, it’s beautifully layered and developed. The special rough environments were a delightful addition.
An emotional story with a lot of feelings, also some angsty moments, but overall about love, thaw, trust, and choices. I loved every word from front to back cover.
Highly recommended!

3.5 to 4 stars...
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.

*******Note: Blog and social media links to go live on release day 9/23/19

❄Cool story about breaking through fear to a take chance on love👍
4-4.5 🌟stars
👥 I enjoyed Owen and Quill's story, with good writing and a cool (in more ways than one!) setting in the wilds of a winter Alaska. Yes, there is heat to their relationship (despite or maybe aided by the coolness of their living conditions!), but it's the slow build of tentative friendship, trust and then romance that makes it stand out.

Owen's medical backstory and his enthusiasm for getting out there and grabbing the renewed lease on life he's been given were inspiring. Quiet, closeted Quill was harder to like at first, but as the story proceeded, his fear of exposure and reaction to intimacy was more comprehensible due to his family background. It was great to see him break through years of self denial when his aha moment crept up on him.

The story was just a bit too long IMO, maybe because I just cared less about the nitty gritty of their daily jobs and rescue responsibilities. But the action-packed climax and the happy aftermath were worth some slow spots. I really liked this couple and how their lives panned out. Chalk up another Annabeth Albert Alaskan MM romance in the winner category!😊

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.

Arctic Heat is the third stand-alone in Annabeth Albert's Frozen Hearts series. This was probably more of a 4.5 star read but I'm upping it to 5 stars because I just really love this series. There's something about the way Annabeth Albert makes me wish I could pick up and move to Alaska and the wonderful characters she creates that I can't get enough.

Arctic Heat brings us grumpy gruff ranger Quill {you know I have a weakness for those type of men 😍} who enjoys his solitary life away from drama and judgement. He takes his job seriously and when his long time partner takes time off work he finds himself with a volunteer. That volunteer is optimistic Owen who is quick to a smile and out to prove himself capable to survive an Alaskan winter. From the moment they literally lay eyes on each other the sexual attraction is present. Quill doesn't mix business with pleasure and while Owen is out and proud, Quill is nice and cozy in the closet. For the next six months they are going to be in close contact with each other and things heat up in the best ways when Quill gives into his desires. A happily ever after won't be easy with the difference between them and let's not forget the dangers of working in the Alaskan wilderness during the long cold winter.

Quill's character has more depth than he appears to have at first glance. He has a whole trunks worth of emotional damage from his less than supportive family and a past unhealthy relationship that he's successfully ignored his whole life. Owen is energetic and personable, and he's been through a tough ordeal in his life that makes him appreciate the life he has. I loved all the engaging scenes between the two, from baking cookies to the more intimate interactions. Against Quill's will, they become friends and so much more. My only issue was the "push you away for your own good" story line. Those really aren't my favorite but overall I loved their slow built, well-earned happily ever after.

Arctic Heat is a wonderful MM romance that is the perfect balance of light-hearted and serious . An opposites attract, slow burn with a happily ever after ending filled with heartfelt moments, sexual explorations, and a few stressful situations. I can't wait for the next installment in the Frozen Hearts series.

Round up to 3.5 stars.

Third in the Frozen Hearts series – this can be read as a standalone.

Blurb sums up the plot fairly well – Owen is working through his bucket list after successfully completing treatment for cancer. One of the items on his list was spend a winter as volunteer staff in Alaska’s park system.
Quill, a 20 year veteran of the Park’s Volunteer system and permanent ranger, is facing one of his first winters without his friend Hattie after she was promoted and moved to be closer to her family. Quill doesn’t like change. Quill doesn’t like outgoing volunteers. Quill is a bit of a crabby pants.

When Owen is assigned to Quill’s district, Owen is thrilled at the opportunity to get to know Quill better. Quill wants very little to do with Owen, but gradually, Owen pulls Quill out of his shell.

This was an enjoyable third installment to the Frozen Hearts series. Owen was a very likeable and fun character – outgoing, enthusiastic, willing to step forward and help. The kind of friend we’d all like to be and would love to have.

Quill…was not as likeable and it took me a while to warm up to his character. Yes, change is hard and having your best friend leave after six years to pursue a life of her own is a major change, but you don’t treat a volunteer like dirt because <i>you’re</i> unhappy. Especially when it sounds like the volunteers are kind of necessary and this is something he’s done over his twenty years.

As the romance between Quill and Owen moves forward and they get to know each other, I was NOT thrilled about characters who decide what is best for the other person’s life goals and objectives. I’m purposely being oblique to avoid spoilers, but this aspect annoyed me somewhat.

I also had some concerns about the incident requiring CPR, a trip to ICU, and a week later our characters are having sex. According to the First Responders and EMT’s I’ve taken CPR training with, the dislocated sternum and potentially cracked ribs are going to hinder any romantic inclination a person may have. <i>Breathing</i> is going to hurt. Yes, I understand the need for some life altering drama, but…this didn’t work for me.


So I bounced off Quill's character, I questioned some of the medical accuracy, I enjoyed Owen a great deal, and the whole “volunteer in Alaska” aspect was quite interesting. Overall, an engaging third book.