Sunday, November 3, 2013

Review: Snowed Over by Angie Stanton


Goodreads description:  To college student, Katie Brandt, ‘Home for the Holidays’ sounds like hell. When her parents separated, their holiday traditions shattered like a dropped ornament. What could be worse than celebrating Christmas with her suddenly single mom and mom’s new boyfriend?  Alex Walker, an engaged 20-year-old, dreads going home for his own reasons. He has a daunting task ahead of him and wishes he could skip the holidays altogether. So when a friend of a friend needs a ride north, Alex finds that having beautiful Katie seated by his side proves to be just the distraction he needs.  A simple ride home for Christmas turns into a nightmare when light snow rages into a full-scale blizzard. Katie and Alex find themselves stranded, and a vacant cabin becomes a haven from the storm.  Under different circumstances, time alone with Alex would be the ultimate Christmas gift, but Katie knows Alex is engaged and she must hide her growing attraction.  However, Alex harbors a secret that just might change this holiday from the worst Christmas ever, to the best.
This was such a sweet story, perfect for a pre-Christmas read to get in the holiday spirit.  I don't think I've ever actually read a Christmas novella before.  I have to say the experience was quite enjoyable!

Although "Snowed Over" is a contemporary romance, it definitely has its share of action and suspense!  When Katie and Alex were stranded in a blizzard, it brought me back so clearly to two events in my life where I've been cold like that - once I decided to go for a run in -27 degree Celsius weather, and felt like I got frostbite on my cheeks.  Man, did they burn when they started to thaw!  The other time was when my husband dragged me along canoeing the Bowron Lakes.  We had five days of straight rain, and on the fifth day, I swear I was borderline hypothermic by the time we set up camp.  My brain didn't work!  And I couldn't stop shivering!!!

Anyway, back to the book.  I was shivering alongside Katie and Alex, and actually felt relief when they were able to find shelter in the cabin and lucky enough to find matches to light a fire.  Phew!

The conflict felt by the two characters also felt real to me.  Alex is engaged to somebody he has been trying to break up with for ages, and even though he is not in love with his fiancee, he still feels bad about his immediate attraction to Katie.  Katie also feels guilty for reading things into every look and comment Alex sends her way.  Obviously there's a lack of communication going on, but because the two are virtual strangers, the topic of "the fiancee" feels a little too personal.  There's also a bit of added drama in regards to the separation of Katie's parents.  She resents her mom to no end for bringing her out to the middle of nowhere to spend Christmas with "not the boyfriend".

You'll have to read this for yourself to find out how it all pans out, but I will tell you that if you're looking for a quick, romantic read to pass a snowy day, this should definitely fit the bill!

My Rating:




  

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