Cold Ridge

Photographer Carine Winter returns to Cold Ridge, New Hampshire, after surviving a harrowing climbing accident on Mount Washington that claimed another climber's life. Upon her return, she discovers unsettling connections between recent events and her father's death on the same mountain years ago. Tyler North, a former Navy SEAL turned U.S. Marshal, comes to Cold Ridge to investigate a series of incidents that appear linked to Carine. The two must work together to uncover the truth while navigating the dangerous terrain of both the mountain wilderness and their growing attraction. The harsh winter landscape of New Hampshire's White Mountains serves as both setting and catalyst in this romantic suspense novel that explores themes of trust, survival, and confronting the past. The story examines how trauma can shape relationships and the ways people choose to face or flee from their deepest fears.

Readers describe Cold Ridge as a romantic suspense novel with uneven pacing. Readers appreciated: - The Vermont mountain setting and winter atmosphere - Chemistry between the main characters - Integration of photography themes - Short chapters that maintain momentum Common criticisms: - Slow start that takes too long to build tension - Confusing number of secondary characters - Plot becomes predictable partway through - Romance feels rushed in later chapters A frequent comment is that the book improves significantly after the first 50-75 pages, with one reader noting "it takes patience to get through the setup but pays off in the second half." Ratings: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (1,124 ratings) Amazon: 4.2/5 (89 ratings) Barnes & Noble: 3.9/5 (42 ratings) Several readers mentioned they continued with other books in the series despite finding this first entry only moderate, suggesting the series improves over time.

The Search by Nora Roberts A photographer and search-and-rescue worker reunite to solve a murder while navigating their past relationship and uncovering secrets in a small mountain town.

Ice by Linda Howard A wilderness guide and a federal agent work together to survive an assassin's pursuit through the remote Alaskan wilderness while a blizzard closes in.

Against the Wind by Kat Martin A former military pilot returns to her hometown to investigate her sister's death and teams with a private investigator while dodging escalating threats.

Touching Evil by Kay Hooper A police sketch artist with psychic abilities joins forces with a Special Crimes Unit investigator to track a serial killer targeting women in the Southeast.

Breaking Point by Suzanne Brockmann An FBI agent and a former operative race through the Florida Keys to uncover a terrorist plot while confronting their shared history and present danger.

🗻 The book's setting of Cold Ridge, near Mount Washington in New Hampshire, features one of the most dangerous and unpredictable weather systems in North America, with recorded wind speeds up to 231 mph. 📸 The protagonist, Carine Winter, is a wildlife photographer - a profession author Carla Neggers researched extensively by shadowing professional nature photographers in New England. 🏆 Cold Ridge is part of Neggers' U.S. Marshal series, which has sold over a million copies worldwide and helped establish her as a leading voice in romantic suspense fiction. ❄️ The novel draws inspiration from real-life cases of people who have disappeared in the White Mountains region, where over 50 hikers have gone missing since 1940. 📚 Author Carla Neggers wrote her first novel at age 24 while climbing all forty-eight of New Hampshire's 4,000-foot mountains, an experience that later influenced Cold Ridge's mountainous setting.