Tag Archives: Cynthia Eden

ICE COLD CHRISTMAS (Ice Breaker Cold Case 15) by Cynthia Eden

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ICE COLD CHRISTMAS (Ice Breaker Cold Case 15) by Cynthia Eden-review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date November 14, 2025

She’s coming home for the holidays…and there’s gonna be hell to pay.

Last Christmas, Melody Mage vanished without a trace. The wealthy socialite was presumed dead by her loved ones. But on the anniversary of her disappearance, Melody appears on the doorstep of her family’s estate. Her memories are fractured, her past shrouded in fog and confusion, but she knows one thing—someone attacked her. Left her for dead. She just has to figure out who the guilty culprit is. Then she’ll make the person pay.

In other words, Melody has to solve her own cold case mystery. And she’s going to do it—no matter what it takes. No matter how many skeletons she has to drag out of her wealthy family’s closet. And no one will get in her way. Not even her father’s intense—and dangerously attractive—protégé, Victor Alexander. Victor has just taken over as the company’s new CEO. He’s driven, powerful, and he stares at her with eyes that glitter with far too much…longing?

He ripped apart the world looking for her, and the love of his life just casually knocked on the front door.

Except Melody doesn’t know that Victor had his heart carved out of his chest when she vanished. Their relationship had been secret. On the outside, he and Melody had appeared to barely tolerate each other. In private, they’d touched—and ignited. She’d been his obsession. He’d been her personal attack dog. Now she’s back, saying she’s looking for justice, and he’s going to give it to her. He will give her anything. Unfortunately, Melody has no idea that she once promised to love him forever—or that when she vanished, she was wearing the engagement ring he’d given to her.

He never stopped loving her. Too bad she believes he’s the enemy.

Victor has been working with the Ice Breakers, a cold-case solving crew, and he suspects that Melody’s attacker is someone in the family’s inner circle. He also knows that there is no way on earth he will ever let Melody vanish again. He’ll protect her, he’ll win her heart once more, and he will see to it that the person who hurt his Melody is buried in an icy grave before the new year dawns.

•••••••

REVIEW: ICE COLD CHRISTMAS is the fifteenth instalment in Cynthia Eden’s contemporary, adult ICE BREAKER COLD CASE romantic suspense series. This is heiress Melody Mage, and CEO Victor Alexander’s story line. ICE COLD CHRISTMAS can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary.

Told from several omniscient third person perspectives including Melody and Victor ICE COLD CRHISTMAS follows one year after the disappearance of heiress Melody Mage. Newly engaged, and looking forward to Christmas, Melody would disappear without a trace. Fast forward one year, our heroine returns to her father’s estate, a shell of her former self, a woman whose memories are lost but for a few snippets of betrayal at the cost of her life. Victor is determined to reclaim the woman who owned his heart but first our couple must search for the truth, in the face of continuing betrayal, greed and lies.

The world building follows Victor and Melody as they begin an investigation of their own. As Melody’s memories slowly return, bits and pieces reveal a possible connection to the man whom she loves, and a betrayal by the family to whom she returned.

The relationship between Victor and Melody is one of second chances. Engaged one year earlier, Melody disappeared sending Victor into a spiral. Determined to find the woman he loves, Victor never stopped searching for the truth, a truth that would destroy the a family already torn apart. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

There is a large ensemble cast of energetic, questionable and desperate secondar and supporting characters. We are introduced to Melody’s ailing father Sebastian Mage’ step brother Dario Mage, Melody’s best friend Olivia Hatcher; Ice Breaker security specialists Hunter McQueen, Calista Connors, Luis Ortega; and Detective Angus Clinton.

ICE COLD CHRISTMAS is a story of secrets and lies, betrayal and vengeance, greed and madness, family and relationships, forgiveness and love. The character driven premise is action packed, dramatic and edgy; the characters are determined and dynamic ;the rekindling romance is fated and seductive.

Reading Order and Previous Reviews
Frozen in Ice
Falling for the Ice Queen
Ice Cold Saint
Touched by Ice
Trapped in Ice
Forged From Ice
Buried Under Ice
Ice Cold Kiss
Savage Ice
Locked In Ice
Brutal Ice
Cruel Ice
Forbidden Ice
Ice Cold Liar

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

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When He Defends (Protector & Defender 4) by Cynthia Eden-review

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When He Defends (Protector & Defender 4) by Cynthia Eden-review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date

He didn’t want a new partner, especially not her.

