Solid Romance. This really has everything most people want to see in a MF romance novel. Lead characters with interesting jobs (bar owner/ search and rescue dog trainer, adventure tour operator), simple yet meaningful backstories (kid, daddy issues), hot sex, awesome scenery, several sub plots, even a hint or two of danger. All in a best friends to lovers trope series romance. If romance novels are your thing, you're going to like this one. If they're not, this is a fun one to take a chance on. Very much recommended.

Heading back to Wild River in the follow up to An Alaskan Christmas. I was very intrigued by Tank and Cassie when I first read An Alaskan Christmas and I am so happy to see their HEA!

This is a pretty slow burn and friends to lovers! These two have been in a state of will they/won't they for 5(!!!) years! Finally, their attraction comes to a head when Tank gives in. BUT in walks Tanks past. Yikes.

I love a small town romance and this town is A+. There was a lot of getting it together for all the characters involved in this one. Tank has a young daughter to consider, her mother shows up, he loves Cassie but doesn't know how to tell her or even open up enough to let her in. I enjoyed all the Search and Rescue parts of this book that carried over from An Alaskan Christmas. It added a little suspense and drama which I'm always here for. There was a little too much of the characters questioning themselves at every decision they made. I wished that Cassie was a little more confident but she got there in the end. Overall, very enjoyable small town romance!

Under An Alaskan Sky
Jennifer Snow
April 28, 2020

Throughout her life Cassie Reynalds planned to help others find the joy and excitement of skiing, winter trekking and other winter Sports. Six years ago she moved to Wild River, Alaska to open Snow Trek Tours, With her creation of the recreational company she and her small staff hire out for days and weekend trips throughout the Wild River area of Alaska. Her business did well in the city where many came to spend vacations. She was one of the few tour guides that also featured XGames for her clients. Her best friend and secret love, Tank Wheeler were among a team of friends that worked in the Alaska wilds either with tours or safety on the Alaska Search and Rescue Team. Aside from the humans, the team trained dogs to search for those lost from the trails or in the mountains. Cassie babysat with Tank’s now ten year old daughter, Kaia when he was called to a search. Tank owned the local bar, The Drunk Tank. Cassie’s brother, Reed worked the bar when he wasn’t guiding tours for Snow Trek.
Under an Alaskan Sky is a love story. One of friendship and struggle. Tank and Cassie had been friends for years. Many of their friends felt they would one day take it to couple status. Tank never mentioned his Ex much. They hadn’t been together since Kaia was a baby. In fact his life before Wild River was a mystery to most. He lost his parents as a young boy. With no other family,, he spent his time going from one foster home to another.
What I found most interesting about Ms. Snow’s novel was that she brought in the amazing landscape of Alaska, the townsfolk and the different challenges presented by a more rugged territory. She gave us info about search dogs; how necessary they are and the training involved.
I have read only one other of Snow’s books. That was An Alaskan Christmas, Wild River Novel Book 1. I enjoyed it. She presented many of the characters featured in Under An Alaskan Sky. The problem within, was finding Cassie’s brother, Reed when he was in an accident. It was good, and introduced me to the premise of the Wild River series but I was totally involved in her latest novel. When I was given the opportunity to read Under An Alaskan Sky by Harlequin Books I chose to read it because I read the first in the series and was somewhat curious about the next. I am so glad that I was able to read and review Under An Alaskan Sky. I appreciate Harlequin and NetGalley for allowing me to do so. I encourage readers to pick up a copy of Jennifer Snow’s latest book when it is published on April 28, 2020. It’s a read that encircles the reader. It is a good beach read or a great one for a comfey, couch rainy day.

Under an Alaskan Sky was my first Jennifer Snow book. I have to say, I have found a new author to read and a new series to love!

Cassie and Tank are one of those meant-to-be couples even if they are the only two who don't know it... correction-even if Tank is the only one who doesn't know it. Cassie sure as heck knows that she belongs with him and after five years, she's tired of waiting. When his ex-girlfriend and the mother of his daughter, waltzes back into Wild River, Alaska, life gets complicated for Cassie. Check that-life gets more complicated. Already losing her adventure tour business to a new chain store moving in across the street, the competition might put her under. To complicate matters, she's paying for her father's rehab bills, and her world is crashing down on her already without the complications of Tank and his ex.

