Snowed Inn

Honeycrisp Orchard #2

by Valerie Bowman

This cozy Christmas romance follows an overworked publicist who is snowed in at the Honeycrisp Orchard Inn with her nemesis, a sexy brewery owner, for the holidays. The festive spirit, hot chocolate, and six feet of sparkling snowdrifts conspire to turn these enemies into lovers.

Maria never expected to spend Christmas in a small, snow-covered town—but a visit to her best friend Ellie’s Honeycrisp Orchard Inn turns into an unplanned holiday stay when a snowstorm leaves her stranded. The inn feels like stepping into a holiday fairy tale, with twinkling lights, crackling fires, and garlands everywhere, yet Maria can’t help missing her big, loud Italian family. Adding to her frustrations? Jesse, the ruggedly handsome, annoyingly charming brewery owner, who seems to delight in pushing her buttons.

Jesse has enough on his plate managing his bar and helping the inn stay merry for the holidays, but he can’t seem to resist Maria’s city-girl sass. As snow continues to fall and their paths keep crossing, Maria finds herself drawn into the inn’s festive magic and Jesse himself, as he shows her the charm of slowing down and being present in the moment.

With stolen glances under mistletoe and sparks flying by the fireplace, the line between a holiday fling and something deeper blurs.

But when the snow clears, will Maria follow her heart? Perfect for anyone craving snow-kissed romance, holiday warmth, and happily-ever-after magic.

Genres: Christmas, Romance, Holiday, Contemporary Romance, Adult Fiction, Holiday Romance, Adult

304 pages, Paperback

Expected publication September 29, 2026

About the author

Valerie Bowman is an award-winning author who writes historical and contemporary romance.

Valerie’s debut novel was published in 2012. Since then, her books have received starred reviews from Publisher’s Weekly, Booklist, and Kirkus. She’s been an RT Reviewers’ Choice nominee for Best First Historical Romance and Best Historical Romance Love and Laughter. Two of her books have been nominated for the Kirkus Prize for fiction.

Valerie grew up in Illinois with six sisters (she’s number seven) and a huge supply of romance novels. After a cold and snowy stint earning a degree in English Language and Literature with a minor in history at Smith College, she moved to Florida the first chance she got. Valerie now lives in Jacksonville with her family including her rascally dogs. When she’s not writing, she keeps busy reading, traveling, or vacillating between watching crazy reality TV and PBS.

Visit Valerie on the web at www.ValerieBowmanBooks.com and sign-up for her newsletter at: https://valeriebowmanbooks.com/newsle...
Be sure to follow Valerie Bookbub for the latest on sales https://www.bookbub.com/authors/valer...

Reviews

[Susan Carolynn]

4.5 stars! Snowed Inn was the epitome of a cozy holiday romance, and it read just like a Hallmark movie. Valerie Bowman has quickly become one of my favorite small town romance authors!

She always does a fantastic job writing sensory descriptions. When reading The Honeycrisp Orchard Inn, I was craving pumpkin pie and apple cider. And with Snowed Inn, I was dying for a cup of hot chocolate, a peppermint martini, and Christmas cookies. She excels at pulling in the five senses in her writing.

This was also the perfect length for a cozy romance book—a little under 300 pages. The pacing of the romantic relationship was great. I loved how, even though the majority of this book took place over the course of a few days, it still felt slow burn and had a ton of tension.

I loved how both characters had emotional depth and backstories, but it was still light-hearted. Maria and Jesse's banter was everything. And this iteration of the fish-out-of-water/city girl x country boy trope was so well done. Maria wasn't all pouty and helpless, and I loved how she didn't back down from a challenge. And was happy to help out with Ellie's inn.

And I have an inkling that Charlotte's book will be next, and I'm already so excited for that!

Thank you so much to Avon Books for sending me an ARC of Snowed Inn. As always, my reviews are one hundred percent voluntary and all opinions are my own :)

[Jessica]

I was craving a cozy Christmas romance, so I couldn't resist diving into this one! From the start, I loved the dynamic between Maria and Jesse. Maria is the big city girl stuck in the small town during Christmas because of a snow storm. She butts heads with Jesse an wants to hate him, but the more time she spends with him, the more she starts realizing how good of a guy he is and how much she's falling for him. This is forced proximity galore as Maria has to help out around the inn while she's stuck there, and that means this delivers on all the cozy small town inn vibes! I do with we got a bit more actual Christmas things in here, so just know this is more focused on being snowed in and helping out around the inn. The second half definitely focuses more on their relationships deepening and getting to know more about each other, and I loved how Maria had to really think about her life and what she saw for her future, and how Jesse also was chasing his dreams as well. This was a fantastic second book in this series and I couldn't recommend it enough to cozy romance lovers!

