The Secret of Snow is the story of Sonny Dunes, a SoCal meteorologist who is replaced by a virtual meteorologist and is forced to move back to her northern Michigan hometown. There, she is blindsided at every turn by her previous life, from the high school pals she ghosted to the previous journalism classmate and mortal frenemy, who is now her boss. But if she wants to find a place that truly feels like home, she must make peace with who she used to be. The Secret of Snow is a beautifully written story about reconciling the past, rebuilding a career, and finding love that fans of women’s fiction won’t be able to put down.

Meteorologist Sonny Dunes isn't having a great time. She's been replaced on air by an AI robot and, in response, she has a very public meltdown on air. Blackballed from Southern California tv, she's forced to return to her hometown in Michigan. There, it's not only too cold for her liking, but Sonny also has to face the painful memories of her sister and the guilt she feels around her death.

This was a short and sweet read, perfect for Christmas-time when I'm usually looking for something feel-good. It doesn't go deep into the characters, but just enough that you root for Sonny in her journey. There's also a behind-the-scenes look into the ridiculous and crazy world of local news and tv personalities.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing, Graydon House for providing an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

As always any book by Viola Shipman does not disappoint. I love all of his books. With each book that comes out I say that’s the one that is at the top..until the next book is released!

The Secret of Snow is filled with a little adventure, sweet romance, grief and family relationships. One minute you are laughing and the next you are grabbing your tissues.

But what is so fine about this book is we are drawn in to feel what the characters feel. The descriptions of the characters are believable and the settings are real. I live in MI’s Upper Peninsula so I’m well familiar with the setting of this book and especially snow. 😄 By the time you're done reading it leaves you wanting to check in on them later to see how everyone is doing.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from NetGalley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

Thank you Netgalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for a copy in exchange for an honest review. This was a good holiday/wintery read. It was refreshing to read a main character who is on the older side. It was great to read that you are never to old to change your routine or life.

Had to DNF this book at 33%. Putting this one away for now. It's a great storyline and I think the author does a really wonderful job highlighting the Traverse City, MI area (as someone from TC, I was impressed!) but I had a difficult time connecting with any of the characters. I will try to come back to this later and see if it picks up.

This is a cozy winter-themed read. Perfect for fans of The Weather Girl and for reading on a snowy day! I liked this women's fiction featured an older character and what a big life change at 5o would look like. I enjoyed all the things she did and seeing how a character can grow at any age. I found she had more chemistry with the young cameraman she mentored vs the actual love interest. Could have gone for a little age gap romance in this one. Overall it was a cute, pleasant read that kept my attention and warmed my heart.

I had never read this author before. The cover is what caught my eye. I enjoyed this story about love, family, and second chances. I also enjoyed the scenery and the snow - I love winter!

The Secret of Snow by Viola Shipman is making it to the top of my winter reads list due to its charm, storyline, and relatable characters. This is one of those books that I both listened to and read simultaneously. It was incredible as the cadence and voices came alive as I switched from reading and listening. Viola Shipman writes with tenderness and heart, and if you weren’t aware, Viola is a penname for the author’s grandmother; these books are written by a man.

Although many will call this a holiday book, I think it’s more of an anytime book, in which much of it takes place in snowy Michigan. There is no pointed focus on a holiday, but its release in winter and winter driven title have led many to believe it’s a holiday story.

The plot offers positive themes of hope, mother/daughter relationships, romance and new opportunities. Those are balanced with some heavy topics that were written with sensitivity, such as survivors guilt, mental illness and suicide. I would consider this a feel-good book. Easy to get into, enjoyable to read and full and important messages about the fragility of life. Well done!

This novel is all about dealing with grief and deciding to stop living fearing more loss, but to open yourself up to possibilities. There is so much emotion in this book: Sonny’s grief and guilt, Patty Rose’s pain and fear… Lisa, Mason, Icicle- they all had strong emotions. I read the author’s note at the end of the book, and his inspiration and closeness to the subject matter came across. I also think the author covered the suicide of Mason’s wife with honesty and compassion.

With that said, this was a slow starter for me. I did not care for some of the minute detailing of things and some parts were repetitive. However, the story itself was interesting and after a while, I really got into the story.

I liked Sonny. She was not perfect, she was selfish and sometimes mean, but these things made her real. She showed a lot of personal growth by the end of the book. It goes to show you that no matter your age, you can still grow.

The setting of this novel is beautiful, both Palm Springs and my home state of Michigan. The author paints an image of these very different areas that you can clearly see in your mind.

Thank you Net Galley and Harlequin Trade Publishing, Graydon House for this digital arc in exchange for my honest review which is not affiliated with any brand.

#NetGalley #TheSecretofSnow

***I received an ebook copy from the publisher at no cost***

This was my first time reading Shipman and I really liked her writing style and the story itself.

I liked how real things felt with this story. Sonny is a middle-aged woman who loses her job and is forced to take a step back and look at her life as a whole. When it comes to a fight or flight response, she's all about the flight, running from things left and right. This characteristic made a lot more sense once I learned about the trauma she'd endured in her past.

Sonny ends up back in her hometown and is force to face some things that she ran from head on.

This book was very easy to read. There's some angst but it's nothing intense and for the most part, the author kept things pretty light. The character development was good and I felt like much of what happened to Sonny was relatable. Her reactions to different situations felt appropriate and realistic when I took into account what she'd gone through.

Sometimes the best medicine for pain is a trip back home to your roots. Even though the things that brought Sonny back to Michigan weren't good, they ended up pointing her in a good direction and helping her to heal bounds, both old and new.

Four stars to this novel!

I typically love Viola Shipman books as I am a Michigan native so the settings are near and dear to my heart however, this one fell flat for me. This book felt way too long and there were many side things happening that took away from the primary storyline. This book had magical moments with stellar writing, I just think it could benefit from some chopping and editing.

I received an arc of this title from NetGalley for an honest review. While I liked this book, I felt it was too long and could have ended at several points. There was some good writing and some less than stellar writing. I appreciate that the main character was in her 50s. Overall a 3.5 but bumped it to a 4 star.

I had no idea what to expect when I started THE SECRET OF SNOW. It has a gorgeous cover that screamed at me to read it. THE SECRET OF SNOW is the best Christmas story I have read this holiday season! I really wasn’t expecting to be on such an emotional roller coaster while reading it, but it is so emotional, and I was already in tears by the middle of the book! Seriously though, its Viola Shipman. Who am I kidding? He makes me cry with each and every story and I love that!


Sonny is a meteorologist who had moved from sunny California. Well, now her job is over, not by her choice and she is headed back to very cold, snowy Michigan. That is where she is originally from. She has been fired at age fifty, so she moves back to live with her mom. Talk about embarrassing! She gets another meteorologist job and runs into many of her old friends and has to adjust to the cold winters there again. THE SECRET OF SNOW is all about second chances and as usual, Viola Shipman delivers a very heart tugging tale that had me reaching for the tissues one minute and giggling the next. There are many great characters in THE SECRET OF SNOW and you will learn a lot about weather forecasting. Not only that, but you will also learn how to make the most perfect snow angel.


THE SECRET OF SNOW is a beautiful but heartbreaking story. I became so emotionally invested in all of the characters and felt like they were lifelong friends. When they were sad, I felt sad. When they were happy I found myself smiling. I love when an author can do that to me and Viola Shipman did it perfectly. THE SECRET OF SNOW is filled with love, life, hope, sadness, and happiness. Be prepared not to do anything else until you finish reading this beautiful story. Once I started I had a hard time putting it down, especially when Viola began to introduce all of the people from Sonny’s past and their history.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Yes - read it!

Loved it! It's a great read to start the new year reading. Certainly will change how I view 2022 (very interesting spin to the start of the new year).

I thought it was a bit sorrowful, maybe it's just how the world is right now but there was something about the story that hit me. It wasn't a predictable read so I enjoyed where it took the reader.

I received an ARC from Netgalley to help me prepare my honest review.

I always enjoy Viola Shipman's novels. They're so comforting and feel like a balm against everything going on in the world these days. Her latest novel, The Secret of Snow is the perfect story to get you in the mood for winter, whether you're getting a Michigan-like snowstorm or you're currently relaxing on a sunny beach.

This is a heartwarming and cozy story that will definitely make you laugh and cry. I really enjoyed it and Sonny was a relatable main character. The descriptions made me want to bundle up in winter gear and play in the snow until I can't feel my toes. It's definitely the perfect hot cocoa in front of a fireplace read. While there were some clichés and sappy parts, those also fit well with the concept of the story. I love how there was also a focus on the drama of Sonny's career and how she worked hard to redeem herself. There's even a "revenge" part that had me cheering.

Pick this one up and prepare to read while in your comfy pajamas under your warmest blanket. (Or on the beach, if you are in a sunny state at this time of year.) Read the author's note at the end, but have more tissues handy for that!

Movie casting suggestions:
Sonny: Monica Potter
Mason: Dougray Scott
Lisa: Meredith Scott Lynn
Patty (Sonny's mom): Susan Sullivan
Icicle: Ryan Lee
Polly Sue: Liana Liberato

It was a very sweet, well done second chance book.

Not a second chance romance by any means. No it was a second chance at life.

Sonny was absolutely devastated by deaths in the family and the fact that her station was calling it quits on her after so long. The way grief is explored here is absolutely beautiful. The two ways we see grief and moving on, one by Sonny and one by her mother was a perfect dichotomy.

Honestly, it was just a really nice book to read. Especially since it snowed last week.

Great winter read for a snowy day inside! The book catches the reader from the very start! The weather theme is also a nice addition to the storyline. I have never been to Michigan in the winter but I totally feel as if I have been there after reading this work. Both humorous and emotionally engaging at the same time, Life has lots of second chances and do-overs and this story will entertain the reader as they follow Sonny on her journey. it was a nice first read of this author. I look forward to reading more by this author. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed Viola Shipman's first winter novel. The descriptions of Michigan in the winter were beautiful, and Sonny's character was done so well. I thought that the author must have a personal relationship with grief to write so profoundly on the subject. There was a point about 75 percent through the book where I thought the story could have ended, and it would have been fine, but once it kept going I'm glad it didn't. It's a beautiful story that will stick with me, and I can't wait to see what Viola Shipman writes next.

Sonny Dunes is working as a popular meteorologist in California. When she loses her job to an AI robot, she acts out on air and slinks back to her hometown of Michigan in disgrace. There she accepts a job offer at a small local TV station, working for a college friend. The last place in the world she wants to be is back in small town Michigan, where her sister died tragically years ago ... but maybe it is the place where she can find healing.

I wanted to read this novel because I love Viola Shipman's books. They are so cozy and comforting. I will also admit that although I am a southerner who doesn't enjoy winter weather, I love wintry book settings!

This was an enjoyable read. The California section of the book started a little slow for me, but once Sonny returned to Michigan, I really enjoyed the story. I was pulling for Sonny to find happiness as she spent time with her mother, met an interesting new man, and forged a new career in a much smaller news market.

I recommend The Secret of Snow for fans of cozy winter reads, women's fictions, and small town settings.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for my copy of The Secret of Snow by Viola Shipman in exchange for an honest review. It published October 26, 2021.
A resounding 5 stars! Once again, Shipman does it. I loved everything about this book. She made me want to go to Michigan. She got me excited about snow and the winter. She touched my heart with character growth. Just read this winter (not Christmas) book.