Hear the Falling Snow is a cozy contemporary romance full of heart and hope in the midst of waiting. I really enjoyed meeting this cast of characters and seeing God’s hand in their lives, but I was also disappointed in a few aspects.
Here’s the Goodreads blurb:
Accepting God’s timing has never been so hard.
When thirty-nine-year-old Adeline Parker’s sisters send her to a baking retreat at a castle nestled in the hills of Kentucky, she’s relieved to spend Christmas away from the reminder of her mother’s passing. Her Christmas plans include:
•Exploring the festive charms of River Cottage
•Eating her weight in bear claws and cinnamon rolls
•Learning how to bake Bûche De NoëlWhat isn’t part of the plan is meeting Luke Bauman.
Luke has always felt called to the mission field. He never expected that when the door finally opened to go to Turkey, he would have a reason to stay in Kentucky. At forty-one, he’s spent most of his adult life focused on carpentry, keeping Reginald the rooster in line, and checking in on his widowed mother. Luke thought he was ready for change—but that was before Adeline stumbled (or sprinted) into his life.
Adeline refuses to distract Luke from his calling, but is there a chance that their meeting is all part of God’s good timing?
Ratings for Hear the Falling Snow
Story: 4/5
Worldview: 3/5
The Strong Points
First things first, the plot was good. It was slow, but cozy, and the side characters (the rooster, the bakers) were wonderful. Reginald the rooster, Birdy, Gloria, Harriet, they were all great. The humor was great and I found myself chuckling at times (when things didn’t go over my head, that is). There are jokes that would definitely hit the intended audience (millennials), so I’m not bothered. I knew to expect older characters. Another thing I liked was how Adeline and Luke both were handling grief. The thoughts and discussions Adeline had about grief and loss were deep and sympathetic, and I appreciated that.
Other faith elements in the book were great. While we didn’t hear the story, it was mentioned that Luke was saved, and I loved the insight into his heart for being a missionary for Turkey. Both Adeline and Luke pray for guidance early on (though towards the middle/end it gets more mixed up with their feelings and becomes more like self-pity). I did like how it was mentioned that one character came to Christ as a result of a loss.
The Weaker Points
However, when we got to the meat of the conflict between Luke and Adeline, that’s when things went awry for me.
I was expecting them to have an adult conversation about their feelings and expectations like 40% of the way in. However, there’s no discussion about expectations until they’ve kissed twice and now they’re too head-over-heels to have a rational conversation. I just expected a more level-headed response from the 40-somethings, but maybe that’s just me.
Other content notes: the romance was sweet at first, but the kissing was somewhat intense for my own convictions (lifting her up onto a table/counter, descriptive kissing). There were also at least two or three innuendos that went over my head but were pointed out by the characters. I wasn’t looking for them, but when the main character blushed because she said something that sounded weird, I was like, “huh?” and I had to read sections again. I’ll share one example:
“In the meantime, would you like to sample some of my pavlova?”
I swear I see a smirk flit across his face, but in the end, he holds back whatever remark he’s tempted to make. Which I appreciate, because I’ve just realized how that comment sounded.
Note: at one point, Adeline heard Luke say a “choice word”, but there is no cursing on page.
Overall Thoughts
Overall, I have mixed feelings about this book. Based on the beginning, I was expecting more depth and maturity from the characters, but I was disappointed in that regard. The resolution of the book was great, as was the beginning, but I don’t think that’s enough to save it for me. I was hoping to be able to recommend this to a few single ladies I know but I don’t think I will. The message of waiting for God’s timing was wonderful, but Luke and Adeline were not the best examples of seeking God’s will over their own feelings.
If you’re looking of clean, inspiring contemporary romance, I highly recommend Provenance by Carla Laureano. It’s one of my favorite books!
Book Information
Title: Hear the Falling Snow
Author: Storm Shultz
Release date: July 1, 2024
Genres: Contemporary, Romance, Christian
Age range: 18+ (not for content but more because it’s targeted at older adults, and I’m already younger than the target audience)
Content warnings/notes: Descriptive kissing (3 times, 1-2 pages each)
