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January Jackson and Jake Jeffries have been connected by a single letter their entire lives.
J. Everywhere they turn, there’s a J.
The alphabet forced them together as children. A great dislike for one another forced them apart as teenagers.
Then, in college, they had one drunken night neither of them can explain. They most certainly don’t want to dwell on it.
Ten years later, January is an up-and-comer at Sylvan Slopes, the resort Jake’s father owns. She’s been put in a prime position for the incoming Winter Extreme Games, and she’s getting exactly what she’s always wanted.
Enter Jake. Thanks to his father’s money, he’s spent a decade galivanting about and basically doing nothing to ease himself into adulthood. Why should he when he doesn’t have to? Responsibility is not part of Jake’s world.
Things are about to change.
Jake’s father has given him an ultimatum. He takes a job at the resort or he’s on his own. With no marketable job skills, Jake knows what he has to do. There’s just one problem: January is his boss.
January and Jake have hated each other for a long time. In order to keep a sponsor happy, however, they have to pretend they not only like each other but are married to boot.
The snow—and insults—are going to fly. Along the way, however, they just might find that they have more in common than they ever dreamed of.
Well, if they don’t kill each other first.

314 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 16, 2023

91 people are currently reading
287 people want to read

About the author

Avery Kane

19 books17 followers

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5 stars
143 (58%)
4 stars
66 (26%)
3 stars
29 (11%)
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7 (2%)
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1 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
64 reviews1 follower
May 17, 2023
Usual stuff but poorly done

The hero is a 12 yr old in an adult body while the heroine is focused, intelligent successful but never has fun. Fake engagement and marriage to keep business is the vehicle. The guy’s dad forced the situation though he knows the kid whores around and spends thousands gambling, drinking. Hundreds of other books, better written books with more sympathetic characters out there.
Profile Image for Tanya.
867 reviews17 followers
January 23, 2026
I was immediately drawn to the cover of this book. It gives off all the cozy winter vibes I love. Snowy settings, soft romance energy, and that promise of cold weather magic. The blurb definitely intrigued me, even if it was a bit wordy, and I especially loved that the story is set in Michigan. Winter romances set somewhere that actually feels cold always hit a little differently for me.

The story begins in the past, in January. Yes, the FMC’s name is January, and I honestly adore how unique that is. From the start, we get a glimpse into her history with Jake, which dates all the way back to elementary school. Their dynamic begins as true enemies, the kind where irritation runs deep and memories linger longer than expected. Those early moments really help set the tone for their complicated relationship and make their later interactions even more satisfying.

Fast forward to the present, and January finds herself working at Sylvan Ski Resort in Michigan as the activities director and event coordinator. She’s organized, driven, and clearly good at her job. Enter karma, because of course the one person she doesn’t want to see again is suddenly right there. Jake is back in her life, and to make things even more awkward, his father owns the ski resort. The setup alone made me smile because you just know chaos is coming. The banter between January and Jake is absolutely fabulous, sharp, funny, and filled with that underlying tension that never really went away.
January is not only a boss in her career, but she’s also confident and capable, even when the universe keeps throwing obstacles in her way. Being forced to work closely with her longtime enemy is bad enough, but then the story ups the stakes. They end up having to share living quarters in a lodge for several weeks, and this is where I was fully kicking my feet in glee. Forced proximity is one of my favorite tropes, and this book leans into it in the best way.

As if that weren’t enough, the story adds even more layers. An employee adjacent boss dynamic, unresolved history, and then the cherry on top, a fake relationship. Honestly, at this point I was all in. The tropes stack beautifully without feeling overwhelming, and each one adds to the emotional tension rather than distracting from it.

Even though they are true enemies at heart, the lines between irritation and attraction start to blur. Their journey from enemies to lovers feels like a downhill ski run, fast, messy, and a little out of control, but in the best way. What really surprised me was how maturely both characters handle the situation despite their past. There’s growth, communication, and self reflection woven into the romance, which made their connection feel earned.

