Book 698: Arctic Sun (Frozen Hearts #1) – Annabeth Albert

I can’t very well stop my MM romance streak, if the local library decides to repurchase/and or release extra copies of books I place on hold well before I started this streak can I? We’re all in agreement? Good, because there are more to come 😀

In her Frozen Heart series, Annabeth Albert takes us to the wilds of Alaska and it is worth it. She managed to capture the magic and vastness all while turning the heat up on a budding romance with two characters balancing mental health/addiction issues.

This whirlwind romance between ex-military Alaskan bush pilot Griffin and ex-model socialite traveling author River is an opposites attract and find love standard for the genre. They meet when Griff’s uncle is injured so can’t do the high-end photography tour of Alaska that River is a guest on and Griff has to step in and take over.

“Again, Griffin seemed sheepish to be sharing something more than just the schedule. River found his discomfort adorable. Big gruff mountain man had a mushy streak, and River wanted to see more of it.” (Loc 334)

Quite a few of the opposites attract tropes make an appearance from the beginning gruff interactions, the city and rural diode, the home body and the traveler, the confident (at least outwardly) and the recluse (apparent). You name it it’s crammed in here.

I liked both of the characters’ projections from the reticence of Griffin to make any changes to anything he does or says to the almost over-bearing confidence of River, but more importantly I loved the characters underneath, despite their “faults”. Griffin spends the first chunk of the novel avoiding talking about his sobriety and River spends the same first half avoiding talking about his recovery from an eating disorder. So not only are they not communicating because men, but they’re also not communicating about things that are integral to their current life situations and continued day-to-day success living their lives. This is where the crux of the story (and especially the crisis) revolves is their inability to talk to each other and/or deal with the others mental health challenges/recoveries and I both liked and didn’t like it.

This 100% comes from my white cis-male status (privilege) and my ability to pick up a book that will show a version of me in it pretty much anywhere, but I’m not sure how I feel about how Albert tries to pack in the diversity into her novels. I’m including sexualities Let me be clear, I am not at all opposed to it—it’s actually quite refreshing. Where I struggle, is that she toes the line of somethings being fetishized/fantasized and or something that takes away from the escapist story that I want when I turn to this genre.

I know this is my projecting, but the emphasis on the caring and the providing a stable person throughout the novel for their love interest and making decisions that are smart or idiotic based on the preconceived notions can also come across as a plot device instead of being respectful. I in no way think she is using them as a plot device, I think she genuinely wants to write diverse characters, but it’s very easy to fall into the plot device/token character trap. I will add that I think she has improved these type of characters drastically in the last two years since I read her Portland Heat series, specifically Danced Close. And all of this being said, there are people that want to read MM romance novels and deserve to be (and should be) represented within the MM Romance genre.

“‘Shouldn’t I have mentioned the cute guy?’ River’s voice was light and tinkly, not accusing. ‘Sorry. I’m pan. It’s going to creep out when I speak. I promise it’s not catching.’ . . . And then they could both laugh, and Griffin would say how he usually used bi in his own head, not pan, but that he had no issues with cute-guy talk.” (Loc. 399)

The other piece that I found she dealt with (and always has) really well is on the character’s sexuality. There’s no major drama about either of the character’s sexuality with their families, they’re just accepted. There’s no drama or even discussion around Griff’s bisexuality or River’s pansexuality, it comes up when necessary and then the story moves on. And I really liked that Albert included Griff’s mom finally moving on with her life and getting remarried some 30 years after his dad died.

“We’re not rushing—we’re discovering what’s been right in front of our eyes before it’s too late. He says it’s always been me. I’m not sure I believe that. But he’s an old romantic who doesn’t want to let me slip away. He said last night that sometimes you simply know that you’ve found your one, but timing tripped us up. And my hesitation did the rest. For decades.” (Loc. 3,369)

Recommendation: Another great book from Annabeth Albert. Although my overall review might seem a little negative/questioning, don’t let that fool you. Albert’s trademark humor—”Now, tell Auntie Francesca what the mean lumbersexual did to you?” (Loc. 3,369)—and sigh-inducing happily ever after were both present and left me wanting more.

Opening Line: “‘You need me to do what?’ Griffin gave a slow blink.”

Closing Line: “And now he couldn’t wait to see where those wings carried them next.” (Whited out to avoid spoilers, highlight to read.)

Additional Quotes from Arctic Sun
“Those woo-woo spiritual finding-yourself memoirs did absolutely nothing for Griffin. He’d found himself alright. Right here where he’d always belonged. He didn’t need some grand rich boy quest to show him what he’d always known—that this, right here, was his place in the world.” (Loc. 107)

“Griffin made introductions to his group, and Brand shook hands all around, lingering more than was necessary with River, appraisal clear in his eyes. Fuck my life. He’d never known Brand to swing that way, but River’s lips and fine-boned features could probably sway even a straight, celibate monk let alone Brand, who shared Toby’s freewheeling approach to seasonal hookups. And speaking of hookups, Griffin wasn’t the jealous type. Really. But no way was Brand fucking around with River right under his nose.” (Loc. 896)

“And watching Griff eat his own dessert was like bizarre foreplay, the way his tongue came out to lick at a stray drip of chocolate, the way he sighed after a big bite, the small smile as he finished and grabbed the stick to make himself a second. River wanted to be savored like that. Enjoyed. Appreciated. He’d enjoyed last night’s make-out session more than just about any other encounter he’d had, the way Griff was so present, so into it, so patient and letting River lead, trying to give him his fantasy, not pushing for more.” (Loc. 1, 393)

“Toby had an appraising stare for River, not unlike Griff’s helicopter pilot friend, and his grin was open and flirty as he shook River’s hand.” (Loc 2,185)

“‘I’m a mess.’ River sagged against his shoulder as they took their seats. ‘Yeah, but you’re my mess. Nowhere I’d rather be right now, promise.'” (Loc. 3,933)