Sunset Cove #2

Mallory’s mother died fifteen years ago. But her father’s last words on the phone were unmistakable: “Find . . . mother.” Shame and confusion have kept Mallory Davis from her home for the last fifteen years, but when her dad mysteriously dies on his mail boat route, she doesn’t have any choice but to go back to Mermaid Point. Mallory believes her father was murdered and childhood sweetheart Kevin O’Connor, game warden in Downeast Maine, confirms her suspicions. But Kevin is wary of helping Mallory in her search. She broke his heart—and left—without a word, years ago. When Mallory begins receiving threats on her own life—and her beloved teenage daughter, Haylie—their search intensifies. There’s a tangled web within the supposed murder, and it involves much more than what meets the eye. As answers begin to fall into place, Mallory realizes her search is about more than finding her father’s killer—it is also about finding herself again . . . and possibly about healing what was broken so long ago with Kevin. She just has to stay alive long enough to put all the pieces together. 

 

Published January 12th 2016

 by Thomas Nelson  
4 Stars 

My Thoughts:

Colleen Coble takes us back to Folly Shoals, Maine for the second installment in the Sunset Cove series. Even thought this book is part of a series and have read the first book I do believe this is a stand alone novel. This is an endearing story full of mystery, suspense, romance and family secrets. 


The story opens with Mallory Davis landing a big sale as a jewelry designer and feeling on top of the world.  She plans a celebration with friend and neighbor Carol until the phone call that shatters the world as she knows it.  Mallory has faced many storms in her life, but this may be one of hardest she will face yet.
With the death of her father she needs to return to Folly Shoals the one place she had escaped from 15 years ago and vowed not to return.  On her arrival she comes face to face with her past, Kevin O'Connor, and memories she'd rather not deal with. 
As important factors are brought to the surface it's apparent that Mallory's father has been murdered.  As Mallory begins to investigate a mystery emerges that someone wants kept quiet and will go to any lengths to see that it does.  
This is a gripping suspense/mystery interlaced with a romance.  The plot readily pulled me in and flows effortlessly. .  This is a wonderful story.  I did enjoy the characters.  They are strong and well developed. The romantic tension between Mallory and Kevin start early in the story and allude the their past relationship.  Their emotions are raw and real.  
I would recommend this book to anyone.  
* I received this book from the publisher through Netgalley and I thank them for this opportunity.  All opinions expressed are my own.   

Available for Purchase:
 Amazon | Barnes & Noble | ChristianBook 

Meet the Author:
 


USAToday bestselling author Colleen Coble lives with her husband, Dave, in Indiana. She is the author of dozens of novels including the Rock Harbor Series, the Aloha Reef Series, the Mercy Falls Series, the Hope Beach Series, the Lonestar Series and two Women of Faith fiction selections, Alaska Twilight and Midnight Sea. She has more than 2 million books in print.

 Connect With Colleen:
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Sunset Cove #1

Published by Thomas Nelson

Release Date: April 14, 2015

5 Stars

Here's a brief description:

A vacation to Sunset Cove was her way of celebrating and thanking her parents. After all, Claire Dellamare's childhood was like a fairytale. But with the help of Luke Rocco, Claire discovers that fairytale was really an elaborate lie . . .
The minute she steps inside the grand Inn at Ocean's Edge, Claire Dellamare knows something terrible happened there. She feels it in her bones. Her ensuing panic attack causes a scene, upsetting her father. Claire attempts to quiet her nerves with a walk on the beach, to no avail. She's at too great a distance to make out details, but she believes she witnesses a murder on a nearby cliff. When local police find no evidence of foul play, they quickly write off the "nervous" woman's testimony as less than credible.
But Luke Rocco, home on leave from the Coast Guard, has reason to believe Claire. Years ago when his mother went missing, Luke's father suspected she'd been murdered.  So when an employee of the grand hotel doesn't show up for work, Luke steps in to help Claire track down the missing woman.

