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Midnight in the Snow
Set amongst the snow-covered mountains of the Austrian Alps, Midnight in the Snow is the story of a forbidden attraction that will reveal long-buried secrets, f rom Sunday Times bestselling author of Christmas at Tiffany's , Karen Swan.
Award-winning director Clover Phillips is riding high when she encounters Kit Foley; a surfer and snowboarder as well-known for controversy as he is for winning championships.
Involved in an accident that had devastating consequences for a bitter rival, Kit has never spoken about what really happened that day. Determined to find out the truth, Clover heads to the snowy wilderness of the Austrian Alps, sharing a romantic winter wonderland with a man who can’t stand her.
But as she delves deeper, Clover finds herself both drawn to Kit, and even more convinced he’s hiding something. Is Kit Foley really as cold as he seems?
***
What readers are saying about Midnight in the Snow :
‘Heartwarming, romantic, uplifting. Great writing that wraps you like a blanket’
‘Real and wonderfully, subtly painted so that, yet again, her novel makes you stay up until silly o’clock’
‘An amazing gift for taking you to fabulous locations & gradually unwrapping secrets about her characters’
‘Glamorous, thrilling and unashamedly romantic’
Award-winning director Clover Phillips is riding high when she encounters Kit Foley; a surfer and snowboarder as well-known for controversy as he is for winning championships.
Involved in an accident that had devastating consequences for a bitter rival, Kit has never spoken about what really happened that day. Determined to find out the truth, Clover heads to the snowy wilderness of the Austrian Alps, sharing a romantic winter wonderland with a man who can’t stand her.
But as she delves deeper, Clover finds herself both drawn to Kit, and even more convinced he’s hiding something. Is Kit Foley really as cold as he seems?
***
What readers are saying about Midnight in the Snow :
‘Heartwarming, romantic, uplifting. Great writing that wraps you like a blanket’
‘Real and wonderfully, subtly painted so that, yet again, her novel makes you stay up until silly o’clock’
‘An amazing gift for taking you to fabulous locations & gradually unwrapping secrets about her characters’
‘Glamorous, thrilling and unashamedly romantic’
480 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2021
346 people are currently reading
2762 people want to read
About the author
Karen Swan
61 books2,378 followersKaren Swan began her career in fashion journalism before giving it all up to raise her three children and a puppy, and to pursue her ambition of becoming a writer. She lives in the forest in Sussex, writing her books in a treehouse overlooking the Downs. Her books include Christmas at Tiffany's, Summer at Tiffany's, The Perfect Present, Christmas in the Snow, The Summer Without You, The Paris Secret, and Christmas Under the Stars.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 545 reviews
December 13, 2021
A cute lil holiday story which is utterly predictable but no less cute for it.
The story is about doco filmmaker Clover as she sets up in the enemy camp to get the real story on Kit Foley - the nemesis of the hero she featured in her most recent film. But Kit doesn't want her and her crew in his fancy Chalet, so be prepared for some chilly winter nights as they reluctantly get to know each other.
Now, obviously with this being romance they're destined to fall in love, but damn do they make things difficult! This is an excellent enemies-to-lovers story with a lot of anger and hatred. Clover is incredibly biased and naturally jumps to all the wrong conclusions which can be frustrating, but I still found it gelled well with the story. The hate between these two is deliciously strong.
I did really enjoy getting to know these characters. There's a big predictability factor and you'll have met many of these characters before in various forms, but I did really enjoy the way they shaped this story.
The sport side of things did not interest me a bit, so the fact that I held on to it all through this story and was still entertained speaks volumes about the character relationships. The dynamics were really interesting and, even though I could pretty much guess where everyone was going to end up, I enjoyed the way it played out.
So yes. Predictable, but good. This is a character-driven story and a fun enemies-to-lovers romance.
This opinion is brought to you by someone notorious for disliking romance, so be prepared to add a star or two if you're into this sappy stuff. :)
With thanks to Macmillan for an ARC to read and review
The story is about doco filmmaker Clover as she sets up in the enemy camp to get the real story on Kit Foley - the nemesis of the hero she featured in her most recent film. But Kit doesn't want her and her crew in his fancy Chalet, so be prepared for some chilly winter nights as they reluctantly get to know each other.
Now, obviously with this being romance they're destined to fall in love, but damn do they make things difficult! This is an excellent enemies-to-lovers story with a lot of anger and hatred. Clover is incredibly biased and naturally jumps to all the wrong conclusions which can be frustrating, but I still found it gelled well with the story. The hate between these two is deliciously strong.
I did really enjoy getting to know these characters. There's a big predictability factor and you'll have met many of these characters before in various forms, but I did really enjoy the way they shaped this story.
The sport side of things did not interest me a bit, so the fact that I held on to it all through this story and was still entertained speaks volumes about the character relationships. The dynamics were really interesting and, even though I could pretty much guess where everyone was going to end up, I enjoyed the way it played out.
So yes. Predictable, but good. This is a character-driven story and a fun enemies-to-lovers romance.
This opinion is brought to you by someone notorious for disliking romance, so be prepared to add a star or two if you're into this sappy stuff. :)
With thanks to Macmillan for an ARC to read and review
February 24, 2025
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Karen Swan’s books have become a comforting and safe space for me over the past year. I always look forward to picking her newest book up and I’ve not once been left disappointed. Midnight in the Snow is definitely at the top of the list!
Synopsis:
The story follows the award-winning movie director Clover, who rose to fame when she filmed the documentary about Cory Allbright, a surfer whose life went downhill after an accident, because of a controversy with his rival, Kit Foley.
Now that Kit has been labeled as the bad guy, he has decided to retire from surfing and make his debut into snowboarding. And Clover is the one tasked to document his journey now, all whilst she is struggling to hide her personal bias.
My Thoughts:
I loved everything about Midnight in the Snow. The beginning is very captivating and I was instantly pulled into Clover’s world, where she has just become the star of a documentary. We get to meet her in the spotlight and outside of it, and find out two different Clovers for a little while.
“An ending doesn’t have to be happy for a new beginning to spring up; it will follow anyway, just as surely as the sun chasing the moon.”
Then, very soon after, the plot thickens, and she’s on another adventure, filming another documentary. Only this time around, she is filming the “bad guy”. Trying to keep her personal bias aside, Clover and her crew members are determined to film his story and be as neutral as possible. However, once they meet Kit and his team, they realise nothing will be that easy.
Because Kit is terrible and rude, but also very dedicated to his sport. You never know where you stand with him, and he seems like he doesn’t care about anything else but winning. And as a former competitors, I have met many Kit’s in my life, and I can completely understand the determination to be the number one, and the arrogance that sometimes comes with it.
“When you already are more, where is there to go? What becomes of your humanity? The need to win comes at what cost? And are the sacrifices worth it? Because it seems to me, that when we reach for the sun, we always get burned.”
Karen Swan’s writing is as captivating as always.And it’s not only Clover and Kit that get the spotlight. We meet so many different characters that we end up loving equally as much. Their stories and their paths are very beautifully written, and they cross in a very calculated manner. I ended up loving a lot of characters that I didn’t like at the beginning. The more I get to know them throughout the book, and understand why they made the choices that they did, and why they are the way they are – it left me with a heartwarming feeling in my heart.
There is, as always, a little bit of mystery behind the story as well, and I greatly enjoyed discovering the clues and solving the questions.
With Midnight in the Snow, you are in for an adventure, trust me! You’ll be heading up and down your own emotional snowy slope and enjoy every single moment of it!
Karen Swan’s books have become a comforting and safe space for me over the past year. I always look forward to picking her newest book up and I’ve not once been left disappointed. Midnight in the Snow is definitely at the top of the list!
Synopsis:
The story follows the award-winning movie director Clover, who rose to fame when she filmed the documentary about Cory Allbright, a surfer whose life went downhill after an accident, because of a controversy with his rival, Kit Foley.
Now that Kit has been labeled as the bad guy, he has decided to retire from surfing and make his debut into snowboarding. And Clover is the one tasked to document his journey now, all whilst she is struggling to hide her personal bias.
My Thoughts:
I loved everything about Midnight in the Snow. The beginning is very captivating and I was instantly pulled into Clover’s world, where she has just become the star of a documentary. We get to meet her in the spotlight and outside of it, and find out two different Clovers for a little while.
“An ending doesn’t have to be happy for a new beginning to spring up; it will follow anyway, just as surely as the sun chasing the moon.”
Then, very soon after, the plot thickens, and she’s on another adventure, filming another documentary. Only this time around, she is filming the “bad guy”. Trying to keep her personal bias aside, Clover and her crew members are determined to film his story and be as neutral as possible. However, once they meet Kit and his team, they realise nothing will be that easy.
Because Kit is terrible and rude, but also very dedicated to his sport. You never know where you stand with him, and he seems like he doesn’t care about anything else but winning. And as a former competitors, I have met many Kit’s in my life, and I can completely understand the determination to be the number one, and the arrogance that sometimes comes with it.
