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DeLeo's Action Thriller Singles #6

Cold Mountain: CIA Assassin

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They needed a monster to get a little girl back. They imprisoned him for the way he did it. Now they need the monster again to do what he does best. FBI Special Agent Diane Reskova waited with her team for a tracker to arrive on site in the Caribou Wilderness of California. A psychopath pursued unsuccessfully for two years by Reskova's team had kidnapped California Senator Fred Hokanson's niece, dragging her into the surrounding mountains. Hokanson recruits Jeremiah McDaniels unbeknownst to Reskova as the tracker. McDaniels, a Delta Force Colonel with CIA background, leads the FBI agents after Hughes. Ditching Reskova and her team, McDaniels saves Hokanson's niece and beheads her kidnapper, Stanton Hughes. 

After an off-hand remark McDaniels makes concerning a movie while accepting blame for the Hughes' fiasco, the press label him 'Cold Mountain'. Taken into custody on Reskova's orders, McDaniels avoids prison by public outcry and Senator Hokanson's intervention. With Hokanson's shadowy sponsorship, McDaniels becomes the enforcement arm of Reskova's team. With Kumar Rasheed, an Iraqi whose family McDaniels had saved during the second Iraq war, McDaniels supplies Reskova with a weapon she has neither asked for nor condones. 

Funneled between America and Iraq, McDaniels stays one step ahead of American bureaucrats more interested in appearances than the safety of the country. Reskova, at first repulsed by McDaniels' methods, soon embraces both the enigmatic McDaniels and his tactics. Reskova threads McDaniels and his Iraqi comrade Kumar Rasheed into her anti-terrorism unit with murderous result. McDaniels' background and deadly skills become a point of fascination for the bewildered Reskova as her attraction to McDaniels quickly rivals her dedication to the FBI.

(Previously titled: Monster)

885 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 25, 2011

63 people are currently reading
40 people want to read

About the author

Bernard Lee DeLeo

111 books92 followers
Born and raised in Warren, Ohio, Mr. DeLeo writes Pulp Fiction in many genres. Seventy of his novels are available on the Amazon marketplace and are free for Kindle Unlimited members. He served aboard the USS Ranger (CVA61) from 1969 until November of 1972. After the Navy, he earned an AA degree in Auto Technology from Chabot College in Hayward, CA, and a BA degree in English from Cal State Hayward.

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Community Reviews

5 stars
164 (68%)
4 stars
50 (20%)
3 stars
14 (5%)
2 stars
9 (3%)
1 star
3 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
Profile Image for David Dalton.
3,060 reviews
March 1, 2016
I really did not like this book. It was billed as an action thriller, but it was more of a romance story.

We never get to actually "see" Cold do anything. We only get to read about after it happens. He walks into a house full of bad guys, then next thing you know he has killed several of them and saved the day. Yet we as readers never get to see him do anything.

I also got tired of everybody loving Cold. He could do NO wrong.

All in all, a poor excuse for an action thriller, but a good romance novel.

I was going to point out that I at first thought Cold Mountain would be similar to the main character in Hunter by James Byron Huggins by James Byron Huggins. Then I saw that Huggins had a comment on the cover. Oh, James, you totally missed the mark here. YOUR book was 100 times better than this romance novel.

Profile Image for Jennifer.
385 reviews7 followers
April 15, 2014
This novel started off with tons of suspense and action and just didn't stop.
From the very beginning I was able to connect with the main characters and the connection only grew stronger the further I got into the story line. Jeremiah McDaniels is a true force to be reckoned with and so is his leading lady. Diane Roskova.
The friends and colleagues become one heck of a family unit that not only lays down some of the funniest humor I've read but each and everyone of them would die for the other.
There were times where I laughed so hard I had to stop reading and others where the emotional rollercoaster was so hard to read I had to have tissues on hand.
Very enjoyable novel indeed.
Profile Image for Eddie.
6 reviews
Read
February 10, 2014
Great reading!

