What do you think?
Rate this book
Cut to The Heart of It
Writers live in a fantasy world, but CJ tries to keep a good head on her shoulders: a steady job, close to her mom, and only uses her free time to work on her dream of being a full-time author. After a weekend with a love interest turns out to be a huge mistake, she decides to get some distance from the gossip mill and catch up on some writing at a cozy cabin up the mountain.
Johnny is a simple man. He runs a business and rents out cabins. His main priority is his son that he raised alone for nearly eighteen years. When a bad storm hits the mountain, Johnny rushes to tell the only renter to evacuate, but he’s too late.
Stranded together at the cabin where CJ was hoping to get some writing done, will they go stir crazy, or will cabin fever heat the place up?
Johnny is a simple man. He runs a business and rents out cabins. His main priority is his son that he raised alone for nearly eighteen years. When a bad storm hits the mountain, Johnny rushes to tell the only renter to evacuate, but he’s too late.
Stranded together at the cabin where CJ was hoping to get some writing done, will they go stir crazy, or will cabin fever heat the place up?
131 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 4, 2022
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
November 16, 2022
DNF @ 40%
I think some of this is just a mismatch of author’s writing style and me. Forced proximity is one of my favorite tropes and I loved the idea of older (40s) MCs and a fat heroine. I did like that CJ was comfortable with her weight and aging.
Ultimately I quit because too much time was spent building up to even getting to the point where the MCs were stuck in the cabin. The set up was convoluted (and kind of repetitive) for a forced proximity. CJ was needlessly snippy toward Johnny and I wasn’t really impressed with her attitude. It’s listed as a RomCom, but I didn’t find it funny.
I think some of this is just a mismatch of author’s writing style and me. Forced proximity is one of my favorite tropes and I loved the idea of older (40s) MCs and a fat heroine. I did like that CJ was comfortable with her weight and aging.
Ultimately I quit because too much time was spent building up to even getting to the point where the MCs were stuck in the cabin. The set up was convoluted (and kind of repetitive) for a forced proximity. CJ was needlessly snippy toward Johnny and I wasn’t really impressed with her attitude. It’s listed as a RomCom, but I didn’t find it funny.
August 29, 2024
I'm currently struggling to get into long books and long series for some reason. So these short easy reads are a nice change. Obviously character development and relationship building are limited because of the length of the book, but honestly not mad about it. Nothing impressive or dramatic, but it was cute.
September 17, 2024
Sweet baby cheezits this book was amazing!! It kept me giggling and swooning over Johnny! CJ being sassy and a spitfire was perfect for him! I loved this fast paced rom com. Give me all the forced proximity feels pleaseee! Who doesn’t want to read about a writer and a lumberjack 😂
🌶️🌶️/5
🌶️🌶️/5
November 4, 2022
LUMBERSNACK!!!!
Johnny is EVERYTHING!! He's ALL the things wrapped in one. CJ was super-feisty and sweet. I love the fact that these characters are over 40 and finding love. It's also spicy in there so be careful!!
1000/10 recommend!!!
Johnny is EVERYTHING!! He's ALL the things wrapped in one. CJ was super-feisty and sweet. I love the fact that these characters are over 40 and finding love. It's also spicy in there so be careful!!
1000/10 recommend!!!
April 2, 2023
Rugged Mountain Man and Spicy Author Unite!📚♥️
My love for this author’s hilarious personality had me adding this fun, fast-paced read to my Kindle. And I’m happy I did. Fair warning: If you read this, be prepared to book a solo trip to a mountain cabin and scan the landscape for a lumberjack of your own.
CJ is a spitfire, middle-age romance author looking for an escape in the woods to finish her WIP. Johnny is a middle-aged hunk in flannel, raising his older teenage son and renting out quiet cabins on his mountain property. Neither are looking for relationship. Yet Mother Nature decides to play match maker and these two get stuck in a cabin together.
Tension is high after a hilariously disastrous first encounter at a local grocery store between these headstrong characters, leading to sassy conversations and humorous situations as they navigate cohabiting together. It doesn’t help that they’re attracted to each other and forced to look at each other in long underwear or wet clothes. Even when giving each other space in a tiny cabin, they can’t resist coming together for some serious steamy time. But all good things come to an end when the weather clears.
Will Johnny take the leap and ask her to stay with him to live out her dream like a hobbit, isolated in the mountains where she can focus on her romance novels? Can CJ take a chance on love again, give up her corporate job, and risk it all on a whirlwind romance like something out of one of her books? Or will this budding relationship disappear like the rain clouds retreating after the storm?
This was a quick read where the plot kept you turning the pages right up to the end. The steamy scenes were fun and spicy. That first bedroom scene had me cackling before melting. The dialogue will crack you up. I swear I could hear April’s voice in my head while reading CJ’s parts, which only made the book more entertaining. And the HEA will have you buying up buffalo check flannels and buttons in bulk, and picking up another of April’s books to enjoy.
