North of Need (Hearts of the Anemoi Book 1)

Ms. Kaya is my newly found writer of an excellent prospect. Though I think she is yet better at writing shorter stories than longer novels, she has a good characters for readers to want to understand more, and a good sense of passion in her drama.

Owen is a good hero - he is so gentle, generous, and earnestly enjoys making Megan happy. And you know, if a male loves to eat everything you cook as much as Owen does, you cannot be gloomy and frown at him much. It looks quite understandable that Megan falls in love with him so fast.

had just enough sweet and just enough hot. love this series. this book is just a little slower than the others, but still really good. off to the next so I can start the newest. ( I always re-read a series when I new one comes out, a refresher if you will)

I love Laura Kaye books. This one was longer than usual and it was sweet, romantic, and hot. If i can build a snowman and summon a big, strong, sweet, sexy man like Owen, I am going out right now to buy the buttons and moving away from Florida to a place with lots of snow!

I really enjoyed this story. I first got an introduction too Laura Kaye by reading Hearts in Darkness. Kaye has am interesting way of sharing a romantic story with. a sweet and heartwarming trust. I loved Owen...I'd like to build me my very own snowman right now :).

Megan is spending another Christmas alone in the remote cabin she shared previously with her now deceased husband. Sadly, she was devastated by her husband's sudden death that cut short their dreams and doesn't see an end to her grief. Then god-like, spirited Owen appears on her doorstep during a fierce snowstorm and attempts to make her life happier if she will allow him. The chemistry and the emotions that tie the characters is what appealed to me most along with the imagery of a world I've never dreamed of, Owen's world. Laura Kaye weaves an amazingly original paranormal love story that is the first in a series and I can't wait to read the next book.

This book will grab your attention from page one and will entice you to never want to put the book down. There are not a lot of books out there that will trump my other professional duties; this one sure did. I was engrossed from the very beginning and yearning for more at the very end. North of Need is a chilling hot romance that will have you wanting to make your very own "Owen Winters." The steamy romance will make you hot and will also make you cry all at teh same time. I cannot wait to read what is to come in this series. Bravo Laura!!!

What an amazing new world that Mrs. Kaye has created here with this book!! I love how she has taken these mythological beings and made them her own!! Can't wait to dig into the next book of this series!!!!

I started this story in the afternoon and ended up pulling an all-nighter. I couldn't put it down. Megan was such a strong, yet lonely character at the beginning. And Owen really was a dream come true. It was magical, sweet...even heart wrenching at parts. Just loved it. I was still thinking about the characters two days after I finished it. I will definitely read this one again.

another enjoyable read from Laura Kaye. I didn't love it though. For me it was simply alright. I finished it because I needed to see it to it's end since it wasn't terrible. I was expecting a meatier book from Ms. Kaye but this one fell short on character development for me. I'm still in absolute love with her first book Hearts In Darkness, which introduced me to her talented writing. That particular first book left me in such awe of her skills with character development that I immediately went seeking for anything else she might have written and was so pleased to find, buy, read, and enjoy, Forever Freed. This one however, not up to par with them. I have not lost faith in her yet so I will keep an eye out for anything in the contemporary and paranormal genres which are what the two books I enjoyed are respectively. As for this new series, don't plan on continuing unless for some reason other readers give it raving reviews.

another enjoyable read from Laura Kaye. I didn't love it though. For me it was simply alright. I finished it because I needed to see it to it's end since it wasn't terrible. I was expecting a meatier book from Ms. Kaye but this one fell short on character development for me. I'm still in absolute love with her first book Hearts In Darkness, which introduced me to her talented writing. That particular first book left me in such awe of her skills with character development that I immediately went seeking for anything else she might have written and was so pleased to find, buy, read, and enjoy, Forever Freed. This one however, not up to par with them. I have not lost faith in her yet so I will keep an eye out for anything in the contemporary and paranormal genres which are what the two books I enjoyed are respectively. As for this new series, don't plan on continuing unless for some reason other readers give it raving reviews.

North of Need is like a cheesy, magical, Lifetime Christmas movie, but with gods. Megan is spending the holidays at her cabin alone, since it's the two year anniversary of her husband's death. It's hitting her really hard, so she attempts to keep busy by building a snowman. Next thing she knows, she's built an entire snowfamily, so she heads inside. Then she sees a man stumbling up her driveway during a storm. At first she's afraid, but she hears a voice that tells her to help him. She can't explain why she trusts the voice, but she does, and brings Owen in out from the cold.

Obviously, Owen is the snowman Megan built, come to life. He's one of the Winter gods, and he's been sent by Megan's husband to help bring her happiness. There is a catch though. He can't stay forever. Once Spring starts coming in (and it's coming early!), he'll have to return to the land of the gods unless she says she loves him. Of course, he doesn't tell her all this at first, but she suspects their meeting was not accidental.

Despite the utter cheesiness of North of Need, it is completely adorable. Being a god of snow and ice, Owen doesn't do well in the warmth of Megan's cabin, at least not until he starts gorging himself on ice cream! Those two have the frozen treat for many meals! He also builds an igloo where they can picnic, and there's just generally this cutesy, holiday charm about all of their interactions. And I loved that even though Owen knows he'll fade away when the warmer weather arrives, he never pressures Megan. He is not an alpha male who demands to claim his woman (not to say he isn't affected by her). They move their relationship at her pace. But they do have a lot of sex!

