If you’ve read my blog for very long (or know me personally) you probably know how much I LOVE Colleen Coble and everything she writes.

Her most recent book Strands of Truth is one more to add to the list of must-reads by her. It checks off every box in the suspense category—kept me on the edge of my seat, had great characters, plot twists, and even a little romance!

One thing I always love about Colleen’s books are that they are so varied, and I always learn about something I didn’t know before. So far I’ve read books about blueberry barrens, lavender fields, life in Michigan’s UP, rescue dogs and so much more!

Strands of Truth revolves around a brand-new subject I never enjoyed before—marine biology. Biology was my least favorite subject in school, but (not surprisingly) Colleen makes it seem interesting in this tale!

Summary

Harper Taylor never had a family of her own, but Oliver Jackson took her under his wing when she was a teenager. Now, he’s funding her research and the pen shell beds she’s always dreamed of. But Oliver’s son, Ridge, still sees Harper as the troubled teenager who he believes has conned his father.

When Oliver is attacked just as secrets from Harper’s past begin to come to light, Ridge and Harper must put the past behind them and work together to find who’s behind it.

Harper has searched her whole life for family, and now she finds that she has a half-sister, Annabelle, who lives only a short drive away. When they meet for the first time, they notice similarities between their stories. Then someone attempts to kidnap Annabelle, and seems to be following Harper. Ridge and Harper are moving towards a relationship even as they struggle with all that’s going on, but Harper is still keeping a secret from Ridge that may change everything.

My opinion

I loved this Strands of Truth, and wasn’t able to guess who was behind everything, or even how it was all connected. Colleen did a really great job with this one, and it kept me up late to finish it!

I did have one issue with this book that bothered me. Harper Taylor wanted a baby and a family so badly that she used artificial means to get pregnant. I understand that this is becoming more common in our modern world, but it is not God’s way, and I disagree with it. I was disappointed that Colleen included it in this book.

I still really enjoyed the story, and I’m already excited for the next installment in this series which is due out in the spring!

Recommendation

I hope that you’ll be able to see past the one part of the book that isn’t great, to the story that really is great. Colleen is a queen of Christian suspense, and I’d hold her books up to secular ones any day. If you’re looking for suspense alternative that is thrilling without blood, gore or bad language, you should definitely check out Strands of Truth.




I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for this review.

I've never read a Colleen Coble book I didn't enjoy! She just has a gift for writing outstanding Christian Fiction Suspense. I only have to see her name on a book and I know it will be a great read! Starting at the beginning, she draws you into the story like you're a part of it! Swimming throughout the story is danger, risks, secrets, and a love as precious as a pearl! I kept trying to figure the secrets out but I like surprises and this certainly fit that. I love getting to the end and then think "Wow, I didn't see that coming!" It makes you want to just hibernate until you've read it completely. I also learned what pen shells are and what they are used for and how having one's DNA tested can change one's life. Has this hooked you? Good! Read the book!
Blessings,
Karen
Rating: 5*
I received this book as a gift and all opinions are my own.

This book was very good and I loved the twists and turns. The DNA technology was very interesting to me. This book has it all...mystery, romance and Christian writing. Loved It!

So, I'd like to start off by saying that I appreciated the lack of physical touch in this book. There was definitely attraction, and a few awkward moments, but really. (minor spoiler here) the couple didn't even kiss until the end. So there's that. I was pleasantly surprised at how clean it was. That's probably what kept this boat from sinking to two stars.

Okay, now . . . the setting. The diving and overall setting was super cool to read about, but all the talk about mollusks and pen shells and byssus and sea silk went right over my head. (Not gonna lie, I eventually Googled some of that stuff.) But Harper's house boat sounded super cute and quaint (I mean, really. She wants to get rid of the old orange shaggy carpet that clashed with the turquoise bedspread? C'mon, Harper, where's your sense of adventure??)

The murder mysteries were unique and intriguing and sad . . . but I kept getting Lisa and Judy mixed up. And Grace and whoever the other best friend was. Good grief, there were so many minor characters, I finally gave up trying to remember them all. If I couldn't place a name, they just stuck in my head as a vague idea.

Okayyyy, the main characters. *deep breath* Let's go.
Harper. *cringes* I enjoyed Harper's character. I really did. But the book started out with Harper at a clinic, adopting an embryo. The problem? Harper is a single 30-year-old woman so desperate to have children and show them the love that she never had as a child, that she takes matters into her own hands when she comes to the conclusion that she'll probably never get married soon enough to have kids. Now, some wouldn't have a problem with this. I couldn't show you exact Scriptures to back me up. But I also believe that a single parent adopting a child (or embryo in this case) goes against God's design for family. Harper claimed to be a Christian, yet there was nothing in the book that mentioned her waiting for His timing, trusting Him, or even wondering if He wanted her to have any children at all.