Jake turns out to be more than just a spoiled rich guy with charm. As the story progresses, he really shows up, not just for January, but for himself. His character development was one of my favorite parts of the book. January, on the other hand, may be a perfectionist, but watching her slowly learn to relax, let go, and actually enjoy life was incredibly satisfying. The protector energy, the quiet support, and the “not happy unless you’re safe” vibes were strong and well done.

This is a genuinely cute and cozy winter romance, and even with some last minute complications, it wraps up in a happy and satisfying way. I loved their journey, the emotional payoff, and Jake’s transition into becoming a more responsible adult.

The winter atmosphere in this book is fantastic. Between the ski resort setting, snowy storms, hot tubs, fireplaces, and that constant cold weather coziness, it truly feels like a winter escape. If you’re looking for a romance that blends enemies to lovers tension with forced proximity, fake dating, and strong winter vibes, this one is definitely worth adding to your cold weather reading list. ❄️📚
Profile Image for Anne OK.
4,135 reviews553 followers
May 22, 2023


The story had its cute and sweet moments – but was geared more towards a younger audience. Both main characters – January Jackson and Jake Jeffries -- are thirty-year-olds, so the whole shebang seemed off from beginning to end with their juvenile and outrageously unbelievable behavior.

January and Jake met and became each other’s nemesis as children – always pestering and tormenting one another. After high school graduation, she went her way and he went his. Now years later, they’re both back in the same place. She’s working at the winter wonderland resort owned by his parents. He’s forced to return home penniless and jobless to work for his dad. Unbeknownst to Jake, he’s about to come face-to-face with his old enemy and new boss – January Jackson!

Sometimes you just need a quick and mindless read after several hard hitters – and this one served its purpose in entertaining me for a couple of hours.

Profile Image for Gwen|| Bookish Blondie.
1,289 reviews11 followers
December 4, 2023
OMG did I love this book. WOW. Seriously it had me so happy. I liked it better than the first one. This is a cute childhood enemies to hate sex to enemies to reluctant work associates to lovers and a fake marriage to boot! But wow did Jake grow on me. When we started the novel I wasn't sure but it was so good. January was a delight too and her backstory with her mom was really heartbreaking to read.

I loved Jake's parents and even though his dad was a bit too heavy handed at the beginning by the end you can see his pride with his son.

Seriously such a charming book.
4 reviews
October 29, 2023
Loved it

Read in a day.
This was better than the first, maybe because Jake had a small part in the first book, so I could see for myself a glimpse of his character before the prologue.
As I was reading, I could see a Hallmark style movie playing in my head (I love Hallmark style movies - always a HEA following a few obstacles)
9 reviews
May 17, 2025
He gets better

I was worried at the start because I wasn't sure I could like Jake. But I knew that Avery/Amanda couldn't do us wrong because I love all her books. And, of course, the story was even better because you get to watch Jake grow into a better person. Now I love both Jake and January.
16 reviews
November 24, 2025
Great read!

Another great book I had trouble putting down. I totally loved the fact of how bad those Maxwell's where. I loved how Jacob kicked them to the kerb. I was so into the story, that I my tummy turned reading Edwards part in the story, what a creep! Please don't stop writing! The stories are brilliant.
289 reviews3 followers
November 30, 2023
enjoyed but

Enjoy Avery’s books and have read all of them at this point I think. This one had some extended penis references and monologues I could have done without. Also January’s childhood was super duper tragic
Profile Image for Melanie Richardson.
128 reviews
October 3, 2024
What a ride!

Can such enmity be put aside for the greater good of a business? After a life of angst, January and Jake are put into a make or break situation. But maybe their intense emotions have been about something else? Can one grow up and can the other lighten up?
2,879 reviews8 followers
February 7, 2025
4 - 4.5 stars. I liked the story. I wasn't drawn towards Jake at the beginning, but it was nice watching him grow.
Profile Image for Lauren Brennan.
395 reviews
December 28, 2025
The plot was cute … fake dating, rivals to lovers… but it was so repetitive. The same insecurities from both over and over and over again.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews

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