Thaw

Elyse Springer

Riptide Publishing Softcover $17.99 (226pp) 978-1-62649-514-2

Thaw is passionate and raw, with a reminder that love isn’t the same for everyone.

Elyse Springer’s Thaw explores love and what it means to show it, with two people in a relationship who aren’t sure what one should look like.

Abigail lives a quiet life as a librarian with her own routine—which is just how she likes it. Relationships are difficult for her, since Abigail is asexual and doesn’t want to disappoint a potential partner who would expect to be intimate.

At a party with her friend, Abigail is asked to dance by the beautiful Gabrielle Levesque, the renowned model known as the “Ice Queen” in the industry. Abigail doesn’t expect anything from their chance encounter, but Gabrielle surprises her by pursuing her. It becomes apparent however, that there is a reason for Gabrielle’s icy exterior that could end any chance she and Abigail have. Dealing with her own concerns, her job at the library being threatened and the worry that Gabrielle won’t care for her once she finds out Abigail doesn’t want to have sex, Abigail isn’t sure the relationship will go far.

Thaw is a smoldering story with compelling characters and wonderful chemistry. Abigail is a well-rounded character with realistic concerns. Her love life is not always her number-one priority, despite the occasional grievances. With her job as a librarian being threatened, her character is revealed. She is a worrier, someone who prefers their own company, with a passion for books she feels can’t be satisfied in another job. All of this is revealed very well with the help of the events in her life.

Gabrielle is a more mysterious figure, but her motives has reason and ultimately make