Review: Caged in Winter by Brighton Walsh

Caged in Winter by Brighton Walsh

Published: November 4, 2014

Publisher: Berkley Books

Format: via publisher

Rating: 4/5

Synopsis

Aspiring chef Cade Maxwell is immediately, viscerally attracted to Winter Jacobson. But it’s not her mouthwatering curves he’s drawn to—it’s the strange emptiness in her eyes. When Cade saves her from a drunken customer with grabby hands, he’s shocked at her response…...

Winter doesn’t need Cade’s help. After a lifetime of getting by on her own, she’s happy to rely on herself. She’s exactly seventy-six days away from graduating college, and if she can hold it together that long, she’ll finally be able to rise above the crappy hand she was dealt.

But now, every time she turns around, Cade is there, ready to push her, smile at her, distract her from her plans. Winter knows she can’t afford to open up—especially to a man she’s terrified to actually want.

My Thoughts

I’ve loved this book on so many levels! Winter has be one of my favorite characters so far this year. I love how she is so real. She is so independent and had to grow up so far so young that she has a hard time trusting people. I like the hard edge she has but deep down you know there is a soft spot all she needs is the right person to love and truly care for her. Here’s where Cade enters. Cade is a guy who looks like a bad boy, but is a chef who has lost his mom and cares for his niece and sister. They meet one night while Winter is working at a bar and Cade “saves” her from a rowdy customer. They don’t exactly hit it off and needless to say Winter makes it known that she doesn’t need anyone saving her. However Cade is determined to show Winter he isn’t like other guys she has known before. After wearing her down she finally agrees to go out with Cade. As much as Winter tries to not let Cade worm his way into her life, she can’t but fall for him. As hard as she tries to not let him into her life she hopes he is different. Even though she was not expecting or wanting love in her life sometimes life has better things planned for you.

What I really enjoyed was the chemistry between these two. While yes both are sexy what I found steamier was just the everyday interaction. I find nothing sexier than a man who is a real man. That means a protector, someone who is there for you and lastly for me someone who makes me laugh. I connected with this story because I connected with Winter. I too am someone who has trouble letting others in, but I also know I will never find true love if I don’t take that chance. I can’t wait for someone to tear down my walls I have to do that myself. Winter slowly realizes that she deserves true love and when that happens nothing is better than that. This is one of my favorite NA reads ever and I know you will enjoy it as well. This is the perfect read for a cold winters night.