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Red Coat by Isobella Dunn – Review by S.Bittles

Red CoatRed Coat by Isobella Dunn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

You are introduced to the three main characters (Sara, Rachael and Colin) in the synopsis as well as the subject of foster care and social workers. Dunn has written with care on the subject and it will aim straight for your heart. This is a very heartwarming read, while also having romance and suspense.

Dunn writes their intertwined tale in a captivating way that will have you hooked by the end of the first chapter. She gives us insight to the past of these characters with great detail, and that detail continues through, leaving you wanting more. Will be keeping my eyes open for more from her!

(I read the book, not audio)

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Red Coat By Isobella Dunn – Review by Kellie Piaskowski

Red CoatRed Coat by Isobella Dunn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Red Coat
Author: Isobella Dunn
This was a great book! Loved the characters of Sara, Rachael and Colin. It was a super sweet story filled with suspense and some romantic moments. The characters were full-bodied and filled with real-life problems. I felt a strong connection to the main character of Sara, a foster child turned Social worker. She was dedicated and strong. Great story and I look forward to more from this great author!!!

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Red Coat by Isobella Dunn – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

Red CoatRed Coat by Isobella Dunn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Sara Flemming is a woman with a mission to help those who cannot help themselves, ten years ago she ran away from a family who made living with them impossible, she had tried many times before, however, each time something happened which dragged her back, before she wanted to, but this time she needed to, but fate was not on her side and now she works for the same Social Services who helped her out of her miserable life those many years ago. Colin Fulton was a young man who got into small town trouble with his little brother and a girl who he would do anything to help, however, when she leaves town without a trace and without looking back, he has to carry on life without her and now he is the Sheriff of the town where he used to run wild with his little brother looking like he is going to follow in his path.

One saturday afternoon, Sara is waking up to start a well needed weekend off after a very rude alarm clock decided to annoy her with its incessant beeping, however, just as she is about to start cleaning up her kitchen, she receives a phone call from work where they need help with a girl, they need someone with her history as she is the only one who might be able to deal with her, however, this day will be one she can;t forget any time soon. As she approaches the girls, she observes that she is trying to look like she has it all together and is even a little bored, however, she sees straight through that to the girl who is angry, frustrated and a little bit sad, so as she walks to her office, she heads straight in without even looking at the girl, she wants to read her file first and get an idea of what she will be dealing with. As she does this, she realises just how much the girl looks like her and has a history like she has, so she invites her to enter the office and talk to her. Meanwhile, Rachael is sat outside in the waiting area but cannot believe that she has been given a choice rather than being told what to do, it is so unusual she is thrown, but this is just the start when Sara is honest with her and straight talking, she feels like she might just be able to talk to her, this is solidified when they go and get pizza for lunch and Rachael opens up about what has been going on in her life.

Colin is dealing with his usual small town policing problems while also rescuing his little brother from a young woman’s clutches, this is easier said than done, so he ends up coming out on patrol instead, but they come back to something a little harder than dog wrangling. Meanwhile, Rachael has been put somewhere temporary while her situation is sorted out, but something spooks her again and she runs away on the bus to somewhere Sara would rather forget, but she is forced to go retrieve her as she has the best rapport with her, but when she gets there and realises she is unharmed and in the Sheriff’s office, what she doesn’t expect to see is who the Sheriff is and her thoughts and feelings about him, however, he is in no doubt about his feelings for her. Will Sara and Colin be able to work together to keep Rachael safe from harm, or will their pasts catch up to all of them in this small town? This is a story of trust, memories, pasts and presents coming together to forge a future from uncertainty which will have you on an emotional rollercoaster as you follow the path as well.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

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Red Coat by Isobella Dunn – Review by Lisa Helmick

Red CoatRed Coat by Isobella Dunn
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a nice romantic story that has suspenseful elements. It has wonderful flow and the characters have some depth to them. The story touches on the lives of these 3 characters. It doesn’t go too deep but I still liked them. I enjoyed the idea of the “red coat”. It worked nicely into the story. I liked this story but didn’t love it.

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Red Coat by Isobella Dunn – Review by Jenni Bishop

Red CoatRed Coat by Isobella Dunn
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4.5 stars

Red Coat by Isobella Dunn is a mystery suspense story that will aim straight for your heart. This book contains things that may cause triggers so beware. The story has flashbacks so we get to see where it all began. Never the less it is a heart warming tale where one woman was raised through the foster system and now works as a social worker helping others like her. But one case in particular stands out and now the past has resurfaced. This troubled teen certainly makes Sara earn her keep as she fights to find her when she runs.

