All is Calm, All is Bright ~ Review

All is Calm, All is Bright
by Colleen Coble

I have read Colleen Coble's books in the past, but somehow I missed the two series that these two Christmas novellas are part of.  Well, guess what I just added to my ever growing To Be Read (TBR) list.  Did I feel at a disadvantage having not read the previous books in these two series?  Quick answer no.  Did these two stories make me want to read the other books? Yes.

Now on to the stories themselves...

All is Calm at Bluebird Ranch is not quite accurate once Lauren Everman's presence there becomes known.  Lauren has decided that Bluebird Ranch is the perfect place to hideaway from those who don't believe her. Lauren is convinced that she witnessed a murder - but she's the one whom the police suspect thanks to her cousin.  

But Brendan Waddell is suspicious of Lauren Everman, he senses that she is hiding something. His main concern is that she is a danger to those who are calling Bluebird Ranch home.  But he is also concerned that Lauren may herself be in danger as is his heart.

In All is Bright Delilah Carter's life is in danger and Sheriff Tom Bourne is determined to keep her safe.  But to do this means bringing Delilah's past into the present.  Could Delilah have an enemy from her past who has tracked her down?

Delilah doesn't have time for all the fuss and bother, she has wedding to pull together at Tidewater Inn and weddings don't wait for troublesome crank phone calls or potential murder attempts.  But planning this wedding may be the last thing she ever does.

You will be kept in suspense trying to guess who has made Delilah enemy number 1.  I know I was misdirected in who the guilty party was.  Which in my opinion is so much better than when one figures it out right at the beginning.

These two novellas were a quick read and were enjoyed in an afternoon.  Would be a perfect early Christmas gift for anyone who gets caught up in the stresses of the season rather than the joys. Nothing better to unwind with than a well written seasonal mystery with a dash of romance thrown in.
I was provided a copy of this book by the Fiction Guild in exchange for my honest opinion.

About the Book:

Return to two of Colleen Coble’s most beloved settings

~ Bluebird Ranch and Hope Beach ~

for holiday romance and mystery!

All Is Calm

It’s going to be an unexpectedly romantic Christmas at Bluebird Ranch.

Brendan Waddell has always considered Bluebird Ranch a little piece of heaven: an idyllic ranch that pairs abused children with abused horses, run by one of his Marine buddies. Now, it seems just the place to spend Christmas recovering from an on-the-job injury.

Lauren Everman first came to the ranch as a foster kid, but now knows it’s the perfect hideout. As the witness to a murder, Lauren needs somewhere to lie low. Her beauty immediately catches Brendan’s attention—but so does her secretive behavior. This Special Ops Intel man knows a woman on the run when he sees one. Can he trust her, or is she putting the ranch at risk? One thing is certain: he’s going to do everything he can to keep her safe so he can see what magic Christmas brings.

All Is Bright

A romantic Christmas wedding at Tidewater Inn gives Delilah’s unique gifts a chance to shine. But will her light be snuffed out before the bride and groom say “I do”?

As manager of the Tidewater Inn, Delilah Carter has been planning a spectacular Christmas wedding for her friend, Elin Summerall. But when Delilah’s car is forced off the road and into the ocean, she finally has to admit that the strange phone calls she’s been receiving lately may be more than just pranks.

Sheriff Tom Bourne has always had a soft spot for Delilah, and he’s determined to protect her. He hopes to win her heart by giving her the surprise gift of a lifetime . . . but first he has to make sure nothing happens to her before Christmas Day.

It’s the season of miracles. But will both Elin and Delilah get the ones they need this holiday season?

Excerpt:

She scrambled out of bed and stepped to the door. Was that breathing on the other side? Her heart thumped hard in her chest. Someone was there, she just knew it. She glanced around for a weapon. Once upon a time, she'd had a gun—until she pawned it. Now all she had were her cuticle scissors, but she was strong. If she jabbed the point into someone, it might be enough to allow her to get away.

She held up the scissors and flung open the door.