4.5
slow burn that ratchets up the sexual tension to good effect This was a slump buster of a book that left me wondering why Romantic Suspense doesn’t feature more prominently in my reading. The first in a series, Whiteout is a high stakes survivor story that has our hero and heroine fleeing across hundreds of miles of frozen tundra following an attack on the research station in Antarctica where they‘ve each been nursing the wounds of past traumas.

Our heroine, Angel Smith, is a Latina chef who’s signed on for a season at Burke-Ruhe station following a life shattering event that leaves her processing grief, betrayal, and disability.
Our hero, Ford (Coop) Cooper, is a neurodiverse glaciologist who’s built a life doing research in the icy silence of the white continent. A dedicated science nerd with a painful past as a military sniper, he comes across as cold and taciturn, but is quickly rendered sympathetic through glimpses into his deep longing and the abundance of feeling that has him isolating to avoid overwhelm.

There’s a beautiful depth and balance to Angel and Ford’s individual characterizations. Angel’s warmth and ease of expression are cut with a delightful capacity for snark and a boundless tenacity. Ford’s stoicism, stark logic, and incisive nature are softened by a surprising gift for caretaking and a quiet, selflessness nobility. There’s also a satisfying balance between the two characters. She’s the sun warming his austral winter, and he’s the icy clarity reflecting her soul’s truth.

Antarctica is so vividly drawn it almost becomes a character of its own. The setting acts variously as a poetic reflection of Ford and Angel’s internal lives and as a source of external conflict.

The novel’s subzero setting necessitates a slow burn, but Angel and Ford’s obvious sexual tension is enough to fill a glacial plateau. Acute mutual awareness and forced deprivation create a white hot intensity long before they’re skin to skin. Once they are, the payoff is so good it prompted my instant conversion to team delayed gratification.

Also delicious is the competence porn Ford and Angel provide not just in the performance of their respective professions, but also in quick thinking and resourceful responses to exigent circumstances. Despite Ford’s superior survival and martial skills, Angel proves just as vital to their success, demonstrating extraordinary grit and determination. Rather than fall apart, both are sharpened by the extreme conditions, limited resources and ever present threat of enemies willing to kill to fulfill their mission.

While those enemies do possess the heightened evil of Bond villains, they’re also infused with a sensibility that makes them feel relevant. The big baddie is a corporate puppet master motivated by a toxic blend of grief, rage and entitlement who deploys a horde of conspirators who range from scientists to paramilitary goons.

The secondary characters are engaging, and provide promise of deeper exploration in the remaining books of the series. While Angel and Ford do get a satisfying HEA, the epilogue teases with a cliffhanger for some of the maverick veterans I assume we’ll be following into the next book, and I can’t tell you how furiously I tried to wish those pages into immediate existence on my Kindle.

CW: gun violence, trauma, murder, war, abduction

Thank you to both the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC of this brilliant title in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely could not put this book down! Angel and Ford are complex, damaged, and believable characters and the slow burn of their relationship is written well. The action and adventure in this book had me on the edge of my seat and the passion! I am now desperately trying to find another book in a similar vein because this is exactly what I want to read. I didn't want it to end and hope that ending means there is a sequel!

Thank you so much for such a wild ride and getting me out of my reading rut!

I hardly ever read suspense but I have read some of Anders previous works and wanted to give this a try. The book kind of reminded my of JIll Sorenson’s rom-suspense. There is a level of realism to the story. The tension between Angel and Ford was high as they were trying to escape to safety and avoid their chemistry. This book is LONG (512 pages) and at times it felt too long. But it is the first in a series and it was clear that Anders was setting up the next book(s). Angel and Ford get their HEA but there are things left unresolved. If book two is shorter, I will consider reading it.

4.5 Stars * Top Pick

Talk about starting out with a bang!

I must preface this review by saying I don’t usually read romantic suspense. Oh don’t get me wrong, I like a good suspense, I simply don’t like it mixed with romance because the romance always takes a backseat to the suspense. And the romance feels a bit watered down when it does surface. Plus, I hate when either of the main characters get hurt. Yes, I’m a wuss.