[Valerie Bowman]

Of all the books I’ve written, *Snowed Inn* might be one of the most fun. I loved every minute I spent trapped in a snowstorm with Maria and Jesse...two people who are absolutely certain they cannot stand each other. (They are wrong.)

Maria is trying to help make the Honeycrisp Orchard Inn a success. Jesse is the maddeningly attractive brewery owner who always seems to be in her way. They’ve been trading barbs since the moment they met, but when the snow starts falling and they’re forced into close quarters, all that irritation begins to look suspiciously like chemistry. 🤨

This is the kind of romance where the banter is sharp, the tension builds slowly, and one kiss changes everything. Maria and Jesse made me laugh, frustrated me, and occasionally made me want to lock them in a room together until they admitted the truth. Fortunately, the snowstorm took care of that for me.

If you enjoyed the cozy small-town world of *The Honeycrisp Orchard Inn*, I can’t wait to welcome you back. And if you’re new to the series, think of *Snowed Inn* as a Hallmark Christmas movie...but funnier, steamier, and with a slooow burn.

This book is perfect if you love:

* Enemies to lovers
* Forced proximity
* A slow, delicious burn
* Snowed-in romance
* Sharp banter
* Cozy small-town settings
* Found family
* A hero who falls first
* Hallmark vibes (with spice 🌶️ )

Please add it to your TBR now. I genuinely can’t wait for you to return to Harvest Hollow and watch Maria and Jesse discover what the rest of us already know.

They were never really enemies. 😉

Oh, and if you want the 🌶️🌶️ scenes from Jesse's POV, sign-up for my newsletter right here 👉 : https://BookHip.com/QBFTWMC

❤️ Valerie

[Uyen]

Thank you Avon for the free book.

If you're looking for a slow burn, this is it.
I thought their relationship was slow and it took its time to build. I could see this relationship working after the book ends.

This feels like a fun Hallmark romance. It's cozy and quick. Just believe in the magic of fiction.

[Mama Needs to Read Romance]

Do you enjoy slow burn fun? Christmas-y feels? A cozy country setting, steeped in snow? Then PLEASE grab a hot cocoa and read this book right now! (Cocoa not included.)

Maria's plans for a merry L.A. Christmas screech to a halt when her plane is grounded near Harvest Hollow. Thankfully her best friend Ellie is happy to let her crash at the Honeycrisp Orchard Inn. The only problem? Jesse "Ball Cap" Butler, Maria's arch nemesis, who is every woman's fever dream in flannel. (Not your dream? Just you wait!) Soon the blizzard forces Maria and Jesse to work together, and before long, they're learning about each other, experiencing (their pent up) feelings, and giving in to the chemistry that's white-HOT! But they're from different worlds, and Maria has some things to figure out about who she is and what she wants. It's a fabulous journey from start to finish!

I ADORED this book. Not only do we get Christmas fun, but there are great winter, and even autumn, vibes. It's cozy. It's like a Pinterest vision board of foodie & drink fun. The characters were beautifully fleshed out. I even loved Maria's barely-there brother Luca, who REALLY needs his own book. I'm already shipping Charlotte's love interest(s!). Give us that book already, Valerie Bowman! I NEED it. 🥳

Also, two quick things that aren't done enough, but Bowman did to perfection, and I need to see more often!
1. I LOVED how the characters celebrated sobriety and sober culture. (There's a lot of drinking too, but still. 🤣)
2. Each chapter ended in a really satisfying way. They didn't just END. Each chapter was beautifully tied up in a bow.

Content Warnings: family members dealing with alcoholism (off page and/or before story begins), dysfunctional family dynamics, poverty (before story begins), food insecurity (before story begins), bullying (before story begins)

I'd like to thank Avon & Harper Voyager and Netgalley for the eARC of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Erin Snow]

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley.

