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Bone Secrets #2
Chilled
As a forensic nurse on a search and rescue team, Brynn Nealey braves a dangerous blizzard to find the survivors of a plane crash in the Cascade Mountains. Joining her is Alex Kinton, a former US marshal with self-destructive tendencies. Alex lies his way onto Brynn’s team to find the man who killed his brother—and then return the favor. But once the team members reach the plane’s wreckage, they discover everyone aboard has perished…except for the man Alex is hunting. Alex will do whatever it takes to track his target through the vast, snowy wilderness.
As the temperatures drop, however, so do Alex’s defenses. His contact with the sharp, kindhearted Brynn makes his lust for vengeance difficult to reconcile with his growing feelings for a woman who risks her life to help others. What will happen to Alex’s savage instincts when he finally has the opportunity to confront his brother’s killer?
In Chilled, the next thrilling tale in the Bone Secrets saga, Golden Heart finalist Kendra Elliot weaves an icy tale of cold nights, cold hearts, and cold-blooded killers.
As the temperatures drop, however, so do Alex’s defenses. His contact with the sharp, kindhearted Brynn makes his lust for vengeance difficult to reconcile with his growing feelings for a woman who risks her life to help others. What will happen to Alex’s savage instincts when he finally has the opportunity to confront his brother’s killer?
In Chilled, the next thrilling tale in the Bone Secrets saga, Golden Heart finalist Kendra Elliot weaves an icy tale of cold nights, cold hearts, and cold-blooded killers.
354 pages, ebook
First published August 14, 2012
6123 people are currently reading
4223 people want to read
About the author
Kendra Elliot
38 books6,523 followersAn Amazon #1 selling author, Kendra Elliot has sold over 14 Million books and been on the WSJ best seller more than a dozen times.
She grew up in the lush Pacific Northwest and still lives, but spends most of the time in the high desert in flip flops.
She grew up in the lush Pacific Northwest and still lives, but spends most of the time in the high desert in flip flops.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 811 reviews
April 7, 2019
Somewhere between "It was okay" and "I liked it"
The setting was great, the story dragged in some parts.
The romance was meh. I can't believe I'm saying this, but the book would have been better without it.
I related more to the secondary characters than to the heroine or the hero. Not enough background story.
The setting was great, the story dragged in some parts.
The romance was meh. I can't believe I'm saying this, but the book would have been better without it.
I related more to the secondary characters than to the heroine or the hero. Not enough background story.
July 1, 2017
A search and rescue team is sent into the Cascade Mountains to search for a plane that never made it to its destination. On board the plane is a U.S. Marshall moving Serial Killer Darren Besand to a new prison. Before the team leaves, they are joined by Alex Kinton. Alex is a former U.S. Marshall who wants to make sure Besand never has a chance to hurt anyone else. The four men and one woman, Nurse Brynn Nealey, trek through the forest, across rivers, and deep into the wilderness before finding the wreckage. Besand is not among the bodies on the plane. As the weather turns bad, the team is forced to take cover. With food running out and a serial killer in the area, Alex and Brynn wonder if they'll make it out alive.
My favorite romantic suspense stories have the hero and heroine not only taking on the villain, but also taking on mother nature. Whether the book is set in the hot humid jungle or a blinding snowstorm, I'm in for the ride. I had a hard time putting this book down. I loved the setting with the extreme temperatures and constant snow. Fighting against a killer and the elements ramped up the suspense. My rating: 4.5 Stars.
My favorite romantic suspense stories have the hero and heroine not only taking on the villain, but also taking on mother nature. Whether the book is set in the hot humid jungle or a blinding snowstorm, I'm in for the ride. I had a hard time putting this book down. I loved the setting with the extreme temperatures and constant snow. Fighting against a killer and the elements ramped up the suspense. My rating: 4.5 Stars.
December 1, 2020
Alex, the strong and silent type gets his HEA. Be sill my heart. Wonderful suspense w/ romance. I can't really call it a Romantic-Suspense because it was about 90% Suspense and 10% Romance. But, even though I prefer a better balance, this was a great book.
Alex Kinton is a tortured guy. He is carrying a lot of baggage around and when he bluffs his way on to a SAR team searching for a downed plane in the middle of a blizzard in the Oregon Cascade Mountains. At first sight, Alex knows that Brynn Nealey is different, but he is a man on a mission and that is to kill a serial killer, if he survived the crash. He literally has nothing to lose and a powerful motive to see this through. Until he gets to know Brynn and she makes him want to live again.
Brynn Nealey is a forensic nurse on the search and rescue team. Their only information is that a plane had crashed in a remote area. Her job is the get to the site and help anyone who is injured. Her attraction to Alex is not part of this mission and once they reach the plane everything changes.
Alex Kinton is a tortured guy. He is carrying a lot of baggage around and when he bluffs his way on to a SAR team searching for a downed plane in the middle of a blizzard in the Oregon Cascade Mountains. At first sight, Alex knows that Brynn Nealey is different, but he is a man on a mission and that is to kill a serial killer, if he survived the crash. He literally has nothing to lose and a powerful motive to see this through. Until he gets to know Brynn and she makes him want to live again.
Brynn Nealey is a forensic nurse on the search and rescue team. Their only information is that a plane had crashed in a remote area. Her job is the get to the site and help anyone who is injured. Her attraction to Alex is not part of this mission and once they reach the plane everything changes.
November 14, 2020
Loved this 2nd book in the Bone Secrets series! Talk about atmospheric! It feels like the author settled in by this book, and if it's any indication - this will be a fantastic series! Highly recommended to fans of romance suspense. And the suspense is superb with you never knowing when the killer will make his move. So good! 4.5 stars
April 9, 2015
Chilled is right ..... the entire book takes place in the Cascade Mountains in winter... with lots of snow and rain. Cold, cold nights .... and a cold-blooded killer.
