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French Escapes #1
Snowballs!: Winter Fun on the Slopes
Join old university friends Jenna, Max, Angus, Bertie, Hugo and Sally as they set off for a wintry week of fun, fondue and frivolity on the glamorous Val d'Argent. On the flirting, drinking, dancing - and a bit of skiing along the way. But once they arrive they are soon waylaid by secret passions, ominous oligarchs, chairlift shenanigans and the sort of social climbing that requires more effort and planning than a solo ascent of Mont Blanc. Clip on your skis, dig out your salopettes, and get ready for some fun on the slopes...
- GenresChristmas
336 pages, Paperback
Published January 11, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
December 5, 2017
3.5 Stars
From the looks of the cover and the blurb I thought perfect this is easily my sort of book, I will love it and it should be a nice quick read for me. So you may be wondering why only 3.5 stars from me?
I think it was just the wrong book for my frame of mind at the time of reading it. Unfortunately my main bug bear with it was purely that I didn't like most of the characters and from their behaviours I felt like I was 10-15 years too old to read this book - I would reckon teenagers would potentially enjoy this, or uni aged people but it just didn't quite strike the right chord with me.
That being said, wow there was a lot of sex in this book and some of those scenes were hot and highly enjoyable. Some of it could be classed as more risque or sordid which did add to the fun of the book, and there seemed to be a lot of partner swapping.
The action on the ski slopes too caught my attention and I loved the both the action on and off the piste, especially the hunky French ski instructor who was incredibly flirty!
There is plenty to enjoy and I reckon another day, I would have been raving about the book. I am though curious to see what the next book is going to be like, although having read the blurb of that before finishing this one, I did know who one of the characters ended up with already.
6 friends, 6 perspectives, a whole lot of fun and action packed into a one week ski holiday, plus some adventure and adrenalin pumping scenes. Good debut and be curious to see how this author progresses.
Thank you to Netgalley and Orion for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
From the looks of the cover and the blurb I thought perfect this is easily my sort of book, I will love it and it should be a nice quick read for me. So you may be wondering why only 3.5 stars from me?
I think it was just the wrong book for my frame of mind at the time of reading it. Unfortunately my main bug bear with it was purely that I didn't like most of the characters and from their behaviours I felt like I was 10-15 years too old to read this book - I would reckon teenagers would potentially enjoy this, or uni aged people but it just didn't quite strike the right chord with me.
That being said, wow there was a lot of sex in this book and some of those scenes were hot and highly enjoyable. Some of it could be classed as more risque or sordid which did add to the fun of the book, and there seemed to be a lot of partner swapping.
The action on the ski slopes too caught my attention and I loved the both the action on and off the piste, especially the hunky French ski instructor who was incredibly flirty!
There is plenty to enjoy and I reckon another day, I would have been raving about the book. I am though curious to see what the next book is going to be like, although having read the blurb of that before finishing this one, I did know who one of the characters ended up with already.
6 friends, 6 perspectives, a whole lot of fun and action packed into a one week ski holiday, plus some adventure and adrenalin pumping scenes. Good debut and be curious to see how this author progresses.
Thank you to Netgalley and Orion for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
January 9, 2025
I didn't know what I would make of this one. One of the easiest flowing reads I have had in a long time. It hooks you from page on through to the end.
At first I was thinking it's going to be stereotyping all the way the through and too daft. My mind quickly changed into something so much more.
Knowing it was the start of a set I resisted the urge to look what characters were going to be together by the end. I was rooting for Jenna and Angus. They made the book for me.
At first I was thinking it's going to be stereotyping all the way the through and too daft. My mind quickly changed into something so much more.
Knowing it was the start of a set I resisted the urge to look what characters were going to be together by the end. I was rooting for Jenna and Angus. They made the book for me.
January 12, 2018
Jenna and her friends are going skiing in the French Alps. They're university buddies who stayed in touch. Jenna's always had a crush on Max, but so far he hasn't shown any romantic interest in her. Will she be able to change this on the trip? Bertie is the rich girl of the group and she's also after Max, will she be able to catch her man and keep him this time? Max's best friend Angus is the one who usually dries the tears when Max breaks another heart, who is he going to comfort this time? Sally and Hugo are happily engaged, will they have a good time in France with their single friends?
