Second chance romance FTW!

I've really been enjoying Annabeth Albert's Hotshots series, and her latest, Feel the Fire , did not disappoint! Luis and Tucker were childhood best friends, then something more, then planning for a possible future (always a bit up in the air, given their age and a likely lack of support from Tucker's family)...when Luis had to move. Long distance didn't work, life happened, and now it feels like it's a lifetime later when they're thrown together again, this time for work. But they're adults, right? They can just be respectful coworkers, right?

Riiight.

Even though it was also as hot as heck, I really appreciated how adult this romance was. Spending time with Tucker's coworkers (former and future--I hope!--characters in the series) helped Luis to overcome much of the prejudice he had toward the area from growing up there. Tucker's twin boys were really accepting of their dad's new relationship, and even before the story began the three of them joined his ex-wife, her new husband, and their daughter for weekly dinners. It was just wonderful to spend time with people who yes, may have been hurt and/or hurt each other in the past but were able to get past it all and just enjoy their relationships.

Also--I mentioned that Tucker and Luis were super hot together? Yes? ;)

Bring on the next firefighter couple; I'm ready!

Rating: 4 stars / A-

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.

Feel the Fire is the third in the Hotshots series and by far my favorite! Albert is a favorite author of mine, but I didn’t necessarily LOVE the first two books. However, Feel the Fire definitely gets 5 stars. This book is about fire behavior specialist (which is a fascinating job), Luis Rivera, and Tucker Ryland. The two were high school sweethearts who hadn’t seen or spoken to each other in years. Luis comes back to town for his job and the two end up having to work side by side – airing old wounds and forging a new friendship and eventual relationship.

I love a good friends-to-lovers romance, and I thought this one was done well. Both of them had past hurts to deal with but they didn’t take it out on each other. They had both matured and were ready to move forward. Of course, Luis is only in town for the job – and he’s not sure he really wants to up and move. Tucker, however, has teen twin boys and therefore more ties to the area. It’s a lot for them to deal with. I loved getting to know Luis and Tucker and seeing them fall in love all over again!

This is the second book I've read by Annabeth Albert and the second book in this series. After reading High Heat, which is book two in the series, I was all aboard and couldn't wait to read this book!

For the most part, it didn't disappoint. However, I'll admit I didn't enjoy it as much as I did High Heat. The characters just didn't have the same heart, but then again, I fell pretty hard for the wonderful characters in High Heat. It was understandably difficult to one-up those beauties.

I definitely have a thing for second chances romances, though, so despite not hitting exactly as I'd hoped, I still absolutely adored this story. And, more than likely, most readers will love this. I truly believe it was a bit of personal preference mixed with high expectations that made my reaction a tad lackluster. But the resentment and chemistry that literally crackles off the page from the get-go grabbed my attention and kept me reading.

Annabeth Albert has definitely found a fan in me, and in a way, my slight disappointment in this story says a lot about just how much I loved her previous book. It speaks to her skill that I loved those characters so much I still remembered them so vividly that they served as an unexpected comparison model.

Overall, I would highly recommend this book, and I apologize for the random ramblings of this review. I'm definitely not in my reviewer headspace right now.

Get enjoyable. I loved the characters and how they grew as people over time. It was refreshing to see questionable past decisions handled in such a mature way. I liked that the conflicts made so much sense and had such realism. It makes the happy ending that much sweeter.

3.75 stars--FEEL THE FIRE is the third instalment in Annabeth Albert’s contemporary, adult HOTSHOTS erotic, MM, romance series focusing on first responders and firefighters. This is fire behavior specialist Luis Riviera, and firefighter Tucker Ryland. FEEL THE FIRE can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary.

NOTE: FEEL THE FIRE is a M/M romance story line with graphic, sexual scenarios.

Told from dual third person perspectives (Luis and Tucker) using present day and memories from the past, FEEL THE FIRE follows the rebuilding relationship between high-school sweethearts fire behavior specialist Luis Riviera, and firefighter Tucker Ryland. Close to twenty years earlier Luis’ family moved to LA California leaving a heart broken Tucker behind. With promises of a future together that never came to fruition Tucker and Luis went on with their lives but always remembered the loss of first love. With a suspected arsonist in Central Oregon, Luis Riviera is tasked with returning to his home town, remembering the boy now man he could never forget. Enter thirty five year old Tucker Ryland. What ensues is the rebuilding romance and relationship between Tucker and Luis, and the potential fall-out as Luis’ time in Oregon comes to a close.

