Snowed in with the Ice Elf: A Small Town Holiday Romance

Monsters and Mistletoe

by Lia Frost

Three days. One blizzard. And a ritual that won’t let us walk away.

Rianne
The library was supposed to be my hiding place. Everyone thinks I’m away for the holidays, but really I’m nursing a broken heart with wine, snacks, and silence while the storm buries the town. Then one old book lit up in my hands, and now I’m locked inside with a stranger who radiates cold power and impossible demands. I don’t want to need him. I don’t want to want him. But the magic keeps pulling us closer.

Stenrik
She spoke the words, and now the magic binds her to me. The storm I can endure. The danger I can fight. But her? Warm, stubborn, heartbreak shining through every defiant look… she tempts me past the distance I swore to keep. I should protect her and nothing more. Instead, I ache to claim her before the snow stops falling.

Three nights snowed in. One bond sealed by ritual. And when the storm ends, I may not have the strength to let her go.

Snowed In With the Ice Elf is a short, steamy novella that is part of the Monsters and Mistletoe shared author series. It features a heartbroken small-town librarian, a grumpy winter guardian with secrets, and three nights of snowed-in forced proximity, accidental magic, and a bond neither of them can resist.

119 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 13, 2025

Reviews

[Chandra Luna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Snowed In with the Ice Elf by Lia Frost is the perfect blend of magic, heat, and holiday heartache. It’s a story that sneaks up on you like a winter storm, trapping you inside its pages and refusing to let go until the last flake falls.

Rianne just wanted a quiet holiday. A little wine, some snacks, and a cozy library to lick her heartbreak wounds. But fate—and a mysterious old book—had other plans. The moment the pages flared to life, she was bound to Stenrik, a powerful ice elf with a presence as commanding as the blizzard surrounding them. Cold, magnetic, and utterly irresistible, he’s the kind of man who should remain untouchable… yet the magic insists otherwise.

Stenrik faces his own dilemma. Duty and restraint have been his guiding principles, yet Rianne’s warmth, stubbornness, and vulnerability pull him in ways he never expected. He’s meant to protect her—and nothing more—but three nights trapped together make “nothing more” a challenge he’s willing to risk.

What makes this story so compelling is the mix of tension, magic, and emotion. Rianne is relatable—her heartbreak, her desire for solitude, her awkward attempts to navigate a magical ritual are all painfully human. Stenrik is alluring in a way that balances danger and tenderness, the kind of hero who could freeze a room and melt a heart in the same breath.

The ritual binding them isn’t just a plot device—it amplifies every spark, every glance, every moment of vulnerability. And as the storm rages outside, the emotional heat between them becomes impossible to ignore.

Snowed In with the Ice Elf is cozy yet sizzling, magical yet grounded, and heartbreakingly romantic yet full of hope. For anyone who believes in second chances, slow-burn attraction, or the transformative power of a little winter magic, this novella is a must-read.

Because sometimes, the storm outside isn’t as dangerous as the one stirring inside your heart.

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

[Jen Is Reading · Rating 4 out of 5]

After a tough heartbreak, Rianne, a small-town librarian, figured she'd escape the blizzard by hiding in her cozy library with wine and snacks. Her solitude didn't last long, though. An old book flared to life in her hands, sealing a magical ritual that trapped her inside with Stenrik, the Ice Elf, a powerful stranger who was as cold as the storm outside.

Over the course of three nights snowed in, the air crackles with heat as their fated connection takes hold. The mystery surrounding them, trying to complete the ritual while facing strange side characters, kept me interested. It was a unique and interesting story, not what I expected, but I enjoyed it!

A good read for anyone who loves a quick holiday romance with a liberal dose of heat, accidental magic, and a happily-ever-after.

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

[Smart Cookie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lia Frost’s Snowed in With The Ice Elf is a hilarious and charming rom-com. Rianne is hiding out at her job in the library with her cat and a bottle of wine after a rough breakup. In a moment of curiosity, she opens a mysterious book that triggers days of absolute chaos and delightful insanity. She suddenly finds herself performing a magical ritual with an ice elf (technically a Vetrfolk) while surrounded by a cast of hysterical and unforgettable characters.