It’s a great cozy holiday read. It’s a fluff book, but a great fluff book.

A city girl meets a small town guy who has mutual friends. She visits her friend for Christmas and is wrangled into helping at her friends’ inn. Being snowed in has put her city life on hold but it gives her a break from the NY lifestyle.

I think the characters are likable, the writing is good, and the ending is satisfying. I couldn’t ask for a better holiday romance.

Warning: There is spice in this book, it is not fade to black.

[Hijabi_booklover]

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ **5 Stars — 10/10**

I am absolutely loving the banter in this series! We got a taste of it in the first book, but somehow Valerie Boman manages to turn it up another notch in _Snowed Inn_. This enemies-to-lovers romance had me smiling, laughing, and completely invested in Jesse and Maria.

I especially loved the **poor boy/rich girl dynamic** between these two. Maria is a high-powered celebrity PR and activity planner who is incredible at what she does. She’s a total city girl with high-maintenance tastes, and after being burned by love and some seriously bad relationships, she has absolutely no interest in falling for Jesse the ridiculously hot brewery co-owner of the Honeycrisp Apple Orchard Inn.

And then there’s Jesse. Their chemistry and back-and-forth are EVERYTHING. The banter, the tension, the push and pull… I could not get enough of them! Watching these two go from enemies to something much sweeter was absolutely adorable.

But we cannot forget the true scene-stealer: **Christmas… aka Eve!** 🐈‍⬛🎄 This little black kitten is the cutest sidekick and confidante. Sometimes you just need a tiny furry friend who will sit there and listen when you have no one else to talk to, and Eve is perfect for the job. She absolutely stole my heart.

Jesse and Maria are adorable together, and I loved every bit of their story. The banter, the chemistry, the opposites-attract vibes, the kitten, and all the cozy inn feels made this such a fun read.

**10/10 from me!** If you love enemies-to-lovers, witty banter, opposites attracting, and a cozy small-town romance with plenty of heart, definitely add _Snowed Inn_ to your TBR! ❤️

[Bookish Ann]

I adored this cozy holiday read. Snowed Inn by Valerie Bowman gives you Maria, a PR exec living a flashy city life in designer clothes, and Jesse, a devastatingly handsome Hallmark hero in flannel who runs the town brewery. Both come to the table carrying their own baggage, and watching them reconcile their differences while realizing how alike they actually are underneath was so satisfying.

This book checks every box I want in a cozy holiday romance. Snowed-in, forced proximity, enemies to lovers, a slow burn that builds through every crossed path and stolen glance, and just enough holiday magic woven through the twinkling lights and crackling fires to make the whole thing feel like a fairy tale. Harvest Hollow's quirky small-town cast added so much life to the setting too, I am officially a fan of this little town.

Slow burn, open-door spice, enemies to lovers, all done exactly the way this trope should be. Honestly, I would live in a Hallmark Christmas movie if I could, and this book scratched that exact itch with a little spice!

Thank you to Avon Books and NetGalley for this cozy read!

[Samantha Dickenson]

4.5⭐️! I’m so happy to be back in Harvest Hallow during Christmas time! We have an enemies to lovers, slow burn romance between two characters we met in book one-Maria ( a PR rep) and Jesse (bartender). Maria is visiting El at the inn before her flight to see her family in LA when a huge blizzard rolls in trapping everyone at the inn. Maria has to face Jesse (whom she doesn’t like) and work together to pitch in at the inn. This book has all the Christmas feels, great banter, amazing characters, and a great plot featuring major life decisions. This is such a fantastic world to be in and I’m hoping more books will be coming soon from the series!

[Miranda Reads]

Ohmygod. Yes. Please.

*gimme grabby hands*

[Missyreadsromantasy]

It might be spring as I read this advance copy, but Snowed Inn gave me all the cozy Christmas feels!

Brimming with all the heart of a Hallmark movie, Maria and Jesse’s story is a slow burn with a spicy finish.

When a blizzard shuts down her trip to see her family at Christmas, Maria reluctantly returns to her best friend’s inn for the holiday instead. And when Ellie and her husband come down with the flu, the NYC PR girl plays innkeeper, stepping up to help the skeleton crew keep things running. Part of the skeleton crew: Jesse, the inn’s infuriating bartender.

