Après-Ski: A Romance Novella

by Phebe Powers

Estie Williams is a moderately successful romance novelist with a well-managed mood disorder, but lately she’d trade her hard-won stability for just a spark of inspiration.

James Heron has been told by students and coworkers alike that he’s Blue Sky Resort’s most uptight ski instructor, and he’s at a loss as for how to loosen up without losing his sobriety.

Lightning strikes when the two are thrown together after Estie’s considerably more athletic family abandon her to ski school while on vacation in Montana. Together, can Estie and James learn to navigate the double black diamonds of life and love at first sight?

Après-Ski is both sporty and sexy, a love letter to the romance genre.

Genres: Romance

149 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 28, 2023

About the author

Phebe Powers cut her teeth on lithium carbonate tablets and historical romance novels. An avid romance reader as well as a firm believer in Happily Ever Afters, she’s happiest when tucked away in the basement stacks of her local library, writing her own book or reading someone else’s.

Reviews

[Phebe Powers]

I wrote this! And I'm so glad I did. I hope, when you're finished reading it, you feel the same way.

Après-Ski is a novella about two people in their twenties who are starting to realize that simply having their shit together isn't enough. Something's missing. A spark?

Estie's looking for inspiration that won't upend her hard-won stability and James is trying to live a little without sacrificing the sobriety he's worked so hard to maintain. Neither anticipates the other, and both are a bit blindsided by their romance--but in the best of ways, as the spark between them becomes a flame.

Après-Ski is a love letter to the genre, which has meant so much to me as both a reader and a writer. It's also an exercise in a certain kind of disability rep (because we deserve choices and we need all kinds). It's my attempt to craft characters authentically and honestly, to acknowledge and consider their disabilities without reducing either of them to their diagnoses. For reasons I won't get into now, here, this really, really matters to me.

This novella is also, quite simply and in my humble opinion, a fun romp set aside a mountain--sexy and sporty, but not without some delicious drama and a few well-deserved swoons.

Après-Ski: A Romance Novella goes live in ebook and paperback on the 28th of February, 2023. You can preorder the ebook now on Amazon! Here's the link: https://a.co/d/aMOr8Dv

If you want to keep up to date with me and my writing, follow me on twitter or instagram @phebewrites! If you'd like to be notified of updates, announcements, and releases, sign up for my very occasional newsletter: https://tinyletter.com/phebewrites

Again, I hope you enjoy reading this short, sweet, sexy story as much as I enjoyed writing it.

Happy reading!!

Phebe

[Sam I AMNreader · Rating 2 out of 5]

I loved the set up for this novella.

Unfortunately, it reads like the debut and novella it is.

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was read as an Advance Reader Copy

This is Phebe Powers's debut novel, and is written with clear care and fondness for the genre. This is an excellent read for those who have never picked up a romance novel before or those who already have a few under their belt.

With this kind of start, we should hope to see more wonderful things from Phebe!

[b.andherbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Estie Williams joins her family on a ski holiday even though she doesn't really know how to ski and had some not fun experiences on a ski lift. She figures she can work on her next indie romance novel while her loved ones enjoy the slopes, enjoying some inspiration and a change in scenery from her NYC life.

Estie does agree to at least try hitting the slopes, signing up for some group lessons. And lo, one of her instructors is both Serious about teaching how to safely enjoy the sport and also Seriously cute (that mustache!!).

As Estie learns to trust herself on the slopes, James also earns the trust of her heart until a mis-timed spill on Estie's plane home ends our lovers' vacation romance...or does it?

this was a delightful debut novella that lovingly plays with romance tropes. Horny, sweet, and steamy! Plus a sexy mustache (you know I love a mustache). It made me want to enjoy some apres ski time myself (I too do not ski). I also very much appreciated James's sobriety and discussions of Estie's mood disorder which were integral parts of their CHARACTER but not served up as plot movers (yay).

So looking forward to more from this author.

Fair disclosure, I am friends with the author online, but did purchase the book with my own monies and reviewed it fairly.

[Mel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute and short. A bit too insta-love for me, but overall, I liked the vibes of this book.

[Laz the Sailor · Rating 4 out of 5]

3+ rounded up as a very good debut novella.

This is a cute and quick novella where a clumsy romance author falls into, and then falls for, a handsome ski instructor. Given the simple premise and limited side characters, the story has a lot of development and detail. The characters were likeable and the setting was beautiful. I liked the references to "classic rock" songs, even though the characters are in their mid-20s. The sex scenes were clever and spicy. The required angsty bit was abrupt and could have been resolved more simply, but the resulting ending was enchanting.

I hope this author continues to write, as I like her style.