Up in Smoke

by Annabeth Albert

[Jeff Sexton]

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. ;) Overall a truly solid story, and very much recommended.