Instalove with comedy. My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
My love for this author’s hilarious personality had me adding this fun, fast-paced read to my Kindle. And I’m happy I did. Fair warning: If you read this, be prepared to book a solo trip to a mountain cabin and scan the landscape for a lumberjack of your own.
CJ is a spitfire, middle-age romance author looking for an escape in the woods to finish her WIP. Johnny is a middle-aged hunk in flannel, raising his older teenage son and renting out quiet cabins on his mountain property. Neither are looking for relationship. Yet Mother Nature decides to play match maker and these two get stuck in a cabin together.
Tension is high after a hilariously disastrous first encounter at a local grocery store between these headstrong characters, leading to sassy conversations and humorous situations as they navigate cohabiting together. It doesn’t help that they’re attracted to each other and forced to look at each other in long underwear or wet clothes. Even when giving each other space in a tiny cabin, they can’t resist coming together for some serious steamy time. But all good things come to an end when the weather clears.
Will Johnny take the leap and ask her to stay with him to live out her dream like a hobbit, isolated in the mountains where she can focus on her romance novels? Can CJ take a chance on love again, give up her corporate job, and risk it all on a whirlwind romance like something out of one of her books? Or will this budding relationship disappear like the rain clouds retreating after the storm?
This was a quick read where the plot kept you turning the pages right up to the end. The steamy scenes were fun and spicy. That first bedroom scene had me cackling before melting. The dialogue will crack you up. I swear I could hear April’s voice in my head while reading CJ’s parts, which only made the book more entertaining. And the HEA will have you buying up buffalo check flannels and buttons in bulk, and picking up another of April’s books to enjoy.
Instalove with comedy. My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
April 3, 2023
I loved this fun contemporary romance novella by April D Berry! CJ is a writer who has recently experienced a bad breakup and needs to get away so she can focus and work on her next book. She picks a mountain cabin retreat, but a big storm hits that washes out the roads just as she’s settling in and Johnny, the owner, gets trapped there with her. I loved the mountain setting so much, loved the heat between these two, (OMG that lumberjack wood cutting scene, yes please!!) Johnny was hot and also a great dad to his teenage son. There was just so much to love about this middle-aged pair, and I loved that this book was on a slightly older couple rather than the 20-somethings we see in most romance books. This was a short but sweet (and hot!) novella that you can read in just a few hours. I loved it and can’t wait to pick up Berry’s next hot romance! 5/5 stars.
November 5, 2022
Cut to The Heart of It is A Romantic Comedy Novella that will have you turning Page after Page. I Adored CJ and Johnny so much! CJ has had a lot of drama in her life lately. She hears about some secluded Cabins in the woods from some writer friends and decides to take a writes retreat of her own. Johnny is a hard-working Single Dad. His Son is grown but works with him. Oh, and he's the owner of the Cabins. Bad weather hits them and Johnny has to share the Cabin with CJ whom he thought was a Man by the name! Boy oh Boy does this Cabin Heat Up! Their Chemistry is Magnetic.. They fall Hard and Fast which scars CJ. I must say that I want a Johnny for Myself. The Spice was Very Nice. Will They overcome it All to reach Their HEA? Definitely Your Next 5 ⭐ Read...
November 6, 2022
This novella was a great time!
It’s a steamy romcom that hit all the feels.
CJ is an adorable FMC. She’s in her 40s, plus size (and comfortable in her body), and a writer.
I love that this book features an older plus size woman but doesn’t make a stink about her being plus size. So many books will dwell on the plus size and have the character bemoan their body.
Johnny is a yummy MMC. He wears flannel, knows his way around an axe, knows what he likes and it happens to be CJ.
There are so many funny parts that kept me smiling and steamy parts to make me blush.
Love every moment of this novella!
It’s a steamy romcom that hit all the feels.
CJ is an adorable FMC. She’s in her 40s, plus size (and comfortable in her body), and a writer.
I love that this book features an older plus size woman but doesn’t make a stink about her being plus size. So many books will dwell on the plus size and have the character bemoan their body.
Johnny is a yummy MMC. He wears flannel, knows his way around an axe, knows what he likes and it happens to be CJ.
There are so many funny parts that kept me smiling and steamy parts to make me blush.
Love every moment of this novella!
January 27, 2023
Forced proximity
April I'm coming back for more....
This is just what I needed quick easy and so stinking 🥰 cute with a hint of spice 🌶️🌶️
MC CJ IS MY KIND OF WOMEN
Whiskey, Curvy, voluptuous and is actually an adult like 😋 yummy with a mind to match. ✅ Like dang.
