Coming In From the Cold (Gravity Book 1)

Easy read. Likable characters. Good chemistry. Plenty of steam. My one complaint is that I wish Willow would have made Dane grovel a little more before she so easily took him back. He treated her like a doormat. He was cruel and mean and said some horrible things to her. I would have liked for him to be a little more apologetic. Otherwise, the story was enjoyable enough. I will probably read the next one.

*sigh* Where to begin? This book was chock full of all those cliches I've come to despise in romance. The financially strapped woman, the famous and wealthy man who has lived his promiscuous life. The unexpected SPOILER ALERT (*whispers* pregnancy). It was one after another, and here's the thing...I couldn't put it down. Not because the sex scenes were tasteful yet hot, or because the flirtatious banter played to my inner high schooler. I couldn't put it down because the author executed every single cliche the way those cliches were meant to be tackled. The plot threaded it all together seamlessly. Nothing happened without a reason. The only fat on this book that could've been cut was what happened after our leads finally make nice and get to watch their movie. Even then, however, I was holding my breath in anticipation of the author dropping the ball and giving us the cliche marriage proposal. SPOILER ALERT: it never came, and the note it ended on was far more satisfying than I'd expected once it passed the logical end point. This is a book I will likely read more than twice. In fact, I might even read the sequel.

This is a well written engaging story that draws you in and captivates you. It includes a realistic portrayal of how a person with Huntington's disease wants to avoid passing this unfortunate condition on to another generation

Willow & Dane meet in a blizzard...and spend the night in Dane's Jeep. The next morning they make it back to Willow's house and, the one night stand became a bit more. Willow seems to suck at picking guys...the reason that she's stuck in Vermont is because she followed a guy, who then left her w an old farm &'a mountain of debt. Dante's an Olympic skier, he's a closed off guy because he believes that he has inherited the genetic disease that claimed his mother and brother. A surprise forces them to face each other again. Can these two resolve their issues and have a HEA?

Boy and girl in separate cars become stranded on the side of the road at night during a Vermont blizzard, and one thing leads to another. It's a basic plot, but the characters are written well, likable, and believable, and the story itself is unique enough that it didn't feel contrived or predictable. I devoured this book in two sittings and would happily read anything else by this author.

Why is Sarina Bowen so freaking good at writing? She blows me away every single time. Coming In From The Cold was amazeballs! It had just the right amount of swoon, sports, and angst! I couldn't get to the next page fast enough. And it was super sexy as well which you should come to expect from this brilliant writer! I loved this story and the characters! I can't wait for the next story!

Started well and went downhill faster than , well, Dane, the world-class jerk and downhill skier. Had some good story lines to develop, but just missed too many gates to a finish that limped home with meaningless filler sex scenes. J.

I read so called romance novels because I see them as more human interest and about human relations and the issues that people deal with in relationships. Whether those relationships are between significant others, friends, parents, siblings, etc. I did enjoy this book although some of the sex scenes were too explicit.

I liked her interaction with the chickens and the fact she specifically identified them as Buff Orpingtons. I could tell just by that the author probably had her own chickens. And confirmed that when I read her bio. Buff Orpingtons are a good choice for a backyard flock. They really do have good dispositions. I have kept a number of them myself.

I enjoyed the storyline; but I felt the book ended to abruptly. The interaction between Dane and Travis could have been fleshed out more and how Dane brushed off their interaction to Willow when she asked about it was surprising. And the words he used to do that were surprisingly vulgar considering he was trying to make up for his past behavior. The earlier confrontation between Willow and Travis could have been used to make that scene more interesting.

From reading the excerpt from book 2 I see that Dane and Willow is still mentioned in the book; but the book is clearly going to focus on Callie. So it seems more should have been told about Dane and Willow's relationship should have been used instead of ending it so abruptly.

Dane Hollister is an Olympic Alpine Skier who attacks the hill ruthlessly. He's known as Danger, and it's for a good reason. But for Dane, the danger he's most scared of is never found on the freshly powdered hills and mountains, and it's that awareness that keeps him from ever having any kind of relationship. He has a no strings attached, no false expectation, one night only policy...