And then in walks the exception. Whiteout. Where did the recommendation come from you ask? One of my fave authors recommended it on Bookbub. I was intrigued with the promise of sexy times and a stoic, tight-lipped hero. I do love the silent, broody ones, and the Ice Man, Ford “Coop” Cooper is precisely that.

I was immediately drawn into the story. The first scene had me on the edge of my seat. Literally stole my breath. Fair warning, the antagonists in this book are ruthless. Completely without conscience so brace yourself. I don’t like it when the good guys get hurt or worse (die). Things get worse out of the gate and Coop is skirting the edges of it. Of course he doesn’t know how close to getting caught right in the thick of things, but we readers know and that’s why it’s hard to breathe.

A little background, Coop is a glaciologist working at research station in Antarctica. We soon learn he’s discovered a super virus that he fears can be used as a bioweapon. The enemy wants it and will do any and everything to get their hands on it. The person who manages to stop them—at least for now—from getting it is Angel Smith, who is a cook at the research station. She’s supposed to leave for home (Pittsburgh) the day the bad guys make their move. She soon finds herself trapped with Coop in the deathly cold South Pole with only one way out—another station a mere three hundred miles away. And they have to get there with their enemies nipping at their heels.

What an incredibly wild ride. And the sexual chemistry between them is incendiary. When Angel first got to the station, she made some friendly overtures toward Coop. The Ice Man knocked them down with just a word and a look. Angel got the message fast, and pretty much tried to stay as far away from him as she could. He rebuffed and avoided her because…well he just knows she’s dangerous to his emotional wellbeing. So he fought it and keeps on fighting the intense attraction. But out there on the terrain of snow and ice, it gets harder and harder (no pun intended) to keep her at arm’s length. Hey, a guy’s gotta keep warm, amirite?

I loved when the dam broke. Angel and Coop are so great together. The love scenes are hot and the emotional intimacy is as real as it gets. I absolutely loved watching them fall in love, which made me love them even more as a couple. What I didn’t like was when either were in danger or got hurt. Even knowing they’d both make it out alive, those moments had me putting the book down to take a second to breathe.

The story also gives you the antagonists POV. Since I don’t read romantic suspense, that kind of caught me off guard. But that’s okay because this wasn’t a mystery. We know upfront who the bad guys are. What surprised me was the ending. I did think the overarching plot would be resolved by the time Coop and Angel get together for their HEA. I was wrong. The story continues…and I can’t wait for the next book in the series!

~ Beverley

An interesting and gripping romantic thriller. I liked Ford and Angel and thought they worked well together in an opposites-attract kind of way. And the bad guys were wonderfully sinister.

I was absolutely enthralled with the authors description of the icy landscape Ford and Angel had to traverse in their race for their lives. I really felt like I could envision the barren surroundings, feel the icy mist, and the below zero temps. I lost myself in the story several times.
I'm looking forward to the next book in the series.

I received a copy of this book from the author and publisher via NetGalley. My thoughts and opinions are my own and without bias or favor.

I have terrible wanderlust, and Adriana Anders has managed to play to my sense of adventure while simultaneously wiping out any intention I have of visiting Antarctica. Because, snow. WHITEOUT is a white hot suspense with palpable sexual tension and a nerve wracking dash to safety … all with a clandestine group of killers in pursuit. Anders is new to me, but I enjoyed the rapid pace of the story, the robust characters and the exciting story. This is the first book in her Survival Instinct series, and I can’t wait to see what comes next. She’s set it up to be a thrilling, aerobic experience for readers, that’s for sure.

*Originally published at Frolic.Media: https://frolic.media/januarys-must-read-romantic-suspense-books/

Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) provided by the Author and Publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an fair and honest review.

