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Cold Comfort
After being dumped by her faithless fiancé, Claire Spencer has abandoned her dreams of a family of her own tucked neatly inside a picket fence. Instead, she's plotting her solo course and settling for a quiet life as an independent Williamsburg shop owner. So how does she become a killer’s target?
Sometime security consultant Riley, burned out, disillusioned, and haunted by a young girl he couldn’t save, vows never to work with women again. But when a thug tries to kill the friend of a friend, the woman winds up in his arms, and all Riley's plans go to hell. Knowing she’s in danger, he can’t walk away.
While dodging speeding cars, ducking bullets, and escaping through murky swamp waters, conventional Claire and freewheeling Riley struggle against their powerful chemistry—if she’s picket fences, he’s barbed wire.
Opposites do attract.
Sometime security consultant Riley, burned out, disillusioned, and haunted by a young girl he couldn’t save, vows never to work with women again. But when a thug tries to kill the friend of a friend, the woman winds up in his arms, and all Riley's plans go to hell. Knowing she’s in danger, he can’t walk away.
While dodging speeding cars, ducking bullets, and escaping through murky swamp waters, conventional Claire and freewheeling Riley struggle against their powerful chemistry—if she’s picket fences, he’s barbed wire.
Opposites do attract.
312 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 4, 2011
79 people are currently reading
608 people want to read
About the author
Ellis Vidler
12 books61 followersSouth Carolina author: PRIME TARGET, suspense with a love story; TIME OF DEATH, suspense with a hint of romance; COLD COMFORT, romantic suspense; HAUNTING REFRAIN, suspense with a little romance; THE PEEPER, with Jim Christopher, suspense. Ellis's novels contain adult language and situations.
3 short stories, TEA IN THE AFTERNOON, Southern fiction.
Some favorites: To Kill a Mockingbird, Prince of Tides, Tarzan of the Apes, Anne of Green Gables, The Lord of the Rings, Beach Music--those are on my shelf of favorites. So many books, so little time!
3 short stories, TEA IN THE AFTERNOON, Southern fiction.
Some favorites: To Kill a Mockingbird, Prince of Tides, Tarzan of the Apes, Anne of Green Gables, The Lord of the Rings, Beach Music--those are on my shelf of favorites. So many books, so little time!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews
November 20, 2012
For pure entertainment, Ellis Vidler’s Cold Comfort deserves five stars, not four: it has pace and a compelling plot that kept me guessing what was going on right up to the concluding chapters. It’s also a relief to read good writing after a lot of material by people who’ve no grasp of the concept of editing.
If in the end I settled on four stars, it was because some of the devices were a little predictable: the tough guy who’s suffered a tragedy over a woman he was unable to protect and has decided that he will never get himself dragged into anything similar again; the jilted woman, bruised by betrayal, who has to turn to him for protection. I think we know where this is heading. And: will she do what her protector tells her or will she strike out on her own? And if she insists on taking her own initiative, how well do you think that’s going to work out?
Similarly, is the senator who champions the wetlands, a hypocrite in hock to the mob or the mob’s victim? If the supremely competent male protagonist says he’s going to get hold of ostensibly secret information, what are the chances that he'll come back empty-handed and admitting failure?
That being said, not every narrative device has to be brilliantly original: what matters is not how innovative it is by how well it’s handled, and Ellis Vidler handles hers with consummate skill.
But if I do have another criticism of the book, it would be its simplicity: it doesn’t challenge thought, it doesn’t give any sudden insights into the worlds of US politics or organised crime, both of which it touches on. Again, though, that has its benefits as well as its drawbacks: I found the book just what I needed, in bed or bath, when I wanted a break from work and a little relaxation and entertainment. It would work brilliantly on holiday too.
A thriller needs a sense of threat, and Cold Comfort introduces it from the first sentence: Claire is already checking for the anonymous figures she’s noticed on her tail for some days, as she’s driving home from work. That work provides an ironic contrast to the peril gathering round her: she brings pleasure, and entirely innocent pleasure, to people’s lives through a shop called ‘Mistletoe’ which sells Christmas decorations (I wondered at first how she lived for the rest of the year, but she also does Easter, and I can only assume Valentine’s Day, the 4th of July, Labor Day and Halloween as well).
However, Claire’s wholesome life is about to be torn apart when her fears are proved well-founded by an anonymous men attacking her in her own drive. It is that shocking incident that will drive her to seek protection and provide the starting point of the main story.
We’re soon introduced to the recent sorrow in her life, her jilting six months earlier, but there are far deeper secrets in her past, unknown – unguessed – to Claire herself. Unravelling the mystery of the assault on her takes her into a process of discovering those secrets, and therefore on a voyage of self-discovery.
She’ll be accompanied on that voyage by a man with a distinguished past as a soldier and, since leaving the military, a career in shadowy security assignments, often with his band of brothers of former crack military men like himself. It is, however, a past marked by tragedy involving a young woman he had been unable to save; as for the present, in another attractive contrast, he varies his secret and dangerous assignments with a career as a successful painter, betraying a sensitivity which is a key ingredient of the story.
All these elements become the driving force behind an effective combination of mystery, suspense, a little violence, romance shading into tactfully presented sex, and a fast-moving plot that draws you along with it.
My feeling is that anyone who likes a thriller combined with a romance will enjoy this one, and many will want to give it five stars; I think I would have needed a little more of an intellectual challenge to give it the top ranking. Even so, I certainly intend to read more of Vidler and I have no hesitation recommending Cold Comfort to anyone who wants an enjoyable and exciting read providing effortless entertainment.
If in the end I settled on four stars, it was because some of the devices were a little predictable: the tough guy who’s suffered a tragedy over a woman he was unable to protect and has decided that he will never get himself dragged into anything similar again; the jilted woman, bruised by betrayal, who has to turn to him for protection. I think we know where this is heading. And: will she do what her protector tells her or will she strike out on her own? And if she insists on taking her own initiative, how well do you think that’s going to work out?
Similarly, is the senator who champions the wetlands, a hypocrite in hock to the mob or the mob’s victim? If the supremely competent male protagonist says he’s going to get hold of ostensibly secret information, what are the chances that he'll come back empty-handed and admitting failure?
That being said, not every narrative device has to be brilliantly original: what matters is not how innovative it is by how well it’s handled, and Ellis Vidler handles hers with consummate skill.
