As the title implies, this book is divided into two parts. The first part was the most engaging for me; the second did not hold my interest as much due to the slow pacing and rather abrupt ending.

Lauren Nash is invited to the mountain lodge of her daughter’s future in-laws. Much is at stake. If the future mother-in-law does not approve of Wendy, her son’s almost fiancée, and, by default, Lauren, there will be no wedding. What ensues is a nightmare weekend of clashing personalities and a major snowstorm with potentially tragic consequences. In the midst of all this chaos, Lauren connects with Gary Murphy, the monster-in-law’s brother. Their first encounter is antagonistic and eventually mellows into a mutual attraction.

The remainder of the novel weaves together the ending and beginnings of several relationships, a heart-breaking revelation of internet infidelity with legal entanglements and a nefarious brother-in-law who wants to reclaim a seemingly worthless family heirloom. Add to the mix, a city versus country debate, the serious economic hardships in West Virginia and the ineffectiveness of the US Congress and you have a curious exploration of social issues.

I didn’t feel emotionally invested in any of the characters. They seemed a bit one-dimensional and fell into two categories – the “innocents” and the “bullies.” In other words, there was a fair amount of stereotyping and a lot of hand-wringing in making choices within the relationships. The epilogue did wrap up most of the loose ends of the plot, but it felt abrupt and left me feeling a bit cheated after investing time and energy in the read.

This was my first exposure to this author and I can only give this book a lukewarm recommendation.

My thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the privilege of reviewing this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This review is being posted immediately to my GoodReads account and will be posted on Amazon upon publication.

The weekend party from hell. A tacky acting hostess, a major snowstorm and no way to leave. But. Some engaging characters and what comes after the party is nice. I enjoyed it.