The only reason I didn't rate North of Need higher was because it was a bit too sappy for my liking and it does have my least favorite ending, which was made more annoying by one little detail. Overall though, it's super cute story, and I really liked how some new mythology was used.

This book definitely took a different point of view on elemental gods. I thought it was interesting that each cardinal point took care of a different season and had a primary god and then minor gods who served under them. Even though I thought the concept was interesting the story wasn't as gripping as I wanted it to be which is my reasoning for a 3 star review. I liked it but I didn't love it. I will definitely read the other 3 books in the series but I'm a firm believer to never judge a series by the first book alone. I did enjoy that through this work of fiction the author brought up the very real problem of climate change. I don't see that very often and I think bringing focus to an issue in a work of romantic fiction is a wonderful way to do it. Well done.

This was a very enchanting book about a grieving widow, alone at Christmastime, isolated up in what sounded like a beautiful cabin from the author's description. Megan Snow was dealing with spending the holidays by herself, since she really doesn't know how to be with her family on the anniversary of her husbands death just yet.

She built a snowman family out in the front yard, completing the snow-husbands ensemble with different colored buttons for eyes, and as she finished, she broke down from her emotions of thinking she'll never be happy again and wept. Little did she know though that there was a higher force at play and her tears were about to reawaken not only her lonely heart, but the heart of a God.

This book, was just pure awesome. I thoroughly loved the idea of a man coming to life from the elements of snow. He couldn't get too hot from being inside the heated cabin, loved ice cream, and definitely could NOT take a hot shower, ha! Owen Winters absolutely melted my heart in this story! This was the perfect book to read right before Christmas :) Plenty of steamy smexy scenes, great plot, and loved the characters! Five stars.

⭐️⭐️ 4 Stars⭐️⭐️

♦️Book: #1 of 4 of the completed HEARTS OF THE ANEMOI series, 220 pages

♦️Hero: Owen Winters, Ancient--Snow god. Special powers. Can change the seasons, control the North Wind. Is now a corporeal being again, created from Megan's snowman, after spending most of his existence as a force of nature, elemental. Has now been called forth to help Megan.

♦️Heroine: Megan Snow, 29--Grieving widow. Lonely and struggling after the death of her husband 2 years earlier. Existing but not living.

♦️Steam: medium, 3.5 / 5 - 5 sweet & sexy love scenes

♦️Writing: Good! Dual POV

♦️Editing: NO problems found

♦️Ending: HEA, Epilogue - 1 year later, NO Cliffhanger

♦️Review: Two lonely souls find each other. A bit sad watching Megan grieve the loss of her husband, but a very sweet and steamy romance between Owen & Megan. The story takes place over the course of only a week but it totally works with supernatural element and Megan's husband, John's help.
I'm a big fan of Laura Kaye's books and this was another great one!

♦️Quotes:
"What greater purpose could there be than the happiness of the one you loved?"

"It had been so long since I'd walked upon the earth as a human. I agreed to try to help you. And then you gave me your tears, and made me yours."

Megan Snow was spending another Christmas alone in the isolated mountain cabin she used to share with his husband. Though he has been dead for two years, the grief is still fresh and stark. When she begins making snowmen outside, she realizes she has created a snow family and falls into tears mourning the loss of her dream. Awakened by the widow's tears, Owen Winter is called from his god realm to answer her plea. He didn't realize how much he missed being corporeal or the touch of a soft female. He is drawn to Megan, but with a warm front quickly approaching, his time with Megan may be far less than either want or need.

North of Need is like a steaming mug of hot cocoa after playing in the snow all day. It's dark, sweet and will absolutely raise your body temperature. I just loved this book. It is magnificently suited to the season, with it's messages of love, trust, hope and healing. The only villains to battle are the inner demons of fear and loneliness. Owen has his own past traumas to overcome, and as a god, he had a bit longer to work on his issues so he was ideal in helping Megan battle hers. Unfortunately time and climate change play a factor in his game plan. The reader is given a brief glimpse into the world of the Anemoi and the roles they each play. I was thrilled with this new and unique aspect to the paranormal, and even though this book is not classified as paranormal, it still fulfilled my craving for things not of this world.

Laura Kaye definitely brought out the big guns when plotting out the more amorous scenes in North of Need. The snow cone scene in the igloo, *sheesh* let's just say it's a good thing I wasn't reading this in public. And sneaky girl that she is, Laura even manages to work in a relevant message or two in this sweet story. Nicely done, Ms. Kaye. If you're looking for something that will help you wind down from the stress of the holidays and make your season a little brighter, you couldn't do better than this book. And the best part is that it's the beginning of a brand new series, which is a huge plus in my opinion. Starting a good new series like falling in love, it's exciting and fun. Just what I needed during this hectic time of year. I just got a little taste of these new gods and their world and I'm ready to feast on more of their tale.

Fun read!! Sexy, playful, and sweet!

What a novel idea, a god of winter, fueled by snow and cold. What fun, to vicariously build an igloo. How sexy, the whole snow cone scene. How vividly the author painted the ski runs at night. As a skier, it seemed quite realistic.

How heart rending, when calamity occurred! Really, despite the so-silly-plot, I was concerned for Owen. This author is talented.