FBI Agent Gray Stone knows killers. As a top profiler at the Bureau, monsters are truly his business. So he absolutely does not need to be paired up with the infuriating—and gorgeous—Dr. Emerson Marlowe. But her mother is a senator with far too much power, and, all of a sudden, Gray finds himself on training duty, a duty that includes way too many hours and way too much temptingly close contact with Emerson.

He doesn’t play well with others. In fact, he doesn’t play at all.

What’s he supposed to do with a sexy shadow? One who is just as good at mind games as he is? One who is smart and funny and…dammit. Emerson has practically no field experience, and the last thing Gray wants to do is put her in harm’s way. He may not want to work with Emerson, but he will not let anyone hurt her. So when a new case goes sideways and a killer gets chillingly close, Gray has to come up with a new training plan.

New She follows his orders. She does exactly what he says. And she does not get in the way.

Except Emerson can’t follow orders to save her life. She does whatever she wants, and the woman is one hundred percent in his way. In his way. In his mind. In his dreams. And, maybe, just maybe, the infuriating Emerson is even working her sneaky way into his heart. But danger is growing around her, danger that doesn’t seem to just be coming from their work at the FBI. A stalker has eyes on Emerson, a predator who is well-acquainted with darkness and pain. A perp who wants Emerson to suffer.

To protect his new partner, Gray will have to let his own darkness come out to hunt.

••••••

REVIEW:WHEN HE DEFENDS is the fourth instalment in Cynthia Eden’s contemporary, adult PROTECTOR AND DEFENDER romantic suspense series. This is psychiatrist Dr. Emerson Marlowe, and former US Marine turned FBI profiler Gray Stone’s story line. WHEN HE DEFENDS can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary

Told from several omniscient third person perspectives including Emerson and Gray WHEN HE DEFENDS focuses on the search for a serial killer. Someone is targeting married couples,and with her expertise the field of psychiatry, Emerson has asked to be paired with our story line hero but never expected to find herself hunting a killer on a secluded island.

Meanwhile, Emerson’s life has never been her own, and with her mother constantly taking control, our heroine is determined to break free but all is not as it appears to be, so with the help of his fellow friends and agents, Gray begins a deep dive into the history of the Marlowe family.

The world building follows several paths as our couple go undercover to ferret out a killer. From the outset, our couple find themselves a target of someone unknown but as Emerson and Gray get closer to the truth, someone else takes aim determined to stop them both.

The relationship between Gray and Emerson begins as a professional pairing that will quickly turn into something more. Undercover as a married couple, Gray is determined to protect the woman with whom he is falling in love. The $ex scenes are. Intimate and passionate without the use of over the top sexually graphic language and text.

The secondary and supporting characters are desperate and colorful. We are introduced to Emerson’s overbearing and over protective mother Senator Marlowe, and her security guard Owen: Emerson’s ex Nathaniel; Gray’s cousin and MC member Cassius ‘Cass’ Striker, as well as several FBI agents and friends including Rhylan, Malik, Ronan, Tyler and Kane. The requisite evil has many faces.

WHEN HE DEFENDS is a story of secrets and lies, betrayal and vengeance, power and control, obsession and jealousy, family and relationships, acceptance and love.The character driven premise is intriguing , engaging and suspenseful; the romance is seductive; the characters are energetic, determined and charismatic.

 

Reading Order and Previous Reviews
When He Protects
When He Hunts
When He Fights

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

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WHEN HE FIGHTS (Protector and Defender 3) by Cynthia Eden-review

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WHEN HE FIGHTS (Protector and Defender 3) by Cynthia Eden-review

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / Google Play / Chapters Indigo /

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date July 29, 2025

He saved her from a nightmare.

Once upon a time, Kane Harte rescued Anastasia Patrick from hell. He took her away from a killer, protected her, and maybe even came perilously close to loving her. But then she was given a new life. A new name. A new home. And there was no room for Kane or the darkness he carried in her new world. So he walked away. Didn’t look back. Fine, maybe he looked back a little. Or a lot. Maybe he dreamed of her every time his eyes closed. Sue him.

She falls for bad guys. It’s a quirk. A flaw? Whatever.

When her ex turned out to be a killer, Anastasia “Ana” Patrick knew she was in trouble. But enter the FBI—or rather, enter the super scary, slightly shady, and undeniably hot Kane Harte. He protected her, he gave her a new life—new name, new home, new Ana. And he also broke her heart. That would be the previously mentioned issue she had with bad guys. She fell for the dangerously secretive Kane, and he walked away.

He shattered her heart but gave her safety. Not exactly a fair exchange…

Now her safe world has been wrecked. Danger has found Anastasia—Ana—once again, and she has no choice but to flee on her own. The killer from her past has escaped prison, and he’s coming after her. Ana runs, desperate to get away, and she finds herself barreling straight into the arms of the protector she never expected to see again.

Kane Harte can kill a man in a hundred different ways. He can also break a woman’s heart without batting an eye.

••••••••

REVIEW: WHEN HE FIGHTS is the third instalment in Cynthia Eden’s contemporary, adult PROTECTOR AND DEFENDER erotic, romantic suspense series. This is musician Anastasia Patrick, and former US Marine/ Security specialist Kane Harte’s story line. WHEN HE FIGHTS can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story line is revealed where necessary.

Told from dual omniscient third person perspectives (Kane and Ana) WHEN HE FIGHTS follows the protection of our story line heroine. More than two years earlier, Anastasia Patrick witnessed the murder of a man, and was under FBI protection with security specialist Kane Harte but the arrest of Mafia assassin Logan Catalano, Ana’s former boyfriend, Kane walked away without looking back. Fast forward to present day, living quietly under an assumed name, Ana will discover Logan Catalano has escaped, and Kane’s new assignment is our story line heroine. Struggling with their continued attraction to one another, Kane and Ana must dance around the proverbial elephant in the room, knowing there is more than one person taking aim at our story line couple.

The world building follows two timelines, as Kane Harte battles between head and heart knowing to fall in love will weaken his defenses in the face of protecting our story line heroine. Ana had proclaimed her love as she watched Kane walk away, and his return brings with it the heart break of betrayal but the escape of Logan Catalano from prison means Ana is once again a target, and Kane is determined to protect our heroine with his life.

The relationship between Kane and Ana is one of second chances but Kane struggles with his attraction, and Ana struggles to trust the man who broke her heart. The 4ex scenes are erotic and provocative without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

The colorful and energetic secondary and supporting characters includes the return of FBI Agent Grayson Stone; former US Marine Tyler Barrett (When He Protects #1), as well as the introduction of FBI psychiatrist Dr. Emerson Marlowe; Ana’s best friend Zuri Harris; Mafia hitman Logan Catalano, and karate instructor Turner Mitchell. The requisite evil has many faces.

WHEN HE FIGHTS is a story of secrets and lies, betrayal and vengeance, power and control, obsession and madness, acceptance and love. The fast paced, character driven premise is dramatic and captivating; the romance is fated and impassioned; the characters are desperate, determined, and charismatic.

Reading Order and Previous Reviews
When He Protects
When He Hunts

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

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Ice Cold Liar (Ice Breaker Cold Case 14) by Cynthia Eden-review

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Ice Cold Liar (Ice Breaker Cold Case 14) by Cynthia Eden-review

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / Google Play / Chapters Indigo /

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date June 24, 2025

She is beautiful, charming, and guilty as sin.

Ebenezer “Eb” Jones is in the mood for deadly payback. He knows that Naomi Romano killed his friend and former CIA partner. The cops suspected her, the DA wanted to charge her, but the woman was far too smart for them. She slipped away from justice. Or so she thinks. He’s about to make certain that she pays for her crimes. A life for a life. He will absolutely wreck her life. Promise made.

He’s dangerous, conniving, and cold-blooded to the core.

Lying is second nature to Eb. Pretending to be someone else is as easy as breathing. So he works to slip past Naomi’s guard. To learn her secrets. And he will learn those secrets. Even if he has to seduce them all from her beautiful, lying lips. Does that make him cold-blooded? Guilty as charged. It’s a dirty job, but someone has to do it.

Another enemy is stalking his prey.

Eb isn’t the only predator who wants justice. Naomi is being hunted, and Eb has to step in and shield her from a series of deadly attacks. Everywhere she turns, Naomi faces danger. He pretends to be the good guy, the savior that she needs. She breaks before him, desperate for help, and Eb realizes the woman is either one very fine actress…or maybe she’s not the killer he thought.