But if I do have another criticism of the book, it would be its simplicity: it doesn’t challenge thought, it doesn’t give any sudden insights into the worlds of US politics or organised crime, both of which it touches on. Again, though, that has its benefits as well as its drawbacks: I found the book just what I needed, in bed or bath, when I wanted a break from work and a little relaxation and entertainment. It would work brilliantly on holiday too.
A thriller needs a sense of threat, and Cold Comfort introduces it from the first sentence: Claire is already checking for the anonymous figures she’s noticed on her tail for some days, as she’s driving home from work. That work provides an ironic contrast to the peril gathering round her: she brings pleasure, and entirely innocent pleasure, to people’s lives through a shop called ‘Mistletoe’ which sells Christmas decorations (I wondered at first how she lived for the rest of the year, but she also does Easter, and I can only assume Valentine’s Day, the 4th of July, Labor Day and Halloween as well).
However, Claire’s wholesome life is about to be torn apart when her fears are proved well-founded by an anonymous men attacking her in her own drive. It is that shocking incident that will drive her to seek protection and provide the starting point of the main story.
We’re soon introduced to the recent sorrow in her life, her jilting six months earlier, but there are far deeper secrets in her past, unknown – unguessed – to Claire herself. Unravelling the mystery of the assault on her takes her into a process of discovering those secrets, and therefore on a voyage of self-discovery.
She’ll be accompanied on that voyage by a man with a distinguished past as a soldier and, since leaving the military, a career in shadowy security assignments, often with his band of brothers of former crack military men like himself. It is, however, a past marked by tragedy involving a young woman he had been unable to save; as for the present, in another attractive contrast, he varies his secret and dangerous assignments with a career as a successful painter, betraying a sensitivity which is a key ingredient of the story.
All these elements become the driving force behind an effective combination of mystery, suspense, a little violence, romance shading into tactfully presented sex, and a fast-moving plot that draws you along with it.
My feeling is that anyone who likes a thriller combined with a romance will enjoy this one, and many will want to give it five stars; I think I would have needed a little more of an intellectual challenge to give it the top ranking. Even so, I certainly intend to read more of Vidler and I have no hesitation recommending Cold Comfort to anyone who wants an enjoyable and exciting read providing effortless entertainment.
December 23, 2011
Cold Comfort
By Ellis Vidler
Review by Patricia A. Guthrie
If you like romantic suspense novels, a feisty courageous heroine, who didn’t know she had it in her, a hunk for a hero who hadn’t found his sensitive spot–yet, and a few really nasty villains who will do anything to murder the heroine thrown in to muck up anyone’s day, you’ll love “Cold Comfort” by Ellis Vidler.
Picture yourself as an owner of a cozy little Christmas shop called “The Mistletoe.” You’ve been talking to people all day, keeping an eye out on the lines of children brought in by parents to see your finely decorated Christmas trees. You’re dead tired, and your feet hurt. Home at last. You get out of your car and—wham! You’re attacked from behind. And not in a purse snatching way either. Someone is bent on murder–yours.
That’s what Claire Spencer faces in the beginning of Ellis Vidler’s romantic suspense novel “Cold Comfort.” And the deadly games have just begun. Someone really wants her out of the way.
Fortunately, Claire has friends who has friends with law enforcement backgrounds., Enter Ben Riley who doesn’t want to protect anyone, much less a woman. Women get in the way. And get in the way she does, just not in the way Riley expects. In fact, Riley muses “When he finished this job, he was moving to Tahiti—with no forwarding address.”
I loved this story. It has many twists and turns, taking our hero and heroine off in one direction then another, and I, who was convinced knew who the culprit was, am no longer sure.
Vidler fills her story with details that either sent a chill up my spine or made me laugh. Her description of the car of the attacker with its mismatched headlights led to furthering the plot. One of the characters had wide expresso eyes. Sentences like “Appearing out of the shadows cast by the streetlights, a shapeless figure in a dark overcoat jaywalked toward Claire’s side of the street.” And the clouds that formed from Riley’s mouth. These are examples of the richness of the text.
The dialogue was fun. One choice goodie from Claire to Riley “I’ve met pit bulls easier to talk to than you” and the description of a psychopath, directly from his own mouth: “I could have handled it if you hadn’t hooked up with that Riley guy—this is all your fault.”
I could make a few criticisms. In general, as fast paced as I think this novel is, I found dead spaces that slowed it down a bit too much. Claire’s need for a “stable, conventional life and a husband to share it with, a nine-to-five kind of guy who’d be there for her. She needed children to bake cookies for.” (She likes to bake cookies a lot) was one of the redundancies I found along the way.
Some clichés stepped me out of the story. “. . . angry red scratches marked her right cheek, and to complete the picture, she sneezed.” I liked the sneezed part but I’m tired of reading about “angry bruises, scratches etc” and the “complete the picture.”
I saw and felt the growth of both characters as the story moved on. Claire, the sheltered girl with little experience of the outside world uses all her instincts and courage to outwit the villains. She’s brave, feisty and has a bad habit of doing things her own way, even when it was against bodyguard rules. Riley finds the sensitive part of himself he didn’t think existed and didn’t want to exist.
I found “Cold Comfort “an absorbing well-written book, with fun dialogue, expressive detail and generally face paced. What faults I found, were miniscule and not even noticed had I not been looking for them.
This is the first book I’ve read by Ellis Vidler. It won’t be the last.
By Ellis Vidler
Review by Patricia A. Guthrie
If you like romantic suspense novels, a feisty courageous heroine, who didn’t know she had it in her, a hunk for a hero who hadn’t found his sensitive spot–yet, and a few really nasty villains who will do anything to murder the heroine thrown in to muck up anyone’s day, you’ll love “Cold Comfort” by Ellis Vidler.
Picture yourself as an owner of a cozy little Christmas shop called “The Mistletoe.” You’ve been talking to people all day, keeping an eye out on the lines of children brought in by parents to see your finely decorated Christmas trees. You’re dead tired, and your feet hurt. Home at last. You get out of your car and—wham! You’re attacked from behind. And not in a purse snatching way either. Someone is bent on murder–yours.
That’s what Claire Spencer faces in the beginning of Ellis Vidler’s romantic suspense novel “Cold Comfort.” And the deadly games have just begun. Someone really wants her out of the way.
Fortunately, Claire has friends who has friends with law enforcement backgrounds., Enter Ben Riley who doesn’t want to protect anyone, much less a woman. Women get in the way. And get in the way she does, just not in the way Riley expects. In fact, Riley muses “When he finished this job, he was moving to Tahiti—with no forwarding address.”
