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Cold Pursuit by Toni Anderson

Single mom Vivi Vincent is thrust into her worst nightmare when she and her eight-year-old son are trapped inside a mall during a terror attack. Jed Brennan, a dedicated FBI agent on enforced leave, helps Vivi and her son survive the assault. But the danger is just beginning...

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. When someone launches a strike against the FBI’s safe house, Jed fears the bad guys have an inside man. Not 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 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 any chance of happiness they might have together.



I'm really loving the plots the author has created for this series. Seriously loving them. However... for some reason, I found this one to be lacking on certain details.

I got so much information about the terrorists, which was helped along by getting their perspectives. I even got more than I wanted about Vivi and her ex. I got virtually nothing about Jed, which was ridiculous because he featured in such a huge part of this story. He mentioned a woman named Mia, who was murdered, but I know nothing about how they met, how she was killed, nada. So much was dumped on me about Vivi's ex and I really couldn't care less, but what I really wanted was missing. More of Jed's background please.

Once again, the author's writing made it so easy to picture it all, from the dangerous situations to the investigations to everything in between. I'm excited to keep reading this series and if you enjoy thrillers with some romance thrown in, you should dive in too!


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 Contest and the RITA Award from the Romance Writers of America. More than two million copies of her books have been downloaded.

Best known for her "COLD" 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.

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A Cold Dark Place by Toni Anderson

Former CIA assassin Alex Parker works for a clandestine government organization hell-bent on taking out serial killers and pedophiles before they enter the justice system. Alex doesn't enjoy killing, but he's damn good at it.

FBI Special Agent Mallory Rooney has spent years hunting the lowlife who abducted her identical twin sister eighteen years ago. Now, during an on-going serial killer investigation, Mallory begins to suspect there's a vigilante operating outside the law.

When Mallory starts asking questions, Alex is ordered to watch her. As soon as they meet, the two begin to fall in love. But the lies and betrayals that define Alex's life threaten to destroy them both—especially when the man who stole her sister all those years ago makes Mallory his next target.



I really enjoyed this story. I liked how the author described certain scenes and events, making me feel like I was watching an episode of Criminal Minds. It was creepy and a bit scary and the murderer's perspective only made it more of a thriller.

It was exciting to know (or at least feel) like no one was safe. Mallory was a rookie agent who had a bit of arrogance that made her feel that she was untouchable. She was a smart and tough cookie, who was no stranger to tragedy ever since her identical twin was taken and has remained missing. All she wants is to find out what happened to her and get some justice. Alex was a man who was burdened by the tragedy as well. A trained killer, he was extemely patriotic, but he knew how to color outside the lines.

This story worked so well that I'll definitely be reading more of this series.

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Before I started writing this review, I took the time to read a few others and I was absolutely shocked. Quite a few remarked that they were disappointed because of the graphic sexual language.


Ummm... what?! It was slightly descriptive, but nowhere near explicit. Seriously, if people want clean stories, they shouldn't read anything out of the Christian section. And if they don't want sex, don't read romance. Because a romance book without sex isn't really a book I wanna read.

Regardless, the romance fed the story because without it, we'd be lost as to Alex's motivations where Mallory was concerned.


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 Contest and the RITA Award from the Romance Writers of America. More than two million copies of her books have been downloaded.

Best known for her "COLD" 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.

Hanna and the Hitman

Standalone - Alien Abduction #8
Release - July 23, 2020
Genre - Scifi Romance
Dual POV - 3rd person
Heat Level - 5 out of 5
Format/Source - ebook borrowed through Kindle Unlimited
Length - 225 pages
Publisher - Indie


An alien assassin. A forgotten human. A planet determined to claim them both.

Since being kidnapped from Earth, Hanna has been treated as little more than a performing animal. Her latest indignity is being displayed in a cage in a seedy bar. When a massive alien warrior stops to examine her, she expects the worst.

To her shock, the warrior frees her instead. Scared and alone, she doesn't hesitate to turn to him. But there are more surprises to come...

Aidon is running out of time. Although eliminating galactic scum is a profitable occupation, it takes a toll on his unique skills. He needs to return to his planet immediately. Acquiring a human female, no matter how tempting, was not in his plans. Yet now that he has her, how can he let her go?

She looks at him so trustingly – but his planet is a dangerous place, and she's about to find out he's the biggest predator of them all.

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My review: 4 stars

Another human female was abducted and destined for slavery when a considerate and compassionate alien male saved her. And while we've all heard this story before, this one felt different. I love how this author gives her own unique take on every book I've read. Aidon was magnificent and Hanna was a peach. I loved the idea of this shapeshifter alien who felt exiled from his own planet only to need his planet in order to survive. I loved how Hanna was able to adapt to her new life and put her trust in the perfect alien for her. I even loved the family dynamic between the characters. I enjoyed it all and this story was more evidence of why I'm still reading this series.

