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The Collectors #2
Deadly, Calm, and Cold
From award-winning author Susannah Sandlin comes the second book in The Collectors series.
How far will ordinary people go to protect their secrets? The Collectors’ games are as much about manipulating lives as finding lost treasure. Everyone is expendable as the ruthless C7 pushes people into gambling with their lives in order to find priceless objects lost to history.
Samantha Crowe’s secrets could ruin her career, while Brody Parker’s could get him killed. They become pawns for two Collectors seeking Bad King John’s crown jewels, which disappeared in rural England back when Robin Hood roamed Nottingham. This time, however, the Collectors—a ruthless dotcom billionaire and a desperate London detective—might not be playing for the same team, leaving Sam and Brody trapped in the middle.
One thing’s for sure: if either hopes to survive, Sam and Brody will have to find a way to overcome their distrust—and their growing attraction—in order to succeed on this winner-take-all treasure hunt.
How far will ordinary people go to protect their secrets? The Collectors’ games are as much about manipulating lives as finding lost treasure. Everyone is expendable as the ruthless C7 pushes people into gambling with their lives in order to find priceless objects lost to history.
Samantha Crowe’s secrets could ruin her career, while Brody Parker’s could get him killed. They become pawns for two Collectors seeking Bad King John’s crown jewels, which disappeared in rural England back when Robin Hood roamed Nottingham. This time, however, the Collectors—a ruthless dotcom billionaire and a desperate London detective—might not be playing for the same team, leaving Sam and Brody trapped in the middle.
One thing’s for sure: if either hopes to survive, Sam and Brody will have to find a way to overcome their distrust—and their growing attraction—in order to succeed on this winner-take-all treasure hunt.
270 pages, Paperback
First published December 2, 2014
79 people are currently reading
434 people want to read
About the author
Susannah Sandlin
14 books669 followersPseudonym of Suzanne Johnson
Suzanne Johnson writing as Susannah Sandlin is the author of romantic suspense and paranormal romance, often set in the Deep South, where there are always things that go bump in the night! She is the author of the Penton Legacy series (REDEMPTION, ABSOLUTION, OMEGA, ALLEGIANCE and STORM FORCE (spinoff), The Collectors series (LOVELY, DARK, AND DEEP and DEADLY, CALM, AND COLD) and the upcoming romantic suspense series Wilds of the Bayou, which began with book one, WILD MAN'S CURSE (April 5, 2016) and continues with the release of BLACK DIAMOND on Oct. 18, 2016.
Awards include the 2015 Holt Medallion for Romantic Suspense (Lovely, Dark, and Deep), the 2015 Booksellers Best Award for Romantic Suspense (Lovely, Dark, and Deep), the 2013 Holt Medallion award for ABSOLUTION; a 2014 RT Book Reviews Reviewers Choice Award Nomination for ALLEGIANCE; a 2013 RT Book Reviews Reviewers Choice Award Nomination for OMEGA; and the 2014 Linda Howard Award of Excellence for ELYSIAN FIELDS (written as Suzanne Johnson).
Suzanne Johnson, writes the Sentinels of New Orleans urban fantasy series: ROYAL STREET; RIVER ROAD; ELYSIAN FIELDS; PIRATE'S ALLEY, and BELLE CHASSE (coming November 8, 2016). A novella and story collection from the Sentinels world, PIRATESHIP DOWN, was released in 2015.
Suzanne Johnson writing as Susannah Sandlin is the author of romantic suspense and paranormal romance, often set in the Deep South, where there are always things that go bump in the night! She is the author of the Penton Legacy series (REDEMPTION, ABSOLUTION, OMEGA, ALLEGIANCE and STORM FORCE (spinoff), The Collectors series (LOVELY, DARK, AND DEEP and DEADLY, CALM, AND COLD) and the upcoming romantic suspense series Wilds of the Bayou, which began with book one, WILD MAN'S CURSE (April 5, 2016) and continues with the release of BLACK DIAMOND on Oct. 18, 2016.
Awards include the 2015 Holt Medallion for Romantic Suspense (Lovely, Dark, and Deep), the 2015 Booksellers Best Award for Romantic Suspense (Lovely, Dark, and Deep), the 2013 Holt Medallion award for ABSOLUTION; a 2014 RT Book Reviews Reviewers Choice Award Nomination for ALLEGIANCE; a 2013 RT Book Reviews Reviewers Choice Award Nomination for OMEGA; and the 2014 Linda Howard Award of Excellence for ELYSIAN FIELDS (written as Suzanne Johnson).
Suzanne Johnson, writes the Sentinels of New Orleans urban fantasy series: ROYAL STREET; RIVER ROAD; ELYSIAN FIELDS; PIRATE'S ALLEY, and BELLE CHASSE (coming November 8, 2016). A novella and story collection from the Sentinels world, PIRATESHIP DOWN, was released in 2015.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
January 4, 2015
Deadly, Calm, and Cold by Susannah Sandlin is a 2014 Montlake publication. I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This is book two in the collectors series but if you haven't read the first book, no worries! You will have no trouble jumping into this one since it reads like a stand alone.
Samantha finds herself in a real jam after a brief romantic encounter turns into a life and death situation. Samantha's research on King John's lost crown jewels has caught the attention of a group of deadly daredevils who call themselves C7. These men are deadly, wealthy, powerful and love to play games with peoples lives for fun and profit. If Samantha's research is correct, she could lead them to the centuries old lost treasure. Once they have what they want, Samantha would be collateral damage.
