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Snow in the Pines: Starworth Hearts
342 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 28, 2026
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6 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
February 14, 2026
I live in New England now, so I love the idea of books being placed within the territory. I needed to read this book, and I’m so grateful that NetGally approved me for it. After finishing the book, one thing is clear: the author put a lot of time and effort went into character design and world building. After finishing this review and reading it back, there’s no way to make this spoiler free. Please be ready.
When I first started it, I was confused by the multiple POV’s outside of MMC/MFC. For a romance, this doesn’t happen often. When I kept reading, it made more sense as the story developed. There were points in time where I do feel like the multiple POVs either added or took away from the story itself. Sometimes, it was like a reveal happened and then readers would take a commercial break, where other times it was a reveal and then we got to work directly from that for a while. I wish there weren’t as many subplots as there were. Sure, we needed background on the characters, but maybe a book about them not working out would have benefit the reader more than getting some of their POV. For example, Willa. That conversation with her ex in her shop felt unfinished. A loose end that should have been wrapped in a bow. It would have bee interesting to see something happen again and tad to be involved as his role of a cop.
Tad POV was a cool edition, and it allowed room for small prejudice character growth as demonstrated near the ending, but we never really get to see what happens with his romantic life, it’s focused on his kid. For a romance book, I wish he got something more. Even in the epilogue.
Silas and Jane felt standard, but I am so tired of the third act breakups. I also wanted her to be more stressed about everything back in California and for Silas to get her affairs in order to officially move back with all her apartments stuff together? Maybe he’d see he is interested in living somewhere else? Or at least to work part time for the ferry and part time as a college degree in Portland? I finished the book craving that more decisions had been made, especially due to his ex making the comments to Jane about it. In addition to that, is she no longer interested in pursuing a singing/writing career? Her friend is going on tour, and she’s jealous, but not enough to do anything? I’m not sure I was in love with the book. It wasn’t a bad read, I just wanted more from it. 2.5 stars, but rated as a 3 for this platform.
When I first started it, I was confused by the multiple POV’s outside of MMC/MFC. For a romance, this doesn’t happen often. When I kept reading, it made more sense as the story developed. There were points in time where I do feel like the multiple POVs either added or took away from the story itself. Sometimes, it was like a reveal happened and then readers would take a commercial break, where other times it was a reveal and then we got to work directly from that for a while. I wish there weren’t as many subplots as there were. Sure, we needed background on the characters, but maybe a book about them not working out would have benefit the reader more than getting some of their POV. For example, Willa. That conversation with her ex in her shop felt unfinished. A loose end that should have been wrapped in a bow. It would have bee interesting to see something happen again and tad to be involved as his role of a cop.
Tad POV was a cool edition, and it allowed room for small prejudice character growth as demonstrated near the ending, but we never really get to see what happens with his romantic life, it’s focused on his kid. For a romance book, I wish he got something more. Even in the epilogue.
Silas and Jane felt standard, but I am so tired of the third act breakups. I also wanted her to be more stressed about everything back in California and for Silas to get her affairs in order to officially move back with all her apartments stuff together? Maybe he’d see he is interested in living somewhere else? Or at least to work part time for the ferry and part time as a college degree in Portland? I finished the book craving that more decisions had been made, especially due to his ex making the comments to Jane about it. In addition to that, is she no longer interested in pursuing a singing/writing career? Her friend is going on tour, and she’s jealous, but not enough to do anything? I’m not sure I was in love with the book. It wasn’t a bad read, I just wanted more from it. 2.5 stars, but rated as a 3 for this platform.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 11, 2026
Reading Snow in the Pines filled me with a sense of foreboding; it felt portentous and a little ominous and was told from several point of views which made trying to unravel the mystery of the who was setting the fires all the more exciting. This was fast-paced and easy to read. I wish I enjoyed the romance more. I think the FMC is interesting and has some darkness in her past that maybe made her a little jaded when it came to certain interactions HOWEVER, I think she was spot on for feeling uncomfortable around the MMC during most interactions. He is a giant walking red flag (WHO TRIES TO CONVINCE A PERSON TO KEEP GOING WHEN THEY CLEARLY SAY NO?! THAT IS SUCH AN ICK I ALMOST STOPPED READING) and even the things he did where he was just concerned for her screamed problematic. The jump from her being uncomfortable to them being romantically involved was way too abrupt and felt like it came out of nowhere. Because I hated the MMC so much it honestly ruined the book for me. Thanks Netgalley for the e-ARC!
