When Madison sets out to get back at the woman who screwed over her sister, the last place she expects to end up is half-naked on the floor of the Hotel Rosemont with Jake Murphy.
Jake is the gorgeous newcomer in Madison’s tiny hometown, and he’s just as sweet and warm as her sister’s famous cinnamon rolls. Lord knows why he offered to help Madison with her well-intentioned, but definitely illegal plan, but she can’t afford to say no.
But Madison’s blackmail scheme isn’t the only thing that’s getting dangerous. Though they both fight it, the heat between Madison and Jake is building faster than the blizzard outside, and it all comes to a head when they get snowed in at the last hotel room in town.
Now they can’t keep their hands, or lips, off each other.
It’s fun in the snow by day and steam in the sheets by night, until Madison and Jake are forced to make an impossible decision.
After failing to make a career of her true talent (choosing the perfect gif in the group chat), contemporary romance novelist Everly Prince turned to writing stories about love and sex with a side of maple syrup. She loves crafting characters you can’t help but root for, and putting them in situations steamy enough to keep her warm through the cold Canadian winters.
She writes from her home in the middle of the Canadian prairies which she shares with her hunky husband, smarty-pants daughter, and maniacal beagle.
I was given an ARC of this book and I'm glad I had the opportunity because it was adorable!!
I want a Jake for myself!! He was my favourite, such an adorable soul! Don't get me wrong, I also liked Madison but I did connect much more with Jake, who he was and his relationships.
Jake and Madison meet when Lauren, Madison's sister, needs help with some big financial issues. It's pretty noticeable from the start that they feel attracted to each other (and I thought this would be a insta love kind of thing but no! And thank goodness for that 🙈). They end up teaming up to do some shenanigans and from there, we seen them fall for each other! Both of them have their own issues and doubts about their capacity to love and be loved back, which is so relatable. I think at some point, for our own reasons, we all have a moment where we feel impossible to be loved and that's impossible to love someone else the way they need to be loved. What really got to me was the reasons behind this issue in the characters: they actually had a plausible and logical reason to feel the way they did!
I really enjoyed reading this book, I read it two sittings (it was almost one but I had to go to work 🙈🙈).
I also feel in love with Lauren and Maisey, I really want a book about them please!! I feel a book about Lauren, maybe a *cough* second chance *cough* would be amazing and the happy ending she so well deserves!
TikTok is both my bane and my boon. I have a huge list of ARCs I need to read, but lo and behold there came this book that solicited a cinnamon roll man, one-bed trope and angst. I’m here for it. Did I mention the author is Canadian?
First of all, it was a breath of fresh air to read a book by a Canadian based in Canada. And not Vancouver or Toronto or some maritime coastal town. Set in the heart of Manitoba - near where my dad was actually born - this story tells us about small-town Canada in a refreshing perspective. Not to mention that when talking to the author, she was super stoked to see a fellow Canadian jazzed about devouring her story.
The greatest thing about this book is how it deals with sensitive subjects, including, but not limited to mental health, grief, death, spousal abuse, divorce, narcissism, drug addiction and alcohol abuse. I find some books will throw those subjects in for clout or as a plot device, but the way Everly deals with them is so perfect - and a way I would’ve loved to have seen when I was a kid. I’ll get to that a little bit later - and yes, there will be some spoilers as it’s hard to capture the depth of the situation without them!
For the most part, I found this story believable and realistic. Yes, it had some typical tropes (one-bed, I’m looking at you), but it was done in such a way that respect of conscious decision was so present. Miscommunication is another undertone, but that is part and parcel of most relationships, at least at the beginning. That being said, the spice is *chef’s kiss* and I want to bring Jake and Madison into my life and wrap them in bubble wrap to preserve the perfection.
Also, if there’s a story that targets and undermines the corrupt MLM world, I am HERE FOR IT! Just sayin’… Not to mention the fact that there are some not-so-subtle jabs at organized religion which tickled my fancy just a bit.