Alex Kinton is a former US Marshall who is going after his brother's killer to serve his own justice. Darrin Besand is on a plane that is transporting him to Oregon to stand trial, only he never makes it that far. The plane crashes in the mountains leaving the pilots and US Marshall all dead.
Kinton joins the search & rescue unit to find the plane ... and Darrin Besand, the sole survivor.
Not only do we have a killer on the loose, we have rushing mountain rivers, an avalanche, a corrupt Marshall sending his own men in to get rid of Kinton, a beautiful woman, her very jealous ex-boyfriend and several other secondary characters that add flavor to the story.
I am giving it 5 stars because I like this author's writings .... I like the action and excitement..and this particular story had me putting on my socks ( my Arizona winter wear).
Note: Very explicit sex .. but only at the very end of the book.
Now on to BURIED ... the 3rd in the series.
Even though this is a series, each is fine as a stand-alone. No need to read them in order.
July 21, 2015
Similar problem as the first book. Good premise, but meh execution.
This really seemed more like a suspense book than a romance. In fact, I was almost wishing the romance hadn't happened at all and had only been hinted at. It didn't seem appropriate. Total insta-love too, just like the first book.
Alex was introduced in Hidden (the previous book) as the best friend of the hero of that book. I was disappointed that Jack was never seen or even mentioned in this book. It was implied in the other book that Jack was possibly Alex's only friend left. I had been hoping to see the earlier couple since Hidden ended rather abruptly.
I like that the lead for the next book is introduced in the previous book and that it's a totally new story rather than an extension. But to not even mention or have a cameo by the previous couple? Just strange. And it left me with an unfinished feeling about Hidden.
But on to this book. Alex finagles his way onto the team of a rescue mission when the convict who killed his brother is aboard a plane that has gone down in the mountains. The team includes Brynn who is a nurse with field rescue specialties and her own traumatic past experiences.
The team faces many hardships on their way to finding the plane. And, of course, the only one who survived the crash (this is not a spoiler, it's in the blurb) is the killer. So there's that too.
It really could just have been a suspense thriller and I think it would have been better overall. The romance arc was intrusive, IMO. I could see some attraction or instant infatuation in the background, but to have that take center stage during this particular situation felt forced.
I won't be continuing the series. The hero of the next book was introduced in the first book but I can't bring myself to care all that much.
I bought these books on sale. They have high ratings and I recommend people read reviews before deciding. Don't just take my word for it. I just didn't connect with the characters or the situations as much as I needed to in order to move on to the third book.
This really seemed more like a suspense book than a romance. In fact, I was almost wishing the romance hadn't happened at all and had only been hinted at. It didn't seem appropriate. Total insta-love too, just like the first book.
Alex was introduced in Hidden (the previous book) as the best friend of the hero of that book. I was disappointed that Jack was never seen or even mentioned in this book. It was implied in the other book that Jack was possibly Alex's only friend left. I had been hoping to see the earlier couple since Hidden ended rather abruptly.
I like that the lead for the next book is introduced in the previous book and that it's a totally new story rather than an extension. But to not even mention or have a cameo by the previous couple? Just strange. And it left me with an unfinished feeling about Hidden.
But on to this book. Alex finagles his way onto the team of a rescue mission when the convict who killed his brother is aboard a plane that has gone down in the mountains. The team includes Brynn who is a nurse with field rescue specialties and her own traumatic past experiences.
The team faces many hardships on their way to finding the plane. And, of course, the only one who survived the crash (this is not a spoiler, it's in the blurb) is the killer. So there's that too.
It really could just have been a suspense thriller and I think it would have been better overall. The romance arc was intrusive, IMO. I could see some attraction or instant infatuation in the background, but to have that take center stage during this particular situation felt forced.
I won't be continuing the series. The hero of the next book was introduced in the first book but I can't bring myself to care all that much.
I bought these books on sale. They have high ratings and I recommend people read reviews before deciding. Don't just take my word for it. I just didn't connect with the characters or the situations as much as I needed to in order to move on to the third book.
August 5, 2018
1.5 stars.
I'm sorry to say that this was boring. Almost the entire plot takes place in one setting and I couldn't connect to the characters or the burgeoning relationship at all. Like other reviewers have said, this would have been better had there not been any romance at all. There was better character development than there was in the first book of this series, but that's the only improvement. The formatting of this book needed some cleaning up as well. There was often no indication in a change of perspective, and it was disorienting trying to figure out who was narrating.
I'm sorry to say that this was boring. Almost the entire plot takes place in one setting and I couldn't connect to the characters or the burgeoning relationship at all. Like other reviewers have said, this would have been better had there not been any romance at all. There was better character development than there was in the first book of this series, but that's the only improvement. The formatting of this book needed some cleaning up as well. There was often no indication in a change of perspective, and it was disorienting trying to figure out who was narrating.
December 28, 2018
MEH.
Chilled was an okay book but definitely suffered the second book syndrome. In it, you will meet Brynn and Alex. If you are like me, well you might fall out of love with them. I certainly did and now I have no idea how I feel about this book/series. Now the one thing I liked about this book, was the fact that I got more suspense then anything. I was constantly guessing and definitely had some theories about mr paul - which you will also meet him. A lot of my guessing was wrong, spoiler alert.
Since this had more suspense, that meant the romance was definitely lacking. Which I guess I was okay with since I wasn’t really feeling the vibe between the couple I was shipping. However, I was also a bit disapppinted about it too. I’m just fickle and was hoping to get a half and half mixture but I’ll end up settling for what I did get.
Other than that, this book was definitely giving me tv show vibes. Maybe lost, csi, or idk criminal minds. Where people can easily pretend to be skemkje they aren’t. I don’t know how many times I’ve seen a villain of some sort personating a u.s. Marshall - so I could totally see it in this book BUT at the same time..don’t people check credentials or something??
Maybe I’m just naive or they are but I had so many questions while reading this book. I’m hoping, whenever I dive into the next book, that I will get some answers. Maybe even the best of both worlds??
Chilled was an okay book but definitely suffered the second book syndrome. In it, you will meet Brynn and Alex. If you are like me, well you might fall out of love with them. I certainly did and now I have no idea how I feel about this book/series. Now the one thing I liked about this book, was the fact that I got more suspense then anything. I was constantly guessing and definitely had some theories about mr paul - which you will also meet him. A lot of my guessing was wrong, spoiler alert.
Since this had more suspense, that meant the romance was definitely lacking. Which I guess I was okay with since I wasn’t really feeling the vibe between the couple I was shipping. However, I was also a bit disapppinted about it too. I’m just fickle and was hoping to get a half and half mixture but I’ll end up settling for what I did get.
Other than that, this book was definitely giving me tv show vibes. Maybe lost, csi, or idk criminal minds. Where people can easily pretend to be skemkje they aren’t. I don’t know how many times I’ve seen a villain of some sort personating a u.s. Marshall - so I could totally see it in this book BUT at the same time..don’t people check credentials or something??
Maybe I’m just naive or they are but I had so many questions while reading this book. I’m hoping, whenever I dive into the next book, that I will get some answers. Maybe even the best of both worlds??
July 15, 2017
I read two of this author's books. They didn't improve. I didn't care what happened to the characters. The bad guy was a stereotype called Darrin. It felt like the sex scenes were trying to make up for bad story-telling and amateurish writing.
Sorry. Not for me.
I won't read any more.
"Next?!"
Sorry. Not for me.
I won't read any more.
"Next?!"
May 8, 2020
3,5 Sterne (= gut, solide, empfehlenswert, unterhaltsam)
- Rettungsmission quer durch verschneite und vereiste Berge hin zu einem abgestürzten Flugzeug, in dem ein Serienmörder transportiert wurde.
- packendes Setting (Naturgewalt pur), super Gruppendynamik im Rettungsteam
- creepy vibes, weil man auch aus der Perspektive des Killers liest
- seichte Lovestory (Achtung, wenn man kein "romantic suspense" als Genre mag)
- Rettungsmission quer durch verschneite und vereiste Berge hin zu einem abgestürzten Flugzeug, in dem ein Serienmörder transportiert wurde.
- packendes Setting (Naturgewalt pur), super Gruppendynamik im Rettungsteam
- creepy vibes, weil man auch aus der Perspektive des Killers liest
- seichte Lovestory (Achtung, wenn man kein "romantic suspense" als Genre mag)
July 24, 2018
Not Authors Best
Honestly despite the author being a solid writer, I was kind of bored with the book. It featured a lot of walking and despite the killer being loose no real danger except from the elements.
Honestly despite the author being a solid writer, I was kind of bored with the book. It featured a lot of walking and despite the killer being loose no real danger except from the elements.
January 12, 2022
Kendra Elliott's second novel. I really like her later books (particularly the Mercy Kilpatrick and Callahan & McLane series), but in this one, as in Hidden the first in this series, the starry-eyed romance is just a bit over the top, so I have to take off a star.
February 23, 2018
Chilled is the second book in the Bone Secrets series by Kendra Elliot.
Ex-US Marshall, Alex Kinton is bent on getting justice for the murder of his brother who was killed by Darrin Besand. Kinton worked hard to put Besand behind bars but now has to repeat the exercise and take matters into his own hands to bring this killer to justice once again.
Darrin Besand on the other hand wants his freedom at any cost. He blackmails his cousin into fixing his plane transportation to Oregon to stand trial. Unfortunately, they never figured on the plane crashing prior to reaching its destination. All are found dead with in the Cascade Mountains except for Besand.
Kinton joins a Search and Rescue (SAR) team to find the plane and Besand before he gets away for good. The team not only experience the cleverness of the killer, but has to deal with rushing rivers, an avalanche caused by a jealous ex-boyfriend and his brother and other delightful characters who look out for the well-being of Brynn Nealey, a beautiful woman that gets caught in the sadistic cross-fire of Kinton and Besand.
A 4-star for me as the attraction between the two main characters developed way too slow for me. I thought this novel was more a suspense as it had too little romance until close to the very end. As this is the second novel in this series, I’ve noticed that there is a age difference in the main characters just as I experienced in another series by Elliot. Hmm will have to ask about that as I am becoming to like reading her novels.
Ex-US Marshall, Alex Kinton is bent on getting justice for the murder of his brother who was killed by Darrin Besand. Kinton worked hard to put Besand behind bars but now has to repeat the exercise and take matters into his own hands to bring this killer to justice once again.
Darrin Besand on the other hand wants his freedom at any cost. He blackmails his cousin into fixing his plane transportation to Oregon to stand trial. Unfortunately, they never figured on the plane crashing prior to reaching its destination. All are found dead with in the Cascade Mountains except for Besand.
Kinton joins a Search and Rescue (SAR) team to find the plane and Besand before he gets away for good. The team not only experience the cleverness of the killer, but has to deal with rushing rivers, an avalanche caused by a jealous ex-boyfriend and his brother and other delightful characters who look out for the well-being of Brynn Nealey, a beautiful woman that gets caught in the sadistic cross-fire of Kinton and Besand.
A 4-star for me as the attraction between the two main characters developed way too slow for me. I thought this novel was more a suspense as it had too little romance until close to the very end. As this is the second novel in this series, I’ve noticed that there is a age difference in the main characters just as I experienced in another series by Elliot. Hmm will have to ask about that as I am becoming to like reading her novels.
December 29, 2018
A plane transporting a murderer goes down in the Oregon mountains. Brynne and her team of SAR go out to find it and help any survivors. They are joined by former-marshall, Alex, who has his own agenda. Alex has an interesting relationship with the killer, Darren. Alex believes he killed his brother, and that the Marshall's office has been slack with his protection duty. Alex and the team determine that Darren survived the crash and must decide to hunt him down or return to base for reinforcements. It turns out Darren is nearby, watching, and sets his sights on Brynne and revenge on Alex.
The suspense plotline of this book was good, although there were a few threads that the author could have pursued to make it more intense and didn't. The romance plotline was meh. It was a little hard to believe that Alex and Brynne would be able to develop their insta-crush into something more in a situation like this, especially since she is in a relationship with someone else and Alex hasn't been interested in anyone in years. Too many hurdles to overcome to make it believable. And no smut.
The suspense plotline of this book was good, although there were a few threads that the author could have pursued to make it more intense and didn't. The romance plotline was meh. It was a little hard to believe that Alex and Brynne would be able to develop their insta-crush into something more in a situation like this, especially since she is in a relationship with someone else and Alex hasn't been interested in anyone in years. Too many hurdles to overcome to make it believable. And no smut.
September 18, 2019
Oky Romantic Suspense. The plot plodded a bit in spots. I should have increased the narration speed. I'm not sure if I'll try the 3rd book in this series.
December 31, 2019
I hate giving this 2 stars because I generally enjoy this author and enjoy the story connections. But this book really irritated me from the beginning. It is a work of fiction, I understand, but in the author's other books the dilemmas (and the romance) always seemed probably. In this book, so many things were improbable or just ridiculous. I will just list a few things. But with that being said, I have moved on to the next in the series and will continue to read everything Kendra Elliot writes because they are entertaining.
Forgive me for my spelling and grammar mistakes!
A few questions/things I had a problem with:
- First of all, You are just going to let some guy who "looks like" law enforcement accompany your highly trained rescue unit. No double checking before hand. They might have been in a hurry, but 20 minutes to do a license or ID check seems like nothing. Seriously, they were like, "Ok, if you say the Marshall's office called to put you on the team, i mean why else would you want to go out into the wilderness to find a plane"
-No satellite phone, puh-leaze! Coyote Peterson (the dude on Youtube that goes to the jungle and gets stung by insects) even has a satellite phone. This is apparently an elite group of experienced rescuers and they are sent out into the wilderness with nothing more than a few flip phones with T-Mobil as their carrier. Seriously. I have been in a bean field in Arkansas and had a signal. I mean, I get it, it is the wilderness surrounding Mt. Hood, service is spotty, but I cannot imagine that any rescue operation would operate with such little ability to communicate. Most satellite phones are associated with a medi-vac unit and can operate anywhere (apparently, I really don't know since I have never operated one, but in other books and movies they carry satellite phones that work in the Amazon).
-This brings me to my next point: their crappy cell phones. They didn't have any signal, but they sure had the best battery life ever because even on day 3 they were trying to call out on them and there seemed to be no battery problem.
-Okay more, traveling in snow had to "make" snowshoes.
-I saw very little spark or attraction between Brynn and Alex. I mean they really seem to hardly notice each other and then all of the sudden it was love at first sight. It just did nothing for me. Ok on to the next complaint.
-Ryan's mystery illness. Why make such a big deal of this and have no explanation. It probably would have been more probable that he was poisoned. I cannot remember was he the one who ate the walnuts at the beginning (why put that in). Brynn kept diagnosing him-"if he wasn't poisoned that he must have a stomach bug, no maybe the flu and an ulcer, no maybe a bacterial infection). I get it, Ryan's illness was a device in the story to bring more challenge to the situation, but unless it could be explained and had relevance to the plot of the story, besides just creating an obstacle, it shouldn't have been that big of a deal. I mean the poor man was puking blood and near death. Just make him ill with a fever and a back sinus infection. That is enough to slow them down, but not so much that we are drawing for straws to try to guess if this is part of the climax or just irreverent in the long run.
-Why give Brynn a troubled childhood background and a tragic past. I mean, the water phobia could be explained when they talked about the friend that drowned. But making her "related" to Jim through his wife because she was a foster child, seems like a lot. Hell, you could have just said they were old family friends, I hate making her more of a hero than just being a good nurse. I mean that makes her a hero enough on its own, you don't have to add to that arbitrarily. It just makes it more sensationalized. It didn't at all contribute to her character. I guess it could explain her daddy issues, but you didn't really need to. Why could she just be a great nurse, with a phobia and an attraction to more mature men.
-The Marshall and the killer being cousins and connected to the death of a family member in the past. Seriously, no one connected this. This is as unlikely and unbelievable as the ex-marshall just jumping in on an investigation.
-Broken airplane, sick coworkers, dead bodies, dirty, soggy clothing never equals a make out sesh!
Ok, I am done. Obviously this is just my opinion and I am not a writer. But despite this review I will continue to read the authors books!
Forgive me for my spelling and grammar mistakes!
A few questions/things I had a problem with:
- First of all, You are just going to let some guy who "looks like" law enforcement accompany your highly trained rescue unit. No double checking before hand. They might have been in a hurry, but 20 minutes to do a license or ID check seems like nothing. Seriously, they were like, "Ok, if you say the Marshall's office called to put you on the team, i mean why else would you want to go out into the wilderness to find a plane"
-No satellite phone, puh-leaze! Coyote Peterson (the dude on Youtube that goes to the jungle and gets stung by insects) even has a satellite phone. This is apparently an elite group of experienced rescuers and they are sent out into the wilderness with nothing more than a few flip phones with T-Mobil as their carrier. Seriously. I have been in a bean field in Arkansas and had a signal. I mean, I get it, it is the wilderness surrounding Mt. Hood, service is spotty, but I cannot imagine that any rescue operation would operate with such little ability to communicate. Most satellite phones are associated with a medi-vac unit and can operate anywhere (apparently, I really don't know since I have never operated one, but in other books and movies they carry satellite phones that work in the Amazon).
-This brings me to my next point: their crappy cell phones. They didn't have any signal, but they sure had the best battery life ever because even on day 3 they were trying to call out on them and there seemed to be no battery problem.
-Okay more, traveling in snow had to "make" snowshoes.
-I saw very little spark or attraction between Brynn and Alex. I mean they really seem to hardly notice each other and then all of the sudden it was love at first sight. It just did nothing for me. Ok on to the next complaint.
-Ryan's mystery illness. Why make such a big deal of this and have no explanation. It probably would have been more probable that he was poisoned. I cannot remember was he the one who ate the walnuts at the beginning (why put that in). Brynn kept diagnosing him-"if he wasn't poisoned that he must have a stomach bug, no maybe the flu and an ulcer, no maybe a bacterial infection). I get it, Ryan's illness was a device in the story to bring more challenge to the situation, but unless it could be explained and had relevance to the plot of the story, besides just creating an obstacle, it shouldn't have been that big of a deal. I mean the poor man was puking blood and near death. Just make him ill with a fever and a back sinus infection. That is enough to slow them down, but not so much that we are drawing for straws to try to guess if this is part of the climax or just irreverent in the long run.
-Why give Brynn a troubled childhood background and a tragic past. I mean, the water phobia could be explained when they talked about the friend that drowned. But making her "related" to Jim through his wife because she was a foster child, seems like a lot. Hell, you could have just said they were old family friends, I hate making her more of a hero than just being a good nurse. I mean that makes her a hero enough on its own, you don't have to add to that arbitrarily. It just makes it more sensationalized. It didn't at all contribute to her character. I guess it could explain her daddy issues, but you didn't really need to. Why could she just be a great nurse, with a phobia and an attraction to more mature men.
-The Marshall and the killer being cousins and connected to the death of a family member in the past. Seriously, no one connected this. This is as unlikely and unbelievable as the ex-marshall just jumping in on an investigation.
-Broken airplane, sick coworkers, dead bodies, dirty, soggy clothing never equals a make out sesh!
Ok, I am done. Obviously this is just my opinion and I am not a writer. But despite this review I will continue to read the authors books!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 22, 2017
Review to come
July 3, 2017
Chilled
3.5 Stars
When a plane crashes in the Cascade mountains, forensic nurse, Brynn Nealey and the rest of the SAR team are sent in to search for survivors. Along for the ride is Alex Kinton, a former U.S. Marshall determined to locate one of the passengers. With conflicting agendas and external forces working against them, the rescuers will have to utilize all of their skills if they are to survive the elements as well as a vicious killer.
This one is more of a thriller than romantic suspense. As a thriller it is exciting and action packed, but as a romance, it falls flat.
There is virtually zero chemistry between the hero and heroine, and what little there is feels forced and unrealistic. Moreover, neither one is particularly appealing as a romantic lead. Alex lies constantly about his agenda and his skills as U.S. Marshal are sorely lacking. Brynn fares somewhat better in her capacity as an SAR nurse, but is constantly sending mixed signals to her former lover while snuggling up to Alex.
The suspense elements are much better with a truly despicable villain and several exciting action scenes. The plot is reminiscent of the action film Shoot to Kill with Sidney Poitier, Tom Berenger and Clancy Brown about a criminal disguised as a hiker being chased through the mountains by an FBI agent - great movie!
In sum, although the romance is lackluster, Chilled is a well-written and well-plotted suspense novel. Recommended for those who prefer more action than intimacy in their romantic suspense.
3.5 Stars
When a plane crashes in the Cascade mountains, forensic nurse, Brynn Nealey and the rest of the SAR team are sent in to search for survivors. Along for the ride is Alex Kinton, a former U.S. Marshall determined to locate one of the passengers. With conflicting agendas and external forces working against them, the rescuers will have to utilize all of their skills if they are to survive the elements as well as a vicious killer.
This one is more of a thriller than romantic suspense. As a thriller it is exciting and action packed, but as a romance, it falls flat.
There is virtually zero chemistry between the hero and heroine, and what little there is feels forced and unrealistic. Moreover, neither one is particularly appealing as a romantic lead. Alex lies constantly about his agenda and his skills as U.S. Marshal are sorely lacking. Brynn fares somewhat better in her capacity as an SAR nurse, but is constantly sending mixed signals to her former lover while snuggling up to Alex.
The suspense elements are much better with a truly despicable villain and several exciting action scenes. The plot is reminiscent of the action film Shoot to Kill with Sidney Poitier, Tom Berenger and Clancy Brown about a criminal disguised as a hiker being chased through the mountains by an FBI agent - great movie!
In sum, although the romance is lackluster, Chilled is a well-written and well-plotted suspense novel. Recommended for those who prefer more action than intimacy in their romantic suspense.
July 9, 2021
Like Hidden, Chilled is a romantic suspense novel. The heroine is Brynn, a nurse who works as a death investigator with the ME’s office. She’s had a long-term on-again-off-again relationship with Liam; both of them are also outdoorsy people and both are on Search & Rescue teams.
Brynn gets called on a rescue operation; a small plane transporting a federal prisoner, along with a U.S. Marshall, pilot and co-pilot have crashed in the Cascades in nasty winter weather. The Sheriff tells them a U.S. Marshall will be joining their team. Brynn is immediately attracted to him and of course they fall in love during the forced proximity and dangers of the mission which include a serial killer, freezing temps, snow, another helicopter crash, 2 dirty US Marshalls and sickness/injury.
Brynn gets called on a rescue operation; a small plane transporting a federal prisoner, along with a U.S. Marshall, pilot and co-pilot have crashed in the Cascades in nasty winter weather. The Sheriff tells them a U.S. Marshall will be joining their team. Brynn is immediately attracted to him and of course they fall in love during the forced proximity and dangers of the mission which include a serial killer, freezing temps, snow, another helicopter crash, 2 dirty US Marshalls and sickness/injury.
September 5, 2020
again read years ago, but I liked this couple so reread..yes it was really unbelievably ridiculous, but still enjoye
March 5, 2019
This romance suspense was a really good winter wilderness adventure with plenty of exciting action that moved right along. I particularly liked the hero's emotional growth during the story even though the romance was overshadowed by all the events. Nurse Brynn and her rescue team is forced to take along US Marshal Alex as they search for a downed plane in the Cascade Mountains.
October 11, 2023
Chilled was a fantastic second installment in the Bone Secrets series with a suspenseful plot centered around finding a killer who escapes after his prison transport plane crashes.
When Alex Kinton, a former U.S. Marshal, learns the plane carrying his brother's killer has crashed in the Cascade Mountains, he finagles his way onto the search and rescue team. Included on that team is Brynn Nealey, a forensic nurse, who Alex feels instantly drawn to. But Alex is willing to do whatever it takes to capture Darren Besand even if it means lying to Brynn and the rest of the team. Once the team reaches the crash site they find everyone aboard is dead except for the man Alex is hunting who is missing. As weather conditions worsen, the team is forced to take shelter in the wreckage of the plane. With Besand stalking their every move, Alex and the team will have to work together if they hope to survive.
Chilled opens with the rescue team at a briefing about the crash after which Alex arrives and they set out for the crash. The plane crashed in a hard to access area of the mountains and reaching it will be difficult with weather conditions worsening by the minute. From there we cut to the crash site and see Besand in the aftermath of the crash escaping the plane. Soon after the team sets out, we find out Alex posed as an active Marshal to get onto the team and we're left to question how trustworthy he is. The story alternates between following Alex and the team, the sheriff at base camp, and finally Besand. The POV shift is well done and it kept things interesting as we learn information that the rest of the characters don't have yet. The suspense element picks up as the book goes on and by the final confrontation with Besand near the end of the book, the tension is off the charts. I was happy with the way the plot was resolved and ultimately I couldn't see it ending any other way.
Alex and Brynn's romance starts off as an immediate attraction on both sides. Each of them have their reasons for not wanting to get involved with anyone and a rescue mission is a particularly poor place to start something. But as the book goes on, the connection between Alex and Brynn deepens and turns into something real. I was happy that Alex didn't keep up the lie about why he was really there after he became closer to Brynn, and the rest of the team for that matter. The romance is definitely more of a slow burn due to the situation they're in and there aren't many steamy scenes until near the end. I prefer more explicit content in my romances, but ultimately it made sense why that wasn't really possible in this book.
Overall Chilled was a great read and I will definitely be picking up the next book in the series, Buried, soon.
When Alex Kinton, a former U.S. Marshal, learns the plane carrying his brother's killer has crashed in the Cascade Mountains, he finagles his way onto the search and rescue team. Included on that team is Brynn Nealey, a forensic nurse, who Alex feels instantly drawn to. But Alex is willing to do whatever it takes to capture Darren Besand even if it means lying to Brynn and the rest of the team. Once the team reaches the crash site they find everyone aboard is dead except for the man Alex is hunting who is missing. As weather conditions worsen, the team is forced to take shelter in the wreckage of the plane. With Besand stalking their every move, Alex and the team will have to work together if they hope to survive.
Chilled opens with the rescue team at a briefing about the crash after which Alex arrives and they set out for the crash. The plane crashed in a hard to access area of the mountains and reaching it will be difficult with weather conditions worsening by the minute. From there we cut to the crash site and see Besand in the aftermath of the crash escaping the plane. Soon after the team sets out, we find out Alex posed as an active Marshal to get onto the team and we're left to question how trustworthy he is. The story alternates between following Alex and the team, the sheriff at base camp, and finally Besand. The POV shift is well done and it kept things interesting as we learn information that the rest of the characters don't have yet. The suspense element picks up as the book goes on and by the final confrontation with Besand near the end of the book, the tension is off the charts. I was happy with the way the plot was resolved and ultimately I couldn't see it ending any other way.
Alex and Brynn's romance starts off as an immediate attraction on both sides. Each of them have their reasons for not wanting to get involved with anyone and a rescue mission is a particularly poor place to start something. But as the book goes on, the connection between Alex and Brynn deepens and turns into something real. I was happy that Alex didn't keep up the lie about why he was really there after he became closer to Brynn, and the rest of the team for that matter. The romance is definitely more of a slow burn due to the situation they're in and there aren't many steamy scenes until near the end. I prefer more explicit content in my romances, but ultimately it made sense why that wasn't really possible in this book.
Overall Chilled was a great read and I will definitely be picking up the next book in the series, Buried, soon.
March 10, 2015
Thoroughly enjoyed this great suspenseful book. A small plane crashes in a mountainous area and a search and rescue team is sent to find it and hopefully bring out the survivors. The plane just happens to be transporting a very dangerous serial killer.
Loved this book from start to finish - who can you really trust when you are thrown into a mix of U.S. Marshall (or is he), professional rescuers, a nurse, and a dog all trying to find this plane and fighting the winter elements. A snow storm that won't end then some gun ho copter boys who want disparately to help but inadvertently start an avalanche right where the team is! Who survives, who doesn't - this book keeps you guessing all the way through, plus a very hot scene near the end.
2 thumbs up and 5 stars - highly recommend this book.
Loved this book from start to finish - who can you really trust when you are thrown into a mix of U.S. Marshall (or is he), professional rescuers, a nurse, and a dog all trying to find this plane and fighting the winter elements. A snow storm that won't end then some gun ho copter boys who want disparately to help but inadvertently start an avalanche right where the team is! Who survives, who doesn't - this book keeps you guessing all the way through, plus a very hot scene near the end.
2 thumbs up and 5 stars - highly recommend this book.
May 29, 2013
Very bland, unoriginal romantic suspense. Yes, you can skip entire chapters in audio and I skimmed through the bulk of part two. I just don't know what to say about "suspense" that I zoned out on. The ENTIRE book takes place in the great snowy wilderness with no relief. I hated that.
Emily Sutton-Smith is a reader who makes no effort to use different character voices or even lower her pitch for male characters. I've come to expect much more after experiencing truly talented narrators who excel at their craft. I am no longer forgiving of alpha males - mountain men, no less - whose dialogue is delivered in a perky tween voice.
Emily Sutton-Smith is a reader who makes no effort to use different character voices or even lower her pitch for male characters. I've come to expect much more after experiencing truly talented narrators who excel at their craft. I am no longer forgiving of alpha males - mountain men, no less - whose dialogue is delivered in a perky tween voice.
February 12, 2017
Questo mi è decisamente piaciuto di più del primo. Bella la parte suspence, con una missione di soccorso impegnata in alta montagna, fra pioggia e neve. Non male anche la parte romance, che praticamente si sviluppa solo nell'ultimo terzo del libro, dandole un pizzico di realismo in più. Poi cosa posso dire? Adoro l'ambientazione in mezzo la natura, fra le squadre di soccorso...
June 29, 2016
Convicted killer
In plane crash snowy mountains
Search and rescue goes
Liked the characters
Thriller--action and danger
Really stand-alone
In plane crash snowy mountains
Search and rescue goes
Liked the characters
Thriller--action and danger
Really stand-alone
April 13, 2020
In the mood for romantic suspense and a mystery novel, as readers know I love the author Kendra Elliot books. I also have a cover crush on this series as each book is amazing and gives off these creepy vibes. In Chilled we meet the SAR team which includes Jim, Ryan, Thomas and Brynn along with her dog Kiana. At the beginning of this book, we learn that a plane has crashed in the mountains. The plane was holding a prisoner and two US Marshalls. From the US Marshalls office, we get a visit from Alex Kinton who is assisting the team in the search. There is an instant attraction between Alex and Brynn but of course, in everyone else's mind, Brynn is already taken with Liam. During the snowstorm rescue, we read as the foursome get to know each other on a deeper level and read their interactions. It turns out that the plane was carrying a prisoner Darrin Besand whom Alex has a personal connection with and Alex is hoping he is dead. Of course, though, we all know what's going to happen as we have 1 massive snowstorm, lack of communication and cell service and a serial killer. Chilled later ends up unraveling a massive conspiracy that has the chief of the US Marshall's office trying to save his butt as well. If you are looking for a good smalltown murder mystery novel with lots of suspenseful twists and turns, check out Chilled - Book #2 of Kendra Elliot's series - Bone Secrets.
September 28, 2020
I liked this book, even though, thinking about it later Alex endangers everyone by joining the search team.
The dialogue was good and Liam was creepier than the killer.
The dialogue was good and Liam was creepier than the killer.
September 19, 2012
I have this dream roughly once a month where I open my eyes to find myself standing at the very top of Mount Kanchenjunga. It is absolutely breathtaking. Blue skies, flourishing brush, the intoxicating smell of lavender. It’s all bullshit of course. Lavender is a dry soil plant, the higher in altitude the lower the vegetation level and well…the average temperature at Kanchenjunga’s peak is a breezy -20 degrees. (Which completely defaces the whole “I’m wearing cargo shorts and a tank top” aspect of my dream.) But inaccurate dreamstates aside I love this dream.
Why?
Because I am a total badass.
Oversized blood thirty badgers and an incredibly high risk of injury rate aside…I made it to the top. I made nature my bitch. I am woman hear me roar!
So when I turned to page one of Kendra Elliot’s second “Bones Secrets Novel” “Chilled” and realized the entire plot was centered around a mountain climbing manhunt I got a little giddy. Screw you reoccurring dream! I have a book to replace you.
“As a forensic nurse on a search and rescue team, Brynn Nealey braves a dangerous blizzard to find the survivors of a plane crash in the Cascade Mountains. Joining her is Alex Kinton, a former US marshal with self-destructive tendencies. Alex lies his way onto Brynn’s team to find the man who killed his brother—and then administer his own brand of vigilante justice. But once the team members reach the plane’s wreckage, they discover everyone aboard has perished…except for the man Alex is hunting. Alex will do whatever it takes to track his target through the vast, snowy wilderness.
As the temperatures drop, however, so do Alex’s defenses. His contact with the sharp, kindhearted Brynn makes his lust for vengeance difficult to reconcile with his growing feelings for a woman who risks her life to help others. What will happen to Alex’s savage instincts when he finally has the opportunity to confront his brother’s killer?”
Well, first things first (since you are bound to ask) no, I didn’t like “Chilled” as much as I liked “Hidden.” (Which for the record I still recommend you read.) It’s not that the book was bad. It wasn’t. I read it in one sitting just like I did it’s predecessor. (Not a bad sign.) I just didn’t like the characters as much.
I know what you’re thinking….” How can you not like the characters as much? It’s a series novel!”
This is the part where I tell you are right AND wrong.
