What do you think?
Rate this book
Mordecai Young #2
Colder than Ice
Seventeen years ago, government agent Joshua Kendall was part of the raid on the cultlike Young Believers compound. His own bullet killed an innocent girl, and he has lived with the guilt ever since. But a new assignment will reveal that the most shattering incident of Josh's life was nothing more than a lie.
Elizabeth Marcum was that girl. She survived the bullet from the botched raid and now lives under a new identity in rural Vermont, hiding from the cult leader who has managed to elude capture all these years. But she's tired of running, tired of hiding. If Mordecai Young tracks her down, so be it.
When Josh is sent to protect Elizabeth—and realizes who she is—he will do anything to keep her alive, including lying about who he is. But as Mordecai descends back into their lives they become targets in a deadly battle that threatens to shatter their last chance at life and love.
Originally published in 2005.
Elizabeth Marcum was that girl. She survived the bullet from the botched raid and now lives under a new identity in rural Vermont, hiding from the cult leader who has managed to elude capture all these years. But she's tired of running, tired of hiding. If Mordecai Young tracks her down, so be it.
When Josh is sent to protect Elizabeth—and realizes who she is—he will do anything to keep her alive, including lying about who he is. But as Mordecai descends back into their lives they become targets in a deadly battle that threatens to shatter their last chance at life and love.
Originally published in 2005.
416 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published October 25, 2004
208 people are currently reading
911 people want to read
About the author
Maggie Shayne
257 books2,574 followersI live in the teeny, tiny town of Taylor, NY, (Alliteration Alert!) though my mailing address is Cincinnatus, my telephone exchange is Truxton and I pay taxes and vote in Cuyler. All of these are at least in the same rural county in the southern hills of New York State; Cortland County. There are more cattle than people here. The nearest “big” cities are Syracuse and Binghamton and they are an hour away, in different directions, and not really all that big by most standards, though they both seem humongous to me. I look out my window to see rolling, green, thickly forested hills, wildflower laden meadows and wide open blue, blue skies. My road is barely paved. The nearest neighboring place is a 700 acre dairy farm.
My house is a big, century old farmhouse. I moved in here after my divorce in 2006. Just a little over a year later, the house, which I had named, SERENITY, burned. It was 99% gutted, and I lost my two dogs, Sally, an 11-year-old great Dane, and Wrinkles, my 14-year-old, blind bulldog. This was the culmination of my Dark Night of the soul, which had seemed to hit me all at once in 2006-2007. My mother died that year, after a 14 month battle with pancreatic cancer. She was only 60. The youngest of my five daughters had left home that same year, and while that’s not a tragedy at all, it felt like one to me. Then came the divorce. And finally there was the fire--it seemed my darkest night wasn’t quite finished with me after all. I had lost almost everything before that point, and as I poked through the wet ashes and soot the next day, I realized that I had now been stripped all the way to the bone.
No better time to start over. (And no, I didn’t come to that realization that day--there were a few days of wallowing in pity first, particularly the day after the fire, when I hit a deer and smashed up my car, which I was practically living in!)
That’s when I started to laugh. Just sat on the side of the road as the deer bounded, uninjured and carefree, out of sight, and laughed. It was just too ridiculous at that point, to do anything else!
And from there, I picked myself up, and brushed myself off, and said, okay, there’s only one way to go from here. Forward. And that’s what I did. There I was at the age of harrurmphemmph, living in my one, mostly undamaged remaining room, with a dorm-sized mini-fridge, a futon, a TV, my cat (nine lives!) and a laptop. And not much else. (Though thank goodness the room that survived the fire, was a room that had its own attached bathroom!)
