Publisher: Toni Anderson
Source: the publisher in exchange for an honest review
Release Date: November 14th, 2017
Buying Links: Amazon* | Google Play | Kobo | iBooks | Barnes & Noble
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Blurb from goodreads:
A COLD DARK PROMISE takes place during the week leading up to the wedding of former assassin Alex Parker to FBI Agent Mallory Rooney, who meet and fall in love in the novel, A COLD DARK PLACE.
In the midst of wedding preparations, a shadowy figure from Alex Parker's past reappears and threatens the joy he’s found with Mallory Rooney.
Four years ago, Jane Sanders’s rich and powerful ex-husband kidnapped their young daughter and Jane hasn’t seen her since. Now she finally has a lead on her location and she knows just the man to help her get her daughter back. Trouble is, he’s an assassin. And he terrifies her.
Despite his upcoming nuptials, Alex agrees to help, but it doesn’t take long for the routine operation to turn complicated—and deadly. Can the former CIA operative make it home in time to marry the woman he loves, or will his dark past destroy all hope for their future?
My Thoughts:
Alex, the groom, takes off a week before the wedding. On what will likely be a dangerous mission. A volunteer mission. I didn't know whether to kiss him or smack him. Seriously, he wanders off on a freelance job a week before the ceremony?! At least it was to help someone, to reunite a parent and child.
Not having the first few books in the series, I didn't fully get the animosity between Alex and Jane but I appreciated, despite the timing, that he helped her even though they didn't like each other and even though he was doing it for free. It wasn't a job, he was getting ready for his honeymoon, he could have said 'No'. But, with Mallory's blessing, he heads overseas to retrieve Jane's eight year-old daughter.
Of course, things don't go as planned and soon backup arrives to help with some serious matters, more than just a rescue job. And, though this is Alex and Mallory's wedding story, there's another romance in bloom and it was just lovely. I'm looking forward to seeing that one play out. There's a lot of baggage to be dealt with but I expect Anderson will handle it tactfully and realistically as she does everything.
The beginning and middle of the story are dark, tense, and exciting with moments of humor and romance. I was actually seriously worried that Alex might not get out this alive. At one point, actually at several points, I was cursing Anderson. She really had me doubting that Alex would live and that he'd make it to his wedding on time. Thank goodness for friends!
The end of the book was sweet, a little sappy, and funny. I laughed out loud at the scene with barney and Rex. I could just see it in my head. The story wrapped up some threads from earlier in the series and brought Alex and Mallory's relationship to a happy point. Anderson neatly managed suspense, romance, and humor in a tense, exciting and sweet package.
Some favorite quotes:
Click. For the first time on a mission Alex’s gun jammed.
"Turn up in rags and I'll marry you. Hell, turn up painted green and I won't blink."
About Toni Anderson:
New York Times and USA Today international bestselling author, Toni Anderson, writes dark, gritty Romantic Suspense novels that have hit #1 in Barnes & Noble's Nook store, the Top 10 in Amazon and Kobo stores, and the Top 50 in iBooks. Her novels have won many awards. A former Marine Biologist from Britain, she inexplicably ended up in the geographical center of North America, about as far from the ocean as it is possible to get. She now lives in the Canadian prairies with her Irish husband and two children and spends most of her time complaining about the weather.
Toni has no explanation for her oft-times dark imagination, and only hopes the romance makes up for it. She's addicted to reading, dogs, tea, and chocolate.
If you want to know when Toni's next book will be out, visit her website (http://www.toniandersonauthor.com) and sign up for her newsletter. If you want to read other fascinating stories about life in a city that, during winter, is sometimes colder than Mars, friend her on Facebook: (https://www.facebook.com/toniannanderson).
Connect with Toni online:
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Their breathing quieted. Heartbeats slowed and melded.
The dying sun cast long shadows through their bedroom window.
“You have to help her,” Mallory said quietly.
His arm curled over her hip, and he pulled her closer.
“I can take another week off work,” she said.
“No way are you getting involved in this.”
She looked over her shoulder and smiled. “You can’t stop me.”
He kissed her fingers and smiled sadly. “I know I can’t stop you, but if you insist on coming with me, then I won’t go.”
His silver gaze wasn’t angry or demanding. It was calm. Implacable. Mallory blew out a big breath of frustration. It was the first time Alex had refused to let her be involved in something. She knew he hid things from her occasionally. But the two of them had made a promise to one another the day investigators had uncovered her sister’s body.
No more lies.
Ever.
And that was why he was telling her this now, she realized.
Her fingers gripped his, hugging him to her. “I don’t want something bad to happen to you.”
“I can take care of myself.”
She swallowed. “I know you can, but I don’t want you to have to take care of yourself. I want to look after you. I want to be the one watching your back.”
He ran a finger down her spine and followed it with his lips.
She closed her eyes. “You know what I mean.”
“I do. I feel it every time you go to work without me.”
But he let her go anyway, because she needed the space to do her job, and he respected that. He respected her.
She rolled onto her back. She didn’t want Alex to go on this job without her, but she knew she wasn’t the only one who needed space to work, even when that work wasn’t clearly defined. She touched his face.
“I can’t go.” Alex insisted, but there was no conviction behind his words. “We have a wedding to prepare for and a dog to look after.”
Rex was in the living room on the couch. He’d fetch a ball from dawn until dusk, but he was generally a couch potato which suited them both perfectly right now. Mallory intended to get a puppy or two after the wedding. She’d convince Alex by reminding him dogs were good security.
“All you have to do for the wedding is turn up— and write those place name cards. The wedding planner,” who Alex had nicknamed the General for good reason, “is doing virtually everything else including arranging transportation for all the guests who are flying in. I can make any last-minute adjustments and double-check on the flowers and still go to work every day next week. Hiring that woman is the best idea you’ve ever had.”
He laid his ear against her belly. “Not the best idea, but pretty inspired.”
She sank her hands into his hair. “When will you be back?”
“I imagine Wednesday at the latest.” He placed one large palm on her stomach and held her gaze. “I won’t take any unnecessary risks, and I won’t do anything stupid. If the child is there I will either figure out a way for the legat to get involved.” The legat was the FBI’s official presence in a foreign country. “Or I’ll sneak them away when no one is looking and bring her, and Jane, back to the States.” Alex kissed her stomach again. She knew he was impatient to meet the newest member of their family. “I’m not sure the daughter— Taylor— will remember her mother after four years.”
Mallory’s heart clenched, and her hand went to where their baby was kicking her low ribs. Alex linked their fingers. She already felt overprotective. The idea of someone stealing her baby… She swallowed hard. This was important. Jane Sanders had always seemed a little aloof, and no wonder. Her child had been stolen and the fact it was by the father made it no less heartbreaking for the mother.
Mallory touched Alex’s lips. “Don’t be late for the wedding. Promise?”
Silver eyes met hers. “I promise.”
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