•••••

REVIEW: ICE COLD LIAR is the fourteenth instalment in Cynthia Eden’s contemporary, adult ICE BREAKER COLD CASE romantic suspense series focusing on a group of men and women who work for Ice Breakers, a former online team of crime solvers whose goal it is to solve cold cases. This is former CIA operative Ebenezer ‘Eb’ Jones, and Naomi Romano’s story line. ICE COLD LIAR can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary.

Told from dual omniscient third person perspectives (Eb and Naomi) ICE COLD LIAR follows in the wake of the murder of Eb’s former CIA partner Hudson Wyatt. Married only a few hours, Hudson Wyatt was found murdered , and his new wife was the prime suspect but there was not enough evidence, and the DA never pressed charges, therefore Ebenezer Jones was determined to get justice for his friend and partner Hudson Wyatt, targeting Naomi Romano himself. From the outset , Ebenezer struggled to trust or believe Naomi’s proclamation of innocence but when our heroine is targeted, Ebenezer become guardian and protector of the woman with whom he is falling in love.

The world building focuses on Naomi’s struggle to prove she is innocent, and Ebenezer’s need to seek justice for the friend whom he lost but all was not as it appeared to be-someone was taking aim at our story line heroine. With the help of Ice Breaker investigators Hunter McQueen and Memphis Camden, Eb is determined to uncover the truth but a deep dive asks more questions than answers, and our couple find themselves at the mercy of a potential killer.

The relationship between Eb and Naomi begins acrimoniously as Eb is single-minded in his need to take down our story line heroine but, once again, there is something about Naomi that calls to his heart, and his inability to trust, threatens the life of the woman with whom he is falling in love. The $ex scenes are passionate and seductive without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

There is a large ensemble cast of energetic, dynamic and often questionable secondary and supporting characters from law enforcement, organized crime, and an embattled MC including Ice Breaker agents Memphis Camden, and former US Army Ranger Hunter McQueen; CIA Handler Madeline Desalt; and Detective Clark Anderson. The requisite evil has many faces.

ICE COLD LIAR is a story of secrets and lies, power and control, betrayal and vengeance, obsession and murder, acceptance and love. The character driven premise is dramatic and edgy but I suspected the who and why of the guilty party(s) early on; the romance is spirited; the characters are stubborn and determined.

 

Reading Order and Previous Reviews
Frozen in Ice
Falling for the Ice Queen
Ice Cold Saint
Touched by Ice
Trapped in Ice
Forged From Ice
Buried Under Ice
Ice Cold Kiss
Savage Ice
Locked In Ice
Brutal Ice
Cruel Ice
Forbidden Ice

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

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FORBIDDEN ICE (Ice Breakers Cold Case 13) by Cynthia Eden-review

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FORBIDDEN ICE (Ice Breakers Cold Case 13) by Cynthia Eden

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / Google Play / Chapters Indigo /

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date April 29, 2025

Solve the case. Save the girl. Stop the killer.

Protect Wren. The minute that Jacob Jones receives the text from his brother, he springs into action. Wren Maye is the golden girl from his childhood, the star of his teenage fantasies, and the one woman who was always off limits to him…because she was his twin brother’s girl. Over the years, he kept a careful distance from Wren because he knew she was the one person who could wreck his careful control.

She’s in danger, and he’s the only one who can save her.

Jacob arrives just in time to stop Wren’s abduction. Now he’s going to be her shadow because Wren is the target of a killer bent on vengeance. Jacob has always maintained a careful distance between himself and Wren—but there is no room for distance any longer. There is danger. There is desire. There is a vicious obsession that will not end. So now, he’s just going to take what he wants. And, yes, he will damn well fight his brother for her. He will fight the world for her. She will be his. No one will hurt what belongs to him.

••••••••••

REVIEW: FORBIDDEN ICE is the thirteenth instalment in Cynthia Eden’s contemporary, adult ICE BREAKERS COLD CASE romantic suspense series focusing on a group of men and women who work for Ice Breakers, a former online team of crime solvers whose goal it is to solve cold cases. This is realtor Wren Maye, and former FBI profiler and Ice Breaker agent Jacob Jones’ story line. FORBIDDEN CASE can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed when necessary.

