One night in his cabin. One bed. No way out until the storm passes.
When Grace's remote writing retreat turns into a frozen nightmare, her only salvation comes in the form of a mysterious mountain man with secrets of his own.
Heartbroken and creatively blocked, Grace escapes to an isolated cabin to heal and write. But when she’s locked out in a storm, she finds herself at the mercy of Ethan—a ruggedly handsome recluse who lives alone in the woods for very good reasons.
What starts as shelter from the cold ignites into scorching heat between them. Ethan awakens desires Grace never knew she had, while she threatens to crack open the walls he's built around his wounded heart. But when morning comes, will he let fear drive her away again?
"THE PERFECT SMUTTY LITTLE READ!"
A steamy instalove romance featuring a dominant alpha hero, a heroine who knows what she wants, snowed-in forced proximity, and a guaranteed happily ever after.
Cordelia Kent writes evocative love stories where desire tells the truth. Her contemporary romances are known for their emotional intelligence and unapologetic heat: in her worlds sex is transformation, intimacy is courage, and every happily-ever-after starts with radical vulnerability. She lives in a storybook Tudor in Kansas City with her dreamboat husband, two small wonders, and a backyard full of bunnies.
Debut release, you say. It's definitely a promising start.
It's over-the-top instalove with a bias towards a sensual exploration between Ethan Everett and Grace. We get glimpses of their back stories, helping to paint the picture of how each is a little bit damaged, lost.
We both inhale sharply at our first touch without gloves. I feel like lightning in a bottle. -- Grace
I don't know what I was expecting, but it wasn't this. Unsurprisingly, the dominant finds a way to tick me off at some point, but I do like how he repents. 😘 Either way, I'm happy and plan on checking out the next book.
As a short little novella it's perfect! I appreciate that it's well written and doesn't feel like an inexperienced writer trying to put something out quick.
As a smutty lil thing, it's nice that there is actually a story to go along with it and it's not just pure smut. Even though there is so much story that could have been told, everything (even the backstory) was VAGUELY explained. Which was just enough to complete this novella.
I would actually really like to see full length stories from this author! @cordeliakentauthor
Good instalove story with solid spice. Enjoyed the characters and how they came together. Is it realistic to fall in love after less than 24 hours together? No. But I don’t read books for realism, so I loved it!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Grace, who tries her best to live up to her name, went to the mountains for peace and quiet and instead was rescued by Ethan, the hottie neighbor. The chemistry was immediate, the spice was chef’s kiss! I totally didn’t look into remote cabins for a “writing retreat” because of this book.
Quick, spicy, and cozy. The perfect palette cleanser when you need a break from emotional damage reads.
P.S. this book has convinced me that “getting snowed in with a hottie” should be added to my 2025 goals.
Favorite Quote: “… beautiful remote cabins designed for solitary novel writing and existential crises aren’t famous for their cell reception.”
5⭐️, 5🌶️ A great book to get if you’re looking for a quick read that is filled with a lot of spice while still having a decent storyline & plot. No outside drama with past relationships or anything like that but still some emotional angst & dangerous situations. Nothing dark or triggering in my opinion & ends in a sweet yet passionate HEA. Looking forward to more from this author, especially more in this series! Can see them being my go-to palette cleansers when I need a break from dark romance.
📚I did receive an advance copy for free at my request after seeing the blurb for it. All my reviews are made voluntarily & are my honest thoughts/opinions.📚
Short and spicy! A great quick read that leaves you excited for more. Though it doesn’t have a lot of backstory, the author is able to provide just enough to make it so the reader doesn’t feel the need for more. Can’t wait to continue reading the series!
If you’re looking for a quick read and something a bit refreshing with spice then this one is for you!
Melting Point is fast paced and spicy. I really loved how Grace and Ethan met and the reason (their background) why both of them are in the mountains. I felt that the beginning was rushed but truly enjoyed the story line.
I really enjoyed this story. It’s well written and, although short, it wasn’t rushed. Ethan and Grace are good together. He rescued her twice! Loved the bonus epilogue because I always like to know how a couple is doing after a longer period of time.
Edit 21-12-2025: I listened to an ALC of the audiobook. It’s in duet narration and I loved both Dane Beaumont and Cordelia Kent. She’s the author of the book and has a really great voice!
I rated the book 4 stars, but the audiobook 5 stars, so I rounded up and changed my rating to 5 stars.
It's there anything more beautiful than a Cordelia Kent story? Is this smut or poetry!?
How am I simultaneously soothed but also intrigued by both of these absolutely gorgeous narrator's. Please narrate all of your books...immediately.
As for the story, I have a deep appreciation for love found after a love is lost. For meeting someone that loves you for exactly who you are. Is he a sexy mountain man? Yes? Even better.
But also an FMC that says something like this, is the one for me: "Everything but my bra, because fuck if I'm going to die extra uncomfortable"
This is a quick read (or listen), so you must read it immediately. actually, I'm gonna go listen to this over again.
Thank you so much to Cordelia Kent for the ALC of this audiobook. It is an absolute joy to read and listen to your work.
This is honestly such a cute, and spicy novella that instantly grips you from the first page. Grace & Ethan are likeable, relatable, and will have you rooting for them. Super quick read, and perfect for that cozy cabin romance vibes.