Tucker Ryland had always intended to follow Luis to California but a one-night stand resulted in Tucker becoming a young father to twin boys. A seven year marriage ensued but Tucker remains on friendly terms with the mother of his sons. Coming out of the proverbial closet has been a struggle for Tucker Ryland but he calls himself a demisexual, and will only enter into a sexual relationship with someone he has close emotional connection. Luis Riviera has loved and lost twice-the first time with Tucker, and the second time with a fellow firefighter but Luis’ reconnection with Tucker gave Luis another chance at a happily ever after but hundreds of miles, and family commitments meant someone or both had to make a sacrifice or compromise.

The relationship between Luis and Tucker is one of second chances; a rekindling romance that was splintered when Luis’ family moved while the boys were still in high school. Both Luis and Tucker wanted to be firefighters, and each having succeeded at their plans, it was now time to take the next step towards their own happily ever after. The $ex scenes are intimate and erotic without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

The colorful secondary and supporting characters include Tucker’s seventeen year old twin boys Walker and Wade, as well as his ex-wife Heidi, and her husband Isaac. We are reintroduced to Lincoln Reed and Jacob Hartman (Burn Zone #1), Garrick Nelson and Rain Fisher (High Heat #2); fire captain Fred, and his assistant Christine.

FEEL THE FIRE is a story of family and friendships; love and loss; second chances and moving forward. The premise is engaging and entertaining; the romance is seductive and passionate; the characters are energetic and charismatic.



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Like most second-chance books, there's some melancholy and previous misunderstanding here, but unlike other books, those things aren't played up just for drama. Though both Luis and Tucker are carrying past hurts from when they were teenagers, they act like the adults they are and talk it out. It's refreshing to see them take responsibility for their roles in the past and be able to move forward. I greatly enjoyed the way in which they were both complete, well-rounded people, and worked together to find a way to overcome what was keeping them apart. The ending surprised me but made a lot of sense for the characters. As always, it was nice to see the cameos of the couples from previous books in the series and the chemistry between the main characters was off the chart.

I am seriously a big FAN of Annabeth’s books!! She never lets me down! I’m so happy to have been given the 3rd book in this series to read! Luis & Tucker deserved their second chance at an HEA! I’m not usually a second chance romance person, but this one totally worked for me! Luis is a fire specialist who gets a job back at the hometown he was a teen & fell in love the first time. Tucker is a divorced, single parent to twin teens. Tucker is also a fire management expert. Tucker gets a surprise when Luis shows up to help with a case. When they see each other they realize they both still have feelings & both gave their hearts to one another! I loved watching these two come together to get to their HEA! Luis & Tucker were both mature and communicated well. *I love when this happens bc we are adults here.* All in all another sexy & sweet read from this series!!

The third book in Ms. Albert's Hot Shot series was hands down my favorite and I immensely enjoyed the others! This novel had such an engaging set of MC's it was almost painful to put it down. Tucker and Luis both work fire management, with Luis being an arson expert. Luis is sent out on assignment to his childhood home town in Oregon. Of course life can never be simple. He is there to assist his high school sweetheart Tucker. Years have passed but the story of hurt and rejection remain. Luis's family moved and the plan was for Tucker to join him but familial obligations made the dream impossible.

At first the two were uneasy and far from thrilled to be with each other. But fortunately, being adults they decided to use their words and feelings started to heal. I loved, loved, loved the dynamics between the two. I also admired how Tucker who is divorced is raising his twin teenage sons amicablywith his ex wife. Tucker's love life is more complicated then the fires he deals with but the two together create perfection.

I enjoyed how authentic and special their raw emotions were towards each other. Even though Tucker was far less experienced on a romantic and physical level he was equal to Luis.

The teen twins were so different and added a lot of light and youthful angst to the story. The book had me smiling so much my face hurt. Even though there was conflict and past regrets there were promises for new chances and a future that Tucker and Luis deserved. I highly recommend this special book of renewed love and taking a chance. Happy Reading!

Feel the Fire is the third book in the Hotshots series by Annabeth Albert. While characters do carry over from the previous installments of the series, this can be fully enjoyed as a stand alone.


Fire behavior specialist Luis Riviera goes where his job takes him. But when he’s assigned to an arson investigation in Central Oregon—the place he left his broken heart twenty years ago—he’s afraid of being burned all over again. Tucker Ryland had planned to join his first love, Luis, in LA after high school graduation, but life got in the way. Now a fire management expert and a divorced father of teen twins, Tucker’s thrown for a loop when he finds himself working side by side with his Luis, now all grown up and more intriguing than ever. Though consumed by a grueling fire season and family responsibilities, the two men discover their bond has never truly broken. Tentative kisses turn to passionate nights. But smoking sheets aside, old hurts and new truths stand in the way of this time being the start of forever.

