Cottage on Dagger Point by Christy Barritt is this week’s Reader Friday. Here’s the first line: Unrelenting rain pounded Olivia Beaumont’s car as her headlights illuminated the house in front of her.
But first the photo and Scripture verse. The photo was taken from the balcony where I stayed in Florida I love the way the cloud just abruptly cuts off. I didn’t get to take too many photos–mostly because I was too busy playing with two a four-year-old and a three-year-old. 😉 I’m really looking forward to seeing them again in September!
Now for Christy Barritt’s Cottage on Dagger Point which is the third book in the series (and currently 99¢)–wouldn’t you know I’d read the third book instead of the first one! But the books don’t have to be read in order–they are stand-alones with a common setting. The other two titles are: The Cottage on Ghost Lane & The Inn on Hanging Hill. You can learn more about them here.
Each house has a history. And each person has a secret. Each turn of events leads to danger.
Some legacies are better left unclaimed . . .
Olivia Beaumont’s father left behind a legacy of destruction, and it’s up to her to restore her family’s reputation. She heads to Kiawah Island, South Carolina, to unravel the mysteries of her father’s secret life. But when she arrives, she discovers the house he left behind—The House on Dagger Point—holds secrets of its own.
After a tragedy upends firefighter Anderson Scott’s life, he escapes to Kiawah Island to do some soul searching. But he finds something unexpected on his island getaway. Not only is the house he rented already occupied by its new owner, but danger lurks around every corner.
Anderson isn’t the only unwelcome guest Olivia encounters. Threatening text messages, dead bodies, and ruthless criminals threaten to put an end to all she hopes to accomplish. When Olivia and Anderson find themselves in a fight for survival, they must work together to solve the mysteries living inside the walls of The House on Dagger Point—or risk becoming the next victims.
My Take:
Christy Barritt’s The House on Dagger Point grabbed my attention right away. I’ve read a lot of her books and really enjoyed them. The House on Dagger Point looked so intriguing and it was only 99¢, so I quickly downloaded it. And I was not disappointed. Barritt is a great romantic suspense writer and right off the bat, there was a lot of intrigue–Olivia arrives in a rainstorm at a cottage she hadn’t know existed two months earlier. She’s there for answers to questions about her father who had disgraced the family–he was the pastor of a mega- church and when he fell, he fell big time and he almost took his family with him.
Olivia hasn’t even unpacked when she discovers a body in the outside shower. And then Anderson arrives claiming he’d rented the cottage for a month. Then the real estate woman who rented the cottage to him ends up dead. Olivia thought she saw Anderson arguing with the woman before she died.
Oh, and I forgot–someone is trying to kill Oliva and the cottage is on an island, a gated community, and the bridge connecting the island to the mainland has been shut down due to a boat hitting the bridge.
Anderson is at the cottage to recover from a broken engagement that ended in and a month later the ex-fiancé dies in a mysterious fire. He feel guilty because he wasn’t able to save her. And he certainly isn’t interested in another relationship so soon after that disaster. However, he’s drawn to Olivia and wants to protect her.
The romance is a nice addition, not too much, but just enough. I really was rooting for them to get together.
The House on Dagger Point is a fast read with lots of twists and turns. I found myself trying to unravel the mystery along with Olivia and Anderson. I think mystery and suspense readers will enjoy it.
So, what are you reading this week? Leave the first line in the comments, or just comment anything and I’ll enter you in a July (Can you believe it’s July!) drawing for a book from my library!
June’s winner is…Lucy Reynolds!
The House on Dagger Point by Christy Barritt is this week's Reader Friday. Check out my review on the blog. Leave a comment and you may win a book! Share on X
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Comments 38
This week I read Jennifer Beckstrand’s, His Amish Sweetheart and Karen Witemeyer’s, In Honors Defense
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You have been busy reading, Phyllis! I really enjoy both of those authors’ books!
Oh, Cottage on Dagger Point sounds suspenseful and right up my alley! I am reading a publisher’s read-n-review request, The Box, a collection of stories by Scott J. Couturier. The first sentence of the first story: Above, the metal fan blades circle like vultures.
Have a wonderful 4th of July weekend, Patricia!
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Oh, The Box sounds so intriguing, Priscilla! Let me know when it comes out. Hope you have a great 4th, too!
Nice photo match to that familiar and favorite Psalm.
I’ve read a few of Christy’s books, and like them. This sounds like a good read. I think I’m close to the point where my TBR list is getting longer rather than shorter. Three books on pre-order just dropped down this week.
“Did the crazy girl want to get herself killed?” is the first line from “Impending Strike” by Sami Abrams. It’s one of Lynette Eason’s Elite Guardians Collection. I’ve read one other book by Sami, and loved it. I have her LIS “Twin Murder Mix-up” on preorder.
Congrats on winning the drawing, Lucy!
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Tim, I roomed with Sami Abrams at Writers Police Academy a couple of years ago and she’s a hoot! this was before she was published, and she let me read her manuscript. I told her it wouldn’t be long before she was hitting the big time. 🙂 And I hear you about the TBR list getting longer!
Getting ready for my vacation. Packing and planning.
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Oh, have fun, Gail!! Send photos!!
Love the sunset and photo. You sure got some great shots from the balcony.
Christy Barritt is a new author to me. The House on Dagger Hill sounds like quite the page-turner. Great review, Pat. Like Tim, my TBR list is getting longer than shorter.
“Lt. Philomela Blake believed mornings should start gently, with the nighttime melting into golden sunshine and birdsong luring to wakefulness.” This is the first line of With Every Letter, by Sarah Sundin.
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Barbara, I thought that was such an unusual cloud. I agree about the TBR list! lol That first line by Sarah Sundin…it sounds like a good way to wake up…not sure it’s ever happened with me. lol
Love the picture and verse. The picture (without the water) reminds me of the clouds we have been seeing this week in the Great Smoky Mountains.
I am starting the first read of Susan Sleeman’s next book, so I can’t share the first line right now. I haven’t even read it myself yet, but hope to do so later when we get home.
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Edward, I want to go to the mountains!!! Well, I’ll be going in October, probably for more setting research. I hope you and your wife are enjoying your anniversary trip!!
Pat, we had a great time. We arrived home Friday evening just before 10:30. The clouds today were almost unbelievably beautiful. I think Brenda got a few pictures, but I was driving. I think the police frown on people taking pictures while they drive. Well, maybe they do more than frown. In addition to the clouds, we saw three pretty waterfalls. They are the main reason we got home so late. We took a roundabout route in order to see them.
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Yeah, Edward, I think they do something a little more than frown… 🙂 I love both clouds and waterfalls!
Morning By Morning
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That reminds me of a Scripture verse, Judy!
Hi Patricia, wow, this book sounds and looks so very intriguing ! Thank you so much for sharing about it. It sounds like a book that will keep me on the edge of my seat!! Have a great weekend and stay safe.
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Hi Alicia! So sorry to be late in answering the comments, but I’ve been at the hospital with a friend since Saturday morning. Back home now, though, and working on tomorrow’s Mystery Question. If it’s late, you’ll know the reason why. 🙂
The scripture is perfect for the photo. I am reading Critical Alliance by Elizabeth Goddard. The first lines are: Her world was spinning out of control. Correction. Not her world-her body.
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I love Elizabeth Goddard’s books, Gloria! This one is up for me to read next. 🙂
not reading anything now
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We’ll have to fix that, BN! 😉
Beautiful picture! Great review too, thanks for sharing.
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Thank you, Megan. I really enjoyed Christy’s book.
I love suspense and thrillers. The blurb sounds good.
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It’s a great book, Lynn!
reading Dani Pettrey’s the killing Tide
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I’ve heard good things about The Killing Tide, Shelia!
Beautiful photo Pat and the verse goes so well with it! I have read most of Christy Barritt’s books and have enjoyed them all. Good review.
Have a safe and blessed 4th weekend Pat!
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Thanks, Mary. I really enjoy Christy’s books!
I’ve got Christy’s book….now to fir it in the Queue!
My first line comes from Hope Beyond the Waves by Heidi Chiavaroli.
Osterville, Massachusetts April, 1993
I stand rigid, arms pinned to my sides as my mother wraps me in a loose hug in Gram’s foyer.
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Several people I know are reading this one, Paula. I want to ready it and it should come up on my list soon. lol
Christy’s books always sound good but I’m not sure I’ve read any of them. I need to correct that!
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Christy Barritt has some really good books, Joan!
Christy’s book sounds intriguing. My first line comes from Julie Garwood’s Fire and Ice. A polar bear did him in.
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Love it, Sally Jo! I’ll have to look for that one, too!
Two books so far this week, which is about my average amount. I have one review copy of “The Extraordinary Deaths of Mrs. Kip” by Sara Brunsvold. It’s her debut novel & I’m looking forward to it! All the reviewers I know who have read it, says it’s exceptional for her first book. 🙂
But right now I’m in the middle of “Claiming Her Legacy” by Linda Goodnight. It’s a Western Historical Love Inspired trade length book. So far it SO good!! I’m really enjoying the trade length LI books because they’re longer and you get a little more depth to them. And that cover just drew me in from the get go!! Plus, I love Linda Goodnight anyway so 🙂
Here’s the first few lines from “Claiming Her Legacy”:
“Papa was dead.
Murdered.
Even with a month passed and green grass already sprouted atop Finn Malone’s lonely mound of red dirt, Willa Malone and her two sisters could scarce take in the desolate truth.”
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Oh, wow! Trixi. I must get Linda’s book. It sounds really good!!