Cover Image: Don't Let In the Cold

Don't Let In the Cold

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Member Reviews

I started to read this book, then had to put it down. I picked it back up to try again. I am glad I did. I liked the storyline and the characters. I found it quick and interesting. The mystery was good though it was drawn out a bit and there were some things that could have been left out. It also seemed a little too predictable. Overall a good read.

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**contains spoilers** I absolutely loved this book right up until the twist where the girls decided to leave the relative safety of the Shake shop and go after the dog in a snowstorm, following dangerous individuals who had a car (while they were on foot). This choice was way too bizarre for me to continue suspending my disbelief, and the last part of the book dragged for me because I was taken out of the flow.

The first half of the book was well written, and I loved the setting of a cabin snowed in, without power, with two girls who were forced to fight for their lives and outwit their pursuers in a blizzard. I appreciate the concept and, like I said, really enjoyed the book until that point where I lost the thread of disbelief.

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Really wanted to love this one...but I felt like it got too monotonous.
Lottie, Jade and Alex are forced to survive out in the elements during a terrible blizzard in the Tahoe are. These three teens survive for four long days while being chased by...thugs, not sure how else to describe them. They find safety numerous times only to lose it. The book is high on adventure, but the thrill seemed to get lost in the continuous descriptions of just how bad the storm was...which makes it harder to believe their survival was possible.
Readers looking more for survival stories over thrillers will enjoy this one.

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Just about anything that can go wrong, does. Lottie the daughter of a survivalist who died while hiking with her is put to the test. Her mom has remarried and has left her in charge. Lottie and her new step sibling Jade will bond over the 4 day blizzard.

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My interest ebbed and flowed throughout this teen suspense tale. There was certainly plenty of action but also a lot of descriptions of how bad the blizzard was, which got a bit monotonous after a while. The introduction of Carl added a surprise element which was really needed to break up the continual coming and going of AJ and Nico.

I received this arc from netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

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This is suspense at its finest. Right from page one I was catapulted into the story. And it kept me captivated until the end.
The author goes pretty far to make the plot dramatic but it works.There weren't any parts that were really unbelievable.
If you start to read this don't start this at night - because you won't be able to put it down until morning.
Enjoy!.

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This wasn’t exactly the story I expected not going to lie, however the story itself was good, the characters were well thought out and relatable. The only downside was that some parts seemed drawn out, there were too paint parts without action, I feel it could have had so much more and instead there were just gaps. Never the less I read it in one day and it was easy to follow and read, just as I said before I would have like more action, maybe a bit of horror as it didn’t really live up to both the name and the front page of the book and to be fair some of the description.

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Don’t Let in the cold details Lottie, Jade, and Alex’s attempts to seek shelter through a dreadful blizzard: Secrets must be uncovered to gain each other’s trust and tough decisions are made in order to keep each other alive. The worst part? The weather isn’t the only thing after them.

This adventurous survival story is different from what I typically read, but I could not put it down! I stayed up all night until I had finished half of the book, then went back to reading again first thing in the morning. The three main characters were all uniquely likable, the plot drew me in from the start and kept me constantly guessing what would happen next. I enjoyed that the chapters did not seem unnecessary long or filled with unimportant details that ultimately lead readers nowhere. The story remained to the point and intriguing which I find quite impressive. I definitely recommend this book to lovers of action, mystery, survival, and friendship!

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Stuck in an impossible situation and forced to battle the elements for survival, this is a fast-paced tale filled with action and suspense, but like many survivalist stories, some of it was a bit too unrealistic. Two new step-sisters are left overnight in a cabin while their parents go on their honeymoon and a blizzard blows in. What follows is a series of events that forces them into the woods, evading would-be captors for reasons they don't quite understand with a boy they probably shouldn't trust but he has a dog, which wins over one of the girls, and instalove hooks the other. Overall a fun and twisty read.

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Don’t Let in the Cold by Keely Parrack had a really exciting premise and as a big fan of wintery thrillers, I was especially keen to read this one. The setting – a remote cabin in the woods, a blackout, a blizzard – could have felt so over done, and it honestly didn’t. It was a unique story – sometimes to its detriment.