I loved this story. It has many twists and turns, taking our hero and heroine off in one direction then another, and I, who was convinced knew who the culprit was, am no longer sure.
Vidler fills her story with details that either sent a chill up my spine or made me laugh. Her description of the car of the attacker with its mismatched headlights led to furthering the plot. One of the characters had wide expresso eyes. Sentences like “Appearing out of the shadows cast by the streetlights, a shapeless figure in a dark overcoat jaywalked toward Claire’s side of the street.” And the clouds that formed from Riley’s mouth. These are examples of the richness of the text.
The dialogue was fun. One choice goodie from Claire to Riley “I’ve met pit bulls easier to talk to than you” and the description of a psychopath, directly from his own mouth: “I could have handled it if you hadn’t hooked up with that Riley guy—this is all your fault.”
I could make a few criticisms. In general, as fast paced as I think this novel is, I found dead spaces that slowed it down a bit too much. Claire’s need for a “stable, conventional life and a husband to share it with, a nine-to-five kind of guy who’d be there for her. She needed children to bake cookies for.” (She likes to bake cookies a lot) was one of the redundancies I found along the way.
Some clichés stepped me out of the story. “. . . angry red scratches marked her right cheek, and to complete the picture, she sneezed.” I liked the sneezed part but I’m tired of reading about “angry bruises, scratches etc” and the “complete the picture.”
I saw and felt the growth of both characters as the story moved on. Claire, the sheltered girl with little experience of the outside world uses all her instincts and courage to outwit the villains. She’s brave, feisty and has a bad habit of doing things her own way, even when it was against bodyguard rules. Riley finds the sensitive part of himself he didn’t think existed and didn’t want to exist.
I found “Cold Comfort “an absorbing well-written book, with fun dialogue, expressive detail and generally face paced. What faults I found, were miniscule and not even noticed had I not been looking for them.
This is the first book I’ve read by Ellis Vidler. It won’t be the last.
February 13, 2013
Very good RS. This was fast paced and kept me completely confused as to what was really going on. I just couldn't figure out who was out to kill Claire and why. Riley was a great hero with a dark past. Claire was strong and independent and had to be involved in solving this mystery. They made a great team.
January 16, 2013
My thoughts are all over the place. The beginning of this story hits the ground running and never slows down.
In the opening scene, Claire is fighting for her life when an unknown attacker tries to kill her. If not for her neighbor and his son, he may have succeeded. Claire is a petite woman and her attacker was large and determined. He only relented when he heard the neighbors rushing to her aid. His parting words, “I’ll be back, sweetheart.”
She thought she was safe. The car with the mismatched headlights wasn’t behind her. She pulled into her driveway and while climbing out of her car, the attack occurred.
After a ride in an ambulance and three stitches in her scalp, Claire is released from the hospital. She’ll have some sore muscles, a headache and some bruising. She tells the police officer that she’s seen the car following her for the last three days. She’s also had the hairs stand up on the back of her neck like someone was watching her, and she can’t shake the feeling someone’s been inside her home. Nothing is missing but her bedspread has been disturbed and she smelled traces of cigarette smoke. She thought maybe she was imagining things. She’s been through a lot.
Her mother died recently and her ex-fiancee ran off with his secretary two weeks before they were to be married. It’s not like she isn’t stressed.
The officer tells her it sounds like someone is trying to scare her, maybe a stalker. He drives her home and makes sure the house is secure before leaving. Claire hits the sack but sleep is a long time coming.
She arrives late to her Christmas shop, Mistletoe. There’s a police car out front and Mary , her assistant, rushes over to explain. Someone has been in the shop and they left something on Claire’s desk.
Who is doing this? On her desk is a dismembered doll, its little arms and legs scattered across the top and it’s head off to the side. Out of the limbless body protrudes a pencil. This is not the act of a stalker. This is something else entirely.
At Mary’s insistence, she calls Ben Riley for help. He’s what you’d call a problem -solver. At first he refuses to take her case, brushing her off as a hysterical female. Then Mary’s brother, Ray, calls and urges him to reconsider.
“”I’m asking you, Riley.”
So Riley is standing in the dark outside of Mistletoe, waiting for Claire to leave. She locks up and walks to her car, but before she can get there a car comes racing towards her. Riley tackles her out of its path and the car rushes off.
“Okay, lady. I’ll take your case.”
“The reluctant detective, I presume.”
And so it goes. The attacks keep coming, each one more serious.
Who wants her dead and why? Claire hasn’t a clue and it’s Riley’s job to find out.
Riley didn’t expect to like her, and he was damn sure she wouldn’t like him.
He was wrong on both counts. He knew he should have stayed away, but it’s already too late. He’s emotionally involved now, and he’ll protect Claire or die trying.
The mystery builds and builds as does the attraction between Claire and Ben.
I love a romance where the relationship starts out bumpy and the attraction catches the characters by surprise. These two are so different yet so perfect for each other.
The author had me hanging on every word, excited to see what would happen next. I couldn’t read fast enough. Don’t worry, I didn’t miss a thing.
Looking for a story that’ll leave you breathless? Cold Comfort barely gives you time to come up for air.
Five deep breaths for Cold Comfort!
In the opening scene, Claire is fighting for her life when an unknown attacker tries to kill her. If not for her neighbor and his son, he may have succeeded. Claire is a petite woman and her attacker was large and determined. He only relented when he heard the neighbors rushing to her aid. His parting words, “I’ll be back, sweetheart.”
She thought she was safe. The car with the mismatched headlights wasn’t behind her. She pulled into her driveway and while climbing out of her car, the attack occurred.
After a ride in an ambulance and three stitches in her scalp, Claire is released from the hospital. She’ll have some sore muscles, a headache and some bruising. She tells the police officer that she’s seen the car following her for the last three days. She’s also had the hairs stand up on the back of her neck like someone was watching her, and she can’t shake the feeling someone’s been inside her home. Nothing is missing but her bedspread has been disturbed and she smelled traces of cigarette smoke. She thought maybe she was imagining things. She’s been through a lot.
Her mother died recently and her ex-fiancee ran off with his secretary two weeks before they were to be married. It’s not like she isn’t stressed.
The officer tells her it sounds like someone is trying to scare her, maybe a stalker. He drives her home and makes sure the house is secure before leaving. Claire hits the sack but sleep is a long time coming.
She arrives late to her Christmas shop, Mistletoe. There’s a police car out front and Mary , her assistant, rushes over to explain. Someone has been in the shop and they left something on Claire’s desk.
Who is doing this? On her desk is a dismembered doll, its little arms and legs scattered across the top and it’s head off to the side. Out of the limbless body protrudes a pencil. This is not the act of a stalker. This is something else entirely.
At Mary’s insistence, she calls Ben Riley for help. He’s what you’d call a problem -solver. At first he refuses to take her case, brushing her off as a hysterical female. Then Mary’s brother, Ray, calls and urges him to reconsider.
“”I’m asking you, Riley.”
So Riley is standing in the dark outside of Mistletoe, waiting for Claire to leave. She locks up and walks to her car, but before she can get there a car comes racing towards her. Riley tackles her out of its path and the car rushes off.
“Okay, lady. I’ll take your case.”
“The reluctant detective, I presume.”
And so it goes. The attacks keep coming, each one more serious.
Who wants her dead and why? Claire hasn’t a clue and it’s Riley’s job to find out.
Riley didn’t expect to like her, and he was damn sure she wouldn’t like him.
He was wrong on both counts. He knew he should have stayed away, but it’s already too late. He’s emotionally involved now, and he’ll protect Claire or die trying.
The mystery builds and builds as does the attraction between Claire and Ben.
I love a romance where the relationship starts out bumpy and the attraction catches the characters by surprise. These two are so different yet so perfect for each other.
The author had me hanging on every word, excited to see what would happen next. I couldn’t read fast enough. Don’t worry, I didn’t miss a thing.
Looking for a story that’ll leave you breathless? Cold Comfort barely gives you time to come up for air.
Five deep breaths for Cold Comfort!
May 23, 2015
...action-strewn slalom of a thriller...
...this is for you if you like your suspense non-stop, with thrills every other page... throw in political and mob intrigue at the highest levels... thugs of questionable finesse... a hero cut in the tough man mode and a heroine who is classier than most... then hang on for a slalom of action... the spark between tough guy Riley and the self-reliant Claire keeps the romance element spinning... a book that could easily fit into more than one genre... loved the pace and characterisations...
...this is for you if you like your suspense non-stop, with thrills every other page... throw in political and mob intrigue at the highest levels... thugs of questionable finesse... a hero cut in the tough man mode and a heroine who is classier than most... then hang on for a slalom of action... the spark between tough guy Riley and the self-reliant Claire keeps the romance element spinning... a book that could easily fit into more than one genre... loved the pace and characterisations...
April 29, 2012
"Cold Comfort" by Ellis Vidler
Amazon Link to Kindle Version: http://www.amazon.com/Cold-Comfort-eb...
Kindle: $2.99
With her charming Christmas shop, Claire appears to live an idyllic life in quaint Williamsburg. And since it's the Christmas season she has every reason to be happy, business is great, she has her good friend Mary as helper and the shop is full every day. But then Claire is viscously attacked outside her home and strangers appear to be following her. Confused and frightened, suddenly everything Claire thought she knew about her life changes.
Enter Ben Riley, a "Security Expert" with a secretive military past. He's a hunky "Rottweiler" and friend of Mary's brother. Mary soon convinces Claire that she needs protection. Though Riley is reluctant to get involved, as hysterical females are not his typical job assignment, he owes Mary's brother a favor. Riley soon sees that this is no hysterical female, and the threats on her life are very real indeed. Seeing that the murderous thugs will only be stopped when he has the answer to why, he and Claire go on a search for the truth about her background and why it's so important that someone snuff out her life.
The action ramps up in this exciting suspense novel with bad guys wiping out innocent people who get in their way, and always Claire and Riley are only a few steps ahead as they try to get to the bottom of the secrets that will free Claire.
I especially appreciate it when an author presents the reader with a woman whose core of metal kicks in… and Claire is a woman whose motto could well be, "When the going gets tough, the tough get going!" Realistic and frightening suspense, enough romance to satisfy anyone, and a very satisfying end.
RPDahlke
A Dead Red Cadillac: http://amzn.to/x5qSDD
A Dead Red Heart: http://amzn.to/tHsgi4
A Dangerous Harbor: http://amzn.to/uWzIUl
Amazon Link to Kindle Version: http://www.amazon.com/Cold-Comfort-eb...
Kindle: $2.99
With her charming Christmas shop, Claire appears to live an idyllic life in quaint Williamsburg. And since it's the Christmas season she has every reason to be happy, business is great, she has her good friend Mary as helper and the shop is full every day. But then Claire is viscously attacked outside her home and strangers appear to be following her. Confused and frightened, suddenly everything Claire thought she knew about her life changes.
Enter Ben Riley, a "Security Expert" with a secretive military past. He's a hunky "Rottweiler" and friend of Mary's brother. Mary soon convinces Claire that she needs protection. Though Riley is reluctant to get involved, as hysterical females are not his typical job assignment, he owes Mary's brother a favor. Riley soon sees that this is no hysterical female, and the threats on her life are very real indeed. Seeing that the murderous thugs will only be stopped when he has the answer to why, he and Claire go on a search for the truth about her background and why it's so important that someone snuff out her life.
The action ramps up in this exciting suspense novel with bad guys wiping out innocent people who get in their way, and always Claire and Riley are only a few steps ahead as they try to get to the bottom of the secrets that will free Claire.
I especially appreciate it when an author presents the reader with a woman whose core of metal kicks in… and Claire is a woman whose motto could well be, "When the going gets tough, the tough get going!" Realistic and frightening suspense, enough romance to satisfy anyone, and a very satisfying end.
RPDahlke
A Dead Red Cadillac: http://amzn.to/x5qSDD
A Dead Red Heart: http://amzn.to/tHsgi4
A Dangerous Harbor: http://amzn.to/uWzIUl
August 8, 2012
Clair Spencer has a quiet life living in the home her mother left her and runs a Christmas shop in Williamsburg, Virginia that she owns. Her calm existence comes to an end when she arrives home one night after closing the shop and is attacked in her driveway. Thanks to the neighbor’s dog that alerts those nearby, she is rescued but the attack leaves her with several injuries and many questions. After telling her assistant, Mary about the attack she is referred to Ben Riley by Mary’s brother Ray. Riley works in security and can be available to hire for the right amount of money and motivation.
At first Riley does not want the job, as he is still reeling from a job where a small child was killed. Even though he could not have prevented the outcome, he still feels horrible and does not want to get involved. However, he is curious about her and goes to visit the Christmas shop to see Clair and assess the situation. While he is there Clair is attacked again and as he saves her, he reluctantly agrees to take the job.
