MY REVIEW:
Colleen Coble has long been one of my favorite authors so I was thrilled to find a copy of “All Is Calm, All Is Bright” in my mailbox. As a member/reviewer for The Fiction Guild, I never know what surprise I might find in the mail but a book from Thomas Nelson/Zondervan Fiction is always appreciated.
Rather than a full-length novel, “All Is Calm, All Is Bright” is composed of two Christmas novellas that return the reader to familiar settings from previous novels. “All Is Calm” took me back to one of my all-time favorites, Bluebird Ranch. I have a weakness for westerns so I enjoyed another visit there. “All Is Bright” was a return visit to the Tidewater Inn, another favorite place. Colleen’s descriptions are so vivid that I could easily imagine the crash of the waves and the cries of seagulls.
The best thing about this book is the romantic suspense. Colleen is a pro at keeping me on the edge of my seat while enjoying a developing romance at the same time. Could anything be better? As always, her plot moved along at the perfect pace with just the right balance of danger, drama, suspense, and romance. The Christmas setting added a special touch and as expected, I found a strong message of faith within the stories.
“All Is Calm, All Is Bright” is not to be missed if you are already a Colleen Coble fan. If you are unfamiliar with her books, it might be a good place to begin. If I guess correctly, it will just give you a taste that will make you a fan too.
This book was provided for review by The Fiction Guild.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
All Is Calm
It’s going to be an unexpectedly romantic Christmas at Bluebird Ranch.
Brendan Waddell has always considered Bluebird Ranch a little piece of heaven: an idyllic ranch that pairs abused children with abused horses, run by one of his Marine buddies. Now, it seems just the place to spend Christmas recovering from an on-the-job injury.
Lauren Everman first came to the ranch as a foster kid, but now knows it’s the perfect hideout. As the witness to a murder, Lauren needs somewhere to lie low. Her beauty immediately catches Brendan’s attention—but so does her secretive behavior. This Special Ops Intel man knows a woman on the run when he sees one. Can he trust her, or is she putting the ranch at risk? One thing is certain: he’s going to do everything he can to keep her safe so he can see what magic Christmas brings.
All Is Bright
A romantic Christmas wedding at Tidewater Inn gives Delilah’s unique gifts a chance to shine. But will her light be snuffed out before the bride and groom say “I do”?
As manager of the Tidewater Inn, Delilah Carter has been planning a spectacular Christmas wedding for her friend, Elin Summerall. But when Delilah’s car is forced off the road and into the ocean, she finally has to admit that the strange phone calls she’s been receiving lately may be more than just pranks.
Sheriff Tom Bourne has always had a soft spot for Delilah, and he’s determined to protect her. He hopes to win her heart by giving her the surprise gift of a lifetime . . . but first he has to make sure nothing happens to her before Christmas Day.
It’s the season of miracles. But will both Elin and Delilah get the ones they need this holiday season?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Best-selling author Colleen Coble’s novels have won or finaled in awards ranging from the Best Books of Indiana, the ACFW Carol Award, the Romance Writers of America RITA, the Holt Medallion, the Daphne du Maurier, National Readers’ Choice, and the Booksellers Best. She has over 2 million books in print and writes romantic mysteries because she loves to see justice prevail. Colleen is CEO of American Christian Fiction Writers. She lives with her husband Dave in Indiana. Visit her website at www.colleencoble.com.