Computer expert Ashley Chen joined the FBI to fight against evil in the world—evil she experienced firsthand. She has mad skills and deadly secrets, and once she starts working with straight-shooting FBI agent, Lucas Randall, she also has big trouble. After years of pushing people away, she’s finally falling for someone. The feeling is entirely mutual, but as Ashley intensifies her online pursuit … pursuit of an international trafficking ring, her traumatic past collides with her present and suddenly Lucas can’t tell which side she’s on. As the case escalates into a high-stakes game of cat and mouse, it turns out Ashley isn’t the only one with something to hide.
If neither can trust the other with their secrets, how can they trust each other with their hearts?
2018 finalist in the Book Buyer’s Best contest for “Romantic Suspense and Mystery with Romantic Elements.”
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I read book 1 and really liked it. I decided I should save the rest of the series and only read one occasionally. That was dumb. Life’s too short to save good books when you can read them now. So I binged, reading 9 books in 16 days. It was glorious. I especially enjoy how the main characters from book 1 become supporting characters in book 2, etc. It’s a great way to have some of the continuity of a sequel without the boredom of typical sequels.
Life interfered once or twice, but other than that, I never put one of these down until I finished it.
May Have Mild Spoilers
Wow did Cold Secrets take me on a dark ride or what??? This book jumped straight into dark no wine and dine. However I wouldn’t call this book a dark read per se, just dealt with a dark theme. The opener has Lucas, an undercover FBI Agent, entering a sex slave house asking for a young girl. Toni Anderson must have done her research, the sex trafficking plot was very detailed and felt realistic. To know this kind of stuff happens in the real world gave the book an extra spine chilling factor. It was like watching Law and Order SVU, but sexier. Cold Secret had very hard to read moments, as it dealt with child sex slavery, sex trafficking, and gruesome murders. On a side note, I didn’t read any other book in this series and had no problem following this book, so it can be read as a stand alone.
Lucas Randall was all that was yummy. Brave, honorable, sexy, and caring he was a true hero. I love how close he was to the girls he saved. Lucas was playful, sweet and really wanted to save the world. I fell hard for Lucas. Ashley Chen was harder to connect to. She was hiding something and it made it hard to get a clear picture of who she really was. I could tell she wanted to prove herself and make a different in the world. However she was also cold, and closed off at times. Ashley would push Lucas away, and I didn’t know why for the longest time. Which bothered me, I didn’t like Lucas getting hurt even a little. Once Ashley’s secret was out I totally got why she lied and hid her past and I could forgive her coldness towards Lucas.
Lucas and Ashley had tons of sexual tension. Their connection was fast and hard, but it didn’t feel rushed like a insta-love, mainly because Ashley fought it for so long. When they did finally get together omg it was hot. Lucas was a beast! I loved the secondary character Alex Parker. I checked and he is the hero from book 1, which I plan to go back and read as soon as I can. Alex didn’t play a huge role in this book but there was something about him that got me intrigued. The plot was really, really good. On the darker side but really entertaining. The bad guys were evil and creepy, even more so because there are really people like them out in the world. The only reason this book wasn’t a 5 star read for me was Ashley took a while to warm up too. The plot and Lucas were spot on and I really enjoyed this read.
I don’t think it is any secret at all that I love this series. I’ve been waiting for Lucas to get his book since I first met him. The sweet southern gentleman totally deserved his happily ever after and Ashley was great for him. I don’t want to do any spoilers so I won’t get into the secrets but just know that there are a lot of them and that when they’re revealed, the shit hits the fan. This is another sexy, steamy, thrilling, edge of your seat addition to the Cold Justice series.
Totally enjoyed this book!
Should be six stars! Absolutely great read.
A great read!
Totally enjoyed this book. All secrets aside it was a page Turner.
In this series, characters overlap a little. I like all of them. The series is a great read
love this author. she never fails to write a good story.
Toni Anderson is an auto-buy for me. The action is thrilling and her heroines rock.
Good story, but I felt that Ashley forgave Lucas too easily
A great read. She’s a. Nature author!!
Great read
Love these books by Toni Anderson. The characters are always familiar but the storyline is always new!
Ashley is a FBI agent with the BAU. When a human trafficking ring is found and the only survivors are two girls and a FBI agent Lucas. Lucas is undercover when he goes to the brothel to look for a missing eight year old girl. Ashley doesn’t get close to people but her attraction to Lucas makes it impossible to stay away. When witnesses start dying, they need to hurry and find the johns or the rest of the men who escaped when the building blew up.
I know it’s a short review but didn’t want to give too much away. You have action, suspense, sex, and secrets. Excellent story with no cliffhanger. Told in third person and gives both sides pov.
* Voluntarily read and reviewed this for Netgalley *
*Five Stars*
If I could I would give this series ten brilliant stars.
“I fell in love with her courage, her sincerity, and her flaming self respect. And it’s these things I’d believe in, even if the whole world indulged in wild suspicions that she wasn’t all she should be. I love her and it is the beginning of everything.”― F. Scott Fitzgerald
I know I’m repeating myself but I can’t help it when I truly admire Toni Anderson’s writing. Her stories are always well-plotted, well-written, so realistic with credible and believable situations and characters who deal with everyday issues, struggles, internal battles and how they cope with all of it or their past / past experiences; also they are thrown into dangerous situations with steamy moments and romance. Seriously how every book is getting better and better is beyond me. If somebody asked me to choose my favorite book from this series it would be really impossible. It’s THAT amazing.
Yay. Finally I got to read about capable and proficient FBI Special Agent Lucas Randall and get to know more about him and his story. He deserves love and to be loved and to find his happiness. He is a great (secondary) character and so happy he ‘got to tell his story’ or better yet Toni is graciously introduced him, his background to us, the readers.
This book starts with a bang and it just pulls you into the story immediately. Cold Secrets is the seventh book in Toni Anderson’s Cold Justice series. It was intense, suspenseful with twists and turns that kept me guessing, emotional roller coaster with serious, touching and well researched topic, and romantic. I loved I got to see Alex and Mal as secondary characters and a little glimpse at Matt Lazlo.
Lucas Randall is FBI agent. He is such a great hero: strong, protective, handsome, loving, caring, determined, stubborn, vulnerable. Always tries to do the right thing (but in this book it’s shown that struggle). He is the ultimate protector, wants to find justice, and he wants to be a knight in shining armor for Ashley. I love that he isn’t player and that he is so unique, open, and honest.
Ashley Chen is part of BAU unit. She is a computer expert / hacker (I think she got hacking skills). She is hiding a huge secret. She doesn’t allow herself to feel and always pushing people away. Until Lucas. When they start working together the sparks fly. Ashley is a great heroine: strong, brave, resilient, amazing, can take care of herself but jaded from the past and vulnerable.
The chemistry between the two main characters is scorching and combustible. From the moment they met there is awareness and attraction. But admitting feelings doesn’t come easily. Both are complex, flawed characters. Even though they are so different they just fit. They are trying to keep distance from each other but the pull is stronger. Love how Ashley and Lucas need to fight for their relationship; how protective Lucas is being over Ashley and how deeply he cares about her in such a short time knowing her. The connection between them is so natural. Loved their flirty banter and light moments in dark secretive times.
Loved the epilogue, a glimpse into their future, Becca and their happy ending. I really want novellas about some couples now lol. Enjoyed it thoroughly and recommend it.
4.5***
4 . Glad to see Lucas get his HEA. Good story.
Absolutely excellent romantic thriller! The suspense is nail-biting, the romance is hot, and the plot is heart breaking yet heart warning. The characters are deep & very realistic. The beginning starts smooth & informative which helped me connect with characters, then the plot unfolds with a bang of action & intensity and the finale is jaw-dropping.. shocking! 🙂 I love this series and each addition is able to maintain or excel. My heart went out to Ashley & the girls. Lucas is a hot sexy alpha. Both main characters are very dedicated intelligent agents. Of course Alex is the glue, lol. Looking forward to what’s next for this series.
It was well written.