“When you already are more, where is there to go? What becomes of your humanity? The need to win comes at what cost? And are the sacrifices worth it? Because it seems to me, that when we reach for the sun, we always get burned.”
Karen Swan’s writing is as captivating as always.And it’s not only Clover and Kit that get the spotlight. We meet so many different characters that we end up loving equally as much. Their stories and their paths are very beautifully written, and they cross in a very calculated manner. I ended up loving a lot of characters that I didn’t like at the beginning. The more I get to know them throughout the book, and understand why they made the choices that they did, and why they are the way they are – it left me with a heartwarming feeling in my heart.
There is, as always, a little bit of mystery behind the story as well, and I greatly enjoyed discovering the clues and solving the questions.
With Midnight in the Snow, you are in for an adventure, trust me! You’ll be heading up and down your own emotional snowy slope and enjoy every single moment of it!
February 23, 2022
Every year I eagerly await Karen Swan's Christmas release. Whilst Australia is sweltering through summer heat I can escape to somewhere cold and, most often, snowy.
Midnight in the Snow is set in the Austrian Alps in the lead up to Christmas Day. Journalist Clover Phillips is riding high on the success of her documentary on ex-surfing great, Cory Albright - Cory had suffered a near drowning and subsequent brain injury, whilst competing.
Karen Swan highlights how close a journalist gets with the family they are working with as Clover spent many months living with Cory, his wife and their three sons.
Wanting to follow with an equally explosive documentary Clover decides to go after Kit Foley, Cory's nemesis and the cause of his accident. Foley has left the surfing world and is now focused on snowboarding, where he is making his name known.
Our two main characters, Clover and Kit, had a real hate for each other and I love a good enemies to lovers trope. However I would have liked a lot more emotion and sexual friction between them. It was there, but it was very sparse.
I loved the portrayal of the two main characters; Clover was determined and relentless, she wanted her story, and Kit the po-surfer turned snowboarder was hostile, insular and aloof.
It's not until you dig deep that you get the real story and Clover is prepared to dig, but what she finds even shocks her.
The setting imagery was, as always, amazing and I enjoyed the little peek into the professional sports world. Some of the twists I'd guessed early on but there were also some that took me by surprise.
And then there are those little snatches of poetic prose that make Swan's writing so evocative.
*I received a copy from the publisher
Midnight in the Snow is set in the Austrian Alps in the lead up to Christmas Day. Journalist Clover Phillips is riding high on the success of her documentary on ex-surfing great, Cory Albright - Cory had suffered a near drowning and subsequent brain injury, whilst competing.
Karen Swan highlights how close a journalist gets with the family they are working with as Clover spent many months living with Cory, his wife and their three sons.
Wanting to follow with an equally explosive documentary Clover decides to go after Kit Foley, Cory's nemesis and the cause of his accident. Foley has left the surfing world and is now focused on snowboarding, where he is making his name known.
Our two main characters, Clover and Kit, had a real hate for each other and I love a good enemies to lovers trope. However I would have liked a lot more emotion and sexual friction between them. It was there, but it was very sparse.
I loved the portrayal of the two main characters; Clover was determined and relentless, she wanted her story, and Kit the po-surfer turned snowboarder was hostile, insular and aloof.
It's not until you dig deep that you get the real story and Clover is prepared to dig, but what she finds even shocks her.
The setting imagery was, as always, amazing and I enjoyed the little peek into the professional sports world. Some of the twists I'd guessed early on but there were also some that took me by surprise.
And then there are those little snatches of poetic prose that make Swan's writing so evocative.
*I received a copy from the publisher
December 19, 2025
Pagaliau galima įvertinti! ⭐️
Labai patiko!!! Nors pradžia gal ir buvo sunkesnė, bet po to viskas taip pajudėjo, kad norėjosi naktimis skaityti ✨🥰 Senokai skaičiau LT kalba knygą ir ši tikrai nenuvylė! Taip pat tai buvo pirmoji šios autorės knyga ir tikrai bus nepaskutinė🥰 Pamilau veikėjus ir jų istoriją, kuri išties buvo begalo įdomi. ❤️
Labai patiko!!! Nors pradžia gal ir buvo sunkesnė, bet po to viskas taip pajudėjo, kad norėjosi naktimis skaityti ✨🥰 Senokai skaičiau LT kalba knygą ir ši tikrai nenuvylė! Taip pat tai buvo pirmoji šios autorės knyga ir tikrai bus nepaskutinė🥰 Pamilau veikėjus ir jų istoriją, kuri išties buvo begalo įdomi. ❤️
November 12, 2021
5 "oh did you have important shit to do today? KAREN SWAN DON'T GIVE A F—" stars
Can someone please inform Ms. Swan that this was supposed to be a shallow Hallmark channel Christmas romance?
'CAUSE SHE DIDN'T GET THE MEMO.
I've been on this weirdly masochistic book bender—picking books that I knew wouldn't take much commitment because I've been short on time and energy lately. I really thought Midnight in the Snow would be exactly that—light, not too emotionally/mentally taxing.
I wanted this book to be put-down-able. Isn't that the most counterintuitive thing?
Figures I can't even be bored right, for shit's sake 😂
Either that or people have been egregiously misrepresenting the holiday romance industry, because this book was SO motherfuckin fantastic.
Clover and her team spent 2 years living with the Allbright family, leaning on each other and documenting the agonizing aftermath of the accident that left Cory, ex-pro surfer and father, irreconcilably changed. But even referring to the event as an "accident" neglects a crucial part of Cory's story, and Clover's film...because his now life-long battle with debilitating pain and depression resulted from one man's unforgivable actions—one irredeemable golden boy.
Kit Foley
This book was an out of body experience. And that set up—are you kidding me? Immediate emotional investment. You obviously know from the blurb going into this that Clover's romantic entanglement is with the villain of this story.
And the injustice of that—the absolute turmoil I felt at the prospect, was...provocative, to say the least.
The author did a fantastic job of stacking the deck against its own happy ending, and I loved the unpredictability of each moment as these two faced off against each other. The energy these characters exuded was radioactive—they were so volatile, so raw, so real.
If this aired on any TV network, it'd be the ANTI-Hallmark channel, I swear to Christ.
Some might be put off by the extent to which the story extended itself past romance. It had so much love in it, don't get me wrong—the love of friends, of family, of persevering, but romantic love factored in quite a bit less than I was expecting.
This was 464 pages of experiencing the best and worst that humanity has to offer. It was so intelligent, so nail-biting, so direct. I got so caught up in some of the dialogue I literally forgot the world around me.
Clover was a master interviewer, and I marvel at the author's ability to write those scenes. Everything felt like one big, metaphorical chess game—a literal one too (that scene was simultaneously the most/least literally sexy thing I've ever read).
I've read a lot of romance where the lead couple's interactions were literally 99% of the story and it still wasn't enough to make me fall in love with them. Somehow Karen Swan managed all that and more with a fraction of the pages devoted to it. Instead of drowning us in Clover and Kit, she made sure the moments we had with them together resonated and completely stole our focus. Quality over quantity man.
And the atmosphere of that setting. Wooooo honey. I'm going skiing in the Alps.
This was an epic story of redemption, grief, battling one's demons and doing the right thing—and the wrong thing.
I have to take a moment after finishing this one to just stop and think. I'm done in.
Bravo Ms. Swan.
Can someone please inform Ms. Swan that this was supposed to be a shallow Hallmark channel Christmas romance?
'CAUSE SHE DIDN'T GET THE MEMO.
I've been on this weirdly masochistic book bender—picking books that I knew wouldn't take much commitment because I've been short on time and energy lately. I really thought Midnight in the Snow would be exactly that—light, not too emotionally/mentally taxing.
I wanted this book to be put-down-able. Isn't that the most counterintuitive thing?
Figures I can't even be bored right, for shit's sake 😂
Either that or people have been egregiously misrepresenting the holiday romance industry, because this book was SO motherfuckin fantastic.
Clover and her team spent 2 years living with the Allbright family, leaning on each other and documenting the agonizing aftermath of the accident that left Cory, ex-pro surfer and father, irreconcilably changed. But even referring to the event as an "accident" neglects a crucial part of Cory's story, and Clover's film...because his now life-long battle with debilitating pain and depression resulted from one man's unforgivable actions—one irredeemable golden boy.
Kit Foley
This book was an out of body experience. And that set up—are you kidding me? Immediate emotional investment. You obviously know from the blurb going into this that Clover's romantic entanglement is with the villain of this story.
And the injustice of that—the absolute turmoil I felt at the prospect, was...provocative, to say the least.
The author did a fantastic job of stacking the deck against its own happy ending, and I loved the unpredictability of each moment as these two faced off against each other. The energy these characters exuded was radioactive—they were so volatile, so raw, so real.
If this aired on any TV network, it'd be the ANTI-Hallmark channel, I swear to Christ.
