Snowed in with the Firefighter

This clean, touching romance centers around doctor Melody Mayberry and firefighter Finn Matthews. Finn is at his brother’s cabin recovering from a job related injury that almost destroyed his leg. An injury that will likely end his firefighter career. A career he and his brother have always wanted. Melody is a ob/gyn physician whose last delivery ended tragically and one that has her questioning her career and her future. She is also struggling in her personal life. A life in which she has been made to believe that she has never been good enough and one that she has lived more to please her mother than herself. Needing to get away, her sister, and brother-in-law offer her the cabin. Likely so that Finn and Melody would end up together. But no one knows she once was hurt unintentionally by Finn. As these two individuals are struggling to deal with their lives, spending time together has opened their eyes and hearts. But what happens when Melody’s mother once again delivers her a blow making her leave Finn behind and possibly her future? It was a story about family or lack thereof. About how one’s childhood and those that are suppose to love one, can and does in fact affect the adult one becomes. A reminder that loving oneself is essential in being able to love others and that letting go of the past means opening one’s heart up to the present and a future. I was entrusted a copy of this book by Netgalley and Entangled Bliss. The opinions expressed are solely my own.

This is a holiday romance that puts Melody and Finn alone in a secluded cabin, each expecting to be alone. They are both attempting to hide from the world and nurse their wounds, Finn's physical and Melody's psychological. The book is filled with the heavy emotions of their backstories as it follows a predictable path. I had been expecting a holiday romance, but found this was almost too heavy to be enjoyable. Normally, when I read a book by this author, I am unable to put it down. She makes me smile and enjoy the journeys her characters take, however, this one was different. The emotions and angst in this book felt so heavy that even with the anticipated ending, it was hard to smile with this book. I actually put it down several times and had a hard time picking it back up. Additionally, while this is a stand alone novel, you would really benefit from reading the prior books first, as the backstories revealed in the prior books form the crux of this novel. Fans of the author and/or this series will want to read this novel.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley and I am voluntarily reviewing it. I am a little torn on this one. I enjoyed getting to know and reading about the road to a HEA for both Finn Matthews and Dr. Melody Mayberry. The questionable part to me, not knowing the conflict that Melody feels guilty about with separating Molly and Ben (a couple from The Firefighter's Pretend Fiancee). I didn't read that story and it really played a part here in this one. I felt the author really should have done a better job of getting the reader into that to situation to fully understand Melody better. I understood the part that the mother played in causing such mayhem and destruction between the three girls but not the part of previously mentioned separation of Molly and Ben. Melody is on a forced vacation. The last baby that she delivered died and caused such mental anguish that Melody is questioning if she could continue in her field of OB/GYN. She goes to her sister's and brother-in-law's cabin (Molly and Ben) for Christmas solitude. When she arrives, there is Molly's brother-in-law, Finn Matthews. He has been recuperating there for some time. He was injured during a fire in a rescue of a little boy. When he was initially injured, he almost didn't make it. His leg has not healed properly and he frustrated as he wants to get back to his beloved job but knowing that his leg isn't 100% and being a firefighter, that could be deadly. I loved how this was written in a dual POV format. Having two protagonist who are mentally struggling with issues, it is a must to help in understanding their actions and speech. This is a clean romance with just kissing involved. I would recommend reading the prior The Firefighter's Pretend Fiancee first before reading this one to really enjoy it more.