Cold Rage

Cold Justice: Most Wanted #8

by Toni Anderson

In the remote Montana wilderness, a child has vanished—and time is running out.

When a fugitive accused of murdering his ex-wife disappears into the Montana backcountry with his nine-year-old daughter, FBI Hostage Rescue Team sniper Sebastian Black leads an intensive manhunt, battling snowstorms and brutal terrain in a race against the clock.

National Park Service ranger and search-and-rescue specialist Nora Deacon knows the mountains better than anyone. Alongside her K9 partner, Chance, she’s determined to find the missing girl. Nora is achingly familiar with what can happen when a child falls into the wrong hands.

As the search narrows, Sebastian and Nora are forced to work together in a fight for survival as much as a rescue operation. The closer they get to their target, the more dangerous the situation becomes—and the harder it is to ignore the attraction burning between them.

With a blizzard closing in, a desperate fugitive growing increasingly unstable, and a young girl’s life hanging in the balance, they’ll have to risk everything to bring her home alive—even if it means confronting secrets they’ve both worked hard to bury.

Cold Rage is Book 8 in the Cold Justice: Most Wanted series. Every book stands alone—start anywhere.

Readers can expect:
- 🖤 Slow-burn, forced-proximity romance
- 🖤 An FBI sniper hero and a haunted search-and-rescue ranger
- 🖤 A loyal K9 partner
- 🖤 A snowbound survival manhunt against the clock
- 🖤 A wounded heroine with a buried past
- 🖤 A child-in-peril race through the Montana wilderness
- 🖤 The Cold Justice team readers love

FBI: Most Wanted meets Yellowstone. For fans of Karen Rose, Kendra Elliot, and Laura Griffin.

Genres: Romantic Suspense, Suspense, Mystery, Romance, Thriller, Contemporary, Forced Proximity

378 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 21, 2026

About the author

Next Release: COLD RAGE
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Toni Anderson® writes gritty, sexy, FBI Romantic Thrillers, and is a New York Times and a USA Today bestselling author. Her books have won the Daphne du Maurier Award for excellence in Mystery/Suspense, the Readers' Choice, Aspen Gold, Book Buyers' Best, Golden Quill, and National Excellence in Romance Fiction awards. She’s been a finalist in The Vivian Contest and the RITA Award from the Romance Writers of America, and also in the Romantic Novelists’ Association’s Jackie Collins Award for Romantic Thrillers.

More than three-million copies of her books have been downloaded.

Best known for her Cold Justice® books perhaps it’s not surprising to discover Toni lives in one of the most extreme climates on earth--Manitoba, Canada. Formerly a Marine Biologist, she still misses the ocean.

In January 2016, she visited FBI Headquarters in Washington DC, including a tour of the Strategic Information and Operations Center.


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Start reading Toni's award-winning, bestselling Cold Justice® series with A COLD DARK PLACE.

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Reviews

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

If Toni Anderson writes it, you can 100% guarantee that I am going to read it.

Am I going to pre order a book of her’s months and months and months in advance? - yes, yes I am.
Do I mind that I have no clue who or what the new story will be about? - absolutely not.
Am I then going to read said book in less than 24 hours? - yes, of course I am.
And then I am going to go back to wait again for the next instalment - yes, too bloody right I am.

I have read every single book in this series, some of them multiple times and I’m not bored yet, so bring on Cold Rage the newest instalment in the Cold Justice series.

I enjoyed this book, I always enjoy getting to know members of the FBI’s HRT that we have met before briefly in other books in the series.
Whilst the romance in Cold Rage hasn’t been my most favourite of the series so far the suspense part of the story I loved! Sebastian and Nora’s (and the rest of team) search through the Montana winter wilderness for a father, (suspected of murdering his ex wife and her new man) and his 9 year old daughter was exciting to read. I was very eager to see how this story was going to unfold for Summer (the daughter) and her dad. Of course with the HRT on their trail we all know how the story is going to end and the journey there is always the best part and fun to read.

So whilst the romance between Sebastian and Nora hasn’t been one of my most favourites of the series so far, there is a secondary romance that has been simmering away in the background since the beginning of the Most Wanted series that I am a big huge stan of (yes, I said stan!) I think we may be getting close to pay off for this romance soon and I can’t wait!!!

[Caz · Rating 4 out of 5]

B- / 3.5 stars

Cold Rage is the eighth book in Toni Anderson’s Cold Justice: Most Wanted series, featuring the activities of the various members of the FBI’s elite Hostage Rescue Team. Although it’s part of a long-running series and characters from other books do appear, they do so in supporting roles so you could easily jump in here and enjoy this book as a standalone. There is one sub-plot that carries over from earlier books and is obviously going to continue in future ones, but again, it’s not necessary to have read any of the previous titles in order to make sense of it.

