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Hotshots #3

Feel the Fire

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The third installment of Annabeth Albert’s Hotshots series—the emotions and intensity of Chicago Fire with the raw, natural elements of Man vs. Wild .

When their career paths bring two high school sweethearts together again, the forest isn’t the only thing ablaze…

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.

Danger lurks everywhere for Central Oregon’s fire crews, but the biggest risk of all might be losing their hearts. Don’t miss the Hotshots series from Annabeth Albert: High Heat, Burn Zone and Feel the Fire.

264 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 26, 2020

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About the author

Annabeth Albert

100 books3,455 followers
Frequent tweeter, professional grammar nerd, and obsessive reader, Annabeth Albert is also a Pacific Northwest romance writer in a variety of subgenres.

Emotionally complex, sexy, and funny stories are her favorites both to read and to write. In between searching out dark heroes to redeem, she works a rewarding day job and wrangles two toddlers.

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 243 reviews
Profile Image for Carol [Goodreads Addict].
2,573 reviews25.1k followers
September 4, 2020
Feel the Fire is book three in the Hotshots series by Annabeth Albert. This is a M/M second chance romance. Teenage love given a second chance twenty years later.

“How many chances in life did a person get to have what they truly wanted?”

Luis Riviera is thirty five years old and is a fire behavior specialist in Los Angeles, CA. With the current hiring freeze, it’s not unusual that Luis get loaned out to other agencies if they are in need. But when his boss told him that there was a suspected arsonist setting wildfires in Painter’s Ridge, Oregon, the town where Luis lived as a teen, he was less than happy about the assignment. It was where Luis first discovered he was gay, and it was where he first fell in love. Only it ended in heartbreak when Luis’s family moved to California and the boy who had his heart, also broke it twenty years ago.

firefighters at a wildfire - Google Search

Tucker Ryland lives in the same town he grew up in but is now a divorced father of twin seventeen year old boys. Tucker is a fire management expert and loves his job. When his boss told him they were bringing in someone to help with the arson investigation, he was surprised, but when he saw just who it was, he couldn’t believe his eyes. After all these years, the boy he had once given his heart to was standing in the same office as he was.

“He might not be the same boy anymore, but he was a man, and that was possibly more devastating to Tucker’s sanity.”

two men sitting in the bleachers - Google Search

As Tucker and Luis work together, they also get the opportunity to finally clear the air between them. Then, as they get to know the men they have become, they also develop a deep respect for each other and the lives they live. Of one thing they are both certain, what was once between them as boys, is still there now, even after twenty years. But it is now something bigger, something better. Only Tucker’s life is in Oregon, his kids, his job, his friends. Luis’s is in Los Angeles. Their time together has an expiration date, or does it?

“He wanted everything. And now the only question was how on earth he was supposed to get it.”



This was a well written, very sweet and sexy story of second chances and of following your dreams. First, I want to say how much I love the covers of all three of the books in this series. This is a pretty long book and for some reason, I just couldn’t find my groove. Luis and Tucker were clearly perfect for each other but I couldn’t feel their connection. Tucker was a fantastic father to his boys. I loved the open way he was with him and the relationship he had with his ex-wife. And it’s obvious that the author did a lot of research for this. I just didn’t feel their love the way I wanted to. I hoped the arson aspect of this would be a little more suspenseful. All in all, though, it is a sweet story with a gratifying Happy Ever After.

For more about this book and so many others, come and visit me at Carol's Crazy Bookish World.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/Carol...

October 5, 2020
Feel the Fire has a lot going for it:

🔥 Two mature (mid-30s), likable MCs who actually act their age (men who can apologize and communicate are practically an endangered species in the MM genre)

🔥 Former-best-friends-to-lovers

🔥 Second chances

🔥 literal FIRE (Luis is temporarily transferred to Oregon to conduct an arson investigation)

🔥 metaphorical FIRE (Luis & Tucker are SMOKIN' HOT together!)

🔥 grumpy cat named Blaze

🔥 lower angst, with realistic life problems (the main issue is that Tucker's family is in Oregon, while Luis works and lives in California)

🔥 great secondary characters (I loved Tucker's twins, Walker and Wade; Wade trying to give his dad the "safe sex" talk was hilarious!)

🔥 solid HEA ending

I have a couple minor complaints:

💧 The arson investigation was never concluded. It was not the main focus of the story, but I was curious about the perpetrator.

💧 The middle dragged for me just a little bit. I liked the technical fire talk, but I could have done with fewer scenes featuring Heidi, Tucker's ex; not that she was a bad person, but I felt like she was a little controlling of Tucker. Also, as much as I liked Tucker's kids, I have enough teenage angst at home and really didn't need that many pages dedicated to Walker's girl problems.

