Hello everyone!
Yes, I've been making a collection.
It's really bad this year, to be honest. I started making this when it only just hit autumn and the first freebies were going out, but then figured, why not?? And added some more of these. I'm still waiting to find a good copy of a new Woods book in her holiday romances, but apart from that I've also stumbled across a few new writers I want to check out some more.
I mean, I do have at least three book bundles with a minimum of FIFTEEN stories in each. Not full-length novels, of course, but you get what I'm saying.
At the very least, however, tonight's review won't be Christmas-y yet. Because Keira Andrews can absolutely write a romance taking place in the middle of nowhere frozen wasteland that makes you THINK Christmas - but doesn't actually happen then. Arctic Fire is just what the doctor ordered when the hills start painting themselves white.
First off: why couldn't this be longer?
I mean, I get it. I really do get it. But that doesn't mean I don't routinely want Ms Andrews' books to last for way more pages than they're given. It's all a good sign, right? It means you connect and love the characters so much you don't want it to ever end!
Which is just what happened with me and Jack and Kin.
Arctic Fire features a rather rough around the edges Captain fresh out of Afghanistan who lands himself in the middle of nowhere Canadian tundra.
As in, literally, the only thing around him is snow, wind, snow, polar bears, snow, more snow.
Okay yes, and his guide, Sergeant Kin, who just so happens to be part of the Canadian Rangers.
What's Jack doing this far north, you ask?
Well, it's complicated.
See, we don't initially grasp the fact that Jack is homosexual, although there are inklings before things start getting hot and heavy. But what I totally wasn't prepared for (and I should have been, obviously) was that he had fallen for someone in his unit, that they shared more than just a physical connection, at least on one side, and that said someone got himself unfortunately killed.
The blow-out from the IED managed to also catch Jack and he still has the scars and the PTSD to prove it, which certainly doesn't help him sitting behind a desk pushing papers. This is why he was sent to the Arctic, to asses a plan that the Canadian military has about establishing an outpost up there.
Unfortunately, however, he gets off at a rough start with Kin, rubbing him exactly the wrong way (no pun intended) so that they're mostly glaring and snarling at one another until they're far away from civilisation and anyone else but polar bears.
Also, who ever knew geeking out about Star Wars would be such a turn-on? I mean, SERIOUSLY.
Anyway.
Sparks fly, almost literally, and then, of course, since they're already dashing through the snow (see what I did there), they get stranded in a blizzard, in VERY close confinement, and alone.
I mean, you gotta know what's going to happen.
For Kin, this is dangerous because the North isn't as accepting as the rest of Canada - being gay just isn't done, because up here, it's all about survival, which, really, indicates man + woman = children. For Jack though, this is a revelation and a release of pent-up emotions, and also freedom to finally admit what's right and wrong and what he needs to actually become human again.
They manage not to get themselves killed (although Jack does a fair job of it - with a surname like Turner, no wonder, he needs a captain Swan around to ensure he's safe!), and head back to civilisation.
But then what?
Jack is supposed to return to his post, not stay in the North - and Kin can't really leave either. But Jack isn't about to give up: he knows what he wants now.
And he wants Kin.
Which is why he's going to propose the base of operations to his superiors, advising that they need to actually train their soldiers for rough, tough winter conditions, and he'll be the one helming it, coming back here as soon as physically possible.
Because, why just dream of Eskimo kisses when he can have the real deal with Kin?
This story was short, sweet and to the point, but I'm hopeful for a continuation at some point where we get to see how this modus operandi works and how Jack and Kin get through the usual hurdles a couple might face under normal circumstances. Because, seriously, I need an additional dose of Aurora Borealis, pronto!
I don't think there could be anything more romantic than seeing that up close and personal.
Unless you got interrupted by a polar bear, of course. Then the only romantic in the getaway would be the actual getaway.
xx
*image not mine
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