Rosemary Cottage is Colleen Coble's second book in the Hope Beach Novel Series. The first book was called Tidewater Inn, and you can read my review here.
I've read a few of her other books, and I know they are immensely popular--best-selling even. This one included. She's very good at putting together a mystery and trickling clues throughout until everything comes together in the end, there's just always something missing from them for me. But if it means anything, even after feeling this way about her books, I will still go on to read more of them. Maybe one of these days I'll simply be able to accept her style for what it is--because she is definitely a talented author.
I like the characters, I like the situations, and I like the settings. I think it's actually the pace of the story that bothers me. It's very quick, and things happen--and then BOOM, you're on to the next scene. I like a little more introspection from characters, rather than just seeing them go through things and happenings. I want to know more of their devastation and their ecstasy that comes from deep within, from where their hurts and love for each other originate. That's just my preference. When I'm not brought to those levels in a book, I often feel a bit disappointed. Because I KNOW it can be done. And perhaps it's just that I secretly wish every book that fell into my lap was as romantic and tension filled as Julie Lessman, Denise Hunter and Jody Hedlund can write them. :)
But that's just me--and why I've begun referring to myself as a book-snob more and more over the years.
And after all that, I can insist that this wasn't a bad book at all! If it were, I would have stopped reading it somewhere along the way. Rosemary Cottage kept my attention, and I did like a lot about it. I would recommend it to anyone.
I received a free paperback copy of Colleen Coble's Rosemary Cottage from the publisher in return for this honest review.
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{About the Book} The cottage by the sea offers Amy a refuge to mourn her brother’s death and perhaps even discover a new love. But what if Ben’s death was no accident?
Rosemary Cottage on the Outer Banks of North Carolina has been in Amy Lang’s family for generations and offers her a haven within its peaceful walls. There she hopes to discover what really happened to her brother, Ben, even as she tries to come to grips with his death in the ocean months before.
She hopes the Coast Guard team will help her find closure, but they are quick to dismiss her concerns of foul play. Everyone in Hope Beach regards the suspicious e-mail she received as a vicious prank. When it seems discovering what happened to Ben will take longer than she expected, Amy moves her midwifery practice to Hope Beach.
Coast Guard officer Curtis Ireland may hold the key to many of her questions, but he also hides a secret that will change her world forever. And her own secrets could tear apart the fragile love developing between them. Will Amy have the courage to put down her mask and let Curtis love her for who she is? And can they both weather the danger that threatens to destroy the most precious thing in their lives?
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{About Colleen Coble}
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Water can be calming and healing, but it can also be dangerous, as Amy Lange and Curtis Ireland both found out. Both lost their siblings to the sea, and they hope to find healing on Hope Island. But will they find it, or will their quest to find answers set them at odds with each other and with those who have secrets that need to stay hidden?
Find out in Colleen Coble’s latest book, Rosemary Cottage, which released July 9th. To celebrate, Colleen is hosting a 12-day Nautical Summer Giveaway. From July 16-27, Colleen will be giving away a new nautical prize every day. She’ll announce the winners on July 29 on her website, so mark your calendars for that date to see if you were picked as a lucky winner!
Not on Facebook? Enter here.