Then one stormy night he meets Willow Reade. A woman who begins to stir up feelings and desires that he had sworn off for life.

Willow is stuck.
She's stuck in a big farm house in rural Vermont.
She's stuck in life unable to move forward with her own future plans.
She's stuck in a blizzard...but she's not alone.

It's a quick read, so the story line does move along fast however it didn't detract from the story for me.
I expected it to be a hot and steamy romance...that's exactly what I got. But I also got a bit more. Dane's character... I loved. I felt for him as you could feel him waging the internal battle between what he wants and what he feels he can have. The analogy of the wrongly imprisoned person was spot on perfect to describe what Dane was going to face and what those around him were going to have to be aware of.

And may I just add- as a New Englander (born and bred) I have never had the pleasure of getting stuck in a blizzard and been stranded with a guy like Dane *sigh*

I gave it 4 STARS.
So if you're looking for a little extra heat, give it a read and enjoy!

Beautiful, sensitive, heart clenching and yet heart warming. Quite short yet giving us a feel of a full novel. Really enjoyed both main characters - Willow and Dane. They both had a tragic life, both not knowing how to get their happily ever after even if in the separate sense and not while looking for a significant other.

Willow is stuck running a farm that she bought with a boyfriend that soon left her with debts making it impossible for her to pursue her real interest in life - finish her training as a Psychologist. On a stormy ride home to her chickens she crushes not into but close enough to Dane, an Alpine Ski Champion on his way to visit his dying brother. Stuck in his jeep until the storm is over they make a real connection. But Dane won't allow it to become more than a one time encounter as he knows that soon he would deal with the same illness his brother has and die slowly and horribly. I"m not going to write which disease it is, I took an educated guess since I've learnt of it in my BA.

It was really heart clenching learning of Dane and his family, his past and the way he sees life, what he wishes in life is so simple, something we all overlook. Willow is perfect for him, a compassionate person, all heart no thorns (which is usually her downfall..). She sees him, feels him like no one ever has, and she isn't "impressed" by his Champion status or even think about it much.

I loved how this story progressed, the fact that Dane wasn't a "saint" he said mean things while trying to keep away from Willow. But in a way, even at his worst, she always knew there is something else there keeping him from her.

Though Willow considers herself an unlucky person and thinks she is brilliant at making mistakes - she deals with life and what it hands her with a kind of bravery and pure heart it's hard NOT to admire. It very obvious in every decision she made in life and generally how she lives her life. A very open, compassionate, loving person. She is truly what any doctor would recommend to someone like Dane.

The ending was also beautiful. A bit too sugary at times and yet it was so fitting that I totally "forgive" the glucose over dose ;)

I'm absolutely in love with Sarina's writing. I love the unique way she brings a story that could be so common yet it isn't. Yeah it's the famous guy and the anonymous one, and yet it's not even about that. It's not even about a one night stand becoming a lot more in less than a day. It's about life. How we look at it, how we deal with it, and how the most simple things mean the most. Can't wait for the next one of Willow's best friend Callie. It's suppose to be out on January or February 2015 but I"m not sure when. Well, I'll have to be on my watch not to miss the launch!

Tags: Contemporary Romance

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Dane and Willow cross paths on a night of heightened awareness and senses. Willow is driving slowly as a storm is due. She knew she shouldn't have ventured out but it was a necessity that couldn't be avoided especially if she was to be snowed in as the forecast suggested.

Dane was also driving, in the opposite direction, as he was heading back to where he stays while in town. The driving conditions were poor and Willow and Dane ended up driving off the road after swerving to avoid each other. They were both un harmed but it was clear neither of them were getting going again until a snow plough passed by.

Willow and Dane spend the wait in his car as it's more equipped for the weather. Willow was unprepared as she was only planning a short trip out. The longer the wait stretched out the more aware Willow became of Dane in the seat next to her. Dane doesn't fall in love, he doesn't even do relationships and Willow is still reeling from the break down of her relationship.

Dane and Willow spend the night together in the way neither of the anticipated when they set out that evening. Dane makes it clear it's a one time only experience and Willow respects his decision. Dane has his reasons for his no nonsense approach to life and sex which is why it's such a shock to him that just one night in the dark with Willow isn't enough...

