I received an eARC of this book via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.

Snowfall on Cedar Trail by Annie Rains is the third book in the Sweetwater Springs series. This time we get the chief’s story. If you enjoy long time crush and small town romances, you are in for a treat.

Halona Locklear is the town’s local florist. A single mother, Halona spends most of her time either working or with her young son. Theo is mute, he hasn’t spoken since the untimely death of his father two years prior. All Halona wants for Christmas this year is to hear her son’s voice again. She would do anything for him. At the prompting of his therapist, Halona enrolls Theo in the local Mentor Match program (think Big Brother programs) not realizing her long time crush will be his match.

Chief of Police, Alex Baker usually spends the month of December alone, working his father’s cold case, trying to find the person responsible for running his father over years earlier. However at the prompting of the mayor, Alex enrolls to be a mentor in the Mentor Match program never imagining he’d match with Theo, Halona’s son. Alex has long had a crush on Halona, but she’s his best friend’s little sister. That is a line he could never cross, even with her brother’s blessing. Alex is honorable, kind, and exactly what Halona wants, but it’s getting him to believe that.

I really loved this sweet romance. Alex and Halona were introduced in the previous books of the series so I was excited to read their story. It was obvious from the previous books how they felt about one another, but the story behind those feelings I wasn’t expecting. I loved their slow burn romance. It is as sweet as it is steamy. If you enjoy contemporary, holiday romance, I highly recommend it.