BUT, it was simply too long for such a thin plot. I'm not sure we can actually call it a plot. By the midway point, I was ready to skip to the end. However, I finished the book, skipping nothing. Too long. Omit some sex scenes. If it were shorter, I'd give it 4 stars.

Like the other reviewers, I loved Owen's exuberance for life--and for ice cream! Loved his buff body, too ;-). However, Megan seemed a bit too melodramatic. Blaming herself for her husband's death did not work for me, given the circumstances of his car accident. Yet, I liked Megan, too. And I liked the secondary character, the Supreme One.

Wish the author would consider her wide diversity of readers and leave out the religious swear words, like Christ and Jesus. (but "by the gods!" worked well in this plot, given the pantheon, and I don't consider that religious)

Ps. I enjoyed this story MUCH more than the vampire books this author writes. They do not have the same feel at all.

This story had me. The sorrow, the fun, the emotions for both Owen and Megan were so heart filled. It teaches us to live for and enjoy those simple little things in life. Some say going from mourning to falling in love that quick isn't right or real. Owen appeared on Megan's door step due to her deceased husband John. Megan moved on at long last because of John's help. He loved her and wanted her to move on and be happy again. What a happily ever after. We all need our own Owen!

The guilt she felt from her husband John's death, weighs on Megan's heart with overwhelming pain during the Christmas holiday. As she cried alone with her memories, a plea to the gods from John's soul could not be ignored. He asked for happiness to find his widow, for this was all he needed to find peace. Yet, allowing herself to move forward and embrace a new life while letting go of the agonizing past is a challenge that Megan finds is full of emotion and new feeling.
As one of the gods of winter, Owen Winters agrees to embark on a journey that leads him on a path to find something he never thought possible. Being an element god of the cold, the true warmth of love that Megan filled his heart with, bring him to life in ways he never could have imagined.
Fighting the rising temperatures, Owen has but just a few days to prove his love for her is true and convince Megan to let him into her heart before their chance for happiness is lost with the heat of the sun and the coming of spring.

The only thing I regret about this book is that I didn't read it sooner. The first word that comes to mind to describe Laura Kaye's writing in this story is EMOTIONAL. She brings out the deep soulful feelings, through her words, that her characters have in such a way that you truly understand and become completely absorbed in this book. She had me crying tears within the first ten minutes of reading. A captivating, passionate, glowing love story that won't leave your thoughts just because you turned the last page. From now on, every time I eat ice cream, I will think of this yummy read. Why? Get your copy and find out! I can not wait to get started on the next installment, WEST OF WANT.

This was a fascinating start to the Hearts of the Anemoi series. My heart hurt for Megan as she waited to get through the anniversary of her husband's death. She cries tears of sorrow all over a snowman she's created in her yard. Later, when a man with mismatched eyes shows up, then passes out, on her porch, it distracts her from her sorrow.

Owen is something else...really. He's got a chance at mortality, and he's going to take it with both hands. Megan is ready to let her heart heal, too. I did wish that he had been more clear in what was needed to keep him there, and that she would have quit fighting her heart for so long. It would have been a much shorter book that way, though, and I wouldn't have wanted to miss the good parts!

Ms. Kaye has quite the world here, contemporary mixed with her Anemoi and the Olympic gods. In this one, as with the other three, I skimmed the repetition. I read a comment from one author, whose name I can't remember, who said that a writer needs to mention the important stuff three times. Unfortunately, I think many writers feel that means repeat it at least six times. I think readers are brighter than that.

Anyway, this book certainly made me want to read the rest of the series.

This was a sweet Christmas romance, which was just what I was looking for, and what I have come to expect from Laura Kaye. Owen was hot, the romance was hot, the sex was hot, the weather was cold. :P

I really loved Owen actually. He was so silly and light-hearted. He acted like a child sometimes and I thought it was adorable, as did Megan. Definitely my kind of guy. As she wished him goodnight, he asked her if they could have ice cream for breakfast. Haha, how cute! And of course she couldnt say no to him. Who could?

The story and mythology behind it was really interested and added a twist to a story that could have easily been contemporary. And I really enjoyed Boreas too. The only problem for me was the way Megan accepted her situation. Some random guy shows up at her secluded cabin and she lets him in, lets him stay even though he has hardly given her an explanation as to why he knew her name. And when she wakes up the next morning to find him sleeping on the floor next to her bed, she doesnt freak out. And once he does give her an explanation for why he is there, she just accepts it. No problem believing in the paranormal. It was a bit of a stretch, but I really enjoyed it nonetheless, and it had a great HEA. I cannot wait to read the sequel, West of Want. This is my third Laura Kaye book and I have loved them all so far.

Megan Snow is still mourning the death of her husband, John. It's Christmas Eve and she won't forsake the tradition of spending Christmas at their mountain cabin. As the hour of the anniversary nears, she tries to tire herself out by building a snow family in her front yard. Instead of being soothing, looking at the frosty figures rips open her still wounded heart and she breaks down.

Owen Winters is a winter guardian, one of the guardians of seasons also known as the Anemoi. Megan's tears made Owen corporeal, and he takes the place of her snow man. Megan finds him unconscious on her doorstep. As she nurses him back to health, they feel a connection to one another. But will she make the most important connection before it's too late?

This story made me think of all the sweet, romantic movies about Christmas miracles, especially a sexy adult version of Jack Frost. I'm not going to lie, I cried a few times reading this. I loved both the hero and the heroine. Megan was easy to sympathize and empathize with. She knows it's time to move on, and she's trying, but there's currently no reason in her immediate future to make moving on worthwhile. Until Owen.