I liked Willow right from the start but my feelings for Dane changed so many times. He's a famous and sexy Olympic standard skier but he has a lot of demons. He dealt with these by taking his frustrations out on the slopes and keeping everyone at a distance.

When Willow reached out to him, Dane treated her much the same way he treated everyone else and pushed her away in quite a heartless manner. It would have been easy to think badly of him for this but as this book is told from Willow and Dane's POV it soon becomes clear what his reasons are in his mind even though he was still only assuming.

There are some great supporting characters in this book in the way of Callie, Willows best friend and Dane's coach. It is eventually, with their encouragement and support, that Dane is able to work through the uncertainty that's holding him back and Willow and Dane are able to finally able to follow their hearts and my emotions which have been up and down for this couple are finally able to settle.

An absolutely sweet AND sexy romance. You can never go wrong with a Sarina Bowen book. I've read all of her books and loved every one of them. I loved the winter atmosphere in this novel, and I liked how the relationship between Willow and Dane was complicated. So many novels give two people a very simple obstacle or really weird miscommunication to keep the couple apart, but Sarina is never lazy in her writing. Dane has to overcome/work out some major flaws before the relationship can succeed, and this is both painful and rewarding to read about. Love this book and love this series!

What could be better than being stranded in the middle of a blizzard with a smoking hot, brooding, Olympic skier? The answer is not much because the chemistry between the characters in Coming In From The Cold was off the charts!

Dane has had the unfortunate experience of watching his mother and brother suffer for years through a horrific, debilitating, fatal illness that strikes during the prime of life. He lives every day in fear that he has inherited the same gene and is doomed to share their fate. This fear prevents him from developing relationships and finding true happiness in his life. When he finds himself stuck overnight in his jeep with another stranded driver during a raging snowstorm, their personalities click immediately and he is very interested in her, but knows he cannot offer her anything more than a one night stand because he does not want to get too close to anyone. He doesn't want anyone else to witness the pain and suffering he saw his mother and brother go through.

Willow's character has been let down a lot in life. Overwhelmed by debt and not knowing where to go with her life, she is only looking for a few hours of escape with Dane, but finds herself feeling so much more for him in those few hours than she should. He's told her he is not interested in more than one night. but she can't help feeling a powerful connection to him right from the start and wishing they could have more.

And that is where my description of this story ends because anything else would be.a spoiler, but just know that there is a HEA and I hung on every.single.word! A story about insta-love stemming from a one night stand could have gone terribly wrong, but the author completely developed romance, steam, wit, hope and fear into these two characters, so much that their story came across as very real and authentic.

I found this book on Goodreads in the sidebar that suggests books "other readers have enjoyed" and was immediately pulled in by the premise. I can't believe that as of the time I am typing this it only has 18 reviews posted on the store because it is absolutely a five star, page turner. I feel like I discovered a hidden gem! I loved it!!

I have lived where snow literally takes over your life. Author Sarina Bowen does just that with her steamy story about two strangers whose lives were linked and began by a frigid snow storm. But it doesn't stay cold for very long! The story of a woman whose luck in life was really one that was not so lucky and a man whose luck always seemed to go his way, simply because he made it that way. She followed her heart to a disastrous relationship leaving her broke and lonely; he was an Olympian whose winning streak kept him going for as long as he thought he had to live - and lived his life not chancing on love only because he didn't believe there was anything there for him.

I liked that the characters were familiar in the sense that their triumphs were yours and their failures were also ones that may have or could have happened to anyone. Willow Reade, was in no way a helpless creature, she was strong but insecure, beautiful but not a princess. She was in fact anyone that you may know - a neighbor or a friend whose luck was just not on her side. By allowing herself the chance to just be in the right place at the right time, we see the story unfold and she meets a gorgeous stranger who also holds his own mysterious past and finds himself letting go to his new beautiful friend.

