Review: Snowed In
I read Catherine Walsh’s Holiday Romance while I was away on a UK holiday last Christmas and was absolutely delighted by the story. I was so happy to have the chance to read the next book in the kinda-sorta-connected series, Snowed In. This book features the brother of the MMC in Holiday Romance but you don’t have to read the first to enjoy this one - though I recommend it because they’re both so lovely!
Here’s the book’s description:
Megan is dreading going home for the holidays. She’s the village pariah, the she-devil who left local golden boy Isaac at the altar four years ago and ran away to the big city. She could really do without the drama. Particularly as he’s engaged again, and she’s just been dumped for the fourth time this year.
Christian’s fed up of being on his own every Christmas. He doesn’t mind being alone, but he hates his family’s sad eyes and soft tones as they sit around coupled up. Because he’s actually, totally, fine.
So when Megan literally bumps into Christian in a Dublin pub, they come up with a pact to see them through the holiday season. They’re going to be the very best fake dates for each other, ever.
Rules are drawn up, a contract is signed on a wine-stained napkin. They will sit through each other’s family gatherings and be outrageously in love until freed from their annual obligations. After all, it’s only for a few weeks.
But with everyone home for the holidays, two big families to deal with alongside old friends, old flames and old feelings, things are bound to get messy. And when a snowed-in cabin and a little Christmas magic are added to the mix, anything could happen…
This was my first Christmas romance of the year and it set a fairly high bar. It starts off in Dublin, which is where my sister (also named Megan) currently lives. And then moves to a small town, which I love in my (holidays) romances. Add in a good sprinkling of Christmas cheer, a dash of fake dating, and a bit of forced proximity and I was in a very happy place!
Megan’s backstory with her broken engagement was…well, probably the only thing I didn’t love about this book. I’m SO glad she left the dude, especially once the reader learns how much of a dick he was, but I just hated how everyone was treating her. On the one hand, it seemed so over the top but on the other? It kind of made sense. People can be the absolute worst. I was so sad for her and mad at everyone else but there was also a little something that kept me from totally buying the scenario. BUT that didn’t take away from my enjoyment of the rest of the book.
The relationship between Christian and Megan was delightful. I liked that they weren’t really friends but because they sort of grew up together, there was a history there that meant they weren’t starting out as complete strangers trying to pull off a fake dating scheme. But they didn’t know each other as adults and I enjoyed watching them learn more about each other and slowly realize that, uh oh, this fake dating thing is no longer for them. Sparks were a flyin’!
If you’re in need of a great Christmas rom com this season, I think you should pick up Snowed In by Catherine Walsh. It was such a good read that was full of heart while still being a lot of fun.
*An egalley of this copy was provided by the Canadian distributor, HBG Canada, via NetGalley in exchange for review consideration. All opinions are honest and my own.*