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Wilds of the Bayou #2
Black Diamond
For some people, the untamed beauty of the bayou is a place to hide. For Louisiana wildlife agent Jena Sinclair, it’s a place of refuge—one where she can almost forget the tragedy that scarred both her skin and her soul. But when the remains of yet another fisherman turn up, Jena realizes that Bayou Pointe-aux-Chenes is not safe for her…or anyone else.
The mysterious deaths aren’t her only problem. A dangerous drug known as Black Diamond is circulating through Terrebonne Parish, turning addicts into unpredictable sociopaths. Jena’s investigation leads her to Cole Ryan—a handsome, wary recluse struggling with his own troubled history—who knows more than he’s willing to admit. If they want to stop the killer, Jena and Cole must step out of the shadows of their pasts and learn to help each other…before the evils lurking in the bayou consume them both.
The mysterious deaths aren’t her only problem. A dangerous drug known as Black Diamond is circulating through Terrebonne Parish, turning addicts into unpredictable sociopaths. Jena’s investigation leads her to Cole Ryan—a handsome, wary recluse struggling with his own troubled history—who knows more than he’s willing to admit. If they want to stop the killer, Jena and Cole must step out of the shadows of their pasts and learn to help each other…before the evils lurking in the bayou consume them both.
266 pages, Paperback
First published October 18, 2016
156 people are currently reading
370 people want to read
About the author
Susannah Sandlin
14 books668 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 85 reviews
November 1, 2017
On Sale Now!
There is something about Bayou country that just radiates adventure and romance. Then again it could simply just be me, but my mind conjures up these fabulous images of a slow moving, barely breathing, body of water, surrounded by low hanging trees, each competing with the other for a slice of sky, their greens a jewel toned riot against the backdrop of water and the cerulean blue of the sky; nature’s perfect camouflage for the great blue heron resting on the decayed stump, while the alligators lurk, nigh on fully submerged, behind the silverish grey of the tree trunks, while waterfalls of cascading moss sway gently on the intermittent breeze. Somebody please get me in that boat!
Jena Sinclair is a wildlife agent in the Louisiana Bayou, just recently returned to active duty from a tragic injury that left her scarred inside and out, when her new partner Mac spots the body. On closer examination it would appear that this fisherman has gone a round or two with an alligator. Obviously the alligator won.
Cole Ryan, a handsome, young recluse with a world of hurt in his own past has also come across a gator, a big one. Very big and quite dead, Cole is determined to find the cause of death before consuming any of the meat and he does, but it is a great deal more than he bargained for.
Meanwhile there is a new drug circulating through Terrebonne Parish called Black Diamond.
The effect of this drug is terrifying. Users quickly become addicted and their behaviour, spins out of control, becoming unpredictable, full of rage and violence.
And another report has just come in of an alligator acting oddly. Just what is going on?
Part bodice ripper, part suspense, with a heaping spoon of adventure thrown in. I must say I enjoyed my trip down into the Bayou of Terrebonne Parish.
My thanks to Susannah Sandlin, NetGalley and Montlake Romance for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
Expected release date October 18, 2016.
3.5 bayou loving stars
October 31, 2019
I really appreciated the setting on the bayou that Ms. Sandlin used for this novel/series. This is the second book in the Wilds of the Bayou Series, but can be read as a stand-alone. There are returning characters and references to what occurred in the 1st book, but this story's plot worked well on its own and the characters were well developed. I didn't read the first book and it didn't impact my enjoyment of this book, although I'm now intrigued enough to add book #1 to my TBR.
Cole is referred to as a hermit as he has isolated himself off from society after a tragedy happened to him. Jenna is a wildlife officer who has returned to work after dealing with not only getting injured on the job but also emotional issues brought on by a less than desirable home environment. I thought both Cole and Jenna were well developed and interesting. They both were recovering from traumatic pasts and they recognize the kindred spirits within each other. The supporting cast was also good and I really like Jenna's temporary partner, Mac (except the references to his womanizing exploits).
This is more suspense/investigation than romance but our H/h interest and involvement in each other is still very present. As I like more suspense/plot than romance this is a good fit for what I like to read. The physical details are minimal and not detailed which I appreciate as I tend to skip through books where the plot is either angst or sex, so I appreciated the real story in this book.
Mac and Jenna are pulled into a drug investigation when they tie a captured gator to the synthetic drug known as Black Diamond. The build-up of the plot was well paced and I really enjoyed this story and it's exciting ending.
Thanks to Net Galley for an ARC of this book. This was my first book by Ms. Sandlin and I look forward to the next book in this series.
I have now read both books in this series and really enjoyed them. Wish there were more than just two books. I also went back and read these a second time during a dry spell when I couldn't seem to pick books I liked.
Cole is referred to as a hermit as he has isolated himself off from society after a tragedy happened to him. Jenna is a wildlife officer who has returned to work after dealing with not only getting injured on the job but also emotional issues brought on by a less than desirable home environment. I thought both Cole and Jenna were well developed and interesting. They both were recovering from traumatic pasts and they recognize the kindred spirits within each other. The supporting cast was also good and I really like Jenna's temporary partner, Mac (except the references to his womanizing exploits).
This is more suspense/investigation than romance but our H/h interest and involvement in each other is still very present. As I like more suspense/plot than romance this is a good fit for what I like to read. The physical details are minimal and not detailed which I appreciate as I tend to skip through books where the plot is either angst or sex, so I appreciated the real story in this book.
Mac and Jenna are pulled into a drug investigation when they tie a captured gator to the synthetic drug known as Black Diamond. The build-up of the plot was well paced and I really enjoyed this story and it's exciting ending.
Thanks to Net Galley for an ARC of this book. This was my first book by Ms. Sandlin and I look forward to the next book in this series.
I have now read both books in this series and really enjoyed them. Wish there were more than just two books. I also went back and read these a second time during a dry spell when I couldn't seem to pick books I liked.
September 1, 2016
Louisiana wildlife agent Jean Sinclair has returned to work after almost losing her life during the course of a case that had dire consequences leaving her scarred and trying to reclaim her self-esteem and get on with her life. The remains of a fisherman turn up and it appears he has been attacked by an alligator. Then an alligator is reported acting strangely and when it is captured and tested it seems the alligator has been drugged with a dangerous drug called “Black Diamond”. Now she and her fellow agents are trying to discover how an alligator came in contact with the drug. The investigation soon involves Cole Ryan who has been living completely off the grid for a few years and Jena wants to know why. What is he hiding from? She cannot deny her attraction to him even if she does not realize that she is attracted to him and Cole has felt something between them as well. Can these two tortured people trust each other enough to save the bayou they have come to call home. I would like to thanks the Publisher and Net Galley for the chance to read this ARC.
September 21, 2016
Unos meses atrás, Jena Sinclair, lo que para nosotros equivaldría a ser un agente del Seprona, se vio involucrada en un tiroteo que la dejó tocada tanto física como mentalmente. La historia comienza cuando Jena está casi recuperada y ha vuelto al trabajo. Ahora se enfrentan a una droga tal letal como desconocida que está haciendo estragos su localidad.
Por otro lado tenemos a Cole, un ermitaño solitario y totalmente desconectado del resto del mundo que ha encontrado en los pantanos de Lousiana el lugar perfecto para “desaparecer”.
Uno de los puntos fuertes de esta autora, a mi parecer, es la descripción realista (realista con mayúsculas) de los procedimientos policiales. Nunca deja lugar para estupideces y a pesar de eso consigue enganchar con la trama y consigue que el suspense sea realista, cosa muy difícil de encontrar o casi imposible en este género.
Sus personajes también están bien descritos, son multidimensionales y reales, con fallos, humanos y realmente es muy fácil conectar con ellos.
En este caso teníamos unos ingredientes de primera para la historia:
Protagonistas heridos, traumatizados, con un pasado que los aprisiona y con fallos tan humanos que da miedo mirarse en ellos.
Un elenco de secundarios que le dan fondo a la historia sin llevarse demasiado protagonismo, igual de bien descritos que los propios protagonistas.
Una trama increíblemente original. Desde la droga tan extraña hasta los métodos tan poco ortodoxos que los traficantes eligen para distribuirla.
Y por supuesto el marco en el que se desarrolla la acción, los agobiantes, oscuros y húmedos pantanos de Terrebonne Parish.
Esta historia lo tenía todo para ser una de mis favoritas pero, desgraciadamente, no ha sido así.
El romance me ha parecido apresurado. Ha habido una insta-conexión que me ha parecido desafortunada. No me gustan los insta-lo que sea… no son justos para el lector porque se pierde parte del romance. Eran unos personajes demasiado complicados y reales para lo rápido que sucede todo.
Me ha dado la sensación de que el romance salía de la nada. He tenido que asegurarme que el protagonista era el que yo pensaba porque la prota pasa más tiempo con su compañero que con él.
El suspense ha sido un poco lento. Parecía que pasaban y pasaban las páginas y no pasaba nada. Recuerdo que en su anterior libro Wild Man´s Curse (una maravilla de suspense romántico que recomiendo al 100%) el malo fue algo asombroso. Original. Bien hecho. Aquí no he tenido esa sensación…el malo ha sido muy malo pero no sé bien porqué, no ha habido muchas explicaciones.
En fin, que me ha decepcionado un poco. Después de leer Wild Man´s Curse tenía mis expectativas demasiado altas, imagino, y esta historia me ha parecido sosa.
Aún así seguiré leyendo esta serie.
ARC provided by Montlake Romance via Netgalley.
A few months ago, wildlife agent Jena Sinclair was involved in a shooting that left her both physically and mentally scarred. This story begins when Jena is almost recovered and has return to work. Now, they face a drug as lethal as unknown that is ravaging this quiet place.
Then we have Cole, a hermit totally disconnected from the rest of the world who has found in the swamps of Louisiana the perfect place to "disappear".
