I really enjoyed the first book in this series and could not imagine a more extreme environment than Antarctica to set a romance. Wow was I wrong and I'm so glad Adriana Anders showed me how much! Both of these characters have complicated and nuanced backgrounds that are revealed in such an organic and believable way and pace throughout the story. The other 'level-up' from the first book are the secondary characters - in the town, Leo's team, and the 'bad guys'. Between Amka and Leo's snarky humor, the frantic terror that could be exhausting gets broken up nicely. There are definitely loose ends left hanging (Ans, Ash, etc) but this does not end on a cliffhanger - there is a fully realized HEA.

CW for death of parents (off page, historical), suicide of a parent (off page, historical), parental illness (off page, current)

I haven’t read Whiteout, the first book in this series, but I think it’s actually pretty easy to pick up what’s going on. Leo Eddowes is a hotshot pilot and part of a crew doing their best to keep a deadly virus out of the hands of Chronos Corp, a giant biotech company who will stop at literally nothing to possess it. Leo and her crew have tracked the last known sample, and the man who had it, to an extremely remote Alaskan village. Now Leo’s on her own (and sick with a stomach bug) when Chronos’ murderous mercenaries arrive, and has to bail out in an ancient plane, sent on a mission by Old Amka to rescue someone who turns out not to be the man she’s after at all. Instead, he’s Elias Thorne… domestic terrorist… who's supposed to be a dead man.

Now Leo and Elias are on the run through the brutal Alaskan wilderness together, hunted, injured, forced to rely on each other. And in a whole separate adventure, Amka decides she’s not letting these mercs take over her village and hold her people hostage, and sets out to do something about it.

Whew. This is an absolute adrenaline rush thrill-ride of an adventure romance. It’s quite clear the author kept looking at her story and going “hm… how can I make it worse for my characters?” The Alaskan wilderness at ice break-up time provides plenty of options. Honestly, though, I’m not sure even two people who were as desperately attracted to each other as Leo and Elias would be able to act on it as much as they did in those situations. Hypothermia tends to preclude arousal, and frankly they were both smart enough to understand they needed to conserve their energy, but it didn’t seem to occur to either of them. Romantic license, I guess!

Honestly, Amka was my favourite character in the story. Bad*ss old lady lesbian willing and able to take out an entire team of heavily armed, well-equipped mercenaries? That’s catnip, right there. Frankly I thought she should have been asked to join Leo’s team.

I liked that the villains weren’t all one-dimensional too, with Amka recruiting one of the mercenaries having second thoughts once he realized his colleagues were quite happy to hold women and children hostage, threaten and harm them, and an intriguing tracker on Leo and Elias’ trail whose motives weren’t at all clear.

Superbly well-written, with so much action it’ll leave you breathless, I’m happy to give this five stars.

Buy This Book
I haven’t read Whiteout – the book that precedes Uncharted in Adriana Anders’ Survival Instincts series – but although there is an overarching plotline running through the series, there’s enough information provided here for a newbie to jump into the story without feeling lost, so Uncharted can be read as a standalone. It’s my first experience with this author, and unfortunately, I can’t say I was all that impressed; the writing is solid, the story is intriguing and the set-pieces are well-written, but the central characters are bland and never came to life, the romance is lacklustre and while most romantic suspense requires some suspension of disbelief, way too much of it is required here.

Leo Eddowes is former military, a pilot with a unit from an elite private security company tasked with locating the man believed to be in possession of one of only two extant samples of a deadly virus. She and her team had been in Antarctica in Whiteout, where they barely survived a confrontation with a… team of scientists and mercenaries tasked with stealing and testing a deadly virus by Chronos Corporation, one of the world’s biggest pharmaceutical companies. She and her team have moved their search for the virus and the man believed to have it to Alaska, but have been unable to locate either of them – and now her team has left and she’s had to stay behind owing to a bout of food poisoning or a stomach bug; whatever it is, she’s not in top condition and just wants to sleep it off and go home. She’s not allowed to do either of those things however, because old Amka, one of the women from the town of Schink’s Station won’t stop pounding on her cabin door. When Leo, groggy and still sick, opens the door, Amka tells her that another team from Chronos will arrive any minute and demands Leo fly out to bring her godson safely home. Believing that godson to be the man in possession of the only remaining sample of the virus, Leo shucks off her grogginess (or tries to), and goes with Amka to find the town’s only remaining air transport – a small light aircraft from the 1940s that’s obviously been cared for, but which has seen better days.