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Izzie and the Icebeast

Standalone - Alien Abduction #9
Release - August 20, 2020
Genre - Scifi Romance
Dual POV - 3rd person
Heat Level - 5 out of 5
Format/Source - ebook borrowed through Kindle Unlimited
Length - 248 pages
Publisher - Indie


A jaded alien gladiator. A heroine who won’t give in. A battle worth winning.

After a fatal mistake drives Baralt away from his world, he has to rely on his fighting skills to survive. Despite his success in the arena, he grows increasingly tired of violence - until a soft, beautiful human female gives him a reason to fight.

With no one but herself to rely on, Izzie has managed to overcome all of the obstacles life has thrown at her. But being abducted and sold by aliens may be the one challenge she can’t defeat.

When a massive, furred alien comes to her rescue, she has no reason to trust him. And yet this strangely appealing warrior could be her only hope.

Determined to protect Izzie, Baralt is forced to return to the one place he vowed never to go - his home planet - only to find it facing its own threat. Can Baralt and Izzie work together to help his people, make peace with the past, and find the home they both want?

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My review: 3.5 stars

When I realized this story was going to be about one of the aliens who inhabited the ice planet that played such a huge part in some of the plots of the previous books, I was insanely curious to find out who it would be. I kind of expected it to be the chief, but I was still pleased that it was about a character that was semi-introduced before.

After a tragedy in his clan, Baralt's guilt forced him to leave his planet (and baby sister) behind. A fighter you didn't want to bet against, he was now positively bored with his life. And then a spark happens—he meets a human slave named Izzie. And nothing and no one was going to keep him from her.

I enjoyed the bit of drama that was involved with this story, not just with the escape plot, but also with the not so sweet reunion between Baralt and his people. I really liked Baralt, not so much Izzie, and I'm kind of hoping to see more of these characters again.

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Joan and the Juggernaut

Standalone - Alien Abduction #10
Release - September 24, 2020
Genre - Scifi Romance
Dual POV - 3rd person
Heat Level - 5 out of 5
Format/Source - ebook borrowed through Kindle Unlimited
Length - 224 pages
Publisher - Indie


An unstoppable alien warrior. A stubborn human. A desperate escape.

Varga’s life has been as hard as the armor which covers his skin, but he has never let it stop him. He has powered his way through every obstacle - until a favor for a friend sends him straight into the path of a stubborn, beautiful female, and everything changes.

After finally freeing herself from her domineering ex-husband, Joan is ready to start a new life on her own terms. Instead, she is kidnapped by aliens and sold into servitude on a mining planet at the far end of the galaxy.

When a terrifyingly attractive alien appears with promises to rescue her, she isn’t foolish enough to refuse. But the massive, scarred warrior wants more than her freedom - he wants her heart.

As Varga and Joan lead a ragtag group on a dangerous journey to freedom, can they also escape the ties of the past and find a new future - together?

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My review: 4 stars

Knowing that Varga (he's Baralt's bestie from the last book) would be out there looking for other human female slaves, I was curious to find out exactly what type of woman would appeal to him. And I actually really liked Joan, aside from the many times she brought up her ex Kevin (like please, can we stop already?). She was sweet and bright and just tried to make the best of a rotten situation. She was compassionate and cunning and I loved how smoothly she meshed with Varga. So yeah, I definitely liked this match. The naked and dirty slave they rescued (along with everyone else) intrigued me. Her name was Polly and I wonder if she'll feature again somewhere. I'd love to see her as normal as her trauma could make her and for her to find as much happiness as she deserves. Actually I want to see it for all of them, especially since Joan got such a happy ending with Varga.

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Kate and the Kraken

Standalone - Alien Abduction #11
Release - July 29, 2021
Genre - Scifi Romance
Dual POV - 3rd person
Heat Level - 5 out of 5
Format/Source - ebook borrowed through Kindle Unlimited
Length - 206 pages
Publisher - Indie


A rebellious alien prince. An overworked human female. A planet in crisis.

Kate spends most of her time in her lab, and as much as she believes in her job, she occasionally longs for a break. Being captured by aliens isn’t exactly what she had in mind.

Neither is being forced to abandon ship and almost drowning in an alien ocean. But the massive alien warrior who saves her? He might be exactly what she needs.

Prince A’tai is desperate to escape his family and their nefarious political schemes. On his way to a remote island, he rescues a smart, beautiful female. She doesn’t belong in his world, but he is determined to keep her.

