Review: Love on the Winter Steppes by Paris Wynters

 

Can a magical day at the Ice Festival melt this career-focused woman’s heart?

Marketing consultant Qara Whitaker loves her job, happily putting in endless hours and working through holidays. But when her grandmother asks that she accompany her on a birthday trip to Mongolia to visit their family, Qara can’t say no. Packing up her laptop, Qara boards the plane—never imagining that a shared cab ride with a stranger will change her life forever.

Hoping to push through writer’s block, author Benjamin Lacoy hops on a plane to Mongolia looking for inspiration. A chance meeting with a beautiful and intelligent woman whose smile ignites his heart leads to them playing tourists. Sparks fly and Ben is feeling far more than inspiration, yet each time he and Qara get close, she’s distracted by work.

Ben is torn; he likes Qara, but he always promised himself he’d never let work come before family and friends like his parents did. Opposites clearly attract, but can they learn to balance work with love in order to build a future together?

 

My Review:

A surprise trip to Mongolia leads to love.

Qara and Ben are both on a spur of the moment trip to Mongolia when they unexpectedly meet at the airport.  Qara’s grandmother brought Qara and her sister on the trip so they could learn more about their heritage and meet some more of their family.  Ben is hoping to kickstart the writer’s block he has been experiencing.  Learning they are staying at the same hotel, Qara and Ben decide to see the sights together.  But while out, Qara tends to take work calls which annoys Ben.  Ben’s parents were workaholics and put their job first.  Just as Ben was just starting to think maybe him and Qara could start dating when they got back to New York City, he realizes he doesn’t want a woman who is like his parents.  But with a little matchmaking from Qara’s grandmother and her sister, along with the magic of the winter wonderland, they just might be able work through their differences after all. 

This book really swept me away.  I enjoyed the romance, but I also enjoyed learning about Mongolia and their people and culture.  This is the first book I have read by this author and it won’t be the last.  She has a way with her words that really bring the story to life.