Elaina and Nate have always been at each other’s throats ever since Elaina became the best friend of his sister, Luna. Nate is beyond pretty, a handsome retired model who had a lucrative career. Elaina finally finished her residency and is now a qualified doctor. She is overwhelmed overworked and needs some downtime to make decisions for her future as well as unravel from years of focussed studying. Luna arranges a break to a ski resort, something way out of her comfort zone as a present. This story is packed with interesting aspects of family and friend love. Working for what you want and love but not sure when achieved, if it is what you want. Learning to love yourself, that you are an individual and accepting what is important to you.

I finished Finding Me in the Storm, and I absolutely loved it! Reading it during winter made the setting feel even more magical and relatable. The way the relationship between the two main characters developed was so heart-warming, filled with sweet little moments that made me smile. I especially enjoyed how the story began with a winter vacation, setting the perfect tone for their journey together. The plot was engaging, and the characters' growth and connection felt genuine. Even though the book was the perfect length, I honestly would have loved to read more. It's a cosy, touching read that’s perfect for those chilly days.

Warm, cuddly book. Great for a sit down read. Good pacing. Interesting story line. No insta-love.

I received an ARC for a fair review. These are my own opinions.

❄️🩺 Sweet Christmas Kisses #7 🩺❄️
Thank you Hazel Belle for the gifted eARC.

🔔 Finding Me in the Storm 🔔
Hazel Belle
Publishing Date: October 16, 2024

This is the seventh installment of the Sweet Christmas Kisses Romance Novella Series. I fell behind on doing these in real time in October and November, because life, but I’m back and going to get through the rest!!

Elaine is a doctor facing a major career change right at Christmas time. She escapes to her best friend Luna’s family’s cabin only to get left on the side of the road by the taxi driver. Nate, her BFF’s brother, comes to the rescue. This is to Elaine’s dismay as she doesn’t particularly like Nate and definitely didn’t expect him to be there. They get snowed in together, quickly realizing this was plotted by Luna. You can imagine how things play out from here 😏

This story was set up in a way that had so much potential. The tropes were on point, the characters were interesting, the conflict was compelling. I just struggled with the writing style overall, and the way the dialogue was written specifically. There was a lot of over talking in order to convey things to the reader, which took away from the natural flow of the dialogue and relationships. This was a novella and it’s hard to really flesh out characters and in depth storylines in so few pages. This one could have afforded to be a smidge longer just to further develop the backstories of the characters as well as to slow down the burn a bit. That being said, the story was still really cute, it was a fast read, and left me feeling happy in the end!

Tropes:

🔔 Dual POV
🔔 Best Friends Brother

🔔 Forced Proximity
🔔 Enemies to Lovers
🔔 Meddling Friend
🔔 Snowed In
🔔 Judgy Parents
🔔 Kisses Only

I loved it. The perfect sweet romance for the hoidays that hits all the notes of the best Hallmark holiday movie.

A must read if you like mountains, cabins and snow. This is a very cute, clean romance with festive Christmas vibes. A quick read that will lift your spirit.
Thank you to NetGalley and BookBuzz for providing this book.

This book was such a fun, cute and simple read. It quickly put me into the holiday spirit! The storyline was so heartwarming, it just made you feel as though there were no problems going on in the world while you were reading it.

Thank you to NetGalley, Hazel Belle and BYJBM Publishing for allowing me to read this book ahead of publication!

i am so happy i was able to get a copy of this book! it definitely got me into the christmas mood even in november!! i loved how in the beginning these two couldn’t stand to be in the same room, but with the snow storm they had to learn just to be around eachother. throughout the book they really grew together, got out of their comfort zones and just learned so much about each other. i love how Nate helped Elaina figure out what she truly wanted for herself for her life career. They made me smile and i just loved how the book ended!!!

4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. Cute, fast holiday romance. Characters were all likable. The story was a bit predictable but I still enjoyed it. These are my favorite type of books to read in November and December.

