Reading a Victoria James story is like coming home. The characters are old, comfy friends that feel like family. Snowed in with the Firefighter was a moving, warm story set during the holidays with a decorated tree, hot chocolate with marshmallows, and a warm fire in the fireplace.

In the seventh installment of the Shadow Creek, Montana series we finally get to learn more about the third Mayberry sister, Melody. Due to an incident at work, Melody's life is in turmoil. Her sister Molly has offered the use of their cabin as a means of escape, to relax, and clear her mind. Molly forgot one thing, to let Melody know that her brother-in-law, Finn, has been living in the cabin, recuperating since his horrible accident.

Finn Matthews has only wanted one thing in life, to be a firefighter. The injury he sustained while fighting a fire could end that dream. The cabin has been his get away. A place he can be alone in his misery. When Melody shows up he really doesn't want her there but what can he do. Shortly after her arrival the two realize that their meddling family are attempting to set them up. As a prank they decide to pretend to fall in love. Will they be able to manage the prank without it coming true?

Over the course of the series we have learned more and more about the Mayberry sisters hard upbringing with their emotionally abusive mother. Melody starts out as a very abrasive character but as we learn more about her backstory it is hard not to feel emotional over what she endured. I rarely cry or become overcome with sadness when reading but something about Melody's story moved me to tears.

James gives the reader a little bit of everything in this story: love found, family, good feels, all wrapped in a happily ever after holiday bow.

Christmas isn’t Christmas for me without a Victoria James festive offering and with almost two years passing since the our last visit to Shadow Creek, I was looking forward to my return.

“This was just two people stranded alone together for the holidays.”

Grumpy meets grumpier when Melody and Finn find themselves holed-up together during a snowstorm thanks to a bit of meddling from their families, and although festive cheer low is on both their agendas as they cope with the hands they’ve been dealt in life recently, they slowly begin to embrace their situation.

“I never expected…any of this. You.”

I enjoyed this couple together, but their romance and emotional connection did fall a little short in comparison to previous couples in the series. Nevertheless that doesn’t take away the fact that Snowed in with the Firefighter is a heartfelt, easygoing read with a low dose of drama and that slow burn tension a couple being stranded together creates.

Loved it, plain & simple loved it. This was such a heartbreaking story but it was also a beautiful story of personal growth. Guilt & fear are 2 very strong threads running through this story as we watch Melody & Finn each come to grips with their own reality. For Finn, an on the job injury might very well cause him his career as a firefighter. For Melody a stillborn baby has caused her to question her ability to be a doctor anymore, add in her mother’s manipulative words & she’s actually questioning her life. I had such deep feelings for both Finn & Melody during this story as they grew closer, hoping that they could see the real truths in each other. I definitely had a strong dislike for Melody’s mother but was glad that her sisters were there for her. I enjoyed the fun relationship & the competitiveness of Finn & Melody as well as the fact that their siblings set them up. Author Victoria James did a wonderful job with this story. Definitely recommend. Thank you to the publisher & Net Galley for allowing me to read this book for an honest review.

Snowed in with the Firefighter by Victoria James is part of the Shadow Creek Montana series. I have not read the other books. I feel this one stands alone but there are several references to their crazy mother and what she did to them as kids.

I immediately liked Melody and was cheering for her to have a happy ending. Some of her memories with her mom and sister were sad to read ( I know it is fiction, but it was still sad).

Finn was a great hero. I enjoyed how the author had Finn be the first one to open up about his struggles.

This story has Hallmark movie written all over it. Wonderful Christmas story of two people finding themselves and each other.

Sexual content - clean, kissing
Violence - there is no violence in the story but memories of her horrible mother and what she did to them. Finn was in a accident with a fire

I received this book from Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review.
You can see my full review at More Than a Review dot com where I rate the level of sex, violence, language and drug/alcohol use in books.

Apparently I am here for the holiday romances this year, and I dont hate it.

This novel by Victoria James was the 7th in the series. However, this was my first. I dont feel at all that I was lost. I do want to go read the backlist though! While very predictable, this was still rather enjoyable.

This cute story is perfectly paired with a nice steamy mug of hot chocolate and a fireplace (a TV one will do!)

This was a clean romance with mild language.

Thank you Entangled Publishing and Netgalley for the advanced readers copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

An engaging and enjoyable romance. Family sometimes know best and sometimes not. The two people need to heal, one physically the other mentally. A sweet, quick read. A Hallmark movie in print, whether actually is or will be one. I want to read more in this series.

Snowed in with the Firefighter is a fantastic healing holiday read. You get all the family feels for the holiday with the mix of some meddling and also some healing. Melody is trying to figure out her next step in life after she lost a patient. Finn is trying to heal after an accident on the job. There is a slow burn as they help each other heal and come together. You will love how Melody works on her relationship with her sisters. Finn is sweet and I love how he helps Melody overcome her fears. You will just love Finn and Melody. I couldn't get enough of this one.

Melody and Finn seem like 2 peas in a pod. They are bot hiding from everyone in a cabin. Neither wants to deal with their family. To add to it, her sister is married to his brother, so they have double the family drama. While the story was ok I felt it was too depressing at times.

I liked it. I thought it was a fun Christmas novel. The female lead was a little annoying at times but overall, I thought their chemistry was cute. I didn't quite get why they would pretend to be together then not be together. Too much back and forth.