Reviewed by @jennadb

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Red Coat by Isobella Dunn – Review by Carly Vogler

Red CoatRed Coat by Isobella Dunn
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Red Coat by Isobella Dunn is one of those stories that will tug at your heartstrings.

Sara was in the foster system when she was younger, and that fueled her during her studies to become a social worker. Because of Sara’s background, she is the best for dealing with “problem children”, or the ones who are difficult to place for whatever reason. When Rachael’s name comes across her desk, Sara is quick to try to get to the bottom of it. When Sara finds out she has more in common with Rachael than once imagined, it brings emotions to the surface that Sara thought she had gotten over some time before. With Sara’s past unraveling, will she be able to help Rachael?

As someone who would love to foster and adopt, this hurt my heart. Though I’m not sure it’s an accurate representation of the current foster system, it’s just sad to think this could ever happen to a child.

Review by Carly Vogler

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Red Coat by Isobella Dunn – Review by Stephanie Nicole

Red CoatRed Coat by Isobella Dunn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is my first read by Ms. Dunn and I can say that I am very impressed, Red Coat by Isobella Dunn is a great read with lots of different elements in play. I was hooked on Ms. Dunn’s story within the first few pages and couldn’t stop reading until I had finished the book. Ms. Dunn gives us a suspense romance full of emotions, drama, intrigue, mystery and more. Her characters not only had brilliant descriptions, but she made sure that all of their emotions were in order for this story. Depending on your background this book can contain triggers for certain scenarios and emotions, but over all Ms. Dunn does a beautiful job of telling a foster kid story. This story was so wonderfully descriptive and detailed that I look forward to reading more from this author.

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Red Coat by Isobella Dunn – Review by Liz Vrchota

Red CoatRed Coat by Isobella Dunn
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I had no idea what I was getting myself into when I picked up Red Coat by Isobella Dunn for an afternoon in the sun by the pool. I was so engrossed in this book though that I quickly found myself with a bit of a sunburn and a book hangover. This was quite the enthralling read and I was completely taken away into Sara’s world. She made me want to reach in and hug her and Rachel several times. This book really was layered with elements of romance and mystery but also brought drama and coming of age in as well. I enjoyed the way Dunn balanced the heavy and made it feel as if you were able to enjoy it in any setting, like I said I enjoyed this by the pool but also could have found myself enjoying this under the blankets on a cold rainy day. I look forward to seeing what else might be available by Isobella Dunn and what may come next.

Review by @lizaileen
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Red Coat by Isobella Dunn – Review by Katie Matthews

Red CoatRed Coat by Isobella Dunn
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

 

I wasn’t sure what I was going to reading when I picked up this book, the synopsis didn’t give too much away and the author is new to me – but I like to step out of my comfort zone at times so I thought I would give it a go and I really wasn’t disappointed at all. The story had so many different layers to it and I thought I would have found it confusing but the author did an amazing job with it. The characters were really interesting to read about and my heartstrings were definitely pulled a few times throughout. I did find myself invested in the characters, their lives and stories and it had this real feel about it. It was definitely surprise read for me and one I would absolutely recommend!

@katiem
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Red Coat by Isobella Dunn- Review by Stephanie Driskill

Red CoatRed Coat by Isobella Dunn
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Red Coat by Isobella Dunn is a cute little romance story with a bit of mystery thrown in to add some intrigue to the story. Sara, our main character is a teenage runaway and has been bounced from foster home to foster home. We get to follow along with her as she is an adult and now must face her own delinquent case and help Rachael overcome her fears of the foster system as well. But wait, a curveball has been thrown at Sara when she returns to Victory to reclaim her delinquent. Red Coat is a great read with Sara the main character being so easy to identify and empathize with. The few detours away from the romance into the intrigue are beautifully written and provide a relief from the typical romance genre. The intimate scenes are loving, tender, and heart warming written in such a way that the love the characters have for each other jumps off the page and into your heart. What a great read and I highly recommend following this author for more incredible stories. Fun and easy to read, Red Coat is perfect for a quiet afternoon by the pool, or a night wrapped up in a blanket by the fireplace. You will not be disappointed!!