One of this author´s strength, in my opinion, is the realistic description of police procedures. She never leaves room for stupidities and makes the suspense so realistic that you get engaged with the plot instantly, a very difficult or almost impossible thing to find in this genre.
Her characters are also well described, are multidimensional and feel real; they have faults and is really easy to connect with them.
In this case we had some top-quality ingredients for the story:
MC´s wounded, traumatized, with a past that imprisons them and failures so human that is scary to look in them.
A cast of characters that give background to the story without taking too much prominence, as well described as the MC´s themselves.
An incredibly original plot. From the so strange drug to the so unorthodox methods that traffickers choose to distribute it.
And of course the setting: the stifling, dark and humid swamps of Terrebonne Parish.
This story had everything to be one of my favorites but, unfortunately, that has not happened.
The romance has seemed rushed. There has been an insta-connection that I found unfortunate. I do not like insta-whatever ... they are unfair to us, the readers, because we miss part of the romance. They were too complicated and too real characters for how fast everything happens between them.
It gave me the feeling that the romance came out of thin air. I had to make sure that the hero was who I thought he was because the heroine spent more time with her partner than with him.
The suspense has dragged a bit. It seemed that the pages passed and passed and nothing happened. I remember in her previous book Wild Man's Curse (a really great romantic suspense I recommend 100%) the bad guy was amazing. Original. Fantastically described. Here I have not had that feeling ... the baddie was very, very bad but I'm not sure why, there have not been many explanations.
Anyway, I was a bit disappointed. After reading Wild Man's Curse I had my expectations too high, I suppose, and this story has seemed bland.
Yet, I´ll keep reading this series.
Por otro lado tenemos a Cole, un ermitaño solitario y totalmente desconectado del resto del mundo que ha encontrado en los pantanos de Lousiana el lugar perfecto para “desaparecer”.
Uno de los puntos fuertes de esta autora, a mi parecer, es la descripción realista (realista con mayúsculas) de los procedimientos policiales. Nunca deja lugar para estupideces y a pesar de eso consigue enganchar con la trama y consigue que el suspense sea realista, cosa muy difícil de encontrar o casi imposible en este género.
Sus personajes también están bien descritos, son multidimensionales y reales, con fallos, humanos y realmente es muy fácil conectar con ellos.
En este caso teníamos unos ingredientes de primera para la historia:
Protagonistas heridos, traumatizados, con un pasado que los aprisiona y con fallos tan humanos que da miedo mirarse en ellos.
Un elenco de secundarios que le dan fondo a la historia sin llevarse demasiado protagonismo, igual de bien descritos que los propios protagonistas.
Una trama increíblemente original. Desde la droga tan extraña hasta los métodos tan poco ortodoxos que los traficantes eligen para distribuirla.
Y por supuesto el marco en el que se desarrolla la acción, los agobiantes, oscuros y húmedos pantanos de Terrebonne Parish.
Esta historia lo tenía todo para ser una de mis favoritas pero, desgraciadamente, no ha sido así.
El romance me ha parecido apresurado. Ha habido una insta-conexión que me ha parecido desafortunada. No me gustan los insta-lo que sea… no son justos para el lector porque se pierde parte del romance. Eran unos personajes demasiado complicados y reales para lo rápido que sucede todo.
Me ha dado la sensación de que el romance salía de la nada. He tenido que asegurarme que el protagonista era el que yo pensaba porque la prota pasa más tiempo con su compañero que con él.
El suspense ha sido un poco lento. Parecía que pasaban y pasaban las páginas y no pasaba nada. Recuerdo que en su anterior libro Wild Man´s Curse (una maravilla de suspense romántico que recomiendo al 100%) el malo fue algo asombroso. Original. Bien hecho. Aquí no he tenido esa sensación…el malo ha sido muy malo pero no sé bien porqué, no ha habido muchas explicaciones.
En fin, que me ha decepcionado un poco. Después de leer Wild Man´s Curse tenía mis expectativas demasiado altas, imagino, y esta historia me ha parecido sosa.
Aún así seguiré leyendo esta serie.
ARC provided by Montlake Romance via Netgalley.
A few months ago, wildlife agent Jena Sinclair was involved in a shooting that left her both physically and mentally scarred. This story begins when Jena is almost recovered and has return to work. Now, they face a drug as lethal as unknown that is ravaging this quiet place.
Then we have Cole, a hermit totally disconnected from the rest of the world who has found in the swamps of Louisiana the perfect place to "disappear".
One of this author´s strength, in my opinion, is the realistic description of police procedures. She never leaves room for stupidities and makes the suspense so realistic that you get engaged with the plot instantly, a very difficult or almost impossible thing to find in this genre.
Her characters are also well described, are multidimensional and feel real; they have faults and is really easy to connect with them.
In this case we had some top-quality ingredients for the story:
MC´s wounded, traumatized, with a past that imprisons them and failures so human that is scary to look in them.
A cast of characters that give background to the story without taking too much prominence, as well described as the MC´s themselves.
An incredibly original plot. From the so strange drug to the so unorthodox methods that traffickers choose to distribute it.
And of course the setting: the stifling, dark and humid swamps of Terrebonne Parish.
This story had everything to be one of my favorites but, unfortunately, that has not happened.
The romance has seemed rushed. There has been an insta-connection that I found unfortunate. I do not like insta-whatever ... they are unfair to us, the readers, because we miss part of the romance. They were too complicated and too real characters for how fast everything happens between them.
It gave me the feeling that the romance came out of thin air. I had to make sure that the hero was who I thought he was because the heroine spent more time with her partner than with him.
The suspense has dragged a bit. It seemed that the pages passed and passed and nothing happened. I remember in her previous book Wild Man's Curse (a really great romantic suspense I recommend 100%) the bad guy was amazing. Original. Fantastically described. Here I have not had that feeling ... the baddie was very, very bad but I'm not sure why, there have not been many explanations.
Anyway, I was a bit disappointed. After reading Wild Man's Curse I had my expectations too high, I suppose, and this story has seemed bland.
Yet, I´ll keep reading this series.
October 18, 2016
Five reasons to grab Black Diamond
Each of the books in this series can be read as a standalone and feature a Louisiana Wildlife agent. In Black Diamond, the Gators are acting strangely, and a designer drug known as Black Diamond is circulating in the parish. It is highly addictive, and the side effects are terrifying. Sandlin not only delivers a page-turning thriller, but she allows us to become a part of this community. We get to know key characters and experience life in the bayou.
Wildlife agent Jena Sinclair is back in the field after an accident that left her scarred both inside and out. She has a new partner, a new home and has her brother living with her. When the story begins, Jena is not in an excellent place mentally, but Sandlin allows her to grow as the case escalates. Jena felt real and had depth. I appreciated how the author developed her.
Sandlin brings the Louisiana Bayou to life from the people to the creatures who live there. We go deep into the marsh, learn gator behavior and bear witness to the struggles folks have from the economy to Mother Nature and her tantrums. Sandlin, a native of Louisiana, lends an authentic flair to the story, and her well-written story allowed me to see, smell and taste the bayou.
Suspenseful and intense Sandlin kept me flipping the pages as the mystery surrounding the Gators and drugs escalated. Jena and her partner soon find themselves in the thick of things as their case begins to thread with the DEA case. The author provided details, red herrings, and plenty of good old-fashioned detective work to develop a solid mystery with a realistic feel.
The romance was served as a side dish to the mystery and carefully threaded through the tale. Cole Ryan is a recluse who keeps to himself and his story will rip out your heart. Jena and Cole connect as only two damaged souls can do. Their interaction felt genuine, and their stories allowed me to connect with them both. The romance is fade black, slow burning, and filled with heart.
Copy provided by Publisher. This review was originally posted on Caffeinated Book Reviewer
Each of the books in this series can be read as a standalone and feature a Louisiana Wildlife agent. In Black Diamond, the Gators are acting strangely, and a designer drug known as Black Diamond is circulating in the parish. It is highly addictive, and the side effects are terrifying. Sandlin not only delivers a page-turning thriller, but she allows us to become a part of this community. We get to know key characters and experience life in the bayou.
Wildlife agent Jena Sinclair is back in the field after an accident that left her scarred both inside and out. She has a new partner, a new home and has her brother living with her. When the story begins, Jena is not in an excellent place mentally, but Sandlin allows her to grow as the case escalates. Jena felt real and had depth. I appreciated how the author developed her.
Sandlin brings the Louisiana Bayou to life from the people to the creatures who live there. We go deep into the marsh, learn gator behavior and bear witness to the struggles folks have from the economy to Mother Nature and her tantrums. Sandlin, a native of Louisiana, lends an authentic flair to the story, and her well-written story allowed me to see, smell and taste the bayou.
Suspenseful and intense Sandlin kept me flipping the pages as the mystery surrounding the Gators and drugs escalated. Jena and her partner soon find themselves in the thick of things as their case begins to thread with the DEA case. The author provided details, red herrings, and plenty of good old-fashioned detective work to develop a solid mystery with a realistic feel.
The romance was served as a side dish to the mystery and carefully threaded through the tale. Cole Ryan is a recluse who keeps to himself and his story will rip out your heart. Jena and Cole connect as only two damaged souls can do. Their interaction felt genuine, and their stories allowed me to connect with them both. The romance is fade black, slow burning, and filled with heart.
Copy provided by Publisher. This review was originally posted on Caffeinated Book Reviewer
January 8, 2019
Black Diamond is the second book in the Wilds of Bayou series. I enjoyed the first book, but this is my favourite. I received an eArc from NetGalley, but never got the chance to review before now. When I discovered I could listen to the audio via Kindle Unlimited, I went the audiobook route.
The story began out on a chilling note. It gave me the chills, and of course, I had to continue, as I had to know how the story would unfold.
