Stone Cold Heart by Laura Griffin

Romantic Suspense

Publication date: 03/26/2019
Kindle Unlimited: No
Cliffhanger: No

Look, I realize I’ve been pretty hard on romantic suspense in the past. But there are some authors who do it so brilliantly that I never have anything to complain about. Laura Griffin, with her Tracers series in particular, is one of those unicorn authors who can write in a category I don’t especially care for and still make me adore her work. Here’s what she does right in this book, and pretty much every other book she writes:

Strong, smart heroines

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Laura Griffin doesn’t write simpering damsels in distress. She writes smart, tought, resilient women who can take care of themselves and get jobs done. And when they do need help (because hey, who doesn’t sometimes?) they aren’t afraid to ask for and accept it. I’m not saying they LIKE asking for help, but they do what needs to be done. I can’t even think of a single TSTL heroine in any Laura Griffin book. Sara, the heroine in this book, is a quintessential Laura Griffin heroine, and I adored her.

Alpha-but-never-alphahole heroes

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Heroes in the Tracers series don’t have to prove how in control they are by downplaying the heroine’s efforts or skills. They know they’re alpha, but they’re still decent men at heart who don’t disrespect the heroine or feel threatened by her intelligence. Nolan is that kind of guy, and he was Sara’s perfect match, in my opinion.

Twisty, turny

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Just about the time I think I’ve got the mystery figured out, this author throws a curveball at me. That almost never happens to me. I mean, I knew Luke and Leia were related way back when Leia kissed Luke to make Han Solo jealous. Heck, I think I knew they were brother and sister before George Lucas did. So, I’m not easily thrown for a loop. But Laura Griffin has shocked me a time or two (or ten).

Scary stuff

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If you’re a fan of the kinds of sicko serial killers you see on Criminal Minds, the villians in the Tracers series are right up your alley. Seriously. It’s scary stuff. And none of them fall into the “villians I hate” category.

And finally, I think it takes a super talented author to balance scary stuff with romance, and many, many romantic suspense authors fall down on the job, in my opinion. But not this author. The balance is always just right and feels totally natural. That’s talent and artistry, folks.  
      
So, long-story-short, get thee to your Kindles and start reading the Tracers series, if you haven’t already. This book reads nicely as a standalone, but if you’re interested, the series starts with Thread of Fear.  (Spoiler alert: It’s really good,  y’all)

Full disclosure: We received an ARC from the author, free of charge, but I dropped the ball on getting the review done on release day. My bad!! Sorry...

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Does this book contribute to or help crush the romance stigma?
No rehab needed. This one’s clean and sober. 

Other reading suggestions
Check out Desperate Girls. It’s outside the Tracers series, but still brilliant. 

And then there’s also…

Romantic suspense novels you'll LOVE (even if you're not a fan of romantic suspense)

Romance cops you wouldn't mind surrendering to

Criminally hot heroes