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You, Me, & Après-Ski

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Brooding and ruthless—but with a hidden heart of gold—CEO Nolan Keller’s only goal for the winter is to sell the resort where his mother died. But when he receives a letter claiming her death was not an accident, he plans a trip there to investigate.

Valeria López, his adorably awkward tour guide and an alluring distraction forbidden to him in so many ways, is the last thing he needs. But as their haughty squabbles become late-night heart-to-hearts, he’s determined to keep those sunshiny smiles of hers all to himself.

Even if it means burning down the carefully curated life he’s worked so hard to achieve.

***

Valeria López is an expert fake extrovert. When she’s assigned to follow her grumpy billionaire boss around all winter, cue the nervous sweats. As their encounters grow heated and heady, Nolan’s icy exterior begins to melt, revealing bits of the real man beneath the billionaire mask. A man she could see herself falling for—fast. But he’s hiding something, and Val has had enough secrets for a lifetime.

When the revenants of their pasts collide and set off an avalanche of consequences, Nolan and Val will have to choose what’s more maintaining their pride, plans, and protected hearts, or trusting each other and forging a new path forward—together.

You, Me, & Après-Ski is a spicy billionaire romance with grumpy / sunshine dynamics. It's Book 1 in the Heartbreaker Billionaires series but can be read as a standalone.

349 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 3, 2025

23 people want to read

About the author

M. Maddox

2 books2 followers

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5 stars
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
Profile Image for Erin Lewis.
6,204 reviews221 followers
November 1, 2025
4 Star Review You, Me & Apres-Ski (Heartbreaker Billionaires #1) by M. Maddox

M. Maddox is a new author to me and I am surprised I have not come across more of her books. This is billionaire Nolan Keller and Valeria López’s story.

This was a well written and entertaining story with characters you cannot help but become invested in.

I enjoy grumpy/sunshine stories and it was fun to watch their relationship develop as they gave into the chemistry that sizzled between them.
Profile Image for autwenreads.
471 reviews21 followers
October 30, 2025
This was my first read by M. Maddox and I really enjoyed it! It’s such a cute Christmas ski romance that gave me all the cozy winter vibes.

I loved how the story and the romance between Nolan and Val progressed, it felt natural and genuinely sweet.

The found family aspect at the ski resort made it even better, and Cressida completely stole my heart. I’m really hoping she gets her own story next!

A light, feel-good holiday read that left me smiling. Can’t wait to read Anton & Daphne’s story!

Thank you to Wildfire Marketing Solutions and M. Maddox for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Kaitlyn.
367 reviews57 followers
Want to read
October 1, 2025
Thank you Midnight Tomes Press for the e-arc!

Pub Date Nov 03 2025
Profile Image for Sarah.
350 reviews27 followers
October 21, 2025
A must read fast paced winter romance

There are a lot of twists and turns within this romance which made it an easy book to read in one sitting. It hooks your attention and just doesn't let go.
Really enjoyed the character of Nolan and how he developed over the book. Particularly loved how instantly protective he was over Val and her family. Nolan is not your typical playboy billionaire and I really enjoyed this fact, this helps to sets this book apart from other books in this genre.
There was good anxiety representation in this book through Val and this was really well written.
Spicy scenes were spicy and extremely well written. Each spicy scene is worked into the story with a good balance between spice and plot.
Really enjoyed the easter eggs the author has left throughout this book for the reader about future books, these were well worked into the story. Can't wait to read more of the authors work in this world!!!!!!

Thank you to Netgalley and Midnight Tomes Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review, all opinions and thoughts are my own.
Profile Image for Sara.
314 reviews77 followers
November 3, 2025
𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ★★★
𝗥𝗘𝗟𝗘𝗔𝗦𝗘 𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘: November 3 2025
𝗔𝗥𝗖 𝗥𝗘𝗩𝗜𝗘𝗪:

This book was a mix of warm moments and mild frustration for me. I liked the cozy setting and the charming tension between Nolan and Valeria, it had that grumpy/sunshine energy I usually adore. Some parts made me smile, especially their softer moments, but at other times, the pacing felt uneven, and I struggled to stay fully drawn in. The emotional connection was there, just not as strong as I hoped, but it had heart. I’d call it a solid, pleasant read that just didn’t leave a lasting mark.

I need to be honest, my entire reaction to this book changed the moment I reached that one scene. The part where Nolan says, “Few years of Krav Maga taught me how to properly take out and disarm someone. It’s been a while though. I’m out of practice.” and Valeria responds, “Training to be the next Bruce Wayne?” to which Nolan replies, “More like getting my ass handed to me by an Isra/eli man in my spare time. But nice Batman reference. Valeria, are you a closet nerd?”