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

Told from omniscient third person perspectives FORBIDDEN ICE follows in the wake of the threats against our story line heroine. Wren’s past is mired in darkness and death, but the two constants have been twin brothers Eb and Jake Jones. An attack against our heroine, following her best friend’s bridal party, finds Wren under the protection of Jake Jones, the man she has been quietly lusting after for most of her life. As the threats against Wren become more personal, revealing the secrets from her past, Eb and Jake believe they may be the target, and Wren is a pawn in a much larger game.

The world building follows the desperate need to protect our story line heroine who is in total denial regarding Jake and Eb’s depth of love and emotional attachment towards Wren Maye but one is willing to step aside to ensure the happiness of his twin. As the threats against Wren increase, the possibility of someone close upends the worlds of Wren, Eb and Jake.

The relationship between Jake and Wren is one of friends to lovers but Wren’s need to deny Jake’s feelings and attraction is more of a protective measure in the face of losing them both. Wren has always believed Jake’s actions and attitude bordered on dislike but both Jake and Eb were willing to step back as long as one or both were Wren’s primary protector. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

The secondary and supporting characters are energetic, desperate and dynamic. We are introduced to Jake’s twin brother Eb: Wren’s ‘uncle’ Milo; Declan Flynn (Cruel Ice), and Hunter; and Wren’s friends Makayla, Tom and Jennifer.

FORBIDDEN ICE is a story of secrets and lies, betrayal and vengeance, murder and retaliation, obsession and madness, acceptance and love. The character driven premise is intriguing, twisted and edgy; the romance is spicy; the characters are determined and charismatic.

Reading Order and Previous Reviews
Frozen in Ice
Falling for the Ice Queen
Ice Cold Saint
Touched by Ice
Trapped in Ice
Forged From Ice
Buried Under Ice
Ice Cold Kiss
Savage Ice
Locked In Ice
Brutal Ice
Cruel Ice

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

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When He Hunts (Protector & Defender 2) by Cynthia Eden-review

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When He Hunts (Protector & Defender 2) by Cynthia Eden-review

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / Google Play / Chapters Indigo /

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date March 25, 2025

She’s a dead woman walking.

Luna Black knows that she’s being hunted. The price on her head is astronomical. She was in the wrong place at the wrong time, and she saw some very dangerous people doing some very, very bad things. Now she needs to reach the Feds, stat, and get a new identity and a new life. Because her old life? Definitely over.

It’s not personal. She’s just a job.

Ronan Walker lives in the shadows. His job? Simple—to deliver death. And the latest hit has him tracking down the very elusive and unpredictable Luna. But he’s not the only hitman on her trail. Luna has valuable intel. The kind of intel that can never see the light of a courtroom. When the other hunters swarm in on her, Ronan has no choice but to intervene.

Death wasn’t supposed to be so…dead sexy.

After he defeated the group trying to abduct her, Luna expected to die by the gorgeous stranger’s hands. Even as he kissed her, Luna was sure that the tall, dark, and fierce predator would kill her. Only…she woke up, very much still alive, and handcuffed to his bed. Before she can even scream, he offers her a deal…protection, but for a price.

Is he a hitman with a heart?

No, he’s not. Not even close. His heart never gets involved in a job. Ronan faked Luna’s death, and now he has to keep her with him in the shadows until the Feds are ready to use her in order to bring down a massive criminal ring. The problem? He’s not exactly used to sharing close quarters with anyone. Especially not someone like Luna…a woman who pushes him to the edge and makes him want to let go of the fierce control that he’s kept in place for years.

On the run. Hiding in the shadows. Pretending to be a couple in love…

Sometimes, it’s easy to pretend. To act like lovers. But what happens when the pretending starts to feel all too real? The longer they are together, the more Luna realizes there is so much more to Ronan than meets the eye. He protects her, he defends her from every threat, and she…just might be falling hard for the hitman who swears he can never love…

The story of her life. To fall for the man who delivers death.

•••••

REVIEW:WHEN HE HUNTS is the second instalment in Cynthia Eden’s contemporary, adult GUARDIAN AND PROTECTOR erotic, romantic suspense series. This is assassin for hire Ronan Walker, and drama teacher Luna Black’s story line. WHEN HE HUNTS can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story line is revealed where necessary.

