REVIEW: Snowed In by Navessa Allen

OUR REVIEW:

Snowed In is the first novel I've read by Navessa Allen and I thoroughly enjoyed it, so much so that I was up way past my bedtime 'one more chapter-ing' it until my eyes wouldn't stay open any longer.  And then I ignored all other aspects of my life to continue reading until I finished.

There were many things I enjoyed about the romance of Ella and Ben. One of those was how many times I laughed so hard I shook the bed and almost woke up my husband. Navessa Allen's comedic timing was perfect and I just laughed and laughed and laughed. Another thing I enjoyed was how thoughtful Ella and Ben were. They were smart and emotionally self-aware which made what they would eventually have to face so much easier. We'll touch on that in a minute. Let me first say that I really enjoyed how Allen wrote their beginning. She really captured that new friend/relationship feeling of excitement and wanting to spend every spare second getting to know each other. It reminded me of the early stages of meeting my spouse and how fun that time was.

In addition to all of those positives, I really enjoyed the inclusion of Ella and Ben's families; their inclusion just added so much--humor, history, emotional support--and helped round out the narrative. This was especially important when it came to the big climax moment and all of the events surrounding it.

It's always interesting to read a novel that is so completely opposite of any season Louisiana has ever seen. Maine's snowy weather was something I don't even think I have the capacity or background to truly understand but I enjoyed reading it, especially as we're getting warmer and warmer here. I loved that I not only learned about many aspects of how one lives through a season like that but I also learned so much more when it came to the situation Ben was grappling with. Snowed In gave me many things to ponder and enjoy and if you're looking to escape this crazy pandemic limbo we're living in, I highly recommend this novel to escape into.

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SYNOPSIS:

Ella Jones knows what to expect from the long, hard winters in the northern reaches of Maine. Mostly boredom and monotony, broken up with a bit of skiing or quality time spent with her family.

Which leaves her utterly unprepared for the arrival of Benjamin Kakoa, an ex-football star turned advocate in need of a break from fame and notoriety.

For Ella, it's crush at first sight. But with a rocky past and an uncertain future, Ben's walls are tougher to tear down than she ever could have imagined.

And once they fall, Ella and Ben will have to come to terms with the potentially tragic reality of their love.