Cover Image: Whiteout

Whiteout

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Member Reviews

This is an adventure. Angel is ready to leave Antarctica and have a second chance at life but on the day she was to leave the research station is attacked. As she watched people die she vowed to keep herself alive by hiding and protecting herself. Ford is there and together they know why they were attacked but also there isn't enough food or anything for them to stay alive. SO out in the brutal cold they have sleds and pack them up with the food they have and tents to get to the a town that is going to take about a month to get to. They also know someone is out foe the items that were not retrieved and they are now in possession of. Along the way they run into hurdles to slow them down.
I could not put this book down as I wanted to see if they would make it to their destination in 1 piece.
I received this from Casablanca for review.

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Whiteout is set in Antarctica which is probably the last place I think of for romantic settings but it was also one of the things that made me want to read this book. Such a unique setting and a totally new concept for my mind to imagine as I was reading.

Another thing that piqued by interest about Whiteout was the grumpy hero/happy heroine trope. What is it that's so appealing about that combination? Give me all the angsty, broody heroes and the cheerful, optimistic ladies that win their hearts!

Whiteout is categorized as romantic suspense and that is definitely not an exaggeration. This book opens with an intense scene where a man is fleeing for his life while also trying to get a message back to his coworkers that their lives are in jeopardy. Plot hook? Yes ma'am! Because of the severe conditions of the Antarctic environment, this book is so intense! Just walking outside in that setting can be perilous if you're not outfitted properly so the stakes are high -- and that's not when there's a team of villains hunting your every move!

This is the first book in the Survival Instincts series so while Whiteout does end on an upswing, there is definitely a cliffhanger that will for certain have me checking out the next book. I cannot wait to see where this series goes!

Whiteout is available tomorrow and is a perfect mid-winter read (or even a hot stretch in July when you're wanting to mentally escape the heat)!

{Thank you @sourcebookscasa @netgalley for the eARC}

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Holy heck! This book is one wild adventure! From pretty much the very beginning things start happening and it never slows down. Talk about drama, danger, suspense! I couldn’t put it down!

When Angel and Ford are left as the only survivors after their research facility is attacked, they find themselves running for their lives across the unforgiving Antarctica landscape. To be on the run would be enough danger but with the addition of the sub-zero temperatures and conditions of the location they’re in, this author takes danger to a whole new level. Who would have thought that someone could find romance in such a cold and colorless world?

I absolutely loved both Angel and Ford. Despite feeling lost and unsure of herself, Angel was a ray of sunshine, especially to Ford. He’s the Ice Man, hiding behind a cold facade for reasons, unfortunately, that were never completely revealed or either I missed them through the sheer adrenaline this book created.

Ford is not only withdrawn, he’s also a bit of a science geek, a grump who doesn’t like mixing with people and who struggles just to speak (again not completely revealed why). When he does choose to speak, he usually messes it up, unsure of the words to say or how to say them. Especially when it comes to speaking to Angel. I enjoyed watching him slowly come out of his shell and reach out to her verbally and physically.

While there is plenty of romance, I have to admit that sometimes it was difficult to really feel it because this author has created so much danger just from the elements alone. I was so caught up in the suspense I found it hard at times to relax enough to enjoy this couple’s quiet moments.

This ends with a “happy for now” rather than a “happy ever after” and despite the thrills and drama this unforgiving backdrop of ice gave me, it looks as if the next book may take us to another location. I suspect it may still have severe weather conditions and while I enjoyed this one, I’m not in a hurry to return to such a harsh environment again. Then again, by the time the next book releases, it’ll be summer and should make a perfect beach read.

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I thought the beginning was a little confusing, but it was also exciting to se what was going tio happen next. South pole scientific baseunder attack, with only two surviers. Thse two survivers are now stranded and are on a mission to find away out and of this lace. The book was filled with gasping moments, a gripping story line but then the second half happened.... I am here for all the romance and smutty goodness, but i thought it was lacking somthing. I think overall the intention of this story was there, it just didt give me what i was looking for, I will read more from this author. 3/5 stars.

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I just finished reading Adriana Anders’s "Whiteout," releasing January 28th by Sourcebooks Casa, and whoa! Who knew a novel set in Antarctica would be so steamy? Scorching, indeed! Thank you to NetGalley and to Sourcebooks Casablanca for allowing me to read this advanced copy. All views are my own.

This is my first Adriana Anders novel, and I’m hooked. As in call me bait, snag me on a line, and sink me into the depths of these pages hooked! I wouldn’t even mind a dunk into icy water after this one because this novel promises (and delivers) the yummy romance only a chef in Antarctica can deliver.

