Review: Caged In Winter by Brighton Walsh

Title: Caged In Winter

Author: Brighton Walsh

Publisher: Berkley Trade

Publication Date: 11.4.2014

Pages: 304

Genre: New Adult, Romance, Contemporary

Series: Caged In Winter #1

Source: ARC from publisher

Rating: 5 Stars

Summary (from Goodreads):

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.

Review:

I feel like I’ve been waiting all year for a book like CAGED IN WINTER. I’m not sure what it is about this enigmatic, breathtaking book, but ever since I read this, I haven’t been able to stop raving about it and Brighton Walsh to anyone who will listen. It’s just that good.

In the surface, it seems like any other formulaic new adult story (both traditionally published and self-published) that is saturating the market right now. It’s why I skipped over this book for several weeks while it sat idle on my shelf. It wasn’t until one glowing, but absolutely darling, email from its publicist that I decided I would take a chance.

I never expected this book to become my favorite new adult story of the year, but that’s exactly what happened.

Winter and Cade seem like fairly typical new adult characters. Both have a bit of a sad, troubled past mixed with some current issues simmering under the surface. But Walsh infuses this brilliance into these characters that made them truly come alive and the beauty is in the simplicity of their story.

You know what I love most about this book? It’s just the story of a boy and girl learning to balance love with life and responsibilities. There’s no hidden stalker threatening their burgeoning romance, no tawdry past creeping up. People have been saying for over a year that there are horrible things people can go through growing up other than rape/abuse. This is that book. It’s not overly dramatic for the sake of drama. It’s real and true and … And I love it.

Purchase: Caged in Winter

Interview with Cade:

CAGED IN WINTER was one of my favorite stories this year. Why do you think Winter’s (and your) story will resonate with readers?

I think a lot of people will connect with it if they’ve had a rough go of things in their life. And even if they haven’t, I think our story is real enough that most people will be able to relate in some way.

Have I mentioned I still can’t eat ice cream? But speaking of eating, you are rocking the chef hat throughout this book. What are some of your favorite meals to make?

Ice cream. I make it for Winter whenever I can now. Besides that, I love making any and everything Italian.

You bring cooking and all things yummy to the table, but what are some of Winter’s strengths?

She’s strong and independent and once you break through her walls, she’ll do absolutely anything for you.

So I could be totally off base, but was I sensing a definite vibe between your sister, Tessa, and your best friend, Jason? Definitely seemed like there might be a little somethin’-somethin’ there.

Jesus…are you serious? There better not be.

I’m guessing you’re fairly close to Brighton Walsh, one might even say you have the same mind. Is she a great cook? Or does she have any phenomenal skills other than writing amazing books?

She’s a good cook, but the difference is she’s good at both baking and cooking whereas I’m fantastic at only one. She’s not one for throwing crazy stuff together, though. She likes to follow a recipe and deviate ever so slightly, if the mood strikes. She’d also be totally weirded out by talking about herself in the third person. Besides that, she’s pretty good at taking pictures and if shopping was an Olympic sport, she’d take gold every time.

Any last tidbits you’d like to share about yourself, Winter, or Brighton’s books?

Well, I’d tell you a bit about what I know of Tessa Ever After, but after your comment, it’s pretty clear I don’t know jack and I need to have a little chat with my sister…

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