Elias Thorne is one of America’s Most Wanted, a former US Marshal set up to take the fall for mass murder – including the deaths of his own parents – and he’s been in hiding for the last decade. A static-laden phone call from Schink’s Station alerts him to the fact that trouble is on the way and tells him “she” is on her way to get him – but he has no idea who “she” is and doesn’t know if “she” is part of a rescue or of another group who is after him. Then he watches, helpless, as a small plane is shot down and crashes into the frozen lake; Elias makes his way carefully across the ice to see if he can help the pilot, only to be confronted by a woman in the cockpit pointing a gun at his head.

Uncharted gets off to a flying (sorry!) start and the author does a really good job of setting the scene, ramping up the tension as Leo sets off on her rescue mission and in setting up the mystery surrounding Elias. The descriptive writing is evocative and helps build a picture in the reader’s mind of the terrain and locations that the couple encounter throughout the story, and there are some really tense moments as Leo and Elias find themselves on the run from the mercenaries who are out to capture them and the virus.

Unfortunately however, after the initial excitement of the crash and then a couple of narrow escapes, the lack of actual plot became apparent. I’d reached the halfway point, and nothing new was happening other than Leo and Elias wandering around Alaska going from one life-threatening situation to another as they tried to outsmart and outrun the people hunting them I know that’s the plot of many romantic suspense novels and I’ve probably read and enjoyed some of them, but without strong, engaging characters who made me want to root for them, and without much in the way of chemistry or romantic development between them, Uncharted got boring very quickly and the read became a real slog to the finish.

As for the amount of suspension of disbelief required… first of all, we’ve got Leo, who is decidedly unwell and describes herself as “hardly able to see straight” yet still getting into and flying an unfamiliar plane; after the crash, she’s clearly sustained a head injury and/or concussion, yet she’s walking and running and lifting heavy equipment. Elias is shot and sustains a bad wound to his side, and yet he, too, is very quickly back on his feet and doing all manner of energetic and dangerous things. I understand that an adrenaline rush can enable an injured person to carry on doing things they perhaps shouldn’t be able to do for a little while, but it seemed as though the author felt the need to justify the fact that these two people were still walking, running, hanging off cliffs and whatever else while on their last legs for most of the book by constantly reminding us of Leo’s illness and Elias’ injuries, and it felt ridiculous rather than edge-of-the-seat exciting.

As for the romance, well it’s all insta-lust and I honestly couldn’t work out what these two people saw in each other. We’re told Leo and Elias are attracted to one another but I never felt any real degree of emotional connection between them – and don’t get me started on the ‘we’re running for our lives, but let’s shag anyway thing’, which is one of my biggest pet peeves ever. Also – when the most interesting character in your romantic suspense novel is the villain, you’ve got a problem.

Uncharted was a dreary reading experience – after the first few chapters, I just wasn’t motivated to pick it up and it took me more than twice as long to read as it should have. Maybe I’ll try another romantic suspense novel by Adriana Anders, maybe I won’t. But I certainly can’t recommend this one.

Grade: C / 3 stars

4/5 stars

*Thank you so much to Sourcebooks Casablanca and NetGalley for allowing me the opportunity to read this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Overall:
This story was pure slow burn, romantic suspense goodness! I really enjoyed this sequel with it's back to back action that kept the story flowing and the slow burn tension between Leo and Elias. The tension and chemistry between Leo and Elias will sneak up on you. I enjoyed that this story was such a slow burn since trust had to be established and they were complete strangers alone in the wilderness. It's worth mentioning that there's definitely a continuing story going on so I wouldn't read this one as a stand alone. It's best enjoyed in order for all the background information of the Chronos organization and Leo's team and also due to prior book events and plots that are given away in this book. There's also a bit of a small town Alaskan feel with part of the story going on in the background that some might love. Overall, this one was a really exciting and sexy addition to this series and I'm interested to see who our next hero is for this ongoing adventure!

Adriana Anders was a new to me author, so I went in not knowing what to expect from this story. And I have to say I am impressed! I loved UNCHARTED! It had everything I look for in a suspenseful romance and more.

