Read As A Stand Alone: Yes
Publisher: Toni Anderson Inc.
Source: pr firm in exchange for an honest review
Release Date: Nov. 24th, 2015
Buying Links: Amazon US* | Apple Books* | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Google Books | Kobo |
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Blurb from goodreads:
CIA Officer Patrick Killion needs to figure out if feisty frog biologist, Audrey Lockhart, is a deadly assassin or an innocent scapegoat. And the only way to do that is to gain her trust, and then betray it.
Attacked and left for dead, Audrey is forced to put her trust in an enigmatic stranger who saves her from certain death. Then Audrey discovers her rescue was actually an abduction, and the man she thought was her savior is her captor.
Killion is falling hard and fast for his target and suddenly he has his hands full, dealing with a smart, beautiful woman who is furious at his deception. Betrayal is everywhere and Killion doesn't know who to trust. The organization he works for? Or the woman he's falling in love with?
My Thoughts:
I've read this book several times now and I like it more every time. I like Ms. Anderson's stories; her characters, her plots, her sense of humor. The men are confident, cocky, but not usually assholes. Killion was a bit of an exception. I didn't like him at first but I warmed up to him. It took him way too long to figure out the truth about Audrey and I just wanted to smack him. To be fair, Audrey was a little slow at understanding what was going on though she had ignorance as an excuse. And when things got too heavy, Anderson would lighten up scenes with humor, especially with lots of frog jokes. They made me laugh.
"Cold in the Shadows" was fast-paced, intense, steamy, and tender. Audrey is a smart, sassy nerd. Killion is patriotic, loyal, caring, and a master at compartmentalizing his feelings. They bring out the best in each other, though there are a few missteps along the way. Trust is a challenge for both of them; it's both instinctive and hard-won and vital to the health of their relationship.
Although the inciting event to this story occurs in a previous book, you can read this as a stand alone. Anderson provides enough backstory to keep things moving smoothly. The villains are ruthless, a little OTT at times, and the good guys are tough, funny, raunchy, and responsible. I cursed, I laughed, I cheered, and I didn't want to put the book down.
About the Author ~
Toni Anderson writes gritty, sexy, FBI Romantic Thrillers, and is a New York Times and a USA Today bestselling author. Her books have won the Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery and Suspense, Readers’ Choice, Aspen Gold, Book Buyers’ Best, Golden Quill, National Excellence in Story Telling (NEST) Contest, and National Excellence in Romance Fiction awards. She's been a finalist in both the VIVIAN and the RITA. Nearly three million copies of her books have been downloaded.
Best known for her "COLD JUSTICE" books perhaps it's not surprising to discover Toni lives in one of the most extreme climates on earth—Manitoba, Canada. Formerly a Marine Biologist, she still misses the ocean, but is lucky enough to travel for research purposes. In January 2016, she visited FBI Headquarters in Washington DC, including a tour of the Strategic Information and Operations Center. She hopes not to get arrested for her Google searches.
Find out more on her website: http://www.toniandersonauthor.com
Find Toni Online ~
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Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2820461.Toni_Anderson
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/toni-anderson
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Toni-Anderson/e/B0042P4SPW
Don’t miss New York Times bestselling author Toni Anderson’s award-winning Cold Justice series, featuring agents from the FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU). From serial killers to traffickers, terrorists to kidnappers – the FBI always gets its man (or woman).
I really liked this book, too. Actually, I liked Killian the first time I met him, and he was true to form then. He can be difficult to admire at times, but despite his efforts at appearing unaffected and stoic, I knew he was an unreliable narrator and lying to himself along with the reader.
ReplyDeleteHe was an unreliable narrator for sure and he lied to himself so hard. It's part of what tipped me into liking him.
DeleteThis is an author and series I really want to read. Fantastic review!
ReplyDeleteAnne - Books of My Heart
This is such an excellent series; you really should check it out.
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