Snow River

Firelight Ridge #4

by Jennifer Bernard

In Firelight Ridge, Lila Romanoff's unusual intuitive abilities have stayed (mostly) silent -- until now. When she starts having dream conversations with a murdered local, it’s time to skedaddle. But she only gets as far as the overlook on Snow River before she can’t go any farther, and it’s not just because she runs out of gas (don’t ask). Her gut literally won’t let her leave. Maybe it’s her feelings for her huge hunk of a boss at the local bar. Or maybe it’s the mystery about the unfold around the dead woman on the banks of the river below…

Bear Davis always knew his employee would flit out of town sooner or later. Lila is sunshine itself, and with winter fast approaching, he’s not surprised she’s ready to take her light elsewhere…but he’s also not about to object when she abruptly decides to stay. And when she starts digging into the recent murder on Snow River? Well, as an ex-cop (don’t ask), there’s no one better suited to make sure she stays safe while they nose around.

When the recent death appears connected to a decades-old murder spree that involved Lila’s dream visitor, everything seems to point back to Snow River. As Bear and Lila follow clues that include local lore, old gossip, and even mysterious pranks, the couple gets closer and closer. Both to each other…and to an explosive truth someone will do anything to keep hidden deep in the wilds of Alaska.

Genres: Romance, Romantic Suspense, Contemporary, Small Town Romance

318 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 3, 2024

About the author

Jennifer Bernard is a USA Today bestselling author of contemporary romance. Her books have been called “an irresistible reading experience” full of “quick wit and sizzling love scenes.” A graduate of Harvard and former news promo producer, she left big city life in Los Angeles for true love in Alaska, where she now lives with her husband and stepdaughters. She still hasn’t adjusted to the cold, so most often she can be found cuddling with her laptop and a cup of tea. No stranger to book success, she also writes erotic novellas under a naughty secret name that she’s happy to share with the curious.

You can connect with Jennifer online at http://JenniferBernard.net or email her at Jen@JenniferBernard.net.

Reviews

[Wendy Livingstone · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the fourth book in this incredible series, and this is Lila and Bear’s journey.
Lila moves to town and start working in a bar, with ex-cop, Bear as her boss. Lila has a unique gift, which she keeps to herself, but when she starts having dreams and conversations with a murdered local, and a woman in town is murdered, she and Bear start investigating the case.
This is a well written fast paced story, which has friendships, mystery, danger, suspense, intrigue, emotions, trust, revelations, tension, and love, which leads to an entertaining, and thrilling addictive page turner.
I look forward to reading more from this talented author whose work I highly recommend.

[Kerry Croucier · Rating 4 out of 5]

We FINALLY, FINALLY, finally get Lila’s story. SNOW RIVER, book 4 in Jennifer Bernard’s Firelight Ridge series, focuses on Lila and her boss, Bear. Lila, who unexpectedly relocated to Firelight Ridge, AK, prompting her three best friends to follow and find their HEA (the first three books in the series…read them if you haven’t already!).
You will fall in love with this couple, who accept each other for who they are. Bear knew Lila was different from the first day she walked in the bar asking about a job. He didn’t think she’d stick…and she almost doesn’t, deciding it’s time to leave after several dream conversations with the former tenant of her house who was murdered over 30 years ago. When she physically can’t leave and Bear catches up, she realizes that this time, she needs to stay instead of run. When a murder seems to connect to a past murder spree, Lila and Bear work together to uncover secrets as they grow closer. Bear may not say much, but he takes care of everyone in town. He is the biggest softy and deserves someone who can scale the walls he’s built around his heart. Have they finally found their person?
This book will keep you up late, enjoying Lila and Bear’s journey. Only Jennifer Bernard can write about a small town in the middle of nowhere in Alaska full of quirky, loveable characters and have you wishing you could visit and get to know them all. SNOW RIVER can be read as a stand-alone novel, but the story is so much richer if you have the background from the first three novels. Grab a fuzzy blanket and, maybe, a bowl of soup or a hot drink, settle in and prepare to be swept away to Firelight Ridge.
Thank you to the publisher for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of the novel. All opinions are my own and freely given.