Despite making a terrible first impression, he turns out to be “a walking romance novel in flannel.” He adopts the stray kitten Maria found in the storm, teaches her to fix a leaking sink, cooks for her, and more. The man is a total green flag and their connection develops in genuine way.

Snowed Inn was everything I want in a small-town romance. Counting down to Honeycrisp Orchard book 3!

Thanks to Avon a and NetGalley for the e-ARC! All opinions are my own.

[Danielle]

2.5 stars

After absolutely loving The Honeycrisp Orchard Inn, I’m super disappointed that I didn’t enjoy this one. I thought Maria and Jesse had a lot of potential based on their interactions in the first book, but the chemistry didn’t end up being there for me. Maria’s inner monologue was frankly very annoying and her behavior especially at the end was just not good.

There were some positive like being back at the inn and the cozy winter vibes, and seeing Ellie and Aiden again. I am kind of interested in Charlotte and her love triangle drama so I’ll have to see how I feel about reading her book when the time comes.

Thank you to Avon and NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

[Ayla]

Snowed Inn by Valerie Bowman

Rating: 5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 1/5 🌶️

Thank you to Avon, Harper Voyager, Netgalley, and the author for access to this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Snowed Inn is absolutely delightful! From the inn setting, to the snowstorm, to the small town charm, this is a perfect read and the atmosphere is impeccable for a slow-burn, forced-proximity romance. Such a cute and cozy story!

Maria ends up visiting her best friend Ellie’s Honeycrisp Orchard Inn in an unplanned holiday stay when a snowstorm leaves her stranded on the East Coast. The inn is magical, with its small town charm, twinkling lights, and garlands, but Maria misses her family. Another frustration is Jesse, the brewery owner, who seems to find joy in annoying her. Jesse has a lot on his plate managing the bar and keeping the inn festive for the holidays, but he can’t resist Maria. As the snowstorm continues and they keep running into each other, Maria finds herself warming up to the inn and Jesse, as he shows how to slow down and enjoy the present moment. As sparks fly between them, the line between a fling and something much more meaningful starts to blur.
But when the snowstorm lets up, Maria has to decide whether she’ll follow her heart.

Snowed Inn is a super sweet, cozy, warm, and heartfelt story with lots of Christmas vibes and a forced proximity, slow-burn romance that is absolute perfection!

Maria and Jesse’s enemies-to-lovers dynamic and slow burn romance are amazing and are some of the biggest highlights of this story. The banter is super fun, the chemistry is authentic, and their connection feels meaningful. As their relationship deepens, they both grow individually as well, which adds some additional depth to the story. The small-town inn setting is so cozy, warm, and inviting, with plenty of Christmas vibes. The supporting characters are also so delightful and help to make the small town feel like a community.

Overall, Snowed Inn is the perfect story for the holiday season! With a sweet romance, a charming setting, Christmas vibes, likable characters, and a lot of coziness, Snowed Inn is such a fun read!

[Poppy]

Maria Agostini is missing her family's Christmas in LA because of a blizzard in New York that grounded all the flights. Her bestie, Ellie, invites her to her family's inn to spend the holidays instead. At the Honeycrisp Orchard Inn, Maria can't help but run into her nemesis, Jesse Butler, the property's resident hot bartender, who was rude to her upon their first meeting and grates on her nerves to no end. Jesse is guarded around city-girl Maria, and Maria is certain that her attraction to Jesse can be attributed to loneliness or that he's simply the type she usually goes for, i.e., wrong. When the flu takes out Ellie and her boyfriend, Maria and Jesse step up to help run the inn and grow closer in the process. As they learn things about one another, the enmity falls away, and fear takes over. Can they overcome their guarded hearts and accept love?

After loving Ellie & Aiden's story in The Honeycrisp Orchard Inn, I was so ready for Maria's story. Maria and Jesse were such a cute couple, and the slow burn paid off in the best way. I loved their city girl/country boy dynamic and the growth they both went through in order to accept themselves and the other person. The pacing of the story was great, and I liked how it was clear that it played out over the course of the snowed-in week. The only thing that could have made the story better, in my opinion, was a dual point of view. I would have loved to get Jesse's perspective throughout the story. The town of Harvest Hollow was so cute and cozy and everything I could have wanted in a Christmas romance. The supporting characters (and the pets) made the story fun, and I can't wait to see what happens with Charlotte. I'm hoping we get her story in this series. I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a second-chance cozy holiday romance, where opposites attract, and the characters are wicked real and lovable. It is not necessary to read the first book first, but it is a great fall read!