I hope there are more books in this series, because I'm not done with Hotshots, not by a long shot (errr, pun not intended, I swear).
Profile Image for Cadiva.
3,636 reviews363 followers
September 20, 2020
I've loved each one of these books from Annabeth but I think this one was my favourite because, not only were the protagonists older (approaching their late 30s), but because they communicated so well.

On the face of it, it sounds like it would be a default second chance romance, with recriminations to be overcome and long-felt guilt and hurt to deal with right?

But it's so much more than that. It's a clever exploration of how sometimes the person you were in love with at 16 is the right person, but the timing just wasn't and no-one is ultimately to blame for why you didn't stay together.

It's clear from the moment Luis is told he's being sent back to Oregon - because of his specialist experience in investigating forest fires and arson attacks - that he's dreading returning to the place where he and Tucker fell in love.

A California boy, his family's brief eight-year stay in Painter's Ridge before they moved back to the warmer climes, holds only painful memories for him now but he's also dealing with loss at home too.

When he bumps into Tucker on his first day at work, he's thrown for a loop. He'd expected his teenage love would be married and working his family's ranch, not running the teams dealing with forest fires but you can see instantly the sparks are still there.

What I loved that there was no big blow out here when Tucker and Luis met again. They didn't sulk and mooch about passing sly comments or fighting some angry sex demons (not that that would have been a problem either because they were both fine #justsaying).

Instead, there's a totally mature conversation about long distances, about one time mistakes having life-long consequences (and twin boys 😉 ) and about how the longer time goes on without speaking, the harder it gets to pick up a phone or write a letter.

There's still big issues to deal with though. The path to happiness isn't a straightforward one. There's extended families, the twins are about to graduate and they've got big decisions to make too. And Luis' placement is only temporary.

You get this feeling of overwhelming melancholy alongside the joys with this book and I think Annabeth has picked the narrative perfectly. On the face of it, there is no easy answer.

Both men have commitments in the places they live but they also know they're it for each other and if it doesn't work out again, the future looks sad and lonely. As the tale unfolds, both Luis and Tucker have hard decisions to make and they never try to avoid facing up to the obstacles in their path.

Tucker is demisexual, but his connection to Luis is clear from the start. I felt this was handled in a thoroughly believable way. His feelings for Luis just came back to the front as soon as they saw each other again, his willingness to explore his sexual needs were honestly earned.

There's a real sense of gentleness with this romance, even with all the hurdles the two men have to fight through and, for me, the ending was a true compromise which gave me such a feeling of happiness.

This is a romance with grown-up people making grown-up decisions and it's honest and compelling throughout. I loved it.

#ARC kindly received from the publishers Carina Press via NetGalley in return for an honest and unbiased review.
Profile Image for Saimi Vasquez.
1,548 reviews84 followers
May 12, 2022
Tucker ha vivido toda su vida en Oregon, una vida comoda compartiendo la parternidad de sus morochos con su ex-esposa, pero despues de tantos anos de solo dedicarse a los Bomberos y a sus hijos estan pasando factura, se siente solo y cuando sus hijos se vayan pronto a la Universidad va a estar realmente solo. Asi que cuando su ex (del liceo) regresa a la ciudad para ayudar en la investigacion de un incendiario, no puede evitar recordar esa sensacion de suenos perdidos, de volver a ser aquel joven que queria aventuras, aunque quizas pueda volver a recordar algunas con el.
Luis lo menos que esperaba es que lo enviaran a Oregon para ayudar con la investigacion de un incendiario, y mucho menos volver a encontrarse con el que fue su amor de juventud. Ya con una vida estable y tranquila en California, Luis penso que ya habia superado todo eso, pero los sentimientos que tenia por Tucker todavia estan ahi, y ahora son mucho mas intensos que antes, sera que puede recuperar algo del tiempo perdido? o por lo menos disfrutar su tiempo en la ciudad?
Quizas el mayor reto para la relacion entre Tucket y Luis no es la confianza, sino mas bien la comodidad que tienen ambos en sus roles actuales, seran capaz de llegar a un acuerdo por el bien de la relacion?

