Review: On Shadow Beach by Barbara Freethy

Posted April 19, 2010 by Casee in Reviews | 4 Comments

Casee‘s review of On Shadow Beach (Angel Bay Series, Book 2) by Barbara Freethy.

Lauren Jamison hasn’t been back to Angel’s Bay since she was a teenager … when her sister Abby was murdered and Lauren’s boyfriend, Shane Murray, was accused of the crime. When Lauren reluctantly returns home to assist her ailing father, the old attraction again flares between Lauren and Shane. But the terrible days after Abby’s murder still stand between them, as well as the secrets Shane has yet to unveil. Finding the truth could bring closure … but at a cost. For there are people who don’t want old mysteries brought to light — people whose fear makes them very dangerous.

Shane Murray was the bad boy of Angel’s Bay long before he was suspected of murder. After being accused of murdering his girlfriend’s sister, Shane leaves town. He was never arrested for Abby’s murder, but Lauren’s lack of support is something that he will never forget. Lauren was the first and only person that seemed to understand him.

Lauren left Angel’s Bay with her mom and little brother shortly after her sister’s murder. Lauren has never forgotten Shane, but she has done her best to put Angel’s Bay and everything in it behind her. When she finds out that her dad is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, she goes to Angel’s Bay with a vague intention of taking him back to San Francisco with her.

Barbara Freethy is such a poignant writer. In each of the three books of this series, I have cried at some point. These books are emotion packed. There were several aspects of this book that were difficult to read, the first being Lauren’s dad. Since Abby’s death, her dad hasn’t been the same. He has stayed in Angel’s Bay so he can stay close to Abby. He has no intention of leaving. He explains to Lauren that he wants to be in the town he loves while he still remembers it, not go to some senior home where he’ll not know anything. His plight was heartbreaking. What was more heartbreaking is Lauren. It really shows what I imagine the affect would be on family members of Alzheimer’s patients.

Several storylines were continued. At the end of the last book, Colin Lynch had been shot in the head. At the beginning of On Shadow Beach, he’s in a medical center where he’s been in a coma for the last three months. Colin’s wife, Kara, is pregnant with what they considered their miracle child. Kara has complete faith that Colin will be with her by the time the baby comes. The arrival of the baby is what brought the tears on. It’s one of those scenes that you’ll always remember.

In the meantime, Lauren runs into Shane and they reconnect. Lauren wants nothing to do with Shane b/c she remembers the devastation of him leaving. She may have only been a teenager, but her feelings then were as real as they are now. Still, they can’t seem to stay away from each other. Whatever attraction or chemistry that was there thirteen years ago still exists.

After a movie producer starts poking around and talking about making a movie of Abby’s murder, Lauren starts retracing her sister’s steps on her final day of life. It takes her places that she doesn’t expect to go and that she’s not welcome.

This book is about forgiveness and second chances. It’s about fathers and daughters and husbands and wives. It’s about taking another chance on something that you know could be great.

3.75 out of 5.

This book is available from Pocket. You can buy it here.

The series:

Book CoverBook CoverBook Cover


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4 responses to “Review: On Shadow Beach by Barbara Freethy

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