Shattered Haven

Cedar Key #1

by Carol J. Post

No Safe Harbor

Allison Winchester's old Victorian house contains a valuable secret code, one that someone is dead set on uncovering. After her house is ransacked and her life is threatened, she has no choice but to accept the protection of injured ex-cop Blake Townsend. Allison never thought she'd trust a man with secrets again—and Blake is as much a mystery as the man who is stalking her. The lawman vows to shield her from the dangerous criminal. But can Blake and Allison decipher the mysterious code before their island safe haven becomes their ultimate resting place?

Genres: Love Inspired, Harlequin, Mystery, Romance, Romantic Suspense, Love Inspired Suspense

224 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 2015

About the author

From medical secretary to court reporter to property manager to owner of a special events decorating company, my resume reads as if I don’t know what I want to be when I grow up. But one thing that has remained constant through the years is my love for writing. I currently pen fun and fast-paced inspirational romance and romantic suspense stories. My books have won several awards and been nominated for two RITA® awards and an RT Reviewers’ Choice Best Book Award.

After spending most of my life in Florida, a few years ago, I moved to the mountains of North Carolina, where I write my stories outside on the back deck in the summertime and inside in front of the fireplace in the wintertime. When I’m not writing or doing writerly things, I enjoy hiking, camping, kayaking—almost anything outdoors. My two grown daughters and grandkids live too far away for my liking, so I now pour all that nurturing into taking care of two sassy black cats.

Reviews

[PamG · Rating 3 out of 5]

Shattered Haven by Carol J. Post is the first book in the Cedar Key series. This inspirational romantic suspense novel is a fast read that depicts how past adverse reactions by people can affect relationships months or even years later. Allison Winchester relocates to Florida where she has purchased an old Victorian house and runs a charter boat business. Add in a secret code, a villain that will stop at nothing to obtain it, secrets, and injured ex-cop Blake Townsend. You get a suspenseful and inspiring story of loss, love, suspense, and danger.

Allison and Blake are likeable characters with enough flaws to keep them relatable. Physical descriptions are supplemented with shortcomings including trust issues by both main characters. Their backstories gradually come alive as they are revealed. Through the characters’ dialogue, readers learn what they are willing to say and what they keep private. This creates a sense of their private worlds and the trust issues that they are struggling to overcome.

The writing flows well and the world-building is great. The author does a great job of creating suspense. However, the antagonist was a little too predictable. Overall, the story is entertaining with an interesting mystery, a wonderful setting, and dynamic characters.

This is my honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way. Publication date was January 6, 2015.

[Patrizia · Rating 4 out of 5]

La storia d'amore non è male, ma ho capito subito chi fosse il cattivo...

[Lynn Spencer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m an aficionado of creepy house stories, so that was the very first thing I thought of when I saw “Location Location Location” as a prompt. I tried a couple of gothics that didn’t quite do it for me, and then as I combed through my books, I saw Shattered Haven. The mention of a house containing a code inside caught my eye. Perhaps I had a good old house story after all.

After the double whammy of being widowed young and learning that her husband had a criminal history she never knew, Allison Winchester set out for Cedar Key, Florida. She had happy memories of an old family house and she was able to recover the battered old property at a tax sale. Cedar Key held happy childhood memories for her and it seemed like a good place to start over.

I liked that Allison seemed to have more backbone than the average put-upon heroine. She’s been through something terrible, but she also had the courage to sail her boat down the East Coast to Florida and set up shop as a charter captain. Romance has gotten broader and more diverse over the years, but that still isn’t the usual romance heroine occupation.

In keeping with her life as a boat captain, Allison is fairly down to earth and no-frills, and I liked seeing how she had created a life that seemed to suit who she is. Throughout the story, Allison goes through some harrowing adventures, but she also seems to be a person learning how to trust others again and growing ever more comfortable in her own skin. I liked that about her.

This is a partial review. You can find the complete text at All About Romance: https://allaboutromance.com/tbr-chall...