Thank you to Harper Voyager & Avon for providing this book for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

[Celine Schell]

First, thank you so much Avon, Harper Collins, and Netgalley for an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review!

Secondly, I loved going back to The Honeycrisp Orchard Inn for all the Christmas holiday vibes.😍🎄❤️

I will start by saying this book was a 4.5⭐️ I truly did love it! Only thing was how intense the spice got near the end. Having three spice scenes in a row felt a bit much.

Now to the amazing parts:

Just like the first book in this series, I truly appreciate Bowman making this book give all the small-town vibes that we love in TV series like Gilmore Girls or book series like Dream Harbor. Yet at the same time, she creates unique, authentic characters and plots that make this series standout and memorable!

I’m so happy we got to see Maria and Jesse’s story. I loved being able to see more depth in the characters. Not only did Maria and Jesse’s relationship evolve and deepen, but they grew individually as well. There were numerous themes in this story that I think will make readers easily relate and feel as though they are sledding on a cookie pan or drinking a peppermint martini.❄️🍸

I so happy Bowman continued the Honeycrisp Orchard series and brought us Maria and Jesse’s love story🥰 I can’t wait to read about Charlotte and Sawyer’s love story - assuming that’s next in the series😏

[Brooke Reno]

4.5⭐️ Just transport me to this cozy inn! I think I loved Snowed Inn even more than the first installment in this series. While it was a slow burn, I really enjoyed the build-up. Plus, the little cameos from Pumpkin the Pug in pajamas was a delight. Valerie has done a wonderful job at creating this town and these characters, and I'm really hoping that there might be another one in this series to come!

[Marilyn]

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher, and these are my opinions.
Maria, who was unable to make it back to Los Angeles from New York for Christmas because of a big snowstorm, is invited to stay at her friend Ellie's Inn.
Jesse and Maria clashed when the first met, and as they get to know each other and work together, she realizes that he is a great guy.
The first half of the book is mostly about them working at the Inn and is a slow burn. The second half of the story is HOT!
There are great secondary characters, humor, it is a well written book, and a really fun read.
I can't wait for the next book in the series!

[Brokebecausebooks]

I loved every page of Snowed Inn by Valerie Bowman! ❄️🎄

This cozy Christmas romance was everything I could want for the holiday season. The snowed-in inn setting was absolutely perfect and created the ideal atmosphere for a slow-burn, forced-proximity romance.

I especially loved watching Maria and Jesse slowly open up to each other and build a connection before jumping into bed. Their relationship felt more meaningful because we got to see their feelings develop along the way.

Maria also had some wonderful character development, and I really enjoyed watching her growth throughout the story.

It made me so happy to see the characters from the first book, especially pumpkin the pug! I’m pretty sure we’re getting a book about Charlotte next and I can’t wait!

I’m also a huge fan of books that call out social media and smartphone addiction. This topic was blended into the story so well!

If you’re looking for a cozy, romantic read filled with Christmas vibes, forced proximity, and a slow-burn romance, definitely add Snowed Inn to your holiday TBR! ❄️

[Allison]

4.5 stars: Our second trip back to Harvest Hollow at the Honeycrisp Orchard Inn is just as delightful as the first, maybe even more so. Laughter, tears, gasp out loud moments of “omg no he/she didn’t say that?!” and enough heart-to-heart moments to make you melt. Another thing to make you melt, the chemistry, whew, off the charts!

Maria, disenchanted with her current PR job, is just trying to get to California to spend Christmas with her big, loving family. Getting snowed in at her best friend’s inn is the blessing in disguise that allows her to recharge, and reevaluate what direction she wants her career to go in. Jesse, a bartender with a big heart and ambitious dreams, takes delight in sparring with Maria, and sharing a bit of his town with her. Before long, much to Maria’s dismay, sparks are flying and feelings turn tender. First she has to get past his flannel wardrobe, something she’s a bit harsh about, and he has to realize he’s worthy just as he is.

In the season of cozy Winter romances, Snowed Inn is a standout addition that should be immediately put at the top of everyone’s TBR pile. I just hope we’re lucky enough to get more stories set in this wonderful town with HEA endings for the other friends and family. Thank you to the author and publisher Avon and Harper Voyager for providing me with an eARC of this delightful book.

[ashlin.reads]

This will be a top holiday read this year for sure!

After reading The Honeycrisp Orchard Inn last year, when I saw this one I HAD to read it immediately! Maria and Jesse meet in the previous book and don't hit it off. He thinks she's the spoiled, rich city girl. She thinks he's the judgmental, small town, flannel wearing guy. When Maria comes to stay at the Inn with her best friend for the holidays because she's snowed in, she isn't expecting Jesse to also be snowed in with everyone. They finally come to a truce and end up growing a special bond.

I loved everything about this book! The fun banter between Jesse and Maria. The small town Christmas vibes were perfect. I felt like I was there from the descriptions Valerie gave. It made me so excited for the holiday season. I enjoyed how Jesse and Maria were so open with each other and spent the time really digging deep into how each other clicked. The fun surrounding the Inn was a joy to read about with the snowy days and fun parties they planned.

This is the perfect cozy, Hallmark vibe Christmas book! Big city girl is stuck in a small town and falls for the flannel wearing small town guy? I'll read and watch it every time!

Thank you Avon Books and Netgalley for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!

[Sally Kilpatrick]

I had the good fortune of reading an early version of this story, and it is a delightful enemies to lovers cozy romance that still has some spice. Sparks and banter fly between Maria and Jesse. This is the perfect romance to get you in the mood for the holiday season.

[Nanasbookreviews]

ARC Review

Snowed Inn by Valerie Bowman is the second book in the Honeycrisp Orchard series, and it is the perfect cozy holiday romance to curl up with during the Christmas season.

Maria Agostini is a publicist from New York City who has always loved the fast-paced city life. When a snowstorm leaves her stranded in New York just before Christmas, her best friend invites her to spend the holidays at Honeycrisp Orchard Inn. It sounds like the perfect escape... except for one small problem. Jesse Butler, the charming local brewery owner.

After a terrible first meeting, Maria and Jesse can't seem to stop exchanging sarcastic remarks every time they're together. Jesse genuinely wants to make things right, but their constant banter keeps getting in the way. As Maria settles into the small-town atmosphere, she begins to see a slower, simpler way of life that isn't as boring as she imagined. She also discovers that beneath Jesse's confident exterior is a kind-hearted man worth getting to know. But can a woman who loves designer clothes and city lights truly build a future in a small town with someone who seems to be her complete opposite?

This story was everything I want from a holiday romance. It is cozy, heartwarming, emotional, and full of witty banter that kept me smiling from beginning to end.

Tropes: Opposites Attract, Small Town Romance, Close Proximity.

The pacing felt just right, the world-building made Honeycrisp Orchard feel like a place I'd happily visit, and the romance developed naturally. Beyond the love story, the book also delivers beautiful messages about finding where you truly belong and opening your heart to unexpected possibilities.

I absolutely loved both the main and supporting characters. Maria is fierce, ambitious, and uses her designer wardrobe as a shield, while Jesse is the dependable small-town hero who quietly struggles with his own confidence. Watching them both grow throughout the story made their romance even more rewarding. I also have to mention the adorable pets, especially the cat, Christmas Eve, who completely stole every scene.

My favorite moment was when Maria visited Jesse at his house. It was one of those scenes that perfectly captured the warmth, vulnerability, and chemistry between them.

If you're looking for a sweet, cozy Christmas romance filled with heart, laughter, and plenty of holiday charm, I definitely recommend picking this one up.

[Sue Galuska]

Twenty-nine year old Maria Agostini misses her best friend Ellie Lawson so she is going to spend a few days before Christmas at Honeycrisp Orchard Inn in Harvest Hollow, NY, run by Ellie and and her boyfriend Aiden Parker. Then she will fly to LA to be with her crazy, loud family just in time for Christmas. Of course that means that she will have to see Jesse Butler, the guy who runs the brewery and bar at the inn whom she does not like.