Okay, rant over. Let's move to Ridge. Dude has serious trust issues—almost as bad as Harper herself. He's bitter and has held a grudge against Harper for nearly two decades because his father seemed to give more love to the 'daughter of his heart' than to his own two children. So when his dad comes up with a situation in which they can work together, his first reaction was repulse—until he realized that he could use this as an opportunity to prove once and for all that Harper was only here to mooch his dad's money! Brilliant! *headesk* Someone shoot me. One of my least favorite tropes is enemies-to-lovers. And this is a classic moment in that very trope.

So, okay, let's dive into more depth on the romance. They both have admitted their attraction to each other. (Actually it was more of an I-realize-that-I-hated-you-to-protect-myself-from-my-attraction-to-you-all-these-years kind of admittance, but I digress.) She wants to run her fingers through his thick, gorgeous black hair. He wants to protect her with his entire being. They both pretty much know exactly what the other is thinking. Yet Harper is convinced of his love one moment, then convinced of the opposite the next. And Ridge? Well, he was a little more steady, which I appreciated. But *cringes* both characters seemed a little . . . shallow?

So why three stars instead of two? Like I mentioned before, the romance wasn't awful. (Aside from their constant denial.) And the mysteries kept me intrigued. The intense moments kept me hooked and let's just not forget the stun gun. That was fabulously angsty.

Thank you to the author and publisher for the ARC of Stranda of Truth.Colleen has written a story with lots of suspense and mystery. The tension builds throughout the book culminating in an ending that ricochets through you.
I will definitely be reading more of Colleen's books.

Strands of Truth is my first Colleen Coble book, and I'm officially hooked! The story grabs you from the very beginning with its unique cast of characters and fast-paced action.
Be prepared to be rocketed into the danger surrounding the life of Harper Taylor. Fair warning...you will not get the recommended amount of sleep until you finish this book! From the first chapter, the story moves quickly. The narrow, twisty trail Harper and Ridge navigate to avoid danger and to find the truth is exhilarating. The small clues left to follow will only satisfy you for a few pages before you want more. I usually enjoy being one step ahead of the characters, but hanging on every word as I stumbled through the mystery with Harper and Ridge was a breathtaking experience.
I loved the complexity and depth of Harper and Ridge. The evolution of their relationship was perfect, and I enjoyed watching them discover each other after knowing each other for years.
Harper is a sweetheart, and I loved her tenacity. Her sea silk hobby was quite interesting--enough to warrant an internet search for more information.
Ridge is a complex guy, but what I really loved was watching his heart soften through the book. Not just toward Harper, but in general, as he gave his family second chances. It made this handsome guy even more of a hunk. ;)
If you want to be completely captivated by a story, then you'll want to read Strands of Truth. Any fan of Christian suspense will enjoy it.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Strands of Truth is a suspenseful novel full of mystery and romance. This book had me hooked from the very first page right through to the end. The writing is well-polished and the story fast-paced with believable characters. It kept me guessing right until the end - just how I like a good mystery! I highly recommend this book and look forward to reading many more from this author.

I received an ebook copy of this novel through NetGalley. I was not required to make a positive review, and all the opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Strands of Truth by Colleen Coble is a present-day day romantic suspense story of deception, deceit, kidnapping, infidelity, and murder all intermixed with DNA technology. A good, entertaining read that is fast paced with interesting characters.

Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for the opportunity to preview the book.

Strands of truth was gifted to me in exchange for a review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I absolutely adored this book. I simply couldn’t put it down and here’s why.

In this story we follow many strands of truth which ultimately leads to a shocking discovery when the whole truth comes out.

Strands of truth explores some pretty amazing themes like faith, jealousy, abandonment, grief and so much more and gives a great insight into what it’s like to deal with the struggles within this story.

Following this story it jumps between past and present tense. We follow two women in the past who have been murdered, we follow harper, ridge, Annabelle and some strange person we have no idea about in the present tense.

This story is so action packed! It truly kept me on the edge of my seat wanting to see what happens next.

Along with all the action we also get to witness a slow burn romance between Harper and ridge who kind of hate each other so yes this story also has the enemies to lovers trope.

Colleen is an amazing author and ill definitely have to read more of her books. This is another brand new favourite of mine and deserves every single star that I gave it.