It was great to be in this journey with Elias and Leo. I enjoyed watching them survive the circumstances they were thrown into and seeing their weariness about each other grow into something amicable and ultimately blossoming into something more. Neither one was looking for a romantic entanglement--what with Elias on the run and Leo focused solely on her mission--but with each life-threatening event, their connection grew. I enjoyed their scattered candid conversations, their bickering and their subdued flirty banter. I appreciated the author's effort in making their coming together flow naturally. Elias and Leo's romance didn't seem forced or out of place even though they were running for their lives.

I also enjoyed the intrigue and suspense the author brought to the page along with the more light-hearted moments. Amka was a joy to read as well as Ashton. They kept the story from being too much with their one-liners and sarcastic thoughts. Also mixed along with the suspense and humor was a wide range of emotions portrayed by both Leo and Elias as they come to realize how deeply connected they've become to each other. These two had closed themselves off to emotional entanglements so much, that it was a treat to see their reaction when it finally happened. I also loved the setting of this story. The author made the cold, unyielding setting come alive through the story, which had me at the edge of my seat as Elias and Leo fought against whatever Mother Nature threw at them.

Although this is the second book in the Survival Instincts series, it can be read as a stand alone. Personally, I have not read the previous book and was able to follow along without problem. However, having read this and loving the story, I will definitely be reading WHITEOUT soon.

All in all, a thrilling, romantic ride that kept me engaged throughout.

This entire book takes place mostly over five days but they are crazy, intense days.

I loved the adrenaline and adventure in the wilds of Alaska. It had every obstacle you can think of along with a side of romance.

I was especially impressed with Leo. She was amazing from her pilot skills to her survival skills.

This is the second book in a series so there will be a few gals if you haven't read book one, but I don't think it is absolutely necessary.

I did feel like this was one solid adrenaline rush and truthfully prefer a little more story, but it was a good book

I received an advanced copy of this book through NetGalley. This is my honest review.

Freaking amazing loved it!

This was an amazing read, the detail about the conditions in the snow in Alaska were so specific and detailed, and felt very accurate, the adventure and mystery of the stoic and silent Elias backstory very exciting and compelling, the romance between them carefully teased out, and completely a relationship of equally strong individuals. I felt Leo (Leontyne) Eddowes was such a competent and confident character, a proper badass, not just a facsimile of a strong and capable woman. Elias, too, honourable, accomplished, sensitive and wary, their relationship development was sweet and heartbreakingly lovely.

The side characters too, well drawn. The villain was also well handled and much more nuanced than is usual in this sort of book. I feel his story might be one Adriana Anders might also write.

Highly recommended, off to investigate this author's backlist.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book an all opinions are my own.

I'm a sucker for a great story set in dangerous remote locations. After finishing White Out, the fiirst book in the series, I've been anxiously awaiting the release of this book. And it was well worth the wait.

Elias Thorne disappeared ten years ago,, running from the good guys and the bad guys alike. He's spent that time off the grid in a remote corner of Alaska. When his past catches up with him, he finds himself on the run again. Only this time he isn't alone.

Leo Eddowes loves a challenge, so when she's asked to head to Alaska in search of a missing scientist, she doesn't hesitate. Only things don't quite go as planned. So when one of the townspeople offers to point her in the direction of her missing quarry, Leo is just desperate enough to listen.. Now, with the enemy closing in and the weather hampering their every move, two solitary, guarded individuals will need to find a way to trust each other, to survive both their enemies and mother nature.

Fast moving and always exciting, each turn of the page brought more excitement or another surprising twist to the story.. The characters were engaging, and, while at times the romance was a little sappy,, it fit the character's personalities and never detracted from the action. .I also like the way the weather and the setting were so much a part of the story they felt like secondary characters. As soon as I finished I was ready to jump back in and read it again to make sure I hadn't missed anything the first time around.

I haven’t read the first book in the series so I didn’t knew what to expect from this story.
It was nice to read about a book set in a different settings as Alaska especially since I never been and haven’t read many books set in there.
I liked the story overall, the romance side was full of grumpy hero and sunshine heroine dialogue and taunting from the beginning to the end.
I must say that I felt a bit disconnected with the overall experience because I just feel like it has a lot of unnecessary action that for me, didn’t add anything to the story.

