Roz Denny Fox , Hot Chocolate on a Cold Day

Hot Chocolate on a Cold Day

Roz Denny Fox

Signature Select, Apr 2006, $5.99

ISBN: 0373837003

Trying to start over following the death of his wife during a stakeout, widower Sterling Dodge, accompanied by his four year old son Tyler, his fourteen year old brother-in-law Joel Atwater, and Joel's older sister Lauren, relocate from New York for St. Ignace, Michigan. His upstairs neighbor, Coast Guard Lieutenant Megan Benton welcomes the foursome to the neighborhood. However, Sterling stays aloof and grumpy; the teens are angry and glowering, making it clear they do not want to be at the end of the earth; Tyler is the exception and is friendly and welcoming.

Unable to resist, Meg reacts to Sterling's cantankerousness with impishness to drive him further up the wall. He finds to his chagrin a desire for her to sass him even more, and pushes her buttons to do so. That is in spite of his reluctance to become involved with a woman whose occupation means danger, just like that of his late wife Blythe. Still Meg offers HOT CHOCOLATE ON A COLD DAY to the newcomers, especially Sterling, even though he, like the teens, wants to reject her.

This sweet contemporary romance lives up to its title, as the lead couple are a nice pairing of two likable individuals. The storyline also contains subplots involving Meg's family, especially her brother who fled the academic roost. The support cast provides conflict or matchmaking, but clearly this Upper Peninsular tale is owned by the sassy heroine and her reluctant fire dragon.