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Winter Love
As fresh and enchanting as a new snowfall, Laura had always adored Fletcher Thomas. Yet she feared she would never win the trapper's heart --- until one passion-filled night in his father's barn.
Lost in his heated caresses, the innocent beauty succumbed to a desire as strong and unpredictable as a Michigan blizzard. But Laura had barely cleared her head of Fletch's musky scent and the sweet smell of hay before circumstances separated them and threatened to end their ... Winter Love.
Lost in his heated caresses, the innocent beauty succumbed to a desire as strong and unpredictable as a Michigan blizzard. But Laura had barely cleared her head of Fletch's musky scent and the sweet smell of hay before circumstances separated them and threatened to end their ... Winter Love.
396 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 1, 1995
48 people are currently reading
134 people want to read
About the author
Norah Hess
52 books94 followersAlways a daydreamer, and often scolded for it by the grandmother who raised her, Norah Hess always wanted to be a writer. At eighteen, she was sent to Chicago to live with an aunt after her grandmother's death. It was there that she met her husband. After raising three children, Norah decided to write her first novel, and since then has had fifteen published romances. After her husband passed away, she and her two cats moved to Palm Springs, where the desert and mountains inspire her to write her Western romances.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
January 11, 2018
Norah Hess's books usually don't have OW/OM drama. The angst, tension and misunderstanding are usually due to characters separating for months, or years in this case, after making love. Our sweet young h stays with her adopted father and his son H. H is fighting the attraction he feels for his adoptive sister as she matures into a woman. He feels he needs to go away to give her time to grow up and then claim her and thus makes all arrangements for leaving. Unfortunately H meets with the h before leaving and after deflowering her inside a barn, leaves without giving her any explanation.
h becomes pregnant and since this is Norah Hess, marries her adopted father to save herself from gossips. H comes back, not knowing he's the father of their daughter. Whole book thereafter is about small misunderstandings getting in their way and daily life of their neighbors struggles.
The book was sweet, sweeter than her earlier works - her earlier works have rape, beating and are very non-pc. Why I like Hess? I think she's unique in that she has multiple secondary couples and usually they are may-december and her heroes are working class rough men.
Graphic fellatio:
h becomes pregnant and since this is Norah Hess, marries her adopted father to save herself from gossips. H comes back, not knowing he's the father of their daughter. Whole book thereafter is about small misunderstandings getting in their way and daily life of their neighbors struggles.
The book was sweet, sweeter than her earlier works - her earlier works have rape, beating and are very non-pc. Why I like Hess? I think she's unique in that she has multiple secondary couples and usually they are may-december and her heroes are working class rough men.
Graphic fellatio:
November 6, 2013
This was not remotely a favorite. Actually I thought Fletch was an immature jack ass. Apparently he was too ignorant to do any math. He thought so poorly of the two people he knew most of his life not to at least give them the benefit of the doubt. Not only that he was much more cruel than any of the other people in the village. He was an arrogant hotheaded jerk that hadn't a likable quality about him.
I realize the era of the book, both when it was written and when it took place, but Laura should have outted Fletch for the ass he was and then got rid of him.
I really just didn't care for and about any of these characters. Then "Pa" getting married again while still married to Laura? Whaaaat? Had it annulled just like that? While Laura is still missing? Good golly what is wrong with this village? Fletch complains about the gossipmongers and nasty people, when he was the worst culprit in believing the gossip and spreading the nasty. Could not like the man, even at the end.
Ms. Hess' writing style is fine, substance leaves a lot to be desired.
I realize the era of the book, both when it was written and when it took place, but Laura should have outted Fletch for the ass he was and then got rid of him.
I really just didn't care for and about any of these characters. Then "Pa" getting married again while still married to Laura? Whaaaat? Had it annulled just like that? While Laura is still missing? Good golly what is wrong with this village? Fletch complains about the gossipmongers and nasty people, when he was the worst culprit in believing the gossip and spreading the nasty. Could not like the man, even at the end.
Ms. Hess' writing style is fine, substance leaves a lot to be desired.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 24, 2023
3.5 stars
This was filled with angst and I loved every second of it until the ending.
The thing is the h has been ostracized because she had a child that no one believes is her husbands. Which is true, because her husband is actually the baby's grandfather and its not a real marriage so it's not ick. What was problematic was the fact that they got married so that the baby wouldn't grow up on the wrong side of the blanket and the h would retain her good name. The marriage failed the latter aspect completely.
The H was dumb. It never crossed his mind that the child could be his, even though he was the h's first. And because he left after their one night and when he returns after a year she's married to his father he becomes cruel. We're meant to believe he was mean to her prior to the one night stand because he loves her so much. I can't.
