Frigid (Frigid #1) by J. Lynn – a review

Frigid
Frigid #1
by J. Lynn
Release Date: July 2013
Genre: romance, contemporary, holiday

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release July 2013

For twenty-one-year-old Sydney, being in love with Kyler isn’t anything new. They’d been best friends ever since he pushed her down on the playground and she made him eat a mud pie. Somewhere over the years, she fell for him and fell hard. The big problem with that? Kyler puts the ‘man’ in man-whore. He’s never stayed with a girl longer than a few nights, and with it being their last year in college, Syd doesn’t want to risk their friendship by declaring her love.

Kyler has always put Syd on a pedestal that was too high for him to reach. To him, she’s perfect and she’s everything. But the feelings he has for her, he’s always hidden away or focused on any other female. After all, Kyler will always be the poor boy from the wrong side of tracks, and Syd will always be the one girl he can never have.

But when they’re stranded together at a posh ski resort due to a massive Nor’easter, there’s nothing stopping their red-hot feelings for each other from coming to the surface. Can their friendship survive the attraction? Better yet, can they survive at all? Because as the snow falls, someone is stalking them, and this ski trip may be a life-changer in more ways than one.

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Frigid, is a stand alone novel written by J. Lynn. A pen name of well known author Jennifer Armentrout. I have never read work from this author under any of her published names….a mistake I plan to rectify immediately. Every now and then, I find myself in the mood to read a simple love story, lacking any “out of the realm of normal” elements. Lucky for me, as I would not have discovered this novel otherwise.

It is Winter here in the good ol’ North Country. And so, being the season that I find myself curled up next to my wood stove with snow falling outside–I figured this was the perfect time of year to read a novel based upon two people finding themselves stranded at Snow Shoe around the holidays. Having became friends with my now husband of 11 years, at age 16, my interest was piqued by the story arc of two best friends since childhood, discovering their unrequited love for one another. Let me just say, although I need to read like I need to breathe…I am perhaps the pickiest reader in the world. If a novel doesn’t grab my attention immediately, and keep hold, I lose interest; and have no choice but to move on to the next book. It takes something really special to captivate me, especially in a “normal” romance story. So imagine my surprise to have read Frigid, cover to cover, all in one sitting. I could not put this book down; proof that if it is a good story, its a good story. Period. When an author gets it right, it matters little what genre the book comes from.

J. Lynn shows us the journey of Kyler and Sydney seamlessly. We begin this journey with our hero and heroine secretly pining after one another during a gathering between friends. It becomes clear rather quickly that these two friends view the other as “out of reach”, even as they continue to share the deep friendship that is second nature to them. It isn’t long before readers discover that Sydney views herself as the polar opposite of Kyler’s type. Which is of course the truth. It is fact, as he has never shown even the slightest interest in Sydney as a woman, or as more than a friend.

Let me pause here for a minute and express that I typically do not enjoy first person point of view. There is just something about being allowed to only see through one character’s eye, that feels incredibly stifling for me. However, I really enjoyed Frigid, because of the alternating perspectives between the hero and heroine. Upon our first visit into Kyler’s psyche we learn about his troubled, and difficult upbringing. We learn about the losses, and suffering in his life that has shaped him into the man he is today, and we learn how these altering circumstances spawn his behavior. Syd, as Kyler calls her, is far too bright a light for him to ever approach. It isn’t long before we discover that Kyler has never shown interest, because from where he is standing, a woman like Sydney is far beyond the reach of a man like him. Interesting how these two people that know each other better than anyone else in their world….somehow…are complete strangers when it comes to what exists within the heart.

The story progresses with a planned skiing trip between their group of friends. Kyler and Sydney decide to travel towards Snow Shoe in a separate vehicle than the rest, and arrive just ahead of a massive Winter storm. They find themselves snowed in at the cabin. Alone. And with no power save a generator. Their friends are unable to make their way in, and Kyler and Sydney are left with no way out. Cut off from the group, and holding no links to the outside world, these two best friends are left with no place to hide, including from each other. The literary thermostat kicks up a notch, when an effort to stay warm goes horribly wrong…or wonderfully right…whichever way you choose to see it. Many of you have probably heard me state that sex in a story is not what I neccesarily define as “romance”. Well…let me just say (and coming from me this is pretty significant) the chemistry of this couple is off the charts. It is sizzling, and just plain hot, in a way that you need to read in order to understand. As a reader that thrives on the emotion of a story, this book gets stars all across the board…but few authors have ever made me literally fan myself…and then go searching out my hubby. (Josh thanks you Ms. Armentrout. *snort*)

However, what really grabbed me with this story, is that is isn’t all pretty and wrapped in a bow when these two face what they have been keeping inside. It isn’t fluffy and white like the snow which has entrapped them. It is raw, unhindered, and unrepentant. It is staggering when all the pent up emotion, long denied attraction, and uncontrollable love entwines, and is unleashed. Communication is jumbled, horrible misunderstandings occur…and feelings are deeply hurt on both sides. Can the soul deep friendship, and new bloom of love between our hero’s withstand such a cataclysm? More important by far….when strange happenings lead to the realization that someone is stalking their every move–will they even make it off the mountain alive?

This book was very fast paced, and current. Filled with humorous banter, and crazy, off the wall scenes that literally had me laughing out loud at times. The characters were very well developed, flawed as we all are, and simply wonderful. Such an endearing, and relate-able storyline, with a sprinkle of darkness and mystery mixed in. A Perfect read for the holidays, and one that has been added to my annual list of classic’s that I re-read every single year at Christmas time…if I can wait that long. I highly recommend this book!

Reviewed by Miranda