[Kay Daniels (Kay Daniels Romance) · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the beginning of the Firelight Ridge series I've been waiting for Lila's story and it's finally here! Snow River was everything I'd hoped for and more.

There were so many things answered when it came to Lila and Bear. Plus!! All the chemistry that had been silently brewing between these two, for several books I might add, finally bubbled over and 🥵 oh my, their relationship was perfection!

Plus...I love my pluses...Lila's abilities and intuitions are quite amazing and I was overjoyed to get more knowledge of Lila's blips. Also, I adored basking in her never ending kindness that she bestows upon everyone she meets, especially  seeing it through Bear's eyes who cherishes her for every unique quality she has.

Speaking of Bear, he is a giant teddy bear with a huge heart. Everyone in town goes to him, looks up to him, and Bear looks after everyone...silently. Oh, I loved his quiet cinnamon rollness, except when he was around Lila. She seemed to pull out a side of him that very few could, but that was also the power of her sunshine personality.

While these two gently, then passionately fell in love with one another, they were also busy solving a cold case, which was like unraveling a spool of thread. Once you begin it just keeps rolling faster and faster until you reach the end, but what will be at the end for these two...that is the real mystery.

Snow River is full of mystery, romance and small town vibes with a bit of the supernatural mixed in as well. I've been waiting for this couple and I'm so, so happy they finally came together. 

[Eileen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved Lila and Bear’s journey in Snow River by Jennifer Bernard, book four in her Firelight Ridge series, was an amazing romantic suspense, filled with charm, intrigue, and twists and turns that kept me engaged and guessing right up to the very end.

When Lila moved to Firelight Ridge, she worked in a bar with ex-cop Bear as her boss. Lila has a unique gift, which she keeps to herself, but when she starts having dreams and conversations with a murdered local woman, who dies years ago. Then Bear discovers a dead body in the river just down from the outlook he rescued Lila from when she tried to leave town, the supernatural vibes just get stronger. Lila and Bear find themselves in the middle of a mystery just as winter comes to Firelight Ridge, Alaska as they connect the recent murder to the one from 40 years ago.

It was amazing watching Bear and Lila maneuver through leads and evidence to put together a timeline and connect a variety of people to solve the decades old case that caused deadly harm today. This is a gripping tale of greed, corruption and death as well as a romance between people who are perfect together; providing them with happy ending.

Snow River is full of mystery, romance and small town vibes with a bit of the supernatural mixed in as well. It was a fun and exciting journey that was full of passion, adventure, heart pounding mystery, and excitement; making me unable to put the book down. I anxiously look forward to the next book in this series.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

[Reading Addict · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bear and Lila's story was so good and a great addition to the Firelight Ridge series. Lila was the first of her friends to come to Firelight Ridge and Bear was the first person that she met. Lila has always been on the move either running to something or running from something. Bear has had a lot of disappointments in his past and has found his place in Firelight Ridge as the local watering hole owner. When Lila comes to his door looking for work, he figures that he'll hire her as his seasonal bartender but that she won't stick around through winter. As these two get to know each other better, there's a mystery that they're both drawn into. Decades ago several people were murdered and everyone assumed that the killer had been caught but now Lila is receiving strange messages and she has gone to Bear with her concerns. Can these two weave together the clues and make sense of the strange things that are happening in Firelight Ridge? Will their attraction to each other develop into something more than just a fling? Snow River was a fun story. It stands alone in the series however all of Lila's friends and their partners are mentioned throughout. It was told from dual POV and is the perfect book to read on a cold, snowy night!

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This 4th book in the Firelight Ridge is my favorite! Lila has been an intriguing character throughout the series, but she stands out as a unique character with her intuition, dreams and general sweetness.

Bear, owner of The Fang and Lila’s boss has been a quiet background character, but in this book he steps in the forefront and gives off sexy protective vibes with a strong layer of mystery and vulnerability.