There is zero grovel. The h, who while still angry with the H, falls into bed with him as soon as he wants, every time. Then he decides he's going to marry her and she says yes and the story is done. We don't get to see all the people 'eating crow' as was mentioned in the story. We don't see the H beg for forgiveness. We do see the h's ridiculous plan to leave home and live on an island by herself with an infant. We also see Red Fox and Spotted Horse become misogynistic jerks for some reason.
3.5 stars because it was entertaining and kept me reading.
This was filled with angst and I loved every second of it until the ending.
The thing is the h has been ostracized because she had a child that no one believes is her husbands. Which is true, because her husband is actually the baby's grandfather and its not a real marriage so it's not ick. What was problematic was the fact that they got married so that the baby wouldn't grow up on the wrong side of the blanket and the h would retain her good name. The marriage failed the latter aspect completely.
The H was dumb. It never crossed his mind that the child could be his, even though he was the h's first. And because he left after their one night and when he returns after a year she's married to his father he becomes cruel. We're meant to believe he was mean to her prior to the one night stand because he loves her so much. I can't.
There is zero grovel. The h, who while still angry with the H, falls into bed with him as soon as he wants, every time. Then he decides he's going to marry her and she says yes and the story is done. We don't get to see all the people 'eating crow' as was mentioned in the story. We don't see the H beg for forgiveness. We do see the h's ridiculous plan to leave home and live on an island by herself with an infant. We also see Red Fox and Spotted Horse become misogynistic jerks for some reason.
3.5 stars because it was entertaining and kept me reading.
October 7, 2014
a heart wrenching novel. but what i don't appreciate about it is the abrupt ending, that is, the hero and heroin just there and then reconciled their differences. I would have had appreciated it if the heroin was able to give the hero some challenge to win her heart because of so many hurting he has caused her before.
August 17, 2022
A trapper/general store worker is blue collar, right?? No surprise I'm behind in reading and while I had a Nora Roberts picked out for this month's theme, Blue Collar, this Wednesday popped up quicker than I was ready for. So, how about a NoraH Hess instead?
I was about halfway through this before I decided that I was going to use it for TBRChallenge, so I didn't really take any notes. But don't be too disappointed because this, umm, wasn't great. Not quite have me wildly ranting like the one and only other Hess I have read (Wildfire, mtns in NE?? SERIOUSLY??) but Not Great.
The story is set in a small trading post town in the Upper Michigan in the late 1880s. As a little girl, Laura loses her parents to death (I warned you all I didn't take notes, lol) and gets adopted by the general store owner family, pa Taylor, ma Maria-ishsomething, and son Fletch the wretch (he's way worse than a wretch but I was feeling rhyme-y). Maria(?) is Taylor's second wife but in a romance book turn, she's great! But poor Maria(?) can't completely escape the time period and genre and dies, too. The little family of pa, wretch, and hey, she's no picnic either Laura grow to all love each other. You hear that dun, dun, DUN, don't you? Yes, Laura grows up beautiful and develops feelings for Fletch. I can't remember Fletch's age but he's older than Laura, mentions of gray started to show in his hair and Laura is 17/18ish at this time.
The small-town is full of gossipy gossips and of course a lot of the women hate Laura and a lot of the men want her. Laura's womanly vibes become too much for Fletch and he succumbs to her! They have a romantic night in the barn where Laura wakes up dreamily thinking of marriage but soon realizes Fletch has flown the coop. Fletch in all his wisdom decides to go off with some trappers to Canada for a year to give Laura time to decide if her feelings are real. Does Fletch tell or discuss this with Laura, letting her know that he has feelings for her too? No. Such a better idea to bang and bounce making Laura feel used. Guess what happens? Laura winds up preggos.
Pa Taylor is crushed and angry when sweet little Laura tells him she's pregnant and then won't say who the father is. Laura doesn't want Pa to be mad at Fletch. Guess what happens? Pa marries Laura. Now, don't fly off into pervy hell land like I started to, it's as above board as a situation can be when a pa marries his adopted daughter. The marriage is to protect Laura's good name and give legitimacy to, what turns out to be, her baby daughter.
Guess what happens? Fletch comes back after the year of trapping, all ready to kiss and marry Laura and instead discovers Pa married to Laura. He totally takes it calmly. LOL NO. Fletch flings “whore” and “slut” at Laura whenever he can. When it's obvious that pa and Laura have a marriage in name only, Fletch instead thinks Laura is sleeping around on pa and making him a laughingstock. Fletch is pretty much a dick while still lusting after Laura and then blaming her for his lusting.
Tied in with Laura and Fletch's drama is pa's relationship with Butterfly, a Native woman with a tribe that is nearby. Pa loves her and does eventually end up marrying her but just be aware that while this didn't have the worse depictions of Native Americans, it wasn't the best with some lazy stereotypes.
