Snow in July Kindle Edition

I'm not sure what made me pick this book - it's not a genre I normally read but I had received a couple of tweets about it and the title interested me. Then when I saw the cover, I liked it and I suppose you could say I felt inspired to read more than the description. I'm so glad I did.
Starting off with the Battle of Hastings it soon had me wanting to read on and, as the book progressed, I found it more and more to my liking. The story was a fascinating mix of history, fact, author imagination, and a bit of magic power that was made quite believable.
I am happily giving this book 5 stars and it deserves every star and more. The main characters were well rounded and I quickly clicked with their personalities. It was a marvelous read, which I highly recommend.

I picked this book because it was classified as YA medieval paranormal romance, all of them my favourite genres. I agree with the medieval romance aspect and the paranormal to a tiny bit but I would never call it YA though. I am not sure which part made them think it's suitable for YA. It might be suitable for them but not wholly acceptable for them.

Aside from that, I have no complaints with the book. I loved the story and the characters. Alain was not what I expected. I was thinking that he would be a bit more jaded and rough. But he was a smooth person with the right amount of tenderness and softness. But he was man enough not to appear too soft. As for Kendra, she was a feisty one. I loved her spirit and her will. I gotta mention Ulfric too. He was a very good villain. He totally made me fall for him with his schemes and his evil mind.

The story's pace was a bit slow at the start but half way through it picked up. The mystery and the action and the political intrigue had me engrossed in the book. The writing was easy to read and descriptive enough to entice my imagination.The romance wasn't overdone and it was a fun book to read.

My rating : 5/5

My reread factor : 4/5

Four stars because the paranormal in the story became a bit much. Lady Kendra as a natural healer is fascinating but the bad guy being a shape-shifter was more than the story needed. Ulfric was terrible just as a human being.

The characters were very well written. I thought Kendra's grief for her brother was a bit selfish, and melodramatic. She seemed to thrive on grieving for her brother.

Sir Robert and his friend are very engaging from the start of their subterfuge to becoming part of Kendra's family even before the romance really begins.

This was a surprising story that was rich in description, and in the history. The paranormal aspect is not heavy but the shape-shifter was a bit too much. It just did not fit in with the history, the mystery, or the story.

This book as written by my on Saguaro Moon Reviews was really kind of a great little surprise for being not only a historical romance but also a paranormal as well by Ms. Kim Iverson Headlee. When I first started reading it I had no clue to what time period I was placed in but as the book progressed I was brought into after the battle of Hastings in the year of 1066. The English and Norman conflict the prejudice between the two cultures I was just completely immersed enjoying the book even more! I love a good historical romance with lots of plot twists with well drawn out characters magic and shape shifters can it get any better?
Sir Robert “Alain” de Bellencombre a knight from Normandy after the battle of Hastings and losing his brother Etienne in battle is upset and feels guilt for not protecting him as he should. The King of England and Duke of Normandy William the conqueror decides to honor him by betrothing him to a Lady Kendra Waldronsdotter which Sir Robert or Alain is less than pleased. Alain does not want to marry so concocts a very deceptive ruse to conceal his identity to his future betrothal’s family and Lady Kendra but in his ruse can he stop the one thing that he promised to do in not only protecting Kendra but falling for her as well? How are they ever going together when Kendra’s resolve to not marry as well saying that she would not marry unless it snows in July hence the title of the book. The romance was a little bit unbelievable one moment they can’t stand each other the next moment they are in love. I wanted a little bit more romance than just kisses between the Alain and Kendra I felt there wasn’t a true love connection. The politics of the book seemed to play more of a starring role as opposed to a backdrop to the books premise but for some reason it did not overwhelm or bog down the reader.
I loved the heroine Kendra’s compassion, her love of her people and the fact that she is a healer she is not only beautiful on the outside but inside as well. Why did her ability to heal come so late in her life though that wasn’t really explained and I did want more about her mystical healing properties and the role in that Glastonbury thorn plays in everything especially for the fact that she can heal herself too. Even though Alain was just an interesting intriguing complex handsome hero I at first didn’t like that fact that he felt the need to conceal his identity so much but after I figured out his motivations I was all ready to root for and cheer him on he became quite a hero in my eyes throughout. What else could Thane Ulfric shape shift into besides dogs and humans? That wasn’t really explained either his mysterious transformations to so many things. Yes I know he is a bad guy but I couldn’t help but like him a little bit too. I could never figure out what type of dog Noir was a big black dog all I could get was either an actual wolfdog hybrid or an Utonagan. I also would like to know what happens to Snake or Liam, Ruaurd d’Vay what exactly is his story he’s married to whom and Lofwin what is his story as well? There’s action, adventure, tons of villains, even one that shape shifts, familial betrayals deception really made for an interesting read that it made it hard to put the book down! I would definitely get more books by Ms. Headlee what an amazing author too that I rated the book four stars and can recommend it!

I was intrigued with this book when I learned about it through one of the book tours I had, so I went ahead and bought myself a copy.
Although it had a good plot I found the story to long, dragged out at times which had no point. I felt there were to many holes that hindered the flow from one scene to the next.
Other than that it was a good book with interesting characters that gives the story reliability. The love between Kendra and Alain was beautiful and I really liked the way the author brought them together. Both struggled with vows they had made to deceased people and struggled with the hold it had on them but again the author did a marvelous work in bringing the dearly departed in to the unique plot to release them from their burdens.
A great story to read and enjoy that offers the readers much enjoyment till the end.

I truly enjoyed the story line as well as the historical era of this novel entwined with the mystical use of magic so to speak. The adventure as well as the love story give a nice touch to the era of the novel.