[Kav · Rating 5 out of 5]

A riveting suspense chalk full of intrigue and romance. This is the kind of armchair sleuth read I love. And trying to crack the secret code brought me back to my Trixie Belden days (Trixie Belden and the Mysterious Code). LOL. In fact I was feeling oh so smugly superior because I thought I'd cracked the code way before Allison and Blake. Uh...wrong!!!!! Left with egg on my face when Allison finally figures it out. Heart-stopping danger raised the gooseflesh on my arms more than a time or two as the villain grows more desperate...and reckless. Phew! Another Love Inspired Suspense novel you'll want to read in one sitting.

[John Hanscom · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actually, more like 3 1/2. It is a MUCH better story than most, and, at the same time, it is still SOS - same old stuff - big, hunky man saves [not-quite-as-delicate-as-some] woman. In addition, the male protagonist was more into feeling sorry for himself than most. Finally, there was one character who's role was pretty obvious, though I was open to the alternative. It did not come. At least the author did not add a hurricane. I would have dropped the rating to 3 stars if she had used such a hackneyed plot twist for a book set in FL.

[Tania · Rating 4 out of 5]

Allison lives the quiet life of a charter captain on Cedar Key. Having relocated from Rhode Island, she wants nothing more than to live in peace and go about her business. However, her life is soon in turmoil. First she faces an intruder, who gets away, and then she meets the new man in town, Blake, and his dog Brinks. When Allison realizes this is more than a random break-in, she starts investigating it and brings her evidence to the police. But Cedar Key's small police force is ill-equipped to handle Allison's new problem. Ex-cop Blake, on the other hand, has nothing but time. As he and Allison work to decipher the clues she's discovered, the danger gets ever closer to taking its toll on them both. In the midst of it all, Allison relies on her faith to get her through, and she shows Blake the comfort God can bring to them both. It will take both skill and prayer to end the reign of terror the mystery burglar has on Allison's life.

Set on an island off the coast of Florida, Shattered Haven addresses faith, trust, and love in this mystery-romance novel. Post's characters are loveable even as they are being stubborn and overly cautious. Brinks is awesome, and possibly my favorite character in the book, even without dialog, but I was invested in the growing relationship between Allison and Blake as well. The build up of suspense stays on an even keel and the boating scenes are a good tension-breaker between the couple's dance with danger. The details of the setting and Allison's livelihood only add to the story.

[Aera · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't like romances. At all. But I found this in the free books bin at my local library & the blurb said it's a romance/suspense/mystery...so I thought I'd give it a go. It was a bit slow going at first and I found myself getting bored but then the mystery/suspense part started to kick in & my interest picked up. The romance was a bit corny and trite but at least it didn't have me rolling the eyes. The suspense was a bit lame & tiring but the mystery was intriguing and for that reason alone, the book was just alright. I've read worse. If this was a straight up romance, it would've been unbearable but the mystery made up for it.

[Judine Brey · Rating 5 out of 5]

While it is still a cheesy Christian romance, it's one of my favorites of that particular genre. Allison is a great heroine, and Blake's police experience made sense in how he handled Allison's safety. I like that Blake doubts himself due to his injuries sustained in the line of duty and how Allison works to reassure him about them. I enjoyed the minor characters, especially Hunter. Brinks the Doberman was a lovely addition - floppy right ear and all.

[Brenda C. McAllister · Rating 5 out of 5]

AMAZING!!!!!!

This is an amazing book. It contains mystery, intrique, danger, a dog, and faith in God. And because of her faith that she lived instead of just talking about it, Allison shows Blake what was missing in his life.

[Teresa Pollock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Suspense and healing hearta

Hidden treasure, clues found in the Newell post in an old Victorian house, sail boats, speed boats and dog named Blinks. Great read. Thank you Carol Post.
Buy it, rent it, read it. You will love it.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

another really great read from Post...quick read for a lazy day...will be looking for more of her books!

[Sandra Webb · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am really loving this series! On to the next book!

[Barbara · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not a bad story but way, way too much church and God talk. Can't recommend this to anyone.

[Nancy Lathrop · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a suspense filled with romance and intrigue

[Sheila · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a a good book. I liked the setting. The characters were good.

[Sheri Jesse · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick easy enjoyable read with a very good mystery.

[Ashley Gardner · Rating 4 out of 5]

a lovely read

I enjoyed the love story threaded with the thriller of who was after what. Nicely done and easy to read.