Johnny is is a no nonsense man. Who can lift me and then some and has a heart that just won't stop omg 🤩
If you still not trying to download this book yet or buying after all I've said
One cabin, roads are closed 🔐 and lots of smooth rain in the mountains with a hot 🔥 man that won't stop staring. ...
🌧️🛖🌶️🌶️🔥🥰⁉️🤐🧱⁉️⁉️⁉️⁉️⁉️⁉️
Hope you pick this up 😉 so good.
April I'm coming back for more....
This is just what I needed quick easy and so stinking 🥰 cute with a hint of spice 🌶️🌶️
MC CJ IS MY KIND OF WOMEN
Whiskey, Curvy, voluptuous and is actually an adult like 😋 yummy with a mind to match. ✅ Like dang.
Johnny is is a no nonsense man. Who can lift me and then some and has a heart that just won't stop omg 🤩
If you still not trying to download this book yet or buying after all I've said
One cabin, roads are closed 🔐 and lots of smooth rain in the mountains with a hot 🔥 man that won't stop staring. ...
🌧️🛖🌶️🌶️🔥🥰⁉️🤐🧱⁉️⁉️⁉️⁉️⁉️⁉️
Hope you pick this up 😉 so good.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 11, 2022
Forever in the woods
This was my first book by the author, and it was a random scroll through my FB feed that brought me here. The cover had me doing a double-take and the blurb sealed the deal.
This was a delightful quick read that had a solid storyline and plenty of heat.
I enjoyed that this was a mature couple with real-life struggles and expectations. You don't see enough of that in romance reads.
I'll be back to try more from April!
This was my first book by the author, and it was a random scroll through my FB feed that brought me here. The cover had me doing a double-take and the blurb sealed the deal.
This was a delightful quick read that had a solid storyline and plenty of heat.
I enjoyed that this was a mature couple with real-life struggles and expectations. You don't see enough of that in romance reads.
I'll be back to try more from April!
January 30, 2023
I’m trying to figure out what I just read… Typically I’m all about forced proximity, so not liking this was a bummer.
I usually wouldn’t address writing style, but this just wasn’t it for me. If this had been anything longer than a novella I’d have DNF’d it.
The female was argumentative and came off like an immature 13 year old. The males thought process came off like a cave man.
Bummed, but on to the next.
I usually wouldn’t address writing style, but this just wasn’t it for me. If this had been anything longer than a novella I’d have DNF’d it.
The female was argumentative and came off like an immature 13 year old. The males thought process came off like a cave man.
Bummed, but on to the next.
July 14, 2023
Ooooo so fucking cute!!
Insta lust, strangers to lovers, small town, cute.
I wish I had gotten more of them together I would have loved to seen that progress.
He seems to be a pleasure man and I loved how he made her feel!
I loved how she wasn't so blind to just jump right into moving in with him. But that she had them wait to see how things went and I loved how she wanted to do it but still took the time!
The way he tends to her is just so sweet and adorable!!
Insta lust, strangers to lovers, small town, cute.
I wish I had gotten more of them together I would have loved to seen that progress.
He seems to be a pleasure man and I loved how he made her feel!
I loved how she wasn't so blind to just jump right into moving in with him. But that she had them wait to see how things went and I loved how she wanted to do it but still took the time!
The way he tends to her is just so sweet and adorable!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 11, 2022
I've read a few of April Berry's novellas and have really enjoyed them, but I think this one is my favorite so far. I say "so far" because I see more of this woman's stories in my future reading line up, and you should add her, too, if you haven't already. It'sboth endearing and spicy! And Madam Berry provides facts about long underwear! IYKYK.
May 16, 2023
Where do I start??? Oh, man, I loved Johnny. Smexy lumberjack for the win! CJ is a REAL woman in her 40s who isn't afraid to speak her mind. Johnny is a swoon-worthy single dad and when they banter, let me tell you, they BANTER! I freaking loved the chemistry and thoroughly enjoyed every minute of this story!
June 29, 2024
Absolutely adorable
All my favorite tropes: lumber jack, silver fox, stranded by the weather, what's not to love? Johnny was such a sweet zaddy baby, loved him! And CJ? I mean come on, what's not to love!!
This was a quick, sweet palate cleanser of a read and I enjoyed every second!
All my favorite tropes: lumber jack, silver fox, stranded by the weather, what's not to love? Johnny was such a sweet zaddy baby, loved him! And CJ? I mean come on, what's not to love!!
This was a quick, sweet palate cleanser of a read and I enjoyed every second!
November 6, 2022
sweet and spicy
This story was so cute and sweet but there was some nice spice to heat things up. Johnny is book boyfriend material and CJ is so relatable. I loved that this was a quick read but it was packed with so much fun!
