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Melt My Heart #1
Thaw in Winter
A chance meeting between two hikers turns steamy. But an accident, amnesia and an unexplained wedding ring stop the burgeoning affair right in its tracks. When a snowstorm traps them in a cabin, their passion makes a thaw in winter. Publisher's Note: This book is a homoerotic love story and as such contains acts that may be offensive to some readers: male/male sex practices.
138 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 1, 2007
2 people are currently reading
149 people want to read
About the author
Kate Steele
74 books170 followersAs a kid, from the time I learned to read, I've treasured books. Fiction mostly, because I'm the type of person who likes to be taken on journeys of imagination. I guess it was only natural I'd try to orchestrate some of those journeys myself, and share them with others.
Writing can be fun, frustrating, and sometimes even frightening, but it sings a siren song that entices. And whether you end up in the arms of a gorgeous muse, or wreaked on the rocks of broken thought, when you feel the urge to write, you do it.
I do my writing in a turn-of-the-century house located in the midst of Indiana farm country. In addition to dogs, cats and lovebirds, my family keeps me company. When not writing, I read, am an enthusiastic grower of iris, and a fanatic fan of Japanese manga and anime.
Writing can be fun, frustrating, and sometimes even frightening, but it sings a siren song that entices. And whether you end up in the arms of a gorgeous muse, or wreaked on the rocks of broken thought, when you feel the urge to write, you do it.
I do my writing in a turn-of-the-century house located in the midst of Indiana farm country. In addition to dogs, cats and lovebirds, my family keeps me company. When not writing, I read, am an enthusiastic grower of iris, and a fanatic fan of Japanese manga and anime.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
July 1, 2009
Thaw in Winter by Kate Steele is another one of those books I have had in my TBR files for some time. I recently read To the Highest Bidder by her, and really enjoyed it, so I decided to give this one a shot. I did like it, but I don’t know that it will be something that is on my active re-read list.
The story starts off well enough. Mark is on vacation and is staying at his family’s cabin that is located on the edge of a National Forest. He decides to go for a walk and comes across a handsome man named Joe, who is camping out not too far from where he is staying. Mark and Joe have an immediate rapport and easily fall into a friendly companionship. Mark is disappointed when he notices that Joe is wearing a wedding ring, and he decides to just be friendly with Joe, just not flirtatious with him.
As Mark decides to leave, Joe gives him his number and gives Mark a passionate kiss. Mark is startled, but unable to resist the physical attraction between them, and kisses Joe back. When they come up for air, Mark questions Joe about the ring, but as Joe is about to give an explanation about it, they are interrupted and the moment is lost.
The next day a snow storm hits the area, and even though Mark knows Joe was supposed to have left earlier that morning, he decides to make sure Joe left his campsite okay. When he arrives at Joe’s campsite and discovers that Joe has slipped on the ice and hit his head, practically making him unconscious, Mark saves Joe from the storm, and takes him to the cabin to nurse him back to health.
Although Joe remembers who he is, he can’t remember why he wears the gold wedding ring, leaving him and Mark walking on eggshells around each other instead of giving into their desire for one another, until they find out the truth about Joe’s past.
The plot was simple and there really isn’t much angst to the story. The story is basically told through Mark’s point of view, but every so often, Joe would interrupt and tell us as a reader what is going on with him. It’s based on a very short period at the beginning of a relationship. I think the story would have been better if we could see how Mark and Joe progress as a couple. They have a few things in common, but the ways they view life will make things interesting for them in the future.
Mark is younger than Joe. Where Joe had been in a 9 year relationship, Mark is much more inexperienced with life. Mark was a Virgin when he met Joe. His shyness and fear of being ridiculed for being gay has kept him from enjoying life until he met Joe. It would have been interesting to see how much Mark and Joe could have grown together.
To me it had a more HFN ending than a HEA. I still liked it, but I really wish it would have been longer and their relationship more explored. If you are looking for a sweet and easy romance with not much angst, this book might be for you.
3.5 stars, but I’ll bump it up to
The story starts off well enough. Mark is on vacation and is staying at his family’s cabin that is located on the edge of a National Forest. He decides to go for a walk and comes across a handsome man named Joe, who is camping out not too far from where he is staying. Mark and Joe have an immediate rapport and easily fall into a friendly companionship. Mark is disappointed when he notices that Joe is wearing a wedding ring, and he decides to just be friendly with Joe, just not flirtatious with him.
As Mark decides to leave, Joe gives him his number and gives Mark a passionate kiss. Mark is startled, but unable to resist the physical attraction between them, and kisses Joe back. When they come up for air, Mark questions Joe about the ring, but as Joe is about to give an explanation about it, they are interrupted and the moment is lost.
The next day a snow storm hits the area, and even though Mark knows Joe was supposed to have left earlier that morning, he decides to make sure Joe left his campsite okay. When he arrives at Joe’s campsite and discovers that Joe has slipped on the ice and hit his head, practically making him unconscious, Mark saves Joe from the storm, and takes him to the cabin to nurse him back to health.
