About Snow on the Mountain
Written by PD Singer
133 pages / 60000 words
ISBN: 978-1-60370-851-7, 1-60370-851-0
Available file types - html, lit, pdf, prc, epub, Sony-optimized pdf
The rich, the famous, and the most serious skiers come to Wapiti Creek, where Jake helps them onto the lifts and Kurt improves their skiing skills. It’s perfect winter work for men who love the outdoors but like the comforts of hot water and a big bed when there is several feet of snow on the ground.
For rangers who have been mostly alone with one another for months, it’s a big change to rejoin civilization. Making friends is tough, especially when a ski patrol finds Jake far too appealing for Kurt’s peace of mind, and why does everyone snicker about the Alpenschlossl Ski School? For two men still finding their way as a couple, it isn’t clear if the biggest danger comes from vicious coworkers, would-be friends, the mountain, or each other.
Review
Alexa Snow, author of Clear Cut and Back Cut, writes: Jake Landon and Kurt Carlson are an established couple sharing an apartment and building a life together. Now that it's winter, Jake and Kurt are working at the local Wapiti Creek ski resort. Kurt is a ski instructor... or so he believes. Upon more careful analyzation of the contract he signed, it turns out things are more complicated than he thought, and getting out of the contract is easier said than done. How Kurt deals with the situations that arise as a result of the misunderstanding, and how Jake feels as a result, could destroy them, both literally and metaphorically.
Snow on the Mountain is a sequel to Fire on the Mountain and further explores Jake and Kurt's relationship. Like the first book, this story focuses on the main characters, but because of the change of setting there are many secondary characters as well. The characters are nicely developed, and the plot is moderately complex, revealing more of Kurt's past. With seamless writing and a solid sense of storytelling, this is a book you don't want to miss!
Sample
“Friendly game? Or do you want to play for money?” Kurt asked Egon as he examined the fletching on his darts.
“Friendly, but with stakes.” What he said next was too low for me to hear, but it changed Kurt’s face, and not for the better. Egon went on. “A win for everyone, no?”
“No. Forget it.” Kurt stuck his darts into the corner of the dart board and left Egon standing. “Not interested.”
“Oh, you save it, then?” Egon grinned nastily at Kurt’s back.
Kurt turned around and snarled, “Fuck you.” That made everyone at the table who hadn’t been tuned to this conversation swivel around and stare.
“You did not want?” His voice was mocking. I wanted to get up and pound his big nose until it stuck out the back of his head, but Kurt squared himself in that “one more comment and I punch you” way that made Egon back down. “Okay, okay.” He strolled down the alley to the board to impale his darts, leaving Kurt furious.
Kurt sat down in the one empty chair with a crash and drained the rest of his beer in one angry gulp. His face was thunderous, and I thought he needed to get away from the group until he calmed down. I’d never seen him this mad--what the hell had Egon said? The bastard was back to say something else. He leaned over Kurt’s shoulder and said clearly, “Good night, Alpenschlossl,” before sauntering away.
That caused a little stir in the group-- their eyes narrowed and some of them repeated the name. What the hell was the problem? I wanted to ask, but I wanted to get Kurt out of there even more, before he exploded at everyone.
“Think it’s time for us to head out of here, guys. See you again another time.” I stood up and stuffed my arms into my coat. “Come on, Kurt.”
He rose and grabbed his jacket without putting it on. “Good night, everyone, sorry to leave it on a note like this, but it’s time to split. Better next time, okay?”
I added, “Goodnight, all.” He headed to the door without a backward glance, though Egon got a scowl across the room, and I was close behind him.
“Good night, Hero!” That made me flinch, but not nearly as hard as when someone behind me followed it with, “Good night, Zero!”
The cold night air was a bracing shock after the warmth of the pub. I caught up with Kurt halfway to the shuttle stop. He started ranting before I drew even. “So what! I work for them! I take the money and I teach them to ski! What the fuck is the matter with that?” He turned to me, eyes blazing. “Huh? What is the matter with that?”
“Nothing, Kurt.” I spoke softly, trying to calm him.
“Then why…” An unsuspecting snowman standing outside a restaurant took a swift uppercut to its frozen round head: snow exploded everywhere. “Why does everyone act like “Alpenschlossl” is just like “leper”? I teach skiing, damn it!”
“I know you do, Kurt. You’re a good teacher. I don’t know what’s up with them, they’re being idiots.” I put my hand on his shoulder and hoped he wasn’t so enraged he’d punch me just for attracting attention: the snowman had had a remarkably large carrot nose. “Come on, buddy, calm down, okay?” Getting tossed in jail for creating a public disturbance would be a rotten way to end the night. “Let’s go home.”
He fumed silently on the shuttle ride back to the apartment. He was a little calmer when we got off, and by the time we were back inside our little home he was almost himself again. Maybe six months of almost no company except me had left him as intolerant of crowds as I was. Once inside with jackets shed, he turned silently to me and held me tightly, silently. I held him as he clutched me, his head resting on my shoulder, facing away. We stayed like that until he finally faced me and said, “Come to bed with me.”
I was tired and wrung out-- bed sounded good. I’d find some energy if he wanted to make love again, but he led me gently to the bedroom and left his shorts on when he slipped into our bed. I curled around him, holding him against my chest. He pulled my arm around like a blanket. I kissed the back of his neck softly, and I thought he was going to say something. He started to, once or twice, but sighed back into silence. I was almost asleep when he stroked my arm and said, “Jake, I…I’m glad you’re here.”