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Cold River Kindle Edition

by Liz Adair (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 4,221 ratings
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Mandy Steenburg thinks her doctorate in education has prepared her to run any school district - until she tangles with the moonshine-making, coon-dog-owning residents of a remote district in Pacific Northwest timber country. She's determined to make a difference, but the local populace still looks to the former superintendent for leadership.

When Mandy lands in the middle of an old feud and someone keeps trying to kill her, instinct tells her to run. With the river rising and death a real possibility, will she find a reason to stay and chance the odds?

Part romance, part cozy mystery, part thriller, Cold River, like many of Liz Adair’s books, is a novel about family ties and second chances.


From The Deseret News:

"Cold River" is a light read, with emphasis on romantic entanglements and small-town politics…Readers expecting a complex thriller or a dark suspense book may be disappointed with "Cold River," but those looking for light afternoon entertainment will enjoy it. The content is family friendly, with no sexual issues beyond a few kisses and a frank discussion about reasons not to let physical intimacy progress. While there is danger and some potentially violent situations, these are neither graphic nor overly threatening. The family relationships are well done. Especially entertaining is the sibling banter between Mandy and her young sister, who joins her in the backwoods and also falls in love ... not with a boy, but with bluegrass.

From Alice Wills Gold’s blog: I’m so Funny (Sometimes):

Sometimes I wonder where my brain is. It wasn't until I sat down to write this review that I realized how the title Cold River reflects the subject of the book. I swear I am blonde sometimes.

The gist of the story-line in Cold River is a gutsy gal takes a job as a superintendent of schools in the small town in the upper mid-west of the US. She has never lived in such a small town and so when she ends up renting a house right on the river, the river and its surrounding landscapes are a comfort to her as she acclimates to the small town life. The river also has significance in one of the main plots, but I hate to give away spoilers in the reviews I write, so you will just have to read the book yourself.

I fell in love with the male co-leads, if that's what we can call them. There are three cousins that are completely different yet equally hunky and mysterious. Once the story got going it was fast paced and intriguing and the suspense and romance only grew my interest up until the very end.

I loved how the relationships all twist and intervene with one another; the mere idea is so consistent with small town living, especially because everyone is related in one way or another. I didn't guess the villain of the story until they were revealed and that is not easy for an author to do...I always guess what's going on, so I appreciated the surprise. It was a great surprise and I love when an author can get me shaking my head at myself for not guessing what was really going on in the story-line.

I am personally connected to the three subplots of music in schools, literacy, and gaining emotional maturity and I agreed with the viewpoint of the author on them all and enjoyed how Adair wove them into the greater story.

The end of the story was magnificent. I have a real hard time giving a book a good review if I don't think the end was spectacular. It has to be not only spectacular but real to life and feel-good. I know that limits me, but I don't think I am going to change now, so all you authors out there, write good endings. I like setting a book on the shelf knowing that it left me with a greater expectation from the world around me and the end has to leave me feeling good for that to happen.

I highly recommend this book. If I had to describe it in one word it would be adventurous. Get the book, it will take you on an adventure physically and emotionally.
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  1. Print length
    289 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publication date
    September 28, 2015
  5. Reading age
    14 - 18 years
  6. Grade level
    6 - 12
  7. File size
    1026 KB
  8. Page Flip
    Enabled
  9. Word Wise
    Enabled
  10. Enhanced typesetting
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Editorial Reviews

Review

Award-winner author Liz Adair makes worlds collide in her newest suspense release, "Cold River." When young, fast-tracking school superintendent Mandy Steenberg flees big city Phoenix for Limestone, Washington, she finds herself homeless, unwelcome, and in danger. Adair's master storytelling drives this complex mystery about a school district with more secrets than Harper Valley. Her knowledge of the region and its culture imbues the book with charm and crisp dialogue, but it's "Cold River's" eclectic cast of complex characters that makes this a standout read that leaves you hanging until the delicious end. --Laurie Lewis, author of "Awakening Avery"

As this romance unfolds, the characters and events pick up speed, much like the river's current, until they are thrust together and pushed into a logjam of their own making. Between the growing tension and the evocative descriptions of nature, the reader will come away with a new appreciation for this unusual corner of the Great Northwest. --Tanya Mills, Indie Book Award winner, the Writer's Digest Self-Published Book Award winner, and a Whitney Award finalist

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B015YS09DU
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Century Press; 2nd edition (September 28, 2015)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ September 28, 2015
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1026 KB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 289 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 4,221 ratings

About the author

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Liz Adair

Liz Adair

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A native of New Mexico and mother of seven, Liz Adair lives in southern Utah with Derrill, her husband of 50 years.

A late bloomer, Liz published her first mystery (The Lodger) just as AARP started sending invitations to join. After writing three in the Spider Latham series, Liz moved into romantic suspense with The Mist of Quarry Harbor.

Liz took a break from suspense to write Counting the Cost, a novel based on family history. The book won the 2009 Whitney Award and was a finalist for the Willa Award and Arizona Publisher Association's Glyph Award.

Liz returned to romantic suspense with Cold River and feels writing in that genre doing so is a service project. "I remember when I was a young mother with all those kids and a slender budget," she says. "I was so grateful for books that let me go places and meet people who carried on adult conversations That's what I want to write--cheap vacations."

Liz moved from Northwest Washington to Kanab, Utah in 2012--she had gone to high school there--and something about living in the high desert again made her decide to bring Spider Latham back and set the mystery in Kanab. Both experiences--returning to Kanab and bringing back Spider--were like coming home. "Look for more in the Spider Latham series," she says.

Customer reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars
4.1 out of 5
4,221 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

CINDY F.
5.0 out of 5 stars A small town full of quirky characters, a sweet clean romance, and last but not least....mystery and intrigue!
Reviewed in the United States on June 5, 2016
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Wow! Talk about an intense story, this one is full of mystery, suspense, endurance, but it's also a clean romance, which I find very refreshing these days. The story did start off a little slow, but that was because the author took the time to introduce us to many characters who have a very big impact on the story. It also takes time to set the backdrop of this story, which I guarantee that if you stick with it through the first 4-5 chapters, it will suck you in so deep you won't be able to put the book down until the very end.

When Dr. Many Steinberg left her hometown in New Mexico, after a romance that gets to be more than she's willing to deal with. She arrives to begin her new position as superintendent of schools in a small back hills po-dunk town, where she is given a rather off putting and chilly reception. Undercurrents run strong through the town, after she takes over for a man who has become like a hometown hero of sorts for the past decade or so. The people are irrate that this newcomer is taking over, and they aren't about to make things easy on her. She's only been in town a week or so, when childhood like little innocent pranks begin to become even more dangerous and life threatening.

But Mandy is tough a tough cookie and is determined to show them that she knows what she is doing. Slowly but surely she begins to make some connections here and there, but as the threats start to ramp up, she starts to wonder if it's worth all the hassle. But then again she not one to give up so easily. Besides; she has three very attractive men who have caught her eye, but also her heart, and for three completely different reasons. But which one will she choose?

The author's descriptions of the weather, the river and landscape are very romantic, in the sense of its beauty being easy to see it in one's mind. Actually I could picture the people, the scenery, and all of the events so clearly in my head as the story took place. The writing was fantastic and so easy to read, and the story line and it's events blew my mind. I can't wait to read more from this author!
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Ann de Vries
4.0 out of 5 stars Great Beach Read. Very Light But Entertaining.
Reviewed in the United States on October 20, 2017
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I got this book as a freebie over a year ago and finally got around to reading it this week. The author was new to me and I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I really enjoyed this book. I was surprised by all of the negative reviews, but not everyone likes the same things.

I try to compare apples to apples when writing a review and I judge a book against others in the same genre. To me, this book read a lot like a light, older-style Harlequin Romance with mild romantic suspense elements. That is not an insult, because I like the category romance genre, and sometimes it is exactly what I am in the mood for reading.

I was puzzled about the complaint of a reviewer who felt that this type of book raises unrealistic and possibly dangerous expectations in female readers. I’ve been reading romance books since I was twelve years old and I never had problems differentiating fictional romance from reality. I think most readers see romance books as escapist literature, much as with mystery, science-fiction and fantasy books. I also read serious literature and non-fiction books, but escapist literature definitely has its place.

As category romance books go, this was well done and typical of the genre. Was it perfect? No. The heroine was a bit judgmental initially, but that was to highlight how her attitude changed as she got to know people. As well, the heroine recognized her mistakes, apologized and tried to make up for them.

The hero’s Bell’s Palsy plot device aspect was a bit weak, but the author had the heroine beginning to warm up to the hero before he was cured. As written, it was the attitudes and preconceptions of both the hero and the heroine that caused the conflict between them, and that had nothing to do with the hero’s looks.

In summary, this was light, mindless reading, perfect for relaxing at the end of a frustrating day. It was a perfectly clean read with ‘insta-love’ and a low key romance and minor mystery. Writing mechanics were excellent and the pacing was leisurely but even. It’s not an A-list romance book but it is a solid B-list book. I gave it four stars because despite some minor flaws, it was well written and entertaining when judged against other books in a Harlequin-style, B-list category. Readers who dislike Harlequin Romance books, or those who expect a solid suspense story will likely hate this book. Read it for what it is, though, and it holds up to expectations.
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Top reviews from other countries

michelle curtis
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in Australia on February 13, 2018
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I love Liz Adair books cant get enough
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Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars New gal in town
Reviewed in Canada on May 10, 2016
Verified Purchase
We have all been the new kid on the block and this book gets those feelings across very well. You are part and parcel of the small town and want to sit down with granny for chin wag. Liked the book, great characters and a good read. Will read more by this author.
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John Galway
3.0 out of 5 stars Regarding DEEP Heat. For some reason shipment of this ...
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 5, 2016
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Regarding DEEP Heat. For some reason shipment of this item to Ireland seems to be banned and consequently had to be cancelled.
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Kindle Customer
2.0 out of 5 stars Dragged on
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 1, 2017
Verified Purchase
I really don't think the xharcter development ws that good. Some of the stuff the charactwrs did was odd, or out of character . It also dragged on and on,I almost didn't finish it.
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TMM
4.0 out of 5 stars Great read!
Reviewed in Canada on July 30, 2016
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First impressions are not what they seem. This book kept me wanting to read and was hard to put down. Would recommend if you like s light but exciting read. Great job!
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