A Stranger's Game by Colleen Coble is a romantic thriller. A short quick read with interesting suspense and twists. I also loved the romance buildup. A good read. I received a complimentary copy from Thomas Nelson Fiction via Netgalley. All opinions expressed are mine.

A Stranger’s Game is a great fast paced romantic suspense novel! Torie has just lost her best friend under suspicious circumstances. Returning to her hometown to find answers, she hides her true identity so no one will recognize her. There she meets Joe and his cute daughter. Together they work through solving many mysteries happening on the island. This novel was action packed! I would recommend it to anyone who loves a great mystery or two with lots of dangerous situations for the characters to fight through. I received a digital copy of this book from NetGalley in trade for my honest opinion. My thoughts are my own.

Dive into a gripping world where suspense and unwavering faith collide, creating a tapestry of intricate mysteries and profound emotional resonance. This book is meticulously crafted for readers who crave narratives that move at a relentless pace, keeping them on the edge of their seats with unexpected twists and turns. Prepare to forge connections with a diverse cast of characters as unlikely alliances are formed in the face of daunting challenges. The seamless integration of faith-based themes adds layers of depth and meaning to the unfolding events, offering a powerful and thought-provoking reading experience.

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

Story Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4.5/5
Genre: Mystery | Fiction | Romance | Suspense
Author: Collen Coble
Publication date: January 4, 2022

One Liner: Riveting | Thrilling | Exciting | Page Turner
Story Review / Summary: I was enthralled but the story, couldn’t put it down! I loved the twists. The narrator took the entire story to another level! I could this being a movie! Was it a murder or was it a suicide? Read to find out!

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Thank you to #NetGalley and Thomas Nelson | Thomas Nelson Fiction for the ARC (Advance Reader Copy) of #AStrangersGame by #CollenCoble
All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
This review is being shared on NetGalley, Goodreads and Amazon (pending review)

Tori Bergstrom goes undercover to Jekyll Island to find out what really happened to her best friend who mysteriously disappeared.
Wow! Colleen Coble's writing grabs you from page one and doesn't let go! There are no swears or alcohol and level 1 non-descriptive kisses only.

A Stranger's Game by Colleen Coble is a romantic suspense one of my favorite genres. I thought this was a great mix between the two. I loved the characters in this book, and it kept me turning the pages until the very end. I would definitely recommend it to others.

I received and ARC from NetGalley and the publisher Thomas Nelson, and I am leaving my review voluntarily.

Wow! The only bad thing I can say about Colleen Coble’s books is that I don’t want to put them down 😉. Torie returns to Jekyll Island to discover why her best friend was killed. All kinds of things happen while she’s there! I highly recommend this book.

Colleen Coble has done it again! I’ve read several of her books and have loved them all! A Stranger’s game is full of mystery, adventure and little bit of romance! Just when you think things are safe something else happens! I was on the edge of my seat for the majority of the book!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

A strangers game by Colleen Coble

4 stars

This book had me gripped from the beginning. I enjoy Colleen's storytelling, she woven such a great thriller, it had me at the edge of my seat.

This story follows Torie, an heiress to a hotel dynasty, who returns to Jekyll Island after the suspicious drowning of her best friend, Lisbeth. She goes undercover to find out the truth her friends' death.

Torie meets Joe and his daughter and forms a connection with them. Together, Torie and Joe begin to unravel the mystery behind Lisbeth’s death—and a larger, more dangerous plot. The danger around them escalates, affecting them and those close to them.

There is a sort of cat-and-mouse element to the story, with each clue drawing them deeper into danger. I do wish the ending had been a bit more intense in terms of the thriller aspect, but other than that, it was still a satisfying ending.
I also enjoyed the romance subplot. It was sweet and added emotional depth to the story without overshadowing the suspense.

Overall, I do recommend it. It was a great suspense romance read.

Thank you, NetGalley and Thomas Nelson, for this copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

Torie and Joe make an amazing team trying to protect the hotel, his daughter and trying to figure out what happened to her friend Lisabeth. The betrayal runs deep and memories from the past come back to her in bits and pieces. Of course, the memories of a child mean more when you become an adult.

Great page turner by Colleen Coble! She never disappoints!

2.8 stars, rounded up to 3 for goodreads.

We follow newcomer Torey to Jekyll Island where she falls in love and tries to go undercover to investigate her best friend’s suspicious death who was investigating someone else’s suspicious death, all the while our FMC and MMC’s plans are being thwarted by a mysterious actor. It was a romance, it was a mystery, it had adorable animals, it was a a thriller, a military thriller even – it was utterly inoffensive (except on the off chance you work for the Fed).

Overall thoughts: Jack of all trades, master of none…It was enjoyable, BUT, it felt like the book tried to attempt too many elements and none of them were done exceptionally well. They were fine altogether, but not exceptional to me.

There were a number of issues that stood out. It is not very believable that Torie could be so well known to the world to be treated differently by others by her name yet still be able to go undercover without any disguise. Then, the FMC and MMC fall in love very quickly despite both having reservations and tragic backstories. I imagine the romance had to be quickly established, however, to make room for all the other plot points, which were too many in my opinion, see above. The declarations of feelings also came at a very weird time: right after Torey thought Joe (our MMC) was going to die but while there was still a nefarious actor on the loose. I’m pretty sure there were more pressing issues to address at that exact moment!

