Member Reviews
Coble takes readers back to Rock Harbor, although those who are new to the series will find that this novel easily stands alone. The author is a master at romantic suspense, and although it's not terribly difficult to figure out the culprit fairly early on, it doesn't really matter because the suspenseful moments are exciting regardless. The romantic storyline is sweet and very encouraging, with a theme of looking at someone's heart rather than their outward appearance.
Dana Newell returns home to Rock Harbor, Michigan, to live with her brother Chris. After suffering abuse at the hands of her fiancé, Dana seeks protection in the familiar surroundings and with friends and family. After starting a job as a 911 dispatcher, Dana receives a cryptic distress call from her friend Allyson. When Allyson's body is found, Dana teams up with Allyson's cousin Boone in order to investigate. Creepy things keep happening, especially as Boone and Dana grow closer. Is Dana's ex-fiancé back to stalk her, or is something more sinister going on?
This witty read deals with the face value, literally - namely where do we see the value in beauty? Which kind of beauty is more worthy - inner or outer?
Also - why do we trust the ones we trust? Might it be that we value ourselves less than we should?
This is a sixth installment in the Rock Harbor series, yet the connections between the novels are more personal that plot-wise, so one can quite quickly orient themselves in the settings.
Dana Newell is out of the abusive relationship and trying to rebuild her life in Rock Harbor. And might her new acquaintance Boone be the right man for her? Young Lauri has also met an interesting older man, who is instantly smitten with her.
But how can one recognize the true love? And how can one recognize the face of evil?
Uhm, I would think twice to relocate into Rock Harbor :) So many killers and psychopaths around the city!
Yet, luckily, there is also many people of sterling character, good heart and wisdom to offer.
So maybe I should try my luck here, after all. Life is not easy, we are not promised the easy one (yet, sometimes I wish we would!). Yet, there is a lot of wisdom to be found in the growing pains of soul. And this series delivers precisely this, with some chills (as I like it!).
Colleen Coble is definitely at the top of my go-to authors list! She never disappoints me and this book is no exception. It was great to return to Rock Harbor and catch up with Bree! This tale of suspense will keep you reading past bedtime. Just when I thought I had it all figured out and knew who was behind the murders, a twist to make me say wow!
Mystery, suspense; Romance, clean; Christian
Loved this one! It is by far my favorite of this series! The tension, suspense and romantic story lines were well done and well-paced. I loved this by far the best of any of the books in this series. The MC were genuine, honest, caring, and, of course needing to heal. The suspense/murder mystery kept you on the edge as the clues were carefully, slowly unraveled until the final scenes. This was a great read! If you enjoy Christian romantic suspense, you will love this book. While part of a series, this is a stand alone read. Enjoy!
3.5 stars
Overall it’s a solid thriller with a lot of mystery to it as you have to pin down which town citizen is the creepy serial killer. Took me until around 75% to figure out who I was sure was the culprit. He was very creepy, stalking and killing women in the area and attacking local folks in broad daylight. It definitely isn’t a cozy mystery with those sorts of vibes.
The best thing about the book, other than a fun little romance between the leads, was getting to see so much of Bree and Samson and my other favorite side characters from other Rock Harbor books. This town has a fun outdoorsy, friendly vibe that I love reading about, and I hope this isn’t the last we see of it.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a free review copy. A favorable opinion was not required.
I did enjoy this book, though I did find it to be much darker than I expected from the description. Once I figured out the killer I couldn’t put it down to confirm I had it right. I found the book to be engaging and entertaining.
This is the sixth book in the Rock Harbor series by Colleen Coble. I have to admit that I have not read any other of the books in the Rock Harbor series, but I picked this one up and had no problems reading it as a stand alone. I love when authors are able to do that!
Dana has returned to her her hometown of Rock Harbor as a 911 dispatcher. Dana left her previous place because of her abusive ex-boyfriend. When Dana finds herself in the middle of a investigation of a serial killer she finds herself being stalked as well.
Has Dana's ex found her and is he the serial killer she and Boone are looking for or is it someone else all together? The suspense and mystery Colleen Coble puts into this story is brilliant. I was actually pretty startled reading this one. Great job Colleen Coble on keeping me on edge. I can't wait to see what is in store for us next from this author. Hopefully there will be more from the Rock Harbor series!!
In this welcome return to Rock Harbor we meet Dana, a 911 dispatcher who has returned to live with her brother following a violent relationship. But is it really that easy to get away? When appearances are deceiving, who can you trust? This is a deft blend of romance with a twisty plot that will keep you guessing. While reading the previous Rock Harbor books enhances the reading this story can stand on its own.
I received a ARC for a honest review of this book from the publisher.
This is a return to the Rock Harbor Series by favorite author Colleen Coble. This is a compelling exciting thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat. Dana has left a abusive relationship and began to start over staying with her Brother. Soon a frightening call by a friend at her work changes her direction and she is drawn into a mystery that deepens as the book progresses.
I found this a smart well crafted book that has a dash of mystery as well as is a thriller. Its a hard subject to read but the author did a wonderful job with difficult parts of the book. As always Coleen Coble is a master story teller . I look forward to the next in series.
Fair warning: If you read this at night, sleep with the light on!!
Colleen Coble has long been one of my go-to authors for romantic suspense. Even pre-blog, y’all. And the Rock Harbor series is comfort food for me. Which sounds odd to say about thrillers but … there’s something about the Upper Peninsula community, its characters, and Coble’s writing style that have the same effect on me as my favorite brownies. I can’t ‘eat’ just one and I crave them on a regular basis.
So imagine my delight when I found out Coble was giving us more books in the Rock Harbor series!
Beneath Copper Falls is chilling, packed with suspense and impossible to put down. An abusive ex-boyfriend, a controlling new boyfriend, a potential serial killer on the loose … and the potential that this is all one and the same person. Or three different people. Or FIVE different people. WE DON’T KNOW!! But we do know to keep looking over our shoulder through the whole book because crowbars smash windows and people get whacked on the head and the snow covers a lot of tracks!!!
Ahem. Apparently I’m not quite recovered from this read yet.
Seriously edge-of-your-seat though. The suspects keep you guessing, and even once the real killer is figured out you still can’t put down the book because you aren’t 100% sure who is going to survive this one.
And in the midst of all the RUN FOR YOUR LIVES (ahem) suspense, there is a sweet romance with shades of Phantom of the Opera and Beauty & the Beast. Boone and Dana both have scars, some more visible than others, but in each other they find a kindred wounded soul. Their instant connection develops into a great friendship and eventually into something more romantical. This aspect of the plot gives us a bit of a break from the stalking and the killing but it also leaves us breathless for different reasons.
In Beneath Copper Falls, Coble addresses domestic abuse – and particularly how otherwise-strong women can be lured in by charisma and held captive by an abuser’s charming other side. These glimpses into both the abuser and the abused would make this novel a great choice for a book club discussion.
Bottom Line: Colleen Coble returns to Rock Harbor with a thrilling story, a swoony romance, and awesomely intelligent search and rescue DOGS. Some of the sentence structure messed with my reading speed for some reason, but you still won’t want to put this book down once you start. Boone and Dana are nice additions to the Rock Harbor community, and fans of the series will enjoy catching up with Bree, Kade, Lauri, Anu, and the rest of the familiar faces. But Beneath Copper Falls works well as a stand alone too. Love the ‘Gwen Marcey’ cameo tucked away for fans of Carrie Stuart Parks’ novels too!
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)
Thank you for the chance to review this book, however, unfortunately, I was unable to read and review this title before it was archived.
Having read Colleen Coble before, I expected this book to have two things: suspense and romance. And this book had both those in plenty.
The suspense was dark and serial killery (which I did not expect at all) and the romance was good. (which I expected).
I liked both the main characters Dana and Boone and they worked for me. I don't like books which are high on romance and low on suspense.
So this book by Colleen Coble ticked all the major points for me. The entire town of Rock Harbor was both cute and charming and descriptions of landscapes were great.
On the whole, another great read by a good author.