Ya con este tercer libro me estoy dando cuenta que el autor solo duplico los libros y cambio los personajes. Absolutamente todo el drama del libro es exactamente igual que los dos anteriores, el mismo motivo, la misma incertidumbre, los mismos problemas, lo unico que le falto fue la diferencia de edad, pero de resto, los libros son tan parecidos que no tienes mas que leer un par de parrafos de cada capitulo para saber que va a pasar mas adelante. Eso podria resultar si uno leyera los libros uno cada 6 meses, o quizas uno cada 2 meses, pero como estoy leyendo la serie en continuo, lo unico que ocurre es que aburre.
Asi que si, la serie no es mala, lo unico es que no debes leerla de continuo, las tramas son tan parecidas, que solo los personajes son los que ayudan a diferenciar los libros, lo que en este libro resulto su salvacion. Los gemelos, eran totalmente divertidos, asi como el gato y la reaparicion de los personajes de libros anteriores fueron lo que me ayudo a terminar el libro y a que me entretuviera los suficiente como para darle la calificacion que le di.
Sin embargo, voy a terminar la serie, y esperar que por lo menos el ultimo libro (por ahora) de esta serie, resulte un poco diferente de los demas.
Profile Image for Adam.
611 reviews367 followers
October 16, 2020
3.5 hearts


Second chances, wildfires, and a seriously grumpy cat.

Luis Riviera is assigned to an arson investigation in the last place he ever wants to be - his old high school stomping grounds in Central Oregon, where he experienced his first broken heart.

Tucker Ryland has been devoted to his family and his job as a fire management expert, and had all but forgotten the disastrous end to his own teenage years.

Neither man ever expected to come face to face again. Both men are thrown for a loop when they bump into each other on the first day of Luis’ assignment.

I gotta say - I found Luis’ initial behaviour to be a bit much. Granted, he had been hurt by Tucker’s actions, but that was two decades ago. His actions just seemed a bit too petty and childish.

But I really liked everything that came after that reunion. The second chances trope can be so overdone and “quick” sometimes, but Annabeth Albert handled it like a pro.

While there are definitely lingering feelings, the emotional rekindling is gradual. Tucker and Luis don’t just automatically fall back in love.

Tentative kisses turn into fiery nights, and pretty soon Luis and Tucker are having a series of unofficial dates.

The two rediscover what drew them together as boys, and there’s an entirely new discovery of the men they’ve become.

I was all for it! It was easy to root for them.

The family dynamic is also entertaining. Tucker’s teenage boys were great. Wade was a hoot, and Walker’s angst was entirely believable. Bonus points for how great Tucker’s relationship with his ex-wife is!

On the downside - I just couldn’t get into the firefighting. It just seemed to drag and I’ll admit I skimmed some of those parts.

Regardless, the happy ending was great and I really liked that it went in a bit of an unpredictable direction!

If you’re looking for an entertaining second chances MM romance with strong themes of family and growth, give ‘Feel the Fire’ a try!



Profile Image for Steven.
1,122 reviews420 followers
November 1, 2020
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher, Carina Press, for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I loved the story of Luis and Tucker. I loved the history they shared, the connection they felt, and how that snapped back into place as soon as Luis returns to town. I loved Tucker's family, and his mostly grown kids who cared so much about him. I loved the banter and the naughty times. I loved the angst that came from loving someone so much that it hurt.

I really like this series. I don't know if it's supposed to be more than three, but I desperately hope it will be. I'm also planning on reading more of Annabeth Albert's series, because if they're like this, I'll really enjoy them.
Profile Image for Gustaf.
1,440 reviews155 followers
January 19, 2021
Finally! I've been muscling through this series not really liking it but still kept reading for some reason. I finally got the pay off. This is by far my favorite in the series.

It's slow burn, but that's what to expect from this author. There's a lot of reasons I found stupid and frustrating for these guys to not get together. But when these guys slowly start to feel again it's a really beautiful love story. And I was rooting for them all the way to the finish line.

Writing kids can be hard. Especially teenagers. And there was times in this book when I thought that Tucker's kids where there to keep Tucker and Luis apart but they also had such great personalities that I got over that fairly quickly. Wade made me laugh and Walker tucked at my heart.

My conclusion is that it's worth getting through the first two books to get to this one.
Profile Image for Leanne | Read Sweetly to Me.
59 reviews18 followers
October 22, 2020
Twenty years ago Luis and Tucker shared a teenage romance. But Luis moved away, promises were broken and neither has seen the other since. Until Luis, now a fire behaviour specialist, is assigned an investigation in Central Oregon and comes face to face with his teenager love. But times have changed, Luis has loved and lost once more, Tucker is now a single father to two teenager boys--distracted by family responsibilities and a busy fire season, can these two men rediscover what they lost all those years ago?

This book made me question myself constantly. The one thing I loved best about this book? The communication! No sooner has Luis returned than the two of them sit down, like adults, and hash out the past. There is remorse and forgiveness all round and I really liked how both of them took equal responsibility for how everything went down.