Tank, the owner of the Drunk Tank, the only bar in town, is afraid. Cassie is his best friend and he's desperately afraid to lose her. Not just as his best friend, but as the role model he depends on to help him with his ten-year-old daughter, Kaia. The last thing he expects is to see his ex-girlfriend, Montana, walk through the door of his bar just when he gets the nerve up to kiss Cassie. Little does anyone know just how much Montana knows about his bar. Suddenly, Tank isn't sure about anything in his life including his relationship with his daughter and his relationship with Cassie. One thing he is acutely aware of? Montana could screw it all up for him.

Cassie wants nothing more than to be in Tank's life, and if that means remaining nothing more than friends, that will have to be enough, even though she wants so much more. When his ex, Montana, strolls into her business, SnowTrek Tours, offering Cassie a solution to her business problems, Cassie immediately fears she's getting in bed with the devil.

Speaking of getting in bed, that's all Cassie wants out of Tank. When they finally give in to their attraction she's convinced it's enough for now. The question she asks herself is how long before she needs more? Tank isn't capable of opening his heart up to her, and Cassie doesn't know if casual sex is enough for the rest of her life. Not when her whole heart is already in the game. That is the same question that Tank asks himself. Tank has a hard time committing after having his heart broken by Montana, and rightly so, but he knows if he ever wants happiness again he's going to have to trust someone.

This book is a complicated walk through single parenting, co-parenting, brain injuries, past parental hurts, best friends to lovers, search and rescue, and the realization that sometimes you have to take a chance on love.

I loved Cassie, though she sometimes drove me crazy with her need to always put everyone else first, even when she would continue to suffer. You just want her to be happy, but she got in her own way a lot. She enabled Tank A LOT but the great part was eventually she realized it and decided to do something about it.

Tank was the strong and silent type to the point you wondered if a hammer was what he needed to be hit with to see that Cassie wasn't going to wait forever. Correction-he he saw it all, he just couldn't put it into words. By about 80% into the book that storyline did get a little tired. He knew he should tell her but he couldn't force the words out. Please. He was a good dad who cared about not scaring his child for life, and that redeemed his whishy-washiness with Cassie. He also loved Cassie's dog, Diva, who was a doll face everyone will love. A man who loves kids and dogs, already a perfect hero!

I loved the extended cast of characters in the series. I want to go back and read the first book about Cassie's brother, Reed, (though it wasn't necessary to read this one). I know Montana's story is next, and while I liked her a little bit more by the end of this one, Ms. Snow will have to work hard to make her redeemable. Then again, maybe Eddie the cop will be the one to do that...

I give Under an Alaskan Sky 5 stars for a great read that had me sneaking in pages whenever I had a second free to read!

Tank is a single dad, fully devoted to his ten year old daughter. He's devoted to the point where he has completely closed off his heart & won't date anyone, because of what it might do. His best friend, Cassie, has been really getting to him lately. They've been flirting for five years, but Tank just can't find it in him to open himself up, even if he knows that he wants more. His birthday comes around, a surprise kiss happens, and the chemistry that has been pushed down for so long finally explodes ... which of course means that there has to be an issue. Tank's ex (and mom to his daughter) shows up unexpectedly and wants to insert herself back into their lives, leaving Cassie in limbo & unsure if she can fully jump in.
I thought that this was a cute follow up to An Alaskan Christmas (the first book in the Wild River series). I loved Cassie in the first book & wanted to know more about Tank, so I was excited to see that this was their story. While their story was sweet, and ultimately I loved how it ended, it was a little slow to progress for me. It takes place after FIVE years of Cassie pining after Tank (with mutual flirting), so I wanted things to move forward immediately, and we don't get much action with them until about halfway through the book (that may just be me being impatient!). We're introduced to Montana (Tank's ex) right off the bat, and I felt like she took a lot of the focus away from Cassie & Tank's progression. I know she's the main character of the next book, so I'm sure it was setting it all up, but I could've done with a little bit less of her. Overall though, I did enjoy the book & read it pretty much in one sitting, so it's well worth picking up!