To see other reviews I’ve left, check out my Instagram and Goodreads:
*Instagram - bookworm_traveler808
*Goodreads - Cherihy808

Cute, fun, simple, and quick read! I really wished we could’ve had more back story because they hate each other then they fall in love??? Did they have crushes on each other growing up? There really wasn’t much interference from the sister but it’s a novella so! I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

A lovely, heart warming quick read that is full of delightful characters and a heart warming storyline throughout.

"Finding me in the storm" is a cute and cozy book, easy to read, and an excellent choice for people who love to read sweet Christmas stories.
After finishing her medical residency, Elaina takes a break and goes on vacation to a remote ski lodge owned by her best friend's brother, Nate. As you can imagine, a snowstorm entraps them all together. Nate and Elaina have never really gotten along together, and now they are forced to stay together and discover their real personalities.
Additionally, Elaina has an important decision to make – whether to listen to her parent's choice for her career or to follow her heart!
The story is told from both main characters' points of view, and we see their real feelings and reactions in different situations.
There is no big drama in the book. It is a little predictable, but still, it is a cute book, great for the upcoming winter/festive season.
Thank you, Net Galley and BYJBM Publishing, for giving me the chance to read the book before the official publishing date! It was a great honor!

Finding me in the Storm is a very cute, wholesome romance hitting shelves in time for the holiday season. For anyone who likes a good Hallmark movie, this book is a 'grab the hot chocolate and blanket and settle in" kind of book. An easy read, I finished it within a couple sittings. The novel is a forced-proximity romance between Nate and Elaina, two characters unexpectedly brought together by the scheming of Elaina's best friend and Nate's sister, Luna.
Elaina needed a break from the world and work to figure out where she wanted to work, and sees the rest of her life going. Her friend Luna says a reprieve at her brother's resort might be the thing, however, a snow storm traps the two together. Two people who didn't know each other well before (but also had not the greatest interactions) finally take some time to get to know each other. With a backdrop of a cozy little christmas village and healthy winter activities, the two get to learn more. Nate isn't the obtuse model she may have thought, and Elaina is a complex and caring medical professional.. They both find themselves caring more about each other than they thought - but what will Elaina decide, and what does that mean for them?

I love these kinds of books for times when I need to shut off the bad and stressful news of the world, and get lost in a little swoony, wholesome romance. This book fit the bill.

This was my first book by this author and I really loved it. I loved the snowed in trope. And can’t wait to read more by this author! Highly recommend this book to everyone looking for a cozy book to read next to the Christmas tree and fireplace.

Thank you NetGalley and the author for a copy for me to read and leave my honest review!

Finding Me in the Storm was a cute love story of Nate & Elaina. I liked several aspects of the story. Some parts were adorable and made me laugh. Unfortunately, the story didn't flow well and I was occasionally confused at what i was reading. Probably could have done without some of the random information thrown in there.

Another sweet and cute installment in this holiday series. Gives us all the holiday feels, although maybe some connections were a little flat, I still enjoyed the book.

Title: Finding Me In The Storm: A Small Town Holiday Clean Romance
Author: Hazel Belle

"Finding Me In The Storm" is a delightful and heartwarming love story that revolves around Nate, Elaina, and the mischievous Luna. Nate, who used to work as a model, is Luna's older brother and has recently acquired a ski lodge. The narrative beautifully captures the essence of slowing down and savoring life's simple pleasures, while also highlighting the delicate balance between personal aspirations and love. While the endearing moments shared between Elaina and Nate are truly captivating, I couldn't help but wish for a deeper emotional connection. Nonetheless, it remains a charming and uplifting Christmas read.
ps I just love the cover of this book.

Loved reading this book and the others that are linked to the sweet romance series. Hope you enjoy them all as well

Thank you for letting me read and review this book

Would of loved a bit more connection / depth / tension between the characters but it was a novella, quick easy read inbetween other books.

Absolutely love the cover and has put me in the mood for more seasonal books!

3.5🌟

The cover had me excited in reading Finding Me in the Storm. But the story itself lacked the character connections. It was all kind of flat and was very similar to another book I recently reviewed. Overall, it was a cute, sweet novella but not my cup of tea.