The six friends are in the Alps to ski, eat, drink and have a good time. Tension between them, parties that are getting out of hand and differences in skill level on the piste are making things interesting for them. Will they all come out of the holiday unscathed, are their friendships going to survive and will love blossom or will everything snowball out of control and end up in one big ice cold disaster?
Snowballs: Winter Fun on the Slopes is a great entertaining story. I was immediately intrigued by Jenna and her friends. Jenna is a kindhearted girl. She doesn't earn much money, but she wants to do something she loves. She's a happy drunk and knows how to party. Max is a player. He's incredibly selfish, doesn't pay any attention to the people around him and follows his own needs alone. Bertie is manipulative, haughty and unkind. She's willing to go far to get what she wants and disapproval is her main attitude. Sally and Hugo are a merry couple. They are very much in love and they are pretty sweet together. Angus doesn't easily show his feelings. He's gentle and has a conscience, but he doesn't always say the right things to people. He was my favorite of the six friends because of his versatile personality. Not all of the main characters of Snowballs: Winter Fun on the Slopes are likable and I absolutely loved that aspect of the story, it's fun and it made fascinating reading.
Fliss Chester has a fabulous sense of humor. I immediately enjoyed reading Snowballs: Winter Fun on the Slopes because of the atmosphere of the story. I felt like I was watching a sensational reality show and I liked that a lot. There's a lot of alcohol, sex and scheming going on in this book. It's action-packed, surprising and original and Fliss Chester made me laugh multiple times. Her characters are creating plenty of chaos, they land themselves in the most terrible situations and they go from one embarrassing moment to the next. Fliss Chester combines this with a stunning setting that's perfect for any kind of adventure. Snowballs: Winter Fun on the Slopes is a fantastic dynamic and amusing story.
The six friends are in the Alps to ski, eat, drink and have a good time. Tension between them, parties that are getting out of hand and differences in skill level on the piste are making things interesting for them. Will they all come out of the holiday unscathed, are their friendships going to survive and will love blossom or will everything snowball out of control and end up in one big ice cold disaster?
Snowballs: Winter Fun on the Slopes is a great entertaining story. I was immediately intrigued by Jenna and her friends. Jenna is a kindhearted girl. She doesn't earn much money, but she wants to do something she loves. She's a happy drunk and knows how to party. Max is a player. He's incredibly selfish, doesn't pay any attention to the people around him and follows his own needs alone. Bertie is manipulative, haughty and unkind. She's willing to go far to get what she wants and disapproval is her main attitude. Sally and Hugo are a merry couple. They are very much in love and they are pretty sweet together. Angus doesn't easily show his feelings. He's gentle and has a conscience, but he doesn't always say the right things to people. He was my favorite of the six friends because of his versatile personality. Not all of the main characters of Snowballs: Winter Fun on the Slopes are likable and I absolutely loved that aspect of the story, it's fun and it made fascinating reading.
Fliss Chester has a fabulous sense of humor. I immediately enjoyed reading Snowballs: Winter Fun on the Slopes because of the atmosphere of the story. I felt like I was watching a sensational reality show and I liked that a lot. There's a lot of alcohol, sex and scheming going on in this book. It's action-packed, surprising and original and Fliss Chester made me laugh multiple times. Her characters are creating plenty of chaos, they land themselves in the most terrible situations and they go from one embarrassing moment to the next. Fliss Chester combines this with a stunning setting that's perfect for any kind of adventure. Snowballs: Winter Fun on the Slopes is a fantastic dynamic and amusing story.
January 16, 2018
Very easy to read book. Great for a holiday read. Relatable characters, we all know a Bertie! And probably all feel a bit like Jenna sometimes. Funny in places and the naughty bits wernt naughty enough to make you cringe! Looking forward to the next book from F Chester!