Heat Factor: Once they hop in the sack, it’s like bunnies
Character Chemistry: I’m not entirely sure that the chemistry is as good if you haven’t read the first book in the series.
Plot: She’s been pining for him for five years. Now that he might be ready to make a move, his daughter’s mother comes back to town.
Overall: I can’t deal with emotional angst when it’s just wrong.

I read the first book in the Wild River series during Christmas book reading season. An Alaskan Christmas, if you’d like to check it out. The protagonists in Under an Alaskan Sky were introduced in that first book, and their tension was thick enough to slice. Also, I very much enjoyed the An Alaskan Christmas, which was well written and thoughtful. So I was all kinds of excited about Under an Alaskan Sky. Cassie and Tank’s HEA would be magical, I thought.

Imagine my disappointment at fluctuating between rage and annoyance about this relationship for pretty much the entire book. Snow ties everything up beautifully and in an emotionally mature way. But I had to read the rest before I got there, and I am going to tell you all about it.

Cassie is an adventure junkie. She graduated high school by the skin of her teeth and then left Wild River to travel the world. When she came back, she started an outdoor adventure company and is living the dream, taking tourists on adventures in the Alaskan wilderness.

Tank is extremely risk-averse. He’s got a daughter, Kaia, to worry about, and he knows how rough life can be after being orphaned and growing up in foster care. Now he owns the bar in Wild River, raises his daughter, and does his part for the community by being a member of the Search and Rescue team.

Cassie and Tank have been dancing around each other for five years. In An Alaskan Christmas, I felt this was adorable. At the beginning of Under an Alaskan Sky, I realized that it’s actually pretty messed up that Cassie has effectively been acting as Tank’s partner and Cassie’s step-mother for five years, but hasn’t actually got any real acknowledgement of her role because Tank’s been holding her at arm’s length. And she just lives with it because she’s so hopelessly in love with him. So basically she’s not getting her needs met and Tank is (ish...he does have the hots for her) and that imbalance is so not okay. And Cassie doesn’t even realize it until she leads a group on a couples retreat and hears the retreat leader talking about boundaries!

So what happens? Cassie throws a birthday party for Tank (who doesn’t want a birthday party, so boundary issues are a problem kind of all over the place in this book), and they finally kiss. And just when they pull away from each other and talk about what they’re going to do next, Tank’s ex, Montana, walks into his bar without a by-your-leave and HOLY ANGST, BATMAN! Thus begins an enraging merry-go-round of “What’s best for Kaia?” and “But she knows more about you than I do!”

It begins because Montana knows Tank’s given name but (AFTER FIVE YEARS!?) Cassie doesn’t. And Montana knows Tank’s history. Montana has a child with Tank. It’s like Cassie has decided that everything she’s built with Tank doesn’t matter because he had a relationship in the past. And she won’t let it go, even though it’s hard for him to talk about. (So one more tick mark in the “Cassie’s not respecting Tank’s boundaries” column.) To be fair to Cassie, she’s been Tank’s best friend for five years. You’d think if he were going to open up to anyone, she would know a little more than anyone else about Tank’s life.

It continues because apparently it’s important for Kaia to have both her parents in her life, and Cassie’s parents got back together after her dad got out of rehab finally, and how could she possibly deny Kaia that happiness? Please excuse me while I barf.

We have to withhold judgement about Montana, because she had a pretty legitimate health reason for being out of Kaia’s life for ten years and we’re not fully aware of her motivation for being in Wild River. But she’s addicted to BASE jumping and it’s hard to tell if she’s really there for her daughter (and also for Cassie’s business in another plotline) or if she’s irresponsible and just out for her next BASE jumping high. So the idea that “it’s good for a child to have both parents” without consideration of the parent(s) in question makes me RAGE. And I don’t understand why no other characters are around to be a voice of reason like, “Well, actually, an emotionally or physically abusive or manipulative parent would be harmful to this child, and we don’t know this person from Adam.” But no, we just have to buy into the idea that all parents are inherently good for children.