After the devastating end to her marriage, Angel Smith closed up her restaurant and headed to the remotest place she could find—the Burke-Ruhe Research Station in Antarctica. Cooking scrumptious meals for the Poleys (the individuals who live and work at the Pole) is more rewarding than she could have ever imagined. She almost finds herself feeling sad that her tour at the Pole is ending. Almost. If only the Ice Man would stop glaring icicles at her.

Ford Cooper is more comfortable on the ice than he is around people. A glacialist with a military background, he finds solace in the void of the ice—or he did, until Angel Smith showed up. She’s too loud, too boisterous, too much—an overstimulation to his senses, which is the last thing he needs. Thank God she’s leaving Burke-Ruhe with the rest of the summer crew.

There’s a plane heading to McMurdo and Angel is getting everything ready for the winter-overs before she heads out. Only Angel is about to unwittingly uncover a sinister plot by the so-called leadership at Burke-Ruhe, and it’s a secret they’ve no problem killing her over.

After being on the ice all day, Ford heads back to the station, only to find it completely deserted. The plane’s gone, but so is everyone else. Perplexed, he takes a closer look around, and he finds a shaking Angel on the edge of hypothermia. What she tells him next sends them on a frigid trek through the winter desert of Antarctica, in a fight for their lives against not only the elements but against the people who want what Angel and Ford have in their possession—the key to their whole operation.

I loved every second of this book. The tension between the main characters is expertly done. Who says opposites don’t attract, right? In a classic case of girl-thinks-boy-hates-her, the tables turn and Angel discovers just how far the Ice Man is willing to go to save her. And he’ll discover a few things about himself along the way—like what he’s been missing his whole life by shutting his heart away from anyone who could care about it.

Angel is strong and sassy and full of surprises, and Ford is brooding in a sexy strong-but-silent kind of way. He’s a man you instantly trust, even if he isn’t the most amiable. He values control above all else, and Angel is the only one who can cause him to lose it—and the only one he’d ever want to lose it for.

Seductive and thrilling, this romantic suspense is the first book of Adriana Anders’s Survival Instincts series, and you can bet I’ll be among the first in line for book two. As my first new series in 2020, it’s early yet to be calling it my favorite of the year, but with ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️, I don’t see this one being toppled from its position anytime soon. This was a fabulous winter read, so check it out when it comes out on Tuesday!

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Typically I am not one for suspense or adventure novels, even within the Romance umbrella; but Whiteout by Adriana Anders has turned me into a true fan of the romantic sub-genre. Action packed and exhilarating, the story follows Angel, a chef who is one step closer to getting back to civilization after spending the summer working as head chef at an Antarctic research center, and Ford—a glaciologist who hides from life and the shadows of his past. After witnessing a robbery heist gone bad, Angel and Ford find themselves stranded and on the run in the worlds most deserting and unforgiving places.

I was HOOKED. From the very first page Anders had me instantly pulled into the storyline and the lives of these people who live out in the cold. The narrative and writing style was so fresh and captivating that when I started reading, I didn’t want to stop. The characters were deep and the development was so beautiful that I swooned before they even had an interaction. The forced closeness and the use of the cold as an external conflict for both the thriller side as well as the romance side is what chef kisses are made of. It wasn’t until I read this book that I realized just how much cold weather could be a cock-block.

With the plot twists that I never saw coming, to the ending that I desperately wished wasn’t, this book sent shivers down my spine. I am head over heels in love with this series and am in desperate need for more. So, if you like thrilling suspense or romance that is packed with action and a slow burn that is rot with sexual tension, I highly highly recommend giving Whiteout a try.

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I was on the edge of my seat the whole time I was reading 𝗪𝐡𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐛𝐲 𝐀𝐝𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐚 𝐀𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬! ⁣

With my love of unusual settings, I leapt at the chance to read a book set in Antarctica. In this stark landscape, my favourite dynamic of Sunshine and the Grump are on the run from a mysterious murderous group. The author was successful in keeping the intensity and story moving forward and I was wrapped in the MCs’ struggle to not only keep ahead of their enemies, but to survive the harsh elements on limited supplies. ⁣

I also really liked Ford’s slow burning attraction to Angel and how their relationship developed as they are forced to depend on each other for survival. There was a number of sweet moments where they lifted the other out of their stark reality to show care and that really made their relationship feel authentic and not just from the circumstances. ⁣

The only minor criticisms that I have about this book was that there was not much nuance to the villains and I found the plot quite straightforward. This however does not lessen its impact and shows off the author’s skill in rendering a relatively simple plot into an intense adrenaline-pumping story. ⁣

I really enjoyed this thrilling, suspenseful read that also delivered a satisfying romance. ⁣

𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞: 28 January 2020⁣

Arc provided by publisher through Netgalley. ⁣

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Suspenseful and talk about plot twists! This was read in one night and I absolutely loved it! The characters are amazing and intricate!!

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Antarctic run for their life

Ford Cooper, glaciologist research scientist, and Angel Smith, cook, are both at a research station in Antarctica when people start getting killed.

Both have been trying to ignore each other during their common time at the station but end up getting thrown together to flee a crew of deadly mercenaries. They head off across Antarctica during deadly weather conditions, depending on each other to stay alive.

I read a lot of books about Antarctica, some good and some not so good. I enjoyed this story. I felt like the author had done their research about this frigid, deadly country. Very descriptive - it made me cold just to read it. The descriptions about the research station were believable too.

I wasn't quite expecting a romance but the storyline between these two very different people was well done.

This book is the first in a series and it did end in a minor cliffhanger.
I received this book from Sourcebooks Casablanca through Net Galley in the hopes that I would read it and leave an unbiased review.

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The first half of this book was excellent, an attack on a south pole scientific base, leaving two people stranded and on a survival mission to overland to the next base with the odds stacked against them. It was a gripping rollercoaster ride of adrenalin and I was glued to the pages.

Unfortunately the second half let this book down. The two main characters spent the whole time acting like horny teenagers, the baddies ridiculous and incompetent, the dialogue cheesy, and the whole plot turned out to be thin. It's a shame because the book started with so much promise, and I felt let down, rolling my eyes on more than one occasion.

Overall this book is okay, but it could have been so much better.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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Growing up, I was fascinated with Mount Everest and fictional survival stories taking place there. After I read The Kingmaker by Kennedy Ryan and loved the parts when the main character was in Antarctica, Kennedy Ryan recommended this book! I immediately went to netgalley to request a copy and couldn't wait to start this romantic suspense.

When this book started, it took me a few chapters to really get into the story and actually want to start reading. I was a little confused by what was going on, but as soon as the bad guys made themselves known, boy was I invested in these characters and their ability to survive. I loved how Ford and Angel had this attraction to one another that Ford refused to act on. Now, they have to trek across Antarctica together to survive and those scenes were CRAZY. Antarctica is beautiful and terrifying, so I had no idea how those two were going to walk over two hundred miles together and make it out alive.

If you're a fan of a romantic suspense novel with a slow burn romance, you're going to love this so much. It reminded me of an 80s survival/action movie and I could not stop reading. Ford is a cold, brooding man and I loved how he slowly decided to let Angel in. Definitely pick this book up if you want a good survival story in the freezing cold while the characters slowly fall for each other.

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Whiteout is the first installment in Adriana Anders Survival Instincts series. This is the first book I've read from this author, and I'd like to pick up more books in this series as they're released.

The story follows Angel Smith and Ford Cooper on a dangerous trek across Antarctica as they attempt to elude a band of dangerous men who want a frozen virus that Ford uncovered from the ice. As they make their journey to safety, they coldness that's always existed between them begins to thaw. As a reader, I'm fairly new to romantic suspense/thrillers, but I really enjoyed the unique tension that racing across a deadly landscape added to this story. There truly were realistic dangers around every corner, and it was well balanced with the growing attraction between Angel and Ford, who had really nice chemistry together.

There were a few things that kept this from being a higher rated read: The villain plotline is part of a large arc that will continue throughout the series. As a result, the book ends without answering all of the questions I had about their motivations, connections, and more. It led to a few moments of confusion. While I understand spacing that information out throughout the series, I was confused enough that I think readers needed some more information here.

I was also left wanting more when it came to diversity (Angel is Latinx, but the references to it are so subtle and brief that I would forget. It felt more like dressing and less like part of her identity) and Ford's backstory (he references problems with his vocal cords often but I don't think we ever learn what happened and similarly don't learn as much about his military background as I wanted).

Still, I found this to be an entertaining thriller and one that left me wanting to know more about the cast of characters introduced at the end. A unique location definitely makes this one standout and introduces challenges for characters rarely seen in other books, and I think romantic suspense/thriller readers will enjoy that a lot.

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I’ve enjoyed this author in previous books. Hearing she was doing an Antarctica thriller of sorts had me intrigued. Unfortunately it was a flat read. Not bad. Just not interesting. Writing thrillers require a flow of writing I just didn’t get here. And then she made it a romance which just felt trite. No, not a good read.

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What a rush! I was not sure where this was going at first but then I got caught up in the thrill. I could never imagine living in those conditions with the sun and ice. Cooper and Angel surprised each other in the best ways. They developed a new relationship while evading paramilitary muscle. The action was intense and scary and their situation completely unnerving. Its not exactly over, not really a cliffhanger, however another book was implied in the epilogue. Thankful to have received an early copy through Netgalley, review provided voluntarily.

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I saw a review of this book on a blog and was instantly intrigued. I love a good survival story and this one did not disappoint. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time and was rooting hard for Ford and Angel to not only survive, but confront their feelings for each other. I'm so sad that this is the only book in the series so far because I was instantly ready for more from this world. I can't wait for the next in the series!

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Talk about a guilty pleasure! This has everything- an evil genius, a conspiracy, two people healing from psychic (and physical wounds), a chase, steam, and best of all- Antarctica! Angel is a cook at a research station and she's had the mild hots for Ford Cooper, one of the scientists. He feels the same but neither can connect to the other. Then, on Angel's last day, they both discover that someone's killed two of their colleagues and is trying to take off with some of Ford's samples. When it all goes to hell, these two are the only good guys left standing and they have no choice but to try to trek miles and miles across the continent to another station, towing sleds with their food and the samples the recovered. To say it isn't easy to cross Antartica on foot is an understatement. Angel and Ford manage, despite everything, to get pretty far before the bad guys find them. I would have been happy without the steamy stuff (I was happy with the thriller/survival part) but I'm sure others will appreciate it. As implausible as some of the novel is, it's really well written and Anders does a nice job of pulling you in. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. It's a page turner.

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The overall impression that I have after reading this book is cold. I was a bit confused at the start, got a lost a bit in the middle trying to figure out the plot, the characters, it was all a bit of a jumble.

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I first fell in love with Adriana Anders' writing while reading her Blank Canvas series and then again while reading Thirst through the Radish app (I really hope she releases it on Kindle at some point since I didn't get to read the last five chapters of the story before my free trial ended.) So reading Whiteout was a no brainer.

Whiteout is an action pack ride in the middle of nowhere Antarctica. Our hero, Ford Cooper is an ex-army sniper turned PhD scientist, who is socially awkward, grumpy and a loner. Our heroine is  Angel Smith, who is a cook. They both came to Antarctica for the same reason, to start over.

Ford just wants to be left alone on the ice with his research and Angel wants to start over after a terrible marriage that ended leaving her a widow.

Angel has a crush on the grumpy doctor and he does his best to avoid her because he feels the same even if he doesn't know how to show it but he doesn't want to want her. He thinks he is better off alone. He only seeks out companionship with females to scratch and itch and that's far and few between. Angel takes his avoiding her to mean he is not interested and he doesn't like her at all. Her last night at the Pole she decides, with some liquid courage, to ask him to dance at the party they have when the summer crew leaves until they return the next summer (apparently Antarctica only has summer (all day) and winter (all night) with nothing really in between) leaving a skeleton crew for the winter months.  

Ford's refusal to dance is just the tipping point of the end of summer. Murder and mayhem follow putting Angel and Ford together on a race across Antarctica to the next station. While on the run for their lives they get to know each other and their sexual chemistry helps keep them warm in their tent at night in the middle of ice and snow. 

Whiteout is a high-stakes rush to safety from murders with a developing romance that ends with a HEA. It also starts off Survival Instincts series which seems like it will circle around a group of ex-military men and women trying to take down a corporation who plans on using a virus find by Ford, but they don't know what their end game is yet. I look for to learning more about the group who saved Ford and Angel and who happens to work with Ford's brother.

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Get a blanket, warm slippers and something hot to drink before snowshoeing into this read. Baby it’s cold inside this book and then it HOT but that has nothing to do with the weather. It’s about two people who are running away from their lives and a horrendous plot to kill millions.
Favorite line “The Iceman Cometh” < wink >. So the story is set in a remote scientific station near the pole, frozen beyond cold. Angel is the new hire, the cook for the station. Coop, one of the scientist, is the stick in her side, Mr Grumpy. He is colder than the ice surrounding the place. He spends most of his time out on the ice so when something goes wrong and he comes back to a nearly empty station he has no idea what happened, till he finds a certain cook. The cook, Angel is traumatized, horrified and broken. It doesn’t last long she’s not there to die. She’s a hero here, and Mr Grumpy knows it. Together they take steps to survive with little to no chance of making it. Remember it’s cold, and they have to stay warm somehow when it gets dark and there is no generator. :P Here come the toe tingling bits, it’s slow and delicious. It’s not all warm generating going on the guys who destroyed the station are now looking for them.
What an intense read. It has it all, intense action, uncertain future, difficult hard won relationship, snark, and so much more. I loved and hated the characters as they ere writer. The good was so awwwww, the bad, ugg they were nasty bits of evil ! Fun read !

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Holy cow, so this was recommended to me by a friend. It's not often I go straight for a 'romance' book but this book did an incredible job at blending romance and adventure/thriller. The action is nonstop but without feeling overwhelming and the characters are unique and well fleshed out. Definitely enjoyed reading this and would recommend it to any romance reader.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an earc of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

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