Researching the Pole

Polar Love

by Wade Hart

South Pole. Two dudes. One cabin.
Coming to the South Pole to record leopard seal mating calls is my dream come true. Five years of research for a chance to finally record something no one else has.

What I don’t expect is Grant—my high school basketball captain, my old biology lab partner—showing up as my assigned diver.

Back then, he was arrogant. Had no time for me except my notes. Now he’s a master diver. Steady hands. Quiet intensity. Every time he looks at me, my pulse spikes.

I’m straight. Or I thought I was. But somewhere between the long days, the one-bed cabin, and the way he keeps touching me, something isn’t lining up anymore.

And I don’t know what that means.

Tropes:

Antarctica cabin
One bed
Nerd x Jock
Gay awakening
First time
A steamy, low-angst, fun standalone short read of 17,000 words with HEA.

Genres: M M Romance, Romance, Queer, Contemporary, LGBT, Forced Proximity, Novella

80 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 9, 2026

About the author

I write low-angst MM romance about competent men excelling at everything except at love.

Reviews

[Sara Jane]

This is my first book from this author and it really pulled me in.
The story is told from Adrien's POV. He traveled to Antarctica to record the mating call of Leopard seals. He was surprised to find out his former classmate, Grant, was his diving partner.

7 years earlier Adrien wrote off his fascination with Grant because of the assumptions he made. Grant was a popular jock and he was a nerd. It didn't take long for Adrien to realize how wrong he was.

There was plenty of scientific facts and logistics discussed but I never felt like they over powered the story.

When the research was compromised Grant was will to risk his life to save it.


The tension between MCs was thick and well written.
FAVORITE QUOTES FROM THE BOOK.

"He moved in behind me, his chest nearly pressed against my back as he helped guide the suit up my legs. “The seal has to be perfect,” he murmured, his breath warm against my cheek. “Any water gets in, you’ll freeze in minutes.” His hands moved up my sides slowly, palms flat and dragging, adjusting the material, pulling it snug over my hips. I swallowed hard. I think I was gonna pass out."

AND

My heart wasn’t racing. It had dissolved completely, turned to liquid warmth spreading through my chest.

Spoilers:

💥Knew each other in high school (Jock/Nerd)
💥Secret pining/high school (Grant)
💥Forced proximity
💥One bed
💥Gay awakening(Adrien)
💥Epilogue is 4 years later HEA.
💥Good set up for the second book.

[Moraa]

RTC

[Maureen]

There's a very short but cute prelude to this that's not showing on Goodreads. Very short indeed but a giving us a wee bit of an intro to Grants feelings. Here we have two former college men, both now in similar professions, and both secretly had feelings for the other, finally meet again . . . In the south pole!! It's a different kind of setting, it's interesting and a touch scientific, but a nice read.

[Tris]

2.5 ⭐️

Very light fun read. Need to leave your believability out the door for this one.

Very short read and it happened over less than 3 days? Also a little disappointed that it was all in Adrien’s POV and we didn’t get to see how Grant was feeling.

[Cindy]

This was a short, cute and spicy read. There was a pretty good plot in here for the amount of pages that it had.

One of the issues that i had with the book is that i wish we got to see more of the past between the main characters, maybe like flashbacks or something. This book could have definitely been longer if we got more backstory.

[Katelyn]

This was cute. It was a nice refreshing read from the one I dnfed. It definitely could have been longer.

[Sinvisigoth]

Wow this was good

I ate up every word of this. The storyline was wonderful, with a level of detail I appreciated, and the two main characters were so sweet together. I would kill for a full length book with them in. The author has only written two books so far, and I hope they write fast because I'm beyond desperate for more from them.

[Ellie Banana]

I think I saw someone post this book on a FB group and it looked too cute to pass up.

