3 1/2 stars
I received a complementary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
This book wasn't normal Colleen Coble style but that was to be expected I guess. It had a strong plot but an ending that was very predictable. there were great characters and a dog so that's always a plus :). overall a good read, but I would recommend other Colleen Coble books before this one.

What We Hide is full of suspense, intrigue and heart lessons. It takes the reader on a wild ride thru a legal case where nothing is as it seems. The story seems to start off a little slow as the authors developed the characters and allowed us to get a glimpse of their relationship. But expect a roaring finish.
This isn’t just another suspense novel. Rather intertwined in What We Hide was a theme of forgiveness of oneself and others. It was secrets hidden. This novel also carried a theme of living thru tragedy with the pain that it brings . I couldn’t put this book down. What We Hide is the first in a series and I can’t wait to read the rest of the books.

Tragedy can break apart the strongest of bonds, scattering the best of intentions across the waters like the worst storm imaginable. Savannah and Hez were a couple that everyone envied for their steady, loving relationship- until the unimaginable happened. Savannah relocated to Tupelo Grove, hoping to bring sense back to her life while bringing her family’s college back into the black again. But someone likes things the way they are and having Savannah there isn’t part of the plan. Can Hez help her figure out what’s going on before she goes down for murder?
This author is a true storyteller. She always has a strong plot with plenty of delicious twists and turns that will grab you right in the pit of your stomach like the best roller coaster ride before coming to a smooth stop just in time. Phew! I didn’t see that coming! Please say there’s another coming soon!

What We Hide by Colleen Coble and Rick Acker is a Tupelo Grove Novel. It’s hard to put into words how amazing this writing team is. I have loved Colleen Coble’s books for years. Rick Acker just adds another level of greatness to her talents. Mr. Acker is a brilliant lawyer and adds so much. This book is multi layered and full of suspense. I only hope they write a sequel. I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher with no obligations. These opinions are entirely my own.

What We Hide has traditional Coble suspense but adds Grisham style legal story to it thanks to Rick Acker. This combination in authors tell a great story, with a very surprising ending.
Savannah Webster is a professor whose personal life has had many tragedies but trying to piece her life together when she discovers missing artifacts from her college's collection. When people start getting murdered from the missing pieces, she turns to her ex Hez to try and help her solve the mystery and not be accused of the crimes. What they find will keep the reader guessing until the end.
This is the best Coble I have read in a while, and I can't wait for the sequel next year to help solve the ending that was a shock for me! I enjoyed mystery, suspense and the work to reconcile the marriage of Hez and Savannah. All Coble lovers will love this one!

Such a great book! I loved all the twists. I couldn’t put it down.

I received this book from NetGalley and all opinions are my own.

"What We Hide" offers a blend of historical mystery and contemporary drama that will appeal to fans of Christian suspense. Coble and Acker weave together family secrets, academic intrigue, and a touch of romance in this Tupelo Grove Novel.

The premise is intriguing, with protagonist Savannah Webster caught up in a murder investigation that may be linked to the illegal sale of university artifacts. The authors effectively use this setup to explore themes of trust, forgiveness, and reconciliation, particularly through Savannah's strained relationship with her estranged husband, Hez.

While the plot keeps readers engaged with its twists and turns, some elements feel somewhat predictable. The pacing is generally good, but certain sections drag, and character development could be deeper. The historical aspects add interest, though they sometimes feel underutilized.

The writing is solid, if not particularly distinctive. Dialogue serves its purpose but occasionally lacks authenticity. Christian themes are present but not overpowering, making the book accessible to a broader audience.

Overall, "What We Hide" is a decent read for those who enjoy light suspense with a historical touch and Christian values. It may not break new ground in the genre, but it provides an entertaining escape for fans of the authors' previous works.

Savannah and Hez have a troubled past. She's moved on and is finding success and possible tenure at TGU. But the Hez pops back into her life asking for a second chance, around the same time she had filled for divorce. She cuts off all explanations and ideas of a reconciliation... that is until she is being framed for a murder and needs Hezekiahs help. It's as he is helping her, and eventually her sister, that all the feelings for him she realizes are NOT gone. But the divorce has been filed and their past may be too hard to overcome... In the midst of all the relationship troubles TGU is struggling. Criminal activity is all over their books, someone in the police department is dirty and the people are showing up dead left and right. What is going on?! Who is behind all of this? Do Hez and Savannah stand a chance?

I really liked this story. I like romance mixed with suspense. For me... the suspense took over the storyline as did the details. So for me... the romance was more of a 3 star and the suspense a 5 star making me give it a 4 star rating. A 4 star rating also means that I enjoyed the story, but it was more of a one time read, which is the case with this story. I am not sure if I'll read the follow-up. It's written well, but romance is my favorite and this one isn't as much a romance, as it is a suspense and mystery story.

Thank you to Netgalley for the free copy of this book. The review wasn't required.

