Leaving Lavender Tides Read online

  ACCLAIM FOR COLLEEN COBLE

  “Coble . . . weaves a suspense-filled romance set during the Revolutionary War. Coble’s fine historical novel introduces a strong heroine—both in faith and character—that will appeal deeply to readers.”

  —PUBLISHERS WEEKLY ON FREEDOM’S LIGHT

  “This follow-up to The View from Rainshadow Bay features delightful characters and an evocative, atmospheric setting. Ideal for fans of romantic suspense and authors Dani Pettrey, Dee Henderson, and Brandilyn Collins.”

  —LIBRARY JOURNAL FOR THE HOUSE AT SALTWATER POINT

  “Coble (Twilight at Blueberry Barrens) keeps the tension tight and the action moving in this gripping tale, the first in her Lavender Tides series set in the Pacific Northwest.”

  —PUBLISHERS WEEKLY ON THE VIEW FROM RAINSHADOW BAY

  “The View from Rainshadow Bay, opens with a heart-pounding, run-for-your-life chase. This book will stay with you for a long time, long after you flip to the last page.”

  —RT BOOK REVIEWS, 4 STARS

  “Set on Washington State’s Olympic Peninsula, this first volume of Coble’s new suspense series is a tensely plotted and harrowing tale of murder, corporate greed, and family secrets. Devotees of Dani Pettrey, Brenda Novak, and Allison Brennan will find a new favorite here.”

  —LIBRARY JOURNAL ON THE VIEW FROM RAINSHADOW BAY

  “Filled with the suspense for which Coble is known, the novel is rich in detail with a healthy dose of romance, allowing readers to bask in the beauty of Washington state’s lavender fields, lush forests, and jagged coastline.”

  —BOOKPAGE ON THE VIEW FROM RAINSHADOW BAY

  “Prepare to stay up all night with Colleen Coble. Coble’s beautiful, emotional prose coupled with her keen sense of pacing, escalating danger, and very real characters place her firmly at the top of the suspense genre. I could not put this book down.”

  —ALLISON BRENNAN, NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF SHATTERED ON THE VIEW FROM RAINSHADOW BAY

  “I loved returning to Rock Harbor and you will too. Beneath Copper Falls is Colleen at her best!”

  —DANI PETTREY, BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF THE ALASKAN COURAGE AND CHESAPEAKE VALOR SERIES

  “Return to Rock Harbor for Colleen Coble’s best story to date. Beneath Copper Falls is a twisting, turning thrill ride from page one that drops you headfirst into danger that will leave you breathless, sleep deprived, and eager for more! I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough!”

  —LYNETTE EASON, AWARD-WINNING, BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF THE ELITE GUARDIANS SERIES

  “The tension, both suspenseful and romantic, is gripping, reflecting Coble’s prowess with the genre.”

  —PUBLISHERS WEEKLY, STARRED REVIEW FOR TWILIGHT AT BLUEBERRY BARRENS

  “Incredible storytelling and intricately drawn characters. You won’t want to miss Twilight at Blueberry Barrens!”

  —BRENDA NOVAK, NEW YORK TIMES AND USA TODAY BESTSELLING AUTHOR

  “Coble has a gift for making a setting come to life. After reading Twilight at Blueberry Barrens, I feel like I’ve lived in Maine all my life. This plot kept me guessing until the end, and her characters seem like my friends. I don’t want to let them go!”

  —TERRI BLACKSTOCK, USA TODAY BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF IF I RUN

  “I’m a long-time fan of Colleen Coble, and Twilight at Blueberry Barrens is the perfect example of why. Coble delivers riveting suspense, delicious romance, and carefully crafted characters, all with the deft hand of a veteran writer. If you love romantic suspense, pick this one up. You won’t be disappointed!”

  —DENISE HUNTER, AUTHOR OF THE GOODBYE BRIDE

  “Colleen Coble, the queen of Christian romantic mysteries, is back with her best book yet. Filled with familiar characters, plot twists, and a confusion of antagonists, I couldn’t keep the pages of this novel set in Maine turning fast enough. I reconnected with characters I love while taking a journey filled with murder, suspense, and the prospect of love. This truly is her best book to date, and perfect for readers who adore a page-turner laced with romance.”

