Up in Smoke

Hotshots #4

by Annabeth Albert

“A poignant, sexy and satisfying romance featuring likeable, complex characters whose intense emotional connection leaps off the page." — All About Romance on Feel the Fire

Three Men and a Baby meets Backdraft with explosive chemistry and heartfelt feels.

Freewheeling smoke jumper Brandt Wilder thrives on adrenaline. He’s never met a parachute he can’t repair or a dangerous situation he couldn’t wrangle his way out of. He’s popular and fun-loving and not at all looking to settle down or form lasting relationships. It’s a lifestyle that’s served him well…right up until the day he finds a baby on his doorstep.

Shane Travis is used to putting his country music career—and his own happiness—on hold after his sister rolls through his life. Like last spring when she convinced him to try skydiving for his birthday—and she walked away with the hot parachute instructor.

Now he gets to deliver the piece of news that will upend Brandt’s carefree he very well might be a dad.

Shane’s niece is safe in Brandt’s 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 can’t leave this makeshift family behind—even if it means playing house with the one man he can’t resist.

Hotshots
Book 1: Burn Zone
Book 2: High Heat
Book 3: Feel the Fire
Book 4: Up in Smoke

Also by Annabeth

Shore Leave
Book 1: Sailor Proof
Book 2: Sink or Swim

Out of Uniform
Book 1: Off Base
Book 2: At Attention
Book 3: On Point
Book 4: Wheels Up
Book 5: Squared Away
Book 6: Tight Quarters
Book 7: Rough Terrain

Genres: Romance, M M Romance, Audiobook, Contemporary, LGBT, Queer, Fiction

368 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published April 27, 2021

About the author

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.

Reviews

[Heather K (dentist in my spare time) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Up in Smoke was the book in the Hotshots series that I've been waiting for. Annabeth Albert struck just the right balance between romantic chemistry, family-issues, excitement, and emotion, and left out all the unnecessary drama. For me, it was a big win.

I went into Up in Smoke without high expectations. I haven't loved any of the other books in the series thus far, and the reviews from my friends were all over the map. However, I found myself getting more and more enthralled in the book the further I read.

I'm pretty careful with books with babies and lots of family-dynamic complications, but I think Annabeth Albert did a great job with this one. The baby was a central driving figure in the book, but she wasn't the whole story. The plot was squarely focused on the relationship between Brandt and Shane, and I really enjoyed how they went from tentative partners to full-blown love.

Of course, I loooooved me a virgin. Give me a steamy first time and I'm a happy camper! Pair that with a confident bisexual guy who has always wanted to bottom and you've got me. My only criticism is that the sex came a little earlier in the book than I would have wanted, but I was pleased with the heat level.

I think the book might read as a little slow for some readers, but I appreciated the lack of drama and sudden plot twists. Things progressed organically and naturally for these two, and I loved the little epilogue at the end.

A very nice addition to the Hotshots series, Annabeth made me happy with this one.


*Copy provided in exchange for an honest review*

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[Florence . · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 learning how to be parents stars



You’re my family, Shane had said, and that exactly was what the song conveyed. They were a family, the three of them. They didn’t need T-shirts or some group chant. Just a string of memories, and this unexpected, unshakable bond. And the song so perfectly captured all of that. It was a wonder that Brandt’s heart didn’t leap out of his chest right then and there, present itself to Shane for the taking, because it was his now, and there was nothing Brandt could do about it.

I would like to make it clear that most people probably will not enjoy this book as much as I did. This is really low angst and almost nothing happens, and most people would probably find it really boring. But look, it’s 6 in the morning and I’ve been up all night to finish a term paper and I’m pretty sure that listening to the audiobook for this book is the only thing that kept me sane while writing that paper. It was the perfect read for this moment in my life and I absolutely loved everything about it. I only switched to the audiobook at 57%, the rest I read on my kindle, but damn was it perfect for the mood I’m in.

The good news in all this is that if you ever decide to start an important term paper on the last day possible, the audiobook for this book is the perfect thing to listen to while doing it. Well except for the fact that I cried for a lot of the last 20% of the book, which was not very productive to typing a paper, but hell, I still had a great time.

Brief summary: Brandt is a smokejumper, he had a one-night stand like 11 months ago and suddenly the girl’s brother, Shane, a country singer, shows up on his door step and tells him that the girl had a kid and that the kid is his. Together to learn how to take care of the kid, Jewel, and they become a family.

First, if you know me, you know that my absolute favourite type of books are low angst books, with a little conflict and people and situations that feel real and really good vibe. And this book had all of that, and it was all so well done.

Second, everything about Jewel and them learning how to be parents was perfect. I loved how important Jewel was to the story. I loved how they tried so badly to be good parents. I loved seeing them fumble and trying to get a hang of how parenting works. I loved how they both wanted to give Jewel what they never had as kids. I loved the moment that they both realized that they want to be each other’s family, it was so damn lovely.

Third, I absolutely adored the relationship build-up, I loved how it started as them taking care of the kid and how it slowly built into an attraction to the other and then they slowly fell in love and became a family. Everything about that part was so well done, I love it. The attraction they had for the other was so well portrayed. The longing was excellent in this book, you could feel just how much they wanted the other and you could see them clearly slowly falling in love, that was just perfectly done. I also loved how these two took care of each other.

Fourth, I loved how real this book felt. I liked that they both had worries and that they wondered how things could affect their lives and their family. I liked how they were both shaped by their pasts and how it coloured their actions, that was such a realistic portrayal. I loved how all of the small details of their personalities shown through their actions.

