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Extrasensory Agents #2
Cold Touch
Since being gifted--or cursed--with her ability to touch a lifeless body and relive the victim's final moments, Olivia Wainwright has died a hundred deaths. She hears the screams, tastes the fear; feels the excruciating pain--and every glimpse into this darkness draws her deeper into danger.
Now, though, she's met a man who offers a glimmer of light. Savannah Detective Gabe Cooper might look like a sexy good-old-boy, but his laid-back attitude hides a sharp mind and a protective heart. He doesn't believe in psychics--until he meets Olivia and sees firsthand how her dark gift ravages her spirit.
As their bond deepens, Olivia will have to choose between her cold gift and the warmth Gabe provides. But her past is catching up with her, and Gabe can't refuse when she needs his help solving a crime that's haunted her for over a decade...her own murder.
Now, though, she's met a man who offers a glimmer of light. Savannah Detective Gabe Cooper might look like a sexy good-old-boy, but his laid-back attitude hides a sharp mind and a protective heart. He doesn't believe in psychics--until he meets Olivia and sees firsthand how her dark gift ravages her spirit.
As their bond deepens, Olivia will have to choose between her cold gift and the warmth Gabe provides. But her past is catching up with her, and Gabe can't refuse when she needs his help solving a crime that's haunted her for over a decade...her own murder.
346 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published July 1, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 132 reviews
January 31, 2016
At the age of fifteen, Olivia Wainwright was kidnapped, tortured, and murdered, only to be revived with the help of another prisoner, Jack. Olivia escaped her tormentor and found help, but Jack was never found. Now twelve years later, the local news tells of the discovery of a boys body found inside a wall of a local tavern. When Olivia goes to the police claiming she knows the identity of the boy, Detective Gabe Cooper is intrigued. He knows she is part of Extreme Investigations, a team of private detectives that use their paranormal gifts to solve crimes. He doesn't believe in any of that ghostly nonsense, but is willing to give Olivia the benefit of the doubt when he finds that her kidnapper may still be at large.
Each member of the team brings a different expertise to the team. Olivia can touch a body and relive the last two minutes and ten seconds of that life, finding out how that person died and sometimes even discovering the identity of their murderer. Gabe sees the pain she goes through during this process, the nightmares she has for days afterward. With her past catching up with her, Gabe and his partner, Ty Wallace, join the Extreme Investigators in solving the murders of several young boys.
This is the second book in Parrish's Extrasensory Agents series. I liked this one even more than the first. I don't know if the author has plans for another book in this series, but if she writes it I will read it. My rating: 4.5 Stars.
Each member of the team brings a different expertise to the team. Olivia can touch a body and relive the last two minutes and ten seconds of that life, finding out how that person died and sometimes even discovering the identity of their murderer. Gabe sees the pain she goes through during this process, the nightmares she has for days afterward. With her past catching up with her, Gabe and his partner, Ty Wallace, join the Extreme Investigators in solving the murders of several young boys.
This is the second book in Parrish's Extrasensory Agents series. I liked this one even more than the first. I don't know if the author has plans for another book in this series, but if she writes it I will read it. My rating: 4.5 Stars.
July 21, 2011
4.5 Stars
Wow, this book gave me exactly what I needed, even though I didn’t realize I was missing anything. It was a refreshing palette cleanser that I was in dire need of. Romantic Suspense is one of the least frequent genres I read, but every once in a while I need a book like that to shake things up. You may be wondering why I mentioned the Romantic Suspense genre when the cover blurb reads like a Paranormal Romance. I guess it’s because this read like a Romantic Suspense book that had people with paranormal abilities in it, as opposed to a Paranormal Romance with a suspense storyline in it.
I love, love, love Mr. Perfect by Linda Howard, and this reminded me of it. Not in storyline or humor, but in the way multiple POV’s were featured in order to make a well rounded picture of the plot. We saw POV’s from the main characters, the villain, some coworkers of the hero and heroine, and even one of the victims. Sometimes too many POV’s can make me feel a lack of depth in the characters, but Parrish managed it beautifully. Instead of feeling a lack, I actually felt like the author built a whole cast of well rounded characters that I couldn’t help but become invested in.
This book does not shy away from the grim details of bad events happening to good people. If you do not enjoy your books with disturbing events that you could see in real life then I would recommend steering clear. Not only was Liv a victim herself, her experience gave her the ability to experience death again and again. The scenes showing her past and the ones we see that highlight her ability are not pretty. They are dark and upsetting, and the author nailed the emotion of the characters so well that it’s hard not to get sucked into the moment. I absolutely love that we’re actually shown those scenes instead of just being told about them.
The heroine, Olivia, is absolutely wonderful. She has her issues (totally understandable), but she doesn’t let it control her life. She still has friends and doesn’t isolate herself from her family, dysfunctional though they may be. She doesn’t spend her life moping about the past. She picked herself up and tried to rebuild her life. I have to admire her for that. I also like that the abilities that she and her coworkers have are not convenient and easy to manage. Sometimes it’s hard for them to tell whether their abilities are a gift or a curse.
I liked that the author managed to illustrate that tragedy breaks down any division between the rich and the poor. She wasn’t in your face about it, but having the rich girl heroine and the poor boy hero both experience tragedy in the childhood put them on equal footing. Liv and Gabe even had a couple discussions about it. Gabe kept thinking that their backgrounds were a hindrance to their relationship, but Liv wouldn’t let him see a stereotypical rich girl instead of the real her. She was so much more than that label.
Although this book took place in short amount of time, I never felt that the romance was too rushed. Gabe was authentically suspicious of Liv’s legitimacy in the beginning, and his trust was earned slowly. The attraction between them was immediate, but the relationship took a while to blossom. I liked that things were developed slowly between them and that they never let their attraction get in the way of the case.
The only thing that kept this from being a perfect grade was Gabe’s attitude toward Liv’s job near the end. I understand and appreciate that he was concerned about the toll her ability was taking on her, but the things he said to her and her boss really put my back up. I did not like that he put that crap on her about it being impossible for her to have a family or a relationship if she continued to use her ability. His dismissal of the occasional necessity of her ability really put a bad taste in my mouth. Especially when a good portion of the plot relied on her using that ability! I really wish she would have turned his accusations right back around on him. It’s not like being a cop treats you to nothing but the good in people.
Beyond that minor irritation, I really liked the book. I could tell by page 30 that I loved the author’s writing style, and I was never proven wrong. Although some parts of the book are dark, the author manages a nice balance with humor from the characters. I can’t wait to see what the next book will be about.
Favorite Quote:
*For a sneak peek check out my Tempting Teaser on Fiction Vixen*
Review originally posted on Fiction Vixen.
Wow, this book gave me exactly what I needed, even though I didn’t realize I was missing anything. It was a refreshing palette cleanser that I was in dire need of. Romantic Suspense is one of the least frequent genres I read, but every once in a while I need a book like that to shake things up. You may be wondering why I mentioned the Romantic Suspense genre when the cover blurb reads like a Paranormal Romance. I guess it’s because this read like a Romantic Suspense book that had people with paranormal abilities in it, as opposed to a Paranormal Romance with a suspense storyline in it.
I love, love, love Mr. Perfect by Linda Howard, and this reminded me of it. Not in storyline or humor, but in the way multiple POV’s were featured in order to make a well rounded picture of the plot. We saw POV’s from the main characters, the villain, some coworkers of the hero and heroine, and even one of the victims. Sometimes too many POV’s can make me feel a lack of depth in the characters, but Parrish managed it beautifully. Instead of feeling a lack, I actually felt like the author built a whole cast of well rounded characters that I couldn’t help but become invested in.
This book does not shy away from the grim details of bad events happening to good people. If you do not enjoy your books with disturbing events that you could see in real life then I would recommend steering clear. Not only was Liv a victim herself, her experience gave her the ability to experience death again and again. The scenes showing her past and the ones we see that highlight her ability are not pretty. They are dark and upsetting, and the author nailed the emotion of the characters so well that it’s hard not to get sucked into the moment. I absolutely love that we’re actually shown those scenes instead of just being told about them.
The heroine, Olivia, is absolutely wonderful. She has her issues (totally understandable), but she doesn’t let it control her life. She still has friends and doesn’t isolate herself from her family, dysfunctional though they may be. She doesn’t spend her life moping about the past. She picked herself up and tried to rebuild her life. I have to admire her for that. I also like that the abilities that she and her coworkers have are not convenient and easy to manage. Sometimes it’s hard for them to tell whether their abilities are a gift or a curse.
I liked that the author managed to illustrate that tragedy breaks down any division between the rich and the poor. She wasn’t in your face about it, but having the rich girl heroine and the poor boy hero both experience tragedy in the childhood put them on equal footing. Liv and Gabe even had a couple discussions about it. Gabe kept thinking that their backgrounds were a hindrance to their relationship, but Liv wouldn’t let him see a stereotypical rich girl instead of the real her. She was so much more than that label.
Although this book took place in short amount of time, I never felt that the romance was too rushed. Gabe was authentically suspicious of Liv’s legitimacy in the beginning, and his trust was earned slowly. The attraction between them was immediate, but the relationship took a while to blossom. I liked that things were developed slowly between them and that they never let their attraction get in the way of the case.
The only thing that kept this from being a perfect grade was Gabe’s attitude toward Liv’s job near the end. I understand and appreciate that he was concerned about the toll her ability was taking on her, but the things he said to her and her boss really put my back up. I did not like that he put that crap on her about it being impossible for her to have a family or a relationship if she continued to use her ability. His dismissal of the occasional necessity of her ability really put a bad taste in my mouth. Especially when a good portion of the plot relied on her using that ability! I really wish she would have turned his accusations right back around on him. It’s not like being a cop treats you to nothing but the good in people.
Beyond that minor irritation, I really liked the book. I could tell by page 30 that I loved the author’s writing style, and I was never proven wrong. Although some parts of the book are dark, the author manages a nice balance with humor from the characters. I can’t wait to see what the next book will be about.
Favorite Quote:
"Gabe," she eventually whispered, her voice lazy, sated and thick with sex.
"Yeah, darlin'?"
"Thanks for pushing me out of the path of that car."
"Pushing doesn't sound heroic enough. I didn't push you; I swooped in and carried you."
*For a sneak peek check out my Tempting Teaser on Fiction Vixen*
Review originally posted on Fiction Vixen.
August 6, 2011
A murdered woman gets a chance to solve her own murder...
I am not normally much for suspense but Cold Touch worked for me on so many fronts. I loved both of the leads, Liv who has the 'cold touch' and works for a pyschic detective agency and police detective Gabe who is not really open to all things 'woo woo'. I thought that the romance between them was well done with a quick attraction but no quick hook-up. The Gabe's character is honorable and the author doesn't leave that behind to go for the easy fast life affirming sex ploy to get the pair in bed before they have a chance to get to know and admire each other.
I also found the psychic detective agency angle to be very intriguing, and with the assortment of powers gathered together in that group, those folks are a force to be reckoned with. To top it off, the writing just really grabbed me - the murder hook sucked me in and I just had to know how that was possible - and the suspense part was also very satisfying, it doesn't revel in the bloody or stick you interminally in the murderer's mind and, since we are in on all the clues as they are uncovered, I figured out things pretty much right as the characters did - which was a nice stroke to the old ego. The story also has some really emotional moments, including one in particular that was really very sad (but fortunately, the epilog makes it a little easire to accept).
Bottom line is that I really really liked Cold Touch, and the supporting cast as well as the leads. Even with the size of my TBR mountain, I am definitely going back to read the first book Cold Sight: Extrasensory Agents - though this one did standalone just fine in case you were wondering- and I also will be checking out an old harlequin freebie romance that I have by this author under her other pen name Leslie Kelly.
I am not normally much for suspense but Cold Touch worked for me on so many fronts. I loved both of the leads, Liv who has the 'cold touch' and works for a pyschic detective agency and police detective Gabe who is not really open to all things 'woo woo'. I thought that the romance between them was well done with a quick attraction but no quick hook-up. The Gabe's character is honorable and the author doesn't leave that behind to go for the easy fast life affirming sex ploy to get the pair in bed before they have a chance to get to know and admire each other.
I also found the psychic detective agency angle to be very intriguing, and with the assortment of powers gathered together in that group, those folks are a force to be reckoned with. To top it off, the writing just really grabbed me - the murder hook sucked me in and I just had to know how that was possible - and the suspense part was also very satisfying, it doesn't revel in the bloody or stick you interminally in the murderer's mind and, since we are in on all the clues as they are uncovered, I figured out things pretty much right as the characters did - which was a nice stroke to the old ego. The story also has some really emotional moments, including one in particular that was really very sad (but fortunately, the epilog makes it a little easire to accept).
Bottom line is that I really really liked Cold Touch, and the supporting cast as well as the leads. Even with the size of my TBR mountain, I am definitely going back to read the first book Cold Sight: Extrasensory Agents - though this one did standalone just fine in case you were wondering- and I also will be checking out an old harlequin freebie romance that I have by this author under her other pen name Leslie Kelly.
July 7, 2019
She was rapidly growing addicted to a man she’d met less than a week ago.
Yesterday. You met him yesterday. Don't try to make it sound like it hasn't been a ridiculously short amount of time. You've spent 3 hours together and he hugged you. Calm your tits, lady.
Really good mystery. Awesome twist at the end. Decent H/h chemistry. All-around winner.
Yesterday. You met him yesterday. Don't try to make it sound like it hasn't been a ridiculously short amount of time. You've spent 3 hours together and he hugged you. Calm your tits, lady.
Really good mystery. Awesome twist at the end. Decent H/h chemistry. All-around winner.
July 12, 2011
Reading Leslie Parrish’s books is my guilty little pleasure. Why guilty? Because when her books come out, I drop everything else I might be reading at the moment, and dive right in. Headfirst. And I love it.
I loved this new installment in her Extrasensory Agents series as well. A great mix of romance, drama, paranormal and thriller. Because there was no “pussy” suspense in this book, it jumped right into the thriller realm with a villain there was no space left in his head (if you want to know what I mean, you’ll have to read the book, and if you’re anything like me, you won’t be sorry).
This time it was the heroine that worked for eXtreme Investigations, and what word it was. Olivia could touch dead remains and know exactly what happened in the last two minutes and ten seconds of that person’s life. Stuff of nightmares, you’d think. And you’d be right.
