Review – Winter Wonderland by Belinda Jones

This post was originally published at Novelicious.com and is now at WritingTipsOasis.com. WritingTipsOasis.com acquired Novelicious.com in June 2022.

Imagine waking up in a snow globe…. This is exactly what happens to Krista when she arrives in magical Quebec, Canada, to report on the glittering winter carnival and spend the night in the famous ice hotel. Yes. An actual bed made of ice. *Shivers* Over ten days Krista falls in love with the enchanting world of ice, discovers a talent for dog sledding and a hunger for Canadian Maple syrup. And then there’s Jacques, a man as handsome and rugged as he is mysterious and wounded. But Krista has wounds of her own to heal and as she explores the enchanting frosted landscape she begins to find one of the coldest places on earth melting her heart. This book gives you a warm cosy hug. Krista is funny and loveable and whilst we know that she is recently divorced and struggling to come to terms with events from her past the book is never sad, it instead focuses on Krista’s enjoyment of Quebec, the new friends she makes and the experiences that she has. I found myself envying Krista’s job as a journalist for ‘Va Va Voom’, an online travel magazine put together by Krista and best friend Laurie. But not only that, I found her zest for life and enthusiasm to try anything once incredibly endearing. The characters of Gilles, the talented photographer and Annique, the glamorous tour guide who looks like she’s fallen out of the pages of a fashion magazine are well rounded and contribute to Krista’s journey with a spark of humour. Their own personal stories are nicely woven into the book. The more I read and enjoyed Krista’s journey the more I longed for romance and I felt it took quite a while to appear. It is clear that Krista is ready to move on after her marriage and eventually the romance does come – hurrah for snow filled love! Without a doubt the best thing about this book is the enchanting descriptions of Quebec. Be it of the government buildings, the carnival itself, the ice hotel, the views, everything about it creates such stunning imagery that I felt I was under a spell; I almost went running for my suitcase and passport! ‘Winter Wonderland’ is just that – a glorious walk through a snow sprinkled wonderland with a touch of humour, a loveable leading lady and plenty of adventures (look out for the mysterious man impersonating the carnival mascot!). Perfect for a night in front of the fire. 7/10 MORE ABOUT THIS BOOK