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, Fiction, Adult Fiction, Adult

299 pages, Kindle Edition

First published 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 · Rating 4 out of 5]

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 · Rating 4 out of 5]

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

[Christi · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

Snowed Inn was sooo cute! This is a slow burn, small town, Christmas romance, with opposites attract (city girl x country boy), forced proximity, and starts off with hate to love vibes. I enjoyed the first book in this small town world last year, but this one I easily loved more.

Maria is an overworked publicist who sets off to visit her best friend Ellie’s Honeycrisp Orchard Inn, where she ends up snowed in with Jesse, who she thinks hates her! Jesse is the brewer owner in the small town and he and Maria end up snowed in together at the inn. The first time they met a year prior (in the previous book), they both assumed the worst about one another. But now they’re forced to spend time together and get to know each other. This is a very wintery read, starts off on Christmas Eve, lots of sledding, snowball fights, holiday parties, etc.

The slow burn in this was SOO GOOD! It’s angsty when it comes to their feelings and the tension of their chemistry and like when will they finally give in and kiss. Maria is trying to fight her growing feelings/connection to Jesse since she’ll be returning back to her busy PR life and the city, Jesse is equally trying to push her away since he’s convinced he’s not good enough (🥹) and is used to being the rebound or “just a good time guy” while visitors are in the small town before returning to their life in the city. I just ate this one up and had so much fun! Christmas/Eve the cat was adorable too. The last third of the book the pacing kinda switched up and moves very fast in jumps ahead in time, but otherwise such a solid one that I loved!

I received an ARC from the publisher, all thoughts in this review are my own.

[Uyen · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[✨Joe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved 🥰 now I need to read the honey crisp orchard book. This book brought those cozy fall into winter season feelings right back!!!

[LaceyBanana Reads · Rating 3.75 out of 5]

The Honeycrisp Orchard Inn becomes the perfect holiday spot for Maria to get stuck in when a snowstorm blows through. She’s already decided that she hates the hot bartender Jesse, when she’s visited her friend in the past and just wants to make it back to her city life after the storm. But the charming atmosphere puts her in the Christmas spirit and makes her see how fun a life away from the city can be.

Super cute and put me right in the holiday spirit! I really loved the first book and couldn’t wait for the next one. I missed the Inn, the pug, and just the feeling of being in this town. Maria and Jesse were so stubborn and fun together, I love romance around holiday settings.

Thank you so much to Netgalley, Valerie Bowman, and Avon and Harper Voyager for providing this free E-ARC. This published on September 29th. This is my honest review.

[Mama Needs to Read Romance · Rating 5 out of 5]

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 · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Michaela | bumblebeeslibrary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Snowed Inn, book 2 in the Honeycrisp Orchard series

I absolutely adored this book. It is super cozy, hallmark vibes, perfect enemies to loves, and such good banter! I loved the big city girl meets small town man, the perfect set-up. Due to a snow storm, Maria can't make it home to L.A. for Christmas, so her friend invites her to stay at the Honeycrisp Orchard Inn, with the promise that "ball-cap" aka Jesse the bartender won't be around. But as soon as Maria shows up, with a stranded kitten in tow, she runs into Jesse. As the heat ignites between the two, admitting anything beyond mutual dislike may be too much for their egos.

If I got snowed in somewhere, I would definitely want to be somewhere like the Honeycrisp Orchard Inn. It sounds so warm, cozy, and I just love the mentions of Pumpkin the pug in his orange pajamas. I have two pugs myself, and any cozy evenings usually involve them. I found Maria's intense dislike of Jesse to be rather hilarious. I figured he had a good reason for how he treated her upon their first meeting, but of course she just kept along with her aversion for him. Jesse on the other hand, I never got the feeling he disliked Maria, but actually found her feelings towards him to be amusing, and does his best to annoy her. He does make some grand assumptions about her though, just because she likes to dress well, which really goes to show you can never judge based on appearance. Maria in turn also makes a lot of incorrect assumptions about Jesse.

I love that Maria steps in to help at the inn while Ellie is under the weather. While Maria works in PR and had loved her job at first, she starts to realize maybe there is more to life than babysitting celebrities. Jesse has big plans, but ones he has been unsure of following through with. I love how Maria encourages him, and accepts him without a second thought when she learns of his background. I also love Maria's brother, he is hilarious! And the kitten, Christmas, or Eve, is just adorable. Jesse being willing to take on a kitten just makes him more adorable!

I loved the sledding scene, and the snowmobile, so many perfectly forced proximity moments there! This is such a perfect slow burn that will drive you mad. It is so worth the wait to see how Maria and Jesse's story plays out.

