Arctic Fire by Keira Andrews

* * * 1/2

When two strangers are trapped in a blizzard, heat rises.

Haunted by what he lost in Afghanistan, Captain Jack Turner is at a crossroads. While the last place he wants to go is the Arctic, at least the routine mission gets him out from behind his new desk. But he starts off on the wrong foot with the Canadian Ranger guiding him across the forbidding and dangerous land, and Jack would rather be anywhere than sharing a tent with Sergeant Kin Carsen.

The Arctic is in Kin's blood, and he can't seem to leave the tundra behind. He wishes he could live openly as a gay man, but the North isn't as accepting as the rest of Canada. Although he's lonely, he loves his responsibility as a Ranger, patrolling the vast land he knows so well. But he's on unfamiliar ground with Jack, and when they're stranded alone by a blizzard, unexpected desire begins to burn. Soon they're in a struggle to survive, and all these strangers have is each other.

Note: This gay romance features emotional repression, hurt/comfort, adventure on the tundra, and love where you least expect it. 

Arctic Fire first appeared in the military bundle Unconditional Surrender in 2014.

Review:

The location of this story is what initially drew me in.  Not often do you find a story set in such a remote setting (deserted islands not withstanding).   The Arctic was completely new territory for me so I was intrigued.  And I certainly wasn’t disappointed.

  

The author did a great job of imparting a level depth that is difficult to find in short stories and novellas.  In only 100 pages the reader becomes emotionally invested in two not so different characters from completely different backgrounds.   Watching Captain Turner fumble and make a number of offensive remarks that Sergeant Carsen refuses to brush off was an excellent way to not only educate the reader but also provide the conflict needed to make their relationship progress within the confines of the story.   With Kin Carsen as his guide, Jack Turner adapts to his new surroundings while learning a whole new mode of survival.  And, of course, there is adventure and love along the way. 

My only complaint was that the ending was a little too “happy for now.”  It left me unsatisfied and NEEDING to know if Jack and Kin get their Happy Ever After.  I can only hope Ms. Andrews is planning on a follow up for these two lonely guys who have only just found each other.  If she does, you can bet I will be purchasing it in a heartbeat.

Nat

Valor on the Move by Keira Andrews

* * * 1/2

He’d give his life to protect the president’s son. But he never expected to risk his heart.

Growing up gay in the White House hasn’t been easy for Rafael Castillo. Codenamed “Valor” by the Secret Service, Rafa feels anything but brave as he hides in the closet and tries to stay below the radar in his last year of college. His father’s presidency is almost over, and he just needs to stick to his carefully crafted plan. Once his family’s out of the spotlight, he can be honest with his conservative parents about his sexuality and his dream of being a chef. 

It’s definitely not part of Rafa’s plan to get a new Secret Service agent who’s a walking wet dream, but he’s made it this long keeping his desires to himself. Besides, it’s not like Shane Kendrick would even look at him twice if it wasn’t his job.

Shane’s worked his way up through the Secret Service ranks, and while protecting the president’s shy, boring son isn’t his dream White House assignment, it’s an easy enough task since no one pays Rafa much attention. He discovers there’s a vibrant young man beneath the timid public shell, and while he knows Rafa has a crush on him, he assures himself it’s harmless. Shane’s never had room for romance in his life, and he’d certainly never cross that line with a protectee. Keeping Rafa safe at any cost is Shane’s mission. 

But as Rafa gets under his skin, will they both put their hearts on the line?

Review: 

This ARC was received by the author and IndiGo Marketing and Design in exchange for an honest review.

Rafa Castillo is biding his time until his Republican father's presidential term is over.  When that happens he can finally come out and move to the other side of the world to pursue his dreams of becoming a chef.  Dreams that his mother has done the most to redirect into something SHE wants for him.  After his second to last semester of college, he returns to the White House for the summer.  Due to staffing changes within the Secret Service to provide protection to the new presidential candidates, Rafa is assigned two new agents in the rotating team that protects him 24/7.  The last thing he expected was to find one of his new agents to be a super hot guy a good 15-20 years older than him.  

Shane Kendrick might have received the most boring detail within the White House, BUT it is a detail that could lead to protecting the President which has been his goal since joining the Secret Service.  Rafael Castillo (code name Valor) is an easy charge.  The most dangerous thing he does is cook  in the small private kitchen available to him.  When Rafa (or Valor - can't refer to his protectee in a personal way, now can he) begs Shane to sample the dishes he has been developing, Shane finds it hard to say no to someone so earnest and in need of a little encouragement.  

Before long, Rafa's attraction to Shane has turned into a hard-core attraction.  And no matter how hard he tries to ignore it, Shane returns Rafa's interest.  But Shane is also dedicated to his job and refuses to jeopardize that.  At the first hint of physical contact, Shane shuts off all communication that isn't required in order to perform his duties as Valor's protector. 

I was more than a little curious how this story would be portrayed.  I often enjoy May-December romances.  I find the evolution of the relationships to be fascinating and Valor on the Move was no exception.  I enjoyed how the development of their feelings was based on the slow realization of mutual interests rather than instant physical involvement.  Not that the physical attraction wasn't there from the onset.  It definitely was.  I also appreciated that Keira Andrews didn't try to gloss over the ethical issues of Shane becoming involved with the person he is paid to protect.   Nor does she sugar coat the likely response a Secret Service agent would have to his position being emotionally compromised. 

