Sometimes I fall in love with an author’s description of a character well before I even get to know the character enough to fall in love with them. One of Shane’s thoughts when he sees Brandt for the first time…”Rugged stubbly jaw that was somewhere between lazy and beard. Hazel eyes with crinkly lines, like he laughed his way through life.” I mean, come on! Those descriptions! It not only helped me to get a picture of Brandt in my mind, but also gave me a good idea of the type of person Shane was.

As with all of the other amazing men in this series, these two guys stole my heart pretty quickly. From their first meeting when nothing even happens, I was hooked. I was all in on seeing them find their way to each other and an HEA. Off the charts chemistry with that vulnerability that I find this author is amazing at writing for her characters.

All of the “getting to know you” parts in the beginning were great. The way Brandt and Shane learn to trust each other and work together to keep baby Jewel safe, happy, and healthy is sweet and touching. Then the middle parts, the parts where they both start thinking there could be more, wondering if the other would ever want more, were heartrending. Yet when we got to the last quarter of the book, things seemed a bit too rushed for me. Too much like the author realizing she still had a lot to say but not a lot of time to say and do it in.

Listen, I love this story. I love the how things ended up for Brandt, Shane, and baby Jewel. The highs and lows and everything in between kept me engaged. I had butterflies and warm fuzzies galore. So don’t think this is one that should be skipped just because I felt the pacing of the end was off. It’s still 100% worth the read.

Up in Smoke is the fourth book in Annabeth Albert’s Hotshots series about wildlife firefighters and smoke jumpers based in rural Oregon, but it’s got a slightly different tone (and a very different sort of cover) to the other books in the series.  Smoke jumping does feature in the story, but it’s more of a backdrop to the main storyline - about how the two leads learn to adapt to the unexpected circumstances in which they find themselves - and the slow-burn romance.

Smoke jumper Brandt Wilder occasionally helps out a friend who runs a sky-diving school.  The clients on this particular afternoon are a brother and sister – Shane and Shelby Travis;  it’s Shane’s birthday and the jump is his sister’s present to him.  Shane is quiet and clearly a bit nervous - and also obviously used to fading into the background around more ebullient sister – but something about him captures Brandt’s attention.  Shane supposes he should have known that Shelby’s sudden interest in jumping out of a plane was somehow related to her interest in a hot guy; Brandt really is gorgeous, but Shane deliberately tamps down the frisson of awareness he feels every time Brandt touches him as he readies them for the tandem jump.  Afterwards, with his feet back safely on the ground, Shane has to admit that the jump really had been exhilarating - and that the short time he’d flown with Brandt Wilder is something he’ll never forget.

Almost a year later, the last thing Brandt could ever have imagined is opening his front door to find Shane Travis on his doorstep – with a baby in tow.   He’s completely stunned when Shane tells him the baby is his, the result of the one-night stand he had with Shelby the night before Shane’s birthday.  He explains that Shelby turned up in Portland (where he was auditioning for a TV talent show) with the baby a few days earlier and was gone the next morning, most likely off to Canada with one of her friends. Brandt can’t believe it – but Shelby named him as baby Jewel’s dad in the note she left for Shane and had Brandt’s name put on the birth certificate.

Shane has spent most of his life clearing up Shelby’s messes, but nothing could have prepared him for being left literally holding the baby.  Unable to bear the idea of Jewel being put into care, Shane decides his only option is to take her to her dad, but it’s only once he’s arrived that he remembers that Brandt – who jumps out of planes to fight fires for a living – is as far from ideal fatherhood material as he is himself;  an itinerant musician trying to build a career isn’t going to be considered able to properly care for an infant either.  But he didn’t know what else to do; he’s worried and sleep deprived, he’s driven for hours to get to Painter’s Ridge and is too tired to be able to make any coherent decisions.  But one thing is clear.  No matter what sort of ‘dad material’ he may be, Brandt is the only person Shane can turn to for help.

Brandt is shell-shocked by the idea of being a dad, but having been a foster kid himself, he likes the idea of handing Jewel over to social services as little as Shane does.  When Shane’s rested and they’re all fed, they talk about the next steps, and when Shane offers to stick around for a while, Brandt offers him the spare room – “two sets of hands is better than one” after all.