Although Joe remembers who he is, he can’t remember why he wears the gold wedding ring, leaving him and Mark walking on eggshells around each other instead of giving into their desire for one another, until they find out the truth about Joe’s past.
The plot was simple and there really isn’t much angst to the story. The story is basically told through Mark’s point of view, but every so often, Joe would interrupt and tell us as a reader what is going on with him. It’s based on a very short period at the beginning of a relationship. I think the story would have been better if we could see how Mark and Joe progress as a couple. They have a few things in common, but the ways they view life will make things interesting for them in the future.
Mark is younger than Joe. Where Joe had been in a 9 year relationship, Mark is much more inexperienced with life. Mark was a Virgin when he met Joe. His shyness and fear of being ridiculed for being gay has kept him from enjoying life until he met Joe. It would have been interesting to see how much Mark and Joe could have grown together.
To me it had a more HFN ending than a HEA. I still liked it, but I really wish it would have been longer and their relationship more explored. If you are looking for a sweet and easy romance with not much angst, this book might be for you.
3.5 stars, but I’ll bump it up to
Read
March 30, 2009Mark is a 24 years old architect, cute and adorable, and virgin. He has had a loving family even though a bit old: in fact he was raised by his grandparantes and they accepted his omosexuality, but lived in a small cabin among a forest, so it was a little difficult for Mark to find a lover.
So now, he lives in the city but he is still shy and wary when it is time to love. But one morning, during a brief vacation in his cabin, he meet a camper, Joe: big, muscular and very handsome, Joe is also very open in his interest for Mark. But he has also a gold ring on his hand, so someone is waiting him back home.
But destiny decided for them, and Joe is lightly injured and loses part of his memory: he remembers to have someone at home, but he doesn't remember whom, and what is their relationship. And now he has near Mark, and Mark is so innocent and exciting...
Mark is a lovely character, all blush and eyes. He is naivee and open, charmingly innocent. Joe is more mature and aware, he perspire sex, and to Mark's innocent eyes he is like a feast on two legs...
This is a tender story with no much drama or conflict. Funny and enjoyable, maybe a fault I can find is the pink world in which our characters live, where omosexuality is accepted without problems and where a man can live in peace between his family warm embrace... it's an ideal world and sometimes is relaxing to read about it.
http://elisa-rolle.livejournal.com/11...
So now, he lives in the city but he is still shy and wary when it is time to love. But one morning, during a brief vacation in his cabin, he meet a camper, Joe: big, muscular and very handsome, Joe is also very open in his interest for Mark. But he has also a gold ring on his hand, so someone is waiting him back home.
But destiny decided for them, and Joe is lightly injured and loses part of his memory: he remembers to have someone at home, but he doesn't remember whom, and what is their relationship. And now he has near Mark, and Mark is so innocent and exciting...
Mark is a lovely character, all blush and eyes. He is naivee and open, charmingly innocent. Joe is more mature and aware, he perspire sex, and to Mark's innocent eyes he is like a feast on two legs...
This is a tender story with no much drama or conflict. Funny and enjoyable, maybe a fault I can find is the pink world in which our characters live, where omosexuality is accepted without problems and where a man can live in peace between his family warm embrace... it's an ideal world and sometimes is relaxing to read about it.
http://elisa-rolle.livejournal.com/11...
June 10, 2012
Adored it, thanks to a good friend who has been brave enough to keep recommending these treasures to me. Loved the MC's, the romance and teasing was hot, the kisses, foreplay everything about them clicked even the little displays of aggression so good. Mark what a darling with his shy blushing charm, he was seriously cute with his awkward sweet attraction towards Joe the hunk, who was patient and tender with Mark's first time that was a beautiful sexy moment. So glad I got to savour and enjoy this love story.
June 12, 2012
Not much to say other than what a great love story. I absolutely adored both Mark and Joe.
October 18, 2012
3.5*
This is a sweet story about 24 yr old architect and virgin Mark and how he meets the older and more dominant Joe.
Mark saves Joe's life and they are snowed in for a few days, add the "mystery" of what is Joe's life and it's a pretty good story.
I just didn't like Joe very much and I dislike leaving open questions in a story just to sell a short sequel.
No worries, there is a HFN with a strong leaning to HEA!
This is a sweet story about 24 yr old architect and virgin Mark and how he meets the older and more dominant Joe.
Mark saves Joe's life and they are snowed in for a few days, add the "mystery" of what is Joe's life and it's a pretty good story.
I just didn't like Joe very much and I dislike leaving open questions in a story just to sell a short sequel.
No worries, there is a HFN with a strong leaning to HEA!
