Scan barcode
leligavi's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Wait hold up. This was such a surprise. I just have a bunch of random books on my Kindle that I got for free and this one was ACTUALLY FANTASTIC. What the heck? I gotta continue on with the series. That's for sure.
Rosie and Blaine were so unbelievably sweet!! I literally wish this book was like 100 more extra pages of just them. I will say that I didn't love hearing Rosie's inner dialogue about her being at the top (super pretty, popular high schooler) but now she's at the bottom of the trash heep. And Blaine was skinny and greasy but he worked out and is all hot now. That part kinda sucked, which is why this isn't a five star read. However, I enjoyed it sooo much. Such a surprise but in the best way.
Rosie and Blaine were so unbelievably sweet!! I literally wish this book was like 100 more extra pages of just them. I will say that I didn't love hearing Rosie's inner dialogue about her being at the top (super pretty, popular high schooler) but now she's at the bottom of the trash heep. And Blaine was skinny and greasy but he worked out and is all hot now. That part kinda sucked, which is why this isn't a five star read. However, I enjoyed it sooo much. Such a surprise but in the best way.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse, Bullying, Trafficking, Death, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Police brutality
Moderate: Gun violence
naughtybookaffair's review against another edition
5.0
I absolutely loved this book from beginning to end. Full of twists, turns, suspense and will keep you on the edge of your seat. I loved Rosie. Her character was so very well written and so strong even when she didn't want to be. I wanted to throat punch her when she decides to do what she does but then was ok when she made it better. I enjoyed reading this book so very much. Melissa did a great job with this story line and the characters. There was amazing character chemistry in this book which made it even better to read. It will grip you from the beginning and have you on the edge of your seat until the end.
naughtybookaffair's review
5.0
I absolutely loved this book from beginning to end. Full of twists, turns, suspense and will keep you on the edge of your seat. I loved Rosie. Her character was so very well written and so strong even when she didn't want to be. I wanted to throat punch her when she decides to do what she does but then was ok when she made it better. I enjoyed reading this book so very much. Melissa did a great job with this story line and the characters. There was amazing character chemistry in this book which made it even better to read. It will grip you from the beginning and have you on the edge of your seat until the end.
aschoonover27's review against another edition
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I could NOT put this down. It was a page turner for sure. I cannot wait to read the rest of the series.
leanner's review against another edition
5.0
Wow, great suspense in this story. Rosie is on the run from her ex and heads to her hometown. Her former high school friend is now the local cop. Will she tell him what drama is happening so he can save her or will she dig herself into a deeper hole? Drugs have infiltrated this town, who is involved? Great action packed suspense with the promise of love. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
slc333's review against another edition
3.0
Nice romantic suspense. I liked the history between Blaine & Rosie. It made what he does to help her and the chances he gave her to make things right believable.
brianzangel13's review against another edition
4.0
Drug dealer, crazy ex, an investigation. I really liked this book there's a little romance but not over powering.great plot. great wrap up.
lenoreo's review against another edition
4.0
http://celebrityreaders.com/2018/03/29/dead-of-winter-by-melissa-pearl-anna-cruise/
I received a free copy through the author in exchange for an honest and unbiased review/opinion.
4 stars — I’m not a big reader of suspense, but when one of your favourite authors delves into the genre, you follow, you know? And I loved the suspense elements of this story, they hit it just right for me. And not just the suspense, the mystery was intriguing too. And even though I had figured out a few little points along the way, and had suspicions about others, I still enjoyed going on the ride and confirming those suspicions and finding out the surrounding details. It was a great set up for the rest of the series, b/c I can’t wait to find out more about the stories of the secondary characters, and if the mystery elements in this story will pervade in the rest of the series (I’m pretty sure it’s setting up in a certain way).
Now, as for the romance and characters in this story, I thought we got enough of those developments as well. I absolutely LOVED the flashbacks to the past between Blaine and Rosie. There weren’t a lot of them, but it really set up who they were and what they were to each other, and how those events might have shaped them (mostly Blaine).
Blaine was adorable. Like seriously adorable. I sometimes wondered how Blaine stayed as good as he was with everything he went through in the past. And I almost wished we’d learned a bit more about his past, particularly with his family…we got hints, but perhaps we’ll get more in Nate’s story?
I was worried about loving Rosie, b/c she makes some really bad choices (both in the past and the present). But she grew on me. I wish she’d learned to trust people more, so many things could have gone differently if she had. I sort of got why she didn’t, but there was always a part of me wanting to shake her. Ah well.
I will admit, the potential love triangle was a bit uncomfortable for me, and the almost cheating was anxiety inducing b/c it’s a button issue for me. But in general it was handled fairly well and resolved in a way that I was satisfied.