Over the following days and weeks, Brandt and Shane go from unexpected roommates to friends, sharing baby duties and bonding over shared new experiences with her. They slowly fall into a routine of caring for Jewel - taking turns at feeding and night-time duty - and caring for each other, preparing meals, sharing chores and shopping trips and generally being a solid support for one another.  I loved watching them doing things together so seamlessly that they don’t quite realise they’re doing it. It’s a really well done getting-to-know-you phase, and alongside it, the attraction that sparked between them a year earlier is bubbling along beneath the surface.  Neither man has a great deal of sexual experience with guys;  Shane isn’t really out – he plays a lot of super rural communities where it’s just easier to keep himself and his sexuality to himself, and Brandt just… likes who he likes and has never felt the need to put a label on it.  He’s been with more women than men, but certainly isn’t averse to a little exploration and fun with Shane.  It doesn’t have to be anything permanent – neither of them is looking for that – but it can be more than a one-time thing (baby duties permitting) for as long as they both want it to be.

Up in Smoke is a quiet, but sexy character-driven romance about two lost souls finding love and purpose and partnership, and building the family neither of them ever had.  It’s a low-conflict, low-angst story; the biggest obstacle to the romance is the fact that both Shane and Brandt have been used to living a rather nomadic lifestyle - unencumbered and going where the work is - and both will finally have to deal with emotional baggage that has made them (understandably) cautious about allowing themselves to trust wholeheartedly in another person.  But ultimately, they’re two decent guys trying to do the best they can in difficult circumstances, and there’s never any doubt that baby Jewel is their priority. Ms. Albert’s descriptions of the challenges involved in parenting a very young baby are pretty spot on, too.

While Shane’s frustration with Shelby is palpable and well-written, neither he nor Brandt hate her for what she did, and I appreciated that she’s never demonised or made out to be the villain of the piece.  Dumping her baby with her brother is a crappy thing to do, and she definitely comes across as somewhat unstable, but she’s troubled, not evil, and needs help.

Shane and Brandt are engaging and easy to root for, their emotional connection comes through strongly and this was an easy book to get lost in. I really liked the descriptions of Shane’s musical talent and songwriting skills, the cameo appearances from Jacob and Linc (Burn Zone), and the way the author still manages to convey the dangerous nature of Brandt’s job even though there isn’t a major fire or incident in the story (a deliberate choice which Ms. Albert explains in her author’s note).  I have a couple of reservations, however; mainly that the guys embark on their fling a bit too quickly, and also that the late-book conflict is maybe a little drawn out for two people who have been communicating so well, but those things apart, Up in Smoke is a nice mixture of sweet and steamy, and I’m happy to recommend both it, and the entire Hotshots series.

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I'll admit that I went into this one unsure of how well I'd like it. The blurb touched on one trope I'm not crazy about. However, I've liked every other book in this series, and I've enjoyed a few other books by Annabeth Albert, so I dove in and hoped for the best. I should've known it would all be okay. Albert has a way with characters and creating that emotional connection that works very well, and this one was no different. Shane and Brandt are part frustrating, part adorable, and once they get out of their own way, they just fit. Oh, and of course, there's a sweet baby in the mix to keep them on their toes. This is the fourth book in the series, and like the rest, it's well written, engaging, and full of feels.

Up in Smoke is the 4th book in the Hotshots series about Smoke Jumpers and hot firefighters finding their happily ever afters. While Brandt Wilder hasn't had a horrible life, he also never truly had a family to call his own, nor was he looking for one. He was after the adrenaline rush and loved doing his very risky job. Shane has had family although quite dysfunctional. He just wants to do his thing with music and have people appreciate who he is and his choices. A night of fun and a surprise baby on Brandt's doorstep will change both their lives. Are they ready to let others in? To let others care? To take care of a child? Both will dig deep and learn things about themselves. Will they have their HEA...together? I want so badly to hear Shane's songs live. They sound so darned amazing!

Audiobook review:
Overall – 5
Performance – 5
Story – 5

A perfect blend of music and fire!