This story was so cute and sweet but there was some nice spice to heat things up. Johnny is book boyfriend material and CJ is so relatable. I loved that this was a quick read but it was packed with so much fun!
November 8, 2022
CJ is a writer, who has a full time job. She books a cabin in the woods to get away and write.
Johnny is a bearded, lumbersnack of a man who rents out cabins on his property.
A storm sets in, and they find themselves stuck in the same cabin for a couple of days.
What would you do if you were stranded in a cabin in the woods with a hunky lumbersnack? CJ knows what she would do.
This was a super sweet and spicy short novella.
Johnny is a bearded, lumbersnack of a man who rents out cabins on his property.
A storm sets in, and they find themselves stuck in the same cabin for a couple of days.
What would you do if you were stranded in a cabin in the woods with a hunky lumbersnack? CJ knows what she would do.
This was a super sweet and spicy short novella.
November 11, 2022
Super Cute
Super cute short story with older characters. CJ is a writer needing to get away and Johnny is a single dad to an older teenager with vacation cabins on a mountain. A storm on the horizon threatens CJs peaceful retreat but Johnny could make it the best retreat ever.
Super cute short story with older characters. CJ is a writer needing to get away and Johnny is a single dad to an older teenager with vacation cabins on a mountain. A storm on the horizon threatens CJs peaceful retreat but Johnny could make it the best retreat ever.
November 30, 2022
So Cute!!
This is such a cute romcom, novella with a Lumbersnack and a curvy leading lady! She’s sassy and strong and doesn’t realize that she can turn the head of a hot Lumbersnack. You don’t have to wait for the spice, and it’s GOOD! Loved it!
This is such a cute romcom, novella with a Lumbersnack and a curvy leading lady! She’s sassy and strong and doesn’t realize that she can turn the head of a hot Lumbersnack. You don’t have to wait for the spice, and it’s GOOD! Loved it!
August 21, 2023
The more I read April’s books the more I love her writing. She is so witty! The perfect combination of humor and romance with spice. Not only is she the perfect palate cleanser, but she has become one of my “if she writes it I will read it” authors. Seriously…you need to read this book!
August 29, 2023
When you know, you know!
This sweet n' spicy novella packed a punch! Likeable and better yet relatable, female main character with sass. Hot, cinnamon roll male main character. Spice, humor, and plot wrapped in a wonderful novela. Perfect read for fall!!!
This sweet n' spicy novella packed a punch! Likeable and better yet relatable, female main character with sass. Hot, cinnamon roll male main character. Spice, humor, and plot wrapped in a wonderful novela. Perfect read for fall!!!
January 14, 2024
So cozy, sweet, and spicy!!
I'd been meaning to read this book since it came out and now I'm kicking myself for waiting as long as I did! I love a good forced proximity/Snowed In book and this one definitely doesn't disappoint. Another wonderful romcom from April Berry!!
I'd been meaning to read this book since it came out and now I'm kicking myself for waiting as long as I did! I love a good forced proximity/Snowed In book and this one definitely doesn't disappoint. Another wonderful romcom from April Berry!!
April 11, 2024
Cute and Corny
This book was short, cute and corny all at the same time.
Johnny is the epitome of a good guy who is well established in life and is able to hand her a dream of hers on a silver platter while offering her love and O’s to her hearts content.
It was a fun read!
This book was short, cute and corny all at the same time.
Johnny is the epitome of a good guy who is well established in life and is able to hand her a dream of hers on a silver platter while offering her love and O’s to her hearts content.
It was a fun read!
November 6, 2022
This is a really cute novella from one of my new go to authors, April Berry. I love a sassy heroine and I love a grumpy lumbersnack named John ever more.
November 8, 2022
she did it again!
April d Berry did it again with this amazing love story! I binged it in 1 day! All I can say is wow! Thank you for an incredible fall read!
April d Berry did it again with this amazing love story! I binged it in 1 day! All I can say is wow! Thank you for an incredible fall read!
November 30, 2022
Cute little story
Recommend for anyone who wants a quick light romantic read with a lumberjack
Recommend for anyone who wants a quick light romantic read with a lumberjack
November 30, 2022
Love this little lumbersnack of a romance!
April 4, 2023
This was cute!
And at least they know each other two days before they did the deed! Makes you want to be a writer and go up in the mountains.
And at least they know each other two days before they did the deed! Makes you want to be a writer and go up in the mountains.
April 11, 2023
I really enjoyed this book.
Secluded cabin trapped by a storm with a handsome lumberjack what is not to like.
I loved the ending it seemed fitting in their whirlwind relationship.
Secluded cabin trapped by a storm with a handsome lumberjack what is not to like.
I loved the ending it seemed fitting in their whirlwind relationship.
July 18, 2023
This book was amazing I couldn't put it down recommend to read. The love between CJ and Johnny is special.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews