★ ★ ★ ★ ★ //5
Frosty Proximity
by Liz Alden

THOUGHTS:

I want to thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for giving me the opportunity to read an e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

If you love :
*Grumpy/Sunshine
*Forced Proximity
*Hallmark Vibes
*One Bed
*He Falls First
*Holiday Romance

This book is for you!

I have been in the mood for good holiday vibe books and this book was perfection. Oh my gosh I will be on the lookout for all the books by Liz Alden. This book was a big warm cozy cup of hot chocolate on a cold day. This book will make you want to get out that Christmas Tree and start decorating for the holidays.

I loved every single page of this! I fell in love with every single character through this book and it was as if I was right there in the story watching it all play out. Kara and Peter’s relationship was absolute perfection. The banter, the humor and the love. Every single trope in this book is my ultimate favorite. The spice throughout this book was just the perfect amount of dusting for any reader, it was not too overwhelming & just right.

This book needs to be on your TBR for the holiday season. Curl up on the couch with a hot beverage, cozy blanket and this book to make the perfect weekend. You will not be disappointed

Who wouldn't love a story set in Switzerland at Christmas?
Kara, a stylist, is in Switzerland for work, but a snowstorm prevents her from returning home.
Peter is Kara's client and offers to host her for Christmas. What could happen? The strong points of this novella are: the dual PoV, the length of the story (not too long, not too short, but just right), the themes it deals with, for example family, affection, diversity.
Last, not least, he falls in love first.
Yes, I definitely have a weakness for these types of stories.
Their stylist/client relationship reminded me a lot of Rachel/Joshua (hello Friends fans!). How could I not love this story? Another very interesting point, and not at all obvious, is that we didn't talk about the classic 'family Christmas', but in this case we celebrate Hanukkah. It was nice to read about a different tradition, not banal and definitely interesting. Definitely a recommended story, it keeps you glued to the pages with its sweetness and lightheartedness.
Warning: you will want to fly to Switzerland and gorge yourself on chocolate. I warned you.

Thanks to Netgalley and to Victory-editing for this arc copy.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Cozy Quick Christmas Read ❄️

-Forced Proximity
-Dual POV
-Grumpy x Sunshine
-One Bed
-Trans Representation
-Switzerland setting

Perfect for those looking for a quick finish in one sitting Christmas read especially if you are a fan of a good “snowed in” theme. The trans rep was a great edition to the story and I enjoyed reading the cute moments between Kara and Sylvie.

I would of liked it to be a bit longer to flush out the characters more. Because the book was so short it was a bit hard to a feel for the chemistry between the two main characters.

Thank you to NetGallary and Liz Alden for sending me an ARC! I voluntarily read reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and feelings are my own.

This was a cozy, snowed in romance, set over the holidays that was just perfect to get into the holiday mood. It also featured both Xmas and Chanukkah traditions and was set in Switzerland for added points. Kara is a bubbly, cheerful (at least to everyone but Peter) personal stylist who gets stranded in Switzerland just before Xmas after she flies over on a whirlwind business trip to help a client, then gets marooned in a snowstorm that shuts down all of the airports. Peter is another of her clients, a tech genius and a man of few words, who is dazzled by Kara but baffled on how to hold a conversation with anyone, let alone the woman of his dreams.

When Peter volunteers to take Kara to his family's home after she's stranded, neither of them expects to find love, even thought they've both been feeling sparks. However, with the cozy, snowbound atmosphere and the way Peter's family welcomes Kara, and it's enough to finally get the romance going. I always find that novellas are just a bit too short for in-depth character development, nonetheless, I found this one to be perfect as a holiday romance appetizer. My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions in this review are my own.

Quick Summary: A close encounters novella

My Review: Frosty Proximity by Liz Alden is a fast-paced quick read that is associated with Winter Wanderlust. It is book 2.

About the Book: Two professionals who find each other attractive are put into a compromising situation. Their forced proximity and temporary shared rooming arrangement during a major storm lead to an inevitable coupling. What happens when they are faced with having to get back to life?

My Final Say: This sweet and spicy read was very entertaining. Readers who want a sexy short story with likable characters will go for this book.

Other: This would be excellent as an audiobook.

Rating: 3/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: A
Status/Level: 🌶🌶

Thanks to the author, to the publisher, and to NetGalley for granting access to this title in exchange for an honest review.

3 ⭐️ The story itself is cute, but the writing was weird.

I liked the idea of our FMC, Kara, having a more traditionally female role but taking it to the next level, building a career and maintaining a successful business. The fact that Peter, our MMC, is one of her newer clients who has developed the biggest crush on her sounds so lovely.

The idea is great, but the execution was not my favourite. The characters didn't feel all the way fleshed out, and there was no real chemistry between them. I loved Peter's family, and including a trans teen (Peter's niece) really sold this book to the 3 stars. Otherwise, I would've given it a 2.5. The majority of the narration felt flat -like we were being told everything, instead of showing what was happening. It wasn't all like that, but it felt that way. There was no depth to the characters, to their inner monologues or anything that truly made the book stand out. There were a couple of spicy scenes but they felt... really realistic. And I mean that in a bad way lol.

This would've been a great first try for a full-length novel, but this isn't even the first book in this author's series. I don't think I'll continue with the series.

🌶.5 / 5

PS. The blurb on Goodreads says the name of the MMC's Jeb. It's not!

This review has already been uploaded to Goodreads :)

Frosty Proximity checks all the boxes. Grumpy/Sunshine. Forced proximity, there’s only one bed, and it’s a quick read! Liz Alden really knows how to grab a readers attention and delivers wonderful stories.

Thank you so much for the opportunity to read this!

Frosty Proximity was a really cute holiday novella with low angst (assuming you don't count a getting stuck in a snowstorm) and one bed. This also was a great palate cleanser.

I liked seeing Peter opening up to Kara more as they were with his family. (Also he fell first).

Kara was so welcomed into Peter's holiday celebrations with his family. It was interesting to see the difference between the two families.

Diverse cast of characters. Set in Switzerland during the holidays.

Thank you to Liz Alden & NetGalley for an ARC of this story, in exchange for my honest opinion.

What I loved:
-the grumpy sunshine trope
-one bed
-some spicy scenes
-family relationships
-cameos from Nutcracker with benefits characters, Clara and Nash

This was a sweet and spicy novella that can be read in one sitting, cozied up by the fire this Winter season!

Kara is a personal stylist, and is on location in Switzerland with one of her clients, Peter. After the Gala is over and her job is done, she’s heading to the airport to catch a flight back for Christmas in NYC with her family. But a snow storm blows in, and her flight is cancelled. Peter offers for her to come stay with him and his family and celebrate Hanukkah with them. What starts off as awkward, turns to sweet and sizzling as Peter and Kara spend a lot of time together in the one bed they’re sharing. But when the storm is over, and her flight is ready to leave what will happen to them? Just a holiday fling? Or something long lasting?

BTW Liz, if you’re reading this can we please have Bea’s story next winter?

This is a fun, sweet, poignant, entertaining, good read. Peter and Kara are interesting, fun, relatable, entertaining characters. I enjoyed their romance and the various story threads. These two are a perfect match for each other – they balance each other. The various secondary characters – particularly Peter’s family – add the fabric of the story. The story is easy to read and very enjoyable.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This book is advertised as a spicy hallmark love story, and it delivers whole-heartedly. When two people with huge crushes on each other are snowed in during the holidays, things get sappy (and sweaty 😉).

This book also has excellent trans representation, featuring a secondary character in an incredibly thoughtful and tasteful way. 🏳️‍⚧️ 💗 If you want to steal away into an inclusive winter wonderland full of love and light, this is a great read! ⛄️

This was absolutely adorable!

Thank you NetGalley, the Publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I went in understanding it is a Novella - so expecting it to be a quick little romance novel.
I was pleasantly surprised with the SPICE woof!! I really enjoyed this.

I enjoyed the plot - love the snowed in, one bed, shy boy that falls first, and foreign mother setting up her son to get a girlfriend (giving me My Big Fat Greek Wedding vibes) tropes.

The MFC was cute, liked her spunk, background and story.
The MMC was a CUTIE - he was shy, but so tender and vulnerable - ugh won my heart - only thing is in a couple chapters, his dialogue felt like a woman speaking, not a man (ie. saying he was looking for a woman to have babies with) - never really heard a man say it that way).
The MMC was likable and adorable.

The touching story of the MMC niece going through transitioning and working through that was unexpected but welcomed and I thought done in a delicate way.

Overall, this was a great Christmas romance novel.