I called Laura no picnic either because she's that quintessential '90s heroine that is supposed to be feisty and strong but is instead don't cut off your nose to spite your face. She's a stubborn one ol' Laura and refuses to just admit that the baby is Fletch's. When Taylor figures it out, Laura decides to run away at around 75%. Guess what happens? Fletch finds her and loves his little daughter now. Fletch drags Laura back and Laura decides to run again but oh he's a wretch but a smart one! Fletch takes the baby with him stopping Laura from being able to run away. Laura is out of ideas so she decides to just stay and deal with the cheating she anticipates Fletch doing because of course he doesn't love her.
The last ten minutes of the story have Laura giving Fletch a bj and even though I was like “What's happening?” because I guess I'm not a good guesser??, it has been such a dry spell in newer contemporary romance that my pervy side was like, “Don't hate it.” Shrug. The ending was ridiculously abrupt with Fletch asking Laura to marry him and I think he said I love you and Laura doing a 180 deg. and saying Yes! and anticipating their obvious happily ever after.
If you took a drink, let alone a shot, every time the word “whore” was used in this you'd be dead. Fletch was the worst of the alphahole heroes, Laura was overly stubborn for no reason, the marriage of a pa and his adopted daughter was cringe, lazy Native American stereotypes, the sex scenes were more lascivious than emotional, and the ending with it's quick get them together in no way delivered a satisfactory or believable love story between these two. I'll end on a positive note, though. This line from pa was nice: "Laura," he said gently, "you can feel disappointed in yourself that you loved unwisely, but don't be ashamed that you loved."
I was about halfway through this before I decided that I was going to use it for TBRChallenge, so I didn't really take any notes. But don't be too disappointed because this, umm, wasn't great. Not quite have me wildly ranting like the one and only other Hess I have read (Wildfire, mtns in NE?? SERIOUSLY??) but Not Great.
The story is set in a small trading post town in the Upper Michigan in the late 1880s. As a little girl, Laura loses her parents to death (I warned you all I didn't take notes, lol) and gets adopted by the general store owner family, pa Taylor, ma Maria-ishsomething, and son Fletch the wretch (he's way worse than a wretch but I was feeling rhyme-y). Maria(?) is Taylor's second wife but in a romance book turn, she's great! But poor Maria(?) can't completely escape the time period and genre and dies, too. The little family of pa, wretch, and hey, she's no picnic either Laura grow to all love each other. You hear that dun, dun, DUN, don't you? Yes, Laura grows up beautiful and develops feelings for Fletch. I can't remember Fletch's age but he's older than Laura, mentions of gray started to show in his hair and Laura is 17/18ish at this time.
The small-town is full of gossipy gossips and of course a lot of the women hate Laura and a lot of the men want her. Laura's womanly vibes become too much for Fletch and he succumbs to her! They have a romantic night in the barn where Laura wakes up dreamily thinking of marriage but soon realizes Fletch has flown the coop. Fletch in all his wisdom decides to go off with some trappers to Canada for a year to give Laura time to decide if her feelings are real. Does Fletch tell or discuss this with Laura, letting her know that he has feelings for her too? No. Such a better idea to bang and bounce making Laura feel used. Guess what happens? Laura winds up preggos.
Pa Taylor is crushed and angry when sweet little Laura tells him she's pregnant and then won't say who the father is. Laura doesn't want Pa to be mad at Fletch. Guess what happens? Pa marries Laura. Now, don't fly off into pervy hell land like I started to, it's as above board as a situation can be when a pa marries his adopted daughter. The marriage is to protect Laura's good name and give legitimacy to, what turns out to be, her baby daughter.
Guess what happens? Fletch comes back after the year of trapping, all ready to kiss and marry Laura and instead discovers Pa married to Laura. He totally takes it calmly. LOL NO. Fletch flings “whore” and “slut” at Laura whenever he can. When it's obvious that pa and Laura have a marriage in name only, Fletch instead thinks Laura is sleeping around on pa and making him a laughingstock. Fletch is pretty much a dick while still lusting after Laura and then blaming her for his lusting.
Tied in with Laura and Fletch's drama is pa's relationship with Butterfly, a Native woman with a tribe that is nearby. Pa loves her and does eventually end up marrying her but just be aware that while this didn't have the worse depictions of Native Americans, it wasn't the best with some lazy stereotypes.
I called Laura no picnic either because she's that quintessential '90s heroine that is supposed to be feisty and strong but is instead don't cut off your nose to spite your face. She's a stubborn one ol' Laura and refuses to just admit that the baby is Fletch's. When Taylor figures it out, Laura decides to run away at around 75%. Guess what happens? Fletch finds her and loves his little daughter now. Fletch drags Laura back and Laura decides to run again but oh he's a wretch but a smart one! Fletch takes the baby with him stopping Laura from being able to run away. Laura is out of ideas so she decides to just stay and deal with the cheating she anticipates Fletch doing because of course he doesn't love her.