Jenna has been through so much and she bears the physical and emotional scars of her experiences. She has returned to fieldwork after the accident that left her with those scars. She gained a new partner, a new home.
A new drug has taken Terrebonne Parish by storm. This drug is addictive, and it makes users’ behavior violent and out of control. Jenna is invested in the investigation as someone close to her has been exposed to the drug.
Cole lives his life in recluse determined to escape his past. His story will break your heart. After hearing his story, I understood his reasons for choosing to live as a hermit.
There was literally no romance. This is one of biggest peeves when it come to this genre. It is classified as a romantic suspense but when you get between the pages, there is suspense served with a pinch of romance. The characters did not spend lots of time together, so there was no time for their romance to blossom. They were drawn to each other because they recognised they had emotional pain in common. I sensed the magnetic pull between them and I believed they had a connection.
The story moved at a pace. There was never a boring moment. At the eighty percent mark, the author stepped it up and at this point, the nail biting feeling came over me. I figured out the mystery from early in the story and as to the parties involved, this too came as no surprise. This however, did not diminish my enjoyment of the book. Instead, it piqued my curiosity as to what their next move would be.
Narration
I enjoyed the narration. The narrator’s voice was an easy listen. I loved her accents, and I felt she captured the voices of the characters well.
Conclusion/Recommendation
Overall, I enjoyed this installment. I will definitely read more from this author. Fans of the genre will enjoy Black Diamond.
The story began out on a chilling note. It gave me the chills, and of course, I had to continue, as I had to know how the story would unfold.
Jenna has been through so much and she bears the physical and emotional scars of her experiences. She has returned to fieldwork after the accident that left her with those scars. She gained a new partner, a new home.
A new drug has taken Terrebonne Parish by storm. This drug is addictive, and it makes users’ behavior violent and out of control. Jenna is invested in the investigation as someone close to her has been exposed to the drug.
Cole lives his life in recluse determined to escape his past. His story will break your heart. After hearing his story, I understood his reasons for choosing to live as a hermit.
There was literally no romance. This is one of biggest peeves when it come to this genre. It is classified as a romantic suspense but when you get between the pages, there is suspense served with a pinch of romance. The characters did not spend lots of time together, so there was no time for their romance to blossom. They were drawn to each other because they recognised they had emotional pain in common. I sensed the magnetic pull between them and I believed they had a connection.
The story moved at a pace. There was never a boring moment. At the eighty percent mark, the author stepped it up and at this point, the nail biting feeling came over me. I figured out the mystery from early in the story and as to the parties involved, this too came as no surprise. This however, did not diminish my enjoyment of the book. Instead, it piqued my curiosity as to what their next move would be.
Narration
I enjoyed the narration. The narrator’s voice was an easy listen. I loved her accents, and I felt she captured the voices of the characters well.
Conclusion/Recommendation
Overall, I enjoyed this installment. I will definitely read more from this author. Fans of the genre will enjoy Black Diamond.
June 24, 2017
I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway and am appreciative to the author and Goodreads.
Black Diamond starts off with a bang when a fisherman is attacked by a crazed alligator and it is action packed to the end. Ms. Sandlin does a great job with the scene decriptions. I could feel the humidity of the bayou with the brackish lazy water and marshland, low hanging moss on the trees, alligators and snakes. Even though I had not read the first book in the series, I felt that I didn't have any problem following the story and getting an idea of the first book.
Jena Sinclair is the daughter of upper class New Orleans parents and has taken a different route in life by working in law enforcement. She first worked with the New Orleans Police Department and now works with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries as a law enforcement officer. She is returning to work after suffering two gunshots wounds working a previous case and is on light duty. She and her temporary partner, Mac, are working the waterways of the bayou when they discover the body of the missing fisherman attacked by the gator. This is not the first body found in the last several months and they seem to coincide with a flux of drug trafficking of a new drug called Black Diamond that has an appearance of black pepper and is highly addictive causing crazy behavior in people who use it.
Cole Ryan is a recluse hiding from something in his past and is now living on a bayou in the middle of sugar cane fields on Sugar Cane Lane. His neighbor, Doris and her husband, called the LDFW to check out a gator in their yard that is acting strangely. Jena and Mac are sent to investigate the gator and decide to take it to the lab to see what might be wrong with the animal. Cole found a dead alligator in his yard not long before the neighbor's gator showed up but he keeps this to himself as he doesn't want to get on the radar of law enforcement. He has already cleaned the gator, frozen the meat and plans to sell parts to make some money. When he opened the gator, he was very shocked to find a man's arm along with a bag of something that looks like black pepper. He disposes of the contents in a hole he dug on the bank of the bayou away from his home. When Jena interviewed Cole about strange gator behavior, he kept quiet.
Jena and Mac are thrown into an investigation of the odd gator behavior along with the drug situation when a bag of drugs is found in the stomach of the gator found at the Doris's house. When a teenage boy strung out on Black Diamond commits suicide on a bridge, Cole decides that he needs to come clean with information about the gator that he found and what he found in the gator. At this point, the action picks up and things get crazy.
This is a suspenseful book that will hook you from the beginning and keep you guessing until the end.
Black Diamond starts off with a bang when a fisherman is attacked by a crazed alligator and it is action packed to the end. Ms. Sandlin does a great job with the scene decriptions. I could feel the humidity of the bayou with the brackish lazy water and marshland, low hanging moss on the trees, alligators and snakes. Even though I had not read the first book in the series, I felt that I didn't have any problem following the story and getting an idea of the first book.
Jena Sinclair is the daughter of upper class New Orleans parents and has taken a different route in life by working in law enforcement. She first worked with the New Orleans Police Department and now works with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries as a law enforcement officer. She is returning to work after suffering two gunshots wounds working a previous case and is on light duty. She and her temporary partner, Mac, are working the waterways of the bayou when they discover the body of the missing fisherman attacked by the gator. This is not the first body found in the last several months and they seem to coincide with a flux of drug trafficking of a new drug called Black Diamond that has an appearance of black pepper and is highly addictive causing crazy behavior in people who use it.
Cole Ryan is a recluse hiding from something in his past and is now living on a bayou in the middle of sugar cane fields on Sugar Cane Lane. His neighbor, Doris and her husband, called the LDFW to check out a gator in their yard that is acting strangely. Jena and Mac are sent to investigate the gator and decide to take it to the lab to see what might be wrong with the animal. Cole found a dead alligator in his yard not long before the neighbor's gator showed up but he keeps this to himself as he doesn't want to get on the radar of law enforcement. He has already cleaned the gator, frozen the meat and plans to sell parts to make some money. When he opened the gator, he was very shocked to find a man's arm along with a bag of something that looks like black pepper. He disposes of the contents in a hole he dug on the bank of the bayou away from his home. When Jena interviewed Cole about strange gator behavior, he kept quiet.
Jena and Mac are thrown into an investigation of the odd gator behavior along with the drug situation when a bag of drugs is found in the stomach of the gator found at the Doris's house. When a teenage boy strung out on Black Diamond commits suicide on a bridge, Cole decides that he needs to come clean with information about the gator that he found and what he found in the gator. At this point, the action picks up and things get crazy.
This is a suspenseful book that will hook you from the beginning and keep you guessing until the end.
September 11, 2016
An unusual, gory scene in the wild bayou opens the story and had me grimacing straight out in revulsion and sympathy. And maybe that was how I had a good feeling that this was going to be a wild and exciting joyride in store.
I emerged from the last page a little dazed and needing more, glad that my initial suspicions were proven right.
Riveting and well-written, ‘Black Diamond’ was hard to put down as it introduced lead characters with their quietly broken pasts we never really find out about until much later because the suspense and the brisk action took precedence over the romance. Drug-running and smuggling in the Louisiana bayou frame Cole’s and Jena’s ever-growing connection, but even that tenuous friendship and attraction fade slightly into the background as Susannah Sandlin carefully draws out the mystery and the tangled web of lies that Jena and her partner Mac have to wade through.
It’s also primarily why I’d be more comfortable categorising ‘Black Diamond’ as a suspense novel with romantic elements, rather than romantic suspense. The slow, slow build between Cole and Jena isn’t quite the priority or the central focus of the book, which made every scene with them together all the more precious, intense and excruciating. I hankered after every part of their relationship development, disappointed when it only solidified in the epilogue and not earlier as I’d hoped.
Yet for all the little we’ve been given of them, I loved both of them together immensely, but perhaps more so because they handled themselves in a manner - withdrawal and uncertainty yet with so much contemplation and self-awareness - that I found myself able to respect more than the typical response of (male) characters who simply become unthinking womanisers after a momentous tragedy in this genre.
That Jena/Cole managed to forge a gentle, quiet understanding early on surprised me pleasantly - Cole learns that the isolated hermit he has been isn’t who he wants to be when he is with Jena; she conversely, lets her own pain go when she finds the same depth of empathy with him. That there’s such dignity and maturity written into them made it all the more difficult to see the pages close on their tentative steps towards a future that’s finally sort of broken free of their pasts. But this being a series, I can only hope both Cole and Jena - with the odd man Mac - will return soon.
*ARC by netgalley
(stunned and grateful, as always)
I emerged from the last page a little dazed and needing more, glad that my initial suspicions were proven right.
Riveting and well-written, ‘Black Diamond’ was hard to put down as it introduced lead characters with their quietly broken pasts we never really find out about until much later because the suspense and the brisk action took precedence over the romance. Drug-running and smuggling in the Louisiana bayou frame Cole’s and Jena’s ever-growing connection, but even that tenuous friendship and attraction fade slightly into the background as Susannah Sandlin carefully draws out the mystery and the tangled web of lies that Jena and her partner Mac have to wade through.