That entire exchange completely ruined my enjoyment of this story. I sat there thinking, Was this really needed? Out of all the ways to make a character sound tough or teasing, did it have to be through this kind of reference, one that so casually throws in an Isr@/eli connection, especially in the middle of everything that’s happening right now in P@/lestine? It’s not just tone deaf, it feels careless. It felt like the author didn’t stop for even a second to think about the weight that kind of reference carries.

Krav Maga isn’t just a random martial art, it’s deeply tied to Isr@/el’s military identity. To drop it in with a casual joke about an “Isr@/eli man” beating him up, and to play it off as a lighthearted moment, felt so unnecessary. It pulled me out of the story instantly.

It was especially disappointing because M. Maddox is a new author. You want to root for new writers, especially in romance, where fresh voices can bring new life to the genre. But seeing something like this so early in a debut makes me question how aware the author is of the world outside her own story. Writers have to understand that words don’t exist in a vacuum, every reference carries weight. Right now, when the world is watching atrocities unfold in P@/lestine, to insert an “Isra/eli man” joke in a romance book, layed for charm, no less..feels incredibly insensitive.

And I keep coming back to that same thought: Why? What purpose did it serve? It didn’t add to Nolan’s character. It didn’t build his backstory. It didn’t deepen his connection with Valeria. It was just…there. A throwaway line that somehow manages to feel political, even if unintentionally. It left such a bad taste that I couldn’t focus on anything else afterward.

There’s a certain responsibility that comes with storytelling, even in fiction meant to entertain. And while romance can absolutely be fun, flirty, and escapist, it shouldn’t be thoughtless. That single scene turned a book that could’ve been a lighthearted love story into one that made me uncomfortable. It reminded me how even small, seemingly harmless lines can echo something much larger and much darker, outside the pages of a novel.

And before anyone feels the need to tell me I’m overreacting or that “it’s just a book,” let me make this very clear, I truly don’t care if you want to read it or not. This is MY opinion and MINE alone. I’m not writing this to convince anyone, to start a debate, or to police what others enjoy. Everyone is entitled to their own reading choices. But I’m also entitled to speak honestly about how that scene made me feel and it completely turned me off from the story.

I know some people might say that fiction isn’t real life, that it’s “just for fun,” but words have meaning. They create images, carry messages, and reflect the world we live in, whether we realize it or not. When an author includes something like that, even in passing, it says something, intentional or not. And for me, it felt like a careless choice, one that showed a lack of awareness about the pain and destruction that’s actually happening right now.

I don’t think readers should have to ignore that kind of thing just to enjoy a book. We can love romance and still expect sensitivity. We can enjoy escapism without having to swallow something that feels tone deaf or unnecessary. So, yes, maybe this scene won’t bother some readers at all and that’s fine. Truly. But for me, it broke the emotional connection I had with the story. It reminded me that not everyone thinks about the weight their words carry.

So again, if you want to pick up this book, go ahead. I won’t stop you. But I won’t sit here and pretend that this scene didn’t matter, or that it didn’t make me uncomfortable. I’m sharing my experience because it is my experience and if that makes someone roll their eyes, so be it. I’d rather be honest than silent about something that felt wrong to me.

This is a three star read for me, and that’s being generous. The writing wasn’t bad, but the lack of awareness was. For a debut, this kind of carelessness is disheartening. I wanted to love this book, but instead, I’m left with disappointment and a question that keeps circling in my mind: Was any of that really needed?

Thank you to M. Maddox and Wildfire Marketing for the ARC in exchange for an HONEST review!

𝗧𝗥𝗢𝗣𝗘𝗦: Billionaire romance, grumpy/sunshine, boss/employee, forced proximity
Profile Image for Valeen Robertson (Live Thru Books Blog).
5,877 reviews213 followers
November 3, 2025


Amazon



Val (Valeria) isn't sure about being the new tour guide for billionaire CEO Nolan, but it ends up being a life changing thing when they form an instant connection. He's only there to investigate the claims his mother's death wasn't an accident, and to sell the resort, but Val's slowly sneaking past his intense focus. He needs to open up to her, though, because she's not about secrets from someone she's starting to fall for.



A mystery, a very serious billionaire with secrets, and a sassy and sweet ski instructor with the best family - the setup for a great love story. It was so much fun reading as Val got Nolan to lighten up and let go (a little) and fall the way he never had before. The added twist of a fake fiancée in Cressida gave their story an out of the box vibe, and I was so here for it. Cressida is a really interesting character, too, I hope she gets her own story at some point. This is the first I've read by this author, but it definitely won't be the last now that I've gotten to see the way she crafts lovable, complicated characters, fiery chemistry, and intense, suspenseful mysteries.



ARC provided by Wildfire Marketing Solutions for an honest review.