When Bear discovers a dead body in the river just down from the outlook he rescued Lila from when she tried to leave town, the supernatural vibes just get stronger. The majority of the book focuses on Lila and Bear trying to figure out the recent death that seems to have connections to a 40-year old murder spree, along the way Bear and Lila’s relationship gets romantic with some scares and sexy times to keep readers glued to the page. You never know what to expect next and will love ever twist and turn in the adventure.

I’m looking forward to more books in this well written and suspenseful series!

I received a free ARC from the author and 1852 Media; and I am voluntarily leaving an unbiased review.

[Perrin Larton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lila, the person that got the rest of her crew to Firelight Ridge, is now contemplating leaving. But, when she heads out of town, she realizes she just can't go. Well her car runs out of gas too...

Bear, the person that keeps Firelight Ridge in check, knows his bartender and soup-maker Lila is leaving. He follows her to make sure she stays safe, because...well he's Bear. When he finds her stranded, he wants her to do what she wants to do and she decides to stay.

What follows is a wonderful story with, a body found and a long ago deadly shooting back in the spotlight. Lila's intuition, that has been noticeably absent since her arrival in Firelight Ridge, comes roaring back and Bear believes her when she tells him of her 'blips'. Lila has never had that kind of back-up before!

As we careen down the slopes around town, new information about people in power comes to light and finally there is justice for the shooting victims from decades before. Bear and Lila realize they are meant to be, and the long, cold winter nights become a bit heated!

I love this series and it looks like it will continue!! YIPPEE...more Firelight Ridge stories.

[Krista G · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the fourth book in this series. If you are looking for a great book to take your mind off things and get wrapped up in a book this is the choice for you. I simply love all the books in this series. It is set in a small town in Alaska and you can just see yourself walking the streets and exploring the town. In this installment we follow the story of Bear (yes that is his name) and Lila. Bear has been a local and owns the local bar. Lila came to town with no intention of staying but she has a connection to the town in some of her visions and despite her best intent of leaving the town behind she cannot do so. Throw in a dead body, some corruption and a tangled web of some unsolved town mysteries and you find yourself immersed in a story that you cannot put down. Oh and of course some romance. I simply love Jennifer Bernard. I cannot say enough about how much I love her and her writing style. She really makes you feel like you have been dropped in the middle of the plot and you cannot help but picturing yourself in the middle of the story. It is always refreshing to pick up a book that has you hooked from the first page and holds your attention until the last page.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first four books in the series follow four best friends and this is the final book for those woman. This book follows Lila who is the one who disappeared to Firelight Ridge initially and her friends ended up following. It was long overdue for her to have her book! And of course it was with Bear, the owner of the bar where she works. They have had a connection from the beginning but didn't act on it until now. This book is full of intrigue, suspense and romance.

Lila gets premonitions and has for most of her life. They have been dulled while in Firelight Ridge which is why she loves it there so much but that all changes quickly when a murder victim visits her in her dreams. Lila is compelled to follow her instincts and has to investigate. Bear refuses to let her handle this on her own and be in danger. Being a former detective, he has the wherewithal to help her and being a sounding board. Between the two of them, they uncover an old secret and crime that is resurfacing and putting them in danger.

Definitely need to pay attention during this one! It is a great story line plus has the romance you come to love.

[Imogen Dior · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really loved Snow River. Jennifer Bernard has this way of weaving romance with the mystery/suspense elements in a way that mixes it just right. She never lets you down with getting the romance and the thrilling storyline all in one book. I adored both Bear and Lila. They had chemistry from the get go. Lila was such an interesting character and i loved her intuition and how she believed in it. I also just loved her as a person, she was small but fierce and she loved those she cared about deeply. Bear was great too. He was so respectful of Lila and believed in her wholeheartedly with whatever was thrown at them. He was very protective but loving and gentle to, the perfect contradiction. These two together was such a perfect match and i adored them. I loved seeing all of the secondary characters and getting updated on what was going on in everyone’s lives now. I can’t wait for the next book!

