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Escaping with Max: A Steamy Instalove Romance
I wanted to disappear. He made me unforgettable.
Nora
I'm twenty-five, a virgin, and completely invisible—until former Olympic coach Max Hunter catches me on the ice. At forty-two, he's intense, commanding, and determined to teach me I'm extraordinary. Private moonlit skating lessons turn into his hands on my waist, his lips on mine, and I discover I've been waiting my whole life for him.
Max
I walked away from elite coaching to find peace, but this curvy bookstore owner has awakened everything I thought I'd lost. She's my best student because she skates with joy, not perfection. One week to teach her she's mine. One chance to show her she's always been enough.
A steamy age-gap romance where the virgin heroine gets her first everything and the burned-out hero finds his reason to feel alive again. This is book five in the Escape Retreat at Evergreen Lakes series and can be read in an hour or less. No cheating, no cliffhangers, and a guaranteed happily ever after in this standalone.
Nora
I'm twenty-five, a virgin, and completely invisible—until former Olympic coach Max Hunter catches me on the ice. At forty-two, he's intense, commanding, and determined to teach me I'm extraordinary. Private moonlit skating lessons turn into his hands on my waist, his lips on mine, and I discover I've been waiting my whole life for him.
Max
I walked away from elite coaching to find peace, but this curvy bookstore owner has awakened everything I thought I'd lost. She's my best student because she skates with joy, not perfection. One week to teach her she's mine. One chance to show her she's always been enough.
A steamy age-gap romance where the virgin heroine gets her first everything and the burned-out hero finds his reason to feel alive again. This is book five in the Escape Retreat at Evergreen Lakes series and can be read in an hour or less. No cheating, no cliffhangers, and a guaranteed happily ever after in this standalone.
46 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 19, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
May 8, 2026
ESCAPING WITH MAX is Book 5 of the Winter Retreat in Evergreen Lakes series. It’s a short and steamy, instalove, OTT, age-gap, opposites-attract, forced-proximity, curvy virgin gets her mountain man romance. Nora is a 25-year-old sweet, shy, and curvy bookstore owner who has come to the ski resort for a women's singles retreat. Max is a 42-year-old hunky silver-fox skating instructor and former Olympic coach. Nora signs up for figure skating lessons and the two are drawn to each other. These two had such great chemistry. Nora got in her head but once they talked, we got a wonderful HEA. I loved it.
Review of advance copy received from Author
There’s something magical about a story where a woman who’s always felt invisible is finally seen—and Escaping with Max by E.C. Snow captures that feeling beautifully.
Nora has spent most of her life blending into the background. At twenty-five, she’s a curvy bookstore owner who’s never quite felt extraordinary. Skating is her quiet escape, something she does for joy, not attention. So when Max Hunter—former Olympic coach, intense and commanding—spots her on the ice, it’s the first time she feels truly noticed.
And once he notices her, he doesn’t look away.
Max walked away from elite coaching and the pressure of perfection, searching for peace. What he didn’t expect was Nora—joyful, genuine, and skating for the love of it. She reminds him why he fell in love with the ice in the first place. Where others chased medals and flawless routines, Nora moves with heart. And that awakens something in him he thought he’d lost.
The age-gap dynamic adds delicious tension without overshadowing the emotional core of the story. Max isn’t just drawn to Nora physically—he’s captivated by her spirit. He sees her strength before she does. And Nora, in turn, finds her confidence reflected back at her in his steady belief.
The private moonlit skating lessons are where the magic happens. The closeness. The quiet encouragement. The way his hands guide her on the ice mirrors the way he helps her find her footing emotionally. It’s intimate without feeling rushed—soft yet charged with longing.
What makes this story so satisfying is the mutual transformation. Nora discovers she’s never been invisible—she just needed someone to look at her differently. And Max, burned out and emotionally guarded, finds purpose again in helping her shine.
