Review: Cold River by Liz Adair

From Goodreads:  Mandy Steenburg thinks her doctorate in education has prepared her to run any school district - until she tangles with the moonshine-making, coon-dog-owning denizens of a tiny district in Pacific Northwest timber country. She's determined to make a difference, but the local populace still looks to the former superintendent for leadership. When Mandy lands in the middle of an old feud and someone keeps trying to kill her, instinct tells her to run. And though she has to literally swim through perilous waters, she finds a reason to stay and chance the odds.

I'm so happy to be a part of Tristi Pinkston's blog tour for Cold River.  I always find some great books through blog tours.

I thought Mandy was a very likable character.  She is greeted with lots of hostility and misunderstanding yet manages to keep her chin up.  Her determination to change what she views as sub-standard is met with open opposition.  Small, tight knit communities are like that.  (I should know, I live in one!)  Changes are slow in coming and most people don't like them.  Mandy goes around offending people as she tries to make changes.  She earns herself a few enemies but she also begins to earn herself some friends.

One thing I did love is how Mandy appeared so human to us.  She wanted to give up.  She wanted to just pack it up and leave.  Death threats are scary and who needs that?!  In the end though she picks herself up and keeps trying.  That is admirable.  That is real life.  Bad things happen, people don't like us, but we pick ourselves up and keep going.

Overall, a very enjoyable read by Liz Adair.  This book said "romantic suspense", I think.  I didn't find it very romantic, but I would probably classify it as a "cozy suspense".  It was well written, easy reading.  It had some light suspense, but nothing over the top that kept me awake at night.  

You can find the author, Liz Adair at http://sezlizadair.blogspot.com/

You can purchase Cold River at Amazon here.