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Red Coat by Isobella Dunn – Review by Elizabeth Sanchez

Red CoatRed Coat by Isobella Dunn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I was drawn to Red Coat, just from the cover art. I have never read anything by Isobella Dunn, and this seems like it might be her first book, which is amazing. I loved this book. I got hooked in the first couple pages, reading about Sara and her teen troubles. We then come across Rachael, whose story seems to mirror Sara’s. I am a sucker for the pull at your heart strings stories of foster care. Rachael’s path and Sara’s intersect when she is caught running away from her foster home, and Sara is called in on the case. By the time it got to that point, I was hooked and couldn’t put the book down. Dunn has a great writing style, and I fell in love with most of the characters. I say most, because I didn’t love Colin- I found him a little pushy, but he also had a incredible sweet side. All the supporting characters played a big role, and the book was a good balance. There was a little bit of hoping for a happy ending for everyone, and sitting on the edge of your seat in fear of what is to come. It was a little more suspense filled than I expected, but I was not disappointed. Highly recommend this book and I look forward to reading more by this author.

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Reviewed by @Eliza

Red Coat by Isobella Dunn – Review by Angela Hayes

Red CoatRed Coat by Isobella Dunn
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

 

Red Coat by Isobella Dunn is quite an engrossing romantic suspense. The story is emotive, with intrigue, a little mystery, drama, and more.
Sara has worked really hard to leave her past behind her. She works as a social worker who works within the foster care system as a way of ensuring other children don’t have to endure what she did. But when Rachel is brought into the agency for running away again, things take a dramatic turn. Sara can’t help but see herself in Rachel and wants to help her, but things get complicated and Sara finds herself face to face with the past she left behind, with danger closing in.
Well worth the read!

Thank you, Isobella Dunn!

 

Reviewed by @angelahayes

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Red Coat by Isobella Dunn – Review by M Policicchio

Red CoatRed Coat by Isobella Dunn
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Red Coat by Isobella Dunn

3 out of 5 stars

Red Coat by Isobella Dunn is a heartwarming tale of rekindled love, learning to trust again, and finding family that strums all the appropriate heartstrings.

Sara, finding her latest foster placement no longer safe, decides that it is time for a new one. She has been warned that if she attempted to run away again, she would have to be moved. Hoping the threats are real, that is exactly what she does. Luckily, the threats are true but that means leaving her best friends behind.

Ten years later, Sara is now a Social Worker working for a foster care placement agency. Sara specializes in hard to reach children. Rachael is brought to the agency because she has run away, again. Sara is called in on her day off to try to talk to Rachael to find out why she doesn’t want to remain in her current foster placement. Rachael finds Sara different from all the other adults in her life that just make decisions for her, never really listening. Sara earns Rachael’s trust enough for Rachael to disclose the real reasons she doesn’t want to return to the foster home, a reason Sara knows all too well.

Rachael’s former foster father is on the run because Rachael talked. Sara promised that he would not find her but when he calls the group home she was placed, Rachael decides to make it so he won’t find her by disappearing in the middle of the night. Rachael runs to the one place Sara doesn’t want to return, the same town Sara abandoned years before. When Sara arrives in town to retrieve Rachael, she discovers that her former best friend, Colin, is the town sheriff. Now Sara must rely on Colin to keep Rachael safe from looming danger.

Can Sara and Colin rekindle the friendship and possibly find love? Is Sara the family that Rachael is longing for? Will the danger follow them?

This book contains triggering material for some. Graphic descriptions of domestic assault, child abuse, and attempted rape throughout the book may make this a difficult read for some. Inaccurate portrayals of the foster care system and its processes ruined the overall enjoyment of the story this reviewer. Some of these inaccuracies were key parts of the plotline causing the rhythm and flow to be off. This is not the first story I have read by Ms. Dunn. Where I do enjoy her storytelling ability, this one was a bit of a disappointment due to this and some other minor issues in character and plot development. I look forward to reading her next story.