What the book does well: you could tell the author tied in plenty of elements of the real Jekyll Island and peppered references throughout. Then, this book tackled themes fairly well. Colleen Coble writes from a Christian perspective. I enjoy the hopefulness of reading about characters who have real struggles but choose to lean on God despite their lack of understanding. It is wonderful to read about others viewing the character of God and applying that to their circumstances rather than viewing their circumstances and trying to extrapolate the character of God from that. The book also touched on loyalty, forgiveness, and learning to trust again. I will say, though the themes were good, they were quite overt – more telling than showing. I think they could have been a bit subtler to have an impact on a wider audience, but perhaps the author purposefully identified a lane and decided to stick to it.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and netgalley for a copy of the book to read and audio to review. All opinions are my own.

Another excellent thriller from this 5 star author. When Tori investigates her friend's death, she will find a less than friendly reception in her home town.

A fast-paced and intense thriller set by the Georgia coast. The sea-turtle rescue elements were a really fun addition to the plot and moved the story along nicely, reminding me of Coble’s other books featuring dolphins.

It would be very traumatic to lose a friend to murder, so it makes sense that Torie will stop at nothing to make sure her friend’s “accidental” death is solved and prosecuted. She’s sure that Lisbeth didn’t willingly go out into the water; but as soon as she starts to piece a thing or two together, the killer instantly tries to terrorize her away from the case—and when that doesn’t work, she’s next on his list.

One of the best examples of Coble’s talent for penning a great thriller story. Definitely going to be rereading this one at some point.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free reading copy. A favorable review was not required.

A Stranger's Game was a quick-moving story! I was intrigued by the plot pretty much right when I started it and found that it was a fast read.

I liked the characters and thought the setting was great. The romance was fine, but I didn't find myself caring too much about it.

The mystery was good. I did end up slightly guessing the "bad guy", which was fun. I will say, though, that a character did something very foolish near the end that I just couldn't believe. Everything worked out okay...but it wasn't believable to me.

All in all, I liked the book, but it wasn't a favorite.

*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention/review it on my blog. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I've done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.*

Title: "A Stranger's Game" by Colleen Coble - A Disappointing Thriller

Rating: ★★☆☆☆

Regrettably, my experience with "A Stranger's Game" by Colleen Coble was far from satisfying, despite my high expectations. As an advanced reader who eagerly delved into this novel courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, I found myself underwhelmed by the story's execution.

The premise promised a gripping thriller centered around Eleanor, a woman determined to uncover the truth behind her husband's mysterious disappearance. However, the plot's potential was hindered by a lackluster narrative that failed to deliver the suspense and intrigue I had anticipated. Coble's writing, typically celebrated, fell short in this instance, lacking the captivating depth required for a thriller of this nature. The characters, while well-conceived, lacked the development and complexity necessary to engage the reader on an emotional level.

What set "A Stranger's Game" apart, unfortunately, was its inability to sustain a sense of mystery and keep readers guessing. The pacing felt uneven, with certain revelations feeling forced and predictable. Despite the book's promising premise, it ultimately left me unsatisfied and wanting more. If you're seeking an immersive thriller, this may not be the book to provide that experience.

This book was the perfect combination of suspense and thrills, and keeps the reader turning pages to see what happens next. I haven't read much by Ms Coble before, but I will do so in future. Recommended.

Due to a personal difference in beliefs (WITH THE PUBLISHER) I will not be reviewing this book outside of Netgalley nor do I plan to support Thomas Nelson in the future due to their decisions of late and the lack of fiction with good Biblical values.

This does not mean I do or do not like the book, it just means I will not be reviewing books for this publisher anymore as I do not care to support them when I do not agree with the way they have left their former standards.

A Stranger's Game is a standalone, romantic suspense story from Colleen Coble. In this story we meet heiress and hotel magnate's daughter, Torie Bergstrom. Torie had gotten her best friend a job at one of the family's hotels on Jekyll Island, where she ends up dead. The case is closed and deemed a drowning accident, but Torie knows that couldn't have happened. Lisbeth was terrified of water and wouldn’t have gone anywhere near the water let alone for a swim. Torie feels responsible, so goes undercover at the hotel to see if she can find out what really happened. When pills are found in her room, suicide is suspected, but there is noone seems to think she was depressed or had any issues. While there she meets Joe Abbott and his daughter, Hailey, rescuing baby turtles. They become friends and he agrees to help her, but he is unsure if she is on the right track.

This story started very abruptly, so it took me some time to figure out what was going on, but once I did, I really enjoyed the book. There is a lot going on, with Torie's life being in danger, the more she snoops. When her identity is revealed, even more storylines are revealed. There seems to be some connection to her mother's suicide many years before. When another death occurs, the urgency picks up as well as the tension. I was pleased with how all the various plotlines come together in the end. I enjoyed the addition of Hailey, she was a real sweetheart. There was definitely chemistry between Torie and Joe, but the romance is light and does not overpower the mystery. This is a Christian Fiction story, so there is a faith basis to the story. It is a natural addition with Joe sharing scripture with Hailey and pointing out God's presence in the many things that happened in the story. I enjoyed all aspects of this story and recommend it to those who enjoy Christian Fiction.

Another amazing book from Colleen Coble. I always keep an eye out for new books from this author and she doesn’t disappoint.

I’m a big fan of Colleen Coble’s work and A Stranger’s Game did not disappoint! A Stranger’s Game tells the story of Torie who goes undercover at her father’s hotel to find out the truth about her best friend’s death. While back home, Torie meets Joe Abbott and his daughter. Joe joins Torie on her quest for answers and justice. As both search for the truth, they fall in love.

I love the way Colleen Coble writes and how she keeps the reader on the edge of their seat. If you are looking for a book of suspense and mystery, then I highly recommend A Stranger’s Game by Colleen Coble! Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read this book. My review is also on Goodreads.