Brody is in what amounts to the witness protection program and is making adjustments living outside of the states. When he spots a girl with amazing green eyes and an American accent, he is intrigued. When he discovers she is out to find a lost treasure, he is commissioned by a rogue member of C7 to keep her from succeeding.
This throws the two secretive people together, both going by assumed names, both with terrible and painful past, and both swearing off the opposite sex for personal reasons. However, there is a spark between them that is becoming more and more difficult to deny. Can they learn to trust one another in order to get themselves out this serious life or death, cat and mouse game they are caught in?
I really enjoyed this fast paced adventure full of intrigue, double crosses, and plot twist and of course a healthy dose of romance on the side. The author did a good job of incorporating Brody and Samantha's past into the story without losing momentum. The story starts off strong and maintains an even pace through out that kept me turning pages. I admit I wasn't all that knowledgeable about the history of the lost crown jewels and found myself doing a few quick internet searches to find out more. Very interesting. Beware: You could find yourself reading past your bedtime with one. Over all this one gets 4.5 stars rounded to 5
This is book two in the collectors series but if you haven't read the first book, no worries! You will have no trouble jumping into this one since it reads like a stand alone.
Samantha finds herself in a real jam after a brief romantic encounter turns into a life and death situation. Samantha's research on King John's lost crown jewels has caught the attention of a group of deadly daredevils who call themselves C7. These men are deadly, wealthy, powerful and love to play games with peoples lives for fun and profit. If Samantha's research is correct, she could lead them to the centuries old lost treasure. Once they have what they want, Samantha would be collateral damage.
Brody is in what amounts to the witness protection program and is making adjustments living outside of the states. When he spots a girl with amazing green eyes and an American accent, he is intrigued. When he discovers she is out to find a lost treasure, he is commissioned by a rogue member of C7 to keep her from succeeding.
This throws the two secretive people together, both going by assumed names, both with terrible and painful past, and both swearing off the opposite sex for personal reasons. However, there is a spark between them that is becoming more and more difficult to deny. Can they learn to trust one another in order to get themselves out this serious life or death, cat and mouse game they are caught in?
I really enjoyed this fast paced adventure full of intrigue, double crosses, and plot twist and of course a healthy dose of romance on the side. The author did a good job of incorporating Brody and Samantha's past into the story without losing momentum. The story starts off strong and maintains an even pace through out that kept me turning pages. I admit I wasn't all that knowledgeable about the history of the lost crown jewels and found myself doing a few quick internet searches to find out more. Very interesting. Beware: You could find yourself reading past your bedtime with one. Over all this one gets 4.5 stars rounded to 5
March 11, 2015
Five Caffeinated reasons to grab your earbuds and listen to Deadly, Calm, and Cold
The premise to the Collector series is a unique one. A group of rich, pompous men known as the C7 bet money and use ordinary folks to find lost treasure for them. Do you have a secret you want kept hidden? Then you could be their next victim and they will stop at nothing to have you do their bidding. I love this premise and the suspense it creates.
The quest is to find lost artifacts and a deadline to win is set. I love how their research resulted in the reader/listener learning about a specific time-period and lost treasure. In this particular case, we are looking for King John’s crown jewels that disappeared in rural England around the time Robin Hood roamed the countryside. Sandlin clearly does her research weaving fact into her tales giving it an authentic feel.
The plot was twisted and the C7 players particularly ruthless. They involve a London detective in over his head and a Dotcom billionaire who is determined to win regardless of the cost. They hire ruthless thugs to do their dirty work and set out to foil each other. Accidents, murder and threats abound keeping the reader constantly on edge.
Samantha Crow’s past could ruin the career she is pursuing and threats to her family have her manipulated into playing the game. Brody Parker has left his past behind and if discovered certain parties would go to great lengths to see him dead. Each has a mission and finds themselves an unwilling pawn between the two C7 players.
The attraction Sam and Brody felt for each other was dangerous since both feared being double-crossed and finding themselves at the mercy of the C7 players. The incredible tension, danger and timeline amped up the sexual tension and it was delightful seeing these two begin to trust each other. We get some heat combined with sweet moments and I found myself rooting for them.
Deadly, Calm and Cold was an intense romantic suspense and I cannot wait to read the next novel. Each of the books in this series work as standalone but I recommend reading them all.
This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Book Reviewer
The premise to the Collector series is a unique one. A group of rich, pompous men known as the C7 bet money and use ordinary folks to find lost treasure for them. Do you have a secret you want kept hidden? Then you could be their next victim and they will stop at nothing to have you do their bidding. I love this premise and the suspense it creates.
The quest is to find lost artifacts and a deadline to win is set. I love how their research resulted in the reader/listener learning about a specific time-period and lost treasure. In this particular case, we are looking for King John’s crown jewels that disappeared in rural England around the time Robin Hood roamed the countryside. Sandlin clearly does her research weaving fact into her tales giving it an authentic feel.
The plot was twisted and the C7 players particularly ruthless. They involve a London detective in over his head and a Dotcom billionaire who is determined to win regardless of the cost. They hire ruthless thugs to do their dirty work and set out to foil each other. Accidents, murder and threats abound keeping the reader constantly on edge.
Samantha Crow’s past could ruin the career she is pursuing and threats to her family have her manipulated into playing the game. Brody Parker has left his past behind and if discovered certain parties would go to great lengths to see him dead. Each has a mission and finds themselves an unwilling pawn between the two C7 players.
The attraction Sam and Brody felt for each other was dangerous since both feared being double-crossed and finding themselves at the mercy of the C7 players. The incredible tension, danger and timeline amped up the sexual tension and it was delightful seeing these two begin to trust each other. We get some heat combined with sweet moments and I found myself rooting for them.
Deadly, Calm and Cold was an intense romantic suspense and I cannot wait to read the next novel. Each of the books in this series work as standalone but I recommend reading them all.
This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Book Reviewer
December 19, 2014
Originally published at Reading Reality
So far, the Collectors series is turning out to be the love child of every historical conspiracy treasure hunt series that has ever been written. If the first book in the series, Lovely, Dark, and Deep is a cross between National Treasure and Titanic, then Deadly, Calm and Cold is the product of mixing The DaVinci Code with Indiana Jones. In other words, we have a treasure hunt for a historic artifact with nasty people on the tail (or trail) of our heroes.
The big difference is that all those other fictional treasure hunters are in it for the glory, or the thrill of discovery. At any rate, they volunteered. In the Collectors series, that is far from the case.
The evil baddies in the Collectors series are those collectors. They are a group of very rich and extremely self-indulgent, self-centered private collectors who will stop at nothing to add rare and priceless artifacts to their private collections. They are certainly not above a bit of blackmail, or even outright murder, to coerce experts into finding the prizes they seek. For the C7, it’s all just a big game. They get their thrills by grinding people into dust and beating their competition (the other C7 members) to whatever big prize is in their sights.
In Deadly, Calm and Cold, the big prize is King John’s lost crown jewels. Yes, I mean that King John, the one in the Robin Hood stories. Historically, he was the signer of the Magna Carta, because he was a despotic ruler even for those times. His nobles made him sign the “Great Charter” to protect themselves from his excesses. King John also really did lose his crown jewels in the area portrayed in the book, the east coast of England where Norfolk meets Lincolnshire.
Just as in Lovely, Dark and Deep, our story features a woman who is a technical expert on the subject at hand, and a man who finds himself in the middle of her search, but is hiding somewhere off the beaten path for reasons of his own.
Samantha Crowe is a graduate student in history, on a one-term research fellowship in England to delve into the history of King John’s lost treasure. She is also vulnerable to blackmail for some less-than-noble dealings both before and after college. She has a juvenile record, for stealing to support her addict-mother. While her motives were kind of good and kind of enabling, what happened is understandable. But it isn’t info that she disclosed to her university. Neither is her method of getting that research fellowship - her professor pulled strings to give it to her as a way of getting her out of the country and keeping her quiet about their now-over affair. She thought it might be love, he was just cheating on his unsuspecting wife with his equally unsuspecting grad student.
But sending dirty pictures to the student newspaper will pretty much kill both their careers. Or certainly hers. When the C7 member decides that the treasure she is researching is worth his time, she’s stuck between a rock and a hard place. It doesn’t matter that the pictures are photoshopped - by the time any investigation figures that out, the damage will be done.
Brody Parker gets dragged into hunt because his house is part of the land where John’s treasure might be hidden - and because he has secrets of his own. Brody Parker isn’t even his real name - he’s in witness protection as a whistleblower in a major U.S. racketeering case. He’s spent years being paranoid that the mob really will track him down. C7 thinks he’s the perfect person to blackmail, but the same tech skills that brought down a big piece of organized crime make him the perfect person to help Sam turn the tables on the mysterious C7.
It helps that the C7 is facing a whistleblower of their very own. While the “big boss” is hard to find, the guy who is playing both ends against the middle is forced to the conclusion that helping Sam and Brody get out from under is his best chance of a new life.
In the adrenaline fueled treasure hunt, Sam and Brody discover that their best chance of a new life is with each other - if they survive.
Escape Rating B+: If this series continues to follow the pattern set in the first two books, it’s a winner. The woman is the expert, and while the man is the muscle, he never forgets that they are partners - he doesn’t take over everything including her. Brody, just as Shane did in Lovely, Dark and Deep, has secrets of his own that make him a perfect foil for Sam.
Both Sam and Brody, like Gillian and Shane before them, have a lot of damage that requires the other to help them heal. The way that they start out, equally attracted but equally untrusting, gives them a difficult road to travel towards each other, but makes their love story fit the adventure.
I loved that the treasure was real - there is even a nod to the discovery of Richard III’s body and how medieval treasure can still be found. The nods to actual historical events grounded the story in a way that some of the antecedents like The DaVinci Code are not, fun as they are.
In many ways, the villains of the series, those C7 Collectors, come off as a bit too “bwahaha” evil. Providing Sam and Brody with the more mundane double-crosser to negotiate with brought that mysterious band of evildoers down to earth.
For a good time with a heart-pounding adventure that has a rocky romance at its center, add The Collectors to your collection. (Sorry, that pun was irresistible, and so is the series!)
So far, the Collectors series is turning out to be the love child of every historical conspiracy treasure hunt series that has ever been written. If the first book in the series, Lovely, Dark, and Deep is a cross between National Treasure and Titanic, then Deadly, Calm and Cold is the product of mixing The DaVinci Code with Indiana Jones. In other words, we have a treasure hunt for a historic artifact with nasty people on the tail (or trail) of our heroes.
The big difference is that all those other fictional treasure hunters are in it for the glory, or the thrill of discovery. At any rate, they volunteered. In the Collectors series, that is far from the case.
The evil baddies in the Collectors series are those collectors. They are a group of very rich and extremely self-indulgent, self-centered private collectors who will stop at nothing to add rare and priceless artifacts to their private collections. They are certainly not above a bit of blackmail, or even outright murder, to coerce experts into finding the prizes they seek. For the C7, it’s all just a big game. They get their thrills by grinding people into dust and beating their competition (the other C7 members) to whatever big prize is in their sights.
In Deadly, Calm and Cold, the big prize is King John’s lost crown jewels. Yes, I mean that King John, the one in the Robin Hood stories. Historically, he was the signer of the Magna Carta, because he was a despotic ruler even for those times. His nobles made him sign the “Great Charter” to protect themselves from his excesses. King John also really did lose his crown jewels in the area portrayed in the book, the east coast of England where Norfolk meets Lincolnshire.
Just as in Lovely, Dark and Deep, our story features a woman who is a technical expert on the subject at hand, and a man who finds himself in the middle of her search, but is hiding somewhere off the beaten path for reasons of his own.
Samantha Crowe is a graduate student in history, on a one-term research fellowship in England to delve into the history of King John’s lost treasure. She is also vulnerable to blackmail for some less-than-noble dealings both before and after college. She has a juvenile record, for stealing to support her addict-mother. While her motives were kind of good and kind of enabling, what happened is understandable. But it isn’t info that she disclosed to her university. Neither is her method of getting that research fellowship - her professor pulled strings to give it to her as a way of getting her out of the country and keeping her quiet about their now-over affair. She thought it might be love, he was just cheating on his unsuspecting wife with his equally unsuspecting grad student.
But sending dirty pictures to the student newspaper will pretty much kill both their careers. Or certainly hers. When the C7 member decides that the treasure she is researching is worth his time, she’s stuck between a rock and a hard place. It doesn’t matter that the pictures are photoshopped - by the time any investigation figures that out, the damage will be done.
Brody Parker gets dragged into hunt because his house is part of the land where John’s treasure might be hidden - and because he has secrets of his own. Brody Parker isn’t even his real name - he’s in witness protection as a whistleblower in a major U.S. racketeering case. He’s spent years being paranoid that the mob really will track him down. C7 thinks he’s the perfect person to blackmail, but the same tech skills that brought down a big piece of organized crime make him the perfect person to help Sam turn the tables on the mysterious C7.
It helps that the C7 is facing a whistleblower of their very own. While the “big boss” is hard to find, the guy who is playing both ends against the middle is forced to the conclusion that helping Sam and Brody get out from under is his best chance of a new life.
In the adrenaline fueled treasure hunt, Sam and Brody discover that their best chance of a new life is with each other - if they survive.
Escape Rating B+: If this series continues to follow the pattern set in the first two books, it’s a winner. The woman is the expert, and while the man is the muscle, he never forgets that they are partners - he doesn’t take over everything including her. Brody, just as Shane did in Lovely, Dark and Deep, has secrets of his own that make him a perfect foil for Sam.
Both Sam and Brody, like Gillian and Shane before them, have a lot of damage that requires the other to help them heal. The way that they start out, equally attracted but equally untrusting, gives them a difficult road to travel towards each other, but makes their love story fit the adventure.
I loved that the treasure was real - there is even a nod to the discovery of Richard III’s body and how medieval treasure can still be found. The nods to actual historical events grounded the story in a way that some of the antecedents like The DaVinci Code are not, fun as they are.
In many ways, the villains of the series, those C7 Collectors, come off as a bit too “bwahaha” evil. Providing Sam and Brody with the more mundane double-crosser to negotiate with brought that mysterious band of evildoers down to earth.
For a good time with a heart-pounding adventure that has a rocky romance at its center, add The Collectors to your collection. (Sorry, that pun was irresistible, and so is the series!)
August 21, 2019
3.5 rounded up...
I read this and the first book back to back, although they are in a series they can be read as stand alone books.
I liked the characters in this book and the plot was interesting. A little suspension of disbelief and I enjoyed the read.
I read this and the first book back to back, although they are in a series they can be read as stand alone books.
I liked the characters in this book and the plot was interesting. A little suspension of disbelief and I enjoyed the read.
November 29, 2021
Samantha Crowe is being blackmailed into finding the crown jewels of King John by one of the Collectors (Rich men who use blackmail to get regular people to search out valuable objects in a game of one-upmanship that they play with each other). Her search leads her to a small English village where she rents a room from Brody Parker, who also isn't who he says he is. Sam and Brody find common ground when they finally realize that they have both been in hiding and now need each other's help in order to survive.
Although Deadly, Calm, and Cold begins with a great premise, the story quickly devolves into a slow, uninteresting plot with underdeveloped characters who act in ridiculous ways. The romance progresses much too quickly to be believable and the supposed treasure hunt never happens. The Collector in the story plays a very small role and seems too unrealistic to be credible. Overall, Deadly, Calm, and Cold is an extreme disappointment.
Although Deadly, Calm, and Cold begins with a great premise, the story quickly devolves into a slow, uninteresting plot with underdeveloped characters who act in ridiculous ways. The romance progresses much too quickly to be believable and the supposed treasure hunt never happens. The Collector in the story plays a very small role and seems too unrealistic to be credible. Overall, Deadly, Calm, and Cold is an extreme disappointment.