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Red Coat by Isobella Dunn – Review by Bethany Rollins

Red CoatRed Coat by Isobella Dunn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Red Coat by Isobella Dunn is a story of finding yourself through the toughest of situations. Although I’m unfamiliar with the life of a foster child, especially teens living in this reality, I feel the author did justice to help the reader understand the issues these individuals face and how difficult it is to grow up essentially alone and untrusting in a world where you feel unwanted.
This story is about Sara, a former foster child turned social worker. Her background leads her to have a special understanding of other children in the system, which is where we meet Rachael, a teen in the system running away from her current foster parents due to abuse. To protect Rachael, Sara will do anything in her power to save her, even returning to a former small town where Sara had once ran from under her own foster care. Here, Sara runs into her former best friend, Colin, who has always held a flame for her and will do anything to protect and show his care.
The reader is taken on a journey of finding love, friendship, and most important family. This story will make you realize how important these connections are to those currently in foster care and those that survived the system about how difficult it is to trust that these connections are true and valued by all involved.
Wonderful story and highly recommended.

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Red Coat by Isobella Dunn – Review by Charlisa Wahtomy-Alba

Sara Flemming went from being a troubled youth to helping them as a social worker. She had someone that was willing to fight for her and she wanted to do the same for those that were following in her footsteps.

Rachael is running away from a foster home due to her foster father who was abusive. She is reluctant to trust Sara, but when she finally realized that Sara wasn’t just going to brush her off like everyone else has she opens up and tells her everything. Now that she knows there is someone that is standing in her corner she feels safe until she gets a phone call that sends her running for the hills once again.

Colin Fulton has never left the small town of Victory and is now a Sheriff. When he catches a young girl that had an APB out on her he never thought she would be the reason that the love of his youth would return. Would Sara remember him? Would she want to try and rekindle a relationship that had been dormant for all these years?

 

Red Coat by Isobella Dunn – Review by Erin Clemence

Red CoatRed Coat by Isobella Dunn
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Sara Flemming knows what it’s like in the foster care system, after a troubled childhood spent running away from various group homes and care facilities. Now, as a social worker, she feels a special connection to the children she cares for. When she meets fifteen year old Rachael, a young teen in foster care, she sees parts of herself reflected in Rachael and knows she must do what she can to help. Sara reluctantly agrees to return to her hometown of Victory, in order to collect Rachael, who, after being arrested, is waiting for her in the local police station. As Sara bonds with Rachael, she finds out Rachael is on the run from her abusive foster father, and both Sara and Rachael agree that Victory is the safest place for Rachael, even though Sara is reluctant to reconnect to the town (and the people) she once called home.

Isobella Dunn is a relatively new author, and “Red Coat” is her newest romantic suspense.
The novel covers issue of foster care and physical and sexual abuse, so it may be a trigger for some.

This novel played out like a Hallmark or Lifetime TV movie, complete with a quaint little town and a completely predictable ending. The simplistic language was a struggle for me; I would’ve preferred more developed and structured conversations. Dunn ensures every character has all of their inner thoughts put on paper, and there was definitely a need for stricter editing.

I enjoyed Sara and Rachael as characters, and right from the beginning you could see they were perfect for each other. It was obvious what the outcome was going to be between these two, and it definitely ended on a happy note. Right away, I found the character of Colin to be brash and forward, and honestly, he bordered a little on abusive and harassing. At the end of the novel though, Colin is more likable, but I think with a little more time for relationship history and character development, especially when it comes to Colin and Sara, I would’ve seen him the way the author intended. There seemed to be a giant gap missing between Colin and Sara’s relationship, and I needed more from them.

There was a lot of action in this novel, which was refreshing. When Rachael’s former foster father comes into the picture, even though the outcome is predictable (and some of the events were completely unrealistic), it was great to see Sara run to Rachael’s aid and overcome the predator.

Dunn’s novel is uplifting and light (even though the subject matter can be dark), and it was an easy read. I immediately cheered for both Sara and Rachael, and found the ending to be completely satisfying. “Red Coat” shines a light on the length that humans will go to in order to protect the ones they love, even when faced with hardship and trauma.

Red Coat by Isobella Dunn – Review by Kerry Baker

Red CoatRed Coat by Isobella Dunn
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Red Coat Isabella Dunn is an easy but engaging story that really does tug at the heartstrings. For me this book is entirely about the characters. They are so relatable that I became invested in them immediately and really connected with their story.
I figured this book would be pretty emotional while reading it but I didn’t quite expect to be taken on such a journey. It really felt like I experienced the highs and lows with the characters. This is a fantastic book that I thoroughly enjoyed.
I would highly recommend it.