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Profile Image for Sarah.
324 reviews2 followers
November 3, 2025
*I was given an e-ARC of this book from the Author in exchange for an honest review*

You, Me, & Apres Ski is a debut romance novel by M. Maddox, and I enjoyed every second of it. For a debut novel, this one is well thought out and tropes are well done. We have a billionaire romance with boss/employee relations, a little mystery, some action, and both current and found family represented.

Val and Nolan were a delight to read about. I resonated with Val, especially when it comes to anxiety and being the “responsible” one. I enjoyed watching her grow more into herself through her relationship with Nolan. I also enjoyed watching Nolan grow and see that he is worthy of someone loving him for him and that he does deserve that in his life. Their relationship did have some insta lust, but I think the author did a good job of balancing that out as the story progressed.

The side characters were also amazing. Little hints of future stores were laid out but didn’t take away from the current one, which I liked. Also, Frankie is amazing. We all need a friend like Frankie. Continuously, the pacing was a little quick to begin with (mainly because of the insta lust for me) but it settled and the story continued on well.

Overall a wonderful debut romance novel and I can’t wait to read more in this universe/more about the brothers.
4,158 reviews22 followers
December 28, 2025
This was a fun, cozy-yet-dramatic billionaire romance with all my favorite tropes. It delivers grumpy/sunshine energy, forced proximity, and lots of emotional tension set against a snowy resort backdrop. It felt very “curl up with a blanket and keep turning pages.”
Nolan is the classic cold, controlled CEO with a soft center he refuses to acknowledge, and Valeria is a sunshine heroine who’s more layered than she first appears. I really enjoyed how their relationship grew from bickering and awkward moments into genuine trust and late-night conversations. Their chemistry builds slowly, and the emotional moments landed well without feeling rushed.
The mystery surrounding Nolan’s mother added a nice edge to the story and kept things interesting beyond the romance. It gave the plot some weight and raised the stakes, especially when past secrets started colliding. I also appreciated that Val had her own boundaries and history instead of just orbiting the hero.
If you like grumpy billionaires, warm-hearted heroines, winter settings, and a romance that mixes heart with heat, this is a solid pick. A great start to a series, and it works perfectly well as a standalone. I’ll definitely be checking out the next book.
I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley and Midnight Tomes Press and am voluntarily leaving my review. 
Profile Image for Angels.
2,041 reviews17 followers
November 3, 2025
This was a brand-new author for us; glad we chose this book. You, Me & Apres-Ski is the captivating tale of billionaire Nolan Keller and Valeria Lopez. It is the first book in the Heartbreaker Billionaires Series and certainly not my last.

The characters and their story quickly drew me in with unexpected twists and turns in this well-written and engaging read. We found the characters to be fantastic, especially Frankie and Valeria, our favorites. The cast as a whole, though, were engaging, fun, surprising characters, especially Cressdia, who was stuck between a rock and a hard place.

We found this book to be engaging, with mystery, suspense, secrets, sneaking around, and villainous characters. The chemistry between Valaria and Nolan is palpable, and we loved them as a couple. While Cressdia was more logical, Valaria challenged him with her snarky humor and witty remarks made us laugh. We thoroughly enjoyed this book and are eagerly anticipating the next installment in this new series.
Profile Image for Brittnee.
26 reviews5 followers
October 29, 2025
This romance novel is full of twists and turns that make it an absolute page-turner, I easily devoured it in one sitting. From start to finish, it captures your attention and never lets go. I especially loved Nolan’s character and his development throughout the story. His immediate protectiveness toward Val and her family was heartwarming, and I appreciated that he wasn’t portrayed as the typical playboy billionaire, a refreshing change that really sets this book apart from others in the genre.

The representation of anxiety through Val was handled beautifully and felt authentic and relatable. The spicy scenes were both steamy and skilfully written, striking the perfect balance between heat and plot. I also loved the clever easter eggs the author included, teasing future books in this world, they were seamlessly woven into the story and added an extra layer of excitement.