It’s also primarily why I’d be more comfortable categorising ‘Black Diamond’ as a suspense novel with romantic elements, rather than romantic suspense. The slow, slow build between Cole and Jena isn’t quite the priority or the central focus of the book, which made every scene with them together all the more precious, intense and excruciating. I hankered after every part of their relationship development, disappointed when it only solidified in the epilogue and not earlier as I’d hoped.
Yet for all the little we’ve been given of them, I loved both of them together immensely, but perhaps more so because they handled themselves in a manner - withdrawal and uncertainty yet with so much contemplation and self-awareness - that I found myself able to respect more than the typical response of (male) characters who simply become unthinking womanisers after a momentous tragedy in this genre.
That Jena/Cole managed to forge a gentle, quiet understanding early on surprised me pleasantly - Cole learns that the isolated hermit he has been isn’t who he wants to be when he is with Jena; she conversely, lets her own pain go when she finds the same depth of empathy with him. That there’s such dignity and maturity written into them made it all the more difficult to see the pages close on their tentative steps towards a future that’s finally sort of broken free of their pasts. But this being a series, I can only hope both Cole and Jena - with the odd man Mac - will return soon.
*ARC by netgalley
(stunned and grateful, as always)
August 20, 2017
Glad that Jena has her own book.
Jena, recovering from the events of book 1 is finally back on duty. She is self-conscious about her scars. Cole had something Bad happen and he decided to move and live off the grid. He succeeds until the arrival of drugs in his backyard.
I thought Jena and Cole were a good match because of things that happened to them. (I surprised to read about what happened to Cole- I thought he was hiding from someone). I liked the secondary characters- Ceelie and Gentry make appearances (and Paul, Mac). Decent plot and the villains (while guessed about 1/2 through), were good ones. I would liked a bit more at the end, I thought it was a bit rushed.
Jena's parents are TOXIC.
Jena, recovering from the events of book 1 is finally back on duty. She is self-conscious about her scars. Cole had something Bad happen and he decided to move and live off the grid. He succeeds until the arrival of drugs in his backyard.
I thought Jena and Cole were a good match because of things that happened to them. (I surprised to read about what happened to Cole- I thought he was hiding from someone). I liked the secondary characters- Ceelie and Gentry make appearances (and Paul, Mac). Decent plot and the villains (while guessed about 1/2 through), were good ones. I would liked a bit more at the end, I thought it was a bit rushed.
Jena's parents are TOXIC.
February 9, 2020
Excellent adventure on the bayou...
I only know bayou life second-hand, but this novel painted a backdrop thar was extremely realistic. A little shorter than most novels, which I liked. The author knows her craft and wields it well.
I only know bayou life second-hand, but this novel painted a backdrop thar was extremely realistic. A little shorter than most novels, which I liked. The author knows her craft and wields it well.
October 19, 2016
Originally posted at Heroes and Heartbreakers-http://www.heroesandheartbreakers.com...
The second installment in the Wilds of the Bayou series focuses on Louisiana wildlife agent Jean Sinclair. We met her in book one, Wild Man. Best friends and partners with fellow agent Gentry Broussard, Jean was caught in crossfire of one of his cases and paid a huge price. Jean is now back on the job after recuperating from multiple gunshot wounds though her self esteem is still fragile due to the physical and mental damage she sustained.
“Two bullet wounds that left her scarred inside and out, a horrible lapse of judgement that had almost gotten a civilian killed, and four months under the roof of her parents in New orleans. All three had marked her.”
A routine patrol leads her to a dead body and an alligator acting odd. Tests reveal the alligator ingested a substance known as on the street as Black Diamond—a dangerous synthetic drug that is taking lives throughout the state. Her agency and the DEA team up to discover who to trafficking the drug through Terrebonne Parish and how. A tip leads her to Cole Ryan and Jean finds herself making a connection with the mysterious recluse. A connection that Ryan also feels and desperately doesn't want. Cole came to the parish to heal; going completely off the grid. He doesn’t want to be on anyone's radar; especially a cop’s.
“You don’t like to talk to people, do you? I mean, slamming the door in my face was a clue that was hard to miss. I’m perceptive like that.”
As Jena and her partner Max dive deeper into the investigation, looking for the drug smugglers, they discover that everyone in Terrebonne Parish has a secret. A secret they are willing to die... and kill for.
I’m a huge fan of Susannah Sandlin’s alter ego-Suzanne Johnson-and her outstanding urban fantasy Sentinels Of New Orleans series. I was pleased to learn she was writing a romance suspense and keeping it centered in the world she knows so well; the bayous of Louisiana. Sandlin captures the southern flavored atmosphere perfectly with lush descriptions of both the scenery and the characters we come in contact with.
Black Diamond is a well plotted, character driven mystery thriller that blends a police procedural investigation with a budding romance. Intense action and suspense keep us on edge as Sandlin take us deep into the drug smuggling culture, using it to frame the tentative, delicate friendship that grows between two damaged individuals. The slow burning romance flows freely under the main storyline, giving readers brief reprisals from the overall seriousness of the investigation.
Upon first meeting, Jena and Cole recognise and are drawn to the pain, sorrow, and guilt each carry with them. Victims of circumstance which resulted in tragedy, they are both weary and scared of the “what ifs” that life has to offer, having been burned in the worst of ways. As they spend more time together, Cole joins Jena in her investigation in an unobtrusive way, and begins to see that hiding away from life is not a guarantee that nothing will ever happen again. He acknowledges the reasons behind his running away and accepts that he cannot change what has happened but he can change how he proceeds from here on out. To do that, he must make the ultimate sacrifice-rejoin the living. Jena learns to let go of the guilt she has shouldered. She realises that her supposed failings are not her fault but the faults of those who can’t or won’t accept her for who she is.
“She had a lot to be grateful for. A job she loved, and was alive to enjoy. She had colleagues she enjoyed working with, who were more family to her then her own family had ever been. [...] And then there was Coel Ryan, a face that has somehow slipped into her mental recounting of things which to be grateful for.”
A dynamic well developed cast of secondary characters all hold viable places in the story, each one a personable entity that I can't help but hope to see more of in the future. Some lighthearted scenes are injected, giving the story a more personal feeling; allowing us to see the strong friendships and affection these agents hold for one another. The climatic ending gives us the answers we have been looking for while assuring us that Jena and Cole have found the key to healing themselves through each other.
Fans of suspenseful police procedural mysteries with a strong southern base and a heartfelt romance are sure to enjoy Susannah Sandlin’s latest offering.
The second installment in the Wilds of the Bayou series focuses on Louisiana wildlife agent Jean Sinclair. We met her in book one, Wild Man. Best friends and partners with fellow agent Gentry Broussard, Jean was caught in crossfire of one of his cases and paid a huge price. Jean is now back on the job after recuperating from multiple gunshot wounds though her self esteem is still fragile due to the physical and mental damage she sustained.
“Two bullet wounds that left her scarred inside and out, a horrible lapse of judgement that had almost gotten a civilian killed, and four months under the roof of her parents in New orleans. All three had marked her.”
A routine patrol leads her to a dead body and an alligator acting odd. Tests reveal the alligator ingested a substance known as on the street as Black Diamond—a dangerous synthetic drug that is taking lives throughout the state. Her agency and the DEA team up to discover who to trafficking the drug through Terrebonne Parish and how. A tip leads her to Cole Ryan and Jean finds herself making a connection with the mysterious recluse. A connection that Ryan also feels and desperately doesn't want. Cole came to the parish to heal; going completely off the grid. He doesn’t want to be on anyone's radar; especially a cop’s.
“You don’t like to talk to people, do you? I mean, slamming the door in my face was a clue that was hard to miss. I’m perceptive like that.”
As Jena and her partner Max dive deeper into the investigation, looking for the drug smugglers, they discover that everyone in Terrebonne Parish has a secret. A secret they are willing to die... and kill for.
I’m a huge fan of Susannah Sandlin’s alter ego-Suzanne Johnson-and her outstanding urban fantasy Sentinels Of New Orleans series. I was pleased to learn she was writing a romance suspense and keeping it centered in the world she knows so well; the bayous of Louisiana. Sandlin captures the southern flavored atmosphere perfectly with lush descriptions of both the scenery and the characters we come in contact with.
Black Diamond is a well plotted, character driven mystery thriller that blends a police procedural investigation with a budding romance. Intense action and suspense keep us on edge as Sandlin take us deep into the drug smuggling culture, using it to frame the tentative, delicate friendship that grows between two damaged individuals. The slow burning romance flows freely under the main storyline, giving readers brief reprisals from the overall seriousness of the investigation.
Upon first meeting, Jena and Cole recognise and are drawn to the pain, sorrow, and guilt each carry with them. Victims of circumstance which resulted in tragedy, they are both weary and scared of the “what ifs” that life has to offer, having been burned in the worst of ways. As they spend more time together, Cole joins Jena in her investigation in an unobtrusive way, and begins to see that hiding away from life is not a guarantee that nothing will ever happen again. He acknowledges the reasons behind his running away and accepts that he cannot change what has happened but he can change how he proceeds from here on out. To do that, he must make the ultimate sacrifice-rejoin the living. Jena learns to let go of the guilt she has shouldered. She realises that her supposed failings are not her fault but the faults of those who can’t or won’t accept her for who she is.
“She had a lot to be grateful for. A job she loved, and was alive to enjoy. She had colleagues she enjoyed working with, who were more family to her then her own family had ever been. [...] And then there was Coel Ryan, a face that has somehow slipped into her mental recounting of things which to be grateful for.”
A dynamic well developed cast of secondary characters all hold viable places in the story, each one a personable entity that I can't help but hope to see more of in the future. Some lighthearted scenes are injected, giving the story a more personal feeling; allowing us to see the strong friendships and affection these agents hold for one another. The climatic ending gives us the answers we have been looking for while assuring us that Jena and Cole have found the key to healing themselves through each other.
Fans of suspenseful police procedural mysteries with a strong southern base and a heartfelt romance are sure to enjoy Susannah Sandlin’s latest offering.
November 4, 2016
An utterly fabulous gripping romantic suspense read!
Jena Sinclair had taught him a couple of things about himself in the past few minutes that he didn’t want to know.
First, sometime in the past five years, a deep fatigue had wrapped itself around him – not the fatigue that could be slept off with a soft bed and a warm blanket, but the fatigue caused by a tightened harness that restricted. That promised no end to long days and longer nights. A harness of his own making.
Cole had realized another surprising thing too. Very surprising for the man who needed nothing and no one.
He was lonely.
If you are looking for an utterly fabulous gripping romantic suspense read, I’d highly recommend that you check out Susannah Sandlin’s BLACK DIAMOND! Susannah Sandlin is a pseudonym of Suzanne Johnson. When Suzanne writes as Susannah Sandlin, her stories of romantic suspense and paranormal romance are typically set in the Deep South where there are things that go bump in the night. BLACK DIAMOND is set in the Terrebonne Parish bayous of Louisiana where dangers often lurk unseen until it’s too late.
BLACK DIAMOND is the second installment in Susannah’s breathtaking Wilds of the Bayou series. It can work well as a stand-alone, if that is your preference as Susannah seamlessly integrates any needed information from the first book into this one. However, just know that the first book, WILD MAN’S CURSE, is just as terrific as this one, and that some of the characters in BLACK DIAMOND are first introduced in WILD MAN’S CURSE.
This is the story of two characters carrying a world of hurt on their shoulders: Louisiana wildlife agent Jena Sinclair and handsome recluse Cole Ryan. In the last book, Jena was gravely injured inside and out, when Celestine, the sole heir of murdered voodoo priestess Eva Savoie, was kidnapped while under Jena’s protection. Jena still blames herself for what ensued. As this story begins, Jena has returned to work on light duty. While on assignment with her new partner, Mac, they discover a man’s body which had been mauled by an alligator. Then, while investigating a report of a rogue alligator acting oddly, she meets Cole Ryan and leaves him her card in case he remembers any information that may help with their case. Cole does call her – but it’s about another alligator – a big, dead one. Meanwhile there is a new terrifying drug circulating through Terrebonne Parish called Black Diamond.
If you have ever read one of Susannah’s books, you know to expect plenty of heat and thrilling edge-of-your-seat action sequences. She writes with such vivid imagery, that the reader is transported into the setting with the characters. BLACK DIAMOND’S hero and heroine are broken, yet strong. Their story is beautifully written. Will Jena and Cole find a way to work together to live another day and to heal their emotional wounds? Pick up this book, strap yourself in, and hold on for a riveting roller coaster ride.
Following please find a few of my favorite quotes from BLACK DIAMOND:
“I see you’ve got an unwanted visitor.” He walked to stand beside Doris just as she poked at the gator with the table leg and caused it to hiss and back up again. “Ma’am, would you please not poke the gator anymore? Hissing is his way of telling you he doesn’t much like that.”
---
“You don’t like to talk to people, do you? I mean, slamming the door in my face was a clue that was hard to miss. I’m perceptive like that.”
---
Everybody has scars; some are more visible than others, that’s all. But anyone without a scar is someone I don’t want to know because it’s someone who doesn’t feel things deeply. You have to understand loss to recognize a gift when you see it.”
He leaned over and kissed her again. “You are my gift. I want to be yours, if you’ll let me.”
I was very fortunate to read two spectacular, well-executed, nontraditional romantic thrillers back-to-back – both by favorite authors. I would not hesitate to read either of them again. BLACK DIAMOND was one of them and it is a strong contender for one of my top ten reads this year. I can’t wait to read Susannah’s next installment in this series.
My full review is posted at Reading Between The Wines Book Club. Please check it out there: http://www.readingbetweenthewinesbook...
Jena Sinclair had taught him a couple of things about himself in the past few minutes that he didn’t want to know.
First, sometime in the past five years, a deep fatigue had wrapped itself around him – not the fatigue that could be slept off with a soft bed and a warm blanket, but the fatigue caused by a tightened harness that restricted. That promised no end to long days and longer nights. A harness of his own making.
Cole had realized another surprising thing too. Very surprising for the man who needed nothing and no one.
He was lonely.
If you are looking for an utterly fabulous gripping romantic suspense read, I’d highly recommend that you check out Susannah Sandlin’s BLACK DIAMOND! Susannah Sandlin is a pseudonym of Suzanne Johnson. When Suzanne writes as Susannah Sandlin, her stories of romantic suspense and paranormal romance are typically set in the Deep South where there are things that go bump in the night. BLACK DIAMOND is set in the Terrebonne Parish bayous of Louisiana where dangers often lurk unseen until it’s too late.
BLACK DIAMOND is the second installment in Susannah’s breathtaking Wilds of the Bayou series. It can work well as a stand-alone, if that is your preference as Susannah seamlessly integrates any needed information from the first book into this one. However, just know that the first book, WILD MAN’S CURSE, is just as terrific as this one, and that some of the characters in BLACK DIAMOND are first introduced in WILD MAN’S CURSE.
This is the story of two characters carrying a world of hurt on their shoulders: Louisiana wildlife agent Jena Sinclair and handsome recluse Cole Ryan. In the last book, Jena was gravely injured inside and out, when Celestine, the sole heir of murdered voodoo priestess Eva Savoie, was kidnapped while under Jena’s protection. Jena still blames herself for what ensued. As this story begins, Jena has returned to work on light duty. While on assignment with her new partner, Mac, they discover a man’s body which had been mauled by an alligator. Then, while investigating a report of a rogue alligator acting oddly, she meets Cole Ryan and leaves him her card in case he remembers any information that may help with their case. Cole does call her – but it’s about another alligator – a big, dead one. Meanwhile there is a new terrifying drug circulating through Terrebonne Parish called Black Diamond.
If you have ever read one of Susannah’s books, you know to expect plenty of heat and thrilling edge-of-your-seat action sequences. She writes with such vivid imagery, that the reader is transported into the setting with the characters. BLACK DIAMOND’S hero and heroine are broken, yet strong. Their story is beautifully written. Will Jena and Cole find a way to work together to live another day and to heal their emotional wounds? Pick up this book, strap yourself in, and hold on for a riveting roller coaster ride.
Following please find a few of my favorite quotes from BLACK DIAMOND:
“I see you’ve got an unwanted visitor.” He walked to stand beside Doris just as she poked at the gator with the table leg and caused it to hiss and back up again. “Ma’am, would you please not poke the gator anymore? Hissing is his way of telling you he doesn’t much like that.”
---
“You don’t like to talk to people, do you? I mean, slamming the door in my face was a clue that was hard to miss. I’m perceptive like that.”
---
Everybody has scars; some are more visible than others, that’s all. But anyone without a scar is someone I don’t want to know because it’s someone who doesn’t feel things deeply. You have to understand loss to recognize a gift when you see it.”
He leaned over and kissed her again. “You are my gift. I want to be yours, if you’ll let me.”
I was very fortunate to read two spectacular, well-executed, nontraditional romantic thrillers back-to-back – both by favorite authors. I would not hesitate to read either of them again. BLACK DIAMOND was one of them and it is a strong contender for one of my top ten reads this year. I can’t wait to read Susannah’s next installment in this series.
My full review is posted at Reading Between The Wines Book Club. Please check it out there: http://www.readingbetweenthewinesbook...
October 18, 2016
Back in the Louisiana bayous where you gotta watch out for dem gators. What a thrilling opening the book starts with.
Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana Wildlife Agent Jena Sinclair is just getting back on the job after being shot and a suicide attempt. She's dealing with scars both on the outside and inside but is determined to try and put that all behind her. Her and her temporary partner stumble across a dead body who was the victim of an alligator attack but what they didnt know was they had come across the first clue to the deadly new bath salt drug Black Diamond that has been making its way around Terrebonne Parish.
Cole Ryan has been hiding out in Terrebonne Parish for 5 years living the life of a hermit after losing his family traumatically. All he wants is to be left alone. When a dead gator ends up behind his house and the stomach contents of said gator are suspicious he has no choice but tell the pretty Wildlife agent he had just met. She also was the first person to awaken his soul which he thought was long dead.
I love these deep southern thrillers that are wrapped in Cajun tradition and culture. Along with the mystery and suspense of trying to find out who is supplying Black Diamond we also get to see two people who were so used to living with deep seated grief recognize that the other was a like soul and form an immediate bond which helps them heal.
Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana Wildlife Agent Jena Sinclair is just getting back on the job after being shot and a suicide attempt. She's dealing with scars both on the outside and inside but is determined to try and put that all behind her. Her and her temporary partner stumble across a dead body who was the victim of an alligator attack but what they didnt know was they had come across the first clue to the deadly new bath salt drug Black Diamond that has been making its way around Terrebonne Parish.
Cole Ryan has been hiding out in Terrebonne Parish for 5 years living the life of a hermit after losing his family traumatically. All he wants is to be left alone. When a dead gator ends up behind his house and the stomach contents of said gator are suspicious he has no choice but tell the pretty Wildlife agent he had just met. She also was the first person to awaken his soul which he thought was long dead.
I love these deep southern thrillers that are wrapped in Cajun tradition and culture. Along with the mystery and suspense of trying to find out who is supplying Black Diamond we also get to see two people who were so used to living with deep seated grief recognize that the other was a like soul and form an immediate bond which helps them heal.
September 11, 2016
This is a fabulous romantic suspense that focuses on building up to an explosive story rather than being action-packed.
Jena is a Louisiana wildlife agent who has just returned to her job after a shooting that has left her physically scarred and a suicide attempt that has left her boss wondering if she can handle the pressure and a family that is coddling her in their most unusual way. Cole is a hermit with a somewhat unknown past, who is thrown in Jena's past as part of her investigation into rogue swamp alligators and a search for the source of a new, deadly street drug.
The story builds the suspense slowly by introducing characters, enabling you to get to know them, and relating events that are connected together but not in a direct or clear way. The romance ignites with a clear connection between Cole and Jena sparked by their emotional wounds and builds. The slow build of both stories come together in an action-packed closure that is full of suspense and more heat than the bayou.
Everything about this story was well thought out and executed including the ending that moved the romance along without becoming sappy. This a great romantic suspense that is a bit nontraditional.
Jena is a Louisiana wildlife agent who has just returned to her job after a shooting that has left her physically scarred and a suicide attempt that has left her boss wondering if she can handle the pressure and a family that is coddling her in their most unusual way. Cole is a hermit with a somewhat unknown past, who is thrown in Jena's past as part of her investigation into rogue swamp alligators and a search for the source of a new, deadly street drug.
The story builds the suspense slowly by introducing characters, enabling you to get to know them, and relating events that are connected together but not in a direct or clear way. The romance ignites with a clear connection between Cole and Jena sparked by their emotional wounds and builds. The slow build of both stories come together in an action-packed closure that is full of suspense and more heat than the bayou.
Everything about this story was well thought out and executed including the ending that moved the romance along without becoming sappy. This a great romantic suspense that is a bit nontraditional.
December 11, 2016
There are just some books that are so good, where you get so involved with the characters, that you just are unable to set them aside. BLACK DIAMOND was one of those books. My plan was to read a little over breakfast and then go get the rest of my errands done for the day. Well let's just say that my errands did get done but a few hours late.
While I did enjoy and appreciate the beauty of the bayou, what really grabbed and held me were the characters. Jenna is such a flawed individual who is unsure of herself but determined to regain the ground she had lost after the shooting. Cole's answer to the darkness of our society was to retreat completely but meeting Jena is causing him to rethink that decision. I also really liked Mac, who was Jena's partner and a secondary character, he tends to be a chatterbox and a flirt so people tend to underestimate him.
The pacing on this book was perfect with a lot of tension that builds towards a satisfying conclusion. I really appreciated the bits of humor that gives the reader a chance to catch their breath.
I do recommend BLACK DIAMOND to any of my readers who enjoy a well written romantic suspense. This series is on now on my radar and I can't wait for the next book to come out.
While I did enjoy and appreciate the beauty of the bayou, what really grabbed and held me were the characters. Jenna is such a flawed individual who is unsure of herself but determined to regain the ground she had lost after the shooting. Cole's answer to the darkness of our society was to retreat completely but meeting Jena is causing him to rethink that decision. I also really liked Mac, who was Jena's partner and a secondary character, he tends to be a chatterbox and a flirt so people tend to underestimate him.
The pacing on this book was perfect with a lot of tension that builds towards a satisfying conclusion. I really appreciated the bits of humor that gives the reader a chance to catch their breath.
I do recommend BLACK DIAMOND to any of my readers who enjoy a well written romantic suspense. This series is on now on my radar and I can't wait for the next book to come out.
November 13, 2016
I've loved everything I've read by Susannah Sandlin/Suzanne Johnson so far, so you bet I pre-ordered this book.
And it's yet another great read.
The way Sandlin describes the bayou makes that I could easily picture it and imagine I was there. I loved the mood and atmosphere in this book, just as I loved it in the previous one.
I liked Jena in the first book, so I was rooting for her from the start. Events from the first book had a serious impact on Jena, and the drugs flooding the parish aren't her only problem. Cole is an intriguing character as well, and I had to keep reading to find out what would happen to both of them.
Another thing I love about this series are the minor characters. They play an important role in the story and seeing these recurring characters makes that you feel for not only the lead characters, but the entire Parish. (And I so want to read a book with Paul as the lead character!!)
All in all this is a gripping and suspenseful read, with a fast developing, but believable romance, great characters and writing, and gators! I can recommend it to anyone who's looking for a great Romantic Suspense read.
And it's yet another great read.
The way Sandlin describes the bayou makes that I could easily picture it and imagine I was there. I loved the mood and atmosphere in this book, just as I loved it in the previous one.
I liked Jena in the first book, so I was rooting for her from the start. Events from the first book had a serious impact on Jena, and the drugs flooding the parish aren't her only problem. Cole is an intriguing character as well, and I had to keep reading to find out what would happen to both of them.
Another thing I love about this series are the minor characters. They play an important role in the story and seeing these recurring characters makes that you feel for not only the lead characters, but the entire Parish. (And I so want to read a book with Paul as the lead character!!)
All in all this is a gripping and suspenseful read, with a fast developing, but believable romance, great characters and writing, and gators! I can recommend it to anyone who's looking for a great Romantic Suspense read.
October 17, 2016
One of my favorite books this year. Written by one of my favorite authors, this book was completely unputdownable. I loved everything about it, the location of course, I am a big fan of Louisiana bayous and gator hunting and the atmosphere was creepy and awesomely delicious. The characters were beautifully written, so broken and yet strong and fierce. I loved Jena, she was perfect and Cole was just delicious.
The storyline was right out of the headlines and caught my interest and kept me reading into the night. The action was intense and I was glued to the book from page one to the end not wanting to stop till I had enjoyed every word. Absolutely romantic suspense at it's finest, written by a master of the genre. I highly recommend this one.
I voluntarily read an Advanced Reader's Copy of this book.
The storyline was right out of the headlines and caught my interest and kept me reading into the night. The action was intense and I was glued to the book from page one to the end not wanting to stop till I had enjoyed every word. Absolutely romantic suspense at it's finest, written by a master of the genre. I highly recommend this one.
I voluntarily read an Advanced Reader's Copy of this book.
December 8, 2016
The female MC is introduced in Book 1 of this series. I was hoping the next story in the series would be her's. She was strong and beautiful then, and even more so in Black Diamond.
Cole's backstory near to break my heart, but I loved watching him come back to the land of the living for and with Jena.
The suspense element of this story was very nicely paced, and kept me guessing. (I figured out the bad guy, but it took a minute.)
As always, the narration was excellent.
Highly recommend.
Cole's backstory near to break my heart, but I loved watching him come back to the land of the living for and with Jena.
The suspense element of this story was very nicely paced, and kept me guessing. (I figured out the bad guy, but it took a minute.)
As always, the narration was excellent.
Highly recommend.
March 9, 2021
Read my review at https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
August 1, 2018
BLACK DIAMOND: Appealing Characters Shine
http://fangswandsandfairydust.com/201...
Susannah Sandlin's Wilds of the Bayou series!
I voluntarily reviewed an copy of this book provided by the author. No remuneration was exchanged and all opinions presented herein are my own except as noted.
Susannah Sandlin (AKA Suzanne Johnson) always writes characters I care about, immediately. They are vulnerable, and damaged, but also strong with some serious willpower. Sometimes they are also unlikely, like a debutante who wants to be a wildlife agent. As someone with a luxury hotel fetish, I do love wildlife, but camping and sitting in a boat on the bayou is so not me. Jena sort of allows me to try on her love of the animals animals, swampy rivers, and keep my hands clean.
Jena is damaged but survives, she feels. She can be plagued with doubt, she can be plagued by feeling of failure in regards to her family. And she is embarrassed by the damage.
Susanna starts this book of with a tragedy, and not a tragedy with a hope for redemption. It was a little hard as as so much is stripped away from the character whose tragedy starts off the book.
Speaking of starting off the book, this is quite truly a series book that can stand alone. I enjoyed the first book, WILD MAN’S BAYOU, and I highly recommend the story. I also enjoy the narrator whose voice hints very slightly of the bayou, but it also reminds me of Susannah/Suzanne’s personality (as it comes across online).
Events unfold and introduce another character who is vulnerable, damaged, unlikely, but almost in the opposite way. RYan, the hermit-like denizen of a bayou cottage, didn’t want the life he been was living, bit he got it. Slowly, the hermit-persona is trying to erase Ryan, and the events in this story gives Ryan a chance to come back into this world. This world though is one where Ryan feels; he feels pain but he can also feel decency, responsibility, interest, joy. The hermit just survives, unfeeling, uncaring, asocial.
Then there are self-serving creeps who prey on the weak; creating istant addicts with a “bath salts” type iof drug. The mystery isn’t hard to figure out but it is interesting to watch it get solved. And, it is interesting to .
I detected a little humorous nod, retiher conscious or not conscious. to the recent Saturday Night Live skit series of “Maine Justice” where Maine Curts are somehow Cajun by when she brings in a new Wildlife agent from Maine. Maybe it wasn’t a conscious act but I was immediately reminded of the SNL skit.
I could hardly put this book down last week and missed the story, the characters and even the angst as two damaged people are attracted to each other by something besides the damage they suffer. In finding each other they can probably start to heal.
I highly recommend BLACK DIAMOND, and the first book in the series, WILD MAN’S CURSE.
Susannah Sandlin's Wilds of the Bayou series!
I voluntarily reviewed an copy of this book provided by the author. No remuneration was exchanged and all opinions presented herein are my own except as noted.
Susannah Sandlin (AKA Suzanne Johnson) always writes characters I care about, immediately. They are vulnerable, and damaged, but also strong with some serious willpower. Sometimes they are also unlikely, like a debutante who wants to be a wildlife agent. As someone with a luxury hotel fetish, I do love wildlife, but camping and sitting in a boat on the bayou is so not me. Jena sort of allows me to try on her love of the animals animals, swampy rivers, and keep my hands clean.
Jena is damaged but survives, she feels. She can be plagued with doubt, she can be plagued by feeling of failure in regards to her family. And she is embarrassed by the damage.
Susanna starts this book of with a tragedy, and not a tragedy with a hope for redemption. It was a little hard as as so much is stripped away from the character whose tragedy starts off the book.
Speaking of starting off the book, this is quite truly a series book that can stand alone. I enjoyed the first book, WILD MAN’S BAYOU, and I highly recommend the story. I also enjoy the narrator whose voice hints very slightly of the bayou, but it also reminds me of Susannah/Suzanne’s personality (as it comes across online).
Events unfold and introduce another character who is vulnerable, damaged, unlikely, but almost in the opposite way. RYan, the hermit-like denizen of a bayou cottage, didn’t want the life he been was living, bit he got it. Slowly, the hermit-persona is trying to erase Ryan, and the events in this story gives Ryan a chance to come back into this world. This world though is one where Ryan feels; he feels pain but he can also feel decency, responsibility, interest, joy. The hermit just survives, unfeeling, uncaring, asocial.
Then there are self-serving creeps who prey on the weak; creating istant addicts with a “bath salts” type iof drug. The mystery isn’t hard to figure out but it is interesting to watch it get solved. And, it is interesting to .
I detected a little humorous nod, retiher conscious or not conscious. to the recent Saturday Night Live skit series of “Maine Justice” where Maine Curts are somehow Cajun by when she brings in a new Wildlife agent from Maine. Maybe it wasn’t a conscious act but I was immediately reminded of the SNL skit.
I could hardly put this book down last week and missed the story, the characters and even the angst as two damaged people are attracted to each other by something besides the damage they suffer. In finding each other they can probably start to heal.
I highly recommend BLACK DIAMOND, and the first book in the series, WILD MAN’S CURSE.
October 11, 2019
Reviewed by Jen
Book provided by the author
I jumped at the chance to review Back Diamond since I really enjoyed book 1 of the Wilds of the Bayou, Wild Man's Curse . I fell in love with Ms Sandlin's story telling with the Sentinels of New Orleans series (written as Suzanne Johnson) and she'd created another wonderful world. This world is in the bayous of southern Louisiana and the main characters are the wildlife agents.
We met Jena in book one. She was severely injured on the job and is now in the final leg of her recovery. She has a new partner and is back on light duty. Then she stumbled upon Black Diamond, a new, highly addictive and dangerous drug. Add in some odd gator deaths and Jena has a mystery that needs to be solved. Enter Cole. He's turned into a hermit after tragedy struck in his life. He wants to be alone, off the grid. But when Jena come knocking asking questions, he finds himself attracted and can't seem to help getting involved.
Now I liked both characters. Both have many scars, external and internal and seem to sense that in each other. I liked their growth and development. I cried over Jena's struggles and wanted to see Cole come out of his grief and live again. And I rooted for Cole and Jena to find their happily ever after.
And that brings me to the one thing that let me down in this book. When it's said and done, this is a romantic suspense story. There is that element of mystery (or suspense) that I highly enjoyed. But when it came to the romance part, I was underwhelmed. I felt like the characters met too far into the story and then really don't develop a romance. There was definite attraction and that sense of recognition. But the characters didn't spend much time getting to know each other and have that build of romance. Was there chemistry? Sure, but there wasn't that build up that readers of romance expect.
That said, I really did enjoy the book. The suspense part had me turning the pages since I wanted to see what was going to happen and how all the dots were going to connect. There were a couple times that it got a little graphic, but I was able to get past that. It was almost necessary for storyline.
I'd recommend this series for lovers of romantic suspense that are looking for a new setting.
Book provided by the author
I jumped at the chance to review Back Diamond since I really enjoyed book 1 of the Wilds of the Bayou, Wild Man's Curse . I fell in love with Ms Sandlin's story telling with the Sentinels of New Orleans series (written as Suzanne Johnson) and she'd created another wonderful world. This world is in the bayous of southern Louisiana and the main characters are the wildlife agents.
We met Jena in book one. She was severely injured on the job and is now in the final leg of her recovery. She has a new partner and is back on light duty. Then she stumbled upon Black Diamond, a new, highly addictive and dangerous drug. Add in some odd gator deaths and Jena has a mystery that needs to be solved. Enter Cole. He's turned into a hermit after tragedy struck in his life. He wants to be alone, off the grid. But when Jena come knocking asking questions, he finds himself attracted and can't seem to help getting involved.
Now I liked both characters. Both have many scars, external and internal and seem to sense that in each other. I liked their growth and development. I cried over Jena's struggles and wanted to see Cole come out of his grief and live again. And I rooted for Cole and Jena to find their happily ever after.
And that brings me to the one thing that let me down in this book. When it's said and done, this is a romantic suspense story. There is that element of mystery (or suspense) that I highly enjoyed. But when it came to the romance part, I was underwhelmed. I felt like the characters met too far into the story and then really don't develop a romance. There was definite attraction and that sense of recognition. But the characters didn't spend much time getting to know each other and have that build of romance. Was there chemistry? Sure, but there wasn't that build up that readers of romance expect.
That said, I really did enjoy the book. The suspense part had me turning the pages since I wanted to see what was going to happen and how all the dots were going to connect. There were a couple times that it got a little graphic, but I was able to get past that. It was almost necessary for storyline.
I'd recommend this series for lovers of romantic suspense that are looking for a new setting.
February 29, 2020
Black Diamond is Susannah Sandlin's second book in the Wilds of the Bayou series. While this book lacked any of the Voodoo mentions that I so enjoyed in Wild Man's Curse, I actually think I liked it a lot better over all.
Black Diamond is about Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fishery Agent Jena Sinclair, whom we first met as Gentry Broussard's partner in Wild Man's Curse. After the events of book one that left her physically, mentally, and emotionally scarred; Jena returns to work on 'light duty' with a new partner in the LDWF. Jena and her new partner, Mack, begin investigating an increase in aggressive alligators and alligator attacks after a young man's body is found torn apart by what appears to be an alligator. While the work she is supposed to be doing is supposedly "light duty", Jena and Mack find themselves entangled in a case involving more dangers than just rogue alligators, as they find a potential tie between their aggressive reptiles and a new synthetic drug that has been plaguing their local parish (a synthetic drug called Black Diamond). Meanwhile, a ruggedly handsome, reclusive young man living in a cabin out in the bayou finds further evidence involving their case and a (maybe slightly sappy) romance buds between him and Jena--despite the painful pasts that have made them both afraid of close human connections. As their relationship deepens, so does the danger lurking in the bayou, and it seems that it is up to Jena, Mack, and Cole to stop it--no matter the cost.
There was seriously never a dull moment in this book and while I may have said that the romance was slightly sappy, it was one that I rooted for from the very beginning. I loved the colorful characters (both heroic ones and villainous ones) and atmosphere of the Spanish moss-laden bayou. Very enjoyable read.
Black Diamond is about Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fishery Agent Jena Sinclair, whom we first met as Gentry Broussard's partner in Wild Man's Curse. After the events of book one that left her physically, mentally, and emotionally scarred; Jena returns to work on 'light duty' with a new partner in the LDWF. Jena and her new partner, Mack, begin investigating an increase in aggressive alligators and alligator attacks after a young man's body is found torn apart by what appears to be an alligator. While the work she is supposed to be doing is supposedly "light duty", Jena and Mack find themselves entangled in a case involving more dangers than just rogue alligators, as they find a potential tie between their aggressive reptiles and a new synthetic drug that has been plaguing their local parish (a synthetic drug called Black Diamond). Meanwhile, a ruggedly handsome, reclusive young man living in a cabin out in the bayou finds further evidence involving their case and a (maybe slightly sappy) romance buds between him and Jena--despite the painful pasts that have made them both afraid of close human connections. As their relationship deepens, so does the danger lurking in the bayou, and it seems that it is up to Jena, Mack, and Cole to stop it--no matter the cost.
There was seriously never a dull moment in this book and while I may have said that the romance was slightly sappy, it was one that I rooted for from the very beginning. I loved the colorful characters (both heroic ones and villainous ones) and atmosphere of the Spanish moss-laden bayou. Very enjoyable read.
November 5, 2016
Jena Sinclair isn’t exactly hiding in named beauty of the bayou, but as a wildlife agent it has become a place of refuge where she tries to forget the tragedy that scarred her body and soul. However, when a mutilated body of a fisherman shows up , Jena realizes that Bayou Pointe-aux-Chenes is not safe and the something is definitely stirring up the alligator population to act in weird and dangerous ways. The deaths are bad enough but there has been a terrible influx of a new and highly dangerous drug known as Black Diamond which is turing drug addicts into sociopaths with death wishes.
Jena’s investigation led her to the bayou where she happened to meet Cole Ryan – a handsome recluse struggling with his own tragic past – who just so happens to know a bit more than he would like to admit to. But someone is dealing death and destruction throughout Terrebonne Parish and after a while Cole realizes two things; one, he must come forward with what he knows, and two since meeting Jena another obvious suffering woman maybe he’s ready to leave his self imposed exile and return to the 21st century.
What a most interesting and fresh plot that Ms. Sandlin has come up with in this second book of her Wilds of the Bayou series. Very enjoyable with two wounded souls who one can see are simply made for one another. Combining the suspense and mystery of “psycho” alligators, dangerous drugs, murder and mayhem BLACK DIAMOND seems to have touched on all the checks I want to see in a great read.
This was a fast read, both in length and especially the steady pace of the story which I found was not easy to put down. Both of the leads were fully fleshed out and their motivation neatly tied up. All things considered the romance was dealt both sweet and sexy. What more can be said except I highly recommend BLACK DIAMOND for anyone looking for a very different themed excellent read.
Marilyn Rondeau
Jena’s investigation led her to the bayou where she happened to meet Cole Ryan – a handsome recluse struggling with his own tragic past – who just so happens to know a bit more than he would like to admit to. But someone is dealing death and destruction throughout Terrebonne Parish and after a while Cole realizes two things; one, he must come forward with what he knows, and two since meeting Jena another obvious suffering woman maybe he’s ready to leave his self imposed exile and return to the 21st century.
