I wanted to try this author for awhile after hearing really good things. I have never read the romantic suspense genre, but the thought was intriguing. This book did not disappoint. Gripping, well developed characters, and interesting plot were all ingredient for a must read.

I always look forward to Colleen Coble’s latest suspense and have never been disappointed by them. The House at Saltwater Point held true to form and met my expectations completely. Book two in the Lavender Tides series, this book features new characters but contains brief appearances by some from the first novel Lavender Tides. Ellie and Grayson’s stormy relationship was the perfect counterpoint to everything else going on in their lives.

As always, the author leads her readers on a wild goose chase that keeps them guessing from page one through the end. Plenty of unexpected twists and surprises along the way kept my unsure of who the true guilty parties were. Vivid descriptions of the area and honest development of relationships helped to create a realistic story that made me want to keep reading. The perfect balance of suspense, romance, and faith, The House at Saltwater Point is another book for my keeper shelf. I look forward to the final chapter in this series to find out the answers to all the questions left in the air at the end of this book.

I really enjoyed The House at Saltwater Point. Great story and characters. The suspense was perfect, and I was hooked right away -- eager to see what was going to happen next. This is the first story I've read by Colleen Coble and I will definitely be looking for more of her work!

This novel was one of the best ive read in a long while. It kept me guessing and interested from the start. I love it when characters i. Series are continued in the next even if they are not the focus of that particular novel. My only regret is not reading anything from colleen coble sooner.

I had told myself I wasn't going to read any more Colleen Coble books. Not because they aren't good, because they certainly are, but because the suspense is a little too much for me at times and I read at night and then have the heebie-jeebies while trying to fall asleep! Well, I apparently don't have any self-control. After reading the synopsis of the book and how it was a female house flipper in a coastal location, I just had to read it.
This is the 2nd in the Lavender Tides series, but it brings in characters from some of her other series as well. But she does a pretty good job of giving you enough background that you don't feel like you don't know what's going on or who people are and how they relate to the story. I thoroughly enjoyed the premise that it is two sisters in the small town of Lavender Tides, WA. One is a professor and one is a home renovator with a team and apparently a blog as there are cute quotes throughout the book from it. It is clean for a romance, there is some violence and murder and the terrorist plot wasn't overly plausible, but just like most movies you enjoy it for what it is and gloss over the unbelievable details. Coble is a Christian author, but it's pretty light on faith and God. It's just a clean suspenseful romance.
Highly recommended!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I love this author and have read almost all her books! Including the other Lavender Tide novel but they can be read as stand alone books.

I was excited to read another Lavender Tides novel and this one didn’t disappoint! Steady pace with lots of drama, romance, mystery and suspense. WARNING: Do not start reading this book if you can’t finish it right away. It is so good you will not want to put it down until you are finished!

I really liked the main characters Ellie and Grayson! Lots of intrigue and twists and turns during this story. Great christian themes through out like God’s grace and forgiveness. This is a book that I will keep on my bookshelf to read again and again.

I received a copy of this book complimentary for blog and social media review. All opinions are my own.

This is the second book in a series, Lavendar Tides, and it is an awesome continuation of the series.
The characters are realistic and down-to-earth.
The mystery. Wow.
Ellie's sister Mackenzie disappears, and it seems as though she must have been murdered. They can't find her body, so Ellie keeps on hoping that she is still alive.
But why does all the evidence point to Mac having been involved on the wrong side of things?
And Gray, the handsome Coast Guard.
The two are determined to try and put the puzzle pieces together.

And then there's the continuing thread of the young siblings that were in an earthquake. This story line does not have a good resolution in this book, and I can't wait for the next book, just to find out if they are all reunited.

Suspense filled, intriguing, a must read. Twists and turns the entire way, I did have a few bits and pieces that I was suspicious of, but also had even more surprises as I read... :)

There are terrorists, murders, drug dealings, and so much more to be found in these pages. If you like romantic suspense, you won't want to miss this one!

Disclaimer: I receive complimentary books from various sources, including, publishers, publicists, authors, and/or NetGalley. I am not required to write a positive review, and have not received any compensation. The opinions shared here are my own entirely. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255

I like books with interesting mysterious titles. This book, in combination with the cover, said mystery to me. I love the dark, brooding colors and scenery on the cover of this book and in many ways, it reminded me of a more modern Mary Stewart novel, so I was eager to read it.

Ellie Blackmore is making a name for herself as a house flipper. But when her sister Mackenzie disappears, Ellie can’t focus on anything but uncovering what happened. Her only clue is the bloodstain on the deck of Mackenzie’s boat. Ellie knows her sister isn’t on the best of terms with her ex-husband, Jason, but he wouldn’t kill her—would he?

Coast Guard intelligence officer Grayson Bradshaw believes Mackenzie faked her own death after stealing a seized cocaine shipment. The problem is convincing Ellie, who seems to view him as the true enemy.

Both Ellie and Grayson want truth, but truth—and family—is often more complex than it first appears. From international terrorism to the peaceful lavender fields of Puget Sound, The House at Saltwater Point is a thrilling race to uncover the truth before it’s too late (summary from Goodreads).

It was made very clear to me that this was a Christian fiction novel before I agreed to read it. I don’t read a ton of Christian fiction, but I don’t object to Christian fiction in the least—I am Catholic after all. But sometimes Christian fiction can be REALLY Christian and that can be off putting for me. The first thing I noticed right away was this was definitely NOT one of those ubber Christian novels.

Had I not known that this was a Christian novel, I wouldn’t have been able to tell. There were a few ‘I’ll pray for you’ phrases and ‘while I was at church’ moments, but it all fit into the context of the story so it wouldn’t have tipped me off had I not known. So I think even people who aren’t Christian fiction fans would like this book because it isn’t overly preachy or anything.

This book read very quickly. I read it in a few days and had fun falling into the Lavender Tides community. This is also the second in a series…..I would never have guessed that. It reads totally fine as a standalone novel so if you are worried you will be lost…..I wasn’t in the least!

The story is set in Washington on the coast and I absolutely loved how the author capitalized on the Pacific Northwest costal vibes. I could totally picture this town and the setting so clearly in my head because I am from the Pacific Northwest and have been a life long coast goer so I loved the setting.

The characters were interesting and unique. I liked how Ellie is a carpenter and has this tragic past but she continues to peruse her dreams and be as happy as she can be. Grayson had a similar past and I loved them together as a couple. While their romance was a little predictable, I still enjoyed it.

The mystery angle was also interesting. Far fetched—but interesting all the same. There were times when I found the mystery so far fetched that it was hard to believe yet for some reason I didn’t completely hate it. I loved that there was this kind of definitive proof that Grayson held onto, but even with that proof, Ellie still stood by her sister. With that definitive proof in hand, it made the mystery element much more intriguing in my opinion, because here is proof of guilt yet is it really? I won’t give any more away than that but let’s just say it worked for me in a odd sort of way.

While I loved most of this book, there were things that were a little distracting for me. There seemed to be a few too many super heavy plots going on in this book. Again I won’t giveaway too much, but everyone literally has this horrible tragic story and there just seemed to be too many for me to focus on. I think one would have been plenty and the mystery angle was a little far fetched but for some weird reason it wasn’t completely off putting.

Overall this was a fun read for me. I read it while on vacation at the Oregon Coast so that made it a little more fun and realistic for me. I wouldn’t mind revisiting Lavender Tides again now that I’ve enjoyed this book so much!

Challenge/Book Summary:

Book: The House at Salt Water Point (Lavender Tides #2) by Colleen Coble

Kindle Edition, 352 pages
Published July 3rd 2018 by Thomas Nelson
ASIN B077CS7R3K
Review copy provided by: publisher/author in exchange for an honest review
Recommendation: 4 out of 5

Genre: Christian fiction, contempo, mystery, suspense

Memorable lines/quotes:

The House at Saltwater Point by Colleen Coble

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

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Story Notes

Colleen Coble’s second story in the Lavender Tides series continues the mysteries from the first while also bringing in new characters and mysteries for readers to enjoy.

Having written so many books, one would think that an author might one day have some repetition in the writing of their stories but I’ve not found this to be the case with Ms. Coble. While she might use some of the same styling in her writing, each story is always fresh and complex enough to draw me in every time. The first story in the Lavender Tides series, The View from Rainshadow Bay, invested my imagination and logic into the mystery of what happened to Shauna Duval’s siblings who went missing as very young children. Shauna has been searching for them for years and her latest clue has her looking in her own hometown and then traveling her new husband Zach to North Carolina to track down the latest clues. Grayson Bradshaw is an Investigator with the Coast Guard and is fast on the trail of his nemesis Tarek Nasser, a terrorist and drug runner. When Shauna and Zach approach him with the news he may her long lost brother, Grayson mind reels at the idea. Confirming his long ago adoption with the parents he believed were his biological parents all along leaves Grayson fighting resentment and anger at their lies. But Grayson will have plenty of time to get to know his original family and decide how to handle his adoptive parents when he is sent to Lavender Tides to investigate the disappearance of a woman and a stolen cocaine shipment that has all the earmarks of a Nasser operation. His investigation will lead him right to the feisty, hardworking Ellie Blackmore, house flipper and sister to the missing woman, Mackenzie. Ellie cannot believe that her sister is guilty of stealing cocaine or of being in league with a terrorist and she’s not going to let Grayson go around saying otherwise. Agreeing to help him in his investigation is the only way she can keep tabs on what is happening and she is terribly afraid her sister might already be dead. As Ellie and Grayson work together to find out what happened, they will discover a dark side to the town of Lavender Tides and evil doers who will let nothing and no one stop them from accomplishing their goal. Alongside this investigation is the mystery of Shauna and Grayson’s younger sister Brenna who was born during the earthquake that killed their mother and separated them from each other. No one saw Brenna after the rescuers got everyone out and there is no trace of her anywhere in the area. As Grayson and Shauna seek to find their sister, Ellie offers comfort and support to both, making Grayson take notice of her kindness. Spending time with Ellie shows Grayson that love can find you in the most unusual places if only you are willing to open your heart. They will need their love and the trust they have built together to get them through the dangers surrounding the case and to help them find out what happened to MacKenzie before its too late. I love the complexity that Ms. Coble weaves into her stories. She gives lots of little details at the beginning and then begins braiding them all together into a wonderful plot that keeps you guessing at every turn. Including elements of faith and family in each situation also makes for a good story that helps you engage with the characters and start to feel their hope, desperation, fear, and love. My only “issue” with the story was that the ending seemed a little rushed. The plot was going along so well at a moving but informative pace and then the resolution came about a little too fast for me. I would have liked to see a little more time given to the danger at the end and the reasons for why the terrorists targeted the area and what the end game was to be. Perhaps this is how it is in real life but I would have liked more page time allowed to finish explanations and develop the reasoning better. Otherwise this story is very well done and has enough suspense to keep you reading to the very last page. I will be very interested to see where Ms. Coble will take this series next as I’m sure the next story will involve Brenna, Shauna and Grayson’s little sister they finally found. Hopefully this story will be released soon as I would like to see how this broken family finds a way to heal past hurts and find belonging again. I will certainly be recommending this book and series to others as it is very well done and highly entertaining. I look forward to adding a hard copy to my shelves and sharing it with family and friends.

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 for this review and the opinions expressed herein are entirely my own.

Coleen Coble is a favorite author of mine. Each of her books is a delight. This is a exciting read and I am happy to say this is the second book in Ms. Coble's" Lavender Tides" series. You should read the first book "The View from Rainshadow Bay" first as they do go together in concert of charcters and background. . I cannot wait to read the third book in this series in January 2019. I am a long time fan of her writing and this new series does not disappoint at all. It has all the elements that make her books so enjoyable. A well crafted story, great plot, suspense and wonderful characterization.

This has some romantic tension, and a murder that makes it delicious for mystery fans..
There is a excellent sleuth with twist and turns as the tension builds. I was unable to put it down. and did not figure out the true suspect.
I love the tall ships incorporated into the story so well detailed, I love the location and all the supporting charcters. This is a wonderful series that gives the reader a glimpse into the further books in the series.
Thank you for the ARC which does not influence my personal review. I highly recommend this book for all fans of mystery and light romance reading. A excellent read !

THE HOUSE AT SALTWATER POINT is the second book in Ms. Coble's Lavender Tides series. Fans will want to read the first book The View from Rainshadow Bay first as they do sort of tie in together. I'm anxious to read the third book in this series, coming maybe in January 2019.



