Colleen Coble

Let’s just get it out there in the open. Anyone who knows me or has followed my reviews for a bit knows I’m a big fan of Colleen Coble. I’ve been reading her books for years, I’m fairly certain I own them all, because I can always count on her to write something that allows me to relax. I like knowing when my life is stressful I can count on her to make it better for a bit.

Now she’s writing a whole new series, this being the first, and her setting is absolutely gorgeous so I was show more able to be whisked away from this reprehensible heat to go hang out with a new set of characters.

I’ve always loved that despite being a rock in the Christian Fiction field she writes fantastic plots with plenty of suspenseful action and doesn’t bash you over the head with the religious aspect. I don’t say that to be rude and I’m certainly not bashing Christians but I have friends across the spiritual realm so I like having an author I can recommend to everyone regardless of their belief system. My non-Christian friends want to read ‘clean’ suspense too that isn’t full of blood, rape scenes, drug dens, etc so Coble fits the bill.

Does this one ever deliver on the action, emotional drama, and characters you just want to hug. In trademark Coble creation she provides a slew of fictionalized people that feel more real than not with problems and answers that are firmly grounded in reality to help you feel invested in the journey.

Buckle up and be prepared to fight through danger, villainous intrigue, and natural disasters just waiting to throw even more turmoil into an already tumultuous dynamic. show less

Wow, Ambush is a riveting romantic suspense! Colleen Coble delivers an adventurous thrill ride set in an Alabama wild animal preserve. With a compelling first love/second chance romance & beautiful faith thread, this heartfelt story was as touching as it was mysterious. It’s an exciting start to a new Sanctuary series with fun tie-ins from her previous books. I was throughly engaged & can’t wait for the next book.

Paradise Alden needs a job & returns to her childhood hometown to work at show more the Sanctuary Wildlife Preserve. Scarred emotionally & physically, she’s looking for a second chance in more ways than one. Though she has a history with the owner’s son & accuses him of ruining her life, she finds a sense of comfort with Blake. As their past is slowly revealed, they both find healing & a possible second chance at love if they can figure out who’s after Paradise & sabotaging the wildlife preserve.

As amazing as the redemption arc of Paradise & Blake is, the thrills & twists offered in this wildlife preserve setting makes for a suspenseful read. I enjoyed the beautiful yet dangerous animals & found myself quickly turning the pages as Blake’s family including two young brothers, & Paradise encounter some fierce creatures who are a little too close for comfort. The mystery of who’s causing trouble at the preserve & putting lives in danger is full of twists & turns. I found myself guessing & then second guessing.

The audiobook version was well done. I enjoyed the narrator & the way she brought to life both male & female characters. I also enjoyed the emotion she put into her performance. It was just the right amount & made the story even more compelling.

Highly recommend! Can’t wait to read the next book in the series. I received an advanced listener’s copy from the publisher. No review was expected. All opinions are completely my own & provided voluntarily. show less

A gripping mystery, a Phantom of the Opera stalker, adorable animals, & a heartfelt 2nd chance romance made Prowl unputdownable! Colleen Coble delivers another heart-stopping, exciting, romantic sequel in the Sanctuary series. Paradise & Blake have their hands full when the sanctuary is the sight of a murder. Add in someone stalking Paradise, an unbelievable discovery on the park’s lands, & the unpredictability of wild animals, & you have another exciting, edge of your seat mystery!

The show more last thing the Sanctuary needs is more bad publicity. As the refuge’s co-owner, Blake Lawson does his best to keep it afloat & care for his widowed mother & two young brothers. With Paradise back in his life, he’s excited for a second chance with her. But, after an employee’s found murdered in the park & a creepy stalker is using Paradise’s favorite musical to taunt her, their romantic future plans are put on hold. A discovery on the park’s lands though could mean a solution to their money troubles or potential disaster. It’ll take all their faith & fortitude to save the park & find the murderer before it’s too late.

I absolutely love Paradise & Blake! Their road back to each other has plenty of bumps & turns. Paradise’s parents were murdered when she was a child & she can’t move on until her memories return of that fateful night. She wants to be independent & chaffs when Blake’s overprotective, but when the threats accelerate, there’s nobody she’d rather turn to. I enjoyed seeing her confront her past. I’m so excited to see what happens in book 3.

Blake’s such a great guy! He’s learning to be patient & take things slow. Paradise’s been through a lot & he’s right there to support her. I love his relationship with his mom & little brothers too.

The mystery is filled with twists & turns! Just when I thought I had it figured out, there’s another piece to the puzzle. I enjoyed all the animals included in the story along with seeing Hez & Savannah from the Tupelo Grove series. When all the clues come together, they lead to a thrilling ending.

Highly recommend! Looking forward to the next book in the series! I received an advanced copy from the publisher with no expectation of a positive review. All opinions are completely my own & provided voluntarily. show less

An immensely satisfying follow-up to the series debut with relatable main characters and tense, non-stop action!

Dark of Night is the second book in author Colleen Coble’s Christian romantic suspense series featuring Park Ranger Annie Pederson. It is even more exciting than the first book. And if you enjoyed the series debut novel, Edge of Dusk, you’re going to love this action-packed follow-up!

Annie Pederson, the titular heroine of the series, is personable and so very likable. I found show more her to be an intelligent woman and investigator, steadfast and loyal in her relationships, although conflicted, and a capable and knowledgeable outdoorswoman. However, she has been put through the wringer in her lifetime, especially during the last two years with the loss of her husband, Nate, and both of her parents. She is not alone in her grief; Annie’s eight-year-old daughter, Kylie, is still struggling with losing her father and is very vulnerable.

And there’s more.

Adding to the stress and recent emotional devastation, Kylie has had some health problems, which led to Annie’s discovery that Nate is not Kylie’s biological father. Annie had married Nate on the rebound less than a month after breaking up with her fiancé, Jon Dunstan, who had immediately left town for an internship at the Mayo Clinic, never to step foot in Rock Harbor in nine years … until now. I loved that both Annie and Jon still had feelings for each other nine years after their unnecessary split and were giving their relationship a second chance but this time as adults. I ached each time Kylie rejected Jon’s overtures to get closer to his daughter.

Their whole story is made even more complex by the sudden reappearance of Annie’s sister, Sarah, who had been abducted from Annie’s side as a five-year-old. It was agonizing to feel Sarah’s rage over what had occurred and her blaming Annie for her tragic life. Also, I could feel Annie’s great disappointment over their reunion and helplessness in getting Sarah to understand that she had also been fighting for her life at the time, followed by her mistrust of the woman claiming to be her sister. But that conflict paves the way for much more action and excitement later.

A second major plotline involves the character Michelle Fraser, who has been locked in a remote mountain cabin, suffering from a badly broken ankle. Her storyline is so intense I couldn’t look away or put the book down whenever the story shifted to her point of view. For both Michelle and Annie, if it weren’t for bad luck, these women would have no luck at all.

With its relatable and engaging characters, tense storylines, and unrelenting action, I recommend DARK OF NIGHT to mystery and suspense readers and those who enjoyed the first book in the series.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy from the author through Partners in Crime Virtual Book Tours. show less