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Don't Let in the Cold
The storm isn't the only thing they'll have to survive.
It was supposed to be just one night in the cabin: one night for Lottie and her brand new stepsister, Jade, to try to get along. When a solar flare causes a massive blackout―no power or cell signal―Lottie knows they've got a long night ahead of them.
Then, in the dark, someone else shows up at the cabin―a stranger named Alex, claiming to be lost and needing shelter from the coming snowstorm. But later that night, Lottie spies him in the driveway talking to two mysterious men in a pickup truck, and she's sure he's lying about why he's here.
Before Lottie can find out more, a fire forces her, Jade, and Alex out into the blizzard, where they must rely on one another to get to safety―wherever that is. In the remote, freezing Tahoe wilderness, they have to survive more than just the elements. Soon it becomes clear that Alex's accomplices are hunting for all three of them, in a scheme that's gone too far and taken a chilling, deadly turn.
It was supposed to be just one night in the cabin: one night for Lottie and her brand new stepsister, Jade, to try to get along. When a solar flare causes a massive blackout―no power or cell signal―Lottie knows they've got a long night ahead of them.
Then, in the dark, someone else shows up at the cabin―a stranger named Alex, claiming to be lost and needing shelter from the coming snowstorm. But later that night, Lottie spies him in the driveway talking to two mysterious men in a pickup truck, and she's sure he's lying about why he's here.
Before Lottie can find out more, a fire forces her, Jade, and Alex out into the blizzard, where they must rely on one another to get to safety―wherever that is. In the remote, freezing Tahoe wilderness, they have to survive more than just the elements. Soon it becomes clear that Alex's accomplices are hunting for all three of them, in a scheme that's gone too far and taken a chilling, deadly turn.
320 pages, Paperback
First published September 6, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 547 reviews
September 2, 2023
Sometimes there’s such a thing as too much.
This book had a (in my opinion) great start and the plot line was interesting but then everything became very very unrealistic and very exaggerated…
I feel like 3 of the intense scenes could have been cut out because it was just too much. ESPECIALLY THE LAST ONE
Also I still don’t understand how they survived and how the entire cabin burned down.
2.5-3 stars
This book had a (in my opinion) great start and the plot line was interesting but then everything became very very unrealistic and very exaggerated…
I feel like 3 of the intense scenes could have been cut out because it was just too much. ESPECIALLY THE LAST ONE
Also I still don’t understand how they survived and how the entire cabin burned down.
2.5-3 stars
January 23, 2025
On their first night home alone together, new step-sisters, Lottie and Jade run into a whole host of problems.
The first being, they don't know each other at all, but are suddenly expected to act like sisters. Are they even going to be able to get along?
With their parents rushing off on a quick one night honeymoon, the girls are left to their own devices at Jade's Dad's Tahoe cabin.
One would think that it couldn't be too bad. It's one night. Even if they lock themselves in separate bedrooms for the night, they should be okay, right?
But many, many, many, many things are not going to work in their favor that night. For example, there are strangers lurking about the remote cabin, including a young man named Alex and his adorable dog.
Then there's the solar flares that cause a massive blackout, causing the cabin to lose power and all connection to the outside world.
It doesn't stop there though, ultimately the girls are forced out into the cold, bleak wilderness, in the midst of a horrendous blizzard as they struggle through every obstacle known to man to try to reach help.
Speaking of struggles, I had my own struggles trying to get through this one. I listened to the audiobook, thinking my annual road trip to Maine for Labor Day weekend would be the perfect time to listen to it.
I am a huge fan of Survival Thrillers, or Horror novels, and this sounded like it would be right up my alley. Sadly, that didn't turn out to be the case.
I quickly found the whole thing ridiculous and not in a good way. Oftentimes ridiculous can be hella fun, but it has to be engaging. This felt monotonous to me and never-ending.
The characters were bland and there was a completely unnecessary romance thrown in. With everything they were going through, was finding love truly needed?
Honestly, this felt like the author sat down and compiled a list of forty-five things that could go wrong if you were staying at a remote cabin in the mountains and then connected all of those things with lightly-entertaining filler content.
I know that's harsh, but clearly I'm burnt that this is what I spent almost my whole solo car trip listening to. I was relieved when it was over.
Nevertheless, as we all know reading is highly subjective. Just because this one didn't work for me, doesn't mean it won't work for you.
Please don't take my word for it. If the synopsis sounds interesting to you, give it a shot, you may end up loving it!
Thank you to the publisher, SOURCEBOOKS Fire and Dreamscape Media, for providing me with copies to read and review. I appreciate it very much.
I am glad that I picked this one up. Even though it wasn't necessarily my cup of tea, I would have always wondered about it otherwise.
The first being, they don't know each other at all, but are suddenly expected to act like sisters. Are they even going to be able to get along?
With their parents rushing off on a quick one night honeymoon, the girls are left to their own devices at Jade's Dad's Tahoe cabin.
One would think that it couldn't be too bad. It's one night. Even if they lock themselves in separate bedrooms for the night, they should be okay, right?
But many, many, many, many things are not going to work in their favor that night. For example, there are strangers lurking about the remote cabin, including a young man named Alex and his adorable dog.
Then there's the solar flares that cause a massive blackout, causing the cabin to lose power and all connection to the outside world.
It doesn't stop there though, ultimately the girls are forced out into the cold, bleak wilderness, in the midst of a horrendous blizzard as they struggle through every obstacle known to man to try to reach help.
Speaking of struggles, I had my own struggles trying to get through this one. I listened to the audiobook, thinking my annual road trip to Maine for Labor Day weekend would be the perfect time to listen to it.
I am a huge fan of Survival Thrillers, or Horror novels, and this sounded like it would be right up my alley. Sadly, that didn't turn out to be the case.
I quickly found the whole thing ridiculous and not in a good way. Oftentimes ridiculous can be hella fun, but it has to be engaging. This felt monotonous to me and never-ending.
The characters were bland and there was a completely unnecessary romance thrown in. With everything they were going through, was finding love truly needed?
Honestly, this felt like the author sat down and compiled a list of forty-five things that could go wrong if you were staying at a remote cabin in the mountains and then connected all of those things with lightly-entertaining filler content.
I know that's harsh, but clearly I'm burnt that this is what I spent almost my whole solo car trip listening to. I was relieved when it was over.
Nevertheless, as we all know reading is highly subjective. Just because this one didn't work for me, doesn't mean it won't work for you.
Please don't take my word for it. If the synopsis sounds interesting to you, give it a shot, you may end up loving it!
Thank you to the publisher, SOURCEBOOKS Fire and Dreamscape Media, for providing me with copies to read and review. I appreciate it very much.
I am glad that I picked this one up. Even though it wasn't necessarily my cup of tea, I would have always wondered about it otherwise.
September 1, 2022
Everything but the kitchen sink.....
That is what the author throws at Lottie and Jade in this book! They were supposed to spend one night together in the Cabin. Then a solar flare causes a blackout and there is no power, no cell service, no help on the way. It is going to be a long night.
Then a young man, Alex, shows up at the cabin asking for help. He seems harmless but later in the evening, Lottie sees him talking to two men in a truck at the end of the driveway. Then there is a fire which forces them out into a blizzard, forced to survive not only against the cold but against......
I love books set in cold settings. I love the survival element of having to survive the cold. That is what they must do in this book. A nice touch is that the author tells us what time it is as the night progresses. It adds to the sense of tension and dread in the book.
This is a YA thriller which was enjoyable and full of things the characters had to go up against/to survive against. There were so many things thrown at them it was almost comical (hence the kitchen sink comment earlier).
Overall, a good environmental horror/thriller/suspense book which YA readers will enjoy.
#DontLetintheCold #NetGalley
Thank you to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
That is what the author throws at Lottie and Jade in this book! They were supposed to spend one night together in the Cabin. Then a solar flare causes a blackout and there is no power, no cell service, no help on the way. It is going to be a long night.
Then a young man, Alex, shows up at the cabin asking for help. He seems harmless but later in the evening, Lottie sees him talking to two men in a truck at the end of the driveway. Then there is a fire which forces them out into a blizzard, forced to survive not only against the cold but against......
I love books set in cold settings. I love the survival element of having to survive the cold. That is what they must do in this book. A nice touch is that the author tells us what time it is as the night progresses. It adds to the sense of tension and dread in the book.
This is a YA thriller which was enjoyable and full of things the characters had to go up against/to survive against. There were so many things thrown at them it was almost comical (hence the kitchen sink comment earlier).
Overall, a good environmental horror/thriller/suspense book which YA readers will enjoy.
#DontLetintheCold #NetGalley
Thank you to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
June 19, 2023
A cabin. A stranger. A storm.
This is a one POV book, told by the POV of Lottie.
The main characters in this book are Lottie and Jade, two step sisters staying alone in a cabin in the woods to get to know each other better; and Alex, a stranger who is trying to seek sanctuary at their cabin during a snow storm. Lottie seemed to be the one with the best survival instinct out of the group. She was at least trying to be careful, argued with the others about going places and leaving others behind to the benefit of her and her sister. I liked the sisterly bond Jade and Lottie formed over the span of the book and I liked the hint of romance that was also mentioned with Alex.
There are no real side characters in this book, so I can´t judge it based on that.
Honestly so many bad decisions were made, after the characters themselves previously said that they would be stupid. For example: Jade chides Lottie for opening the door to some people in a truck looking for the directions, saying that they could be dangerous. But then minutes later she goes and just opens up the door for Alex because "he needs help". I have to say the stakes also didn´t feel that high for some reason and the pacing was really slow. After a while it almost got a bit boring because it jsut felt like a strong of events and it is also pretty early revealed who is stalking/chasing them. I think I would have prefered a more eerie feeling to the book, with them staying in the cabin longer, somebody stalking them from the outside, them not knowing who is out there etc.... Instead they already leave the cabin in the first third of the book, where it is also revealed who is going after them. After that the only "mystery" that remains is basically just "will they survive" and that is basically it.
Overall I´d say it was a pretty meh read.
trigger warnings: death/murder, religious fanaticism
This is a one POV book, told by the POV of Lottie.
The main characters in this book are Lottie and Jade, two step sisters staying alone in a cabin in the woods to get to know each other better; and Alex, a stranger who is trying to seek sanctuary at their cabin during a snow storm. Lottie seemed to be the one with the best survival instinct out of the group. She was at least trying to be careful, argued with the others about going places and leaving others behind to the benefit of her and her sister. I liked the sisterly bond Jade and Lottie formed over the span of the book and I liked the hint of romance that was also mentioned with Alex.
There are no real side characters in this book, so I can´t judge it based on that.
Honestly so many bad decisions were made, after the characters themselves previously said that they would be stupid. For example: Jade chides Lottie for opening the door to some people in a truck looking for the directions, saying that they could be dangerous. But then minutes later she goes and just opens up the door for Alex because "he needs help". I have to say the stakes also didn´t feel that high for some reason and the pacing was really slow. After a while it almost got a bit boring because it jsut felt like a strong of events and it is also pretty early revealed who is stalking/chasing them. I think I would have prefered a more eerie feeling to the book, with them staying in the cabin longer, somebody stalking them from the outside, them not knowing who is out there etc.... Instead they already leave the cabin in the first third of the book, where it is also revealed who is going after them. After that the only "mystery" that remains is basically just "will they survive" and that is basically it.
Overall I´d say it was a pretty meh read.
trigger warnings: death/murder, religious fanaticism
December 18, 2022
Don’t Let in the Cold is a story of panic, survival and perseverance. Lottie, Jade and Alex are put to the ultimate test of trust, determination and faith as they struggle to survive. A massive blackout combined with a snowstorm while being hunted proves to be life threatening and extremely dangerous as they navigate the Tahoe wilderness. Will they all be able to make it out alive, or will some fall victim of the treacherous terrain fraught with merciless killers? This YA atmospheric thriller was slow to start, but definitely had me on the edge of my seat as it raced to the exciting and satisfying conclusion. Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for my copy.
August 6, 2022
Don’t Let In the Cold is a thriller and suspense novel whose targeted audience are the teens and young adults group. That being said, the writing style is geared for that age group.
There is just a handful of characters. The main character is Lottie who is also the MC in the novel. I didn’t particularly like Lottie primarily because she had a lot of baggage from her past. Lottie’s stepsister, Jade was a little more palatable in my opinion. Both Lottie and Jade were developed enough to get a flavor of the respective personalities. I didn’t feel the same with the minor players in the novel. Alex, who started out as a minor player and then becomes part of the core character group, didn’t have enough detail for me to get a bearing on his personality. I think this is in part to his initial role as a villain in a minor role.
The storyline is complex in that a whole lot goes on in such as short period of time. A cabin fire that leaves the group stranded in a blizzard, power outages, a kidnapping, a mountain lion and bear encounters…you get the idea. If anything could go wrong, it did and then some. Some of the incidents were a stretch of the imagination. But if read without too much overthinking, the novel is a nail biter with a satisfying ending. Four stars.
I received a digital ARC from SOURCEBOOKS Fire through NetGalley. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.
There is just a handful of characters. The main character is Lottie who is also the MC in the novel. I didn’t particularly like Lottie primarily because she had a lot of baggage from her past. Lottie’s stepsister, Jade was a little more palatable in my opinion. Both Lottie and Jade were developed enough to get a flavor of the respective personalities. I didn’t feel the same with the minor players in the novel. Alex, who started out as a minor player and then becomes part of the core character group, didn’t have enough detail for me to get a bearing on his personality. I think this is in part to his initial role as a villain in a minor role.
The storyline is complex in that a whole lot goes on in such as short period of time. A cabin fire that leaves the group stranded in a blizzard, power outages, a kidnapping, a mountain lion and bear encounters…you get the idea. If anything could go wrong, it did and then some. Some of the incidents were a stretch of the imagination. But if read without too much overthinking, the novel is a nail biter with a satisfying ending. Four stars.
I received a digital ARC from SOURCEBOOKS Fire through NetGalley. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.
October 6, 2022
Overall Rating : C-
This just reinforces the fact that teenagers are idiotic enough to get themselves into awful situations and still think about the hotty that showed up along with it.
This just reinforces the fact that teenagers are idiotic enough to get themselves into awful situations and still think about the hotty that showed up along with it.
March 21, 2022
I received a preview of this book from Net Galley. This book was just ridiculous in that every single thing that could happen, happened. It starts with an interesting premise of a teenage girl going to her new stepdads deserted cabin in Tahoe. There’s family drama, a new stepsister, etc. But then things go wrong and when I say that I mean everything went wrong. A solar event, a blizzard, an intruder, a fire, a bear, a mountain Lion, asthma, some thugs chasing them, a crazy church man, an avalanche. On and on. It was just TOO much. Not for me. The characters and story got lost in all the disasters and ridiculousness. Pass.
August 27, 2022
Thank you, Netgalley, for the ARC!
I was in the mood for something thrilling, so here we are. Honestly, it wasn’t that thrilling, but I was still intrigued to read it given the characters’ circumstances. I felt like it was more of an adventure novel and I wasn’t disappointed. They were all secretive and flawed, even I didn’t know who to trust (except for Otis).
I have read my share of books where the characters were stranded in wildfires, so it was nice to see a similar approach with a blizzard. I liked seeing the different relationships between Alex, Lottie, and Jade and how they developed together and independently together. Was I able to connect to any of them? Not really, but I felt I didn’t have to because of such a plot-driven book. I love the fast pace and all the obstacles they faced on top of the storm. This was a great quick read!
August 31, 2022
4 stars for an environmental chiller(pun intended!)
Lottie is about to spend the night with her brand new 16 year old stepsister....at her new stepfather's Tahoe cabin....while her mother and Stepfather spend their honeymoon night away. What begins as a quiet, albeit awkward, October evening for Lottie and Jade, quickly escalates to more than they bargained for when the power grid is knocked out by some sort of solar disturbance. A strange truck with 20 something guys pulls up, claiming to be at the cabin to "pick up a friend", a blizzard warning, and a priceless telescope sets the stage for the following days Lottie and Jade won't forget. Who are these guys who pulled up? Who is the friend they're supposed to pick up? And can Lottie and Jade band together to survive more than just the cold?
Don't Let in the Cold chilled me to the bone! The environment horror element is so well done that even in 93 degree Oregon summer heat I was freezing. I couldn't believe this was a debut novel, it was so rich and vibrant with details meant to make the reader feel as in peril as the characters were. This story is meant for a younger audience, and that being said it could sometimes read that way. This was not enough to pull me from the story, but I could see it affecting other readers who don't find themselves as glued to the pages as I was. Lottie has the maturity of someone twice her age, but can and does make questionable choices throughout the novel. I enjoyed this as I really wanted her to pick herself up, dust herself off, and keep going.
4 stars and a trip to the hot tub for Don't Let in the Cold. Environmental horror readers will love this one, as well as readers who enjoy new found family stories. Recommended for readers 12+ as nothing graphic or inappropriate takes place. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an AudioARC in exchange for an honest review.
Lottie is about to spend the night with her brand new 16 year old stepsister....at her new stepfather's Tahoe cabin....while her mother and Stepfather spend their honeymoon night away. What begins as a quiet, albeit awkward, October evening for Lottie and Jade, quickly escalates to more than they bargained for when the power grid is knocked out by some sort of solar disturbance. A strange truck with 20 something guys pulls up, claiming to be at the cabin to "pick up a friend", a blizzard warning, and a priceless telescope sets the stage for the following days Lottie and Jade won't forget. Who are these guys who pulled up? Who is the friend they're supposed to pick up? And can Lottie and Jade band together to survive more than just the cold?
Don't Let in the Cold chilled me to the bone! The environment horror element is so well done that even in 93 degree Oregon summer heat I was freezing. I couldn't believe this was a debut novel, it was so rich and vibrant with details meant to make the reader feel as in peril as the characters were. This story is meant for a younger audience, and that being said it could sometimes read that way. This was not enough to pull me from the story, but I could see it affecting other readers who don't find themselves as glued to the pages as I was. Lottie has the maturity of someone twice her age, but can and does make questionable choices throughout the novel. I enjoyed this as I really wanted her to pick herself up, dust herself off, and keep going.
4 stars and a trip to the hot tub for Don't Let in the Cold. Environmental horror readers will love this one, as well as readers who enjoy new found family stories. Recommended for readers 12+ as nothing graphic or inappropriate takes place. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an AudioARC in exchange for an honest review.
August 26, 2022
This was a fun and easily bingeable wintery YA mystery thriller! Nothing super ground-breaking but was very atmospheric and the author did a fantastic job of creating that creeping sense of dread, and then added in the element of being stuck in a frozen wasteland. Some of the various storylines got a little jumbled for me, but that could be because I listened on audio and was not intensely tuned in to catch things, so this didn't affect my overall rating too much. Again, nothing super new to the wintery thriller genre but was a fun read if you're looking for a good YA to read this winter.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for my review copy!
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for my review copy!
September 13, 2022
First off, I love the cover! It’s giving atmospheric winter read vibes. A chiller, if you will!
The problem is that nothing really exciting happens. It’s too long for what it is and it’s not the journey I was expecting.
Lottie and Jade are new stepsisters. Their parents are going on a one night honeymoon(??) and they’re leaving their kids to get to know each other in the groom’s secluded cabin(??). Who among us has not left some kids alone in the woods?
After a solar event occurs, the power is knocked out, leaving them in ultra advanced darkness. A truck carrying some guys stops by but they leave. Soon after, a guy and his dog show up on foot. Alex and Otis respectively. He’s charming so of course he weasels his way in. He says he was walking his dog and got lost.. a likely story. Jade offers to draw him a map but he insists on staying and he wears them down and they let him stay but Lottie finds out a blizzard is coming and I guess their parents don’t know how to check the weather even though he’s some sort of astronomy guy.
This is where it loses me. I assumed this was going to take place mostly in the cabin, a locked room mystery kind of deal or a claustrophobic thriller, but they burn the cabin down with pine combs(??) only a few hours into their stay and then they’re on a survival mission.
There’s just not much that rings true to me and the characters were very blah. Maybe I’m too old for it and I know it was way too long. It probably would have made a good movie. It reminds me of something in Hulu’s Into The Dark collection.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to listen and review. The narration was good.
The problem is that nothing really exciting happens. It’s too long for what it is and it’s not the journey I was expecting.
Lottie and Jade are new stepsisters. Their parents are going on a one night honeymoon(??) and they’re leaving their kids to get to know each other in the groom’s secluded cabin(??). Who among us has not left some kids alone in the woods?
After a solar event occurs, the power is knocked out, leaving them in ultra advanced darkness. A truck carrying some guys stops by but they leave. Soon after, a guy and his dog show up on foot. Alex and Otis respectively. He’s charming so of course he weasels his way in. He says he was walking his dog and got lost.. a likely story. Jade offers to draw him a map but he insists on staying and he wears them down and they let him stay but Lottie finds out a blizzard is coming and I guess their parents don’t know how to check the weather even though he’s some sort of astronomy guy.
This is where it loses me. I assumed this was going to take place mostly in the cabin, a locked room mystery kind of deal or a claustrophobic thriller, but they burn the cabin down with pine combs(??) only a few hours into their stay and then they’re on a survival mission.
There’s just not much that rings true to me and the characters were very blah. Maybe I’m too old for it and I know it was way too long. It probably would have made a good movie. It reminds me of something in Hulu’s Into The Dark collection.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to listen and review. The narration was good.
September 24, 2022
DON'T LET IN THE COLD
Keely Parrack
Lottie and Jade are brand new step-sisters and dumped in the remote and isolated cabin in the mountains near Tahoe, apparently in the dead of winter. By family, I mean Jade's family, Lottie has never been there before, in fact, she doesn't really know her step-sister at all.
And then while watching owls and stars at night, a solar flare that looks like the northern lights disrupts the power grid and knocks out all forms of communication and power. Burr!
Next two shady guys in a big truck show up and tell the girls that they are looking for their friend, finally, they leave. They are scary guys. Then someone is breaking into the cabin (the really cold, dark cabin) with the key they can't find. It's Alex and his dog, Otis. I wavered back and forth about Otis, who read like a border collie but was a St Benard but must have been a small one. The girls let him in because he seems lost and on foot. Then the guys in the truck come back and it seems that Alex sneaks out to talk to them, but Lottie is sure that he knows them.
There is a blizzard coming, no cell service or power and these kids burn down the house and start walking! So ends the book's blur.
This book is filled to the brim with dangerous things and events lined up to happen around or to these kids. I had to skip ahead because it was getting comical instead of tension-building. In the end, it was overkill so I was filled with apathy as I read.
3 stars
Happy Reading!
Keely Parrack
Lottie and Jade are brand new step-sisters and dumped in the remote and isolated cabin in the mountains near Tahoe, apparently in the dead of winter. By family, I mean Jade's family, Lottie has never been there before, in fact, she doesn't really know her step-sister at all.
And then while watching owls and stars at night, a solar flare that looks like the northern lights disrupts the power grid and knocks out all forms of communication and power. Burr!
Next two shady guys in a big truck show up and tell the girls that they are looking for their friend, finally, they leave. They are scary guys. Then someone is breaking into the cabin (the really cold, dark cabin) with the key they can't find. It's Alex and his dog, Otis. I wavered back and forth about Otis, who read like a border collie but was a St Benard but must have been a small one. The girls let him in because he seems lost and on foot. Then the guys in the truck come back and it seems that Alex sneaks out to talk to them, but Lottie is sure that he knows them.
There is a blizzard coming, no cell service or power and these kids burn down the house and start walking! So ends the book's blur.
This book is filled to the brim with dangerous things and events lined up to happen around or to these kids. I had to skip ahead because it was getting comical instead of tension-building. In the end, it was overkill so I was filled with apathy as I read.
3 stars
Happy Reading!
September 5, 2022
DON'T LET IN THE COLD is a fast-moving thriller about Lottie, a British teenager thrown together with her new teenage step-sister, Jade, in a Tahoe cabin while their parents are off honeymooning. Disaster quickly strikes in the form of a solar flare that knocks out all the electricity. A strange boy named Alex comes knocking, asking for shelter--but Lottie suspects Alex was squatting in their cabin before they arrived. Is he a victim of fate or a criminal? When Lottie overhears him speaking to two young men who pull into the driveway in the middle of the night, she realizes Alex is a liar and part of a ring of thieves. But despite Lottie's misgivings, the three teens must cooperate to survive when a fire forces them into the wilderness just as a blizzard hits. It doesn't help that Jade, Alex, and Alex's dog Otis hit it off immediately while Lottie struggles to connect. The trio (quartet, counting the dog) must not only deal with a snowstorm but must also flee from Alex's gun-toting former gang. The lovely heart of this novel is the contrast between the increasingly horrific weather and the gradual thawing of the relationship between Lottie and Jade, and the warmth of genuine love that develops between Lottie and Alex. A wild, satisfying ride of a novel.
September 25, 2022
This was a gripping on the edge of your seat thriller. There were only a few characters in the book and all were well developed. The story is mainly told through the point of view of Lottie, the main character. When Lottie is left alone for the night in a cabin in the woods with her new step sister Jade, everything goes wrong. It seems a bit far fetched that so many things can happen to these girls, it reminded me of the old movie “Planes, Trains and Automobiles”. The outrageousness didn’t sway me though, this book is written for YA so this writing style works. Overall a great book!
September 3, 2022
Don’t Let in the Cold
Keeley Parrack
Lottie and Jade are new stepsisters. Their parents take them to an isolated cabin near Tahoe; their parents leave for Las Vegas and the two girls are left on their own. A red truck with a couple of men stop by and frighten the girls. A solar flare knocks out the power grid and suddenly there is no electricity, no lights, no heat and no cell signal, in the midst of a snowstorm. The eldest of the two, Lottie knows it is going to be a long night. Later that evening another young man, Alex, and his dog, Otis knock on the door claiming to be lost and asking for shelter. Despite their misgivings they allow him to come in. Lottie is suspicious of him; she knows he is lying but why? The red pickup returns and she sees Alex outside talking to the men. After the cabin catches fire Lottie, Jade, Alex and Otis are forced out in the blizzard. They begin their trek to small store where they discover a gruesome sight. The three young adults must work together to survive the brutal weather, along with even worse dangers.
There’s an old country song that says, “if it weren’t for bad luck, I’d have no luck at all.” That should be the theme song for this book. These kids cannot get a break. They face: a blackout, a fire, a bear, capture, a crazy man with a gun, being chased by two ruthless men, a blizzard, frostbite, and numerous other hazards.
The three main characters work well together, they are perfectly flawed. Alex wants to break free of the life of crime. Jade is rather spoiled; she misses her mother and doesn’t want a new stepmother or new stepsister. Lottie has a lot of baggage especially where it comes to her mother and father. Lottie doesn’t feel lovable or worthy of love. Without Lottie I doubt the other two would survive the dangerous trek; she is very mature for her age. I found it hard to believe that the parents of these two girls would leave them in this remote cabin, alone This tale is told through Lottie’s point of view. The plot is complex and fast paced. My one complaint was the constant mention of global warming, once would have been enough. The genre for this tale is horror.
Keeley Parrack
Lottie and Jade are new stepsisters. Their parents take them to an isolated cabin near Tahoe; their parents leave for Las Vegas and the two girls are left on their own. A red truck with a couple of men stop by and frighten the girls. A solar flare knocks out the power grid and suddenly there is no electricity, no lights, no heat and no cell signal, in the midst of a snowstorm. The eldest of the two, Lottie knows it is going to be a long night. Later that evening another young man, Alex, and his dog, Otis knock on the door claiming to be lost and asking for shelter. Despite their misgivings they allow him to come in. Lottie is suspicious of him; she knows he is lying but why? The red pickup returns and she sees Alex outside talking to the men. After the cabin catches fire Lottie, Jade, Alex and Otis are forced out in the blizzard. They begin their trek to small store where they discover a gruesome sight. The three young adults must work together to survive the brutal weather, along with even worse dangers.
There’s an old country song that says, “if it weren’t for bad luck, I’d have no luck at all.” That should be the theme song for this book. These kids cannot get a break. They face: a blackout, a fire, a bear, capture, a crazy man with a gun, being chased by two ruthless men, a blizzard, frostbite, and numerous other hazards.
The three main characters work well together, they are perfectly flawed. Alex wants to break free of the life of crime. Jade is rather spoiled; she misses her mother and doesn’t want a new stepmother or new stepsister. Lottie has a lot of baggage especially where it comes to her mother and father. Lottie doesn’t feel lovable or worthy of love. Without Lottie I doubt the other two would survive the dangerous trek; she is very mature for her age. I found it hard to believe that the parents of these two girls would leave them in this remote cabin, alone This tale is told through Lottie’s point of view. The plot is complex and fast paced. My one complaint was the constant mention of global warming, once would have been enough. The genre for this tale is horror.
December 13, 2023
All you have to do is use the word "isolation" to describe a thriller and I'm there in a heartbeat.
This was an entertaining and frostbitten YA thriller set in the Tahoe wilderness. Lottie and Jade are alone at the family cabin when a blizzard hits to knock out power and reception ... and the cabin burns down. It has a surprising amount of action for a book set in a snowstorm, plus an intriguing cast of characters, including a great sister dynamic. There is a very simple style of writing that makes this book incredibly accessible and easy to get lost in. The prose is not flowery, and the dialogue is very straightforward. Overall, I think I'm pretty confident in my rating of 3.5 stars.
The story is told from Lottie's POV. She is a British teen in the States and her mother has just married Jade's dad. The parents are leaving the kids together at the Tahoe cabin to get to know each other while they go off on a mini honeymoon. The girls aren't all too receptive to each other in the beginning, which is fair. I highly doubt either of them were thrilled with their parents marrying, and in such a whirlwind timeframe too. But I think my favourite part of the book was how the events of the fire, the introduction of Alex and Ottis, of trying to survive in the wilderness with whatever they can scrounge up--all of it brought the girls together and let them support each other. It's not exactly the ideal way for stepsisters to come to love each other, but I really enjoyed it.
I did start to lose interest towards the end, not going to lie. I got a little tired of the so-called villains because their motivations just didn't seem worth it. You're really going to drive all over this snowed in wasteland to hunt down a couple of kids with silly posturing, and for what? There was also a new character introduced in the last half that didn't feel used to their full potential. The truly unhinged element it could have given the tale would have been so so good to bring it home.
I've not had the best of luck with new releases from this publisher this year, so I'm relieved that this was a fun adventure that was easy to sink into for a few hours.
This was an entertaining and frostbitten YA thriller set in the Tahoe wilderness. Lottie and Jade are alone at the family cabin when a blizzard hits to knock out power and reception ... and the cabin burns down. It has a surprising amount of action for a book set in a snowstorm, plus an intriguing cast of characters, including a great sister dynamic. There is a very simple style of writing that makes this book incredibly accessible and easy to get lost in. The prose is not flowery, and the dialogue is very straightforward. Overall, I think I'm pretty confident in my rating of 3.5 stars.
The story is told from Lottie's POV. She is a British teen in the States and her mother has just married Jade's dad. The parents are leaving the kids together at the Tahoe cabin to get to know each other while they go off on a mini honeymoon. The girls aren't all too receptive to each other in the beginning, which is fair. I highly doubt either of them were thrilled with their parents marrying, and in such a whirlwind timeframe too. But I think my favourite part of the book was how the events of the fire, the introduction of Alex and Ottis, of trying to survive in the wilderness with whatever they can scrounge up--all of it brought the girls together and let them support each other. It's not exactly the ideal way for stepsisters to come to love each other, but I really enjoyed it.
I did start to lose interest towards the end, not going to lie. I got a little tired of the so-called villains because their motivations just didn't seem worth it. You're really going to drive all over this snowed in wasteland to hunt down a couple of kids with silly posturing, and for what? There was also a new character introduced in the last half that didn't feel used to their full potential. The truly unhinged element it could have given the tale would have been so so good to bring it home.
I've not had the best of luck with new releases from this publisher this year, so I'm relieved that this was a fun adventure that was easy to sink into for a few hours.
December 27, 2024
This was a little too repetitive and there were some loose ends that weren’t tied up and I really hate that. Where’s the dad????
September 9, 2022
I had to have this thriller the instant I saw the gorgeous cover! I occasionally read YA and have found several I enjoyed. Unfortunately, this one wasn’t for me. But that doesn’t mean others won’t enjoy the action-packed tale.
Single parents, each with a daughter, get married and leave their two teens in a remote cabin overnight, forcing them to become acquainted quickly. Their evening turns into days as the girls battle a multitude of disasters……a fire, solar flares that cause a blackout, attempted break-ins, an encounter with a mountain lion, and a blizzard, to name a few. Oops, I forgot the budding romance with a young man who claims to be lost. All of this, especially the teen romance, was too much for me.
Thank you to Dreamscape media for providing this gifted ARC through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
#dontletinthecold #keelyparrack #yathriller #teenagers #teenageromance #struggletosurvive #blizzard #remotecabin #bookreviewer #crimeandcocktailsbookcrew
#mysteryandthrills #readwithme #bookaddict #thrilleraddict #thrillersofinstagram #bookstagrammer #lovebooks #bookreviewersofinstagram #lovetoreadbooks #honestreview #fortheloveofbooks #readingintherockies #netgalley #dreamscapemedia
Single parents, each with a daughter, get married and leave their two teens in a remote cabin overnight, forcing them to become acquainted quickly. Their evening turns into days as the girls battle a multitude of disasters……a fire, solar flares that cause a blackout, attempted break-ins, an encounter with a mountain lion, and a blizzard, to name a few. Oops, I forgot the budding romance with a young man who claims to be lost. All of this, especially the teen romance, was too much for me.
Thank you to Dreamscape media for providing this gifted ARC through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
#dontletinthecold #keelyparrack #yathriller #teenagers #teenageromance #struggletosurvive #blizzard #remotecabin #bookreviewer #crimeandcocktailsbookcrew
#mysteryandthrills #readwithme #bookaddict #thrilleraddict #thrillersofinstagram #bookstagrammer #lovebooks #bookreviewersofinstagram #lovetoreadbooks #honestreview #fortheloveofbooks #readingintherockies #netgalley #dreamscapemedia
May 2, 2023
can this even be considered a thriller? i wasn’t rooting for any of the characters, nor did i feel any suspense. the repetition of them being in the snow was horrid and absolutely did not need to be 350 pages. i mean, their trauma and desperation wasn’t even written well. the characters would find a perfectly good place to stay, and then leave it because “they had to keep moving”. KEEP MOVING WHERE?? YOU ARE LOST. the out of no where romance honestly pissed me off, i’m sure nobody wanted the two characters together. there was no major plot twist, and the ending was the most anticlimactic thing i’ve ever read. nobody should waste their time reading this. i don’t even have a good thing to say.
October 5, 2022
Rating: 3
I listened to the audiobook version at 2.5 speed and I only have one minor complaint about the narrator. The characters are supposed to be seniors in high school but the narrator sounds much younger than that. This is just a small issue that might not bother other people. In the beginning it bothered me but the longer I listened the more I just got used to it and chose to ignore it.
I want to start by saying I love a good survival thriller but sadly, this one let me down. It had so much potential and the writing was well done and the story itself was even fast paced but the problem was with the characters and all of the problems thrown at the characters. I struggled to connect with or care for any of the characters. I know they are teenagers but they didn’t make smart decisions and most of what they did just annoyed me. It didn’t help that the story kept going and going. The author had so many ideas and instead of trimming them and choosing their favorite they decided to write and include all of them. Doing this made the story feel longer and made me start to not care about what happened to the main characters. I don’t expect a story to be realistic but when it goes so far one way it starts to take you out of it. Overall, this book was just okay. It had parts I liked and others I didn’t. I would recommend this one to teenagers but not adults. I think there are better thrillers out there that adults would enjoy more.
Thank you so much @dreamscape_media for the gifted copy on #Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I listened to the audiobook version at 2.5 speed and I only have one minor complaint about the narrator. The characters are supposed to be seniors in high school but the narrator sounds much younger than that. This is just a small issue that might not bother other people. In the beginning it bothered me but the longer I listened the more I just got used to it and chose to ignore it.
I want to start by saying I love a good survival thriller but sadly, this one let me down. It had so much potential and the writing was well done and the story itself was even fast paced but the problem was with the characters and all of the problems thrown at the characters. I struggled to connect with or care for any of the characters. I know they are teenagers but they didn’t make smart decisions and most of what they did just annoyed me. It didn’t help that the story kept going and going. The author had so many ideas and instead of trimming them and choosing their favorite they decided to write and include all of them. Doing this made the story feel longer and made me start to not care about what happened to the main characters. I don’t expect a story to be realistic but when it goes so far one way it starts to take you out of it. Overall, this book was just okay. It had parts I liked and others I didn’t. I would recommend this one to teenagers but not adults. I think there are better thrillers out there that adults would enjoy more.
Thank you so much @dreamscape_media for the gifted copy on #Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
July 22, 2022
I received an arc of this title from Sourcebooks & #Netgalley.
Lottie's mom and Jade's dad just got married. They are leaving the girls, who are practically strangers, alone at Jade's family cabin in Tahoe overnight. They believe it will give the girls time to get to know each other. The fancy cabin is fully stocked, they have heat and a fireplace, and they are leaving the new Tesla charging in the garage. What cold go wrong?
Everything.
*The power goes out, and the girls discover that there isn't much firewood.
*There is no cell service.
*A mysterious stranger, Alex, and his dog show up, presumably looking for shelter.
*Two creepy guys in a red truck keep popping up, and they seem to know Alex.
*A mishap with the fireplace destroys the cabin.
*The Tesla hasn't had time to charge.
Now Lottie, Jade, Alex and Otis (the dog) are walking out in the cold looking for shelter.
And, there is a blizzard on the way!
Over the next 5 days, the teens will encounter many obstacles. They will learn that they only have each other to rely on. They are tested mentally and physically.
Oh, and Bears, did I mention the Bears?
I really enjoyed Keely Parrack's Don't Let in the Cold. Hand to your students who enjoy survival stories with strong female leads.
I will definitely be ordering this one for my library. Diverse cast of characters, Lottie is British, Jade is African American and Alex is Asian American. Very little foul language and no sex. I would say 8th grade and up will enjoy this one..
Lottie's mom and Jade's dad just got married. They are leaving the girls, who are practically strangers, alone at Jade's family cabin in Tahoe overnight. They believe it will give the girls time to get to know each other. The fancy cabin is fully stocked, they have heat and a fireplace, and they are leaving the new Tesla charging in the garage. What cold go wrong?
Everything.
*The power goes out, and the girls discover that there isn't much firewood.
*There is no cell service.
*A mysterious stranger, Alex, and his dog show up, presumably looking for shelter.
*Two creepy guys in a red truck keep popping up, and they seem to know Alex.
*A mishap with the fireplace destroys the cabin.
*The Tesla hasn't had time to charge.
Now Lottie, Jade, Alex and Otis (the dog) are walking out in the cold looking for shelter.
And, there is a blizzard on the way!
Over the next 5 days, the teens will encounter many obstacles. They will learn that they only have each other to rely on. They are tested mentally and physically.
Oh, and Bears, did I mention the Bears?
I really enjoyed Keely Parrack's Don't Let in the Cold. Hand to your students who enjoy survival stories with strong female leads.
I will definitely be ordering this one for my library. Diverse cast of characters, Lottie is British, Jade is African American and Alex is Asian American. Very little foul language and no sex. I would say 8th grade and up will enjoy this one..
August 17, 2022
They were only supposed to be on their own for one night.
When her mother remarries after an all too short courtship, Lottie and her new stepsister must house sit for a night while their parents honeymoon in Reno. Lottie feels out of place at her new stepdad's fancy ski cabin in Tahoe, especially since her lone companion is her new smart and sullen stepsister, Jade, who she's only met briefly once before. And when a solar flare causes a massive blackout no cell signal or power Lottie knows they've got a long night ahead of them.
Then, in the dark, someone else shows up at the cabin a cute, fast talking stranger named Alex with his dog, claiming to be lost and needing shelter from the developing snowstorm. Lottie's suspicions about him grow throughout the night, but when a fireplace malfunction causes a fire, the three of them are forced out into the blizzard and must rely on one another to find shelter and safety..
In the remote, freezing woods with no way to call for help, the wary trio encounters the perils of the wilderness as well as two mysterious young men who seem to know Alex. Now Lottie must decide who she should trust in order to survive.
Totally recommend I couldn’t put it down really enjoyed
Thank You NetGalley and SourceBooks Fire
I just reviewed Don't Let In the Cold by Keely Parrack. #NetGalley
Totally recommend I couldn’t put it down really enjoyed
Thank You NetGalley and SourceBooks Fire
I just reviewed Don't Let In the Cold by Keely Parrack. #NetGalley
January 29, 2026
I'm being generous with the rating, maybe. But I will give it 3.5 to 4 Stars. And the only reason that I gave it a rating this high was because of the realistic descriptions of extreme cold, hypothermia, and the wilderness terror.
To explain, I read this book during the 2026 Ice-Pocalypse. Lol. In Michigan, we've had wind chills of -12 degrees. So when I read this book about people trying to survive in a blizzard in the mountain elements, I could feel every cold draft, every tingling fingertip, and every single snowflake stinging my cheeks.
This book is told from Lottie's point of view as she is forced to spend a night at her new stepsister and stepfather's Tahoe cabin. It has allllll the amenities. Lottie doesn't really want to deal with new family. But she goes reluctantly at her moms 'request'. The night is ANYTHING but ordinary. When Alex, a boy who claims to be 'lost' is invited in to wait out the impending blizzard, it leads to ... a rather strange turn of events that leads to Lottie, her stepsister Jade, Alex, and his dog Otis are running for safety through the blinding storm.
This book definitely ran the gamut when it came to subplots though. That leads to my one big complaint. There was SOOOO much going on in this book that it seemed like it was trying too hard. There's a theft ring, mafia interests, murders, a doomsday prepper, fires, accusations, and dang it if there weren't more than that.
But I had to admit that despite the weird subplots, I really enjoyed the book. It was hard NOT to tell people where I was in every chapter to give them a play by play.
It was 100% worth the read and if you can get past the unbelievable things, you'll find it to be very interesting too!
Happy Reading, winter survivors. Stay warm out there!
To explain, I read this book during the 2026 Ice-Pocalypse. Lol. In Michigan, we've had wind chills of -12 degrees. So when I read this book about people trying to survive in a blizzard in the mountain elements, I could feel every cold draft, every tingling fingertip, and every single snowflake stinging my cheeks.
This book is told from Lottie's point of view as she is forced to spend a night at her new stepsister and stepfather's Tahoe cabin. It has allllll the amenities. Lottie doesn't really want to deal with new family. But she goes reluctantly at her moms 'request'. The night is ANYTHING but ordinary. When Alex, a boy who claims to be 'lost' is invited in to wait out the impending blizzard, it leads to ... a rather strange turn of events that leads to Lottie, her stepsister Jade, Alex, and his dog Otis are running for safety through the blinding storm.
This book definitely ran the gamut when it came to subplots though. That leads to my one big complaint. There was SOOOO much going on in this book that it seemed like it was trying too hard. There's a theft ring, mafia interests, murders, a doomsday prepper, fires, accusations, and dang it if there weren't more than that.
But I had to admit that despite the weird subplots, I really enjoyed the book. It was hard NOT to tell people where I was in every chapter to give them a play by play.
It was 100% worth the read and if you can get past the unbelievable things, you'll find it to be very interesting too!
Happy Reading, winter survivors. Stay warm out there!
May 23, 2022
I love suspense stories that take place in harsh wintry weather conditions in isolated places, so the description of two stepsisters staying alone in their parents’ cabin one night when a solar flare causes a blackout sounded like the perfect read.
The girls are trying to have a fun evening when the power goes out. A red pick-up truck pulls up with two teenage boys claiming to have taken a wrong turn, I was screaming inside, “Don’t open that door!” They are not the only unplanned visitors, and when a fire breaks out, the girls are forced outside and into the blizzard to try and find help.
More details would give away spoilers, but the story is compelling and leads to a satisfying conclusion. As a Y/A novel, I appreciated the blended family scenario, inclusion of people of color, and LGBTQIA positivity. Recommended for those who love suspenseful winter survival stories with young adult characters. #NetGalley #DontLetTheColdIn
The girls are trying to have a fun evening when the power goes out. A red pick-up truck pulls up with two teenage boys claiming to have taken a wrong turn, I was screaming inside, “Don’t open that door!” They are not the only unplanned visitors, and when a fire breaks out, the girls are forced outside and into the blizzard to try and find help.
More details would give away spoilers, but the story is compelling and leads to a satisfying conclusion. As a Y/A novel, I appreciated the blended family scenario, inclusion of people of color, and LGBTQIA positivity. Recommended for those who love suspenseful winter survival stories with young adult characters. #NetGalley #DontLetTheColdIn
December 11, 2022
I quit. This book was just too stupid. Oh there’s a home intruder (he can stay), oh now there’s a fire! And a blizzard! Oh a murder too! It’s too ridiculous to be taken seriously. This could have been a truly creepy fun book. What a shame.
March 4, 2024
This book was actually so good until near the end.
They seek refuge in a church and immediately complain about it. The one character even says they would rather freeze then go into the church. As a Christian I don't appreciate authors bashing Christianity.
They seek refuge in a church and immediately complain about it. The one character even says they would rather freeze then go into the church. As a Christian I don't appreciate authors bashing Christianity.
January 29, 2024
This was a quick and enjoyable read. Just when you thought things couldn’t get any worse — they did. The story draws you in from the start and the fierce survivor instinct the characters share keeps you drawn in.
I do have to say that the closing of Mr. Soto’s eyes wouldn’t have been that easy - as said in the story. After my mom passed I tried closing her eyes, it’s not as easy as it seems to be on TV shows and movies. On top of that, the guys body was frozen, so I imagine it would be more difficult, if not impossible. Other than that this story was great.
Victimless crimes. The story talked a lot about the victimless crime of robbing people who have insured possessions. Although no one is physically hurt, some items can never be replaced. It’s still a crime and there’s nothing heroic about it. I loved how the book showed examples of this.
This is a great thriller about survival in the elements.
I do have to say that the closing of Mr. Soto’s eyes wouldn’t have been that easy - as said in the story. After my mom passed I tried closing her eyes, it’s not as easy as it seems to be on TV shows and movies. On top of that, the guys body was frozen, so I imagine it would be more difficult, if not impossible. Other than that this story was great.
Victimless crimes. The story talked a lot about the victimless crime of robbing people who have insured possessions. Although no one is physically hurt, some items can never be replaced. It’s still a crime and there’s nothing heroic about it. I loved how the book showed examples of this.
This is a great thriller about survival in the elements.
December 9, 2022
ok i’m so sorry but wtf was this book?? like really.
ok LISTEN i’m not a very critical reader/reviewer and i’ve read some seriously questionable books. seriously….i read colleen hoover for christ sake but WHAT WAS THIS!
solar flares, fires…but also blizzards, crazy conspiracy theorists, murderers, bears, mountain lions, and……..einsteins telescope????? ok????
this book felt like going in circles and then suddenly when there were 10 pages left it was like “OK EVERYTHING IS FINE AND WERE ALSO IN LOVE!”
LIKE WHAT JUST HAPPENED???
edit: OH MY GOD I HAD TO COME BACK BECAUSE I JUST REMEMBERED THERE WAS AN AVALANCHE????? A LITERAL AVALANCHE ARE YOU KIDDING ME??? ALCMVMTKEJFJDUSAIWIVKVMRJX
ok LISTEN i’m not a very critical reader/reviewer and i’ve read some seriously questionable books. seriously….i read colleen hoover for christ sake but WHAT WAS THIS!
solar flares, fires…but also blizzards, crazy conspiracy theorists, murderers, bears, mountain lions, and……..einsteins telescope????? ok????
this book felt like going in circles and then suddenly when there were 10 pages left it was like “OK EVERYTHING IS FINE AND WERE ALSO IN LOVE!”
LIKE WHAT JUST HAPPENED???
edit: OH MY GOD I HAD TO COME BACK BECAUSE I JUST REMEMBERED THERE WAS AN AVALANCHE????? A LITERAL AVALANCHE ARE YOU KIDDING ME??? ALCMVMTKEJFJDUSAIWIVKVMRJX
February 15, 2023
Okay but I literally just read this book in four hours😂😂😂 I could not stop. Lord knows how this is only 3 stars because damn was this a good one! Bought this based on the cover and it didn’t disappoint!
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