Review: "Secrets at Cedar Cabin" by Colleen Coble

When I first started book blogging, Colleen Coble was one author whose books I couldn't get enough of. I haven't read much of her writing recently ... for no real reason other than the fact that I tend to get "stuck" reading my preferred genres, and romantic suspense isn't what I gravitate toward anymore. When Secrets at Cedar Cabin came up for review, nostalgia took over, and I decided to go for it!

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Her mother lied about her identity and her husband wasn’t who she thought he was—can Bailey even trust herself anymore?

Running for her life in the wake of her mother’s murder, Bailey Fleming escapes to the only place she can think of—a remote, dilapidated cabin in Lavender Tides. Intending to finally get to the truth behind the lies of her past, Bailey only finds more questions when bodies are discovered near her cabin hideout along with traces of a dangerous human trafficking ring. In an unlikely partnership with FBI agent Lance Phoenix, Bailey races to understand the mystery surrounding her life and circumstances before the murderer tracks her down.

Meanwhile, Lance is determined to rescue his sister, Ava, who was abducted after running away from home as a teenager. An unexpected lead brings him to the remote cabin, and he wonders if Bailey—with her suspicious past and strange connections to his sister’s case—is really who she claims to be and if she can somehow lead him to Ava.

Filled with Colleen Coble’s custom blend of suspense and romance, Secrets at Cedar Cabin takes us back to the evocative landscape of Washington’s coast where nothing is quite as it seems.

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Secrets at Cedar Cabin is a swiftly-moving suspense novel involving child abduction, contract killings, secret families, and human trafficking. A lot happened in the book, but overall the pacing felt natural.

Bailey was a very interesting character: though her world had crumbled around her, she held onto her spunk and her faith, and I loved watching her care for others, even as she fought for her life. I also found the suspense thread involving Bailey and the man who wanted her dead to be really engaging; I didn't guess his identity, but once it was revealed it made perfect sense.

I did think the romance between Bailey and Lance moved a little quickly—especially since she had just broken up with her "husband." Admitting an attraction and beginning to date is one thing, but the declaration of love came really quickly. (This is a complaint I often have regarding romantic suspense, so it's not just a Colleen Coble thing. The short timeline that often comes along with a suspense novel doesn't lend itself well to a realistic romance unless the hero and heroine already know each other.)

This book is a prime example of why you should read a series in order. I have not read the first two books in this series, and, while I found it easy to keep track of the main story regarding Bailey, the point of view sometimes switches to other characters (like Shauna, Bailey's long-lost sister), and I found that confusing. Also, the sheer number of characters was difficult for me to keep track of. I think that if I'd read the first two books in the series first, I wouldn't have struggled like I did, and I probably would have enjoyed the book as a whole much more. 3-1/2 stars.

Note: Bailey's story begins in Rock Harbor, Michigan. I haven't read Coble's Rock Harbor series (with the exception of Abomination, which I read 10 years ago and remember nothing about), but I would imagine fans of that series will be happy to briefly revisit the setting.

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Buy the book: Amazon | Books-A-Million | Barnes & Noble
Read my reviews of other Coble books.

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Best-selling romantic suspense author Colleen Coble’s novels have won or finaled in awards ranging from the Best Books of Indiana, the ACFW Carol Award, the Romance Writers of America RITA, the Holt Medallion, the Daphne du Maurier, National Readers’ Choice, and the Booksellers Best. She has nearly 4 million books in print and writes romantic mysteries because she loves to see justice prevail. Colleen is CEO of American Christian Fiction Writers. She lives with her husband Dave in Indiana.

Connect with Colleen: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through TLC Book Tours. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. 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."