3.5 stars
Very grateful to the publisher for my review copy

LOVE! I love Leo and Elias. Good story with the continuing story of the deadly virus and the corporation trying to use it as a bioweapon. The intense rush across the Alaskan wilderness and the insta-love that went almost with it was so exciting and despite the cold weather really hot! Can't wait for the next one.

Thank you NetGalley, author Adriana Anders, and Sourcebooks Casablanca publishing for giving me a free arc copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
5 stars
After reading and enjoying the first book, I was overjoyed to receive an advanced copy of the second book!
This book centers around Leo, one of the characters the readers met in the first book, was asked to rescue a man in the Alaskan wilderness from men, who are out to find the virus. When Leo meets Elias, it is a race against time and the men hunting them. Will they be able to keep one step ahead of the men who are hunting them?
I loved Leo! She was such an amazingly strong heroine. She was willing to risk so much for Elias as well as his faithful puppy side-kick. Elias was a swoon worthy hero. He had such a heartbreaking backstory that made me want to give him a hug. The chemistry between Leo and Elias was off the charts. They made a great couple that strengthen each other and gave each of them the strength to survive the odds. Author Adriana Anders' writing made the story very fast-pace and suspenseful and gave it an undertone of romance. Overall, I would recommend this book for those who are fans of romantic suspense. I can't wait for the next installment in this series.

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

This book had all the makings of a fantastic Romance-Action-Adventure. The plot was intriguing, the setting in the Alaskan wilderness, unbeatable, the mismatched main characters running for their lives, sexy. The author quite simply overwrites this book to the point that the narrative becomes boring and I simply lose interest. A good editor would have reigned her in and this book could have been at least 50 pages shorter, all out of the first half. When it really got cooking in the second half - wow! I see now what I so loved in the first book.

Leo Eddowes is a pilot in Alaska with her team to track down a scientist who has in his possession a deadly virus. They are having no luck with their search, Leo is sick and her team has left to pursue other leads. When an old woman from the settlement barged in and demands she rescue her godson, Leo is not sure what she is getting into, but she believes this could be her missing scientist, so off she goes in an ancient Piper Cub plane. Soon she has enemies on her tail and the weather takes a nasty turn. A crash landing is her only alternative.

Elias Thorne has lived for ten years as a recluse in the Alaskan wilderness with a dangerous secret. His very survival hinged on staying hidden. Now, he has an injured woman in his care and deadly enemies on their trail. He doesn't trust the woman, but that doesn't even slow the attraction that builds between them. But trust is the only thing that will help them survive their trek across the harsh Alaskan wilderness.
3 1/2-Stars

I really enjoyed the first book in this series, so I was beyond excited to receive a copy! This book is quite intense and takes place in the Alaskan wilds. While you do get some romance, you also get a lot of action! You’re seriously on the edge of your seat wondering if they are going to make! The characters in the book are great and well written. Our heroine Leo is strong, sassy, of color, and former military. When Leo comes upon Elias, they soon have to work together to survive the wild as killer is on the hunt! Trusting doesn’t come easy to either of them but they learn to! Elias had been living in exile for 10 years with his dog.(who goes along with them) He’s protective and hasn’t touched another human in years. I did enjoy the fact that these two had lots of tension that built to the sexy times. Leo and Elias both has emotional issues to overcome before they got an HEA within the crazy they endured! It was a wonderful and intense read! The ending set us up perfectly for the next one.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for allowing me to read this novel in exchange for my honest review.

I absolutely loved Adriana Anders's first book of the series, Whiteout, and I love this sequel just as much. Fighting it out in the Alaskan wilderness, on the run from the bad guys while searching for a deadly virus and the man holding it? I'm in. Then you add Leo Eddowes to the mix, a badass in her own right, and pair her with "the yeti," Elias Thorne, whose own secret past adds another juicy layer to this romantic suspense, and you've got a novel as hot as the Alaskan hot springs.

Adriana's characters are among some of my favorites, and the chemistry she weaves between her main characters is so sexy, so natural, and full of both passion and tension as they're thrown into their dangerous settings. She does such a fantastic job of setting up the series as a whole, and I already can't wait for book three to publish.

I'm such a huge fan of Anders's. I'd definitely recommend this series to anyone who loves romantic suspense and contemporary romance in general.

“Spurred on by the excitement of the chase, he started off again, slow and sure and steady the way he’d always stalk his prey- human or otherwise.”