My only complaint is that, as much I loved Rafa and Shane, I felt slightly removed from them as a couple.  There is a 6-month break towards the end of the story that I felt may have contained revelations for both characters.  Revelations that would have pulled me in a bit more and made me an even stronger supporter of their eventual happy ending.  But, I have to admit that my wanting more is a good thing since the author did such an amazing job of making me care about her heroes.  

If you are a fan of age-gap romances with plenty of magic time and a feel-good ending,  I highly recommend this Valor on the Move.

Nat

Waiting on Wednesday (163)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that highlights future releases that we are excitedly anticipating.

By Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg

Publication Date: September 15, 2015

Nicolas Fox is a charming con man and master thief on the run. Kate O’Hare is the FBI agent who is hot on his trail. At least that’s what everyone thinks. In reality, Fox and O’Hare are secretly working together to bring down super-criminals the law can’t touch. Criminals like brutal casino magnate Evan Trace.

Evan Trace is running a money-laundering operation through his casino in Macau. Some of his best customers are mobsters, dictators, and global terrorists. Nick and Kate will have to go deep undercover as high-stakes gamblers, wagering millions of dollars—and their lives—in an attempt to topple Trace’s empire.

It’s a scam that will take Fox and O’Hare from the Las Vegas strip, to the sun-soaked beaches of Oahu’s North Shore, and into the dark back alleys of Macau. Their only backup—a self-absorbed actor, a Somali pirate, and Kate’s father, and an ex-soldier who believes a rocket launcher is the best way to solve every problem. What could possibly go wrong? 

By Sarah Robinson

Publication Date: September 29, 2015

Perfect for fans of Katy Evans and Monica Murphy, Sarah Robinson’s blistering-hot series debut introduces the Kavanagh brothers—mixed martial arts fighters who work hard, play hard, and love with all their hearts. 

As one of the big names at his family’s gym, Legends, MMA star Rory Kavanagh is used to being in the spotlight—until a gruesome leg injury knocks him out of the cage. Rory is left feeling sidelined in more ways than one, battling the inner demons that come with losing the one shot at his dreams. Then Clare walks into his life and gives him a new dream: winning her heart. There aren’t many new faces in Woodlawn these days, but this tough, beautiful stranger makes Rory want to get his life back into fighting shape.

Clare Ivers doesn’t think she’ll be able to tell anyone what really brought her to the close-knit Bronx neighborhood where she just started bartending. But her life’s on pause and her past is catching up fast, try as she might to move on—with new friends, steady work, and a chiseled alpha male trying to get her attention. Even though Rory’s more than a little intense, she can’t deny that her heart beats faster when he looks at her with those soulful silver eyes. Clare thought she was done with love, but Rory might just be man enough to show her she thought wrong.

Includes a special message from the editor, as well as an excerpt from another Loveswept title. 

For 18+ years of age.

By Keira Andrews

Publication Date: September 9, 2015

He’d give his life to protect the president’s son. But he never expected to risk his heart.

Growing up gay in the White House hasn’t been easy for Rafael Castillo. Codenamed “Valor” by the Secret Service, Rafa feels anything but brave as he hides in the closet and tries to stay below the radar in his last year of college. His father’s presidency is almost over, and he just needs to stick to his carefully crafted plan. Once his family’s out of the spotlight, he can be honest with his conservative parents about his sexuality and his dream of being a chef. 

It’s definitely not part of Rafa’s plan to get a new Secret Service agent who’s a walking wet dream, but he’s made it this long keeping his desires to himself. Besides, it’s not like Shane Kendrick would even look at him twice if it wasn’t his job.

Shane’s worked his way up through the Secret Service ranks, and while protecting the president’s shy, boring son isn’t his dream White House assignment, it’s an easy enough task since no one pays Rafa much attention. He discovers there’s a vibrant young man beneath the timid public shell, and while he knows Rafa has a crush on him, he assures himself it’s harmless. Shane’s never had room for romance in his life, and he’d certainly never cross that line with a protectee. Keeping Rafa safe at any cost is Shane’s mission. 

But as Rafa gets under his skin, will they both put their hearts on the line?

A Peek In The BiblioBin #143

Welcome to our Stacking the Shelves post! Stacking the Shelves (or as we like to call it, A Peek in the BiblioBin) has been created by the lovely ladies at Tynga's Reviews.

Stacking the Shelves is a way for bloggers to share what books they have won, received for review, bought from the bookstore, borrowed from the library or friend, etc.


For Review:

A Match Made On Main Street (Briar Creek #2) by Olivia Miles 
(Grand Central Publishing/NetGalley)



From The Publisher:

The One That Got Away by Bethany Chase (sent to us by Ballantine Books)


Borrowed:

Divide and Conquer (Cut & Run #4) by Madeleine Urban & Abigail Roux

The Rosie Project (Don Tillman #1) by Graeme Simsion


Purchased:

A Forbidden Rumspringa (A Gay Amish Romance #1) by Keira Andrews

The First Three Rules (My Brother's Keeper #1) by Adrienne Wilder

The Resolution of Callie & Kayden (The Coincidence #6) by Jessica Sorensen/ebook

You Only Get So Much by Dan Kolbet/ebook

A Good Debutante's Guide To Ruin (The Debutante Files #1) by Sophie Jordan/ebook