Twilight at Blueberry Barrens

Love and murder pair up effectively in the second Sunset Cove page-turner (following Mermaid Moon). Kate Mason’s blueberry barrens have withered, so offering the cottage on her coastal Maine property to the intriguing Drake Newham and his two nieces offers an attractive alternative source of income for the summer. Playing nanny to the girls helps distract Kate from the trauma of having come across the bodies of Drake’s brother and sister-in-law, the girls’ parents, after an apparent murder-suicide. But Drake’s investigation into those suspicious deaths, along with the puzzling break-ins on her property—is it her escaped convict uncle or an unknown stalker?—keep Kate, and the reader, on edge. The mutual attraction between Kate and Drake is frustrated time and again by the dangers that keep cropping up. The tension, both suspenseful and romantic, is gripping, reflecting Coble’s prowess with the genre. Adding depth and contour to the drama are subtler subplots, most notably Kate’s long struggle with self-worth, complicated by her recent health issues. Her sister, Claire, proves instrumental to Kate’s emotional and spiritual healing. Fans of the series will love seeing Claire and her fiancé, Luke, play strong supporting roles in this installment. (Sept.)