Told from several omniscient third person perspectives including Ronan and Luna WHEN HE HUNTS follows the hunt and take down of our story line heroine. Luna Black witness the murder of a friend, and now she is the target of a powerful man. On the run, Luna will face down several assassins including the man with whom she is falling in love. Refusing to lose his payday, Ronan not only abducts our heroine but takes aim at the other assassins hired to finish the job but Ronan never expected to find himself falling for our story line heroine, and in doing so, places a target on the woman he loves.

The world building follows Ronan and Luna as our couple begin a cross country adventure in the hopes of staying one step ahead of the man who hired our story line hero. Working undercover with the both the FBI and US Marshall’s office, Ronan takes aim at the people who placed a hit on our story line heroine.

The relationship between Ronan and Luna begins as assassin and captor but quickly turns into something more. Protecting Luna becomes Ronan’s number one priority even in the face of threats against his own life. The $ex scenes are passionate and intense without the use of over the top sexually graphic language and text.

The secondary and supporting characters include the return of FBI Agent Grayson Stone; former Marine Kane Harte, and former Marine turned US Marshall Tyler Barrett, and his wife, professional thief Esme Laurent. The requisite evil has many faces.

WHEN HE HUNTS is a story of power and control, betrayal and vengeance, secrets and lies, acceptance and love. The character driven premise is exciting and engaging; the romance is provocative; the characters are determined and dynamic.

CLICK HERE for Sandy’s review of book one WHEN HE PROTECTS

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

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Cruel Ice (Ice Breaker: Cold Case 12) by Cynthia Eden-review

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Cruel Ice (Ice Breaker: Cold Case 12) by Cynthia Eden-review

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / Google Play / Chapters Indigo /

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date January 28, 2025

The sins of the father…are coming back to wreck his world.

Make no mistake, Declan Flynn is not a good man. He’s never claimed to be. He’s rich, powerful, dangerous…and, apparently, on someone’s kill list. When he wakes up one night, tied to a chair in a dank basement, Declan is certainly less than pleased—and in a killing mood of his own. Then she appears. His most unlikely savior.

Marley Jones never expected to be the guardian angel to a man most people consider the devil.

But fate is often funny, and she’s in the wrong place at the right time in order to save one very ungrateful and gorgeous billionaire. She’s a low-rent PI, he’s crime royalty (if you believe the gossip) and she may have just stumbled onto the first big case of her career. Now her job is to protect her new client—and in order to do that, she plans to stick to Declan like glue. He’d better get used to having her around. Intimately close.

•••••

REVIEW:CRUEL ICE is the twelfth instalment in Cynthia Eden’s contemporary, adult ICE BREAKER: COLD CASE erotic, romantic suspense series focusing on a group of men and women who work for Ice Breakers, a former online team of crime solvers whose goal it is to solve cold cases. This is billionaire tech businessman Declan Flynn, and junior PI Marley Jones’ story line. CRUEL ICE can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary.

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

Told from three omniscient points of view including Declan and Marley CRUEL ICE follows in the aftermath of the rescue of Declan Flynn. Upstart PI Marley Jones witnessed a possible abduction outside of a local bar. Following the suspect vehicle, Marley goes in search of the potential victim, and comes face to face with her future in the guise of billionaire tech giant Declan Flynn, the man who was drugged and is meant to die but Marley called law enforcement for help, and Declan was struggling with the possibility of a betrayer or someone from his past. Meanwhile, Marley is targeted in the wake of her new found relationship with our story line hero but Marley is determined to prove she is worthy of protecting the man that she loves.

The world building follows several paths including the heart breaking back stories for both Marley and Declan. Declan is the son of a mobster, a psychotic killer and abuser; Marley is a survivor that has left her a little bit broken.

The relationship between Declan and Marley is one of immediate attraction but Declan is a killer, and struggles with his attraction and need for our story line heroine. Determined to protect Marley, Declan claims Marley as his fiancé, in the face of law enforcement accusations directed at our story line couple. The $ex scenes are provocative and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

The secondary and supporting characters including Declan’s security team : James, Cade and Hunter, as well as Declan’s brother Royal Boudreaux (Brutal Ice 11). We are introduced to Marley brothers, Ice Breaker agents Jacob and Eb Jones. The requisite evil has many faces.

