Donuts and Danger

Snow Falls Alaska Cozy #9

by Wendy Meadows

Bethany Lights has solved plenty of mysteries in her cozy coffee shop, but none of them involved dodging avalanches while hunting bank robbers. When her devastated friend Julie Walsh insists on returning to the cursed ski resort on Ice Mountain—the same place they barely escaped alive before—Bethany fears their luck has finally run out.

Julie's world has crumbled after her son's betrayal, and she sees the remote mountain resort as her only escape. But someone doesn't want them to reach their destination alive. Mysterious explosions trigger deadly avalanches, and soon Bethany realizes they're caught in the middle of a deadly hunt for twenty million dollars in stolen money. With professional thieves, corrupt cops, and bone-chilling cold all trying to kill them, Bethany must rely on her amateur detective skills to keep her friends alive.

Some mountains hold grudges, and Ice Mountain isn't finished with Bethany Lights. This time, solving the mystery might cost more than she's willing to pay.

Once you've survived Ice Mountain, it never lets you go.

145 pages, ebook

Published September 25, 2025

About the author

Wendy Meadows is a USA Today bestselling cozy mystery author who creates the perfect escape for readers who love amateur sleuths, small-town secrets, and mysteries you can solve with a cup of tea in hand.

Her beloved series—including Sweetfern Harbor, Alaska Cozy Mysteries, and Travel Writer Mysteries—feature quirky characters, family bonds, and charming whodunits with no gore, just gentle intrigue that keeps you guessing.

When she's not plotting her next puzzle, she's spoiling her pets, enjoying time with her two adult children, and hunting for the perfect hybrid tea rose to inspire her peaceful settings.

Join her cozy community and get a free ebook plus behind-the-scenes peeks into her stories and characters.

Reviews

[Joyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Snow Fall Alaska series with Bethany as the lead is a spinoff from Meadows' Alaska series that was Sarah's story. Having the whole team in the forefront fighting together is like coming home for those already familiar with their adventures. Although this can be a standalone book, having the background and previous knowledge does help you jump right into it as if no time has passed as I honestly could not put this one down.

What started as Julie returning to the ski lodge, the scene of a previous crime in an attempt to escape the heartache she is experiencing in her current situation, danger rears its ugly head yet again as money from a bank heist motivates the bad guys to get their hands on it, at all cost. There was definitely lots of danger but no donuts as the title insinuates.

With that said, I really enjoyed how Julie and Amanda who are more of Sarah and Bethany's sidekicks in the past hold their own here. It is so refreshing as they all leaned on each other and lifted each other up, in some cases literally. Although there were lots of twist and turns and backstabbing as with Meadows' style, it was not overwhelming and I hope to see two new characters Rose and Collin return in the future.

I received a complimentary ARC and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

[Merry Chapman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! This is the 9th book in a fantastic series, and although you can read this as a stand-a-lone, I highly recommend the entire series. This book grabs you and never lets you go. Bethany's best friend Julie is going through a huge emotional trauma when she divorced her husband and her son wants nothing to do with her. So, she decides to open a lodge for people who need to get over their problems at a closed down lodge on Ice Mountain. On their way, they stop at Claude and Samantha's Hunting Lodge. Of course, they tried to talk the two out of going there. And when Julie's cousin Sarah and Amanda join Bethany and Julie to talk them out of going there, they couldn't so they figured they'd join them and convinced Claude and Samantha to snowmobile them up there. But part way up, there an explosion happens and there is an avalanche. As this page turner continues, we find the crew being stalked, a stranger shows up, dangerous criminals show up looking for money from a bank robbery and killing, kidnapping, escaping and so much more. Once I began this book, I couldn't put it down and had to read it to the fantastic ending! I received an ARC of this book but the opinions expressed here are strictly my own.

[Paula · Rating 5 out of 5]

Donuts and Danger (Snow Falls Alaska Cozy Book 9) by Wendy Meadows has Bethany Lights and Julie Walsh deciding to travel back to the scene of a crime where they barely made it out alive. This Alaskan cozy mystery has someone not wanting them to make it back to Ice Mountain. From Bethany’s opening scene where she is watching the snow fall instead of working on her new mystery story there is a strong strong foreshadowing that the weather is also going to be a part of this tale. What you don’t know is if it is going to be a help or a hinderance.

This intriguing tale involves characters from past books, some unsavory characters and some characters that it is difficult to peg as good or bad. While it is my first book by this author with me wishing I had read more of the series, I found it extremely hard-to-put-down once I had started reading. Now I plan to go back to catch up with Bethany and Julie. I recommend this mystery. 4.5 Stars

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although Donuts and Danger is the ninth book in the series, it works as a standalone. Forty-something Bethany Lights lives in Snow Falls, Alaska. She believes that a shadowy curse is chasing her and the face of the curse belongs to an evil snowman that's determined to destroy her life. Her best friend, Julie Walsh, wants to travel back to Ice Mountain, and possibly open a remote retreat for people who have suffered mental and emotional trauma. Both Julie and Bethany were unlucky in their marriages, and they "attract trouble the way honey attracts bears." Their friends join them on their journey to Ice Mountain, but it's hampered by troubles including an avalanche and someone wanting to kill them. The characters are likable and relatable. Alaska makes a great background to never ending adventures.