As Clair and Riley try to piece together why someone would try to kill her they make some startling discoveries and Clair realizes she has grown up with secrets and lies all her life. Together with the help from Riley’s group of friends who all seem to have a specialty, they try to find out who she is.
The plot progresses at a fast pace and we are hurtled toward an ending that has many twists and turns to keeps you guessing. Clair and Riley find danger as they discover the secrets to Clair’s past. Riley and Clair take comfort in each other during the most trying times however they fight the attraction as they both know that Riley is not the type of guy that is looking for a long term relationship. The ending is satisfying and I enjoyed this book immensely as Clair finds out who she really is and Riley starts looking at a future that could involved Clair.
At first Riley does not want the job, as he is still reeling from a job where a small child was killed. Even though he could not have prevented the outcome, he still feels horrible and does not want to get involved. However, he is curious about her and goes to visit the Christmas shop to see Clair and assess the situation. While he is there Clair is attacked again and as he saves her, he reluctantly agrees to take the job.
As Clair and Riley try to piece together why someone would try to kill her they make some startling discoveries and Clair realizes she has grown up with secrets and lies all her life. Together with the help from Riley’s group of friends who all seem to have a specialty, they try to find out who she is.
The plot progresses at a fast pace and we are hurtled toward an ending that has many twists and turns to keeps you guessing. Clair and Riley find danger as they discover the secrets to Clair’s past. Riley and Clair take comfort in each other during the most trying times however they fight the attraction as they both know that Riley is not the type of guy that is looking for a long term relationship. The ending is satisfying and I enjoyed this book immensely as Clair finds out who she really is and Riley starts looking at a future that could involved Clair.
April 22, 2014
"A Non-Stop Thrill Ride!"
audio book review:
I'm saving this books in my listening library and will probably come back to listen to all of Ellis Vidler's book in the future. They are great books.
I really loved Ben Riley, a man's man. The guy was complex, strong as a bull, and smart. Claire was a good protagonist, but she kept making me mad at her. LOL. She seemed to want to run head long into trouble without thinking about her safety, and I could see why Riley would get frustrated with that. I also loved some of the minor characters like the old geezer who let them come into his cabin (and share his moonshine) after the swamp scene, and even the Senator in the end. All of the characters stood out as very unique and special - I never got confused as to who was who!
Re. narration: April did a good job differentiating the characters. I liked her male voices, but I felt her female voice was a little too "wobbly" in places. I mean that she made Claire sound afraid more than I would have liked - does that make sense? Overall, though, a great job. (there were several chapters in the end where the edits weren't done correctly - chairs scraping, etc. but I think this was probably an uploading error - wrong chapters? That's why I gave the performance a 4 instead of a 5)
I loved the tense action scenes - and the constant twists and turns. I couldn't wait to get back to the story, especially when things were heating up like crazy in the end of the story! That swamp scene will stay with me for a long time. Wonderful imagery!
And I especially loved the step by step unraveling of Claire's past life - each revelation was more and more surprising, and I kept rooting for her to find her roots and family. It was a great mystery, great suspense, great thriller, and romance. All in one! Wonderful job, Ms. Vidler!
audio book review:
I'm saving this books in my listening library and will probably come back to listen to all of Ellis Vidler's book in the future. They are great books.
I really loved Ben Riley, a man's man. The guy was complex, strong as a bull, and smart. Claire was a good protagonist, but she kept making me mad at her. LOL. She seemed to want to run head long into trouble without thinking about her safety, and I could see why Riley would get frustrated with that. I also loved some of the minor characters like the old geezer who let them come into his cabin (and share his moonshine) after the swamp scene, and even the Senator in the end. All of the characters stood out as very unique and special - I never got confused as to who was who!
Re. narration: April did a good job differentiating the characters. I liked her male voices, but I felt her female voice was a little too "wobbly" in places. I mean that she made Claire sound afraid more than I would have liked - does that make sense? Overall, though, a great job. (there were several chapters in the end where the edits weren't done correctly - chairs scraping, etc. but I think this was probably an uploading error - wrong chapters? That's why I gave the performance a 4 instead of a 5)
I loved the tense action scenes - and the constant twists and turns. I couldn't wait to get back to the story, especially when things were heating up like crazy in the end of the story! That swamp scene will stay with me for a long time. Wonderful imagery!
And I especially loved the step by step unraveling of Claire's past life - each revelation was more and more surprising, and I kept rooting for her to find her roots and family. It was a great mystery, great suspense, great thriller, and romance. All in one! Wonderful job, Ms. Vidler!
December 25, 2011
I really enjoyed reading Cold Comfort, which is marketed as a romance and suspense, but really, the romantic elements are sort of incidental, IMHO. The story is a thriller that centers on a perfectly ordinary woman, Claire Spencer, who runs a Christmas tchotchke store (hey, how about a little holiday reading material, right?) and is being targeted for murder. Through a friend, she enlists the help of Ben Riley, a broad-chested ex-Navy man who seems to have endless governmental connections and manly man talents for getting out of dicey situations. He carries a Glock, so that tells you a lot, but he also paints moving seascapes and is haunted by the memories of the clients he hasn’t been able to save.
The story is told from both Claire’s and Riley’s 3rd-person points of view, and the author, Ellis Vidler, does an excellent job of distinguishing their voices. Claire is a no-nonsense lady and Riley is really a dude’s dude. Out of curiosity, I looked up Vidler on Smashwords just to find out if the author was a man or a woman, because I just wasn’t sure, and that is a very good thing (I will let you discover the answer for yourself). The story hits the ground running so to speak, with Claire attacked in the driveway of her Williamsburg, Virginia, home within the first few paragraphs. Who is after her? She’s a nobody. Or is she? The mystery spins along at a fairly speedy clip with twists and turns that keep the reader guessing, and anxiously swiping those digital pages to the very end.
The story is told from both Claire’s and Riley’s 3rd-person points of view, and the author, Ellis Vidler, does an excellent job of distinguishing their voices. Claire is a no-nonsense lady and Riley is really a dude’s dude. Out of curiosity, I looked up Vidler on Smashwords just to find out if the author was a man or a woman, because I just wasn’t sure, and that is a very good thing (I will let you discover the answer for yourself). The story hits the ground running so to speak, with Claire attacked in the driveway of her Williamsburg, Virginia, home within the first few paragraphs. Who is after her? She’s a nobody. Or is she? The mystery spins along at a fairly speedy clip with twists and turns that keep the reader guessing, and anxiously swiping those digital pages to the very end.
