This was a great romantic suspense. There was so much going on and I often thought I knew what was happening, but I was wrong. I enjoyed all the suspense and intrigue and really enjoyed Torie and Joe's story. They work so well together and were perfect for each other. This was another home run for Colleen Coble.

When Torie's friend Lisbeth is found drowned, she knows it can't have been suicide as is claimed, because Lisbeth was deathly afraid of water - so she returns to the island of her childhood to try to discover the truth. Unfortunately, despite her assumed name, someone seems to know why she's there and to be desperate to stop her. Joe, a co-worker who trains sea lions for the Navy in his spare time away from the hotel, helps, but faces threats himself - some endangering his beloved daughter Hailey. Will the pair be able to get to the bottom of Lisbeth's death and these threats before someone gets hurt or worse? And will Torie finally work out what she really wants in life?

I've read some of the author's books that are part of series and felt a little disconnected at times - but this was nothing like that. It held my attention from start to finish, though I might have to read through bits of it again to feel like I completely understand the motivations in a few spots. Nevertheless, there's some enjoyable suspense, which all comes together fairly neatly, and a delightful romance (complete with a kid who's thrilled at the idea of a new mother). I was also intrigued by the mention of training 'sea mammals' - I'd never come across such an idea before. A good read - recommended.

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

This is a Romantic Suspense. I feel this book is a great mix of Suspense/Mystery and Romance. The beginning of this book took me a little bit to get into the story, and it also took a little bit to figure out what was going on. Once, I was into the story I really was pulled into it. There was a lot going on, but I feel it was done so well. I love the characters in this book, and I also loved all the animals in this book. The plot/storyline was so great in this book as well. This book will keep you guessing and wanting to find out what is going on. I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher (Thomas Nelson) or author (Colleen Coble) via NetGalley, so I can give an honest review about how I feel about this book. I want to send a big Thank you to them for that.

When Victoria “Torie” Bergstrom’s best friend drowns on Jekyll Island, she knows that this was no accident; Lisbeth was terrified of the ocean. She arrives to find out what happened to her friend as Torie Berg, the new IT employee. Her father Anton owns the resort, but she has not visited for the past eighteen years since her mother died from a fall from the resort roof. Her first day she meets Joe Abbott and his daughter Hailey who moved to the island after the death of his wife. He and his team are training seals, for the Navy, that detect unauthorized divers as well as patrol the surrounding waters. When Torie is threatened, Joe steps in to protect her, unknowingly placing him and his daughter in harms way. There was almost too much happening in this story as strange threats and “accidents” occur. Are they involved with Lisbeth’s death, the important meeting that will soon take place or possible foreign agents who seem interested in Jekyll Island? I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation for an honest review. (by paytonpuppy)

A Stranger’s Game, by Colleen Coble, Is a suspense you will not soon forget. This tale opens up with Torie Bergstrom returning to Jekyll Island. She had not been back to this place since she was a child; however, Torie has a secret mission. To discover what was behind the recent drowning of her best friend, Lisbeth!

As Torie begins to explore the seashore, she meets Joe Abbott. Joe works with security at the hotel, where Torie is to work. Not only is Torie hoping to solve the secret behind her friends death, but she has a secret of her own, that she must keep undercover!

This tale reaches a high pace, as Torie and Joe are attached as they are scuba diving. Danger seems to lurk around every corner. At the end of it all, you will not believe who was behind Lisbeth’s drowning!

Enjoyed the story. I was drawn to the mystery of Lisbeth's death and the reason Torie returned to Jekyll Island. I kept wondering if it was related to the death of Torie's mom. The police did a horrible job investigating Lisbeth's death. Throughout the book there were constant attacks to Joe in the water and Torie kept getting taunted with break-ins, music playing, board games and items being moved. Plus there was another death at the hotel. What was going on at this resort? Was everything connected? With all that was happening to Joe and Torie I couldn't wait to find out the truth behind everything. I'm still confused by the ending. I thought it could be explained a little more. Why were those two people involved? Did something happen to them to cause all that hostility? The measures that they took were so extreme. Everything seemed so far-fetched and unbelievable. I still have so many questions about the death of Torie's mom. Was it suicide or did someone push her? What was with Torie's aunt? How did she not recognize her? Torie wore her hair just like her mother. Not many people wear a crown of braids. Genevieve was far from a loving aunt. I enjoyed everything leading up to the ending. The story took a turn I wasn't expecting. Maybe if the reasons behind people's motives were explained a bit more I would have liked it a bit more and given the book 4 stars.

Definitely recommend the book. I enjoyed the characters, story and writing style. Look forward to reading more books by the author.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson--FICTION through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

A Stranger's Game
by: Colleen Noble
Thomas Nelson-FICTION, Thomas Nelson

Gorgeous Jekyll Island is the setting for both romantic and suspenseful tension, as hotel heiress Torie returns to her childhood community. Seeking answers to her best friend's death and confronting painful memories of the past lead her directly into dangerous, unexplained situations.
Author Coble certainly keeps the action and intrigue moving at a fast past on the southernmost of Georgia's Golden Isles. Torie gets right to work at her dad's Club Hotel resort. She quickly meets sea-lion trainer Joe and his daughter Hailey, thus enhancing the chances for an island romance in the midst of unsolved secrets, puzzles, and clues.
Torie is a compassionate, hard working professional woman who displays bravery and courage throughout the book. The island's mysterious atmosphere is palpable as both Torie and Joe diligently seek to stay safe and find connections to the strange happenings. I was fully engaged with this engrossing, well-written story, from Tories' arrival on Jekyll Island to the stirring, dramatic conclusion.
Thanks to Net Galley and Thomas Nelson-FICTION, Thomas Nelson for the advance reader's copy and opportunity to provide my unbiased review.
#AStrangersGame #NetGalley

This is another engaging novel by Coble. The plot is multilayered. The heroine, Torie, has come to investigate the death of her best friend who had in turn been investigating the death of Torie's mother years ago. I do wish there had been a bit more character building of Torie at the very beginning, explaining her background.

I appreciate that Coble has included the issue of trusting God after the loss of a loved one. I also like it when I learn something from fiction and this novel contained good information on the training of sea lions for use in underwater detection. I had no idea one could be trained to slap a cuff on the ankle of an intruder.

I like the setting of Jekyll Island off the Georgia coast. The location allowed Coble to include in the plot controversy surrounding the creation of the Federal Reserve on that very island as well as criticism by some of its actions today.

This is an entertaining and informative novel. There is a little suspense but nothing very intense until the very end. There is a good developing romance. What I liked best about the novel was the setting and the use of sea lions by the navy.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book through Partners in Crime Virtual Book Tours. My comments are an independent and honest review.

This is a well written romantic suspense that hooks you on the first page. It is full of drama, suspense and romance and will keep you turning the pages to see what happens next. If you like a book that will keep you on the edge of seat and keep you guessing until the end, grab this book.
I received a complimentary copy from Thomas Nelson--FICTION via NetGalley and was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

I always enjoy books by this author. The characters are always well developed and interesting. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy.

Jekyll Island, Georgia is the lovely setting for the suspenseful read where all old memories and new meet. Torie Berg is working at her family's island resort hotel undercover to find out what happened to her best friend, Lisbeth. It was reported that she committed suicide by drowning herself but Torie knows that Lisbeth was afraid of the water and would not put a foot in the water. Her mother fell from their family balcony eighteen years ago when Torie was just ten years old and she hasn't been back to the resort since so even her Aunt Genevieve doesn't recognize her. Only her father is in on her secret. She meets the handsome former Navy man Joe Abbott and his daughter Hailey, she falls for them but someone is trying to frighten Torie away. This is a suspenseful tale with a lot of different things going on at the resort and island, including a coming up meeting of the Federal Reserve and the arrival of a nuclear submarine. Joe trains sea lions to detect intruders who try to get close to the military on the island and nearby King's Bay, nuclear submarine base. Multifaceted issues abound amongst the budding friendship and romance developing along with the danger. This is a read that is a page turner from start to finish with great characters in the great setting of the Golden Isles of the coast of Georgia, a truly lovely area. In addition to the mystery going on in the current day, there are answers to a mystery from the past.
I received a complimentary ARC from Thomas Nelson and NetGalley but all thoughts are completely mine.

A Stranger's Game was an adrenaline-fueled romantic suspense. I enjoyed the Jekyll Island setting and could picture the scenery. The characters were likeable and heroic, and of course the little girl was precious. It was a guessing game who the bad guy was.
*I was given a copy of the book by Thomas Nelson Publishers and this is my honest opinion.
4.5 stars

I struggled getting into this book, but fans of this author will probably enjoy it. Even though it wasn't the book for me, I still recommend fans of romantic suspense to give it a try.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher, and was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine.

I received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Murder mystery combined with a sweet love story.

Outstanding drama from Colleen Coble in her latest novel, A Stranger's Game. Victoria Bergstrom returns to Jekyll Island using a pseudo name, Torie Berg, in order to discover more about the death of closest friend, Lisbeth and possibly her mother's death some twenty years ago. Torie's aunt now runs the hotel where she once lived with her family. This time is she working undercover in the hotel's IT department to stay under her aunt's radar. But as she begins investigating, strange things begin to occur around the island. She teams up with Joe Abbott, part time security at the hotel, to figure out what and who is behind the strange occurrences.
Enjoyed the suspenseful mystery of this novel.
I received a complementary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

A Stranger's Game by Colleen Coble is a phenomenal work of romantic suspense. This author is a master storyteller with heart-pounding suspense laced throughout. In this book, Torie returns to the hotel where she grew up as the child of the owner. But now she is undercover so she can look into the death of her best friend. But someone might just know who she is. Danger lurks everywhere she turns and Torie does not know who she can trust. I highly recommend this book. You won't be able to put this book down. I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher with no obligations. These opinions are entirely my own.

This one started out great but didn’t hold my interest, I’m afraid. Loved the setting though, especially the turtle scene as it brought back memories of when we released baby turtles into the sea,

Collen Coble always sucks you into her novels with a great story but also with such great lovable characters. You want Tori to find out what happened to her best friend and you want her and Joe to fall in love and create a family for Hailey, Joe's daughter. Add in some wild plot to bring down the elite bankers and you have a great suspense filled story. The story takes place on Jekyll Island that sounds just like a place to vacation and watch those baby turtles make it to the ocean. Would highly recommend.
Thanks to @thomasnelson, #netgalley and @colleencoble for an ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

Colleen Coble proves once again that she has new, suspenseful stories to tell! Tori returns to her hometown and hotel that she owns under disguised to find out what happened to her friend Lisbeth. Soon, it is apparent that someone does not want her solving the mystery and she needs to partner with Joe Abbott for safety and help. In true Coble fashion, they partner together for answers and for love.
A Strangler's Game is set in a beautiful setting and has a handful of suspects that makes the reader wonder who is behind the plots to kill our heroine. I am not a big fan of suspense novels that are popular, but Colleen Coble always gives a great mystery different from most.
I received a complimentary copy of this through Net Galley, but all opinions are my own.

This author is popular in certain reading circles and I’m sure A Stranger’s Game will be a big hit with Colleen Cable’s many fans. For me it was a little too predictable in style and focus, but I can’t deny there were some heart- pounding moments.
A young woman returns to Jekyll Island, Georgia, her childhood home to investigate the death of her best friend. She does not reveal her true identity or the purpose of her visit and oddly not even her aunt recognizes her. Although it strains credulity, she is able to pass herself off as a newly hired IT tech at a hotel where her father just happens to be the owner.
There are multiple suspects, red herrings and dangerous conspiracies which keep Tori’s and the reader guessing, but the one sure thing is the immediate attraction between handsome widower Joe Abbott and Tori both of whom, up to now, have deliberately stayed out of romantic entanglements.
There were several elements which prevented me from wholeheartedly embracing this romantic thriller. One is the mission of the publisher to present a Christian perspective which unfortunately was a little heavy handed. But harder to forgive was the poor writing. Imagine, if you will, the description of a wealthy man in the early pages of the first chapter. “His shoes,” the author tells us, “ ooze money.” I can’t get that picture out of my head. Another jarring note was the frequent inclusion of odors, scents, aromas, and fragrances. It might actually be a topic for a research paper on the author.
For readers who are not bothered by such concerns, this is sure to be an enjoyable read as Tori and Joe working in tandem solve the mystery and find true love.