At first I wasn't sure if I was going to like his character. When he regains consciousness, he seemed almost childlike, or rather like a being that had no knowledge about human behavior or experiences - he was like a clean slate, if that makes any sense. I think what lead me to that assumption was his love of ice cream and wanting to eat it all the time. I quickly realized that he wanted it mostly because it was cold. The more time they spent together, the more his manliness came to the forefront. His purpose at first was simple - he just wanted to comfort her and make her happy. When the passion flared between them, it was scorching hot ... wowza! Obviously he's very skilled in everything, being a God and all. Ms Kaye didn't pepper the story with sex just for the sake of it. Each encounter was well timed and emphasized the deeper feelings the H/H were feeling. My favorite moment was when Owen turned them both into wind and showed her a piece of his world.

The climax of the story is where it gets heart wrenching. In order for Owen to stay with her forever, she must love him and actually say it. The fact that he has a deadline of a mere week makes things seemingly impossible. Who can fall in love after just a week? Megan's hangups are real(istic). One the one hand, she couldn't bear the thought of losing her heart, or him, but on the other, what Owen makes her feel threatens to overshadow what she and John had. That realization can be overwhelming. Add to that the fact that John supposedly sent Owen to her to help her and to find peace. So many times I wanted to yell at Megan to say what she already knew in her heart, especially with the hours ticking down to the wire. Sometimes it takes a harsh slap in the face (not literally) to wake someone up, to make them see what is right in front of them, and grab life by the horns.

This was my second book by this author, and I've definitely become a fan. I can't wait for the next installment of The Hearts of the Anemoi - West of Want. In the mean time, I want to read everything else she has written.

Still crippled by grief from the loss of her husband two years ago, Megan Snow is holed up alone in their...her mountain cabin. Christmas is the worst, the two year anniversary of his death, and being with family and friends is unthinkable. Alone is better. Marginally. Or...as the pain of loss threatens to crush her, pushing her out into the snow, nearly compelling her to exhaust herself just so she can sleep, maybe alone isn't the best thing at all.

But she did get a snowman family made while she was out there. The sight of which, father, mother, and child snowman representing the family that she would never have, made her break down completely. Her tears soaked into the largest of the three as she crumpled against it, lost, alone, and in so much pain she couldn't see straight.

She'd made it back inside before the blizzard hit, the fierce storm battering the cabin and pounding the snow against the outer walls. It was the sort of storm that could kill if you're caught in it, so when Megan hears the sound of something slam down on her porch, she's horrified to open the front door and find a man, unconscious and freezing, lying there.

Owen Winters opens his eyes to the concerned gaze of Megan Snow, the woman whose tears and grief had cried out to him and drawn him to the corporeal plane. As a god of winter he has until the next thaw to endear himself to her if he has any hope of remaining. Unless Megan falls in love with him as he had her before he even spoke to her, he'll lose her and any hope of becoming human.

~*~

The one constant between the three vastly different Laura Kaye books I've read is this: they've reached into my heart and squeezed. Her books are full of sweeping emotion that run the gamut and her characters are so believable that I can't help but be drawn into their lives, feeling for their loves, their pains, their miseries, and their joys. Her books are a sure bet for emotionally satisfying entertainment.

In this paranormal romance series debut, Kaye also thrills with some genuinely original mythos and unique world building, providing both a fresh sense of fun and relief from a market glutted with vampires, werewolves, angels, and demons. I loved the introduction to the Anemoi, and thought the blend of mythology and real world global climate issues was a brilliant element that added a particularly appealing layer of logical plausibility to a wildly imaginative world.

Megan and Owen were solid, likable characters. Megan's grief and guilt were poignant and painful, and Owen's enthusiasm for life...and for Megan...was infectious. They had great chemistry. I would have preferred the evolution of their relationship to not be quite as condensed as it was, though. My reading preferences lie in a slower, more organic romantic relationship development. Less than a week between Megan's sobbing grief and her willingness to embrace both the supernatural elements of Owen's existence and a new love in her heart seemed a bit of a stretch, even for the romantic in me.

I liked Owen a lot. He was charming and cute in a totally endearing sort of way. I have to admit, though, I prefer my leading men to be a little more intense alpha male. For all that I enjoyed him, there were times when he reminded me more of a big, enthusiastic puppy than a sexy winter god. His love of ice cream was cute. Making an igloo was cute. Hell, even his mismatched eyes and aw-shucks personality were cute. Cute just doesn't totally crank my personal engine for male romantic leads.

The storyline may not have had a lot of surprises, as it followed a fairly predictable formula, but the creativity of the world building, originality of the mythos, and the appeal of the characters more than made up for it. I'm excited to see what Kaye comes up with next in this wonderful world she's created. I have no doubt it'll pack an emotional punch. I have no doubt it'll be a thoroughly entertaining read with both sweet and sexy moments. I have absolutely no doubt that when I read it, it'll leave me feeling good. That, beyond all else, is what Kaye books do, after all.

Disclosure: An ARC of this book was provided to me by Entangled Publishing, LLC via NetGalley. This rating, review, and all included thoughts and comments are my own.

~*~*~*~
Reviewed for One Good Book Deserves Another.

North of Need is an exciting and fresh new paranormal romance that captured my heart and kept me glued to the pages!

