Black Ice by Becca Fitzpatrick

Black Ice by Becca Fitzpatrick
Series: No
Publisher: Simon & Schuster 
Publication Date: October 7th 2014
Source: Netgalley [Publisher]

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 there... 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?

I'm a massive fan of Becca Fitzpatrick. I absolutely love her Hish Hush saga, so when I heard she had a new book coming out, I knew I had to get it ASAP.

Black Ice follows Britt Pfeiffer who is going backpacking with her best friend Korbie for spring break. Korbie's boyfriend Bear, and her brother Calvin (Britt's ex) are also going with the girls. Calvin sets off for the cabin first, and then Britt and Korbie follow. As they're heading up to the cabin, the weather takes a turn for the worse, and they end up stranded in a snow storm. The girls are forced to leave the car behind and try to find help. They eventually come across a cabin occupied by two men. The girls accept the help of the two men, and then they're taken hostage. The men want a way off of the mountains, and Britt is the only person who can help them. The guys take Britt and try to make their way off of the mountains. And then Britt comes across some evidence that could possibly link one of the guys to the deaths in Teton Range. Britt is determined to stay alive long enough for Calvin to find her, but Britt soon learns that nothing it what it seems and secrets are being kept.

To begin with, Britt annoyed the hell out of me. She came across as spoiled, stupid, whiny and extremely naive. I found myself rolling my eyes a lot at her to begin with. But Britt's character developed throughout the book and I started to see a different side of her. She was determined, resourceful, smart and she used her initiative to try and keep herself alive. I started to like her more and more as the book went on.

I was not a fan of Korbie. Korbie is a bitch. A serious bitch. She acts like a 2 year old and she's always trying to best Britt. She's constantly moaning and she's completely spoiled. I didn't like her at all.

I was extremely unsure what to think of Calvin. He came across as a nice guy, but from what I'd heard of him from Britt, he was a complete ass. He had two different personalities and we saw both of them from Britt's flashbacks of her past with Calvin. He could be sweet and lovely, but he could also be a jerk and slightly alpha male. I couldn't make up my mind about him.

I knew Shaun was a creep the second he was introduced. The way he smiled and acted put me on edge. He's a creepy, twisted psycho.

My opinion of Mason changed a lot during the book. When he first made an appearance, I thought he was sweet. But at the cabin he seemed dangerous and mysterious. He sometimes seemed like he was on Britt's side, and other times he seemed like he was on Shaun's side. He was looking out for Britt and Korbie, so I had no idea what to think of him.

I was seriously questioning Britt & Korbie's sanity when they willing walked into the guys cabin and started flirting with them. And then were surprised when they were kidnapped. I think they must have missed the class on stranger danger. The book definitely started to pick up when Korbie was left behind. She was the most insufferable part of the book and I was so glad when she was gone. It was also this point that the book took a darker twist and things started to get serious. There was a lot of mystery in this book. All of the characters had secrets and their secrets added some unexpected twists. 

The romance was extremely awkward. Britt starts to fall for Mason (one of her kidnappers) when they're spending time together in the mountains. But Britt is also thinking about her ex, Calvin, and is determined to get back together with him. I was slightly creeped out by Britt and Mason to begin with, but I understood why she started to fall for him. I couldn't understand her hang up on Calvin. He treated her like shit, but she wants him back. I didn't get it.

The last quarter is where everything started to get exciting. There were more twist and shocking revelations, and although I had guessed a few of them, I was still shocked when they were revealed in the story. 

In all honesty, this is one book that could have done without an epilogue. Yes, it was nice to see Britt have something good happen in her life, but it also felt extremely unnecessary and slightly weird again.

Overall, I did enjoy Black Ice. It was a great mystery with brilliant twists, but I had some problems with the characters, the romance and I felt it was slightly predictable, so I didn't get completely lost in the book. However, I'd still recommend it and I can't wait to see what Fitzpatrick has in store next!