Leo Eddowes is a capable and fearless woman unafraid of the dangerous missions she takes on including the one to evacuate a man who her team believes holds a deadly virus that he has hidden for years to keep the Chronos Corporation from finding and releasing it to wreak havoc on the human race. Once in Alaska, Leo finds that the man is not who she has been led to believe and he has more secrets than she can even fathom. Their race against the clock and their enemies provides a fast paced and intense adventure through the rugged terrain and harsh conditions of the Alaskan wilderness.

I felt like this story was heavy on the danger and the suspense and light on the romance. Elias and Leo bonded with each other through these constant and traumatic near-death experiences. Every other page was another way they could possibly die, and I know that this is a survivalist novel, but it was a little too much. I felt exhausted, and found I kept having to step away from it because I had trouble reading it for long periods of time.

Of course, Adriana Anders is a great writer, and you can see that in the way that she describes her characters and scenery, but where I think she has a miss is in the dialogue. I felt that these two characters said the same things over and over, and it didn’t keep me interested at all. I expected Leo to be full of sharp wit and sarcasm, and overall, she felt very normal and a slightly boring. I can understand Elias because he has been without human companionship going on ten years. He is alone most of the time besides his dog, Bo, so the fact that he had trouble having conversations seemed like it made sense for his character. I just wanted so much more from these two characters in their relationship, and I truly felt that it took a backseat to all the things going on around them.

I just don’t know if this life-or-death scenario is something that I enjoy reading about, but if you are a fan of romantic suspense authors like Julie Garwood or Linda Howard then maybe give this a shot.

~ Michelle

Daredevil pilot, Leontyne “Leo” stays home from an assignment, grounded by a stomach bug, but rest isn’t in her future. She’s sent off to fetch a man in the wilds of Alaska before the evil Chronos group can get their hands on him, and the deadly virus he might possess. However, they’re outnumbered and outgunned and from the minute Leo and Elias connect they’re running for their lives. Not only do they have the enemy to contend with, they have the rugged Alaskan wilderness and its fickle weather to survive.

Uncharted was so much fun! From page one it’s an action-packed thrill ride! The romance between Elias and Lee was a big part of the story as well, and oh-so-hot! Even though things happened fast when you analyze the time they spent together, it didn’t feel fast since Leo and Elias were glued together, relying on each other through all sorts of life-or-death situations: injury, weather, near escapes from the enemy. It bonded these two like nothing else! Attraction was immediate, but trust and respect took a little more time, and it felt like they got to know each other before anything physical happened. Sometimes characterization suffers with an action-packed story, but Ms. Anders deftly worked layers into Leo and Elias without slowing the plot down. I cared about them and was on the edge of my seat hoping they’d come out on-top and happy together!

There were a few interesting secondary characters as well: Amka, the woman who sent Leo off to fetch Elias in the first place, was one bad-ass old lady, and I just loved her! She had her own little side story, and I was in awe! One more that I won’t mention because of spoilers, and I can’t forget Borealis “Bo”, Elias’ sweet dog. The Alaskan wild was almost another character vividly described. Untouched beauty, awe inspiring and deadly.

I read and loved the previous story, Whiteout. Uncharted lived up to my expectations and then some! While this is part of a series, I don’t think it’s necessary to read the previous stories. Uncharted stands well on its own, however, you’d be missing out on two amazing stories: Deep Blue (Survival Instincts #0.5) part of Turn the Tide, a novella still free on Amazon, and Whiteout (Survival Instincts #1). I’m eagerly anticipating the next one to come!

It’s been a couple of years since I read the first novel in this series but what I did remember is how fast-paced the story was, and how each chapter held my interest. Uncharted was no different. It started off with a plane crash and even as our two main characters were getting to know each other they were doing it while running for their lives. Leo was a really great character. Not only was she a great pilot but she had a lot of hidden depths that were revealed as the novel moved along. Despite her own fears she had so much empathy for Elias that she let her emotions take over and went with her gut in allowing herself to develop feelings for him.

Elias surprised me as well. He had been living by himself for the last decade and had pretty much lost his way, living inside his own head about all that had gone wrong in his past. He saw Leo as too good to be true, but he didn’t fight his feelings very hard either and let the mountain man take charge. He was going to get her out of the wilderness even if it killed him. I loved how the two of them connected emotionally and just totally went for it. The danger of the moment pushed them a bit and probably because of that it didn’t seem too far-fetched.