[Angel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lila is one of four friends who were misfits in school for various reasons. Their friendship has been a constant in their lives. When Lila unexpectedly leaves and moves to Alaska, it starts a chain of events that bring each of her friends to Firelight Ridge where they each find their happy ever afters. When Lila arrived in Firelight Ridge she went to the local bar and got a job working for Bear. Although he is a large and intimidating man to most people, Lila is drawn to him. Neither of them has acted on their feelings for each other, but when a woman is found dead they begin investigating. This leads to investigating a series of murders that happened over 40 years ago. As they delve into the past they see other sides of each other and it becomes impossible to stay away from each other. Lila and Bear really see each other and accept each other for who they are. A true love story.
I won an ARC from the author and this is my honest review

[Lori R · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always look forward to reading another romantic suspense by Jennifer Bernard and this book did not disappoint me!  I liked that this book focused on Lila and her unique personality and her intuitive ability to see things that others could not see.  She was such a fun character.  I liked Bear, who was the owner of The Fang, a bar and local hangout in Firelight Ridge, Alaska.  It was fun watching the characters dance around each other while sparks were flying.  The romance and suspense had me devouring the pages as quickly as I could.  It was interesting how the book came full circle and helped me to better understand Lila and her past and how her past played into her trip to Alaska and meeting Bear.  This was a great story with wonderful characters set in the unique wilderness of Alaska with the onset of winter arriving and suspense that would quickly build throughout the book. I received an advance copy of this book and I willingly chose to write an honest review.

[Ann C. · Rating 1 out of 5]

It seems that everyone liked this book but me. I enjoyed the other 3 books in the series but not this one. I had trouble trying to get interested in it. I finally just gave up and skimmed pages and even skipped chapters. I felt the book was just too convoluted.

The author alluded to Bear's age. Following her scenario, Bear would have been in his late 50's or early 60's. It would have made more sense if Ms Bernard said great-grandfather and not grandfather. Let's say the grandfather was 18 in 1935. My father was 18 in 1945 (10 years later). I did not have my children immediately after getting married. Therefore, my father's grandchildren are in their mid 40's. So if you go with the author's scenario, 10 years younger would put Bear in his mid 50s or older. Just does not compute to me.

I hope the next book in the series is much better. I will give it a try since I liked the first 3.

[Patricia Baxes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m a big fan of Jennifer Bernard’s books and have a bunch of her series. Believe me when I say there isn’t a bad book among them. What I will say is that this is my first Firelight Ridge novel and it is absolutely stunning! Oh my goodness, I simply cannot say enough wonderful things about how brilliantly done this book is. The storyline is incredible; the characters are so well done; the plot twists and turns just keep you flipping those pages—and the secrets buried between those twists and turns…WOW!! The plot just keeps building and building until your heart feels like it’s going to burst right out of your chest. As if all this thrilling drama wasn’t enough—there’s the absolutely amazing HEA between Lila and Bear. You absolutely need your put this book at the top of your TBR list—it deserves to be read first! (I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book and was totally mesmerized by it!) ❤️❤️❤️

[Joanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing story that will keep you on your toes!

We are finally getting to read Lila’s story and you are going to love it! From the very first book in this series, I’ve been intrigued by Lila and her “blip”. She is such a fun loving and carefree person that you just can’t help but love her. Then there’s Bear, her boss who owns The Fang. He has been such a mystery throughout the series, but now we finally get to learn his story. These two are so different from one another that they are absolutely perfect for each other. I love how Bear never doubts Lila when she informs him of stuff and how they both have such faith in each other. The mystery in this story will certainly keep you on your toes and have you flipping the pages to get to the end to find out the true story behind all the mysteries. I loved everything about this story!

[Jackie Wright · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you love romantic suspense look no further than Snow River book four in the Firelight Ridge Series. This is Bear and Lia’s entertaining read.
This is one of those reads that keeps you n the edge of your seat because of the twists and turns you don’t see coming.
Bear is owner of The Fang and he is also Lila’s boss. When he finds a dead body in the river he and Lila try to figure out what happened. As they get more invested in the murder they realise it has connections to a 40 year old murder spree…….
As this couple work together to solve the murder it’s not long before feelings come into play.
Snow River is a great addition to the series, it has interesting characters and a captivating story that will keep you on the edge of your seat. As you would expect from this author you get the perfect mix of love, passion, mystery and suspense.