  —CARA PUTMAN, AWARD-WINNING AUTHOR OF SHADOWED BY GRACE AND WHERE TREETOPS GLISTEN, ON TWILIGHT AT BLUEBERRY BARRENS

  “Gripping! Colleen Coble has again written a page-turning romantic suspense with Twilight at Blueberry Barrens! Not only did she keep me up nights racing through the pages to see what would happen next, I genuinely cared for her characters. Colleen sets the bar high for romantic suspense!”

  —CARRIE STUART PARKS, AUTHOR OF A CRY FROM THE DUST AND WHEN DEATH DRAWS NEAR

  “Colleen Coble thrills readers again with her newest novel, an addictive suspense trenched in family, betrayal, and . . . murder.”

  —DIANN MILLS, AUTHOR OF DEADLY ENCOUNTER, ON TWILIGHT AT BLUEBERRY BARRENS

  “Colleen’s Twilight at Blueberry Barrens is filled with a bevy of twists and surprises, a wonderful romance, and the warmth of family love. I couldn’t have asked for more. This author has always been a five-star novelist, but I think it’s time to up the ante with this book. It’s on my keeping shelf!”

  —HANNAH ALEXANDER, AUTHOR OF THE HALLOWED HALLS SERIES

  “Second chances, old flames, and startling new revelations combine to form a story filled with faith, trial, forgiveness, and redemption. Crack the cover and step in, but beware—Mermaid Moon is harboring secrets that will keep you guessing.”

  —LISA WINGATE, NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF BEFORE WE WERE YOURS, ON MERMAID MOON

  “I burned through The Inn at Ocean’s Edge in one sitting. An intricate plot by a master storyteller. Colleen Coble has done it again with this gripping opening to a new series. I can’t wait to spend more time at Sunset Cove.”

  —HEATHER BURCH, BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF ONE LAVENDER RIBBON

  “Coble doesn’t disappoint with her custom blend of suspense and romance.”

  —PUBLISHERS WEEKLY ON THE INN AT OCEAN’S EDGE

  “Veteran author Coble has penned another winner. Filled with mystery and romance that are unpredictable until the last page, this novel will grip readers long past when they should put their books down. Recommended to readers of contemporary mysteries.”

  —CBA RETAILERS + RESOURCES REVIEW OF THE INN AT OCEAN’S EDGE

  “Coble truly shines when she’s penning a mystery, and this tale will really keep the reader guessing . . . Mystery lovers will definitely want to put this book on their purchase list.”

  —RT BOOK REVIEWS ON THE INN AT OCEAN’S EDGE

  “Coble’s atmospheric and suspenseful series launch should appeal to fans of Tracie Peterson and other authors of Christian romantic suspense.”

  —LIBRARY JOURNAL REVIEW OF TIDEWATER INN

  “Romantically tense, but with just the right touch of danger, this cowboy love story is surprisingly clever—and pleasingly sweet.”

  —USATODAY.COM REVIEW OF BLUE MOON PROMISE

  “[An] outstanding, completely engaging tale that will have you on the edge of your seat . . . A must-have for all fans of romantic suspense!”

  —THEROMANCEREADERSCONNECTION.COM REVIEW OF ANATHEMA

  “Colleen Coble lays an intricate trail in Without a Trace and draws the reader on like a hound with a scent.”

  —RT BOOK REVIEWS, 4½ STARS

  “Coble’s historical series just keeps getting better with each entry.”

  —LIBRARY JOURNAL STARRED REVIEW OF THE LIGHTKEEPER’S BALL

  “Don’t ever mistake [Coble’s] for the fluffy romances with a little bit of suspense. She writes solid suspense, and she ties it all together beautifully with a wonderful message.”

  —LIFEINREVIEWBLOG.COM REVIEW OF LONESTAR ANGEL

  “Colleen is a master storyteller.”

