Cole

by Stella Marie Alden

It all goes to hell when she leans over and whispers, “Want to get out of here?”

All I said was, "Your place or mine?"

Ten years ago, we were two scared teens, about to step into adulthood. In retrospect, hooking up was a mistake because no woman has measured up, since.

When I see her again and she asks me for alone time, I assume we’re of the same mindset

Instead, I learn she’s an amateur sleuth, investigating her friend’s death. A county deputy, I shut that down fast. This is real life, not one of her video games.

Join Cole and Danielle as they try to solve a murder and deal with smoldering desire, about to burst into flames.

Warning: High heat, thrills, mystery, and romance. Not for the faint of heart.

Genres: Romance, Second Chance, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance

226 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 11, 2021

About the author

Amazon Best Seller Stella Marie Alden loves Zumba, yoga, watercolor painting, and all genres of romances.

Her first book, ‘How to Train Your Knight’, won Romance Writers of America coveted Molly and Show me the Sparks Contests, and placed in four others.
Truly remarkable, considering she’s only been writing for three years.

Growing up in Vermont, she loved to make up stories. Crayons fought each other over size and placement in their cardboard box and imaginary friends crowded the house. Her brother often complained. “Tell her no one’s here, Mother.".

Her career paths have varied. She’s been a librarian, a classical clarinetist wanna-be, recording studio engineer, broadcast electronics repairman, and now she architects software programs.

She lives in Bergen County, NJ with her life-long hero and their two cats. Her two girls are grown but ever supportive. You go Mom!

Reviews

[BP34 · Rating 5 out of 5]

A second chance for Cole and Danielle. A murder brings them together ten years later. She's back in town to solve the death of her friend by 'falling down the steps'. She thinks it's murder and she's determined to find out. Cole's a deputy so she encourages him to help her even though evidence is slim. Their attraction is still there but they don't read each other's signals well and that continues to cause problems. Dani has developed an app that lets an online community come together to help solve the case. They both have some fear of being hurt and that causes some issues. The book is well written with twists and surprises. You'll find this book hard to put down once you begin. I read a free book via the author and voluntarily chose to review.

[Annette Drewett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! What an on again, off again love affair for our intrepid characters. The storyline is full of action and intrigue, which culminates in a seriously different twist at the end. I was captivated from the very beginning and found it hard to put the book down. Don’t miss this one! I received an ARC copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

[Maureen C · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dani and Cole are quite the pair. From teasing as children, to young lust, and then avoidance. As adults they rediscover each other among mystery and mayhem. For Dani virtual reality is easier than real life, but the sparks between her and Cole cannot be denied. The writing of this book was so expressive that I was with the characters every moment.

[Leslie Whitaker · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read! Cole and Danni have known each other since high school. They had one night and then went their separate ways. Neither of them could ever move past their each other. A murder brings Danni back to town and she and Cole must work together to solve the mystery. I loved their chemistry and how they have moments of humor. A fun read and I’m looking forward to maybe more books with Cole’s brothers!

[Becky Claxon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good start to a new series. I wish I had the brains Danni had to develop her dating app. It had to be hard though always being inside working on computer programs. I can’t imagine how she felt after Cole took her virginity at 18, left for service, and never answered her texts. Danni is devastated when her best friend from school dies supposedly accidentally by falling down the stairs. She doesn’t think it was an accident because of the email she received from her friend before her death. Cole is a deputy now and she wants to talk to him about her death. I was glad she had a virtual group that helped solve cold cases. Everyone is pointing to her cheating husband, but unfortunately there is no solid evidence. Cole and Danni are still attracted to each other, but get their signals mixed a lot. You know Cole is “such a man.” This gets very exciting at times. I like the book and encourage you to read it. I was given a copy and voluntarily wrote a review.

[Frankie McKenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let me just say that I love Danni and Cole...

Their relationship is so will they won’t they... she’s a nerd with more nerves and reservations than she knows what to do with... and he’s hardass cop that puts his foot in his mouth more often than I can imagine he’d like to admit😂

But all in all, their story was awesome... girl gets mysterious message from old friend, old friend turns up dead, girl tries to solve murder and ticks off old flame in the process (AKA Hardass cop).
Hardass cop catches site of girl and can’t help himself.
Both fight their inner battles to be with eachother.
Girl has someone try to kill her.
Hardass freaks out and can’t bare to see her hurt.
Hardass tries to solve murder with old friends husband and both end up in the woods fighting for their lives.
Girl knows her Hardass cop and knows something is amiss... can she save them in time?
Does she get her happily ever after?
Does her new virtual dating app make her rich??
You’ll have to read and see☺️
ENJOY!

[Carolyn Spence · Rating 5 out of 5]

"That ship has sailed, been scuttled, and sunk." Wise thoughts from Cole, on what he thinks about the kiss that he just gave Danni, who he hasn't seen in over ten years. He doesn't know what to do with her, kiss her or throttle her. She's interfering in an open investigation and she could get hurt. She leads him on quite the goose chase, and things were blurted out when they hit turbulence, does she believe him, or walk away? Loved the small town shenanigans' for this story and it was funny with just the right amount of "oh cr@p" going on between all the characters. Made me smile.

I voluntarily reviewed this book.

[Aliama · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dannie and Cole have had a thing for each other since high school. After one night together she goes off to university and he goes off to the military. Years later Cole is part of local law enforcement and she returns for her friend’s funeral but she doesn’t think it was an accident. She tries to enlist Cole’s help but ends up in trouble. Cole and Dannie never fell out of love but each have their own issues that they must deal with and with some trust between each other they can find their way back. This was a great book and looking forward to where this new series goes. I received an arc copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Amanda Marlowe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cole is at his friend, Stacy's, funeral, when he sees Danni, an old friend from school. She received a message from Stacy and didn't follow it up, Stacy, apparently, died in an accident, but the message implied that her husband was going to kill her. Danni persuades Cole, who is a police officer, to help her uncover the truth, if he doesn't help her she's going to investigate with her online friends.

This is a great thriller with lots of twists and turns.

[Simone Haeseler · Rating 5 out of 5]

that was a good story about a computer programmer and hobby detective and a cop in a small town. Grown up together, shortly lovers, life happens. Ten years later and a suspicious death and they both came together again.
A good book, a solid story an a lot of family. I could imagine another series coming.

[Lori Zakrzewski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great start to a new series. Cole and Danni have known each other since they were young but their lives took them in different directions. Now they are back in their small hometown. A friend has mysteriously died and Cole is investigating as a deputy and Danni as an online sleuth. Didn't see the twists coming.

[Tracey L Lassus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Want a HEA and a intriguing mystery this it. Love the FMC and the MMC ain't so bad either. :-). Steamy chemistry and sex scenes, didn't see the twist ending coming. Loved it and hope to see more of the sleuthing club.

[Michelle Rodriguez]

I love cole and Danni together. They we in high school together and they sat by each other all through high school and on the last day of school they had sex and then 10 years later danni comes back and all the feelings come back.

[T · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cheeseballs...what is it with hot guys who carry handcuffs that make some books so freaking steamy?!?!?
Loved Cole and Dani!! And I seriously want to have a go at the dating app (though the husband might disapprove!!)!! 🤣

[Tiffany · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow what a book. Full of twist and turns and keeps you guessing whats going to happen next. Can Danni convince Cole that her friend was murdered and will they finale get together?

[Coco.V]

🎁 FREE on Amazon today (4/19/2021)! 🎁

[Tara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Danni and Cole have some intense feelings for each other but neither are honest with the other and it leads to the best kind of chaos! She lives a life online instead of the real world with her online sleuthing group...love this! And creating the online dating experience...so creative & honestly a pretty good idea! Cole is a small town sheriff and a bit of a loner! The intense feelings between them while solving a murder is explosive...each afraid of getting hurt after past experiences! Can’t wait for more!

[Cheryl Drake johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cole is the town deputy and they are attending the funeral of a friend who lived in town her whole life Stacy Kincaid was married to Professor Jeff Kincaid who teaches at the college and he was known to be a philanderer so when Cole sees her friend Danielle Adams in the back of the church he makes sure there is a seat for her beside him. He realizes he still has a thing for her and he seems to think that he can pick up where they left off after high school but she is not interested in making out but finding out who killed her friend even though the sheriff is calling it an accident. Once they get away from the funeral they go to a bar to have a drink and she tries to tell him about the note that her friend sent her wanting to talk to her that very evening. He is unsure that it was anything other than what the coroner said. Danni shows him the note from Stacy and she sends him an email with a picture of the note he shows it to his boss and they discuss what they needed to do. Cole finds out some interesting info from her parents and they stop the burial her husband Jeff is distraught but signs the papers even though notices that there is a female in the house early in the morning. At the house when they went to pay their condolences Cole finds that the banister is loose and Danni has just informed him that she stole evidence from the house. Cole isn't sure what is going on but it seems that there is something suspicious is going on. even though he wants to spend more time with Danni but she is in town to spend Thanksgiving with her family. They spend time together and they realize they still one another but he doesn't know how to express his love for her and she doesn't know how to express hers either, so she goes back to New York because she has an app to complete if she wants to get sold to one of the online dating companies. A great storyline and the characters are very interesting. Drama, suspense, romance. I was given an ARC via BookFunnel without obligation. I volunteered an honest review.

[Amy Weller · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is amazing! The story begins with an email to Danni from her best friend from high school, Stacy. When Danni goes to meet Stacy at the place mentioned in the email, Danni will find out she is too late, Stacy is dead. This will lead her to take up the case with her band of amateur sleuths to prove that it wasn’t an accident. She is one of many who think Stacy’s husband Jeff is to blame. While there, she will run into Cole, a deputy in town and a part of her past. She will cause him a heck of a lot of grief as she insists on doing everything she can to prove Stacy was murdered. When her life is in danger, Cole takes her home. They have a passionate night together but she’s off first thing in the morning to chase a lead. He follows and a potential catastrophe on the way home has them saying words of love. A hunting trip will lead to the truth about Stacy’s death, a close call for Cole and Jeff and a misunderstanding that will send Danni back to New York. But love will prevail when Cole will profess his love for her once more and in the end, she will come back to her hometown, to Cole and to their happily ever after.

I read an ARC copy of this book and am volunteering my honest review.

[Melanie R · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the process Dani and Cole went through to figure out who killed their high school classmate Stacy and had fun trying to piece together the clues to figure out who did it. It was sweet that neither one truly moved on after their one-time hookup at the end of high school. I ended up guessing correctly so that always makes you feel good. I liked the relationship between Cole and Dani, they both seemed to be quirky and very introverted which caused some miscommunications and didn't help their relationship or sleuthing. I felt like Dani projected her insecurities on others and took things they said harsher than they were intended in some cases and Cole didn't clearly state his feelings just figured she would know. In the epilogue, it seemed like many of the issues between Dani and her family are resolved or at least she doesn’t feel as insecure and lets things slide so not only a HEA for Dani and Cole but also for the family.
I received a free copy of this book via Bookfunnel and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[J · Rating 5 out of 5]

Danielle/Danni Adams came home to attend her friend's funeral and also wanted to investigate her death. Before her friend died, Danni received a message from her. She is a member of the Society of Online Sleuths and she wanted to let Deputy Cole Abbott know about the email and to find out if they are investigating her friend's death. Deputy Cole Abbott is a man of few words. He and Danni had a past and when Danni approached him, he mistakenly thought that Danni was coming on to him. What follows is an investigation adventure, Danni's life being put in danger and Cole doing his best to protect her. Danni and Cole's banter is entertaining. This story is light despite the murder investigation angle, there are a lot of funny moments. The chemistry between Cole and Danni is great. The characters are likeable, especially, Toby, who is adorable and really helpful. I truly enjoyed this story. A great read. Well done!
I received an advanced reader copy from the author and I am giving my review voluntarily.

[Kelly DeMarco · Rating 5 out of 5]

Small town, second chance and a murder mystery
Cole: A Superior Online Sleuths Mystery by Stella Marie Alden is a very well written romance with great characters. Cole and Danni are a second chance at romance couple brought back together when Danni returns to their home town. These two are quirky, cute, and a little bit clueless. Despite sparks flying and tension building, communication is glitchy.
The plot, and the characters in their parts that they play in it, take the reader on a merry chase to solve a murder and communication mystery. It takes some time between Danni’s refusal to live in the real world and Cole’s adamant denial and determination to keep Danni firmly in the past.
Overall, hiding and denying epically fail and these two not only solve the murder mystery, but the mystery of their hearts for a perfectly sweet, steamy and promising HEA.
I read an ARC of this book and voluntarily share my review.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have enjoyed Stella's Suds and Sam books, and was intrigued to read about Cole - the opposite of Suds. A man who uses as few words as possible.

Cole and Danni know each other from childhood and a one time hook up before both leaving home after high school. 10 years later a death brings them back together. They both have not gotten over the night they share together. Now, there is the added drama of a potential murder. Danni works with a sleuth group to solve unsolved cases. Cole is the local deputy. The death was ruled an accident, but questions are quickly raised.

As the danger becomes more real, I was glued to the story until the very end. Cole and Danni pull each other in like magnets. There is something there, but both need to open up and be honest for there to be any chance.

This was a satisfying read. I would love to visit Cile and Danni again.

I received an advanced copy of this story for an honest review.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the book, ...

But, the only thing I had a problem with was the overuse of Ay-yup (pardon me. Ms Alden if misspelled.) I felt since Cole spent time in the Marines and then college it was a bit stereotypical. I have many friends and aqaintences from Vermont and Ah-yup is very rarely used, except by many of the older generation that tend to live in the very rural areas.
Now the storyline, I loved it. I loved Danni cared enough to not believe her friend's death was accidental. I loved that Coke was her first and only love, but his leaving didn't stop her from perrsuing her dreams. I absolutely loved her online sleuth club, with their successful cold case solves!
Cole was a a terrific Alpha, few words, but cared, just didn't communicate well. Yet, when push came to shove, he was the perfect support!
Great story line, lovely really, with your normal suspense, and by the way, love the shock!

Loved it!
Karen

[Sharon Means · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great start to a new series! I love Stella’s writing and she did not disappoint with this new endeavor. Cole and Danielle had a one night stand at the end of their senior year of HS. Cole had joined the military and knew his future was uncertain so he wouldn’t answer any communication from her after their hook-up. Danielle left their hometown and moved to New York City. Advance 10 years and Danni and Cole reconnect over the death of a good friend of Danni’s, Stacy. Everyone believes that Stacy’s death was just a tragic accident but Danni had received communication from Stacy that said someone was trying to kill her. As usual, Stella weaves a story full of heat, suspense and humor. The ending was great and I was blown away with the ending. Looking forward to the next book in this series. I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Marilyn Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a story of a second chance for Cole and Danielle. They had been together 10 years ago but went their own ways. She gets an email from Stacy her best friend in high school and is asked to come and see her. She arrived in town but was to later as Stacy is dead and everyone is at the funeral. Cole is a deputy now and sees Danielle and wants to get together again after the funeral. They talk and she tells him about the email and about her friend and thinks she was murdered and not a fall down the stairs. They have a night but she’s off searching the next morning. She has an app that could help. She and Cole search for answers but don’t talk about their feelings and they have a misunderstanding and she leaves for NY. Will they find out what really happened to Stacy and will they get together? I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book.

[Fiona · Rating 5 out of 5]

When reading a book by Stella M Alden, be prepared for the ride of your life. There is always something going on. The characters are strong people who know what they want and no one had better get in their way to find it. Danni has been in love with Cole since high school and Cole was in love with Danni, but he joined the marines out of high school and then later became a deputy in his home town.

Danni went on to New York City and has been developing her own app. She comes home to see her old friend who’s life is in danger, but Danni is too late. Then the fun begins, you will have to hang onto your pages to find who is trying to get rid of them. A few twists and turns, but finally they find their happily ever after.

I was given an advanced copy of this book to read and review with my honest and fair opinion.

[Leanne Bryson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A second chance joy ride!! Cole & Dani were frenemies in HS until the night they weren't and then he left for the Marines. She thought he used her, got what he wanted, and left, so she went to NYC to become a software developer. Cole returned to his hometown, thought he'd settle down and become a deputy sheriff. But he never forget Dani and she never forgot him. When a good friend dies suspiciously and just asking Dani for help, she suspects foul play and wants to ask Cole for help. He thinks she wants a "roll in the hay". And so begins this push and pull, back and forth, joy ride of a story. I loved these two characters, Cole has no idea how to handle a women and Dani is equally as naive. Another great read and a great start to the Superior Online Sleuths by Stella Marie Alden.
I received an ARC and this is my honest review.

[Evie V. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story from start to finish. Danni and Cole have to solve a murder and also fight the attraction between them. Danni couldn't stand Cole one bit through out high school, until the last day of summer before college. Cole has never forgot about Danni or the day he had with her before he left for boot camp. When she comes back to town to solve the murder of her best friend the first person she encounters is Cole and she hates it. When sparks begin to fly between them Danni begins to feel things for Cole, but she believes Cole doesn't want more. Cole believes Danni is going to stay in town with him but what she says guts him. Will Danni and Cole give up or will they fight for love? I received a free copy of this book from the author and reviewed voluntarily.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

A firm favourite of mine I think I shall have to re-read again and again.

This is an enjoyable whodunit romp with mystery intrigue and humour and heat.
I like the dynamic the main couple, it is a pleasant change from arrogant dominant man and 'independent' stubborn, to the point of obstinant, yet submissive woman. Obviously their main problem is poor communication skills but I found Cole to be simply adorable. I loved this book so much I simply couldn't put it down and am a little sad that I have finished it already. I simply need more like this.
I'm hoping the audiobook won't be too far off as I will definitely be getting it if/when it's out.

*I received a copy of this book free in return for an honest review*