4.5 stars

Colleen Coble has long been one of my go-to authors for romantic suspense, and she proves why in A Stranger’s Game! (She also made me love a seal named Simon, so there’s that. lol)

I really liked getting to know Torie, Joe, and Hailey, thanks in large part to Coble’s skill with character development, and I was especially intrigued with Joe’s unique job. There’s more than one suspicious death in play here, and part of the fun of this reading experience is trying to determine whether or not they were caused by the same person(s). Layers are revealed at just the right pace, and the ‘creepiness factor’ was spot on for me, too. As in, just enough creepy moments to make me look over my shoulder a little bit but not so much that I’m scared to go to sleep or move through the house without a bodyguard haha.

Bottom Line: A Stranger’s Game by Colleen Coble kept me glued to the page from beginning to end. Part psychological thriller, part romantic suspense, part mystery, it’s all riveting. The suspense and romance are well balanced so, if you don’t like romance with your suspense, you won’t feel like that part of story overshadows the suspense. Layered characters and a fun setting add further dimension to the plot, and the story takes several twists and turns that I wasn’t expecting. A word of advice, though: Read this with the lights on and when you have plenty of time to finish it. I wasn’t able to put it down, and I suspect you won’t be able to either!

(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)

Torie Berg, the heiress of the Bergstrom resort empire, returns to Jekyll Island, Georgia to investigate undercover the death of her best friend Lisbeth Nelson. Torie meets Joe Abbott and his daughter Hailey. Keeping her true identity under wraps leads to many discoveries including a growing attraction to Joe and his daughter. Torie while investigating her friend’s death uncovers many hidden family secrets.
This latest offering from Collen Coble will not disappoint fans. The mystery and romance kept this reader turning pages and many late nights. From page to page and chapter to chapter, Ms. Coble keeps the reader wondering who is the enemy and who was ultimately responsible for Lisbeth’s death. The characters are likable and relatable. Following the struggle that Torie has in honoring her family’s business while following her own passion was told in such a voice that one can relate to the decision between the needs of others vs. your own needs. A very a satisfying read and recommended to all who like quick thrillers and a little romance thrown in for good measure.
I received an ARC ebook from NetGalley and the publisher, Thomas Nelson, in exchange for an honest review.

A Stranger’s Game is the latest novel, a stand alone, by author Colleen Coble. Torie Berg (Victoria Bergstrom, heiress to the Bergstrom resort empire) has returned undercover to the Jekyll Island, Georgia, resort where she spent her early childhood in search of what happened to her best friend Lisbeth Nelson. Lisbeth had come to the island seeking information about what actually happened to Torie’s mom 18 years ago. Whatever Lisbeth had discovered had cost her life.

On Torie’s first night on the island she meets Joe Abbott and his young daughter Hailey. Joe, who trains sea mammals for the Navy and does part time security work for the resort, shares an instant connection with Torie, as does Hailey. On that first night Torie finds haunting occurrences and scary music in her cabin. She immediately turns to Joe for help and they become a team to thwart whatever this enemy is.

But who is the enemy? Terroristic things had happened to Joe on the job. Torie uncovers that there was some “plan” that Lisbeth may have stumbled upon. And, simultaneously, the Navy is holding off shore war games while the resort is preparing to host a Federal Reserve meeting on site. Who is the threat?

In this well plotted thriller, Ms. Coble brings a wonderful story with likable, damaged characters and ominous enemies to her readers. In a beautiful setting these characters work to solve both current national threats as they also lead to closure for long term trauma.

In the following days things are learned that put both Torie and Hailey in danger. As the clues mount and the danger tightens around them it takes luck and love to overcome.

This is a wonderful story and I do recommend it to the lovely readers of this genre. I did enjoy this book and I do recommend it

This book was provided by NetGalley and Thomas Nelson publishing for an honest review.

At 28% in, I can honestly say that the author really seems to like red hair. So fair 2 characters have red hair and one has red highlights... red isn't a super common hair color to find amongst non-related people in a small group so either there are some family relationships going on here that we aren't told about yet, or there seems to be an overabundance of red-heads on Jekyll Island in this book.