Treble Maker, book one in the Perfect Harmony series, was one of the first Annabeth Albert books I read; that was the beginning of my love for her writing. Up in Smoke, the fourth book in the Hotshots series of standalone books, is the perfect blend of themes from these two series and I loved it.

The excellent blurb gives you the scoop on what the story is about so I’m not going to rehash it here. I’ll tell you instead that I was totally captivated by the story and the characters. I got all kinds of feels while listening to Iggy Toma’s most excellent performance of this story.

Brandt and Shane struggled a bit to come to terms with caring for a baby that Brandt knew nothing about until Shane showed up on his doorstep with baby Jewel. I loved how both of these guys adapted to taking care of her and rearranging their lives and schedules. I got so into the story that I stayed up until the wee hours of the morning listening to it.

Epilogues are often one of my favorite parts of a book. While Up in Smoke doesn’t have a titled epilogue, the final chapter takes place two years later so to me that’s an epilogue. 😊 I loved getting to know how Brandt and Shane are doing after this amount of time and how their relationship has progressed.

I don’t usually comment on covers but the cover for this book has a new look as compared to the first three in the series. While I really like the look of the new cover, I have to say that I don’t really think it fits the story all that well. This is a great book about two guys stepping up and taking care of a baby and building a relationship together. BUT it is also hot as fire with lots of sexy time and I don’t think the cover conveys that aspect of the story at all.

I have really enjoyed all of the books in this series and Annabeth Albert continues to be one of my favorite MM authors. I’m looking forward to whatever she writes next.

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

A copy of the audiobook was provided to me at my request but my review was voluntary and not influenced by the author or narrator.

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

This is the fourth and final book in this author’s Hot Shot series. However, this one can be read as a standalone. I admit I didn’t connect with these characters as quickly, or thoroughly as I have with characters past. However their story was relatively low angst, and lacked unnecessary drama, which was what I was looking for! If you’re not a huge fan of baby or family dynamic, this may not be the read for you. It’s runs heavy on the family aspect throughout. That being said, I enjoyed the developing relationship between Shane and Brandt. I enjoyed how they shared new experiences together as they navigated their newfound parenthood. This was a sweet story with a great HEA.

I love this series from Albert! This is a sweet welcome addtion with a fresh twist on plot. Shane and Brandt are thrown together with an unexpected baby. The angst is low but I appreciated how relationships were navigated and their relationship progressed. There is definitely some steam and heat balanced with sweetness. Albert excels at creating the world around her characters and it is clear she carefully researches her subjects and the culture of the jobs/area her stories are set it. This book was delightful. Lots of feel goods and warmth. Perfect addition to the series.

Up In Smoke by Annabeth Albert
Hot Shots #4

This book left a smile on my face. It was a steamy-sweet romance between two men that so deserved to find happiness. No major drama for the couple though taking on the care of an infant baby girl was definitely not easy…but so much easier together than it would have been for either to do alone. It almost had a fairytale feel to it and was perfect reading for me the day I read it!

What I liked:
* That the backstories of the two men had commonalities
* That I felt both men were “equal” and brought qualities that would support the relationship
* That the two men communicated openly and maturely
* Shane: good brother, musician, loving uncle, has goals and dreams, a good person
* Brandt: firefighter, a bit of a rambler, professional, caring, team player, a good person
* The growth in both main characters
* How the two dealt with the situation they found themselves in
* That they were there for Jewel, the baby, and for one another
* That there was no major drama between the two men
* That it felt believable – mostly
* The fairytale feel of the story that might have been less believable but that was very nice indeed
* The happy ending
* Seeing/hearing about some of the characters from previous books in the series
* Wondering if there will be more books in the series
* That there was no “bad guy”
* All of it really except…

What I didn’t like:
* Being reminded that firefighters have a tough life and that they sometimes die as a result of the job(s) they do.

Did I enjoy this book? Yes
Would I read more in this series? Yes

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin-Carina Press for the ARC – This is my honest review.

4-5 Stars

This is number four in Albert's Hotshots series, but can easily be read as a standalone. Characters from the other books are mentioned, not featured.

It's also very much a forming-a-family story, as Shane and Brandt try to create a home for baby Jewell. Firstly they act on their attraction, making it roommates with benefits, but as each develop feelings, obviously, it turns into more.

