ABBEYDON ABANDON (BRISTOL PARK) | Kirkus Reviews

A career-oriented woman who relishes her freedom meets her match in an attractive ski instructor with a haunted past in Blackhall’s romance novel.

In this third installment of the Bristol Park series, New York City resident Stacy Barclay heads off for a much-needed getaway with her two best friends to a cozy ski resort in Abbeydon, a few hours outside the city. As the senior analyst for a financial firm, Stacy desperately needs to unwind, having just learned that she hadn’t received a much-deserved promotion (“What was worse, the guy who did had a less impressive portfolio and less experience”). When she meets the resort’s ski instructor, Luke Tverberg, sparks immediately fly and the two begin a sexually charged game of cat-and-mouse. It turns out that Luke has enjoyed frequent dalliances with guests over his years of nomadic seasonal living, but currently he’s celibate, and has been so for over a year. He also has a tragedy in his past: His girlfriend, Becca, was killed during a carjacking 10 years ago, just a few days before Christmas. Ever since, Luke avoids commitment—and the holidays—as much as he possibly can. But his connection with Stacy proves to be something special, even as they both tell each other (and themselves) that they want to keep things strictly physical: “Stacy was different. He’d felt it the moment they met, and every interaction they’d had since.” When Luke finally makes a move toward something more serious, Stacy’s feeling that she must choose between her job and romantic happiness threatens everything they have.

In chapters told from alternating third-personviewpoints, readers get an inside look at both main characters’ inner lives. Stacy’s dedication to proving herself in an “old boys’ network” will be relatable to many readers, and Luke’s tale of teenage heartbreak tackles grief in a surprisingly meaningful way. Blackhall also makes sure to hit the high notes that romance fans expect: Engaging sexual tension, a cozy wintry backdrop, and protagonists who resist love until they can’t. Smooth prose and naturalistic dialogue make this a breezy read, and the characters are well-developed throughout. Even the side players get brief moments to shine, as when Luke’s gay brother, Erik, navigates the tricky world of small-town dating. Blackhall’s characters also display a healthy attitude toward sex with casual references to vibrators, testing for sexually transmitted diseases, and condoms. One of the most swoon-worthy comments comes from Luke’s insistence on clear sexual communication: “I take consent very seriously, and your comfort even more so.” The sex scenes themselves are frequent, explicit, and passionate. A few elements feel repetitive, including references to Luke’s sexually charged growling and occasional other phrases (“he wanted, no he needed more”; “She wanted, no, she needed more”; “She wanted, no, she needed it harder”). Still, Blackhall manages to craft a racy romantic novel that also weaves in serious themes—a classic story that’s also perfectly modern.

A seriously sexy romance that delivers on genre expectations while also feeling fresh and energetic.