Destiny draws Cajun artist Nicole Dubois from the sultry Louisiana heat into a freezing Canadian winter.
Nicole's life is turned upside down by a simple fax. Life has been straight and simple for Nicole and she's planning a June wedding with New Orleans psychiatrist Ansel Bernard. Then her grandfather leaves her valuable shore frontage in Nova Scotia.
A stipulation in the will's codicil forces her to travel alone into Canada's frozen winter clime. But her grandfather's lawyer Craig McKeen is determined to warm things up for her. She's torn between her promises to Ansel and her new found attraction to the attorney.
When a blizzard traps Nicole and Craig in a hunter's cabin, they realize that love bloomed between them despite the blast of winter outside the cabin walls. But Craig's former girlfriend, Amanda Wilson, has other plans for him and plots to send southern girl Nicole back where she came from. Now Nicole must decide who's lying about the codicil, Craig or Amanda... and what to do about fiancé, Ansel.
Excerpt
The snowmobile glided swiftly across the crusty snow, and Craig turned off the trail onto a narrower path. He stopped the motor when they had entered a protected area surrounded by tall poplar trees, naked in their winter environment. He removed his helmet and climbed off the machine. Nicole followed suit.
"This is the spot beneath the silver poplars. Colbert loved them. He said their leaves in motion reminded him of dancing silver dollars, and the rustle of their foliage on a windy day sounded like a rush from a slot machine."
She laughed. "That's Granddad, poetic in one breath and droll in the next."
Together they stood in the centre of the glen encircled by nature. Craig opened the canister and Nicole released some of the ashes. The wind caught them and turned them in circles, dancing across the sparkling snow. They settled in the distance. Craig sprinkled more and soon the container was empty.
Nicole wiped a tear from the corner of her eye, but it wasn't a sad occasion. She watched Craig as he bowed his head then raised it to the heavens. His eyes were closed and his soft hair blew gently in the breeze.
For a moment she felt her grandfather's presence. For a brief moment he was so near and it felt like he was giving her his blessing, that it was okay to have feelings for Craig. Maybe it was his intention from the beginning. Could it have been his desire to have her meet and come to know Craig McKeen the way he had?
Without thinking, she strode across the snow and took Craig's hands. He opened his eyes and gazed into hers, questioning her actions. She squeezed his hands and although they both wore heavy gloves, she felt a surge of power flow from his to her own. Nicki took charge, moving slowly, but surely. She leaned into him still holding his hands. She tilted her head upward and found his mouth, warm and soft. Her lips caressed his ever so lightly, and she whispered, "Thank you for today."
Professional Reviews
Charming story, makes me miss snow.
Charming story about a young artist who has been protected her entire life. As a result of the coddling, she is used to others making some of her major life decisions for her.
When Nicole's grandfather dies, whom she was close to, she is required to travel from Louisiana to Nova Scotia to meet with her grandfather's lawyer, Craig McKeen. Her fiance, an overbearing jerk (IMHO - but I'm sure how the author wants the reader to see him) tries to step in and take care of it for her, but the will stipulates she must travel alone to her grandfathers property to settle the estate. Not only does she learn a surprising secret about her grandfather which helps her to understand a little more about herself, but she meets Craig.
Nicole realizes she is torn between her developing feelings for Craig and her commitment to her fiance, Ansel. She also begins to see how others have manipulated her for their own purposes and beings to build the backbone she seemed to be lacking.
Sparks begin to fly between Craig and Nicole, and heat up more when they find themselves stranded in a remote cabin during a blizzard.
Nicole must choose, but should she take a chance on someone she just met or let Ansel take care of her? Then there is Amanda - Craig's former fling and a paralegal in his office. Does she just want Craig for herself or is there more to her machinations?
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At first I felt Nicole's naivete was annoying, but I liked her more and more as I read. I want to slap Ansel, but I doubt anything could get through that thick skull. No doubt he would tell me I'm the one that has issues. Someone needs to bring him down a notch or three. hmmm...that might make a good sequel - Someone who is able to 'reform' him!
This book was impossible to put down.
I liked it alot and the storyline was so gripping. The characters were so likeable and the love triangle between Nicole, Craig and Ansel was dramatic, funny and wonderful to read. At times, you would think that Nicole would go to Craig but then to Ansel, but Im glad she ended up with Craig. They made a much better couple than Ansel and Nicole. I'm glad I got to read a nice romantic because I am a big romantic myself and hope to read more by this author.
Excellent!
Excellent book! 434 pages long. I read it in one day; did not want to put it down. Great plot, character development, great plot twist towards the end. Give this free romsnce novel set in Nove Scotia a try. You won't be disappointed. Hhigher teens and up. Going on to read another of her free ebooks right now!