3.75⭐

Victoria James returns readers to Shadow Creek, with a sweet, quick, Christmas, romance between firefighter Finn and OBGYN doctor Melody. Who are both using their family's cabin to hide for the holidays and take some time out after suffering in their respective jobs, and whilst neither is really happy to find the other in the cabin to begin with they soon learn to get along and developed a relationship that was cute and easy to read. And with holiday charm, and little angst this was an engaging tale. That I easily read in a couple of hours and enjoyed.

Snowed in with the Firefighter shows how two people who have 'lost' their way, can find a path to HEA, together.

Melody and Finn both have challenging careers that have cost them some sleepless nights and heartache.

Finding themselves unexpectedly sharing the same cabin on the approach to Christmas, leaves them little option but to spend time getting to know each other better.

Bringing objectivity to the other's dilemma creates a supportive bond which in turn develops into something more.

This is a sweet, caring holiday romance that shows the importance of family and a good support network to help you get through those challenging times.

Victoria James is a new to me author and I'll certainly look out for future novels, especially if I'm looking for a quick read that is sweet and not reliant on intense sexual encounters to tell the story.

I received this as an ARC from netgalley for my honest review.

This one is the perfect book for a December read! If you love small-town holiday romances this book is for you. At first I did not really like the main character but as time went on and I found out more about her and why she was that way I began to love her. I think that Melody and Finns romance is the cutest. Melody has had a crush on Finn forever, when she asked him out when they were younger he turned her down. It was the worst mistake that Finn has ever made. Will they finally get a chance to see what could have been when both of their lives are turned upside down and they are snowed in, in the middle of nowhere together?

After the death of a patient Melody heads for the family cabin to decide her future.; She was suppose to be alone. But Finn her sister's brother-in-law is there. They smell a set up.as both of them are single. As both of them fight their personal demons they grow closer. Maybe the family was right to set them up. Well written Christmas romance.

4.5 stars

I was really excited when I saw Victoria James had written another Shadow Creek book. I have enjoyed following the stories of this group of friends and getting to see them all find their HEA.

Melody and Finn may be my favorite characters yet! They are both struggling, him from an injury he sustained during his work as a firefighter and she is dealing with something that happened during her work as an OBGYN. Their jobs make up such big parts of who they are it's easy to understand why they both escaped to the cabin and neither knew the other would be there.

I thought the pacing of the plot was perfect. The two of them were so supportive and encouraging of each other. I thought it was sweet how their attraction grew into something much deeper as they finally got to open up about their struggles.

I couldn't put this book down and read it in a day. I really hope there's more to come from this series!

A wonderful heartwarming story about forgiveness and moving on from the past. Loved the connection between the hero and the heroine and their supporting relationship of one another.

Snowed in With a Firefighter is a Christmas story set in a cabin in a small village. Two people trying to get their lifes back on track turn to each other to find themselves. You'll love how this story developes.

This is a sweet romance that grabs you on the first page. Melody and Finn's story was a fast read and a wonderful Christmas story. Thank you Entangled Publishing, LLC--Entangled: Bliss via NetGalley for the ARC copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

This was such a fun Christmas read. I love books by this author. Her books are so easy to get lost in and before you know you are finished and sad that the story ended. Snowed in with the Firefighter is exactly like that. From the first chapter I was hooked. I really enjoyed the story line and the characters. I thought that Finn and Melody were a perfect fit for each other. I think their story was a perfect Christmas read. I look forward to reading more by this author. Thanks Net Galley. I voluntarily reviewed this book in exchange for an honest review.

This clean, touching romance centers around doctor Melody Mayberry and firefighter Finn Matthews.
Finn is at his brother’s cabin recovering from a job related injury that almost destroyed his leg. An injury that will likely end his firefighter career. A career he and his brother have always wanted.
Melody is a ob/gyn physician whose last delivery ended tragically and one that has her questioning her career and her future. She is also struggling in her personal life. A life in which she has been made to believe that she has never been good enough and one that she has lived more to please her mother than herself. Needing to get away, her sister, and brother-in-law offer her the cabin. Likely so that Finn and Melody would end up together.
But no one knows she once was hurt unintentionally by Finn.
As these two individuals are struggling to deal with their lives, spending time together has opened their eyes and hearts. But what happens when Melody’s mother once again delivers her a blow making her leave Finn behind and possibly her future?
It was a story about family or lack thereof. About how one’s childhood and those that are suppose to love one, can and does in fact affect the adult one becomes. A reminder that loving oneself is essential in being able to love others and that letting go of the past means opening one’s heart up to the present and a future.
I was entrusted a copy of this book by Netgalley and Entangled Bliss. The opinions expressed are solely my own.

Having enjoyed other books of Victoria James (Cowboy for Hire and The Boyfriend Contract) I requested this arc. And although it wasn’t Christmas yet, the story of Finn and Melody sure made you feel a little cozy. Both Finn and Melody are damaged, and not in need of love. Or so they think… Being stranded together in the cabin of their siblings, they find out that they have a lot more in common than they think. A wonderful story about finding your way back, when you have survived a trauma. Five out of five stars from me and a special thank you to Netgalley for providing the arc.