HomeGroupsTalkMoreZeitgeist
Search Site
This site uses cookies to deliver our services, improve performance, for analytics, and (if not signed in) for advertising. By using LibraryThing you acknowledge that you have read and understand our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Your use of the site and services is subject to these policies and terms.

Results from Google Books

Click on a thumbnail to go to Google Books.

Cold Cruel Kiss: A heart-stopping and…
Loading...

Cold Cruel Kiss: A heart-stopping and addictive romantic thriller (Cold Justice - The Negotiators) (edition 2021)

by Toni Anderson (Author)

MembersReviewsPopularityAverage ratingConversations
362685,591 (4.13)None
-- New York Times When the daughter of the US Ambassador to Argentina is kidnapped in broad daylight on Christmas Eve, the FBI sends one of its best negotiators to investigate.Supervisory Special Agent Max Hawthorne arrives at an embassy thrown into chaos as US and local law enforcement hustle to track the young woman. Is this a simple kidnap for ransom, or part of a political agenda? Could it be something more sinister?Lucy Aston has something to hide. Preferring to stay in the shadows, the lowly, fashion-challenged office assistant resents being assigned to help Max. But Max can’t resist a puzzle…he’s starting to suspect Lucy Aston is not what she seems.When rumors emerge of a suspected Russian spy operating out of the embassy, Lucy’s carefully constructed life begins to crumble. As she and Max race to rescue the ambassador’s daughter, Lucy has to do whatever it takes to keep her cover from being blown—even if that means betraying the man she’s falling for.… (more)
Member:bodebeabay
Title:Cold Cruel Kiss: A heart-stopping and addictive romantic thriller (Cold Justice - The Negotiators)
Authors:Toni Anderson (Author)
Info:Toni Anderson (2021), 450 pages
Collections:Your library, Currently reading, To read
Rating:
Tags:to-read, giveaways-entrd

Work Information

Cold Cruel Kiss by Toni Anderson

None
Loading...

Sign up for LibraryThing to find out whether you'll like this book.

No current Talk conversations about this book.

Showing 2 of 2
Cold Cruel Kiss
3 Stars

After the daughter of the US Ambassador to Argentina is kidnapped, hostage negotiator Max Hawthorne is called in to coordinate the response. The situation becomes even more untenable when Max learns of a possible Russian spy active in the embassy and begins to suspect that there is more to Lucy Aston, the quiet and unassuming junior assistant to the ambassador than meets the eye.

Toni Anderson's Cold Justice series is well-written, and her plots are intense and exciting. That said, they can be divided into two types - those focusing on violent crimes (serial killers, murders, human trafficking) and those focusing on political crimes and espionage. My personal preference is for the former, and as such, this review is influenced by my dislike of the tropes associated with the latter.

Max and Lucy's attraction and romance build slowly but surely as they work together to find and rescue the hostages. The fact that Max sees beyond Lucy's stoic and staid appearance to the strong and resilient woman beneath makes him one of the most likable and appealing heroes in the series. Lucy is also very engaging although her transitions from femme fatale to mousy assistant to kick-ass sidekick are a little jarring at times.

The kidnapping plot is incorporated well into the storyline, and the sections from the hostages' perspectives contribute significantly to the suspense. They make the reader care about their fate and root for them. Nevertheless, it is quite easy to guess the identity of the culprit, and the big reveal is rather anti-climactic.

The inclusion of the secondary espionage subplot is, however, completely unnecessary, and it actually detracts from the romance. The use of the keeping secrets trope is annoying, especially considering the fact that it builds throughout the first 2/3s of the book, and then basically fizzles into nothing when the details are eventually exposed.

Despite the issues above, this is a satisfying read with likable characters and a good mix of action and romance. ( )
  Lauren2013 | May 5, 2023 |
Cold Justice - Crossfire: FBI Romantic Suspense Book 4
  JimFellows | Mar 3, 2021 |
Showing 2 of 2
no reviews | add a review
You must log in to edit Common Knowledge data.
For more help see the Common Knowledge help page.
Canonical title
Original title
Alternative titles
Original publication date
People/Characters
Important places
Important events
Related movies
Epigraph
Dedication
First words
Quotations
Last words
Disambiguation notice
Publisher's editors
Blurbers
Original language
Canonical DDC/MDS
Canonical LCC

References to this work on external resources.

Wikipedia in English

None

-- New York Times When the daughter of the US Ambassador to Argentina is kidnapped in broad daylight on Christmas Eve, the FBI sends one of its best negotiators to investigate.Supervisory Special Agent Max Hawthorne arrives at an embassy thrown into chaos as US and local law enforcement hustle to track the young woman. Is this a simple kidnap for ransom, or part of a political agenda? Could it be something more sinister?Lucy Aston has something to hide. Preferring to stay in the shadows, the lowly, fashion-challenged office assistant resents being assigned to help Max. But Max can’t resist a puzzle…he’s starting to suspect Lucy Aston is not what she seems.When rumors emerge of a suspected Russian spy operating out of the embassy, Lucy’s carefully constructed life begins to crumble. As she and Max race to rescue the ambassador’s daughter, Lucy has to do whatever it takes to keep her cover from being blown—even if that means betraying the man she’s falling for.

No library descriptions found.

Book description
Haiku summary

LibraryThing Author

Toni Anderson is a LibraryThing Author, an author who lists their personal library on LibraryThing.

profile page | author page

Current Discussions

None

Popular covers

Quick Links

Rating

Average: (4.13)
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
3 2
3.5
4 2
4.5 2
5 2

 

About | Contact | Privacy/Terms | Help/FAQs | Blog | Store | APIs | TinyCat | Legacy Libraries | Early Reviewers | Common Knowledge | 206,359,974 books! | Top bar: Always visible