August 10, 2016
After she’s dumped by her faithless fiancé, Claire Spencer settles for a quiet life as an independent Williamsburg shop owner. She had spent time taking care of her mother, Blanche, who she loved with all her heart.
But out of the blue, her world explodes into a nightmare straight out of spy movie. Her house is being broken into and searched, and she is being attacked. But why? Maybe security consultant Riley can find out why.
Riley does not put out warm-and-fuzzy vibes. He is burned out, stung by his ex-wife, haunted by a young girl he couldn’t save, and vows never to work with women again. But when a thug tries to kill Claire and she winds up in Riley’s arms, he know he can’t walk away.
I like this story although near the end I felt it was drawn out. I felt a couple of chapters could have been deleted which would have moved the story along at a faster pace. It seemed a little confusing at first, but soon - if you paid attention - the questions, thoughts, theories and answers slowly weaved their way to a great ending.
Looking for hot sex scenes? Then skip this book...entirely. There are none. There are a couple of scenes where it is implied they had sex but that’s it. Even the kissing scenes are practically - swoosh...it’s over.
Other than that, a good story that I would recommend and definitely read again.
But out of the blue, her world explodes into a nightmare straight out of spy movie. Her house is being broken into and searched, and she is being attacked. But why? Maybe security consultant Riley can find out why.
Riley does not put out warm-and-fuzzy vibes. He is burned out, stung by his ex-wife, haunted by a young girl he couldn’t save, and vows never to work with women again. But when a thug tries to kill Claire and she winds up in Riley’s arms, he know he can’t walk away.
I like this story although near the end I felt it was drawn out. I felt a couple of chapters could have been deleted which would have moved the story along at a faster pace. It seemed a little confusing at first, but soon - if you paid attention - the questions, thoughts, theories and answers slowly weaved their way to a great ending.
Looking for hot sex scenes? Then skip this book...entirely. There are none. There are a couple of scenes where it is implied they had sex but that’s it. Even the kissing scenes are practically - swoosh...it’s over.
Other than that, a good story that I would recommend and definitely read again.
January 2, 2012
I won this book through the goodread's giveaways. The story is a mystery-suspense romance. It was very easy to read, having finished it in 2 days. The style was very easy to follow and kept you interested. Suspense and a lot of action are abundant through the novel's many twists and turns.
Claire Spencer is running a boutique in Williamsburg when she is brutally attacked for no apparent reason. Her coworker calls her brother to recommend a cheap PI, Riley. Their personalities are quite different, but perfectly complement one another. Both are determined to not get involved with one another. Well we know how that goes, yet the story is not predictible as many novels are. There are car chases, back alleys, remote barns, airplane trips, flying bullets, quicksand and cold slimey swamps. This all makes for a fun and fast paced novel.
I thoroughly enjoyed the story and hope Vidler continues to write great suspense. Thanks!
Claire Spencer is running a boutique in Williamsburg when she is brutally attacked for no apparent reason. Her coworker calls her brother to recommend a cheap PI, Riley. Their personalities are quite different, but perfectly complement one another. Both are determined to not get involved with one another. Well we know how that goes, yet the story is not predictible as many novels are. There are car chases, back alleys, remote barns, airplane trips, flying bullets, quicksand and cold slimey swamps. This all makes for a fun and fast paced novel.
I thoroughly enjoyed the story and hope Vidler continues to write great suspense. Thanks!
July 24, 2015
"High Action, Thrilling Mystery Story"
This is an awesome suspenseful story which reveals two opposing, strong willed people needing each other. It's the story of Clair Spencer being ditched by her fiancé and losing her one relative, her mother. She establishes a contented life as a gift shop owner in Williamsburg. One dark night, arriving home from a long day, she is assaulted for absolutely no known reason. Mary who works in Clair's shop and is a good friend, contacts her brother to help resolve these suspenseful happenings in Clair's life. It's very unusual for Ben Riley to take on a problem for a woman. He tends to get swept into their spider webs, and he is very obnoxious and conflicting with Clair until he has only one goal: to protect her from harm and possible murder. A very intense novel which swept me into the high action and sleuth work. Loved it. An outstanding author who writes well and her books are easily read. Highly recommend.
This is an awesome suspenseful story which reveals two opposing, strong willed people needing each other. It's the story of Clair Spencer being ditched by her fiancé and losing her one relative, her mother. She establishes a contented life as a gift shop owner in Williamsburg. One dark night, arriving home from a long day, she is assaulted for absolutely no known reason. Mary who works in Clair's shop and is a good friend, contacts her brother to help resolve these suspenseful happenings in Clair's life. It's very unusual for Ben Riley to take on a problem for a woman. He tends to get swept into their spider webs, and he is very obnoxious and conflicting with Clair until he has only one goal: to protect her from harm and possible murder. A very intense novel which swept me into the high action and sleuth work. Loved it. An outstanding author who writes well and her books are easily read. Highly recommend.
November 6, 2012
The action and intrigue started right off the bat with someone trying to snuff out Claire Spencer. Claire lives a quiet, modest life and she's at a loss as to who is after her and why. She hires Ben Riley who was formerly in Navy intelligence to help her find out. Ben is reluctant to get involved; when he does, her world gets even crazier. Chemistry brews in the background of the danger and intrigue, but it also ups the stakes for Claire and Ben. I think the author did a great job of pacing the suspense and the romance. She kept me guessing as to what would happen next and who the culprit was. Just when I thought I figured things out, she would throw in a new twist. Claire's life is filled with secrets that kept me turning the page. I also loved the secondary characters in this story. The book is an excellent read and I can't wait to read more from this author. :)
January 6, 2012
This book is a clash of two worlds, the cliched quiet surburban life and the fast and dangerous world of mobsters and politics. The result of which turns the life of the unsuspecting target, Claire, upside down. Luckily for Claire she obtains the services of he mysterious Riley, a strong and mysterious problem solver. Not only does Riley have contacts in all of the necesary places he is also a fantastic artist, and what woman could resist a strong, ruggedly handsome man who needs someone to cook for him? Not Claire.
I enjoyed this book and would definately recommend it as one you could curl up with a cup of tea and escape with. It did seem to end a little abruptly though which would be my only concern with it.
