TEST
“Do you want to know a secret?” has to be one of the scariest questions in the world. There is something dangerous about secrets, something frightening, and that fact can lend a lot of interest to a novel if handled correctly.
On Shadow Beach is all about secrets. Those that can get you killed, those that can break your heart and those that can set you free. It begins simply enough with Lauren Jamison returning home to deal with her father’s Alzheimer’s. She didn’t want to come back to the place where her 15 year old sister had been murdered and she certainly didn’t want to deal with the father who had shown no interest in his remaining family for the last thirteen years. She does both anyway and we learn something about Lauren’s character right away; she has a strong sense of loyalty and responsibility. That she is no whining martyr about it makes this a good thing.
It is clear that her father really needs that help once she walks in the door. He has left the tea kettle on the stove and taken off on his boat to parts unknown. Lauren has to chase him down with the help of fisherman Shane Murray, the man most people suspected of killing Lauren’s sister Rachel. Talk about awkward! That he is the man she just happened to be in love with at the time makes the whole situation even more sticky for them. The relationship didn’t withstand the murder investigation, and the last thing either wants is to look back at a time that was so painful. Shane is hoping that once he gets Lauren and her dad back to where they belong, he won’t run into her again. Lauren is hoping for the same thing. Shane has only recently returned and has already given leaving a good, hard look. Lauren plans to stay only long enough to pack her dad up and bring him back to San Francisco with her. It should be easy to avoid each other since they won’t be in town long.
But both become entangled in difficult family situations. It is hard to listen to the reasons Lauren’s dad doesn’t want her to move him and not be touched. Shane too has an aging father who wants him around, and he has other family members in crisis who need his help. Neither can leave easily, but it is clear that their presence in town pulls the past into the present and brings the community to a boiling point.
Ratcheting up the heat is producer Mark Devlin, who wants to make a movie about Rachel’s murder, forcing everyone to deal with issues they would just as soon put behind them. Rachel’s murder had never been solved and it quickly becomes apparent that he plans to lay the blame at someone’s door – even if he can’t find the evidence to prove his convictions.
I liked bad boy Shane and good girl Lauren together. Both had matured since their high school days but it was clear to see that they had only become more attractive to each other. They both showed a lot of strength in the story; Shane dealt with the accusations being hurled at him with amazing calm and grace while Lauren dealt with each new issue that came her way in the same manner. I also liked the reasons they had for struggling with the past. It made sense that Lauren wouldn’t immediately exonerate him for the murder and it also made sense that Shane wanted to keep just what he was doing that night a secret. The small town dramas surrounding them and the ensemble case of characters all fit into their story very nicely. I didn’t find myself struggling to place extras who didn’t belong.
Although this is a second book, it is definitely a stand alone. I had not read the first book and that did not present a problem for me at all. While I am sure I would have had a richer background on some characters if I had read Suddenly One Summer, the fact that Lauren hadn’t been there during that book gave a good reason for the author to dump some quick back story in. I certainly didn’t feel like I was missing information or depth.
I enjoyed the type of mystery this was. There are no serial killers or psychotics here, just lots of small town people wanting to keep their private lives private. It was interesting to see how the theme of secrets played throughout the entire book.
There is a mild paranormal factor to the story. The town is known for its angels and miracles. One of Shane’s sisters in particular is waiting for an angel miracle to resolve a significant issue in her life. Past lives are also mentioned briefly. If you are not a fan of the paranormal, don’t worry. The themes aren’t strong enough to affect the story.
There was nothing really new here but the familiar ground was handled so well that it made for an easy, pleasant read.
Grade: B
Book Type: Romantic Suspense
Sensuality: Warm
Review Date: 17/04/10
Publication Date: 2010
I've been an avid reader since 2nd grade and discovered romance when my cousin lent me Lord of La Pampa by Kay Thorpe in 7th grade. I currently read approximately 150 books a year, comprised of a mix of Young Adult, romance, mystery, women's fiction, and science fiction/fantasy.
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Recent Comments …
Yep
This sounds delightful! I’m grabbing it, thanks
excellent book: interesting, funny dialogs, deep understanding of each character, interesting secondary characters, and also sexy.
I don’t think anyone expects you to post UK prices – it’s just a shame that such a great sale…
I’m sorry about that. We don’t have any way to post British prices as an American based site.
I have several of her books on my TBR and after reading this am moving them up the pile.