Lucky for our girl, she met a man. The right man. A tough cop with a heart of gold and a weakness for a redhead with green eyes and a strange affinity to death.
And she wasn’t just lucky to meet him for her peace of mind, but for her own well-being as well.
You know what the problem with Ms. Parrish’s books is? I cannot talk/write/rant about them without revealing spoilers, so I find it really hard to gush about how much I love her books without revealing too much. And it’s tough to gush when people don’t know what you’re gushing about…
I’ll keep it brief and simple. If you like your reading material to have a lovely mix of genres (equal amount of each), great pacing, wonderful characters, thrilling suspense, intense tension, chillingly delicious villains, amazing chemistry, tight plotlines, and twists and turns galore, this is the book for you. Despite its “predictability” (I’m not talking about page-to-page know-it-all, but the certainty of a happy ending) it was decidedly unpredictable.
I’ve grown weary of books where you can see everything that’s about to happen from a few scenes before, know the identity of the villain when he/she first makes an appearance etc. Cold Touch kept me on my toes and on the edge of my seat. And the final twist (not the accomplice one, because I saw that one coming!) in the end really threw me. Was it necessary? Yes, to solve the mystery, but that could’ve been solved without that sacrifice. And I would’ve loved to see two happy endings instead of one, but it wasn’t meant to be.
I’m not saying that final twist ruined the book for me, because it didn’t, it just added another layer to the whole story, I’m just saying I could’ve done happily without it. But then, we wouldn’t have an “interesting” epilogue. ;)
P.S. Oh, I thought of a downside to this series. Only one book a year. So not fair.
I loved this new installment in her Extrasensory Agents series as well. A great mix of romance, drama, paranormal and thriller. Because there was no “pussy” suspense in this book, it jumped right into the thriller realm with a villain there was no space left in his head (if you want to know what I mean, you’ll have to read the book, and if you’re anything like me, you won’t be sorry).
This time it was the heroine that worked for eXtreme Investigations, and what word it was. Olivia could touch dead remains and know exactly what happened in the last two minutes and ten seconds of that person’s life. Stuff of nightmares, you’d think. And you’d be right.
Lucky for our girl, she met a man. The right man. A tough cop with a heart of gold and a weakness for a redhead with green eyes and a strange affinity to death.
And she wasn’t just lucky to meet him for her peace of mind, but for her own well-being as well.
You know what the problem with Ms. Parrish’s books is? I cannot talk/write/rant about them without revealing spoilers, so I find it really hard to gush about how much I love her books without revealing too much. And it’s tough to gush when people don’t know what you’re gushing about…
I’ll keep it brief and simple. If you like your reading material to have a lovely mix of genres (equal amount of each), great pacing, wonderful characters, thrilling suspense, intense tension, chillingly delicious villains, amazing chemistry, tight plotlines, and twists and turns galore, this is the book for you. Despite its “predictability” (I’m not talking about page-to-page know-it-all, but the certainty of a happy ending) it was decidedly unpredictable.
I’ve grown weary of books where you can see everything that’s about to happen from a few scenes before, know the identity of the villain when he/she first makes an appearance etc. Cold Touch kept me on my toes and on the edge of my seat. And the final twist (not the accomplice one, because I saw that one coming!) in the end really threw me. Was it necessary? Yes, to solve the mystery, but that could’ve been solved without that sacrifice. And I would’ve loved to see two happy endings instead of one, but it wasn’t meant to be.
I’m not saying that final twist ruined the book for me, because it didn’t, it just added another layer to the whole story, I’m just saying I could’ve done happily without it. But then, we wouldn’t have an “interesting” epilogue. ;)
P.S. Oh, I thought of a downside to this series. Only one book a year. So not fair.
July 16, 2011
Cold Touch is a book in the awesome Paranormal/Romantic Suspense series of Extreme Investigations, a group of people with different abilities. Julia their boss, a former cop, who has a ghost of her own(her former partner), Mick(who can touch objects and tells it's history), Derek(who can tell where people have died), Aidan(a psychic, from the first book) and Olivia.
Olivia comes from a wealthy Southern family but she was kidnapped from her own bed when she was fifteen and held for ransom. She never saw her kidnapper's face but she saw a little boy, extremely scared and abused who told her that she would be killed as soon as the ransom was paid. She doesn't believe it then she is drowned and is dead for two minutes, ten seconds. When she comes to she sees the little boy gave CPR to her, apologized and told her to run away. Olivia did vowing to save the boy. She then receives news that her kidnapper was killed and despite trying to they never found the boy.
Olivia's ability which she has been using for the past three years for Extreme Investigations, is the ability to touch and tell how someone died. It is a terrible ability that causes her pain and takes a part of her away every-time. She first discovered it at her grandmother's funeral. One day she sees a news report of some remains found nearby she was rescued, about a small boy that makes her think it was the boy she remembers Jake. She goes to the site where she almost gets crushed by a car and is rescued by Gabe, who is the detective on the case. She finds him attractive but walks away.
A few days later, when she sees the sketch of the boy found she is sure of who he is and goes to the station to talk to Gabe and tells him her story. Gabe is skeptical but understanding and then when he finds out what she does, ushers her out.
Gabe and Olivia come from opposite backgrounds and he does consider himself not suitable for her for a moment(Olivia sets him straight). He is a skeptic but when he sees what she can do gets outraged that nobody sees the toll it takes on her and cares for her. There are sparks between them and I loved how they gradually talked and then fell in bed. The book was amazing, I hated what happened to Gabe's partner, I saw some possibilities with Olivia's sister.
I loved everything about the book and I felt so bad for Julia and what she feels for Morgan(her ghost). Excellent book!
Olivia comes from a wealthy Southern family but she was kidnapped from her own bed when she was fifteen and held for ransom. She never saw her kidnapper's face but she saw a little boy, extremely scared and abused who told her that she would be killed as soon as the ransom was paid. She doesn't believe it then she is drowned and is dead for two minutes, ten seconds. When she comes to she sees the little boy gave CPR to her, apologized and told her to run away. Olivia did vowing to save the boy. She then receives news that her kidnapper was killed and despite trying to they never found the boy.
Olivia's ability which she has been using for the past three years for Extreme Investigations, is the ability to touch and tell how someone died. It is a terrible ability that causes her pain and takes a part of her away every-time. She first discovered it at her grandmother's funeral. One day she sees a news report of some remains found nearby she was rescued, about a small boy that makes her think it was the boy she remembers Jake. She goes to the site where she almost gets crushed by a car and is rescued by Gabe, who is the detective on the case. She finds him attractive but walks away.
A few days later, when she sees the sketch of the boy found she is sure of who he is and goes to the station to talk to Gabe and tells him her story. Gabe is skeptical but understanding and then when he finds out what she does, ushers her out.
Gabe and Olivia come from opposite backgrounds and he does consider himself not suitable for her for a moment(Olivia sets him straight). He is a skeptic but when he sees what she can do gets outraged that nobody sees the toll it takes on her and cares for her. There are sparks between them and I loved how they gradually talked and then fell in bed. The book was amazing, I hated what happened to Gabe's partner, I saw some possibilities with Olivia's sister.