And cute it was! I wish it was longer I loved the MCs they were both cinnamon rolls, adorable and loveable. It was just what I needed - something fun, something light, super low angst. *Chef's Kiss*

[Brooke]

Are they supposed to be adults or in middle school?! Because this Adrien dude is pretty dumb! Especially for a “doctor”. Also, every time Grant called him “Doc” I just pictured Bugs Bunny! Eh…What’s up Doc?!

[Donna]

Wow, this book grabbed me and pulled me to the Antarctic, complete with chills as I read about the cold air in the cabin and on the frigid underwater dives. I felt like I was sitting in the boat with them and then on the Zodiac, I could imagine Adrian’s excitement and Grant’s humor at the antics of the seal, then the excitement of hearing the seal’s vocalizations and Adrian’s devastation that followed. The world building helped me create vivid pictures in my mind of the dives, the smitten seal, and the very steamy times between Grant and Adrien. The connection they had now was so different from the one they had years ago, but Adrien must have sensed something then, only realizing it once he was back in Grant’s orbit, as he couldn’t take his eyes off Grant or stop thinking about him, then his surprise at Grant’s revelation about all those years ago. I chuckled about Mr. P’s rabbit, and felt Adrien’s anger and fear. The epilogue was a fitting ending to this short but compelling story, one I read in a little over an hour (faster than usual for me). It had adventure, romance, humor and the possibility of danger, keeping me focused through one sitting.

This is a new author to me, one I will watch for if I want a short, engaging story to curl up with for a quick, interesting read. I received an advance review copy for free and this is my voluntary review.

[Shannon Janssen]

“Researching the Pole” by Wade Hart is a great, quick read. Being set in the South Pole made for an interesting dynamic. The characters are great and I enjoyed the story. It was no angst, a little spice and didn’t leave me feeling cheated. It’s not easy to give a reader everything in 70ish pages but the author delivered. While this was my first book by Wade Hart, it will not be my last.

[Ana Silva]

This was super sweet and very informative. I never knew scientists and scuba divers could be so sexy!

I loved how Wade incorporated so many fascinating facts about seal mating while also giving us a beautiful love story.

Adrien’s goal in life was to record the male leopard seals mating song in his entirety. So when he travels to Alaska to fulfill his dream, he never expected that the person who would be helping him was his former classmate. The boy whom he secretly had a crush on but decided to believe was a jerk because anything else was dangerous.

Not only was Grant the basketball captain, but he was beautiful and popular. Completely out of his league and someone who wouldn’t look at him twice.

But when they meet again, Adrien is completely surprised to find out his misconception about Grant was completely unfounded. Not only was Grant a kind, generous person, but he too had a crush on Adrien.

Them sharing the same love for science was the cherry on top for Adrien. Their chemistry was off the charts and Adrien couldn’t believe his luck.

Not only did Grant understand Adrien’s work, he was just as devoted to it. He really supported Adrien’s passion and encouraged him to follow his dreams.

This was too short but that doesn’t take away for how beautiful and inspiring it was.

Wade Hart is a new to me author and I’m looking forward to reading more of their work. If the rest are as good as this one, I’m definitely in for a treat.

[Nahal TC]

Forced Proximity at the Edge of the World
🌶🌶 (2 chilies)

The premise of this book immediately caught my attention—forced proximity, MM, and an unusual setting? I dove right in. This was my first time reading Wade Hart, and as a new indie author to me, I was pleasantly surprised.

The setting was easily one of the most intriguing aspects of the story. I’d never read anything quite like it before, and it added a fresh, immersive layer that really set the book apart. The scientific research trope was well balanced: interesting without being overwhelming, and easy to follow even in a short format.

I also appreciated the lack of unnecessary drama. For a shorter story, it felt focused and intentional, which made the reading experience smooth and enjoyable. Both MMCs were layered, likable, and well written.

That said, the virgin aspect felt unnecessary to me, and I would have loved a bit more spice and spark between the characters—hence the 2-chili rating. I also found myself wishing the story had been longer, especially to explore how things might unfold both romantically and scientifically.

All in all, this was an enjoyable short story with a unique premise and setting, and I’m glad I picked it up.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you Booksirens.

[Dísir]

Short, sharp and sweet, is what 'Researching the Pole' aims to be and achieves. Scientist Dr. Adrien Cole gets the shock of his life when he runs into the arrogant, high-flying high school jock he once admired from afar—at the southernmost edge of the world, who happens to also be his dive partner. But Grant Reeves isn't what he expects, quickly shattering all misconceptions that he's had of the typical jock all those years ago.

There’s a generous helping of instalove and a gay-for-you feel with a faint touch of past unrequited feelings. In the very short few days where Adrien discovers more about himself than just the habits of the leopard seals he's researching, this one definitely leans more toward erotica-exotica than an all-round polar adventure with its thrills and dangers.

Both Grant and Adrien feel a tad young for the roles they occupy, and their backstories are more breezed through rather than deeply explored. Still, that hardly seems the point for the novella's purpose. 'Researching the Pole' is an easy, low-angst read with a second book setup that'll help take reality off your shoulders for a while.

*ARC by the publisher via Booksirens

[Trace Dial]

So,

There is Dr. Cole is a truly brilliant and passionate individual who dedicates his life to studying leopard seal mating.

And of course there is Grant who is one of Dr. Cole’s colleagues and his personal diving partner. See they’ve known each other for years. They even went to the same high school where Grant was an all-American athlete competing in almost every sport. However Cole wasn’t much an athlete unless you count science as a sport. But for Grant, Cole was everything & that overpowering crush only grew stronger as time passed. Yes, Grant was good-looking, popular had almost everyone in school wanting him, sexually except for one person: yes, Cole. See Cole didn’t want anyone except Science. Cole wasn’t just a nerd.

In high school, Cole was a Mega Nerd. But for Grant, that was so sexy.

Spending everyday & night together could be hell for some, but for Dr. Cole & Grant it was perfection.

This is such a great romantic story. I love the characters, the plot, & especially the spotted leopard seals. Everything merged into such a memorable story.

I Loved it.

Trace Dial

[Naito Diamond]

I really enjoyed Researching the Pole by Wade Hart. It’s a cute, low-angst MM romance that delivers exactly the kind of warm, comforting read you sometimes need.

Even though the story is set in an Antarctic research station, it feels surprisingly cozy rather than cold. The isolated setting adds charm without making the story feel heavy, and the romance itself is heartfelt and engaging.

I especially loved the dynamic between Grant, the deep diver, and Adrien, the scientist. Their relationship feels sweet, natural, and genuinely enjoyable to follow.

And the seal? Absolutely adorable. That little courting episode added such a fun and heartwarming touch to the story—it honestly made the book even more memorable.

Overall, this is a lovely, feel-good read that’s perfect for a lunch break, a relaxing evening, or something gentle before bed. Highly recommend for anyone looking for a short, sweet romance.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Sheila M.]

Dr. Adrien Cole arrived at the research station in Antarctica to continue his research on leopard seals. The diver assigned to him was Grant Reeves, someone from his past in high school. While Grant was comfortable with who he was, Adrien had some discovering to do about himself, and Grant was happy to help him do so. This began the relationship between Adrien and Grant. While Grant was comfortable with who he was, Adrien had some discovering to do about himself, and Grant was happy to help him do so.

Researching The Pole was an excellent book about two guys who have history from long ago and meet again in the most unique way. This was a beautiful love story and was deftly written in a responsible and respectful way. I recommend this book for fans of geeky scientists, smoking hot divers, and spicy mm drama.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[L H]

The specter of beliefs from the past have a place here as Adrian travels to Alaska to engage in research that he hopes will help elevate his career. Adrian goes to research and document the mating call of a male leopard seals. It has not been recorded in its entirety to this point. The science in this story made this all a bit more intriguing. He has a diver assigned to him and it turns out that Grant, the diver assigned to him, was someone he remembers from high school. Grant was popular and an athlete and Adrian had a lot of assumptions about him. He learns as they work together that his assumptions were not true, Grant is good people and he is drawn to Grant. It was neat that this story was about discoveries of many kinds for Adrian. Nicely done for a short. Made me want more.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Gavin Stephenson-Jackman]

Only fate could see you encountering your High School crush at a remote research station in Antarctica, but this is where Adrian finds Grant. Finding out that Grant is not only the diver who he'll be working with but also his cabin mate for his research project is more than expected. Adrian has memories of Grant and they don't include the possibility of anything beyond professional collaboration. When there's only one bed things heat up quickly. Suddenly these two have a second chance at connecting. I'm looking forward to the next installment.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Eric Neill]

Finding What You Are Searching For While Researching Seals The Deal!

In one of the most remote and unwelcoming extreme locations in the world looking for very rare sea lions in their own underwater habitat as the long mating call is sent out searching for a mate, the researcher is mating and loosing his virginity at the same time the apex seal is sounding his underwear mating song for a mate after offering a fish to the Doctor as a mating signal when he was in the area installing hydrophones to record the love song that lasted more than 13 hours. The Doctor had technical problems but not with his high school crush who was assisting him in the research search.

[Jordan Nelson]

⭐️: 4
🌶️: 3

I absolutely loved this book and devoured it so fast! The story was great, the characters are so lovable and sweet, the writing is great and really helps you picture the scene. Adrien and Grant are just adorable! The spice is great and the build up and emotion for such a short story was fantastic! I can’t wait to read the next book and hopefully see snippets of these two in that book. The only slight downside I have is I just wish this was a dual POV, I would’ve absolutely loved to see Grant’s POV.

[Linda]

Short, sweet, little spicy love story. Adrien is a marine biologist studying seals in Antartica. Grant is his guide & former HS classmate. Adrien always felt like Grant, being the star football player was arrogant, boastful & full of himself. He sees a different side of Grant on this expedition & they form an unexpected kinship. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Rachel Watkinson]

ARC Review
Researching the Pole
By Wade Hart
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

This was a very short, fast-paced read.
Adrien and Grant knew each other in high school but never expected to be working together in Antarctica
Grant has been in love with Adrien since high school, but Adrien never knew.
When they end up in Antarctica together and have to share one bed, it gets quite steamy in their little cabin

[Arsie]

3.5 stars rounded up. This book is too short to explain a bunch of things that otherwise are way too hand-wavey to be believable, but the scene with the seal and the fish was enough for me to decide i really enjoyed it, anyway. The science-y bits felt realistic, the setting was unusual, the MCs didn't have time to be anything but insta-lovey, but it was a quick light read for fun.

[Amanda Reeves]

Researching the Pole is the first book in the Gays of Palmer Station series and the first book I have read by this author. This is a nerd/jock, sexual awakening, forced proximity/only one bed read about Adrien and Grant. Really enjoyed this story and can't wait for the next one.

[Jean]

Wish it was longer

I enjoyed this short little read i just wish it was longer. I would have liked the characters and story to be fleshed out. Overall its a good little afternoon read.

[Alayna Arms]

I understand that you cannot do as much character development with a short story, but that doesn't mean you cannot have ANY. The dialogue - bad. The way the couple gets together - bad. The use of the one bed trope - bad.

It could be good if it was longer and then could be actually developed.

[Rachel]

This was the fastest gay awakening (realization?) that I have ever read. For how short the story is, I felt like I got to kmow the MCs pretty well, although I obviously got to know Adrien better, since it was a single POV story, and I found the plot cute.

[Michael T]

Grant and Adrien’s story was very sweet and spicy. Low angst and a hunt for the leopard seal. It was a very enjoyable short story. I really liked it.

[Allison]

Story: 3/5
Spice: Low
Characters: 3/5
-ˏˋ⋆⋆ˊˎ-
Overall reco:
Cute and short. Enjoyable and worth the time. Better than a lot of the short novellas that are out there.