Since then I have rebuilt my beloved home, which really has become my haven, my “Serenity.” I share it now with my fiancé, Lance, and we have accumulated quite the little family together. “Little” being a relative term. We have a pair of English Mastiffs, Dozer and Daisy, who weigh 203 pounds and 208 pounds respectively, and a little pudgy English Bulldog named Niblet, who is bigger than both of them, inside her mind. We also have the aforementioned cat, Glorificus (“Glory” for short,) who adores her canine pups and keeps them firmly in line. And we've acquired a pair of stray cats as well, a mother and son, Luna (Lulu for short) and Butters aka Buddy. Lulu showed up pregnant during a lunar eclipse, had a litter, and vanished again. We found homes for all the kittens except one. Butters. We got him fixed and kept him. A few months later, Lulu returned, again expecting. This litter was born on the "Monster Moon." Again, all the kittens were spayed and neutered and placed in homes, and this time we got Lulu to the vet in time to spay her before the cycle could repeat.
Glory is not amused.
She has a story of her own, my old Glory cat, having been with me before the Dark Times descended, she went through it all with me, moved with me, survived the fire, and remains with me still. She's tolerating the newcomers. Barely.
My partner is an artist, a mechanic, a welder and an inventor, and the rumors are true, he is much younger than I
My house is a big, century old farmhouse. I moved in here after my divorce in 2006. Just a little over a year later, the house, which I had named, SERENITY, burned. It was 99% gutted, and I lost my two dogs, Sally, an 11-year-old great Dane, and Wrinkles, my 14-year-old, blind bulldog. This was the culmination of my Dark Night of the soul, which had seemed to hit me all at once in 2006-2007. My mother died that year, after a 14 month battle with pancreatic cancer. She was only 60. The youngest of my five daughters had left home that same year, and while that’s not a tragedy at all, it felt like one to me. Then came the divorce. And finally there was the fire--it seemed my darkest night wasn’t quite finished with me after all. I had lost almost everything before that point, and as I poked through the wet ashes and soot the next day, I realized that I had now been stripped all the way to the bone.
No better time to start over. (And no, I didn’t come to that realization that day--there were a few days of wallowing in pity first, particularly the day after the fire, when I hit a deer and smashed up my car, which I was practically living in!)
That’s when I started to laugh. Just sat on the side of the road as the deer bounded, uninjured and carefree, out of sight, and laughed. It was just too ridiculous at that point, to do anything else!
And from there, I picked myself up, and brushed myself off, and said, okay, there’s only one way to go from here. Forward. And that’s what I did. There I was at the age of harrurmphemmph, living in my one, mostly undamaged remaining room, with a dorm-sized mini-fridge, a futon, a TV, my cat (nine lives!) and a laptop. And not much else. (Though thank goodness the room that survived the fire, was a room that had its own attached bathroom!)
Since then I have rebuilt my beloved home, which really has become my haven, my “Serenity.” I share it now with my fiancé, Lance, and we have accumulated quite the little family together. “Little” being a relative term. We have a pair of English Mastiffs, Dozer and Daisy, who weigh 203 pounds and 208 pounds respectively, and a little pudgy English Bulldog named Niblet, who is bigger than both of them, inside her mind. We also have the aforementioned cat, Glorificus (“Glory” for short,) who adores her canine pups and keeps them firmly in line. And we've acquired a pair of stray cats as well, a mother and son, Luna (Lulu for short) and Butters aka Buddy. Lulu showed up pregnant during a lunar eclipse, had a litter, and vanished again. We found homes for all the kittens except one. Butters. We got him fixed and kept him. A few months later, Lulu returned, again expecting. This litter was born on the "Monster Moon." Again, all the kittens were spayed and neutered and placed in homes, and this time we got Lulu to the vet in time to spay her before the cycle could repeat.
Glory is not amused.
She has a story of her own, my old Glory cat, having been with me before the Dark Times descended, she went through it all with me, moved with me, survived the fire, and remains with me still. She's tolerating the newcomers. Barely.
My partner is an artist, a mechanic, a welder and an inventor, and the rumors are true, he is much younger than I
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews
October 18, 2009
After Beth was relocated, she thought she could take care of herself. Then Joshua and his teenage son Bryan showed up to protect her, even if she didn't know that was why they were there.
The story line was a bit predictable but very enjoyable anyways. The wariness Beth shows was a very real feeling to it and the interaction with the teenagers in the story was also realistic.
The second in the series, it is always fun to see the return of some of the characteres and several mentions of the rest. I am ready to pick up the 3rd of the series to see how it all, -ends.
