Mark Bartel is vacationing at his cabin in the woods when he comes across the campsite of one gorgeous hunk of man, Joe. Mark feels a connection between them but hesitates to act because Joe is wearing a wedding band. Then Joe kisses him. Mark leaves but can’t deny the attraction he feels for Joe. Then a snowstorm hits and Mark returns to Joe’s camp to find him injured and with no memory of his past. Back at the cabin Mark nurses Joe and the temptation and attraction between them continues to grow but neither will act until they know if Joe is free.

Talk about being stuck between a rock and a hard place. Mark and Joe have an instantaneous attraction but can’t act on it because Joe is wearing a wedding band. The chemistry between the two was super hot and grew even hotter as they had to ignore the attraction. Both men have their problems and take the time trapped in the cabin to grow and work through them. The loss of Joe’s memory was an interesting plot twist and allowed both men to explore the intensity of their attraction without immediately acting upon it. Mark is quiet about his sexuality and this situation forces him to be more open and reflect upon the difficulties he has dealt with in the past. Joe is more dominant and it is interesting to see how he has to rein in his natural urges to be the aggressor. With neither man knowing if this is a relationship that they can develop they are by turns passionate and eager and then withdrawn and surly. Thaw in Winter is a book that will keep you warm on the coldest of nights. Kate Steele has done a good job of drawing the reader into the tangled web of emotions that make up this tasty story.

Reviewed by: Hayley