Book Review: The View from Rainshadow Bay

After her husband, Jack, dies in a climbing incident, Shauna has only her five-year-old son and her helicopter charter business to live for. Every day is a struggle to make ends meet and she lives in constant fear of losing even more than she already has.

When her business partner is murdered, his final words convince Shauna that she’s in danger too. But where can she turn? Zach Bannister was her husband’s best friend and is the person she blames for his death. She’s barely spoken to him since. But right now he seems her only hope for protecting her son.

Zach is only too happy to assuage his guilt over Jack’s death by helping Shauna any way he can. But there are secrets involved dating back to Shauna’s childhood that more than one person would prefer to stay hidden.

In The View from Rainshadow Bay, suspense, danger, and a longing to love again ignite amid the gorgeous lavender fields of Washington State.

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 over 2 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. Visit her website at http://colleencoble.com.

 

My Impressions:

Colleen Coble’s latest novel, The View from Rainshadow Bay, is an adrenaline-laced thrill ride for fans of romantic suspense. The first book in the Lavender Tides novel has everything Coble’s fans have come to expect — great characters, non-stop action, and a romance that will leave you swooning! I loved this book, and I know you will too!

Main characters Shauna McDade and Zach Bannister used to be the best of friends — until an accident leaves Shauna a widow and Zach dealing with the guilt of killing his life-long friend, Jack. With a relationship that is often openly hostile, they are thrown together when mutual friends are murdered and Shauna and her young son are threatened. The two join forces and must fight threats and their own attraction to each other.

From the opening chapter of The View from Rainshadow Bay the reader is in for some fast-paced action as the main characters face dangers from all sides. And these are some great characters. Shauna and Zach are true-to-life with real doubts, fears, and failings. They struggle with making sense of their world and the questions of where God is in the toughest of times. They both rely on God, though, even when it is so hard to do. Shauna and her mother-in-law wrestle with the fear of loss. I found their attitudes and actions very realistic. It is very natural to shut yourself off from the things that might hurt. The chemistry between Shauna and Zach is there from the start, and I (along with some of the supporting characters) was cheering for their relationship throughout the book. The mystery presented in the book is well-written — I found myself changing my mind over and over as to whodunit. In the end, Coble surprised me. I love it when I can’t figure it out! A bonus in this book is the wonderful setting. The picture postcard, small town of Lavender Tides is surrounded by natural beauty — forests and sea. And I would love to see the lavender fields that are described. This is definitely a town I would want to visit (and revisit as the series progresses.)

The View from Rainshadow Bay is another winner from Coble. There is a bit of a cliffhanger from a secondary story thread, but part of that will be resolved in the next book, The House at Saltwater Point, which will be released this Summer. I am anticipate more great reading ahead!

Recommended.

Audience: adults.

To purchase, click HERE.

(Thanks to TLC book tours for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)