The mental health portrayal is amazing. The author perfectly captures the experience of dealing with anxiety and panic attacks. I truly felt like she extracted my own experiences and translated them to the page. There is a healthy understanding of coping mechanisms, as well as the in-depth characterization of the inner-voice of a person sitting in crisis. It shows a lot of character in an author when they can present an extremely vulnerable situation with respect and grace - brava!
Everly has a way of dealing with painful moments. There was a depth of understanding of the human psyche by the author that it created such a perfect and compassionate interaction. My inner child reached out to this scene, desperately wanting to go into the past and have the same experience in my own life. I didn’t come from a broken home in the sense of divorce - my parents remained married until my dad’s death - but I did come from a place of high and volatile emotions and the gentleness remained fairly absent. Even after my dad’s passing, I still feel the disconnect of understanding, always grasping at straws on how to belong in the tumultuous relationship with my mom. I feel like Everly would be an absolutely amazing parent and friend, and I would love a chance to sit and soak in her presence to even get a hint of this humanity.
I’m incredibly thankful for the opportunities my family gave me, but my first few years of post-secondary were difficult with constant parental judgement when I didn’t go down the path that was expected of me. I could tell you stories of the drama surrounding my university enrolment even before I started my first year - but that’s for another day.
Of course, as stated earlier, there are some sensitive subjects that are touched on in this story. Couple that with the spice and I would say this would be great for young adults. It gives a gracious and meaningful introspection of human behaviour, and carries valuable lessons on how to deal with mental crisis. I honestly cannot wait for book two - hopefully coming soon!
Picked this book up (theoretically since we all know e-books are life) as an ARC copy because I’ve been in such a reading slump and wanted something light and cheerful to get me back into a reading mood. Real Forever did not disappoint.
Madison and Jake have such a charming love story. I was captivated by their connection right away and on several different occasions, found myself giggling at the predicaments they found themselves in. Madison and Jake’s story is a slow burn and though I’m normally the quick-and-dirty kind of reader, I really did enjoy the plot leading up to the ~good parts~. It was fun to follow both characters on their journeys to self-discovery. For two people who seem to hate the idea of love, they sure are good at finding it. Throughout the book, the author has you rooting for the good guys and vigorously flipping-off the bad ones (*cough cough* DAVE *cough cough*).
It’s important to note my appreciation for the author’s ability to tastefully showcase several tough, potentially-triggering topics including mental health issues (ex: depression, grief, stress/anxiety) and various family issues. Prince did a great job of creating endearing, yet multi-dimensional characters who are clearly dealing with their own struggles. It was nice watching the characters work through those issues -- together. *swoon*
All in all, I am very happy with this quick, charming read. I had such a hard time putting this book down and even now, I’m smiling thinking about finding my own Jake (or even Zach-- the hot roommate-- trust me, I’m not picky). I am so very much looking forward to all that Everly Prince has for us in the future. I’m officially a fan.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Can I move to Snowbrook? Not only did this story touch my heart but the small town the author created brings a smile to my face. Madison is an awesome MC and, while I was happy for her HEA, I was sad to see her and Jake go. This book is not the typical cheesy romance. Both Jake and Madison experience real growth and change. I felt Maddie’s grief and cried along with her (and have the headache today to go along with it). Jake’s realizations in regards to his mother and his own happiness hit me right in the feels. I really identified with these characters. Aside from Maddie and Jake , the side characters were all solid people that added, not only to the plot, but to Jake and Maddie.
There was no real drama. I only screamed at my kindle once (or twice) about communication but it wasn’t too frustrating as a reader. The spice was more on the sexy side rather than spicy but very tasteful and well written. There were quite a few typo’s.