On the other hand, I think because these two are so good at communicating some of the tension in their relationship was lost. There's not a lot of will-they, won't-they, and most of their issues come from outside sources that are also too easily solved. Also I will say for a firefighter book there isn't much excitement going on, this is more about family problems and how to deal with distance in a relationship.

For all that though I did enjoy Feel the Fire. I loved how the book includes a demi sexual love interest, this was a first for me and it was really interesting how it changed their relationship. The sex was also very steamy (there is shower sex! it is hot!).

Characters from previous series do appear but this book can easily be read alone.

Overall I did really like this one, it was nice for a change to read about a couple who communicated (even if perhaps they were a bit too open with each other). Their relationship was very heart-warming and I loved the family relationships Albert included.
Profile Image for Santy.
1,201 reviews70 followers
October 21, 2020
Annabeth Albert delivers another solid instalment with this book in a series I've come to greatly enjoy.

Tucker, we met in the previous book and Luis we meet for the first time here but by the end of the book, I felt like I knew both men quite well. Reading the blurb, I'm sure you'd think you can predict how it would go, but you'd be wrong. It certainly didn't go the way I thought.

The writing and the storytelling were great as usual with good secondary characters as well but what threw me for a loop was where I was expecting drama and drawn-out angst and this book simply said "Nope. Not gonna happen boo".

You know how you read a novel and the protagonists are so immature you want to rip your hair out?This was the OPPOSITE of that. I had zero of such problems here. In fact, they handled their issues so maturely that by the end, I kept thinking "this should be happening in more books so that my blood pressure remains stable!". That alone clinched the rating for me. Lol!

I don't think I need to reiterate how much I enjoyed the book from all I've written above. If you are a fan of this series, author or simply a fan of MCs who communicate in ways that would make your heart happy, go grab this book. You won't regret it. I certainly did not.

**eARC Graciously Provided by Publisher via Netgalley in Exchange for an Honest, Unbiased Review **
Profile Image for Ed Davis.
2,466 reviews85 followers
March 30, 2023
I love Annabeth Albert, and I loved this book. Old loves rediscovering one another is not one of my favorite tropes, but Annabeth managed it quite well. Luis and Tucker were in love in high school when Luis’s family were relocated to California. Their long distance relationship didn’t last. Tucker,who is demisexual, married and had twins. When Luis is brought back to Tucker’s hometown to investigate suspicious fires he must face his old love. Tucker has been divorced for years so they slowly fall back in love.

I listened to the audiobook and that made it even better. I love Iggy Toma and think he is definitely one of the best narrators.
Profile Image for Liber_Lady.
423 reviews111 followers
August 21, 2020
ARC Review

I have not read the previous two books of the series but it can easily be read as a standalone.

Tucker is the father of two teens, still has a great relationship with his ex-wife, and is at a pretty great position in the work department. He is also a demisexual, and I really liked rep, as far as a cis-het woman can tell. Things change when his love from his own teenage years comes back into town for a work assignment in his work place.

Luis wa burned before. He does not plan to again. He is only in the town for a few weeks, and he does not plan to get involved with Tucker, no matter how endearing and funny and sweet and a great dad he is.

Well, but they do. The chemistry between them is sizzling. There's a lot of description of how the firefighters and other fire departments work. I really enjoyed how the characters were really mature. They were in their thirties and they behaved accordingly. There wasn't any immature drama and silly fights.

I absolutely loved how these two started to get to know one another, went on dates, and man, the chemistry, the sex scenes were as hot as other Annabeth Albert books.

My small gripe was that the fire scenes were boring for me. I did not care for so much detail and wasn't invested in the case Luis was following. So, I had to skim a lot.

I especially loved the twins, Wade and Walker. The author really made me care and feel invested in their lives too, which was just so amazing. Wade, the fun energetic one, and Walker, the more aloof, sentimental one. I loved them both. Also, a shoutout to Blaze, Luis' cat.

I do recommend this book.
Profile Image for Amy Dufera - Amy's MM Romance Reviews.
2,698 reviews133 followers
August 20, 2020
4.5 Stars

**rough draft**
**not edited until on blog in October**

Feel The Fire is a beautiful second chance romance. This is the third book in Annabeth Albert's Hotshots series.
Tucker and Luis have a past full of pain and regret. They are two former boyfriends who are now working together. Their relationship is full of want, need, and desire. It's full of pain, heartache, and longing.

They are two men who can't easily be together long term, as life always continues to give them obstacles. Their journey is one of accepting the past and realizing that plans can change. It's about accepting the circumstances and forgiveness.

It's a riveting story, full of fires and a search for an arsonist. There's some action and danger in addition to the budding romance, to which the men bring plenty of heat themselves. The title is a delightful play on words, as only the author knows if the "fire" in the title is about the forest fires or the heat between the men.

