Tuesday, November 1, 2016

Book Review: Twilight at Blueberry Barrens


My review:
It's not very often that an author can reach into your faith and pull out the threads of loss and sadness that you carry as a burden heavier than a wet woolen blanket, but somehow - reading Twilight at Blueberry Barrens, Colleen Coble mananaged to do just that for me. Except for the recipe for Okra brownies (admittedly, I have not tried them but fear I will not, either!), I loved every part of this book. 

"I see you wincing.  The entire world doesn't rest on your shoulders.  It's your turn to find out what you really want out of life.  What makes you happy and fulfilled.  God gave you specific gifts, and you're not using them at all." ~ book excerpt

Those are the poetic and fortifying words that Shelley said to Kate as they pondered the life's events unfolding and deciding to venture to Rock Harbor.  These words resonate through-out the novel as truly we are often times at unknown places, unsure of the future and stuck in the past, terrified to move thinking "what if I fail?"  This book, however, is so much more than making choices!  It's about a foundation, written beautifully in the previous books (see her Sunset Cove series, as Blueberry Barren is the third book in the series) of faith and family and ties that bind.  

Murder, mystery, denial, loss, redemption ........ this book truly brings out the characters in full life.  You can smell the dinners cooking, the horses whinny, the sounds of the salty sea smashing against the rocks at the coast ......... just delightfully written and draws the reader in right up on the conclusion.  I loved the connection the author connected between people.  It gives you a glimpse into the lives that we don't know.  The cantankerous old man that lives down the street, or the lady in deli that is always seems to be in a bad mood ... there is usually a reason.  A story.  Such is the case between Claire and her sister Kate, desperately hoping for a baby of her own.  When her sister Claire is the one that gets that positive pregnancy test, she remains happy for her sister yet hopeful for her self, too.  What a testament in faith and family!   

"God always provided a way out of her difficulties.  He wasn't going to fail her now." 
~ book excerpt

This book was hard to put down - and after I closed the last chapter, felt God's presence in my own daily tasks.  Just a little note - while it's helpful to read the previous books in the series, it's not an absolute necessity ... you can pick up and read along and enjoy the novel just the same.  

5 stars!

Book Description: 
I need you to keep these girls safe . . .”

Kate Mason has devoted herself to caring for her family’s blueberry barrens. But after her fields stop producing fruit, she’s forced to come up with alternative ways to make a living.
Renting out the small cottage on her property seems an obvious choice, but it won’t be enough. When entrepreneur Drake Newham shows up looking not only for a place to rent but also for a nanny for his two nieces, it’s almost too good to be true. And maybe it is—because Drake brings with him dangerous questions about who might be out to kill his family. The more time Kate spends with Drake and the girls, the more difficult it becomes to hide her attraction to him. But a family crisis isn’t exactly the ideal time to pursue a romance.
Meanwhile, Kate learns that her uncle—in prison for murder—has escaped. Add to that a local stalker who won’t leave her alone, and Kate is looking over her shoulder at every turn. With threats swirling from multiple directions, she wonders if her blueberry fields will ever flourish again . . . or if this twilight is her last.
Set on the beautiful coast of Maine, Twilight at Blueberry Barrens brings together suspense, romance, and the hope that one day new life will come again.


Disclaimer:  I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher as part of the BookLook Blogger Review Program, in exchange for an honest review on my blog. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this information in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."



1 comment:

  1. I must be honest and tell you that I sometimes click on your "book" blog by mistake...(Looking for your stamping blog) but it's always such a delight to read about these books. I may have mentioned this before to you...but this past year I have been hit with the reading bug...My Jim is a big reader too, but even he will say to me..."Reading again?!!!! I think I could read hours and hours everyday. I've been looking through you book reviews...and mainly writing down the authors you are recommending because I mostly buy at used book stores and they might not have the actual book you reviewed but maybe another one by the same author. I especially like Bethany House books. I used to work part time at a Christian bookstore, and when the Bethany House books would come in. It would be like Christmas when I would have the privilege to unpack the book order. Thank you for the time you take to write these reviews. Blessings, Jill

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