North of Need by Laura Kaye

Description:

While attempting to escape the agonizing memories she associates with Christmas, twenty-nine-year-old widow Megan Snow builds a snow family outside the mountain cabin she once shared with her husband and collapses in tears against the snowman at the sight of what she'll never have. 

Called to life by the power of Megan's tears, snow god Owen Winters appears unconscious on her doorstep in the midst of a raging blizzard. As she nurses him to health, Owen finds unexpected solace in her company and unimagined pleasure in the warmth of her body, and vows to win her heart for a chance at humanity. 

Megan is drawn to Owen's mismatched eyes, otherworldly masculinity, and enthusiasm for the littlest things, and her heart opens enough to believe he's a Christmas miracle. But this miracle comes with an expiration before the snow melts and the temperature rises, Megan must let go of her widow's grief and learn to trust love again, or she'll lose Owen forever.

Although I labeled this one as 18+ I have to say that there was as much romance as there was smex in this book. In fact, I would label this more romance than erotica because that is what takes precedence within this story.

Megan is a sympathetic character who has been widowed 2 years ago. She was unable to break the bonds of grief and was barely living. She builds a snowman family to exert herself to exhaustion to avoid her feelings. It doesn't work and as she sees the family she built she grieves for the one she will never have with her deceased husband. However, that night she finds a stranger on her doorstep. One that worms his way into her grief and gives her permission to feel once again. To laugh again. Now, she must decide if she wants to linger within fear of the guilt that is sure to follow or find the strength to move forward to a new life. One with a love possibly even greater than the first.

Yes, this is an emotional read, but those emotions just make the romance sweeter and the smex scenes hotter. The paranormal aspects were in the realm of elementals which were also seen as gods. This is also book one in a series and I suspect they will all be stand-alones as we make our way though the different gods and how they love.

I give this book 4 stars. I recommend this book to PNR with a heavy emphasis on the "R". If you like romance, I think you will enjoy this book. It's also a great read for the holiday. Yes, even my inner Grinch approved of this book. Go HERE to the publisher's site for a little excerpt of this book.
I received this book from the publisher and no compensation for my review was given.


Btw, come back on the 17th for a author post and a giveaway of this book!! :)