Uncharted was a fun book to read. I really loved how they fought their enemies, feelings, and their environment and despite the danger you just knew they were going to come out on top. If you have not read Whiteout, the first novel in the series you don’t need to although the underlining story crosses through both books. I think you can get the gist by reading this novel as a standalone. However, Whiteout was really good too so if you have the time pick it up first. I promise that the time will fly by while you read these books! The stories are action-filled and the characters full of a passion for life and for each other. ❤️❤️❤️❤️

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley and the publisher for my honest review and it was honest!

There's nothing I enjoy more than a romantic thriller based in a snowy, treacherous area, and after thoroughly enjoying Whiteout (book one in the Survival Instincts series), I was so excited to read its sequel, Uncharted!

Adriana Anders knows how to write a well-paced book that left me both breathless with suspense and yet completely in the moment. The readers are immediately introduced to the hero and heroine as they begin their journey, and the sense of urgency that comes with that journey.

Uncharted is action, suspense, and danger galore but also has many sweet moments that kept me, as the reader, grounded in the story. I adored Elias's gruff persona and Leo's badass-ery! These are two characters that are so perfectly suited to each other as they battle everything that gets thrown their way.

I will also mention that although I personally think this could be read as a standalone, I think it would be much easier to follow if you read the series in order. There is enough explanation to get the general gist of the overarching plot in this series but Whiteout (book one) has more information that will make the events in this book clearer. Overall, I found this to be another great addition to the Survival Instincts series and I can't wait to see how the rest of the series unfolds.

Thank you to NetGalley and SourceBooks Casablanca for an eARC of this novel!

*grumpy hero
*strong heroine
*forced proximity
*fighting for their lives
*sidekick pup

Could you read this without reading the first book, Whiteout? Sure, but you might be confused... like I was, but I'm sure that only affected my reading experience a tiny bit. As far as I could tell, there are characters and some back story that I missed out on, but it was still an enjoyable read.

Now, I love reading about anything set in Alaska. This book sucked me in right from the very first chapter, where we're immediately dropped into the story and introduced to Leo, our very strong and stubborn heroine. We start off with a bit of a mystery (unless it wasn't meant to be if you had read the first book), and that kept me reading. We eventually meet our hero, Elias, who is on the run from, well, just about everyone. They team up, and while fighting for their lives, grow a strong bond. I also can't forget to mention the sidekick pup, a husky named Bo.

I would say if you're strictly here for the romance, you might leave disappointed. It was there and developed, but I think of this as more of a survival story. Lots of action if you're into that, with a side of a steamy romance in the Alaskan wilderness.

We got 3 (or 4??) perspectives, but they weren't explicitly stated. I would have liked to see the chapters with name subtitles perhaps, so you know what you're going into.

Adriana Anders was a new to me author, so I went in not knowing what to expect from this story. And I have to say I am impressed! I loved UNCHARTED! It had everything I look for in a suspenseful romance and more.

It was great to be in this journey with Elias and Leo. I enjoyed watching them survive the circumstances they were thrown into and seeing their weariness about each other grown into something amicable and ultimately blossoming into something more. Neither one was looking for a romantic entanglement--what with Elias on the run and Leo focused solely on her mission--but with each life-threatening event their connection grew. I enjoyed their scattered candid conversations, their bickering and their subdued flirty banter. I appreciated the author's effort in making their coming together flow naturally. Elias and Leo's romance didn't seem forced or out of place even though they were running for their lives.

I also enjoyed the intrigue and suspense the author brought to the page along with the more light-hearted moments. Amka was a joy to read as well as Ashton. They kept the story from being too much with their one-liners and sarcastic thoughts. Also mixed along with the suspense and humor was a wide range of emotions portrayed by both Leo and Elias as they come to realize how deeply connected they've become to each other. These two had closed themselves off to emotional entanglements so much, that it was a treat to see their reaction when it finally happened. I also loved the setting of this story. The author made the cold, unyielding setting come alive through the story, which had me at the edge of my seat as Elias and Leo fought against whatever Mother Nature threw at them.

Although this is the second book in the Survival Instincts series, it can be read as a stand alone. Personally, I have not read the previous book and was able to follow along without problem. However, having read this and loving the story, I will definitely be reading WHITEOUT soon.

All in all a thrilling, romantic ride that kept me engaged throughout.