Come the First Snowfall

by Charlotte Dae

Exactly one week before my best friend's wedding, I was claimed by a man in the pouring rain-James Pierce, a fiercely protective stranger who turned my world upside down over the course of a single unprecedented night. Offering myself to him freely, he ravaged both heart and flesh and took from me what he pleased.




I still have the marks on my body and an impassioned heart to prove it. But the monsters I was warned about my entire childhood, whose existence I chalked up to my father's delusions and-dare I say it-insanity, are, in fact, real.




And they found me.




Seizing the opportunity to strike like a serpent in the grass, they have taken me far beyond the reach of James's protective grasp.




The one in charge-a man with burn scars on his face and an antique key hanging from around his neck-says he has plans for me. And come the first snowfall of winter, he promises those plans will come to fruition.




But by then, it will be too late-for me, my freedom, and the life I knew before.

685 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 15, 2024

Reviews

[Nicole Maryon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you charlotte for my very first ARC read! You don’t know how I really appreciate. This book did not disappoint. This was also my first dark romance. Easy to read which was nice. Loved the different point of views. So many twist and turns and I loved every moment of it. Details on point. Highly recommend:)

[Mary Beth Orrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charlotte Dae has done it again!! I thought after finishing book 1 I had a pretty good idea of where book 2 would be headed. I. Was. Completely. Wrong. And I say that in the BEST way possible. Nothing excites me more than being completely knocked off my feet by a book and being wrong about my assumptions. The plot takes a completely different turn from book one and without accidentally spoiling anything I’ll just say it ended with my jaw on the floor and an audible gasp leaving me when I hit *next page* on my kindle and was met with THE END.

The character arcs throughout this storyline are well developed and we see even some background players grow and evolve throughout the story. Evie is faced with imminent danger, angst, grief, love and questioning happiness- all of which I felt right alongside her as the reader. I was distrustful of characters and questioning who the villain truly was. I was unsure of how I wanted her to get her HEA and couldn’t picture a clear ending, which made the story all the more perfect as I was lead to my answer little by little without any clear giveaways to what the ending would be before it arrived. Loaded down with adjectives galore that bring you further into the story space and paint a vivid picture of the world Evie lives in, this story will suck you in from the start. Multiple POVs shed light on the internal motives behind each character and bring you closer to their personalities- at times making you question who the villain is even more as you peek into everyone’s minds and understand their thought process. I will be patiently praying for a book three so I can get another taste of this fabulous story I have quickly become obsessed with.

[Candace | infinitetbrofabookdragon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Picking right up where Come the Morning Light left off— into the aftermath of Evie’s kidnapping at her best friend’s wedding reception. From the first chapter, it had me intrigued, especially with Laz stepping in as a father-like figure who begins to unravel the secrets of Evie’s past and her true parentage. It gave me The Blacklist vibes, with Laz reminding me of a slightly softer Raymond Reddington.

As a dark romance, this book leans into the mysterious and the taboo, and while it didn’t shy away from edgy themes, I found myself struggling a little with the romantic relationship and how it developed. It wasn’t entirely what I was expecting, and I didn’t always connect with Evie’s choices. That said, her journey of discovery and the shocking reveals at the end kept me hooked and made up for some of the moments that didn’t resonate as strongly.

Overall, Come the First Snowfall was an engaging read, with plenty of twists and turns to keep the pages turning. If you enjoy dark romance with a suspenseful edge, you’ll definitely find something to love here.

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️.5: Very explicit, frequent, and bold with some heavy kink moments. Definitely for readers who enjoy the darker side of romance!

[Beth (bethsbookshelfx) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating : ☆☆☆☆

—————

𝘛𝘰 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘌𝘷𝘪𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘳, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘐 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭 𝘢𝘴 𝘪𝘧 𝘭'𝘷𝘦 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘮𝘺 𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘳𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦.

—————

𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨 & 𝙄𝙣𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙢𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 :

- 𝘿𝙖𝙧𝙠 𝙍𝙤𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚
- 𝙈𝙪𝙡𝙩𝙞 𝙋𝙊𝙑
- 𝙈𝙖𝙛𝙞𝙖 𝙎𝙚𝙩𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨
- 𝙁𝙤𝙧𝙘𝙚𝙙 𝙋𝙧𝙤𝙭𝙞𝙢𝙞𝙩𝙮
- 𝙋𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙤𝙢 𝙊𝙛 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙊𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙖 𝙍𝙚𝙩𝙚𝙡𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜
- 𝙏𝙤𝙪𝙘𝙝 𝙃𝙚𝙧 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝘿𝙞𝙚

—————

I have been waiting for this book since arc reading book one and it didn’t disappoint!

It’s crazy how a plot can come straight back to you having read the first one over a year ago. I was invested from the first page

I loved how the story evolved into something even more addictive and more engaging. I was intrigued in all of the different characters.

The plot twists were absolutely incredible, and really had me on the edge of my seat.