This fantasy rom-com will keep you smiling from beginning to end. The story features wonderfully flawed romantic leads, corporate shadow creatures (Carl is my favorite), and even a rock that sings Barry White. It delivers everything I never knew I needed in a magically charged, snowed-in romantic comedy.

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

[Carole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Snowed in With the Ice Elf is a romcom that is a part of the Monsters and Mistletoe series, and in this story by author Lia Frost, MFC Rianne is in the one place she feels safe, the library, It’s also the holiday season and she is going through it with a broken heart, and now locked in her hideaway as a snowstorm rages outside.
Rianne soon comes across a book during her cataloging that compels her into uttering words from it which manifest in the form of Vetrfolk Stenrik who tells her she has just activated the chronicle. Which means lots of trouble about to enter the mortal realm.
Enjoyed the story which was a nicely written novella with some humor, drama, spice, magic, and adventure that pulls the two of them into working together to restore the magical balance, leading to a sweet HEA.

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

[Anastey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you BookSprout and Lia Frost for sending me this advance review copy for free. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Unfortunately this novella was very disappointing. I've read several other books in this series, and this one doesn't feel like it fits at all.

There was no romance, no chemistry between the characters, and it felt like Rianne was forced to form a bond with Stenrik to save the world, instead of it happening naturally. It felt like they were still strangers by the end of the book.

There was also very little worldbuilding, and it was a really confusing story. I wasn't able to quite figure out how everything worked, or the magic at all.

Overall if you are reading your way through this series, I would skip this one.

[Ingrid · Rating 4 out of 5]

At first, I found the number of characters a bit confusing, and it took me a while to sort out who was who. Once I did, though, the story really came together. It has a unique and creative story arc that sets it apart from others in the series.

That said, while I enjoyed it, I didn’t find it quite as strong as some of the other books in this multi-author series — but that kind of variation is to be expected. Overall, it’s still a fun and cozy monster romance with a winter twist, and definitely worth a read.

For me, this one lands around 3.5 to 4 stars.

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

[Lisa Bing · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was another fun addition to this multi-author series and it was quite entertaining. Rianne, nursing a broken heart, is hiding out in the library with her cat, drinking wine and sorting an estate donation. Finding a strange book and reading from it causes her a host of problems, biggest being the arrival of elf, Stenrik, looking find out why the renewal ceremony happened early. Ha! With the magic ritual started, these two have mystery, banter, bonding, chemistry, hilarious side characters and a fab HEA to be resolved in just three days... Definitely a unique and fun monster romance and I really enjoyed it ;D

[Lyndsay L · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you love some magic with some shadow creatures throw in a bit of mystery as one human who has a messy life and an Ice Elf come together to help seal the portal that has been opened by the human reading a passage your in for a treat. I enjoyed this book from the very beginning and laughed at how this author threw in some interesting characters with personalities unlike anything I've read before but went with the story and enhanced it beautifully. I laughed my way through and loved how these two came together. This book is such a treat, you won't be disappointed.

[Sydnee Walsh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rianne is just trying to get over her cheating ex and instead gets drunk and starts a renewal that isn’t due yet. One that brings an ice elf to be the partner to the renewal. If she and Stenrik cannot complete it in the three tries they get reality as they know it will be changed.
Thank goodness for the three tries cause the third time is their charm. The first is as good as lost. The second is getting their but the third is what they need.

[Cynthia Khan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Monsters and Mistletoe story of Stenrik and Rianne. Drama and hilarious characters can be found in these pages and Keith is hilarious and just the wrong but oh so needed humor that will have you wanting to be a fly on the wall in this story.

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

[Debbie Benson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. I liked this unusual tale. Rianne activates old magic by reading an old book and ends up bonded to Stenrik. The ritual they must complete before three nights are over requires trust and belief that ends in love and happiness for them. I liked the shadow people, the stone and especially Mister Poofypants.

[Sandy C · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hilarious short story with extravagant creatures, a ritual to complete which could be hard to achieve for Rianne and Stenrik, some self-evaluation, and choosing each other in a few days' time.


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

[Summer Steelman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loving this series! Read the of one and loved it, this one was just as good. Will have to go read the others.

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