SNOWFALL ON CEDAR TRAIL is the third instalment in Annie Rains’ contemporary, adult SWEETWATER SPRINGS romance series focusing on the people of Sweetwater Springs, North Carolina. This is police chief Alex Baker, and widow, single mother and florist Halona Locklear’s story line. SNOWFALL ON CEDAR TRAIL can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous instalments is revealed where necessary.

Told from dual third person perspectives (Halona and Alex) SNOWFALL ON CEDAR TRAIL follows the building romance between Sweetwater Springs’ police chief Alex Baker, and widow, single mother and florist Halona Locklear. Halona Locklear’s life changed the day her husband died but our heroine kept secrets from the people she loved including her young son Theo, whose selective mutism began the day his father passed away. Hoping to get Theo into the Mentor Match program, Halona discovers that her brother’s best friend, and the local police chief Alex Baker, has been assigned to ‘mentor’ her troubled young boy. What ensues is the building relationship and romance between Alex and Halona, and the potential fall-out as Halona struggles with the past, and blames our hero for the things out of his control.

Meanwhile, Chief Alex Baker has yet to move forward since the hit and run death of his father, the former police chief, a man whose death eleven years earlier, is suspicious and, as yet, unsolved. Every Christmas, upon the anniversary of his father’s death, Alex reopens the investigation, and this year a new clue will come from an unlikely source.

The relationship between Alex and Halona is a friends to lovers romance. Alex has been attracted to his best friend’s sister for as along as he can remember but when Halona fell in love with the local football star, Alex watched from the sidelines losing all hope for his own happily ever after. All $ex scenes are implied and fade to black.

There is a large ensemble cast of secondary and supporting characters, most of whom we have met in previous instalments. We are introduced to Halona’s son Theo; Alex’s grandmother; as well as struggling couple Sharlene and Tony Anderson.

SNOWFALL ON CEDAR TRAIL is a story of second chances; a sweet romance between two people who have lost someone special in their lives but whose pasts will intercept in the present and future. The premise is engaging and captivating; the characters are colorful and energetic; the romance is charming and sweet

I really enjoy Annie Rains’s stories, they are so full of drama, love & fun. The history between Halona & Alex is a great backdrop to this story. Teenage crushes, sadness of loss & a secret that could clear up a misconception. I loved how Alex chief of police is like a dog with a bone trying to solve his father’s murder & trying to save a battered woman & dog, as well as take care special care of Halona & Theo. Halona is battling the repercussions of her late ex-husbands death, in the selective mutism of her young son & running her flower shop. The connection between Alex & Theo is beautiful & the connection between Alex & Halona is clear as day & very heated. I also loved how the gossip train moved so fast in the town of Sweetwater Springs, whether it was truth or not. This was a great addition to a wonderful series & I can’t wait to read more in this series. Definitely recommend. I received this book from the publisher through Net Galley for an honest review.