I’m excited for what’s to come from Charlotte. She has an addictive writing style and knows how to tell a story.

[Amber Jenkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

For the Phantom of the Opera lovers

This book picks up directly where book one ends. (Book one can be read as a stand alone if you don’t read the epilogue but you need to have read book one to read book two!)

So many dark and twisty turns. Please check your triggers. Lots of trauma and hints of Stockholm syndrome

Forced proximity is elite

You’re going to devour this one.

[Sav · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the first book so much. This second one, to me, did not disappoint. There were many different twists and turns in this book, like the first one, that I did not see coming. I thoroughly enjoyed the roller coaster that I was on while reading this book!

[Megan Hupp · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ahhhhh!!!!! This book! So many twists, turns, heart stoppings. The first book was really really good but this, this was ah may zing! Thank you so much for allowing me to be an ARC reader for this and cannot wait for it to be on my shelf as a pretty little trophy 😉

[Jules · Rating 5 out of 5]

I binged the whole 1/3 back of this book! My eyes hurt from reading rn lol.

But wow this book felt like watching a movie. There were so many twists and turns and I had no idea one of the main reasons why Evie was in danger.

I had to keep reading to find out the answers.

If you’re looking for spicy scenes this book isn’t it. Until the epilogue you won’t find it haha.
The main plot of this book is mystery mixed with hidden secrets of the past. You don’t know who to trust or to believe. It grasped my attention and held my interest throughout the entire book.

I can’t even find words to explain it in a way that will do it justice plus my eyes are tired while I’m typing this haha.

Read if you like—
-dark past
-mystery
-multiple POV
-phantom of the opera
-don’t know who to trust
- healing from trauma
- action

Check trigger warnings!

Charlotte thank you so much for this copy! I LOVED reading both your books! For a debut author I would have never known! You did amazing!

[Sydney · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was SOOOO good. I was nail biting at points and refusing to get any shut eye.
I loved evie in book 1 and I love her more after book 2.

[__boundbybook__ 🥀Shaunie🥀 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I feel like my brain is in scrambles 😂
This was an absolute amazing read!

So much surprises i didn’t see coming and i LOVED IT!!
Theres so much happening and the multiple POV’s definitely helped getting it all on track!

This book gives me full on Phantom of the Opera vibes but it also has elements from beauty and the beast and alice in wonderland!

The FMC is in captivity not knowing what to believe anymore so much happens and she just tries to make sense of it all.
I love her resilience she stood tall no matter she fought for herself and did all she could to keep her sanity!

The MMC is just the perfect example of finding the line of ‘is this person good or bad’ he does alot of wrong things but he doesn’t see it that way and i can understand him in a way even tho i know he is in the wrong too even i am feeling conflicted when it comes to that man😅

The side characters who to me aren’t fully side characters were absolutely perfect too James trying to save the love of his life but also Jenna and her husband David i am so curious what will happen to those two especially with that ending 🫣🤭

This book gave me more then i bargained for and i am all for it!

🥀Tropes🥀
✨Phantom of the opera retelling
✨Ladynapping
✨Secrets
✨Italian Mafia
✨morally Black MMC

[Jéssica Paes · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG, what a book 😱 there were so many plot twists in this book that left me wanting to know more and more. Evie was kidnapped by the man with the scar, known as Laz. Laz is a ruthless man who will take matters into his own hands for the ones he loves... his Neve 🤭 his obsession/love for Evie is unconditional and, although sometimes controversial, it is beautiful to see how it developed along with the rest of the story. Evie starts to change her mind when she uncovers more of her past, leaving her wondering who her heart desires. Aside from Evie and Laz's story, there is James, Jenna and David's story. Jenna and David will do anything they can to bring the one they love home... at what cost? Life? Marriage? All they know is that they need Evie back in their lives ✨️
The story of this book is amazing. It's filled with action, spicy scenes, tears, laughs, and love 🤍. The style of writing is beautiful.

The multiple POVs helped to understand the characters better and almost live the story alongside them.

Thank you for the opportunity to read this book 🤍

Quote:

"Just as he predicted so gruffly in my ear one summer night - words that were frightening then but are now unapologetically riddled with truth - I have now come to see, truly see, the man behind the scars.
And I am indubitably in love with him."

[Jackie Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

Huge thanks to Charlotte for giving me the opportunity to be an ARC reader on this amazing book. I had recently read come morning light by her so luckily I didn’t have to wait long to clear up the cliffhanger. This book picks up exactly where come morning light leaves off. So you must read come morning light first or it will not make any sense. This book is really fun because we get to see so many different peoples POVs on the situations happening. We start to fall in love with a villain at one point. There’s some Stockholm syndrome, forced proximity, childhood trauma. This book has a lot of dark matter in it!!! There were some really good twists throughout this book that I really enjoyed. If you’re looking for a good dark romance, stalker romance, hostage style, this is the perfect book for you. We are left with some questions at the end of the book but things are still wrapped up pretty nicely, not nearly as much of a cliffhanger as come morning light. Highly recommend this book❤️🫶🏼

[Rachael Andrews · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a great second book! This kept me guessing the whole way through trying to figure out who to root for. Lots of twists and turns to keep you on the edge of your seat. Chapters 22&23 🥵😳😱.

