Winter

by Stella Whitcomb Lane

What happens when a lifetime of lies unravels and a power you never knew existed is revealed?

Willa Martin’s life is simple. The eldest daughter of a broken mother and an absent father, she is sensible and responsible to a fault. A librarian with a serious knitting habit, Willa is blindsided by a mysterious reunion with her father and a dangerous new world she must now inhabit. Will the handsome man she meets in her library guide her through the challenges ahead or will he become the heartbreak she least expected?

Stellan Lundqvist has no focus other than bringing The Storm King to justice. Following a new lead, Lundqvist departs from Stockholm to the doorstep of his target's daughter in the quaint hills of Vermont. Capturing the elusive criminal will be the pinnacle of his career. If only he didn’t find Willa’s quiet strength and subtle beauty quite so distracting.

The start of a thrilling new modern fantasy romance series, each book in The Storm King’s Daughters is interconnected, but follows a single couple.

🖤 Library x Secret Agent
🖤 Forbidden (target’s daughter)
🖤 Dual First Person POV
🖤 Epic Grovel
🖤 Angsty
🖤 OW Drama (no cheating)
🖤 Hidden Magic

352 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 16, 2026

About the author

Stella Whitcomb Lane writes witty, suspenseful romance with a modern fantasy twist. Set in a contemporary magical world, her characters find their hidden strength and discover that love can sneak up on you when you least expect it. She loves books with a hard won HEA and an epic grovel.

Stella grew up in the great state of Vermont and lives in Rhode Island with her family and their Bernese Mountain Dog.

Reviews

[Meg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Winter by Stella Whitcomb Lane is a fun and engaging contemporary fantasy romance that mixes secret agents, magic, and emotional drama in a way that keeps the story moving. Winter really shines in its strong, character-driven worldbuilding, which unfolds naturally through the characters and their experiences, making the setting feel immersive without ever feeling too heavy. Willa is a great main character because she is both relatable and complex, and honestly, who can resist a good librarian character? The story reveals its secrets at just the right pace, keeping the reader curious and eager to see what happens next. Overall, Winter is a compelling and enjoyable start to a new series, especially for readers who like romance, fantasy, and a little mystery. I’m definitely excited to see where the series goes next.

[Janelle Germaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will be the first to admit that this genre is not my typical go-to, but wow! This book blew me away!

The author did a fantastic job of giving the characters such great depth that made me feel like I knew them personally.

I had a hard time putting the book down as I couldn’t wait to find out what happened next. The vivid detail painted a clear picture in my mind as I read.

I can’t wait for the next book to be released.

[Karrie Seibel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book had me in a chokehold! I started reading it as my work-book companion, and I was honestly so sad when I finished. I wanted to know what happened next, and that ending left me wanting more.

Willa’s life as a librarian gets turned upside down in one night of magic and secrets, and I loved watching her navigate everything that followed. She is relatable, complex, and such a fun character to follow. And honestly, who can resist a good librarian character? 📖

The worldbuilding was one of my favorite parts. The magic, lore, and secrets unfold naturally through the characters and their experiences, making the world feel immersive without becoming overwhelming. I loved that I was learning about the world while getting to know the people living in it.

The dual POV worked so well for this story. It gave me different perspectives and made the emotional drama even more interesting. There is romance, mystery, magic, and just enough spice to keep things moving. ✨

And then there is the MMC… At one point I was ready to fight him, but then I folded like a lawn chair. 😂 #TeamStellan

The ending! 😭 I needed answers, and instead I got a hint that book two, The Storm King’s Daughters: Beatrice and Soren’s Story, is coming in spring. I am absolutely ready for it.

My takeaways

❄️ A good librarian heroine is always a win.

✨ Worldbuilding that unfolds naturally makes a story feel immersive.

❤️ Characters who make you feel everything are the ones you remember.

📚 Sometimes the best books leave you wanting more.

If you enjoy fantasy romance with magic, lore, secrets, and a little mystery, I definitely recommend picking this one up. I am so excited to see where this series goes next!

Tropes / themes: Contemporary fantasy romance • Dual POV • Librarian heroine • Secret agents • Magic • Lore • Mystery • Spice • Emotional drama • Character-driven worldbuilding • Series starter • Found family vibes

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[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kindly received a digital copy from the author in exchange for an honest review

Winter by Stella Whitcomb Lane

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5

🖤 Forbidden / Workplace
🖤 Forced Proximity
🖤 Epic grovel
🖤 Librarian/Secret Agent
🖤 Dual POV

"I'm yours for as long as you'll have me."

This book had absolutely everything I was missing out on! The writing in this book is spot on and I loved the seamless flow of back and forth between the dual POV of eldest daughter and librarian Willa and Secret Agent Stellan who's goal is to find out more information on Willa's father. It is his career goal to put her elusive father behind bards but it turns out, this assignment might be more that he had prepared for. Who is Willa's father? Read to find out!

The slow burn between Willa and Stellan was beautifully written and I could not stop reading.

I enjoyed the family aspect in this book and how Willa is always looking out for her mother, she even calls her siblings to remind them to check in. When she finds out that she might miss Thanksgiving she is saddened and as someone who lives far from home myself, I can relate and admire all the details. 🖤

I have never been to Vermont before but this book quickly made me want to plan a vacation!

Stella is an incredible author and I highly recommend you read this!

Thank you so much for this wonderful book Stella Whitcomb Lane!! I am so excited to read book 2 Spring soon!

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It’s light enough to feel fun, but the characters have real depth and complexity, they feel real in the way they react to the world around them. Plus real emotional weight to some serious family drama and pain.

Plus the main characters have a wonderful, smouldering chemistry (as well as spice!).

But I’m a sucker for world building and this is just fab. So much urban fantasy feels like magic or fae shoehorned into the real world, this isn’t like that. It’s a proper, well thought out world that works.

Honestly, I cannot wait for the next book!

[Kendra Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had me in a chokehold. From Willa getting through life working as a librarian to her life being turned upside down in a night of magic and secrets. This story is dual POV and has lore, spice, and magic (the perfect ingredients for a good read). At one point I was ready to fight the MMC, but then I folded like a lawn chair. #TeamStellan Winter is book one in The Storm King’s Daughters series and I can’t wait for book two.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very enjoyable read! A good level of spice and an intriguing world.

[Amanda Cundy · Rating 5 out of 5]

gripping

Thoroughly enjoy this book, good amount of suspense and romance! With a little darkness thrown in for good measure. Looking forward to the 2nd book.