#Review: North of Need by Laura Kaye

North of Need 
(Hearts of the Anemoi #1)
by Laura Kaye 
Paperback, 234 pages
Published November 1st 2011 by Entangled Publishing, LLC (first published October 1st 2011)
ISBN 1937044475
Courtesy of Publisher

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While attempting to escape the agonizing memories she associates with Christmas, twenty-nine-year-old widow Megan Snow builds a snow family outside the mountain cabin she once shared with her husband and collapses in tears against the snowman at the sight of what she'll never have.Called to life by the power of Megan's tears, snow god Owen Winters appears unconscious on her doorstep in the midst of a raging blizzard. As she nurses him to health, Owen finds unexpected solace in her company and unimagined pleasure in the warmth of her body, and vows to win her heart for a chance at humanity.Megan is drawn to Owen's mismatched eyes, otherworldly masculinity, and enthusiasm for the littlest things, and her heart opens enough to believe he's a Christmas miracle. But this miracle comes with an expiration before the snow melts and the temperature rises, Megan must let go of her widow's grief and learn to trust love again, or she'll lose Owen forever.

My Thoughts:
North of Need is an exciting and fresh new paranormal romance that captured my heart and kept me glued to the pages!

It has been exactly two years since Megan Snow suffered the loss of her husband on that cold Christmas night; guilt ridden and grief stricken she escapes to their snowy cabin to celebrate this year’s Christmas alone. When she’s overcome by painful memories though, Megan ventures into the coming blizzard to make a snow family, a family she believes she will never have now. Using two mismatched button eyes and her husband’s old shirt she dresses the snowman and breaks down for all she’s lost, her tears becoming lost in the snowman’s icy body. But with her tears, Megan unknowingly creates life giving the snow God, Owen Winters, form.
Made corporal by Megan’s pain, Owen is given the chance to bring happiness into her life and teach Megan to live again. After centuries of being in only his elemental form, he craves the love and comfort that only Megan and her humanity can provide. But Owen must woo her into loving him by the end of winter or he’ll be sent back to the Godly realm and loose her forever, and when one elemental God’s temper lets loose Owens time grows even shorter. Can Owen teach Megan to trust in love again before the snow melts, or will her grief blind her to the possibility of second chances?

Wow, I don’t think that I can put my feelings on this magical novel into proper words! When North of Need first came to my attention I didn’t put too much interest into it, thinking it was just a different and somewhat corny twist on an old childhood favorite, Frosty the Snowman. But after seeing several of my book blogging buddies rave about it and then checking out Laura Kaye and some of her posts on North of Need my interest was piqued. Now I’m mad at myself for waiting so long to grab it up, fiddlesticks! lol

The mythical aspects of North of Need made for a unique and enchanting storyline that instantly intrigued; and with Laura Kaye’s smooth writing style I quickly became immersed within her characters’ worlds, forgetting the outside. Too good to put down for more than a moment, I resented every interruption and am still thinking about it days later! Heart wrenching emotion and devastating loss was neatly balanced with a soul consuming love, sensuality and life altering decisions. The characters of Owen and Megan though are what will leave a lasting impression on readers. These two are easy to connect with and will capture your heart right from the beginning. Separately they’re amazing but together they are phenomenal; each well developed with a passion that is palpable from the pages. They connect well and their chemistry is believable, not just lovers they are supportive friends as well. Their relationship is highly sensual and compelling; I just can’t say enough good things about this couple. And Owen himself; sweet, sexy and those mismatched eyes *shiver* I’m wishing I lived somewhere where it snows so I can make a snowman! Maybe if I visualize it and hope enough, he’ll turn into my very own fetching snow God! A girl can fantasize, right? ;)

I know it may seem like North of Need is just one big tear-jerking rollercoaster but it was fun as well, with lots of laughter and life to it. It really reminds the reader to appreciate everyday and hold tight to those you love. 

I’m very interested in the mythology Laura has created here and the elemental Gods fighting for power over the seasons. In the beginning the foreign terms confused me but it didn’t take away from the story and now I’d like to learn more about the rest of the ‘Anemoi’, Gods and demi-gods, featured. I’m counting down the days until the second book now, West of Want, March can’t come soon enough! 

Don’t let the Christmas/Winter setting fool you; any time of year is the perfect time to lose yourself in this fantastic romance. A superb start to a promising new series! 

Sexual content: Is the weather outside frightful? Then pick up this sexy novel because it is sure to keep you toasty all winter long! The love scene couldn't be better written for this genre and who says snowmen couldn't be sizzling hot?