I loved everything about the book and I felt so bad for Julia and what she feels for Morgan(her ghost). Excellent book!
October 13, 2011
This had everything I want from a romantic suspense. Great H/h, slow building romance that doesn't take a backseat to the suspense. Super creepy bad guys that get what's coming to them, nice amount of "steam" and an HEA. I really love this series and look forward to the next one.
@Austin Club Friends - 0 on the Weird-Meter!
@Austin Club Friends - 0 on the Weird-Meter!
November 15, 2020
AMAZING Paranormal Romance/Suspense-Thriller!
Ms. Parrish's stories are a little dark, but OH SO well written! Her characters and plot capture the reader right at the beginning and continue to keep you enthralled until the very end! I can't wait o read more of this series!
Ms. Parrish's stories are a little dark, but OH SO well written! Her characters and plot capture the reader right at the beginning and continue to keep you enthralled until the very end! I can't wait o read more of this series!
July 16, 2011
Olivia Wainwright has a terrifying "gift". When she touches a dead body she can live the last 2 minutes and 10 seconds of their life. The ability first showed up after she was kidnapped at the age of 15. It was an awful experience, she barely managed to escape with her life intact. The only reason she succeeded was Jake, a boy who "worked" with the kidnapper, who saved her life. So when she sees his face on the news, as an unidentified Jimmy Doe, she knows she must do whatever she can to repay her debt.
And that's when Detective Gabe Cooper comes along. Gabe is in charge of the murder investigation. When he first sees Olivia he's enchanted by her, and her story damn near breaks his heart, but her ability makes him skeptic and not so glad to meet her. But he sees the light soon enough. And together they decide to do anything in their power to catch the killer.
Olivia, understandably, has a lot of issues that stem from her abduction. In the following years she felt like a freak, but when, three years ago, she started working for EXtreme Investigations, she finally felt like she belonged.
And now there's this wonderful man in her life, a man with whom she can imagine a future. The only thing they need to do is stay alive.
Gabe is a great hero, patient, understanding and willing to protect Olivia from everything, including herself. The whole solution to her job was great.
I like how the mystery got tied up. It wasn't easy to guess, and it made awful sense.
I love all the employees of EXtreme Investigations. Starting with Julia and her ghostly partner, though guy Derek and his bike, Mick and lastly Aidan. I'm looking forward to reading their books. I particularly want to see how Julia gets her HEA.
Rating:
5 stars
And that's when Detective Gabe Cooper comes along. Gabe is in charge of the murder investigation. When he first sees Olivia he's enchanted by her, and her story damn near breaks his heart, but her ability makes him skeptic and not so glad to meet her. But he sees the light soon enough. And together they decide to do anything in their power to catch the killer.
Olivia, understandably, has a lot of issues that stem from her abduction. In the following years she felt like a freak, but when, three years ago, she started working for EXtreme Investigations, she finally felt like she belonged.
And now there's this wonderful man in her life, a man with whom she can imagine a future. The only thing they need to do is stay alive.
Gabe is a great hero, patient, understanding and willing to protect Olivia from everything, including herself. The whole solution to her job was great.
I like how the mystery got tied up. It wasn't easy to guess, and it made awful sense.
I love all the employees of EXtreme Investigations. Starting with Julia and her ghostly partner, though guy Derek and his bike, Mick and lastly Aidan. I'm looking forward to reading their books. I particularly want to see how Julia gets her HEA.
Rating:
5 stars
March 25, 2015
Very good romantic suspense with a touch of paranormal. The mystery/suspense was well done. The last half which had me on the edge of my seat. I didn't see the ending coming at all--a total shocker! The romance parts were also handled well--the relationship built over the book and they didn't immediately fall into bed. I liked the main characters and supporting cast.
I think it will appeal to paranormal romance fans as well as romantic suspense fans.
I also enjoyed the first book in this series, but just not quite as much as this one.
I think it will appeal to paranormal romance fans as well as romantic suspense fans.
I also enjoyed the first book in this series, but just not quite as much as this one.
June 30, 2011
Originally posted at http://www.smexybooks.com/2011/06/rev...
Favorite Quote: “Can you take out the angry eyes, Mrs. Potato Head, and just let me talk to you?"
When a child’s bones are found boarded up in the wall of a bar, Olivia Wainwright instinctively knows that these are the bones of a child who saved her life 12 years ago. Olivia was kidnapped out of her home and tortured when she was 15 years old. When the kidnapper killed her, a young boy, Jack, preformed CPR and brought her back to life. Olivia was able to escape and her kidnapper was killed avoiding arrest. She was never able to find Jack again though. Now 12 years later, Olivia works for Xtreme Investigations. Her near death experience left her with a very dark and dangerous gift. Olivia has the ability to relive the last couple of minutes of someone’s death. Olivia never believed that her kidnapper was working alone and now with Jack’s body found, she is even more convinced that her kidnapper is still out there and still killing. Olivia believes if she can touch Jack’s bones, she will finally learn her kidnappers true identity and bring him to justice. But first she has to convince Detective Gabe Cooper.
Detective Gabe Cooper is the lead detective in charge of the boy’s body. A victim of abuse himself, he will do anything to find out who tortured and killed this child. When Olivia comes to the station to identify and offer her psychic services, Gage is stunned by her request and rather put out that a woman he finds so attractive would be involved in what he feels is nothing more then a con game. When he finds out about her past he is deeply troubled and saddened and after serious consideration, allows her access to Jack’s body. Gabe is horrified by what Olivia experiences by using her gift and this only further cements his attraction and commitment to helping her bring the killer to justice.
Cold Touch is a dark, twisted, physiological thriller that left me chilled and shaken as I read what Olivia and the kidnappers victims go through. The second book in her Extrasensory Investigation series, Ms. Parrish once again sweeps us up and drops us into the mind of a sick sadistic killer who’s cunning and viciousness leaves a trail of despair and heartbreak where ever he goes. Being a mother, this story hit me a harder then normal. I just couldn’t wrap my mind around what would I do if I my child had been kidnapped and the case became cold.
Ms. Parrish has a gift for building a nail biting suspenseful story that leaves you hanging on to every little word. She pulls no punches and allows you no time to accept before tossing you next challenge. Smooth flowing with minimal fillers-this story grabs you and doesn’t let go till the end. It does start out in the past with us reliving Olivia’s final moments the jumps forward to the present and introduces the protagonists. Steady pacing and tense hard action flies us all the way home. The romance and the suspense blend effortlessly together. There is no beginning or end to each; they are equally important to the overall arc.
Olivia and Gage have incredibly steamy chemistry between them that clicks from their first meeting. Well written dialog and intense scenes make it a joy to watch their romance come alive. I loved watching Gabe’s protective streak come out concerning Olivia. Gage instantly sees what her co workers never did-the sheer emotional damage that her gift causes her. While he wants to protect her, he doesn’t coddle her. He recognizes her strength and celebrates it and her. Though Gage feels that his background and hers won’t mix well, Olivia doesn’t give up. She senses that her and Gabe are meant to be together. I love how Ms. Parrish allows us to verbally see the physical attraction Olivia feels towards Gage. She has no qualms about ogling the fine physique Gage has and admitting to all the things she’d like to do to him in bed. Very sensual and hot.