Overall the story was interesting enough to hold my attention. Although Colleen Coble is a Christian author and this does have some Scripture in it, it was not overly Christian throughout and the times the Scripture is inserted felt off to me. That said, if you want a clean mystery with a minimal amount of Christianity tossed in, then this would be a great choice.

Another stellar Colleen Coble thriller that keeps you on your seat, A Stranger's Game brings readers to Jekyll Island, which turns out to be a very dangerous place to be for Torie Bergstrom. Torie has a lot to hide herself, but would do anything for her best friend, Lisbeth. Lisbeth wants to work at one of the hotels in the area, and Torie is all too happy to help her get that job. However, when she arrives, she finds her best friend has tragically died.
Can Torie get to the bottom of what happened? Taking matters into her own hands, Torie decides to play Nancy Drew and go undercover, complete with an alias. But the bodies keep piling up. Could Lisbeth's murder have something to do with Torie's mom's murder years ago? With the help of the kind, intelligent Joe Abbott and his animal loving daughter, Hailey,Torie begins to see that all secrets will be revealed when the time is right--if only she can survive the investigation!

Readers of Coble will recognize the strong characters, complete with flaws and heroic tendencies. Fast paced and gripping, A Stranger's Game will pull you in and keep you hooked until the last page!

I was an early reader, thanks to the publisher and #NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

In A Stranger's Game, author Colleen Coble transports the reader to Jekyll Island, Georgia for an intriguing Romantic Suspense story that will keep the reader guessing and turning the pages.

Victoria Bergstrom, hotel heiress comes home to her family owned Club Resort hotel on Jekyll Island, Georgia after eighteen years to find out how best friend Lisbeth Nelson died. Using the alias Torie Berg, the hotel's new IT specialist, she is on a mission to prove that Lisbeth did not accidentally drown on the beach, and bring Lisbeth's killer to justice.

Torie meets Joe Abbott, Navy marine sea lion trainer and part-time hotel security guard and his eight year old daughter Hailey on the beach. Both Torie and Joe have similar tragic pasts, and Torie thinks that she may have an ally to help her search for the truth in Lisbeth's death.

As Torie and Joe search for the truth behind Lisbeth's death, cryptic warnings, accidents, attempted kidnappings and sinister events start to occur. The further they dig, the harder someone is determined to stop them at all costs.

Author Colleen Coble weaves a fast-paced and suspenseful tale written in the third person narrative that follows Torie and Joe's investigative journey in search of the truth behind Lisbeth's death. When Torie and Joe's investigation intertwine with a sinister terroristic plot planned to occur at the hotel resort, it will take a lot of digging and dangerous situations to find the truth. And if that's not enough, Torie and Joe have a strong connection that could lead to an unexpected chance at romance.

The reader will be easily drawn into this well written story with its richly descriptive plot and idyllic southern island setting. A Stranger's Game has enough drama, tension, action, flashbacks and clues from the past, romance, and unexpected twists and turns that kept me thoroughly engaged and guessing what would happen next, it will definitely take the reader on one heck of a thrilling roller coaster ride.


Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author / publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my participation and book review in a virtual book tour event hosted by Partners In Crime Virtual Book Tours.

https://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspot.com/2022/01/a-strangers-game-by-colleen-coble-vbt.html

Colleen Coble just has this way of sucking you into her stories, making you feel like you are right there, living in the thick of it. This book is no different. It’s full of mystery and suspense, leaving you hard pressed to put it down until you’ve read every last page.

My thoughtls Colleen has written a spell binding Romantic suspense set on an island in the southern part of the Atlantic Ocean near Georgia. The princess has returned, but nobody knows who she is until her father arrives. Not even her aunt recognizes her. She's there to investigate the supposed murder of her best friend which nobody believes is a murderer. Can she prove that it is and find a killer before the killer finds her? And what about a long unsound mystery that has had people baffled for years. Is it possible to solve that one too? I couldn't put this book down and had to keep reading until the end. Colleen coble is one of my favorite romantic suspense authors for good reason and if you haven't read any of her books you need to pick one up and read it. This one would be a good one to start with. I was given a copy free and all opinions are my own.

