Romantic Suspense by Colleen Coble

Twilight at Blueberry Barrens by Colleen Coble

(A Sunset Cove Novel)

This book is Coble’s third in the Sunset Cove series, however, she gives enough information regarding the characters’ pasts to enable the reader to enjoy the book.  Kate Mason, the main character, has returned home to care for her family’s blueberry barrens.  She happens upon some hard times and must resort to renting out a cottage for additional income.  Drake Newham, in town with his two nieces, is investigating his brother and sister-in-law’s untimely deaths.  He agrees to rent the cottage and their lives become entwined through their search for truth.

Although Colleen Coble is an author in her own right, fans of Karen Kingsbury will find much to like in this novel.  The characters are people you might like to have as your neighbors (even though they are all either handsome or beautiful.)  The story is well-paced and keeps the reader’s attention through a few plot twists.  The ending was satisfying, although not entirely unexpected, but left enough unanswered questions for the next book.  All in all, it was an enjoyable read, but a little less suspenseful and full of more romance than I usually prefer.  I’m sure many readers will enjoy it and want to read the complete series.

The Knife-Edge Balance Between Ministry and Family

Of Stillness and Storm by Michele Phoenix

This book recounts the story of Lauren’s life and marriage.  Her journey to becoming the mother her son needed and the wife that her husband didn’t expect.  Her journey startled me.  It caused me to rethink God’s calling and how a family responds to that.  It caused me to see the knife-edge balance that the called must walk between vocation and family.  I wanted desperately for this beautifully written story to have a happy ending, but it didn’t.

The story rang true on many levels.  The author captured the pain of a wife who had lost her husband to God’s call.  It clearly expressed the pain a mother experiences when her child turns against her.  It paints a desperate picture of a child in agony.  It also showed the single-mindedness of a man who ignores his family in pursuit of God.

This is an eye-opening story.  I am sorry for the shattered lives it represents, but glad that the author had the courage and the grace to recount this story.  It is a worthy read and one that those in Christian service should consider reading.  I received this book free from the publisher and this is my honest opinion.