February 12, 2026
Special thanks to net galley for the arc in exchange for an honest review-
2.5/5-
So much of this book is cute. The setting is an island in Maine during January. Jane is a famous singer who is hiding from her fame, using the small little town as her hideout. This alone is a fun concept.
Now we add a mystery! To uncover the mystery we read from the pov’s of different characters. Our supporting characters are fun and fleshed out. The pacing is good, a little of the fast side but it’s still engaging.
You’re probably wondering why I didn’t give it a 3? It’s simply because of the mmc, Silas. All of his ‘sweet’ actions fell flat for me, their chemistry was non existent and I just felt like Jane could do so much better. It got to the point where I just couldn’t stand him anymore and DNF’d at chapter 30.
Thanks again for the arc net galley!
2.5/5-
So much of this book is cute. The setting is an island in Maine during January. Jane is a famous singer who is hiding from her fame, using the small little town as her hideout. This alone is a fun concept.
Now we add a mystery! To uncover the mystery we read from the pov’s of different characters. Our supporting characters are fun and fleshed out. The pacing is good, a little of the fast side but it’s still engaging.
You’re probably wondering why I didn’t give it a 3? It’s simply because of the mmc, Silas. All of his ‘sweet’ actions fell flat for me, their chemistry was non existent and I just felt like Jane could do so much better. It got to the point where I just couldn’t stand him anymore and DNF’d at chapter 30.
Thanks again for the arc net galley!
February 4, 2026
Snow in the Pines
Rating: 2.5
A sweet romance about learning to trust yourself, and being open to love.
Set on the island of Starworth in Maine, an idyllic place described as a place for locals and those who are running away.
Jane is a musician running away from her life in San Francisco after a disastrous relationship, with the plan of ignoring the ferryman Silas with the watchful eyes.
The plot moves quickly, with multiple POVs from characters you don't expect, but the character development fell a little bit flat for me.
Thanks to Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Rating: 2.5
A sweet romance about learning to trust yourself, and being open to love.
Set on the island of Starworth in Maine, an idyllic place described as a place for locals and those who are running away.
Jane is a musician running away from her life in San Francisco after a disastrous relationship, with the plan of ignoring the ferryman Silas with the watchful eyes.
The plot moves quickly, with multiple POVs from characters you don't expect, but the character development fell a little bit flat for me.
Thanks to Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
February 16, 2026
I enjoyed the book, but not to a great extent. The 3rd person perspective and multiple POVs from so many characters made the book unique, but a little harder to connect to. I felt like the romance was subdued. Despite this, I did enjoy the writing of Jane and Silas's relationship. I think a few plot points felt underdevloped like Jane's background or music. Sadly, I feel like I didn't really connect with the characters or story. Overall, it has good potential, but I did not love it. I am curious to see how the rest of the series develops.
Thank you to Victory Editing and NetGalley for providing me with a free e-copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you to Victory Editing and NetGalley for providing me with a free e-copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
March 3, 2026
🌶️🌶️
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Tropes/TW:
Small beach town romance
Broken-hearted musician FMC x protective MMC
Enemies to lovers
Slow burn
Second chances
Found family
Thank you Maeve Goodwyn and Netgalley for the opportunity to review this ARC copy.
*I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.*
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Tropes/TW:
Small beach town romance
Broken-hearted musician FMC x protective MMC
Enemies to lovers
Slow burn
Second chances
Found family
Thank you Maeve Goodwyn and Netgalley for the opportunity to review this ARC copy.
*I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.*
March 28, 2026
The romance between the two main characters was refreshing! It wasn't something grand or extravagant. It was the type of love that you spot anywhere. I will say there is a side mystery storyline in this book that got me. I was not expecting the outcome!
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews