The View from Rainshadow Bay by Colleen Coble

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

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Story Notes

Colleen Coble gifts her readers with an exciting new series that starts with a story so dangerously tense you will have to read it cover to cover before you put it down.

I really enjoyed this book. From its beautiful cover to the excellent writing inside, there was so much about this book to love. And to make it even better, it’s a mystery, which is my favorite type of book. Ms. Coble has been one of my absolute favorite authors since I first read her Aloha Reef series and she reminded me once again why that is with this new series she is writing – the stories just keep getting better! It is hard to write in the same genre without being repetitive or cliche and even harder when you are writing for a Christian audience. Ms. Coble takes this in stride, though, and offers up a deeply suspenseful story while also giving readers a challenge to examine their reasons for long-held grudges or bitterness. Shauna McDade had all she ever wanted in life: a loving husband, a sweet little boy, a wonderful home, and her dream job piloting her helicopter for business and pleasure trips. And then a year ago, with the tragic death of her husband, her world spins out of control. To make matters worse, all evidence points to his death being an accident that happened because he was racing his best friend up a rock face – said friend also being Shauna’s best friend Zach Bannister. Feeling deep anger and resentment towards Zach and his continuous desire for dangerous adrenaline challenges, Shauna has worked hard to avoid him whenever possible. Problem is, her son misses his uncle “Zachster” and is upset at him not being around. Loath to let him near her son, Shauna prays for the courage to let Alex spend time with Zach, as long as it’s under safe conditions. But more tragedies are coming to strike in this small community, beginning with a couple who have been surrogate parents to Shauna since she returned home from serving in the Navy. Clarence and Lucy Glennon have gone through some rough days since their daughter’s supposed drug overdose a year ago. But they are hoping work things out and Shauna spends time with both of them as much as she can. When she stops by to visit Clarence one afternoon, he asks her deliver a package to Lucy and keep an eye on her. He is going away for a while as he has learned something that is putting his and Lucy’s lives in danger. Shauna agrees but only if he will tell her whats going on as soon as possible. Clarence reluctantly agrees and Shauna heads out to find Lucy, never dreaming his home will explode into flames seconds later. Unable to help in any other way, Shauna goes to see Lucy and offer comfort. Lucy is beside herself with grief and looks beyond exhausted. She had been planning to move back home the next day and deeply regrets not going sooner. Upon receiving the box from Shauna, Lucy opens it to reveal maps, letters, paperwork and a locket necklace that looks remarkably like the one that Shauna’s mother was wearing when she was killed. Not able to make sense of what is in the box, Lucy suggests they turn it over to the Sheriff for investigation. But someone is after that box and they will kill anyone in their way, starting with Lucy. What follows next is an incredibly tense journey into the past to figure out who is so desperate to get their hands on the box and why. Along the way, Shauna will have to work through her bitterness and anger if she is going to be able to keep her son safe and find love again. Zach will also have to move beyond the guilt he has let control his life and stop seeking thrills that are a danger to his very life. Both will have to find the forgiveness and trust they both need in God and in each other if they stand a chance of catching the culprit before he takes away everything they hold dear. Ms. Coble took this story, which had many possible plot lines available, and wove together a story that was both complex and engaging. She carefully chose her details and revealed them in just the right order and timing to keep me holding my breath and sighing in relief repeatedly. I was pleased to see that she made Shauna’s journey to forgiveness and surrender a real struggle and didn’t just have her casually set it aside. It made for a better connection with me that Shauna was “real” enough to need time and soul searching to move beyond her deeply held emotions into the peace that comes only from God. Zach too, offers a character for me to identify with as he struggled to move beyond the guilt he carries over Jack’s death. While I have not had that particular experience, there have been multiple times I have hung on to guilt over an experience that honestly was not mine to hold on to. It was a good reminder to read of Zach’s surrender to God, giving him the chance to move into a better relationship with Shauna and eventually find love. I’m very excited to see where Ms. Coble will take this series next. I’ve got a feeling there are several characters from this story that will be back front and center soon and I, for one, will be putting their stories on my “must read” list.

I received this E-book free of charge from Thomas Nelson Fiction via NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. I will receive no fiscal compensation from either company for this review.

Another winner from Ms. Coble. Excellent characterization and plot development.