While driving home on a stormy Vermont evening while taking a chance on getting some feed for her chickens, Willow narrowly avoids hitting an oncoming vehicle. Dane (aka "Danger" Hollister), the Olympian whose personal secret has allowed him the chance to live a life like that of a winning bachelor, escapes being hit by Willows truck as they both swerve out of each other’s way and are now stuck on either side of the road. Making sure that she was OK, he invites her to his Jeep where we quickly find the two are attracted to each other and things get a little steamy while they are inside of his jeep waiting for the plow to come through as a monstrous snow storm blankets them in for the night. He believes that he will never see her again and plans for a getaway, however he seems to stick around a little longer than usual. After making it clear his intentions after their evening in the steamy Jeep, Willow tried nothing more than to be kind as she was and wait for him to run away.

It was by running that Dane found that he could no longer run from the secret that he had been keeping. Forever thinking that he inherited the disease that took his mother's life and made his brother sick and eventually take over his life as well, Dane was feeling what he thought were effects of the disease that he assumed he inherited. Together, they found that there was no keeping them apart. One event changed all that forever.

You want Dane and Willow to be together. You read quickly through and discover that what he was hiding was in fact hindering any possible way of moving forward with his life even though he seemed to have it all right at his fingertips. Reluctant Willow, however, wanted the dream and what she got was in fact a bit more than she bargained for - that greatly changed their lives forever.

Sarina Bowen brings two unlikely characters together - one who wanted to be loved and another who only ran from it, in a series of events that brought together two individuals who only seemed different were in fact very similar. Together we share in their lives can only hope that both of these characters will in fact get together as both of them soften to the idea of great changes that they must face together.
The story was such a fast read. I was engaged throughout and found myself wanting more. Bowen engages you in such realistic dialog and believable dialog. The plight of both loss and love and a second chance are wrapped together in this engaging story.

Sarina Bowen does a great job with this book. The hero is at first glance your classic bad boy, arrogant jock who is kind of a manwhore. The characters are so realistic that you can absolutely believe in their actions and decisions. The book keeps you interested and you really are rooting for the characters to get their HEA! You want both Dane and Willow to see that they are worth more than they think!

First Line: "Willow needed to keep the old truck on the road and out of the snowy ditch for just one more mile."

Poor Willow. She doesn't keep her old truck on the road and inadvertently runs champion Dane Hollister off the road as well. But their loss is their-and our-gain because one snowy night in a Jeep is the beginning of a sexy, emotionally challenging, wonderful story.

What makes Coming in From the Cold stand out - besides just the fact that it's damn good- is what stands between Willow and Dane. This is also what makes the book really hard to review. I want to divulge every detail and glom on the drama, but if I do that, it's going to spoil a lot of the suspense, such as: what could possibly be so wrong with Dane that he can't have a future? And what happens between him and Willow to change this?

Often, the issues that stand between our H/h tend to feel...contrived. But with Dane, this is fact. We are given a man who's life has been unbearably lonely and sad, and who's future looks no better. He's a world class athlete, should have the world in his palm. But he's one of the loneliest, saddest leading men I've read yet. When Dane says he can't commit, cannot be involved and can't give anyone a future, he means it. And wow, the dude was starving for love, a person to share his life with.

So when Dane meets Willow, they realllllly hit it off, and it's with the assumption of "one night only" that they connect. And by connect, I mean they have dirty, steamy sex. But it's not only dirty and steamy, but also tests Dane's resolve. Have you ever shared an intense, unforgettable spark with another person? How do you walk away from that, especially when you've never felt it before? Dane is determined to keep his resolve, but life and Willow keep testing him. These new circumstances force Dane to dig deep and face a lot of heavy issues, and hopefully he'll face them with Willow at his side.

I know my review has likely been massively unhelpful. I want to say so much more about Dane and Willow as individuals and as a couple. I think a lot of the beauty in Coming in From the Cold is going in blind, and having my assurance that it is a powerful, redemptive love story that churned my insides, but also left me absolutely satisfied.

Favorite Quotes

He'd planned to spend the night alone, the way he spent all of them. Instead, there was a beautiful girl writhing in his arms, her hair falling against his bare chest.
Even in his ugly life, there were moments of perfection.

"Willow?" She looked up to find his handsome jaw set in a serious expression. "If you told me not to go, I wouldn't."
Her heart leapt, but she didn't trust it.
His face was nervous. "I know I don't really deserve it, but I have to ask, because I'll regret it forever if I don't. Is there any way I could spend some time with you?"