What a most interesting and fresh plot that Ms. Sandlin has come up with in this second book of her Wilds of the Bayou series. Very enjoyable with two wounded souls who one can see are simply made for one another. Combining the suspense and mystery of “psycho” alligators, dangerous drugs, murder and mayhem BLACK DIAMOND seems to have touched on all the checks I want to see in a great read.
This was a fast read, both in length and especially the steady pace of the story which I found was not easy to put down. Both of the leads were fully fleshed out and their motivation neatly tied up. All things considered the romance was dealt both sweet and sexy. What more can be said except I highly recommend BLACK DIAMOND for anyone looking for a very different themed excellent read.
Marilyn Rondeau
January 15, 2019
Mystery, murder, and love on the bayou
Interesting characters, great scene descriptions, original, well-written plot with strong characters and light romance. This is the first book I have read by this author and I will definitely be reading more, especially in this series. Black Diamond is book two in the Wilds of the Bayou series but can easily be read as a stand-alone. I happened to read this one first and could still keep up and understand what was happening. I could tell from the beginning that I was reading the books out of order because of Jena’s character and things that had happened to her in the first book, but it did not dissuade me from continuing because I was already intrigued by her character and the mysteries of the bayou. The author provided plenty of character inner flashback to understand what happened and why Jena’s emotional and psychological state was so fragile. Cole and Jena are survivors and have suffered tragic traumatic events. She is trying to push through and heal the only way she knows how to put it out of her mind and jump back into work and prove to herself and everyone around her that she is fine and she can do her job the same as before. Cole, however, just wants to disappear. He has withdrawn from the world, living off the land in a self-sustaining lifestyle in the bayou and just wants to be left alone. Drugs, gator attacks, and drug smuggling draw them together in a fast-paced life and death survival game in the wilds of the bayou. This is a great read that captivates and intrigues from the start and gives you a thrilling, mysterious ride until the end. There is a bit of romance included in the later chapters but it does not overpower the main storyline. It is a nice addition to the read. Now, to go back and read book one to see how it all began. I cannot wait to be drawn into another adventure in the bayou.
Interesting characters, great scene descriptions, original, well-written plot with strong characters and light romance. This is the first book I have read by this author and I will definitely be reading more, especially in this series. Black Diamond is book two in the Wilds of the Bayou series but can easily be read as a stand-alone. I happened to read this one first and could still keep up and understand what was happening. I could tell from the beginning that I was reading the books out of order because of Jena’s character and things that had happened to her in the first book, but it did not dissuade me from continuing because I was already intrigued by her character and the mysteries of the bayou. The author provided plenty of character inner flashback to understand what happened and why Jena’s emotional and psychological state was so fragile. Cole and Jena are survivors and have suffered tragic traumatic events. She is trying to push through and heal the only way she knows how to put it out of her mind and jump back into work and prove to herself and everyone around her that she is fine and she can do her job the same as before. Cole, however, just wants to disappear. He has withdrawn from the world, living off the land in a self-sustaining lifestyle in the bayou and just wants to be left alone. Drugs, gator attacks, and drug smuggling draw them together in a fast-paced life and death survival game in the wilds of the bayou. This is a great read that captivates and intrigues from the start and gives you a thrilling, mysterious ride until the end. There is a bit of romance included in the later chapters but it does not overpower the main storyline. It is a nice addition to the read. Now, to go back and read book one to see how it all began. I cannot wait to be drawn into another adventure in the bayou.
December 5, 2016
I just love me a great romantic suspense story. I cut my teeth on Nancy Drew mysteries so tend to pick up a good mystery more often than not. Mix in some romance and you got me for sure.
You know how when you're driving in icy weather and you tend to clutch the steering wheel till your fingers get numb and your whole body is tensed? Well, that's how I was through much of this book. Wow, and I just realized that it only 266 pages! Believe me, there is a whole lot on story here. I love a book that can drag me so deep into it that I consciously have to force myself back to reality.
While, I'd not be happy tromping through the swamps these characters had no hesitation. I'd have crapped my pants at the first sign of movement, sure I was about to be some gator's little snack. Nope, keep me on dry land.
While I've not read book one in this series (I do intend to remedy that), I had no trouble connecting to the story or the characters as Sandlin gives you just enough details to make the story seamless. So if you want a great edge of your seat read grap this series. Just start it early enough that you can read it in one sitting as you won't be able to go to sleep till it's finished.
You know how when you're driving in icy weather and you tend to clutch the steering wheel till your fingers get numb and your whole body is tensed? Well, that's how I was through much of this book. Wow, and I just realized that it only 266 pages! Believe me, there is a whole lot on story here. I love a book that can drag me so deep into it that I consciously have to force myself back to reality.
While, I'd not be happy tromping through the swamps these characters had no hesitation. I'd have crapped my pants at the first sign of movement, sure I was about to be some gator's little snack. Nope, keep me on dry land.
While I've not read book one in this series (I do intend to remedy that), I had no trouble connecting to the story or the characters as Sandlin gives you just enough details to make the story seamless. So if you want a great edge of your seat read grap this series. Just start it early enough that you can read it in one sitting as you won't be able to go to sleep till it's finished.
February 17, 2019
Worth reading!
About this book, there is someone pushing drugs and our favorite law enforcement team is smack in the middle of it. I had guess who was involved with drugs but there are more than one person. You will have to read to find out who they are! Lot of soul searching for main character and her love Interest, Cole. This is a mystery romance book that I found worth my time to read. I like this book as much as the first book of the series. I hope the author will continue with series because Mac and Paul need a story too. I wanted to know who changed and let Mac down. Beside Paul OCD he will need a strong woman to deal with that and to make him smile! If there another one coming out in this series I be there to read it. I enjoy reading this book!
About this book, there is someone pushing drugs and our favorite law enforcement team is smack in the middle of it. I had guess who was involved with drugs but there are more than one person. You will have to read to find out who they are! Lot of soul searching for main character and her love Interest, Cole. This is a mystery romance book that I found worth my time to read. I like this book as much as the first book of the series. I hope the author will continue with series because Mac and Paul need a story too. I wanted to know who changed and let Mac down. Beside Paul OCD he will need a strong woman to deal with that and to make him smile! If there another one coming out in this series I be there to read it. I enjoy reading this book!
February 1, 2020
Diamonds are NOT this girls best friend!
Louisiana wildlife agent Jena Sinclair is trying to get her life back on track after recovering from being shot. Struggling to conquer her demons the last thing she needs is over protective friends, a new annoying partner, aggressive gators, drug traffickers and her attraction for sexy as sin recluse Cole Ryan. After tragedy Cole has withdrawn from everyone and become a hermit. He's happy keeping people at arms length until he tangles with feisty red head Jena. Can he put aside the past long enough to fight the bad guys and protect the people he has come to care for? If he can, maybe, just maybe he will have a second chance at love. I listened to this thrilling suspense for free with Kindle Unlimited.
Louisiana wildlife agent Jena Sinclair is trying to get her life back on track after recovering from being shot. Struggling to conquer her demons the last thing she needs is over protective friends, a new annoying partner, aggressive gators, drug traffickers and her attraction for sexy as sin recluse Cole Ryan. After tragedy Cole has withdrawn from everyone and become a hermit. He's happy keeping people at arms length until he tangles with feisty red head Jena. Can he put aside the past long enough to fight the bad guys and protect the people he has come to care for? If he can, maybe, just maybe he will have a second chance at love. I listened to this thrilling suspense for free with Kindle Unlimited.
August 11, 2017
Black Diamond is my first book by Susannah Sandlin. This book started out strong and really held my attention! It is a suspenseful mystery with a bit of a romance. Main characters Jena Sinclair and Cole Ryan meet when Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries agents investigate a dangerous drug called Black Diamond. It was easy to like these two characters as well as some of the secondary characters. I thought this book was well written and had good pacing. It is the second book in the Wilds of the Bayou series. After reading this book, I definitely want to read to read other books by this author!
September 29, 2017
I won this is a Goodreads giveaway. Plenty of other reviews give a story outline so I won't.
This is the first book that I have read by Susannah Sandlin. I enjoyed the plot (very original) and the author's writing style. The only thing that I would have liked to have been done differently is to have the relationship drawn out a little longer. I think too many books use love at first sight or have the leads fall in love in a week, but it a story after all and anything can happen in a book.
Black Diamond is book two in the Wilds of the Bayou series, but a standalone. If you like Romantic Suspense, I recommend it and I will be reading the rest of the series.
This is the first book that I have read by Susannah Sandlin. I enjoyed the plot (very original) and the author's writing style. The only thing that I would have liked to have been done differently is to have the relationship drawn out a little longer. I think too many books use love at first sight or have the leads fall in love in a week, but it a story after all and anything can happen in a book.
Black Diamond is book two in the Wilds of the Bayou series, but a standalone. If you like Romantic Suspense, I recommend it and I will be reading the rest of the series.
March 13, 2020
I really liked this book and hope the author writes more in the series. Loved revisiting the couple in the first book. However, you dont have to listen or read them in order.
There was a lot of action and suspense. I loved the hero in this one. His story was so heart breaking but added a lot of character. The only thing I had trouble with was how after the main character of the first book talkes about getting married, I wish the actual wedding would've been mentioned. But it was ok without it. Gosh, now I'm gonna have a book hangover because it was so good.
If you listen to audiobooks I highly recommend this one. The narration was amazing. I loved the accents some characters had.
There was a lot of action and suspense. I loved the hero in this one. His story was so heart breaking but added a lot of character. The only thing I had trouble with was how after the main character of the first book talkes about getting married, I wish the actual wedding would've been mentioned. But it was ok without it. Gosh, now I'm gonna have a book hangover because it was so good.
If you listen to audiobooks I highly recommend this one. The narration was amazing. I loved the accents some characters had.
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