Member Reviews
Edge of Dusk is the first book in Colleen Coble’s An Annie Pederson Novel series. This story takes us bask to Rock Harbor. When Annie was nine years old her sister was kidnapped. Now she is a single mom, a law enforcement ranger and is running her parents resort.
This is a nicely written story with likeable characters. The story is easy to envision and hard to put down. I totally enjoyed this story. It is filled with action, mystery, suspense and romance. I was suspicious of the person Annie hired to help with her daughter and the resort. I liked how helpful Jon was for Annie and how he helped her understand her daughter’s health condition. Even with how Annie’s daughter treated him, he was there for them and put them first.
I voluntarily received a complimentary copy of this book, this is my honest review.
In Edge Of Dusk, the first book in the Annie Pederson Novel Series, author Colleen Coble transports the reader to Rock Harbor, a village on Lake Superior in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, for an intriguing Romantic Suspense story that will keep the reader guessing and turning the pages.
Annie Pederson is a National Law Enforcement Park Ranger, and also runs her family ownerd Tremolo Marina and Cabin Resort in Rock Harbor, Michigan. Annie has been dealing with the guilt from the kidnapping of her younger sister Laura twenty-four years ago, plus the recent boating accident deaths of her parents and husband Nate. She is raising her eight year old daughter Kylie, and continues to search for her sister. When dead bodies start to mysteriously show up in the area, Annie works with the local sheriff's department on their investigations, including the nine year old cold case of two teenage girls, and the possible tie to her ex-fiance Jon Dustan.
Jon Dustan comes back to Rock Harbor to renovate and sell his family's cabin after his father suffers a stroke. Jon and Annie broke up when he left for college and residency in orthopedic surgery at The Mayo Clinic nine years ago. His departure was tainted by being named a person of interest in the murder of the teenage girls, and with his arrival back in town he is still under suspicion and asks Annie to help him prove his innocence, and work through their unresolved personal issues.
As Annie and Jon search for the truth behind the cold case murder of the two teenage girls, threatening warnings, accidents, attempted kidnappings, mysterious murders, and sinister events start to occur. The further they dig, the harder someone is determined to stop them at all costs. And if that's not enough, Annie is still dealing with the guilt of the twenty-four year old kidnapping of her younger sister, Laura.
Author Colleen Coble weaves a fast-paced and suspenseful tale written in the third person narrative that follows Annie and Jon's investigative journey in search of the truth behind the cold case murders of the two teenage girls. When Annie and Jon's investigation intertwine with his being a person of interest in the murders, it will take a lot of digging and dangerous situations to find the truth. And if that's not enough, Annie and Jon still have an undeniable strong connection that could lead to an unexpected second chance at romance.
The reader will be easily drawn into this well written story with its richly descriptive plot and idyllic lake village setting. Edge Of Dusk has enough drama, tension, action, flashbacks and clues from the past, romance, and unexpected twists and turns that kept me thoroughly engaged and guessing what would happen next, it will definitely take the reader on one heck of a thrilling roller coaster ride.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book via Net Galley in exchange for my honest review and participation in a virtual boom tour event hosted by Partners In Crime Virtual Book Tours.
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Colleen Coble brings us back to the charming town of Rock Harbor in Edge of Dusk, the first book in her new Annie Pederson series. Annie is a fascinating, multi-layered character - she has lived through so much trauma that shapes her life and choices. Secrets from her past begin to surface, with twists and turns around every corner. The fast-paced plot, haunting cold case, and unanswered questions prove why Colleen Coble is one of the most beloved romantic suspense authors in the Christian fiction world. I can't wait for the next book in the series!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Another great book by Colleen Coble. We are back in Rock Harbor and it's great to revisit some of the people who live there.
Annie Penderson is a law enforcement ranger who takes her job very seriously. She is also a widow with a young daughter. She is living with the nightmare of her sister that disappeared twenty-four years ago. She has never stopped looking for her. Her current case is a death and several mysterious occurrences that have happened.
Jon Dustan returns to town to help his dad who's had a stroke. Jon and Annie were engaged at one time. With Jon's help, Annie tracks down leads. While all this is going on Annie finds out that her daughter has a serious illness.
This is a very good book and I highly recommend it. I look forward to more stories about Annie and Jon.
I was given this book by Thomas Nelson Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I was not compensated in any way.
I found the suspense of this book to be riveting. I enjoyed the twists and turns of the action. The intertwining storylines are exciting and liked watching how they all worked together. If you like suspense and/or thrillers, this is a book you should pick up!
Colleen Coble's books have been recommended to me for years, but this is the first of her titles I've read. And now, I can't wait to return to Rock Harbor to read more of her tales of suspense.
Edge of Dusk kept me turning the pages as fast as I could. While a bit creepier than the cozy mysteries I usually read, it was clean and well-written and made me want to read more. Annie was a great heroine whom I look forward to getting to know better.
Though I could tell this new series is set in a town of established fictional characters, I didn't feel confused as I met each one from time to time. I do, however, want to start at the beginning with the Rock Harbor books now!
This was an amazing book. I love that it's a three series book and I Love even more that it brings back favorites from her Rock Harbor series. That was the first series I read from Colleen and it was by far my favorite (helps that I'm familiar with Michigan too!) Loved, loved, loved this book and cannot wait to read the next in the series!
I absolutely loved the Rock Harbor series by Colleen Coble so I was excited when I found out she was setting a new series there as well. This series off to a great start! This story is complete with multiple suspense storylines woven together in the story along with a second chance romance. I enjoyed getting updates on the characters we got to know in the original series. The one issue I had was with how Annie's daughter, Kylie, behaved. Obviously she has lived through a lot of loss in her young life, but I had a real issue with the way her disrespectful attitude toward Jon was tolerated. It really got to be a bit much at times.
This one kept me guessing and left me with lots of questions. Without giving anything away, I must warn you that this book ends with quite a cliffhanger. I need the next book now!
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for a copy of this book. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.
Expect Chills, Feels and Much More!
This book will immediately draw you in to some moments of creepiness and at times you will questioning what you know because you think you have it figured out but don’t. That’s what happened with me. On the edge of my couch wanting to get to the end to know what happened!
Colleen Coble has begun a new series that brings us back to Rock Harbor. I am waiting in anticipation for the next book in the series. If you haven’t read her other books definitely start reading them!
I received a complimentary ARC of this book from NetGalley on behalf of the Publisher and was under no obligation to post a favorable review.
Edge of Dusk by Colleen Coble is the first An Annie Pederson Novel. We travel to Rock Harbor in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan on the shores of Lake Superior. Annie was nine years old when the attack happened. Her younger sister, Laura wanted to see the loons. They snuck out at night and were on the dock when a man came up, attacked Annie, and kidnapped Laura. It has been twenty-four years since the terrible incident and there has never been a sign of Laura or her remains. Annie has never been able to let go of the guilt for her part in her sister’s disappearance. Annie lost her parents and husband in an accident two years prior leaving her to manage the Tremolo Resort and Marina and raise her daughter, Kylie. Annie is also a law enforcement ranger. Annie is down by the lake when she finds a body floating in it. It turns out to be a missing hiker. Annie is showing a cabin to a friend who wishes to purchase it when they discover two skeletons in a closet. All of this coincides with the return of Jon Dustan who Annie has not seen since they broke up nine years ago. As if Annie does not have enough on her plate, she notices that someone has been searching through her home. They made no attempt to hide their search. While investigating the attack on a camper, Annie is assaulted. Someone who wishes to keep the past hidden wants her to stop investigating. Annie works with Jon to uncover the truth. Edge of Dusk by Colleen Coble is set in the same setting as Colleen Coble’s Rock Harbor series. I thought Edge of Dusk was well-written with realistic, developed characters. I did feel that Taylor Moore’s character needed more fleshing out. It is a suspenseful novel with plenty of action. I thought the author depicted the Upper Peninsula with her descriptive words. She also captured the atmosphere (the spookiness of the woods, the isolation of the camp, the depth of Lake Superior). I like the different storylines playing out in the book. The missing teen girls from nine years ago, hikers being found dead, someone in Annie’s home, and a camper being attacked. I enjoyed following the clues that would allow me to identify the killer (I love solving mysteries). There are twists and unexpected details that keep everything interesting. I like the action and suspenseful moments. There is romance as well as Annie and Jon are flung together. The feelings are still there between them (very evident). Of course, there is the added complication of Annie’s daughter, Kylie. I was a little disappointed with the ending. It was incomplete and we must wait for Dark of Night for answers. There was repetition of details throughout the story (two examples are that it has been nine years since Annie saw Jon and that Annie married Jon’s best friend). There is one incident that I am surprised Annie did not figure out on her own or at least suspect. It seemed so obvious (I cannot say more because I do not want to spoil it for you). It will be interesting to see what happens next. We get to catch up with some of the key characters from the Rock Harbor series (Bree for example). Edge of Dusk is a compelling tale with a missing sister, a second chance romance, a precious puppy, a lethal killer, disturbing happenings, an adored daughter, and a fretful mother.
Annie is a law enforcement ranger in Rock Harbor raising her eight year old daughter, Kylie, alone following the death of her husband. Annie also manages the property around Tremolo Resort & Marina that she inherited. This book begins with mystery and suspense when Annie discovers a body floating in Superior's cold cold waters. Then, other bodies are found in the area. The mystery of Annie's younger sister who was taken when they were children was never solved. It is a cold case and haunts Annie to this day
What's a suspenseful story without some romance? Well...Annie's first true love arrives back into town. This resurrects some of the long ago feelings as well as suspicions on Jon as to the two missing teens from nine years ago. Jon fulfilled his dream to be a successful orthopedic surgeon, but realizes his life truly has no fulfillment.
When it becomes very clear that Annie's life is in danger, Jon is there to protect her and try to help her solve the case.
Kylie is very suspicious of Jon. She is very protective of her daddy's memory, and of her mother.
It was interesting to me to read about celiac disease as we have family members with celiac.
Fast paced story. I love a good suspense story.
I was given an advanced ecopy by the publisher, Thomas Nelson through Netgalley. I was under no obligation to write a positive review.
The debut novel in Colleen Coble's new series started with a bang. Twists and turns galore from start to finish, wonderful characters, and a cliffhanger of an ending (By the way Colleen, I wanted to scream at the abrupt ending and shout, at the top of my lungs, "How could you do this?")
Coble's suspense is always incredible, and this book keeps up with her high standards. I loved everyone of the characters except for the villain. Anne is a strong, independent woman especially as a widow and single parent. But we do see a soft side of her upon occasion. Kylie, Anne's daughter, frustrated me with her attitude towards Jon from the first time she met him. And Jon was torn as he tried to protect Anne, yet see if there was a possibility of rekindling their earlier relationship.
With several threads left hanging, Coble is making us wait with bated thread for book 2 to find what happens with those threads. Book 2 can't some soon enough!!!!
**I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions are mine alone. I was not compensated for this review.
While the mystery part was interesting, I had a difficult time with the reading of this book. I found the writing style to be choppy and amateurish. I also had a difficult time connecting with Annie. I felt she kept blowing hot and cold with Jon. Given that, their reunion felt forced and not at all romantic. The information about celiac disease was interesting but its preponderance made it almost read like a medical pamphlet. This story was not for me.
Another story written by Colleen Coble that doesn't disappoint. I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley. This is not a paid review.
Laura and Annie are sisters. One summer while by the lake late at night Laura gets taken. She was never found.
Fast forward several years and Annie is an adult and mother to Kylie. Annie is a law enforcement ranger and she also runs her families marina and cabin resort. She has searched for years for her missing sister but has found nothing. Since it is summer and the start of the busy season at the marina Annie hires Taylor to help out. Little does Annie know that Taylor has a hidden agenda.
Jon, an old high school friend of Annie's, returns to the area because his father is ill. Jon hires his old friend, Sean, to update and clean up his father's house so he can get it ready to sell. The more Jon is back in his old home though the more he is drawn to stay, especially when his old feelings for Annie resurface. The problem is many in the town remember that some girls went missing when Jon left town years ago and many suspect he had something to do with their disappearance.
The story intertwines the past disappearance of Annie's sister, the disappearance of two past teenage tourists and current mysterious circumstances. A gripping story that had me at the edge of my seat.
As always, Colleen Coble did a wonderful job with Edge of Dusk. This is a thriller, mystery novel which has Christian themes throughout. The characters struggle with real life struggles while they unravel the strange happenings around them. Annie's story is a particularly interesting one, especially when it comes to her and Jon. Their past is one of the most interesting parts of the story. As the novel progresses, you slowly learn more and more about them and their past.
One thing that surprised me was that some of the connections were revealed to you before they were necessarily revealed to the characters. I am used to mysteries drawing out the suspense, making readers keep guessing the connections even though they are on the right track. I didn't think it took away from the story though, simply a different method.
The novel ended with a partial resolution of part of the mystery while at the same time presenting more to make you want to read the next book. A fantastic ending!
I have been a huge fan of Colleen Coble's romantic suspense novels for a very long time. I have completed five of her series and several of her stand-alone novels. Edge of Dusk, her latest release, is my least favorite of her books that I have read thus far. In my opinions the writing is amateurish and not typical of her writing. The story's premise was good,but the dialogue was simple and lacked consistency. The same is true for the character development. I am grateful, however, to have received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own.
I loved this book so much that I finished it in one day! Full of non-stop action and suspense from page one, it was hard to put down. I really enjoyed revisiting Rock Harbor and getting re-acquainted with previous characters. This book ended on a cliffhanger and I can’t wait to see what happens with Annie, Jon, and Kylie in the next book! Highly recommend if you enjoy mystery and suspense!
* I received an e-ARC copy for this book from Netgalley and the publisher. All opinions expressed are my own.
Edge of Dusk by Colleen Coble takes readers back to Rock Harbor for a whole new series. Readers will love seeing some of the original characters pop in, as well as meet new ones. Annie Pederson is a resident of Rock Harbor with a tumultuous past. After losing her husband and parents in a boating accident, Annie struggles to raise her eight-year-old daughter, manage her families’ campsite and work as a Ranger. But all she wants to do is solve the mystery of finding her sister that was kidnapped when they were children. But when her ex-fiancé shows up in town, old feelings ignite. But Jon Dustan brings up way too many memories from the past for the small town to handle.
If it’s mysteries you want, Colleen Coble always brings complicated and intriguing storylines to life. There are plenty of plot twists, secrets, lies, and drama to delight any suspense fan. I love how the author creates complicated twists and turns that keep readers guessing. Just a warning, the ending is definitely a cliffhanger and I felt like things were unresolved. I guess that means I’ll just have to wait for the sequel.
I received an ebook review copy of this book through NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
This is the beginning of another series from Coble. I appreciated the setting of Rock Harbor on the Upper Peninsula of Michigan with the dangerous Lake Superior and the haunting loon calls. That there will be more books featuring these characters was evident by the abrupt ending where several loose ends are not tied up.
The mystery plot has a dual emphasis. Some of the current events precipitate from an unsolved abduction two decades ago. Other investigations revolve around a more recent event where two young women went missing. Oh, and then there is a man found shot as well. It was interesting to see how Coble wove all of it together. The character development was not as complete as possible, probably because this is an introductory book in a series. I did find Annie's daughter quite irritating, however.
There was quite a bit of information in the book about celiac disease and being gluten free. Coble has been gluten free for some time and shares her recommendations for breads and other foods, both in the narrative and in an author's afterward.
I generally liked the novel and will be watching for the next in the series.
I received a complimentary egalley of this book through Partners in Crime Book Tours. My comments are an independent and honest review.
** “Normal life is not ever perfect. What kind of people would we be if God never allowed our faith to be tested? Adversity makes us stronger. … Bad things are never permanent, but neither are happy times. Life changes. It’s supposed to.” **
Colleen Coble delivers another incredible thriller and a return to her beloved Rock Harbor community with “Edge of Dusk.”
Twenty-four years after her younger sister Laura is kidnapped, Annie Pederson is still trying to come to turns with the horrific event that left her nearly dead. But when several mysterious events — and a familiar face, her former fiancé Jon Dunstan, now an orthopedic surgeon — come to her small town, she has to determine if today’s occurrences have anything to do with her missing sister’s case.
Can Annie learn to trust Jon again to help solve several crimes? And will they be able to reclaim feelings for each other once again?
As always, Coble does an incredible job of developing a plot filled with twists and turns, leaving the reader guessing until the very end. She also always seems to create characters that are extremely relatable, with very real flaws.
She also fills “Edge of Dusk” with several good themes, like when God allows our faith to be tested; it’s hard to forgive one’s self; the impact of blame; finding one’s worth; and letting go of anger and grudges.
I’m looking forward to the series’ next installment, which is due out in January, as Coble does leave the book’s ending in a bit of a cliffhanger. Fans of authors like Irene Hannon, Terri Blockstock and Lynette Eason will love this story.
Five stars out of five.
Thomas Nelson provided this complimentary copy through NetGalley for my honest, unbiased review.