Whiteout is the start of the new series, Survival Instincts, by Adriana Anders. A story that will keep you on the edge and send a chill down your spine. Set in the barren isolated setting of Antarctica, two people who barely know each other are forced to depend on each other for survival. It the start of a plot much bigger than just this first book, a series' plot filled with conspiracies and danger.

Angel and Ford are very much opposites. Ford likes his routine, the cold and quiet of the ice, and prefers to stay focused without the complication of emotion. Angel refers to him as the 'Ice Man'. Angel has a much warmer personality a love of cooking for others. Don't let her bubbly disposition fool you, when things turn dire she holds her own and manages to keep pace with Ford. She is far from a damsel in distress and I really enjoyed that about her character.

The two are fighting for their lives as they trek across the frozen landscape, the lesser of two evils. The obstacles they endure from the numbing cold to the brutal winds will bring a chill to your bones. As they are forced to share each others' company ( and a sleeping bag) they form a bond. They do what it takes to survive and Angel thaws Ford 'the Ice Man' in the process. Their relationship was real and intense, feelings heightened with their desperate situation. Even when they seem to be in the clear, the dangers never stop.


After finishing Whiteout, I am definitely invested in the series and its characters. I have to know what happens next and will be keeping an eye out for book 2

Angel Smith is a cook doing seasonal work in Antarctica. Ford Cooper is doing research in the ice there. He is grumpy and a loner but he is attracted to Angel and fighting it all the way.. When the station is attracted by mercenaries they are the only ones left alive and they go on the run through unbearable conditions. This is a fast paced adventure with conspiracy in high places, government cover ups and a cliff hanger that leads right into the next book..This book has a little bit of everything.
ARC provided by NetGalley for an honest review.

Whiteout by Adriana Anders is a relatively fast paced survival romance set in the continent of Antarctica. Ford Cooper is a grumpy and monosyllabic glaciologist whose entire life basically revolves around ice. He has no interest in romantic entanglements. At least that’s what he tells himself whenever he comes across the cook working at his research station. Unable to admit that he’s attracted to Angel Smith, Ford tries to spend as much time away from her as possible. Angel is Ford’s opposite with her happy and sunshiny disposition and Ford just confuses the hell out of her. When their research station is attacked, Ford and Angel are forced by circumstances to brave the cold together so they can survive.

You can’t really go wrong with a grumpy hero and sunshine heroine type of pairing. This survival romance had me at the edge of my seat, wondering how exactly Ford and Angel would make it to safety. The romance is delicious and the survival aspect is really well written. As much as I liked Ford and Angel together, I can’t help but feel like I don’t know Ford as well as I know Angel. There are also certain pieces of their backstory that are missing. The mystery surrounding the attack on the research station was interesting enough, but the villains weren’t as well written as the other supporting characters. The mystery also doesn’t end with this book. Whiteout ends with a cliffhanger and I’m interested to see where the author takes this series.

Whiteout is a well written romantic suspense. A real page turner with an edge of your seat plot. I highly recommend this book. I received an arc from the publisher and Netgalley and this is my unbiased review.

I received a complimentary copy of this book through Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
After finding out her cheating husband has taken everything from her, and then causing a car accident that almost takes her life, Angel escapes from real life for a summer to work as a chef at a research facility in Antarctica. Ford Cooper is an awkward, introverted scientist drilling ice cores for research. His shyness comes off as attitude and grumpiness, so much so that Angel privately calls him Iceman. But when a rogue group of researchers try to steal Ford's ice cores at gunpoint, Angel and Ford are forced to escape into the icy landscape on a 100 mile trek over the ice to another outpost. On the run with the ice cores, they must rely on each other to survive, and Angel discovers the warm loving man inside the icy exterior.
I'm not usually a fan of romance novels, but the landscape and action in this book kept me hooked. And who wouldn't love a hot, sexy scientist? I'm sold and looking forward to a sequel.

This book was a DNF for me. I usually enjoy romantic suspense but this one was just not it. I quit about 50 pages in.

NUMBER OF HEARTS: 3
This was an okay read for me. I found myself not really connecting to the characters. Oh, I routed for them and wanted everything to workout but there was not a strong connection for me. The story was a little predictable.
Overall it was a decent story and I am glad that I picked it up. I do believe that if there is a follow up story I will pick it up and give it a try.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley & SOURCEBOOKS Casablanca in exchange for an honest review. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.

This was one of the best romantic suspense books that I've read this year!

I knew this was going to be good when one of my favorite authors, Amanda Bouchet recommended it! So, I zipped over to Netgalley and requested this one and read it in one sitting the day it got approved! 'Cause it was that good!

Whiteout features a few of my favorite things put together!
There's the grumpy male lead with the sunny female lead + scientific conspiracy + survival adventure. A perfect mix of elements, if you ask me!

Angel Smith, the research station's cook is gearing up to leave Antarctica after working in the summer months. Ford Cooper, glaciologist and resident Ice Man is ready to hunker down and spend the brutal winter with just his work for company. It's a good thing that the permanently sunny chef, who he finds himself drawn to is finally leaving right? Or so he tells himself.

A quick turn of events leaves Angel entangled in deep trouble and now both she and Ford are the only ones stuck on the station with no chance of help! Add the fact that they now have something in their possession that a shady organisation desperately wants, along with an incoming storm and limited rations, you've got a perfect recipe for disaster!

This book had me on the edge of my seat from page one! It takes a lot to make a romantic suspense book with a survival theme work, and add the fact that this one is set in Antarctica, you know that the author must have their hands full juggling all the plot points and making it work realistically! I was part-excited, part-scared to see how Ford and Angel would survive the dangerous trek across such a deadly landscape together!

Ford and Angel were so awesome together! When I was starting the read, I was like, man how is this even going to work? He doesn't even want to speak to her! Lol! But, the progression of their relationship felt so natural! From reluctant partners-in-survival to friends and then to lovers! The chemistry between them was off-the-charts! *fans self*

I think I liked Angel way more than Ford though! She was actually quite tough and not at all helpless! I really admired her quick thinking in the stressful situations and how much determination she had burning within her! My favorite thing about survival romances is that they never fail to remind me that survival is 90% willpower and 10% luck!

And before someone asks, how can you think about making out and stuff in the midst of all this? I'm telling you that the development of things is handled very realistically! ;) You'll have to read the book to know!

My only complaint would probably be the characters of the bad guys! They just didn't feel too well-rounded to me! Despite seeing things from their POV, something just felt missing! I would have liked a little more explanation on why they chose this course out of all the things when there are so many other ways to go about it!

Perhaps we will be getting that in the upcoming books!
The ending has me really excited for the rest of the series! I can't wait to see in which direction this whole thing is going to go!

If you're looking for something action-packed with a perfect mix of romance and suspense, I'd definitely urge you to give this one a try! You will not want to miss out on this!

I don’t often gravitate to Romantic Suspense but one day, on Twitter, I was lurking around in a thread in which people were really excited about this book, Whiteout by Adriana Anders. So I requested it.

Let me tell you. That was some very fortuitous Twitter lurking. Because this book blew my Extreme Weather Socks off. Basically, it’s about a grumpy scientist and a sunshiny cook (Kryp. To. Nite. ) who are stationed at a research facility in Antarctica. Nefarious shenanigans ensue and the two of them have to trudge across the tundra on foot, or skis actually, to safety. By themselves. And this trip is perilous and it takes weeks. Gahhhh…


It’s a perfect balance of action and suspense and EMOTION. I had forgotten just how much I love a couple up against nature together. So. Freaking. Good. I inhaled this book in one day.

Thanks @netgalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for the opportunity to read an advanced copy. This book comes out on January 28th and YOU GOTTA READ IT!!! I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

WHITEOUT is the first book in a series aptly named "Survival Instincts". On her last day as a chef at a remote research station in Antarctica, Angel Smith is faced with the impossible: make a 302 mile trek across the ice with a surly scientist, Ford Cooper, or die. As I followed Ford and Angel on their harrowing journey, I found myself astounded by Angel's grit and determination. I often found myself asking whether or not I'd be able to push through if I were in her shoes. Anders paints a stunningly beautiful picture of the ice, all while constantly reminding her readers of its incredibly lethal and inhospitable nature.

Throughout the book, we learn about Chronos Corporation and its director, Katherine. Her motives for wanting the ice cores are beyond chilling, yet far too relatable in this day and age. I loved the glimpses into her life, as they rounded out the story for the reader. That being said, "Whiteout" still provided the part of me that loves being surprised with twists, keeping me on my toes throughout the book.

I wish that the Volkov station had been explained further, but I won't discuss it here due to the potential for spoilers. Nonetheless, I’m so excited to read the next book in the series when it’s published!