A Stranger's Game
by Colleen Coble
Pub Date: January 4, 2022
Thomas Nelson

What a tale! I love Suspense Romance. Colleen Coble has done it again. A great book that makes me want to tell the world about it.
Thanks to Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for the ARC. I have read most of Coble's books and I believe she just keeps getting better and better.
5 stars

A Stranger's Game is a stand alone thriller involving a hotel heiress who comes to Jekyll Island to find out what really happened to her friend. Torie is convinced her death was not an accident. When she meets Joe, she has to decide if the can trust him enough to ask for his help. All while guarding her heart in the process.

I really enjoyed the mystery. I was hooked from the start and read it in one sitting. I definitely didn't call the solution to the main mystery. Nor did I call the solution to the lesser mystery. That's right, we get a bonus mystery in this one. One of the things that I enjoy about this author's books are her characters. I always feel like they are people with whom I could good friends. Torie and Joe were great characters. Both separate and together. Their romance was sweet and they were perfect for each other. As an aside, I loved Joe's job. I had never knew the military did something like that with sea animals. It was really cool. If you are looking for a good mystery with a sweet clean romance, I highly recommend this one.

Tori is undercover investigating the death of her best friend at her family's hotel. She meets a local guy, Joe and his daughter Hailey. When an issue arises at her cottage and security is called, she realizes Joe works part time at the hotel. her

There are lots of characters and suspects presented in the story. Her aunt Genevieve is the manager and hasn't seen her niece in 10 years since her sister, Tori 's mother died. Kyle, the head of IT is a sketchy guy who gives off strange vibes. The shop owners in town are participating in a scavenger hunt for an upcoming convention and seem very involved.I

How trains are lions for the Navy and strange things keep happening. The attacks escalate, raising questions for both Tori and Joe.

I got an inkling early on about who might be responsible for the break-ins and stalking of Tori. When things escalate and involve Hailey and Joe, Tori realizes how she feels and to share her true identity and reason for being on Jekyl Island with Joe.

Can he trust her after he finds out the truth. Are they able to work together to determine who's targeting them? It's suspenseful with a bit of romance and mystery that you'll want to read.

I received a free ARC eBook from Net Galley and the publisher in exchange for my honest opinions.

Excellent! There is a thrumming hum of danger and intrigue throughout with lots of plotting and drama. It was fast-paced – a whole lot happened between the pages. I read it quickly – in less than a day – and one of the things I love about Coble’s writing is that by the end of the book, I’m curious enough to find information relevant to the plot of the novel – in this case, man-made artificial reefs featuring old transit cars. Who knew?!?

I received a complimentary copy of this title via NetGalley. Opinions are entirely my own.

The story of Torie Bergstrom’s determination to discover the truth about what happened to her best friend Lisbeth was a compelling read, with a sub-plot of a romance developing between Torie and sea lion trainer Joe. Torie is an heiress to a hotel empire and takes her responsibilities seriously, including solving the mystery of her friend’s death. With the help of Joe and local state trooper Craig, Torie follows the clues and inevitably winds up endangered herself. The plot is somewhat complicated because the resort on Jekyll Island is the site for an important meeting with the Federal Reserve and someone nefarious seems to be targeting the participants. I thoroughly enjoyed the details of the setting and the behind-the scenes look at the resort. It was obvious that the author had done her research! The romance between Joe and Torie was well-paced and realistic, with Joe’s concern for his daughter Hailey overriding any romantic feelings he might have for Torie. With three-dimensional characterization and a storyline that was original and absorbing, this book held me enthralled and even giving advice to the characters. The ending seemed rushed to me, but I think that was because I did not want the story to end. I could continue reading about Torie’s adventures and her quest for truth and justice for a long time to come. The story was just that good and the characters were just that likable. Of course, there were villains who were despicable, portrayed just as they should have been. All in all, this is a winning book in the romantic suspense genre and fans of good, clean Christian fiction will cheer at the ending and applaud a well-written book.
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

Victoria Bergstrom is the daughter of a Hotel magnate. She has lost her mother to what has been claimed a suicide as well as her best friend also claimed a suicide, but Victoria doesn't believe either of them committed suicide. So she has gone to the resort owned by her father on Georgia's Jekyll Island to work and investigate the truth behind the claimed suicides. Joe Abbot lives with his daughter, Hailey, on the Island and works part time for the resort in Security; but he also trains sea lions for the Navy.