I must say, i am a SUCKER for a small town romance and this was just perfect! We meet Madison and Lauren, two sisters who will do just about anything for each other when they need help. *Insert Jake* I SWOOOOONED🥰 I immediately fell in love with all of the characters and couldn’t put this down once today. I felt all the emotions between the characters and really connected to them. If you’re looking for a small town romance, easy to read book then this is the one for you!
i typically try to stray away from interconnected standalone because i have attachment issues to characters… reading this book made my tummy fill with butterflies, made me want to cry and literally had the perfect amount of spice to it.
madison’s sisters is in a lot of debt because of her legging company, and madison is helping her find a debt counsellor, which happens to be the hotness known as jake.
all i can say is that madison and jake had my heart from the first time they looked at each other and smiled. oh and madison when she sees jake on sweatpants is what you should look forward to reading.
first time reading one of everly’s books and i will be back to read the next book or books in this series 😍
This debut book from Everly Price is amazing I fell in love with the characters. Madison has no direction since her Dad died and Jack and his Mom have plan for the next three years. When Madison’s sister Lauren needs financial help they go see Jack. Madison and Jack are instantly attracted to each other. She decides to get dirt on Lauren’s boss and Jack helps her. Can Madison and Jack both see that they are enough? Great characters and storyline Highly recommended Amazing Book. I can’t wait for the next book in the series.
I absolutely LOVED this book. Everly Prince seriously killed it in this small town romance. Real Forever, hit me in all the feels and made me so stinking happy by the end of it. I loved the fact that I could see myself in the pages. Jake and Maddie’s romance felt so genuine. Seeing a character my own age in a book doesn’t happen often so when I saw Jake was my age, I got excited. All in all an AMAZING story of love, friendship, and family (found and real). I HIGHLY recommend this one!!!!.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I loved this story sooo much and want to read the next one already! Maddie and Jake made such a cute story and everything about their love was real and genuine. I loved how Jake had anxiety and didn’t hide it from himself. Boys have feelings too and it was so great to see him getting help and dealing with his shit. I think people often like to think that only girls get anxiety and depression but boys do too. I also loved how this story was about two people who swore off love and didn’t want to disappoint but found it on accident. It was beautiful and sweet but wasn’t shy about the spice 😉
I received a free copy for an honest review and boy did I hit the jackpot! This is a steamy, fun and exciting read! I fell in love with Madison and Jake and her sweet Canadian village. Watching their relationship get hotter as they got further in the investigation had me on the edge of my seat. I couldn’t put it down. I cannot wait to continue the series with Lauren’s second chance of love!
I couldn't put this down! It's a story about relationships, and what people will do to protect those they love. The relationship between the sisters is heartwarming, and the romance between Jake and Madison is steamy AF. The characters are compelling and you can’t help but root for them as they navigate their challenging circumstances with the perfect mix of grace and sass. The women in the story are hardworking and inspiring, the plot was exciting and I was on the edge of my seat wondering how things would turn out for these really likeable characters. I would definitely read more from this author!!
I was given an ARC of this book and asked to share my thoughts. While I had high hopes, being this is my first ARC review, I feel it is important to share my honest and true thoughts, as to not do a disservice to this author in hopes that she can improve her future works, seeing as this looks like it is leading into a series.
Since there are dual POV’s between Madison and Jake, I felt like a third person narrative didn’t quite fit. We see into their thoughts at times, and felt like the story could have flowed better if it were told in a first person POV.
The dialogue of this book between characters and sentence structure wasn’t quite it for me either. I definitely felt like it could have been stronger. Something felt off from the first chapter, and I really wasn’t drawn in. If I hadn’t promised to leave a review, I would have DNF’d this one after chapter 5.
We are given so much info in the first 6 or so chapters, and it was a lot of telling rather than showing.
When Jake, Lauren, and Madison all meet, it seemed quite awkward, and as Jake and Madison started their “scheme” together to help Lauren, I wasn’t convinced of their chemistry they so claimed they had. I’ve read many many romance novels where you can just feel the character’s chemistry just by a single gesture or facial expression. We don’t really get much of those details like “how they said something” or “what their facial expressions are” in certain moments, and honestly throughout the entirely of the book. Again, details that SHOW, rather than TELL.
