Shadows on the Sand by Gayle Roper

Synopsis:~

She serves him breakfast at her café every morning … but he never seems to notice her.

Carrie Carter’s small café in Seaside, New Jersey, is populated with a motley crew of locals … although Carrie only has eyes for Greg Barnes. He’s recovering from a vicious crime that three years ago took the lives of his wife and children—and from the year he tried to drink his reality away. While her heart does a happy Snoopy dance at the sight of him, he never seems to notice her, to Carrie’s chagrin.

When Carrie’s dishwasher is killed and her young waitress disappears, Greg finds himself drawn into helping Carrie solve the mysteries … and into her life. But when Carrie’s own painful past becomes all to present, her carefully constructed world begins to sink.

Will the fragile relationship she’s built with Greg implode from the weight of the baggage they both carry? 

My take:~

Gayle Roper has returned to the location of her excellent early 2000 Seaside novels with Shadows on the Sand, another intriguing tale of mystery, romance and faith.  Carrie is a great character whose independence and sheer determination has carved out a life for herself and her sister after a tragic childhood.  Greg Barnes has restored her trust in men but he fails to see her as anything other than the woman that serves him coffee every morning.  Their changing feelings are a joy to read as Greg's indifference turns into attraction and then something deeper.  As danger looms in the form of a cult leader bent on locating a runaway girl, Carrie's protective instincts and Greg's law and order past kick in as they work to solve the mystery.  Shadows on the Sand is a wonderful read, just what I've come to expect from Gayle so I hope more are on the way!

With thanks to Waterbrook Multnomah for my review copy

Relz Reviewz Extras
Reviews of Fatal Deduction and See No Evil
Interview with Gayle
Visit Gayle's website
Buy Gayle's books from Amazon or Koorong