Her secondary characters are very well developed and personable. They slip effortlessly under you skin and into your heart. We see many different relationships here that are tested by the events unfolding. Ms. Parrish handles each and every one of them with the respect and concern they deserve. She shows indelible strength that some people have that allows them to triumph over anything. I enjoyed seeing Olivia’s work mates and going more in depth into their gifts and back stories. They definitely impact the story in many, many ways. I hope they will each get their own book.
As we get closer to solving the mystery there are some very emotional moments I did not expect that left me shocked and saddened. The duplicity and deception that is revealed leaves you reeling at the implications. I really like the underlying theme of the story that focuses on victims of kidnapping and abuse. Ms. Parrish lets us see that it’s really up to the victim in how they choose to deal with and live the rest of their lives. Some will succeed and some will fail. The ending is an intense finale that answers all our questions and wraps everything up nicely. Ms. Parrish also leaves us with an intriguing epilogue that lets us know this isn’t the last we have seen of Gabe, Olivia and the rest of Xtreme Investigations. I am looking forward to the next in this series; to be announced.
Rating: B
Favorite Quote: “Can you take out the angry eyes, Mrs. Potato Head, and just let me talk to you?"
When a child’s bones are found boarded up in the wall of a bar, Olivia Wainwright instinctively knows that these are the bones of a child who saved her life 12 years ago. Olivia was kidnapped out of her home and tortured when she was 15 years old. When the kidnapper killed her, a young boy, Jack, preformed CPR and brought her back to life. Olivia was able to escape and her kidnapper was killed avoiding arrest. She was never able to find Jack again though. Now 12 years later, Olivia works for Xtreme Investigations. Her near death experience left her with a very dark and dangerous gift. Olivia has the ability to relive the last couple of minutes of someone’s death. Olivia never believed that her kidnapper was working alone and now with Jack’s body found, she is even more convinced that her kidnapper is still out there and still killing. Olivia believes if she can touch Jack’s bones, she will finally learn her kidnappers true identity and bring him to justice. But first she has to convince Detective Gabe Cooper.
Detective Gabe Cooper is the lead detective in charge of the boy’s body. A victim of abuse himself, he will do anything to find out who tortured and killed this child. When Olivia comes to the station to identify and offer her psychic services, Gage is stunned by her request and rather put out that a woman he finds so attractive would be involved in what he feels is nothing more then a con game. When he finds out about her past he is deeply troubled and saddened and after serious consideration, allows her access to Jack’s body. Gabe is horrified by what Olivia experiences by using her gift and this only further cements his attraction and commitment to helping her bring the killer to justice.
Cold Touch is a dark, twisted, physiological thriller that left me chilled and shaken as I read what Olivia and the kidnappers victims go through. The second book in her Extrasensory Investigation series, Ms. Parrish once again sweeps us up and drops us into the mind of a sick sadistic killer who’s cunning and viciousness leaves a trail of despair and heartbreak where ever he goes. Being a mother, this story hit me a harder then normal. I just couldn’t wrap my mind around what would I do if I my child had been kidnapped and the case became cold.
Ms. Parrish has a gift for building a nail biting suspenseful story that leaves you hanging on to every little word. She pulls no punches and allows you no time to accept before tossing you next challenge. Smooth flowing with minimal fillers-this story grabs you and doesn’t let go till the end. It does start out in the past with us reliving Olivia’s final moments the jumps forward to the present and introduces the protagonists. Steady pacing and tense hard action flies us all the way home. The romance and the suspense blend effortlessly together. There is no beginning or end to each; they are equally important to the overall arc.
Olivia and Gage have incredibly steamy chemistry between them that clicks from their first meeting. Well written dialog and intense scenes make it a joy to watch their romance come alive. I loved watching Gabe’s protective streak come out concerning Olivia. Gage instantly sees what her co workers never did-the sheer emotional damage that her gift causes her. While he wants to protect her, he doesn’t coddle her. He recognizes her strength and celebrates it and her. Though Gage feels that his background and hers won’t mix well, Olivia doesn’t give up. She senses that her and Gabe are meant to be together. I love how Ms. Parrish allows us to verbally see the physical attraction Olivia feels towards Gage. She has no qualms about ogling the fine physique Gage has and admitting to all the things she’d like to do to him in bed. Very sensual and hot.
Her secondary characters are very well developed and personable. They slip effortlessly under you skin and into your heart. We see many different relationships here that are tested by the events unfolding. Ms. Parrish handles each and every one of them with the respect and concern they deserve. She shows indelible strength that some people have that allows them to triumph over anything. I enjoyed seeing Olivia’s work mates and going more in depth into their gifts and back stories. They definitely impact the story in many, many ways. I hope they will each get their own book.
As we get closer to solving the mystery there are some very emotional moments I did not expect that left me shocked and saddened. The duplicity and deception that is revealed leaves you reeling at the implications. I really like the underlying theme of the story that focuses on victims of kidnapping and abuse. Ms. Parrish lets us see that it’s really up to the victim in how they choose to deal with and live the rest of their lives. Some will succeed and some will fail. The ending is an intense finale that answers all our questions and wraps everything up nicely. Ms. Parrish also leaves us with an intriguing epilogue that lets us know this isn’t the last we have seen of Gabe, Olivia and the rest of Xtreme Investigations. I am looking forward to the next in this series; to be announced.
Rating: B
Read
April 11, 2017I've got to write this "review" quickly, because I'm going to read Wildfire now and I'm pretty sure it will purge all thoughts of other books, despite their good quality. -- Which, yes, Cold Touch was a good read.
I enjoy stories set in our reality with just that little twist of something. This was a romantic suspense in many ways, but it had that little paranormal twist and I love reading about that sort of thing. - Both Olivia, the heroine who was blessed with suck, and Gabe, the hero who could probably have gotten more time sharing his story, were well written and had enough depth to pull their relationship and the plot off.
The one thing I would mention as a "con" is that I was more interested in the side characters (especially Olivia's sister, the ghost Morgan, and Ty) than the actual protagonists when I was reading this. Cold Touch was missing that little spark to make me fall for it entirely; but it was a good flirt regardless, and I'm gonna check out other books of the author (especially this series) once I'm done mourning the end of the Nevada Baylor series.
So in even shorter: I had fun reading Cold Touch, and I think I'm going to read more books written by Leslie Parrish. BUT this particular story didn't connect with me as much as I think other stories set in this world will.
I enjoy stories set in our reality with just that little twist of something. This was a romantic suspense in many ways, but it had that little paranormal twist and I love reading about that sort of thing. - Both Olivia, the heroine who was blessed with suck, and Gabe, the hero who could probably have gotten more time sharing his story, were well written and had enough depth to pull their relationship and the plot off.
The one thing I would mention as a "con" is that I was more interested in the side characters (especially Olivia's sister, the ghost Morgan, and Ty) than the actual protagonists when I was reading this. Cold Touch was missing that little spark to make me fall for it entirely; but it was a good flirt regardless, and I'm gonna check out other books of the author (especially this series) once I'm done mourning the end of the Nevada Baylor series.
So in even shorter: I had fun reading Cold Touch, and I think I'm going to read more books written by Leslie Parrish. BUT this particular story didn't connect with me as much as I think other stories set in this world will.