Some might be put off by the extent to which the story extended itself past romance. It had so much love in it, don't get me wrong—the love of friends, of family, of persevering, but romantic love factored in quite a bit less than I was expecting.
This was 464 pages of experiencing the best and worst that humanity has to offer. It was so intelligent, so nail-biting, so direct. I got so caught up in some of the dialogue I literally forgot the world around me.
Clover was a master interviewer, and I marvel at the author's ability to write those scenes. Everything felt like one big, metaphorical chess game—a literal one too (that scene was simultaneously the most/least literally sexy thing I've ever read).
I've read a lot of romance where the lead couple's interactions were literally 99% of the story and it still wasn't enough to make me fall in love with them. Somehow Karen Swan managed all that and more with a fraction of the pages devoted to it. Instead of drowning us in Clover and Kit, she made sure the moments we had with them together resonated and completely stole our focus. Quality over quantity man.
And the atmosphere of that setting. Wooooo honey. I'm going skiing in the Alps.
This was an epic story of redemption, grief, battling one's demons and doing the right thing—and the wrong thing.
I have to take a moment after finishing this one to just stop and think. I'm done in.
Bravo Ms. Swan.
January 26, 2025
Metus pradėjau itin puikiai - su knyga, kuri keliauja tiesiai į mano mėgstamiausių knygų sąrašus. Iš šios Karen Swan knygos gavau praktiškai viską, ką labai knygose mėgstu - daug jausmų ir emocijų, gyvenimo neteisybės ir visuomenės smerkimo, iš priešų (labai labai priešų) į mylimuosius! Ir kokia atmosfera sukurta - Austrijos Alpės, sniegynai, šaltukas ir visos tos trobelės, atrodo - skaičiau ir su didžiausiu malonumu būčiau persikėlus ten, kur vyksta knygos veiksmas. Gaila, šiuo atveju teko tenkintis įvairiais snieglentininkų vaizdo įrašais..!
Galiu pasakyti, kad knygos pradžia kiek lėtesnė.. susipažįstame su veikėjais, po truputį leidžiama veiksmui įsivažiuoti, nejučia atsiranda ir kažkoks įtampos jausmas viduj. Istorija taip stipriai prisikabina, kad nėra vilties ištrūkti, kol neužverti paskutiniojo puslapio. Pagrindinis veikėjas Kitas - nežinau, ar jo paslaptingumas, ar atšiaurumas, ar kitos charakterio savybės, tačiau negalėjau juo nesižavėti. Kaip istorija klostėsi, kokie emociniai kalneliai laukė veikėjų ir istorijos atomazga... nuspėjama? Taip. Ar man nesvarbu, nes knyga man patiko? Taip taip taip!
Čia buvo antroji mano skaityta šventinė/žieminė autorės knyga, esu itin dėkinga Mantei, kad taip ją išgyrė, nes būtent tai paskatino greičiau nusipirkti ir perskaityti! Kitu atveju, būčiau atidėliojusi skaityti tokią šaunią knygą (ir po to gailėjusis)!!
Galiu pasakyti, kad knygos pradžia kiek lėtesnė.. susipažįstame su veikėjais, po truputį leidžiama veiksmui įsivažiuoti, nejučia atsiranda ir kažkoks įtampos jausmas viduj. Istorija taip stipriai prisikabina, kad nėra vilties ištrūkti, kol neužverti paskutiniojo puslapio. Pagrindinis veikėjas Kitas - nežinau, ar jo paslaptingumas, ar atšiaurumas, ar kitos charakterio savybės, tačiau negalėjau juo nesižavėti. Kaip istorija klostėsi, kokie emociniai kalneliai laukė veikėjų ir istorijos atomazga... nuspėjama? Taip. Ar man nesvarbu, nes knyga man patiko? Taip taip taip!
Čia buvo antroji mano skaityta šventinė/žieminė autorės knyga, esu itin dėkinga Mantei, kad taip ją išgyrė, nes būtent tai paskatino greičiau nusipirkti ir perskaityti! Kitu atveju, būčiau atidėliojusi skaityti tokią šaunią knygą (ir po to gailėjusis)!!
January 17, 2022
Thank god this one is finished. This literally took me an age to read. Very long winded and dragged on forever. I’m sure it was breeding chapters as I was reading. That said, it was a good story but could have been half the length. The love story was inevitable but didn’t happen until the very end - which I found frustrating!
December 19, 2025
Love it! Netikėtai gera istorija! Nors prieš imdama knygą visiškai nieko nesitikėjau ir likau maloniai nustebinta,kad knyga taip greitai įtraukė 📚🥰
December 18, 2025
4.5 ⭐️ viskas tikrai labai patiko, tik pats galas ne visai įtikino. Man trūko dar 100 puslapiukų!
February 25, 2024
Voor een Karen Swan gooi ik alle andere boeken aan de kant! Deze las ik uiteraard weer samen met @liensboekenkast al hield ik me niet helemaal aan het leesschema (sorry Jolien!). Want eenmaal in het verhaal gezogen, moest hij uit!
Het is een verhaal over de wil om de beste te zijn, alles (op) te geven voor topsport, vriendschap en geheimen. Maar ook over hoe belangrijk het is beide kanten van een verhaal te horen. Naast spanning zit er ook de nodige romantiek in.
Het is bovendien weer heerlijk beeldend geschreven, dus ik waande mezelf in het Oostenrijkse skigebied (al stond ik zelf nooit op de latten).
Maar: ik vond het niet haar mooiste verhaal. Misschien omdat ik de eerste hoofdstukken wat traag vond en de wendingen aan het einde te snel. Houd niet weg dat ik je deze alsnog aanraad om te gaan lezen!
Het is een verhaal over de wil om de beste te zijn, alles (op) te geven voor topsport, vriendschap en geheimen. Maar ook over hoe belangrijk het is beide kanten van een verhaal te horen. Naast spanning zit er ook de nodige romantiek in.
Het is bovendien weer heerlijk beeldend geschreven, dus ik waande mezelf in het Oostenrijkse skigebied (al stond ik zelf nooit op de latten).
Maar: ik vond het niet haar mooiste verhaal. Misschien omdat ik de eerste hoofdstukken wat traag vond en de wendingen aan het einde te snel. Houd niet weg dat ik je deze alsnog aanraad om te gaan lezen!
Read
December 31, 2021My first book by Karen Swan was Christmas at Tiffany’s and I have enjoyed so many of her books since. I always look forward to her books at Christmas and this one definitely didn’t disappoint. I especially loved the sports aspect in this book. If you are looking for a great book make sure to check out one from this author.
December 18, 2025
Labai labai patiko
August 10, 2021
Wow that is one ride and a half, from being thrown under the barrel of a wave at the start, to getting some awesome amplitude and killer tricks at the end, this is on exhilarating read.
Not least because it features the world of snow boarding on a super pipe for fabulous tricks, and to a lesser extent some of the world of surfing. Two big sports for adrenalin junkies, which given I read this just as the Summer Olympics came to an end, and I know I will equally be obsessed come Beijing 2022 and the Winter Sports - this let me have my sporting obsession continue for a bit longer.
But really it's not specifically about the sports themselves, so don't worry if you don't know your olly from your cab, your switch from your goofy, (and if some of those are more skateboarding than snowboarding terms then sorry but I was hooked on watching that too!), then honestly the sports technical bits are only a small part of the book itself.
Clover is a director whose film about Cory Albright basically ended up vilifying Kit Foley to the world. So it becomes a bit of a shock for all, that after all that time spent essentially as Team Cory, to discover she is willing to now do a film all about Kit.
It's clear Kit has been pressganged into it and they both appear to hate each other with a passion, and what I found fascinating was seeing just how Kit's character and personality developed, as we incredibly slowly start to learn a bit more about him.
As after all he has a few loyal friends and none seem that happy about the presence of a film crew - as Kit emerges back on the world stage as a snowboarder, after spending most of his life as a champion surfer.
Set predominately in the Austrian Alps, this really is a treat of a winter book, I could barely put it down and found myself finding reasons to reach for my kindle at all times of day and night just to read more. I couldn't get enough of the story.
I needed to know as much as Clover does, as to just what happened on that fateful day between Cory and Kit. And I have to say the answer surprised me, as did most of the aftermath once the truth finally comes out.
This is easily another of Karen Swan's best books and I know I said that recently about The Secret Path. This is definitely an author going from strength to strength and so long as she keeps writing books like these then I will be one incredibly happy reader!
Thank you to Pan and Netgalley for this copy which i have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
Not least because it features the world of snow boarding on a super pipe for fabulous tricks, and to a lesser extent some of the world of surfing. Two big sports for adrenalin junkies, which given I read this just as the Summer Olympics came to an end, and I know I will equally be obsessed come Beijing 2022 and the Winter Sports - this let me have my sporting obsession continue for a bit longer.
But really it's not specifically about the sports themselves, so don't worry if you don't know your olly from your cab, your switch from your goofy, (and if some of those are more skateboarding than snowboarding terms then sorry but I was hooked on watching that too!), then honestly the sports technical bits are only a small part of the book itself.