Fifth, the sex scenes were so damn hot in this. They both had never been with a man before (Shane was a virgin and Brandt is bi but never had sex with a man) and I loved seeing them share all of their first times, it was just so good.

Sixth, I loved the two main characters. I loved how well they complimented the other. They were the perfect balance for each other. Brandt and his impulsiveness and Shane that made him slow down was just so good. They were a really good team.

Seventh, I liked that the conflict in the book never felt over the top, it felt very realistic, and I could easily see it happening. And I liked that there was only a little conflict and not too much drama.

Eight, I just loved seeing them decide how they want their future lives to be and the declaration of love was so perfect to me. I also loved when they realized that they love the other, all of those scenes were just perfect to me. Also, I want to give an insane amount of bonus points for not including a big break-up at 80%, damn was I happy about that fact.

Ninth, I loved the vibes of the book, with all of the talks of music (all of the music descriptions were also damn lovely) and them taking care of Jewel, it just had such a nice vibe.

I would have liked them to communicate some more, it would have saved them some time, but it didn’t change my enjoyment of the book, at all.

I just had such a good time reading this book and it was exactly what I needed at this moment in time.

I received an ARC of this book, and this is my honest review.

[Carol [Goodreads Addict] · Rating 5 out of 5]

RATING 4.5 STARS

Up in Smoke is book four in the Hotshots series by Annabeth Albert. I read the first three books in this series forever ago and for whatever reason, never grabbed this last one. Which was a huge mistake because it’s one of my favorites of the series. I’ve been in a huge mood for books with babies and this was so sweet. It kept me up way past my bedtime last night because I just couldn’t put it down.

Shane Travis is somewhere in his twenties, I’m not exactly sure. He has a wonderful voice and some amazing song writing skills but has just never been able to catch the big break in the country music scene. Shane grew up with parents who both fought constantly, and couldn’t stay in one place. He and his older sister never lived in one place for long. Shane’s life now as he tries to make it in the music world is much the same. But Shane’s older sister is the wild one. She’s completely unreliable and unpredictable. Like a year ago when she insisted she would take Shane sky diving for the first time for his birthday and then made off with the instructor.

Brandt Wilder is a smoke jumper currently living in Painter’s Ridge, Oregon. He is thirty years old. In the off season, he occasionally helps a friend out by being an instructor in his sky diving business. Which is where he met Shane and his sister a year ago. Brandt grew up in the system, never being allowed to stay in a foster home for long. And he lives much the same way now, never staying in one city long. Eleven months after he first met Shane and his sister, he is shocked to open his door to find a baby in her carrier on the doorstep and Shane not far behind.



It’s definitely not a job he looked forward to, tracking down and telling the man he had thought he shared sparks with eleven months ago that he is a father. His sister came to see him with the baby and ran away. With no other choice, he had to track down who she said was the father. Now these two men who neither had had any type of normal childhood themselves, are forced to band together for this tiny baby and make a home for her while they try to sort everything out.

“This thing between them was like the early summer weather, warm but also fragile, rapidly shifting from moment to moment. Impossible to plan for, but still worth enjoying.”

As Shane and Brandt worked at learning how to co-parent the baby, they grew closer, the spark they felt before still there and stronger then ever. And the bond with the baby grows as well, forming the closest thing to a real family either has ever had.

I loved everything about this book. It was so swoony and so steamy. Brandt was bi-sexual but neither of the men had much experience at all. I loved watching them become more confident together. And I also loved the impact they had on each other, the way they supported each other. Neither knew what would happen, either with each other or with the baby, but they were dedicated to trying to do what was best for everyone. I’m so glad I finally finished this series. It definitely took me long enough. I highly recommend these books. I hope you’ll love them as much as I did.

“Forever may not be long enough.”

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...

[~✡~Dαni(ela) ♥ ♂♂ love & semicolons~✡~ · Rating 3 out of 5]

~3.5~

This book is not my favorite in the series. I liked the MCs fine (although Shane was a little uptight and not my favorite), and I appreciated that the story was relatively low angst (no long-term separation, miscommunication, or undue drama).

But I loathed Shane's sister (and hated that Brandt had slept with her, because WTF, dude, maybe screen for crazy a little bit better) and completely overdosed on baby stuff.

I have children, but I've never loved babies, and while the constant mention of baby puke, diaper changes, and sleepless night was realistic, it wasn't interesting or romantic.

The ending was cute though (a definite HEA), and Brandt's eagerness to get fucked ... OH HELL YES.

If you're not a baby person, stay away. Otherwise, give this low-key story about a fire jumper and small-time country singer a try.

[Cadiva · Rating 4 out of 5]

Annabeth Albert's return to her firefighting crew has some highlights but also left me frustrated at times.

Both Brandt and Shane have deep insecurities which make them hesitant and, while I totally understand, it also made the romance feel a bit more subdued.

Having said that, I adored the family aspect of the narrative, Jewel was a little sweetheart for all that she's a tiny baby .

I felt the connection both men had with her grow strongly while they fought their feelings for each other.

Another thing which made me happy, and I absolutely agreed with Annabeth's explanation in her author note, was the lack of any job related fire drama.

While there are still incidents, there wasn't the bone deep fear of something happening out on a major incident and I appreciated it.

The relationship itself fluctuates between consuming passion, it's hot how much Brandt is into being on the receiving end of Shane's touches, and angsty panic.

