When Gabriel McQueen arrives back in his hometown in Maine on holiday leave from the service, his father, the county sheriff, sends him off on a routine mission. With a terrible ice storm in the works, Gabriel must make the hazardous trip to warn former resident Lolly Helton off the mountain. When Gabriel arrives, he becomes acutely aware of two gun-toting guests and soon realizes ‘tis not the season to be jolly. After safely removing Lolly from the guarded house, the race is on to escape the two meth-crazed killers. But the addicts aren’t the only issue, because the weather outside is certainly frightful. Will these two hapless victims live to see another Christmas?

Ice is another notch in the belt of bestselling author Linda Howard. A fast-paced romantic thriller with a holiday theme, this one doesn’t quite live up to the quality of her many other popular works. Although still worth the read, some of the scenes are a little far-fetched, such as the broken drug addict making it up a steep, deadly incline while the main characters struggle up the porch steps, or the corny sex-in-the-shower scene. But however ridiculous it may seem, it all makes for good storytelling and just might leave you feeling a little anxious when you’re alone on a seemingly silent night.