Clover is a director whose film about Cory Albright basically ended up vilifying Kit Foley to the world. So it becomes a bit of a shock for all, that after all that time spent essentially as Team Cory, to discover she is willing to now do a film all about Kit.
It's clear Kit has been pressganged into it and they both appear to hate each other with a passion, and what I found fascinating was seeing just how Kit's character and personality developed, as we incredibly slowly start to learn a bit more about him.
As after all he has a few loyal friends and none seem that happy about the presence of a film crew - as Kit emerges back on the world stage as a snowboarder, after spending most of his life as a champion surfer.
Set predominately in the Austrian Alps, this really is a treat of a winter book, I could barely put it down and found myself finding reasons to reach for my kindle at all times of day and night just to read more. I couldn't get enough of the story.
I needed to know as much as Clover does, as to just what happened on that fateful day between Cory and Kit. And I have to say the answer surprised me, as did most of the aftermath once the truth finally comes out.
This is easily another of Karen Swan's best books and I know I said that recently about The Secret Path. This is definitely an author going from strength to strength and so long as she keeps writing books like these then I will be one incredibly happy reader!
Thank you to Pan and Netgalley for this copy which i have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
October 4, 2021
3.5 stars rounded up to 4
Award-winning director Clover Phillips is riding high when she encounters Kit Foley; a surfer and snowboarder as well known for controversy as he is for winning championships. Involved in an accident that had devastating consequences for a bitter rival, Kit has never spoken about what really happened that day. Determined to find out the truth, Clover heads to the snowy wilderness of the Austrian Alps, sharing a romantic winter wonderland with a man who can't stand her.
Kit was a surfer turned snowboarder. Clover is a documentary filmmaker. Kit has led a checkered life. Kit is reluctant to tell Clover anything because of the bad press reports she's gave him in the past.
This is an intense read with plenty of twists. The main characters all have a backstory. The last 20% of the book was by far the best part. We found out what had actually caused the accident.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #PanMacmillan and the author #KarenSwan for my ARC of #MIdnightInTheSnow in exchange for an honest review.
Award-winning director Clover Phillips is riding high when she encounters Kit Foley; a surfer and snowboarder as well known for controversy as he is for winning championships. Involved in an accident that had devastating consequences for a bitter rival, Kit has never spoken about what really happened that day. Determined to find out the truth, Clover heads to the snowy wilderness of the Austrian Alps, sharing a romantic winter wonderland with a man who can't stand her.
Kit was a surfer turned snowboarder. Clover is a documentary filmmaker. Kit has led a checkered life. Kit is reluctant to tell Clover anything because of the bad press reports she's gave him in the past.
This is an intense read with plenty of twists. The main characters all have a backstory. The last 20% of the book was by far the best part. We found out what had actually caused the accident.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #PanMacmillan and the author #KarenSwan for my ARC of #MIdnightInTheSnow in exchange for an honest review.
October 28, 2022
3.5
"Winterträume im Schnee" klang wieder nach einer zauberhaften Wintergeschichte und ich war gespannt auf die Geschichte von Kit und Clover.
Zu Beginn lernt man zunächst Clover und ihre Arbeit kennen und wie es dazu kam, dass sie den Film über Kit drehen möchte. Ich fand Clover an sich sympathisch, aber sie blieb dennoch ein wenig distanziert und ich bin nicht so ganz mit ihr warm geworden. Das gleiche Problem hatte ich auch mit Kit, der durch die Vorgeschichte eh ein kleines Stigma hat. Hier hätte ich mir gewünscht mehr von ihm kennenzulernen und ihm dabei auch emotional näherzukommen, aber dies ist größtenteils leider nicht der Fall gewesen, so dass ich sowohl mit ihm aber auch mit Clover nicht so richtig mitempfinden konnte.
Die Handlung hat mir ganz gut gefallen, aber sie hatte doch hier und da seine Längen. Das Setting hat mir sehr gut gefallen. Es war wunderschön winterlich und auch das Chalet klang nacheinem Traum.
Insgesamt war das Buch eine gute Unterhaltung, aber hatte für mich hier und da ein paar Schwachstellen.
"Winterträume im Schnee" klang wieder nach einer zauberhaften Wintergeschichte und ich war gespannt auf die Geschichte von Kit und Clover.
Zu Beginn lernt man zunächst Clover und ihre Arbeit kennen und wie es dazu kam, dass sie den Film über Kit drehen möchte. Ich fand Clover an sich sympathisch, aber sie blieb dennoch ein wenig distanziert und ich bin nicht so ganz mit ihr warm geworden. Das gleiche Problem hatte ich auch mit Kit, der durch die Vorgeschichte eh ein kleines Stigma hat. Hier hätte ich mir gewünscht mehr von ihm kennenzulernen und ihm dabei auch emotional näherzukommen, aber dies ist größtenteils leider nicht der Fall gewesen, so dass ich sowohl mit ihm aber auch mit Clover nicht so richtig mitempfinden konnte.
Die Handlung hat mir ganz gut gefallen, aber sie hatte doch hier und da seine Längen. Das Setting hat mir sehr gut gefallen. Es war wunderschön winterlich und auch das Chalet klang nacheinem Traum.
Insgesamt war das Buch eine gute Unterhaltung, aber hatte für mich hier und da ein paar Schwachstellen.
April 25, 2024
I received this book from the publishers in exchange for an honest review.
Clover Philips is the latest up and coming documentary maker, proving brilliant at bringing stories of the underdog to life. But the focus of her next documentary is going to be a hard nut to crack - disgraced surfer turned snowboarder Kit Foley. Ousted from the surfing world due to a terrible accident with devastating injuries for the other person, Kit's remained tight lipped about what happened that day. Can Clover convince him to open up and share his secrets? Or is he determined to remain the villain in everyone's stories.
This is a wondeful wintery take set on the slopes of Austria, and within the fast-paced, thrill-seeking world of snowboarding. This was just the most perfect book to read over the Christmas period, and I found myself utterly immersed in Clover and Kit's story as well as in this incredible well researched and detailed world of competitive snowboarding.
There is an enemies to lovers vibe in this story as Clover and Kit really do not like each other from the get go, and are determined to hate each other. But it just ends up with there being a really delicious chemistry between the two characters, and I swear it felt like their energy crackled from the page anytime they were in a room together.
I really liked all the backstory in this - particularly with Clover's past work with Corey, the other surfer from Kit's accident, as well the slow reveals about both Kit's past and childhood, as well as Clover's.
I think Karen Swan is just able to tell a really great story with some dramatic flair, interesting topics and locations, and romance to keep you hanging on but never too sweet to cause a tooth ache. Just brilliant, I loved this.
Clover Philips is the latest up and coming documentary maker, proving brilliant at bringing stories of the underdog to life. But the focus of her next documentary is going to be a hard nut to crack - disgraced surfer turned snowboarder Kit Foley. Ousted from the surfing world due to a terrible accident with devastating injuries for the other person, Kit's remained tight lipped about what happened that day. Can Clover convince him to open up and share his secrets? Or is he determined to remain the villain in everyone's stories.
This is a wondeful wintery take set on the slopes of Austria, and within the fast-paced, thrill-seeking world of snowboarding. This was just the most perfect book to read over the Christmas period, and I found myself utterly immersed in Clover and Kit's story as well as in this incredible well researched and detailed world of competitive snowboarding.
There is an enemies to lovers vibe in this story as Clover and Kit really do not like each other from the get go, and are determined to hate each other. But it just ends up with there being a really delicious chemistry between the two characters, and I swear it felt like their energy crackled from the page anytime they were in a room together.
I really liked all the backstory in this - particularly with Clover's past work with Corey, the other surfer from Kit's accident, as well the slow reveals about both Kit's past and childhood, as well as Clover's.
I think Karen Swan is just able to tell a really great story with some dramatic flair, interesting topics and locations, and romance to keep you hanging on but never too sweet to cause a tooth ache. Just brilliant, I loved this.
December 11, 2022
I enjoyed this latest Karen Swan book more than some of her recent books which felt like they were lacking in detail and story compared to her earlier books and that they were being churned out to meet publishing schedules. A welcome return.
November 29, 2022
Was ist das bitte für ein wunderschönes, verträumes Weihnachtscover? Schon beim ersten Blick darauf, wollte ich mich mit einem Kakao und einer Decke auf meiner Couch einkuscheln... am besten mit einem knisternden Feuer nebenbei, wenn ich einen Kamin hätte! :D
Genau dieses Gefühl habe ich mir beim Lesen eigentlich erhofft, aber es kam dann doch anders. Zum einen fängt es mitten in einer Preisverleihung der erfolgreichen Clover Phillips an, die für ihre Dokumentation den verletzten, gefallenen Surfers Cody einen Preis einheimst und von allen gefeiert wird. Bald wir klar, sie muss diesen Erfolg noch toppen oder mindestens halten. Bei der Frage nach ihrem nächsten Projekt schlägt ihre Kollegin Matti ausgerechnet den Antagonisten Kit Foley vor, der schuld an dem schweren Surfunfall von Cody war, der seitdem ein Schatten seiner selbst ist. Gerade Clover hat eine ziemliche Abneigung gegenüber Kit Foley, wenn nicht sogar riesigen Hass auf ihn, da sie selbst mehrere Monate bei Cody gelebt hat, um eine Verbindung zu ihm aufzubauen und ihn somit für die Dokumentation zu filmen und zu befragen. Klarerweise gehört sie danach ein wenig zu seiner Familie, zu seiner überforderten Frau Mia und den drei kleinen Söhnen.