Written in alternating 3rd person pov, this book is riveting from the start. The authors include some wonderful secondary characters, including Tucker's children. I love his sons. Their addition to the storyline adds a whole lot of fun. The family dynamics with his ex wife is also fantastic.

Feel The Fire is a tale of second chances. Annabeth Albert brings a slew of emotion to this story as the men know what they're developing is short term. I love these men and this series.
Profile Image for Rosabel.
723 reviews231 followers
Read
October 30, 2020
I DNF at 52%, where the book should have ended, but it didn't and I was just bored!

It dragged, the conflict was resolved really quickly and then all came to: I want to be with him but I have to return to my city... And: I want to be with him but he's returning to his city. So yeah, what the fuck conflict is that? Boring as hell! Besides you resolved the big problem like adults, why you treat this one like teenagers? Nop, no no no.

Annabeth is a hit or miss to me, this one was a miss. I hope her next one will be better for me. 😪💗
Profile Image for Caz.
2,875 reviews1,087 followers
December 13, 2020
I've given this an A- at AAR, so that's 4.5 stars rounded up.

Book three in Annabeth Albert’s Hotshots series is a second-chance romance between two men – best friends - who fell in love as teens, but were parted when one family moved away and their plans to be together didn’t work out. It’s a trope I generally enjoy, and I’m pleased to say that my expectations were met; Feel the Fire is a poignant, sexy and satisfying romance featuring likeable, complex characters whose intense emotional connection leaps off the page.

California-based fire behaviour specialist Luis Rivera isn’t too pleased at being asked to head up to central Oregon for a few weeks to help out at the Painter’s Ridge airbase, but the hotshot crew there is seriously shorthanded at a time they’re having to deal with a spate of fires they believe to be the result of arson.  This sort of thing isn’t unusual; ever tightening budgets and hiring freezes mean Luis has been ‘loaned out’ to other forest services before, but Painter’s Ridge holds painful memories and is somewhere he’d never planned to go back to.  Still, he can’t really refuse, especially as his particular area of expertise is likely to be useful in helping to capture the arsonist – and in any case, he’s unlikely to run into the guy who broke his heart twenty years before.  Most likely, Tucker is happily running the family ranch with his wife and passel of kids.

Tucker Ryland and Luis more or less grew up together and were each other’s first love.  When they were sixteen, Luis’ family moved to California, and the plan was for Tucker to move to be with him as soon as possible, but those plans had to be put on hold when Tucker’s dad had a heart attack and Tucker was needed on the family ranch.  Time dragged on with Tucker stuck in Oregon and Luis not-so-patiently waiting for Tucker to join him – but eventually, and with no idea of when Tucker would be able to get away, that patience ran out, and things between them didn’t end well. Twenty years later, Tucker gets one helluva shock when he realises that the arson specialist coming to Painter’s Ridge on temporary assignment from the Angeles National Forest is the same boy – well, man now – who’d left town with Tucker’s heart all those years ago.

Their first meeting is somewhat awkward to say the least, as they try to reconcile their memories with the reality of each other as they are now.  Neither is quite sure how to handle it; they were everything to each other once upon a time and now, they’re practically strangers.  Tucker can feel the anger coming off Luis in waves; he knows they’ll have to talk at some point, but he’s not looking forward to it.  And Luis… well, his anger is down to the fact that he doesn’t want to have to deal with the old hurts and memories seeing Tucker again has brought to the surface.  Yet it’s very quickly apparent that whatever the cause of the tension and frustration each can sense coming from the other, there’s something else there, too, some little, long buried spark that neither man is actually sure he wants but can’t fail to recognise.  Before long, that spark ignites (pun intended!) and the soul-deep connection the two men feel carries over into an intense physical relationship. But Luis’ presence in Oregon was always going to be temporary, and the supreme irony that they’re going end up exactly where they were twenty years earlier is not lost on either of them.  They’re no longer teens who think the world well lost for love, they’re grown men who have put down roots and made lives and careers for themselves. So the question now is – are they prepared to do what it takes in order to make a life together?

Feel the Fire is an expertly crafted, character-driven romance, and Annabeth Albert does a wonderful job of showing Luis and Tucker getting past that initial awkwardness, then gradually getting to know the men they are now and essentially falling in love all over again. While the arson plotline is the main impetus for bringing the couple back together, it’s very much a secondary storyline because the main focus is firmly on the relationship, which develops organically and in a way that is refreshingly mature because of the way that Luis and Tucker are so honest with each other. They talk things through, admit their mistakes, and display a degree of acceptance and understanding (I loved that Luis was always so careful to check with Tucker – who is demisexual – about his limits) that not only feels absolutely right for a couple in their mid-thirties, but also provides an interesting and effective contrast with their rather idealistic romance when they were teens. I’ve read some early reviews that criticised the book’s pacing for being on the slow side, but I’d have to disagree; the pacing is realistic given Luis and Tucker haven’t seen each other for twenty years and have to get to know each other again, and also, because they’re adults with adult responsibilities and a couple of decades of emotional baggage under their belts, they are naturally more cautious and often have other people and situations to consider before they act.

