Guest Post: Arctic Heat by Annabeth Albert

Posted September 23, 2019 by Dale

Post About Series

Hi! I’m so delighted to be here today on one of my favorite blogs celebrating ARCTIC HEAT, my newest release in the Frozen Hearts series set in Alaska. As with the other two books in the series, this one stands alone well—there’s only the briefest of mentions of the prior books’ couples and no spoilers. This is my opposites-attract, odd couple roommates, snowbound romance as a seasoned ranger finds himself paired with a newbie volunteer for the winter season where they’ll be snowed in together at a remote Alaska state park. This one also marks the end (for now!) of the series, wrapping up the trilogy, and giving readers the snowbound, close-proximity story they’ve been waiting for. Since I know so many of this blog’s readers are both readers and writers, I thought it might be interesting to reflect on the series as a whole, focusing specifically on when to wrap up a series and when to keep going.

I’ve done series of many different lengths—#Gaymers was three books, Portland Heat was six, and Out of Uniform was seven. In each case, a variety of factors go into deciding on series length. First, there’s the series concept. For whatever reason, my brain loves trilogies. Possibly because of all the movie trilogies out there and several different romance series that either started as beloved trilogies and then expanded or that exist as trilogies. So almost all of my initial ideas start as a trilogy—a concrete idea for book 1 and then a springboard for 2 additional books that will follow other couples in the same universe and carry with them the series feel.

Sometimes, a series is bounded by that initial concept—a group of friends or characters is introduced and then all get their HEA and the series wraps with a satisfying conclusion, as I did with #Gaymers. But sometimes that initial group expands, which is what happened in Out of Uniform, both initially as it spun off from #Gaymers and then down the road as more characters started demanding happy endings. With Frozen Hearts though, it’s the place that unites the series more than a friend group, and each book is designed to stand alone a little more than Out of Uniform—not as many cameos from other couples, that sort of thing.

So how to end it? In this case it, I really looked at the tropes I wanted to hit—I knew that I wanted a reluctant tour guide (ARCTIC SUN), a bush pilot (ARCTIC WILD) and a park ranger (ARCTIC HEAT). I wanted three fish-out-of-water co-heroes with opposites attract themes and then a variety other tropes in there too. I wanted one of the three to be a snowbound romance for sure, and I wanted a diverse group of heroes. I really feel that the trilogy ended up accomplishing all of my original goals for it—the sense of Alaska as a secondary character, rugged mountain man heroes, sexy park rangers, and people who dearly love this unique and special place.

Now, does that mean I’ll never return to the setting? Of course not! Readers have written to me asking about Brand, a secondary character in ARCTIC SUN, and I do see a sliver of opening there, especially if reader interest is there. And there’s a potential novella or ficlet for Amelia from ARCTIC WILD as readers (and me!) want to see her happily matched. Also, there’s always cross-over potential too as someone from another series may end being from or going to Alaska. So I never say never.

But that said, the series does feel done with three books, and I’m so incredibly proud of these three books. If we have to end it for now, ARCTIC HEAT is absolutely the way I want it to end. It’s possibly my favorite book in the series, everything I love about snowbound romances, my favorite sort of grumpy hero with my stoic park ranger, the iconic setting and dangers that I wanted to highlight in the series as a whole, and a HEA that I’m passionately in love with. I hope readers enjoy it as much as me and that they check the series! Thank you so much for having me!

Title: Arctic Heat
Author: Annabeth Albert
Series: Frozen Hearts
Length: approx. 89,000 words / 368 pages
On-Sale: eBook September 23, 2019 / MMP October 1, 2019

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.

Annabeth Albert grew up sneaking romance novels under the bed covers. Now, she devours all subgenres of romance out in the open—no flashlights required! When she’s not adding to her keeper shelf, she’s a multi-published Pacific Northwest romance writer.

Emotionally complex, sexy, and funny stories are her favorites both to read and to write. Annabeth loves finding happy endings for a variety of pairings and is a passionate gay rights supporter. In between searching out dark heroes to redeem, she works a rewarding day job and wrangles two children.

Genre: Contemporary Orientation: Gay Pairing: M/M Publisher: Carina Press Tag: Guest Post Tag: Opposites Attract Tag: Part of a series Annabeth Albert Arctic Heat Frozen Hearts series