Dass Clover nun ausgerechnet von Kit Foley eine Doku drehen soll, ist für sie anfangs ein Widerspruch, aber bald schon reizt sie dieser Gedanke immer mehr, besonders, nachdem Kits Sponsor an sie herantritt und sie nach einer Doku bietet, die Kits wechsel zum Snowboarden zeigen soll. Dabei wittert Clover die Chance, Kit noch mehr in Veruf zu bringen, bzw. die Antwort nach dem Warum zu bekommen. Warum hat Kit auf dem Surfbrett Cody geschnitten, was zu dem verheerenden Unfall führte...
Das ist der Anfang der Geschichte und man kann sich hier gut die Enemy-to Lovers Geschichte vorstellen, die eigentlich klar vor einem liegt. Und zum Teil bekommen wir das auch, aber es handelt noch viel mehr um den Sport rundherum. Zuerst bekommen wir Einblicke in den Surfsport, später in den Snowboardsport, was mir persönlich eine Spur zu viel und zu genau war. Dadurch sind im Verlauf des Buches immer wieder längere, unwichtigere Passsagen entstanden. Dennoch hat es mich gepackt weiterzulesen, da man doch wissen wollte, wie es sich zwischen Kit und Clover weiterentwickelt. Aber auch hier wird man immer wieder ausgebremst.
Sie sind wie Feuer und Wasser, die sich meistens meiden und dann dampfend und zischend für einen kurzen Moment zusammenprallen, um sich dann wieder tagelang aus dem Weg zu gehen. Am Anfang fand ich das noch okay, und es hatte seinen Reiz, der einen antrieb weiterzulesen. Aber mit der Zeit wurde es zu langatmig und hat mir zu viel Distanz zwischen den Figuren erzeugt.
Man erfährt ja schon von Clover relativ wenig, da sie uns als Leser nie so richtig in ihren Kopf lässt, man hat ständig das Gefühl, sie wäre nicht ganz greifbar. Außerdem mochte ich auch nicht ihre zu vorschnelle Verurteilung... die Antwort auf ihre Frage hatte ich schon von Anfang an und lag damit sogar richtig, aber auch wenn nicht, gibt es immer einen Grund, warum jemand etwas tut und auch wenn es nur aus sportlichem Kalkül heraus passiert wäre, bedeutet das nicht zwangsläufig, dass jemand von Grund auf ein böser Mensch ist. Hier fand ich ihre Ansicht und die vieler anderer sehr engstirnig, geradzu gemein naiv und sie verharrte mir viel zu lange in ihrem Schwarz-Weiß-Denken...
Daher war Clover nicht so mein Fall. Genauso hat Kit niemanden an sich herangelassen und auch mir als Leser blieb er die ganze Zeit über viel zu fremd. Mir kommt es vor, als ob er in dem Buch sowieso nur um die dreißig Prozent wirklich anwesend ist, den Rest über wird über ihn spekuliert. Sehr schade, denn Kit aber auch die Romanze hätten viel mehr Potential gehabt, wenn man ihnen mehr Raum gegeben hätte. Stattdessen wurde viel wert auf das Setting, den überzogenen Schnickschnack der Einrichtung und weitere Unwichtigkeiten gegeben.
Dafür aber war der Schreibstil sehr angenehm und hat einen leicht durch das Buch getragen und mitgerissen. Man merkt, dass Swan bereits viele Bücher geschrieben hat und ihr Handwerk versteht. Nur leider hätte ich mir mehr Zwischenmenschliches, viel mehr Romantik und etwas fürs Herz gewünscht. Was bleibt sind schöne Eindrücke aus winterlichen Landschaften und schicken Häusern mit weihnachtlicher Dekoration in Österreich... Daher nur 3,5 Punkte.
Genau dieses Gefühl habe ich mir beim Lesen eigentlich erhofft, aber es kam dann doch anders. Zum einen fängt es mitten in einer Preisverleihung der erfolgreichen Clover Phillips an, die für ihre Dokumentation den verletzten, gefallenen Surfers Cody einen Preis einheimst und von allen gefeiert wird. Bald wir klar, sie muss diesen Erfolg noch toppen oder mindestens halten. Bei der Frage nach ihrem nächsten Projekt schlägt ihre Kollegin Matti ausgerechnet den Antagonisten Kit Foley vor, der schuld an dem schweren Surfunfall von Cody war, der seitdem ein Schatten seiner selbst ist. Gerade Clover hat eine ziemliche Abneigung gegenüber Kit Foley, wenn nicht sogar riesigen Hass auf ihn, da sie selbst mehrere Monate bei Cody gelebt hat, um eine Verbindung zu ihm aufzubauen und ihn somit für die Dokumentation zu filmen und zu befragen. Klarerweise gehört sie danach ein wenig zu seiner Familie, zu seiner überforderten Frau Mia und den drei kleinen Söhnen.
Dass Clover nun ausgerechnet von Kit Foley eine Doku drehen soll, ist für sie anfangs ein Widerspruch, aber bald schon reizt sie dieser Gedanke immer mehr, besonders, nachdem Kits Sponsor an sie herantritt und sie nach einer Doku bietet, die Kits wechsel zum Snowboarden zeigen soll. Dabei wittert Clover die Chance, Kit noch mehr in Veruf zu bringen, bzw. die Antwort nach dem Warum zu bekommen. Warum hat Kit auf dem Surfbrett Cody geschnitten, was zu dem verheerenden Unfall führte...
Das ist der Anfang der Geschichte und man kann sich hier gut die Enemy-to Lovers Geschichte vorstellen, die eigentlich klar vor einem liegt. Und zum Teil bekommen wir das auch, aber es handelt noch viel mehr um den Sport rundherum. Zuerst bekommen wir Einblicke in den Surfsport, später in den Snowboardsport, was mir persönlich eine Spur zu viel und zu genau war. Dadurch sind im Verlauf des Buches immer wieder längere, unwichtigere Passsagen entstanden. Dennoch hat es mich gepackt weiterzulesen, da man doch wissen wollte, wie es sich zwischen Kit und Clover weiterentwickelt. Aber auch hier wird man immer wieder ausgebremst.
Sie sind wie Feuer und Wasser, die sich meistens meiden und dann dampfend und zischend für einen kurzen Moment zusammenprallen, um sich dann wieder tagelang aus dem Weg zu gehen. Am Anfang fand ich das noch okay, und es hatte seinen Reiz, der einen antrieb weiterzulesen. Aber mit der Zeit wurde es zu langatmig und hat mir zu viel Distanz zwischen den Figuren erzeugt.
Man erfährt ja schon von Clover relativ wenig, da sie uns als Leser nie so richtig in ihren Kopf lässt, man hat ständig das Gefühl, sie wäre nicht ganz greifbar. Außerdem mochte ich auch nicht ihre zu vorschnelle Verurteilung... die Antwort auf ihre Frage hatte ich schon von Anfang an und lag damit sogar richtig, aber auch wenn nicht, gibt es immer einen Grund, warum jemand etwas tut und auch wenn es nur aus sportlichem Kalkül heraus passiert wäre, bedeutet das nicht zwangsläufig, dass jemand von Grund auf ein böser Mensch ist. Hier fand ich ihre Ansicht und die vieler anderer sehr engstirnig, geradzu gemein naiv und sie verharrte mir viel zu lange in ihrem Schwarz-Weiß-Denken...
Daher war Clover nicht so mein Fall. Genauso hat Kit niemanden an sich herangelassen und auch mir als Leser blieb er die ganze Zeit über viel zu fremd. Mir kommt es vor, als ob er in dem Buch sowieso nur um die dreißig Prozent wirklich anwesend ist, den Rest über wird über ihn spekuliert. Sehr schade, denn Kit aber auch die Romanze hätten viel mehr Potential gehabt, wenn man ihnen mehr Raum gegeben hätte. Stattdessen wurde viel wert auf das Setting, den überzogenen Schnickschnack der Einrichtung und weitere Unwichtigkeiten gegeben.
Dafür aber war der Schreibstil sehr angenehm und hat einen leicht durch das Buch getragen und mitgerissen. Man merkt, dass Swan bereits viele Bücher geschrieben hat und ihr Handwerk versteht. Nur leider hätte ich mir mehr Zwischenmenschliches, viel mehr Romantik und etwas fürs Herz gewünscht. Was bleibt sind schöne Eindrücke aus winterlichen Landschaften und schicken Häusern mit weihnachtlicher Dekoration in Österreich... Daher nur 3,5 Punkte.
