The Heart of Frost

North Pole City Tales Book 2

By: Charlie Cochet

Narrated by: Robert Nieman

At the North Pole, no one is more powerful and feared than the Prince of Frost. As general of the toy soldier army, Jack Frost has been working extra hard to put away the villainous Mouse King once and for all. If that isn't taxing enough, Jack has to deal with the scandal and gossip brought on by news of his relationship with Rudy Rein Dear, captain of the Rein Dear Squadron, which hit headlines last holiday season. Lucky for Jack, his reputation has managed to deter any foolish attempts to stir up trouble. At least until now.

When someone sabotages Rudy's plane during a test run a few weeks before Christmas, Jack is determined to find the culprit by any means necessary. The closer he gets to finding answers, the more difficulty he has not falling back to his icy ways. Has the Mouse King stepped up his game in order to throw Jack off his, or is someone a little closer to home behind the attempt on Rudy's life? Either way, Jack has every intention of delivering a Christmas they won't soon forget, even if it means losing the newfound warmth in his heart.

©2013 Charlie Cochet (P)2015 Dreamspinner Press

An action packed, holiday romance!

This is the second book in the series and can be listened to as a standalone, although I do recommend reading it in the series order.

I absolutely loved listening to Jack and Rudy's story.
It was action packed, charming and a feel good listen that is bound to lift your spirits.
I adore the world building of this series. It's very magical and exciting.

Robert Nieman did an exceptional audio delivery as well.

Thawing the Heart of Frost.

Would you listen to The Heart of Frost again? Why?

Yes I would. Loved the narration, the story and the characters.

What other book might you compare The Heart of Frost to and why?

Mending Noel, the first book in this series.

What does Robert Nieman bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I haven't read the book, I thoroughly enjoyed the audio book.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Christmas with a twist.

Any additional comments?

Jack Frost is known for his volatile temper throughout the kingdom. Since Rudy Reindeer and Jack become lovers, Jack’s heart has grown warm and his bedside manner is much more friendly. When Rudy’s plane is sabotaged and Rudy is almost killed, the Frost Prince of old makes an appearance, but at what cost. While Jack will stop at nothing to uncover who tried to kill his lover, the cold begins to seep its way back into his heart, and Rudy fears he will lose Jack to the power he has learned to keep at bay.

This story was much more gripping and detailed than the first. I liked that Tim and Noel were characters in the background, but Jack and Rudy take center stage. You know that saying, absolute power corrupts absolutely? That is sort of the moral of this story. The power Jack can wield is absolute and destructive. With Rudy in his life showing him he is worthy of love, Jack has learned how to turn the darkness off. But Jack resorts to that darkness to try and uncover the plot to kill his lover, and he just may lose the thing he loves most in the end, Rudy.

I don’t know about anyone else, but I was on the edge of my seat for most of this book. It was a Christmas caper mystery! And I thoroughly enjoyed it. I love this fantasy world that is wrapped in holiday cheer that Cochet has created for the series. I’m happy that Robert Nieman continues to sit in the narrators chair as well. He has already given voice to many of the characters that flowed effortlessly over into this book, and having listened to the first book, I knew who was who just by the tone and nuance he used, even before their name was mentioned.

This is just a fun little series with amazing characters, somewhat suspenseful storylines and fantastic scenery. I can’t wait to start Vixen’s story next!

Great story

The Heart of Frost is Jack and Rudy’s story. After Rudy is injured, Jack starts demanding answers but along the way he starts to lose himself and reverts back to the cold unfeeling man he was before Rudy.
I adored everything about this story. The world building is fantastic!!! Great story to read during the holiday season
Narration was enthusiastic...there were some cringed parts but otherwise a perfectly good audio

Fun Holiday Sweetness great narrator

We meet Jack and Rudy in book one (Mending Noel) as a couple – this is their back-story and their future. Using Kris Kringle as a Divine Father and Jack Frost as the Prince of the Land and the Mouse King as the Evil dictator, Charlie Cochet has created a unique and hysterical Christmas land wherein the Rein Dear are Pilots who usually mate up with Sugar Plum Fairies and NOT the Elves. (You can definitely read this as a stand alone, but I suggest reading the series in order for the most enjoyment.)

Before Rudy, Jack had a heart so frozen he had no compassion and was feared throughout all the land. Rudy came along and thawed that heart, showing him love. At this point in the story, they’ve been a couple for hundreds of years, but only recently have they become public knowledge. Rudy has just moved into the castle and his presence is causing lots of trouble.

Rudy ends up in a suspicious accident and Jack ends up with a frozen heart again. Now it’s up to Rudy and his friends to try to unfreeze that heart before it’s too late.

**
Book one – which set the stage is very light hearted, this is a bit more dark. It also has a bit more passion in it but is still full of the Christmas Charm found in Mending Noel.

I absolutely love the Christmas-isms and the different roles all our favorite characters play in this alternate reality. How can you not laugh at curses like Holy Holly?!

As an established couple the romance in this was a bit more downplayed, but the relationship was more of a focus. It was still very sweet and tender and moved the couple closer, even after hundreds of years together.

I highly recommend these novellas to anyone looking for a light holiday read full of fun and magic. I understand there will be another this Christmas.

Audio:

Robert Nieman does an excellent job with the narration. He’s crisp and clear, does well with the pacing and the emotion. He doesn’t do a lot with the voices, but it is still a very enjoyable way to experience this book.

I give it 4.5 of 5 stars.

Sweet yet Suspenseful Book

FourStars
**AUDIOBOOK REVIEW**

I really enjoyed this addition to the story. We still get to see the characters from the first story, but we get to know more about Jack and Rudy's relationship. There is a spin of mystery and suspense and drama that's all so wonderfully put together!

While there is so much going on, the sweetness of being in the North Pole and how the story is weaved together is just amazing.

However, that being said, I absolutely did not like the narrator, not for his voice, but there were numerous errors in the audiobook that I have to mark down the entire review because of it. The narrator gets 3 stars while the story gets 5 stars.

I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Inked Rainbow Reads.