A poignant, heartwarming and well written story about acceptance, coming to term with one's life and moving on.
Viola Shipman delivers another good story that moved and made me smile.
Good character and plot development.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. For the most part I really enjoyed this book. It is easy to connect with the characters, and I really enjoyed the story. The only small downside was that some parts of the book were a bit repetitive. But it was really easy to be sucked into the story.

So many profound messages in this amazingly written book. I thought I was going to get at a lighthearted Christmas story. This book is so much more than that. Definitely recommend.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions expressed are completely my own.

Sonny Dunes is on top of the weather news world until she is replaced by a robot. She kind of loses it and goes ballistic. And, as you can guess, this goes viral. She tucks her tail and runs home to her native Michigan. She ends up at a local news station with an old college acquaintance. But things do not go as smoothly as she hopes. Sonny has a lot of baggage, more baggage than she actually thought. She must now face her past and come to terms with her own loss.

Sonny is a character which I can relate to. She is an overachiever but she is also flawed. Like most people, she keeps a lot of people at arms length because she is so afraid of being hurt again and letting people down. But, she is strong and she continues to fight.

This is one of Viola Shipman’s best! This is a tale about learning to live with regrets, death and forgiving yourself. There are so many profound statements in this read. This is a story everyone needs to read at some point in their life. This story is so multilayered and very well written. I can go on and on about this…JUST READ IT!

Need a fantastic story which will make you understand so much about yourself and others. GRAB YOUR COPY TODAY!

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

I have loved all of Viola Shipman's stories and this current one is set right smack dab in the middle of winter. Sonny Dunes is plunged directly back into the life she ran from as her career takes a dramatic turn. Leaving the sun and sand for cold and snow doesn't help her mindset either. But she might as well make the best of it, right?

Shipman's books are all so wonderfully written, with such nostalgia and heartwarming memories. I just love spending time in whatever world is created for the story. The Secret of Snow captures the essence of the beautiful season of winter with just the right amount of fun, forgiveness, drama, angst, and love.

The Secret of Snow is the perfect read as we start to transition to the winter season. I hope you pick it up and enjoy it as much as I did.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ecopy for my Kindle.
I have read all of Viola Shipman books, but his one was just ok for me.
It's about family and forgiveness with a sideline of romance. It just wasn't a interesting read for me-too predictable.

Viola Shipman (aka Wade Rouse) has become one of my favorite authors. After I read Clover Girls, I was so excited to dive into this book. I was not disappointed. This book gave me all the feels..love, family, friends, forgiveness, redemption..wrapped beautifully in a holiday season. I could identify closely with Sonny! Meltdown…check. Regret…check. Guilt…check. Loss of sibling…check. Characters are wonderful, situations are relatable and realistic. Sometimes when we are at our lowest is when we find out how strong we are.

This book will make you laugh, make you cry and make you cheer for love and moving on. Perfect for a cozy night in front of the fire with a mug of hot chocolate or my favorite, a glass of wine! Shipman/Rouse nails the complexity of female friendships, family intricacies and dating woes of a mature woman. The beauty of the Michigan area with its winter fun makes me want to plan a winter getaway to tie area! The description of the world of the meteorologist and weather-related factors are done well, without it being over-the-top. I look forward to the next book!

Thanks to Ms. Shipman, Harlequin Trade Publishing and NetGalley for this ARC. Opinion is mine alone.

Enjoyable story and characters I felt like I got to know. Always appreciate realistic portrayals of the difficulties in the human experience. Some parts were a bit too sticky sweet for me and the monologues sometimes carried on for a bit too long but overall I liked it.

BOOK REVIEW: The Secret Of Snow by Viola Shipman

Packed with storylines and themes to satisfy readers looking for a mature strong female character who finds herself struggling to get back on her feet after getting "outsourced" from her job... Sometimes our greatest disappointments turn into our greatest gifts... ✨😎✨

Pages: 400
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Sub-Genre: Starting Over Theme | Second Chance Theme | Finding Love Later In Life
Time Period: Contemporary
Location: Michigan

IF YOU LIKE THIS BOOK THEN TRY…
Book: Float Plan by Trish Doller
Movie: Hoosiers

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All my reviews can be seen at This Is My Everybody | Books, Lifestyle & Home Ideas for Simple Living | Denise Wilbanks at www.thisismyeverybody.com

♡ Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. I voluntarily chose to review it and the opinions contained within are my own.

I could not get enough of this story!! I was in a reading slump this month and this heartfelt second chance at life and love story featuring meteorologist Sunny Dunes totally got me in all the feels! When middle aged Sunny gets laid off from her job in Palm Springs, she goes back home to Michigan where a childhood friend has offered her a job at the local news station. Moving back in with her mother, and confronting grief from her past, Sunny reexamines what she wants out of life and finds a new joy for living, slowly embracing the town she once loved and the magic of the winter season thanks to some help from a few new friends.

Absolutely heartwarming, this story touches on some heavier topics related to mental health, suicide, loss of loved ones all while showcasing the whimsy and holiday spirit. Perfect for fans of A season for second chances by Jenny Bayliss or Weather girl by Rachel Lynn Soloman. I fell in love with these characters and the small town Michigan setting. Highly recommended if you want a feel good winter read and great on audio! Much thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my advance review copy!

“Life’s as short as one blink of God’s eye, but in that blink, we forget what matters most”
A heartwarming story about finding happiness during adversity.
When midlife crisis hits Sonny Dunes with a vengeance, how will she handle all that’s been thrown at her?
I always enjoy jumping into a Viola Shipman aka Wade Rouse book. The Secret of Snow was a enjoyable read though I felt the plot was just a bit drawn out/longer then it needed to be.
I lived in Michigan for 8 years and have to say I LOVED all the Michigan information….so interesting and brought back many fond memories of my life living in Bay City.
I thoroughly enjoyed the authors notes at the end of the book!
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest opinion. All opinions expressed are my own.

Sonny Dunes is a 50-year old meteorologist in Palm Springs — happy with her “all sun all the time” life. That is until her new millennial boss replaces her with an AI, she responds with a rather public tantrum, and she ends up skittering back home to Michigan — a place she has avoided for years. It’s not just the weather Sonny was escaping, it was also the tragic death of her sister decades before.

This is a book about second chances, facing pain and trauma, and forgiveness. The writing is good, with a fair amount of humor inserted between the aha moments of self discovery and romance. My favorite parts — Sonny learns to love snow again through a set of televised winter activities that were well-described and lots of fun. My favorite character — her mother who had the wry humor, positive spirit, and great dialog of my favorite people.

The book was a bit Hallmark-y for me and a little repetitive (though the repeated messages were at least good!), but I admit to tearing up at all the expected places so I’m obviously not immune! While there is a nice (and successful) romance as part of the story, I like the fact that “getting the man” was not the essential part of the story — that was coming to terms with the trauma in her life and managing to address it and move on. Has anyone else noticed that “getting the guy” is no longer the ONLY goal of women’s lives in women’s fiction? I like it!

The Secret of Snow was love at first sight for me. This cover is so beautiful! Luckily for me, I also loved the inside. It’s a 5 star read!

The Secret of Snow tells the story of Sonny Dunes, a Palm Springs meteorologist who loses her job and goes a little crazy live on the air. She is forced to move home to northern Michigan with her mother and luckily ends up with a job as a meteorologist for the local news station. They are down on their luck and they hope Sonny can turn their ratings around. Not everyone is happy they brought someone in who left the area, and Sonny is a real fish out of water after having lived in the California sunshine for over a decade. Her antics reminded me a lot of the Renee Zellweger movie, New in Town.

More than just moving back to her hometown and very cold, very snowy weather is the heartache of her sister who died tragically when she was just a kid and her father who passed more recently. Sonny has never gotten over the loss of her sister and blames herself for her death. Her mom also is still dealing with the death of her family and she and Sonny have some lovely moments discussing grief.