It’s actually been a bit since I read the story (this is what happens when I don’t write my reviews up right away), but all in all this was fun, entertaining, and I’m ready to see what happens for the rest of the characters we’ve been introduced to!
I received a free copy through the author in exchange for an honest and unbiased review/opinion.
4 stars — I’m not a big reader of suspense, but when one of your favourite authors delves into the genre, you follow, you know? And I loved the suspense elements of this story, they hit it just right for me. And not just the suspense, the mystery was intriguing too. And even though I had figured out a few little points along the way, and had suspicions about others, I still enjoyed going on the ride and confirming those suspicions and finding out the surrounding details. It was a great set up for the rest of the series, b/c I can’t wait to find out more about the stories of the secondary characters, and if the mystery elements in this story will pervade in the rest of the series (I’m pretty sure it’s setting up in a certain way).
Now, as for the romance and characters in this story, I thought we got enough of those developments as well. I absolutely LOVED the flashbacks to the past between Blaine and Rosie. There weren’t a lot of them, but it really set up who they were and what they were to each other, and how those events might have shaped them (mostly Blaine).
Blaine was adorable. Like seriously adorable. I sometimes wondered how Blaine stayed as good as he was with everything he went through in the past. And I almost wished we’d learned a bit more about his past, particularly with his family…we got hints, but perhaps we’ll get more in Nate’s story?
I was worried about loving Rosie, b/c she makes some really bad choices (both in the past and the present). But she grew on me. I wish she’d learned to trust people more, so many things could have gone differently if she had. I sort of got why she didn’t, but there was always a part of me wanting to shake her. Ah well.
I will admit, the potential love triangle was a bit uncomfortable for me, and the almost cheating was anxiety inducing b/c it’s a button issue for me. But in general it was handled fairly well and resolved in a way that I was satisfied.
It’s actually been a bit since I read the story (this is what happens when I don’t write my reviews up right away), but all in all this was fun, entertaining, and I’m ready to see what happens for the rest of the characters we’ve been introduced to!
bobosbookbank's review against another edition
5.0
DEAD OF WINTER is book one in the Aspen Falls series. It's a CLEAN contemporary, thrilling romance. And although I'm a huge fan of Melissa Pearl and have read a lot of her work, Anna Cruise is a new to me author.
Rosie left behind Aspen Falls right after high school, including the boy who's life she saved, Blaine. She didn't think she'd ever go back but when she was forced to run from her ex-boyfriend, fate sends her to Aspen Falls. The first person she sees? The handsome officer who pulls her over for speeding and the boy she left behind...Blaine!
I gotta say first that poor Rosie was a mess!! She was so lost and lonely that she seemed to simply settle for whatever jack ass looked her way. I don't normally like my female MC to be...well, so BROKEN but the authors did an excellent job at making me feel connected to Rosie so that by the end, I was completely rooting for her. For once, we had a GOOD guy and not a bad boy alpha as the hero (at least for me, I tend to read a lot of bad boy books)! Blaine was so sweet and caring and noble and loyal, he gave me a tooth ache, LOL! He was the solid man that Rosie needed to lean on.
The plot has just the right amount of thrills and suspense to keep it interesting and moving at a fast pace. Melissa Pearl and Anna Cruise wrote seamlessly together! Overall, this was an awesome, clean, compassionate tale with the perfect amount of nail biting tension. Told from dual POVs with a happy ending. I received, read and voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.
Rosie left behind Aspen Falls right after high school, including the boy who's life she saved, Blaine. She didn't think she'd ever go back but when she was forced to run from her ex-boyfriend, fate sends her to Aspen Falls. The first person she sees? The handsome officer who pulls her over for speeding and the boy she left behind...Blaine!
I gotta say first that poor Rosie was a mess!! She was so lost and lonely that she seemed to simply settle for whatever jack ass looked her way. I don't normally like my female MC to be...well, so BROKEN but the authors did an excellent job at making me feel connected to Rosie so that by the end, I was completely rooting for her. For once, we had a GOOD guy and not a bad boy alpha as the hero (at least for me, I tend to read a lot of bad boy books)! Blaine was so sweet and caring and noble and loyal, he gave me a tooth ache, LOL! He was the solid man that Rosie needed to lean on.
The plot has just the right amount of thrills and suspense to keep it interesting and moving at a fast pace. Melissa Pearl and Anna Cruise wrote seamlessly together! Overall, this was an awesome, clean, compassionate tale with the perfect amount of nail biting tension. Told from dual POVs with a happy ending. I received, read and voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.
More...