The suspense plot in Cold Rage is centred around the search for nine-year-old Summer Eastman, who was abducted by her father after he killed her mother – his ex – and her new boyfriend in a fit of rage. HRT Gold team – including Cas Demarco ( Cold Spite ) and Grady Steel ( Cold Snap ), together with Ryan Sullivan (aka Cowboy) and Sebastian Black - are sent to the wilds of Montana to rescue Summer, and make their base at the ranch owned by Ryan’s family, where they are joined by National Park Service ranger and Search and Rescue specialist, Nora Deacon, and a team of local SAR volunteers. Given the difficult terrain and the increasingly poor weather, Eastman and his daughter are not going to be easy to find; add to that the fact that Eastman spent over a decade in the army and is a backcountry guide with lots of wilderness experience, and it’s going to make the task even more difficult. But they do have Nora’s expertise and local knowledge to their advantage, and when she tells the team she spotted footprints belonging to an adult, a child and a medium-sized dog the previous afternoon, just off one of the local hiking trails, Sebastian assembles a team consisting of HRT operatives, Nora, and her K9, Chance, to head up the trail to see if Chance can find any useful scent markers that will help them determine where to start the search.

While most of the story is told in dual PoVs from Sebastian and Nora, we get a few chapters from Eastman’s perspective, where we get to see his increasing desperation, his growing mental and physical exhaustion, and his frustration at Summer slowing him down – although the author makes it clear that he does love her, in his own twisted kind of way, and that he doesn’t intend to harm her. We also get a few sections from Ryan’s perspective; he’s been an important secondary character in most of the books in this series, and his constant sniping and banter with fellow operative Meghan Donnelly has clearly been setting them up as a future couple. Here, we get to learn a bit more about him and why he’s been so resistant to act on the interest Meghan has shown in him previously – I expect their story to be a real doozy when we get it!

The suspense part of the story is extremely well done; the snowy, mountainous settings are vividly described – you can almost feel the cold! - and there’s plenty of action, dangerous situations and escalalting tension as the weather worsens and the team realises that Eastman has left them some unpleasant ‘gifts’ (in the form of booby-traps) when they start to close in on him. The team members work together seamlessly and I liked that, while Nora is prickly and often pushes herself too far, she does generally listen to the instructions given and abide by team decisions; so often a female character in a story like this will assume she knows best and argue or flounce off and put everyone else in danger.

But while the suspense is solid, I can’t say the same about the romance, which falls into the kind of adrenaline-fuelled ‘instalove-under-fire’ trope I’m not wild about. Nora is capable, efficient and driven, and so is Sebastian – in that they’re alike – but I never felt any real spark between them, and didn’t believe they could fall for each other so quickly. (IMO, a more satisfying and believable ending would be them agreeing they like each other enough to meet up after the operation to see where things might go, rather than in the ILYs and HEA they find at the end of the book.) Nora has good reason to be very focused on rescuing Summer; her own experience of being abducted and abused when she was twelve gives her a unique insight into the dangers Summer faces – but she is so determined not to let anyone get close to her and to distance herself from her past makes her come across as needlessly unpleasant and resentful towards Sebastian, and her tendency to over-react to even the smallest of criticisms, whether real or imagined, makes it hard to root for them as a couple. For his part, Sebastian is a bit of a stereotype; stoic, totally uninterested in relationships thanks to a troubled past, but enlightened and introspective in the mold of many of this author’s heroes. He’s quick – perhaps too quick - to accept blame, especially when Nora needs to accept her portion of it for her blow-hot-blow-cold attitude and her sometimes mean behaviour towards him.

Cold Rage is an engrossing read – the plot is well-paced and superbly executed – but I’d have liked a more convincing romance. I can’t recommend the book wholeheartedly, but if you’re up for a good suspense plot and don’t mind so much about the weakness of the romance, then you could probably do a lot worse than give this one a go.

[Dísir · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounding up

I tend to think of Toni Anderson’s FBI-HRT series as a succession of bangers and as far as I’m concerned, ‘Cold Rage’ is just as exciting when it comes to suspense and action. While the individual books admittedly tend to meld into a nebulous blur of law enforcement plots after all these years, it doesn’t change the fact that every new release is brilliantly done.

‘Cold Rage’ has a fairly linear storyline but the meticulous way it plays out is its greatest strength. Paced perfectly, there’s that slow build to the climax which you can guess how it’ll go, but the enjoyment really lies in how well it’s been executed.

Given the high stakes suspense plots though, Anderson’s many pairings do lean on adrenaline-fuelled instalove, unless there has been some kind of prior interaction or history between her protagonists where the relationship development is naturally given more depth. In this case however, I found Nora Deacon to be one of the more unlikeable characters in the series: so driven by her traumatic past to not let people close that her desperate need to be so far from victimhood ironically makes her behave like she’s still one. With her constantly resentful behaviour and hyper-sensitivity to slights (real or perceived), there are just too many whiplash-inducing moments in her exhausting dynamic with Sebastian Black.

Sebastian on the other hand, like most male protagonists in Anderson’s works, is more enlightened 21st century male. He’s more introspectively apologetic and quick to accept the blame despite the tough-guy exterior—maybe to a fault, when all Nora needed to do was also accept some self-responsibility for her volatility and her frankly, annoyingly mean behaviour.

It’s this sort of relationship—hot and fast and shaped by high-stake encounters where characters get caught in the thicket of emotions they don’t want to face—that seems prevalent in Anderson’s books. I guess I’m a tad bit less swayed by these superficial connections and it’s not quite a trope that rocks my own boat. Essentially, I came for the relationships, but stayed in the end, for the engrossing suspense. ‘Cold Rage’ is still a great read, don’t get me wrong; I just wish the romance was more convincing and the pairings easier to root for.


