I received an Advanced Reader Copy of this book directly from the publisher SourceBooks. At first I set it aside thinking it was another “two people stuck in a remote cabin in the winter” type of romance book. Then I began hearing some buzz about it. I was even asked directly if I had read it. So I gave it a second look and found out my first impression of it was wrong.
Ian and Cecily do not end up stuck together by chance. Ian is recovering from an addiction to painkillers following a car accident. Cecily is a former Marine who finds herself uncomfortable around large numbers of people and so lives in a very remote cabin, relying only on herself. Cecily agrees to let Ian stay with her for a few months because she owes a huge debt to Ian’s brother who saved her life. Ian, a big city lawyer is at first taken aback about where he has ended up to avoid the temptations of the big city, but he is very intrigued by Cecily. Cecily begins to question her wanting to be totally alone. The two slowly form a bond and must work through both of their issues to make their relationship work.
When I read, I read for pleasure and escapism. As such, I usually shy away from characters that have certain flaws like drug addiction. And I’m usually not big on characters with military backgrounds in the romances that I read (though I have tremendous respect and admiration for those who have served our country). But I have to say that I really liked both of the main characters in this book. They were written so that they seemed “real” – their words and actions and slowly building feelings and relationship did not seem forced. In the end, I even wanted a little more since we don’t really know how well they adjusted to their decision, but it felt like they would be able to survive and adjust together. Overall I enjoyed this book much more than I thought I would and would recommend it.
Julie Reviews Books 