I felt very confused at times; Jake would randomly have a negative thought in the beginning of the book and I’d wonder where that came from being as we don’t really know anything about him or Madison.
Even as the book progressed, we still don’t really know much about Jake or Madison -at the end, Agatha asks her to quit her restaurant job to pursue other things, I’m not convinced even Madison knows what her talents are.
Here are my thoughts about Madison and Jake:
Madison: -her character felt extremely childish. I thought I was reading about a teenaged girl, not a late 20 something adult, and frankly, she’s not a likable character for me. -I appreciate her willingness to help her sister out of her situation, but blackmailing?? And then getting mad at Jake for giving her the reality that they could go to jail and he could lose his job..?? Again, showed her immaturity.
Jake: -Jake is definitely the more likable character. You can see his character and willingness to help others from the start with his interaction with the sisters. -I like that we touched on the subject of mental health and panic attacks, but I felt it could have been done much better. It didn’t always make sense to me, especially when Jake had the attack after seeing Lauren and Madison hugging and ended up sobbing on the bathroom floor??
While this May seem harsh, this are my honest opinions. I enjoyed that the characters had mild character development and that Madison decided to get grief counseling and that Jake stood up to his mother. But, with that being said, I will not be reading any more from this series.
I adored this book! And I cannot wait for the next book already! I rated this book a solid 4/5 stars and I honestly have no major complaints!!
Madison and Jake were truly lovable characters who are flawed in their own ways. Through what seems to be an instant connection they form a bond to help Madison’s sister Lauren get out of her current problems.
Let me tell you that the plot in this book was just exceptional! I found it so hilarious that the main plot of this book had to do with an MLM company. It’s such a genius idea because so many women have known women in these companies and we have heard the outcomes of women like Lauren for being part of these companies.
This book made me cry, it made me laugh, it gave me spice! Nothing crazy but so good for what it was! I grew to love not only the relationship between Madison and Jake, but also the relationship between Lauren and Madison!
This book is a small town romance filled with love and hardships. It’s about finding your path and following your heart. It even has a single bed trope 😉. I can not recommend this book enough and hope everyone gets a chance to read it!
I was provided this ARC for my honest review and I give only my honest opinions!
You know it’s a good book when you stay up way to late to keep reading.
Firstly, I loved that the premise of this story was not the typical for contemporary romances. Madison’s sister, Lauren gets in deep debt due to her involvement with an MLM. (I have a minor obsession with the whole manipulative and sketchy industry so that immediately caught my interest.)
To figure out how to tackle her debt Lauren seeks assistance from an insolvency trustee named Jake, and Madison tags along for the meeting. Sparks fly between Madison and Jake immediately,but they’re both focused on helping Lauren get out of trouble first and each are dealing with their own personal issues before they can make their relationship work.
If you’re looking for spice in your romance, this book has definitely got it. But the story is more complex than just getting these characters into the bedroom, which I really appreciated to keep my interest throughout.
Looking for a new romance, check this one out.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
TW: MLMs, domestic violence, toxic parents, anxiety, loss of parent - grief
I want to say this just wasn’t the book for me but then again I don’t know.. the story line was good - it has great potential but there was something about the writing style I didn’t particularly enjoy. This book is very insta love so if you’re not into the insta love trope this one isn’t for you either. Jake and Madison have undeniable chemistry right off the bat. Madison, the younger, “less put together” sister has to step up while her older sister Lauren’s perfect life seems to come crumbling down. Lauren’s husband is constantly out and quite frankly an asshole and debt is racking up from her commission based job that just isn’t selling anymore. Madison & Jake try to solve this problem together but in the process end up in each other’s bed.. If ya know what I’m sayin. It was just predictable, and maybe too young? Idk.. All in all the story itself has potential and could’ve been great but it just wasn’t for me. I tried and I wanted to, I love being able to promote & praise new authors on their journey but this one was a no for me. I can honestly say just because it wasn’t for me though doesn’t mean it won’t be for someone else so I give it 2 stars and hope maybe it takes off anyway.