Ultimately though, alls well in the end as each man comes to realise he can rely on the other to support and encourage, love and protect.

The Epilogue set two years later, is wonderfully sweet and gives a very definite Happy Ever After.

#ARC kindly received from the publisher Carina Press via NetGalley in return for an honest and unbiased review.

[Santy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was not my not my favourite in this series but it was still a solid story about the human propensity to love even the midst of upheaval and I liked the relationship development within the story.

Another plus was that it had no drama, which was a pleasant surprise given its premise and had very good writing as is to be expected from Annabeth Albert.

The major issue I had with this book was the pacing. It started off great and ended just as well but somewhere in the middle (which unfortunately was most part of the book), the story got weighed down by the minutiae of navigating the new baby so it dragged the pacing of the book. This made reading boring at some points especially since there wasn't any firefighting excitement to balance out all the baby stuff.

Also, this was the most isolated book from the other stories. Sure, all the other books were standalone but this was even more so and I don't know, but coupled with the slow pacing, it affected my enjoyment of the story.

I don't know if there is another book going to be released for this series but if there is, I pray it's more exciting than this was.

**eARC Graciously Provided by Publisher via Netgalley in Exchange for an Honest, Unbiased Review **

[Steven · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to Netgalley and Harlequin's Carina Press for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I've really enjoyed Annabeth Albert's Hot Shots MM series. Hot firefighters? Check. Relationship goals? Check. Light easy escape reads? Check.

Unfortunately, this one wasn't my favorite. The author's notes afterwards indicate that this is the last in the series, and it was sort of a weak entry to end the series. I loved Brandt. I loved Shane. I loved their chemistry. But my biggest issue was that the book dragged an extra 40% because they tiptoed around their feelings and just wouldn't say anything. I felt like there was a lot of filler just to meet a page goal, and that some tightening up of the plot and relationship progress would have made it a better book.

It was also a a little sad, the whole story with Jewel and Shelby, and with as much tension was created by the looming threat of Shelby's return that didn't payoff with the eventual return and easy-out ending.

I still enjoyed the book, and I really loved the first three in the series, so I'll still recommend Hot Shots!

[Saimi Vasquez · Rating 3 out of 5]

Brandt siempre ha estado solo y tiene mas de 10 anos rodando por todo el pais a cualquier grupo de Bomberos Forestales Paracaidistas lo necesita, ha intentado vivir su vida sin arrepentirse de nada, pero sobre todo ha intentado vivir y disfrutar sin hacerle dano a nadie. Pero todo eso cambia el dia que un hombre aparece en su puerta con un bebe que dice que es suyo, en ese momento no sabe que es lo que mas le impresiona, si el hombre o el bebe, pero sabe que su vida esta a punto de cambiar, el tema ahora sera si cambiara para mejor o peor.
Shane lo unico que esperaba era encontrar al padre de la bebe y que este se encargara de ella, para el seguir con su vida de musico nomada, pero cuando llega a la casa del hombre, no espera que este los reciba con los brazos abiertos, y que no solo se quiera hacer cargo de la bebe, sino de el tambien. Sus suenos de compartir su musica con el mundo pronto cobra un segundo plano en su vida, cuando la bebe y su padre comienzan a cobrar mas importancia que cualquier otra cosa.
Brandt y Shane deberan aprender a confiar en que los tres pueden ser una familia y estar ahi para el otro, y que cualquier cosa que les llegue podran resolverla juntos.

Es un libro dulce, dulce, dulce, hasta el nivel de ser empalagoso, pero es un cambio agradable al resto de la serie, porque el drama es casi inexistente, y aunque no senti la quimica entre los protas, si me gusto mucho todo el aspecto de padres y tios protectores, sobre todo con el tema de que hay que hacer siempre lo que es mejor para el bebe.
Inclusive este libro es tan diferente al resto de la serie, que si solo lees este, quedan totalmente satisfecho y no necesitas leer el resto, por lo que esto no se siente para nada como el final de una serie. No se si el autor tendra intencion de escribir mas libros de esta serie, pero creo que ya con este son mas que suficientes del tema, y quizas si existiera un libro de epilogos de lo que paso con las parejas anos despues o algun libro donde hubiera algun tipo de reunion de todos los protas, quizas un viaje, una fiesta, una promocion o algo asi, seria capaz de leerlo, mas por curiosidad que por otra cosa.
Sin embargo, la serie vale la pena leerla, eso si, cada libro con suficientes meses de diferencia como para que no te fastidie el tema, pero entretiene y los personajes son entretenidos, sobre todo en el 3er libro.

[Ami · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars

Please note that my rating towards a book I read is most of the times influenced by what I feel or experience during my reading. THIS time, my lower rating is a direct result of unmet expectations . Yes, I have certain expectation prior to reading the book and BECAUSE the book turns out to be completely different with what I have in mind, I don't find my reading experience as satisfying.

So your own opinion may be different than mine

First, I want to address that I appreciate the author doesn't make the mother a villain in this book. Yes, Shelby leaves her baby with her brother. Yes, she seems like unstable person. BUT, neither Shane or Brandt hate her. Shelby admits that she may need professional help and I'm happy she takes it. I like that.

Now, okay, I'll explain about that expectation of mine. I slightly recalled a while back that the author said (in her newsletter) that the publisher wanted to take this series into a new direction. Note the cover. I think the cover is a reminder of 'classic' Harlequin of single dads stories.

