Colleen Coble

If you’re looking for an edge of your seat read with plenty of twists and turns, Fragile Designs is it! I love a good thriller with complicated characters, a touch of romance, and nail biting suspense. This book really delivered on all those accounts. From the first, I was drawn to Carly’s plight as a young widow trying to navigate raising an infant son, complicated family relationships, family secrets, a treasure that may have caused her husband’s death, and danger from those who are show more after the treasure. Add to that the handsome neighbor next door who happens to be her old highschool sweetheart’s older brother and a colleague of her dead husband’s, and you have quite the story!

Colleen Coble always manages to deliver an unforgettable mystery that’s hard to put down. Her characters are complicated yet relatable and often in need of redemption. I appreciate that she doesn’t sugarcoat the kinds of trials they endure. The mystery behind the Faberge egg was fascinating. I loved learning more about what makes these so valuable and how the egg tied into Carly’s family history.

The romance between Carly and Lucas had such a great arc going from casual acquaintances to more in a believable way. Lucas is a cop which really helps when Carly and her family’s lives are constantly in danger. Lucas was really nervous around kids and wasn’t interested in marriage and family. I loved the way Carly and little Noah wove their way into his heart. Carly has been through so much especially with her deceased husband. I loved her grandmother and how she provided a way for Carly to earn a living and reconnect with her sisters through turning her home into a bed and breakfast.

The suspense really kept me on edge especially with the Russian mafia involved. I could hardly put it down! Each new clue added to my suspicions of an ever growing suspect list and I enjoyed trying to narrow it down. As with each of Colleen Coble’s mysteries, there’s an element of faith woven in that’s believable and natural.

I listened to the audiobook version and thoroughly enjoyed it. I felt like the narrator did a great job distinguishing between all the characters and really bringing the story to life. She put in just the right amount of emotion and I enjoyed how she voiced both female and male characters.

Definitely recommend to romantic suspense fans especially those who enjoy inspirational romantic suspense. I received an advanced listener copy from the publisher. All opinions are my own and voluntarily provided. show less

Present Day, Virginia

After Elin Summerall's recent heart transplant, unexplained things started happening. She is dreaming vividly about the murder of her organ donor. The authorities didn't seem to believe her but, then, Laura's murderer started targeting Elin. When the one man she hoped to never see again shows up on her doorstep, Elin knows she can no longer keep her secret. F.B.I. agent Marc Everton is the father of her four-year-old daughter, Josie. Marc is shocked and livid at the news show more but what is most important at the moment is protecting Elin and his daughter. While Marc risks his life to protect them both and Elin struggles to remember pertinent clues, a strong bond of love is forming between them despite their best efforts to remain neutral. Will they find the killer in time? Can they become the real family they both secretly want and their daughter needs?

This is my first book in the Hope Beach series and I have to say that I wish I had discovered this series sooner. This book is top-notch in romantic suspense and very much in keeping with Collen Coble's writing style in her other romantic suspense series. Elin Summerall was experiencing "cell memory" after her heart transplant. I had never heard of before cell memory before and the entire idea was new to me but it did inspire me to do some research. It turns out that a recipient taking on some traits of their donors really can happen. I think it was genius as a major plot point. I thoroughly enjoyed the way Colleen took the aspects of this strange happening and turned it into a plot that's so engaging.

With such a unique and well written plot I was literally hooked from the very first paragraph and it's very rare that I can say that. It kept me guessing throughout the entire book, never really disclosing the killer until the last part of the story, and that kept my mind constantly working on whodunit theories. I almost felt like a private investigator myself. I absolutely loved the fast-paced feel of the book. I really don't care for a story that seems to drag along because they can be boring at times but I had no such problem with this one.

I also loved the characters in this one. Elin, who Marc previously referred to as the "ice princess" was now a completely different person in all outward appearances but the same where it mattered most. She was a fierce protector of her daughter and her mom and had an amazing strength. Marc I loved. He is the prime candidate for hero of the year. He was livid when he found out that Elin had purposely kept Josie from him but managed to put his feelings aside so he could keep them safe. He was strong and courageous, exactly what you would expect from an F. B. I. agent, but he also loved just a fiercely as he protected. Elin's mother Ruby added a bit of humor even though she suffered dementia, a horrible disease that stole her thinking ability. In her most lucid moments I could see the perfect mom. Sara, Marc's cousin, and Josh, the guy she loved with a passion. Both were a part of a Coast Guard recovery team. I liked seeing their relationship play out as well. The setting, Hope Island and Seagrass Pier especially, was perfect for this particular book and the beauty of the area really came through in Colleen's attention to detail. As I said, this is my first book in this series and you can read it as a stand alone novel, I sure did, but I would have preferred to read them in order because I felt like I should already know the characters. At the start of the book that feeling was more pronounced but it soon dissipated and I felt like I had known them forever and quickly grew to love them.