The story line was a bit predictable but very enjoyable anyways. The wariness Beth shows was a very real feeling to it and the interaction with the teenagers in the story was also realistic.
The second in the series, it is always fun to see the return of some of the characteres and several mentions of the rest. I am ready to pick up the 3rd of the series to see how it all, -ends.
April 25, 2022
Although there was more destruction than I was comfortable with, the book maintains a high level of angst throughout, and the characters are well-drawn and likeable. Even Mordecai, killer that he is, draws some sympathy at times. Well done, Ms. Shayne.
February 13, 2023
This was another really great mystery romance, and I had a great time with both, and it was a really great continuation of this series! Can't wait to finish it off!
March 27, 2008
I was really looking forward to reading this book. It sounded fascinating. The basic storyline is that there was another survivor from the raid on the cult. She was supposedly accidentally shot and killed by a sniper's bullet. But really, she survived and was in a sort of unofficial witness protection. The female lead plays a role in the first book, the male lead is only alluded to as the agent who accidentally shot and killed a young woman during the raid. So in this story, the woman is now in a lot of danger because someone who wants her dead now knows she's alive. To protect her, the former agent who once thought he killed her is sent to protect her. He didn't know until he saw her who she was.
So it sounded utterly fascinating. Such an interesting dynamic. Unfortunately, it didn't live up to it's billing. The big problem with this story was that the characters weren't exactly likable, and certain dynamics presented in the first book are just not dealt with and they really needed to be. The woman just did not fit who she was presented as in the first book. In that one, she's got a certain personality and does certain things, but then in the 2nd book, she's soooo different, and the way she acted in the first book just isn't dealt with. It's makes it hard to find her realistic. As for the guy...he's who the title is based on, Colder Than Ice. In a lot of ways, he's a complete jackass. Sure in the end, they get together, but before that, I just couldn't accept his actions. He bugged me.
The storyline itself isn't too bad. I wanted to know what happened and I liked the progression. The characters just annoyed me. It really took away from the story. I still would have read it though if I'd known this ahead of time. The storyline's from the books are too intertwined. I'm just disappointed that it ended up kind of sucking when I thought it would be the best of the 3.
So it sounded utterly fascinating. Such an interesting dynamic. Unfortunately, it didn't live up to it's billing. The big problem with this story was that the characters weren't exactly likable, and certain dynamics presented in the first book are just not dealt with and they really needed to be. The woman just did not fit who she was presented as in the first book. In that one, she's got a certain personality and does certain things, but then in the 2nd book, she's soooo different, and the way she acted in the first book just isn't dealt with. It's makes it hard to find her realistic. As for the guy...he's who the title is based on, Colder Than Ice. In a lot of ways, he's a complete jackass. Sure in the end, they get together, but before that, I just couldn't accept his actions. He bugged me.
The storyline itself isn't too bad. I wanted to know what happened and I liked the progression. The characters just annoyed me. It really took away from the story. I still would have read it though if I'd known this ahead of time. The storyline's from the books are too intertwined. I'm just disappointed that it ended up kind of sucking when I thought it would be the best of the 3.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 3, 2024
3.5 stars
I went into this not knowing it was book 2 in a series. And while I do feel some parts would have made a bit more sense if I had already read book 1, it does seem these can be read as stand-alone books. The beginning specifically made me feel as though I was missing something, but we get some explanation as the book goes on.
The story was compelling enough to keep me coming back for more chapters. It flowed nicely, kept me engaged in the plot, and interested in the characters. Which is wonderful considering the train of books I've DNFed over the past year or so due to poor writing, idiotic characters, or dreadful pacing.
I do wish the chemistry between Beth and Josh had been better. It was there, but it didn't "feel" as magnetic as it could have been. It may have been because the secret was so focused on. It distracted me from the attraction between them. Especially since Josh kept acting like he was pretending the whole time, which for me took away from the emotional connection. And it didn't create the kind of tension I like in these stories. But what was there was enough to keep me interested, just not blown away.