In Tucker’s case those responsibilities are his twin sons, Wade and Walker, who are seventeen and approaching big changes in their lives. They’re as different as chalk and cheese; Wade is a real extrovert – outgoing, lively and says whatever comes into his head – and looking forward to leaving home for college, while Walker is quieter and more cautious, clearly struggling with something and not wanting to talk about it. Wade’s enthusiastic matchmaking for his dad is funny and oddly sweet (I had to laugh when he gave Tucker a box of condoms and told him to have fun!). They’re well-rounded characters in their own right, and their relationships with each other and Tucker are very well written. I appreciated that Tucker’s ex-wife isn’t demonised and that we’re shown them successfully co-parenting the twins and being supportive of each other.

As I’ve noted in the previous books, the author’s research into the work of the people involved in wildfire fighting is excellent and used to very good effect, and I love that this series features characters in very unusual professions. Feel the Fire is my favourite Hotshots book so far – it’s a romantic, touching story about rediscovery and reconnection – and realising it’s never too late to follow your dreams.
Profile Image for Danielle  Gypsy Soul.
3,123 reviews77 followers
November 6, 2020
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.

A copy of this book was provided to me by Netgalley and the publisher with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book and my comments here are my honest opinion.
Profile Image for Nadine Bookaholic.
3,623 reviews445 followers
October 26, 2020
Tucker and Luis have a past, a past that both of them have learned to live with but still think about. They were close in High School, very close, they even had plans to be together after graduation but events in Tucker's life prevented him from meeting Luis in California as planned.

Now about eighteen years later Tucker is a divorced father of twin boys, Walker and Wade, (Wade seriously needs his story told...I hope you are reading this Annabeth!) and he's a fire management expert trying to find whoever is setting fires to his forest. Luis is a Fire behavior specialist in California and is being loaned to his home town of Painter’s Ridge, Oregon where he left his first love. Needless to say Luis isn't thrilled about this assignment but he is heading there regardless because whats the worst that can happen....

Read my full review here: https://bit.ly/NBReviewFtF

feel the fire by annabeth albert

feel the fire by annabeth albert

Nadine's Obsessed with Books **I have voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Readers Copy of this book for my Blog, Nadine's Obsessed with Books**
You can find me here:  https://linktr.ee/NadineBookaholic
Profile Image for Jess.
451 reviews12 followers
April 21, 2021
Luis and Tucker were each other first love when they were teens. But then Luis had to move out of town and Tucker's commitment to his family had halted his plans to move with him. The long-distance relationship did not work out for them and eventually, they broke off. Tucker who is a demisexual got married to his best friend and had twins. Twenty years later, an arson investigation brought Luis back to town and both MCs were needed to work together to solve it. The reunion rekindled their relationship and let their bygones be bygones.

Long-distance might not work out for most but for some it does. Regardless, this story teaches us about making decisions for ourselves and not for others. Sometimes, we may feel like we are out of options but there was actually a sea bed of options out there for us to consider. The characters were very mature in how they deal with the past, the present and their future. I really like this book and comes close to being my fav in the series (my top is still Garrick!). I was at first pretty worried since my last read on the series was quite a while and might not be able to catch on with the plot, but thank goodness, there wasn't a lot of references made with the previous books except for a few showups of the previous MCs.
Profile Image for .Lili. .
1,199 reviews257 followers
October 28, 2020
Feel the Fire is another great story in the Hot Shots series.

This book has:

-Dual POVs
-Friends to lovers
-Second chance
-Older characters, and by older, I mean in their 30s. Still younger than me, but in the romance world, it's rare.
-Communication. At first, I was afraid Luis's and Tucker's past would drag throughout the story, but it didn't. These guys talked to each other.
-Their connection felt organic; it felt natural for them to start back up again.
-Chemistry
-Love the supporting cast of characters; they added to the story without overtaking it.
-The HEA made me believe in their future together. They're in it for the long haul.

All in all, I loved it: low angst, romantic, good steam, no stupid drama. It's a win.

