Wednesday, August 8, 2012

"Tidewater Inn (A Hope Beach Novel)" by Colleen Coble: Book Review & Getaway Weekend Contest Facebook Party

ISBN: 9781595547811

About the book: 
Welcome to Hope Beach. A place of intoxicating beauty . . . where trouble hits with the force of a hurricane.

Inheriting a beautiful old hotel on the Outer Banks could be a dream come true for Libby. The inn cries out for her restorer’s talent and love of history. She’s delighted to learn of the family she never knew she had. And the handsome Coast Guard lieutenant she’s met there on the island could definitely be the man of her dreams.

But Libby soon realizes that the only way she can afford the upkeep on the inn is to sell it to developers who are stalking the island. The father who willed her the inn has died before she could meet him, and her newfound brother and sister are convinced she’s there to steal their birthright. Worst of all, her best friend and business partner has been kidnapped before her eyes, and Libby’s under suspicion for the crime.

Libby’s dream come true is becoming a nightmare. Her only option is to find her friend and prove her innocence, or lose everything on the shores of Hope Island.

My thoughts: 
Although Colleen Coble is an established writer with an assortment of books to her credit, Tidewater Inn is the first book by her that I recall reading.  Friends, I don't think it will be the last one, though.  When given the opportunity to review Tidewater Inn, I thought, "Now this should be interesting to see how she treats my beloved North Carolina shore line and its people."  You see, I'm a North Carolina native and was raised in Wilmington which is the southernmost tip of the state whereas the Outer Banks is the upper shoreline of our ragged coastline.  So I wasn't reading it as one who has never seen the ocean roil or the wind guest.  Nor seen the gulls at play along the sand dunes and foaming waters of the Atlantic.  No, I'd played in that surf and swam in the calm inland waters as well as the mighty ocean swells. So what did I find that Ms. Coble had to say and how she positioned her characters?

I had trouble "finding" Hope Island, but we do give writers a bit of license with some details.  I could "see" the island because there is much off the coast of North Carolina in the way of broken shore lines and bits and pieces of land.  Her description of the ocean and the troubles of a category 1 hurricane hitting at high tide are "right on." 

But the story is not just about the shores of North Carolina, it is a story of people.  Of danger.  Of greed.  Of kindness and of anger.  Of discovery and of secrets.  Of faith and reconciliation.  It is a gentle love story.  It is a story of triumph over evil and deception.

Our main characters are Libby and Alex.  Libby is a historical architect looking at property on Hope Island with her business partner Nicole.  Alex is a Hope island resident fisherman and Coast Guard officer. 

The story opens with Libby preparing for her trip to Hope Island when her world is shattered as her business partner and friend, Nicole is kidnapped in view of a cam camera and Libby just happens to see it via her computer.  From that point on, the story runs.  So hold your breath, sit tight, and get ready for a twisting, turning, tantalizing story that will keep you guessing who, what, and when until the very end.

About the author:    Best-selling author Colleen Coble's novels have won or finaled in awards ranging from the Best Books of Indiana, ACFW Book of the Year, RWA’s RITA, the Holt Medallion, the Daphne du Maurier, National Readers' Choice, and the Booksellers Best. She has nearly 2 million books in print and writes romantic mysteries because she loves to see justice prevail. Colleen is CEO of American Christian Fiction Writers and is a member of Romance Writers of America. She lives with her husband Dave in Indiana.
Visit her website at www.colleencoble.com. Twitter @colleencoble.
    


DISCLOSURE: I was provided a complimentary copy of Tidewater Inn by Litfuse Publicity Group on behalf of Thomas Nelson Publishers and the author, Colleen Coble in exchange for a review expressing my honest opinion.  All opinions expressed are my own and no requirement for a positive review was required.

1 comment:

  1. Thanks for the review. My mom read this one and really enjoyed it! She is a huge Colleen Coble fan, and I'm sure that you will like her many other releases :) Thanks :)

    ReplyDelete

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