There a only a few obstacles to their (lovely) HEA, and they are somewhat predictable (Brandt's dangerous job causes danger, & Jewell's mother turns up). On the other hand, that also makes them realistic, which allows for thoughtful exploration of societal expectations around mental health, post partum depression, and family law.

As well, Brandt's decisions about his job, and Shane's dream to be a country and western singer add to a story that feels immersive.

Thanks to Netgalley and Carina Press for advanced copy. Up in Smoke is out April 27.

Up in Smoke is the forth book in the HotShots series by Annabeth Albert. Each can stand on their own, but I really enjoy these so I suggest reading them all anyway. It is currently scheduled for release on April 27 2021.

Freewheeling smoke jumper Brandt Wilder thrives on adrenaline. He’s never met a parachute he can’t repair or a dangerous situation he couldn’t wrangle his way out of. He’s popular and fun-loving and not at all looking to settle down or form lasting relationships. It’s a lifestyle that’s served him well…right up until the day he finds a baby on his doorstep. Shane Travis is used to putting his country music career—and his own happiness—on hold after his sister rolls through his life. Like last spring when she convinced him to try skydiving for his birthday—and she walked away with the hot parachute instructor. Now he gets to deliver the piece of news that will upend Brandt’s carefree life: he very well might be a dad. Shane’s niece is safe in Brandt’s strong, capable hands, but too many questions remain unanswered. Co-parenting while they sort it out leads to late-night talks, and soul-bearing confessions lead to a most inconvenient attraction. Still, Shane can’t leave this makeshift family behind—even if it means playing house with the one man he can’t resist.

Up in Smoke is a perfect continuation of this series. I thought the two men and a baby was used very well, particularly since neither seemed to have a childhood that would prepare them for this kind or responsibility and situation- not like anyone could really be prepared for it. I liked Brandt's personality- his desire to do right by Jewel, his job, and his reluctance to fall in love were very well balanced. Similarly, Shane's emotional connections and talents had me hoping the best for him from page one. I liked that no one was really the bad guy, and that sexuality and mental illness were just things that were part of the story, discussed in real, frank ways that do not make them talking points but show that they are just part of life. The give and take between Shane and Brandt was engaging, and I liked seeing them come to understand each other and themselves as they figure out parenthood. Building a solid relationship can be hand, parenting can be harder- especially when you do not have the nine months to prepare for it. Combining the two made for a challenging situation that these two made it through with great success. I hope to see cameos of them in future books.

Up in Smoke is a wonderful read with a balance of heat and sweet.

Putting his country music career on the back burner, Shane Travis seeks out the man who his sister placed on the birth certificate of his newborn niece when the mother takes off. But when smoke jumper and loan wolf, Brandt Wilder opens the door and allows Shane and the baby into his life what starts out as two men and a baby ends up as a romantic and heartwarming story of figuring out just what love and family really mean. With page after page of beautiful connections and characters the reader just wants to hug this was a great addition to the series.

It's always a good day when there's a new Annabeth Albert book available to read.

Up In Smoke is the story of Shane and Brandt, two men who meet by chance when Shane's sister drags him sky-diving, only to have their worlds collide again when Shane turns up on Brandt's doorstep with a baby in tow. The baby is his sister's... and Brandt's.

The fourth book in the Hot Shots series, this book felt a little like it came from left field - and not in a bad way. Albert has included kids in many of her books and I've always enjoyed reading them, and baby Jewel was no exception. This book felt a little slower in pace as Shane and Brandt try to figure out what to do with this baby girl who (probably) belongs to Brandt. 

This book doesn't feature much of the fire season the Hot Shots series is known for, but it is discussed. Brandt is the typical restless character who moves around from season to season, but finds himself becoming invested in his daughter's life and wanting the best for her despite having only just learn about her existence. Shane is, by contrast, trying to figure out what he wants from his life and his music career, while juggling looking after his sister's baby. Between the two of them, they find a happy medium and a relationship they weren't expecting.

It's a very cute, very feel-good story that was easy to read and enjoyable from start to finish.

