Reviewer: Cheryl
Hart. Cheryl is an avid reader and published author of fiction and
non-fiction. Her passion for writing has survived the military
pick-up-and-go lifestyle, a thirty-year-and-still-growing marriage,
and two babies in two years. Now an empty nester, Cheryl’s zeal for
creating stories continues to thrive and develop. She resides in
Georgia with her husband, and enjoys traveling overseas, spoiling her
many pets, amateur photography, and reading novels of practically
every genre. Find Cheryl’s most recent publication in Chicken
Soup for the Soul: Find your Inner Strength.
Author: Colleen Coble
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
ISBN-10: 1401690262
ISBN-13: 978-1401690267
Author: Colleen Coble
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
ISBN-10: 1401690262
ISBN-13: 978-1401690267
“The salt-laden air cleared the panic, and she turned to walk down the cliff steps to the waiting sand. The sea would calm her.” ~The Inn at Ocean’s Edge
The Inn at Ocean’s Edge, by Colleen Coble, is the first installment of the new Sunset Cove Series. The story reveals how seemingly perfect lives can crumble in an instant, but with time, faith, acceptance, and love, much can be restored. If you seek a good Christian mystery, or romantic suspense, I feel you’ll love this book.
This isn’t my first experience reading Colleen Coble’s work, so I suspected I’d enjoy this book long before holding it in my hands. Colleen creates such believable, memorable characters and almost tangible settings. She delivers exciting twists, tension-filled atmosphere, and meaningful messages within her books—she’s truly a master storyteller.
Colleen’s research is evident in her skillful descriptions of Folly Shoals Island, Maine. I can feel the sea breeze, the cool water, the craggy cliffs. Though I’ve never physically been there, I’ve visited in my mind, within the pages of this book.
Claire Dellamore’s world unexpectedly turns upside down when she joins her father on a business trip to Sunset Cove. When she first steps in the luxurious Tourmaline Inn she feels uneasy. Something is…off. Something she can’t put her finger on…but she suspects…knows? something terrible has happened here. Her pulse races, her chest burns. Is it her heart? A panic attack? Whatever it is, she has to get out of there. She needs air. When she escapes outside, she seeks comfort from the sand and calming sea at the bottom of the cliffs. Things soon get worse…
“The questions hammered in her head, and she knew how Alice felt when she fell into the rabbit hole. Everything was different now, and she didn’t know how to process this sudden shift in reality.” ~pg 17
Luke Elwell is a local resident of Sunset Cove who reveals a disturbing incident from the past—one that might be linked to Claire’s frightening memories. Together, they sift through family secrets in search for answers.Will digging through Claire’s mysterious childhood provide answers? Will it provide the power to rebuild trust and faith?
“If only she could crawl into the crisp white sheets waiting in her room. She needed to have all her faculties and strength when she confronted her father about what she’d learned from Luke” ~pg 29
To be perfectly honest, suspense/mystery isn’t my first, or even second favorite genre, but my-oh-my, it is quickly clambering its way up! And the element of romance between Claire and Luke is only one of the reasons why.
Another thing I love about The Inn at Ocean’s Edge is the mood Colleen Coble creates. The story is thick with emotion and tension, and keeps the reader engrossed. My heartbeat quickened, I held my breath, and sighed relief as I turned the pages. It’s been quite some time since I’ve been so deeply imbedded in a suspense story.
I also love the Christian theme weaved throughout this story. We all think we know what we want. But God knows us better than we know ourselves, and ultimately shows us what we truly need.
“God places the lonely in families; he sets the prisoners free and gives them joy. But he makes the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land.” ~Psalm 68:6 (NLV)
Stated so powerfully in the book’s press release: Award-winning author weaves mystery that reminds readers of the bonds that go beyond blood ties.
About the Author: Best-selling author Colleen Coble’s novels have won or finaled in awards ranging from the Best Books of Indiana, the ACFW Carol Award, the Romance Writers of America RITA, the Holt Medallion, the Daphne du Maurier, National Readers’ Choice and the Booksellers Best.
She has more than two million books in print and writes romantic mysteries because she loves to see justice prevail. Colleen is CEO of American Christian Fiction Writers. She lives with her husband, Dave, in Indiana.
Follow Here To Purchase The Inn at Ocean's Edge (Sunset Cove Novel)