March 15, 2017
The serial killer had a lot of potential, he was interesting.
July 11, 2011
Very Brief Synopsis - At the age of fifteen, Olivia Wainwright was kidnapped and held for ransom. Although she manages to escape with the help of "Jack", a young boy also under the kidnapper's control, her life is forever changed. When a skeleton of a young boy is discovered in the wall of a burnt out bar near where Olivia was held, she feels compelled to go to the scene. She meets Detective Gabe Cooper, and together they unravel the mystery of the remains. Someone doesn't want them to succeed, and is intent on removing Olivia from the case.
Olivia - Her kidnapping experience has left her with an extra sensory gift - if she touches a body or remains, she relives the last 130 seconds of the deceased's life. Pretty horrifying "gift", huh? She works with a group of folks who each have their own gift, and together they help people who have exhausted more traditional methods. Her gift is taking a toll on her, though. Olivia is such a strong character, and completely feminine. She really takes the lead here, and even initiates the physical relationship with Gabe. She can take care of herself, but chooses to let Gabe help her. It's great to have a heroine who is in touch with her girl side while still being completely in charge.
Gabe - Gabe is a skeptic of all things mystical. Yet as he gets closer to Olivia, he is forced to admit there may be more out there than meets the eye. Gabe is a good guy. He cares about people, he believes in his job, and in justice. He tries not to blur the lines between the personal and professional with Olivia, but as they spend more time together, the attraction he feels to her builds.
The romance between Olivia and Gabe builds at a nice, believable pace. I like that there was a friendship and a getting to know each other period before they got physical. They generate a good bit of heat together once they do get physical, though.
There is a good bit of tension breaking humor throughout the story, which is always a win in my book.
The story is intense, interesting and moves along at a good pace. Leslie Parrish tends to not hold back on the gruesome details of death, which adds a grittiness to the story not often found in this genre. Her books have a sense of realness, for want of a better word. This is not Murder Lite. There is some ugliness, some grief, good people are lost. And if the good guys win in the end, well, it isn't a win that comes without pain and adjustment.
Personally, I love it when the secondary characters come on strong and grab their share of the limelight. In Cold Touch, there is a wealth of grabbiness. Not so much that they overshadow the main characters or story, but enough to where the reader can eagerly anticipate the other character's turn in the spotlight. Specifically, Julie and Morgan...I am dying to know how Ms. Parrish is going to handle their circumstances.
Ms. Parrish has a real winner with this series. Cold Sight was excellent, as is Cold Touch. The storylines are very different from the "normal" PNR, yet still populated with interesting characters and gripping plotlines. If you like Cynthia Eden's Deadly series, Laura Griffin and/or Kylie Brandt, I would urge you to give Leslie Parrish a read.
Olivia - Her kidnapping experience has left her with an extra sensory gift - if she touches a body or remains, she relives the last 130 seconds of the deceased's life. Pretty horrifying "gift", huh? She works with a group of folks who each have their own gift, and together they help people who have exhausted more traditional methods. Her gift is taking a toll on her, though. Olivia is such a strong character, and completely feminine. She really takes the lead here, and even initiates the physical relationship with Gabe. She can take care of herself, but chooses to let Gabe help her. It's great to have a heroine who is in touch with her girl side while still being completely in charge.
Gabe - Gabe is a skeptic of all things mystical. Yet as he gets closer to Olivia, he is forced to admit there may be more out there than meets the eye. Gabe is a good guy. He cares about people, he believes in his job, and in justice. He tries not to blur the lines between the personal and professional with Olivia, but as they spend more time together, the attraction he feels to her builds.
The romance between Olivia and Gabe builds at a nice, believable pace. I like that there was a friendship and a getting to know each other period before they got physical. They generate a good bit of heat together once they do get physical, though.
There is a good bit of tension breaking humor throughout the story, which is always a win in my book.
The story is intense, interesting and moves along at a good pace. Leslie Parrish tends to not hold back on the gruesome details of death, which adds a grittiness to the story not often found in this genre. Her books have a sense of realness, for want of a better word. This is not Murder Lite. There is some ugliness, some grief, good people are lost. And if the good guys win in the end, well, it isn't a win that comes without pain and adjustment.
Personally, I love it when the secondary characters come on strong and grab their share of the limelight. In Cold Touch, there is a wealth of grabbiness. Not so much that they overshadow the main characters or story, but enough to where the reader can eagerly anticipate the other character's turn in the spotlight. Specifically, Julie and Morgan...I am dying to know how Ms. Parrish is going to handle their circumstances.
Ms. Parrish has a real winner with this series. Cold Sight was excellent, as is Cold Touch. The storylines are very different from the "normal" PNR, yet still populated with interesting characters and gripping plotlines. If you like Cynthia Eden's Deadly series, Laura Griffin and/or Kylie Brandt, I would urge you to give Leslie Parrish a read.
July 10, 2019
Quick Info
Standalone/Cliffhanger?: Standalone
Part of a Series?: Yes
----------------------------------
Meeting the Characters
Olivia Wainwright
Gabe Cooper
----------------------------------
What happens?
Olivia is the type of psychic who can see how someone died when they touch them. She is saved from death by a boy called Jack when she was drowned by her kidnapper. The body of a boy is found in a wall and Detective Gabe Cooper investigates. When Olivia comes forward to identify who the boy could be she opens up a bigger case than originally thought. Gabe has to get his mind around the supernatural and to get his partner to be onside with him.
Final thoughts
Again a really nice read. I was unable to put it down and I didn't want to put it down. This felt more violent and more thriller territory than the last but still good!
Would I read again?: Yes
Would I read this author again?: Yes
Standalone/Cliffhanger?: Standalone
Part of a Series?: Yes
----------------------------------
Meeting the Characters
Olivia Wainwright
Gabe Cooper
----------------------------------
What happens?
Olivia is the type of psychic who can see how someone died when they touch them. She is saved from death by a boy called Jack when she was drowned by her kidnapper. The body of a boy is found in a wall and Detective Gabe Cooper investigates. When Olivia comes forward to identify who the boy could be she opens up a bigger case than originally thought. Gabe has to get his mind around the supernatural and to get his partner to be onside with him.
Final thoughts
Again a really nice read. I was unable to put it down and I didn't want to put it down. This felt more violent and more thriller territory than the last but still good!
Would I read again?: Yes
Would I read this author again?: Yes
February 25, 2012
His bare chest gleamed with moisture and steam from the shower, and his muscles rippled with every movement as he toweled his stillwet hair. Droplets fell from the damp strands, landing on his shoulders and sliding down. They left faint zigzag lines that disappeared into dark, wiry chest hair that swirled over the top of his chest.
Ok.........what a manly description!
I'm feeling a bit bland from the love attraction between Gabe and Olivia. I thought their love spark - seeking solace from each other all the time was more like casual friends comforting each other. If the crime case was put as a primary source in the story instead of making the love-sexual attraction the center stage, I would have liked it more. Sorry, I just didn't buy the whole love relationship story between Gabe and Olivia.
Ok.........what a manly description!
I'm feeling a bit bland from the love attraction between Gabe and Olivia. I thought their love spark - seeking solace from each other all the time was more like casual friends comforting each other. If the crime case was put as a primary source in the story instead of making the love-sexual attraction the center stage, I would have liked it more. Sorry, I just didn't buy the whole love relationship story between Gabe and Olivia.