February 10, 2020
Deadly Treasure Hunt
The collectors of C7 are at it again only this time there is dissent in the ranks. The search for King John's crown jewels pits two very different people against each other. Two Americans with two secrets that they will do anything to protect. On one side we have student Samantha tasked with finding the gems, on the other side we have artist Brody who to stay alive must stop her by any means. The only way to win is the hardest task of all, they have to trust each other. If they cant they might has well start digging their own graves. I listened to both book 1 and 2 back to back for free with Kindle Unlimited and enjoyed every single minute of these emotionally charged fast paced romantic suspense stories. Really hope the author writes more in the series.
The collectors of C7 are at it again only this time there is dissent in the ranks. The search for King John's crown jewels pits two very different people against each other. Two Americans with two secrets that they will do anything to protect. On one side we have student Samantha tasked with finding the gems, on the other side we have artist Brody who to stay alive must stop her by any means. The only way to win is the hardest task of all, they have to trust each other. If they cant they might has well start digging their own graves. I listened to both book 1 and 2 back to back for free with Kindle Unlimited and enjoyed every single minute of these emotionally charged fast paced romantic suspense stories. Really hope the author writes more in the series.
May 22, 2019
Very slow start
This story got off to a very slow start. I really had to struggle to stay engaged. However, by the end I did find myself enjoying it a bit more.
Samantha - was a hard MC to figure out - there were times that I really liked her character and others where she was a bit obnoxious. Her whole “celibacy” thing was more of a joke than serious - which in the end was fun - but was annoying to me as an excuse not to open up to Brody. I get that her choices in men really stunk - just didn’t ring true when using those words.
This story got off to a very slow start. I really had to struggle to stay engaged. However, by the end I did find myself enjoying it a bit more.
Samantha - was a hard MC to figure out - there were times that I really liked her character and others where she was a bit obnoxious. Her whole “celibacy” thing was more of a joke than serious - which in the end was fun - but was annoying to me as an excuse not to open up to Brody. I get that her choices in men really stunk - just didn’t ring true when using those words.
February 6, 2018
Excellent read
The storyline is believable and kept me wanting to read chapter after chapter. I look forward to the next book in this series.
The storyline is believable and kept me wanting to read chapter after chapter. I look forward to the next book in this series.
July 16, 2019
I liked this a lot better than book 1. Much more suspense. Romance was great, too. I liked Sam and Brody.
January 4, 2021
3.5 stars.
February 26, 2025
More interesting than the first but didn't like how Tom and his wife got away with killing Cynthia.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 19, 2025
3 1/2 stars. Action with romance mixed in. Some adult language.
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Read
January 5, 2016Samantha Crowe is an American grad student in London, studying ancient history. After being courted by a rich American businessman in the past week, she accompanied him to his rich hotel last night, and now she is alone and hung over. How could she have fallen for a bad guy once again? But at least he paid for the room, and ordered her breakfast.
But when she looks inside the envelope he also left for her, her appetite is gone. He knows everything about her, her childhood and her most recent bad past. If she doesn’t do as he wants her to, he will ruin her, her mother and her previous lover …
She should have known he was too good to be true, what businessman would have been interested in her old research? But apparently he believes she is onto something, and now he orders her to find the lost Crown Jewels of Bad King John, within 30 days, or else …
He has left her a pile of cash and has arranged for one of his buddies to rent her a car, so she can go to Swineshead, the place where King John died. Some think the monks killed him, after he slept with the abbot’s wife, others think he was ill already when he went to the Abbey.
Tom has become a member from the C7 because of his gambling debts, and the other members think he can be useful to them. He is not a millionaire or a megalomaniac like the others, he is just as trapped as Sam is. And so he will arrange for Sam to have a place to stay, but he really does not want her to find the Crown Jewels and see them leave England into the gready hands of “mr. Smith”. And so he finds Brody, who is hiding in the witness protection program, and blackmails him into working against Sam while pretending to help her.
Feeling really bad about it all, he finally confesses to his beloved wife, and hopes she will forgive him. Donna is not happy with him, but it is she who enjoys living beyond their means and she will not give up her beautiful home. To his surprise, she is even more ruthless than he is, when it comes to protecting themselves. And he is not sure he can live with that …
Sam and Brody meet, and Brody certainly feels homesick after talking to Sam for a while. He has not had contact with another American in 7 years. But he doesn’t trust her, thanks to Tom’s story. He thinks she is just a gold digger, working for her rich boyfriend.
But when the elements conspire to push them together, they finally start trusting each other, and sharing their story, or at least a part of it. And when they work together, they just might be able to win …
I really enjoyed the first book in the series, but I think this one is a lot better. The characters are acting a bit more natural, and I could feel the attraction between them. Brody has been badly injured in the past, and he still has a limp. He is a good man, and he had to give up his whole life for it. But he has made a new life for himself here in England, as a painter, and made some good friends. And now danger has come to his door again, in the form of a pretty young woman in trouble.
Sam had a really bad childhood, with a junkie for a mother, and her being the one who took care there was food on the table and rent money, no matter how she did it. Her mother still depends on her to help her out financially, even though Sam has to work multiple jobs to support herself through college. And now she has gotten herself in this mess, will they survive it? Or will they just be killed as they know too much and might figure out who “mr. Smith” really is?