*ARC by the author

[Sandy S · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25stars-COLD RAGE is the eighth instalment in Toni Anderson’s contemporary, adult COLD JUSTICE-MOST WANTED romantic suspense series. This is FBI Hostage Rescue Team Sniper Sebastian Black, and National Park Service Ranger and Search and Rescue specialist Nora Deacon’s story line. COLD RAGE can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary..

NOTE: Due to the nature of the story line premise, there may be triggers for more sensitive readers.

Told from several omniscient third person perspectives including Nora and Sebastian COLD RAGE follows in the wake of the abduction of a nine year old child, and the murder of her mother. With the suspect on the run, the FBI call in Search and Rescue specialist Nora Deacon and her K9 partner Chance, in an effort to the young girl before it is too late, something Nora knows all to well. Working alongside FBI agent Sebastian Black, our couple find themselves battling the elements, boobytraps, and a frenzied gunman, all while fighting their attraction to one another.

The world building focuses on the search for a killer who may be using his nine year old daughter as a pawn. Isolated in the wintery backwoods of Montana, Glenn Eastman’s mental and emotional exhaustion is quickly breaking down, as a blizzard threatens to bury them all. Everyone faces anxiety, stress and a fight for survival as the team hunt for a killer who refuses to be stopped, while Nora battles the ghost from her past, who refuse to let go.

The relationship between Nora and Sebastian begins acrimoniously but quickly becomes working partners in the face of battling the weather, rough terrain and a little bit of suspected misogyny. Nora Deacon’s secret past is about to be exposed, Sebastian is determined to protect the woman with whom he is falling in love. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

There is a large ensemble cast of colorful, steadfast and strong-willed secondary and supporting characters, several of whom we met in the previous instalments.

COLD RAGE is an action packed story of secrets and lies, betrayal and vengeance, madness and murder, dysfunctional family relationships, acceptance and love. The character driven premise is detailed, dramatic and edgy; the romance is limited as our couple spend most of the story line searching for a missing child; the characters are desperate and determined.


copy supplied for review

[In Letters Plain · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Cold Rage was one of the most immersive, atmospheric installments in the Cold Justice series to date. Gripping suspense and pulsating action, with a dash of humor and ample poignant moments. The FBI Gold Hostage Rescue Team's dynamics were front and center, and the story really shined when the ensemble was highlighted. Similar team integration is on my wishlist for future books.

And the dogs! Please let us see more of the dogs! Dogs > people, always.

Forming a believable (at least to this skeptical reader) relationship "on the hunt" is not easy. Especially since Nora and Sebastian were reserved individuals harboring deeply painful traumas. But, their shared ambition and mutual respect made a solid foundation. That said, I did feel the relationship development floundered in the last quarter. Sebastian's quick expression feelings and Nora's quick reciprocation - after so much hostility - were hard to believe. Saving those sentiments for the epilogue would have better served the characters and their romance.

Speaking of romance, I L-O-V-E-D the progression with Meghan and Ryan. What progression, you say? Well, I have been advocating for Meghan to date around while Ryan desperately tries (and fails) to keep his cool. My wish came true, and the glimpses into that dynamic were delicious. I am really excited for their eventual story. That said, I am now slightly worried that Meghan's new guy is a stalker 😅 Not that she can't handle it, but be careful, girl!!!

[Wendy Livingstone · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the 8th book in this incredible series, and this is Sebastian and Nora’s story.
Sebastian is an FBI Rescue Hostage Team sniper, while Nora is a park ranger who specialises in search and rescue, alongside her faithful K9 partner. When a fugitive disappears with his 9-year-old daughter, into the Montana mountains, after being accused to murdering his ex-wife, Sebastian is assigned to lead the manhunt, in a race against time. Sebastian and Nora are forced to work together, as she knows the wilderness better than anyone, and they fight the attraction between them.
This is a well written slow burn, easy to read story, with forced proximity, danger, suspense, intrigue, survival, romance, justice, undeniable chemistry, and love, which leads to an entertaining, twisted, unpredictable and thrilling addictive page tuner.
I look forward to reading more from this talented author whose work I highly recommend.

[lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love this writer and when she has a book coming out I'm so excited to read it. This story kept me on the edge of my seat from the get go. Nora's childhood shaped her into being the adult she is which is a National park Service ranger, search and rescue along with her K9 partner Chance. She knows the mountains in the National Park better than anyone. When a man that has been accused of taking out his Ex wife and her boyfriend and has taken his daughter and is to be believed to be hiding out in the mountains, Nora has been asked to help the FBI find them. Due to her childhood she will do everything to find Summer and bring her home safely. Sebastian one of the FBI Hostage Rescue members and his team have been dispatched to Montana to apprehend an accused murderer and rescue his daughter and bring her home. Nora and her K9 Chance and Sebastian have been teamed up to go in together. Sebastian is wary of Nora and her K9 being legit, he feels like she may not be up for the job. Soon he is proven wrong. These two make a fantastic team. I love when you actually feel what the characters are feeling and this author does a fantastic job of that. The suspense and angst in this story is so good. I loved that you also got glimpses into the other characters as well. There is a lot that goes on in this story and well you just need to read it you will love it. I highly recommend this story and so excited for the next one.