If you have ever considered sending your DNA in to one of those websites to find your family lineage/roots, “Strands of Truth” will definitely make you think twice!

A modern day tale of lies, deceit, kidnapping, adultery, and murder all entwined with DNA technology, “Strands of Truth” delivers mystery and intrigue.

The book begins with Harper Taylor leaving the doctor’s office after an embryo transfer. An orphan since her birth, she has long pined for her own family. Soon, though, strange things begin happening to her. She and Oliver, both her mentor and business partner, are attacked while diving. Oliver’s son, Ridge, has never liked Harper and believes her to be nothing more than a mooch and gold digger.

Harper has spent some time trying to figure out who her father was. She even enlisted the help of an online DNA site to see if there could be a DNA match to a sibling or father and was delighted to find a half-sister.

Soon, however, her joy turns to terror as attacks continue against her, Oliver, and her half sister.

What would you do for a family? What lengths would you go to to keep the family that you have? Colleen Coble explores this is “Strands of Truth”. She is one of my favorite authors and this book did not disappoint! I recommend this and any book of hers.

Publication Date: September 10, 2019
Genre: Christian Fiction, Religious Fiction, Suspense, Mystery, Science, Technology
Cover: Perfect
Rating: 5 stars
Source: I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
#StrandsOfTruth #NetGalley

This book was fast paced. Hard to put down. It flowed well and it was very well written. It caught hold of me and had me hooked from the start . I was literally on the edge of my seat reading this book.

Have you ever wondered what you might discover if you did one of those DNA tests? Harper Taylor longs to belong, to have family and stability. All of her known relatives have died, and she wants to solve her paternity mystery. Her mother died minutes after giving birth to Harper, and Harper lived with her grandmother until her grandmother passed away.

As a ward of the state, Harper bounced from foster home to foster home and never felt loved or even wanted. When she turns 30, she decides to do something about her lack of family ties. She takes a DNA test, and she schedules an embryo adoption.

Her business partner and mentor, Oliver Jackson, begrudgingly supports the embryo adoption, and Harper hopes he’ll act as a surrogate grandfather to her child. But those hopes shatter when he disappears while scuba diving on the same afternoon that someone tries to abduct Harper.

Oliver’s disappearance throws Harper into the company of Oliver’s son, Ridge, who has mistrusted Harper from the moment he met her. As danger tightens its noose around Harper, Ridge starts to revise his opinion of her. Together they must untangle the mystery surrounding Harper’s parentage and Oliver’s attacker—before somebody dies.

Christian Inspirational suspense fans will love this tight new release from Colleen Coble. The author weaves together engaging characters with unique occupations (ever heard of a malacologist?) in suspenseful situations where knowledge of byssus (had to look that word up) could crack a decades-old murder mystery.

Fans of Lynette Eason, Dani Petri, and Cara Putnam will love this book (as well as anyone who loves the ocean).

Romantic suspense at it's finest!! The book was fast paced and easy to get caught up in, the characters were written so well, the romance wasn't the main part of the book but there just enough. Definitely recommend!

Knowing your DNA could show you things you don’t want to know.

Where do I start with this one? There is so much good stuff packed between the pages of this book that I couldn’t pick one thing out to share.

Strands of Truth is a non-stop mystery case that leaves the reader guessing throughout the whole story. I don’t try to guess at any point so by the end of the story, I was in total shock. The dual story line did not distract from the rhythm of the story so it was easy to jump between today and the late ‘60s and early ‘70s.

Colleen Coble has a way of telling a story that entraps the reader into the story and holds them hostage. Unlike one of the characters of this story, you do not want to be released until The End.

Speaking of characters, I must give a “way to go” to Harper. This girl is determined and unfaltering when she gets something in her head. Once she found her sister, she wasn’t afraid to let Annabelle into her heart. If only it was that easy for the stiff and wounded Ridge.

Now, so I don’t give away any thing more, I will leave you with one last thing – Get This Book! You will be glad you did.

***I was given a copy of this book by the publisher through CelebrateLit. This honest review is entirely made up of my own thoughts.

Harper Taylor is used to being alone— after all, she grew up in one foster home after another. Oliver Jackson finally took her under his wing when she was a runaway teenager, and now Harper pours her marine biology knowledge into Oliver’s pen shell research. But she’s never stopped wishing for a family of her own.
So when a DNA test reveals a half-sister living just two hours away, Harper is both hopeful and nervous. Over warm cinnamon rolls, Harper and Annabelle find striking similarities in their stories. Is it just a coincidence that both their mothers died tragically, without revealing Harper and Annabelle’s father’s name?
Oliver’s son Ridge still sees Harper as a troubled teen even all these years later. But when Oliver is attacked, Ridge and Harper find themselves working together to uncover dangerous secrets that threaten to destroy them all. They must unravel her past before they can have any hope for the future.

