For this blog tour we’re looking at the latest book in Annabeth Albert’s year-long tale of MM romances set in the hyper-macho world of “hotshot” firefighters. For this blog tour, we’re looking at Up In Smoke by Annabeth Albert.
Here’s what I had to say about it on Goodreads:
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. đ Overall a truly solid story, and very much recommended.
Below the jump, about a page long excerpt from the very first scene of the book, when Brandt and Shane first meet. Followed by the publisher information. đ
Brandtâs deep chuckle rumbled straight through Shane. Damn. This was torture. Then the other man wrapped an arm around Shane, positioning his muscled forearm where Shane could see his fancy-looking watch gadget. âNow this is my altimeter. It tells me when weâre at five thousand feet and ready to deploy the chute.â
âGot it.â Shane wasnât about to study that meaty arm any more than he absolutely had to.
âOkay, itâs go time.â Dallasâs voice echoed though the room. Brandt quickly unclipped them, but as soon as he stepped away, Shaneâs pulse kicked up. Maybe he couldnât do this. Jump out of a plane? Who was he kidding? He was a ground dweller, through and through.
Right when he was about to turn away, though, Brandt grabbed his biceps. âNerves hitting you? Trust me. Youâll be just fine. I havenât lost a jumper yet.â
Shane barked out a laugh. âNot exactly making me feel better.â
âListen, I can tell you all day about how awesome this is.â Brandt looked him dead in the eyes, gaze serious for once, all his charm turned to raw intensity. âBut until you do it, youâre gonna think itâs all BS. Sometimes you gotta take a leap of faith.â
âNot very good at those,â Shane admitted quietly as he stepped free of the other guyâs grip. He couldnât keep meeting his eyes either. Too much power there, like a shot with an extra kick.
âOkay. You want me to tell Dallas you want out?â
A yes was right there on the tip of Shaneâs tongue, but then he heard Shelbyâs laugh ring out. Sheâd love it if he chickened out. Not only would she get bragging rights for all of eternity, sheâd get what sheâd wanted and get to go with Brandt. And for whatever reason, Shane hated that most of all. âNah. Iâm going.â
He white-knuckled his way out to the small plane, spared a nod for the female pilot, and squished his eyes shut until Shelby jostled him into looking at the valley underneath them, the green canopy of the national forest contrasting with the pristine blue sky. Random snippets of lyrics danced through Shaneâs head, ways that he might try to describe this view. But then, right as he was settling into something resembling comfort, everyone started shuffling around, getting ready to go. The wind rushed in as the hatch opened, and a full-body shiver raced through Shane.
Then Shelby gave him and Brandt one last coy grin before she and Dallas were away, her whoop echoing across the sky.
âReady? Here we go.â Brandt nudged Shane closer to the open hatch. Shane wanted to say no, wanted to drag their clipped-together bodies back inside the plane, wanted to both hurl and yell. But in the end, all he could do was nod. Only one way down.
His knees had locked up even as his thighs trembled. Behind him, Brandt was sure and solid. He could push Shane out the hatch pretty easily, but he didnât. He was letting it be Shaneâs choice. And somehow that patience and restraint gave Shane a jolt of courage. One step into nothingness. That was all it took.
Brandt was right behind him, smooth as if they were on a dance floor, not open sky. And now they were falling. Falling so fast. Faster than a car on the interstate with the windows all down, faster than a dirt bike on a steep incline, faster than the whoosh down a water slide. There was no describing the feeling of the wind on his cheeks, the roar in his ears, the shout that probably belonged to him, the adrenaline that crashed through him as he tried to remember what theyâd practiced about positioning. Damn. Hard to think.
Which was funny because that was the one thing he was good at. Shelby was forever teasing him about overthinking. But now, his brain couldnât even pull two words together as they rushed through the air. Brandt yelled something, but Shane was too busy hurtling through the sky to focus on it. And then he was pulled backwards, a hard yank as the parachute deployed. No more freefall. And the oh-my-God-about-to-die adrenaline quieted enough that he could look down, really look.
âOh my word. Itâs⌠.ââBeautiful isnât it?â Brandtâs voice was deep and rich, like warm honey over Shaneâs still jangling nerves. Now that the air wasnât rushing so fast, he could hear him better. Almost too much better, because it felt like they were soaking up each otherâs awe and wonder. Sharing something warm and tender and perfect.
âYeah.â
âNothing like it.â Brandt whistled low, a sound that hit Shane somewhere soft. âNever gonna get tired of this view.â
âMe either.â Shane almost didnât recognize his own voice, up this high, this far removed from everything that usually weighed him down.
âHey, Superman. You want a turn steering?â Brandt didnât wait for Shane to reply, grabbing his arms, guiding his hands.
âWhoa. Wow. Iâm doing it. Look at us.â They swooped gently from side to side, and it was quite possibly the best feeling Shane had ever experienced.
âLook at you. Didnât know your smile muscles even worked.â
âScrew you. I can smile.â Shane was feeling so good that he had to laugh.
âWell, then get ready. The landing crew will snap your pic as we land. Itâs your rock-star moment.â
âFeels like it,â he said right before Brandt took over and set them down softly in a clearing, barely even jarring Shaneâs knees. âDamn. That wasâŚâ
âIt was something.â Brandt was looking right at him, like he could see straight through Shaneâs layers, strip him bare. And Shane held his gaze, held the moment as long as he could.
Up in Smoke by Annabeth Albert is available in eBook, mass market paperback and audiobook formats on April 27th!
Book Description
Three Men and a Baby meets Backdraft with explosive chemistry and heartfelt feels.
Freewheeling smoke jumper Brandt Wilder thrives on adrenaline. Heâs never met a parachute he canât repair or a dangerous situation he couldnât wrangle his way out of. Heâs popular and fun-loving and not at all looking to settle down or form lasting relationships. Itâs a lifestyle thatâs served him wellâŚright up until the day he finds a baby on his doorstep.
Shane Travis is used to putting his country music careerâand his own happinessâon hold after his sister rolls through his life. Like last spring when she convinced him to try skydiving for his birthdayâand she walked away with the hot parachute instructor.
Now he gets to deliver the piece of news that will upend Brandtâs carefree life: he very well might be a dad.
Shaneâs niece is safe in Brandtâs 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 canât leave this makeshift family behindâeven if it means playing house with the one man he canât resist.
Hotshots
Book 1: Burn Zone (available now!)
Book 2: High Heat (available now!)
Book 3: Feel the Fire (available now!)
Book 4: Up in Smoke (coming April 27)
Add Up in Smoke to your Goodreads!
Buy Up in Smoke by Annabeth Albert
Harlequin.com: https://www.harlequin.com/shop/books/9781335484727_up-in-smoke.html
IndieBound: https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781335484727
Walmart: https://www.walmart.com/ip/Up-in-Smoke-Paperback-9781335484727/771807836
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Up-Smoke-Firefighter-Romance-Hotshots-ebook/dp/B08K3GLM91
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/up-in-smoke-annabeth-albert/1138801894
Apple Books: https://books.apple.com/us/book/up-in-smoke/id1533416234
Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Annabeth_Albert_Up_in_Smoke?id=EEv_DwAAQBAJ
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/up-in-smoke-27
About Annabeth Albert
Annabeth Albert grew up sneaking romance novels under the bed covers. Now, she devours all subgenres of romance out in the openâno flashlights required! When sheâs not adding to her keeper shelf, sheâs 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.
Connect with Annabeth Albert
Website: http://annabethalbert.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AnnabethAlbert
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/annabethalbert
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/annabeth_albert/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6477494.Annabeth_Albert