When the Snow Settles by Rachel LaBergeMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
❄️Snowed in at a cozy lodge never felt so warm—or so emotionally real.
🏔️ Snowed-in romance, cozy lodge vibes, and slow-burn healing love. Warm, sweet, and just enough emotional depth to feel like a hug.
Tropes
- Winter/Snowstorm Romance
- Forced Proximity / Snowed-In Situation
- Second Chances + Healing Trauma
- Small-Town Charm / Lodge Setting
- Low-drama, Slice-of-Life Feel
When the Snow Settles by Rachel LaBerge is a sweet, heartwarming novella that pairs perfectly with a cup of hot cocoa and a cozy blanket. Ivy Lawson returns to Windia to plan a charity event, only to find herself spending more time than expected with Holland Holt, her grumpy-but-steady lodge owner and longtime friend (or maybe more-than-friend?).
The novella leans into wintry charm, lodge coziness, and the kind of slow-building romance where comfort, trust, and genuine connection matter more than grand gestures or excessive drama. Ivy and Holland’s dynamic is familiar if you’ve read the main Lodge Affair series—but that familiarity works here, because LaBerge gives us more time to linger in the small moments: snowball fights, quiet fireside chats, and mutual care in the face of a surprise storm.
What really stood out for me was the emotional tone: it’s low-stakes in plot but high in warmth. Holland is still grumpy, but softened by patience and care; Ivy is more grounded than in her earlier self, which makes their reunion feel more mature and emotionally resonant. The pacing is brisk, but never rushed—it gives enough time to feel the snow settle, both outside and inside Ivy and Holland’s hearts.
If you’re craving a mini winter escape with romance that heals more than it explodes, When the Snow Settles fits the bill beautifully.
No comments:
Post a Comment