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Red Coat by Isobella Dunn – Review by Erica Shoebridge

Red CoatRed Coat by Isobella Dunn
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Sara Flemming was once a foster kid with penchant for running from her placement homes. All grown-up now, she chose to be a social worker for the same fostering agency that struggled to find her a home as a child. When a new young teen arrives on the scene, one with the same history of running as Sara, she seems to be the only one that can understand and get through to the girl. Circumstances collide to bring some childhood friends zooming back into her life, and Sara has to not only help her charge, but deal with unfinished business from the past.
This story is well written and easy-to-read. I enjoyed the pacing of the story and getting to know Sara and Rachael. It was sensitive to the topic of foster care while also being unflinching in the realities that can sometimes occur. A good read, give it a go.

Reviewed by @ericalorraine
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Red Coat by Isobella Dunn – Review by Piper Foster

Red CoatRed Coat by Isobella Dunn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is a very interesting read. Sara is very dedicated to her job
Racheal is a trouble teen but Sara trying her hardest to help her and then she pumps into a blast from the past. Then Racheal has a return from her past and alot going on. There plenty of drama in this book however these situations can happen in reality and made me really think about that.

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Red Coat by Isobella Dunn – Review by Ashley Westerman

Red CoatRed Coat by Isobella Dunn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I picked up Red Coat by Isobella Dunn because I can relate to it. Sara and Rachel were/are foster youth. As a child/teenager I spent time growing in foster homes. Sara and Rachel’s troubles are often not uncommon in foster homes, at least in my experiences. I felt like the author did a lot of research before writing, or maybe she lived similar experiences.
I enjoyed the story a lot, it was an easy read, a mix of family issues, thriller and suspense, and some romance thrown in. I related a lot to the characters and spent the whole book rooting for Rachel. There are great background stories for the characters, so you really feel like you get to know them and understand them. You may shed some tears along the way, a racing heartbeat, and happiness as you read through this book.

Reviewed by @mombiex3

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Red Coat by Isobella Dunn – Review by Bobbi Wagner

Red CoatRed Coat by Isobella Dunn
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I enjoyed this suspenseful romance story. This is not my first book by this author but it is one of my favorites by her yet. This is a well developed story that is written with a lot of emotion. The characters are relatable and give life to the story. I enjoyed being pulled into the story and how it kept me turning pages to the end. This is a story about overcoming the past, learning to trust again and finding love and happiness is possible. I enjoyed the growth of this story and watching the characters overcome things. Is overcoming the past too much for them or will happiness prevail? I highly recommend reading this book to find out what happens with these characters as they bring the story to life before your eyes.

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Review by @bjwagner

Red Coat by Isobella Dunn – Review by Kayla Bullock

Red CoatRed Coat by Isobella Dunn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Red Coat is a well written thriller that focuses on the lives of Sara, a former foster child turned social worker, and Rachael, a young girl currently stuck in the foster care system. After running away from an abusive foster family, Rachael’s case is assigned to Sara. Startling similarities exist between the 2 girls, and they quickly form an unbreakable bond. Happy for the first time in her young life, Rachael longs for a family and a home. But when Rachael runs again, she leads Sara back to the one town from her past she was set on forgetting. Colin-the local sheriff-was Sara’s friend from foster care so many years ago. Seeing him again opens up doors Sara thought were long shut.

This thriller has a little bit of everything for the reader–romance, thriller, psychological aspects, family, and friends. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a hard to put down story that tugs at the heart strings.

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Red Coat by Isobella Dunn

~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ BOOK SPOTLIGHT SHOWCASE ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~
Red Coat by Isobella Dunn
Genre – contemporary romance, romantic suspense
Page Count – 392 pages
Cover Designer – DAZED Designs
Terrified, desperate, and left with no other choice.
That was Sara Flemming when she was younger. Now, she helped those that were stuck in the very system she had fought against so hard. She knew all too well what it was like to be scared to the point that you felt you had no other choice but to run.
At least that was what she thought she had done all those years ago.
Rachael Duncan was the spitting image of Sara as a teen, in more ways than any of them could have even been prepared for. Running from her abusive foster family landed her case on Sara’s desk, who was determined to do whatever she had to, in order to help the young girl.
One phone call would change everything and have Rachael running toward the very place Sara had been so desperate to escape.
Colin Fulton was happy to live his life in the small town of Victory. That was until Rachael came barreling into his town, bringing with her someone that he thought he would never see again.
With the past haunting them, and the future uncertain, would they learn to trust again and find love and happiness? Or will the memories of the past be too much to overcome?

~ AMAZON ~

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