November 27, 2017
Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the Publishers for this review copy, given in exchange for an honest review.
Debut book by Fliss Chester, and in it we meet old university friends Jenna, Max, Angus, Bertie, Hugo and Sally. They are all off on a week’s skiing holiday to Val D’Argent courtesy of Bertie’s friend who has a villa there. When they get there you realise it’s probably less skiing and more drinking, fun and frolics!
I loved the look of this book. The cover was très enticing (did you see what I did there?! I chucked some French in as the book is set in France!), and the blurb sounded great fun. Jenna was the main narrator of the story and it started off well meeting all of her old university friends. Jenna has a massive crush on Max, to the point of dreamily thinking of him at every given opportunity. Unfortunately, Bertie also has a thing for Max, and whilst Jenna tries to spend the holiday not thinking about him, Bertie does the complete opposite!
It was a good story, but to be honest I did get a bit bogged down with all the characters. There are only 6 main characters but when they all come together at the beginning, I found it really hard to concentrate on who was who and who was with who. Obviously, as the book went on it became easier, but it did spoil the overall excitement of it for me.
It is a fun book though, and there are laughs aplenty. It does have a few ‘flirty’ bits, and some bits that go a bit further than ‘flirty’, but it’s all done in good taste and good humour. It’s definitely a seasonal book with more snow that you can shake a stick at. The vision of Jenna trying to get down the ski slope despite not being much of a skier reminded me so much of the film version of the infamous ‘Bridget Jones’, and was probably my favourite bit of the book.
On the whole, it didn’t really keep my attention throughout the whole story, but it was still an enjoyable read. Definitely worth a go in my opinion!
Debut book by Fliss Chester, and in it we meet old university friends Jenna, Max, Angus, Bertie, Hugo and Sally. They are all off on a week’s skiing holiday to Val D’Argent courtesy of Bertie’s friend who has a villa there. When they get there you realise it’s probably less skiing and more drinking, fun and frolics!
I loved the look of this book. The cover was très enticing (did you see what I did there?! I chucked some French in as the book is set in France!), and the blurb sounded great fun. Jenna was the main narrator of the story and it started off well meeting all of her old university friends. Jenna has a massive crush on Max, to the point of dreamily thinking of him at every given opportunity. Unfortunately, Bertie also has a thing for Max, and whilst Jenna tries to spend the holiday not thinking about him, Bertie does the complete opposite!
It was a good story, but to be honest I did get a bit bogged down with all the characters. There are only 6 main characters but when they all come together at the beginning, I found it really hard to concentrate on who was who and who was with who. Obviously, as the book went on it became easier, but it did spoil the overall excitement of it for me.
It is a fun book though, and there are laughs aplenty. It does have a few ‘flirty’ bits, and some bits that go a bit further than ‘flirty’, but it’s all done in good taste and good humour. It’s definitely a seasonal book with more snow that you can shake a stick at. The vision of Jenna trying to get down the ski slope despite not being much of a skier reminded me so much of the film version of the infamous ‘Bridget Jones’, and was probably my favourite bit of the book.
On the whole, it didn’t really keep my attention throughout the whole story, but it was still an enjoyable read. Definitely worth a go in my opinion!
January 22, 2022
Snowballs: Winter Fun on the Slopes by Fliss Chester
Five music festivals . . . One unforgettable summer! A new clean teen romance from the author of Love, Secret Santa.
Join old university friends Jenna, Max, Angus, Bertie, Hugo and Sally as they jet off to the French Alps for a week of festive fun.
On the agenda: flirting, drinking, dancing - and a bit of skiing along the way.
But once they arrive they are soon waylaid by secret passions, chairlift shenanigans, sexy ski-instructors and the sort of social climbing that requires more effort and planning than a solo ascent of Mont Blanc!
This is a great, entertaining story. It was a very easy book to read and would make a great holiday read for those winter holidays. I was drawn in by the cover but stayed for the characters - even if not all of them are likeable.
Rating 4/5
Five music festivals . . . One unforgettable summer! A new clean teen romance from the author of Love, Secret Santa.
Join old university friends Jenna, Max, Angus, Bertie, Hugo and Sally as they jet off to the French Alps for a week of festive fun.
On the agenda: flirting, drinking, dancing - and a bit of skiing along the way.
But once they arrive they are soon waylaid by secret passions, chairlift shenanigans, sexy ski-instructors and the sort of social climbing that requires more effort and planning than a solo ascent of Mont Blanc!
This is a great, entertaining story. It was a very easy book to read and would make a great holiday read for those winter holidays. I was drawn in by the cover but stayed for the characters - even if not all of them are likeable.
Rating 4/5
December 30, 2017
I confess an interest as Fliss Chester was a former Chalk the Sun writing student and I read early drafts of this novel; I would have given it 5* otherwise. However, trying to be as unbiased as a proud tutor can be and bearing in mind the many edits and rewrites before publication, I really recommend this pacy light-hearted comic read. Sharply drawn, funny characters, star-crossed lovers and bitter rivals, locked together in a ski lodge in an overpriced resort. There are some great sex scenes, witty dialogue, fun use of emails and SMS as a device. A brilliant holiday read for twenty and thirty somethings but plenty to entertain a middle-aged reader too. Looking forward to the sequel, set in the world of wine, later this year - Corkscrew.
March 18, 2018
This fun, flirty and, at times, steamy rom-com is perfect for reading in front of the fire on a cold winter's day. There are several main characters in the book and I felt they were introduced well in the opening chapters. I quickly warmed to the characters of Jenna and Angus and hoped throughout the book that they would get together. The book was a departure from my usual choice of genre but the descriptive prose and light-hearted tone made it an enjoyable read.
I was lucky enough to win a copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway.
I was lucky enough to win a copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway.
March 20, 2018
I was kindly sent this book through Goodreads and the publisher Orion to review.
This was the perfect fun, holiday or read while travelling book, although best if your neighbour can't read over your shoulder as there are quite a few graphic 'naughty' bits. Lots of comical, laugh out loud sections as you follow Jenna on her skiing trip with old University friends. I read it in one day so, as a break from the serious, just the thing.
This was the perfect fun, holiday or read while travelling book, although best if your neighbour can't read over your shoulder as there are quite a few graphic 'naughty' bits. Lots of comical, laugh out loud sections as you follow Jenna on her skiing trip with old University friends. I read it in one day so, as a break from the serious, just the thing.
April 10, 2018
A cute easy to read book I would recommend it for the holidays as it is very feel good. The characters are quite interesting and relatable. The writing overall was very good and kept me interested and engaged. Overall I really enjoyed this book and and can't wait to read more books by from F Chester.
March 9, 2018
This book follows Jenna and her friends as they holiday in The Alps.It was a cute read but I did not like most of the characters they were just really childish for my liking it was not a bad read though and would be perfect for a lazy afternoon
August 21, 2018
I am a big believer in the idea that how, and if, one enjoys a book is rather dependent on the mood one is in when reading the book. For me, Snowballs could have easily fallen into the category of a waste of time, with its obvious plot points, mediocre sex scenes and (mostly) one dimensional characters.
However, I could not help but find it humorous and its characters oddly charming. Part of me feels that if I ever decide to reread this I will probably be more frustrated than enchanted by the over the top characters with their odd vernacular and peculiar thought patterns that had me questioning if people truly think this way - here's looking at you Jenna. But all in all, it was the right book, read at the right time, for me to enjoy it for what it was: a funny, enjoyable, escape.
Recommended by Daniela Van Rensburg; off her Kindle. Hascombe, Surrey.
However, I could not help but find it humorous and its characters oddly charming. Part of me feels that if I ever decide to reread this I will probably be more frustrated than enchanted by the over the top characters with their odd vernacular and peculiar thought patterns that had me questioning if people truly think this way - here's looking at you Jenna. But all in all, it was the right book, read at the right time, for me to enjoy it for what it was: a funny, enjoyable, escape.
Recommended by Daniela Van Rensburg; off her Kindle. Hascombe, Surrey.