This is a fast, steamy, feel-good read that delivers exactly what it promises:
Age-gap romance
A heroine experiencing her first everything
A protective, intense hero rediscovering passion
No cheating
No cliffhangers
A guaranteed happily ever after
If you’re in the mood for a quick escape with heart, heat, and healing, Escaping with Max will leave you smiling long after the ice melts.
Sometimes disappearing feels safe. But being seen? That changes everything.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Nora has spent most of her life blending into the background. At twenty-five, she’s a curvy bookstore owner who’s never quite felt extraordinary. Skating is her quiet escape, something she does for joy, not attention. So when Max Hunter—former Olympic coach, intense and commanding—spots her on the ice, it’s the first time she feels truly noticed.
And once he notices her, he doesn’t look away.
Max walked away from elite coaching and the pressure of perfection, searching for peace. What he didn’t expect was Nora—joyful, genuine, and skating for the love of it. She reminds him why he fell in love with the ice in the first place. Where others chased medals and flawless routines, Nora moves with heart. And that awakens something in him he thought he’d lost.
The age-gap dynamic adds delicious tension without overshadowing the emotional core of the story. Max isn’t just drawn to Nora physically—he’s captivated by her spirit. He sees her strength before she does. And Nora, in turn, finds her confidence reflected back at her in his steady belief.
The private moonlit skating lessons are where the magic happens. The closeness. The quiet encouragement. The way his hands guide her on the ice mirrors the way he helps her find her footing emotionally. It’s intimate without feeling rushed—soft yet charged with longing.
What makes this story so satisfying is the mutual transformation. Nora discovers she’s never been invisible—she just needed someone to look at her differently. And Max, burned out and emotionally guarded, finds purpose again in helping her shine.
This is a fast, steamy, feel-good read that delivers exactly what it promises:
Age-gap romance
A heroine experiencing her first everything
A protective, intense hero rediscovering passion
No cheating
No cliffhangers
A guaranteed happily ever after
If you’re in the mood for a quick escape with heart, heat, and healing, Escaping with Max will leave you smiling long after the ice melts.
Sometimes disappearing feels safe. But being seen? That changes everything.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 2, 2026
"... skating - life - is about joy ..."
Escaping with Max is the fifth book in the Winter Retreat in Evergreen Lakes series. This story is about Nora Chandler and Maxwell Hunter . She has come to the Single Women's Escape Retreat at Evergreen Lakes Resort for seven days with her friend Jenna. Nora would rather be curled up with a book in her studio apartment above her bookshop, Turn the Page which is in Timber Ridge, a town over. She signs up for ice skating lessons on the frozen lake with Max. He is a former ice skater turned Olympic coach who burned out and decided to walk away from it all. When he sees Nora at the beginning of the first group lesson he has to literally tear his eyes away from her and control himself from skating away with her right then and there. She may be a virgin but Nora has read enough romance books that she knows what she feels and what she wants to happen with Max. These two are sizzling hot and delicious fun.
Escaping with Max is the fifth book in the Winter Retreat in Evergreen Lakes series. This story is about Nora Chandler and Maxwell Hunter . She has come to the Single Women's Escape Retreat at Evergreen Lakes Resort for seven days with her friend Jenna. Nora would rather be curled up with a book in her studio apartment above her bookshop, Turn the Page which is in Timber Ridge, a town over. She signs up for ice skating lessons on the frozen lake with Max. He is a former ice skater turned Olympic coach who burned out and decided to walk away from it all. When he sees Nora at the beginning of the first group lesson he has to literally tear his eyes away from her and control himself from skating away with her right then and there. She may be a virgin but Nora has read enough romance books that she knows what she feels and what she wants to happen with Max. These two are sizzling hot and delicious fun.
February 20, 2026
Elevator pitch: Nora, a bookstore owner with exactly zero experience with men, meets Max, a retired, internationally renowned ice skater, at a resort retreat. He teaches her to ice skate and all the bow-chicka-wow-wow.
Thoughts: This book had So. Much. Wangst. Frankly, I found it pretty boring. Also, the chemistry between them was unconvincing. The skating scenes were nice, but not enough to carry the book.
Safety? Y
Bechdel Test? Failed.
Heat? Explicit. Very IKEA (like reading furniture assembly instructions).
Triggers? Self-esteem issues.
Tropes? BBW, Instalove, sports, small-town bookstore.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Thoughts: This book had So. Much. Wangst. Frankly, I found it pretty boring. Also, the chemistry between them was unconvincing. The skating scenes were nice, but not enough to carry the book.
Safety? Y
Bechdel Test? Failed.
Heat? Explicit. Very IKEA (like reading furniture assembly instructions).
Triggers? Self-esteem issues.
Tropes? BBW, Instalove, sports, small-town bookstore.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
February 20, 2026
'A steamy age-gap romance where the virgin heroine gets her first everything and the burned-out hero finds his reason to feel alive again.'
The characters drove the storyline and they were so very appealing and likeable and perfectly steamy together. Plot was intriguing and well paced. World building was excellent and solidly drawn. Thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommend.
Grab a copy, kick back and enjoy!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The characters drove the storyline and they were so very appealing and likeable and perfectly steamy together. Plot was intriguing and well paced. World building was excellent and solidly drawn. Thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommend.
Grab a copy, kick back and enjoy!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
February 20, 2026
An instalove romance that moves quickly but still has all the feels. It's an age-gap that doesn't really make a big deal of it, but to Nora it is an obstacle for her to get over. I liked the ice skating vibe and made me think of The Cutting Edge while I was reading. Plus with the Winter Olympics currently on TV this book was timed perfectly to set the mood.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
February 20, 2026
3.5 stars.
I liked that in each other Nora and Max found just what they had always needed, someone who saw them, accepted them, loved them, and chose them every time. I liked seeing them connect, spead time, together, and how they were so honest with each other. Thank goodness for a good friends in this, who helped them to navigate bumps and gave some home truths went needed.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I liked that in each other Nora and Max found just what they had always needed, someone who saw them, accepted them, loved them, and chose them every time. I liked seeing them connect, spead time, together, and how they were so honest with each other. Thank goodness for a good friends in this, who helped them to navigate bumps and gave some home truths went needed.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
February 19, 2026
Nothing quite hits like a story in which the always overlooked, invisible heroine, finally finds the man, who makes her feel seen, loved and cared for.
I absolutely loved Nora and Max’s story. It’s full of heart, heat, tension and emotions.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I absolutely loved Nora and Max’s story. It’s full of heart, heat, tension and emotions.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
February 22, 2026
Nora has always felt overlooked and made herself invisible. That is, until she meets Max, a former Olympic coach. He makes her feel seen and desirable. There are some things they have to work through, but expect a fantastic, happy ending. Excellent short read!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
February 26, 2026
Nora is shy and withdrawn but on Max sees something more. He’s drawn to her and the feeling is mutual. It’s fast and steamy but when you know you know. It’s a beautiful tale with two souls find their one and living fully again.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Fun, quick little story. There’s a young, shy bookstore owner FMC. The MMC is an older guy, coach, teacher. They fall fast and hard. Spicy spice and a sweet HEA.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Review of advance copy
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. I liked Max and Nora as a couple even if Max has to convince Nora he loves her and that his feelings won't change.
February 20, 2026
The author has given us an older man/younger woman story that pulls us into the lives of Max and Nora. The fast-paced story keeps us turning the pages with connection, insecurities and steam.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
February 24, 2026
I loved every single story in this series. Max and Nora were meant to be together; they met at Evergreen Lake Resort, and the attraction was instant. I loved the plot, how the characters chose each other and found happiness.
February 26, 2026
A quick character driven read with an older man younger woman trope. This age gap story is an entertaining page turner that will keep you invested in this couple. I received this ARC from Booksprout and voluntarily give my review.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews