Reviewed by Sadonna
TITLE: Five Night Stand
SERIES: Snowed Inn
AUTHOR: H.L Day
PUBLISHER: Self-published
LENGTH: 159 pages
RELEASE DATE: November 4, 2022
BLURB:
The advantage of a one-night stand is being able to walk away. Except, Nathan can’t.
Workaholic Nathan Nicholls hasn’t had the easiest time of late. Still reeling from his publisher’s rejection of his latest book, he seeks refuge in a remote hotel. When he’s propositioned by the sinfully sexy CJ, a man who knows exactly what he wants and isn’t afraid to go for it, why shouldn’t Nathan throw caution to the winds for once and have a bit of fun? After all, he’s leaving the next day.
When an avalanche puts paid to Nathan’s quick exit, he finds himself stuck there for Christmas. Stuck with CJ. What should be awkward, quickly becomes something else. The snow might be cold, but the time they spend together is far from it, and Nathan finds his heart warming. If only their passion and laughter didn’t have a shelf life, doomed to come to an end once the road is cleared.
Nathan Nicholls doesn’t do one-night-stands. But maybe, just maybe, if he makes a Christmas wish, this could be something more.
A sweet and steamy 43k forced proximity story which features a man who never was any good at one-night stands, a cheerful wildlife photographer who might not be as confident as he makes out, rustic log cabins, snow, Christmas cheer, and two men gaining a whole new perspective on life.
All the books In the Snowed Inn collection are standalone stories and can be read in any order.
REVIEW:
Nathan is licking his wounds from a bad meeting with his publisher who have decided not to publish his fourth book in a series. He’s gone off to Colorado from the UK to see his father for the holidays, but he’s booked himself into a resort for a couple of weeks in advance to try to “fix” the book that has been rejected. Frankly it’s not gone well. His last night, he goes up to the lodge from his cabin to get a drink at a quiet out of the way bar. On his way he passes a room with a gay speed dating event happening. He sees a gorgeous guy and their eyes meet. But he moves on to the bar.
CJ is a photographer who is staying at the resort in a cabin as well. He’s there to try to get a good shot of wildlife in the snow. He is intrigued by the guy who was staring at him and comes to the same bar seeking him out. He has a camera around his neck which is the giveaway that he’s a photographer 😉 It’s clear that Nathan is nervous around him but CJ proposes a night of fun – since Nathan is leaving the following day for his father’s place for Christmas.
They go back to CJ’s cabin and fun is definitely had. Multiple times 😉 But in the morning when Nathan is trying to make his getaway, it turns out that there has been an avalanche and they are stuck at the resort until the road gets cleared – which is currently unpredictable. So CJ proposes that spend more time together.
For the next few days, Nathan is pulled out of his comfort zone with CJ. They spend a lot of time together outdoors and Nathan learns a little something about photography in the process. He also learns quite a bit about CJ. But the real takeaway is that Nathan finally learns something about himself. And what he wants. But will he be willing to risk it by being honest with CJ?
Well this was lovely! I haven’t read this author before, but I really enjoyed this sweet story of two guys who start out as a bit of fun one night stand and end up more. Nathan is so vulnerable and it’s clear he has been living in his head and not living his life for some time. CJ has issues as well – his ex in particular has made him feel like he’s not enough and that he’s living in a fantasy world pursuing his nature photography. Nathan comes to the realization – with CJ’s help – that he needs to live his life and the words will come. There are some smart parallels between Nathan’s writing and his life as it turns out and it opens his eyes to what is missing. There is plenty of humor and passion and I was cheering when Nathan finally decided to get out of his own way 😀 Absolutely adorable story of two guys who meet in a rather serendipitous way and end up discovery they have a lot more in common that it would seem on the surface. They are also two guys who discover what it means to really support the other in their life’s work. Loved the epilogue too! Definitely recommended if you are a fan of holiday romances and HEAs!
RATING: 
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