[Heather Nobbs · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am loving the Firelight Ridge series, it has the perfect mix of romance and mystery. We finally got Lila and Bear’s story. And it was definitely worth the wait. Lila followed her intuition to Firelight Ridge and in doing so all of her friends followed so we got to see bits of Lila and Bear in all the previous books so it just made it even better to get their story. Bear is a quiet grump of a man and Lila is all sunshine and fresh air, especially for someone like Bear. These two really were great together see get together romantically and also to team up to solve the mystery of a string of murders from 40 yrs ago.
I like that each book in this series has a very loosely connected mystery that gets solved in each book yet something connected is there for the next book. I am intrigued on the next book in the series because I can’t wait to see who it is about.

[Darcy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I feel like I've been waiting for this couple since the first book. Lila moving to Firelight Ridge is what set everything in motion, her friends coming, all of them falling in love there and most of them living there. So it's only right that Lila finds her own HEA here too and with Bear. There was something about him that you like right from the start, he's often in the back ground, getting things done, helping where needed and of course the bar being the center of the community.

It was interesting how Lila's ability prodded her to move to AK and also how much it played in this one. I loved that when she shared with Bear, he believed her and didn't think it was a bunch of hooey.

What Lila and Bear got pulled into was crazy! I'm glad that they were able to figure things out and hopefully can help those that were hurt by this evil.

[Kari Hansen · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Lila starts receiving premonitions from a woman and what happened when she passed away, she decides it is time for her to move on. Fate had other ideas and now she and Bear, her boss, find themselves working together to not only uncover what happened in the past but the suspicious happenings in the present as well.

After leaving his career as a police officer Bear has created a new life for himself in Firelight here he owns the town pub. When he hires Lila he knew the arrangement would most likely be temporary but that doesn’t stop him from wanting to protect her especially when he finds out about her mystical connection to the past.

Intrigue and romance collide as mysterious deaths may have brought them together, but they find a love and connection that will keep them together.

[Whispers From · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lila Romanoff has these intuitions where she can tell if something is going to happen. She’s been getting a visitor in her dreams. A woman who was killed many years ago. Lila works in a bar as a bartender and lives in an old hardware store. She tries to leave the little Alaskan town but she runs out of gas and literally cannot go. Bear is the owner of the bar and a former cop but no one knows. He is the quiet silent type but figures Lila won’t stick around so when he finds her on the side of the road, he’s not surprised. What does surprise him is finding a body just a little bit away from where she was parked. They believe the woman’s death has something to do with the murders years ago. Someone is playing tricks and as Bear and Lila start nosing around trying to find out what’s going on.

Action. Steamy. A big,quiet Bear and a woman who is full of sunshine.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

This might be my favorite book in this series. Lila is a very interesting woman, with a huge heart and intuition. This series started with a search for her, and she has been at the heart of every story in this series, so I was excited to see her get her own story. I loved learning more about her, how her unique appearance came to be, and what her childhood was like. And Bear is the perfect compliment to her, strong, stoic, logical, and supportive. As these two characters finally give in to what they have been feeling for a long time, dangerous and crazy things start happening all around them. This was a fun fast paced thriller with a satisfying romance, and an interesting mystery. Another great book from Jennifer Bernard.

[Rebecca Kroft · Rating 5 out of 5]

I know I say after each book that it was the best in the series. Yep, I'm going to say it again...and I sincerely mean it. Snow River was THE BEST story in this series by far. I so love the characters of Firelight Ridge. How can you not fall in love with them. And Lila and Bear were no exception to that rule. They were fun and romantic and fun. I loved their story. They started out as employer/employee but that just wouldn't do...they fell hard in love. Snow River had many laughs and intrigue. The plot had me guessing all the way to the end. Grab this book...you can read it as part of the series (get to know everyone in Firelight Ridge!!!) Or you can read it alone (but you'll be sad you did--grab them all).

[Tara Peters · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have wanted Lila’s story since the beginning and it did not disappoint. Bear and Lila were perfect for each other, but kept their distance for reasons that they thought made sense but ended up not being an issue. Lila has a sixth sense but doesn’t want people to know because it usually has them looking strangely at her or treating her differently.