I enjoyed this book and would definately recommend it as one you could curl up with a cup of tea and escape with. It did seem to end a little abruptly though which would be my only concern with it.
October 15, 2015
I listened to Cold Comfort from Audible.com.
This excellent, riviting story was difficult to stop listening to. I ended up staying u all night because of it. Good thing it was a weekend. I give the story 5 stars, the reader not so much. It was probably just me but the msle voice was alway the same so i got mixed up on who was talking when. I believe there were a couple times she got the womens voices confused. Then toward the end of the story there was a car door sound effect inserted that came from no where and wss quite jarring. I won't look for her sgsin, but her reading wouldn't keep from buying and listening to her again.
I recommend this story to individuals 18+ and mature due to adult situations.
This excellent, riviting story was difficult to stop listening to. I ended up staying u all night because of it. Good thing it was a weekend. I give the story 5 stars, the reader not so much. It was probably just me but the msle voice was alway the same so i got mixed up on who was talking when. I believe there were a couple times she got the womens voices confused. Then toward the end of the story there was a car door sound effect inserted that came from no where and wss quite jarring. I won't look for her sgsin, but her reading wouldn't keep from buying and listening to her again.
I recommend this story to individuals 18+ and mature due to adult situations.
Read
August 8, 2015The story:
When a thug attacks Claire Spencer, owner of a charming Williamsburg Christmas shop, she hires security consultant Ben Riley to find out why. Old letters in a hidden trunk direct Claire and Riley to transcripts from the 1970s House Select Committee on Crime, where Sinatra appeared as a key witness, and to connections between politics and organized crime.
While dodging a speeding car, ducking bullets, and escaping from murky swamp waters, proper Claire and freewheeling loner Riley struggle against their powerful chemistry. But if she’s picket fences, he’s barbed wire. Opposites do attract.
When a thug attacks Claire Spencer, owner of a charming Williamsburg Christmas shop, she hires security consultant Ben Riley to find out why. Old letters in a hidden trunk direct Claire and Riley to transcripts from the 1970s House Select Committee on Crime, where Sinatra appeared as a key witness, and to connections between politics and organized crime.
While dodging a speeding car, ducking bullets, and escaping from murky swamp waters, proper Claire and freewheeling loner Riley struggle against their powerful chemistry. But if she’s picket fences, he’s barbed wire. Opposites do attract.
July 23, 2016
A bit of a why and who dunnit. Claire is being targetted and she doesnt know why - an attack at home leaves her injured, someone's rifled through her home files, nasty items left at work. The police have done all they can, so who is she gonna call? A friend of her work colleagues brother, thats who! He seems to be a real life action man, but with a soft heart that Claire finds as they back track through her life to find out the why so they can figure out the who.
A fast paced romp through snowy winter weather with plenty of high tension car chases, desperate situations and bad guys to make you sweat.
Enjoyable read, probably a 3.5 but I liked it enough to rate at 4.
A fast paced romp through snowy winter weather with plenty of high tension car chases, desperate situations and bad guys to make you sweat.
Enjoyable read, probably a 3.5 but I liked it enough to rate at 4.
September 20, 2013
This has a classic mystery feel to it, but the story revolves around a heroine who is a fighter. I like the way the plot developments are strung along since I like trying to figure out the secrets and second guess what's coming. The romance was woven throughout quite creatively, and the reluctant hero was definitely a fine character. I recommend this book to fans of mystery and suspense with strong romantic elements.
January 21, 2012
This is a free book from the Goodreads First Reads giveaways.
Claire Spencer, a Williamsburg, VA Christmas shop owner, suddenly finds her life in danger. With the help of a friend of a friend, Ben Riley, she finds out what is behind this sudden surge of attacks and more. This story reminded me of some of the Nora Roberts' stories, mixing mystery and romance.
Claire Spencer, a Williamsburg, VA Christmas shop owner, suddenly finds her life in danger. With the help of a friend of a friend, Ben Riley, she finds out what is behind this sudden surge of attacks and more. This story reminded me of some of the Nora Roberts' stories, mixing mystery and romance.
December 24, 2012
This book kept me up last night. Even though I pretty much figured out the motive for everything the main character was going through, the action was so well done, and the romance, that I had to keep reading to see what happened next. Plus I did want to find out who the bad guy was, of course. A well-written mystery with a lot of suspense. What more could a reader ask for?
February 2, 2013
The action is there and the plot is interesting, too. Finess and quiet life clashes with the dangerous. A "know it all", "do it all" protector comes for the lady who is in danger. I just don't think the matching was so much of a success because, I just say maybe, all the spell was wasted in the Mistletoe shop that Claire onwned and not some was spared for the rest of the story.
February 24, 2014
COLD COMFORT- a SUSPENSE romance
COLD COMFORT- a SUSPENSE romance
This suspense novel actually looses points because the.beautifully written romance detracts from the more interesting question of who are the bad guys, and why are they trying to kill such an ordinary woman?
COLD COMFORT- a SUSPENSE romance
This suspense novel actually looses points because the.beautifully written romance detracts from the more interesting question of who are the bad guys, and why are they trying to kill such an ordinary woman?
June 8, 2015
Really Good
I enjoyed this book. Was a good mixture of adventure, mystery and romance. Claire is a strong independent women who can admit she needs help. Riley is what she needs and she is what Riley needs. If only they could both realize it and let the past not get in their way especially Riley. Part of a series but can be read as a standalone. HE A.
I enjoyed this book. Was a good mixture of adventure, mystery and romance. Claire is a strong independent women who can admit she needs help. Riley is what she needs and she is what Riley needs. If only they could both realize it and let the past not get in their way especially Riley. Part of a series but can be read as a standalone. HE A.
December 15, 2011
Full disclosure. I critiqued this book, so what can I say? It's a terrific romantic suspense with a reluctant hero and a heroine who's the target of someone who wants to kill her. Why? That's what the two people have to find out before the killer succeeds. I highly recommend this book.
April 24, 2012
I really enjoyed this novel. The author turned up the suspense factor and kept me guessing--and sweating--right to the end. The relationship between Claire and Riley was tender and emotional, the plot was realistic and well researched. A must-read for fans of well-crafted romance/suspense!
August 21, 2014
I really enjoyed this book. It was fast paced and kept you thinking. I wish that there was a bit more to the ending. I had to read the last page a couple times to make sure I understood how it was ending. I would have enjoyed a bit more if an ending for Clair and Riley.
