Toni Anderson

Cold Light of Day
4 Stars

The daughter of a notorious Russian spy, Scarlett Stone is determined to prove her father's innocence. To that end, she infiltrates the Russian embassy to plant a listening device in the ambassador's office unwittingly interfering with an FBI investigation. Targeted by both the Russians and the FBI, Scarlett finds herself relying on former Navy SEAL and current FBI profiler Matt Lazlo to keep her safe. But as the net tightens, Scarlett and Matt suspect a traitor in show more their midst.

An exciting suspense plot and an enjoyable romance even though the heroine is somewhat TSTL.

The Russian traitor angle is compelling and called to mind the case of Robert Hanssen with a twist, i.e., Scarlett's father is innocent. Although the Russians are the obvious villains, and their actions are disgusting, the primary mystery revolves around the identity of the FBI mole. This element is well-written and keeps the reader guessing.

One troubling aspect, however, is the unnecessary inclusion of the faked rape scene, which adds nothing to either plot or characterization as the victim is unconscious and the photos taken by the rapist are never mentioned again in the book.

In terms of the romance, Matt and Scarlett have great chemistry, especially during their initial interactions. Their reactions to one another after Scarlett's true identity is revealed are realistic and believable. The inlcusion of cameo roles by Alex Parker and Mallory Rooney from book #1 is an added bonus.

Overall, a good addition to the series. show less

Colder Than Sin
3 Stars

Quentin Savage, head of the FBI negotiation unit, is in Indonesia giving the keynote address at a security conference when terrorists attack the luxury resort. In the melee, Quentin and Haley Cramer, CEO of a private security firm, are taken hostage and find themselves forced to resort to any and all measures to stay alive.

***Warning: This book contains references to and details of sexual assault and violence***

The suspense plot is exciting with some solid action show more scenes, especially at the beginning. Nevertheless, the identity of the mastermind and their motive is obvious early on and all the reader can do is wait for the characters to catch up.

The romance between Quentin and Haley has its moments but is also problematic. To begin with, their initial relationship is based primarily on sex, and the fact that Haley has sex with Quention immediately following Wenck's assault lacks veracity. There is also the impression that without the kidnapping, nothing would have developed between Haley and Quention beyond their instant attraction.

Moreover, neither Quention nor Haley completely fulfills the potential of the characters. Quentin's supposed negotiating skills fail him at key times, and he has to resort to more physical means to survive. Haley is presented as a strong-willed and independent woman but often comes across as weak and whiny.

Finally, there are too many references or incidents of sexual violence. Yes, the situation sets the stage for this, but Haley was raped as teen, mauled by Wenck, and then almost raped by the terrorists. Darby was also raped by several men. . It is all way too excessive and overdone.

All in all, this is one of the weaker installments in the series although the hints at a connection between Darby O'Roarke and FBI agent Eban Winters are very intriguing and I look forward to their story (#5 in this spin off series). show less

I was just going back and looking at my reviews for the previous books in this series and realized that each book is so different. Usually an author has some “trait” that carries over in their books – maybe something in the plot or the sex scenes or words used – I can honestly say there is nothing the same in these 4 books. We’ve had assassins and a secret group that takes justice in their own hands, a terrorist group and bombing on US soil, Russian spies and espionage and now two show more twisted serial killers. You defiantly don’t know what to expect from this author book to book.

At the start of the series we met FBI profiler Lincoln Frazer. He has always fascinated me with how closed off he is with his emotions yet a brilliant profiler who is described as being very good looking but would never open himself up enough to get involved in an emotional relationship. He lives for the job, for making sure every serial killer and bad guy gets put behind bars or dead if that is the only reasonable outcome to stopping them. But as we find out in this book underneath that tough exterior is a man that is haunted by a few of his choices and one who does occasionally wonder what it would be like to love and be loved by a strong woman.

With most of his team not available he decides to take a case himself of a murder of a young girl wearing something from a very old case and was thought to have been from a murdered victim whose killer is on death row. What he doesn’t count on is finding himself attracted to the ER Dr who he meets at the scene of the crime.

I wondered what type of woman would be a good fit for Frazer and I’m glad that the author chose one that had some pretty ugly secrets in her past too and was also a tough former Army Captain that had closed of her emotions long ago too. She gave up her Army career to raise her teenage sister when her mother died. It was quite humorous watching these two who normally live their lives closed off to emotions internally try and fight their feelings and at first not really even recognizing that what they were feeling was sexual attraction.

Even though there were no big terrorist plots or espionage happening in this book the mystery of who the second killer was and how he was tied to the killer on death row kept you guessing – I totally guessed wrong which is always a nice change.

I’m glad we got to see a more personal side to Lincoln Frazer who even had a bit of a dominance thing going on in the bedroom which just made him all the more sexier. Cant wait to see who’s story will be next.. show less

Toni Anderson delivers another heart-pounding romantic suspense in Cold Truth, the latest installment in her Cold Justice: Most Wanted series. What starts out as a fake relationship formed under extreme, life-threatening circumstances slowly unravels into a deeply emotional and authentic connection. This gripping tale offers the perfect blend of danger, romance, and emotional depth.

If you love romantic suspense with layers of tension and heart, Cold Truth is a must-read. Toni Anderson show more skillfully blends several popular tropes—fake relationship, age gap, and forced proximity—into a story that feels fresh and compelling.

The story follows Kurt Montana, a relentless FBI agent, and Rowena Smith, a quiet librarian, whose worlds couldn’t be more different. The chances of their paths crossing were slim to none—until Rowena’s desperate search for her biological father collides with Kurt’s deadly pursuit of a ruthless killer. Suddenly, their lives spiral into chaos, forcing them to rely on each other in a high-stakes game where trust is rare and danger is constant.

Anderson pulls you in from the very first page, maintaining tension and suspense while diving deep into the characters’ emotional journeys. The romance is slow-burning but powerful, perfectly balanced with the thrilling chase and life-or-death moments. What stood out to me most was how the fake relationship wasn’t just used to move the plot forward. Instead, it revealed deeper layers of Kurt while also highlighting Rowena’s strength and vulnerability. As a result, their connection felt authentic. Additionally, the author does a good job of showing Kurt’s internal struggle with their age gap. It hits harder because he has a daughter close to Rowena’s age. It showcased the complexity of his feelings, making him hesitant and conflicted. That doesn’t stop his attraction. His fear clashes with his desire. The struggle feels real and relatable.

New to Toni Anderson? Or a longtime fan? Cold Truth won’t let you go. It’s gripping. It’s intense. You won’t put it down. All in all, Cold Truth delivers a fantastic mix of suspense, romance, and real emotions. This review was originally posted on Totally Addicted to Reading show less