Snowed Inn: A Novel (Honeycrisp Orchard Romance, 2)

304 pages Publisher Avon a Publication date September 29, 2026

ABOUT THE BOOK

For fans of the Lovelight series and The Christmas Tree Farm, this cozy Christmas romance follows an overworked publicist who is snowed in at the Honeycrisp Orchard Inn with her nemesis, a sexy brewery owner, for the holidays. The festive spirit, hot chocolate, and six feet of sparkling snowdrifts conspire to turn these enemies into lovers.

Maria never expected to spend Christmas in a small, snow-covered town—but a visit to her best friend Ellie’s Honeycrisp Orchard Inn turns into an unplanned holiday stay when a snowstorm leaves her stranded. The inn feels like stepping into a holiday fairy tale, with twinkling lights, crackling fires, and garlands everywhere, yet Maria can’t help missing her big, loud Italian family. Adding to her frustrations? Jesse, the ruggedly handsome, annoyingly charming brewery owner, who seems to delight in pushing her buttons.

Jesse has enough on his plate managing his bar and helping the inn stay merry for the holidays, but he can’t seem to resist Maria’s city-girl sass. As snow continues to fall and their paths keep crossing, Maria finds herself drawn into the inn’s festive magic and Jesse himself, as he shows her the charm of slowing down and being present in the moment.

With stolen glances under mistletoe and sparks flying by the fireplace, the line between a holiday fling and something deeper blurs.

But when the snow clears, will Maria follow her heart? Perfect for anyone craving snow-kissed romance, holiday warmth, and happily-ever-after magic.

Tropes:

• Enemies to lovers

• Forced proximity

• City girl x country boy

• Quirky locals

• Small-town romance

MY THOUGHTS

This is the second book in the Honeycrisp Orchard series, and it pretty much picks up where the other left off, but you get plenty of backstory if this is your first read in the series.
PR girl, Maria from LA never expected to not be able to leave Honeycrisp Orchard Inn when she went to visit best friend Ellie, owner. Lots of beautiful sparkling snow says otherwise and she’s snowed in and stuck at the inn.
It only goes from bad to worse when she sees hot bartender Jesse, who she desperately has tried to avoid this time around. Her last visit didn’t go so well, and they had words with each other.
Sledding and snowball fights along with delicious homemade cookies and hot chocolate and something she can’t resist.
When the mistletoe starts her thinking and Jesse is conveniently there, well you just never know what’ll happen.

She’s a fancy city girl he’s a flannel wearing country boy. Can they find anything in common?
Warm, fuzzy, totally charming holiday book that I absolutely loved.
Hope there’s more in the series.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

Valerie Bowman is an award-winning romance author. Her debut novel was published in 2012. Since then, her books have received starred reviews from Publisher’s Weekly, Booklist, and Kirkus. She’s been an RT Reviewers’ Choice nominee for Best First Historical Romance and Best Historical Romance Love and Laughter. Two of her books have been nominated for the Kirkus Prize for fiction.

Valerie grew up in Illinois with six sisters (she’s number seven) and a huge supply of romance novels. After a cold and snowy stint earning a degree in English Language and Literature with a minor in history at Smith College, she moved to Florida the first chance she got. Valerie now lives in Jacksonville with her family including her two rascally dogs. When she’s not writing, she keeps busy reading, traveling, or vacillating between watching crazy reality TV and PBS.

Visit Valerie on the web at ValerieBowmanBooks

Instagram: @ValerieGBowman

Facebook: ValerieBowmanAuthor

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