January 16, 2013
This is a decent mystery novel. The limited third person writing is great, it draws you into the character and makes you want to know why this woman's life is in danger all of a sudden. The resolution is not quite what you think it would be and yet it is well done for the story.
September 29, 2013
I was pretty surprised that I liked this as much as I did. It is not my usual faire, but enjoyable even so. Claire was a bit needy at times, but generally I liked her. I liked who she was and who she became. I liked Riley as well. The story was quick and action packed.
May 26, 2018
I obtained this free e-book from Amazon and I am voluntarily writing a review. This is the first that I have read of this author and I really enjoyed her style of writing. Claire has a small Christmas themed shop in Williamsburg, Virginia. She has little time for anything but making her shop a success. One night after work someone assaulted her in her driveway but ran away when the neighbors dog beckoned attention. He promised he was not finished and would be back. Riley gets a call from his close friend Ray who he served with in the service asking for him to help Claire discover who wants her dead. Reluctantly he agrees to check things out figuring maybe a day or two at the least will be involved if he even takes the case. Before he even gets a chance to talk to Claire he witnesses a car try to run her down and barely has time to get her to safety. It is obvious that someone wants her dead and he cannot just walk away she needs his help and he owes it to Ray to help her.
September 19, 2015
I thought the story started out super strong. I was actually headed to bed but not quite ready for sleep, so I decided to read a chapter or two of a new book. I was yanked right into the story and ended up reading through to the end instead of sleeping.
I would actually like to give this story two ratings. For holding my attention, four stars. There were a few places were things got a little slow, but the draw to find out what was going on never wavered for me. My overall enjoyment of the story is what gets three stars. Kind of a tough call, but I'll explain.
There are some very intriguing side characters that I loved, and, at first, I really loved the main characters. But as the book got past the halfway point, I was still very invested in the mystery, but becoming less enamored of the main characters.
Claire takes the attitude that Riley is telling her what to do as a means of controlling her. She believes that he is, like her mother, overprotective. *Gee, Claire, not like someone is trying to kill you or anything, can't imagine why they would be protective.* I just kept getting more and more frustrated with her attitude. Riley isn't trying to control her, he is trying to save her life. You don't hire an expert and then refuse to listen to their expert advice - which is based on knowledge and experience. But every time Riley tells her to wait while he checks to make sure it is safe, she just barges right on in or out, because no one is gonna tell her what to do. *rolls eyes* She is not only making it easier for them to get to her but she is increasing the danger for Riley who is protecting her with his own life. Selfish much?
Which leads to my annoyance with Riley. After only a few days he is so enamored of Claire that instead of flat out telling her that she is being a selfish twit he just caves to her demands (and whining, ugh) and at points even apologizes when he isn't in the wrong. *frustrated* So not only does he seem weak, but he now comes across as inept, because he lets her talk him out of doing his job correctly. He should have washed his hands of the whole situation and just told Ray that Claire was arrogant/ignorant to the point of being suicidal and she wasn't going to take Riley with her.
Other issues for me:
- The characters have a conversation about something one day and then a few chapters later they suddenly don't know anything about it, so they have the conversation again.
- Claire and Riley have sex, then Riley decides it won't happen again (because he is a manly man with emotional intimacy issues). While he is out of the hotel room, Claire makes it look like she is sleeping in one of the beds, then climbs naked into Riley's bed, knowing he won't see her in the dark. Then he climbs into his bed and she rolls over and basically accosts him. Yeah, he is willing and they have sex, but I thought her methods were super Creeper-esque, not to mention juvenile. It would be one thing to be openly waiting, naked, in his bed, or, you know, actually talk to the guy about it, but to make it look like she was asleep in the other bed and then hide in his, that was sort of...slimy.
At the end of the book I was very satisfied with the mystery, but rather disenchanted with the main characters and their romance. I would still recommend the book, it was very good, and looking through all the other reviews, the things that bothered me don't seem to have registered with others. And there was a cat, a really awesome cat! (But honestly, is there any other kind?)
I would actually like to give this story two ratings. For holding my attention, four stars. There were a few places were things got a little slow, but the draw to find out what was going on never wavered for me. My overall enjoyment of the story is what gets three stars. Kind of a tough call, but I'll explain.
There are some very intriguing side characters that I loved, and, at first, I really loved the main characters. But as the book got past the halfway point, I was still very invested in the mystery, but becoming less enamored of the main characters.
Claire takes the attitude that Riley is telling her what to do as a means of controlling her. She believes that he is, like her mother, overprotective. *Gee, Claire, not like someone is trying to kill you or anything, can't imagine why they would be protective.* I just kept getting more and more frustrated with her attitude. Riley isn't trying to control her, he is trying to save her life. You don't hire an expert and then refuse to listen to their expert advice - which is based on knowledge and experience. But every time Riley tells her to wait while he checks to make sure it is safe, she just barges right on in or out, because no one is gonna tell her what to do. *rolls eyes* She is not only making it easier for them to get to her but she is increasing the danger for Riley who is protecting her with his own life. Selfish much?
Which leads to my annoyance with Riley. After only a few days he is so enamored of Claire that instead of flat out telling her that she is being a selfish twit he just caves to her demands (and whining, ugh) and at points even apologizes when he isn't in the wrong. *frustrated* So not only does he seem weak, but he now comes across as inept, because he lets her talk him out of doing his job correctly. He should have washed his hands of the whole situation and just told Ray that Claire was arrogant/ignorant to the point of being suicidal and she wasn't going to take Riley with her.
Other issues for me:
- The characters have a conversation about something one day and then a few chapters later they suddenly don't know anything about it, so they have the conversation again.
- Claire and Riley have sex, then Riley decides it won't happen again (because he is a manly man with emotional intimacy issues). While he is out of the hotel room, Claire makes it look like she is sleeping in one of the beds, then climbs naked into Riley's bed, knowing he won't see her in the dark. Then he climbs into his bed and she rolls over and basically accosts him. Yeah, he is willing and they have sex, but I thought her methods were super Creeper-esque, not to mention juvenile. It would be one thing to be openly waiting, naked, in his bed, or, you know, actually talk to the guy about it, but to make it look like she was asleep in the other bed and then hide in his, that was sort of...slimy.
At the end of the book I was very satisfied with the mystery, but rather disenchanted with the main characters and their romance. I would still recommend the book, it was very good, and looking through all the other reviews, the things that bothered me don't seem to have registered with others. And there was a cat, a really awesome cat! (But honestly, is there any other kind?)
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