Ms. Coble is a top-notch romantic suspense writer, and this is a sweet one, easy on the romantic tension, and easy on the murder even through there is some. I was so caught up in the story I forgot to try to figure out who-dun-it and just concentrated on story.



There are some tense moments, some moments when you wonder if the criminals are amateurs or not and some where you wonder what-in-the-world, is that even plausible? But over all the story is good, well told, and enjoyable.



I love the tall ships theme. I saw and toured tall ships in Muskegon, Michigan and enjoyed the experience. It enabled me to see and understand Mac's fascination with the tall ships.



Recommended for fans of romantic suspense.



I was given a copy free. All opinions are my own.

Ms. Coble has written another masterpiece! I was drawn in to Ellie’s story from the beginning pages with expertly woven threads of suspense, drama, and romance. I love the way Ellie’s story was woven with Grayson Bradshaw. Both stories present deep themes we can all learn from. It was exciting watching their friendship and love develop on their quest for truth about Ellie’s sister, Mackenzie. This book is one you want to devour but hate to see end. Love this series!

Once you start reading, you don't want to put it down. Ellie is trying to find her sister who disappeared and appears to have been murdered, Grayson works for the Coast Guard and is on the search for missing cocaine that Ellie's sister Mackenzie is tied to. Together Grayson and Ellie rush against time and bodies (they are literally piling up whenever Ellie is around) to find the missing cocaine and discover what part Mackenzie plays in all of it. As a side story Grayson discovers that he is the long lost brother to a local resident named Shauna. Full of mystery and suspense. Definitely a page turner.

Favorite Quotes:

You know I’d do just about anything for you. Well, other than give up coffee. I wouldn’t do that for anyone.

Life wasn’t one long ribbon of known events. There were frayed areas he didn’t understand…

My Review:

While the premise sounded promising and I do enjoy a diminutive and feisty hammer-wielding heroine, this story goes in So-So - Not Bad But Not Good pile. Maybe it’s me but I just wasn’t feeling it. I never experienced that rapturous, swept-away, plugged-in connection to the story or characters. And I missed that. I like feeling that on-edge prickle of tension and hypothesis generation when reading a well-written thriller.
The initial mystery did pluck at my curiosity, however, there were far too many implausible elements that I couldn’t get past or wrap my head around. For instance, despite one of the ringleaders consistently eluding law enforcement and earning “phantom” status, his current crew appeared to have been one of the most inept in ISIS’s history, as they were repeatedly unable to corral a tiny, unarmed, and incredibly naïve woman in a small town. And in spite of a known terrorist cell operating in the area, there was no law enforcement presence beyond the Elvis wannabe small-town sheriff and his deputies. The Coast Guard investigator offering his assistance was there looking into a different matter involving a drug heist. Hurrah for the Coast Guard, but the FBI/CIA rated several embarrassing black eyes in this one. I did derive immense satisfaction from Hammer Girl putting her trusty tool to good use, the little gal proved herself capable of more than blogging about home improvement and flipping houses.

I loved this book. To be fair, I have enjoyed every Colleen Coble book I've read, and that's quite a few. This time around I was really impressed with the colliding plots with their various twists and how well the weaved together. The area the book is set in was one we had just visited on vacation so that made it extra fun to read. As ever, the suspense thread was clever and surprising, and the romance gentle and touching without being over the top. I liked the characters I should, and found the ending where someone is in the hospital very helpful with the insightful remarks about tragedy vs attitude. Great book. Thank you.

I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

I received an advanced copy of this book through Netgalley. This book had me from the very beginning. I love that it kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time. I would highly recommend this book to my fellow readers. Thank you for the chance to review this book!!!!

The House at Saltwater Point is the first book I have read by the author Colleen Coble. It is a fairly fast paced suspense with plenty of crime and dead bodies littering the pages. I did wonder though at how some characters were viciously killed off but the main protagonists seemed to not be treated in the same way.

Ellie is a renovator - Hammer Girl is her blog name and the name that Grayson Bradshaw - coast guard officer likes to call her. As they both search for her sister - Mac, and try to unravel what has happened to her they start to find they are really attracted to each other.