The cover of this book is gorgeous, the mountains in the background just gives a great feel. The View from Rainshadow Bay is the first book in Colleen Coble's new Lavender Tides Series. I found this book to be very plot driven, right from the beginning the action starts and I will admit to being a little overwhelmed here, lots happened fast. I was intrigued with the mystery and that's what kept me turning the pages. That being said, there were spots I found slow and some of the scenarios didn't match the drama (things that wouldn't have happened in real life).

Life is hard for Shauna as she is still adjusting to life since the sudden death of her husband. While caring for her young son she holds a grudge against his best friend, whom she feels is responsible for his death. This is where I also struggled somewhat, I realize grief is different for everyone and I would have loved to feel her struggles and that of her mother-in-law rather than being told.

There was closure in the ending but at the same time opened the door for future stories. I will continue with this series as I have found with this author, she gets better with each installment.

The View of Rainshadow Bay is a story of forgiveness, mystery, secrets and second chances.

Thanks to the publisher (via Netalley) for an advanced copy and TLC Tours for the opportunity to review this one.

The View from Rainshadow Bay is the first book in a new series by Colleen Coble. The opening scene steals your attention and doesn't let up. Shauna is a single mom raising her 5 year old son. Her occupation was interesting as the owner of a helicopter charter business. I enjoy reading about women with interesting professions and skill sets. I was disappointed that she blamed Zach for her husband’s death and was downright mean to him. (Admittedly I have not been in a situation like that but I hope I would not react that way).
Zach is a great guy both to her and her son and the community. He immediately agrees to protect her and Alex and to help her find out what happened to her business partner who was like a father to her. Her father is a drunk after her mom passed away. I found the story line unusual which is refreshing when you read so many books. There are lots of characters and lots of suspects. Coble has a reputation of sprinkling in surprises and plot twists throughout her stories and this is no exception.

It wasn’t until I was about a third of the way into this book that the story really grabbed me. After that, I didn’t want to stop reading!

The author did a good job of creating a mystery about the murders occurring in the small community where the story was set as well as the motives behind them. There was a love story as well.

I received this book from netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.

This is another advance copy that I received via NetGalley. It had a reasonably unique approach to its tale. The story jumps right into all the things that have been going wrong in the little town, and then the pace slows down for us to make attempts at trying to confirm who the actual culprit may be.

We have helicopter pilot Shauna struggling with normality since her husband's death. She stumbles into an even more precarious situation when she becomes the target of a killer on the hunt. She is joined in the hunt for the truth by her husband's best friend Zach who is carrying his own guilt. There are many relationships involved, and a lot of unresolved issues. Some of those, will get untangled in this book.

I liked the plot, but the style of narration is not what I am fond of or used to so I would probably just give it three stars.

The View from Rainshadow Bay (Lavender Tides #1)
by Colleen Coble

SUMMARY: It’s been a year since her husband’s death in a tragic rock-climbing accident, and Shauna struggles to raise their young son and make ends meet. A friend’s final words to her before he is murdered convinces Shauna she is in danger. She teams up with her husband’s best friend to unravel secrets that have been around since her childhood.

MY REVIEW: Well, I wonder if I’m the only one who has never read Colleen Coble before? I admit I picked this one up because I love the smell of lavender and it’s got a gorgeous cover. LOL. Although murder mysteries are not my usual cup of tea (because I never know “whodunnit” until the author reveals it!), I have seen this author’s books everywhere and thought “Why not?” And I was pleasantly surprised. I actually enjoyed it!

I really liked the characters. They felt realistic in their struggles with their faith and with their grief. There was enough doubt cast on various characters in the story to make you suspect several, and yet a few surprises were also thrown in. I would recommend it to my friends, and I will be purchasing this one for our church library. I also plan to read rest of the series when they are published. Hmm, perhaps Colleen Coble will get me hooked on murder mysteries!

The only thing I felt was off in the story was that the killer seemed so much more cold-hearted in the beginning than the end. At the end, he didn’t really want to kill again. I don’t know it just seemed inconsistent with the development of his character at the beginning.

MY RATING: 4 stars. I decided to go ahead and give it 4 stars despite the off feeling with the killer at the end. I did really enjoy the story. It kept me wanting to read to find out what happened.

