North Of Need~Hearts of the Anemoi

North of Need by Laura Kaye

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Her tears called a powerful snow god to life, but only her love can grant the humanity he craves… Desperate to escape agonizing memories of Christmas past, twenty-nine-year-old widow Megan Snow builds a snow family outside the mountain cabin she once shared with her husband, realizing too late that she’s recreated the very thing she’ll never have. Called to life by Megan’s tears, snow god Owen Winters appears unconscious on her doorstep in the midst of a raging blizzard. As she nurses him to health, Owen finds unexpected solace in her company and unimagined pleasure in the warmth of her body, and vows to win her heart for a chance at humanity. Megan is drawn to Owen’s mismatched eyes, otherworldly masculinity, and enthusiasm for the littlest things. But this Christmas miracle comes with an expiration—before the snow melts and the temperature rises, Megan must let go of her widow’s grief and learn to trust love again, or she’ll lose Owen forever.

Alone in a vacation cabin for the holidays, grieving the death of her husband, out of sheer boredom and aching loneliness, Megan Snow builds a whole Snowman Family, but realizes what it represents, she will never be able to have, and it makes her collapse falling on the snowman in tears.

After reading that part over again, I cried;(

With a little of his winter magic, Owen Winters, the snowman, comes to life. He is the god of the North Wind who has been sent by his Father and at the request of John Snow's soul, to help Megan live a happy life but there is an order of things. Megan has to want, love, need Owen for him to become human. Otherwise, he will become Ethereal again.

The god of spring also threatens the time Owen has with Megan, and it only added to the agonizing frustration I felt for Owen. In the course of the story, when she learns more about Owen, I was mad that she didn't think to preserve him from melting. Just like with John's accident, if she could prevent something bad from happening why didn't she? Anyway, I thought she could've fixed the A/C or perhaps got one of those walk-in freezers. If she loved him, she would have tried to keep him safe from the warm weather at least. She disappointed me.

I also thought when and if he did become human there would be no more running with the wind and using magic. He would only be half the man he use to be :(

The most obvious prediction in the story for me was  I knew the minute she forgot to take her birth control that she was going to get pregnant. I mean with all the sex they were having how could she not?I highly recommend North of Need. It is Gravetells.com choice to read for December 2012.

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About the Author

Laura Kaye is the New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author of nearly a dozen books in contemporary and paranormal romance. Laura grew up amidst family lore involving angels, ghosts, and evil-eye curses, cementing her life-long fascination with storytelling and the supernatural. Laura lives in Maryland with her husband, two daughters, and cute-but-bad dog, and appreciates her view of the Chesapeake Bay every day.