This is a spicy little read that will have you chuckling, fanning yourself and mentally urging the main characters to pull themselves together to get their happily ever after. Grace just wants to get away from her personal drama, clear her head and get back to writing. What better place to do that than in a remote mountain cabin just as the first snow begins to fall? But when everything immediately goes wrong, she is rescued by her "tall, dark, and distractingly handsome" neighbor Ethan, who shows her there are other ways to take her mind off things... Both Grace and Ethan have a past that has shaped them and throughout the story we are given the pieces that make up the puzzle of their lives and get to accompany them on each their journey of self-reflection. Although the story is short, it is well-rounded with enough depth and spicy scenes with kinks and tropes mixed in to satisfy. I enjoyed the novella and if Cordelia decides to write a second one and continue the story, I will definitely read it. @cordeliakentauthor
Advance Listener Copy Review Melting Point by Cordelia Kent Narrated by Cordelia Kent & Dane Beaumont Spice: 3 chili peppers
My first book by this author and honestly? A solid win.
Grace escapes to an isolated cabin to write, heal, and avoid the world after a breakup… only to arrive locked out and yelling into the void like any of us would. Enter Ethan, her unexpected “boat” in the storm, who invites her over because freezing alone in the woods is not the vibe.
From the moment they meet, the chemistry is palpable. Grace is coming out of a relationship where she couldn’t be fully herself, and Ethan immediately gives “I want to know your mind, your hunger, and everything you’ve never been allowed to ask for.” The man is intentional. The man is observant. The man is handing over his sweater and shirt when she says she sleeps in an oversized tee. I mean… sir.
The instalove works here. It’s soft, warm, and believable. The spice sits at about 3 peppers, less intense than I expected, but still satisfying.
As for the audio: Cordelia Kent delivers beautifully. Dane Beaumont’s voice wasn’t as expressive during the spicy scenes as I hoped, but overall the narration was still enjoyable.
My only real wish? A little more length to dig deeper into Ethan’s backstory. I was invested and wanted more of him.
Overall: A cozy, chemistry heavy, snowed in romance with a tender MMC and a heroine rediscovering what she deserves.
There I was at work, minding my business, when one of my coworkers approaches me and tells me her patient wrote a book and that I needed to read it and tell the department if it’s good. As the [unofficial] department smut reader, I, with great honor, accepted the task and ordered the book right then and there on kindle. This book is fast paced. It’s a quick read with just the right amount of smut to feel good. The book lacks a lot of in depth details about the main characters since it is situated in the present. If you’re looking to bond and grow with your characters, find another book, especially since the book is over as quickly as it begins. I suppose I’m not familiar with falling in love with a person I’ve only met once—which made it a little less realistic and prompted a [strong] eye roll from me. Then again, I don’t find that any romance/smut book is ever truly realistic so take that with a grain of salt. I would tell my coworkers to read this book, especially since it’s not extreme in any way [or a specific niche] and is a quick read. I suspect this book will circle through our department!
This is a spicy little read that will have you chuckling, fanning yourself and mentally urging the main characters to pull themselves together to get their happily ever after. Grace just wants to get away from her personal drama, clear her head and get back to writing. What better place to do that than in a remote mountain cabin just as the first snow begins to fall? But when everything immediately goes wrong, she is rescued by her "tall, dark, and distractingly handsome" neighbor Ethan, who shows her there are other ways to take her mind off things... Both Grace and Ethan have a past that has shaped them and throughout the story we are given the pieces that make up the puzzle of their lives and get to accompany them on each their journey of self-reflection. Although the story is short, it is well-rounded with enough depth and spicy scenes with kinks and tropes mixed in to satisfy. I enjoyed the novella and if Cordelia decides to write a second one and continue the story, I will definitely read it. @cordeliakentauthor
A heartbroken Grace takes off to the mountains to an isolated cabin in the middle of a snow storm to work on her writing and to mend her broken heart. She gets to the cabin and doesn’t find the key in the location her editor told her it would be. Ethan, a brooding mountain man comes to her rescue and invites her to stay at his place until the storm passes.
I loved this novella. It had the perfect amount of spice and of course a HEA. I can’t wait to read the rest of the books in this series.
Thank you to Cordelia Kent for the ARC. All thoughts are my own.
I know it can be each one's preference but I love these types of quick reads! And while I like more moments, reading something as quick as this is enjoyable too! First time reading one of her works and just received the second book of the series that i surely will read sooner than laters~
I highlighted a few phrases I liked when reading, I'll most likely post something again when the book comes out~
4.5 I rounded up to 5 stars because, full disclosure, I love the author! And I really, really loved this short little steamy novella. I'm not a HEA reader - I prefer books that end in with a bomb and not a bow - and I rarely find myself reading romances for that exact reason. I loved the set up, I loved the steam, I loved the length - I just wanted a messy ending, maybe. If you're a romance reader and live for the Happily Ever After - you'll be sure to 5 star this one-sitting smut sesh.
This is a fast paced, sweet & spicy Novella! To be honest, I wish Cordelia Kent had written a longer book because I thought her writing style was amazing and I would have gladly read more about Grace and Ethan! Grace on the mountain quite literally has Ethan stumble upon her and the rest is history. I would definitely recommend this novella if you like books with a fast pace, spicy book (I'd say 🌶 🌶 🌶/5) with a happy ending.
"My new mantra. My new God. He's all I can remember wanting." -Grace
"It scared me to want you so much. I thought if I let myself have you, I wouldn't be in control anymore. You'd have all the power over me.". -Ethan
I'm usually a slow-burn reader, but wow-this one slaps. Ethan is scared about how much he wants Grace, and to put a baby in her... but she's all in. The tension, the heat, the "can't resist each other" vibe? Fire. I read it in one sitting.
Duet narration - Dane Beaumont & Cordelia Kent Great narration. They both performed well.
This is a fast paced short novella that packs a punch. She’s in the woods to write her next book and find herself in need of assistance when he finds her.
They spend one great night together and then can’t get over each other. This is a low angst story that is a quick and easy read. A great pallet cleanser.