4.5 Stars
Profile Image for Kaje Harper.
Author 80 books2,586 followers
July 10, 2021
This is a second chance romance - Luis and Tucker were in love as teens, but when Luis moved, and then Tucker's dad had a heart attack, plans to be together in college fell apart. Both felt hurt, both were angry that the other wouldn't bend, and they broke up. Tucker married their female best friend right out of high school, and they have a pair of 18-year-old twin boys who are the center of Tucker's life, despite now being divorced. But when Luis is loaned to the fire station Tucker works out of, they find out fast that their attraction, and the sense of familiarity and belonging, hasn't faded with twenty years apart.

I loved several aspects of this story. I adored the supportive ex-wife, her husband, and the blended family. So nice to see folks all trying to make life work for each other, even after the marriage fell apart. The teenagers were fun, two distinct characters, and they had their own issues that didn't take over, but added depth to the story. And the fact that Tucker was demisexual and self-aware was a bonus.

I thought that the sex happened a bit fast and often (especially given Tucker's identity.) I would have liked to see him need to get to know Luis again more, first - not have the connection be so deep and immediate with no regard for the intervening years. (I also wished that we got the resolution to the arson mystery on page, after all the build.) And I would have loved to see the conflict with Tucker's homophobic family play out on the page a bit more.

But I really appreciated the ending, the resolution, the way the family worked through things. I really did buy the connection and the chemistry between the two men by the end, and their relationship felt solid and built to last.
Profile Image for Rachel Emily.
4,191 reviews337 followers
October 21, 2020
First of all, heck yes for some demi rep! I didn't know that one of the MC's would be demi and that was a pleasant surprise to see!

This is the third book in Annabeth's Hotshots series, although this one stands on its own very well if you want to jump in to this one and read it now. I loved Luis and Tucker and their second chance romance. This is probably my favorite of the series so far!

Luis is having to return to his home town to assist on an arson case. It means running into the boy he was in love with when they were both young teenagers, but Tucker is now grown and has kids of his own. The two must work together and also maybe attempt to mend their friendship and hearts at the same time, and I just loved it.

I was such a fan of these two. I loved that we got glimpses of them when they were teens, and I loved seeing both as strong, independent men. Luis had a long-term boyfriend who he lost on the job, and Tucker got married and had twin boys before getting divorced. They both lived their lives with no regrets, but when they reunite it's like finally THEIR time, and I loved it. I enjoyed that they were both older men and the communication was pretty good. I love that Luis was so respectful of Tucker's demi identity and made sure to like, check in? with him while they were together early on.

The main conflict came from the worry over being long-distance. But I love that Luis and Tucker loved each other enough to commit and make things work, and both were willing to sacrifice for the other to stay together.

I also appreciated that we had Heidi - Tucker's ex-wife, who was a positive female supporting character, and I loved their kids - Wade and Walker. The kids being little matchmakers were a bit adorable, too.

All in all, this was a lovely romance about two men finally getting the timing right and finding their new HEA. I loved Luis and Tucker and can't wait for more of this series!

I received an arc in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Zoe.
2,020 reviews281 followers
October 27, 2020
Sincere, steamy, and sweet!

Feel the Fire is a passionate, heartfelt, second-chance romance that features the dependable, loving Tucker, and the caring, hunky Luis as they navigate a relationship that includes a high school romance that reluctantly ended due to relocation, smouldering tension, undeniable attraction, and two teenage twin sons.

The writing is effortless and fluid. The characters are supportive, genuine, and endearing. And the plot is a heartwarming combination of family, friendship, heartbreak, angst, parenthood, tender moments, and unconditional love.

Overall, Feel the Fire is another emotional, uplifting, satisfying tale by Albert that is the perfect addition to what is quickly becoming, in my opinion, a smoking-hot series.

Thank you to Carina Press for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Dísir.
1,675 reviews178 followers
August 13, 2020
‘Feel the Fire’ is really that second-chance romance done in a way that those who are wary of this trope would find themselves warming to. Luis Rivera and Tucker Ryland had left each other in the dust nearly 20 years ago as teens but a secondment to central Oregon sends Luis back to the place where it all began—and as luck would have it, straight into Tucker’s path.

The fire case in itself secondary; in fact, it’s there to support how Luis and Tucker connect again, how they find a new admiration for the ways in which they’re good at their jobs and pretty much, the very driving force that brings their second-chance to fruition.

All throughout ‘Feel The Fire’ I was simply struck by how mature everything was, or at least how maturity rang out through both protagonists in every move that they made or almost everything that they said—right down to the compromise that came up at crunch time. There’s that clear contrast between the idealistic teenage romance and the slightly more cautionary grown-up way they approach each other as they both own up to their mistakes and then find their own dreams again.