The side characters were interesting, some more than others. As with most stories that have bad guys, I could have done without the chapters focused on the villain. For me, knowing what they are doing and planning takes a lot of the thrill away.
Also, the teens in this book while much better behaved than in other books I've read, still caused drama and conflict. Again, not as bad as in other books, but it's not a type of conflict I enjoy reading. In this book we not only have Josh's son Bryan, we also have Beth's daughter Dawn hanging around. I did appreciate how mature Bryan was for his age, but Dawn was rather bratty and stubborn. Running away at the drop of a hat because she "knew better" than the adults.
The ending did feel rather...I don't know, somehow drawn out and yet abrupt at the same time. And considering how conflicted Josh had been throughout the book about his feelings for Beth, the ending kind of came out of nowhere. And for as constantly we were reminded of the dreaded secret that Josh was keeping from Beth, that seemed to resolve really fast too.
All in all I enjoyed the book, but I don't have plans to backtrack to book 1, or read book 3.
I went into this not knowing it was book 2 in a series. And while I do feel some parts would have made a bit more sense if I had already read book 1, it does seem these can be read as stand-alone books. The beginning specifically made me feel as though I was missing something, but we get some explanation as the book goes on.
The story was compelling enough to keep me coming back for more chapters. It flowed nicely, kept me engaged in the plot, and interested in the characters. Which is wonderful considering the train of books I've DNFed over the past year or so due to poor writing, idiotic characters, or dreadful pacing.
I do wish the chemistry between Beth and Josh had been better. It was there, but it didn't "feel" as magnetic as it could have been. It may have been because the secret was so focused on. It distracted me from the attraction between them. Especially since Josh kept acting like he was pretending the whole time, which for me took away from the emotional connection. And it didn't create the kind of tension I like in these stories. But what was there was enough to keep me interested, just not blown away.
The side characters were interesting, some more than others. As with most stories that have bad guys, I could have done without the chapters focused on the villain. For me, knowing what they are doing and planning takes a lot of the thrill away.
Also, the teens in this book while much better behaved than in other books I've read, still caused drama and conflict. Again, not as bad as in other books, but it's not a type of conflict I enjoy reading. In this book we not only have Josh's son Bryan, we also have Beth's daughter Dawn hanging around. I did appreciate how mature Bryan was for his age, but Dawn was rather bratty and stubborn. Running away at the drop of a hat because she "knew better" than the adults.
The ending did feel rather...I don't know, somehow drawn out and yet abrupt at the same time. And considering how conflicted Josh had been throughout the book about his feelings for Beth, the ending kind of came out of nowhere. And for as constantly we were reminded of the dreaded secret that Josh was keeping from Beth, that seemed to resolve really fast too.
All in all I enjoyed the book, but I don't have plans to backtrack to book 1, or read book 3.
Read
August 23, 2023The setup is marred with coincidences and the story is laced with melodrama. It's fast paced, but predictable to a fault. The climax happens a tad too late. But it wasn't a slog to get through. In fact, I enjoyed reading it.
Joshua Kendall is a liar to a fault. Even when he tells the truth, he leaves out important bits. Why? Because the author wanted them to be revealed at the end. The result is that Josh comes off as a bit of an idiot. It's a liar revealed story that goes on for too long.
The sections with Mordecai Young are great. But his ending feels lackluster. Why would he try to save his daughter? He thinks about how Abraham was willing to kill his son, Issac, for God a lot. Why not have him wire Maude's house so that it blows up when the town goes to rally around Beth? Why not have him take Josh hostage and Beth is put in the same circumstances that Josh went through when he had to shoot through her? It feels like the author put themselves into a corner and then solved the issue by kicking the climax down the road. I know it's a trope, bad guy is seemingly defeated only to reappear in a final showdown, but you don't have to do it just because it's a trope.
Joshua Kendall is a liar to a fault. Even when he tells the truth, he leaves out important bits. Why? Because the author wanted them to be revealed at the end. The result is that Josh comes off as a bit of an idiot. It's a liar revealed story that goes on for too long.