September 24, 2011
Having read the first book in this series, I would say Parrish stepped up the depth on the characters. I really enjoyed Olivia's backstory and her relationship with Gabe. The storyline was fast paced and kept me interested. My only complaint would be that I knew who was involved in the kidnapping from the get-go, but that was offset by the fact that Parrish did something I didn't expect during the story (not giving it away, don't worry). I think this series is really interesting and can't wait to read the next book. There's no info on the next book so I hope I don't forget about this series by the time it comes out!
April 7, 2011
Another excellent paranormal suspense from Parrish. I really liked that there was more emphasis on the paranormal elements this time around. That was a disappointment for me in the last book.
Olivia was everything I expected her to be. I was really moved by her past and her gift. What she had to deal with was heartbreaking and horrifying.
Gabe was a good counterpoint for her. He balanced out some of her darker edges. That's not to say he didn't have some darkness of his own. He did. Though I don't think had the depth Olivia had.
Olivia was everything I expected her to be. I was really moved by her past and her gift. What she had to deal with was heartbreaking and horrifying.
Gabe was a good counterpoint for her. He balanced out some of her darker edges. That's not to say he didn't have some darkness of his own. He did. Though I don't think had the depth Olivia had.
August 28, 2011
Olivia uses her "gift" of touching people and reliving their last 2 minutes 10 seconds to make a living. She received this "gift" after she was murdered and came back after 2 minutes 10 seconds. When a body is found she thinks it may be of the boy who condemned her and then brought her back, so she goes to the cop who is assigned the case for help.
I enjoyed this story. I haven't read book #1, this one was a recommendation. I need to go back and read the first one and keep up with the series. It was good. A little sex with a lot of sleuthing.
I enjoyed this story. I haven't read book #1, this one was a recommendation. I need to go back and read the first one and keep up with the series. It was good. A little sex with a lot of sleuthing.
December 19, 2011
This was a good, fast-paced read about a woman who is kidnapped from her bedroom at the age of 15, has a near death experience when he abductor tries to drown her and as a result of this horrible experience develops an ability to touch the body of a victim and re-live that person's last 2 minutes and 10 seconds of life on earth. This is the 1st in a trilogy--the 2nd in the series "Cold Sight" is already waiting for me on the hold shelf of my library! Since I wrote this-I have discovered that this is actually the 2nd in the series--and "Cold Sight" is actually the 1st!
December 7, 2011
4/5; 4 stars; A-
Leslie Parrish doesn't disappoint when it comes to writing solid romantic suspense. Her Black Cat series had just a hint of paranormal elements and this series ups the paranormal quite a bit. However, if you're expecting werewolves, vampires, etc, you won't get that. Just your 'regular woo-woo'.
Olivia, Gabe, Ty, Julia, and the rest of the characters were interesting and easy to connect with. I'd recommend this book to fans of Laura Griffin.
Leslie Parrish doesn't disappoint when it comes to writing solid romantic suspense. Her Black Cat series had just a hint of paranormal elements and this series ups the paranormal quite a bit. However, if you're expecting werewolves, vampires, etc, you won't get that. Just your 'regular woo-woo'.
Olivia, Gabe, Ty, Julia, and the rest of the characters were interesting and easy to connect with. I'd recommend this book to fans of Laura Griffin.
October 1, 2018
I like this series and this book too better than Aidan's story. Olivia and Gabe are great together. It was sad when tragedy struck their world, but it was a nice twist in the end.
Looking forward to the next book :)
Looking forward to the next book :)
December 29, 2019
3.5 stars, needs TRIGGER WARNING
Trigger Warning:
I waffled back and forth about whether I should round up or round down for my rating for this book as I really give this a 3.5-Star rating. That being said I decided to round down because while I ultimately did enjoy the book and it kept me interested and turning the pages throughout, I felt the problems I had with the book weighed more.
Let’s start with things I liked about the book.
1. Well written. Didn’t jump all over the place and followed a clear story line.
2. Side characters were interesting. They added a fun dynamic to this read, especially Ty.
3. Premise. I loved the idea of a psychic investigator. What’s even better is that instead of being able to see the future, this woman is able to relive the final moments of the victim which I thought was a unique twist on the psychic trope.
Things I didn’t like.
1. The romance. I’m sorry to say that this book should not have the romance angle in it at all. It would be better served as just being a mystery/sci-fi novel than trying to add in the romance factor. This book was dark, there’s no getting around that. With all of the heavy themes, throwing in pieces of romance didn’t seem authentic and natural. What’s even worse is that the sex scene between the main characters is basically a copy and paste of an after shower scene in a lot of romance books but with the roles reversed. Here’s a snapshot of how the scene went... guy gets out of the shower with only jeans on, woman gets all aflutter with thoughts about how he’s just too hot and wants to ravish him, guy is naive and doesn’t understand the affect he’s having, pushes the woman until she relents and tells him what’s wrong: “I’m trying to be honorable and not jump you!”, guy goes “oh”, and then they get it on. Do you see how this is a carbon copy of similar romance scenes? Even down to the “I’m trying to be honorable” line except the roles are reversed and the woman says it this time. I’m all about breaking through gender stereotypes in books and having a character that doesn’t fit the traditional mold, it just didn’t work here especially with how the author already set up parts of their characters. The other piece that didn’t fit for the romance is the timeline. This whole book happens in about a week and a half. That’s it. A WEEK AND A HALF. And suddenly they’re so madly in love that they can’t live without each other. Hmm I don’t think so.
2. The main characters. I think the author spent so much time on the plot that she forgot that she needed to create solid characters to hold it up. The descriptions of both the main characters (really all of the characters) was terribly vague. Their emotions and personalities fell flat and were murky at best. None of it felt genuine. None of it made me connect with them.
3. Lack of explanation/wrap up. I felt when the characters finally figured out who did it, there was no closure. I needed a further explanation or look into why the criminal did all of these things especially given the peeks into his mind that the author wrote in. I felt it was anticlimactic and left me unsatisfied.
All that being said, it was a decent read but I don’t know that it made me fall in love enough with the characters to want to go read the others in the series.
Trigger Warning:
I waffled back and forth about whether I should round up or round down for my rating for this book as I really give this a 3.5-Star rating. That being said I decided to round down because while I ultimately did enjoy the book and it kept me interested and turning the pages throughout, I felt the problems I had with the book weighed more.
Let’s start with things I liked about the book.
1. Well written. Didn’t jump all over the place and followed a clear story line.
2. Side characters were interesting. They added a fun dynamic to this read, especially Ty.
3. Premise. I loved the idea of a psychic investigator. What’s even better is that instead of being able to see the future, this woman is able to relive the final moments of the victim which I thought was a unique twist on the psychic trope.
Things I didn’t like.