The Christianity in this book is subtle and not in-your-face but at the same time it's obvious the characters are Christians. I like the fact that, with Elin's and Marc's past transgression, Colleen subtly reveals that only One is perfect and Grace is ever flowing with our forgiveness. In a nutshell, Colleen Coble is the Queen of Christian Romantic Suspense. She draws you in quickly and keeps you guessing. I have yet to figure out one of her plots until at least three quarters into the story. You can't go wrong with this book. If you like contemporary romantic suspense you'll love Seagrass Pier! Most highly recommended!

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for my honest opinion and no monetary compensation was received. show less

What We Hide is the fantastic start to a new romantic suspense series! Colleen Coble’s teamed up with Rick Acker to create a memorable legal mystery thriller with a lawyer who’s trying to save his marriage while defending his wife against murder charges. There’s also a smuggling ring selling artifacts from Tupelo Grove University where his wife works. Will Hez be able to solve the mystery & exonerate his wife?

I thoroughly enjoyed this story! Hez Webster’s a charming, sympathetic show more lawyer who’s a recovering alcoholic. He blames himself for his young daughter’s death & has been separated from his wife for a while. Now clean & sober, he wants a second chance.

Savannah’s a history professor now teaching at the university her family founded & hoping for tenure. Separated from her husband after the death of their daughter, she’s finally seeking a divorce. When Hez shows up out of the blue wanting a second chance, she immediately balks. But when she discovers a dead body & becomes the prime suspect, she needs Hez’s help to clear her name.

Filled with twists & turns, this story kept me quickly turning the pages. There’s a lot going on with multiple suspects. The artifact smuggling ring and murders are just two pieces of the puzzle. There’s also family drama involving Savannah’s sister. The courtroom drama added an interesting element to the story & I enjoyed the balance between it & the suspense.

I appreciated the tender second chance romance as Hez and Suzanna try to work through their grief. Neither one of them wants a divorce, but is it the best way for both of them to move on? There’s also a thoughtful faith element deftly woven through the story dealing with forgiveness & second chances.

While several things are wrapped up at the end, the mystery continues. I can’t wait to find out what happens in the next book. Highly recommend to inspirational romantic suspense fans. I received an advanced complimentary copy from the publisher. All opinions are my own and voluntarily provided. 4-4.5 stars show less

A green police chief, vigilante justice, and a town full of secrets. Mixing these with Colleen Coble’s compelling suspense and a dollop of romance brings you One Little Lie, a “most excellent” police adventure.
I loved the storyline and most of the characters. The jury is still out on a few of them, namely the mayor, whom I’m trying to figure out. I did enjoy Jane Hardy and Reid and Will Dixon. Will sounds like one very neat teenager. Jane and Reid work together well. I have to wonder show more about how involved Reid was in the cases, as a civilian. Yet, my mind argues back that real life can be hard to separate into separate columns, and this just solidifies that point.
The bay seems to be a little murky and so are so many of the relationships in this faith-filled novel. We see true friendship, bad parenting, misguided parenting, great parenting, and arms that lost the child they should have parented. I can just imagine Jane, if she had a theme song, singing “Lies,” from Jonathan Butler eons ago. The question is, who would she be singing it about? Faith, love, forgiveness, deceit, and revenge all surface in Pelican Harbor. Unfortunately for us, the readers, a neat ending does not. I appreciated Coble’s note that explained her reasoning. I appreciated that we had a “soft” ending, with more to come in the next Pelican Harbor installment ( Two Reasons to Run, coming September 2020), rather than a rushed, messy ending. Definitely a book to pick up, but preferably during daylight hours, with plenty of safe people around.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author and publisher through Celebrate Lit via NetGalley. This does not affect my opinions, which are solely my own. show less