I have never read a book where the setting played such a major role is the story. Antarctica is a major character and overwhelms so much that the plot and the characters take a distant second place. I have also never encountered such a hero like Ford. Tightly wound, distant, antisocial and so totally closed off that the nicknames Angel gives him, Lone Wolf and Ice Man, fit like a glove. And, Angel, a bubbly fountain of a personality who has her own tragic past. A very unlikely romantic couple as there ever was in a romantic-suspense.

In Antarctica Angel Smith found a refuge and a respite and the courage to tackle again the crap cake life baked for her. She has only one regret on this last day here, she was unable to crack the Ice Man. Ford Cooper is a glaciologist who barely spoke a dozen words to her the entire time she was the chef at the research station.

When the station is attacked and Angel is left behind trapped in the ice tunnels, Ford saves her and they begin a perilous journey 300 miles across the ice. They have no idea who is behind the attack, but they do know that they didn't get what they wanted and they would be back.

Wow. I stayed up VERY LATE the past two nights reading this book.
I didn't want to put it down!!! I'll admit that my blood pressure and anxiety levels were higher than I prefer for reading but it was worth it. The situational tension was unreal, the sexual tension was ridiculous as well.

I loved Angel and Ford. Angel was such an incredible heroine, even when things seemed impossible, she acknowledged it, out her head down and did what she could. Ford had a really incredible emotional development arc and I loved it when he let his tender side finally shine through.

Now, when is book 3 going to be available?

oh wow, the first half of this was amazing! the second half wasn't as amazing for me, unfortunately, and i wasn't prepared for it to end on a cliffhanger at all! i definitely wanted to love it more overall than i did. womp.

Science would say it’s not possible that I held my breath for the entire time I read this book - however I’m pretty sure that just happened. What. A. Ride!!!

Angel is due to leave Antarctica - she’s been the chef on the base through the summer but will leave before winter comes. Coop is a scientist who is planning to stay all year. They haven’t exchanged more than glances and minimal pleasantries in the time they’ve known each other.

But suddenly they are thrown together in a high stakes dangerous situation with only each other to rely on. There were moments I actually had to set my book down and take some deep breaths because it was SO INTENSE. I absolutely loved Angel and Coop’s connection - there are parts that were full on swoon-worthy.

I felt like some of the parts with the “bad guys” felt a little over the top and there were some action scenes that I wasn’t as invested in - but overall this was still a great read. It ends on a cliffhanger and I can’t wait to see what comes in the next book!!

Thank you to Sourcebooks and Netgalley for the advance reading copy!

this thriller starts off with a bang and the action doesn't stop. while the series is set up in the novella deep blue, whiteout is the first full-length installment in the series. the novella does help in providing some context to the world that the characters are inhabiting and the kind of dangers they're facing.

but the setting does some of that too, the fact that this takes place in antarctica and that the characters are brought to the brink of human endurance is very well done. the romance builds as the characters get to know each other through all that they survive, and when things finally ignite, it's not out of nowhere and feels as if it has been given an organic amount of time to grow, which is generally a challenge in a suspense story.

ford and angel are in for a ride, and what they find in each other is worth it. but anders doesn't shy away from making them work for it. the story continues to weave threads that will clearly be taken forward in future books, setting up a compelling mystery.

**whiteout will publish on january 28, 2020. i received an advance reader copy courtesy of netgalley/sourcebooks casablanca in exchange for my honest review.

A barren, frozen land that strips a person down to the basic essentials needed to survive, a pair alone on the ice with only each other and the drive to live, and a formidable force prepared to ruthlessly kill everyone in their path to get what they want all converges in a frigid, suspenseful adventure at the bottom of the world. Whiteout left me shivering from the cold suspense, but tingling from the slowburn sensuality of the romance.

Whiteout is the first full-length story in the Survival Instincts series, but it follows the thrilling prequel novella, Deep Blue, that tells the story of Ford's brother and what was happening stateside while Ford and Angel were fighting for their lives.

Whiteout begins at a scientific research post on Antarctica where Dr. Ford Cooper, as stark and cold as his environment, conducts geological research by drilling deep into the ice and extracting core samples. He has a few friends at the research post and tolerates the summer workers, but for the most part, he stays to himself out on the ice which is what he prefers. Numbness, control, existing... until her.