[Tammy Moldovan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Danger, rescues, and love

I loved Sebastian and Nora‘s story. The suspense. The intensity. The past pain. The swoons. Wow. Just wow. This author does such a phenomenal job of weaving together exhilarating action, palpable tension, plot twists, mystery, and spicy romance that her books are always unputdownable edge of your seat stories. And while most of us will never be in the dangerous situations the main characters are a part of, the author nevertheless makes who they are as people so relatable and real that it is easy to fall in love with and connect with them. Nora is a NPS ranger and a volunteer SAR K9 handler in Montana. Sebastian is an FBI agent with HRT based in Quantico. When HRT comes to Montana to search for a fugitive who is suspected of murdering his ex-wife and kidnapping his nine-year-old daughter, they request Nora’s help as a ranger and K9 handler to locate them in the wilderness. Nora was abducted as a child by a predator and has a unique perspective and empathy for a kidnapped child though it is a closely guarded secret. Despite their harsh location and their shared reluctance to be in a relationship, Sebastian and Nora‘s chemistry sizzled off the page and it pulled them together no matter how hard they tried to resist. To get to their HEA they’ll need to do some major baggage unpacking and truth telling while trying to locate the dangerous man and save the child. Not the most opportune time to fall in love but I’m here for it anyway. The story had all the things you’d expect from this genre - engaging dialogue, three dimensional characters who grow, and a captivating storyline as shown through sweet moments, strong friendships, real life issues, imperfect characters, dangerous moments, uber protective men, smart women, secrets, painful pasts, evil actors, and love. I love this series and the smart, brave heroines who bring the alpha macho heroes to their knees.

[Nikki Brooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fab read from one of my auto-buy authors.

I can always guarantee an edge of my seat adventure with plenty of romance with Toni's books and with this newest iteration I was not left wanting! Between Nora's traumatic childhood and Sebastian's less than stellar childhood these two have baggage of the emotional kind. But fractured hearts always find their broken pieces in this series.

Sebastian can be a bit of an a$$ if I'm honest but that's just the overbearing protectiveness coming out and once you know why he gets a bit caveman everything kind of makes sense. Nora is no damsel in distress, she's strong, determined, intelligent and single minded - sometimes to her own detriment. She's also kind-hearted and and sympathetic and I loved her relationship with Chance - the bestest of good boys!

The hunt for Summer and her slowly unravelling dad kept me thrilled to the last page. I learned so mar more about SAR and FBI HRT. Don't worry though, these guys wouldn't have voted for the orange terror.

Whilst the story takes place over a short period of time and the chemistry between these two is fast, it felt natural and we all know lots of relationships spring from intense situations. Just tell your brain to shut up and enjoy the fantastic story! Well written and researched and a plot that moves at speed but without hitting you over the head with too many info dumps. A spectacularly depicted remote location - there was nothing I didn't love about this HEA!

I will now sit with bated breath awaiting the next story, knowing that Cowboy and Meghan are going to be keeping us all on the knife edge until they finally fall, lol!

[Nadene (Totally Addicted to Reading) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Toni Anderson has done it again! Cold Rage, book 8 in her Cold Justice: Most Wanted series had me glued to the pages from beginning to end. This was an intense, action-packed read filled with danger, secrets, betrayal, murder, and just enough romance to keep me turning the pages.

Cold Rage gives us Nora Deacon and Sebastian Black's story. Their relationship started out with plenty of friction; however, they found common ground in their search for a missing nine-year-old girl. This task left them with no choice but to put their differences aside and work together. And what a team they make!

Nora is a National Park Service Ranger and search and rescue specialist. I enjoyed watching her in her element. She is strong, determined, capable, and willing to put everything on the line to save a child. Knowledge of her past helps readers to understand her passion for her job. Her K9 partner, Chance, makes a wonderful addition to the story.

Sebastian is an FBI Hostage Rescue Team sniper who is equally determined to get the girl home safely. Watching these two navigate the harsh Montana wilderness, dangerous terrain, booby traps, a raging blizzard, and a gunman who will stop at nothing kept me on edge.

Anderson filled the story with lots of tension. The search for the missing girl had me turning the pages. The winter setting added another layer of danger, with the freezing temperatures and blizzard making an already desperate situation scarier. There was always something happening, and I never quite knew what was coming next.

There is more to Nora than meets the eye. Her past continues to haunt her and drives her need to locate the missing girl. Sebastian's growing feelings for Nora added another emotional layer to the story, especially as he became determined to protect her. Their romance takes a backseat to the search for the missing child. However, their attraction and developing feelings were still there without taking away from the suspense.

I also enjoyed the secondary characters and the familiar faces from previous books. They added another layer to the story and made this world feel even more connected. While Cold Rage is part of the Cold Justice: Most Wanted series, it works well as a standalone, so new readers can jump in without feeling lost.

What really stood out to me was how much emotion was packed into this story. Beneath all the action and suspense are themes of family, betrayal, vengeance, survival, acceptance, and love. There were moments that were heartbreaking, moments that had me holding my breath, and moments that reminded me why I enjoy romantic suspense so much.

Cold Rage delivered everything I expect from a romantic suspense: danger, tension, strong characters, an emotional storyline, along with a romance that develops naturally in the middle of the chaos.

[Sophie Ruthven · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was yet another fantastic read by one of my favourite authors and easily went on my top reads list.
The plot and characters are so well described that you'll feel like you are almost there beside them. But as someone who doesn't get snow where she lives, I'm glad it's only a feeling, not reality.
My emotions feel like they've just been through the wringer, and my heart breaks for the two little girls part of this story (if this confuses you you'll understand when reading).
I loved the k9 element of this book and hope it's not the only time this author does it.
I 1000% recommend this book.

[Mel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oof, this was SO good and I'm bummed I have to wait a whole year for the next book in the series. I love a canine search and rescue plot and Nora, whose own. backstory is very traumatic and FBI HRT Operator Sebastian are a very compelling pairing. There was lots of danger and outside in the frigid weather and banging in an ice cave and I loved it. Also, I really hope we get Ryan and Megan's story soon!!!

[JigsawGirl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another suspense-filled entry into the lives of the Hostage Rescue Team.

I started out feeling some sympathy for Glenn because I had an idea in my head of what the situation was with his ex-wife and daughter. I was wrong. That sympathy disappeared within the first five minutes. From there, much of the tension came from worrying about Summer and what was happening with her. Also, if she would even survive long enough to have a future.

Nora was not my favorite character. She often seemed overly prickly, although considering everything she had lived through, I could understand some of it. It also made me wonder how I would react in similar circumstances. Her romance with Sebastian took me a while to get on board with. Their attraction was obvious, but there was also an uneasiness between them that made the romance feel somewhat choppy to me until closer to the end.

The suspense was what really worked for me. There was a steady level of tension throughout the story, and the descriptions of the Montana winter—the cold, snow, ice, and isolation—added so much to the atmosphere. I also enjoyed seeing the HRT team again and their witty interactions. I liked how the dogs - Trapper with Summer and Chance, looking out for Nora while leading the search were major parts of the book.

The narration was extremely well done and only enhanced the storyline for me. The performance brought the characters and atmosphere to life and really enhanced the story for me.

Overall, this was another strong HRT story with tension, anxiety, danger, betrayal, a complicated romance, and another witty and enjoyable visit with the HRT team. I’m definitely looking forward to the next HRT book.

I voluntarily listened to and reviewed an advanced copy of the audiobook.

[Dianne Wagner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Each time I finish a book written by Toni Anderson, I wait with eager anticipation for the next book she releases. As the saying goes, I was waiting with bated breath for Cold Rage to drop. I was so very excited to receive an advance copy of Cold Rage and can’t wait to buy my copy.

When I write a review, I do not write spoilers. I want you to be able to immerse yourself in the book and experience it for the first time without knowing what’s to come. That is one of the many things I really enjoy when reading Toni Anderson’s books - she draws me into each scene. I am right there in the setting with the characters in the book. Cold Rage did not disappoint! Trekking through the snow, falling in cold waters, sleeping in a damp, dark cave gave me all the shivers. Being in the arms of a warm, strong man gave me all the warmth. With each scene, I felt like a real FBI Hostage Rescue Team member or a National Park Sevice Ranger.

From the very beginning, you will be drawn in. You will be wondering what happens next, how are the characters going to get out of, or resolve their current situation. A fugitive is accused of murdering his ex-wife and runs into the Montana backcountry with his little girl. They are pursued by Hostage Rescue Team sniper Sebastian Black and his team, along with Nora Deacon. Nora is a National Park Service Ranger as well as a search and rescue expert who has a K9 as her partner. She and Sebastian work together and find themselves in dangerous, life threatening situations.

I know you will enjoy this book as much as I did. The entire series is well worth the read! Grab your copy now, get your favorite warm beverage and soft blanket (Remember I said I felt like I was right there in the scenes with the characters? Yes, I drank some hot chocolate and snuggled under a blanket), snuggle in and start reading.

[Pamela(AllHoney) · Rating 5 out of 5]

The 8th book in the series. I haven't felt like writing reviews lately but I love Toni Anderson's work and had to say this was an awesome addition to the series. We revisited characters from previous books that felt a little like coming home. Story had a great balance of suspense and romance and drama and just a touch of humor.

[Catlou · Rating 5 out of 5]

COLD RAGE describes not only the villain of this tale but also the emotion this story will often evoke. Sebastian Black has no desire to have anyone other than his HRT teammates in his life. Personal relationships are not for him. As an SAR specialist, Nora Deacon is content with her work with the NPS, her fellow SAR teammates as casual friends, and her SAR dog as the only relationships in her life. This sets the scene for the emotional conflict that will draw you in, especially with the expectation that when teamed together on a difficult and dangerous case, Sebastian and Nora may discover more than where a deranged killer has escaped with his kidnapped young daughter. This is a story filled with heart-stopping drama, a heartbreaking past event that continues to affect the present, a rollercoaster of emotions as they both struggle with their feelings, edge-of-your-seat danger from a treacherous villain and unpredictable Mother Nature, and, finally, the potential for a heartwarming HEA. With elements of intrigue, suspense, heartache, and passion throughout, you can’t help but find this thoroughly captivating book nearly impossible to put down.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