Dana fled to Rock Harbor for safety. Her cousin Chris owned a house where she can stay, and she found a job as a 911 dispatcher. Everything was falling into place, wasn't it? Even though her ex-fiance, Garret, knew where she was going, he wouldn't be bold enough to bother her with friends and family close by? At the beginning, for Dana life with Garret was like a dream, but that dream had turned into a nightmare, so she fled to a place that offered safety and protection. When a good friend, Allyson, dies in Rock Harbor, Dana begins to wonder how safe she really is. However, with her dog, Phantom, by her side, and friends like Bree and Kade, she would be okay, wouldn't she?
Boone Carter had worked hard to carve out a good life for himself in Rock Harbor. He's found his niche in leading adventure trips, mostly catering to the tourist population coming through Rock Harbor. Previously injured in a terrible accident as a fire jumper, Boone's scars go deeper than just those on his face. After the death of his sister, Renee, and the rejection of his superficial fiance, Boone only wants to move forward, so when his cousin Allyson comes into town insisting that Boone help her with Renee's murder investigation, Boone only partially commits. However, when Allyson is found murdered in the woods outside of Rock Harbor, both Dana and Boone are drawn deeper into the mysteries. Unfortunately, it is nearly impossible to know what is true and who you can trust.
In true Colleen Coble fashion, she keeps you in suspense until the very end. Though I knew that everyone was not who they seemed to be, I didn't see what was truly going on until it was revealed. I didn't want to put the book down until I knew how everything would be resolved. Like others have expressed, through the pages of Beneath Copper Falls, it was enjoyable to go back to Rock Harbor and interact with several beloved characters, like Bree and Samson. I also enjoyed getting to know the new characters, Dana and Boone, and walking with them through the ups and downs of the plot. If you like suspense and mystery, I recommend that you give this book a try. I think you'll like it!
Thank you to Thomas Nelson Publishers and NetGalley for an ARC of this book. All opinions above are my own.
I am so happy to have another Rock Harbor novel! I loved getting to "see" Bree (and her family) and learn how things are in Rock Harbor. However, you do not need to read the previous books in the series in order to enjoy Beneath Copper Falls.
The story grabbed my attention from the first chapter on and even though I was super busy when reading this, I couldn't wait to pick the story back up whenever I could.
The mystery/suspense was awesome. I was able to guess the killer pretty early on, but that didn't stop me from staying intrigued and even second-guessing myself. ;)
All in all, I loved Beneath Copper Falls and definitely recommend it! I hope Coble writes more Rock Harbor novels.
*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention/review it on my blog. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I've done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.*
I just finished reading Beneath Copper Falls and I am still reeling. Since 2011, when I read Without A Trace I’ve been a fan of Colleen Coble who is skilled at writing Romantic Suspense. I have come to suspect the least likely person and have often figured out who it was before it was even revealed as a couple of Easter eggs have to be left throughout the book so the reader can always go back after the revelation and see the build-up, this time around I was taken by surprise.
The book starts off with a woman fearing for her life after she discovered something about her significant other, it skips forward two years earlier to a woman who is running away from an abusive relationship. She runs to none other than Rock Harbour and many who have read the Rock Harbour series will be excited as all the characters from the Rock Harbour series are either present or mentioned and the heroine, Dana, is friends with Bree Matthews, the main character in the Rock Harbour Series. It was so exciting as we get to see how all the characters are doing.
We are also introduced to Boone Carter, the brother of the lady at the beginning, who is still trying to find his sister’s killer while dealing with a painful breakup that occurred a few years earlier. Dana is still cautious about men after her past relationship and Boone is just as cautious after his ex-fiancée walked out on him because of his scars, throw in a serial killer on the loose and a stalker ex-fiancée and our old Rock Harbour favourites and you’re in for a grand time. Old time Colleen Coble fans will not be disappointed and new readers may just have found their new favourite author.
There were also a couple of lessons to be learnt and what I learnt personally was that I need to care less about others think of me and more of what God wants, what He thinks of me, what He sees.
Thanks to Netgalley and … Publishing for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
.Usually, I'm pretty good at figuring out who done it! Not this time. Colleen Coble kept me in suspense the whole way through. I've enjoyed her Rock Harbour stories, and this one was no exception.
A heroine running away from an abusive relationship gets one's heart pumping immediately, and I was quickly drawn in. Add the Rock Harbour setting and being able to reacquaint myself with familiar characters, seeing how they've changed or grown up is a nice added benefit to this tale. But the hero of this story - now he gets ones attention! A man devastated by past hurts and injury thrown into the mix elevates this story into a romantic suspense story that's sure to please..
Beneath Copper Falls by Colleen Cable tells the story of Dana Newell who works as a dispatcher. Right from the start, readers get to know that Dana is leaving an abusive relationship. She goes back to Rock Harbor, the small town where she grew up. Dana expects the town to offer refuge but instead, finds out that there is a serial killer on the prowl.
The characters in this story were well developed. I was drawn to Dana and Boone. The two were complex, flawed characters with complicated pasts. However, they are the kind of characters who are easy to root for. At first, I thought this would end up being a cheesy, romantic story. However, I was surprised to see the inclusion of the serial killer angle. It heightened the tension in the book. In addition, Dana’s ‘crazy’ husband also added to the apprehension that I felt as the story progressed.
Having read way too many murder mysteries, this was pretty predictable for me. I was able to guess the killer early in the book. However, it was still a thrill to read about how the characters made the discovery. I guess that is what kept me reading. I wanted to see how the reveal would be done and how different characters would find out.
I have always loved small town settings and Rock Harbor was memorable. The characters were great but I do wish that the story was less predictable. This may be an issue on my part though and readers who don’t read too many mysteries may enjoy this one more than I did. If you like romantic suspense then this book is for you.
I have read several of the other Rock Harbor books by Colleen Coble. Her suspenseful writing continues in Beneath Copper Falls and mixes in familiar characters like Bree, Kade, and their family. The search and rescue dogs add personality to the storyline, also.
Dana Newell moves to Rock Harbor looking for a new beginning, away from her harmful relationship with her ex-fiance. She moves in with her brother who travels for work. She has found a job as a police dispatcher and renews her ties to former friends. One of them, Allyson is found dead after a desperate phone call to Dana. Now her free time is consumed with discovering what is happening in Rock Harbor. She is joined reluctantly by a cousin of the deceased, Boone, who has secrets of his own.. Will her move to Rock Harbor be the sanctuary she hoped it would be? The pages will fly by as you find the answer!
I was given a free copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
Ah. Colleen Coble. Can't go wrong with her romantic suspense novels. In this latest installment, we revisit Rock Harbor and all the wonderful characters like Bree, Kade, Laurie, Mason, and the gang. This book can be read as a stand-alone. But if you've been following Bree and Kade's life and adventure, it's nice to see them settled into a wonderful family routine.
The setting of Rock Harbor, especially in the winter and the snow storms, is a chilling backdrop for a great suspense novel. Ms. Coble's writing is fast-paced and the anticipation of "what will happen next?!?!" totally keeps the pages turning well into the night. The twists and turns in the story really took me for a roller coaster ride.
Boone is a successful outfitter and an ex-smoke jumper who's given up on finding love due to his scars from a work-related injury. His emotional scars run very deep and he can't seem to climb out of his bitterness and isolation.
Dana is a sweet-tempered and loving woman returning to Rock Harbor after a rocky relationship. She reconnects with Bree and Boone's cousin Allyson as the plot literally thickens and she's thrown into danger.
The path to forgiveness and belief in the omnipotent, omniscient, and loving God is riddled with self-doubt, fading memories, and fresh hurts but this path becomes smoother for both Boone and Dana as they walk it together.
I recommend this book for anyone who loves Christian romantic suspense.
I received ARC of the book from Thomas Nelson via NetGalley. I was not required to write a review or write a favorable review. All comments and opinions are solely my own.
Beneath Copper Falls is another addition to the Rock Harbor collection. Three words describe this book: so much suspense! Colleen Coble does it again with intriguing characters and a power packed novel. I loved Boone and the way his tender heart is hidden beneath his hurt. Scarred for doing his job, he’s battling the urge to care for another woman after Esther broke his heart. Dana Newell goes from one bad relationship to defending herself against a killer and she doesn’t even know she’s doing it.
Colleen Coble weaves suspense and romance wonderfully in Beneath Copper Falls. The action was consistent and every page had me wanting another.