The Bridge by Karen Kingsbury - A Book Review

 

     A friend suggested I read this book, and I am glad that she did. The Bridge is a sentimental story that tugs at ones heart strings. Molly Allen went to college in Tennessee as a music student to escape her privileged upbringing and the expectations her dad had for her future. Ryan Kelly went to study music and follow his dream to be a professional guitarist. Together they shared many special moments in a bookstore known as The Bridge, but just as friends. Both Molly and Ryan had someone back home waiting on them, and they were cautious not to cross any lines, well until they did. Unfortunately that special night was the beginning of the end.

     Charlie and Donna Barton, owners of The Bridge, considered their customers their family, the only family they had other than one another. They loved them like family, and treated them like family, helping them to find God’s path for their lives through books, a listening ear, and a caring heart. A time has come when the Barton’s need family, now will be the time to see if customers, people like Molly and Ryan, reciprocate those family feelings.

     The theme of this book is that God is a God of second chances. If you are looking for a message of hope, this book has it. If you are a lover of books, this book honors your pastime. If you cry at Hallmark commercials, this book is for you; have the tissues ready.  

Haven of Swans by Colleen Coble - A Book Review

    I have read four other books from the Rock Harbor Collection, and a couple of other books in which Rock Harbor characters made cameo appearances. I really enjoyed returning to Rock Harbor in Haven of Swans, and following along with Bree and Kade as they assisted Bay City Police Captain Nick Andreakos in his search for a serial killer, a search that became very personal to each of them. Bree’s search dog, Samson, plays, as always, a very big role in apprehending the killer, but will he lead Bree there in time to stop him from killing again?

     Fans of the television show “Criminal Minds” will be great fans of Haven of Swans as well. While I would classify most of the Rock Harbor books as mysteries, I would classify this one as a psychological thriller. Coble has included quite a few red herrings for her reader to sort out. Through most of the book I prided myself on identifying the killer, snickering at Coble’s attempts to lead me down another path, only to be quite humbled by his true identity.

     I highly recommend this book to mystery, thriller, and romance fans. While Colleen Coble is a Christian writer, this book is not preachy, and will appeal to both Christian and secular audiences. This summer a new Rock Harbor book will be added to the collection, Beneath Copper Falls. I, along with other Coble fans, will anxiously be awaiting this next installment. I thank Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for providing me with this copy of Havens of Swans in exchange for my honest opinion. I received no monetary compensation for this review.