The treasure hunt became a bit of a side story, while the relationship between Sam and Brody and them fighting Tom and his cronies took the stage. I would have liked to learn a bit more about the treasure though, and I certainly would have liked a little bit different ending. Still, it was a very enjoyable read and journey to follow. I did not foresee a lot of the things that happened, and I love being surprised by a good story. It has a lot of action and danger and mud, but also some emotional scenes and some nice love scenes.
I look forward to reading the next book … and then there were 5 …
8 stars.
But when she looks inside the envelope he also left for her, her appetite is gone. He knows everything about her, her childhood and her most recent bad past. If she doesn’t do as he wants her to, he will ruin her, her mother and her previous lover …
She should have known he was too good to be true, what businessman would have been interested in her old research? But apparently he believes she is onto something, and now he orders her to find the lost Crown Jewels of Bad King John, within 30 days, or else …
He has left her a pile of cash and has arranged for one of his buddies to rent her a car, so she can go to Swineshead, the place where King John died. Some think the monks killed him, after he slept with the abbot’s wife, others think he was ill already when he went to the Abbey.
Tom has become a member from the C7 because of his gambling debts, and the other members think he can be useful to them. He is not a millionaire or a megalomaniac like the others, he is just as trapped as Sam is. And so he will arrange for Sam to have a place to stay, but he really does not want her to find the Crown Jewels and see them leave England into the gready hands of “mr. Smith”. And so he finds Brody, who is hiding in the witness protection program, and blackmails him into working against Sam while pretending to help her.
Feeling really bad about it all, he finally confesses to his beloved wife, and hopes she will forgive him. Donna is not happy with him, but it is she who enjoys living beyond their means and she will not give up her beautiful home. To his surprise, she is even more ruthless than he is, when it comes to protecting themselves. And he is not sure he can live with that …
Sam and Brody meet, and Brody certainly feels homesick after talking to Sam for a while. He has not had contact with another American in 7 years. But he doesn’t trust her, thanks to Tom’s story. He thinks she is just a gold digger, working for her rich boyfriend.
But when the elements conspire to push them together, they finally start trusting each other, and sharing their story, or at least a part of it. And when they work together, they just might be able to win …
I really enjoyed the first book in the series, but I think this one is a lot better. The characters are acting a bit more natural, and I could feel the attraction between them. Brody has been badly injured in the past, and he still has a limp. He is a good man, and he had to give up his whole life for it. But he has made a new life for himself here in England, as a painter, and made some good friends. And now danger has come to his door again, in the form of a pretty young woman in trouble.
Sam had a really bad childhood, with a junkie for a mother, and her being the one who took care there was food on the table and rent money, no matter how she did it. Her mother still depends on her to help her out financially, even though Sam has to work multiple jobs to support herself through college. And now she has gotten herself in this mess, will they survive it? Or will they just be killed as they know too much and might figure out who “mr. Smith” really is?
The treasure hunt became a bit of a side story, while the relationship between Sam and Brody and them fighting Tom and his cronies took the stage. I would have liked to learn a bit more about the treasure though, and I certainly would have liked a little bit different ending. Still, it was a very enjoyable read and journey to follow. I did not foresee a lot of the things that happened, and I love being surprised by a good story. It has a lot of action and danger and mud, but also some emotional scenes and some nice love scenes.
I look forward to reading the next book … and then there were 5 …
8 stars.
December 24, 2014
A digital copy of this book was provided to me in exchange for an honest review.
Deadly, Calm and Cold is the second book in the Collectors Series. Not having read the first book didn't prove to be a problem at all, as the author has deftly managed to weave a fully fresh stand-alone story with a strong plot and characters. From what I've read of the reviews of the first book, the over-arching theme of the book, with some treasure collectors with sinister motives employing (read blackmailing) powerless pawns to do the dirty work, seems to be the one common factor in the series.
The story revolves around three main threads - the collectors' team, C7, who are lethally dangerous and will stop at nothing to attain what they are after, which happens to be the coveted treasure targets here; Sam, who's running away from a lot of things she would rather leave behind, which she finds isn't easy to do, especially if her secrets are known to nasty people who can blackmail her to do things to avoid exposure - especially if the exposure would stop her research fellowship because she had some under-hand dealings with the wrong people, and an illicit affair with her professor; Brody, under protection, fearing his life and safety every moment of his life, having been a whistleblower and having had more inagreeable secrets from the past. The three threads are played against one another, the C7 always holding the lead in this power game. It doesn't help when Sam and Brody are drawn to each other. Can they manage to get together, shake the C7 off their trails and finally settle down to a happy life, is what the book takes us through.
The book is a wonderful read, combining a fast-paced thriller with a historical treasure hunt adventure. The narrative is brisk, crisp and engaging. The characterisation isn't deep as I would have liked it to be - presumably because there was no space left in the story to delve into the characters' minds, as the plot is so strong and fast that it fills up the book.
I thoroughly enjoyed the read, and I definitely recommend it to lovers of thrillers and adventures.
My rating for this book: 4 stars
Deadly, Calm and Cold is the second book in the Collectors Series. Not having read the first book didn't prove to be a problem at all, as the author has deftly managed to weave a fully fresh stand-alone story with a strong plot and characters. From what I've read of the reviews of the first book, the over-arching theme of the book, with some treasure collectors with sinister motives employing (read blackmailing) powerless pawns to do the dirty work, seems to be the one common factor in the series.
The story revolves around three main threads - the collectors' team, C7, who are lethally dangerous and will stop at nothing to attain what they are after, which happens to be the coveted treasure targets here; Sam, who's running away from a lot of things she would rather leave behind, which she finds isn't easy to do, especially if her secrets are known to nasty people who can blackmail her to do things to avoid exposure - especially if the exposure would stop her research fellowship because she had some under-hand dealings with the wrong people, and an illicit affair with her professor; Brody, under protection, fearing his life and safety every moment of his life, having been a whistleblower and having had more inagreeable secrets from the past. The three threads are played against one another, the C7 always holding the lead in this power game. It doesn't help when Sam and Brody are drawn to each other. Can they manage to get together, shake the C7 off their trails and finally settle down to a happy life, is what the book takes us through.
The book is a wonderful read, combining a fast-paced thriller with a historical treasure hunt adventure. The narrative is brisk, crisp and engaging. The characterisation isn't deep as I would have liked it to be - presumably because there was no space left in the story to delve into the characters' minds, as the plot is so strong and fast that it fills up the book.
I thoroughly enjoyed the read, and I definitely recommend it to lovers of thrillers and adventures.
My rating for this book: 4 stars
January 9, 2015
Susannah Sandlin - Deadly, Calm, and Cold
ARC is kindly provided by Author/Publisher via Netgalley in exchange of an honest review. Thank you for the chance to review the book.
Enjoyment quantity :: 3 stars
Literature quality :: 3 stars
Heroine :: Samantha Crowe a.k.a Carolina Sonnier
Blonde. Green eyes. Geeky plain-Jane grad student. Juvenile felon with a three-strikes arrest record.
"The C7 were the Collectors, an exclusive club of seven adrenaline junkies with a taste for competitive games, unlimited money to raise the stakes, and the balls to play God with other people’s live."
Book #2 in The Collectors series. Mystery. Adventure. Romantic suspense. Stalked. Treasure hunter. History. Medieval era. Student-Professor affairs. Dual POV, he/she, alternating. London.
The book has too many lines in one page, too small to read in an e-reader.
The book really intriguing. So much question on my mind, lure me to read it in one sitting. I want to give a praise to the detailed description of Lincolnshire. From the public place to the social atmosphere, even how the citizen spend their time.
The story progression is so typical mystery book! Practically each chapters are cliffhanger on its own, because the next chapter always told from different POV. And this book has bunch of alternating POV. The reader curiosity should waot until god knows how many chapter later.
full review to come.
ARC is kindly provided by Author/Publisher via Netgalley in exchange of an honest review. Thank you for the chance to review the book.
Enjoyment quantity :: 3 stars
Literature quality :: 3 stars
Heroine :: Samantha Crowe a.k.a Carolina Sonnier
Blonde. Green eyes. Geeky plain-Jane grad student. Juvenile felon with a three-strikes arrest record.
"The C7 were the Collectors, an exclusive club of seven adrenaline junkies with a taste for competitive games, unlimited money to raise the stakes, and the balls to play God with other people’s live."
Book #2 in The Collectors series. Mystery. Adventure. Romantic suspense. Stalked. Treasure hunter. History. Medieval era. Student-Professor affairs. Dual POV, he/she, alternating. London.
The book has too many lines in one page, too small to read in an e-reader.
The book really intriguing. So much question on my mind, lure me to read it in one sitting. I want to give a praise to the detailed description of Lincolnshire. From the public place to the social atmosphere, even how the citizen spend their time.
The story progression is so typical mystery book! Practically each chapters are cliffhanger on its own, because the next chapter always told from different POV. And this book has bunch of alternating POV. The reader curiosity should waot until god knows how many chapter later.
full review to come.
February 26, 2015
I very much enjoyed the first book in this series, so I had to read this one as well.
And this is yet another fun and suspenseful story.
Brody is forced in sabotaging Sam's quest to find king John's crown jewels. Luckily this sabotage isn't going so far that I couldn't believe in Sam and Brody overcoming their mistrust of each other though. They both are resilient and inventive and make a great team.
Again the story and the mood reminded me of the Indiana Jones movies: There's adventure, searching for lost treasure, lots of intrigue, danger, and romance. (And there might not be any evil Nazis, but the Collectors make up for that ;-))
And if maybe Brody and Sam escape danger a little too easily, or find a too neat solution to their problems, that doesn't matter. Because that's supposed to happen in stories like this. It might be a book, but I could easily see this story happening on the big screen: exciting firefights, explosions and all.
All in all this is yet another cool and entertaining adventure romance. I will most certainly read other books in this series, if there will be more.
And this is yet another fun and suspenseful story.
Brody is forced in sabotaging Sam's quest to find king John's crown jewels. Luckily this sabotage isn't going so far that I couldn't believe in Sam and Brody overcoming their mistrust of each other though. They both are resilient and inventive and make a great team.
Again the story and the mood reminded me of the Indiana Jones movies: There's adventure, searching for lost treasure, lots of intrigue, danger, and romance. (And there might not be any evil Nazis, but the Collectors make up for that ;-))
And if maybe Brody and Sam escape danger a little too easily, or find a too neat solution to their problems, that doesn't matter. Because that's supposed to happen in stories like this. It might be a book, but I could easily see this story happening on the big screen: exciting firefights, explosions and all.