January 3, 2021
(3.5)
This was a fun and enjoyable read. The characters very much stayed in their roles so there wasn’t much development nor was it expected. It’s light-hearted and easy to read, made me missing going skiing more than anything!
This was a fun and enjoyable read. The characters very much stayed in their roles so there wasn’t much development nor was it expected. It’s light-hearted and easy to read, made me missing going skiing more than anything!
January 23, 2021
Loved this book. Very easy read and get engrossed with following the characters. Some characters you rally get behind others you, at first, dislike but then have a love hate relationship with.
Highly recommend.
Highly recommend.
March 20, 2018
A great first novel for Fliss Chester! I felt that I got to know the characters well and the dynamic of the group, some were more likable than others as the author would have intended. Set in a beautiful location, the group had a week of fun, laughter, tears, alcohol and sex. A fun and engaging read which was just what I was after for a good Winter read.
March 27, 2018
A quick fun read. Would recommend.
September 12, 2021
Not my usual read, but enjoyed the book. Definitely, one that I would recommend.
February 21, 2024
read it in year six by mistake so traumatic
March 25, 2018
Snowballs: Winter Fun on the Slopes
I was very pleased when I received this book from goodreads.com. It arrived whilst snow was still on the ground, so I was easily able to enter into the spirit of the book. It is a very humorous light-hearted romp describing the skiing holiday of six thirty-somethings in a chalet together. Obviously time has moved on in their lives, and personalities and old friendships have changed, not always for the better. Jenna is very sweet, Bertie is a bitch, and the others? Well, read it and see. (I almost said suck it and see, the tone of the book is rubbing off on me!)
In addition to the six friends, an alluring chalet girl, a stereotypical sexy French skiing instructor and a Russian oligarch, not to mention his heavies, add to the confusion of who will end up with whom. Needless to say, the right couples get matched up, which although it is not a surprise is very satisfying. There are a few setbacks along the way but everything sorts itself out in the end.
All in all, reading this was a very pleasant way of spending a few winter afternoons, and I was quite sorry when the party ended.
I was very pleased when I received this book from goodreads.com. It arrived whilst snow was still on the ground, so I was easily able to enter into the spirit of the book. It is a very humorous light-hearted romp describing the skiing holiday of six thirty-somethings in a chalet together. Obviously time has moved on in their lives, and personalities and old friendships have changed, not always for the better. Jenna is very sweet, Bertie is a bitch, and the others? Well, read it and see. (I almost said suck it and see, the tone of the book is rubbing off on me!)
In addition to the six friends, an alluring chalet girl, a stereotypical sexy French skiing instructor and a Russian oligarch, not to mention his heavies, add to the confusion of who will end up with whom. Needless to say, the right couples get matched up, which although it is not a surprise is very satisfying. There are a few setbacks along the way but everything sorts itself out in the end.
All in all, reading this was a very pleasant way of spending a few winter afternoons, and I was quite sorry when the party ended.
February 3, 2021
Shelf of guilty pleasures, but as they go it’s a lot better written compared to many other authors of this genre. The characters, dialogue and scene description are good, but for me, the plot leaves something to be desired and it got a bit cheesy towards the end.
December 27, 2017
This is the first ever book I've read and isn't my usual read but with the thanks of Netgalley I got a copy to read and review. A group of friends all decide to go on a skiing trip to France, as one of the friends has a villa there.... Who wouldn't like that? But there's less skiing and more partying on the slopes. Jenna is the main character and she is falling for Bertie but Bertie isn't giving off the same feelings..... And someone else likes Berie too... There were many characters to begin with, 6 in total but it gets too complicated at the beginning and although it's only at the beginning it lost some interest for me.... But I kept on with it and it flowed much better towards the end.
At times it lost my attention, but it's definitely a seasonal read due to the snow and slopes, there's flirting involved and some casual sexual moments but all done tastefully. Well done.
At times it lost my attention, but it's definitely a seasonal read due to the snow and slopes, there's flirting involved and some casual sexual moments but all done tastefully. Well done.
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