Toni Anderson delivers another heart-pounding romantic suspense in Cold Truth, the latest installment in her Cold Justice: Most Wanted series. What starts out as a fake relationship formed under extreme, life-threatening circumstances slowly unravels into a deeply emotional and authentic connection. This gripping tale offers the perfect blend of danger, romance, and emotional depth.
Title: Cold Truth
Author(s): Toni Anderson
Series: Cold Justice: Most Wanted #6
Also in this series: Cold Silence , Cold Deceit , Cold Snap , Cold Fury , Cold Spite, Cold Heat
Published by Self Published on June 23, 2025
Pages: 530
Genre(s): Romantic Suspense
Source: Author
Format: eArc
Purchase: Amazon|Audible
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Rowena Smith may be a top-shelf librarian, but solid investigative skills won’t keep her safe after her newest research project—tracking down her biological father—leads her to a brutally murdered body. The scene offers up one hope for assistance: the card of FBI Supervisory Special Agent Kurt Montana. Alone and terrified in a foreign country, Rowena places the call.
About to board a flight home after a failed mission, Kurt can’t ignore the plea in Rowena’s voice. She could be the killer or she could be an innocent bystander—either way, he senses she holds information vital to his case. When Kurt’s flight takes off without him—only to crash into the African savanna killing everyone onboard—he knows it’s no coincidence. Rowena saved his life.
On the run from powerful enemies, he and Rowena pose as a couple—never mind that she’s much too young for him. As danger escalates and they inch closer to the secret someone is trying desperately to prevent them from revealing, their fake relationship spirals into something far more perilous. And deeply personal.
The game gets deadlier with each and every step toward the truth. But there’s no turning back and they’ll need to rely on their skills and their wits—and each other—if they hope to survive.
If you love romantic suspense with layers of tension and heart, Cold Truth is a must-read. Toni Anderson skillfully blends several popular tropes—fake relationship, age gap, and forced proximity—into a story that feels fresh and compelling.
The story follows Kurt Montana, a relentless FBI agent, and Rowena Smith, a quiet librarian, whose worlds couldn’t be more different. The chances of their paths crossing were slim to none—until Rowena’s desperate search for her biological father collides with Kurt’s deadly pursuit of a ruthless killer. Suddenly, their lives spiral into chaos, forcing them to rely on each other in a high-stakes game where trust is rare and danger is constant.
Anderson pulls you in from the very first page, maintaining tension and suspense while diving deep into the characters’ emotional journeys. The romance is slow-burning but powerful, perfectly balanced with the thrilling chase and life-or-death moments. What stood out to me most was how the fake relationship wasn’t just used to move the plot forward. Instead, it revealed deeper layers of Kurt while also highlighting Rowena’s strength and vulnerability. As a result, their connection felt authentic. Additionally, the author does a good job of showing Kurt’s internal struggle with their age gap. It hits harder because he has a daughter close to Rowena’s age. It showcased the complexity of his feelings, making him hesitant and conflicted. That doesn’t stop his attraction. His fear clashes with his desire. The struggle feels real and relatable.
New to Toni Anderson? Or a longtime fan? Cold Truth won’t let you go. It’s gripping. It’s intense. You won’t put it down. All in all, Cold Truth delivers a fantastic mix of suspense, romance, and real emotions.
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About Toni Anderson
Toni Anderson writes award-winning, bestselling, FBI Romantic Thrillers. She is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, RITA® finalist, science nerd, professional tourist, dog lover, gardener, mom. Anderson’s books have won the Readers’ Choice Award, Aspen Gold, National Excellence in Romance Fiction, Book Buyers’ Best. Originally from a small town in Shropshire, England, Toni studied Marine Biology at University of Liverpool (B.Sc.) and University of St. Andrews (Ph.D.) with the intention she’d never be far from the ocean. Well, that plan backfired and she ended up in the Canadian prairies with her biology professor husband, two kids, a rescue dog, and a laid-back leopard gecko. Toni started writing while pregnant with her first child and never stopped. Her greatest achievements are mastering the Tokyo subway, climbing Ben Lomond, snorkeling the Great Barrier Reef, and surviving fifteen Winnipeg winters (fingers crossed). She loves to travel for research purposes and was lucky enough to visit the Strategic Information and Operations Center inside FBI Headquarters in Washington, D.C. in 2016. She also got to shove another (police) car off the road during pursuit training at the Writer’s Police Academy. Basically she has way too much fun!
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I’ve only read a few books by this author, but I did really like them. And I do love a good romantic suspense book. I’ll have to check this one out. 😀
I’ve collected some of these and have read at least one. I hope to read more. Nice review!
This definitely sounds like a book that I would probably like.
I’ve got a few of hers on my Kindle, but just need to get busy and read them. This latest sure sounds like one I’d like.
I love romantic suspense, and I am glad this will work as standalone.
I really like the sound of this one, I think I would like it. I will add it to my wish list.
Well, I really do like following a librarian leading lady, so… Might have to scoop this one up!