December 19, 2025
4,5 ⭐️ Knyga labai patiko, nors pradžia skaitėsi gana sunkiai ir reikėjo laiko įsivažiuoti, visgi, istorija nustebino netikėtais posūkiais, buvo net tokių vietų, kur perskaitai pastraipą ir grįžti dar kartą, nes galvoji „palauk, čia rimtai taip įvyko?“
Kalėdinės nuotaikos čia labai mažai, tad jos ieškantiems lūkesčių kelti neverta. Tai buvo pirmoji mano Karen Swan knyga, bet tikrai ne paskutinė 🏂❄️
Kalėdinės nuotaikos čia labai mažai, tad jos ieškantiems lūkesčių kelti neverta. Tai buvo pirmoji mano Karen Swan knyga, bet tikrai ne paskutinė 🏂❄️
January 2, 2025
Midnight in the Snow
5✨
That ski chill house Kit and his crew live in. Oh my, so gorgeous.
Drama, Competition, top sporters, pretty boys, journalist with fire. Plot twists, intrigues, love.
This book has it all
Check out Christmas in the snow by Karen Swan for a similar read.
5✨
That ski chill house Kit and his crew live in. Oh my, so gorgeous.
Drama, Competition, top sporters, pretty boys, journalist with fire. Plot twists, intrigues, love.
This book has it all
Check out Christmas in the snow by Karen Swan for a similar read.
December 18, 2025
4,5⭐️ Pradžia sunkiai kabino, bet nuo 100 puslapių įsivažiavo. Daug neteisybės, nenumatytų plot twistų, galas skubotas, norėjosi daugiau atskleisto Kito vidaus, to paskutinio interviu. Romantikos gal kiek trūko, bet šiaip labai patiko, įtraukianti, lengvai skaitėsi. Tikrai mėgavausi 👌
Todėl dabar sekančią knygą griebiu vėl šios autorės. Pirma pažintis su ja tikrai nenuvylė 👌
Todėl dabar sekančią knygą griebiu vėl šios autorės. Pirma pažintis su ja tikrai nenuvylė 👌
December 28, 2022
2.5 stelle
Ho faticato a terminare questo romance, è stato il più noioso in assoluto letto quest'anno...
Ho preso una bella cantonata, oltretutto pensavo si trattasse di un romanzo ad ambientazione natalizia, purtroppo di natalizio c'era solo la neve 🤷🏻♀️...
Ho faticato a terminare questo romance, è stato il più noioso in assoluto letto quest'anno...
Ho preso una bella cantonata, oltretutto pensavo si trattasse di un romanzo ad ambientazione natalizia, purtroppo di natalizio c'era solo la neve 🤷🏻♀️...
November 11, 2022
Karin - per RFS
.
“A volte forse confondiamo vincitori ed eroi. Non è così. Anche loro commettono errori, come chiunque altro”.
Appuntamento a mezzanotte è un romanzo dolcissimo e pieno di buoni sentimenti che si attorcigliano come fili di lana. Ambientata principalmente tra i monti austriaci; racchiusa tra candida neve, soffice e gelida al tempo stesso, la storia trova il modo di districare il nodo della matassa. In un mondo dove vincitori e vinti possono scambiarsi il ruolo e in cui la giustizia ha molteplici facce, il lettore viene spinto a guardare nella profondità di ogni singolo protagonista e a scoprire la verità degli eventi.
Clover è una donna in carriera divenuta famosa per aver girato un documentario sulla vita di un surfista di nome Cory, un padre e un marito che a causa di un incidente durante una competizione si ritrova distrutto nel fisico e nell’anima, tanto da spingerlo al suicidio. Kit è l’uomo che ha provocato il nefasto evento a seguito del quale è stato, suo malgrado, costretto ad abbandonare il surf. Ma si sa, uno sportivo rimane tale nonostante tutto, quindi tenta di riappropriarsi del successo perduto in una “nuova” disciplina: lo snowboard.
Il filmato su Cory ha reso Clover famosa e apprezzata dal pubblico anche grazie alle mirabili doti della giovane di rendere il “personaggio” amabile, ma molti interrogativi le sono rimasti tra i pensieri e, ora che lui è morto, qualcuno dovrà rispondere alle sue domande e prendersi le sue responsabilità.
Da qui parte la vera storia: la nostra protagonista deciderà di entrare a gamba tesa nella vita di Kit e di esplorare ogni parte della sua esistenza per girare il documentario sulla vita dello sportivo. Peccato che tra i due l’odio sia tangibile, perché se lei lo detesta per ciò che lui ha fatto a Cory, lui non può dimenticare che tutto il suo universo è stato distrutto proprio da quella donna. Lei che parla per senso di giustizia…
Ricordiamoci sempre che la verità è come una moneta con due facce. Sarà una lotta all’ultimo sguardo, in cui ogni parola e ogni gesto spingono a percepire e capire come i sentimenti racchiusi in noi possano essere giustificati dagli eventi e scoppino nel cuore come un colpo di pistola.
Un libro stupendo che viaggia una pagina alla volta, in cui il lettore assapora tra le parole gli stati d’animo dei due protagonisti e delle figure secondarie che non fanno solo da sfondo, ma hanno un ruolo preciso e determinante per lo svolgersi degli eventi. La caratterizzazione dei personaggi avviene in virtù di uno show, don’t tell magnifico e dai dialoghi carichi di significato.
Una scrittura scorrevole e una trama avvincente rendono questa lettura interessante in un susseguirsi di conflitti e misteri svelati. Il romanticismo la fa da padrone soprattutto nel periodo natalizio che fa da contorno alla storia d’amore di due anime tanto belle. I loro incontri e scontri si intersecano tra odio, rabbia, sensualità e tenerezza. Un connubio esplosivo da godersi nelle giornate più fredde, perché se una tazza di tè è capace di scaldare il corpo, questo libro potrebbe scaldarvi anche il cuore.
.
“A volte forse confondiamo vincitori ed eroi. Non è così. Anche loro commettono errori, come chiunque altro”.
Appuntamento a mezzanotte è un romanzo dolcissimo e pieno di buoni sentimenti che si attorcigliano come fili di lana. Ambientata principalmente tra i monti austriaci; racchiusa tra candida neve, soffice e gelida al tempo stesso, la storia trova il modo di districare il nodo della matassa. In un mondo dove vincitori e vinti possono scambiarsi il ruolo e in cui la giustizia ha molteplici facce, il lettore viene spinto a guardare nella profondità di ogni singolo protagonista e a scoprire la verità degli eventi.
Clover è una donna in carriera divenuta famosa per aver girato un documentario sulla vita di un surfista di nome Cory, un padre e un marito che a causa di un incidente durante una competizione si ritrova distrutto nel fisico e nell’anima, tanto da spingerlo al suicidio. Kit è l’uomo che ha provocato il nefasto evento a seguito del quale è stato, suo malgrado, costretto ad abbandonare il surf. Ma si sa, uno sportivo rimane tale nonostante tutto, quindi tenta di riappropriarsi del successo perduto in una “nuova” disciplina: lo snowboard.
Il filmato su Cory ha reso Clover famosa e apprezzata dal pubblico anche grazie alle mirabili doti della giovane di rendere il “personaggio” amabile, ma molti interrogativi le sono rimasti tra i pensieri e, ora che lui è morto, qualcuno dovrà rispondere alle sue domande e prendersi le sue responsabilità.
Da qui parte la vera storia: la nostra protagonista deciderà di entrare a gamba tesa nella vita di Kit e di esplorare ogni parte della sua esistenza per girare il documentario sulla vita dello sportivo. Peccato che tra i due l’odio sia tangibile, perché se lei lo detesta per ciò che lui ha fatto a Cory, lui non può dimenticare che tutto il suo universo è stato distrutto proprio da quella donna. Lei che parla per senso di giustizia…
Ricordiamoci sempre che la verità è come una moneta con due facce. Sarà una lotta all’ultimo sguardo, in cui ogni parola e ogni gesto spingono a percepire e capire come i sentimenti racchiusi in noi possano essere giustificati dagli eventi e scoppino nel cuore come un colpo di pistola.
Un libro stupendo che viaggia una pagina alla volta, in cui il lettore assapora tra le parole gli stati d’animo dei due protagonisti e delle figure secondarie che non fanno solo da sfondo, ma hanno un ruolo preciso e determinante per lo svolgersi degli eventi. La caratterizzazione dei personaggi avviene in virtù di uno show, don’t tell magnifico e dai dialoghi carichi di significato.