And that's how I end up having that expectation... a format of the classic Harlequin romance, in which taking care of the baby (with all the mishaps) is the center focus and the sex comes much later, after emotional connection. Except with two guys. Because man, do I LOVE the secret-baby/accidental-baby/single-dads trope of yesteryear Harlequin back then.

So when Shane and Brandt have sex a bit earlier in the book, and the sex is heavy, and there are more than one scenes, I LOSE all interest. It's not what I want. The book goes downhill for me after that; I simply can't find enough sparks in me to care about the two of them.

I also HATE how Shane and Brandt address baby Jewel as "diva" over and over again ... what, because she's a baby girl who needs attention, then they can use that word? Diva? I am not particularly like that word since it usually applies to difficult demanding women. If the baby is a boy, will they use the same word?

I probably like this better if I don't have all that initial expectation of nostalgic feeling because of the cover. I prefer the old cover then, because I know what I will be getting. Yes, maybe it's not fair for the author nor the book. But again, my rating is in direct connection with what I feel. You all just have to accept it 🤷‍♀️





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.

[Nadine Bookaholic · Rating 4 out of 5]

Annabeth Albert is my favorite MM author and I don't say that lightly, I don't even read the book blurb most times before I dive in because it doesn't matter I know whatever she writes is going to suck me in from the very beginning and not let me go. And that is just what happened with this book.

Up In Smoke is the fourth book in the Hotshots Series, each of which can be read as a standalone, this is Brandt Wilder and Shane Travis' story. Shane is a trying to make a name for himself in the country music world and Brandt is a Smoke Jumper, they first meet on Shane's birthday when his sister talked him into going sky diving for his birthday and Brandt was the instructor.

Now fast forward eleven months and Shane shows up on Brandt's doorstep with a baby in his arms...a baby that may just be Brandt's if the birth certificate his sister left with her is correct. Is Brandt the babies daddy? Can these two men find common ground and work through their feelings while caring for a baby? So many questions and the only way you're going to get answers is to grab a copy for yourself.

I highly recommend not only this book but each book in the series because they are all great reads. If you enjoy Surprise Baby Romances, MM Romances, Virgin Hero Romances, Close Proximity Romances, Firefighter Romances, or Musician Romances then this book is for you.

Happy Reading!!!

Find out more here: http://bit.ly/NBReviewUiS




**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

[Vanna · Rating 1 out of 5]

Time of death: 13%..

[Kimberly Carrington-Fox · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nuestra reseña en A la cama con... un libro

[Thanks Netgalley for the ebook. This review is my honest opinion but just another opinion, you should read this book and judge it by yourself]

Cuqui y sencillo pero olvidable a los tres días.

[Trio · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not usually a big fan of stories with babies in them, but the infant in Annabeth Albert's Up in Smoke is the perfect vehicle for this romance. These two guys would never have had a chance if not for the whole abandoned baby angle.

Nicely done.

And, of course, beautifully performed by Iggy Toma.

[~✿ Tala✿~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this book <3

MM romance + baby is my weakness, and I think the author did a really good job of balancing the romance with realistic parenting stuff. I liked how low-angst and real this book felt.

Shane's music career felt a bit random in the story haha and the epilogue was a super perfect mushy fairytale ending but I don't even care, I loved it !!

[Liber_Lady · Rating 3 out of 5]

ARC generously provided by Netgalley and the publisher.

3.5 Stars

This was a perfectly good romance.

Trope: Sort of Single Parent romance, closed proximity/roommates, virgin hero, toys,

Shane's sister drops off her baby on his doorstep with the baby's birth certificate (and the name of the dad in it) and runs off. Shane, having already met the dad once, finds him, to break the news of the existence of the baby.

Brandt is our other hero who gets this news delivered to him. Thankfully, he was a real standup and chill guy, who only panics a little, but never thinks about abandoning Shane or the baby.

This is where the fun begins. Shane offers/agrees to stay with Brandt till he finds his footing with the baby, and be his roommate. Together, they slowly form this friendship, and a bond forms out of shared new experiences with the tiny baby. There is a lot of preparing food for each other, going to each other's workplace events, and just getting to know each other.

I was glad that the author took her time to peel the emotional layers between the two. The physical layers came off at a pretty good time too ;-) Both of them were abandoned (differently) as kids and had always felt lonely all their life. None of them thought that they would ever have a family. So, the post 60% mark was an especially great read for me.

The steam was HOLYMOLY...!! SO SO GOOD. I love how there was a lot of exploration, and openness between them with communication. Brandt was FIRE...And Shane....Blushing, virgin Shane transformed when he opened up. It was FUN.

So, why 3 stars, u ask?
I don't think there was a great conflict in the book. Or maybe it was my reading experience that had me constantly putting the book down. I have realized something. I only love single parent romance when the kids have more agency and thoughts and personality. While the baby girl, Jewel, here was very cute, and a LOT revolved around her, I never felt that AWWW feeling in the scenes. To be completely honest, I only survived because of the great steamy scenes and some other intense scenes that popped in between. The entire book should have been able to grip me for me to give it a higher rating.

Still, a very enjoyable read. 3 Stars is good stars people. It means I like it.

[Caz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Up in Smoke is the fourth book in Annabeth Albert’s  Hotshots  series about wildlife firefighters and smoke jumpers based in rural Oregon, but it’s got a slightly different tone (and a very different sort of cover) to the other books in the series.  Smoke jumping does feature in the story, but it’s more of a backdrop to the main storyline – about how the two leads learn to adapt to the unexpected circumstances in which they find themselves – and the slow-burn romance.

Smoke jumper Brandt Wilder occasionally helps out a friend who runs a sky-diving school.  The clients on this particular afternoon are a brother and sister – Shane and Shelby Travis;  it’s Shane’s birthday and the jump is his sister’s present to him.  Shane is quiet and clearly a bit nervous – and also obviously used to fading into the background around more ebullient sister – but something about him captures Brandt’s attention.  Shane supposes he should have known that Shelby’s sudden interest in jumping out of a plane was somehow related to her interest in a hot guy; Brandt really is gorgeous, but Shane deliberately tamps down the frisson of awareness he feels every time Brandt touches him as he readies them for the tandem jump.  Afterwards, with his feet back safely on the ground, Shane has to admit that the jump really had been exhilarating – and that the short time he’d flown with Brandt Wilder is something he’ll never forget.

Almost a year later, the last thing Brandt could ever have imagined is opening his front door to find Shane Travis on his doorstep – with a baby in tow.   He’s completely stunned when Shane tells him the baby is his, the result of the one-night stand he had with Shelby the night before Shane’s birthday.  He explains that Shelby turned up in Portland (where he was auditioning for a TV talent show) with the baby a few days earlier and was gone the next morning, most likely off to Canada with one of her friends. Brandt can’t believe it – but Shelby named him as baby Jewel’s dad in the note she left for Shane and had Brandt’s name put on the birth certificate.

Shane has spent most of his life clearing up Shelby’s messes, but nothing could have prepared him for being left literally holding the baby.  Unable to bear the idea of Jewel being put into care, Shane decides his only option is to take her to her dad, but it’s only once he’s arrived that he remembers that Brandt – who jumps out of planes to fight fires for a living – is as far from ideal fatherhood material as he is himself;  an itinerant musician trying to build a career isn’t going to be considered able to properly care for an infant either.  But he didn’t know what else to do; he’s worried and sleep deprived, he’s driven for hours to get to Painter’s Ridge and is too tired to be able to make any coherent decisions.  But one thing is clear.  No matter what sort of ‘dad material’ he may be, Brandt is the only person Shane can turn to for help.

Brandt is shell-shocked by the idea of being a dad, but having been a foster kid himself, he likes the idea of handing Jewel over to social services as little as Shane does.  When Shane’s rested and they’re all fed, they talk about the next steps, and when Shane offers to stick around for a while, Brandt offers him the spare room – “two sets of hands is better than one” after all.

Over the following days and weeks, Brandt and Shane go from unexpected roommates to friends, sharing baby duties and bonding over shared new experiences with her. They slowly fall into a routine of caring for Jewel – taking turns at feeding and night-time duty – and caring for each other, preparing meals, sharing chores and shopping trips and generally being a solid support for one another.  I loved watching them doing things together so seamlessly that they don’t quite realise they’re doing it. It’s a really well done getting-to-know-you phase, and alongside it, the attraction that sparked between them a year earlier is bubbling along beneath the surface.  Neither man has a great deal of sexual experience with guys;  Shane isn’t really out – he plays a lot of super rural communities where it’s just easier to keep himself and his sexuality to himself, and Brandt just… likes who he likes and has never felt the need to put a label on it.  He’s been with more women than men, but certainly isn’t averse to a little exploration and fun with Shane.  It doesn’t have to be anything permanent – neither of them is looking for that – but it can be more than a one-time thing (baby duties permitting) for as long as they both want it to be.

Up in Smoke is a quiet, but sexy character-driven romance about two lost souls finding love and purpose and partnership, and building the family neither of them ever had.  It’s a low-conflict, low-angst story; the biggest obstacle to the romance is the fact that both Shane and Brandt have been used to living a rather nomadic lifestyle – unencumbered and going where the work is – and both will finally have to deal with emotional baggage that has made them (understandably) cautious about allowing themselves to trust wholeheartedly in another person.  But ultimately, they’re two decent guys trying to do the best they can in difficult circumstances, and there’s never any doubt that baby Jewel is their priority. Ms. Albert’s descriptions of the challenges involved in parenting a very young baby are pretty spot on, too.

While Shane’s frustration with Shelby is palpable and well-written, neither he nor Brandt hate her for what she did, and I appreciated that she’s never demonised or made out to be the villain of the piece.  Dumping her baby with her brother is a crappy thing to do, and she definitely comes across as somewhat unstable, but she’s troubled, not evil, and needs help.

Shane and Brandt are engaging and easy to root for, their emotional connection comes through strongly and this was an easy book to get lost in. I really liked the descriptions of Shane’s musical talent and songwriting skills, the cameo appearances from Jacob and Linc ( Burn Zone ), and the way the author still manages to convey the dangerous nature of Brandt’s job even though there isn’t a major fire or incident in the story (a deliberate choice which Ms. Albert explains in her author’s note).  I have a couple of reservations, however; mainly that the guys embark on their fling a bit too quickly, and also that the late-book conflict is maybe a little drawn out for two people who have been communicating so well, but those things apart, Up in Smoke is a nice mixture of sweet and steamy, and I’m happy to recommend both it, and the entire  Hotshots  series.

[Nadine Bookaholic · Rating 4 out of 5]

Annabeth Albert is my favorite MM author and I don't say that lightly, I don't even read the book blurb most times before I dive in because it doesn't matter I know whatever she writes is going to suck me in from the very beginning and not let me go. And that is just what happened with this book.

Up In Smoke is the fourth book in the Hotshots Series, each of which can be read as a standalone, this is Brandt Wilder and Shane Travis' story. Shane is a trying to make a name for himself in the country music world and Brandt is a Smoke Jumper, they first meet on Shane's birthday when his sister talked him into going sky diving for his birthday and Brandt was the instructor.

Now fast forward eleven months and Shane shows up on Brandt's doorstep with a baby in his arms...a baby that may just be Brandt's if the birth certificate his sister left with her is correct. Is Brandt the babies daddy? Can these two men find common ground and work through their feelings while caring for a baby? So many questions and the only way you're going to get answers is to grab a copy for yourself.

I highly recommend not only this book but each book in the series because they are all great reads. If you enjoy Surprise Baby Romances, MM Romances, Virgin Hero Romances, Close Proximity Romances, Firefighter Romances, or Musician Romances then this book is for you.

Happy Reading!!!

**I have voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Readers Copy of this book for my Blog, Nadine's Obsessed with Books** My blog post will be live on release day 4/27/21

[Caz · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars for the narration; 4 stars for the story

My review of the book is HERE, so I won't rehash it.

Fluffy, low-angst romance isn't normally my thing, but this one worked for me in print (mostly) and in audio; Iggy Toma is excellent, as usual.

[Simply Love Book Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have just adored this series about daredevil smoke jumpers. And while the image of the rugged firefighter does create a level of heat, this author brings so much more to all of her books and characters than just a pretty face and sex appeal.

Up in Smoke focuses on Brandt and Shane. Both of these men never had a stable upbringing or roots, but when songwriter Shane finds his niece has been abandoned with him, he takes her to her father to allow her to have some stability.

Brandt is probably the last person anyone would think of as capable of settling down. He’s wild and nomadic, a sky cowboy going where the winds and fires take him. That is until an RV shows up in the driveway of his rented house, complete with a baby and the man he met a year before and hasn’t been about to get out of his mind in all that time.

Learning how to care for baby Jewel, Shane and Brandt form what they feel is an unlikely family. However, in reality, it couldn’t be more perfect of a union. These two men who both care for this little diva find that their shared interest in the baby isn’t the only connection they have. Even as they both reject the idea of needing someone to depend on, each man is unaware that they truly thirst for a person of their own. Watching Shane and Brandt slowly open up to one another was sweet and sexy and really heartbreaking to know that this was something they never had before.

This story was just beautiful. It was a true romance and showed that family was what you made it. Regardless of how Brandt, Jewel and Shane came together, these were three people that needed one another, cared for each other’s well being, and made each other complete. The plans that they each had for themselves took a drastic turn the moment Shane was left with his niece and Brandt found out he was a father, but these changes were necessary to get them to the place where they were meant to be. Low on angst and high on feelings, I gobbled this story down in record time, and still want more of the music to this couple’s love story.

Review copy provided for a voluntary review.

[Imanewreader ✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

rep - gay mc, bi-awakening
cw - child abandonment, irresponsible (birth)mother

what happens when the guy you had a crush on hooked up with your sister and you wake up 9 months later with a baby left by said sister ? and how would you feel if you'd actually go to the biological father and take care of the baby together, getting attached, fighting for custody together.. and developing (very complicated) feelings (that is not just a crush anymore) ?

yea. just read it.
very nice read. loved the audiobook. Iggy Toma never disappoints and the baby cries he (tried to) make were an amazin addition.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

[I received a digital arc for an honest review]

Up In Smoke is the 4th book in Annabeth Albert's Hotshot series. Each book can be read and enjoyed completely as stand alone.

For Shane's birthday his sister Shelby drags him to skydive because she has hots for the trainer Brandt. Yet Brandt ends up spotting Shane, and they have somewhat of a connection. However, when the jump is over Brandt goes back to flirty Shelby. 11 months later Shane shows up on Brandt's doorstep with a baby that his sister claims is his. Now Brandt has to figure out how to be a dad. Shane steps up to help and the two create a little family of their own. But there are plenty of things that make the arrangement temporary and complicated. Brandt's job as a smoke jumper is more than a little dangerous, what happens when Shane is offered a big break for his music career and what will happen when Shelby shows up again.


"Guess I am. I'm not giving you up that easily."
[...]
"The odds aren't great."
"F*ck the odds."

I'll be honest I struggled with the beginning of this book. The whole situation with Brandt, Shane and Shelby didn't sit right with me and gave me not so pleasant feelings towards Brant. Thankfully we find out that Brandt and Shelby were together the night before he met Shane not after so that made me feel a little better about things. I actually ended up enjoying it way more than I expected too, so maybe I'll just ignore the beginning lol Up In Smoke could have easily ended up being really predictable and cliché, and I was pleasantly surprised that it wasn't. It didn't have the baby momma drama that I expected nor the grand assumptions on each other's feelings which I appreciated.

"His voice was always sexy, but Brandt wanted to hear him like this always, like each word was for Brandt and Brandt alone."

Now lets talk about the characters. Shane from the start I loved. He was a bit serious, but he found ways to express his care and every time he talked about singing or sang you could feel the emotion he put into it. From the paragraph above you can tell I wasn't the biggest fan of Brandt but damn it that man stole my heart. He fully embraced being a dad and his playfulness and love of baby Jewel put a smile on your face. He was such a warm personality and tried to make the best of every situation. The two of them made such a great team and the book is full of so many cute family moments. On a less innocent note, holy moly the sex scenes in this were hot🔥. Both men have had little experience when it comes to being with men, and they don't hold from back exploring and experience new things with each other.