This book was just so beautiful and heartfelt. Sonny really has a lot of emotions to work through and her first reaction is always to runaway. I absolutely loved it; and it also got me so hyped for snowy, winter weather. Although I’m not sure I could handle the amount of snow they get in the book!

The Secret of Snow by Viola Shipman is a wonderful Winter/Christmas story of family, new beginnings, friendship and dealing with adversity. Sonny Dunes, aka Amberrose Murphy, moved to Palm Springs where she has been working as a meteorologist for over 20 years. Her new boss has decided that she and the anchor are too old and their contracts are being bought out. Sonny is being replaced with an Artificial Intelligence. They go out together and Sonny has a bit too much to drink. She ends up back at the TV station, where she has a meltdown on camera. That pretty much puts a nail in the coffin of her career. Not sure what to do, she gets a job offer from a station in her hometown of Traverse City, Michigan. She has no choice but to accept the position, but it is not easy. Someone is doctoring up videos to make her look bad and is posting them. Will Sonny be able to resurrect her career? Will she be able to face the reason why she left in the first place? Will she forgive herself for an incident in the past that she blames herself for?

This is not just a happy festive story, but one with some heavy themes. I really liked Sonny and had a lot of empathy for what she was dealing with. As Sonny tries to adjust to her new job, living with her mother, the weather, and a handsome widower who himself has felt great loss, someone is trying make her look horrible through videos they are sending out. Her initial instinct, as always, is to flee, which doesn't work. Paparazzi can really do a number on celebrities whether they deserve it or not, as well as jealousy. We also see what happens when guilt colours decisions that are being made. I really liked Sonny's mom. She was such a strong, caring woman who loved and supported her daughter no matter what. I thought she was pretty smart when it came to giving Sonny advice. There is also a lot of hope in this story, especially when it comes to dealing with friends, supporting others and forgiveness. Honesty also goes a long way to shedding baggage and helping not only Sonny, but her new friends to move forward. This story has a wonderful uplifting ending, full of holiday magic and I definitely recommend it.

A Viola Shipman book is always a feel-good book and this one is no exception. Sentimental? Yes. Predictable? Yep. Happy ending? Of course! And the journey to that ending is entertaining.

Even more special with this book is the author's notes at the end explaining his meaning behind the story and how his beloved grandmother - as always - influenced him. Merry Christmas, Wade!

The Secret of Snow, by Viola Shipman, is a beautifully written story of how a woman’s downfall ends up to be her greatest triumph. Sonny Dunes (Amberrose Murphy), 50 year old Palm Springs meteorologist, is being replaced by a virtual meteorologist who looks like an engineer’s version of a Barbie doll and she does not take it well. After an evening of lamenting with a fellow replaced older team member, Sonny appears at the studio and her on camera tirade is a disaster of viral proportions.

Her agent, Jo, tells Sonny things aren’t looking good for a new position when a former college dorm “sister” contacts her to offer a job as chief meteorologist at her hometown tv station. However, Sonny stayed as far from home, and loss, and guilt as possible. This would mean moving home to live with her widowed mother, something a woman at midlife never wants to do. And it would mean reconnecting with Lisa King who she did not treat very nicely in college, too consumed in her own grief at her sister’s death and her own survival to reach out to another.

Lisa has big plans for Sonny as she parades her new meteorologist around to the locals in a variety of winter activities. In this effort, Sonny meets Mason Carrier, head of the chamber of commerce and a widower a bit older than Sonny. She also connects with the young meteorologist, cameraman, Jack of all media trades, known for a serious accident as Icicle. However, Sonny senses true animosity from the weekend weather girl Polly Sue Van Kampen, who is not a meteorologist. She seems to feel the older woman has swooped in and stolen the job that should have been hers when the former chief meteorologist retired.

This is a very intricately woven story with many intertwining aspects. The depth of the main characters is dramatic and real. The winter wonderland of upper Michigan is delightfully described. The many subplots are exciting and keep the reader guessing.

I had heard much about this author and this book before reading it and was somewhat hesitant to begin. Too often when I have heard a lot of hype I am greatly disappointed in the work, whether it is a novel or a movie. However, this time I am so glad I dove in and embraced this cadre of wonderful characters with an unusual but special story. I enjoyed everything about this story except for one thing—it came to a close! I totally recommend this delightful novel and look forward to many more encounters with this terrific author!

I just finished this book and I don't have the words to tell people to read this book. If you only read one holiday book this needs to be it.

One cannot lose when reading a Viola Shipman book. First, be prepared for a few tears, some smiles, plenty of comfort and always, always a feel-good life lesson you did not think you needed, with an ending which gives you peace, satisfaction, sadness at ending the book and excitement as to when the next will be coming. The Secret of Snow is no exception.

We are first introduced to Sonny Dunes, a 50 year old meteorologist who lives in California as she is having a meltdown live on air after being let go from her job and being replaced by a perky robot meteorologist. Sonny knows the score. At her age, she knows her days are numbered as an on air personality.

Now jobless, she gets a call to become the chief meteorologist at one of her hometown television outlets. They are hoping to boost their ratings by hiring her banking on her new notoriety as a crazy weather broadcaster. Her hometown being in Michigan, which is the total opposite of the warm and fairly quiet weather in California. She cannot stand the thought of going back to the raw cold, the ice and especially the snow…so much snow! Besides, not only would she have to live with her mother, she would also have to see friends she sort of dumped and then ignored from years past. But most of all, her return would bring up the memories of the death of her sister years ago when they were young. A sister who loved the snow more then anything else.

But back to Michigan she goes, unprepared for both the weather and the memories that will be evoked. There she must face a new boss, an acquaintance from college who Sunny never really gave the time of day, a young journalist who is jealous of Sonny and seems to have her envious eyes set on Sunny’s new job and her mother who only wants to help Sunny put her life back on track. A life she has been running away from for years.

The plan…make the watchers fall in love with Sunny by sending her fun, cold and snowy assignments, get them to empathize with her…the local girl who made it big and came back! But, unfortunately that is not what happens. As she tries to adjust to the new job, living with her mother, the weather, and a handsome widower who himself has felt great loss, someone is trying make her look horrible through videos they are sending out. Her initial instinct, as always, is to flee.

How on earth can she stay here knowing wherever she looks, she sees her late sister and the sadness and guilt she always feels. When will she ever be able to forgive herself and move on to a life she is sure her sister would want her to have. Perhaps with the help of her newly made friends, some whom she had rejected years ago and her mother, her only living relative will she be able to face her distress from all those years ago and finally bury her past for good in the snow her sister loved so much.

Thank you #NetGalley #GraydonHouse #ViolaShipman #TheSecretofSnow for the advanced copy.

This is my most favorite novel so far by the talented Viola Shipman. This story will warm your heart and give you all the "feels" of a good book - family, friends, faith, love....it's got it all! Funny, sad.... just filled with emotions and I love a good story that brings me all these things. Heartwarming is another good word to describe this book. Congrats Viola Shipman! Add this novel to your must-read list!

I'm never going to watch the evening weather forecast the same way! Can 50 year old Sonny Dunes go home again? That's the question when she loses her job and then her stuff after a robot is hired to do the weather on her Palm Springs station- the place she's been so happy for years. Now back in Michigan with her mom (I love Patty Rose) and the people who knew her as Amber Rose, she's struggling with the snow she's avoided all those years. Luckily, an old classmate - Lisa- hires her to work weather at the local station, where she meets Icicle and, even better, Mason. What happened to Sonny's little sister Joncee? If I have a quibble with this well written novel, it's that Joncee's death is referred to often and the answer doesn't come until pretty far in (even though people tell Sonny- I know about your sister). That said, I found myself caught up in the story, rooting for Sonny, Mason, and Icicle. Oddly, for what's really a rom-com, I learned a lot from this novel not only about weather but also about, of all things, Leland blue, ice caves, and Michigan. Thanks to the publisher for the ARC. Great storytelling. I really enjoyed this.