In the Cold (Harlequin Signature Select)

by Jeanie London

Book Overview

In The Cold by Jeanie London released on Nov 08, 2005 is available now for purchase. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0373836767
• Release Date: November 2005
• Publisher: Harlequin Signature Spotlight
• Length: 400 Pages
• Weight: 0.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 6.8" x 1.3" x 4.3"

Customer Reviews

A covert-ops thriller that's my best romance title this year!

Those who love their romance-thrillers with SEALs, Marines and other covert ops heroes have to read Jeanie London's about an Agency Director, Simon Brandauer, his anguish over losing one of his agents, Violet, and his mission to recover her. For though Violet is alive, the woman she used to be is lost and in helping her recover her identity, Simon recovers himself as well. Without verbosity, London is able to show how deeply Simon loves Violet and how he suppressed his feelings for her over the years. As a romance, this book is so emotionally-charged it left me breathless. As a spy thriller, it was no less suspenseful and the events are a lot more real than what we get from romantic suspense authors in general. Bad things DO happen to our heroines if they are spies and while it does not make for comfortable reading, fans of this genre are no longer expecting innocent, naive, untouched damsels-in-distress heroines. London gives us the debilitating effects of PTSD, traitors-in-our-midst and sex which, while not graphic, is scorching because of the emotional build-up in Simon. I bought this book after reading several recommendations on other review boards and am as totally blown away. What I liked, too, were the bonus features at the back of the book which gave me the background info on Excelsior, Simon's agency and a deleted scene between Simon and Violet.

Sexy Romantic Suspense!

Simon Brandauer is the head of an elite US black ops intelligence agency called Excelsior. For three years he's mourned the loss of a team of operatives that was killed during a covert mission, but most especially he's mourned the loss of one of his operatives, Violet. So, when a fiction book appears written by a woman called Claire de Beaupre it catches his attention. Claire de Beaupre's fiction reads like Violet's mission reports. Is it possible that Claire is Violet? When Simon finally locates Claire he discovers that after the horrific torture and injuries she suffered she has no memories of her life as Violet. Simon puts all of Excelsior into doing whatever it takes to help her. But now a new threat has appeared. Someone doesn't want Claire to remember and is determined to kill her before she does. In The Cold is my first Jeanie London book and I found it satisfying. For years Simon had feelings for Violet but never acted on them, then all the sudden it was too late and she was gone. Now faced with a second chance, he grabs it, all the while determined to protect her. Claire/Violet is torn by not knowing who she is, but she has these feelings for Simon who has suddenly come into her life. A stranger who she feels like she knows. Filled with intrigue, romance, and action, In The Cold is a romance suspense that is more than worth a late night reading binge! Melissa Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

Emotionally gripping special-ops tale

This book was a fabulous read; it was my "Find of the Year." The background setting of the Bosnian-serbian conflict and the dangerous workings of U.S. espionage teams helped to create a compelling story of romantic suspense between a team member and the team director. I could not put this book down and read late into the night. The author has created characters so realistic that it was hard not to empathize with each of them. The death of the team member 3 years earlier and the subsequent guilt which was felt by the remainder of the group, especially Simon (Director), led to another mission, where they hoped to find the person with inside knowledge of the team. The disabling effects of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder / trauma was realistically portrayed as events began to spiral out-of-control. Claire and Simon begin to develop a relationship in the midst of the current Mission, which he cannot divulge to her....his team thinks he just wants to reach "mission objective" and move-on. The suspense plot takes-over in the second half of the book, where the setting moves to Yugoslavia in an effort to seize the item causing assassination attempts on Claire. Another operative is secretly involved with the "enemy," but not of his own free will. What people will do for political power, the horrors of war and ethnic-cleansing, and the effects of trauma on survivors, even those clearly prepared for battle, are vividly created. This is the best romantic suspense I have read thus far this year, and hope to hear more of the same from this author!

strong espionage romantic thriller

Simon managed to get most of his team of Excelsior Command operatives out of Bosnia alive with the exception of Violet and four other skilled people. Her death especially in the war ravaged nation haunts him like no other ever has. Besides losing a player, which by itself would drive him over the edge, he now realizes how much more Violet meant to him. One year later, office assistant Francis shows Simon several short stories and two novellas for him to read. To his shock, the stores written by a Claire de Beaupre describe top secret missions in which only he and Violet knew the details. He investigates wondering if somehow the woman he cherishes survived. Could Claire be Violet or is she someone who looks like his late beloved's twin? If the latter how could she know. He plans to find out, but soon realizes the author is in jeopardy as an unknown assailant wants Violet dead whether Claire is her or not. IN THE COLD is a strong espionage romantic thriller that stars a breathtaking hero and an intriguing female counterpart. Fans will have a Memorex moment as they will wonder is she or is she not. On top of the suspense there is also a delightful romantic subplot so that readers receive the complete package from Jeanie London. Harriet Klausner