[Joan Grejtak · Rating 3 out of 5]

Action packed

Action packed and Fast paced. A bit Hallmarkish with things falling into place just when needed though and 5 people escaping an avalanche and having to walk 30 miles in a storm with no supplies. Eyeroll. . The beginning was a bit choppy for me as I felt the main characters needed further development as I didn't know much about them. I got tired of everyone telling Julie, countless times, that it wasn't her fault events were unfolding as they were. New characters appeared throughout the book with not enough details of who they were which made it hard to keep all the characters straight. And..who is this bad Snowman that Bethany is afraid of??? No explanation. It was a fast read and not a bad book..these are just some of the things that bugged me. Others may love it. I received this book for free in a give away.

[Dee Riley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read Wendy Meadows’ first series of snow Falls, Alaska. I thoroughly and completely enjoyed that series. I did not realize this book had the same characters from her first series. This is about a bank robbery of $20 million from LA. The bank robbers stole the money, one by one they were getting killed off. There are several people that you don’t think about and all of a sudden they’re there and it really makes this book. Interesting. I do highly recommend any book that Wendy Meadows Writes. They are good clean books. There are no ugly words or steamy scenes. I am part of her ARC team. Thank you for allowing me to be a part of your team, Wendy Meadows.

[J Young · Rating 4 out of 5]

Freezing terror!

Bethany and Julie barely survived the cursed ski resort on Ice Mountain, which is why Julie returning to the resort, and maybe even buying it, is so hard to believe. Once she explains her reasons, Bethany and some other friends accompany her. It’s a dangerous trip, but with an explosion and setting off avalanches, they soon realize that someone is out to kill them. Blizzards, freezing temps, and buried secrets may spell the end to this adventure if Bethany and her friends cannot find a way to survive.

This story is packed with twists and surprises on every page. I received an advance copy of the book, but my review is honest and voluntary.

[Mrs K.Bryant · Rating 5 out of 5]

Donuts and Danger is an Excellent story about two friends Julie and Bethany who are travelling to a Lodge on Ice Mountain. On the way they visit Claude and Samantha at their Hunting Lodge. Before they go Sarah who is Julie's cousin and Amanda come to try to stop Julie and Bethany from going to Lodge. They all decide to go together to the Lodge . There are many pieces of this puzzle which may all be linked. But can they keep safe and solve the mystery ?
Great book and superb series which I recommend that you read.

[Pam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Julie is still a bit down after her son rejected her. She wants to get away from the world and has decided that she wants to go back to the deserted ski resort that her and Bethany had been to earlier. She is thinking of buying the place and turning it into a resort. They go through a ton of issues trying to just get to the place. They finally make it and there are bad guys all around. With the help of Sarah, will they be able to get all of the bad guys before anyone in their party dies? Excellent read!!

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Roselady · Rating 5 out of 5]

Think Snow and Lots of It! The group—Claude, Sam(antha), Julie, Bethany, Sarah, and Amanda—is headed to a remote ski lodge—just ahead of a snow storm. Sarah and Amanda arrive just in time for Claude to use their new Snow Cat to get them up the mountain. Will they get to the ski lodge without another snow storm, an avalanche, or any other obstacles? Probably not. I enjoyed reading how each member of the group contributed their skills to keep everyone alive.

[Sherri Moore · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book expecting a cozy mystery from the book cover. I was disappointed it was a thriller instead. The main character Bethany and her friends go on a very dangerous adventure. For readers new to the series, like me, it would be good to explain who Joshua, Paul, Steven, Pete, Sarah, Amanda, Conrad and little Sarah are in relation to Bethany. I was confused with the relationships. These are my opinions after reading an advance copy of the book.

[Doreen Farrar · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the ninth book in the Snow Falls Alaska series, but it's the first one I've read. There was enough background material in the first few chapters to set the stage well, and the story quickly drew me in enough that I was intrigued and didn't care that the characters were new to me. That's a hard thing to do, but the author did it perfectly. I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the series. Highly recommended!

[Phthon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bethany, Julie, and their friends are VERY lucky. I can’t believe they made it to the old lodge. I can’t imagine how tired, cold, and hungry they were. Yet they still fought for life. This was an exciting and terrifying story. I can’t wait to read the next one!

[Megan Olds · Rating 4 out of 5]

Classic Wendy Meadows mystery.

[Ordean Zora · Rating 4 out of 5]

Was a fun read

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book, engaging characters and an interesting plot. Bethany & Julie find themselves in a dangerous situation on their search for money and answers.