Snowflakes and Holly by Jae Dawson is a sweet, small-town holiday romance about two people facing their fears and overcoming grief. I adored this one, reading it in one sitting. The town and the main couple are relatable and believable. I found myself rooting for a good outcome early on.

Holly is a broken character, still struggling with PTSD five years after the death of her father. Once a risk-taker, now Holly is cautious and living her life in a bubble, afraid to do the things that once brought her so much joy. I ached for Holly. Her heartbreak, even five years later, is a festering wound that will not go away. Grief, true honest grief, is like that though, and I love how the author presented it through Holly.

Blake is a former gold-medal winning Olympian snowboarder who lost not only his leg but his career to cancer. Now with his cancer beaten, he’s looking to start a new life, but he’s drifting. He doesn’t know what he wants. His entire life up to his cancer was competing and being a professional athlete. When his friend Finn throws him a lifeline as a trainer at his gym, Blake jumps on it. I understood Blake more than I thought I would. I hurt for him and the choices laid out for him. It’s not easy to shift your dreams and adjust to a new way of life.

When he, quite literally, runs into Holly on the slopes, his life alters yet again, and it takes her with him. He thinks he won’t see her again, but he’s wrong. His PT is going on maternity leave, leaving her partner in charge of his care. Her partner happens to be Holly. I love the dynamic and tension between these two. Their banter and interactions drive the book. I love that he challenges her outside her comfort zone and that she helps him reexamine his life.

Overall, I really enjoyed Snowflakes and Holly. Holly and Blake were a fun couple, both sweet and steamy. If you enjoy holiday romance and small towns, I highly recommend it.