[Note from Frolic: We’re so excited to have author Erin McLellan guest posting on the site today. She’s sharing her favorite snowed-in romances. Take it away, Erin!]
I love tropey romance. The tropier, the better. In my opinion, the snowed-in-together trope is the crème de la crème. The bees knees. The very best, period. It combines two things I love: forced proximity (another really awesome trope) and bad weather.
The reality of being snowed in is not romantic at all. Trust me. I live in Alaska. Being snowed in kind of sucks. But the setup is ripe for romance. Cozy cabins and fireplaces and lots of cuddling for warmth. Yum! Even better, a lot of snowed-in romances are also holiday romances, so you get all the oooey-gooey holiday feelings as well.
One of the great things about snowed-in romance is that there is a lot of variety out there – from holiday stories to adventure romance to sexy ice planet shenanigans. There is a snowed-in romance for every reader.
If you enjoy snowed-in romances, you might like my recent release, Stocking Stuffers. It’s a R-rated, snowed-in Christmas story where the heroine sells sex toys, the hero reads romance novels, and most of the side characters are lesbians.
Here are a few of my favorite snowed-in romances, both books and movies!
Stuck with You by Jay Northcote
In this male/male Christmas romance, coworkers who dislike each other get snowed in on a business trip. They’re stuck in a small English village and their antagonism quickly melts into sexual tension and chemistry.
You might like this book if you enjoy British snark, opposites attract, high heat and heart.
Let it Snow by Jeanette Grey
Jeanette Grey is one of my go-to authors when I want characters with hidden depths, and she doesn’t disappoint here. In this novella, the hero and heroine are coworkers at a bookstore, get snowed in on Christmas Eve, and share one naughty night together.
You might like this book if you enjoy secret crushes, complex characters, forced proximity and sharing secrets.
“Second-Chance Romance” by Farrah Rochon, found in the collection Christmas Kisses
This wonderful snowed-in together novella by Rochon has lots of things I love in a romance: fancy ski resorts, weddings and a heroine determined to show the best man at her brother’s wedding that she is absolutely over him. Fabulous all around.
You might like this book if you enjoy second-chances, wedding shenanigans and secluded cabin shenanigans.
“Rest and Be Thankful” by Joanna Chambers found in the collection Merry and Bright
In this male/male romance, the heroes have publicly feuded, but end up stuck together when one of their cars breaks down near the other’s house in a snowstorm. Stranded, they are forced to spend Hogmanay together.
You might like this book if you enjoy enemies-to-lovers, hearts melting from animosity to desire and modern Scottish charm.
Two-Night Stand
Now for the movies! Grab your popcorn but buyer beware, there is some cheating in this movie, so your mileage may vary. But I really enjoy this disastrous one-night stand turned two-night stand when the couple gets stuck together in a snowstorm.
You might like this movie if you enjoy one-night stand stories, messy millennials, quirky heroines and grand gestures.
Seven Brides for Seven Brothers
Everyone has a problematic fave, and this musical is mine. It was my childhood favorite. This movie is about seven backwoods brothers who change their mountain men ways after the oldest brother snags a wife. She whips them into shape and pretty soon they all want wives of their own. Instead of courting some ladies, they kidnap them. (Problematic!) In order to make their kidnapping more successful, the brothers force an avalanche that snows all fourteen of the characters in together for the winter. The women rightfully freeze the men out for most of the winter but eventually soften toward them. The winter scenes are my favorite because it leads to the best song, in my opinion – “I’m A Lonesome Polecat.” I’d sell my soul for a modern, non-problematic remake of this movie.
You might like this movie if you enjoy singing, dancing and redheads.
About the Author:
Erin McLellan is the author of several contemporary romances set in the Great Plains, with characters who are complex, good-hearted, and sometimes a little quirky. Originally from Oklahoma, Erin currently lives in Alaska.
Her latest release, Stocking Stuffers, is a queer m/f erotic holiday romance. Check it out to get your snowed-in romance fix.
Stocking Stuffers by Erin McLellan, out now!
Sasha Holiday is so over the holidays after getting left at the altar last Christmas Eve. But as the marketing maven for Lady Robin’s Intimate Implements, she’s stuck not-so-merrily pitching naughty toys at a romance book club’s Christmas party. Her loathing of the yuletide only intensifies as a snowstorm rolls in and traps her at the Winterberry Inn. Stranded with her is Perry Winters—a hot bearded book club member trimmed in flannel and tattoos.
Perry’s a romantic with an unerring belief in the magic of the season, and he recognizes a Christmas miracle when he sees it. Brave, smart, and confident—Sasha Holiday is a gift. And the gifts keep coming when she suggests they pass the time with some no-strings fun. After all, she has a big bag of toys that would make even Santa want to stay in bed on Christmas Eve.
