Cobb Island
Drama, Alt. Romance, Published by RAP Books in 2001, ISBN: 1930928394, Trade Paperback, $17.99, 272 pages
Story Summary
Author Commentary
Reader Reviews
Cobb Island offers not one but three romances in this novel set off the coast of Virginia. Marcy and Doug have had only sporadic contact since Marcy's family moved away a year ago. Their older sisters agree to supervise the lovesick teens during a week-long stay in an eerie island house that has been in Marcy's family since the late 1600s. But who will chaperone the chaperones? Sparks fly between them almost from the beginning, growing into lightning-size bolts when Liv notices that Kayla is answering her questions before she has even voiced them. It is Liv's training in translating foreign languages, however, that proves to be the key that unlocks the house's secret history—and the story of a tragic love begun and ended four centuries earlier.
Cobb Island started out as a horror novel. But that lasted only about fifteen pages and I found myself going back and rethinking what it was that I really wanted out of this story. I was shooting for an eerie quality to the tale, but for heartfelt romance and, most importantly, a believable plot (an element so often missing for the horror genre). This is also the first story where I had to weave together several fairly complicated storylines and timelines. Cobb proved to be a valuable training ground and I did this again with Unbreakable.
The final result yielded one of my personal favorite works. A little spookiness, a little mystery, a little sexual tension, a little humor, and a lot of setting the mood and you have Cobb Island.
Did you know that there really is a Cobb Island off the coast of New England? I haven’t been there myself, but I understand that’s lovely and not at all spooky. Right.
This story also features my favorite book covers (though the cover for Unbreakable is darned close). The cover artist was the very talented Callie. You can tell I’m a geek by how much I love the fonts. And the font used for the cover of Cobb is wonderful. I’m usually very involved in creative process when it comes to my book covers. For this novel, I selected the font but didn’t really have any other ideas. With other books, the designer and I have gone through nine or ten covers until we hit on just the right one. With Cobb, Callie hit a homerun on her first swing.
The sequel to Cobb Island is entitled: Echoes from the Mist .
When Blayne launched her site I thought I would write a review of one of my favorite books. It was difficult to choose because I like all of her books but for different reasons. There is one common trait, however, to all of her work, and that is her gift for storytelling. It amazes me to reflect on the variety of themes she has tackled. Having her name on the book cover assures me that no matter the topic or the genre it will be handled with her unique take and I will enjoy reading it.
I honestly judge my friends' work more harshly than strangers and I've never been disappointed with any of Blayne's tales. I can't pick a favorite so I suggest you read them all.
-reader review, SX Meagher
***I'm not much of a thriller fan and when you add in the paranormal my eyes start to glaze over. Hah, little did I know that Kayla's trip to the Redding estate on Cobb Island was going to take me on a heart-pounding trip into the past and become engrossed in the story of Bridget, a late 17 century ancestor, whose relationship with her sister-in-law Faylinn is marked by her btother's arrogance and cruelty.
As Kayla and Liv huddle together to read the family journal during the midst of a storm, so does the tale of the two women take the reader on a stormy ride as seen through the eyes of their chronicler, Afia. Eventually Kayla and Liv must travel to England to resolve the final threads of Bridget and Faylinn's tale [Echoes in the Mist].
Blayne does a wonderful job of weaving 3 love stories. The yound love of Doug/Marcy, the burgeoning love of Kayla/Liv and the star-crossed love of Bridget/Faylinn. You really need to read both books to get the full treatment and you won't be sorry that you did -- I wasn't. For a great mix of suspense, romance and a touch of the whimsical, these books do not disappoint.
-reader review, EM