Out in the Cold is part of the ‘Blue Collar Hearts’ series. It stars Coop Frances, a craftsman, and Beau Singer, an accountant. The story is told in third person through Coop and Beau’s pov.

3.5 Stars

This book was part of the Prolific Works Winter Wonderland giveaway. The giveaway consisted of over one hundred and eighty authors offering their short stories for free.

I think this is the first book in the series even though it isn’t labeled that way. There are references about the town, but this story reads as a stand-alone.

Beau has been betrayed by his fiancée, so he decides to leave the city for awhile and go to his dad’s cabin. A winter storm hits as he’s heading there and he ends up driving up a random driveway hoping someone will let him stay until the storm passes. Beau ends up at Coop’s place where Coop goes to get away from it all. Coop is not exactly thrilled at first that Beau has arrived.

The author did a great job with the characters. They each had distinct personalities that stayed consistent throughout the book. Beau is sweet, but definitely insecure after what just happened to him. He hasn’t had much luck with men because they just want to use him because his dad is filthy rich. Coop is gruff, but relaxes more as he gets to know Beau. Coop quickly feels protective of Beau for the way he was treated. The relationship starts as instant lust, not love, but it quickly grows over the weekend they are snowed in together, to stronger feelings. Beau’s dad is a good side character, and Coop’s dog, Trucker, is sweet.

The plot kept my attention and I didn’t feel like it slowed down at any point. The author did a good job of creating a cute, believable relationship in a short span of time. I’d like to give 3.5 stars, but since Goodreads only allows full stars, I give Out in the Cold, 4 Stars.

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