The last ten minutes of the story have Laura giving Fletch a bj and even though I was like “What's happening?” because I guess I'm not a good guesser??, it has been such a dry spell in newer contemporary romance that my pervy side was like, “Don't hate it.” Shrug. The ending was ridiculously abrupt with Fletch asking Laura to marry him and I think he said I love you and Laura doing a 180 deg. and saying Yes! and anticipating their obvious happily ever after.
If you took a drink, let alone a shot, every time the word “whore” was used in this you'd be dead. Fletch was the worst of the alphahole heroes, Laura was overly stubborn for no reason, the marriage of a pa and his adopted daughter was cringe, lazy Native American stereotypes, the sex scenes were more lascivious than emotional, and the ending with it's quick get them together in no way delivered a satisfactory or believable love story between these two. I'll end on a positive note, though. This line from pa was nice: "Laura," he said gently, "you can feel disappointed in yourself that you loved unwisely, but don't be ashamed that you loved."
February 15, 2023
Two stubborn people
About two people who are stubborn and jealous .A love story.Laura lost her parents.Friends took her in and raised her has their own.The boy raised has her brother has feelings for her.Her brother is wild and chases woman.
About two people who are stubborn and jealous .A love story.Laura lost her parents.Friends took her in and raised her has their own.The boy raised has her brother has feelings for her.Her brother is wild and chases woman.
September 6, 2024
AMAZING!!
This was a story worth reading. It has been long time since I have read a book like this one. It had twists and turns. UPS and downs. Full of family and friends. It is what the true west was really like, I have know doubt!
This was a story worth reading. It has been long time since I have read a book like this one. It had twists and turns. UPS and downs. Full of family and friends. It is what the true west was really like, I have know doubt!
November 26, 2025
Winter Love by Norah Hess
Excellent story that keeps the reader totally into the book. Norah's descriptions of the characters allows the reader to really know them..I liked the way sh
e characterized the Indian men, the India
n boy, and the Indian woman.
Excellent story that keeps the reader totally into the book. Norah's descriptions of the characters allows the reader to really know them..I liked the way sh
e characterized the Indian men, the India
n boy, and the Indian woman.
January 17, 2022
A short good read
It was a sweet story. Wish the story line was longer. I would recommend for a quick read. I have enjoyed other books by this author.
It was a sweet story. Wish the story line was longer. I would recommend for a quick read. I have enjoyed other books by this author.
March 12, 2022
Really did not like how this portrayed indigenous peoples.
March 29, 2022
I will have to say, the ending was kinda rushed and a bit non-dramatic for me. But I loved the book and shed a few tears
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 10, 2024
slow like winter that’s for sure
I have grown to enjoy her wild adventures they remind me of westerns…I did not like this one really…it was so weird and so slow…
I have grown to enjoy her wild adventures they remind me of westerns…I did not like this one really…it was so weird and so slow…
July 24, 2025
the first cringe book I read but the plot is somewhat unique.
October 11, 2013
This was the first book i ever read willingly.And to my amazment I found it so hard to put down until it was finished!! I actually bought it for a christmas gift for my sister-in-law. I picked it out because of the cover. Later my sister read a couple paragraphs from the book to me. I was astonished and amazed!. And hooked! haha. This became the first book of hundreds I have enjoyed reading.Beginning with the rest of Norah Hess's creations. I really loved her surroundings the most, I think. The harshness of the wild west.With a rogue,(nowadays they're called "players")and of course and innocent beautiful young woman. Who has no clue that she has the power to tame such a known scoundrel. I think most women's fantasy is to find a man that can literally have any woman they choose. And find that they are 'ruined' for love by anyone else but them. I dont know, maybe I'm wrong? ~ This is the only review I've ever done so I figured it should be on the book that started my fascination with so many things. From historical romance novels, to READING , to history ect.. So, I do thank you, Norah Hess, for giving to me the beauty in the wonderful world of reading!! :)
June 5, 2014
Neither of the main characters were remotely likeable, most especially the "hero" Fletch. The background characters (Bertha the town madam, Hunter the bartender, the newly-married trapper and his wife) were delightful, though. They, along with the writing quality, redeemed the story enough that I will read more from the author... Probably.
August 16, 2015
So, so painful
Yes, sometimes I'm in the moody for an easy read - for, shall we say, a trashy romance. But this book stretched my lower limits of readability, and I was hard pressed to even give it 2 stars. The plotline was laughable, the character development poor. Happily for me, I borrowed rather than bought this one. I recommend you do likewise.
Yes, sometimes I'm in the moody for an easy read - for, shall we say, a trashy romance. But this book stretched my lower limits of readability, and I was hard pressed to even give it 2 stars. The plotline was laughable, the character development poor. Happily for me, I borrowed rather than bought this one. I recommend you do likewise.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews