Book Review: Tidewater Inn by Colleen Coble

Synopsis: Welcome to Hope Beach. A place of intoxicating beauty . . . where trouble hits with the force of a hurricane.

Inheriting a beautiful old hotel on the Outer Banks could be a dream come true for Libby. The inn cries out for her restorer’s talent and love of history. She’s delighted to learn of the family she never knew she had. And the handsome Coast Guard lieutenant she’s met there on the island could definitely be the man of her dreams.

But Libby soon realizes that the only way she can afford the upkeep on the inn is to sell it to developers who are stalking the island. The father who willed her the inn has died before she could meet him, and her newfound brother and sister are convinced she’s there to steal their birthright. Worst of all, her best friend and business partner has been kidnapped before her eyes, and Libby’s under suspicion for the crime.

Libby’s dream come true is becoming a nightmare. Her only option is to find her friend and prove her innocence, or lose everything on the shores of Hope Island.

Review: I should give the caveat first that I have never read any of Colleen's books, but after missing out on a chance to be on the book blog tour for this book, I was thrilled when I had the opportunity to catch it through the Amazon Vine program. The cover and the synopsis had grabbed my attention, and after a Facebook party of Colleen's she just seemed like a really great person!

I had EVERY intention of just reading a couple of chapters and then going to bed. 3 hours later, the book was finished and I was exhausted when I got up 3 hours later for work!  LOL.The story definitely grabs you from the beginning and gives you adventure, romance, family drama and friendship all at once. The characters were likable, and the story very fast paced. The book was a very enjoyable read, and I only had a couple of quibbles with it. Like wanting to shake Libby a couple of times when she kept going on about "how was she going to keep the inn", when the answer had already been presented to her (and the readers) with a neon sign pointing to it. Or the fact that the island survived a cat 1 hurricane, with not much damage, just some flooding. Or the fact that Libby's other clients seem content that neither she, or her partner, are contacting them about the apparent delays in their work. And then there is the cover. While the cover is lovely, it doesn't match the description of Tidewater Inn, given in the book (as you know from earlier this week- that is getting to be a pet peeve of mine).

Coble likes series, 2 of the characters in this book are from her Rock Harbor series, so there is a good possibility if this book gains enough fans, there will be a followup. I think it would be interesting to see where she heads the characters next! This is a great little Fall read, and I recommend it!

About the Author: Colleen Coble is an American Christian author of romance, romantic suspense and historical fiction. Her thirty-five novels and novellas have sold a total of about 2 million copies, and have received  numerous awards. She writes romantic mysteries because she loves to see justice prevail and love begin with a happy ending.. She has a wonderful supportive husband, two great kids, a super daughter in law, two darling grandsons and a beautiful granddaughter. Check out her website, Facebook and Twitter pages, and her blog, for more info.


Disclosure / Disclaimer: I was sent this book, free of charge, for review purposes, via the Amazon Vine Program. No other compensation, monetary or in kind, has been received or implied for this post. Nor was I told how to post about it.