Colleen Coble continues her Sunset Cove series with the delightful “Twilight at Blueberry Barrens,” an intense romantic suspense novel where we continue the story of Kate Mason, whom we first met in book number one (“The Inn at Ocean’s Edge”).
Recovering from a stem-cell transplant from her twin sister Claire, Kate has been cured from her aplastic anemia condition. But even with the good news, she is now facing a new battle — the failure of her family’s beloved blueberry barrens.
Just in time, the intriguing Drake Newham rolls into town with his two nieces — and into the heart of Kate as he rents her cottage and hires her as the girls’ nanny.
As their relationship flowers, the small coastal Maine town suddenly faces a surge in missing girls and murders (including the murder of Drake’s brother and sister-in-law, which originally brought him to town), stalkings, and the escape from prison by Kate’s uncle, Paul. Kate and Drake must work together to keep each other safe, and determine if these cases are at all related.
Coble does a great job of moving the plot along and keeping the reader guessing at every turn. As each horrific event occurs, one is left wondering at their connection.
But this novel is much more than an incredible suspense story. “Twilight at Blueberry Barrens” also offers up several great lessons — not getting stuck in one’s “yesterday”; learning that we are lovable and that we don’t need to earn anyone’s love, especially God’s love; light always defeats the darkness; and God always provides a way out of difficult situations.
Although “Blueberry Barrens” could be read as a standalone, I really wouldn’t recommend it. This book contains characters from both of the first two novels, and some plot lines are mildly connected, or at least referred to.
Another interesting tidbit, these books make reference to another literary character: Gwen Marcy found in Carrie Stuart Parks’ novels. And “Twilight at Blueberry Barrens” features an incredibly beautiful cover!
Five stars out of five.
Thomas Nelson provided this complimentary copy for my honest, unbiased review.
“Twilight at Blueberry Barrens” (Sunset Cove series, #3) by Colleen Coble