"Oh, I'm going to keep you. For as long as you'll have me"
"Forever may not be long enough."

In the end I struggled with what to rate Up In Smoke because of my feels about the beginning, but I definitely loved the parts I loved enough to give it 4 stars. Here's to hoping that Annabeth Albert continues to write more books in the series!

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars
Brandt Wilder is a smokejumper and sometimes parachute instructor. He grew up in the system and still tends be a wanderer. He thrives on adrenaline and lives life to the fullest.

Shane Travis is an aspiring country music singer and songwriter. He is more cautious, dependable, and looks before leaping. But he comes from a flighty family and his sister has just dropped a bombshell on his doorstep.

One memorable meeting. Two guys and a baby who are now in over their heads. An MIA sister/baby mama. Temporary roommates and baby helpers while everything is being sorted out. But along the way they become more than roommates. They never planned to get attached and they both don't usually stick around one place very long.

This is a surprise baby, temporary roommates and friends-to-lovers, sweet, sexy, M/M romance about exploration, trust, found family, and taking a leap of faith. Two lost souls finding purpose, partnership, love, and home.

This had interesting story elements and likable characters, but for some reason I did not get completely invested and connected to it. Not sure if it was the point of view, that there was not too much conflict, or it is was just my mood. I did like that they were both experiencing new things together in and out of the bedroom. They really were cute together as they took care of the diva and found themselves playing house. They were not looking for anything, but the diva brought them together. And there were good life lessons and healing found along the way.

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[Bookreader87(Amanda) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Brandt and Shane meet the first time on Shane's birthday jumping out of a plane. Brandt ends up sleeping with Shane's sister Shelby. The result is a surprise pregnancy. Shelby being a little flighty (or at least that is what we are lead to believe) leaves the child with Shane. Shane tracks down Brandt and presents the child to him.

Brandt having lived through the Foster system wants to be sure to do what is best for the baby (Jewel). Shane not wanting to lay all the responsibility on Brandt stays works to help with Jewel. The two end up spending time together with the baby while awaiting a solution.

This time spent together and the bonding with the baby has them bonding with each other.

I have to confess I am not a fan with siblings hooking up with the same person. It's super high on my Grossometer but I did my best to look past it lol. There was an explanation for Shelby's disappearance and why she did what she did.

Overall, it was an ok read.

*ARC received*

[Diane Dannenfeldt · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had a hard time liking this one started reading it then running off & reading something else. I even ended up purchasing the audio book thinking that I would enjoy it more, I didn't. Jewel was too much front & center, yes I understand that is why they got together, but they couldn't even have a conversation that they cared about each other. People with kids have relationships every single day. Also, if Brandt liked Shane, why did he run off with Shelby on their first meeting? Plus Shelby just ups & leaves and no one seems to bat an eye about it? I just really had a hard time with this one.

I rec'd a copy of this book from NetGalley & this is my honest review.

[Em · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow. Second time in a week with "it's not you, it's me." Sorry folks. I want to give you the 4-1-1 on this book so you can make an informed decision about reading/not reading it. Unfortunately, there really isn't anything great or not great about it and it's a well written, meh story.

Our two likeable - seen them before, been there before - leads fumble and bumble their way to more than a friends relationship and HEA. There's the instalust. Oh, and a baby - result of a one-night stand one of our principal characters had with the sister of our other principal character. Um. Yucko and not for me. Moving on.

These partners are nice to each other, and scared of raising a child because of challenging upbringings - but - they somehow figure out how to be THE BEST FOREVER SINGLE (BUT NOT SINGLE CUZ THEY WANT TO MINGLE) CO-PARENTS EVER and they get over their mutual hangups about relationships and bad childhood origin stories all in a nice and tidy conclusion.

Look, there's nothing to object to here. Just, I mean, come on! PARENTING IS HARD AS FUCKING SHIT AND PARENTING A BABY YOU DIDN'T KNOW YOU HAD after THE BROTHER OF YOUR LOVER SHOWS UP ON YOUR DOORSTEP has got to be WAY MORE FREAKING DIFFICULT than this book makes it out to be.

Okay, okay "it's fiction. it's a romance. let there be happy, joy, joy in your fictional romance novels, em!" Alright. No problem. But then you should know: I can't/couldn't just go with the flow on this, and my mom brain couldn't shut off, and that's distracting, and why I wouldn't jump to recommend this one.

That said, if you are an Albert fan and you don't care about idealized - REEFREAKINGDICULOUS - depictions of men with shitty childhoods and carefree single lives who ACE THE OLYMPICS of parenting...go for it.

Oh and there are some steamy sex scenes that happen at convenient nap times. There's that too.

[Erica Chilson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this title to read for Wicked Reads

Up in Smoke is the 4th installment in the Hotshots series. It can be read independently as a standalone with little to no confusion.

Brandt and Shane meet briefly nearly a year before, when Shane's sister takes him skydiving. Brandt was using his off season as an instructor, when his main profession is putting out wild fires on a smoke jumper team.

I need to be quite honest here. The beginning portion truly threw me off of their budding romance. Had I not read that at all, learned of Brandt and Shane's connection versus saw it firsthand, I might have enjoyed the story more.

Why was I thrown?

Brandt met Shane and his sister on the say day, felt sparks when helping Shane skydive, and still he chose Shane's sister for a night of fun. Nothing like reading a couple hundred pages in a novel when I felt as if Brandt saw Shane as second best. If he liked him so much, he would have chosen him from the get-go. I realize this takes away the entire reason for the novel to take place, but it left a bad taste in my mouth.

A musician, Shane hunts Brandt down with some precious cargo, needing to pass his niece off to her father, after his sister took off and left the baby with him. This is a good setup for an angsty romance. As I stated above, had Shane and Brandt never met until he shows up with an unexpected baby, I would have enjoyed it more. The fact that Brandt chose Shane's sister, someone who wasn't quite mentally stable, I ended up feeling as if he truly wasn't into Shane nor was he perceptive or responsible enough to raise the baby if he would sleep with such an unhinged woman.

Don't get me wrong, I appreciate when a writer in the MM genre doesn't vilify the female characters. Had that prologue not occurred, I wouldn't have batted an eyelash nor been so focused on the fact that Brandt picked Shane's sister over him. Just annoyed me.

I need to state that I am not an MM reader who cannot abide by a woman in the story- this isn't a case of that. I just wish Shane and Brandt didn't meet until Shane showed up with the baby, that's all. Meeting both siblings on the same day and choosing the sister made it difficult for me to see Brandt as actually wanting Shane versus being with him because he was "there". Convenient and helping to take care of the unexpected baby that was related to both of them.


Two single men and a little lady. The romance is centered around raising the baby. If you adore a child taking center stage, then Up in Smoke is for you. If you enjoy kids in the novel for a realistic vibe but need the main characters to control the story, then you may find the vibe too far into the baby fever realm. While I adore children in novels to round out the realistic feel, I never got into the headspace where I gushed over the "Diva".

That drove me bonkers, calling the baby Diva because she is demanding, when she is no different in her needs than any other infant. It's not demanding- it's survival. While empathetic when it came to the baby's mother, I thought calling her Diva was in poor taste, as if all women are demanding and spoiled for asking for their needs to be met.

As you can see, the book just rubbed me wrong in all directions because I took it too seriously. Probably my mood, no doubt. I do believe fans of MM romance, particularly single dad romances, will enjoy this warm and fuzzy story.

I need to warn that this doesn't have the same vibe as its predecessors, not truly having much to do with smoke jumping and firefighters. Another warning, Shane isn't the most likeable character, difficult to warm up to for the reader. I felt his serious personality belied what I envisioned for a country musician, which I saw as more of a go with the flow personality.

On the romance front, slow-burn featuring close-proximity situations. Shane and Brandt make the baby their focus, where she is the one who brings them together. I never felt as if their personalities were a good balance, never felt a spark (perhaps because it was stuck in my head how I saw Brandt as being more into Shane's sister after the beginning) Everyday situations, where they learn to take care of a baby, roommates turned friends turned lovers with barely a spark. I felt as if they were merely choosing to be together versus feeling the desire and drive to "need" to be together.

Overall, this was probably my least favorite of the series. I'm glad I read this installment, but it won't be on my reread list.

[Alex (HEABookNerd) · Rating 4 out of 5]

UP IN SMOKE was a really enjoyable romance between two guys who have never really had the closeness of family but find it with each other and the cute baby they're caring for. Things begin when Shane’s impulsive and flighty sister, Shelby, drags him on a skydiving adventure for his birthday. The night before Shelby had a one night stand with sexy smokejumper Brandt but it's Shane who gets to jump tandem with Brandt and he’s never forgotten the experience. 11 months later and Shelby shows up on Shane’s doorstep with a baby which she leaves for him to care for with a birth certificate listing Brandt as the father. Talk about complicated and I'll admit I wasn't sure going into this one because I'm generally not a fan of romances where someone sleeps with their sibling’s ex but I'd trust Annabeth Albert to write anything so I dove right in.

I'm glad that even with the complicated set up and the potential for lots of angst, Albert kept this pretty upbeat and didn't linger too long in Shane’s guilt over lusting after Shelby’s one night stand. It doesn't take long for Brandt and Shane to give into their attraction and they both agree that it's just sex (but we know how well that always works, lol). Shane has always been the rule follower and a bit of a loner who has just focused on making music while Brandt is more of a live in the moment kind of guy who has moved around a ton and never really felt settled after aging out of the foster care system. Both of these guys craved a family so much and it was great to see them finally have someone who puts them first. They also had so much chemistry and were so sexy together! And if you enjoy hunky guys being adorable with babies then UP IN SMOKE has you covered because these two became big mushy marshmallows when it came to taking care of Jewel.

This has a strong focus on building the relationship between Shane and Brandt so there’s not too much external drama and I appreciated that Albert never really put our new father Brandt through anything too dangerous as a smokejumper. I also really appreciated that Shelby isn't made out to be this monster for leaving her baby with her brother. It's not good and that comes across clearly but her struggles are handled with a lot of empathy and I thought this was done really well. Overall, another great character driven romance by Albert!

**ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**

Content Warning: discussion of a somewhat neglectful childhood experiences (Brandt through foster care and Shane through disinterested parents); Shelby is struggling mental illness though it's never specifically defined; child custody discussions and court appearances

[Vfields Don't touch my happy! · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was grabbed on a whim.
I didn’t know who wrote it.
I didn’t know what it was about.
I was completely surprised with the wonderful story.
I noticed near the end who was the author…I should have known.
Winning!

[Paula · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed this but I cant help but feel it's missing something.

[Becky · Rating 3 out of 5]

I couldnt get past the child with the hero's sister.