[Roxann · Rating 3 out of 5]

I always take a second look at a book when I'm rating it lower than most readers. Maybe it's because I have never really liked romance novels for many years. I don't mind a little romance in books, but I just always have a problem when two people meet and fall in love right away. Then within a day or two they are talking marriage, life long commitment, etc. This book is about Allison who fixed up an old Victorian house. After living there for awhile someone starts breaking in. She later finds a piece of paper with numbers and letters on it and gives it to the police. The guy breaking in doesn't care and demands she gets it for him. An ex-cop in visiting the island, Blake, and he gets involved after the police stop him thinking he is the guy that broke into the house for the first time. The real guy knows whatever Allison is doing or saying. Blake seems to become her protector and he can't figure out either how the guy knows what they are doing. Eventually she figures out the code and people are hurt/killed and the book ends. Just seems to 'far out' for me.

[Joni · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book for free on the Goodreads giveaway in exchange for an honest review. Shattered Haven is a faith based suspense romance. Allison is escaping her old life starting new fixing up an old Victorian house that had been in her family. Blake and ex-cop is kind of drifting around trying to figure out what to do with his life since an injury ended his career. Blake had been a very active person before the accident and afterwards his very active girlfriend moved on. Allison is looking for less adventure but is seems to keep finding her. A lot of action and suspense which kept it interesting and kept me wanting to pick the book back up.

[Bonnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shattered Haven by Carol J. Post is a good Suspense book. Allison Winchester bought back an old Victorian house that was in her family for years, when she moved back to town. Years ago someone hid something in the house. Someone is trying to find it. Allison doesn't know what it is. Someone broke into her house looking for it. Blake Townsend is visiting the area. He lives on his boat. He's an ex-cop who has a bad leg and a replaced knee. He thinks he's no good because he can't do stuff other healthy guys can do. Blake is protecting Allison. Have to read to find out all the suspense in the book. It is someone who you wouldn't expect.

[Maria Pires · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel caught my attention right away. It was suspenseful and had me wondering what was to come. Often there were parts in the middle where I lost interest, then the author brought my attention back. I enjoyed seeing Allison and Blake admiring each other and seeing the care and affection that he had a hard time hiding around her. I liked the ways the author used different words to describe how the characters were feeling and this opened my eyes and allowed me to visualize the pictures scenes in a more creative way. I loved how you you never knew when the bad guy was going to come back and the ending scared me because I didn't know how it was going to end with such few pages remaining.

[Stella Potts · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Carol Post and this book is riveting from the first page. She is so good at making the characters come alive for you and also the setting in Cedar Key, Florida. Made me want to visit the place and since I can't do that I googled it and did a quick tour by u tube right down Dock Street. Allison and Blake have a mystery on their hands as Allison's stalker gets more desperate. Who is behind all of the things that are happening? There are some surprises and some chilling moments. Romantic suspense is my favorite genre and you can be sure I will continue to follow Carol's books. This book was given to me by the Author and this is my honest review.

[Cathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Teetered between 3 and 4 stars, finally settling on 4 but really 3 1/2 (wish we could do half stars here!) pretty good. Started out well. Didn't hold my interest too much. The religious conversion felt forced just for her sake and not sincere. Equally yoked is important in Christian fiction, IMO.

[Donna Rogers · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won a copy of this book and I have feel in love with this series, Carol Post sure has done her research on cedar key since I live less then 30 minutes from there I am pleased at how detailed things are and well written.. this series is a must read!

[Sweetpea · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book from the GoodReads First Reads giveaway in exchange for an honest review. Nice romantic suspense novel, enjoyed it very much.

[Harlequin Books]

"The reader will enjoy trying to decode the clues to reveal their meaning. This is the first in what looks to be a drama-filled series" (RT Book Reviews, 4 1/2 stars).

[Harlequin Books]

received 4 1/2 stars @ RT Book Reviews

[Bree · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute short story. I liked the characters in this, a very predictable story.

[Jennifer Geoghan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Carol's books. this one is no exception. a really well told story with fun characters.

[charmaine White · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great

A real hair rising goose bumps thriller.Fast paced and hold on to the edge of your seat mystery.I'm going to try another of her books.