Colleen Coble never fails to pen a suspense read that doesn't keep me glued from start to finish. Torie was a strong, intelligent, independent woman who was well matched with Joe who was caring, astute, and intelligent. Hailey was the perfect addition to play matchmaker to Torie and Joe while they were busy trying to determine whether Torie's mother and best friend had been murdered or committed suicide. Throw in a few red herrings, and this was definitely a book that you couldn't put down.

**I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions are mine alone. I was not compensated for this review.

Another great book by Coble! You know when you open the pages there is going to be excitement, mystery and suspense and of course romance. A Stranger's Game did not disappoint. This is a great mystery with a vivid and unique setting. Well layered and descriptive characters and all of this with a satisfying ending. Victoria Bergstrom arrives on Jekyll Island where she lived for many of her early childhood years. This time she returns to uncover {and undercover} what she was sure was murder and not an accidental drowning of one of her closest friends. She encounters danger and secrets that could change her life and also others. Your attention will be held through out as you keep turning the pages.... My thanks to NetGalley and ThomasNelson for providing me the free early arc of A Stranger’s Game for review. The opinions are strictly my own.

rie Bergstrom goes back to Georgia to find out what happened to her best friend Lisbeth. Lisbeth was pulled from the waters at Torie's family-owned property on Jekyll Island. Lisbeth was scared to death of the water, never even went swimming. So why was she in the water in the first place?

Tori is on the island using an alias, so she is not recognized as the daughter of the owner of the hotel. She meets Joe and his daughter Hailey as they are rescuing turtles. The turtles lay eggs yearly on the island and of course they are food for predators. Hailey is desperate to make sure that they reach the water safely.

Torie is desperate to find answers to not only how Lisbeth died, but it was also not an accident and along the way find out what happened to her mother who died at the same hotel, years ago when Torie was a child. She takes a job in the IT department of the hotel, her aunt Genevieve is the hotel manager there also, but Torie has not seen her aunt in many years, so she thinks she is safe to work at the hotel and not be recognized.

Strange things start happening, like someone entering the cottage she is staying at, leaving cryptic clues. With Joe's, help she hopes to get the answers she needs. So as not to spoil the story, I will stop here.

This is the first novel I have read by Colleen Coble, and I thoroughly enjoyed it, read it in a few sittings. I think I will pursue more titles by the author. Definitely worth a read.

This book is a race from beginning to end, with momentary pauses for romance before the colliding suspense and mystery take over. I LOVED every page and was sad to reach the end. Set on beautiful Jekyll Island, readers can escape to a gorgeous location while falling in love with real characters. The tension is taunt and the descriptions pitch perfect. Race to your nearest bookstore to buy this latest novel from Colleen Coble.

What a story! This is an excellent mystery/suspense/romance. It grabbed my attention and kept me interested from start to finish. I found the sea lion program with the Navy particularly fascinating. I like how the author wove that into the plot.
I think the characters are a well-rounded part of the story. Torie and Joe are characters that I could care about, and Hailey is quite a lot like the young grandchildren in my family.
This is a great clean read to start off the 2022 offerings. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for my advanced reader's copy. These are my own opinions. You can't go wrong with a read from Colleen Coble.

Prolific author Colleen Coble’s latest romantic suspense fiction release is A Stranger's Game. A daughter returns to Georgia to her family’s property on Jekyll Island. She is there undercover to investigate her friend’s supposed suicide when events spiral out of control with bombs, a rising body count and her secret identity exposed. With nicely building tension, the odd religious reference and a minor level of romantic themes makes for a leisurely paced venture with a three-star rating. With thanks to Thomas Nelson Fiction and the author, for an uncorrected advanced review copy for review purposes. As always, the opinions herein are totally my own and are made without fear or favour.

I have been a fan of this author for years, but this book fell a little flat for me. The main characters, Torie and Joe, were likeable, and Joe's daughter Hailey was adorable. Joe's job training sea mammals for the Navy added a unique and interesting element to the story. However, the suspense didn't draw me in as much as the author's novels usually do. The ending felt rushed, and I finished the book without really understanding the perpetrator's motives for committing the crimes. It wasn't as satisfying as a conclusion as I would have liked. Still, that may just be my preference, and if you are a fan of this author and/or genre, I would recommend giving this book a try!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.