Angel has come for the duration of the Antarctic summer to cook for a camp full of workers and researchers. It's as good a place as any to lick her wounds and get over everything she has lost. Surprisingly, she likes what she's doing and being appreciated by this eclectic bunch. Okay, except for the Ice Man- what she calls Dr. Ford Cooper. He not only resists her smiles and attempts to befriend him, but he scowls and ignores her when he can like she is an irritant to him.

Too bad that when everything goes belly up, it is the Ice Man who comes to her rescue and will be the means of getting them out of alive if by some miracle they beat the odds against the environment and elements as well as the armed and equipped killers who are hot on their tail. If she's going to die out on the ice, why does it have to be with him? Or, was it always, only ever going to be him...

Deep Blue was the first time I'd experienced this author's writing and I enjoyed what I got and was excited for more. But, even then, I was not prepared for what the scope of a full-length novel would bring. The complexities of character and relationship, attention to setting, and the long teasing out of the suspense side were fabulous. I thought she captured the stark, raw world of Antarctica and what it is like for two people to strive to survive in such an environment both physically and mentally. Add to that, the smoldering coming together of a hostile pair into a viable team out to get away from their kitted out and skilled pursuers as well as keep what that villainous group was after out of the wrong hands.

I'm pretty sure I didn't breath a few times when it got death-defyingly intense. Angel grew so much in this story as she faced all that was flung at her. She showed that she had a stronger core than anyone, including herself, could have ever imagined. She wasn't trained or some sort of special snowflake and she was all sorts of lucky, but in truth, it was just her gritting it out and not giving up. Ford did have skills- mad skills, but he saw in Angel, once they were alone and on the ice, the best type of person to have at his side in a do or die sitch.
Ford blossomed, too, in a different way. He was something of an enigma for the longest time even with getting his half of the narration. He was so closed off and it was painful for him to open up. It is only later that Angel and the reader learns why.

As to the romance, it takes a bit and that is natural because they are running for their lives. But, it does get there. Whew boy, were they hot enough to melt the ice when they got rolling. Angel had her work cut out for her with Ford, but it was obvious that she was so good for him.

The end came, but then there was more. This one extended long enough to set up for what was to come with the series. I am well-primed for the next installment of the Survival Instincts series. It's nerve-wracking and tension-wrought, sizzling and complex. I have no plans to miss out on the rush and highly recommend that thriller romance and romantic suspense lovers who dig the special ops and adventure elements get on this from the beginning.

This review was originally posted on <a href="http://booksofmyheart.net/2020/01/28/whiteout-by-adriana-anders/" target="_blank"> Books of My Heart</a>
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Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
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I discovered this <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/257326-survival-instincts" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em><strong> Survival Instincts</strong></em></a> series, by reading a anthology of romantic suspense novellas, <strong>Turn the Tide</strong>. I loved most of them. I was already a fan of this author.  For a novella, <strong>Deep Blue</strong> was well developed and encouraged me to continue the series. It was a story about Eric Cooper and he gets a call from his brother, Ford.

<strong>Whiteout</strong> is Ford's story. He is a researcher who lives at the South pole. He loves it because he can be alone and has less sensory stimulation. He is attracted to this season's cook, Angel, but she is too loud, and colorful for him, so he avoids her.  Until he can't.

Ford and Angel end up on a survival trek because of insane corporate goals.  It reminded me of the Dirk Pitt novels with its clever hacks to survive by scientific types, like MacGyver skills.  Ford is very experienced in both the area and the research facility.

The harrowing trip they make has them fighting for their lives but also others' lives. Ford and Angel get to know each other in the worst possible conditions, which means they know the true nature of the other. Their ordeal builds their cooperation on top of the attraction they already had.

Their action-packed, dangerous escape was non-stop except for a few tender moments. I am invested in this world and the characters and can't wait for more!

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Wow! What an experience this book is. This book is full of adventure, suspense, and slow burn romance. Angel is a cook at a researcher station in Antarctica. She is about ready to leave as her time is up. Then she sees something she shouldn't and she is in danger and stranded on the ice. That is until scientist Ford finds her. To her he has been this unapproachable, grumpy but very attractive research scientist. Ford keeps people at arms length and isn't one for social interactions. It is his findings that are the cause of the danger they are both in.They now need to leave this station and find safety because time is running out. They are fighting against the harsh climate and also evil men that want what they have and they will kill for it. This book had me on the edge. There was danger around every corner. And talk about heated romance. This enemies to lovers romance had all the push and pull I adore. Nothing brings two people together like trying to stay alive. The adventure isn't over either. This author leaves is wanting so much more.

This book is adrenaline from start to finish. If there's one thing I want you guys to know from the start is that this book is full of suspense from the very first page. It starts with a man dying, alone, in a storage unit, writing a message in his own blood. If that's not the start of an epic adventure, I don't know what is!

Ford is such a cinnamon roll, wrapped in another cinnamon roll. He has no idea how to interact with others, from his brother, to his work colleagues. He's even painfully awkward with the woman he's kind of crushing on, so much so that their first interaction was rather painful to read about. They were both awkward, to be fair, so it's not all on Ford's shoulders. Throughout the book you get to peel away Ford's tough exterior and you get to see who he truly is and what makes him tick, why he finds it easier to be on the ice, away from other people. He's awkward for a reason, and I was heartbroken when I found out why. He was also such a good guy! I honestly liked him, I loved how he took care of Angel, how he taught her how to survive in the harsh weather conditions of the Antarctica, how he cared for her when she was vulnerable, when they could have died because of her not being able to keep up due to her knee injury. But he also didn't lie to her, he didn't try to make things seem easier for her, which I also appreciated greatly.

Angel was another cinnamon roll. There's a trend in this book, guys. I swear I wanted to protect each of these characters. Angel has such strength in her. She refuses to give up fighting until she physically can't do it anymore, and when she thinks she can't go on anymore, she finds another reason to fight for. She was very brave throughout this book, and I can honestly say that she surprised me because of it. It's not that I didn't believe in her, but she didn't seem the warrior type, and I am so glad I was wrong about that. She continued to surprise me towards the end, and I am so happy that she got to show the bad guys how tough she really is.

For the first time in a lot of time the romance aspect of the story wasn't what something I was fully focused on. It's there, and it's important, but my attention was more on their fight to survive. There were also scenes told from the bad guys' point of view (there are more than one bad guy, as well as a bad lady) and that also kept me on my toes. There were a lot of twists and turns, but I have to say that the last major twist was something I didn't see coming. At all. I was hoping for it, I was keeping my fingers crossed that I would get something similar, but I didn't expect it would happen. Basically my cold heart's wish came true and I was very happy.

The book kept me on my toes and although I tried really hard not to binge read this book, I eventually couldn't keep myself from reading until I reached the end fast. The end contains hints to the future of the series, and I have high hopes for the sequel. I have no idea when it will be out, but I'm hoping for sooner rather than later.

All in all, a great story full of suspense, romance, cold weather, and awesome dramatic scenes that had me gasping out loud. A book that basically everyone needs to read.

4 1/2 STARS!

Must read edge-of-your-seat suspense! With the first book in her much anticipated Survival Instincts series, Adriana Anders does not disappoint with WHITEOUT. The setting is brutal, the characters are attention grabbing and the plot is what nightmares are made of.

Angel is a delight. We start the story liking her just from her upbeat personality, but as the life threatening conditions deepen, we only like her more and more as her tenacity and grit bring forth an unstoppable character.

Ford is yummy! He's all the best in gruff and snark and then absolutely scrumptious in sex appeal and heart. If you read the prequel story DEEP BLUE, you will get a chance to reconnect with Ford's brother Eric and his love Zoe towards the end of this book.

I recommend this story to anyone who loves non-stop danger and adventure mixed with passion and heart. Looking forward to what the series will bring next!

Surviving the harsh conditions of Antarctica and a pulse pounding romance. Sounds perfect! I was so excited to dig into this book and this new to me author. I love a good romantic suspense that throws the characters into an environment that isn’t typical. Antarctica is definitely not a place that I would think sexy times would be, well...sexy. I’m happy to say that I was wrong.

It took a bit of time for me to warm up to the hero, Ford. He’s kinda socially stunted and awkward. This is probably why he likes the solitude of working at a research station in the arctic. Angel is the station cook and definitely more outgoing and friendly than Ford. This is absolutely an opposites attract story.

A series of events have left Ford and Angel to trek across the icy landscape of the arctic in order to survive the bad guys. It’s not just surviving the bad guys though. They have to survive the harsh elements of freezing cold temperatures that you can’t even comprehend, and starvation. All of this had my anxiety going through the roof. And I loved it!

I like how Angel slowly but surely pulls back all of Fords layers, and brings out a more welcoming personality. He’s still surly, but I was able to see that he had more going on deep down.

I really enjoyed this book. The ending has me super excited for the next in the series. The characters were very well developed. Ms. Anders has a great “voice”, and I was fully invested in story and the characters.

Rating: 3.5 Stars (B+)

Adriana Anders does a great job of turning up the heat in this atmospheric, ice cold thriller. As a setting, the Antartica seems to be the antithesis of a hot romance, but she does such a great job of creating tension between Angel and Ford that you can’t wait for that moment when they are both warm enough to strip off all of those layers and create their own heat. Angel and Ford also seem to be the complete opposite of the other with Angel beaming in good nature a direct contrast to Ford’s glowering disapproval. Yet as they work together Angel’s good humor seems to rub off on Ford and his scowl turns upside down. Not that he ever gets comfortable showing his emotions but you can feel him thawing out and warming to her until they become partners in surviving the elements and the dangerous situation.

I don’t believe I’ve ever read a romantic thriller set in the Antarctica before and loved how the setting became as big an integral part of the story as what happens between our characters. The Antarctica and the low temperatures became another evil character to survive and I really liked that they could conquer or be killed by the land as well as the bad guys. Because the novel started off with the bad guys taking over, you knew who they were the entire time so the Antarctic and its elements added the mystery to the story.

I really enjoyed Whiteout and this story of a mysterious virus found in the ice in the Antarctica. Even more than the mystery, I enjoyed how the characters worked with and conquered their time in the elements and loved how much the tension sizzled even though they wore clothes (a LOT of them) through much of the story. Angel and Ford had completely different personality types but as a couple they became whole. I loved that because I think for a large part that’s how it works in real life too. Opposites attract! This novel was a quick, fun ride and I’d recommend it if you’re in the mood for an exciting action adventure novel. ❤️❤️❤️❤️

I'm not generally a fan of "adventure" romance, but I really did love Whiteout.

I'm also not completely convinced with the feasibility of everything that happened over the course of the book at the South Pole, but I have so little knowledge of the poles that disbelief was incredibly easy to suspend and nothing completely crazy happens.

I loved Angel's character. She is a strong and courageous when she needs to be, but she is never pushy or blustery. Ford is also a great character. He is strong and quiet and a little bit of a grump even, but he has a core of integrity and is the perfect guy to step up and be a hero.

I loved Angel and Ford together and wanted them together from the start.

The secondary characters were very interesting, and I really hope that the series continues as it is just the right amount of action, violence, and sweet romance.

I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys action and violence with an HEA

I received an ARC in exchange of my honest review.

I really enjoyed this book for about the first 65% and then honestly started getting confused. I know this book is supposed to be the first in a series but the introduction to the rest of the world and characters made me feel like I missed something? It was enough that I don't think I will check out the second in the series.

Overall enjoyed the romance aspect, I'm still left with a ton of questions even about them. Giving this a 2.5 rounded up to 3.