Baby It's Cold Outside! by LeAnne Bristow

All over the country, people are posting beautiful pictures of their winter wonderland and bragging about all the wonderful things they get to do. Like shovel driveways.  Thaw out their car. Ummm…..NO! Not this desert rat. While I can appreciate the beauty of winter, I want to appreciate it from afar. Like real far. I do admit that I get a little bit jealous when Kate James posts pictures like this: 

 I mean, seriously, who wouldn’t enjoy a view like that? So while the desert rat in me wanted to tease you with our we-can-still-barbeque-outside weather and post pictures of our sunshine and lemon trees, I shall refrain. Almost. 

There are some nice things about winter. My children eagerly wait for the snow to start hitting in the mountains so they can make a day trip to Mt. Lemmon, Sunrise or Flagstaff and snowboard to their hearts content. Of course, the beautiful thing about this, is they can drive TO the snow, play and then come back to 70 degree weather on the SAME day. Oh wait…I wasn’t going to tease you.  

However, I will admit that cold weather does have its advantages.  Curling up in front of fireplace with a good book and a large cup of hot cocoa. Snuggling with your love under a quilt. The smells of winter. Does anything smell better than pine trees, cinnamon or pumpkin pie? No. So while I’ve got a soft spot for winter, let’s play a little game (quick, before someone reminds me about shoveling sidewalks). Pretend you are snowed in some gorgeous place like this.  What would you do?

                                                        photo courtesy of Kate James

I asked the authors of the January Heartwarming books how their heros would react to being snowed in with their heroine. I got some great answers!

First up, let’s check in with James, the hero from Patricia John’s book A Baxter’s Redemption.

 

James Hunter has been in love with Isabel from afar for years, so if he got the pleasure of being snowed in with her, he'd take the chance to curl up with her in front of the fire and talk. He wants to know about her, but he also wants to share about himself. He's been invisible for too long. For once, he wants her to see him--the man.

 Wow. Just wow. Next, I asked Lee McKenzie how Paul from His Best Friend’s Wife would handle such an ordeal. 

 

Snowed in at the Finnegan Farm Bed & Breakfast with Annie Finnegan? Paul Woodward has loved her for as long as he can remember, but he moved away from their tiny hometown of Riverton, WI, after she married his best friend. Now she’s a young widow and he’s come home to take over his father’s medical practice, so bring on the blizzard! He’ll happily sit at her kitchen counter, peeling apples while she bakes one of her legendary apple strudels. They won’t be alone—Annie shares the house with her young son, her sister and her paraplegic father and her—but Paul is a patient man, and a resourceful one. If there’s a way to steal a moment alone and discover if second chances really do exist, he’ll find one.

 

Apple pie! Darn! I have to add that to my list of favorite winter smells now. Now it’s time for Tara Taylor Quinn’s hero from The Cowboy’s Twins. 

If Spencer was snowed in with Natasha, he'd be facing frostbite to stay as far away from her as he can. Except for when his twins needed him. Then he'd have a towel tucked into his waist while he cooked for them.

 At last, but not least, Sophia Sasson’s book Mending the Doctor’s Heart features the yummy hero, Nico.

 

Nico, would start a fire, then invite Anna to their leather couch and ask if she'd like him to rub her feet. Anna hasn't slowed down so he wants to give her the chance to just be with him, to talk and rediscover why they fell in love. As he rubs her feet they'll relive their past life together and get rekindle their own fire.  The electricity will go out because their house is old and shabby but he'll keep the fire going and pull Anna close to keep her warm.  

 

I don’t know about you, but I’m feeling warm all the way to the tips of my toes (which are currently still wearing flip-flops)! So I ask you, which hero would you want to be snowed in with? Or if you just can’t pick, tell me what you’d do with your honey while the snow was falling. 

And just for playing, I’ll toss your name in the hat and pull one lovely prize! Lee McKenzie has graciously offered a signed copy of To Catch a Wife, the first book in the Finnegan Sisters to one lucky winner. (Check the comments tomorrow for the winner)

Here’s more fabulous news! All Heartwarming books are 20% off when you use the promo code HEARTGIFTS when checking out at the Harlequin store. Go get your books now!!! But leave a comment first. 

From sunny Arizona, this is LeAnne Bristow send you warm wishes no matter what weather you're stuck with!