Something of a "locked room" romance, which Annabeth Albert does exceptionally well: two men, one a park ranger and the other a volunteer, connect during a winter in the remote Alaskan wilderness. I appreciated that the characters were able to articulate and communicate both their reservations and their desires, and Albert's characterization is, as always, achingly tender. Recommended especially for readers who prefer health approaches to dealing with trauma (as opposed to relationship drama). Some mild peril, but the resolution is believable, if a bit fast.

Si les deux premiers tomes de cette série m'avaient moyennement emballés, je dois dire que j'ai été séduite et touchée par celui-ci !

Le temps d'un roman, nous allons nous immerger dans l'immensité sauvage de l'Alaska, et partager l'expérience solitaire et feutrée de Quill, Ranger avec 20 ans de carrière à son actif, et Owen saisonnier bénévole pour quelques mois. Les deux hommes vont passer leurs journées à patrouiller dans les environs, à accomplir les différentes taches qui leur incombent, y compris la venue en aide aux touristes accidentés. À travers les yeux de ses héros, Annabeth Albert célèbre la beauté et la rudesse de l'Alaska, son côté rugueux, dangereux et solitaire, mais aussi magique, avec ses paysages, sa faune et ses lumières.

Quill a la quarantaine bien tassée, c'est un homme profondément solitaire, un vrai ours, et en fait, c'est quelqu'un de triste et blessé, il n'a jamais vraiment dépassé les peurs de sa jeunesse, il est enfermé dans cette vie, et l'arrivée d'un homme comme Owen, si à l'aise avec lui-même et avec les autres va forcément compliquer sa vie. Leur cohabitation est source de tensions en tout genre, Quill ne cherchant pas la compagnie de son collègue, tandis qu'Owen est lui déterminé à découvrir cet homme, et à engager une relation avec lui, ne serait-ce qu'amicale (en tout cas au début).

La romance est du genre slow burn, elle progresse doucement et connaît pas mal d'à coups. Owen est quand même assez persistant, on pourrait même trouver qu'il insiste parfois lourdement, et ne respecte pas assez les barrières de Quill, mais cela ne m'a pas trop dérangée. C'est une belle histoire que nous offre l'auteur, ce n'est pas une romance intense et passionnée, on est plutôt dans une forme de retenue, quelque chose de doux-amer, et je crois que c'est ce que j'ai le plus apprécié. On est aussi dans une sorte de huis-clos, avec cet isolement des personnages, un isolement finalement tant géographique que relationnel.

J'ai aimé cette histoire, les sentiments qu'elle m'a procurée, mais je suis un peu déçue et dubitative quant à la fin ... Néanmoins, j'ai été touchée par ce livre, par ses personnages, et c'est une lecture que je recommande (et qui peut sans problème être lu comme un standalone).

It’s probably more of a 3.5 but I don’t feel like rounding up.

I can’t say that I’ve been a huge fan of this series since the beginning, but I’ve enjoyed the Alaskan setting enough to want to continue. And I’m glad I did because I found this book to be much better than previous installments.

The writing in this book took me a while to get into and I was a bit bored initially. But once the winter season started in the story, it was interesting to get to know more about how the volunteers work along with rangers, what are their responsibilities and what kind of incidents should they be equipped to deal with. There was always this sense of danger, especially related to avalanches which felt real and visceral and gave me a real appreciation for the work all of them do to keep the tourists safe. On the flip side, this book doesn’t showcase the beauty of the Alaskan backcountry but concentrates on the issues travelers might face - but I didn’t mind this shift. I had enough of the picturesque locales in two books and it was nice to see the other side too. The last third of the book was also quite emotional and I ended up crying a lot (it could have just been my mood too though). It’s probably one reason I liked this book more despite not connecting with the characters a lot.

Quill wasn’t an easy person to like. Not that he is bad, but he has so many internalized issues about relationships and being out as gay that sometimes I wanted to give him a hug, but other times I wanted to give him a good shake. But he was great at his job and I really liked that he didn’t shy away from talking about all the dangers, even if his audience didn’t appreciate it. Owen on the other hand is a cancer survivor, who now has a bucket list and wants to get through it all because he doesn’t want to waste any time. He is also a very social, talkative and extroverted person which makes him an exact opposite of Quill. And I totally understood his wish that Quill be more open, but I don’t think he completely empathized with Quill’s hangups. They are so different from each other that I couldn’t understand why they liked each other in the first place, but there was a lot of friendship and relationship development which I enjoyed. It felt very domestic and adorable and I liked those quieter moments. However, there was also a lot of back and forth, especially on Quill’s part and while I could feel where he was coming from, it got frustrating after a while. When the conflict happened, it seemed inevitable but I was also so upset that I kept sobbing for quite some time. However, the ending felt a little rushed but also earned and very very sweet.