It has been exactly two years since Megan Snow suffered the loss of her husband on that cold Christmas night; guilt ridden and grief stricken she escapes to their snowy cabin to celebrate this year's Christmas alone. When she's overcome by painful memories though, Megan ventures into the coming blizzard to make a snow family, a family she believes she will never have now. Using two mismatched button eyes and her husband's old shirt she dresses the snowman and breaks down for all she's lost, her tears becoming lost in the snowman's icy body. But with her tears, Megan unknowingly creates life giving the snow God, Owen Winters, form.
Made corporal by Megan's pain, Owen is given the chance to bring happiness into her life and teach Megan to live again. After centuries of being in only his elemental form, he craves the love and comfort that only Megan and her humanity can provide. But Owen must woo her into loving him by the end of winter or he'll be sent back to the Godly realm and loose her forever, and when one elemental God's temper lets loose Owens time grows even shorter. Can Owen teach Megan to trust in love again before the snow melts, or will her grief blind her to the possibility of second chances?

The mythical aspects of North of Need made for a unique and enchanting storyline that instantly intrigued; and with Laura Kaye's smooth writing style I quickly became immersed within her characters' worlds, forgetting the outside. Too good to put down for more than a moment, I resented every interruption and am still thinking about it days later! Heart wrenching emotion and devastating loss was neatly balanced with a soul consuming love, sensuality and life altering decisions. The characters of Owen and Megan though are what will leave a lasting impression on readers. These two are easy to connect with and will capture your heart right from the beginning. Separately they're amazing but together they are phenomenal; each well developed with a passion that is palpable from the pages. They connect well and their chemistry is believable, not just lovers they are supportive friends as well. Their relationship is highly sensual and compelling; I just can't say enough good things about this couple. And Owen himself; sweet, sexy and those mismatched eyes *shiver* I'm wishing I lived somewhere where it snows so I can make a snowman! Maybe if I visualize it and hope enough, he'll turn into my very own fetching snow God! A girl can fantasize, right? ;)
I know it may seem like North of Need is just one big tear-jerking rollercoaster but it was fun as well, with lots of laughter and life to it. It really reminds the reader to appreciate everyday and hold tight to those you love.

I'm very interested in the mythology Laura has created here and the elemental Gods fighting for power over the seasons. In the beginning the foreign terms confused me but it didn't take away from the story and now I'd like to learn more about the rest of the `Anemoi', Gods and demi-gods, featured. I'm counting down the days until the second book now, West of Want, March can't come soon enough!

Don't let the Christmas/Winter setting fool you; any time of year is the perfect time to lose yourself in this fantastic romance. A superb start to a promising new series!

Holed up in the winter retreat she once shared with her husband, Megan Snow can't yet bear the holidays with family and friends. Still greiving the tragic death of her husband just two years earlier she needs to celebrate in her own way. Building a snow family is hard work to take her mind off things at first but reminds her more of the life she believes is lost to her. When her tears awaken a snow god in the form of her snowman she finds herself faced with a chance at the very thing she thinks is lost.

Brought to life by Megan's tears, Owen Winters has his own painful past and a powerful reason to bring happiness back to Megan's life. But can he warm the heart frozen by grief before his chance at a life with her melts away? In a season of Christmas miracles can a snow god bring the heat of passion and the fire of love to a woman so deeply chilled by loss?

Alright, I hate admitting this but six months ago when I first heard the concept for NORTH OF NEED I laughed my butt off and rolled my eyes. "Didn't they make a movie like this back in the 90's?" I asked myself. Yeah, they did. But no, they didn't. 'Snowman comes to life' is about all they have in common. Owen becomes a man (a very good looking man!), not the creepy vision that might arrise thanks to holiday movies. So don't panic.

Now I am a slow reader in spite of my status as a reviewer so it says something when I finish a book in one evening. It was too good to put down for more than getting my kids to bed and making another cup of tea. Kaye manages to take a concept that could be very cheesy and blend it with strong emotional content, a fascinating mythology, and just enough action and physical intimacy to make the story flow perfectly. It isn't just any book that has tears sliding down my cheeks before the first chapter is finished.

Fans of Greek mythology will delight in the fresh life Kaye brings to the paranormal romance genre. Readers who love an emotional rollercoaster ride in their romance--the sting of sadness, the warmth of hope, and the bliss of a happy ending--will be richly rewarded for picking NORTH OF NEED up. Looking for something a little steamy to warm the cold winter nights? Passionate, truly sensual love scenes pepper this novel in just the right places. My only issue at all with the book was that occasionally the dialog during the love scenes was distracting but it's a personal preference for only romantic--not 'instructional'--chatter when things get hot in romances. Megan is a compassionate, struggling heroine you will ache to see happy and Owen a hero who will warm your heart with his enthusiastic, loving spirit.

Quite simply, I loved this book so much I'm gifting it for Christmas! While it sparkles as a seasonally appropriate winter wonder it isn't so Christmas-centric it wouldn't work any time of year. If you love your paranormal romance without vampires and shapeshifters or are just looking for something new add Laura Kaye and her Hearts of the Anemoi to your list of must-have authors.

***ARC received via publisher.

TLDR recap:
Megan Snow has allowed herself to become crippled by grief in the two years following her husband's death. Can love (both old and new) free her to live and find new meaning and direction for her life? There's magic in the winter air this Christmas for Megan embodied in an unexpected visitor named Owen Winters. North of Need is a GraveTells Fave!

