Member Reviews

Since I read "Holiday Romance" last year around this time of the year, I have become absolutely obsessed with Catherine Walsh's romance books. It's safe to say she's an auto-buy author for me now, which is why I couldn't wait to read "Snowed In", even though it's a Christmas/winter book and I'm not in a Christmas mood yet.

"Snowed In" follows Christian, who is the brother of one of the main characters in "Holiday Romance", and Megan, who knows Christian from school. They decide to fake date their way through Christmas because both have reasons for not wanting to go home alone.

Fake Dating is one of my favorite tropes to read about and Catherine Walsh delivered - I was smiling, giggling, kicking my little feet because this book was so funny and cute. There also were some more serious topics: Megans past relationship was not great and caused a lot of trouble for her in her hometown and Christian has daddy issues but while this is discussed here and there, overall the tone of the book was on the lighter sight, it’s definitely a rom com.

If you read Holiday Romance, Snowed In is a really nice addition because we also see Molly and Andrew again and if you haven’t read Holiday Romance yet, now you know what you should be reading this winter/Christmas. 🤓

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This book gave me ALL the feels !!!
I have never wanted to be stranded in a cabin while it snows soooooo much!
Catherine Walsh, take a bow !! An easy to read romcom that made me laugh out loud & contained minimal cheese! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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Megan is dreading going home for the holidays. She's the village pariah, the she-devil that left local golden boy Isaac at the alter years ago. Christian was the bad boy once upon a time, so he loves returning to his hometown for Christmas. The only part he doesn't like is that everyone pities him when he turns up alone. So when Megan and Christian bump into each other in the pub, they make a deal to show up as each others partners. They draw up rules and sign a wine-stained contract on a napkin.

The chemistry between Megan and Christian was so much fun to read. Walsh writes the best banter. This had me laughing all the way! Snowed in, fake dating and forced proximity + off-the-charts chemistry and delightful banter = must read for this holiday season!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced digital reader's copy (ARC) in exchange for an honest review!

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Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC!

Imagine coming back to your small hometown for the first time in five years after you left a man at the altar and at the holiday season no less. You might have some anxiety and try to make up an excuse not to come home again. This is where we meet one of our main characters, Megan. Not long before going home she runs into a schoolmate at a pub and they hatch a plan to be in a fake relationship as they go home for the holidays. Christian has his own reasons for not wanting to come home for the holidays alone so it's a perfect plan for both of them until their walls come down and real feelings start to form, especially when they get snowed in, just the two of them, at a beautiful cabin.

I loved Catherine Walsh's novel last year, Holiday Romance, and was so excited to continue the story of Molly and Andrew in Snowed In. Andrew and Christian are brothers! This book was a total delight and got me into the holiday spirit. I tried hard not to compare it to Holiday Romance, but I preferred that one a bit more to Snowed In. I felt the ending was a bit rushed and left quite a few plot points unresolved. However, if you're looking for a funny group of characters (both characters family's bring some good drama and humor) with a sweet love story at its core then this could be a great read for you.

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Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture and author Catherine Walsh for providing me with this eARC

The perfect cute and cozy Christmas romance.

I loved both Christian and Megan individually and it was such fun, to see them falling in love!
I loved the fact that Walsh switched up the third act conflict from the usual break up, then get back together for the finale.
The characters were well developed and I really enjoyed the side characters like Aiden & Hannah!
There are loads of holiday romance cliches but in the best way.
I absolutely loved this and can only recommend it as a comfort read for winter time.
Now I have to go check out book one “Holiday Romance”
4.5 stars

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This was so cute!! Fake dating is my favorite and I've loved the last two Catherine Walsh books so I knew I was going to like this, but I really LOVED it! In this one, we get to see Christian, Andrew's brother, who made a brief appearance in Holiday Romance, get his own happily ever after. Christian and Megan were exactly what each other needed at the right time. I loved how their relationship blossomed from fake to real. Seeing Christian's chaotic family again in this book was also a treat. Megan's mom and brother were also pretty cool and I loved how strong Megan was given everything she had gone through and was dealing with when she returned home. This was a cute, fast read and the perfect book to kick off the holiday season! Thank you to Bookouture, Catherine, and NetGalley for the ARC!