[Tori Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story was a fantastic follow up for her first book! it deepens the world building and characters, while keeping you hooked into the plot worrying about the characters you already know and love.

[Lisa J Page · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story was an interesting plot twisting read. Enjoyed the character of Evie and the life she lead. You kept my attention through out the book to see how it ended.

[Jessica DeVita · Rating 5 out of 5]

Charlotte Dae has truly outdone herself with this one! After finishing the first book, I thought I had a pretty solid idea of where the second would go, but I was completely wrong—in the best possible way. There's nothing more exhilarating than having your expectations shattered in such a rewarding way. The plot takes an unexpected turn, and without giving anything away, I’ll just say that the ending left me speechless, my jaw literally dropping, and an audible gasp escaping as I turned the page on my Kindle only to be met with THE END.

The character development is so well done. Not only do we get to see Evie grow, but even secondary characters evolve in meaningful ways. Evie faces so much—danger, heartache, love, and moments of self-doubt—all of which I felt deeply alongside her. The tension is real, and I found myself constantly questioning the true nature of the characters around her. Who can she trust? Who’s the real villain? The suspense kept me guessing, and by the time I reached the conclusion, I couldn’t have predicted it, which made it all the more satisfying.

The writing is rich with vivid descriptions that pull you into the world, making it feel like you're right there with Evie. The multiple points of view are a fantastic touch, providing deeper insights into the characters' minds and adding layers to the story. It’s brilliant how the narrative keeps you questioning everyone's motives and never quite lets you settle on who’s good or bad.

Now I’m left eagerly awaiting the next book, because this story has completely consumed me, and I’m hooked. If you haven’t started this series yet, what are you waiting for?

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

After the wild, sexy bachelor(ette) party and wedding of "Come Morning Light" and the crazy cliffhanger that brought Evie and James together we ride out the rest of their story in "Come the First Snowfall."

Did you ever wonder what a modern, kinky retelling of Phantom of the Opera would look like? Look no further. Because this is *IT.* This is a moody, broody, journey that has twists and turns that will keep you turning pages well past bed time.

Each POV gave me feelings in a different way. Evie, James, and Jenna are all incredible characters who I want to get their happily ever after and the other POV? ALL THE FEELINGS. The spice is spicy, the emotions are a rollercoaster, the action is wild. This book has everything you want and then some.

[Helena · Rating 4 out of 5]

3,5⭐️if the first book was very fun and amusing and not serious , here things are a bit more serious, we have a lot of background and plot , I liked it but not as much as the first one

[Jacqueline Hall · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨Double Review✨

Come Morning Light and Come First Snowfall by @charlottedaeauthor

4.45⭐️

Come Morning Light is like Hunger Games but for adults and sexier. This book was so good. I loved the premise. Tournament is all fun and games until..

Come First Snowfall is Christian Grey but better and a hell of a lot sexier. Essentially a prequel with the mafia.

Both books were so good. I couldn’t put them down. Thank you Charlotte for letting me devour these books.

[Susan Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

📖: Come the First Snowfall by @charlottedaeauthor
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️

Man oh man oh man!!!! I thought Charlotte Dae’s debut novel was good??? If that was a five star, then this book is 8 stars hands down! I enjoyed Come the First Snowfall so so much! It was dark, and thrilling, and emotional and a book that fully and completely sucked me in from the start! I mean, how could it not after the cliff hangar from book one??

When I was reading this book, I loved Evies character so much. She was just so relatable. While I’ve never been in her position for a lot of her traumatic experiences, and other things she went through, her thought process was so similar to mine one. She questioned everything, but was so logical about it. So it wasn’t annoying and didn’t feel like she was a weak character. On the contrary, she was written to be such a strong, independent and capable character. And Charlotte really had me claiming another FMC I love and adore!!

In this book we are introduced to Laz and man does this man give me chills. Whether they are chills of the good variety or bad variety, I’ll let you read it and find out for yourself! And of course there was James! James is my man, through and through. He will doing anything the can for the woman he loves, fight tooth and nail and put himself in so much danger. But she is oh so worth it to him! He’s everything you could want in a book boyfriend! Dominating, possessive, protective, yet nerdy and such a golden retriever at the same time! Love him!

On top on wonderful characters, you also have the amazing and fascinating plot Charlotte has created! You go from book one being this instant love story with crazy, and honestly fascinating, games they compete in as a team to this book being deep and emotional and fully carrying you on a journey. Charlotte, you killed it on this book and you should be so proud of it!!!

Note: please check trigger warnings before reading this book! And please reach out to me if you have any questions or concerns!