WHEN THINGS SNOWBALL, CAN FROSTY FEELINGS THAW?
Lucy hasn’t left the country in years. In fact, she’s barely left Bristol’s city limits. So, when the opportunity presents itself to join a work trip to the Swiss Alps, she’s wary, especially when she learns that it will coincide with that weekend – the one that, eleven years ago, tore her world in two.
But how can she turn down an all-expense-paid trip to the snow-capped Alps? Lucy knows what Leo would say if he were still with her, and besides, she’ll have her work husband, Jonno, there for emotional support.
What – or who – she didn’t bank on, however, was moody (read: rude) Natestepping in at the last minute. And what’s worse, they’re the only two in the group who don’t ski, so they’re stuck with each other . . . up the side of a mountain in the middle of a snowstorm.
With the weather closing in, an avalanche leaves them snowbound in an alpine bar with an eclectic cast of fellow refugees. But with roaring log fires and steaming mugs of glühwein (and maybe a shot or two of Jägermeister), it’s a chance for Lucy and Nate to discover there might be more to one another than meets the eye.
Where will their mountainside adventure leave them when the snow finally melts?
About The Author
My Review
Lucy is a skilled copywriter who, despite her emotionally distant approach to relationships, has no shortage of romantic offers. When she finds herself stranded in a mountain café during a work trip with her aloof colleague, Nate, she’s forced to confront the emotional baggage that has made her close herself off. As Nate opens up about his own struggles, a viral moment on Instagram propels him into the spotlight, complicating the bond they’ve begun to form.
The story’s premise—being stuck during an avalanche with strangers—creates a compelling setting where Lucy and Nate, despite their opposing personalities, begin to connect. Heidi Stephens explores themes of grief and mental health, particularly how Nate’s anxiety and Lucy’s unresolved grief over her brother shape their interactions. At times, Nate’s anxiety is handled in a somewhat infantilizing way, and Lucy can come across as selfish, using her grief to avoid serious relationships.
Though the snowy setting is minimal, the book delves deeply into the emotional layers of the characters, making it more than just a winter romance. The relationship between Lucy and Jonno, a key supporting character, adds an extra dimension, with their friendship shining just as brightly as the romance.
My Rating
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