I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy from the Author. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Winter Wishes Scattered
by Sarah Westill
Series: Bella and the Beastmaster #6
Series Rating:
Published by ISL Media on October 10, 2025
Setting: Sziveria
Genres: Dystopian Romantic Suspense Mystery
Pages: 184
Format: Kindle, Paperback
Source: the Author
Goodreads
BookBub
Storygraph
Get Your Copy at: Amazon
Also in this series: Frozen Flowers Fallen, Perfect Melody Silenced, Dreams Never Seen, Fiery Nights Tempted, Broken Heart Questioned
No one can leave. No one is safe. And a killer is on the loose…
In Sziveria, winter is more than a season, it becomes a prison. When the Arctic winds descend and snow buries every door outside, Haven City knows the rules: stay warm, stay inside, stay sane, and survive until spring.
But survival becomes a different kind of battle when a man is found murdered in the greenhouse, their only refuge from the boredom of their ice-locked apartments. With no authorities to call, Markus Ralston, his wolf Lunah, and a handful of anxious tenants must uncover the truth before the killer strikes again.
As Bella nears the final weeks of her pregnancy, the illusion of safety is completely shattered when two more bodies are discovered, heightening Markus’s critical need to find the killer. When Markus edges closer to identifying the suspect, Lunah is brutally injured in an unexpected attack. With fear seeping through the building like the cold itself, tensions rise, and the tenants begin demanding answers Markus is unable to give, and impatient to find.
Trapped in a building full of secrets, Markus is forced to protect not only his community, but the fragile family he’s desperate to keep safe…
Winter Wishes Scattered by Sarah Westill is beautifully written.
Will Bella and Markus find the person murdering the occupants of their apartment building before the baby is born?
The Ralston Family
Bella is very pregnant and spending the winter with Markus in Sziveria. She is still trying to be the wife that she believes Markus needs, and I think she is doing a great job of balancing everything and taking care of Lunah, too.
Madeleine, Bella’s mother, is counseling the other inhabitants, helping them with the winter blues. She is looking forward to her grandchild’s birth. Madeleine is such a sweet character and loves her family immensely.
Markus is hanging in but is also struggling with winter in Sziveria, which is very different from his home country, where they deal with a longer and stronger winter. They don’t have to be isolated, but in Sziveria, all of that is very different. Then add these murders inside the building, and now he is stressed about how to protect his family.
The Mystery
Bella and Willow are out walking in the greenhouse when they come upon a dead body. Markus is called in to find the culprit and secure the building. He will do it just to keep his family safe. Before it is all said and done, they have two deceased, and Lunah was hurt. But with the group Markus assembles, they will figure it out. Mostly because he has to keep his family safe.
Five Stars
My rating for Winter Wishes Scattered by Sarah Westill is five stars. It is always a pleasure to return to Siveria. Bella and Markus are such a fantastic couple. I love that they make time for themselves, even with everything going on around them. Ms. Westill does such a magnificent job of plotting the mystery and keeping the characters true to themselves.
If you haven’t read one of Ms. Westill’s books, I highly recommend them. Pick any of them, and you will fall in love with the guardians and the people of the wonderful world.
Bella and the Beast Master Series
The Guardians of Sziveria Series
Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of Winter Wishes Scattered by Sarah Westill.
Until the next time,
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About Sarah Westill
Hello! Allow me to introduce myself to the universe, I am Sarah Westill. Christian, wife, mother, author, novice artist, professional photographer, graphic designer (this is actually my ‘real’ job), and teacher!
I homeschool our youngest for a few more months as he transitions from 6th to 7th grade, then I’m sending him to private school for actual 7th grade.
I also dabble in art. I love watercolors and have been tinkering with acrylic for a medium. I discovered I have a minor obsession with Golden paints, and have been investing in the primary colors that are in the same family (warm and cool) to make my own beautiful colors.
I absolutely LOVE to teach littles art. 2nd grade is my favorite. In addition to wanting to please, they actually still listen to instruction at this age and are so proud of themselves when they complete any portion. They aren’t hard on themselves yet, they don’t self-criticize. We can learn a lot from a 2nd grader. They also respond very well to praise and positive reinforcement.
On top of my writing, and my art dabblings, I’m also a semi-professional photographer. I say semi-pro because I haven’t had any official training, aside from working with actual pro-photographers, who helped me learn the ins and outs of exposure, composition, posing and depth of field. I absolutely adore portrait photography. Being able to capture a very human story, a moment in time for a new mother, a new marriage, is such an amazing opportunity and honor.
My job that helps pay for my path to self-publishing is a graphic designer. I’m a cover artist. Long story, but I work under the name Elaina Lee. A lot of people know Elaina the cover artist. I’m proud of that, and really blessed to have worked with hundreds of authors over the span of an entire decade.
I am excited to be starting this journey. To introduce to you my world, my Guardians, and the stories the characters have urged me to write. I hope you enjoy reading them over the coming years as much as I have enjoyed writing them.
Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
- 2026 Finish the Series RC JEN
- 2026 Goodreads RC JEN
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