CRUEL ICE is a story of betrayal and vengeance, greed and murder, family and relationships, acceptance and love. The character driven premise is intriguing, dramatic, action packed and detailed; the romance is seductive and fated; the characters are determined, dynamic and twisted.

Reading Order and Previous Reviews
Frozen in Ice
Falling for the Ice Queen
Ice Cold Saint
Touched by Ice
Trapped in Ice
Forged From Ice
Buried Under Ice
Ice Cold Kiss
Savage Ice
Locked In Ice
Brutal Ice

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

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Holding Out for a Holiday Hero by Cynthia Eden-review

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Holding Out for a Holiday Hero by Cynthia Eden-review

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / Google Play /

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date November 26, 2024

A holiday romance with a dash of romantic suspense and a former military hero who is so not feeling the festive spirit…

Bah humbug. Bounty hunter Jake Hale hates Christmas. He doesn’t do twinkling lights, festive packages, and you definitely won’t ever catch him singing Christmas carols. What he will do? Track down the worst of the scum out there. The former special ops soldier makes merry by tossing the naughty into prison cells and getting a grand pay day. Ho, ho, ho.

Then a ghost from Christmas past walks through his door.

True Blakely is always at the top of the nice list. Beautiful, sweet, with an innocence that—yep, he might have been tempted to destroy once or twice—she’s there to hire him. There have been a string of dangerous accidents in her life, and True fears that someone is trying to kill her. Not at all the sort of case that Jake would usually take—he hunts down the criminals after they jump bail, not before they’ve even been arrested. But one look into True’s bedroom eyes, and he can’t refuse. Maybe he still is a bit too tempted by the girl who got away…and surely one nice act won’t kill him? For her, he can play the hero.

He’ll close the case and be home in time for Christmas dinner.

Except, on the first morning of his investigation, he finds a dead body. One waiting underneath True’s glittering Christmas tree. The attacks are real, and it’s clear that someone is gunning for True. But Jake is on the job now, and no one is going to hurt her. His protective instincts are in overdrive…and so is the desperate desire that he’s always felt for True. This time, he’s done fighting that desire. He’ll finally show True just how fantastic it can be when you aren’t nice. Welcome to his naughty list.

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REVIEW:HOLDING OUT FOR A HOLIDAY HERO by Cynthia Eden is a stand alone, contemporary, adult, romantic suspense story line focusing on former special ops soldier turned bounty hunter Jake Hale, and museum curator True Blakely.

Told from dual omniscient third person perspectives (True and Jake) HOLDING OUT FOR A HOLIDAY HERO focuses on the protection of our story line heroine. Approximately one year earlier, museum curator True Blakely returned to her home town in the wake of her divorce. Fast forward to present day True believes she has a stalker, and local law enforcement refuse to investigate in the wake of no solid evidence and a perception of coincidence. With no other choice, True contacts a former high school acquaintance, a man who knows how to track people down. Enter bounty hunter Jake Hale, the man with whom True will fall in love. Jake struggles with his reaction to the woman in question, the woman who controls all his fantasies and dreams but when they find a dead body under True’s Christmas tree, all bets are off, when Jake becomes True’s guardian, protector and happily ever after. Jake doesn’t believe himself a hero but he is the only line of defense between True, and the person taking aim at our story line heroine.

The world building focuses on the protection of True Blakely, and the search for a killer. Strange incidents , all placing True in dangerous situations, forces Jake to claim our heroine as his own but with no potential suspects , everyone in True’s radar becomes a suspect until the killer is caught. Jake has never considerer himself a hero but as he story line progresses, more than one person is witness to his true acts of heroism.

The relationship between True and Jake is an opposites attract. Jake dislikes the Christmas holidays, a Grinch by observation, and True is all about the decorating and celebration. Unable to return home, Jake demands True remain by his side, including staying at his place for the foreseeable future. A lifelong confession by Jake finds our heroine falling for the man who has stolen her heart. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

The secondary and supporting characters include several co-workers and security at the local museum, as well as over extended and over worked Detective Harris Avery, True’s ex-husband Richard, and Jake’s intrepid and eager professional assistant Perry Cornwell.

HOLDING OUT FOR A HOLIDAY HERO is a story of betrayal and vengeance, friendships and relationships, acceptance and love. The premise is intriguing, dramatic and captivating; the romance is passionate and seductive; the characters are desperate, charismatic and determined.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

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