Thank you to NetGalley and Midnight Tomes Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Profile Image for Wendy Livingstone.
20.1k reviews257 followers
November 3, 2025
This is the first book in a new series, and this is Nolan and Valeria’s story.
Nolan is a grumpy, broody CEO, whose goal is to sell the ski resort where his mother died, but when he starts receiving mysterious messages that there is more to his mom’s death than he thought, he heads there to investigate for himself. Valeria is sassy, and she works at the resort, where she is assigned to be Nolan’s tour guide.
This is a well written easy to read, action packed story, with family dynamics, friendships, emotions, secrets, intrigue, squabbling, forced proximity, grumpy / sunshine, opposites attract, mystery, suspense, trust, humour, witty banter, revelations, undeniable chemistry, and love, which leads to an entertaining, addictive page turner.
I look forward to reading more from this talented author whose work I highly recommend.
Profile Image for Jackie Wright.
6,514 reviews131 followers
November 1, 2025
You, Me & Apres-Ski is billionaire Nolan Keller and Valeria Lopez’s entertaining and mysterious story. This is the first book in the Heartbreaker Billionaires Series and it’s the first book I have read by this author but it won’t be the last.
Nolan was determined to sell the resort where his mother died and sooner rather than later but when he receives a letter claiming her death was not an accident he takes a trip there to investigate for himself….
Valeria is employed as his tour guide and from the moment they meet sparks fly but can the girl who’s all about sunshine bring light into this grumpy billionaire’s life.
It didn’t take long for me to become invested in the characters and their story because this a well written, entertaining read with twists and turns I didn’t see coming.
Profile Image for Jaffray.
26 reviews
November 1, 2025
I really enjoyed this book! At first glance I thought it would be a romance only book but it had the perfect mix of romance and mystery. There was always something grabbing my attention. Great balance and I never got bored reading it. The MMC and FMC had great banter and I loved watching their romance evolve. There were a few spicy scenes that were awesome. I love a possessive MMC. Really liked his inner thoughts that were written in italics. Highly recommend for a fun quick read! Looking forward to next books!
Profile Image for Lindsay.
711 reviews15 followers
November 1, 2025
I so badly wanted to love this book. There are so many good things about it but there were a few things I couldn’t get behind that are a bigger part of the story. I loved Valeria and Nolan, their relationship and them as separate people growing throughout the story.

Though this romance wasn’t for me, I would love to read more from this author in the future.

Winter, ski instructor, snow resort, CEO, it’s complicated.
Profile Image for Read.Review.Repeat Blog.
5,905 reviews101 followers
November 27, 2025
"I so badly wanted to love this book. There are so many good things about it but there were a few things I couldn’t get behind that are a bigger part of the story. I loved Valeria and Nolan, their relationship and them as separate people growing throughout the story.

Though this romance wasn’t for me, I would love to read more from this author in the future.

Winter, ski instructor, snow resort, CEO, it’s complicated. "
Profile Image for Stefanie.
67 reviews
October 29, 2025
This book was a amazing experience! There was a lot of twists and turns I was hooked from page one! I absolutely loved the characters and how their relationship pans out! Definitely a page turner and was a great read! I will for sure be reading more from this amazing author!

I want to thank M. Maddox and Wildfire Marketing for sending me this early for an honest review
Profile Image for Sassy Southern Book Blog.
5,386 reviews273 followers
November 9, 2025
If you are looking for a grumpy/sunshine Christmas romance/mystery then you will want to give this book a shot. This book was a fun, fast read filled with wonderful characters. The writing really flowed well and the storyline pulled me in. I enjoyed watching Val and Nolan get to know each other and felt the chemistry that the two had. The spicy scenes were off the charts and the drama and suspense added in some moments that really had me on edge wondering how everything was going to work out. I can't wait to see what's next for this author and series. -By Alisa 
5,534 reviews
November 3, 2025
Love grumpy/sunshine stories? Then this is your fix!

This is the first time I'm reading a story by this author.
I will definitely be seeking out more!

I enjoyed both main characters, Nolan and Valeria!

I enjoyed my travels to the mountains!
I don't want to bring the snow any faster, but I was happy to play in Ms. Maddox's snow!

Light, easy, sexy read!
Profile Image for Reading  In the  Red Room .
3,194 reviews72 followers
November 9, 2025
3.5…..Val is sassy and unexpected…Nolan is a buttoned up billionaire..with a fake fiancé. Together these two are a complicated relationship that is extremely entertaining. This is a very layered read with a heck of a story. This book has a few secrets, many turns and some interesting characters. This is book one in the series and definitely a great introduction. I’m interested to see where these characters and this series goes. Bring on the next book.
Profile Image for Carissa Subias.
53 reviews2 followers
November 10, 2025
*There is a new edit to the end of my review as the author reached out!*

Val is a fun, spicy character while Nolan is the typical not-typical playboy billionaire. I loved the way their story started out, particularly with Cressida as Nolan’s fake fiancée.

This is one of my small gripes with the story. I would be interested in her story with Raife and tidbits are dropped throughout the story about their past but without much (any) explanation. I understand it’s for their story to eventually be written but the only vague clue was something about a night that Raife wouldn’t speak about.

My other (main) issue with the story is that my ARC was missing two entire chapters — 24 & 29. I’ve had it happen before and I try to not let in factor in to reviews but I genuinely missed large chunks of the story I had to piece together from the next chapter. All I could tell was she was hair on (I think?) in one and that something major was dropped in the tabloids of the other — but I’m not too sure!

The ending was sweet however and I did like how important Val’s family is to her! Her love for her brothers was super endearing.

Edit — I’m editing my review to a four star as the author reached out to send the missing files/chapters to those of us who did not receive them. I appreciated this kind gesture and it helped in understanding the story!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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