3.75⭐

Up In Smoke is the third book I've read in Annabeth Albert's Hotshots series, and what I really like about this series is how different each book is; and this one is probably the most different of them all. But that certainly didn't make it any less readable. Although it was a lot more low angst. And for me, the characters of Brandt and Shane weren't always the most personable, but they were likable, and I liked how after a rocky start they really came together to care for their little diva Jewel. Furthermore, their romance was cute and in the end rather 🔥🔥.

Would recommend, especially if you enjoy low angst surprise baby/single dad M/M romances.

So well well well… well I really like the author’s novels and I really like this series. Add to that a single father (and a single uncle) and I fall for it!

I loved this Annabeth Albert novel once again. She is a sure bet to me and I would really like more of her novels to be translated into French.

The Hotshots series is really interesting. She describes the daily life of smokejumpers, these extreme firefighters who are parachuted into the middle of forest fires. I learned a lot about them in the first 3 volumes but this one takes a step back. Here, no drama, and as the author explains in the endnote, in these complicated times it feels good. Brandt works in the same base as the heroes of the previous volumes and we can also see Lincoln and Jacob from volume 1 several times.

However, the focus is on his daily life with Shane and especially Jewel. I love romances with single dads and loved the way Brandt is going to learn how to be a dad with this baby falling on him unexpectedly. Despite everything he went through as a child and despite the surprise of Jewel’s arrival in his life, Brandt will face courageously and become a very good dad to his daughter.

I really liked the character of Shane, who I found very sensitive and very touching. I loved all the passages about him and I liked seeing him slowly but surely freeing himself from the expectations that people place in him and finding his place and his way.

The relationship between the two men is really cute and touching and the family they form with Jewel is adorable.
I liked, as said above, that the author avoids us dramas, whether it is on the side of the work of Brandt or of Jewel’s mother. I also liked the way Shane is going to make peace with his sister and help her get better. We feel that their relationship is quite strong and it’s nice to see that it’s not just on Shane’s side.

In short, a fourth volume which gives pride of place to family and feelings. A novel slightly different from the other three (and I’m not talking about the cover … Carina press ??? What happened?) But just as strong and touching.

I love the Hotshots series, so this was a win for me! This story follows Brandt, a smoke jumper, and Shane, an up and coming country music star. On his birthday Shane and his sister Shelby jump out of a plane (with Brandt as the instructor!) and then BOOM! Just about one year later Shane is showing up at Brandts house with a baby - Brandts baby- telling him Shelby has left Jewel, his daughter, for him (or someone) to care for. They have to figure out how to care for the baby and what is best for her, and as they do it they (of course) fall in love.

I really loved the addition of the baby to this. There wasn’t as much of the smoke jumper/firefighting in this book, but that was okay! I loved seeing them navigate having to care for a baby neither of them expected, and then falling in love too! Just the warm fuzzies I expect from an Annabeth Albert romance. This was adorable, and heartwarming (and super hot too, no pun intended!)

I was given an advanced reader's copy via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own

Up in smoke. Book 4 in the series. Not the best but still an enjoyable read. The baby plot had me very interested but I did found the pace and the 2 characters very flat. The fact that Brandt had a one night stand with Shane sister was questionable. Now I have in my head that he is making out with his daughter uncle. But for those who can pass that, the sex scenes are very hot and very descriptives. There's not much angts but I did like the HEA.

ARC kindly provided by the publisher via Netgalley. This is my honest opinion.

2.5 stars

Please note that my rating towards a book I read is most of the times influenced by what I feel or experience during my reading. THIS time, my lower rating is a direct result of unmet expectations . Yes, I have certain expectation prior to reading the book and BECAUSE the book turns out to be completely different with what I have in mind, I don't find my reading experience as satisfying.

So your own opinion may be different than mine

First, I want to address that I appreciate the author doesn't make the mother a villain in this book. Yes, Shelby leaves her baby with her brother. Yes, she seems like unstable person. BUT, neither Shane or Brandt hate her. Shelby admits that she may need professional help and I'm happy she takes it. I like that.

Now, okay, I'll explain about that expectation of mine. I slightly recalled a while back that the author said (in her newsletter) that the publisher wanted to take this series into a new direction. Note the cover. I think the cover is a reminder of 'classic' Harlequin of single dads stories.