“Chilled” is in fact the second in a series. But (in what I’m going to call a random stroke of literary genius) the novels are completly unrelated. Want to read “Chilled” but haven’t read “Hidden?” No problem. These are stand alone stories that are linked by one common thread: mystery. Capeesh? Awesome.
So, back to the characters. I really liked Brynn (she woman, doctor, human shield extraordinaire.) I really liked Alex (raging egomaniac, pill popper with a mysterious past.) I’ll even go so far as to say I really liked the killer in this novel (killer…do I really need to elaborate on that?) What I didn’t like (or at the very least wasn’t convinced of) was their connection. (Brynn and Alex that is. The killer I got right away. Crazy bastard.)
Elliot is an extremely talented author. Especially when it comes to characterization. So when 50% of the way in I found myself caring more for one of the stories sub-players (Ryan) than the leads (that were very obviously supposed to end up together despite the fact that they knew next to nothing about the other) I was slightly concerned. (Ok, that’s a lie… I was VERY concerned.)
Maybe it was the intense plot that screwed with my ability to connect. Maybe I was so caught up in the details of “who” (and that’s a big fat freaking WHO by the way) the people were that I gave very little attention to their reactions. Maybe I should stop reading books at 3 in the morning. Whatever the case may be I wanted, no NEEDED more, and I just didn’t get it.
So why DID I stay up until 3am reading “Chilled” if it wasn’t firing on all cylinders? Hello!!!! Mountain, blizzards, avalanches and a not 1 but 2 people who are a little off their rocker. That’s why.
The plot was not the problem. The situations, and the unbelievable descriptive passages were spot on. That alone was enough to keep me sucked in, regardless if I wasn’t exactly an eager beaver (oy, I should probably choose another word for that) when it came to the inevitable “sexy time” moments at the end of the book.
So what is my verdict overall?
It’s good. (And by “good” I mean…my standards are almost unattainably high, you’ll enjoy this book if you like authors like Tami Hoag or JD Robb. Do with that what you will.)
Happy Reading my fellow Kindle-ites and remember: News anchors are the root of all evil. Ok, maybe not…but Katie Couric scares the piss out of me.
Why?
Because I am a total badass.
Oversized blood thirty badgers and an incredibly high risk of injury rate aside…I made it to the top. I made nature my bitch. I am woman hear me roar!
So when I turned to page one of Kendra Elliot’s second “Bones Secrets Novel” “Chilled” and realized the entire plot was centered around a mountain climbing manhunt I got a little giddy. Screw you reoccurring dream! I have a book to replace you.
“As a forensic nurse on a search and rescue team, Brynn Nealey braves a dangerous blizzard to find the survivors of a plane crash in the Cascade Mountains. Joining her is Alex Kinton, a former US marshal with self-destructive tendencies. Alex lies his way onto Brynn’s team to find the man who killed his brother—and then administer his own brand of vigilante justice. But once the team members reach the plane’s wreckage, they discover everyone aboard has perished…except for the man Alex is hunting. Alex will do whatever it takes to track his target through the vast, snowy wilderness.
As the temperatures drop, however, so do Alex’s defenses. His contact with the sharp, kindhearted Brynn makes his lust for vengeance difficult to reconcile with his growing feelings for a woman who risks her life to help others. What will happen to Alex’s savage instincts when he finally has the opportunity to confront his brother’s killer?”
Well, first things first (since you are bound to ask) no, I didn’t like “Chilled” as much as I liked “Hidden.” (Which for the record I still recommend you read.) It’s not that the book was bad. It wasn’t. I read it in one sitting just like I did it’s predecessor. (Not a bad sign.) I just didn’t like the characters as much.
I know what you’re thinking….” How can you not like the characters as much? It’s a series novel!”
This is the part where I tell you are right AND wrong.
“Chilled” is in fact the second in a series. But (in what I’m going to call a random stroke of literary genius) the novels are completly unrelated. Want to read “Chilled” but haven’t read “Hidden?” No problem. These are stand alone stories that are linked by one common thread: mystery. Capeesh? Awesome.
So, back to the characters. I really liked Brynn (she woman, doctor, human shield extraordinaire.) I really liked Alex (raging egomaniac, pill popper with a mysterious past.) I’ll even go so far as to say I really liked the killer in this novel (killer…do I really need to elaborate on that?) What I didn’t like (or at the very least wasn’t convinced of) was their connection. (Brynn and Alex that is. The killer I got right away. Crazy bastard.)
Elliot is an extremely talented author. Especially when it comes to characterization. So when 50% of the way in I found myself caring more for one of the stories sub-players (Ryan) than the leads (that were very obviously supposed to end up together despite the fact that they knew next to nothing about the other) I was slightly concerned. (Ok, that’s a lie… I was VERY concerned.)
Maybe it was the intense plot that screwed with my ability to connect. Maybe I was so caught up in the details of “who” (and that’s a big fat freaking WHO by the way) the people were that I gave very little attention to their reactions. Maybe I should stop reading books at 3 in the morning. Whatever the case may be I wanted, no NEEDED more, and I just didn’t get it.
So why DID I stay up until 3am reading “Chilled” if it wasn’t firing on all cylinders? Hello!!!! Mountain, blizzards, avalanches and a not 1 but 2 people who are a little off their rocker. That’s why.
The plot was not the problem. The situations, and the unbelievable descriptive passages were spot on. That alone was enough to keep me sucked in, regardless if I wasn’t exactly an eager beaver (oy, I should probably choose another word for that) when it came to the inevitable “sexy time” moments at the end of the book.
So what is my verdict overall?
It’s good. (And by “good” I mean…my standards are almost unattainably high, you’ll enjoy this book if you like authors like Tami Hoag or JD Robb. Do with that what you will.)
Happy Reading my fellow Kindle-ites and remember: News anchors are the root of all evil. Ok, maybe not…but Katie Couric scares the piss out of me.
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