Feel the Fire is a solid addition to this series, even as it can stand up on its own. I am not usually a fan of second chance romance, but here it really worked for me, and to be honest I think I will read everything in this series regardless of trope. I liked both Luis and Tucker, they are both smart and try to think about others before themselves. Both have grown up since their high school days and lived different lives. I liked that the connection was still there, but that they had real conversations and cared enough to get to know each other again rather than trying to ignore their feelings and attraction. I really liked the community and how important family and real communication was to the story, particularly in some hard conversations about choices and the future. I also liked that Albert did not wrap everything up in a neat little bow, because life rarely works like that. While the relationships were solid at the end, there are still tough spots, decisions, and more that will come about in the future- and that is not ignored here. I really want to see Tucker's boys find their way, and so many of the secondary characters from this series to be honest. I look forward to reading whatever comes next.

Feel the Fire is what I did not know I wanted for this series. Another must read for fans, and a great read even for newcomers to the author.

Feel the Fire is the third book in the Hotshots series and my favorite so far. Luis and Tucker have incredible chemistry and a whole lot reasons NOT to connect- but that's never the way it works, is it?

I loved the reality of it all. In addition to author Annabeth Albert's wonderful research that peppers the background of this heated romance, she has deliciously filled in the cracks with very believable real life situations that make this unlikely romance that much stronger.

Some of the situations have been explored before, Albert, makes them so real. One of my favorite details, was the parallel between situations. (I don't want to give anything away.) How often do we give the very advice that we, ourselves, are unable to follow?

Feel the Fire reads perfectly as a stand-alone book. The appearances of MCs from the previous books, minor characters here, are like short visits with old friends. I have to also mention how much I truly loved Tucker's boys and his ex. They play beautifully in to this love story, and are pivotal and essential to the plot. A great read!

I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

4/5 ✨
A huge thank you to Carina Press for providing me with an Advanced Copy via NetGalley in exchange for a review!

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again I will read anything Annabeth puts out! Doesn’t matter if it’s a grocery list or another fabulous novel I will preorder it and read it right away! With every series Annabeth puts out they just become better and better, I’m absolutely in love with the Hotshots series and book three was just incredible.

A second chance romance 20 years in the making....oh and did I mention Demi sexual rep? YES PLEASE! Say no more I am so happy to see more Demi rep in books. As someone who identifies with Demi Sexual I always appreciate seeing it in romance novels and found that Tucker was extremely relatable.

Honestly annabeth can do no wrong and I cannot wait to continue to read from her!

3.5 stars

Annabeth Albert is one of my favorite mm authors so I was super excited about getting this book... unfortunately it wasn't one of my favorite books from them.
Our main characters were charming and their stories were easy to follow. I liked Tucker, and his relationship with his ex and his kids. It was quite endearing to read. Luis, I had a bit of time to warm up to him but in the end I like him. Their romance was slow burn but very good! The sexy times were soooo good!
My biggest problem with the story was anything that wasn't Luis and Tucker relationship. Like the firefighter plot or their lives outside the bubble between them... it was so dragging and boring!! I skimmed so much of that! Which was a shame!
Overall it was a good story but it need or i felt it needed more.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 Stars. The thing I truly loved about this book was the maturity between Luis and Tucker. They start out with a painful past and some resentment towards each other but it doesn't take long before they act like grown-ups discuss the past, agree that they were both at fault for what happened and truly forgive each other. The chemistry between them is strong and I enjoyed seeing them rekindle their romance. I liked that the ex-wife isn't a bad person and in fact has remained friends with Tucker. The twins were fantastic and I loved them both. They had a lot of depth and I would love to read a book about both of them at some point later in their lives. I also really enjoyed the realism of the obstacles between Luis and Tucker. There were no easy choices but again they communicated and looked at the options. I think for me at least the pacing was just a tad bit slow and I would have liked a bit of "outside drama" from the arson investigation to help with that.

Overall I enjoyed the very well developed characters and the realistic relationships that this book portrayed and it might actually be my favorite of the series.

Thank you the publisher and @netgalley for a copy of the ebook.

This book was hot!! Fire season is no joke in California and it was interesting to read about firefighters. This was such a great second chance romance. I love seeing the struggles of both Luis and Tucker with figuring out what they want. I need to now go back and read the other books in this series.