This book was intriguing because I’ve never read a book that accurately described prevalent issues in MLM schemes. I feel that the world of MLM is shrouded in mystery, and getting a glance into it was fascinating! We start with Madison finding her sister having a breakdown after her independent business selling leggings for a pyramid scheme completely fails. (for reasons totally out of her control). Madison then meets Jake (our MMC) because he is a financial adviser in hopes of making a plan to get her sister out of the crippling debt she’s accrued thru her business. Madi and Jake have instant chemistry and decide to team up. They planned to find dirt against the legging company’s founding member (Tammy) and, when they do, hopefully, use it to blackmail her into paying Madisons sister off for sucking her into a debt inducing scam. This story has many elements that could have made for a good read, but for some reason it just fell flat for me. I wanted to care about the characters and their problems, but the writing style just didn’t connect with me in a way that made me care. For that, I gave this story 2 stars. But I for sure think that someone else with different preferences could pick this up and enjoy it.
I received a copy of this book for free in the event I wrote an honest review.
This was a great quick read. Madison was crass and hard on herself and I feel very drawn towards her. Jake seemed like a dork but his parents reminded me of my in-laws and may have stressed me out more than intended. Haha.
Madison helps her sister through an excruciating debt from her MLM legging business that was set up to fail by the Boss Babe, Tammy. Jake enters the picture as the debt consolidation guy and agrees to help Madison blackmail Tammy to pay off the sisters debt.
Jake and Madison go through the internal struggles of feeling like they are worthy of loving and being loved and causes the emotions and tension to be realistic.
Happy ending (no pun intended) are always the icing on the cake.
The story is modern, touches on current social tendencies and events.
The book was well written. I just wish it was about 350 pages.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received this ARC in return for an honest review! I just want to say thank you so much everly! I was honoured to be chosen to receive this book! So excited to have found another amazing Canadian author! I also love how this story was set in small town in MB! Usually they are always a big well known city! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 🌶🌶🌶 I loved this book! I took a star off only because I found it hard to hook me in the beginning. Definitely a slow burn for sure but once it picked up boy I couldn’t stop! I love Jake I need a Jake ! The spice!!!! Was chefs kiss perfect! Definitely could feel the connection they had!
I loved that both main characters got the chance to grow and figure out their life direction! My heart hurt for Lauren for sure! As a single mom who left an abusive relationship I felt I could relate so hard to how she was feeling and what she was going through! I would never wish that in my worst enemy! But everly did an amazing job show casing the real struggle women like us can go through when trying to leave or the worries for our kids!
This was a cute, fast-paced, dual-POV, partners in crime story about two strangers that hit it off from the start. The story is set in a small town (village) in Manitoba, Canada with a super unique storyline. I loved how the author exposed the Boss-babes pyramid scheme we all see on social media.
Being a born and raised prairie Canadian, this story hit close to home.
Not only does the author do an incredible job of portraying mental health, but also other important topics like domestic violence, grief, narcissism, and finding purpose. Everly did a brilliant job of describing the MMC’s panic attacks that he deals with as well as the emotions that the other characters experience throughout the book.
I loved seeing a man who had his mental health in check; Jake suffers from severe anxiety but has developed strategies to help him cope. I also loved how unfiltered Madison was; she’s badass, funny, and a sweetheart.
The banter was off the charts! I caught myself laughing out loud multiple times and grinning at my screen like an idiot, LOL.
The only thing I would add is pet names!!! The characters said each other’s names way too many times and I felt like it could’ve been replaced with other names or none at all, multiple times (it felt repetitive).