1. The romance. I’m sorry to say that this book should not have the romance angle in it at all. It would be better served as just being a mystery/sci-fi novel than trying to add in the romance factor. This book was dark, there’s no getting around that. With all of the heavy themes, throwing in pieces of romance didn’t seem authentic and natural. What’s even worse is that the sex scene between the main characters is basically a copy and paste of an after shower scene in a lot of romance books but with the roles reversed. Here’s a snapshot of how the scene went... guy gets out of the shower with only jeans on, woman gets all aflutter with thoughts about how he’s just too hot and wants to ravish him, guy is naive and doesn’t understand the affect he’s having, pushes the woman until she relents and tells him what’s wrong: “I’m trying to be honorable and not jump you!”, guy goes “oh”, and then they get it on. Do you see how this is a carbon copy of similar romance scenes? Even down to the “I’m trying to be honorable” line except the roles are reversed and the woman says it this time. I’m all about breaking through gender stereotypes in books and having a character that doesn’t fit the traditional mold, it just didn’t work here especially with how the author already set up parts of their characters. The other piece that didn’t fit for the romance is the timeline. This whole book happens in about a week and a half. That’s it. A WEEK AND A HALF. And suddenly they’re so madly in love that they can’t live without each other. Hmm I don’t think so.
2. The main characters. I think the author spent so much time on the plot that she forgot that she needed to create solid characters to hold it up. The descriptions of both the main characters (really all of the characters) was terribly vague. Their emotions and personalities fell flat and were murky at best. None of it felt genuine. None of it made me connect with them.
3. Lack of explanation/wrap up. I felt when the characters finally figured out who did it, there was no closure. I needed a further explanation or look into why the criminal did all of these things especially given the peeks into his mind that the author wrote in. I felt it was anticlimactic and left me unsatisfied.
All that being said, it was a decent read but I don’t know that it made me fall in love enough with the characters to want to go read the others in the series.
May 27, 2017
I've loved Leslie Kelly's books since I first read her Harlequins years ago. When she originally published the Black CATs and Extrasensory Agents books under the name Leslie Parrish, I feel in love with her much darker voice. I loved the Black CATs books and have said repeatedly I want more. I also love her Extrasensory Agents books and loved Cold Sight, the first book in the series. That being said, I really think Cold Touch is my favorite darker Leslie Kelly book ever.
I loved both of the main characters so much. Olivia's "gift" give me chills. I can't imagine willingly touching a dead body to experience the last 2 minutes and 10 seconds of that person's life to see how they died. Gabe is so protective of everyone around him. He and Olivia are attracted to one another from their very first meeting. Once Gabe realized he had real feelings for Olivia, his protection mode went into overdrive.
I also loved Gabe's partner Ty and Olivia's co-workers and her sister. In fact, I would love to see some of the secondary characters get books in the future. I don't want to post any spoilers about this book. I can only say I felt so many different emotions as I read this story. I cheered Olivia and Gabe on from the very beginning. I laughed out loud a few times, and cried like a baby at other times. I really thought I had the bad guy figured out with about 100 pages left, but was off the mark. I love that Leslie kept me guessing and I still had to wait for the reveal.
Cold Touch is one of the best books I've read all year. It is filled with suspense, action, and romance. I personally and hoping and praying we get more books in this series from Leslie Kelly in the future!
I loved both of the main characters so much. Olivia's "gift" give me chills. I can't imagine willingly touching a dead body to experience the last 2 minutes and 10 seconds of that person's life to see how they died. Gabe is so protective of everyone around him. He and Olivia are attracted to one another from their very first meeting. Once Gabe realized he had real feelings for Olivia, his protection mode went into overdrive.
I also loved Gabe's partner Ty and Olivia's co-workers and her sister. In fact, I would love to see some of the secondary characters get books in the future. I don't want to post any spoilers about this book. I can only say I felt so many different emotions as I read this story. I cheered Olivia and Gabe on from the very beginning. I laughed out loud a few times, and cried like a baby at other times. I really thought I had the bad guy figured out with about 100 pages left, but was off the mark. I love that Leslie kept me guessing and I still had to wait for the reveal.
Cold Touch is one of the best books I've read all year. It is filled with suspense, action, and romance. I personally and hoping and praying we get more books in this series from Leslie Kelly in the future!
July 29, 2017
When she was 15 Olivia Wainwright was kidnapped and held for ransom. There was a young boy under the control of the kidnapper. Olivia managed to convince him to release her but he wouldn't escape with her, he stayed behind. Olivia's life afterward was never the same. Since the kidnapping Olivia has an unusual talent. When she touches a dead body she can see the last 2 minutes of their life. Years later the body of a boy is found in the wall of a burnt bar. Olivia is compelled to go to the site. Is the boy in the wall the same boy who helped her? She meets Det. Gabe Cooper and they team up to find out who the young boy is and how he ended up in the wall. Someone doesn't want the mystery of this young boy to be solved.
This book grabs you from the first and holds onto you til the end, you won't be able to put it down. There are some great characters in this book. Olivia and Gabe have great chemistry. There is a good plot, romance and some humor.
This book grabs you from the first and holds onto you til the end, you won't be able to put it down. There are some great characters in this book. Olivia and Gabe have great chemistry. There is a good plot, romance and some humor.
March 22, 2018
This is such an interesting series. I really like Gabe and Olivia. This was a really good mystery. Olivia had been kidnapped as a teenager. She died, but was brought back to life by a little boy. She escaped, but could never find the little boy who helped her. Her captor was killed. Years later, a boy's body was found in a wall of a bar after a fire. Gabe and his partner are called to the scene and they have to figure out who this little boy was. Olivia is sure that it is the boy who saved her. They find out that more little boys have gone missing and that there is one boy who is with the man right now. They have to save him. Is he the same man who kidnapped Olivia all those years ago? How could it be, he is dead? Or is he?
January 12, 2018
Cold Touch, the second installment of Leslie Parrish/Leslie A. Kelly's Extrasensory Agents series is just as good as her first.
This time it’s Olivia Wainwright’s turn to take centre stage as we discover how she gained the dark ability that is slowly destroying her.
The victim of a kidnapping gone wrong, Olivia has spent the last 12 years trying to find the young boy who saved her life. When a child’s body is discovered, Olivia is forced to confront her past and convince the handsome but sceptical Detective Gabe Cooper to let her assist with the case.
A thrilling and sexy read for lovers of paranormal romance.
This time it’s Olivia Wainwright’s turn to take centre stage as we discover how she gained the dark ability that is slowly destroying her.
The victim of a kidnapping gone wrong, Olivia has spent the last 12 years trying to find the young boy who saved her life. When a child’s body is discovered, Olivia is forced to confront her past and convince the handsome but sceptical Detective Gabe Cooper to let her assist with the case.
A thrilling and sexy read for lovers of paranormal romance.
February 12, 2022
Another good read
## Another solid read in this series. I liked the first book a little better only because I thought this heroine was a little too pushy when it came to the hero. When you have to talk someone into sleeping with you, he's probably not that into you. She came off a tad desperate imo. The rest was interesting and kept me engaged throughout.
Be aware that this series was previously published under "leslie parrish" in 2010. I almost purchased again but it's definitely the same book.
## Another solid read in this series. I liked the first book a little better only because I thought this heroine was a little too pushy when it came to the hero. When you have to talk someone into sleeping with you, he's probably not that into you. She came off a tad desperate imo. The rest was interesting and kept me engaged throughout.
Be aware that this series was previously published under "leslie parrish" in 2010. I almost purchased again but it's definitely the same book.
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