5 stars. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

I loved the fact this book was such an adventure. I can’t imagine having to trek across Antarctica on skis the foot to flee from bad guys, all the while carrying a deadly virus they’re after to use for no good. Plus, there is no place to hide in all that white snow and ice. You are a sitting duck in your bright red coat. This is what the two main characters go through. I loved all the characters. I felt like it was too long at times, though it held my interest. What I didn’t like, and why I’m not leaving 5 stars, is the fact it’s over 500 pages and when I think how nice it’s ending in the last chapter, the epilogue starts everything back up again and leaves you with a cliffhanger! Plus, I’m not sure but looks like a character is killed that I really liked. This all made me so upset. Good grief, it was overkill starting everything up again. It’s way too long a book for this. At this point it’s too repetitive. The loose strings as to the main responsible parties should’ve been tied up in the book. But I could’ve lived with that maybe taking place as a back story in the next book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher and author for my copy. This is my honest review

Typically, I don’t seek out romantic suspense and only read it on occasion. But when one of my top-5 favorite romance authors pens a book in this sub-genre, I'm all in.

When it came to the romantic story elements, I knew I wouldn't be disappointed, but I was especially surprised and pleased with how much I enjoyed the suspense. Whiteout started with a gripping opening and kept me riveted throughout. It wasn't only intense because of the obvious suspense and vile antagonists, but also due to the unrelenting Antarctic setting. It made me endlessly grateful for my cozy home and soft blanket. I was initially concerned that the harsh and desolate setting would wear on me. Yet, in spite of the frozen expanse and bleak conditions, the author kept me invested with a swiftly moving plot and fascinating characters. In an effort to know what was happening around the next corner, I never wanted to put the book down.

As for the romance, this author never fails to make me swoon with her broody and reclusive heroes. This author has perfected the well-written beta hero and determined heroine. I loved Ford and how he realistically warmed to Angel during their ordeal. Although hastened by proximity and extreme conditions, the romance was tender, sexy, and real. The author managed to blend the suspense and romance without either element feeling contrived and blessedly, there were no unrealistic romps while the MC's tried to outrun the bad guys. I didn’t say none at all (hehe,) just none of those impractical and eye-roll-induced moments. The suspense was consistently thrilling and harrowing, while the relationship was achingly romantic and fraught with it's own kind of tension. Overall, this was a fabulous story that delivered on the suspense, as well as an emotionally sexy romance.

SIDE NOTE: I highly recommend reading the prequel novella Deep Blue (available for FREE in Turn the Tide by Katie Ruggle, Adriana Anders, et al.) Although Whiteout stands alone perfectly well, the prequel novella introduces Eric Cooper, his love interest, and his team, who all play a significant (albeit smaller) role in this book.

Angel Smith is ready to leave Antarctica and start a new life. What is supposed to be her final day the remote research station she calls home is attacked. She is being hunted and scared. Ford Cooper glaciologist is with her and they are lucky to escape with their lives. But being in remote place like Antarctica it is hard to find somewhere to run. 


With no power and isolated in the middle of nowhere with no way to contact the outside world and a killer on their heels they must be strong and fight if they want to survive. 

What starts as a friendship turns into more as they are on the run for their lives. With a small chance of making it out alive they are willing to do whatever it takes to survive. 

I have never read a book by this author before and I really enjoyed it. There is romance, drama, a killer. I really enjoyed reading it and I look forward to some more books by this author. I reccomend this book. 

I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley and here I my honest review. I would reccomend this book to any of my friends or family and I would purchase it for myself.

The premise of this story is great...there is action from the beginning...but I couldn't stay interested in the story so sadly it's unfinished for me. The romance blooms almost from desperation (but we know it started earlier)...the actions are desperate (they have to be)...there is a bit of back story on all the characters, a bit of POW jumping...it's not a bad story, it just felt drawn out to me and got rather boring even with the action. The mystery isn't much of a mystery more of an adventure to get to safety as you know who the bad guys are and what they want from the get-go.

Whiteout is the first thrilling instalment in Adriana Anders Survival Instinct series, and if this book is an example of what readers can expect, this author is set to rock our world. An action-packed, fast-paced, adrenaline inducing, suspense romance; this story has it all! The chemistry between the main characters is off the charts and the author’s expert narrative make this an edge of your seat read. I was totally engrossed in this book from start to finish and can’t wait to read the next in the series.