But A’tai is not quite what he seems, and the planet of Mafana holds more than one secret. Can Kate and A’tai survive political intrigue, a planetary crisis, and their inescapable differences to forge a happy ending?

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My review: 3 stars

Honestly, those stars belong to A'tai. And I will admit that although I didn't like Kate for most of this book, I did somewhat like her by the end. I loved how he knew instantly that she was the woman for him. The attraction was very strong between these two, which was hilarious because Kat was described as the super analytical and deprived of emotion. At least she was in her previous life. I enjoyed the nod to the little mermaid and while I didn't really understand the mechanics of their sex life (he was an octopus man after all), it was still hot.

I did want to know if Kate's friends, the other kidnapped woman she befriended, were saved and I'm happy to see that their books are next.

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Lily and the Lion

Standalone - Alien Abduction #12
Release - August 26, 2021
Genre - Scifi Romance
Dual POV - 3rd person
Heat Level - 5 out of 5
Format/Source - ebook borrowed through Kindle Unlimited
Length - 170 pages
Publisher - Indie


A wealthy, bored alien. A fierce, unlucky woman. A primitive hunting planet. Let the games begin!

Lily has never been lucky - not with jobs, not with money, and certainly not with men. Her bad luck continues when she is first abducted by aliens, then shoved into an escape pod and abandoned on a jungle planet.

The enormous, and admittedly gorgeous, alien who finds her seems as much beast as man. And yet she can't help thinking there's more behind those intense blue eyes than just animal lust. Has her luck finally changed?

Leotra va Situni is bored. He has wealth, he has power, and he has countless females chasing his tail wherever he goes. When a strange, but stunningly attractive, female appears on his hunting trip, he assumes it's yet another attempt to lure him into mating.

But the infuriating female doesn't seem to recognize his charms, treating him more like a pet than an important - and obviously irresistible - male. Is it a clever trap? Or does she really not know who he is?

As Leotra sets out to find answers from the mysterious female, she is equally determined to keep him at arms length. He begins to wonder who is the hunter and who is the hunted in their seductive little game. And when the truth comes out, who will be the lucky winner?

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My review: 3 stars

I actually found this story to be a bit funny. It tickled me that Leo was a rich playboy and yet everything that worked to win over the ladies before... didn't work on Lily. She didn't care about priceless jems or mansions or yachts or jets. She just wanted a man who wouldn't lie to her. A man who wouldn't abandon her like the rest. And while I didn't have a lot of like for the girl, I could definitely feel for her. I enjoyed watching Leo jump through hoops to win her over and seeing a side to Lily that I didn't expect. Thank you author for giving this girl some vulnerable moments and for finally seeing the worth of the male who was fighting so hard to be with her.

Btw, Leo's dad was such a jerk and his punishment was too lenient. Am I mad for wanting to see him get what he truly deserves?

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Mary and the Minotaur

Standalone - Alien Abduction #13
Release - September 23, 2021
Genre - Scifi Romance
Dual POV - 3rd person
Heat Level - 5 out of 5
Format/Source - ebook borrowed through Kindle Unlimited
Length - 184 pages
Publisher - Indie


A grumpy, secretive alien. A sweet, not-as-naive-as-she-seems human. A nefarious plot.

Although Mary has never had an easy life, she has always tried her best to maintain an optimistic outlook. But when she is abducted by aliens, it is difficult to find anything positive in the experience.

When she is temporarily abandoned by her kidnappers, she hopes to escape their clutches forever. Instead, she soon finds herself in even more trouble. Her only hope is a huge bull-like alien who should terrify her. Instead, her heart says to trust him.

Sendat has been working as an undercover agent for far too long. Although he believes in his mission, he fears he is becoming as heartless as those he seeks to bring to justice. And then he encounters a small, curvy female who awakens long-hidden feelings.

In order to protect her, he is forced to play a role he despises - and yet, she does not pull away from him. On the run and not sure who to trust, all Sendat knows is that he has to protect Mary. But even if he succeeds, will he have any choice except to give her up?

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My review: 4 stars

It's about Sendat and I honestly didn't think I'd see this alien male again. I knew he was an honorable soldier, so at first I was surprised to find him working for a criminal enterprise. For slavers no less! But then I realized that he was still a good man when he tried to make the newest slave's life a little easier. He even went as far as to purchase her, at least temporarily, for himself. He was undercover and he wasn't going to let Mary suffer a moment more. She was his and sweet Mary recognized that he was every bit as much hers.

I really liked how this one, like the last one, linked the three friends together. Watching these human females interact together along with their alien mates was a sweet treat and I'm only hungry for more of what this author gives. If sweet connections, lively imaginings, and hot sex are to your liking, you're gonna love these books!