Beauty on the Backroads

Stories of grace for life's unexpected turns

colleen coble

Holiday reading with a side of suspense: Review of All is Calm, All is Bright by Colleen Coble

‘Tis the season for holiday entertainment, and if Hallmark channel movies are your thing, I’ve got a book to recommend.

all is calmAll is Calm, All is Bright by Colleen Coble is a two-novella collection set in two of the author’s most popular fictional settings, Bluebird Ranch and Hope Beach. Though I have not personally read many of the stories set in either place, I enjoyed these two short stories. (Disclaimer: I received a free copy of the book in exchange for my review.) They are short and sweet reads to get you in the holiday spirit.

In All is Calm, Lauren flees to the ranch she remembers fondly from childhood to escape danger surrounding a death she witnessed. There, she meets Brendan, a friend of the ranch’s owner, who is recovering from a military injury. Together, they try to get to the bottom of the mystery, and in the meantime, they discover a mutual attraction.

In All is Bright, Delilah is in the midst of planning a friend’s wedding when her car is run off the road. Connecting that incident with the strange phone calls she’s been receiving, she is forced to admit there is more to the threats than a simple prank. Helping her uncover the source of the threat is Tom, the local sheriff, a widower who has been interested in Delilah for a while. He aims to keep her safe from danger and offer her an unforgettable gift on Christmas, if she survives till then.

Both stories remind me of why I’ve enjoyed Coble’s writing in the past. Sweet romance with a side of suspense makes for a page-turning read. Throw in the holiday settings and you’ve got a great recipe for Christmas reading.

 

5 on Friday: Authors who feed my travel bug

It’s no secret I read a lot. And books have varying effects on me. At times I’m inspired. Often, I’m challenged. And sometimes, reading a story just makes me want to travel.

Here are five authors who make me want to get on a plane or a train and see the world after reading one of their books.

1. Tracy Higley. Her latest book is set in first-century Ephesus (pictured below).

ephesus_harbor_streetShe’s set her books throughout the Middle East and Mediterranean, including Greece and Jordan. Every time I finish one of her books, I think about renewing my passport and saving up for a tour of biblical proportions.

2. Dani Pettrey. I’m no fan of cold weather, but she makes Alaska sound like an amazing place to visit. I’m not really into winter sports, either, but her books have put Alaska on my travel map.

3. MaryLu Tyndall. I’m new to her sailing adventures, but she makes sailing the high seas seem adventurous and fun, even if it’s also risky and terrifying. Her most recent series follows a group of Southerners to Brazil after the Civil War. Add Brazil to the travel map, please.

4. Liz Curtis Higgs. Scotland, oh Scotland, how little I appreciated you when I had the chance to visit. Her stories are dreamy, among other things, and my heart longs to see the sights of Scotland again.Minolta DSC

5. Colleen Coble. Whether she’s writing about lighthouses or beaches, she inspires me to take a relaxing vacation, even if the stories she writes are suspenseful and not altogether relaxing.

I need few excuses to want to travel. It’s a good thing budget, time and family keep me more tethered. At least with stories, I can dream a little.