  —KAR
EN KINGSBURY, BESTSELLING AUTHOR Of UNLOCKED AND LEARNING

  ALSO BY COLLEEN COBLE

  LAVENDER TIDES NOVELS

  The View from Rainshadow Bay

  The House at Saltwater Point

  Secrets at Cedar Cabin

  (available January 2019)

  ROCK HARBOR NOVELS

  Without a Trace

  Beyond a Doubt

  Into the Deep

  Cry in the Night

  Silent Night: A Rock Harbor

  Christmas Novella (e-book only)

  Beneath Copper Falls

  Haven of Swans (formerly titled Abomination)

  YA/MIDDLE GRADE ROCK HARBOR BOOKS

  Rock Harbor Search and Rescue

  Rock Harbor Lost and Found

  CHILDREN’S ROCK HARBOR BOOK

  The Blessings Jar

  SUNSET COVE NOVELS

  The Inn at Ocean’s Edge

  Mermaid Moon

  Twilight at Blueberry Barrens

  HOPE BEACH NOVELS

  Tidewater Inn

  Rosemary Cottage

  Seagrass Pier

  All Is Bright: A Hope Beach Christmas Novella (e-book only)

  UNDER TEXAS STARS NOVELS

  Blue Moon Promise

  Safe in His Arms

  Bluebonnet Bride Novella

  (e-book only)

  THE ALOHA REEF NOVELS

  Distant Echoes

  Black Sands

  Dangerous Depths

  Midnight Sea

  Holy Night: An Aloha Reef

  Christmas Novella (e-book only)

  THE MERCY FALLS SERIES

  The Lightkeeper’s Daughter

  The Lightkeeper’s Bride

  The Lightkeeper’s Ball

  JOURNEY OF THE HEART SERIES

  A Heart’s Disguise

  A Heart’s Obsession

  A Heart’s Danger

  A Heart’s Betrayal

  A Heart’s Promise

  A Heart’s Home

  LONESTAR NOVELS

  Lonestar Sanctuary

  Lonestar Secrets

  Lonestar Homecoming

  Lonestar Angel

  All Is Calm: A Lonestar Christmas Novella (e-book only)

  Alaska Twilight

  Fire Dancer

  Where Shadows Meet (formerly titled Anathema)

  Butterfly Palace

  Freedom’s Light

  Leaving Lavender Tides

  © 2018 by Colleen Coble

  All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, scanning, or other—except for brief quotations in critical reviews or articles, without the prior written permission of the publisher.

  Published in Nashville, Tennessee, by Thomas Nelson. Thomas Nelson is a registered trademark of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc.

  Thomas Nelson titles may be purchased in bulk for educational, business, fund-raising, or sales promotional use. For information, please email [email protected].

  Publisher’s Note: This novel is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. All characters are fictional, and any similarity to people living or dead is purely coincidental.

  Epub Edition October 2018 9780785222866

  ISBN: 978-1-4041-0676-5 (hardcover)

  ISBN: 978-0-7852-2289-7 (TP)

  Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

  CIP data is available upon request.

  Printed in the United States of America

  18 19 20 21 LSC 5 4 3 2 1

  For my beloved husband, Dave.

  Every hero in my books is inspired by you in some way.

  Contents

  Acclaim for Colleen Coble

  Also by Colleen Coble

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Discussion Questions

  Acknowledgments

  About the Author

  Chapter 1

  The first time he saw her, he stopped and stared with his mouth open, absorbing the aroma of the flower lei around his neck. Hawaiian music floated through the hotel lobby like a movie track, and his vision narrowed until all he saw was her beautiful face framed by her black hair. Even from this distance he could see the vivid green of her eyes and the planes of her high cheekbones. He could almost feel the soft texture of her creamy skin and smell the scent of her, something sweet and wonderful for sure.

  She was a vision from another world, and he wasn’t sure she was real until she turned and looked at him. It was as if she could see straight into his soul, down to everything that made him who he was, and she loved every speck. They’d had some good times together, and he’d thought he lost her. This was his second chance to do it right, to hold her close and never let her go.

  A porter came for her luggage, and she broke her gaze with him. With her luggage gone she glanced around with a smile that reached down and seized his heart. The sweet curve of her neck drew his attention when she tilted her head back to look at the ornate ceiling in the lobby. He’d kissed that neck many times, and he thought never to see it again, yet here she was. Tourists and hotel staff flowed past him as he stood rooted to the spot.