[Thanks Netgalley for the ebook. This review is my honest opinion but just another opinion, you should read this book and judge it by yourself]
Best book of the series so far! It's a sweet second-chance love story between two male characters, Tucker and Luis, that fell in love in their teens. But life had other plans and they spent almost twenty years separated (and with no communication). Now they are force to work together they can clear the air between them and realize they still have feelings for each other.
It's an easy book, no misunderstandings, no tension... Only love and life itselves. I spent almost the whole reading with a smile on my face, they both are truly adorable (and their hot scenes are really really hot -and so well written!).
On the other hand, the lack of tension between them gives no tension to the story, I think we needed some twist or drama that gave the book a little spark, sometimes it was a little flat for me (the whole arson plot too, I thought it was going to be more important but suddenly it was all resolved).
Overall it's an easy and sweet reading, full of love and with two lovely characters.

Complementary copy given for honest review and opinion.
Not really my type of book but it was very descriptive and well thought out.

Luis and Tucker: best fiends to childhood sweethearts to broken up to not seeing each other forever to coworkers but I don’t like you oh no I do like you second chance fools for each other trope *happy sigh*

Sex positive. Adults communicating. Two of my favorite things.

But. Stop leaving your cat behind, Luis. Blaze deserves better.

This is one of those series that gets better with each installment. I liked Burn Zone and I adored Garrick and Rain in High Heat and I’m pretty sure that they’re still my favorite couple in the Hotshots series, but Luis and Tucker are now running a very close second. 😉

I love second chance romances and Feel the Fire was a perfect example. Life took Luis and Tucker is different directions and eventually their young love fizzled out…or so they thought. Their second-chance meeting took them both by surprise, even though Luis had a bit more time to prepare for the inevitability. They were both wary and even though the attraction was still there, there was some residual hurt that they needed to get through. Even then, there was the reality that distance was still a factor that there was no easy solution to, so having a real relationship still wasn’t in the cards for them.

Aside from the rekindled romance between Luis and Tucker, I think my favorite part of Feel the Fire was Tucker’s family. Tucker obviously put his family first, but the whole dynamic between the now blended families was refreshing. The fact Tucker’s parents and the rest of his side of the family basically ignored him once he came out to them wasn’t nearly as earth shattering as it could have been because of their new norm. It didn’t just center around the kids’ well being though, they all truly cared about each other and they were the true definition of what a blended family should look like.

The rest of the supporting characters were great and familiar to readers who have enjoyed the previous books in the series. It was nice getting to see them again and being around them helped Luis realize that things had changed in the community since he left.

In the end, Luis and Tucker both had to decide what was best for them either apart or as a couple. Their solution wasn’t what I expected, but that’s not a bad thing. ❤

4.5 Stars
The third book in Hotshots and probably my favorite so far. Tucker and Luis are great characters who are support by a wonderful support cast around them. I enjoyed the story and the characters and look to read more books like this and by this author.

This is the third book in the Hot Shots series and I loved it just as much as I did the first two.

We are again immersed in the world of Oregon Wildland Firefighters, which is especially meaningful to me right now because of the huge wildfires that were burning here in Oregon just weeks ago. I feel connected to the place (though I live in more western Oregon), and felt the aspects of the fire investigation more keenly.

Moving on to plot and characters. I am a sucker for second chance romance and always have been. This book has that and all of the angst, heartbreak, and healing that go along with it. Not to mention the steam and sexiness that go along with rekindling all those old feelings. While this wasn’t the steamiest of the series (book 1 still holds that honor for me), there is still a lot of passion.

And all of the characters are particularly wonderful. We get to see cameos of Lincoln (from Book 1) and Garrett (from book 2), with some mentions of Jacob and Rain. But this book centers around a new cast of characters.

I identified most with Tucker, a devoted divorced dad of teenage twin boys. He has a great relationship with his sons and his ex-wife, and even her husband and their daughter. He needs to care deeply about someone in order to feel passion, and really has only felt that deeply about one person from his past. He naturally wants to take care of people, but is sometimes afraid to take the big risk, putting everyone else before his own dreams.

Luis has never forgotten Tucker, and believes that he broke his heart. But age and maturity have helped him to learn that things aren’t always that simple. Used to being in charge, but also caring to those he loves, Luis is confident and strong, having chased all of his dreams, but one.

Together these two are so incredibly sweet and lovely. Their feelings for each other are so deep and real, neither of them wants to hurt the other again, or be hurt themselves. But they are so amazing together, you just keep rooting for them to work things out.

Rounding out the cast of characters are Tucker’s family. His sons Walker and Wade fully support his relationship with Luis, but are used to having their dad’s undivided attention aside from work. Heidi, Tucker’s ex-wife, was friends with Luis and provides stability and support for Tucker even though they are no longer married.

I loved this entire series, and in some ways this was my favorite of the three books. I look forward to reading more books from Annabeth Albert in the future!

Disclaimer: I received an eARC from the publisher {Harlequin-Carina Press} through Net Galley for a blog tour. All thoughts and opinions are my own.