shelleyrae's review
3.0
Cold Dawn is the third installment in the Black Falls series. I haven't read the previous two [b:Cold Pursuit|3949638|Cold Pursuit|Carla Neggers|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1255887059s/3949638.jpg|3995281] and [b:Cold River|6730202|Cold River|Carla Neggers|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1275681695s/6730202.jpg|6926426] but understand the premise of this novel is a continuation of an ongoing storyline in the previous books. It is not strictly necessary to have read them to enjoy Cold Dawn, Neggers provides enough background to put the current plot and characters in context, though I'd recommend it.
Neggers has created a solid mystery, an asassin who likes fire seems to be stalking Black Hills. Still raw from previous events, the characters are certain that they are the target of his attentions. Neggers is able to believably sustain the suspicion of who and why until nearing the conclusion. I particularly felt that the misdirections were tightly plotted so that suspense was maintained. I would have liked a slightly more spectacular conclusion given the assassin's famed abilities, I felt the potential for that confrontation wasn't fully exploited.
The relationships between the characters are a little convoluted, it's quite a big cast though Nick and Rose are the focus in Cold Dawn. This is where reading the previous books would have been helpful to keep them straight, though Neggars revealed just enough to peak my interest in their stories.
Nick and Rose have obviously tangled in a previous book and Nick has come to Black Falls to pursue Rose as much as investigate the murders in town. Rose is likeable, if a little bland. The reason for fighting her attraction to Nick is shallow (he is mega-rich, handsome etc) and I would have liked a stronger motivation. Nick is appealing for both his physical description and his behaviour. Their romance unfolds nicely with a little honest lust thrown in.
In all, Cold Dawn is an enjoyable romantic suspense novel, and the series would make a good addition to the reading list of fans of the genre.
*ARC recieved from NetGalley*
Neggers has created a solid mystery, an asassin who likes fire seems to be stalking Black Hills. Still raw from previous events, the characters are certain that they are the target of his attentions. Neggers is able to believably sustain the suspicion of who and why until nearing the conclusion. I particularly felt that the misdirections were tightly plotted so that suspense was maintained. I would have liked a slightly more spectacular conclusion given the assassin's famed abilities, I felt the potential for that confrontation wasn't fully exploited.
The relationships between the characters are a little convoluted, it's quite a big cast though Nick and Rose are the focus in Cold Dawn. This is where reading the previous books would have been helpful to keep them straight, though Neggars revealed just enough to peak my interest in their stories.
Nick and Rose have obviously tangled in a previous book and Nick has come to Black Falls to pursue Rose as much as investigate the murders in town. Rose is likeable, if a little bland. The reason for fighting her attraction to Nick is shallow (he is mega-rich, handsome etc) and I would have liked a stronger motivation. Nick is appealing for both his physical description and his behaviour. Their romance unfolds nicely with a little honest lust thrown in.
In all, Cold Dawn is an enjoyable romantic suspense novel, and the series would make a good addition to the reading list of fans of the genre.
*ARC recieved from NetGalley*
ssejig's review
3.0
From original review: having not read the recent books in this series, I was completely stymied as to who most of the characters were and trying to keep them straight was WAY more taxing than I wanted in a light romance read.
After re-reading the whole series: There was a lot of review in this book about the happenings of the first two, but not as much as in Cold River. There really are a lot of people to keep track of and it's definitely easier to know who people are if you've read Cold Pursuit and Cold River.
Rose Cameron, of the Cameron family in other Black Falls books, discovers a body, coincidentally (or not?) just as an old one-night stand (her brother's best friend, Nick Martini), comes into town. Not very much of the book focuses on Rose and Nick, Neggers often weaves parts of other stories into her plots. It's a good book if read in the series, but definitely wouldn't recommend it as a stand-alone.
Read-alikes: Suzanne Brockmann, Elizabeth Lowell (contemporaries)
After re-reading the whole series: There was a lot of review in this book about the happenings of the first two, but not as much as in Cold River. There really are a lot of people to keep track of and it's definitely easier to know who people are if you've read Cold Pursuit and Cold River.
Rose Cameron, of the Cameron family in other Black Falls books, discovers a body, coincidentally (or not?) just as an old one-night stand (her brother's best friend, Nick Martini), comes into town. Not very much of the book focuses on Rose and Nick, Neggers often weaves parts of other stories into her plots. It's a good book if read in the series, but definitely wouldn't recommend it as a stand-alone.
Read-alikes: Suzanne Brockmann, Elizabeth Lowell (contemporaries)
sarah_mcalister's review
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
So I have loved this entire series. But I felt of the three this was definitely the slowest and the hardest to really fall in love with the main characters. I do find myself hoping though that great gets his own series or spinoff
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