What makes children into the adults they become? Is it nature or nurture, brain chemistry, things that happened to them in their childhood? And can the adults that didn't have a "perfect" childhood over come their childhood? Do those actions change how they feel about themselves? Do children from an abusive family grow up to be abusers or police or FBI who hunt the abusers down? Do the children who were lost make it their life's work to find the missing?
Toni Anderson explores these questions and more in her newest book Cold Rage. A man kills his ex-wife and her lover and then takes off with his 9 year old daughter. Is he going to kill her too or just keep her for himself? What makes this story unique is the setting. It's winter. In the mountains in the Montana back country. And it's really cold. And snowing. A lot.
A missing child brings in FBI Hostage Rescue Team sniper Sebastian Black and in this case National Park Service ranger and search-and-rescue specialist Nora Deacon and her K9 Chance. So who is going to find the child and how are they going to do it? Will it be the FBI who can find missing people in urban settings or the Park Service ranger who has covered this area for 5 years? And will they find her in time?
Sorry, but you are going to have to read the book to find out!
I hope you are as captivated by it as I was!

[Jo Cooper · Rating 5 out of 5]

COLD RAGE by TONI ANDERSON ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Cold Rage is book eight (#8) in the COLD JUSTICE- MOST WANTED series

The Chase Is On!

When nine year old Summer Eastman is abducted by her father and taken into the Montana backcountry in extreme weather FBI HRT Gold Team, lead by sniper Sebastian Black are tasked with finding them assisted by a local SAR team.

National Park Service Ranger and SAR volunteer Nora Deacon knows the area like the back of her hand, - Summer reminds Nora of her own childhood trauma so when she and her K9 partner Chase are asked to assist she is determined to help.

As Sebastian and Nora work together they find it hard to deny the undoubted attraction between them but Nora is determined to stay professional and prove her worth.

As the group track through blizzards, over ice and across extremely harsh terrain it becomes clear that the clock is running out - the fugitive is becoming increasingly desperate and his daughters life is in great danger, but they’ll risk everything to bring Summer home safe…

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I’ve been looking forward to this book for FOREVER, well it certainly feels like it! For me Toni Anderson is a must read author.

With high adrenaline moments from the off and several life threatening events, the urgency of the situation quickly shows itself. Toni keeps the reader hooked with tense, pulse pounding, jaw dropping action and the pages simply turn themselves.

The descriptions of the area are exquisite and the reader quickly becomes immersed, you feel the cold, you feel the stress and the pressure of the clock is palpable.

The HRT team display their usual level of professionalism and the chemistry between Meghan and Ryan continues to slow burn in the background, as it has in previous books. Gahhh I hope they get their own HEA.

Sebastian Black, the stoic, closed off, strictly professional MMC opens his heart and his painful past to Nora. He doesn’t ‘do’ relationships and his vulnerability shines through causing him to trip up at times.

Nora Deacon has a devastating past which she has kept buried deep but the circumstances she finds herself in along with feelings Sebastian rises in her cause painful memories (and guilt) to surface that she struggles to deal with.

The star of the show is Chance, the affable black lab S&R dog with the devastating nose. Without Chances skills and Nora’s ability to read him the outcome would have been drastically different.

Although this is a romantic suspense the romance aspect is less in the forefront than previous books but to be honest there is so much else going on that I didn’t mind. The tension, the suspense, the action are all consuming.

Cold Rage is primarily told through Sebastian & Nova’s PoV with occasional chapters from the fugitives PoV which was really interesting and there are interactions between Meghan Donnelly and Ryan in there too…


I read a paperback copy of this fantastic read, with around 380 pages, a cover in line with previous books in the series and great editing. Whilst this story is part of the MOST WANTED series it can easily be read as a standalone.


❄️ Slow Burn Romance
❄️ Adorable SAR K9
❄️FBI Hostage Recovery Team
❄️SAR Team
❄️Traumatised Heroine
❄️ Romantic Suspense

[Hibbertia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another cracking story from the queen of romantic suspense Toni Anderson. This one focuses on Park Ranger and Search and Rescue specialist Nora and FBI Agent Sebastian as they and the rest of the team pursue a desperate man suspected of killing his ex-wife and kidnapping his daughter before going on the run. To raise the stakes even higher, the story is set in the mountains of Montana in the middle of winter.

What I love about Toni’s stories, and this one is no exception, is that her characters are multi faceted, with complicated and messy back stories. They are always decent people at their core, but they don’t always behave perfectly - they overreact, they withdraw, they misunderstand. These reactions don’t feel manufactured and artificial for the sake of the story, as they are in so many other romance novels, but they feel realistic, understandable and true to the nature of that character. For example Nora has experienced great trauma in her past, and she is fiercely protective of her independence and privacy, and because of this she is sometimes understandably prickly and reactive. But she eventually shows she can open up to someone who earns and deserves her trust, and her life can be richer as a result. For his part, Sebastian also has some baggage in his background that he works through to become the partner Nora deserves.

The secondary characters, both human and animal, are well fleshed out and realistic. There is a situation between two other characters bubbling in the background that I can see is going to be explored in another story, and I am excited to read that one.

The environment is almost a character in its own right, with the rugged mountains and deep snow and ice. I’ve never visited Montana, but Toni does such a great job describing it that I almost felt like I was there.

Toni is a master of gradually ratcheting up tension that I found myself almost breathless with anticipation as I got closer to the final showdown. I loved that the outcome of the final showdown was a team effort for Nora and Sebastian and it played on their strengths - too many other authors write a seemingly capable FMC, only to have their agency evaporate at the end, resulting in them needing to be rescued by the MMC.