Title: North of Need
Series: Hearts of the Anemoi book #1
Author: Laura Kaye
Prominent Characters: Megan, Owen
Recommended reader age: 18+
Sexual content level: moderate to high (and very steamy!)
*** This review is SPOILER-FREE! Read on with confidence! ***

Thoughts:
What do you do when everything you hoped for your future has suddenly been ripped away? Megan Snow is a widow at 29, and sooo not loving life. She's a hollow shell of the woman she used to be. The future that she had envisioned for herself is gone along with her husband. The crippling grief Megan feels is palpable, the fear that directs her actions understandable. I was moved to teary-eyed boo-hoos more than once reading this book and if you have any shred of humanity you will too.

(Of course you could be a robot. Robots don't feel. They also don't eat and so don't poop. Which might actually make them good pets, if you can control their urge for world domination.)

North of Need is a book that will get inside your head and live there. It will set up shop, maybe build an igloo. If you're lucky Owen might come walking out and buy you an ice cream. Let's talk about Owen, in fact. He's tall, dark, handsome, muscular, sweet, wonderfully enthusiastic for all things that bring oral pleasure, and the perfect hero for Megan. With his joyful exuberance for living and experiencing even the smallest things with child-like glee, he is the perfect match to bring Megan back to life (read: gettin' nekkid) and love (the forever and ever kind).

This book made me think of all sorts of silly one liner blurbs for the cover, especially once things got hot between the sheets and not just between Megan and Owen's eyes. I'm all for people stripping each other with their ocular devices, but when they do it with their hands (or even teeth), so much better! Would you like to know what they are? Okey-dokey!

Megan and Owen: With sizzling sexual tension that will melt their frozen panties right off, North of Need is the perfect winter read for any Eskimo.

Owen Winters may be soft hearted, but he's hard as an icicle right where it counts - in his pants.

And lastly:

Owen Winters. A man whose existence creates perfectly logical support for anatomically correct snowmen.

Memorable quotes:
I think I'd let Owen have ice cream if he was good, and especially if he was bad..... ;)

"Can we have ice cream for breakfast?" Her mouth curved into a grin. She couldn't think of anyone, save maybe Kate, who could draw a smile from her so quickly. But he was just unexpectedly adorable. "Maybe. If you're a good boy." She cringed.Why the hell did she say that? Was she...flirting with him? Restraining a grimace, she chanced a look at him.

His dark gaze shifted from playful to scorching. "And what would that entail?"

Mmmm that is some kind of throw rug you got there Ms. Snow!

Owen. Stretched out along the whole length of her bed. Her eyes raked over his body, drinking in his tousled black hair, miles of bare skin and cut muscles, the black trail of curls that led down to his pajama bottoms, which had settled low on his hips. Dangerously low. Damn. She couldn't have built a better model if she'd tried. Even inthe dim pre-morning light, his physical perfection was obvious.

If you liked North of Need of the Hearts of the Anemoi series...
You might also like Fantasy Lover by Sherrilyn Kenyon. It made Editor in Chief of all my crazy, DVK, get weepy.

*Editors note: Fantasy Lover tugs at all the right heart strings and still manages to deliver incredibly steamy scenes, a smokin' hot hunky man with a heart of gold and a warrior's determination, and enough suspense and plot twists to keep you captivated. It's the (some say) optional first book in Sherrilyn Kenyon's Dark Hunter series. I don't think it's optional. I think you should go out and DEVOUR it! *grin*

I'm sorry that I don't have more than that for you. Most of the stuff I read has a monster or bloody guts in it. So...that's all I got. :)

********

Alright, alright. I went up to the magic shelves of awesome in my office. I have two books for you: Dime Store Magic by Kelley Armstrong and No Rest For The Wicked by Kresley Cole. Both these books are a blend of Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance with a heaping helping of magic thrown on top.

Dime Store Magicis about two people thrust together who have been pretty much programmed from birth not to trust each other and yet find common ground and love in what seems like a hopeless situation. It's a fantastic book you can read as a standalone in the Women of the Otherworld series. You'll be on the edge of your seat wondering if Paige and Lucas will find their way around the prejudice that tells them they can't be together, no matter what they feel in their hearts. I spent a good chunk of this book scared and frustrated for them, and when they got the HEA they both deserved I was thrilled. Just like with Megan and Owen.

No Rest For The Wicked is about a Valkyrie assassin and the vampire she just can't seem to kill. Love heals them both. They are two wounded souls longing for release from the pain that has frozen their hearts. (And oh boy do they find it!) From the steamy love scenes to the eventual realization by the heroine that she just can't live without her supa sexy vampire, No Rest For The Wicked is all about finding love again after you thought that all hope for it in your life has fled.

Okay, so both of those have monsters and bloodshed. Sorry, but I'm just that kind of girl. I love to read about love, but if there's some kind of peril involved, even better. Forgive me? But, do you see my theme? Magic, love conquers all, smexy breath stealing scenes.....

Final thoughts:
North of Need is a love story that will crawl inside your noggin and take up residence. I challenge you to read it and not be in tears at least twice. It is sad, but it is also uplifting and beautiful in the truths that it conveys about what love really is. Real love, true love, means wanting another's happiness and fulfillment even after we are gone. It is seeking to help them continue to contribute to the world and experience its beauty.