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Two people who are dreading going home for Christmas so decide to fake date to recover their reputations and prove to their family they’re happy? Nothing new but did I enjoy it? Absolutely

I found the dialogue between the two characters funny and I spent a good deal of this book smiling, it has so many tropes that there’s pretty much something for everyone in this book. I enjoyed the self-awareness and communication the main characters had. I also found myself invested in the side characters and would happily read books about them - I’m excited to read Molly and Andrew’s story which occurs prior to this one.

A cosy, light, Christmas read.

3.75/4 stars

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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Another amazing novel by Catherine Walsh!

Set in the same world as last years Holiday Romance, Catherine Walsh builds on already great characters when introducing Megan and Christian.

Megan was a runaway bride five years ago when she ran in to Christian outside the church. Now five years later after a chance encounter in a bar in Dublin, Christian convinces Megan they should return to their hometown as a fake couple to help each other through the Christmas holidays.

Catherine Walsh is so talented creating loveable, relatable characters and a sense of place in each novel. I will continue to auto-buy anything she writes!

Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read and review.

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This book was EVERYTHING I wanted in a holiday romance!

I must confess this is my first book by Catherine Walsh and I am obsessed. Did I immediately order her books after reading this? Yes!

This book is a holiday fake dating that is a super easy, fast read. The perfect book to curl up and unwind with during the busy holiday season. The characters are super lovable and easy to connect with. I found myself laughing out loud and swooning throughout this read. Bonus for me? It's set in Ireland which I absolutely loved after visiting for the first time last holiday season.

Snowed in is easily one of my top holiday books that I have read.

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Catherine Walsh ONCE AGAIN proving that she is shaping up to be one of the greats in the romance world. I've read all her books now and I think Snowed In might be my favourite; it takes the objective best trope (fake dating) and has so much fun with it. The result is absolutely joyous to read, and frankly unputdownable.

Megan O'Suullivan left her ex-fiancé at the altar in the little town they grew up in years ago - she hasn't been home since. Until now - and she is dreading it. Meanwhile, sexy, sexy Christian would rather spend Christmas away from his picture-perfect family's coupled-up cosiness - he's the perpetual single one, And he's sick of it! So when he meets Megan in a Dublin pub, they concoct a plan to be fake girlfriend-boyfriend, only to tragically break up (in the eyes of their families, anyway) after the holidays. Sounds foolproof, right?

WRONG! What follows is a joyous take on the fake dating trope; Megan and Christian's chemistry immediately complicates things, as is the reveal that Isaac, Megan's shitty ex, is engaged again. Megan and Chrisitan's commitrment to the plan is unwavering though - and get this. They're never found out! While I love fake dating, the couple being "found out" especially after they fall in love for real, always annoys me. Wlash hjas neatly side-stepped the most annoying element of that trope, so that alone is enough for 5 stars in my book.

HOWEVER! Snowed In is a 5 star read for many other reasons too. It's a swoony romance, with some spice levels that prove Walsh can write a sex scene as well as a comedic one. It's filled with nuanced familial relationships - I particurly enjoyed the distant-but-trying dynamic between Megan and her emigrant brother, Aidan. And, of course, I was delighted to see Andrew and Molly - the central couple of Walsh's third book, Holiday Romance - again, and seeing their story come to a gorgeous close.

I always expect great things from Catherine, but Snowed In had me more hooked than any of her novels before. It's genuinely hilarious in parts - not in a "lol" way but in an actual giggles way. It's hopelessly romantic and so much fun. A banger, without question.

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This book immediately pulled me in and I found myself reading during lunch at work and late into the evenings. The banter between Megan and Christian was very believable and very relatable. I felt like I knew them both as the book progressed and I felt invested in their lives and their (fake) relationship. I actually felt like I knew most of the characters in this book based on how well they were described throughout. Fake (and not-so-fake) relationships, family dramas and a fancy, black tie event... yes please!! I genuinely wanted to be invited to the parties and holiday gatherings in this book!
At first, it seemed like it was taking a while to advance the plot due to the "past" creeping into the present HOWEVER it all came together and it was very necessary to understand what had happened and how the characters fit into it all.
Thank you so much for the opportunity to read and review this book early! I will be looking for more books by this author!

