Rosemary Cottage is the second book in the Hope Beach series by Colleen Coble. Since I am a serious Colleen Coble book lover, I snatched this book quickly. There is something about her storytelling that I just absolutely love. She has such a gift for great story lines, interesting characters and plots that beg for you to try and figure out. This latest book did not let me down.
Amy Lange is coming back to Hope Island for two different reasons: she is grieving the death of her brother that was lost at sea in a surfing accident. She is not so sure it was an accident and intends to do her own investigating. The other reason, she wants to move her midwife practice to Hope Island and live in Rosemary Cottage which has been a haven for their family. There was also another death three weeks before Amy's brother. Curtis Ireland is a Coast Guard officer who lost his sister to a boating accident, that looks like it wasn't an accident. He is raising his sister's daughter, but that could change with the new information about these two accidents. Amy and Curtis agree to help each other to find out what really happened, but they will be very surprised with what they find the deeper they investigate. Will they find the truth or will the secrets stay hidden? Will they be attracted to each other thru this ordeal or will it drive a wedge between them? What will happen when they find out the truth, can they believe it? These are just some of the teasers I hope will entice you to pick up this book.
On thing I always count on with Colleen's books, I am always trying to figure it out till the very end. I thought I knew the culprit but I was totally shocked when I never saw the ending happening like it did.
She has such a way to writing that sucks you into the storyline which made for a good summer read and I highly recommend it.
Thanks to Thomas Nelson for sending me this free copy just for my honest opinion.
-- Grace Elizabeth --
Saturday, July 27, 2013
Saturday, July 20, 2013
Misery Loves Company
Misery Loves Company by Rene Gutteridge was my "surprise book" so far this year. I knew the author was good and the synopsis of the book sounded right up my alley of suspense fiction. As I started reading it, I wasn't sure that I had made the right decision, then... I hit the part of the book that was the hooker and kept me reading, trying to figure out who and just what was happening.
The main character, Jules is mourning the death of her police officer husband and rarely leaves her house. She loves to write reviews on her blog and has a large following. That seems to satisfy her since she feels she cannot write a book with the talent she feels she is lacking. She is at the grocery store and sees her favorite author, Patrick Reagan who is also a recluse. She has read all his books but has not favorably reviewed his last three. Plot shifts, Jules finds herself in a strange room with a splitting headache and realizes she has been kidnapped, but by whom and why. As she looks up, on the ceiling of the room are the words-Don't tell me it's terrifying. Terrify me. Those were not just any words, they were the words she had written on her blog. She is being held captive by Patrick for a reason which he will not tell her and he even tells her that her husband's death was not an accident. Jules is terrified, but does she have a reason to be? That is what keeps you reading and guessing. She and Patrick share lots of things, especially about God. Loved this part when she is talking to Patrick. My husband told me that God is invisible so we won't search for Him with out eyes. So we'll depend less on what seems concrete and more on the faith it takes to see without our eyes. And then when we see Him, we'll know we've been seen"
The storyline is strong with chapters going back and forth from Jules and Patrick to those trying to find out where she is before it's too late. Loved learning more about how authors observe their world, and how their heads put it all together for the reader.
As I said in the beginning, this was a great surprise and one book I will reread to highlight the "nuggets" that the author dispersed throughout the book. Please pick this up to read--you will be surprised by it also.
Thanks to Tyndale Publishers for this free copy just for my honest opinion.
The main character, Jules is mourning the death of her police officer husband and rarely leaves her house. She loves to write reviews on her blog and has a large following. That seems to satisfy her since she feels she cannot write a book with the talent she feels she is lacking. She is at the grocery store and sees her favorite author, Patrick Reagan who is also a recluse. She has read all his books but has not favorably reviewed his last three. Plot shifts, Jules finds herself in a strange room with a splitting headache and realizes she has been kidnapped, but by whom and why. As she looks up, on the ceiling of the room are the words-Don't tell me it's terrifying. Terrify me. Those were not just any words, they were the words she had written on her blog. She is being held captive by Patrick for a reason which he will not tell her and he even tells her that her husband's death was not an accident. Jules is terrified, but does she have a reason to be? That is what keeps you reading and guessing. She and Patrick share lots of things, especially about God. Loved this part when she is talking to Patrick. My husband told me that God is invisible so we won't search for Him with out eyes. So we'll depend less on what seems concrete and more on the faith it takes to see without our eyes. And then when we see Him, we'll know we've been seen"
The storyline is strong with chapters going back and forth from Jules and Patrick to those trying to find out where she is before it's too late. Loved learning more about how authors observe their world, and how their heads put it all together for the reader.
As I said in the beginning, this was a great surprise and one book I will reread to highlight the "nuggets" that the author dispersed throughout the book. Please pick this up to read--you will be surprised by it also.
Thanks to Tyndale Publishers for this free copy just for my honest opinion.
Saturday, July 6, 2013
Sweet Mercy
Sweet Mercy by Ann Tatlock is just what the title suggests, it is one "sweet" story that I am thankful I requested to read. I have read other books by Ann Tatlock and have not been disappointed and I was mesmerized by this book.
The story takes place back in 1931 when times were very different, since it is set during the Great Depression and Prohibition. Eve Maaryat lives in St. Paul Minnesota and thrilled to move to Ohio when her dad loses his job with Ford Motor Company. They get to live with her uncle at his Maaryat Island Ballroom and Lodge where her father will work and the family will help out. Eve believes she will leave all the gangsters in Minnesota and will find "good people" and this will be a "safe haven" for her family. She soon will encounter an interesting mix of people and will forge an unlikely friendship with a strange young man-Link. Now comes the interesting part of the story-Eve finds out things and people are not what they appear to be. Will she risk exposing people and force her family to make more decisions? Can't say anymore without giving a good part of the storyline away. I was totally surprised when the ending was coming-never saw where the story was heading.
This is one story I will read again-it was that good. It was also a story set in-some ways-simpler times and just made for an interesting read. Love when these "sweet" stories really turn out "sweet". Make sure this book is on your summer reading list.
Thanks to Bethany House for sending me this book for free just for my honest opinion.
The story takes place back in 1931 when times were very different, since it is set during the Great Depression and Prohibition. Eve Maaryat lives in St. Paul Minnesota and thrilled to move to Ohio when her dad loses his job with Ford Motor Company. They get to live with her uncle at his Maaryat Island Ballroom and Lodge where her father will work and the family will help out. Eve believes she will leave all the gangsters in Minnesota and will find "good people" and this will be a "safe haven" for her family. She soon will encounter an interesting mix of people and will forge an unlikely friendship with a strange young man-Link. Now comes the interesting part of the story-Eve finds out things and people are not what they appear to be. Will she risk exposing people and force her family to make more decisions? Can't say anymore without giving a good part of the storyline away. I was totally surprised when the ending was coming-never saw where the story was heading.
This is one story I will read again-it was that good. It was also a story set in-some ways-simpler times and just made for an interesting read. Love when these "sweet" stories really turn out "sweet". Make sure this book is on your summer reading list.
Thanks to Bethany House for sending me this book for free just for my honest opinion.