The case that they are working on together (because she is being urged by someone and he knows everything and everyone in town) is intriguing and helps them see things about themselves and each other that they didn’t see before. His background had always interested me and I am happy to see he got some redemption.

I loved this book and can’t wait to see what else happens. I received an ARC and this is my honest, voluntary review.

[Donna Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bear and Lila. I have been waiting slightly patiently for Lila’s story. I have loved her quirkiness from the first book and knew it would take a special someone to embrace everything that she is. Lila is a special soul and I loved everything about her. Her outlook on life is so positive, everyone around her can’t help but be positive as well.
Bear appears to be a grumpy hero. What appears is not necessarily what is. He has been respectfully keeping his distance. I adore Bear. He is the perfect compliment to Lila. His background makes him indispensable to the small town and also to the things that happen in this book.
The intrigue kept me hopping. I loved the prior generation of women who were represented in this town. Alison especially caught my attention.

[Gale · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lila and Bear seem to be so different, especially stature-wise, but they are both warriors (in their own way). Lila is prescient but doesn’t like to let anyone know and things have been pretty quiet for her, since she’s been in town. And then she starts talkin’ to dead people... Bear takes care of everyone and he is super protective of Lila – even if he won’t admit it to himself or anyone else.

There’s excitement, and mystery and intrigue and murder, bad people, good people, very quirky locals and not to mention lots of growing attraction between Lila and Bear. But my favorite part of the story is the trust that grows between Lila and Bear, and their love. Great read!

[Jennie Fortna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Snow River is book 4 in the Firelight Ridge series by Jennifer Bernard and the last of the 4 best friends to find love but this isn’t the end of the series.

Lisa was the first to move to Firelight Ridge then her 3 friends followed (prior books) and now she and Bear Davis are looking for their HEA…this book has it all…suspense, mystery, some supernatural premonitions, acceptance, friendship and how Ms Bernard wove this all together! If you haven’t started this series you are totally missing out on an awesome series!

I voluntarily read a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jennifer Bernard delivers romantic suspense at its finest with this heart-pounding journey set in Alaska. While part of a series, this book stands alone and can be enjoyed independently. It brings us full circle to where the story began in Book 1, as the search for Lila takes center stage.

The story follows Lila and Bear on their journey to love as they work together to solve a decades-old murder that resurfaces with a shocking new twist. Along the way, readers are introduced to intriguing characters that add depth and excitement to the narrative.

This book is impossible to put down and will keep you reading well past bedtime. A thoroughly enjoyable read!

[Dinnl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jennifer Bernard has never disappointed me, and with Snow River, that is still the case. In fact, it was even better than I expected. Snow River is part of a series called Firelight Ridge, where a group of friends find their partners and their special place in a small community in the interior of Alaska. There is mystery, romance and and a bit of magic in Firelight Ridge. Lila and Bear are the wonderful couple who find their special one, the one who makes them complete. Bear was the perfect hero, protective but never overbearing, always supportive. I loved them both and was so pleased to see them get their HEA. The romance just danced off the page. Lovely.

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lila gets feelings about things and while it seems odd, most the time people trust her intuition. She's the reason all her friends ended up in Firelight Ridge to begin with! Now she's decided to leave but runs out of gas and Bear rescues her. He's also her boss and owner of the Fang, a local bar. But just as quickly she changes her mind and can't leave. Then there's a dead body that's found and a mystery that needs to be solved. These two seem like an unlikely couple but then opposites do attract!! Another great addition to this series! I received an ARC and am voluntarily leaving my review.

[Becky Wise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Snow River is a fantastic read. This is book 4 in the Firelight Ridge series and finally Lila's book. I love this series so much. Lila's book did not disappoint as she follows her intuition to why she ended up in Alaska. I love the connection Lila and Bear have. There is just a pull between them that grows stronger as everything starts to go down and two murder mystery are being solved. This is such a ride. I could not stop reading. I love Bear and Lila so much. I cannot wait for the next one. Go one click this today and find out what happens in Firelight Ridge now.