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At my request, I received a free electronic copy of this book from NetGalley. I was not required to give a positive review.  This review reflects my honest thoughts and opinions on the book, and I received no compensation for this review other than getting to keep the e-book.

The View from Rainshadow Bay (A Lavender Tides Novel) by [Coble, Colleen]

Enter in to a brand new series from bestselling author Colleen Coble!

“…The View From Rainshadow Bay, opens with a heart-pounding, run-for-your-life chase. This book will stay with you for a long time, long after you flip to the last page.” - 4 STARS, RT Book Reviews

Synopsis:

"Prepare to stay up all night with Colleen Coble. Coble's beautiful, emotional prose coupled with her keen sense of pacing, escalating danger, and very real characters place her firmly at the top of the suspense genre. I could not put this book down." --Allison Brennan, New York Times bestselling author of Shattered

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.

About the Author:

USA Today bestselling author Colleen Coble has written several romantic suspense novels including Tidewater Inn, Rosemary Cottage, and the Mercy Falls, Lonestar, and Rock Harbor series. Visit her website at www.colleencoble.com Twitter: @colleencoble Facebook: colleencoblebooks


My Thoughts:

I am a recent fan of Colleen Coble. I enjoyed reading this one, as she is a wonderful storyteller. However, I did find myself cringing sometimes, because there was a LOT of "telling" and not "showing". This type of writing always feels very amateur to me, and normally I do not push through a book when the writing is like that.

That being said, I gave the book some grace because of the thriller type scenes that really drew me in. I'm sure that if you are a Colleen Coble fan, then this book will not disappoint!

You can pick up your copy on Amazon here. (aff link)

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I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review. All opinions stated above are my own.

Shauna McDade is a young widow whose husband, Jack dies in a climbing accident. She blames his best friend Zach Bannister for his death. Shauna owns a helicopter charter business in Lavender Tides, Washington State and has a five-year-old son, Alex. When a bomb kills her business partner, Clarence, she becomes concerned that she is in danger. When secrets from her childhood begin to surface, she must learn to let go of her anger and accept help from Zach.

It really made me sad to DNf this one. I am a fan of this author and have loved most of her books. But this one was weird. I felt like there was a lack of charterer development. I was about 30% in and I didn't really have a sense of who was who. It didn't read like the first in a series for me. it was also really slow. I just lost interest.

Another great read by favorite author, Colleen Coble! I have yet to be disappointed by any of her books I’ve picked up. This one, the first in the Lavender Tides series, drew me with its beautiful purple cover. Purple is my favorite color, after all.

This one dives right into danger, mystery, and murder. It leaves no room for a slow-building beginning in which to tell you everything about the characters before the action begins. This is a good thing! The author combines both action and character development in a seamless story, including relevant backstories.

There are a few flashback scenes, one which I thought could have been told better without making it a flashback. But, overall, nothing too distracting. Also, I felt the names of best friends Zach and Jack were too similar, and that occasionally threw me off.

There are multiple characters in this story besides the main characters, and like in all good murder mysteries, you aren’t quite sure what people and information are important to solving the case. This keeps you wondering, and pondering, and...sometimes worrying.

I enjoyed the pace, carried along mostly by conversation, with sprinkling in of the senses to make you feel you were right there with the characters. There was no good stopping place, and it was very easy for me to read chapter-after-chapter-after-chapter, and... oh, my goodness, three hours had gone by. Not as intense as others I have read through much of the story, yet I still found myself holding my breath and hoping Zach, Shauna, and Alex would escape the danger that was building.

Oh, and I particularly loved their nicknames for each other. I melted a little—okay, a lot—when I read that.

The pros far outweigh the minor cons mentioned above, and I would strongly recommend this book, whether you are a Colleen Coble fan or not. And if you’re not, you should be! If you like suspense, mystery, and romance, with loveably-flawed, determined characters, you won’t be disappointed.

I received an advance reader copy from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The View from Rainshadow Bay
A Lavender Tides Novel #1
Colleen Coble
Thomas Nelson, January 2018
ISBN 978-0-7180-8578-0
Hardcover

From the publisher—

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.