Thank you so much to Avon, Netgalley, and the author for a copy of this book!

Some fav quotes:
"It looks like something straight out of a Hallmark movie, the kind where a high-powered career woman gets stranded in a small town, meets a rugged local, and rediscovers the meaning of life. I am not that woman. And this is not my life."

"Damn it. I hate when people I don’t like are competent. Also, not a fan when they’re too hot for their own good."

"ME: Just almost face-planted into a gingerbread display. Saved by a guy in flannel. This is my life now. LUCA: Plz tell me this is code for something hotter than it sounds."

"He winks at me and honestly, I’m glad I’m sitting because my knees go weak."

"Because here’s the thing no one tells you about slow-burn enemies-to-something-maybe-more situations: they sneak up on you. One second you’re trading insults, the next he’s making you martinis and saving you from public face-plants and adopting your abandoned kitten like it’s a joint-custody arrangement."

"Jesse walks me back to the inn, like the hot, kind, decent man he apparently is. Honestly, at this point I’m starting to wonder if he’s even real or just a walking romance novel in flannel."

"If one brush of his fingers can undo me, one kiss is only going to wreck me more. And yet I still want it. More than I’ve wanted anything in a long time."

"I need caffeine. And possibly an emotional exorcism."

"Jesse looks hot. The kind of hot that should be illegal. He’s wearing a black suit, a crisp white shirt, and a smooth black tie, and I think my brain short-circuits for a moment because I have literally never seen him dressed up like this before. I thought he looked good in flannel? That was a joke. This is devastating. Next-level, shut-it-all-down, God-save-me levels of hot."

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just finished reading an advanced copy of a book that was just recently released called, Snowed Inn. This is about Maria, she's going to visit her best friend before going home for the holidays, but she ends up getting stranded in her friend's small town for the holidays because of a snowstorm. She has never missed the holidays with her family until now, so she's feeling upset and missing them but is trying to make the best out of her current situation. But that's not easy when Jesse, the brewery owner who she is still frustrated with from the last time she visited, keeps crossing paths with her and being all nice and charming. Jesse can't seem to resist Maria, something about her sass and determination intrigues him and he keeps finding himself drawn to her. As the holidays approach Maria finds herself fitting into this cozy small town life, finding her stride helping her best friend at the inn, feeling all the holiday magic, and before she even realizes it sparks are flying between Jesse and her.
This was such a sweet, festive, and cozy holiday romance! I felt like I was right there, a part of the town, experiencing the holidays right along with the characters! This is book 2 in this series but can be read as a standalone (btw book 1 is about Maria's best friend who owns the inn, in case you want to read her story!) I loved watching Maria and Jesse's relationship change and develop throughout the story. I loved how they started off rough and not in a good place but worked through it, became friends and supported each other, and that the attraction between them turned their friendship into more! This was such a fantastic winter/Christmas read, I really enjoyed it! 💙📚

Thank you to Valerie Bowman, Avon, Harper Collins, and Netgalley for this ARC of Snowed Inn, in exchange for an honest review.

[Hijabi_booklover · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ **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 · Rating 4 out of 5]

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!

[Amy (ReadThisAndSteep) · Rating 5 out of 5]

After enjoying the first book in this series, I was very excited for this heartwarming contemporary holiday romance, and it delivered!

A small-town slow burn with enemies-to-lovers, forced proximity thanks to a blizzard, found family, Hallmark holiday vibes, spice, and an adorable kitten who threatens to steal the show.

The setting is a cozy inn where everyone gets snowed in, and Maria Agostini, an overworked big-city public relations specialist, runs into Jesse Butler, the ruggedly handsome brewery owner. The two have an antagonistic past, but the forced proximity creates romantic tension and barely contained sparks until they realize they may have misjudged one another. As they get to know one another, misconceptions give way to fun banter, then emotional intimacy. I appreciated that the emotional side of the relationship was built before the physical. It does get steamy, but the overall relationship feels as earned as it is heartwarming.

Loads of snow, holiday cheer, hot chocolate, roaring fires, nicknames, and backward baseball caps, this is charming escapist fun. Familiar faces from the first book make cameos, but this works as a standalone. Holiday romance lovers, you'll want to add this one to your list!

*4.5 rounded up

[Cheryl Hanzidiakou · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nothing happens…absolutely nothing.

[Bookish_Aly_Cat · Rating 4.25 out of 5]

I fell in love with the Honeycrisp Orchard Inn so I was super excited for this book, and it didn’t disappoint.

Being trapped in a cozy inn during a blizzard in a cute small town provided the perfect setting for this holiday romance. It definitely gave off Hallmark vibes and I was here for it.