When Kara is left stranded in Switzerland just before Christmas, she has two options: to spend Christmas alone in a hotel room (or airport floor), or accept her client's, Peter, offer to join him and his family for Chanukah. Choosing the latter, Kara and Peter's relationship will evolve in something more than just professional.

This novella is a must-read for this holiday season! Liz Alden got me kicking my feet and giggling.
"Frosty Proximity" is a short story featuring one bed, forced proximity, grumpy/sunshine tropes. It is an heart-warming story with beautiful and intricate characters that add more depth to the story. I could have easily read a 500 pages version of this book if it meant I could hear more about Peter and hi family's story. I would have loved to have more insight in Kara and Peter relationship, but Liz Alden did an amazing job describing the tension and feelings anyway, so much that it just makes you want more and more!
And don't get me started on the spicy scenes! Peter is a quiet guy with FIRE inside him! In short - this books has everything you need in a rom-com!

Honestly a brilliant book - fast paced, short and sweet. Everybody should pick this book up!

Thanks to NetGalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for providing me with this ARC! I voluntarily read and reviews an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinion are my own.

Such a cute Christmas read! It's short, almost novella length, but my only complaint is that I wanted MORE of Peter and Kara! They're so sweet, and I could have read twice as many pages.

Frosty Proximity is a cute Christmas novella.

Kara is a personal stylist is in Switzerland to assist Nash and Clara and Nash's business partner Peter for a Christmas gala. Nash runs Heartly from the US and Peter runs the Switzerland office.

Nash makes Peter promise to get Kara to the airport the following day. A snow storm moves in faster than expected causing Kara to be stuck in Switzerland. Peter's mom, Nora, makes him invite Kara to their house so she isn't sleeping in a hotel or the airport.

Kara is accepted by Peter's family and has a good time getting to know them and cook with them. She also celebrates Hanukkah for the first time. Kara is accepting of his transgender niece Sylvie which is something he was concerned with because is ex wasn't.

Peter's mom also set it up to where he either had to sleep on the couch or share a bed with Kara. He had a crush on her as her client but that crush turned into more with her having to stay with them through the storm.

I really enjoyed Frosty Proximity and I'm glad Liz Alden sent me an ARC. I look forward to reading Nutcracker with Benefits by Liz Alden.

I am a big fan of novellas especially since they can mostly be read in one sitting. However you lose a lot of the story with a shorter book. For just having over 100 pages I felt this read as a full length novel. Nothing felt rushed. You really got to know Kara and Peter and their crazy families. It was the perfect mix of sexy and playful. Now Zurich is on my list of places to visit. Thank you to NetGalley for this advanced copy in return for my honest opinions.

Frosty Proximity
by Liz Alden

Kara and Peter

Kara is a successful fashion stylist and Peter is her client, a manager with Heartly, a social media company’s European branch. The company is having a swanky event in Switzerland, Peter’s home base. He is gearing up for Hanukkah with his family after the event while Kara going home to New York for Christmas. Some sparks are flying but Kara assumes Peter’s a grump while he is secretly crushing on her. A snowstorm closes off international transportation so Peter brings Kara to his family. Peter is apprehensive and you find out why. The title lets you know these two will be sharing space and the frosty atmosphere will be left to their surroundings. Frosty Proximity is an enjoyable novella with cute characters and some heat. Thankful for the advanced copy via NetGalley.

This was a really cute fun, holiday novella with a little bit of spice.

As Kara prepares to go home to NYC, her flight gets cancels and Peter mom makes him invite her to spend the holidays with them. Of course there only one room left and Peter and Kara has to share a room/bed.

I’m not going to post any spoilers so I’ll stop there, this book has a spicy level of 🌶️🌶️.It also involve a trans character.

A fun, holiday romance! Just an enjoyable read! I hadn't read the first book, but this was easily understood and could be a stand-alone read. However, I would like to go back and read the first one.

Kara is Peter's stylist - she gets stuck at the airport during a snowstorm after a consultation. Peter reluctantly takes her to his family home instead of leaving her at the airport. He's kind of grumpy/she's more sunny. He's worried how she'll behave around his family, especially his niece -- but they all get along greatly and it's such a great story! Their romance is fun to watch develop and the banter is great. Really enjoyed this story!

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for a temporary, digital ARC in return for my review.

Absolutely adored this sweet novella! It is still hot outside but this one made me long for december and Christmas. I have read a few of Liz’s books already so i knew i was going to like this one too. It’s fast paced because obviously it’s not a full length novel but the pacing was perfect for me.