All in all this is yet another cool and entertaining adventure romance. I will most certainly read other books in this series, if there will be more.
January 3, 2015
I read Lovely, Dark and Deep in July and absolutely loved it so when I saw this one I jumped all over it. Loved Brody and Sam and was thrilled that they were both hiding out. I was sorry about Cynthie and was astounded as to what happened with Tom and Donna. I was also thrilled at what happened to Brent. Great storyline, great couple and great sex but not too much. AND I'm so glad that neither on these books were cliffhangers.
I hate, hate, hate cliffhangers. Now then, I've read every one of Ms. Sandlin's books, except Chenoire, I don't read short stories or novellas.
I do hope she has a new book coming out soon.
I hate, hate, hate cliffhangers. Now then, I've read every one of Ms. Sandlin's books, except Chenoire, I don't read short stories or novellas.
I do hope she has a new book coming out soon.
December 27, 2014
**Thanks to Susannah Sandlin & Netgalley for this copy**
So, where to begin.... Well I guess I'll just say I really did not enjoy this book. It had so much potential to be a great story, and just chucked all of that away. The book was billed as more of a search for King John's lost Crown Jewels, but in reality it barely even spoke of that. All we really see in the book is blackmail, secrets, running away & more blackmail. I would have enjoyed this more if we actually got to see Sam try & search for the jewels.
So, where to begin.... Well I guess I'll just say I really did not enjoy this book. It had so much potential to be a great story, and just chucked all of that away. The book was billed as more of a search for King John's lost Crown Jewels, but in reality it barely even spoke of that. All we really see in the book is blackmail, secrets, running away & more blackmail. I would have enjoyed this more if we actually got to see Sam try & search for the jewels.
January 4, 2015
This book is not quite what I expected but I was surprised in a good way. Sandlin creates characters who are very relatable. She piqued my interest from the very beginning and held it until the last sentence. "Deadly, Calm, and Cold" is the perfect blend of action, mystery, and romance. An easy and quick read, I would say the book is very enjoyable and would recommend it to anyone wanting a "pallette cleanser" between more serious pieces of literature.
February 10, 2015
After receiving this book from a goodreads Giveaway I realized it was the second in a series but I do not believe that by not reading the first I missed out on anything.
The story goes that Samantha Crowe is looking for King John's lost crown jewels but that is about all we hear about the jewels. The story has mystery, murder & romance.
I did not guess the ending but I also didn't think the ending was all that stellar.
*received this book in a Goodreads Giveaway for my opinion*
The story goes that Samantha Crowe is looking for King John's lost crown jewels but that is about all we hear about the jewels. The story has mystery, murder & romance.
I did not guess the ending but I also didn't think the ending was all that stellar.
*received this book in a Goodreads Giveaway for my opinion*
December 26, 2014
Deadly, Calm and Cold is book two in Susannah Sandlin's Collectors.
Deadly, Calm and Cold is a fascinating read with plenty of rich character develop, strong plot and resolution because it is loaded with intrigue, lies and distrust. The chemistry between Samantha and Brody is magical in my opinion as they both deal with the secrets they hold within.
I enjoyed every twist and turn and highly recommend Deadly, Calm and Cold.
A must read.
Deadly, Calm and Cold is a fascinating read with plenty of rich character develop, strong plot and resolution because it is loaded with intrigue, lies and distrust. The chemistry between Samantha and Brody is magical in my opinion as they both deal with the secrets they hold within.
I enjoyed every twist and turn and highly recommend Deadly, Calm and Cold.
A must read.
January 26, 2015
I loved the suspense building up in the well written plot. The twist and turns and characters do not disappoint. Everyone loves a treasure hunt and this story inspires the imagination. Add in detectives, history, and desperation and off you go! Fast paced and you will be tempted to read in one sitting. Enjoy!
January 4, 2015
A very well written book with lots of suspense. I didn't guess the ending and I always do. I can only give three stars because I do not believe all of the red herrings that made me not guess the ending were resolved. I turned around and read it again and then one more time and still could not resolve. Enjoyed the book though.
February 15, 2017
*received for free through Goodreads First Reads
A well-written romantic suspense that was easy to follow and get involved with the characters. It was a bit slow with the action and suspense, but I did like the romance and the villains.
A well-written romantic suspense that was easy to follow and get involved with the characters. It was a bit slow with the action and suspense, but I did like the romance and the villains.
May 25, 2015
Though this book was okay, it wasn't as good as the first. I thought Sandlin focused a little too much on the love story and very little on the treasure hunt. The first book certainly had more action, more history, and a bit more substance.
Read
August 23, 2016I have just finished listening to the audiobook.
Do not listen to this book if you live in Lincolnshire, UK. I listened to the first one and it was really quite good, and this one is also, but not if you live here.
Do not listen to this book if you live in Lincolnshire, UK. I listened to the first one and it was really quite good, and this one is also, but not if you live here.
December 17, 2014
i received this book for free as part of a first reads promotion
September 21, 2015
keep 'em coming ...
October 14, 2016
Enjoyable
I enjoyed the second book in this series. It has interesting characters and an intriguing plot with action and mystery and a little romance a good read.
I enjoyed the second book in this series. It has interesting characters and an intriguing plot with action and mystery and a little romance a good read.
gave-up-on
September 8, 2015Just couldn't get into this one. Really liked the first book but this was just not as good.
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