  The love on her face took his breath away. A smile split his face and he opened his arms. He took one step toward her, then realized her smile wasn’t directed at him but at another man. She didn’t see him at all.

  His smile fading, he stood staring after her as she walked away. He wasn’t aware he’d crumpled the rose in his hand until blood dripped onto the floor from where a thorn had pierced his skin.

  She’d see him—soon. She would remember the love they’d shared and would share again.

  The Honolulu sunshine warmed Shauna Bannister’s skin as she stood at the balcony railing beside her new husband and waved at the crowd on the pier. A few clouds drifted lazily overhead in a perfect blue bowl of sky. The sweet aroma of the lei around her neck wafted to her nose and added to her sense of well-being.

  Back home in Lavender Tides, Washington, the leaves would mostly have changed, and the October temperatures would be in the fifties instead of this wonderful eighties weather.

  Zach’s warm lips nuzzled her neck. “I have you all to myself for the next eight days.”

  A delicious shiver went up her spine, and she leaned against Zach with a contented sigh. “It sounds wonderful. I’ve always wanted to see Hawaii.” She turned and peeked into the spacious suite. “This must have cost you the earth.”

  She still couldn’t believe this wonderful man was all hers. His dark good looks attracted plenty of appreciative female glances wherever they went, but his blue eyes watched only her. Thoughtful, strong, brave, and committed were words that all described Zach Bannister, but his most admirable trait was his steadfastness. How he’d gotten to be thirty-three without being snagged by another woman was a mystery.

  He took her hand and brought it to his lips. “The cost wasn’t bad. One of the cruise line’s bigwigs is one of my longtime customers. He gave me a great price.”

  She followed him into the penthouse suite and marveled again at the huge bed topped with crisp white linens accented with a pop of aqua. Spacious windows and sliding doors let the Hawaiian sunshine stream into the space and revealed an impossibly blue ocean. It was far from the cramped cabin she’d expected.

  “As beautiful as this is, I want to see the rest of the ship. Let’s go get some coffee.”

  “My thoughts too.” He held open the door for her, and they stepped out into the hall and found their way to th
e deck with the coffee bar.

  She looked around as he ordered them both black coffees. The casino machines faded to a dull roar as she noticed two older men staring at them from the casino next door. One was almost as round as he was tall with a balding head that gleamed in the overhead light. He was probably in his sixties. The other one had an aging surfer look with tousled brown hair streaked with blond like he might have worn it in the sixties. His tailored khaki slacks and crisp white shirt gave off an expensive vibe, and she guessed him to be in his midsixties as well. Both men were smiling as if they knew them.

  The portly gentleman gave a half smile and waved as if he expected her to recognize him. When he approached her with the other guy behind him, she clutched Zach’s arm. “Do you know these guys?” she whispered.

  Zach turned around and a smile lifted his lips. “Otis, I haven’t seen you in ages!” The two men shook hands, and Otis clapped Zach on the shoulder as he pumped his arm.

  Otis drew the other man forward. “This is Raul Jackman. We met here in Honolulu a few days ago. Raul retired a few months ago after an impressive career in Silicon Valley. He’s forgotten more about computers than I’ve ever learned.”

  Zach shook his hand. “Good to meet you, Raul. Zach Bannister. Otis was my favorite professor in college.”

  The tension drained from Shauna’s neck and shoulders, and she stepped toward the men with her hand extended. “I’m Shauna, Zach’s wife.”

  The aging-surfer guy reached for her hand first. “Raul Jackman.” His smile widened. “Good to meet you, Shannon.”

  “Shauna.”

  His smile faltered. “Sorry, I misheard.”

  Shauna felt an instant pull toward the man. “It’s nice to meet you.” She shook Otis’s hand too.

  His blue eyes gleamed with appreciation as he took her hand. “You’re a cute little thing, aren’t you?”

  She hated to be reminded of how short and petite she was. Shauna let him keep her hand until the handshake felt a little too personal, then pulled away with an apologetic smile. She didn’t know him well enough yet for this kind of effusiveness.

  “On vacation?” Otis asked.

  “We’re on our honeymoon,” Zach said. “What are you guys doing here?”