It’s slow-going however only for the reason that Annabeth Albert presents their steadily-growing romance as a realistic one, interspersed with moody teenagers and their own growing-up issues. For this reason the story did feel as though it was heading nowhere at times and I did get somewhat bored with the domestic antics that Tucker was facing even as Luis’s time in Oregon was coming to an end. Long and short of it, ‘Feel the Fire’ is a solid one, well-written with rounded characterisations; it’s ordinariness and relatability perhaps, would be its greatest draw, with situations that mirror the frictions and the ever-changing dynamics of work and family. I wish it’d clicked a little more snugly for me despite my recognition that there’s nothing at all wrong with the storytelling, just that it came up somewhat lacking in the end instead of leaving me breathless.

*ARC by the publisher via Netgalley
Profile Image for Mel  (whilemelwasreading).
1,006 reviews94 followers
October 27, 2020
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “He wanted everything. And now the only question was how on earth he was supposed to get it.”

What You’ll Find:
✔️MM Romance
✔️Second Chances
✔️Family Feel
✔️Steamy Scenes
✔️Dual POV, Third

This book was a sweet story of second chances. Two teenagers separated just when they realized their attraction to each other. Years later Luis is sent back to his home town to help investigate a string of arson fires. Little does he know, he’ll be working closely to his first teenage love, Tucker.

I enjoyed this MM romance. It was sweet and steamy. It had a beautiful blended family situation. The twins were a fun addition. It had a real life feel, including what was going on with the children as well. I loved how the MC’s didn’t harbour too much anger or resentment from the past. They were determined to put the past in the past and enjoy what time they had together. And that, they certainly did. This story got steamy. And not from just investigating fires.

I hoped for a bit more from the fire aspect, maybe more action or suspense. Overall though I really enjoyed my first read by this author. This is book 3 in the Hotshots Series. You do get glimpses of the couples from the first two books but can definitely read this as a standalone. This one releases tomorrow!

Thank you to @harlequinbooks and @harlequinpublicityteam for providing a finished copy for my honest review.
Profile Image for Ami.
5,952 reviews491 followers
October 4, 2020
3.75 stars rounded up

Loved the set-up, LOVED the secondary characters especially Tucker's teenage kids, LOVED the real-life problems about compromises and chasing dreams, RESPECTED the demisexual representation... but oh, how all the sex got in my way 😝

Feel the Fire is the third installment in Albert's Hotshots series. It features two men who used to be best friends and high school lovers, up until one of them left Oregon to California and the other ended up staying. But then a series of fire brings Luis Rivera, a fire behavior specialist back to Oregon, and well, turned out that Tucker Ryland, now a fire management expert, is going to work with him again.

I always LOVE second-chance romance... it's my ALL TIME favorite trope. So it's easy to net my interest with this set-up. I loved that the two men finally evaluated that decision they made when they were teenagers with mature eyes. I loved that when similar situation happened again at present time - because of course Luis and Tucker would fall in love again, like you ever have doubt 😄 - they both did reassessed their situation. I really liked the solution too, because now one of them would get to relive his dreams.

I would like to highlight Tucker's teenage sons, Wade and Walker, because they were wonderful. Well, more Wade than Walker, to be honest. Wade was a DELIGHT... but I liked the difference between the twins. And how Walker ended up having similarity to Tucker's situation, while Wade was the one who challenged Tucker now about taking chances.

I did have two tiny complaints though. Luis came to Central Oregon to investigate a possible arsonist. While that case was wrapped up (they got the perpetrator) but it was sort of done off page and the mystery-fan in me was moaning in disappointment!

Second, yeah, all the sex, man! I mean, I appreciated that Tucker was a demisexual who enjoyed sex with one he felt connection with, but I still thought the numerous sex scenes to be dragging the story down. I got bored. Although of course, that might just be MY problem, not yours 🤪






The ARC is provided by the publisher via Netgalley for an exchange of fair and honest review. No high rating is required for any ARC received.
Profile Image for Elizabeth.
979 reviews103 followers
September 11, 2020
My thoughts
Rating: 4
Would I recommend it? Yes , ever since I started reading this series I've been talking about to my friends,some even said they would check it or have added to their TBR.
Would I read more of this series? Yes, I'm hooked on it and have already read all 3 books in this series.
Would I read more by this author? Yes
First off I want to thank the publisher Carina Press-Harlequin for the invite to read it and to continue on with this series as well as a big thinks to the author and Netgalley because this is one of my all time favorite male /male firefighter romance series that I love to read, in fact I think its the only one I've ever read. One of the reason I loved this one was is that it was a second chance romance where the two main characters got a chance at been together and getting to fellow your dreams , it was well written and very sweet,and the story just came to life right before your very eyes.
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