Book Review ~ Black Ice by Becca Fitzpatrick

Tile: Black Ice
Author: Becca Fitzpatrick
Release Date: October 7th 2014
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Source: Received from the publisher for an honest review

Sometimes danger is hard to see... until it’s too late.

Britt Pfeiffer has trained to backpack the Teton Range, but she isn't prepared when her ex-boyfriend, who still haunts her every thought, wants to join her. Before Britt can explore her feelings for Calvin, an unexpected blizzard forces her to seek shelter in a remote cabin, accepting the hospitality of its two very handsome occupants—but these men are fugitives, and they take her hostage.

In exchange for her life, Britt agrees to guide the men off the mountain. As they set off, Britt knows she must stay alive long enough for Calvin to find her. The task is made even more complicated when Britt finds chilling evidence of a series of murders that have taken place on that very mountain... and in uncovering this, she may become the killer’s next target.

But nothing is as it seems in the mountains, and everyone is keeping secrets, including Mason, one of her kidnappers. His kindness is confusing Britt. Is he an enemy? Or an ally?

BLACK ICE is New York Times bestselling author Becca Fitzpatrick’s riveting romantic thriller set against the treacherous backdrop of the mountains of Wyoming. Falling in love should never be this dangerous…

Initially I found Black Ice a little difficult to get into. When we first meet Mason he comes across as super sweet, and Britt seems like a reasonably resilient girl but once it slipped into a flirty “I’m gonna make you jealous” scenario, I was rolling my eyes... it’s all so cliché, and the best friend is an annoying whiny bitch! Who wants to be friends with someone that absolutely grates on your nerves, treats you like crap and says nasty things behind your back, I didn’t understand this friendship at all.

By the 25% mark the story picked up some. I found myself curious and more attentive of the characters; I started to care about them a little and the situation which they found themselves in. But with its erratic story flow I repeatedly became bored and I had pretty much guessed who the murderer was before the halfway point.

While Black Ice was an okay read, it wasn’t the thrilling story I was expecting. I wasn’t captivated by the situation or the characters, and the love story element fell flat for me. There was an attraction early on but beyond the initial sizzle, it didn’t really go anywhere. I wasn’t sucked up into the story and it just didn’t feel authentic. The only part that I truly enjoyed was the epilogue – it was the only part of the book that I felt connected to, that actually felt genuine. All in all it was a little too predictable for me.

I was left with a sense that this may not be the last we will see of this Black Ice couple. I could be wrong but I was left with many questions, **no spoilers** but there were a couple of things said by the killer that had me questioning his motives – and whether he was alone in his murder spree.

An okay read overall but Black Ice only gets 3.5 stars from me.