Colder Than Ice [Paperback]

Helen Macpherson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 18, 2004

FICTION, ACTION, LESBIAN

Product Details

• Paperback: 276 pages
• Publisher: Quest (May 18, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1932300295
• ISBN-13: 978-1932300291
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #132,258 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

52 of 57 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Midwest Book Review, February 2005 Issue, January 26, 2005

By 

Lori L. Lake "Author of Like Lovers Do, Buyer... (Portland, Oregon, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Colder Than Ice (Paperback)

What happens when two driven and independent professional women are forced to work together under circumstances neither can fully control? This is the situation archaeologist Allison Shaunessy and psychologist Michela DeGrasse find themselves in. Part of the problem from the beginning is that Allison craves control in her work life because she doesn't really have it in her personal life. She's been dating an oaf, and she hasn't yet figured out that he's a selfish jerk. She wants to focus on and run the expedition, but the sponsor who put up the money knows Michela and specifies that the psychologist be the one in charge. From the beginning, then, there's a rivalry that's not helped by the fact that seemingly straight Allison is drawn to Michela, who has, unfortunately, just lost her lover to a scheming colleague.

So with both women in their own little barely contained crises, they set off on an trek into a remote part of Antarctica to investigate what might be the remains of the long-lost 1895 Finlayson Expedition. As they prepare and then travel, they are beset with all sorts of obstacles - from the money issues at the outset - to seasickness, illness, frightening weather conditions, stupid, risk-taking behavior, and the threat of violent death.

Both Allison and Michaela are stubborn and wounded in their own ways, and neither is able to see that if they could just drop their guards and open up to one another honestly, they actually have a lot in common. That process makes for entertaining reading as do the twists and turns of the expedition, some of which are not expected. Ultimately, the book is more a romance than an adventure, but this cross-genre novel affords some thrills and more than a few chills. ~Lori L. Lake, reviewer for Midwest Book Review and author of the "Gun" series

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Clear Your Calendar and Get Comfortable, November 24, 2005

By 

K. Johnson (Twin Cities, MN) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Colder Than Ice (Paperback)

This book is so good that once you start reading, you won't want to stop. Clear your calendar, grab a hot toddy, and curl up in your favorite spot... you're going to be mesmorized until the last page. My first Macpherson read, I'm now anxiously awaiting the arrival of 'And Those Who Trespass Against Us.'

Psychologist Dr. Michela DeGrasse and archaeologist Dr. Allison Shaunessy are two driven, professional women who are about to take the journey of their lives. Alli wrote her doctoral dissertation on the as-yet unsubstantiated arctic explorer Eric Finlayson. When glaciologist Sarah and her team discover a wooden structure hidden under the ice in Antarctica, one possibility is it's finally proof of the Finlayson expedition. Alli is surprised to get 40% of the cost of a new expedition from the museum she represents. Michela, researching team dynamics under harsh conditions for the Mars program, secures an additional 20% from her own organization. The psychologist gets the remaining funds from the Finlayson family themselves -- under two conditions. The first condition is that Michela head up the expedition herself. The second is that they bring the body of the explorer home for proper burial.

Strangers before the adventure, Alli concedes leadership to Michela so the expedition will be fully financed. The women learn to overcome their differences over the preparations, training, and actual journey itself. Michela has broken up with her cheating partner and has an uncharacteristic one-night-stand. Seemingly-straight Alli is having problems with her long-time boyfriend, and is struggling with newfound feelings for Michela. The other six explorers on their team range from supportive to destructive, making for a story with depth and dimensionality.

Not only do the women discover great things about the original Finlayson expedition, they also discover themselves. Finally, after many months of struggling, their Finlayson benefactor plays matchmaker in the most interesting of ways.

Great book... Don't miss!

15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Suspense! Intrigue! Romance!, November 16, 2005

By 

Joyce McNeil (Metairie, LA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Colder Than Ice (Paperback)

Antarctica, is a cold, frozen and unforgiving continent. When an accidental discovery is made there Australian archaeologist Allison Shaunessy is eager to mount an expedition to the site and immediately sets out to obtain the necessary funding.

Michela DeGrasse, an American psychologist, learns of the expedition and of Allison's mission to secure funding. Viewing this expedition as the perfect setting to research how humans react and interact in extreme conditions she sets out to lend assistance when Allison's funding goal falls short. One of Michela's requests is made of the granddaughter of a previous explorer. She agrees to provide the remaining funds needed, with one major stipulation...Michela is to be in charge of the expedition. This fact does not set well with Allison and she is immediately resentful and antaganistic. Preparation gets underway and things do not go smoothly for the two women. Their continuous clashing begins to affect the expedition, and both women are forced to forge a somewhat amiable working relationship in order to stay.

Recovering from a bad breakup with her lover, Michela is understandably reluctant to acknowledge when she begins to experience "new feelings" for Allison. Allison, herself is totally confused by hers. She's been dating a man but has begun to find herself attracted to Michela. Will the two women be able to overcome the whole "oil and water" aspect and let theirself see where these feelings lead? Both wonder if all the trials and tribulations of romance are worthy of the effort. What happens to what could be a new love once the expedition is over? And when an intrusion comes from an unlikely source, how will both women react? How could this intrusion impact the relationship in a way that neither woman could ever have foreseen?

Colder Than Ice is a terrific tale of two women finding love amidst the harshest of conditions. It's a fantastic story filled with drama, suspense, intrigue and romance allowing the reader to emerge themselves deeply into the story to the point they feel they are experiencing the atmosphere and action at the same time as the characters. It is simply a book that must be read!