Overall, this was an enjoyable read despite some of the issues I had with the characters. I loved following the rangers and getting to know their daily life, and that’s one main reason this is probably my favorite of this trilogy. This book also has the hurt/comfort trope - so if you enjoy these themes or the setting of Alaska, you should definitely check out this book. Even if you have been disappointed by the previous books in this series, I have a feeling you might enjoy this better just like I did.

I keep coming back to this series because I like the author even knowing I haven't liked any of the books in the series so far. This was no exception. I don't even know if I can explain why I don't like the series but it just doesn't quite work for me. I guess it's hard for me to accept that all these people are totally willing to move to such an unforgiving environment like Alaska after knowing someone such a short period of time. Like it's hard to move to and move away from Alaska and depending on where you live there you can be stuck by snow for a while. I just find it all unbelievable in a way I can't get past.

Quill and Owen were great characters, I really enjoyed the slow-burn aspect of their romance because it allowed their relationship to really develop. While the story had a bit of angst it just added weight to the storyline and felt needed and not gratuitous.

All in all a very enjoyable read and another great addition to the series.

The love story in Arctic Heat is a much gentler journey than those in the first two books. Super prickly ranger Quill is stuck in his ways, but he's no match for Owen's careful onslaught. I appreciated that they didn't rush into a hot and heavy relationship and it wasn't fueled by the kind of drama you often find with the forced proximity trope. Rather, their relationship grew slowly from strangers to friendship to more and I appreciated that they recognized their arrangement as a true relationship rather than just a sexual experience out of convenience. I did find myself getting a little frustrated at Owen's ultimatum but I got where he was coming from. Quill's reluctance to reach for what he really wanted was so sad but also unfortunately understandable. For those reasons, the resolution was ultimately satisfying.

FYI: I’ve read and really enjoyed the first two books in Annabeth Albert’s Frozen Heart’s series, and this book is my absolute favorite. FYI – we very briefly met Quill and his partner Hattie as they rescued Reuben and Tobias after their plane crashed in the Alaskan wilderness in “Arctic Wild”, but rest assured, even if you haven’t the other books in the series, this book works very well as a stand-alone.

Ranger Quilleran Ramsey has spent 20 years telling people he is married to his job … which he feels is safer for his job and reputation than telling anyone he’s gay. Quill is the epitome of the strong silent type:

“He’d never figured out why some people enjoyed filling a perfectly good silence with inane questions. He’d had colleagues for twenty years without ever needing to have a deep chat or fill in personal details.” […] God, he hoped they didn’t assign him a talker for the winter. That was the last thing he needed."

Owen, a cancer survivor, is social (or as his sister says “aggressively extroverted), confident, out-and-proud and determined to experience the sort of life he dreamed about during cancer treatments. “Something about the past few years had turned him off pretension, made him value genuineness because time was really too short to deal with fake people and their fake problems.” And when Owen volunteers as a seasonal park volunteer, these two very dissimilar men are assigned to spend the Alaskan winter season together maintaining a ranger station.

Although there are a few secondary characters, this book focuses almost exclusively on Quill and Owen in their small cabin over the winter. Annabeth Albert absolutely shines in crafting their relationship as it grows and deepens ever so slowly; although some readers may find the pace slow, I absolutely loved the depth of the character development. You really feel like you know these two men, inside and out, by the end of this novel. And while I’m not the hugest fan of disaster or tragedy to hammer home a resolution, again I love the way the author uses a life-and-death situation to really crystalize the way Quill feels about Owen.

I love almost everything about this story – the rich character development, the Alaskan backdrop, the way their sexual relationship enriches Quill and Owen, the slow and steady pace and an ending that gives our MCs their well-deserved happiness. 5 stars and a Recommended Read for “Arctic Heat.”

There was a delicate balance that was achieved so beautifully and crafted so well here…I was drawn into the lives of these two men so thoroughly that I was sad to see it end. Annabeth Albert is at the top of her game in the third installment of her Frozen Hearts series with Arctic Heat.