I voluntarily wrote this review in exchange for an ARC 🤍
I really enjoyed reading this sweet, yet steamy, book! It was a good break from the dark romance I’ve binged lately and I liked how the author kept a realistic plot and description of everything, instead of over complicating it.
I loved Jake & Maddie! How both had a lot of stuff to deal with & overcome, and how they were willing to do anything to help & protect the people they love. I hope we get to see more of them in future books!
I also got attached to Maisie and Lauren, so I’ll definitely be reading the next installment in this series - Lauren deserves to be happy after everything she went through.
If I have anything to add, is that maybe the third person narration on top of the POV chapters was not exactly necessary and, in my opinion, would have been easier to go with first person. But all in all, I really liked this story! It was a cute, fun and comfy read.
Big thanks to Everly for providing me with the ARC! And congratulations on your first book baby. You go, girl!
This book was beautiful and really touching. The love story between Jake and Madison was great but I also loved the relationships they had with all the various side characters. (p.s. can we please get more Agatha and the old guy from the coffee shop in book two?!) I appreciated how the book discussed the different mental health stuff and various family dynamics. I definitely had a few tears in some parts. Madison and Jake were an awesome couple. The spicy scenes were perfect for me (steamy but not overly kinky) and I loved that I could feel their friendship growing along with their attraction. Will definitely be looking forward to book 2!
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This book is/was wonderful. It was a quick read which I liked. I felt like it could be a stand alone or series with the way everything played out and how it ended. I like the simple sweet ending. I loved how relatable the characters were and how modern and real it felt. I felt I was in the story with these people and I could know them in real life. I liked it a lot and I definitely feel like anyone could read this. I read this in about 2-3 hours because it kept me interested and wanting to finish it but I would say anyone could read this in a span of just a couple days or so. I would highly recommend this to my friends.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I won't lie, I wasn't expecting to enjoy this as much as I did. However, we had one-bed, angst, some mental health representation in there, too, just an all rounder!
The spice was top notch, really no complaints on that front!!!
My only critisism is that I would have liked a little more silent treatment and a bigger fallout with the '70% through the book' argument but that being said, I really enjoyed this.
Slight slow burn, cheerful, light and quick read. Recommend to anyone who needs something to fill a gap! I cannot wait for the rest of the series and to read Lauren's story next!
What an amazing debut for this author. The characters were so relatable and it felt like I was right there in the middle of it all.
Madison will do anything for her family. Even blackmailing the woman who screwed over her sister. But she gets caught up with the new guy in town Jake after asking for his help. He’s so sweet and their chemistry is amazing. They end up getting snowed in at the hotel. Both Madison and Jake have their own inner struggles that they’re trying to work through. I love seeing them both vulnerable and their strength.
This book is such a good small town romance. It’s filled with heart, drama, steam, emotions, revenge and so much more. Please check the content warning though. Can’t wait to read more from this author.
I received this arc and am voluntarily leaving my honest opinion.
There are some series that start out really slow, not rally focusing completely on the H/h but this book isn't one of those. I love how well Madison and Jake were introduced and I love how he had her back from the minute they met. They were a great pairing and a really sweet couple. I also love how they introduced Lauren and hinted about Nikki, (and I hope my suspicions are right and they're the next couple). I also really hope Zack gets a book. He's a bit of a hot mess but I adore his honesty and character support.
This book is incredible. I could not put it down! perfect amount of spiciness, character growth, and relationship growth. Plot twist was fantastic and definitely led to a happily ever after!
Very relatable aspects in regards to mental health as well. I dont think ive read a fiction book that portrays anxiety in such an accurate way. Made me very happy inside.
Definitely one to read and I am very excited for rest of the Snowbrook series.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a copy of this book as and advanced reader copy. Its the first book I've actually read in a while because I've been listening to audiobooks, so the first chapter took a little bit for me to get into. However once I got to chapter two I couldn't put it down. The way the sisters interact with each other is so sweet. The roles that each character holds all fit together in a good balance. I absolutely loved this story.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.