Dead of Winter

Aspen Falls Novel Series, Book 1

By: Melissa Pearl, Anna Cruise

Narrated by: Meghan Kelly

She has to run. She has to hide. But is there any place he can't find her?

On the run from her drug-dealing ex, Rosie is forced to return to the one place she swore she'd never go back to - Aspen Falls. But it's a place to lay low until the nightmare blows over. Or is it?

When she's pulled over by Officer Blaine Hartford, she comes face to face with her past. Will she have the courage to tell him everything or are her secrets too ugly to share?

If Blaine finds out what she's done, he could ruin her. Or could he be the one man to ultimately save her?

©2018 Melissa Pearl and Anna Cruise (P)2020 Tantor

When roles are reversed...

Blaine Hartford used to be the nerd in hs...he had been teased mercilessly and even attempted suicide but was stopped by his crush, Rosie Sweet. Now a police officer with Aspen Falls PD, Blaine is surprised when he pulls over a speeding car and the driver is non other than Rose Sweet! Rosie Sweet used to run with the popular crowd in hs but she’s been a hot mess ever since college. If there’s a poor decision to be made, Rosie will make it. Now she’s on the run from an abusive ex and has returned to Aspen Falls. While Blaine has his act together, Rosie just can’t seem to make the right decisions and I had a hard time liking her. Glad that we got an HEA.

Disappointing

The blurb about the book sounded interesting, so I gave it a try, but it just didn't do it for me. The narrator's voice for the main character was a bit annoying, but I actually liked it for most of the male characters, and especially liked her voice for the secondary character of Lula/Lulu. I think the story had the potential to be a good story, but it felt like more of a summary to me than a well-developed story. My biggest issue with the book was the FMC, I just found her impossible to like. She knowingly helped a drug dealer conceal his stash of drugs from the police and she planned and carried out a major crime against an old man, and there was never anything said about how she would be held responsible/accountable for her actions, especially with what she did to the old man. I get that she helped the police, but I still did not like that she got off without any accountability -- the old man was still the victim of a crime that made him feel vulnerable and unsafe in his home. I am not planning to continue with the series.

Ugh

All I can say is UGH. The main character could not be more annoying in making stupid decisions, and the love interest couldn’t be more of a piece of meat. The weenie ugly kid from high school grown up to be a gorgeous man. So cliche.
The narrator sounds like a reporter on the news. I couldn’t finish it. Made it to chapter 30 and just couldn’t do it.

Second chances

Rosie’s back in Aspen Falls looking for a second chance to make a life for herself after dating the wrong type of guy once again. Rosie had a penchant for choosing the wrong guys and this time she fell for a bad guy who was a drug dealer. After he tried to sell her for drug money she ran back to the one place that offered her security. On her first night back into town Officer Blaine pulls her over and offers her help. He’s the one guy that was sweet.
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Blaine was bullied in high school by Rosie’s friends. Yet he stayed in this small town and became a police officer. Rosie’s the reason Blaine became a police officer.
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It’s not my typical type of read, but with the audiobook it makes it tolerable. The writing style isn’t up to my quality standards. It’s an okay read.
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Dead of Winter is a romantic suspense about a drug dealer selling drugs laced with fentanyl. It’s an amateur investigation with very little police procedure. It’s more romance than suspense. If you’re looking for an investigative type of story this one is lightly based on that aspect. Eighty percent of the storyline is focused on the romance.
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Melissa Pearl has a passion for writing and I have a passion for reading. The combination of the two don’t always line up. Her writing style doesn’t compel me to read nor does it transport me into the story. It’s superficial writing at its best just words written on the paper. She needs to dig deeper with the words. Anna Cruise and Melissa Pearl combined efforts to write this book. I’ve read one other book by Anna Cruise which was ok just like this one.
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Narrated by Meghan Kelly. She’s the solo female performer reading this audiobook. I listened using the audible app. I’m an eyes and ears person requiring both the ebook and audiobook to enhance my experience. The performance is good. Had it not been for the voice acting I wouldn’t skim read this book.