Alaska Twilight by Colleen Coble
Written: Nov 22 '05
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Product Rating:
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Pros: authentic feel, entertaining plot, ending that will blindside you
Cons: nothing, zilch, nada
The Bottom Line: If you enjoy good books, you won't want to miss this one. It'll keep you guessing, and you'll be surprised to see where it takes you.
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| CindyJean's Full Review: Alaska Twilight Books |
Let Down? Not Yet!
Have you ever found an author whose books you love? Every book seems to be better than the ones before, every character more fresh and original than those who’ve come before?
When that happens to me, I can’t help but wonder when the bottom will fall out of the author’s imagination and the stories will start going down hill. At the very least, I’ve come to expect a skunk amongst the roses every now and again.
I’ve been reading Colleen Coble’s novels faithfully since I first heard of her just over a year ago. I had to read some of her already established works to get a feel for her, and everything I read I loved. I’m also on her publisher’s advanced copy reviewer list, so I get her new stuff before it’s even out. I’ve now read all of her books published through WestBow Press, and many of her ‘Heartsongs Presents’ mass market paperbacks too!
Every time I get one of Colleen Coble’s books in the mail I can’t help but wonder if this is going to be “the one,” the first one I don’t enjoy. When I saw “Alaska Twilight,” which wasn’t really a part of any series (I like serial novels), I thought it might well be. Boy, was I ever WRONG!
Alaska Twilight by Colleen Coble
Brief Synopsis
Haley Mitchell hasn’t been back to Alaska for about 20 years, since she was eight years old and caused the death of her sister Chloe–her parents’ “golden child.” Her parents, in their hearts, could not forgive her. After their death Chloe decides she must face her past and accepts a photographing job that will take her to Alaska for a summer.
While in Alaska Haley finds out that there might have been something more to her parents death than an accident, and those ‘accidents’ are spreading. Could it all be connected?
The first thing I noticed about “Alaska Twilight” was how well Colleen Coble captured the culture of Alaska. Most of you are probably thinking–“What culture? Isn’t it just like the rest of America?” I spent only six months in Alaska, but I have family who has lived there for over ten years and let me tell you that being in Alaska is like being in a whole different world.
It was the small things I noticed most. Colleen Coble had characters living in cabins, largely without power (using generators). That is common up there. Actually, the cabins she had here characters in where nicer than some of the homes I saw up there–not in the cities but out in rural areas. The other thing I noticed was Ms. Coble’s reference to characters living ‘outside.’ That’s how many Alaskans refer to the Lower 48.
The characters created in “Alaska Twilight” were vivid and realistic, they were also not your typical romance novel heroes. Haley wasn’t the physically perfect saccharine sweet type you usually see, she was disabled (she lost a leg and wore a prosthesis) and had some major issues relating to her childhood and upbringing.
Some of the peripheral characters in “Alaska Twilight” were amazingly quirky, but very real at the same time–including a woman who had some serious issues relating to the death of her twin sister. I can imagine how she would spiral down into the depths of depression and the odd way in which she acted out was in some ways understandable.
Colleen Coble is one of the few authors that I’ve read who keeps me guessing through the whole book. I have never, ever been able to figure out the villain in her story before she chooses to reveal him. In “Alaska Twilight” I didn’t even have an inkling of who it might be. When I read her books I always, from the beginning of the story, try to figure out ‘whodunit’ and take note of even the smallest characters. It didn’t help, and once again I was blind sided with a phenomenal ending.
One cute twist in “Alaska Twilight” was the cameo appearance of the character of Savannah, the heroine of a series by fellow WestBow Press author Denise Hildreth. Savannah from Savannah, who is quite a character.
Conclusion
I love Colleen Coble’s novels, you can easily see that. She is one of the best authors I’ve come across in any genre, and the fact that she writes Christian fiction so much sweeter.
“Alaska Twilight” isn’t the type of book that will be a put off to those who aren’t Christians. It’s not a ‘bash you over the head, shove the Bible down your throat’ type of thing–I can’t stand books like that. There is a message of faith though, and you may want to be aware of that.
I could not recommend a book more highly than I recommend “Alaska Twilight,” it’s terrific. Read it, just as soon as you can get your hands on it. It’s due out for publication as part of the Women of Faith line of books from WestBow Press in March of 2006.
Recommended:
Yes
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CindyJean
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