With “delightful characters and an evocative, atmospheric setting,”* the dangerous beauty of Lavender Tides is harboring secrets that reach around the world. 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 … 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. And they’ll quickly find that the dangerous beauty of Lavender Tides is harboring secrets that reach around the world.
*Library Journal
“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, on The View from Rainshadow Bay
“Once again Colleen Coble has delivered a page-turning, can’t-put-down suspense thriller with Secrets at Cedar Cabin! I vowed I’d read it slowly over several nights before going to bed. The story wouldn’t wait–I HAD to finish it!” –Carrie Stuart Parks, author of Formula of Deception
- Full length romantic suspense
- Includes discussion questions for book clubs
- Part of the Lavender Tides series
- Book One: The View from Rainshadow Bay
- Book 1.5: Leaving Lavender Tides
- Book Two: The House at Saltwater Point
- Book Three: Secrets at Cedar Cabin
- USA TODAY and ECPA bestseller
more
I love all of Colleen Cobles books!
I enjoyed the book but found it to be a little unrealistic. I would recommend it though because it kept my interest.
I love Collen Cobble’s books. You can hardly put them down. You never know how they will turn out. Hair raising at times.
Ellie is a crackerjack at fixing up houses and making a profit after selling them. I sure would like to have her talent. I loved her nickname of “Hammer -Girl.” The story is very intriguing and I enjoyed trying to figure out what happened to Ellie’s sister Mackenzie. I would like to have known a bit more about Mackenzie and didn’t quite relate to her at times.
Ellie doesn’t believe the rumors about her sister stealing cocaine. When Mackenzie turns up missing the hunt is on for the truth. I liked how the author gave us a bit of background on Ellie and why she has a hard time believing in herself. Grayson is a bigger than life person with his size and fierce protectiveness. He wants to help Ellie but he also has a job to do. Will he help find Mackenzie and prove her innocence?
The story is unpredictable and really kept me on my toes. I wasn’t sure who to believe at times which made the story so good. The author has an ability to take a plot and expand it with explosive details that keep you guessing. There is danger all around Ellie and Grayson. The terrorist part in the story was unexpected and made the book even harder to put down. It’s funny what some people will do for power and money. Don’t miss this intense action packed story that will have you on the edge of your seat.
I received a copy of this book from The Fiction Guild. The review is my own opinion.
Couldn’t put it down.
I received a copy of this book from The Fiction Guild, I was not required to give a favorable review. Another hit it out of the park for Colleen. I have read other books from her and also the beginning of this series and she keeps you on your toes throughout the whole story. When you have a series like this and you get to see some of the characters from other stories is wonderful. This time Ellie is having to deal with her sister Mac disappearing on her birthday and meeting Shauna’s long lost brother Conor/Grayson. He is a Coast Guard Investigator and is looking into stolen cocaine that was seized by them. He tries to help Ellie find her sister because she is involved in the missing cocaine. But with the threat of terrorist and a phantom bad guy this books keeps you on your toes. I am happy the Grayson wants to stay in the area because he is falling for Ellie. She needs to feel happy also. But now I can’t wait to read the next book to see if Grayson & Shauna find their baby sister.
I anxiously await new books by Colleen Coble.
Usually I love Colleen Coble’s books. This one was ridiculous. It was too far fetched. The storyline was implausible. The “hammergirl blog” inserts were distracting from the actual read. Some of the characters were good, but many were not fleshed out enough. The missing sister that was threaded throughout the story never resolved. I’m sure that will happen in the next book. Overall, I was highly disappointed in this book. I really felt like Mrs. Coble stayed from what she does best.
This is book two in the Lavender Tides Series and I recommend reading book one first as it has tie ins that you don’t want to miss. If you love romantic suspense you won’t want to miss out on this. I usually can figure out the bad guys, but this had me stumped on who was the ringleader until the end. Sometimes finding out the truth about your family is difficult and hard to accept. Finding forgiveness for yourself for past mistakes can shape who you are and hiding behind a mask to keep people at a distance is a defense mechanism. The story deals with these issues while the characters are trying to stop a threat from North Korea. It is full of mysteries and keeps you interested till the end. I look forward to the next book to tie up the final piece to the puzzle.
I received a complimentary copy from Thomas Nelson & Zondervan Fiction Guild. The honest review and opinions are my own and were not required.
THE HOUSE AT SALTWATER POINT by Coleen Coble. Thomas Nelson
Ellie and Jason known for the highest quality flip houses, are
partners. He was married to her sister Mac for two years. At the
estate sale she picks up a game for Ellie’s birthday, when a woman try’s to grab it. Then leaving, she now has slashed tires, was the woman that angry. Meeting her sister for dinner, instead find blood, and her missing.Grayson is in town visiting his folks, when a couple comes up and says he is her brother. Shocked, and now his folks said it was true. Ellie got the bid for the next house to fix up..Now wanting update on her sister, sheriff says
she was spotted in Korea, actually spying for North Korea. At the house, Grayson comes wanting to know were her sister hid the cocaine. For Ellie her world has been turned upside down.A plot that goes deep into what Ellie has been guilty of for years, and now with her sister, was any of true. Lessons of forgiveness and maturing for Ellie, Mac and Grayson. Given Arc by Thomas Nelson for my voluntary review and my honest opinion.Ellen Oceanside
Coleen Coble does not disappoint in the latest of her books. There are surprises that will keep you guessing until the end.
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
I’m beginning to get a sense of a trend in these books by Colleen Coble. They are always against a waterway and usually will have a member of the Coast Guard playing a romantic lead in them. This was the case in this story.