As Claire and Luke put together the pieces of a decades-old mystery, they discover that some family secrets refuse to stay buried.

I absolutely loved this book!!

It's a mystery with lots of suspense interlaced with a romance.  The author weaves words together to bring to life an incredible story that immediately pulls the reader into the story. 

Claire Dellamare is a beautiful, young woman who has arrived to help her father in negotiations on merger for his company, but is completely unaware of the upheaval that's about to take place in her life. 
  This character quickly pulled me into the story from page 1.  Upon Claire's arrival she has a gut feeling that she has a connection to the place, but can't understand it because she's never been here before. 
Suddenly it comes to light that her family has been hiding secrets and she wants answers. 
Luke Rocco, has returned to the Island Folly Shoals after his father suffered a stroke to help with the cranberry farm. Luke has never accepted his mother's disappearance years ago and when a skeleton is found he hopes he will finally get some answers. Suddenly Claire and Luke are on the same path looking for answers to basically the same questions. 
Wow, this is a wonderful story and I would recommend it to anyone.  The vivid descriptions not only bring the area, but also the characters to life.  The authors weaves a story of lies, betrayal, love and the lengths someone will go to the cover up a mistake. 
I received this book from Netgalley for a honest review as stated above. 



http://colleencoble.com/


USAToday bestselling author Colleen Coble lives with her husband, Dave, in Indiana. She is the author of dozens of novels including the Rock Harbor Series, the Aloha Reef Series, the Mercy Falls Series, the Hope Beach Series, the Lonestar Series and two Women of Faith fiction selections, Alaska Twilight and Midnight Sea. She has more than 2 million books in print.

A Journey of the Heart #3

Thomas Nelson Publishing

4 Stars

Release Date: May 5, 2015

 A Brief Description:

On the brink of war with the Sioux, a young woman risks everything to expose the betrayal threatening the man she loves.

Christmas is coming, and the air at Fort Laramie has turned cold . . . but relations with the Sioux have turned colder. As tensions between soldiers and natives approach a tipping point, Ben Croftner and Jessica DuBois prepare a trap for Rand Campbell.

Bitter from rejection and backfired plans, Croftner has enlisted the help of Rand's new fiancee to keep Rand from ever returning to Sarah Montgomery . . . for whom his heart clearly still yearns.

Sarah is simply trying to move on with her life at Fort Laramie, but doing so under the watchful eyes of both Campbell--the man whose love she craves--and Croftner--the man whose lies have cost her everything. Will Rand fall victim to the conspiracy and go through with his wedding? Or will he declare his love for Sarah and make good on the promises that brought her into the rugged western territories?  

Review:

This is the third installment in A Journey of the Heart series by Colleen Coble. This is a quick read, but well worth it.  This is a suspenseful story interlaced with a romance that is historically set in the spring of 1866.

The story is centered around Sarah Montgomery and her life at Fort Laramie. 

The author brings us strong characters who you can instantly like. For instance, I immediately like Sarah, but feel empathy towards her.  She has deep feelings for Rand, but knows he will doesn't return her feelings.  She has tried to forget him, but with running into him at the fort constantly it's not easy.  She has been talking with Issac Liddle, but she only likes him as a friend.  Whereas Rand was harder to warm up to for me.  Rand has become engaged to Jessica.  What he doesn't realize is that his feelings for Sarah is written all over his face. He is always trying to protect her and make things more bearable. 

  The imagery she weaves in the story brings the story to life. 

I really enjoyed this story and would recommend it to anyone. 

I received this book from Netgalley for a honest opinion without bias.  The opinions and thoughts are my own.

Colleen Coble

http://colleencoble.com/

USAToday bestselling author Colleen Coble lives with her husband, Dave, in Indiana. She is the author of dozens of novels including the Rock Harbor Series, the Aloha Reef Series, the Mercy Falls Series, the Hope Beach Series, the Lonestar Series and two Women of Faith fiction selections, Alaska Twilight and Midnight Sea. She has more than 2 million books in print.