April 25, 2010
This is a story of Mark and Joe. Mark saves Joe's life -- the two feels instant strong attraction. But one thing seems to stand in the way. A ring on Joe's finger, and Joe can't remember what the ring stands for. I really like Kate Steele's writings. Though she has her fair share of sex scenes but I don't feel it as overwhelming or taking away my attention from the characters. And she always have wonderful characters. The ending is a bit abrupt, though ... because I feel there is one issue that has not been addressed, namely that d*ck Mark has to work with. I hope this is touched on the short story sequel.
January 11, 2010
Thaw in Winter was a good m/m romance about Mark, an architect who saves Joe’s life when he’s injured while camping. Joe and Mark are attracted to each other… but Joe can’t remember why exactly he’s wearing that mysterious wedding band on his ring finger. I liked this one a lot, until the point at which the first book stopped abruptly, leaving unresolved a plot point that had been played up quite a bit. I then discovered that there was a short second book, which resolves that plot point. Grrr. I would’ve been happier for it to all be in one book… and maybe it was at one point.
December 25, 2018
Good laid back reading. The storyline was entertaining. I liked how Joe and Mark met in the woods and their first intimate relations were in the cabin in the midst of a snow storm. Once back in the "real world" their love continued to grow. Then suddenly the story ended. It was obvious that there would be a sequel. One minute I was naively reading and enjoying the story then BAM - the end. Luckily I was able to quickly download the sequel.
March 30, 2015
I enjoyed this one. Despite the insta-love plot line & Joe's long hair (a personal dislike) I enjoyed reading about the developing relationship. I liked that Mark was an innocent 'cause I felt that Joe needed someone transparent & forthright after loosing his last lover. The story is relatively angst-free but I was sadly disappointed when I got to the end & realised I would have to purchase the next book to get a decent (I hope) resolution to the story. Imagine my horror when I realised that book 2 isn't available at the moment. So be warned...book 1 is sweet but incomplete. Book 2 is missing.
December 8, 2015
A sweet love story. If you want a quick read with a simple plot and likeable characters, don't hesitate. It's nice to read it in a cold wintry afternoon.
December 27, 2016
Pretty sweet and enjoyable winter read.
Insta-love.
But I liked that they held off, when there was a possibility of a significant other that couldn't be remembered.
Sweet, short.
Insta-love.
But I liked that they held off, when there was a possibility of a significant other that couldn't be remembered.
Sweet, short.
December 12, 2010
Yay, I finally finished this. I really loved this story, but it only gets 4 stars from me because of some flaws, well, more like my own personal reasons for not giving it a complete 5 out of 5.
One thing was that the beginning was too slow. I found myself just waiting for something to happen so I ended up reading 20 or so pages and then taking a break, that is until I got to a certain point. Then I just couldn't stop. I read like crazy and just really want to read to sequel.
As I've said before in other reviews, I love age-gaps to which this was albeit not too much, just 7 years. I also love virgin or fist times books.
This was very cute. The only thing I really wanted was to see in the end was what Joe would do to Derek. I wanted to see some confrontation and Derek pay for the harassment, but oh well. It was still good.
One thing was that the beginning was too slow. I found myself just waiting for something to happen so I ended up reading 20 or so pages and then taking a break, that is until I got to a certain point. Then I just couldn't stop. I read like crazy and just really want to read to sequel.
As I've said before in other reviews, I love age-gaps to which this was albeit not too much, just 7 years. I also love virgin or fist times books.
This was very cute. The only thing I really wanted was to see in the end was what Joe would do to Derek. I wanted to see some confrontation and Derek pay for the harassment, but oh well. It was still good.
December 12, 2016
I am not usually a fan of insta love books, however this was a sweet read of Mark and Joe. An unexpected meeting from a near death experience. There is a connection that cannot be denied. It was cute and cheesy at times but that is how I feel about insta love. IT also felt like the author was in a hurry to finish the book. Over all it had sweet moments, awkward moments, and a few hot moments. If you are wanting a sweet winter story this is just the book you need.
April 23, 2011
Thaw in Winter is a very cute story. A bit slow in the beginning, but it picks up midway and ends with a HEA. There were several points in the book that Ms. Steele could easily draw from to write a sequel. I'd read it.
Three stars for Thaw in Winter.
June 3, 2011
cute story but ended abruptly with one small issue unresolved. It appears there is a short story that came out a couple years later that resolves this. I'm not sure why it couldn't be contained all in one book so it lost a star for that.
July 4, 2011
I feel like this book ended when it was only 3/4 done. At least there's a follow up book that will hopefully tie up the loose ends. Apart from that, I liked the book. I found Joe to be too aggressive sometimes though.
May 9, 2016
It was an okay story, predictable and a little corny, but cute. The ending does indeed (as others have said) give you a Happy For Now. I expect the next book in the series to continue where this one left off.
July 31, 2012
Great characters...really a great read!
January 31, 2013
Will review later
July 8, 2016
3.5/5
Sweet light read.
Sweet light read.
February 26, 2017
Uh, I hate when a plot line is left dangling. Ugh.
February 10, 2018
There were some sweet moments but just a bit too much instant love to make this anything more than a 3 star read.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews