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Cold Target

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Vowing to find the sister she never knew she had, lawyer Meredith Rawson join forces with Detective Gage Gaynor when her search turns dangerous, while her sister Holly, on the run from her controlling husband, desperately seeks a safe haven for her and her young son. Original.

426 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 6, 2004

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176 people want to read

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Patricia Potter

104 books317 followers

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5 stars
106 (38%)
4 stars
90 (32%)
3 stars
63 (22%)
2 stars
13 (4%)
1 star
4 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
Profile Image for Dee.
2,662 reviews20 followers
August 31, 2016
Two-haiku review:

Her mom is dying
Tells her she has half-sister
Then she's almost killed

Well drawn characters
Three different points of view
And cute kid-- all good
Profile Image for Steph.
6 reviews1 follower
October 15, 2008
I loved this book and I would recommend it to anyone who likes to read about murder, secrets, love, and unexpected, but good endings. I enjoyed it a lot and had a hard time putting the book down. This was the first book I read by Patricia Potter, and I have to say she is an amazing writer.
Profile Image for Books and Spoons.
1,612 reviews32 followers
April 27, 2015
Fantastic romantic suspense, with two stories in tandem, twisted in each others destiny. The story is so addictive I had a hard time putting it down. The crimes, murders, and 'accidents' are piling up. They all seem to be connected to Meredith's quest for finding her half sister. Gage, the former adversary, is now the only one she can trust. While trying to find the mysterious sister, staying alive, and find solutions for the many mysteries around them, they get to know each other, their feelings for each other grow, and the always present attraction gets a permanent hold of them.
Holly is on a run for her, and her son's, life. In a situation where she has to hide from everyone, live with stolen identity, the last person she should fall for, is the sheriff of the new home town. But the sheriff is the most patient, tender, and tolerant person. He takes his time to get to know Holly and Harry, wins their trust, and protects them from anything that will harm them.
The fear, threat, and danger are constantly present in the story. It is engaging and captivating tale, where the mystery, suspense, and action is perfectly mixed with the budding romances. The sisters' lives are in peril, as well as everyone close to them, or helping them out. The political powers are doing all in their might, to keep the old secrets hidden. Surprising twists and turns moves the well written story on high speed, with an unexpected, yet satisfying ending
~ Five Spoons!
Profile Image for Elizabeth.
95 reviews
September 15, 2018
3.5 stars

Story flows well and it kept me reading to the end (the male MCs were, naturally, tough, rugged and as sweet as kittens lawmen -one of them even feels guilty for shooting an SOB who took a shot at his love interest! Not an iota of complexity in the ontology of these men). The epilogue was pure daytime soap opera and I could have done without.
1,135 reviews16 followers
May 14, 2017
COLD TARGET

Great romantic thriller, very fast-paced page turner. Meredith is searching for a sister she didn't know existed -Holly is running for her life. Good suspense, well written, great characters.
67 reviews2 followers
December 8, 2023
Excellent !

I have read this author's books for a long time and she has just gotten better and better. This one is certainly worth the time to read. Good story, great characters and lots of action.
123 reviews
May 25, 2019
Lots of action

This book is quite different than what I usually read. Lot of mystery and the plot just keeps going. I would suggest this book to anyone
1 review
June 26, 2019
Very entertaining book with mystery and romance!
80 reviews2 followers
July 27, 2024
Had not read any of Patricia Potter's books in many years. I had forgotten how much I enjoyed her writing. This book held my complete attention from the first page till the last.
Profile Image for Mary.
1,807 reviews7 followers
December 30, 2023
This was a gripping read full of tension with brilliant characters.
4,805 reviews16 followers
April 23, 2015
Holly Mathew Ames's son's name was Mikey and her husband was Randolph. Randolph had hired a man to kill her. Holly made small sculptures and sold them to a craft shop and hoarded the money. She wanted to leave long before, but was afraid of losing her son because of her husband's power and alliances. Mikey was her all. Meridith Rawson was a lawyer. Her mom was dying. Marguerite had been the perfect wife and hostess. As a kid, Meridith didn't get much positive reinforcement, but on her mother's deathbed, she was told she had a half sister and she wanted her to find her and give her half of the trust fund. Gage Gaynor is a cop who had testified against dirty cops. Meridith thought he was also a dirty cop, which bothered him. He had looked the other way a few times until he witnessed a cop murder a few other cops. He had been a cop for 15 years. I found that Meridith was one that hid her emotions well. She was mentally strong, determined and independent. She was caring and had love to give that she didn't even realize she had. She grew a lot with the twists and turns of this story. Gage was a cop and all that entailed. He was intelligent, strong, determined, sometimes stubborn. He had basically been a loner and kept people at a distance. He also grew through the story. Altogether a good book. It was a little slow at times, but still well worth reading. I recommend it to anyone that likes thriller/mysteries with a little romance.
Profile Image for Sarah.
969 reviews8 followers
April 24, 2015
I was given a copy of the book from NetGalley for an honest review. As I was reading the book I kept having the feeling that I had already read the book before because everything was so familiar it was driving crazy. Finally I realized it was a book I had read about ten years ago or so and it just has a new cover. Frankly, I like the old cover much better but that is not the point.
As for the book. I really did not like it all that much then or now after I refreshed my memory. It moved way to slowly for my personal taste I was about a third of the way done and I really felt like the plot was going nowhere. The one girl was told to find her sister and she was being terrorized for some reason and then the other woman in the book who the reader assumes is the sister kills some who tried to kill her and is on the run and some way these two are going to have to find each other and almost half the book thirty percent of the book was just a mindless waste for me.
I am not going to get into spoilers but like I said it was dragged out too slowly for my taste so I just could not get into Cold Target so that is why I gave it three out of five stars.
1,027 reviews5 followers
July 8, 2016
1.5 stars

Could I please have 425 pages of my life back? Wasting my time finishing this book was entirely my own fault, as I was on vacation and figured I may as well. I know if I were home and had a million things to do, there is no way I would have read this whole book.

The writing is weak, characterization trite, and it is so poorly edited on several levels. Yes, the typos. But it is painfully repetitive. We're subject to all of the character's thoughts, and just in case we didn't get it the first 27 times, we get reminded that so-and-so is feeling such-and-such. Then, I cannot tell you how many times this author, while in the thoughts of some character, makes a list of the things that character will do that day. Honestly! This book could have been half as long with tighter writing and been stronger.

I knew it was going to be a beach read, so I wasn't expecting anything earth-shattering, but with the high ratings, I thought I'd give it a try. The ending was likely the most eye-rolling, cheesy ending possibly imaginable. And I don't even think I'm exaggerating (but I also won't spoil it by trying to prove it).
Profile Image for Dawn.
1,070 reviews52 followers
April 15, 2015
An excellent read! Engaging, romantic, thrilling, and inspiring.

A very complex plot and done so very well. I enjoyed getting to know these characters and the history behind each one. There is a sadness to the book that permeates the pages but with a clear message of hope and love, strength and resilience.... Never give up!

She brings everyone to life including the animals. There are multiple key players in this book but it is done in such a way that it is easy to read and follow. It isn't disjointed but a smooth inclusion of all involved. These characters have inner strength that is very evident.

This book has minimal bad language, and while the love scenes are spicy they are not vulgar and that is a very good thing. It is a read you can feel good about and it will keep you busy and engaged. I highly recommend this book.

*I received a copy of this book (with a new cover), for an honest review.*
Profile Image for Nolene Driscoll.
226 reviews10 followers
July 21, 2015
I was given this book by netgalley in return for an honest review.

Meredith was asked to find the half sister she never knew she had by her dying mother. Given up for adoption over 30 years ago Meredith was given very few clues to find her. Then strange and terrifying things began to happen.

On the night Holly ran from a verbally abusive husband she killed an intruder that was trying to kill her. She took her 4 year old son and disappeared, after years of abuse she was finally free, or was she.

What is the connection, is there a connection?

Meredith set out on her quest to find her half sister, but then people involved began to die. Who and why is someone trying to prevent Meredith from finding her sister? What is the great secret?

Patricia Potter has written an enthralling murder/mystery/thriller with lots of twists and turns. Keeps you engaged and turning the page to find out what happens next. Well worth a read and would recommend.
Profile Image for Linda (NOT RECEIVING NOTIFICATIONS).
1,905 reviews326 followers
June 24, 2015
Afraid of her powerful senator husband, Holly runs away with her son to Arizona. Leary of others and fearing her husband will find her she sets up a new life. Meanwhile, she tries to absorb the news from her dying mother that she has a half-sister somewhere and she needs to find her. What should she do?

There are two stories here: Holly and the sheriff, Randolph, and Gage and Meredith. Lots of twists and turns but Patricia pulls it off and it was tastefully done. This was an enjoyable romantic suspense book.
2,050 reviews25 followers
March 22, 2015
Holly Ames has just killed a man. A man sent by her politically powerful, violent husband to kill her. When she realizes the killer had help she takes her young son and goes on the run. Meredith vows to fulfill her Mothers dying wish. Find the half sister Meredith never knew she had. Searching for her sister puts Meredith in danger. New Orleans homicide detective Gage Gaynor wants to clean up his city. He comes into contact with Meredith and helps her. Someone powerful doesn't want the Meredith to find Holly. A very good romantic suspense with lots of twists and turns.

Profile Image for Lauren RM.
72 reviews13 followers
November 6, 2011
Someone gave this book to me for my birthday ages ago. This was technically rereading it. I sort of don't want to like it, but I do anyway.

The characters are kind of shallow and the writing is really repetitive (gems such as she rarely indulged in this indulgence, but today was a day for indulgence) but I got really attached to both anyway. Exciting plot line, New Orleans, women who save themselves, horrible romance writing - what's not to love?
Profile Image for Heidi.
210 reviews
May 4, 2015
Patricia Pottter is one very addictive novel that takes you from one twist and turn to another giving you just enough time to catch your breath. You will find yourself unable to put the book down. The story is well written with enough twist and turns to keep the reader engaged as well as a unexpected, yet satisfying ending
Profile Image for Jeanie.
325 reviews12 followers
June 23, 2015
This book kept me hooked from the prologue - which was a cue as to how great the rest of the book would be - and I STAYED hooked right up till the end. I couldn't put it down, it was gripping, it grabbed me right off - I love the main charecters. I will def be looking for more books by this author
252 reviews
August 2, 2009
Nice easy read, page turner. New author for me-will look for more by Potter. (I am struggling through "Running With Scissors", determined to finish it, but reading other books to keep me going at the san=me time
Profile Image for Mandy.
36 reviews1 follower
July 21, 2013
Took me a few chapters to really get into the story and characters. However, It quickly became a page turner for me. Overall a nice quick read with a well thought out storyline and engaging characters.
Profile Image for JoAnn Ainsworth.
Author 12 books61 followers
October 8, 2009
Loved it. Kept my interest the whole way thru. Good pacing. Well developed characters. Two love stories.
Profile Image for Summer.
124 reviews
August 6, 2014
Good murder mystery/romance that I couldn't put down. I will most certainly be looking for more books by this author.
613 reviews
April 4, 2015
Great mystery! Loved Meredith and Holly they are such great characters. Highly recommend reading couldn't put this book down!!
613 reviews
November 15, 2017
Read this book in 2 days it was a great fast paced read! Loved the characters!! Love the romance and the suspense! Highly recommend!
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews

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