The sections with Mordecai Young are great. But his ending feels lackluster. Why would he try to save his daughter? He thinks about how Abraham was willing to kill his son, Issac, for God a lot. Why not have him wire Maude's house so that it blows up when the town goes to rally around Beth? Why not have him take Josh hostage and Beth is put in the same circumstances that Josh went through when he had to shoot through her? It feels like the author put themselves into a corner and then solved the issue by kicking the climax down the road. I know it's a trope, bad guy is seemingly defeated only to reappear in a final showdown, but you don't have to do it just because it's a trope.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 21, 2025
When I started this book I did not realize that it was part 2 of a series. I think I was able to read this book easily but would like to go back and read book 1. Beth / Lizzie is hiding from Modecai Young, the father of her child who she gave up to her best friend. She enjoys running and visiting with her elderly friend, Maude who is a kind, outspoken and interesting woman. Enter Joshua and his son Bryan, claiming to be related to Maude but who come with secrets.
The premise of the story was good and presented in a very interesting manner. Although, we can anticipate what will happen, I find that the book was enjoyable.
Beth / Lizzie is a very tough woman who knows how to defend and keep herself safe. The ending was quite unexpected and really pulled the book together. I wonder if there is a book 3 as the ending could be an introduction to another book.
The premise of the story was good and presented in a very interesting manner. Although, we can anticipate what will happen, I find that the book was enjoyable.
Beth / Lizzie is a very tough woman who knows how to defend and keep herself safe. The ending was quite unexpected and really pulled the book together. I wonder if there is a book 3 as the ending could be an introduction to another book.
June 26, 2018
After running away as a teenager, Lizzie joins a compound and "falls in love" with the leader, Mordecai. Lizzie was shot and killed by an ATF agent during a raid on the compound.
Eighteen years later, Beth has become the target of Mordecai. Although she has sent other bodyguard packing, she allows Josh and his son, Bryan, to stay. Despite the strong walls she hides behind, Josh gets to Beth and they fall in love while she is being targeted by a madman.
The villain is definitely sick and twisted in this novel. It was the first book I've read by Shayne, but I would be open to reading more of her works.
3.5 stars
Eighteen years later, Beth has become the target of Mordecai. Although she has sent other bodyguard packing, she allows Josh and his son, Bryan, to stay. Despite the strong walls she hides behind, Josh gets to Beth and they fall in love while she is being targeted by a madman.
The villain is definitely sick and twisted in this novel. It was the first book I've read by Shayne, but I would be open to reading more of her works.
3.5 stars
April 6, 2024
2.5 stars rounded up for the kids.
I don't like Joshua, not because he doesn't tell Beth the truth at first - but because of his decision to use romance to manipulate her then when she is rightly suspicious because he is really shitty at undercover work he then gaslights her so hard for 80% of the book, including sleeping with her before coming clean. Which to me makes him an a-hole, and poor Beth deserves better after such a horrible past.
Dawn & Bryan were the redeeming features of this one - Byran especially. Which is why their story (as adults) was such a crushing disappointment as adult Bryan was like a different character.
I don't like Joshua, not because he doesn't tell Beth the truth at first - but because of his decision to use romance to manipulate her then when she is rightly suspicious because he is really shitty at undercover work he then gaslights her so hard for 80% of the book, including sleeping with her before coming clean. Which to me makes him an a-hole, and poor Beth deserves better after such a horrible past.
Dawn & Bryan were the redeeming features of this one - Byran especially. Which is why their story (as adults) was such a crushing disappointment as adult Bryan was like a different character.
December 1, 2019
I am sure I never read a novel by Maggie Shayne, yet her book, Colder Than Ice sounded like something I had read previously.Perhaps I read another novel with the exact same plot/story line.
This bothered me: a girl is throwing pebbles at a teen boy's bedroom window. The boy is staying at a former Inn, meaning there are lots of bedrooms in the house. How could she, who had never been there, have known which bedroom he was sleeping in?
This bothered me: a girl is throwing pebbles at a teen boy's bedroom window. The boy is staying at a former Inn, meaning there are lots of bedrooms in the house. How could she, who had never been there, have known which bedroom he was sleeping in?