Megan Snow has to learn that lesson, and it pains her, but ultimately bestows the greatest gift a person can receive: the knowledge that she was and still is truly loved by her husband and that to honor that love, she has to learn to give love once again in return. By continuing on and living a fulfilled existence, we honor the love that was given to us and return it to the universe. There is no greater way to remember and be thankful for those who have departed this plane of existence.

Alright, enough introspection. Bet you didn't know I could be serious, did ya? Heh. I'm a smart girl. I just usually cover it with a heaping helping of silly. And let's get back to that, shall we?

So, congratulations are in order for a certain author. Laura Kaye, how does it feel to deflower The Captain? You're the first author to receive a Gold Heart Award from me! Rock on with your bad self! I am a virgin no longer....

I am thrilled to say that North of Need is a GraveTells Fave! Give it, recommend it, shout it with a mega-phone! Woot!

Visit Laura Kaye on her website "[...]"
This review was originally posted on GraveTells.com At this address:[...]

Please see full review at readersedyn (dot) blogspot (dot) com

Laura Kaye was recommended to me by a friend. Previous to the recommendation, I had not an inkling who this author was. I now know exactly who she is and am thrilled to have discovered her! As a first read from this author, I couldn't have picked a better book. North of Need is a terrific story about loss and the human ability to cope. Many times we cope in our own ways. Friends and family may or may not agree with our methods, but we do the best we can with the devices we are equipped with.

Megan had it all. Perfect husband and perfect life - until Christmas day, two years ago, when her entire world came crashing down; the result of a terrible car accident. For the last two years Megan has struggled with moving beyond her grief and finding her way in life without her husband. Unfortunately, her methods involve closing herself off from friends and family to a degree. And so she sits, once again, alone for another holiday at the cabin she and her husband had shared together. As she sits and waits for the exact time of that fateful night that changed her life, she encounters an unexpected arrival - a man, partially dressed, passed out on the front porch of her far away retreat, in the middle of a blizzard.

Owen takes a bit to remember his purpose, but once he does, he is ready for the challenge: to make Megan his. But Owen has a lot of challenges to circumvent if he is to be successful in his mission. Not only does he have to work his way past Megan's defenses, put up to protect herself from ever feeling such loss again, he also has to work within the confines of a body that cannot stand much heat. Did I forget to mention that Owen is a snow God? Yeah ... heat and snow, not a great mix. And on top of everything else, one of the other Gods is in a pique and sending a warm front headed toward Owen, effectively cutting his time to get through to Megan to a mere four days! Yikes!

I so enjoyed this book! Megan shows tremendous growth from beginning to end. I wanted to cry at her loss, smack her for damn near losing Owen, and jump with joy when she took that leap! Not that I didn't sympathize with her reasons, but dang! Hawt man, second chance, spectacular sex ... no brainer! And Owen? I wants! He's gorgeous, he has every good quality a woman wants, he is slightly flawed, but in an endearing sort of way, and he is a God with magical powers! What is not WIN about Owen? Nothing, that's what! And do you want to know the best part? There is a whole series of gorgeous Gods searching for their special someone! Weeeee! West of Want is set to release March 2012, South of Surrender hits July 2012, and East of Ecstasy rounds the group out in November 2012! If these books are anything close to North of Need, we are in for a helluva treat! Mark your to-read piles now! Laura Kaye is, without a doubt, an author to watch!

(E-book provided by publisher for review)

Megan Snow, still grieving the loss of her husband two years ago (on Christmas day) in a car accident, heads to the mountain cabin she and John shared to spend the anniversary of his death in solitude. She heads outside, deciding she needs the physical activity to stop her mind from remembering John and how his death was her fault.

In the middle of a blizzard, she builds a snow family. A snowman with mismatched eyes, a black knit cap and John's old flannel shirt. Next she builds a snow woman and the child. But it's the snowman that calls to her broken heart. Seeing John's things on the snowman, she breaks down clinging to the snowman.

It's Megan's grief that sends Snow God, Owen, to help her. But she also is his chance at humanity. If he can get Megan to admit her love for him, before the snow melts, then he'll be able to stay with her forever. But for Owen, winning over Megan must be done is days instead of the weeks he thought he had. He'll charm her, woo her and worship her body like it's never been worshiped before. But can he show Megan that she should give up her grief and start living life again?

Laura Kaye is fast becoming one of those authors that I will immediately buy. Why? Because she creates characters that you can immediately connect with.

Megan was a broken woman. Her grief seemed to leap off the electronic pages at you. She blamed herself for her husband's death (since he ran out to get her the missing eggnog) and couldn't seem to get past the fact that he was gone. So it was a little surprising when she immediately reacted to Owen. Sure he had the body of a Greek God, but I think innately her soul was drawn to it's match in our her the Snow God.

Owen knew his soul purpose with Megan was to get her to love him in order to obtain is humanity. But he was drawn to Megan and almost immediately realized that she was the one for him. He choose the harder path in winning her heart. He made her laugh, he put her first and made sure she knew that she was the most important to him and she always would be.

A heartwarming story that will remind you how important it is to say "I love you" to those you love.

The legend of Frosty the Snowman meets contemporary paranormal romance in Laura Kaye's enchanting new book, North of Need.