Una scrittura scorrevole e una trama avvincente rendono questa lettura interessante in un susseguirsi di conflitti e misteri svelati. Il romanticismo la fa da padrone soprattutto nel periodo natalizio che fa da contorno alla storia d’amore di due anime tanto belle. I loro incontri e scontri si intersecano tra odio, rabbia, sensualità e tenerezza. Un connubio esplosivo da godersi nelle giornate più fredde, perché se una tazza di tè è capace di scaldare il corpo, questo libro potrebbe scaldarvi anche il cuore.
March 23, 2024
Regisseur Clover Phillips wil een documentaire maken over Kit Foley, een getalenteerde maar controversiële snowboarder. Hij was ooit betrokken bij een dodelijk ongeval, maar heeft daar nooit over willen praten.
Vastbesloten om de waarheid te achterhalen vertrekt Clover naar de besneeuwde Alpen, waar ze een romantisch winterwonderland deelt met een man die haar niet kan uitstaan. Hij vindt dat ze bevooroordeeld is, en hij is bovendien druk met trainen voor het WK. Terwijl Clover de beste shots probeert te maken en steeds dieper in Kits verleden graaft, merkt ze dat ze zich tot hem aangetrokken voelt. Toch is ze ervan overtuigd dat hij iets verbergt. Is hij wel echt zo koud als hij lijkt?
'Ik ben de enige titel kwijtgeraakt die telt. Vader. Echtgenoot. Ik zou willen dat ik... terug kon naar die dag, dat ik alles anders kon doen.'
Ondanks dat de lente in de lucht hangt, vind ik het geen énkel probleem om naar de besneeuwde Alphen te gaan. Kijkend naar de romantische lampjes die kriskras over de straat hangen. Aan de zijde van de sympathieke Clover.
Karen Swan trapt 'De Oostenrijkse verleiding' af met een indrukwekkende proloog. Haar schrijfstijl voelt als thuiskomen. Is vlot, beeldend, én ze weet emoties in woorden te vangen. Een diepere lading die zich tussen de regels bevindt. Ze weet haar personages levensecht neer te zetten. Realistisch. Waardoor je alleen maar verder wilt lezen. Om zo alle personages steeds beter te leren kennen.
Clover vindt Kit de hel op aarde. En Kit haat Clover. Sterker nog: ze haten elkaar. Niet handig als je samen onder één dak moet vertoeven. Waar Kit gaat, volgt Clover. Op zoek naar een verhaal. Op zoek naar gerechtigheid. Op zoek naar de waarom.
Dit is een verhaal over rouw, verlies, schok, verdriet en boosheid. Van dankbaarheid, genegenheid en liefde. Het is hartverscheurend, brengt meerdere keren kippenvel op je armen en de chemie tussen Clover en Kit doet de sneeuw smelten.
Dit verhaal bevat een vleugje kerstmagie. Een kerstwonder. En het zit fantastisch in elkaar.
Een saluut, een zoen en een lach voor dit geweldige boek. Het béste van Karen Swan... tot nu toe. *****
Vastbesloten om de waarheid te achterhalen vertrekt Clover naar de besneeuwde Alpen, waar ze een romantisch winterwonderland deelt met een man die haar niet kan uitstaan. Hij vindt dat ze bevooroordeeld is, en hij is bovendien druk met trainen voor het WK. Terwijl Clover de beste shots probeert te maken en steeds dieper in Kits verleden graaft, merkt ze dat ze zich tot hem aangetrokken voelt. Toch is ze ervan overtuigd dat hij iets verbergt. Is hij wel echt zo koud als hij lijkt?
'Ik ben de enige titel kwijtgeraakt die telt. Vader. Echtgenoot. Ik zou willen dat ik... terug kon naar die dag, dat ik alles anders kon doen.'
Ondanks dat de lente in de lucht hangt, vind ik het geen énkel probleem om naar de besneeuwde Alphen te gaan. Kijkend naar de romantische lampjes die kriskras over de straat hangen. Aan de zijde van de sympathieke Clover.
Karen Swan trapt 'De Oostenrijkse verleiding' af met een indrukwekkende proloog. Haar schrijfstijl voelt als thuiskomen. Is vlot, beeldend, én ze weet emoties in woorden te vangen. Een diepere lading die zich tussen de regels bevindt. Ze weet haar personages levensecht neer te zetten. Realistisch. Waardoor je alleen maar verder wilt lezen. Om zo alle personages steeds beter te leren kennen.
Clover vindt Kit de hel op aarde. En Kit haat Clover. Sterker nog: ze haten elkaar. Niet handig als je samen onder één dak moet vertoeven. Waar Kit gaat, volgt Clover. Op zoek naar een verhaal. Op zoek naar gerechtigheid. Op zoek naar de waarom.
Dit is een verhaal over rouw, verlies, schok, verdriet en boosheid. Van dankbaarheid, genegenheid en liefde. Het is hartverscheurend, brengt meerdere keren kippenvel op je armen en de chemie tussen Clover en Kit doet de sneeuw smelten.
Dit verhaal bevat een vleugje kerstmagie. Een kerstwonder. En het zit fantastisch in elkaar.
Een saluut, een zoen en een lach voor dit geweldige boek. Het béste van Karen Swan... tot nu toe. *****
April 2, 2023
Karen Swan "Vidurnaktį sningant"
"Tik noras laimėti yra viena, o mokėjimas nugalėti - visai kas kita"
Karen Swan kalėdinė istorija - graži tradicija užbaigti senuosius ir pradėti naujuosius metus su knyga. Labai mėgstu šį metų laiką ir su nekantrumu laukiu kiekvienos šios autorės knygos.
Jauna perspektyvi dokumentinių filmų kūrėja Kloverė Filips ką tik laimėjo prestižinį apdovanojimą. Ir dabar turi tik vieną tikslą - sužinoti ir suprasti kodėl garsiausias pasaulio banglentininkas Kitas Foulis yra toks koks yra - negailestingas ir žiaurus sportininkas. Kloverė su visa savo filmavimo komanda vyksta į Austrijos Alpes, kur turėtų filmuotis jauno sportininko kasdienybę. Tik kaip jiems seksis?
Asmeniškai man tai buvo viena geriausių K. Swan knygų. Man čia netrūko jausmų, išgyvenimų, intrigos ir paslapčių. Buvo labai įdomu skaityti apie sportininkų gyvenimą ir jų kasdienybę. Šioje istorijoje radau Kalėdas ir jų skleidžiamą nuotaiką, nuostabią gamtą.
Puikūs knygos personažai ir itin stiprūs jų charakteriai. Kiekvienas veikėjas turi savo istoriją ir vietą knygoje. Vieni patiko labiau, kiti erzino, tačiau kiekvienas rado kelią į mano širdį.
Skaitydama net pagalvojau, ar viskas yra taip, kaip mums atrodo? O gal kažkaip kitaip? Kur yra ta tiesa? Ir ar lemta viską išsiaiškinti? Skaičiau ir žavėjausi. Ši knyga buvo tikrai labai malonus priminimas, jog kartais reikia laiko ir viskas pamažu išaiškės.
Net nesupratau, kur dingo knygos puslapiai, o juk pati knyga tikrai nėra plona. Istorija tokia pagauli ir įtraukianti, tad net nepajusite kaip perskaitysite. Jeigu ieškote nenuobodžios, jautrios, intriguojančios ir paslaptingos istorijos, tikrai labai rekomenduoju naujausią Karen Swan romaną.
Leidykla „Tyto alba“ #knygųpuslapiuose #skaitaulietuviškai #knygosapžvalga #skaitau2023
"Tik noras laimėti yra viena, o mokėjimas nugalėti - visai kas kita"
Karen Swan kalėdinė istorija - graži tradicija užbaigti senuosius ir pradėti naujuosius metus su knyga. Labai mėgstu šį metų laiką ir su nekantrumu laukiu kiekvienos šios autorės knygos.
Jauna perspektyvi dokumentinių filmų kūrėja Kloverė Filips ką tik laimėjo prestižinį apdovanojimą. Ir dabar turi tik vieną tikslą - sužinoti ir suprasti kodėl garsiausias pasaulio banglentininkas Kitas Foulis yra toks koks yra - negailestingas ir žiaurus sportininkas. Kloverė su visa savo filmavimo komanda vyksta į Austrijos Alpes, kur turėtų filmuotis jauno sportininko kasdienybę. Tik kaip jiems seksis?
Asmeniškai man tai buvo viena geriausių K. Swan knygų. Man čia netrūko jausmų, išgyvenimų, intrigos ir paslapčių. Buvo labai įdomu skaityti apie sportininkų gyvenimą ir jų kasdienybę. Šioje istorijoje radau Kalėdas ir jų skleidžiamą nuotaiką, nuostabią gamtą.
Puikūs knygos personažai ir itin stiprūs jų charakteriai. Kiekvienas veikėjas turi savo istoriją ir vietą knygoje. Vieni patiko labiau, kiti erzino, tačiau kiekvienas rado kelią į mano širdį.
Skaitydama net pagalvojau, ar viskas yra taip, kaip mums atrodo? O gal kažkaip kitaip? Kur yra ta tiesa? Ir ar lemta viską išsiaiškinti? Skaičiau ir žavėjausi. Ši knyga buvo tikrai labai malonus priminimas, jog kartais reikia laiko ir viskas pamažu išaiškės.