AND THEN, let’s talk about the whole, “the parents need to be together for the best outcome for the child” thing. Because that’s horseshit and it makes me so angry every time I read it. Montana never loved Tank, she just tried to make their relationship work because she got knocked up. He loved her, but that’s waaaaaaay over after their pretty crappy history. Even so, Cassie’s over here feeling sorry for herself because she’s processing that maybe she’s getting in the way of Kaia having a loving family because she’s keeping Kaia’s birth parents apart. But Cassie’s dad was gone for 20 YEARS before he finally got sober and successfully completed his rehab program. Does she honestly think her mother would have been happy with an alcoholic spouse who didn’t want help for 20+ YEARS? That their home life would have been sunshine and roses? WTF? And Montana and Tank are nowhere close to that level of mess, but by what logic does it make sense that parents who don’t give a tinker’s curse about each other (or actively dislike each other) would make a better family than three (or more) parents who are actually happily living the lives they want? I’m glad Snow gets us there, but can we please stop with this narrative? It’s extremely problematic.

AND ALSO Cassie’s so obsessed with Tank being honest with her--and to be fair, he does withhold some information that he really shouldn’t--but she also withholds information from him. And doesn’t even acknowledge that she’s doing it sometimes. Or they’re both all, “Let’s have sex instead of talking about important things that are going on in our lives right now.” Because that’s how relationships succeed. I’m really glad that they both just don’t understand how they ever kept their hands off each other, but for real, relationships are more than sex, and serious stuff taking a back seat to orgasms is not cool.

TL;DR - I thought this story had a good foundation based on the first book in the series, but with a grain of salt, it clearly has some relationship problems from the starting line, and it doesn’t get better once we throw in the parenting drama. Or the Cassie’s small business drama. Props to Snow for coming up with a healthy and emotionally mature ending, but getting there was a real struggle.

I voluntarily read and reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. We disclose this in accordance with 16 CFR §255.

This review is also available at The Smut Report.

This is the second book in the Wild River series. I read An Alaskan Christmas last winter and was hooked right away! Cassie owns an adventure tour company and Tank is a single Dad, bar owner, and member of the local mountain search and rescue team. The two have been best friends for 5 years with a secret crush that neither of them will act on. When Tank’s ex enters the picture after 10 years, the pot gets all stirred up!
This is a sweet friends to lovers story of two genuinely good people that deserve happiness. There is a good amount of well placed steam and you could really feel the love between the two. I really enjoy a well done single dad story with a great kid. I love the Alaska setting- I’m pretty hooked on books set in Alaska at this point.
What I didn’t love was that there were maybe a few too many dramatic side stories happening and a few too many ups and downs in this relationship. Were they, weren’t they?? On or off?? I also wanted a little more of the search and rescue action like there was in the first book.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and am super excited for the next in the series! I would probably say 3.5 ⭐️, but rounded up to 4.
As always, a huge thank you to @netgalley and @harlequinbooks for the e-ARC of this book that I’ve been so excited for!

Under an Alaskan Sky by Jennifer Snow is a wonderful addition to the Wild River series. While it can be read as a standalone, I highly recommend readers begin with An Alaskan Christmas (Wild River, #1) because it does a great job of setting up Cassie and Tank's romance. It's also an amazing novel, so go read it!

For five years, Cassie has always been there for Tank and his ten-year-old daughter Kaia. Tank knows Cassie wants more but he's always been hesitant to take their friendship to the next level. He has Kaia to think about and the last thing he wants to do is risk losing his best friend. But one steamy birthday kiss changes their relationship forever. Unfortunately, his ex-girlfriend and Kaia's mom Montana chooses that moment to re-appear in his life after nearly 10 years absence. Montana's re-appearance throws Tank's life for a spin and shakes Cassie's confidence in her bond with both Tank and Kaia. If Tank can learn to put himself first and Cassie can learn to trust her own worth, the two just might have a shot at a happily-ever-after.