Just as luck would have it a major snowstorm hits the area and Maria gets snowed in. On top of that Ellie and Aiden both come down with the flu. Maria steps up to help the other inn workers to keep the place running, which also will bring her into Jesse's orbit A LOT more! The more time Maria and Jesse spend together, the more they realize they may have the wrong opinion about the other and before you know it they want to spend more time together. As Maria and Jesse find out more things about the other, a slow burn of enemies to something else starts to happen and Maria finds herself thankful that she is snowed in.

When the snow starts letting up it's already New Year's Eve and Maria wants to spend one last time with Jesse before flying to LA. the slow burn of theirs finally turns into something more and these two finally cross that line. Together Maria and Jesse are HOT! Just when it looks like Maria and Jesse have found their happy ending, old issues come bubbling back and one of them runs scared. It will take some deep internal examining before they come to their senses and show back up at a surprising event. In the end, Maria and Jesse find their perfect happy ever after.

I loved this slow burn, enemies to lovers holiday romance. Maria and Jesse both had so many skeletons in their past it's a miracle they could get past them to finally realize what they had in their relationship. I loved how Jesse was able to show the work obsessed Maria how to have fun. I also enjoyed when Maria would text with her brother Luca. Overall this was another fun book in this series.

[Elia Winters]

Snowed Inn was such a wonderful book! I was expecting more cliches or cheesy moments but in reality this was such a wonderful romance and also a journey to finding yourself and owning what you deserve.

Maria and Jesse had some great banter and I appreciated the enemies to lovers trope. The best part was when Jesse called Maria out on why she didn’t like him and proving she should give him a chance. I loved that they got to know each other. Not just on a surface level but in such a meaningful way where they knew the worst parts about each other and their biggest fears.

They supported each other and cheered each other on in any way they could. I didn’t love the 3rd act breakup but it also gave them time to miss each other and know that they truly wanted to be together since their initial
Time together was so short. This was a fun intro to the Honeycrisp Orchard series and now I need to go back and read the first one!

[WitchlingReads]

SNOWED INN

If the cover of Snowed Inn isn't enough to entice you to read this cozy holiday romance, here's my honest review:
Snowed Inn played out in my mind like a Christmas hallmark movie with spice. I absolutely ate it up! It will be the perfect story to get in the holiday spirit. This is the second book in the Honeycrisp Orchard Inn world. It can be read as a stand alone.
Snowed Inn releases 9-29-26. I would definitely add this one to your holiday TBR!

Maria Agostini is an independent woman, who grew up in L.A. and moved to Manhattan. She loves fashion and her expensive apartment. She does PR for upcoming movie stars, but feels like she's baby sitting entitled brats. When her flight to L.A. is canceled due to a blizzard, her best friend invites her to stay at Honey Crisp Inn.

City girl × country boy
Forced proximity
Slow burn
Enemies to lovers
Small town romance
Cozy Christmas

*Spoilers*

The snow continues to fall and Maria can't escape Jesse. A handsome bartender, who insulted her the first time they met. She nicknames him "ball cap" and doesn't give him a chance to apologize. When he offers to adopt a stray kitten that she found freezing in the snow, her walls slowly start to melt. She begins to re-evaluate her life, because her current reality was built as an artificial image to protect herself. The quietness of the country allows her to reflect what she truly wants in her career and love life. And she just might give ball cap a chance.

Thank you Valerie Bowman, Harpercollinspublisher, and netgalley for allowing me to read eARC Snowed Inn. I absolutely enjoyed it!

[Gylene]

Maria Agostini is a big-city girl who works in New York. She comes from a big, loud family and has plans to spend Christmas with them in L.A. Jesse Butler is a small-town bartender. He has enough on his plate and no time to deal with a city girl who thinks she owns the place.

When all the flights are grounded in New York due to a blizzard, Maria is invited to spend Christmas at the Honeycrisp Orchard Inn by her friend, Ellie. Maria and Jesse find themselves helping out at the inn together and calling a truce. Will Maria and Jesse be able to keep their truce and find they are actually perfect together?

