Book Review: Caged in Winter by Brighton Walsh

Title: Caged in Winter
Author: Brighton Walsh
Genre: Contemporary Romance, New Adult
Sensuality Rating: Sensual
Source: review copy provided by publisher
Published: November 4, 2014 by Berkley Books

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….

Why I Read this Book: I hadn’t heard of this book, or the author, until it showed up in the mail. The thing that caught my attention was the tagline: The thing he’s most desperate to give her could tear them apart. I wanted to know what, exactly, is Cade desperate to give her and why would it tear them apart?

What I Liked: Winter and Cade were great characters, together and by themselves. I enjoy a good push/pull relationship, as I find those to be most consuming and intense. The more Winter pulls away, the more Cade is drawn to her broken down self. It was just the right amount of angst and emo. This quote describes Cade’s perseverance and the affect it has on Winter perfectly: And then Cade came, sweeping his way into my life, imposing and relentless and persistent, and I’m not the same.

Winter is broken and doesn’t let people in. She has abandonment issues brought on by a bad upbringing. She’s self-reliant and doesn’t want or need any help, and I can relate to this in a way. She’s extremely hesitant to accept any sort of assistance from anyone, for anything, no matter how much she may need it. She has learned to count on only herself and has built this wall up to protect herself from getting hurt.

I really liked Cade’s character. He’s an aspiring chef and rides a motorcycle (yeah, I had to throw that in). He’s responsible, persistent, and devotes himself in everything he does – from his culinary duties to Winter to his family. You can’t help but fall in love with Cade and all that he is.

Caged in Winter was told in alternating POV, which is probably my favorite type of narration. I want the full story, from both sides. I want to know what’s going on in Winter’s mind, what Cade is thinking, and I got that with this type of narration.

There wasn’t too many characters highlighted in this story but the ones there were are strong characters. I got a good sense of who the main characters are, as well as the secondary characters like Tessa, Cade’s younger, and Jason, Cade’s best friend Jason. And I can’t wait to read their book.

What I Didn’t Like: The reason I didn’t give this book a perfect rating is because while I didn’t want to put this book down when I was reading it, It didn’t possess the ultimate ‘book crack’ je ne sais quoi that keeps me overly anxious to pick it back up again. That is not to say I didn’t enjoy reading it, because I did, a lot.

Memorable Moment:

I lean in, my voice quiet and controlled as I say, “If a girl says no, you listen, fucker.”

That’s right! You tell him, Cade!

Overall Impression: The New Adult genre has been hit or miss for me but Caged in Winter encompassed the things I love, not only in a New Adult novel but in a love story in general. I didn’t want to put this book down. I’m really looking forward to reading Tessa Ever After, Tessa and Jason’s book, and will have to read through Brighton Walsh’s backlist.

Brianna’s Rating:

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