[Antje · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great book by Ms. Anderson, and
I'm actually running out of praising words because her books are getting even better each and every time.
This time the main couple, Nora Deacon and Sebastian Black, are part of a team, searching for a young girl who has been abducted in the mountains of Montana in winter.
Against their will they develop deep feelings for each other on the way.
And this time there is yet another main character: Chance, Nora's K-9 partner, a perfectly trained search and rescue dog, who is a great addition to the plot.
As a long-time fan I am aware that Ms. Anderson owns two black labradors herself, and it's obvious she knows a lot about dogs.
The book has everything a reader could ask for: an interesting plot full of suspense, emotion, jealousy, hot sex. A must-read!
And one thing I should mention (only for those who have read some of the previous books in this series): This is Cowboy's home region, the team is based on their ranch, and of course there are a few new scenes with him and Donnelli as well!
But if this doesn't tell you anything: The book can of course be read as a standalone, everything you really need to know is explained.
I received a free ARC from the author, but the recommendation is all mine and was not influenced by that.

[Amy Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this one! I love all of Toni's books, but after having a hard year, reading hasn't been as easy for me. This book took me out of my slump and all I wanted to do was read. What a thrilling rollercoaster of a ride this story was. I loved the setting, going back to where Ryan grew up and seeing some familiar faces was fun. I loved that dogs were brought in to help search a winter landscape, searching for a missing girl and the father who took her. As always I loved seeing the team and meeting the new characters that were integral to the misson. Nora was amazing and I loved her and her dog Chance immediately. I loved seeing Sebastian melt for Nora. Learning about Nora's past more and more as she was on the search for a missing girl was heartbreaking, but I loved how it was woven in. Sebastian didn't have an easy past either. Seeing them come together and learn not only to work together, but become a complete unit who needed each other was palable. I always love all the details Toni adds to her books and this one was no different. She also keeps teasing Meghan and Ryan and I will combust when we finally get there story because their build up is impeccable! Every time I finish one of Toni's books I can't wait for the next one. I guess I will go back to my reread by audiobook of all of her books!

[Zoe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cold Rage
Cold Justice - Most Wanted #8
Toni Anderson
Nora Deacon and K9 Chance are a formidable team and force of nature. She has a well hidden traumatic childhood that occasionally hits hard when this case reignites memories.
Sebastian Black HRT operator and team sniper brings more than good looks, leadership and skills to this job.
Gruelling Montana wilderness in the harsh deep of winter sets the spectacular scene with the rugged terrain almost a character.
The FBI hostage rescue team, with lots of familiar faces joins the hunt for a fugitive and his kidnapped daughter.
“For all his training and all the FBI’s toys and tools, a young black Labrador and his partner had been by far the most useful players on the field today. It made Sebastian feel inadequate and useless.”
This is a high stakes rescue for HRT, Nora and Chance that echoes her painful past. It has lots of adrenaline filled moments, suspense, danger and a tentative heart melting budding romance.
This novel is a page turner that is part of the Cold Justice world but can be read as a standalone novel with hea.
It was hard to put down and thoroughly enjoyable, Ms Anderson has produced another epic story.
I received an arc of this book.
5 stars

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG--SO GOOD!

I *almost* don't care that it's not Cowboy's book. Or that the next book isn't either (sob!)...at least we got some scenes from his POV and saw more of his family here?

Sebastian and Nora's story was an edge-of-your-seat adventure with breathtakingly high stakes, both with the little girl they were trying to rescue and with their growing relationship--not to mention the unforgiving Montana weather! This was a hard book to put down while reading, all around.

Both Sebastian and Nora also have complicated pasts--Nora's (fortunately? Unfortunately? A little of both, I suspect) gets a lot more page time (it's a doozy, so she does have a lot more to work through)--that could influence their relationship going forward, but I still believe they'll make it through. I'm not always a fan of the two strangers falling in love while actively in danger and acting on it trope, but here it pretty much worked for me. Did we get to the ILY a little fast? Yes. Did I mind, terribly? Nope.

Nora's dog chance was hands down the best side character, doggy farts and all. I won't be at all sad if we see him in future books.

Like Cowboy's book, for example. Which will come out...two books from now, maybe? :D

Rating: 5 stars / A+

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.

[Lilly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fantastic duo from the HRT team!

I love the Cold Justice series, and it's hard to rank my favorites but this definitely fits up there. Nora and Sebastian are a phenomenal duo, both as a top-notch team determined to find an innocent little girl, and as a pair of tortured souls who have never let anyone get too close. Without spoiling too much, Nora has a big childhood secret that Sebastian finds out about without her knowledge. While it gives her constant shame, he's nothing but awed by her and even when he makes mistakes, it's because he cares. They're both realistic in their apprehension to each other, but empathetic and kind when it matters. Chance the dog is great, and gave me a lot of respect for K9 search and rescue teams. As this is romantic suspense, the romance part can feel rushed in such a high-stakes arena, but you could say the same of any action movie. All in all, another phenomenal entry. Also, another return of Ryan "Cowboy" Sullivan, who gets a bit more agency than other books that have had him make an appearance. I desperately want a book dedicated to him and Meghan Donnelly, whose chemistry is off the charts. We also finally get to see him with his daughter which is also great. Anyways, read it!!!