There was a lot of fun banter between Maria and Jesse. There were a few times where it felt a little over the top, but it was nice seeing how it played into their relationship progression. Both characters couldn’t be more different from one another and I really enjoyed seeing how that played out as they got to know each other better.

There was also an adorable kitten that I couldn’t get enough of. It was a fun touch to this cozy holiday story.

This could easily be read as a standalone, but if you read the first book you’ll see some of your favorite characters make an appearance in this one.

Read this if you like:
❄️Slow burn
❄️Small town
❄️Found Family
❄️Enemies to lovers
❄️Forced proximity

Thank you @avonbooks @harpervoyager for sending me a gifted copy of the book.

[Samantha Dickenson · Rating 4 out of 5]

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!

[Sasha · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

I really liked the Honeycrisp Orchard Inn and was so excited for Maria’s story but unfortunately this was disappointing.

I think I just wasn’t a fan of Maria’s character so that clouded my judgement of the entire book. Maria came off a bit annoying so it was hard to emphasize with her. The romance itself was also not my favorite. Instead of being cute and fluffy, it was a little cringy and some of the dialogue felt off as well.

I’m disappointed but I’m looking forward to the next in the series!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc in exchange for my honest review

[Miranda Reads]

Ohmygod. Yes. Please.

*gimme grabby hands*

[Missyreadsromantasy · Rating 5 out of 5]

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 · Rating 3 out of 5]

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 · Rating 5 out of 5]

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 · Rating 4 out of 5]

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 · Rating 4 out of 5]

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😏

[Lacey Stephens · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

I read the Honeycrisp Orchard Inn previously and thought it was super cute, so I requested the galley of book 2.

I was disappointed when I saw a post on the author’s instagram page using generative AI art to tease a potential future book.

I made a comment saying it was disappointing that she supports the use of AI. She took the post down. We had a quick chat on messenger about why Gen AI is harmful to artists and authors.

I think she was sincere in her response and so I decided to read the ARC.

But I’m hesitant. If an author doesn’t know the harm of Gen AI art, does that mean she’s ok with Chat GPT and other forms of written AI that was trained on stolen books?
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This is set after The Honeycrisp Orchard Inn.

A blizzard has shut down the airport and Marie is unable to go to LA to see her family for Christmas. She makes it to the Inn to spend time with her friend, who ends up with the flu. So now Marie is stuck at the Inn with HIM…the rude, flannel-and-baseball-cap-wearing bartender who works at the Inn.
With nothing to do except pitch in when the Inn becomes short staffed, Marie starts to learn that maybe her first impression of Jesse was incorrect, and that maybe she needs to find a new “type”.
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Review: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⚡️/🌶️
This was a fun and quick cozy Holiday romance.
It’s was a little too predictable and cheesy, though.

But if you’re looking for a fun, low-stakes Holiday themed cozy

[Amy Gray · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maria planned on spending Christmas with her family in California but a snowstorm strands her in New England. Her friend Ellie has invited her to stay at the charming, festive Honeycrisp Orchard Inn---which is great except for brewery owner Jesse. The two clashed the last time they met, and Maria just wants to steer clear of him. But when their paths continue to cross and they work together to keep the inn running through the snowstorm, Maria and Jesse get to know each other better.

This was a sweet enough story---nothing too deep or ground-breaking, but the snowy inn setting is lovely and while both main characters have issues, they aren't so heavy as to weigh down the storyline. The kitten and the pug are cute additions, and there is an obligatory sledding/snowball fight scene. Recommended to any romance reader looking for an easy holiday story.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advance review copy.

[Zara Lucas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley and Harper for the ARC!!!
I thoroughly enjoyed the honeycrisp orchard inn and was glad to receive this arc. Maria and Jesse had such great character development. I loved their bickering but also loved when they were able to have those moments with deep conversation and truly getting to know each other. I had my suspicions about El too and I'm glad that part was mentioned towards the end LOL. I loved how Jesse was able to pursue his dreams and how Maria was able to do something that makes her happy. I love these Hallmark movie type books :') would def read more by Valerie Bowman

[Jenna D. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was exactly what I needed. A cozy and predictable holiday romance. And let me just say I soaked up every page of it! I felt like I was transported right into a Hallmark Movie and it was just what I needed to get into the holiday spirit with the holiday months upon us. The back stories of Maria and Jesse were the perfect among of emotional and raw while still keeping the banter light and loving. Thank you so much to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me this eARC in exchange for my honest opinion!

[Brooke Reno · Rating 4 out of 5]

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!

[Marina Clarke · Rating 5 out of 5]

absolutely devoured this book enemies to lovers the banter and the winter vibes definitely read with a hot chocolate