Harper is struggling to find out who she is. When she finds her half sister she begins to think things are looking up. That is when it really starts to spiral out of control. Someone tries to kidnap her half sister. Then the kidnappers start going after her.
Ridge has always resented Harper. He thinks his dad spent more time with her than his own children. When someone tries to kill Oliver, Ridge has to put his feelings on hold so he and Harper can figure out who's trying to kidnap them and kill Oliver.
This is a good mystery and will keep you guessing clear til the very end. I recommend this book to all mystery buffs.

I was given this book by Thomas Nelson Publishers via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I was not compensated in any way.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
***Spoilers***

I am sorry to say that I found the story a little hokey. The emotions of the characters changed and accelerated rapidly. For Ridge and Harper to have such disdain for each other and then in a matter of a week, they realize that they are in love. And when Harper finds her never-before known sister, Annabelle, they say “I love you” after one day. I hadn’t known before reading the novel that this author was a Christian writer, but it became very obvious when any trial that arose resulted in the line “I’ll pray for you.” Without disrespecting the author and her own strong faith, this repetitive line can be offputting for some readers.

Despite these hard to get past issues, there was a measure of suspense in the story. The lead up was quite long, though, and the climax came rather abruptly.

As with the many Colleen Coble books I've read in the past, Strands of Truth is a fast-paced page-turner. I was drawn in quickly and intrigued by the unique storyline, and connected with Harper and Annabelle. I cared about the danger they were in and rooted for them to find answers. An absorbing story with a satisfying end.
I received a complimentary copy of this book, with no obligation to leave a positive review.

In Strands Of Truth, author Colleen Coble transports the reader to Dunedin, Florida for an intriguing Christian Fiction / Romantic Suspense story that will keep the reader guessing and turning the pages.

Marine biologist Harper Taylor is working on pen shell research with her mentor / business partner, Oliver Jackson. But growing up in the foster care system has left her longing for a family. Best friend Sara Kavanagh convinces Harper to submit a DNA test, with a result of a close family match, a half-sister named Annabelle Rice, who lives in Orlando. When Harper and Annabelle meet, they are both searching for their father, and find similarities in their mothers' pasts, especially when both mothers died tragically. As Harper and Annabelle search for the truth behind their mothers' deaths and the identity of their father, accidents and attempted kidnappings start to occur. Harper and Oliver's son Ridge Jackson investigate her and Ananabelle's past, but will they survive the danger around every corner as the strands of truth start to unravel?

Author Colleen Coble weaves a fast-paced and suspenseful tale written in the third person narrative that follows Harper and Ridge's investigative journey in search of the answers to Harper and Annabelle's pasts. When Harper and Annabelle's mothers cold-case murders intertwine with the present attacks, it will take a lot of digging and dangerous situations to find the truth.

The reader will be easily drawn into this well written story with its richly descriptive plot and setting. Strands Of Truth has enough drama, tension, action, flashbacks and clues from the past, romance, and unexpected twists and turns that will take the reader on one heck of a thrilling roller coaster ride.

RATING: 5 STARS

Wow, Coble has made me think twice about doing a DNA test to see my ancestry. I never thought about it being used maliciously. I’m a little scared now.

The mystery is a page-turner and interesting. I appreciate how Coble keeps the romance and the language clean.

There are many characters and some may find that a tad confusing but if you think about it when half-siblings come into play families get large very quickly. I would have loved to know more about Annabelle and Harper’s newfound sisterhood. Maybe someday we will see them in a future book as side characters.

If you are looking for a good mystery with family at the core Strands of Truth is a perfect read.

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher, Thomas Nelson, through NetGalley. Any and all opinions expressed in the above review are entirely my own.

This is a stand-alone book by Colleen Coble, but I do think some of her past characters made cameo appearances, so that is fun. Often we think that being able to know our genetic history is always positive. But this book shows that is not necessarily the case. "Strands of Truth" is believable and intriguing. I really liked all of the main characters, and while I partially guessed the ending, there were still definitely twists and turns. Definitely a page turner. Themes in this book also included forgiveness and restoration. Tough situations were not diminished, but they were dealt with well. Thank you to Thomas Nelson publishing and to Net Galley for allowing me to review this book.