Net nesupratau, kur dingo knygos puslapiai, o juk pati knyga tikrai nėra plona. Istorija tokia pagauli ir įtraukianti, tad net nepajusite kaip perskaitysite. Jeigu ieškote nenuobodžios, jautrios, intriguojančios ir paslaptingos istorijos, tikrai labai rekomenduoju naujausią Karen Swan romaną.
Leidykla „Tyto alba“ #knygųpuslapiuose #skaitaulietuviškai #knygosapžvalga #skaitau2023
December 15, 2023
I enjoyed this winter romance (be warned: it has more of a winter feel to it than Christmas) and the enemies-to-lovers trope was well written. However, I would have liked a bit more time with Kit,
December 9, 2021
ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC!!! YOU MUST READ THIS BOOK OUT IN UK ON 14TH OCTOBER ITS SO GOOD
September 7, 2024
Niet slecht maar ook niet wauww. Het verhaal is boeiend, het is ook vlot geschreven maar soms wat langdradig vond ik.
December 25, 2022
2022 || 92 📖
5⭐
Jausmingas, jaudinantis, ir žiemiškas romanas, nukeliantis į Austrijos Alpes ir parodantis, jog nuteisti žmogų visada yra lengviausia, tad kodėl nepabandžius pažiūrėti jo akimis? 💜
Kloverės sukurtas dokumentinis filmas apie sugriautą banglentininko gyvenimą sužavėjo visus. Mergina ramiai sau gyvena toliau, kuria naujus projektus, kol jos kelyje neišdyksta Kitas. Jis - banglentininkas, snieglentininkas ir tas, kurį visi kaltina dėl įvykusios nelaimės, papasakotos ir filme. Pats Kitas niekada nekalbėjo apie tai, kas nutiko iš tiesų, todėl Kloverė pasiryžta tai išsiaiškinti. Ji vyksta į Austrijos Alpes, kur bandydama prisibelsti į kietą Kito širdį praleis gražiausias metų šventes. Tik... Viskas nėra taip paprasta ir lengva.
Nuostabi! Kad patiks, galėjau numanyti, bet kad šitaip sužavės - netikėjau. Pati pradžia skaitėsi gana sunkiai, užtruko "įsivažiuoti", bet toliau... Niekaip negalėjau atsitraukti! Kad ir kaip sąžinė graužė (darbų juk milijonai laukia), visą dieną tik skaičiau 🙈 Nu nes neįmanoma buvo paleisti knygos iš rankų 😁 Jau tikrai seniai taip buvau įsitraukusi į skaitomą istoriją. Galvoje kūrėsi įvairiausi scenarijai, kilo daugybė klausimų, atrodė, jog viską išgyvenu kartu su veikėjais. Vaizdingai aprašomas Austrijos grožis, žiemiška atmosfera, herojų poelgiai ir klaidos žavėjo, traukė ir nepaleido, kol neužverčiau paskutinio puslapio.
Žvelgiant literatūrine prasme, knyga tikrai ne ideali - jokių išminties lobynų čia nebus. Tačiau kaip skaitinys žiemos laikotarpiui, ji tobula 👌🏼 Rasit ir meilės, ir aistrų, ir klaidų, ir paslapčių, ir, aišku, vilties ✨️ Na, dar šiek tiek sniego bei Kalėdų... 🤭
"Norint viską pradėti nuo pradžių, nebūtinai reikia laimingos pabaigos; bet pradžia vis tiek bus, kaip kad nusileidus mėnuliui pateka saulė. Visada yra vilties. Turime žvelgti pirmyn, visada tik pirmyn. Privalome kovoti dėl kitos galimybės."
"-Meilė yra arba jos nėra, tiesa? Negali pasirinkti, ką mylėti arba paaiškinti, kodėl. Tiesiog myli. Visai nesvarbu, nuo ko pradėjai."
5⭐
Jausmingas, jaudinantis, ir žiemiškas romanas, nukeliantis į Austrijos Alpes ir parodantis, jog nuteisti žmogų visada yra lengviausia, tad kodėl nepabandžius pažiūrėti jo akimis? 💜
Kloverės sukurtas dokumentinis filmas apie sugriautą banglentininko gyvenimą sužavėjo visus. Mergina ramiai sau gyvena toliau, kuria naujus projektus, kol jos kelyje neišdyksta Kitas. Jis - banglentininkas, snieglentininkas ir tas, kurį visi kaltina dėl įvykusios nelaimės, papasakotos ir filme. Pats Kitas niekada nekalbėjo apie tai, kas nutiko iš tiesų, todėl Kloverė pasiryžta tai išsiaiškinti. Ji vyksta į Austrijos Alpes, kur bandydama prisibelsti į kietą Kito širdį praleis gražiausias metų šventes. Tik... Viskas nėra taip paprasta ir lengva.
Nuostabi! Kad patiks, galėjau numanyti, bet kad šitaip sužavės - netikėjau. Pati pradžia skaitėsi gana sunkiai, užtruko "įsivažiuoti", bet toliau... Niekaip negalėjau atsitraukti! Kad ir kaip sąžinė graužė (darbų juk milijonai laukia), visą dieną tik skaičiau 🙈 Nu nes neįmanoma buvo paleisti knygos iš rankų 😁 Jau tikrai seniai taip buvau įsitraukusi į skaitomą istoriją. Galvoje kūrėsi įvairiausi scenarijai, kilo daugybė klausimų, atrodė, jog viską išgyvenu kartu su veikėjais. Vaizdingai aprašomas Austrijos grožis, žiemiška atmosfera, herojų poelgiai ir klaidos žavėjo, traukė ir nepaleido, kol neužverčiau paskutinio puslapio.
Žvelgiant literatūrine prasme, knyga tikrai ne ideali - jokių išminties lobynų čia nebus. Tačiau kaip skaitinys žiemos laikotarpiui, ji tobula 👌🏼 Rasit ir meilės, ir aistrų, ir klaidų, ir paslapčių, ir, aišku, vilties ✨️ Na, dar šiek tiek sniego bei Kalėdų... 🤭
"Norint viską pradėti nuo pradžių, nebūtinai reikia laimingos pabaigos; bet pradžia vis tiek bus, kaip kad nusileidus mėnuliui pateka saulė. Visada yra vilties. Turime žvelgti pirmyn, visada tik pirmyn. Privalome kovoti dėl kitos galimybės."
"-Meilė yra arba jos nėra, tiesa? Negali pasirinkti, ką mylėti arba paaiškinti, kodėl. Tiesiog myli. Visai nesvarbu, nuo ko pradėjai."
January 12, 2024
Clover Phillips è una regista che ha recentemente vinto un BAFTA e un Golden Globe per un docu-film dedicato ad un ex stella del surf, amatissimo da fan e colleghi, rimasto tragicamente invalido dopo un incidente causato da un’azione sconsiderata e scorretta del suo rivale Kit Foley. La triste vicenda, esposta da Karen Swan con un’eccessiva quanto pedante retorica, evolve in maniera ancora più tragica, poiché la depressione che lo affligge da allora lo conduce al gesto più estremo.
Clover, che nel corso delle riprese ha stretto amicizia con la sua famiglia, inizia così a nutrire per Foley un odio, a mio parere, se non del tutto immotivato, almeno esagerato. Ma quando per motivi di lavoro dovrà girare un nuovo docu-film che esponga la questione dal punto di vista proprio di Foley, che ha ormai abbandonato il surf a causa della sua terribile reputazione ed è stato costretto a ripiegare sullo snowboard, si renderà conto che la vicenda non è poi così di semplice interpretazione.
Ho faticato a concludere “APPUNTAMENTO A MEZZANOTTE” per il ritmo lento e pesante che, solo a tratti, mi ha coinvolto. Inoltre, al di là del finale più che scontato e del buonismo ricorrente, il linguaggio estremamente tecnico dovuto alle discipline sportive trattate non ne ha sicuramente migliorato la scorrevolezza.
Clover, che nel corso delle riprese ha stretto amicizia con la sua famiglia, inizia così a nutrire per Foley un odio, a mio parere, se non del tutto immotivato, almeno esagerato. Ma quando per motivi di lavoro dovrà girare un nuovo docu-film che esponga la questione dal punto di vista proprio di Foley, che ha ormai abbandonato il surf a causa della sua terribile reputazione ed è stato costretto a ripiegare sullo snowboard, si renderà conto che la vicenda non è poi così di semplice interpretazione.
Ho faticato a concludere “APPUNTAMENTO A MEZZANOTTE” per il ritmo lento e pesante che, solo a tratti, mi ha coinvolto. Inoltre, al di là del finale più che scontato e del buonismo ricorrente, il linguaggio estremamente tecnico dovuto alle discipline sportive trattate non ne ha sicuramente migliorato la scorrevolezza.
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