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smusie's review against another edition
3.0
In a moment of distraction, I confused Tami Hoag with Tana French! Aaargh. Read it anyway.
jcampbell338's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
paulabrandon's review against another edition
1.0
Cold, Cold Heart is so, so boring!
I really feel like Tami forced this one out due to deadlines or something. The plot is thin. Nothing happens for the first 200 pages at least! Plot twists and revelations come out of nowhere. Other subplots are left dangling with no resolution. The main character is childish and annoying. Tami's capable of much better. Her next book, "The Bitter Season", was really good! So at least this one was just a bump in the road.
I really feel like Tami forced this one out due to deadlines or something. The plot is thin. Nothing happens for the first 200 pages at least! Plot twists and revelations come out of nowhere. Other subplots are left dangling with no resolution. The main character is childish and annoying. Tami's capable of much better. Her next book, "The Bitter Season", was really good! So at least this one was just a bump in the road.
cymshady's review against another edition
1.0
DNF at 23%.
This novel started off with a bang - the main character saving herself from a serial killer. Then...... almost 100 pages of her in recovery, her anxious mom coddling her, random characters that never returned to the plot. I found it tedious to get through and I ended up really not liking the mother due to how overbearing she was. You'd think the health care professionals would limit the interaction the mom has with the daughter due to all of the freak outs while they are together. You don't continuously upset a person with a TBI. Yeesh. When I stopped reading, I could not make out how the novel was going to turn into a thriller since the serial killer died a few pages in.
I generally enjoy Tami Hoag novels and am looking forward to the next one on my bookshelf. I will be donating Cold Cold Heart to a local CBOs "bookstore" that fundraises for their programing.
This novel started off with a bang - the main character saving herself from a serial killer. Then...... almost 100 pages of her in recovery, her anxious mom coddling her, random characters that never returned to the plot. I found it tedious to get through and I ended up really not liking the mother due to how overbearing she was. You'd think the health care professionals would limit the interaction the mom has with the daughter due to all of the freak outs while they are together. You don't continuously upset a person with a TBI. Yeesh. When I stopped reading, I could not make out how the novel was going to turn into a thriller since the serial killer died a few pages in.
I generally enjoy Tami Hoag novels and am looking forward to the next one on my bookshelf. I will be donating Cold Cold Heart to a local CBOs "bookstore" that fundraises for their programing.
rmarcin's review against another edition
4.0
Continuation of the story "The 9th Girl". The book kept my interest, and kept me guessing as to the murderer.
beastreader's review against another edition
3.0
This was a good book. Also a fast read. Despite the fact that I found the intensity level lacking some. I thought it would have been higher. The characters were middle of the road. Nothing too special about them. Also not too many twists or turns in the plotline. Fans of mystery stories will probably figure out the whole story fairly early into the story. The obvious choice had too many clues pointing at them to make you really believe it was them.
I was really interested in Dana and what she had survived with her ordeal. Yet I was saddened when I realized that it had nothing to do with the story. Although I was greatful that Dana had a story behind her. It did make her a strong character and added depth to her. Besides the intensity that I talked about, if the rest of the characters had been more engaging I would have liked this book better. Still I am happy with it and do look forward to reading the next book by this author.
I was really interested in Dana and what she had survived with her ordeal. Yet I was saddened when I realized that it had nothing to do with the story. Although I was greatful that Dana had a story behind her. It did make her a strong character and added depth to her. Besides the intensity that I talked about, if the rest of the characters had been more engaging I would have liked this book better. Still I am happy with it and do look forward to reading the next book by this author.
kassidi22's review against another edition
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape, Domestic abuse, and Child abuse
judithdcollins's review against another edition
5.0
Talented Tami Hoag, delivers COLD COLD HEART, with a likable heroine with PTSD and TBI, for a roller coaster page-turner crime suspense, leaving you guessing the identity of a brutal and clever mystery killer.
Dana Nolan was a beautiful, successful, and promising young TV reporter until a notorious serial killer tried to add her to his list of victims. She has recently survived a horrible tragedy; lucky to be alive, and suffering from physical, psychological, and emotional scars. Her mind still does not work correctly and her smells, food interests, and overall personality has changed somewhat. She also struggles to remember routine tasks as she searches for the right words. Currently reading about Doc Holiday in The 9th Girl.
Leaving her disfigured and panic stricken, she returns home to heal and try and stay out of the public eye, as everyone wants an interview to learn of all the horrific details, and she wants to forget them, not relive them.
Upon returning, her mom is overbearing and protective and soon finds out her former best friend, Casey Grant went missing and Dana was one of the last people to see her. She becomes obsessed with solving the mystery and tracks down the cop who worked on the case and he is a little freaky (but funny), and he wants her to help him solve the case. However can she trust him?
A multi-layered riveting thriller, we also meet another character, John Villante, who suffers from a head injury while serving in Iraq, and dealing with PTSD. He had a horrible childhood with a monster for a father, was the high school football hero, and happened to date her best friend, Casey who went missing years ago.
Poor John cannot catch a break, no matter where he turns, he cannot keep a job, due to his past and connections with his dad. Everyone suspects him for any crime which turns up, looking for a suspect to blame. Loved the dog, his new companion.
In addition, her dad died years ago and her mom is married to Roger, which is running for political office. She does not trust his motives and there is some sort of connection with him and her missing friend. Her mom is caught in the middle between ongoing fights between Roger and Dana.
We also meet Dana’s old boyfriend, who is now on the police force. From Texas he is quite the charmer and seems to want to spend time with Dana as he is always around; however, she is not interested in a relationship, but does want answers surrounding her friend, since they were all friends at the same time, when her friend goes missing.