The story takes place along the coast at Lavender Tides where Ellie Blackmore is a flipper. Her partner is Jason, who just happens to be her sister, Mackenzie’s ex-husband. There is no love lost there and Mackenzie is always trying to tell Ellie that she needs to ditch Jason and do the business on her own.
Mackenzie has a love of sailing and bought a tall-ship, in turn encouraging the town to engage in a tall-ship extravaganza. Excited to show Ellie the improvements made to the boat, she invites her sister out. Not able to make it out until later, Ellie appears at the boat to find blood covering the deck. From here the mystery starts as all evidence points to Mackenzie and her nefarious ways. But that said, did her ex-husband kill her or someone else?
The story was very action packed and kept me interested. I was curious as to how the story was going to end which is why I kept reading into the night, long after the lights in the house were out. Benefits of the kindle!
While I enjoyed the book I just felt like at times that all the pieces weren’t put into place. I’ve read alot of suspenseful books and while this one seemed on the quest into that same genre, it fell flat.
Despite that, I still enjoyed the book and will likely read another book by Colleen Coble in the future.
I have to say, sometimes the synopsis of the book doesn’t really jive well with the true contents of the book. With this book, I believe that is the case. While you are wanting to get me, the reader, to select the book how do you write it to give as much (or little) of the plot possible. In this case, it feels like there was a bit of case of misdirect.
I did get this book as a blogger from BookLook Bloggers. I was not required to leave a review and did so upon my own recognizance.
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.
A suspenseful yet light mystery which will keep you guessing throughout the book. We return to Lavender Tides and join Ellie Blackmore as she and her younger sister Mackenzie (Mac) along with Mac’s ex-husband have words which result in Mac leaving in anger. Mac disappears which leads to the question is Mac missing or with all of the blood found on her boat is she dead? Meanwhile, on their honeymoon Shauna and Zach Bannister prepare to meet Shauna’s newly found brother who went missing after an explosion years ago in Lavender Tides. All roads and storylines will lead to Lavender Tides where once again mysteries will be solved and love will bloom. This is a special series with enough mystery to hold a mystery lover’s attention and also a dash of romance.
Colleen Coble ratchets up her romantic suspense with a missing sister, a possible terrorist plot, and plenty of personal challenges thrown at her characters.
Ellie Blackmore loves restoring and updating homes with her sister. But when Mac goes missing and evidence points to her involvement in criminal activities, Ellie just wants the truth of what exactly Mac was involved in.
Grayson Bradshaw has received some news that turns his identity on its axis. That and his position with Coast Guard Investigative Services lead him to the small community of Lavender Tides, Washington.
Coble once again hooks the reader into the story with high stakes, plenty of action, and dangerous situations while leaving us rooting for Ellie and Grayson (both in the suspense and in their personal lives). As an added bonus, Shauna and Zach (from The View from Rainshadow Bay) have prominent roles in the newest Lavender Tides read. Coble’s signature combining of characters from previous books even reaches back to Rock Harbor, Michigan (long-time Coble readers will love this connection).
All of that while weaving a story that kept me flipping the pages as quickly as possible until the satisfying conclusion with an unanswered question that has me looking forward to the next installment in this series.
Disclosure statement:
I receive complimentary books from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including NetGalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
Scary good!
With a web of danger as tangled as last year’s Christmas lights, Colleen Coble again delivers another cast of characters attempting to make sense of clues and life. Both Ellie and Grayson have struggle-filled pasts that creep into the present as they look for Ellie’s missing sister. Throughout, readers ask themselves if we really know the people around us as well as we think. At the same time, we hope for more of the series in the future.
I received a complimentary copy of the book without obligation. This review is my opinion.
3.5 stars
“As a sworn civilian intelligence investigator for the Coast Guard Investigative Services, or CGIS, for the past three years he’d been on the trail of Tarek Nasser, but the terrorist was a phantom, and every time Grayson got close to apprehending him, he’d slipped away . . . . . ”
Or had he?
Arriving in Lavender Tides, Washington, Grayson Bradshaw believes that a huge cocaine theft might lead him closer to a known terrorist, whose insatiable need for cash might provide the money trail that he so desperately needs to finally apprehend his nemesis, Tarek Nasser. Coincidentally, the cozy coastal town is also where he grew up, having just been discovered by his biological sister, but having almost no recollection of her or anything else in Lavender Tides. When his first acquaintance is the sister of his prime suspect, Grayson is actually struck by Ellie Blackmore’s staunch loyalty to her sister MacKenzie, who has tragically disappeared without a trace.
Ellie Blackmore is a “hammer girl”; a successful “flipper” in a town that is begging to be renovated and appreciated for its charming ambience. When CGIS agent Grayson Bradshaw invades Ellie’s personal space, asking a lot of pointed questions about her sister, Ellie wants nothing more to do with the handsome Coastie. However, as the nature of his investigation deepens, Ellie begins to wonder if she really knows her sister at all; things are simply not adding up. On the other hand, could it be to her advantage to get to know Grayson Bradshaw a whole lot better?
Enjoy Coble’s accelerated pace, as the residents of Lavender Tides run a race against time to thwart an international terrorist plot.
Excellent book and looking foreword to read more by author.. a page turner.
The House at Saltwater Point is a solid and enjoyable addition to the Lavender Tides series. I was happy to catch up with the main characters from book one, and to be introduced to Grayson and Ellie. I really liked these characters and found that their attraction and romance was very believable.
This story started off with the immediate disappearance of a character and I fell right into the investigation with Grayson and Ellie. I enjoyed the twists and turns of the story and look forward to continuing on with this series in the next novel.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
I’ve read all her books available. Thoroughly enjoyed every one of them. All are page turners and just when you think you have it figured out…along comes another twist. If you want be read something you DON’T figure out on the first page, her books are it!