Amazing Story by Charles Martin

Send Down the Rain by Charles Martin

Joseph, a Viet Nam vet, has been beaten down by life.  His father left his family when he was a boy.  He is estranged from his brother.  He has served well in the military and returns to a country who despises him.  His girl did not wait for him and married another man.  He lives by himself in a secluded cabin, but is called upon to rescue an abused mother and her 2 children from a Mexican drug lord.  He helps them get to family and then leaves them to meander by his hometown, which he hasn’t visited in years.  While there, he reconnects with an old girlfriend, Allie, who has just tragically lost her husband.  But his death is not what it seems and she and Joseph work to solve the mystery.  As events progress we learn the pasts of Jo-jo and Allie. Although he thinks he has found happiness, his heart has been damaged by the past.  Nothing, or so he thinks, can change that.  

This book grabbed me by the throat and hung on until the last page.  It was a masterfully-told, multi-layered story covering forgiveness, love, second chances, loyalty, self-sacrifice and deceit.  The characters were thoroughly explored.  The plot twists were amazing and I often didn’t know what to believe about Joseph, the main character.  Although this book contains a romance, it has enough action in it to satisfy the suspense reader in me.   I heartily recommend it.   I read a digital arc in exchange for this my honest review.  

New Suspense Series from Colleen Coble

The View from Rainshadow Bay by Colleen Coble

The little town of Lavender Tides has seen some unsolved murders.  Shauna, a grieving widow, must team up with Zach, her dead husband’s best friend and the man she blames for his death, to solve them before harm comes to anyone else.  In the middle of the puzzle is a unique necklace belonging to her dead mother.  How did her friend Clarence, who was murdered, come to possess the necklace that she thought was buried with her mother?  And what part does it play in the events surrounding the deaths? 

This book was suspense laced with romance, with a pretty good balance that kept me reading.   I enjoyed the plot’s twists and turns.  The characters were interesting, and I liked learning about their pasts.  There were parts of the plot that I found improbable.  All in all, it was an enjoyable read and I could see where the author kept the storyline open for a sequel, as not all the questions she raised were answered.  It will be fun to see where she takes the story in the next book.  I received a free copy from the publisher and this is my honest review.     

Romantic legal suspense

Imperfect Justice by Cara Putman

Emilie Wesley is a lawyer for women experiencing domestic abuse.  She has almost helped Kaylene escape her controlling husband when something goes terribly wrong.  Emilie gets word that Kaylene is dead and has killed one of her daughters as well.  Emilie can’t believe that this is the true explanation for what happened.  Enter Reid, Kaylene’s younger brother.  A successful investor, he feels guilty for not knowing and becoming involved in Kaylene’s struggle.  But he is determined to rescue his remaining niece, Kinley, if at all possible.  He and Emilie join forces to attempt the impossible.

Although this legal suspense novel had more romance in it than I expected, it was an engrossing read with a few plot-twists along the way.  I liked that this novel focused on Emilie and her relationships, but still included Hayden and Andrew from the first book.  The author gave some hints that there might be another romance budding in the sequel—maybe between Brandon and Caroline, who were supporting characters in this book.

There were several plot threads, which kept my interest.  Not all of them were pertinent to the book’s conclusion, though, and I found myself wondering why the author had included them.  Although not everything was explained to my satisfaction, and the justice was imperfect, the conclusion was satisfying.  Cara Putman’s fans will not be disappointed.  I received a free copy from the publisher for this, my honest review.