Owen battled cancer and won, and one of his bucket list items is to spend a winter in Alaska with park rangers. And the first one he sees is easy on the eyes. If only Quill was as easy on the heart…

I love Alaskan romances. I love the wilderness atmosphere. I love the potential for snowed-in scenarios, and hot kisses in the cold. This one didn’t disappoint (even if there wasn’t really a snowed-in scenario). These two were wonderful together. Owen light-hearted and risk-taking with Quill being more reserved and careful. Quill is also kind of closeted while Owen is out and loud and proud about it.

Seeing them both open up to each other was just so freaking sweet and adorable. I grinned ear-to-ear in multiple parts, and it was wonderful. That said, the ending drew on way too long, and I got fidgety with it. Quill also really tested my patience.

Lovers of Alaskan wilderness romances aren’t going to want to miss this one. Bundle up for the cuteness, the sexy, and the adventure.

4 stars.

Arctic Heat is the final book in Annabeth Albert's Frozen Hearts trilogy, and follows the characters Owen - a cancer survivor ticking things off his bucket list - and Quill, a ranger used to long, cold, Alaskan winters. 

Owen's left his previous life as an investment banker to see the world and try new experiences, including volunteering alongside park rangers in Alaska - a far cry from his West Coast life. He thinks all his dreams have come true when he's paired up with the socially-awkward, but enticing, Ranger Quill, who wants nothing to do with volunteers who don't know what they're getting themselves in for. What follows is an on-again/off-again romance that explores breaking down people's barriers and trusting in others in an environment that is harsh and dangerous.

I enjoyed Arctic Heat, but I think the series overall pales in comparison to some of Albert's other work. Everything about it is fine, and enjoyable, but to me there was something missing that I've come to expect from Albert's books.

What I did really appreciate in this book, and the whole series, is the way the characters all come from very different backgrounds and experiences and these underpin who they are. Owen is a very fun, social guy who's survived cancer and recognised that the man he was before his illness is not the same man he is now. He's confident and outgoing and the total opposite of Quill who's always been socially isolated and has difficulty connecting to other people and this causes a lot of friction between the two men - who like one another, but find it challenging to find common ground.

I also continued to love the setting of the stories - Alaska is a great backdrop and Arctic Heat is a look at one aspect of the countryside, and the dangers that it can hold for people unfamiliar with the terrain. The way Albert describes the landscape is cold and unforgiving, and still enchanting enough to entice people to want to be there and explore the surroundings.

I'm so glad to have read this series and explored a new 'world' from this author, and I look forward to seeing what she releases in the future.

This was another great addition to this series with these two new characters, Owen and Quill. The pair are definitely an example of opposites attracting in that Owen being adventurous, outgoing and social while Quill was an introvert that prefers the stability of routine and solitude while denying his true feelings toward Owen. Quill coming from a bad home life as well as issues with events of his past. The pair work through their feelings and issues when events caused Quill to face his feelings and think about his future.
This was a great story that at first I thought started slow but once it began to progress I was hooked on the story. The pair had chemistry together and their challenges were relate-able. I enjoyed this book in its entirety and would recommend it to others.

Very definitely my favourite of the three in this Alaskan set series from Annabeth.

This is a story about second chances, not only at life but at finding your place and the things which are important to you no matter how small or insignificant they may seem.

I felt so bad for Quill, who has had a life which challenged his very sense of self to the point which he locked it away and decided he'd be married to his job as a ranger.

That was until wonderful Owen crashed full tilt into his steady world and thoroughly shook it up.

I loved how Annabeth made this a quiet story, it's focused on and around the day to day activities of the ranger station and its tiny staff quarters where the two men oh so slowly fall in love.

They are delicious together and quite unexpected in their sexual preferences, nothing more hotter than Quill starting to let go and explore how freeing sex can be when it's with the right partner.

The tension points felt earned and completely within the drive of the narrative and I was holding my breath even with the Carina Press guarantee of a HEA!

As with the other two, Alaska is as much a character as the humans and wildlife and I'm still totally jealous of my friend Dani who got to read this book on location!

The ending is awesome and I was sad to say goodbye to Quill and Owen as they settled into their Alaskan sunset forever.

Definitely liked the second half more than the first half. The first half was kind of slow but overall I highly enjoyed where it ended up. Quill and Owen compliment each other really well.

Thank you Carina and NetGalley for the ARC!

There’s something I find compelling about Annabeth Albert’s Frozen Hearts series, but perhaps it’s the wilds of Alaska and the odd, accompanying sense of adventure and danger so far north that pull me in. Here, the urban-suave ex-investment banker and a grumpy, closet ranger come together in ‘Arctic Heat’, a pairing that is as unlikely as Owen Han and Quill Ramsey meeting under ‘normal circumstances’ had tragedy not struck in a way to make the former reevaluate his priorities.