I’m kind of betwixt and between on my feelings about this book. As romantic suspense, it pretty much delivers what you might expect but, with its Christian influence, it’s gentler and that’s fine with me. Where it fails, at least somewhat, is in the mystery. The pace is inconsistent and there are elements of the criminal activity that either don’t make much sense or don’t work at all. Just as a “for instance”, Shauna goes to deliver something to the guy who has kidnapped two people for ransom but, unknown to her, the two people who knew what she was doing have gone off on another mission and are unreachable PLUS they didn’t tell her they were going to leave her on her own AND one of them is the sheriff.

This doesn’t mean that I would never read another book by this author by any means. Ms. Coble has a very good reputation and a ton of books. I saw for myself in this book that she has a way with words when it comes to character and setting descriptions (although I did like her, Shauna comes across as a bit of a “Weak Willy” which I didn’t expect based on her background but I appreciate Ms. Coble‘s willingness to portray her this way). Anyway, I’d be willing to read more by this author…but maybe not a mystery.

Reviewed by Lelia Taylor, February 2018.

What an interesting story! It caught me from the very first lines. It keep getting deeper and deeper. More and more questions. More and more reasons to keep reading. Character development & depth was impeccable. Details were so well developed as well. Loved the love story throughout. This book kept my on my toes. I couldn’t put it down. So good. Can’t wait for the next story in the series.
I received a digital copy of this book from netgalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

I love all of the books Ms Coble has written and this one certainly didn't disappoint. Shauna McDade is a twenty something helicopter pilot in the beautiful Northwest. She is tasked with raising her young son, Alex, on her own after the death of her husband a year earlier in a tragic climbing accident. Now she has to ask his best friend Zach to help out by going on a hike with her son. Zach, the one her husband always loved to spend time going on adventures with. Zach, the one who was to blame for her husband’s death. Zach, the one she couldn’t stand to look at anymore. Now something mysterious is going on and Shauna is right in the middle of it but she doesn’t know why. Someone wants her dead and she has to find out who’s behind it before they get to her or her son. But can she do it on her own or will she have to ask Zach for help? And where does the mystery necklace fit in?

My Rating:

3.5

My Review:

While still reading, I became increasingly concerned and conflicted in how to assess and rate this book. The premise was interesting and original and the mystery was intriguing with several creative story elements that keep me reading and had my rating floating at four-stars. However, I grew restless and annoyed with the uneven pace and quality of the writing as some storylines dragged and became tediously repetitious, while others seemed rushed. Ms. Coble excelled in her creation and colorful descriptions of the quirky small town and its characters as I could well envision the historical and antiquated buildings, persnickety mother-in-law, and a somewhat inept middle-aged Elvis-wannabe sheriff with a thick mane full of product who had somehow managed to snare a young model for a wife. That image still brings a smile to my lips.

THE VIEW FROM RAINSHADOW BAY by COLLEEN COBLE is Christian suspense at its best, with a good dose of romance.
Shauna McDade is a young widow who is left with a young son when her husband falls to his death in a climbing accident. She blames her husband's best friend, Zach Bannister, who is a real daredevil, for encouraging Jack to do dangerous things. Zach is devastated by his friend's death and blames himself for what happened. Shauna is forced to accept Zach's help when it becomes obvious that there is a killer on the loose who wants something from her. She and her son, Alex, move in with Zach, much to five year old Alex's delight. Alex adores Zach and the feeling is mutual.
The plot is well worked out and the characters are very real. The story is gripping and fast paced and the Christian message is good. We see the importance of dealing with fear, unforgiveness and even hatred. We also see how God protects and provides for His children and brings good out of really bad circumstances. We see Shauna's love for her son and her friends, and even for her drunken father, and Zach's willingness to put his life in danger in order to save Shauna and Zach. This is contrasted with the greed and pure evil shown by those who are willing to do anything in order to carry out their wicked plans.
I enjoyed the novel and can really recommend it. Whatever you do, do not start reading it too late in the day or the suspense could keep you reading all night!

This is a well layered Christian mystery about a woman whose husband has died a suspicious death and can't seem to move on with her life. The cover drew me to the book, but was surprised the main character was actually allergic to lavender! The suspense was good and the romance was sweet as you would expect in a Christian novel. This one is a real page-turner, especially toward the end.

I obtained this book through Net Galley and have left an honest review.

I distinctly remember when I decided that I wanted to read Colleen Coble's The View from Rainshadow Bay. It was just days after I had finished reading Lost and Found Sisters by Jill Shalvis which I enjoyed tremendously and was still feeling withdrawals. I couldn't find anything else that I wanted to read and then I read the description of this book was decided that I really wanted to read it.
While it was a somewhat enjoyable book to read, I also found it to be a bit of a let down. Maybe I'd hyped the book up too much in my own mind or had been expecting something different. I think maybe I went into this story with higher expectations than I should have.
All in all, I think it's an ok story, it's just not my cup of tea.
There were just too many annoyances in the book for me.
For instance, the pace of the story frustrated me. It was too slow in some parts of the story and felt rushed in others.
I also couldn't relate really well to the characters. There was just no emotional connectivity for me.
In all honesty, this is a book that I can't see myself re-reading.

I received an early copy of this book via Netgalley

An intense, harsh, and inspiring story that took my breath away with the instant, 'in-your-face' type of deadly action.
The author hits from the very start with brutal attacks that kills some of the major players in the story, where no one is safe from the villains, the clues are minimal, and the danger and fear are constant companions. Shauna and Zach are trying to solve several mysteries, some dating back all the way to Shauna's childhood, that suddenly seems to have some common denominators.
This story kept me on the edge from the start to finish. The relationship between Shauna and Zach is volatile because of the past. Zach is a good man, he is honest, caring, protective, and generous. He is a venturesome man who loves to take risks and test his limits. But the risks he has taken since his best friend died have had a new kind of edge to them. The guilt is eating him inside out, and the vedge between him and Shauna and her son is slowly breaking his heart.
Shauna lost her husband in a rock climbing incident. She has blamed Zach for the death of Jack, kept her son away from his godfather, and made it clear to everyone in town that she hates what Zach had done by daring her husband to climb the mountain that killed him. She is a feisty woman, passionate and capable. And she is devastated that the only person who can help her and protect her from the killer is the one she wanted to stay away from.
The themes of acceptance, forgiveness, and falling in love are well twined into suspense and action that kept the story going. The muddled relationships, the gossip of the town, the questions, and suspicions, the lingering anger from the past, it all build a sharp and strong story with intriguing and appealing plot twists. Even though the character's faith in God is a known assumption, it is not the main focus of the tale, but it is the main force guiding the characters actions and thoughts.
I enjoyed the mystery in the story, it kept me guessing to the very end. I might have had my suspicions but needed my confirmations when it came to the culprits. The romance between two longtime friends was tastefully yet passionately and ardently done. I loved the relationship Zach had with Shauna's son, there were so much admiration and trust in between them.
The whole story was build up with very realistic and rational way, that made it dangerously lifelike and alarmingly realistic. On the edge of your seat suspense with multiple layers of danger and threats mixed with sweet and clean yet amorous romance, family drama, and small-town issues, a story that took my breath away with its intensity and had me staying up late to find out whodunnit.
~ Four Spoons with a teaspoon on the side

The start to this new series is a page-turner from start to finish that left me aching for more.

Being a single mom and raising her five-year-old son alone is not something Shauna ever expected to happen to her. After her husband Jack dies in a climbing accident, she is left to provide for herself and her son while always fearing she will lose the little she has left. When another loved one close to her dies mysteriously, Shauna is convinced her life is in danger. She thinks she has no one to turn to when her late husband’s best friend, Zach Bannister, comes to help. She hasn’t forgiven him for always pushing Jack to the next big risk, which she blames for his death. Zach wants to do anything he can to prove to Shauna that he feels horrible about what happened to Jack and wants to be in her and her son’s lives. The more they uncover the more someone wants things to stay hidden and the more danger they all end up in.

Colleen Coble is one of the best Christian romantic suspense writers out there. The start of this new series is a perfect set up for what I expect to be a great series. Shauna and Zach have an obvious connection that both try to avoid and fight for as much of the novel as possible. It’s not something they take lightly after what happened to Jack; the appropriate emotion is displayed by both and at the right times. The protagonist’s identity is reveled at the end but enough clues are given throughout that it doesn’t come as a surprise or seem out of place. One of the best aspects of the novel was the emotional connection with the characters. When any of the characters ended up in a dangerous situation, the emotional connection drove the story more than any other tension would have. I can’t wait to see how this series continues. I recommend this to readers that like a strong emotional connection to their characters that will drive the story to the last page and leave them aching for more.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.