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This book was so cute! It is the perfect snowy day read- Megan and Christian bump into each other in a bar and when both get talking about going home for Christmas, they decide to be fake dates and spend the holidays together. They draw rules up on a napkin and off they go :) When they are home amongst family, old friends and exes, everything starts to change. It really is a fun and cute romcom- highly recommend!

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It wasn't until I reached the end of this book (and it was spelled out for me) that I realised it was the sequel to a Holiday Romance with Andrew and Molly. The names, locations and family members didn't even ring a bell!

Anyway, this was such a cute story, I really loved it. It was nice to see a bit more of Andrew and Molly's story too (even though I didn't know that's what was happening at the time) but it seemed like Christian and Megan were made for each other.

They hadn't seen each other since he watched her run away from her own wedding, more than five years ago when one night in a crowded pub in Dublin, someone crashes into him, pouring a full glass of red wine down his shirt before almost fainting. Christian and Megan recognised each other instantly and while walking her home that night, Christian came up with the idea of the two of them pretending to be a in a relationship to save face when they both went home for Christmas.

Megan hasn't returned to her home village since she ran out of her wedding, but now her younger brother is returning from Australia for the holidays and their mum wants them all to be together as a family. Megan knows she's likely to run into her ex-fiancée and the idea of doing that alone is not something she really wants to face so she agrees to Christian's plan.

He's a fantastic fake boyfriend and is there for Megan just like he said he would be but suddenly fake dating starts to feel all too real. But thankfully there is no third act break up and the two of them have really good communication so they're able to determine that they want this together.

The story is told in dual POV which I really like - it makes the story feel more well-rounded and I like knowing what both characters are thinking. This is a great Christmas story as well and will put anyone in the festive mood in time for the holidays!

Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

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Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for an arc in exchange for my honest review.

Publication: November 1, 2023

Rating: 3 stars

This was my first book by Walsh and I've got to say I'm in love with her writing style! She made the characters feel realistic especially with some of the hesitation and dialogue with the agreement to fake date. Also, the banter had me laughing and giggling like a little girl.

The biggest thing that hindered me with this book is that I expected different things than what the book provided. I expected more history between Christian and Megan, more of the forced proximity trope, and more of the holiday vibes.

Overall, I look forward to reading Walsh's other works. This book had all the right pieces but fell short for me as a reader. It's a quick light hearted romance and a good pick to get you ready for all the holiday reads!

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I just truly think that Catherine Walsh does an impeccable job of writing feel-good, cozy romance books.
I read Holiday Romance last year, my first book by Catherine, and immediately fell in love.
Snowed In was just a great follow up to the series. I loved both main characters, Christian and Megan, both complex but relatable. Their dynamic was amazing, from the beginning, when they bumped into each other again after a long time, you can just tell these two were made for each other. The banter between them made me feel giddy, they just got each other’s humor so well, but were also able to just talk about their own personal situations and confide in each other.
It was also just nice to see the dynamics between the other characters, like Christian’s family, and oh my god I MISSED MOLLY AND ANDREW!!
I am also just a sucker for the fake dating trope, and this book did it so well.
I laughed and teared up, and I just love that Catherine has a way of getting you immersed into the setting.
It taking place during the holiday season is just another bonus.

Cannot wait for more!!



Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for the ARC!

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PHENOMENAL!!! Thank you NetGalley, Bookouture and the author for granting me access to this book in exchange for an honest review.

OH MY SNOWED IN STARS ❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️!!! CATHERINE WALSH HAS DONE IT AGAIN!!! AFTER READING THE "HOLIDAY ROMANCE" LAST YEAR AND ABSOLUTELY LOVING IT SO MUCH I KNEW I WAS IN FOR A TREAT!! DARE I SAY, I LOVED THIS BOOK EVEN MORE!!! HER BOOKS JUST GET BETTER AND BETTER!! THIS IS THE SWEETEST BOOK EVER AND PERFECT FOR THE HOLIDAY SEASON!! WHAT A CHARMING, COZY, ADORABLE, HEARTWARMING, FESTIVE, CHEERFUL, ROMANTIC AND BEAUTIFULLY WRITTEN HOLIDAY STORY WITH NO THIRD ACT BREAK-UP!!! HANDS DOWN ONE OF MY FAVORITE CHRISTMAS BOOKS FOR 2023!! 🩵🩵🩵🩵🩵