This is book two in the ‘Honeycrisp Orchard’ series. We met Maria and Jesse in book one, and they did not hit it off. They both rubbed each other the wrong way. So, I was excited to read that this book was going to be their story, and I was definitely not disappointed. It was really fantastic and I loved it!! It was full of holiday magic, extremely entertaining, and very delightful. I laughed throughout the book while reading about how Maria and Jesse, snowed in at the inn at Christmas, moved from enemies to lovers. I really enjoyed when they called a truce and started learning more about each other. They were absolutely adorable together and made the perfect couple. Overall, this book was well-written, the characters were well-developed, and it had the perfect amount of Christmas magic. I liked how in the end we got a sneak peek into the next book. Now, we have something to look forward to the next time we visit the Honeycrisp Inn. I highly recommend this book!!

[KindleandCauldrons]

There is nothing better than curling up with a cozy Christmas romance in the middle of summer, and this one completely stole my heart.
I devoured this book in one sitting because once I started, I couldn't put it down. The Honeycrisp Orchard Inn felt like the kind of place I'd pack my bags for immediately…filled with holiday magic, charming small-town characters, twinkling lights, and all the cozy Christmas vibes.
Maria and Jesse's enemies-to-lovers romance was exactly what I wanted. Their banter was entertaining, the slow burn had me completely invested, and when that tension finally broke... wow. The payoff was worth every page. I found myself smiling, laughing, swooning, and even tearing up by the end.
Although this is the second book in the Honeycrisp Orchard Romance series, I went in without reading the first book. It follows a different couple, so I never felt lost, and it works perfectly as a standalone. That said, after falling in love with this town and its characters, I've already added book one to my Kindle because I'm not ready to leave Honeycrisp Orchard.
If you're looking for a heartwarming small-town Christmas romance filled with holiday charm, memorable characters, and a beautifully written slow-burn romance, this one absolutely deserves a spot on your holiday TBR.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins Publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Deidre]

I devoured "Snowed Inn" by Valerie Bowman in a single day, and it was the perfect "Christmas in July," beat-the-heat read. This series just keeps getting better! If I was stuck inside during a blizzard, these are the characters I would want to keep me company.

Think cozy Hallmark vibes... but with spice. Maria, a New York PR specialist, and Jesse, a hunky small-town bar owner, go from enemies-to-lovers while helping keep the Honeycrisp Orchard Inn running after their friends come down with the flu. Between sledding, an adopted kitten, a leaky sink, and plenty of forced proximity, the romance feels sweet, grounded, and genuinely fun. Best of all, the characters never feel cheesy—they're refreshingly down-to-earth.

My only gripe? That third-act breakup. I'm always frustrated when one honest conversation with a little empathy could solve everything. But if anything, it just had me rooting for these two to get out of their own way even harder.

Skip the Hallmark movie marathon this year. Put on your favorite Christmas playlist instead, curl up somewhere cool, and get lost in "Snowed Inn" as soon as possible! How do I book a room for the next blizzard??

[Angela]

Thank you to Avon and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

In the second novel of the Honeycrisp Orchard series by Valerie Bowman, this novel is set around Christmastime with the characters of Maria and Jesse. Maria is set to fly out to California when her flight is cancelled due to the weather. Her best friend, Ellie invites her to spend the holiday with her at the Honeycrisp Orchard Inn. She agrees only because Jesse, the annoying brewer owner will not be there. When her friends get the flu, Maria finds herself helping out. As the snow continues to fall, they are forced to work together on the New Year's Eve celebration. As feelings develop will they be able to resist them?

This novel has all the feels of a holiday romance. Set in a wintry wonderland, emotional baggage to overcome, it is easy to root for them. I will be staying tuned for the next novel in the series.

[Courtney Vega]

One thing about me is I will eat up a book that involves a big city girl, a ruggedly handsome small town guy, and an INN. 😂

The story follows Maria, who's stranded on the east coast during a blizzard preventing her from flying to the west coast to spend Christmas with her family. She previously has a bad taste in her mouth about Jesse Butler, who works at the Inn's Brewery.

Did I love this book? Absolutely. The characters are great and the story has good pacing and reads as if you're watching a Hallmark movie, which makes the book fly by. I liked the banter between Maria and Jesse, however, Maria at times comes off a bit meh - like showing up to Christmas eve dinner in a Valentino dress..., BUT we do see character development!

I would immediately fall in love with Jesse. We wouldn't be enemies to lovers - just lovers 😂

Thank you netgalley for the arc!