And they couldn’t be more different, especially when the thought of such a pairing seems like a bad idea from the start. Owen is rocking what life has to offer after beating cancer, now exuberantly pursuing everything in his bucket list, Quill’s stoic, cautious and reticent in his approach to jumping into everything headlong despite Owen’s very obvious attempts in starting something between them. More so, because Owen’s place in Alaska is temporary—a pit stop in his journey towards ticking off yet one more thing in his list—while Quill is simply opposed to having his slow, steady life upended by an eager, restless puppy of a volunteer who just won’t give up.

But Albert works these kinks out slowly but surely, with action that is muted in favour of relationship development and a slow burn that’s mostly found in Owen’s small but significant inroads (literally and metaphorically) in Quill’s closeted and closed-up life and his overall bleakness on the relationship front. It’s a pairing that’s good for each other, I think, despite my finding Owen a bit too pushy for my liking, even if it’s meant to get Quill to let go of his regimented thinking a bit more.

Overall, ‘Arctic Heat’ is a gentler, more emotion-focused than adventure-driven sort of story, with an iron-clad HEA that Albert reinforces through lots of emotional affirmation. It did drag a bit and became somewhat predictable for me, but it’ll could appeal to those who like delving into head space with some adult angst.

Annabeth Albert’s books all tend to follow the same pattern, and I suspect whether you find that boring or comfortable is a matter of taste. Personally, I enjoy her books - some more, some less, but I especially like this series. I’m a sucker for the Alaskan setting - I love hiking, and while I’m not a huge fan of the cold I certainly prefer it over the heat we experienced last week. Reading this book helped at least somewhat with that.

„Arctic Heat“ focuses on Quill and Owen, who spent a winter together in an Alaskan state park. Quill is an experienced ranger and Owen a volunteer, and they have very different personalities. But opposites attract and all that... the final conflict is extremely predictable, and I can’t say I didn’t roll my eyes, but overall it was a nice comfort read. My favorite book of the series remains book two, however.

As a cancer survivor, Owen is now checking things off of his bucket list. Spending time volunteering his time in Alaska is a life long dream come true. When a connection is made with Quill, the man who is supervising him, will Owen be able to check off finding a soulmate too? Or will the closeted lover end up breaking Owen's heart? These two characters were so great. From the beginning of the story to the very last page Annabeth Albert once again creates a wonderful story.

Another amazing story in the series. These are stand alone stories, they aren't linked by crossover characters but by the place, dangerous Alaska. When Owen was recovering from cancer he made himself a bucket list that included volunteering one winter to help park rangers in Alaska. At his orientation training he meets Quill who teaches avalanche survival training. They are unexpectedly teamed up to spend the winter working together. Owen is excited to work with the sexy ranger, but Quill is more afraid of being outed. Excellent writing, plot, characters, and sense of place.

Arctic Heat is classic Annabeth Albert: two endearing but imperfect MCs, opposites attract theme, slow burn cultivating in something deliciously wanton, and a brilliant HEA.

This is hands down my favorite book of the series thus far. There isn't one thing I didn't love about this story.

Grumpy ranger Quill, mountain man extraordinaire, seriously underestimates the new volunteer. Owen is indeed pretty, but he's no college intern. A cancer survivor, Owen is working on his bucket list and is more than ready to tackle a winter in Alaska.

Quill does his best to ignore Owen, especially after Owen's kiss makes his knees buckle, but Owen craves human connection and is determined to win over the uptight ranger who, thanks to an as asshat of an ex-boyfriend, has so many antiquated ideas about sex.

The two men are nothing alike, but they fit like puzzle pieces. Owen's outgoing nature means Quill can teach but not engage in small talk. Owen makes Quill smile, and Quill grounds Owen, making him realize that maybe he's right where he's supposed to be.

This is a quiet, relationship focused, steamy story. I loved how Quill came to realize that sex can be messy and fun and wild, that there are no rules.

An element of hurt-comfort permeates the book. Owen has some lingering post-chemo issues and is involved in an accident that shakes Quill to his very core.

Some may find the ending rushed. Even Owen was shocked by Quinn's change of heart! But I think the HEA was more than earned. There is so much relationship development on page that I never doubted Quill and Owen's love and dedication.

Three cheers for Owen's amazing parents, pumpkin pie, and, of course, the stark beauty of remote Alaska.