[Deniz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another action-packed romantic suspense from Toni Anderson!
What I enjoyed most about this book was the suspense. The search for a missing nine-year-old girl in the frozen Montana wilderness kept me turning the pages. Between the harsh weather, the dangerous terrain, and the uncertainty surrounding the suspect, the tension rarely let up. I particularly enjoyed seeing the FBI's Hostage Rescue Team working together. Anderson knows how to build suspense, and this book was no exception.
As for the romance, I have mixed feelings. Sebastian was easy to like, but Nora was a little harder for me to connect with. I understood that her past shaped her behaviour and her reluctance to let anyone close. However, I found some of her reactions toward Sebastian unnecessarily harsh.
And, of course, it was lovely to see familiar faces from the previous books. There is also a certain secondary romance that has been developing in the background, and I am becoming increasingly impatient to see where it goes!
The Montana winter setting, the race against time, and the teamwork made this an engaging read. Cant wait for the next one.

[Jill · Rating 5 out of 5]

When a fugitive and murder suspect escapes into the Montana Rockies with his young daughter, FBI sniper Sebastian Black and SAR specialist Nora Deacon race to find them during a winter storm. As they battle the harsh terrain and search for this dangerous fugitive and his daughter, they must also confront buried secrets and their growing attraction to each other.

This book grabbed my attention from the start and kept me up all night—it was that good! I love how the author has an incredible ability to transport you into the setting, making you feel like you’re actually there. It was the perfect book to read during the heat of August, lol.

I’m a sucker for enemies-to-lovers, so I loved that Nora and Sebastian didn’t get along at first. Their slow-burn romance in the cold wilderness was excellent! There were plenty of twists and turns, and the ending didn’t go the way I expected, which I loved. I also enjoyed the continued buildup for Ryan and Meghan, and I can’t wait for their book. Great read!

[Judi · Rating 5 out of 5]

If the devil is in the details then Ms. Anderson is one wiley writing devil, because this story has all the details, making it so realistic it’s like a movie in your head. The unpredictable Montana weather and the treacherous natural and manmade conditions in which they trek keep Nora and Sebastian their toes while simultaneously trying to figure out if and should they act on the attraction they feel. I almost felt sorry for the baddie in the beginning, until his rage drove him to do the unthinkable. Nora’s life seems pretty comfortable until we are given her past in remembrances that even she is just getting during this manhunt. She desperately wants to find little Summer while her own life is imploding inside her, can she depend on her FBI sniper partner for more than his life saving skills. Sebastian has his own baggage but the chemistry with Nora is overwhelming his normally reserved actions and attitudes. Will they beat the clock and find the child?Don’t miss this thrilling suspense romance!

[djc- · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sebastian is on the FBI hostage rescue team and Nora is a park ranger that specializes in search and rescue. They team up looking for a missing girl who's father has kidnapped her and taken her into the forest. Nora brings her K-9 dog Chance to help with the search. It turns out that the father knows a lot about being the forest so Sebastian and Nora need to stay alert to stay safe. The father has a bad temper and they are not sure how safe his daughter is so they know they are running out of time. They face several different dangerous situations and have to rely on each other. The more time they spend together the more they get to know and admire each other.
So much excitement, anticipation and mystery that you are on the edge of your seat. The seriousness of the story makes your heart ache for Nora. The dog chance was a great addition to the story.
I am such a big fan of Toni Anderson. I'm always on the look out for her next book.
I received a copy of this book and am leaving a voluntary review.

[KS · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fighting against nature, a killer, chemistry, and their own pasts.

This story definitely had the suspense. We are not only watching Sebastian, HRT operator and Nora, NPS ranger & SAR volunteer try and track down a killer, but Mother Nature has a few tricks up her sleeve as well.

This one was definitely a page turner. And although I didn't really connect with Sebastian (which is a rarity for a Toni Anderson male lead), I was still invested in the story and I adored Chance and Nora was such a strong female who had overcome so much in her past.

These two put an exclamation point on forced proximity (i.e. only one sleeping bag during a blizzard). Their "romance" was just a little too rushed for me.

But the drama is pure Toni Anderson and will keep you turning the page and wondering what will happen next.

I really can't wait for a certain member's story and alas, I know it's not the next one. BUT it was exciting to get more glimpses of his tragic past.

Overall an entertaining read even if it wasn't one of my favorites.

I voluntarily requested and read an advance reader copy.

[Monica · Rating 5 out of 5]

This outrageous suspense kept me reading way into the night. I couldn’t put it down!

National Park Service (NPS) and Law Enforcement Ranger Nora Deacon and FBI and Hostage Rescue Team sniper Sebastian Black get off on the wrong foot when they first meet as they are preparing to head with his team into the Montana backcountry to find a young girl taken by her fugitive father.

Nora Deacon knows her K9 partner Chance is more than capable of helping and Nora is fully aware of just how brutal a man on the edge can get.

As the manhunt continues through severe weather, extreme terrain, and a desperate man on the edge, Sebastian and Nora will have to work together if they have any chance of saving the 9 year old. But the closer they get, the more intense the danger becomes and secrets both have been carrying for years will affect the growing attraction between them.

I received an ARC and freely offer this review.