October 28, 2023
This is a boring book. The prose is barely adequate. The dialogue is stilted. The plot is ridiculous. The characters are dull. The two main characters have no spark. The two sex scenes in the book lack sizzle and were gratuitious. The adolescent love interest is just yuck and the ending is sappy, sappy, sappy. Just a bad book.
July 31, 2017
Great
Great storyline, the characters appear real to life and the premise of the story seems believable. I have enjoyed the storyline as it has unfolded and am looking forward to the next book.
Great storyline, the characters appear real to life and the premise of the story seems believable. I have enjoyed the storyline as it has unfolded and am looking forward to the next book.
October 14, 2017
I really enjoyed reading this book and I plan on buying the 3rd book soon so I can finish the series. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone that likes thrillers, mystery, romance, and suspense. Great book.. 5 stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
November 14, 2022
Very well written. You really feel like you know the characters personally. You love them, you hate them, you mourne them. Didn't even realize it was a series, and thoroughly enjoyed reading this book by itself. I'll have to read the others, now!
January 22, 2018
I didn't read the first in the series but didn't feel lost at all. She did a good job sprinkling in the information. An enjoyable read!
January 26, 2019
**Just could not get into this one.
January 4, 2021
Too predictable for me, and I was annoyed at the continued lying of the love interest, when he knew the main character had trust issues. I quit about halfway through.
January 9, 2022
Totally Maggie Shayne
Maggie is one of my favorite authors! Her books come to life ! Such an awesome story teller. Her characters she comes up with so real .
Maggie is one of my favorite authors! Her books come to life ! Such an awesome story teller. Her characters she comes up with so real .
March 14, 2022
It's a cozy but very good plot and characters. The writing flows like a calm river till it gets close to the waterfall.
June 29, 2022
Great book!
May 16, 2023
Boring. You could skip chapters and it would be the same... the big secret (to only one person) is told again and again... it was a waste of time, but I am not really a dnf fanatic
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 4, 2025
lu en 3h : incroyable
May 13, 2025
Did not like the male character . To much repetition of “I’m not lying “. Very difficult to finish.
June 18, 2025
Can't put down
Young is at it again. Will Lizzie ever be free of him and able to lIve her life again? Will she find out Josh's secret. You have to read it!
Young is at it again. Will Lizzie ever be free of him and able to lIve her life again? Will she find out Josh's secret. You have to read it!
July 16, 2010
3 ¾ stars.
Book 2 in the Mordecai Young trilogy.
I enjoyed this second installment more than the first, simply because I liked the h/h more. I was happy that there was more romance in this book than the first, although it felt a little forced at times. However, I was a little surprised that Ms. Shayne didn’t save more of the suspenseful information until the end. Because of a lull in the middle of this book, and the lack of suspense I felt this book just fell shy of a solid 4 stars.
This is the story of Elizabeth Marcum (Lizzie/Beth) and Joshua Kendall. Josh is under-cover trying to protect Beth from Mordecai who has found her again, a year after the first book in this trilogy. Beth has changed over the year. She goes running, and has been trying to gain her confidence so that the next time she meets up with Mordecai, it’ll be his last. Josh has brought his son, Bryan, along with him and aids him in his under-cover work (at least until Dawn appears and the two of them go off and try to solve things on their own and start having a mini-romance of their own). Josh realizes, when he first meets Beth (at the very beginning of the book), that she is the girl that he shot, and thought killed, during the raid at the Young Believers Compound 17 years ago. However, Beth doesn’t find out for herself until the very end of the book. But, of course, she gets over it quickly and Beth accepts Josh’s proposal. Fans on this trilogy will be happy to see their favorite characters from the first book (even if it’s brief): Lieutenant Jax, Julie and Sean, and of course, Dawn. It was good to see that the crazy Mordecai got his final ending in this book, although I’m surprised as there is one more book in this trilogy. The interesting thing is that we learn Dawn is, in fact, Mordecai’s true “heir,” and looks like she has started to develop some of her father’s “gifts.”
Book 2 in the Mordecai Young trilogy.
I enjoyed this second installment more than the first, simply because I liked the h/h more. I was happy that there was more romance in this book than the first, although it felt a little forced at times. However, I was a little surprised that Ms. Shayne didn’t save more of the suspenseful information until the end. Because of a lull in the middle of this book, and the lack of suspense I felt this book just fell shy of a solid 4 stars.
This is the story of Elizabeth Marcum (Lizzie/Beth) and Joshua Kendall. Josh is under-cover trying to protect Beth from Mordecai who has found her again, a year after the first book in this trilogy. Beth has changed over the year. She goes running, and has been trying to gain her confidence so that the next time she meets up with Mordecai, it’ll be his last. Josh has brought his son, Bryan, along with him and aids him in his under-cover work (at least until Dawn appears and the two of them go off and try to solve things on their own and start having a mini-romance of their own). Josh realizes, when he first meets Beth (at the very beginning of the book), that she is the girl that he shot, and thought killed, during the raid at the Young Believers Compound 17 years ago. However, Beth doesn’t find out for herself until the very end of the book. But, of course, she gets over it quickly and Beth accepts Josh’s proposal. Fans on this trilogy will be happy to see their favorite characters from the first book (even if it’s brief): Lieutenant Jax, Julie and Sean, and of course, Dawn. It was good to see that the crazy Mordecai got his final ending in this book, although I’m surprised as there is one more book in this trilogy. The interesting thing is that we learn Dawn is, in fact, Mordecai’s true “heir,” and looks like she has started to develop some of her father’s “gifts.”
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 11, 2011
Like its prequel, this was another fast-paced page turner. Between the two, I'll probably look for more books by this author, although I didn't like this one quite as much as Thicker Than Water. I think the reason is that in this book, far more time was spent on romance than suspense. (In the previous volume, though some called it romantic suspense, I thought the romance was background enough not to qualify.) Now, I love romance, so that shouldn't have been a problem, but to be honest, I couldn't really get into either Beth or Josh as a character. Plus, their romance was built on lies, making me doubt the HEA.
Beth is in the witness protection program because a notorious cult leader is after her. But she doesn't trust the government anymore than she trusts the man who wants her dead, so she refuses any attempt at protection, aside from the new identity. The feds prove how untrustworthy they are by leading the cult leader to her, effectively using her as bait so they can capture him.
Josh is a private contractor hired to protect her without her knowing. He's also the man who shot her when the feds attacked the cult compound 17 years ago. He thought he had killed her, and has been living with that guilt ever since.
My other little nitpick was this: The bullet not only nearly killed Beth, it kept her from being able to have more children. All right, I can buy it, but the trouble is the heroine in the last novel was infertile too. One at a time, it's a sympathetic plight. Strung together, it rings of the melodramatic.
This was a fun follow-up to the first volume.
Beth is in the witness protection program because a notorious cult leader is after her. But she doesn't trust the government anymore than she trusts the man who wants her dead, so she refuses any attempt at protection, aside from the new identity. The feds prove how untrustworthy they are by leading the cult leader to her, effectively using her as bait so they can capture him.
Josh is a private contractor hired to protect her without her knowing. He's also the man who shot her when the feds attacked the cult compound 17 years ago. He thought he had killed her, and has been living with that guilt ever since.
My other little nitpick was this: The bullet not only nearly killed Beth, it kept her from being able to have more children. All right, I can buy it, but the trouble is the heroine in the last novel was infertile too. One at a time, it's a sympathetic plight. Strung together, it rings of the melodramatic.
This was a fun follow-up to the first volume.
August 18, 2013
Book 2 in this series: Mordecia Young:
Elizabeth, Ms. Marcum, or Dawns bio mom....whatever you want to call her has been relocated by the goverment since the end of the last book. Now going by Beth Solcum and has been living in preporation for the fight with Mordecia. She can shot, she has toned her body took up jogging/running and has a punching bag in her living room. All she has now is her fear of his return and her prep.
Joshua Kendall is sent by Arthur Stanton to protect Beth now that they believe Mordecia knows where shes hiding. Josh must get Beth to trust him but that may be harder than he expected.