Snowed in is a cute wintery rom-com that takes places in a charming small village in Ireland. It has your fake dating trope, friends to lovers trope, runaway bride, forced proximity, dual povs, protective MMC, humor, love, banter, tension, chemistry and the perfect amount of spice!! I found myself laughing, crying and swooning!!😂😭🫠

Megan is dreading going home for the holidays because four years ago she ran away from her wedding day leaving her high school sweetheart, golden boy Isaac at the altar. Christian is not looking forward to going home for the holidays because his family sit around all coupled up and give him sad eyes for being alone. Megan and Christian were classmates growing up and the last time they saw each other was the day he caught her escaping her wedding. So when Megan bumps into Christian in a pub in Dublin, they come up with a master plan/written agreement to help each other get through the holiday season. They will return home together for the Christmas holiday as fake dating each other. Of course, rules have been established and both have signed off agreeing to them. However, will they be able to stick to the rules? I mean how hard could it be since its only for two weeks, right?!

Overall, its the perfect cozy holiday read that will leave you feeling all cheerful and ready for the holiday season! I cannot recommend it enough and it deserves infinite stars!!! ♾️♾️♾️♾️♾️🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

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Christian sees Megan in her wedding dress the day of her wedding. Running out on her our high school sweetheart Isaac. *There are trigger warnings for this book*

What starts out as a fake dating trope ends up in a cute holiday love story.

Megan was my favourite character. Her sass and quick wit with Christian through out the book had me laughing.

This is a must read and to add your holiday tbr pile.

Publication Date: November 1st

Thanks to NetGalley for the early ARC in exchange for my honest review.

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ARC REVIEW

Snowed In
By Catherine Walsh

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Publishing date: 11/1/23

Megan hasn't gone home for Christmas in a while because the last time she was around family, she was fleeing her wedding and leaving her fiance at the altar. But, her brother is coming home from Australia and who knows when she will get to see him again.

Christian also doesn't go home for the holidays often. He is single and happy with his life as it is. But Christian's brother plans to propose to his girlfriends and wants him to be present.

When Christian and Megan run into each other (literally) at the pub, they decide to sign a "contract" and pretend to be in a relationship to appease their families.

But we know what happens with fake dating rom coms....

This was ADORABLE! I loved the holiday release by @catwalshwriter last year, and this didn't disappoint.

Can we swoon over Christian for a second?! 😍😍 I fell in love with him from the 5 he was fantastic the entire book!

The spicy scenes (about 2.5 ish lol) were also good! Remote cabin in the woods at Christmas?! Perfect setting!

The ending made me wish it was Christmas right NOW! 🎄
Add this one to your holiday TBR!

Thank you @netgalley and @bookouture for the chance to read this gem early!

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Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC of this one! I enjoyed it from start to finish! Megan runs away from her own wedding and the soryrhen picks up 5 years later where she runs into her childhood classmate, Christian at a pub. They agreed to have a "just for Christmas" fake romance. It was a very sweet and lighthearted book and I would definitely read others by this author. Not a ton of depth, but the characters were likely and I'd recommend it!

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The newest book by Catherine Walsh is superbly delightful, mixed with emotion, warmth and romance. I have read each and every one of Walsh’s books at this point and every new book simply adds to her becoming one of my absolute favorite authors. She is an author whose writing I always find worth the read.

One of my favorite aspects of her writing is the ability to create her characters so perfectly they always fit together so well. This has not changed in this book - Megan & Christian clearly are the missing pieces of each others’ lives. They are so different - opposite ends of a spectrum - Megan is creative, vibrant when comfortable, loves to knit and loves her job. Christian is orderly, careful & precise with movements and words, solid but not always on the inside.

They come up with a plan - fake dating and being in love over the Christmas holiday. Going home of the holidays is not easy for either of them so a contract is formed - and although it might be the dumbest idea - they go through with it and end up discovering more about who they really are and about each other. Maybe even enough to really fall in love and stop faking all of it.

There is never a lack of romance in Walsh’s books - it is drawn out at a slow pace and I love it. I also enjoyed how she worked Molly and Andrew into the story tying two of her books together (Holiday Romance & Snowed In).

I will always recommend reading Catherine Walsh’s books - take time to read it - it is such a good read for around the Christmas holiday!

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