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.

kimbacaffeinate

Written on Sep 8, 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