Josh has secrets, Beth has secrets but can those secrets distroy this slowly building releationship? Among all that Bryan, Josh's kid, and Dawn secretly try helping out to catch Mordecia.
Ok now for my take: I liked it. I found myself more drawn to Dawn and Bryan than Beth and Josh but ahh to be young again. It was a build up with many good parts, action parts, sad parts, funny parts, and so on. I can't wait to find the last book and read more about Dawn and whats going to happen with Mordecias "powers". No spoilers from me just read it if you like suspence mixed with romance and drama and of course if you read and liked the first book.
Elizabeth, Ms. Marcum, or Dawns bio mom....whatever you want to call her has been relocated by the goverment since the end of the last book. Now going by Beth Solcum and has been living in preporation for the fight with Mordecia. She can shot, she has toned her body took up jogging/running and has a punching bag in her living room. All she has now is her fear of his return and her prep.
Joshua Kendall is sent by Arthur Stanton to protect Beth now that they believe Mordecia knows where shes hiding. Josh must get Beth to trust him but that may be harder than he expected.
Josh has secrets, Beth has secrets but can those secrets distroy this slowly building releationship? Among all that Bryan, Josh's kid, and Dawn secretly try helping out to catch Mordecia.
Ok now for my take: I liked it. I found myself more drawn to Dawn and Bryan than Beth and Josh but ahh to be young again. It was a build up with many good parts, action parts, sad parts, funny parts, and so on. I can't wait to find the last book and read more about Dawn and whats going to happen with Mordecias "powers". No spoilers from me just read it if you like suspence mixed with romance and drama and of course if you read and liked the first book.
July 31, 2016
I haven't read much of this genre in the past few years, so I can't tell if this book was just that bad or if I'm not interested in the genre anymore. Maybe a bit of both. I didn't realize for quite some time that this was the second book in the series. I like to read in order, so I wish I'd read the first book, although if I had, I probably wouldn't have picked this one up.
But that wouldn't have been a bad thing.
Besides the book being extremely predictable, my favorite character, the only character I actually liked, got killed off early on. Beth and Josh had no chemistry, probably because he spent 95% of the time lying to her. For her own good, of course. *eyeroll* Or maybe for HIS own good. No way would he have gotten into her bed if he told the truth from the very beginning.
Most irritating part of the entire book: Beth persisted in calling her teenage daughter Dawn by the stupid nickname "Dawny."
Also, Dawn(y)'s real name was Sunny. Seriously.
But that wouldn't have been a bad thing.
Besides the book being extremely predictable, my favorite character, the only character I actually liked, got killed off early on. Beth and Josh had no chemistry, probably because he spent 95% of the time lying to her. For her own good, of course. *eyeroll* Or maybe for HIS own good. No way would he have gotten into her bed if he told the truth from the very beginning.
Most irritating part of the entire book: Beth persisted in calling her teenage daughter Dawn by the stupid nickname "Dawny."
Also, Dawn(y)'s real name was Sunny. Seriously.
April 20, 2012
I was a little worried about getting this book because its a stand alone novel. As far as i was aware it wasn't part of a series. But i liked the author so i was curious. Upon reading this book i really got into it. I loved the women of the book Elizabeth. She is like any women who has had her heart broken. she is reserved and guarded not wanting to get attached to someone or something because she believes that deep down it will always be taken away from her. But that only works for so long... and eventurally your barriers will fall and something or someone will sneak past it. and that is what she struggles with. Then i loved the hero of this book. he is a broken warrior looking to repair the mistakes of his past. his stuggles to repair things in his past, present and future makes you cheer for him to win. totally LOVED this book
December 14, 2013
Colder Than Ice is the second installment to Maggie Shayne’s Mordecai Young Series. Josh thought he had accidentally killed Beth/Lizzie, one of the young runaways living at the Young Believers Compound that day during the botched government raid. The guilt he carried was never far from him. Josh is shocked when he realizes that the person he’s there to protect is none other than the young victim he thought he killed years before. A very well written romantic suspense and fast paced novel, filled with lots of twists and turns and lots of mystery. Colder Than Ice was an edge of your seat, hard to put down story. Highly recommended.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews