Cold Pursuit

Cold Pursuit
3 Stars

Trapped in a mall during a terror attack, Vivi Vincent and her young son, Michael, soon find themselves targets when it becomes clear that Michael may have witnessed details about the terrorists' future plans. Placed in protective custody with FBI agent Jed Brennan, Vivi must face the threats not only to her life but to her heart as well.

Enjoyable overall, but there are several troubling elements that undermine both the story and the characters.

Vivi is supposed to be a strong and independent single mother struggling to cope with her traumatized son's psychological problems. Sounds like the perfect heroine, right? Unfortunately, Vivi's excessive and repetitive musings on her past relationship with her jerk of an show more ex-husband and her overprotective mothering undermine her character.

Jed isn't much better. His constant self-recrimination and reluctance to give into his attraction to Vivi are irritating, and result in a complete lack of romance and chemistry between the leads. Thus, the eventual "I love yous" have no basis in emotion and feel forced rather than natural.

There are also plot and character inconsistencies that undercut the apparent anti-terror message of the story. To begin with the author seems to have trouble reconciling the terrorist theme with her political correctness. The apologetic tone presented via one of the villains appears to imply that terrorist acts could be justified under certain circumstances - an idea that is simply abhorrent. Nothing justifies terrorism.

The revelations at the end of the story, i.e., a conspiracy involving the Vice President and Mossad, are unrealistic and lacking in logic. While Israel's policy of targeted assassination is no secret, it is doubtful that the Mossad would mastermind a terrorist attack to further Israel's agenda. This would undermine Israel/US relations is a detrimental way.

In terms of the character inconsistencies, Viv's ex goes from a complete and utter jerk who would threaten to commit his son to a mental institution and physically abuse his wife to a suddenly caring father and guilt ridden ex-husband. Really?

Moreover, the sudden inclusion of details without foundation and the lack of closure with regard to some plot points are also problematic.

In sum, not as good as the first book, but the hints at stories to come are compelling enough to continue with the series. show less

Tense thriller about an act of terrorism in a popular shopping mall written in such vivid detail as the reader you felt like you were living the nightmare right along with the characters.

Sometimes it hard to envision scenes in a book but when it’s written in or about a location you’ve been to before it makes it all so real in your mind and very scary. Even though the name is changed a bit it takes place in the Mall of America in Minnesota. Could you imagine multiple gunmen opening fire right there in the middle of Nickelodeon Universe? All the families and small children? Well that’s the opening scene in this book and it was downright scary.

Vivi Vincent is there with her 8 year old son when the shooting starts which thrust them show more both into a nightmare that doesn’t end when the shooting stops as her son who is mute and traumatized might have seen and heard the terrorist plot which might have more of an endgame than just the mall shooting.

Jed Brennan is a FBI agent that was forced to take a vacation after his last job a tracking down a serial killer. He happens to be at the mall that day shopping when the shooting starts and is not only instrumental in getting both Vivi and her son out but also realizing that they are still in danger and takes them into protective custody. Both characters have had some bad experiences in the past in relationships so when they find that there is a spark between them even with all the danger surrounding them they fight it as long as they can. Jed was a great hero who not only fought to protect them but also was great with the son and his “issues”.

The author keeps your attention throughout the book not only with the danger to Vivi and her son but also having us as the readers be fully aware of the who and why of the terrorist. As an American I’ve never understood cultures that thrive off the killing of innocents for some cause and have little sympathy for those that carry out the killing of children.

As with the first book in this series this one was intense from beginning to end and justice served to those that deserved it. Looking forward to seeing who’s next in the series as we were introduced to some characters that I think would for interesting hero’s in future books.

UPDATE: I am changing my rating from a 4 to a 5. My initial rating was of a ARC of the book and there were somethings with the last couple of chapters that I felt were not explained properly. In the final released version she made changes to those chapters and added a epilogue which I have now read and it makes a huge difference. show less

Cold Justice #2

Since I really don’t remember what happened in the first book I can assure you this second story can easily be read on its own so if you pick up at this point no fear you will fit right in.

“Cold Pursuit” starts with a bang. Shopping at a mall with her son, Vivi finds herself in the middle of a terrorist attack...then when things got worse Jed, an off duty FBI agent, springs into action and comes to their rescue...but unknown to Vivi and Jed the attackers think that her son can identify them and they need to illuminate him....and the action starts.

The tension is thick and taut as Vivi tries to protect her son and Jed tries to thwart all attacks that come their ways. No place is safe for Vivi and her son even while show more they are in police protection the bad guys manage to find them. Filled with suspense this is one of those story that kept me on the edge of my seat hoping all good guys would turn out unscathed and there to live another day. This story may seem to be a thriller but there is so much romance and sex to be labelled anything other than a romantic/suspense. Lust is in the air for Vivi and Jed and yep they went for it...really...

The plot nicely gives us a little bit of everything: some politics, terrorism, betrayal and the dilemma of who to trust. But in terms of romance it is kinda weak and failed to be brilliant...Am I a fuddy-duddy? ...maybe.

“Cold Pursuit” is a nice change in pace but is not my preferred genre. show less

Solid suspense story. Enjoyed the fast pace and believable characters.
This story is a finalist in the National Readers' Choice Award, the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence, and the National Excellence in Romance Fiction Award ~ for Romantic Suspense.

Acquired on January 24, 2019 Amz
October 4, 2017 – Finished Reading

[b:Cold Pursuit|22042892|Cold Pursuit (Cold Justice, #2)|Toni Anderson|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1399331062l/22042892._SY75_.jpg|41366314] by [a:Toni Anderson|2820461|Toni Anderson|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1607125087p2/2820461.jpg]
Genres: Adult, Crime, Romance, Suspense
4.5 Stars

Starts off fast paced.

Filled with suspense and mystery.

Great characters and a perfect blend of adult romance.

Some repetition and typos/editing errors.

All and all, this is a great series.

DESCRIPTION, NOT REVIEW: Single mom Vivi Vincent is thrust into her worst nightmare when she’s trapped inside a mall during a terror attack along with her eight-year-old son. With the help of Jed Brennan, an FBI special agent on enforced leave, Vivi and her son survive the assault. But the danger is far from over.

Vivi’s son may have witnessed critical details of the terrorists’ future plans and is targeted for death, but he’s mute, and he’s traumatized. Still someone launches a strike against the FBI’s safe house, and Jed fears the bad guys have an inside man. No longer knowing who to trust, he hides mother and son in a log cabin deep in the heart of the Wisconsin Northwoods. There Jed and Vivi try to figure out how to show more unlock the information inside her son’s head. What they don’t bargain for is the red-hot attraction that flares between them, or the extent of the sinister plot that threatens to rip apart not only any chance of happiness they might have together, but also the very fabric of American society. show less

Cold Justice Book 02