I didn't want to put Under An Alaskan Sky down. Jennifer Snow has a really great writing style that makes her novels so easy to read and keeps you glued to the pages. I loved watching Tank and Cassie fight for their much-deserved happily-ever-after. I fell hard for them when I read An Alaskan Christmas and was so happy to see they were the couple in book #2 of the Wild River series. I also enjoyed following along with both Tank's and Cassie's journeys of personal growth - Tank as a father and Cassie as a business owner.

I recommend Under An Alaskan Sky and the Wild River series to fans of contemporary romance with an edge of adrenaline thanks to the search and rescue aspects of the series.

Thank you to NetGalley, Harlequin and Jennifer Snow for the digital ARC!

I enjoyed the first book, An Alaskan Christmas, so I looked forward to the second book in the Wild River series. I had high hopes for this one but ended up just feeling kind of meh about it. The main characters had such potential but Tank disappointed me in his indecision and reluctance to man up regarding Cassie (friend and lover), Kaia (daughter), and Montana (ex) until the last possible minute. I admired that he put his daughter first but he seemed to give other relationships the bare minimum because of possible risk. Anyway, I hung in until the end just to see where things went. An ok read.

Where was my romance? Seriously. It took a good 3/4 to even get to any scenes between Tank and Cassie. This book was way too hyper focused on Cassie's business and Tank's ex. I think since Snow is setting up Tank's ex as the main heroine in the next book, she had to give her some weight here, but it ended up being about 50 percent Cassie's story I felt and 50 percent Tank's ex's story. It's a shame too since I loved the first book in the series. I thought Snow did a great job of setting up the residents of Wild River. I wish she had stayed mostly focused on Cassie and Tank. I also thought that Erica and Cassie's brother stuck out in this one (not in a good way).

"Under an Alaskan Sky" follows Cassie Reynolds and Tank Wheeler. They have been best friends for years, with a great deal of heat underneath. Cassie wants more than friendship, however, Tank is reluctant to get involved with another woman after having his heart broken by his daughter's mother, Montana Banks. Tank wants to make sure any woman he gets involved with understands his daughter is his priority. When Montana returns to Wild River to become a mother to her daughter, and to rekindle her relationship with Tank, Cassie has to decide to let things lay or fight for him.

I think I got tired of everyone telling Cassie to fight for Tank. The dude was back and forth about what he wanted. I think she should have kicked his nonsense to the curb eons ago. The whole friendship read as damaging. She had been his daughter's stand in mother for years at this point in the story and there are pictures of her all over his place. And then Tank even goes well Montana will have to get used to them. Get used to what? You two are not dating.

When these two eventually get together I was just over the whole thing. Snow focused way too much on Tank and Montana's shared past and then on Montana for my liking in this story. I felt like Cassie and Tank's romance got lost.

Also you can tell the third book will be about [redacted] and Montana. I felt annoyed since I think that Snow wanted to play it both ways. Montana was an absentee mother and does at times seem manipulative in this story, but then seems vulnerable and you want to root for her. Eh. The whole thing just felt off.

Also the rush to have Cassie's dad and mom back together was headache inducing. I think that Snow skipped over a lot in this story. We had some comments made about it in book #1, but it just felt like everything was glossed over what is a serious issue (addiction).

The writing was good, I just felt bored. The flow was off though. I think that in the last book going between Erica and Reed worked. I think it worked though because neither of them was caught up in another person from their past you know? You got why they were attracted to each other and the sex scenes were good. This one just felt meh to me after a while.

The setting of Wild River didn't feel as special in this one either. We have the Search and Rescue people out and about, but things get drowned out a bit by Cassie having angst over a new adventure business opening up across the street from her. It reads as this very big thing that somehow was not a very big thing after a bit.

The ending was probably the least romantic thing ever. Snow included an excerpt of the next book, "A Sweet Alaskan Fall" which I am probably going to read. It's Montana's story. Montana read as more interesting to me than Cassie did in her own story so there you go.

Another well written and crafted story by the author. The characters were so relatable and there were even some lol moments. A story that gives all the feels 💕