I'm not one of these people that write what sounds like professional reviews but I know what I like. The book was non-stop action. I sometimes felt like I was waiting for a slow part to take a break. I enjoyed the characters and how their back stories developed throughout the book.

I think most writers would of probably made this one book into a series of books. I'm glad Mr DeLeo didn't but do hope he writes more with these characters.
2 reviews
August 30, 2015
Great book

I liked this book a lot. The banter back and forth between the characters is first rate as I love sarcasm. It is a big part of my vocabulary. I hope there are more books with these individuals in the future.
103 reviews6 followers
March 29, 2015
Seral killers,terrist,romance, excitment and a big guy called "cold" ! Sure wouldn't want to meet him in a dark ally when he's having a bad day! Well worth the read! Enjoyed emencely... Thanks!
Profile Image for Liisa Sousa.
39 reviews1 follower
June 21, 2022
This book was so bad I can't actually believe I read it and where or why I found it in the first place. I guess sometimes one has to read really crappy books to appreciate great literature.
I agree with the previous commentators that the book is a bad romance novel - everybody does find love in the end! Also, the warning signs were there already in the beginning - you know a book is bad when the characters are basically superhumans - the best at everything they do, the strongest, the wisest, etc. The conversations, the jokes.. Everything so cliché. The men in this book are great American macho warriors against bad terrorists and even worse Russians. The women are badass oh-so-clever nymphomaniacs who also fight the bad guys but mostly want to be held by strong American war heros. And the Middle East refugee characters are just ever so grateful to be in the greatest country of the world and magically all their wishes are handled without any problems at the speed of light - like adopting a kidnapped baby - why not, just take him! The author must have been so proud after finishing this book - I can really imagine his type.
68 reviews2 followers
July 11, 2019
3rd reading

Thoroughly enjoyed reading this for the 3rd time!
Found more to appreciate in the interplay between characters each time I read it.
Mr. DeLeo has an intuitive grasp of realistic dialogue presented in appropriately humorous contexts that keeps a reader's imagination firmly in his grasp.
Altogether a great read and a delightful voyage into what our response could be to the problems our country faces today.
30 reviews
December 12, 2017
Absolutely fantastic read!!!!!!!!!

This was the most pleasant read of the year. Very well written and an absolute feast to read . Love the main caracter, Cold, and all he does to keep his people safe. Just wish he was real.......

Keep writing we'll keep on reading, for sure!!!!👌👌
271 reviews
January 8, 2018
Cold

I didn't want this to end! I loved Cold and the whole crew. Just when I started laughing, it ended. I'm going to reread this one! This was truly enjoyable. As fictitious as it is, some things were rather true to life. It had action, humor, and some romance. It was just an around good book.
59 reviews
October 28, 2017
Great and Exciting!!!

Love this author. His John Harding and Nick McCarty books are awe inspiring. Main character here is in that same league. Great Story, great characters and lots of action.
130 reviews3 followers
August 25, 2018
Cold Mountain is one of the Baddest Good Guys Ever!!

This tory starts out as Rambo meets the FBI but quickly turns into a Three couple love story with more twists & turns on the story you never know whose attacking them at each turn of the page.
209 reviews2 followers
September 14, 2019
As always Mr. DeLeo has an action filled ,bigger then life characters,great read. This story also has, humor,some romance,and great interaction between men in the military and standing up for your country.
698 reviews
December 21, 2019
Excellent

An oldie but a goodie. This is maybe the 7th time I've read this book, and it's still one of my favorites. Who am I kidding. I don't have a favorite book by this author, thay all are my favorites.
1,789 reviews6 followers
December 4, 2017
A very entertaining book. This author has written several very book in several series. Recommend your consideration of any.
29 reviews
May 2, 2018
Great

If you like adventure this is a book for you. The story keeps moving and keeps your interest at all times.
11 reviews
September 10, 2020
Great read

One of authors best. One you don’t want to put down. When you do then you can’t wait to pick it up and see what happens next.
51 reviews1 follower
January 19, 2022
Another great read from De Leo

Once again De Leo has put another stand-alone story together that has all the pieces I crave to keep me up all night and hoping it never ends.
56 reviews3 followers
August 16, 2015
Exciting, hard to put down!! Highly recommend!

I chose 5 stars, because it had everything that held my attention! My normal genre has always been True Crime, but Author Bernard Lee DeLeo has somehow got me to venture into newer areas!
I loved the characters in this book! Cold is definitely someone I would want in my corner! The storyline kept me interested from the beginning when he went in the mountains to search for a kidnapper and the little girl her had taken...to looking for terrorist and trying to prevent attacks!
When I first read reviews on Cold Mountain, I wasn't too sure it would be my type of book, especially since a lot of the reviews were by men! But along with the mystery and intrigue, there happens to have a little bit of romance in there!
I do hope someday Bernard does a "book 2" as I would love to see where the next assignment takes the characters. Not only in their professional lives, but also their personal lives as well!!
Profile Image for Mary Daniels.
36 reviews1 follower
April 21, 2015
Well, I have found another Author that I Love!! I Loved the characters, and could barely put it down.. Kay kept me smiling! He is so funny! Mr.Mountain is so cool, and I am glad he is on my side!!It had everything it was serious at times, funny, had romance, and it made me feel it all!!.. :) Finished it at 2am this morning!!I LOVED IT And didn't want it to end!!I will definitely recommend it to others.. I thought to myself as I read the last page.. Ok, when is the 2nd book coming out!!I am ready!! A girl can hope right? It was like saying goodbye to family after a fantastic visit! *sad face* I love books that make me feel them, This one certainly did that!! Page 382 and 383 made me laugh so hard!!Just the picture I got in my head as I read it..Good thing my hubby was asleep, or he would of looked at me funny! Well Happy Reading all!!
909 reviews6 followers
April 21, 2015
I am mostly a non-fiction reader but I decided to give this book a try and am I ever glad I did. I was hooked within the first couple of pages and the action never stopped. The main characters were all so likeable but each one so individual. I love Mr DeLeo's style of writing and look forward to reading more of his books. If you like a book with lots of action with humor and romance, I highly recommend this book.
Profile Image for Bettye McKee.
2,188 reviews156 followers
December 15, 2015
New hero in town, Jeremiah "Cold Mountain" McDaniels

This book is two to three times as long as an average book. And I enjoyed every single page. Great plot, great characters, great writing.

It's like boarding a fast-moving express train and all you can do is watch the action from the window. With Mr. DeLeo's books there are no boggy parts you have to skim through.

I envision future Cold Mountain books. I hope I'm right.

Profile Image for Michele bookloverforever.
8,336 reviews39 followers
November 17, 2017
another right wing thriller vigilante story. but a good one. great characters if somewhat unrealistic plot. Re-read in Nov, 2017. Hate the politics, love the action. Vigilante justice for powerless and voiceless victims.
21 reviews1 follower
June 13, 2014
Too much bantering

good fun story but a little over the top with the long lustful looks and much too much trash talk.
31 reviews1 follower
April 20, 2015
New series? I hope!

I really enjoy all the books he has written and hope this story line continues, like the hard case and other ones have! Thank you for all the enjoyable reading.
2 reviews
September 14, 2015
Good book

I really enjoyed reading this book. I liked the humorous banter that went on between the people. They seemed to have fun between killings.
8 reviews
August 25, 2016
Good read

I really liked this book, great story line and peeps. Would be great to have a series based on this book.
Profile Image for Bettye McKee.
2,188 reviews156 followers
March 1, 2017
This is an absolutely fantastic book (I read it as "Cold Mountain"). If you want my advice, load up on books by Bernard DeLeo and read them all. There's not a bad one in the lot.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews

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