Who is Mac working with, what drives her, is she somehow mixed up with a crime ring or something even more sinister? Who is friend and who is foe? I began to feel very few could be trusted! Ellie has always cared for her sister but possibly her blind spot has hidden from her some of Mac's characteristics.

Grayson is dealing with some family issues, it turns out he is more linked to this town than he thought, and Ellie too has issues of her own from her childhood. ( Well who doesn't! However hers is a little more than most of us have to deal with).

While this is #2 in Colleen Coble's Lavender Point series, it is also a stand alone, I hadn't read #1 but enjoyed meeting the characters from that book.

This is a Christian fiction book, with a few God references that possibly are a little unnecessary, at times the story felt a little over the top, but no more than any fast paced adventure movie!!

The House At Saltwater Point is another amazing book by Ms. Coble - I have been reading her for years and this book is one of the most fantastic heart pounding stories. Grayson is a with the Coast Guard trying to find Ellie's sister that is missing - but he isn't looking for her for the reasons you may think - You also have Ellie - who is also trying to find her missing sister - hopefully alive - she doesn't think so but Grayson sure does - the two of them are trying to find out the truth together - but not equally agreeing on the outcome - one is going after her for embezzlement and the other is wondering if she is alive or taken. Which one is right? What a hair raising story - chilling - I cannot imagine my sister missing - I would move all earth to get her back - dead or alive. Which one is she? GOD is the only one that knows and who is relied on. I received a copy of this book from the Publisher and Netgalley; all of the opinions expressed in this review are all my own.

The House at Saltwater Point – Colleen Coble

This is the next book in the Lavender Tides series by Colleen Coble. This particular story follows Ellie, who flips houses with her partner, Jason. Jason happens to be her sister’s ex-husband, and when Ellie goes to her sister’s houseboat and only finds blood, she can’t help but wonder what happened. The local Coast Guard officer, Grayson has been working on figuring out who is behind cocaine shipments coming in and out and thinks Ellie’s sister is behind the shipments since she is gone without a trace. The problem he has is convincing Ellie about the theories of her sister.

This is another great thriller from Coble. I look forward to all of her books when they are released and can’t wait until the next one comes out.


** I was given a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an unbiased review **

From stealing a major load of drugs, to sabotage, murders, fires, and terrorist attacks the story covers or glimpses many different kinds of criminal activities and near death situations in the intense suspense side of the tale. Add to that the family drama, the kidnapped baby, the secret adoption, new families, bitter exes, and the developing love story, and I admit at times it felt a bit overwhelming at times. Thankfully, the protagonists, Ellie Blackmore and Grayson Bradshaw, hold the story together well with their intriguing characteristics, charm, and composure.
Grayson Bradshaw's career and life, in general, was shattered by the ambush that killed his best friend and left him with a bad knee that put him into a desk job with the coast guards. At the start of a new investigation, he finds out a family secret that changes his life forever and rocks his stable mind and relationship with his parents.
Ellie Blackmore is happy with her life as a successful business owner of a construction company that flips houses. She might have to balance her life, and the peace of mind, between her sister Mac and her business partner Jason, who happens to be Mac's ex-husband, but things are going well for Ellie until her sister disappears on her birthday, and the rumors start to fly about her involvement of stealing drugs, and being part of terrorist cell.
I liked Ellie and Grayson together, they had a palpable thing between them, a connection, an understanding, a bond, attraction. It is like from the first moment they met, they click, even if it is not obvious to themselves, at least it is to the readers. Their faith in God is an assumed and understood fact, while it is in not a major part of the plot, God's guidance in their life is a trusted datum.
They do not agree on every or most points of the investigation, yet they support each other, protect each other, and encourage the other while on the hunt for information and for the truth. A truth that is so twisted and convoluted that I could have never guessed it while reading the story, the surprises keeps coming, and even the major players of the tale are not safe from the harm and malice of the criminals.
A vibrantly speedy action-packed tale with plenty of twists and turns, in the intense suspense, the human drama side as well as with the lovely, sweet and clean romance. With vivid images, constant surprises, startling twists, and compelling characters the author delivers another gripping and puzzling tale in the winning series, an entertaining and captivating tale.
~ Four Spoons with a teaspoon on the side