"You know how some people have a bucket list? They want to go bungee jumping in New Zealand, or they want to have sex in an airplane bathroom?"
"Okay...?"
"Well, my bucket list is ass-backwards. I want to fall asleep on your sofa in the middle of a movie. I want to bring you a beer during commercial breaks. I want you to warm your cold feet on mine."

He was so sorry to have hurt her, and his hands cradled her back to tell her so. His fingers slipped beneath the hem of her top, smoothing her soft skin, apologizing. When he opened his eyes, the candlelight danced on the walls, and flickered in the dark pools of her eyes. "Willow," he said, just to hear her name on his lips.

I really loved this book.

Hot athlete: check
Sexy times: check
Strong heroine: check
Broken hero: check

I really love sports related romances and Sarina Bowen is incredible at writing them. Her attention to detail when describing sports related scenes is amazing, it makes you feel like you are part of the action. Anyways, this is a beautiful love story, the characters are flawed and conflicted, just like real life. Their connection is amazing and you can feel it since the first moment they interact. Dane is frustrating at times but he gets the benefit of the doubt because it would be really hard to be on his shoes. Plus, he redeems himself is a beautiful way. This is a great, fast read and I super recommend it.

This book definitely makes you root for a happy ending for these characters. While I didn't enjoy it as much as the other books I've read from this author, which were all 5 stars for me, this is a sweet, angsty story with a hot skier and you can't go wrong with that. It was a good start to the series and I'm definitely reading the next book right away

When a snow storm looms Willow realized that she is out of chicken feed and needs to go to the store. On her way back home the roads are covered with snow and she narrowly avoids a wreck and ends up in a ditch.This is the start of a new adverture for Willow and the other driver Dane. They end up getting into a situation which neither was preparded for - tead the book to find out just what this situation is and you will not be able to put it done from start to finish.

This new adult novel delivers hot sex scenes and characters with depth. Trapped in snowy Vermont thanks to a flighty ex-boyfriend, sweet Willow meets edgy elite skier Dane in the middle of a blizzard. Dane is drawn to her beauty and sweet nature and while a hot encounter is totally on the table, he cannot allow himself to hope for a future. Dane lives on the edge, hurtling downhill and through life, because a family secret could end his prematurely. A terrifying revelation offers an explanation for Dane's brushoff and hope for a satisfying future for this wounded pair of lovers.

A wonderful beginning to this new trilogy!

The first in Sarina Bowen's Gravity series, this winter's tale gives readers two sympathetic characters in Willow and Dane, a believable storyline, and a satisfying resolution for the lovers. In a fresh take on the "maimed hero," Bowen breaks new ground with Dane's backstory, and conveys Willow's vulnerability with sensitivity and skill. (And the chickens are a great touch!)

Loved the chance meeting of these two characters. One night changed their lives forever. Dane hid so much of himself away because he thought he shouldn't give it away to anyone. Willow wanted to move past her mistakes. Together they were able to finally come together and be better. I wish there was more after the resolution...at least maybe an epilogue....so that was disappointing. Hopefully there are glimpses of them in the next book!

In spite of the harshness with which Dane showed after their one time together, I think it was dumb for a thirty-year old ,with his family history, not to have the gene testing. To borrow a phrase, Denial is a river in South America. Willow has had her ups and downs also but at least looking forward. She is stronger than Dane and takes her problems one at a time. She should have made him work harder to win her back. Thanks to Callie for forcing the truth to come out. Looking forward to her story next. DS

What a wonderful story filled with heartache, regret and second chances. I loved downhill skier Dane Hollister (what a fab name), I loved his dark grumpy side, and I especially loved his gentle, soft side. Once I realised his issues I understood the how and the whys. Willow was so forgiving with Dane without letting him walk all over her. Initially when Dane and Willow met, it was a one time thing. Dane doesn’t do relationships, Willow accepts that, but Dane doesn’t make it easy on her with his mixed messages. Then there’s the small matter of the predicament she’s just found herself in. Heaven help her, because Dane won’t. I loved the supporting characters, Coach and Callie being the main ones that challenge both Dane and Willow. Brilliant narration that worked perfectly for these characters.