There are numerous suspects, and Tami keeps you guessing as to who is evil or good; trustworthy or not. Dana is afraid to reveal too much to anyone as they could be the bad guy. As she gets closer to the truth, the danger intensifies, leaving you page-turning into the night, to learn the fate of this array of characters.
I listened to the audiobook and Julia Whelan delivered an outstanding performance. What I enjoyed about Tami’s writing is her crisp narrative, vivid descriptions, and she does not take you out on a limb and leave you. Every person is integral to the overall storyline. She peels back layer by layer with precision with enough humor to keep it engaging. I also enjoy strong emotional human dynamics mixed with my murders, drawing you into the character’s personal life. Loved Dana’s and John's character - hope we hear from Dana again, in the future.
Loved the book! Shocker guys, COLD COLD HEART, was my first book by Hoag; ironic since she is in my own backyard (we both reside in Palm Beach County). If not presently traveling in NC for a work consulting project, would be home and could meet her in person, as she tours some of our local spots in the Palm Beach area, promoting this book.
As usual, I seem to start with new releases and work my way backward. Finding many of the new women’s fiction books are crossing over many genres with suspense, crime, mystery, thrillers and drama – FUN, FUN. A perfect mix.
On a side note: Enjoyed Tami’s personal story of TBI, as also highlighted in Lisa Garner’s new upcoming, Crash and Burn, I just finished. Very intriguing, and sure this can be frustrating and debilitating.
Delighted to discover this newfound author, Tami Hoag, no stranger to the female crime thriller audience, as a bestselling author. Have already purchased her other audiobooks in the series and look forward to reading more; she has been added to my favorite author list!
Judith D. Collins Must Read Books
Dana Nolan was a beautiful, successful, and promising young TV reporter until a notorious serial killer tried to add her to his list of victims. She has recently survived a horrible tragedy; lucky to be alive, and suffering from physical, psychological, and emotional scars. Her mind still does not work correctly and her smells, food interests, and overall personality has changed somewhat. She also struggles to remember routine tasks as she searches for the right words. Currently reading about Doc Holiday in The 9th Girl.
Leaving her disfigured and panic stricken, she returns home to heal and try and stay out of the public eye, as everyone wants an interview to learn of all the horrific details, and she wants to forget them, not relive them.
Upon returning, her mom is overbearing and protective and soon finds out her former best friend, Casey Grant went missing and Dana was one of the last people to see her. She becomes obsessed with solving the mystery and tracks down the cop who worked on the case and he is a little freaky (but funny), and he wants her to help him solve the case. However can she trust him?
A multi-layered riveting thriller, we also meet another character, John Villante, who suffers from a head injury while serving in Iraq, and dealing with PTSD. He had a horrible childhood with a monster for a father, was the high school football hero, and happened to date her best friend, Casey who went missing years ago.
Poor John cannot catch a break, no matter where he turns, he cannot keep a job, due to his past and connections with his dad. Everyone suspects him for any crime which turns up, looking for a suspect to blame. Loved the dog, his new companion.
In addition, her dad died years ago and her mom is married to Roger, which is running for political office. She does not trust his motives and there is some sort of connection with him and her missing friend. Her mom is caught in the middle between ongoing fights between Roger and Dana.
We also meet Dana’s old boyfriend, who is now on the police force. From Texas he is quite the charmer and seems to want to spend time with Dana as he is always around; however, she is not interested in a relationship, but does want answers surrounding her friend, since they were all friends at the same time, when her friend goes missing.
There are numerous suspects, and Tami keeps you guessing as to who is evil or good; trustworthy or not. Dana is afraid to reveal too much to anyone as they could be the bad guy. As she gets closer to the truth, the danger intensifies, leaving you page-turning into the night, to learn the fate of this array of characters.
I listened to the audiobook and Julia Whelan delivered an outstanding performance. What I enjoyed about Tami’s writing is her crisp narrative, vivid descriptions, and she does not take you out on a limb and leave you. Every person is integral to the overall storyline. She peels back layer by layer with precision with enough humor to keep it engaging. I also enjoy strong emotional human dynamics mixed with my murders, drawing you into the character’s personal life. Loved Dana’s and John's character - hope we hear from Dana again, in the future.
Loved the book! Shocker guys, COLD COLD HEART, was my first book by Hoag; ironic since she is in my own backyard (we both reside in Palm Beach County). If not presently traveling in NC for a work consulting project, would be home and could meet her in person, as she tours some of our local spots in the Palm Beach area, promoting this book.
As usual, I seem to start with new releases and work my way backward. Finding many of the new women’s fiction books are crossing over many genres with suspense, crime, mystery, thrillers and drama – FUN, FUN. A perfect mix.
On a side note: Enjoyed Tami’s personal story of TBI, as also highlighted in Lisa Garner’s new upcoming, Crash and Burn, I just finished. Very intriguing, and sure this can be frustrating and debilitating.
Delighted to discover this newfound author, Tami Hoag, no stranger to the female crime thriller audience, as a bestselling author. Have already purchased her other audiobooks in the series and look forward to reading more; she has been added to my favorite author list!
Judith D. Collins Must Read Books
kelambreon's review against another edition
4.0
I kept thinking it seemed familiar and finally figured out that it reminded me of NCIS episode "Hometown Hero". Missing girl, presumed dead...stepfather owns a Nursery. Guy in the service as a suspect.
There were many differences also but still seemed very familiar.
There were many differences also but still seemed very familiar.