And that's how I end up having that expectation... a format of the classic Harlequin romance, in which taking care of the baby (with all the mishaps) is the center focus and the sex comes much later, after emotional connection. Except with two guys. Because man, do I LOVE the secret-baby/accidental-baby/single-dads trope of yesteryear Harlequin back then.

So when Shane and Brandt have sex a bit earlier in the book, and the sex is heavy, and there are more than one scenes, I LOSE all interest. It's not what I want. The book goes downhill for me after that; I simply can't find enough sparks in me to care about the two of them.

I also HATE how Shane and Brandt address baby Jewel as "diva" over and over again ... what, because she's a baby girl who needs attention, then they can use that word? Diva? I am not particularly like that word since it usually applies to difficult demanding women. If the baby is a boy, will they use the same word?

I probably like this better if I don't have all that initial expectation of nostalgic feeling because of the cover. I prefer the old cover then, because I know what I will be getting. Yes, maybe it's not fair for the author nor the book. But again, my rating is in direct connection with what I feel. You all just have to accept it 🤷‍♀️

I'm a big fan of this series so I was excited to see another book in it! This one is a little bit different, in that Brandt isn't one of the crew we're used to, even though Linc and Hartman make an appearance. I still enjoyed the various smoke jumper aspects of the story though. I wasn't sure about Shane at first but he quickly grew on me and I thoroughly enjoyed the unit that he and Brandt became. I loved watching Brandt embrace fatherhood, unexpected though it was, and the way he was able to give Jewel roots in the way he never had them. It's a slow burn watching him and Shane come together, but once they do, it's excellent! I also really liked the music side of this story with Shane and his singer-song writer persona. The mental health awareness this book promotes, especially post-partum depression is so important and I hope it opens more people's eyes as to just how impactful it is

And as always, I'll be curious to see who is next in the series!

Another Solid Entry In Series. This is another solid entry in the series Albert has created over the last year featuring MM romances set in the hyper-macho world of western US "hotshot" firefighters and smoke jumpers - the front lines of any wildfire containment efforts. Here, we finally get smokejumper Brandt's story, and it is at least as good from the romance angle as any of the other entries in this series. Maybe even better, since it runs a bit smoother with lower angst, minimal separation, both equally hoping for the other's success, etc. Has an almost A Star Is Born vibe to it at times, though without the more depressing elements of that tale. But the biggest thing that will be hit or miss depending on exactly what you feel about it is the baby stuff in particular. Even as a childfree married male who generally doesn't like babies (older kids are much cooler, though I'm always grateful that I can leave when I need to :D), I didn't find the baby aspects *too* detracting, even for my tastes. Because the story really did focus on the interactions of the adults, with the baby providing the realistic distractions that adults having to care for a baby would actually provide. But if you're particularly opposed to anything remotely baby related... well, you were told in the description that this one had one. ;) Overall a truly solid story, and very much recommended.

Another sizzling tale served up by Ms. Albert. Her fire jumpers just get more endearing. This one had a fun twist that united a couple through their connection to a two month old baby.

Brandt is drop-dead gorgeous and is living the life he loves, full of adrenaline rushes and fun. He does fire jumping and was helping out a friend doing first time parachute jumps, when he meets Shane. Shelby is Shane's obnoxious and somewhat toxic sister that tends to put herself first. Gifting Shane a jump from a plane for his birthday was classic Shelby. He didn't like the idea but not wanting to chicken out, he agrees and meets this charming instructor. Shelby tries her darndest to get Brandt to assist her on the jump but he manages to avoid her.
A year later Brandt is handed over a baby, being told by none other than the cute guy Shane he helped on the plane, that surprise you're a dad. Jewel is a squirming bundle that is plopped into Brandt's arms and let the real adventure begin. Shelby has abandoned the baby and the two work together to take care of her. This book was sweet, tender and pulled all the right heartstrings. Shane dreams of a musical career, Shelby is missing in action and Brandt is realizing being a firefighter and a full-time new father presents huge obstacles. This well-written and fast-paced story was a joy to read and I love the chemistry of Shane and Brandt and how they grew stronger dealing with such a challenging situation. This smoking love story was perfect and I highly recommend it. Happy Reading!