Whiteout by Adriana Anders was a heart pounding romantic suspense that kept me turning the pages until the final chapter.

Angel Smith has escaped to Antarctica to rethink her life by being the cook for a research station. Ford Cooper is a glaciologist that is running from life after serving in the military. Both Angel and Ford are broken complex people who must work together to survive after the research station is taken over by a group of mercenaries. Ms. Anders' narrative was so clear that I felt frozen most of the time while I was reading just from her description of the harsh Antarctica environment. There were numerous twists to the story that only intrigued me more as I continued to read. And that ending - wow! Definitely a cliff hanger for the next book. That's okay with me on this one because I want to know what happens next with this group of men and women who are willing to take on the unknown to protect innocents.

Whiteout is a book about 2 people living at a research facility in Antarctica. One is a chef, the other a scientist. They couldn't be any more different. Winter arrives and they find themselves in the middle of a government conspiracy fighting for their lives. This book was full of action and suspense. Then throw in some steamy romance along with a super sexy "Ice Man" and you have a nice combo. I've got a thing for the freakishly smart, quiet, yet slightly scary ones. 🤷🏻‍♀️ Overall, I enjoyed this book. It was well paced and interesting.

When I start reading Whiteout I thought with what this book will keep my attention with the ice, cold Antarctic. But my curiosity was stronger and I have no regrets that I read the book till the end.

The story is about Angel Smith, a chef in the research station in the South Pol. Her summer shift is over and she suppose to leave. The night before Angel and the summer crew was leaving she wanted to remmember that night. She ask Ford Cooper to dance, but the “ice man” said no. The next day she stay trapped in the ice with Ford Cooper and evil men who want to kill them.

I like the author writing style because it makes me read and imagine those vast place covered with ice.

“Nothing lived here. No birds, no insects, not a solitary penguin on this most remote part of the East Antarctic Ice Sheet. Just three hundred and sixty degrees of sky and ice—blue and white—fighting for dominance. Not to mention a sun that played its strange game of hopscotch, bouncing along the rim of the sky but never quite setting. Almost sunset, sunrise, almost sunset, sunrise.”

Characters are believable and still keep them on my mind real and vivid.

I like Angel her tenaciousness and surviving instincts.

I would like to read more about this man, Eric Ford’ s brother:

“Retired Navy SEAL Eric Cooper wasn’t the type of man to ask for permission before acting. Nor was he the type to ask for forgiveness. He just did what needed to be done. It had been his job, once. Now it was his personal mission.”

Some quotes:

“Oh hell,” she said this time, because being dependent on anyone rankled. But liking him rankled even more. And then, because it felt stupidly good to just say it aloud, she whispered it on repeat over and over again until the words lost their meaning.”

The best quote:

“You’re my home. And I want to be yours. Will you let me be that? Can I be the place you come home to?”

I was generously provided an ARC by the publisher for an honest review.

Adriana Anders is one of the most original and thoughtful romance novel authors on the market today. Full stop. Her Blank Canvas and Love At Last series masterfully explore trauma and healing, our political system, and how communities can provide safe haven and opportunities for personal growth. When I pick up an Anders novel I expect to be challenged. I look forward to the creatively developed characters who experience real violence, whether that is emotional or physical abuse or mental illness associated with Post Trauma Stress Disorder (PTSD). I also know that when I open an Anders romance novel, I will be met with the utmost respect as a reader as well as a person.

I never worry that Anders will mishandle either the description of trauma nor the characters’ healing journey. And as a reader with PTSD from sexual trauma, it is an enormous weight off my shoulders to know that Anders’ novels are safe for me.

Adriana Ander’s newest series Survival Instincts of which Whiteout is the first book, does not disappoint. Whiteout begins immediately after the events of her novella Deep Blue (which is free!). Deep Blue introduces Anders’ readers to the Chronos Corporation and their willingness to do violence to anyone and anything (including natural resources and protected ecosystems) to execute their evil plans. Deep Blue also introduces readers to the ‘good guys;’ a group of highly skilled ex-special forces who ban together to start a paramilitary organization capable of challenging multi-national corporations and corruption in the US government. But because Survival Instincts is an Anders romance novel, any plot of international espionage and conspiracy and balanced out with a deeply felt connection between the hero and heroine.

In Whiteout, Anders pairs a Latina chef intent on restarting her life with a professorly scientist who is on the spectrum. She then brings these opposites together in one of the most harsh, remote, and inhospitable settings in the world– a scientific base in Antarctica. At first glance, it doesn’t seem like these people have much in common and honestly, how much action can there be in a frozen wasteland that is devoid of people or animals? Well, Adriana Anders is no slouch. She delivers a hot as hell book with nonstop action.

For the rest of this review though, I would like to focus on Ford, Anders’ hero.

Ford is an unusual leading man. A taciturn professor and scientist (who also spent time in the military), Ford chooses to stays in Antarctica all year around. He has few relationships and suffers from social anxiety. Ford is most comfortable out on the ice and prefers for his life and emotions to mirror the frozen stillness characteristic of Antarctica. The first time that I read Whiteout, I wanted Anders to give Ford a diagnosis. I felt that if he had a specific diagnosis, she would be doing a service to folks who move through the world with different abilities and/or people who live with autism spectrum disorder. I also felt that if Anders had given Ford a diagnosis, she would be making a statement on how everyone, even people who live with autism, deserve a happily ever after.

After re-reading the novel, I changed my mind. There are many reasons why a person may not have a diagnosis, such as lack of access to mental health and healthcare, a fear or distrust of the medical establishment, or a person may have the appropriate accommodations already necessary for them to be successful. I believe that Ford fits into this last category. Anders writes that “his issues with outside stimuli, discomfort with closeness, inability to handle certain sensations or touches or smells” were a challenge for him to overcome, but he is able to navigate the world and engage in a career. However, his interactions with people as well as the heroine, are absolutely characterized by Ford’s symptoms. In a sweet conversation between Ford and the heroine, Angel, shares that she just thought Ford was a “jerk” and was unaware of how Ford’s outward expression may hint at his autism spectrum disorder.

I adore how Anders shows her readers that everyone, even taciturn scientists with social anxiety, deserve love, commitment, and acceptance.

Adriana Anders’ Whiteout is a perfect start to 2020. However, beware, there is a shocking cliffhanger at the end of this novel. And it wouldn’t surprise me if you, like me, are now impatiently waiting for the next release!

Final Review: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Recommendation: Read Adriana Anders’ Love at Last series! Start with my favorite, Loving the Secret Billionaire, and then systematically work your way through all of her novels. You will not regret it.

3 - 3.5 Stars

Darn, I thought I’d never feel warm again after (finishing) this book. That was one heck of freezing cold premises I read in a while. Even the opening chapter was cold; figuratively and literally. The cover of the book illustrated the general situation perfectly; all those white cold surrounding and the thick red outerwear (our poor MCs wore). I guess I just didn’t expect all those attributed to the protagonists’ braving the element while running (well, skiing, shuffling, walking, or whatever) for their life.

WHITEOUT is an intense and gripping romantic suspense set in Antartica, featuring professional cook Angel Smith and former Army turned glaciologist Ford Cooper. When what started as typical day - and supposed to be last day in Antartica for the cook - turned into a nightmare, Angel’s only ally to escape and to thwart the villain’s nefarious plan was the loner scientist who had been standoffish throughout her summer stay at the station. It’s an excellent setup for a cat and mouse adventure and for the most part it was.

Halfway into the story - just when this reader wondered how the heck these two would get out of this muck they were in - things shifted. And I’m not sure all of those for the best. The multiple POVs allowed plenty of space for backstory of heroes and villains alike, I didn’t begrudge that. But they were not done so well, I felt - sort of like half-cooked attempt at explanations. The book being the first (full novel) of a new series, it came across as a standalone first, then grappling for elements - ANY elements available - to tie (the book) up to the following sequel. I applauded what Anders done to Ford and Angel romance; that’s among the highlight of the book and so did Angel evolving hardened take-no-prisoner attitude after the ordeal she went through. To then not only have the kind of cliffhanger ending but also putting the heroic heroine in that position had me cringing (I mean REALLY, she should have known BETTER).

WHITEOUT is my first Adriana Anders’s book and as I mentioned earlier the first full novel of her new new series “Survival Instincts” - the novella that started this, “Deep Blue,” was part of the multiple authors’ romantic suspense anthology “Turn the Tide.” I admit this book whetted my appetite to dig out the anthology and I guess the cliffhanger ending intrigued me what the sequel would bring. It’s a fifty-fifty chance at this point whether I’d enjoy the turbulence. But hey, WHITEOUT isn’t totally a flop of (reading) experience (to me) so I’m going to give the next book a chance.

Copy of this book is kindly given by the author/publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.