I very much enjoyed this book. Megan is a lonely woman, grieving over her deceased husband and spending the holidays secluded in her grief in her cabin in the snow. One day, she builds a snowman family, and as she cries into the snowman wearing her husband's clothes, magic is released. Owen Winters is a god of sorts. He is a winter god, one of the Anemoi. After heartbreak of his own, Owen had spent centuries in elemental form, in seclusion. When a descendent (Megan's former husband) asks the gods to help his wife, Owen is put to the task of making Megan happy and being there for her. When Megan creates her snowman, magic turns that snowman into Owen. In order for Owen to join the human world permanently, Megan must love and choose him, before winter is over. The elemental gods do not co-operate, and Owen has only days to get to know Megan, help her overcome grief, and get her to fall in love again before Owen leaves the human world for good.

The magic combined with legend in this book creates a very sweet and emotional read. Both Owen and Megan are lonely people, and despite coming from very different worlds, they have a lot in common. Owen is very tender with Megan, he is considerate and I was very impressed with how well he handled being in human form. He is not a perfect character, he is not always upfront with Megan, but his hesitancy to reveal his true nature is understandable. I also like Megan's character, although she really does hold on tight to her grief. I really like how the relationship between Megan and Owen develops, they build a friendship, they have fun, and they allow themselves to enjoy their chemistry.

The paranormal elements in North of Need are quite unique and interesting. The concept of the "Anemoi," the elemental gods is both fun and different. North of Need puts a basic structure to the supernatural world, and some of these other elemental gods characters sound very interesting as well. I really liked Owen's powers, as a god of winter, he controls the snow and lives in winter storms.

North of Need is a fabulous winter read, it is a book that you want to read while curled up the the fire. North of Need is a very sweet romance with steamy attraction between the characters, powerful paranormal gods, and a bit of legend mixed in. Paranormal readers, if you are looking for a good book to read, I recommend picking up North of Need.

I received this book for review.

Megan Snow lost her husband on Christmas Day morning one year ago, now she's come to their cabin in the snowy mountains to be alone on Christmas. Noticing exertion gets her mind away from John she cleans the snow covered yard and ends up building a snow a snowman, woman and child. When done she realizes just how alone she is and ends up crying , leaning into the snowman.

A snowstorm brings Owen, a snow god, to Megan's cabin. Her deceased husband's request is for her to find happiness and closure, and Owen finds himself desperate to fix her broken heart, because he finds he can't help but fall in love with Megan. Now to stay human he needs to hear from her that she loves, so that he can stay, forever, with her. The only trouble is that Owen has only 4 days to win her heart before the warm from descends and he, like the snow, melts.

This has to be the happiest PNR/Fantasy I have ever read! North of Need was joyous, romantic discovery of love, letting go and opening your heart to love again, without the unnecessary angst!

This story made me feel good, lighthearted and happy like no other has before! If you want a happy, romantic, paranormal and scorching hot Christmas Holiday read - well this is it! Some of the scenes will sure melt more than just snow, wow!

I loved Owen's character, he genuinely wanted Megan to be happy, smile and accept him, love him. Megan begun as heartbroken and sad at the anniversary of John's death and suddenly comes to life with Owen responding to mundane things with genuine happiness of being corporeal, eating and well, making love like he only has 4 days to indulge in it.

The plot is simple, but the writing made it beautiful and I was fully invested in seeing them together at the end of the book. I can tell some might view it as naive, I did not, I found it delightful and a true feel good, deliciously hot Christmas love story with a fantasy twist! I'm so happy this is book one Hearts Of The Anemoi series! Because then there will be more!

Christmas miracles... Never have they been both sweet and sinful at the same time. Laura Kaye, is one amazing story teller and an equally amazing winter goddess *winks*. Spinning a tale of love, forgiveness, true happiness and new beginnings our winter goddess takes us on a roller coaster ride. Following the ins and outs of starting over and finding true love, acceptance, and even more important freedom.

Megan Snow, is a women trapped in an endless loop of pain and heartache , ever since her late husband John died two years ago. Moving on for her is as about as easy us humans getting up and flying on our own. She is so full of grief, she can't even be around her family and their walking on eggshells routine So Megan heads to the cabin her and John had shared. Feeling lonely and mourning she decided to build a snowman, but by the time she is done, she has built and entire family. Emotions break free, amd she's caught in the web of despair, until a miracle happens.
HER TEARS BRING HIM TO LIFE.
Sent to her by her deceased husband John, Owen Winters is a God of Winter and having been through his own heartbreak and misery he knows all to well her struggle and most of all how she was really feeling. Owen his a sweet, charming, thoughtful and a typical man sometimes withholding information. Armed with John's memories of her, he sets out on a mission to save her, to be there for her, to help her move past her pain and learn to live again. What he didn't expect was how he would feel about her once he was in her actual company.
Sparks fly between these two beings, who are very much meant to be together and with a little help from John, Megan begins to open up and let some light into her once dark world. This fast paced, emotional story where Frosty the Snowman meets the widow will take you on a personal journey and make you think about your own life. It is a fun, but serious story that is heartfelt and full of life's unexpected twists and turns. A must read for any paranormal, fantasy, romance readers who enjoy a fast story that will have you turning pages from the beginning to the end.

I give this sexy christmas story five BLACK ROSES.
I look forward to starting book two.

If you haven't started this series, by all means do so. You don't know what you are missing.

Happy Reading.. Shawnie