I found the story quite intriguing overall, but at times the action was a bit over the top and unbelievable. For much of the book you’re wondering what will happen next and how much more these poor characters will have to endure. It felt a little over the top at times. From a solar flare and blizzard, to criminals, wild animals and unlikely accidents, everything that could go wrong certainly did. I think the story would have benefitted from a few less dramatic moments and a bigger focus on characterisation. Several of the characters felt a little flat to me, and I questioned whether certain actions would fit with their personality. Of particular note: the “bad guys” just didn’t really feel particularly menacing, the growth and bonding between Lottie and Jade didn’t quite come across the way I would have liked, and I spent a lot of the book concerned about the dog (and whether he would really be okay through several of these dangerous situations). Lottie’s anxiety about the remote location and dangerous weather conditions seemed to disappear and reappear at times in order to further the plot. I also found some of the big reveals/twists to be a little too obvious, though that may have just been me.

What I really liked is that the setting made the story feel a bit post-apocalyptic, and that despite most of the action taking place during daylight hours, the storm made it feel just as dark and creepy as night time. It’s important to build tension in thrillers, and the author did this quite well overall. In particular, I loved the first night, with Lottie on edge because of the blackout, the remote location, and an uninterested stepsister. Alex’s arrival really kicked the tension up a notch. The dilemma the girls face – whether to help a stranger seeking shelter while being alone and scared – played out wonderfully. The back and forth on whether they should or shouldn’t was great. I also really liked the tension building when they reached the church.

The premise was intriguing and the book was enjoyable. While the never ending danger was a bit too improbable and the characters and dialogue weren’t always believable, the story kept me interested and reading until the very end. It’s definitely worth giving a go.

To pre-order a copy, head here:keelyparrack.com

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I originally thought this was going to be a horror novel based on the cover but was pleasantly surprised when it turned out to be more of a thriller/mystery. Lottie is staying the night at her new family's house in Tahoe, her mother and new step-father are off to have their honeymoon and she is left with her new step-sister, Jade. As the evening unfolds and the power cuts out, things are not as they seem. A boy, Alex comes to the cabin in the night seeking shelter with his dog, uncertain with how to proceed, the girls let him in and everything falls to pieces from there. Is Alex who he says he is? Can Lottie work through her past trauma? Will they even be able to survive the next few days?
Don't Let In The Cold was an easy and enjoyable read. I wasn't quite able to read it in one sitting but I did have trouble putting it down, which is always a sign of an engaging book. It's left me being very happy that I don't live where there is snow!

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Not your typical young adult survival tale where one is left alone in the wilderness. (At least not at first). The main character is introduced to her new step sister while her parents leave them alone overnight in a Tahoe majestic estate. The parents don't check the weather, and leave them the night of a major (3 day!) snowstorm. They also leave a priceless telescope that once belonged to Einstein (as you do). In typical young adult fashion, they let in a strange boy in the middle of the night when he tries to break in, because he's good looking and has a dog. Turns out he is a thief squatting in their home, not expecting anyone to be here, and getting caught in the storm. He works for two thieves with guns and apparently the only vehicle with snow tires.
When the house burns down--they are forced to find their way in a blizzard. Somehow, Einstein's telescope survives the fire.
I liked the short chapters and the accessibility of the text. I didn't like the situation in general. Who--even for the night--leaves young girls in a remote home in the woods when a major storm is forecasted? Again, it is a 3 day storm. There is also a scene where characters dump really heavily on Christianity. Although the guy squatting in the church turns out to be a psycho, they somehow blame the religion as a whole. I know, as an adult, I am not the target audience, but it would be difficult to recommend this to young people in my life.

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I loved the premise of this book as a YA thriller set in a snowy climate. I was so excited to read it and it looked so interesting. I was paranoid when they were in the cabin by themselves at the start of the book because I thought I was hearing noises in my own apartment. I was also screaming to not open the door when both of the guys and Alex were introduced, but after the fire, the thrill of the book kind of went down. It immediately went up when they got to the church, though. That had me gripped and I couldn’t wait to read more.

This was a pretty quick read, the chapters are short and the characters are relatable but there a few nit-picky things that I can’t get over. I loved that it was mentioned that Jade was LGBT but it seemed an afterthought to me, along with Lottie being from Britain. I kept forgetting that she wasn’t a born American but that might just be me. Another thing that made me upset was that Mr. Soto wasn’t mentioned at the end of the book, so that felt like it wasn’t resolved. I guess the reader could guess what ultimately happened but it would’ve been nice to know since it seemed like a big part of the book. I was also kind of upset that Lottie decided to completely forgive Alex and decide to be with him, but again, that could just be me lol

Overall, I give this book 4⭐️ because it is a good YA suspense/thriller.

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This is a great thriller with a very descriptive setting. I teach younger students but will definitely recommend this to my librarian for older students. It had well developed characters, lots of twists and turns and a satisfying ending.

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Thank you Net Galley and the publisher for giving me a free ARC in exchange for a honest review.

This book was non stop action throughout its entirety. In the beginning Lottie is left in a Lake Tahoe cabin with her new stepsister Jade for a few days., while their parents go on their honeymoon. A few hours after their parents leave them alone in the cabin, the power shuts off. They also realize they were not the only inhabitants of Jades father's cabin. Alex is a teenager who gets stuck befriending the wrong friends. While he is trying to pay off his debts to the criminals AJ and Nico, he realizes that he cares about Lottie and Jade. While this book was very fast paced which I loved, I also enjoyed the survival aspect of this book. Since there is a blizzard happening Alex, Lottie, and Jade are forced to go into the wilderness and find new shelter to ride out the storm in. The author's descriptions throughout this book were spot on and I felt as if I was in the wilderness with the characters. I also felt that there was a great deal of suspense in this book which kept me guessing as to what was going to happen next.

My overall rating is a 4.5

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I wanted to like this book. I was so looking forward to reading it. I liked the premise. I didn’t hate the book. It was just anotherAnother stranded in a snowstorm story. Some of it was really spine tingling scary. I’ve seen this story on lifetime or something very similar

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I received an ARC of, Don't Let In the Cold, by Keely Parrack. This is a chilling tale. Who do you trust, when your in a blizzard and the bad guys want you killed? This is a pretty good story.

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Very enjoyable.
Lottie is left in charge of her new step-sister, Jade, for one night in the lonely cabin in Tahoe as their parents take a one night honeymoon. But a Blizzard blows in more than snow as a stranger begs for shelter.
Pretty much the reason why parents tell their kids not to open their doors to strangers.
I was expecting slightly more of a horror vibe by the cover but the thriller aspect was really well done.
I think I fell for Alex and Otis as much as the two girls did and I was rooting for them all the way through.
It was great the see the realism of a girl thrust into new surroundings suddenly not becoming Bear Grylls but making the sorts of mistakes that teenagers make. I also really liked the way that Lottie grew into herself and her new family as they struggled together, even overcoming her fear of abandonment. The depiction of migraines was spot on and I genuinely felt for Lottie when one occurred.
There were a few twists and turns but it was basically a survival thriller and it was a lovely addition to the genre.

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This was an excellent story! It gave me everything I expected and more from a survival thriller! The fact that the novel had a representation of race, gender, and sexuality was an added bonus for me! I couldn't put it down until I figured out what happened in the end. Great pacing! All of the characters' bonding was also very well done! Overall I really did enjoy this book and even though it was a little cheesy and unbelievable at times I would still recommend it if you're looking for a YA thriller/mystery.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this eArc in exchange for an honest review.

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Thank you to the Author and Publisher for this ARC.
Wow! This was quite the thriller!
I don't do spoilers, nor do I repeat the description of the book.
What I can tell you is you will seriously not want to put this one down.
Twists and turns will have you flying through pages. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

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