Viper Spaulding
Turn up the heat for Christmas! Honey has been crushing on family friend Jericho for most of her life, but when he buys her family’s winery out from under her, she’s at her wit’s end and is packing up to start a new life elsewhere. Until her truck strands her on the side of the road with a blizzard on its way. Jericho knows he has to keep his attraction to Honey on lockdown, but when he sees her truck on the road as he’s heading toward an uncomfortable family reunion for Christmas, he’s not prepared for the storm that’s headed his way. Stuck on an impassable road, they take shelter in a nearby cabin retreat and start to work through the unavoidable issues that stand between them. The forced proximity trope has never been done better, with these two generating enough heat to melt all the snow for miles around. Is it still arrogance if it’s the truth? As much fun as those scenes were (and they were, trust me!), the real heart of the story kicks into high gear when they get back on the road and head to the Dalton’s for a Christmas with the father Jericho never knew, along with a slew of relatives whose similar experiences have forged a strong familial bond before they’ve ever met. The singular beauty in this book is the way the author draws us into the depths of Jericho’s and Honey’s hearts, facing head-on all the trauma and heartbreak they’ve already endured and showing us how they find healing through the love of their families and the love they’ve found for each other. If you don’t tear up, just a little, then you need to get your own heart examined. This author never leaves us hanging without a strong, satisfying HEA, and we also get a sweet look into the future for this dynamic couple. I loved every bit of this wondrous story, and I highly recommend it for anyone who loves cowboy romances. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.