Even if you had doubts about the first two books in the Frozen Hearts series or never read them, don't miss this one! It is one hundred percent a standalone.

P.S. I read this book in Alaska on a balcony overlooking the ocean, and that elevated my reading experience to something holy.

A quote:
“He was fast coming to love Quill’s contrasts – large, hulking ranger capable of handling any crisis, and shy, almost wounded man who struggled with opening up and letting go.”
I loved this story with a closeted hero, who happens to be a study in contradictions: a tough, burly Alaskan ranger, suffering from an endearing shyness and sporting believable and so human insecurities, rooted in a troubled upbringing, a dysfunctional family and an unfortunate, romantic life.
Quill is such a great character, reserved, solid, steadfast, yet hiding so much pain. I really felt for him, his fears and insecurities are so real and understandable. The loneliness in his life is moving, poignantly well written.
How Owen, with his hipster and youngish appearance and sunny disposition dispite a troubled medical history, conquers the curmudgeon ranger with his genuineness, friendliness and warmth is a fascinating journey to watch.
The dynamics between Owen’s innate confidence and “irresistible optimist” and Quill’s guardedness is fascinating. The ranger with “intense eyes” is a tortured hero, yet Owens has troubles of his own too, having dealt with cancer and facing issues post-surgery (handled realistically).
The breaking down of Quill’s emotional walls in the beautiful Alaskan landscape is a fascinating part of the story, even more enjoyable and exciting than the new Quill and the final pages where I felt there was too much talking.

These boys were a bit exhausting!
I like this series. Mainly due to the setting and the scenic beauty the author portrays and how characters in the previous books make a small but vey poignant appearance.
Quill and. Owen had immediate chemistry but instead of giving into their needs they danced around each other for a bit. I liked that they became friends first but it was evident that there was more than just a fling.
I liked that the dominant rolls were reversed in the book. I would have assumed that Quill would have been the dominate one in their relationship.
I appreciate that the author made them both a little older Quill was forty-ish and Owen
was in his mid thirties but they came across as younger and less mature than I thinking.
t takes a scare for this couple to realize what they have. Just when I thought they were going to live their HEA there seemed.to be more roadblocks and constant reassurance.

Another great addition to the Frozen Hearts series.

Content warnings include: cancer survivor main character, homophobia, avalanche, fatal car accident (the main characters are not involved but they are at the scene), sex on-page; mentions of: heart attack, parental death, surgery, amputation, dysfunctional bordering on abusive family dynamics.

I'm having a bit of a hard time sorting my feelings about this one.
There were many things I loved. I adored Owen, who was optimistic and.... mature - that's the best word I can find for it. He was hard to anger, always polite and friendly, never acted out or treated someone hurtfully even when he was hurt himself, he remained calm even when agitated. He was just such a wonderful person and many things I aspire to be.

Meanwhile Quill had a lot of internal demons to fight, which I on the one hand found painfully relateable, on the other... found weird and almost uncomfortable. Part of this was that I could relate to a lot of his fears, yet it was also obvious that, while I share a lot of his sentiments, his and my own reasons were rooted in very different things.
To elaborate: A lot of the things he said and felt and thought were exactly how I as an aromantic and asexual person felt. Yet he decidedly wasn't either of those - he even says so on page - and he says these things I could relate to so much because of bad experiences and internalized fear, shame and homophobia.
I know the book was in no way trying to invalidate asexuality, and even mentions that that is a whole other thing, but... it still made me feel queasy when Owen tried again and again to get past Quill's walls. They reminded me too much of my own boundaries, and that made it hard to separate my discomfort from the gruffness that covered Quill's yearning.

That said, Owen does respect Quill's boundaries. He does test them frequently, but I found it more a gentle brushing and teasing than outright disrespect. Additionally, Quill does want him to do so, especially as the book continues, but I couldn't help but be reminded of the extremely similar patterns from Arctic Sun.
Overall, all three books of the series, including Arctic Wild, follow the same arc, kind of. At first one character is reluctant, then they start having sex, they develop feelings, one of them is sure they will never work out while the other is pushing for the relationship, they fight, something big bad happens, they get their happily ever after.

All of the books are very well executed and still distinct enough in their details and settings (even if they all play in roughly the same part of Alaska), and especially the characters themselves are very different and most of them have very itneresting backgrounds - there are just quite a lot of common elements.

Overall an enjoyable, if rather slow, read, with a lot of cozyness and tenderness between an introvert and an extrovert in the icy winter of Alaska.