Written by two authors--and they did a fantastic job. Colleen Coble is one of my go to authors and Rick Acker is new to me--but what a duo. What We Hide did not disappoint. It is a suspenseful mystery with twists to the plot that I did not see coming. The portrayal of the characters, their inner feelings, and strengths and weaknesses, make the characters realistic and relatable. I am looking forward to reading more from these authors and readers who enjoy romantic suspense stories will not want to miss What We Hide. I read a complimentary copy of the book through NetGalley and was not required to write a positive review. The opinions are my own.

I was excited to read this one, because I'm such a big Colleen Coble fan - but I hadn't heard of Rick Acker. It was harder to follow than I expected - wordier and I think it was because there were two writers. I enjoyed the book, but I enjoy Colleen's much more.

The book revolves around artifacts being stolen and sold from a Tupelo college. Savannah and her maybe/ex husband, Hez, are trying to figure out who's stealing the artifacts and the whole college seems involved. Lots of mystery and a few different storylines in this book.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for a temporary, digital ARC in return for my review.

What We Hide by Colleen Coble and Rick Acker gives readers an intriguing mystery. Savannah Webster is in deep trouble. She’s been accused of murder, and she turns towards the best attorney she knows, her ex-husband, Hez. While trying to clear Savannah’s name, they start to uncover secret after dangerous secret.

I love this kickoff to the series and love novels where everyone is a suspect. Readers get the best from both authors. Coble brings the suspense mixed with heartwarming characters, and Acker brings the legal twists and turns. The emotional drama grips readers with Savannah and Hez having to deal with their past head on. I can’t wait to read the next in the series.

I received an ebook review copy of this book through NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This legal thriller/mystery starts off a little slow, but by the middle of the story, it really picked up steam. It was full of twists and turns that I did not expect or even see coming. The ending felt a little bit rushed - a lot happened in a very short period of time - especially once I finished the epilogue and realized some things I thought to be true were not actually true. I will be anxiously awaiting the second book in this series!

Savannah Webster, history professor at Tupelo Grove University, the school her family helped found over a century ago, is shaken when her estranged husband reappears in her life. Hez Webster comes to Tupelo Grove to reunite with Savannah after a tragedy and his subsequent problems with alcohol drove them apart. Neither of them realize that they're going to confront much more than the ghosts of their past.

I loved this! It was a little strange reading something with such a familiar tone (I've read tons of Colleen Coble) at times, yet very different at other times. I know the authors have talked about how they tried to blend their writing styles, but it seems fairly obvious which parts Acker took the lead on. Not to say that's a bad thing! Their styles flow very well together, just as someone who has read so many of Coble's works, I could pick out the differences.

The plot was fantastic. It definitely kept me guessing, and the little history tidbits really kept me engaged along with the thrilling plot lines. I didn't know what to expect from one moment to the next. In addition to Coble's usual romantic suspense, there was a grittier undertone to some of the plot that really elevated it. The characters - as per usual - had so much depth, but you also feel for them almost instantly. Even without knowing all the details of their histories, you just want to root for them. You want everything to be okay, and I love that.

The BEST part of What We Hide, though, was the ending!!! I NEVER, ever saw that coming. I was floored, stunned, jaw dropped (literally!!). Never would have guessed. Great twist, great way to end that leaves you filled with dread and wanting more! I must know what happens next, must know what is to become of Hez and Savannah and Simon!!! And Tupelo Grove!

The story jumps right in with a bang, or a murder. A legal thriller that doesn't disappoint with twists, misinformation, and danger waiting to be unleashed. As the story unfolds the only thing you know is that you can't trust anything you know. Artifacts are going missing, bodies are piling up as quickly as the unanswered questions, and an innocent woman is caught in the crosshairs. Now she has to depend on her soon to be ex husband, the smartest legal mind she knows. The past is a place best left alone, full of heartache and memories that burn. But as Savannah and Hez work closely together to prove her innocence and find out what is really going on, those memories start to take on a happy glow and the future starts to look different. But only if they can find out the truth, before a killer turns the danger on them as well.
This new writing dual is a slamdunk! With the research, expertise, and storytelling acumen Colleen Coble and Rick Ackerman bring to the table each twist changes the way the reader looks at the story and what is happening. You are kept on the edge of your seat trying to keep up with the new information flooding in to solve. And just when you think you have it all figured out, the final twist is another unexpected addition that makes me excited for the next book in this series! The characters feel so real, their emotions and struggles invite the reader in to share the load and learn with them. To see lives restructured and made whole, through lots of hard work just like in real life. I loved every minute of this read and can't recommend it enough. I am greatly looking forward to more collaborations by these two authors. I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I'm a huge fan of Colleen Coble's books, so when I learned about What We Hide, which she co-authored with Rick Acker, I knew I was going to have to read it. Rick Acker is a new-to-me author, and now I can't wait to read more of his books. I love that there was romantic suspense with legal/courtroom suspense added in.

Savannah and Hez have been separated and are headed for divorce, though Hez would love to be able to get back together with Savannah and show her that he is a changed man. Savannah would prefer to have nothing to do with him, that is until she suddenly finds herself the main suspect in a murder that occurred on the college campus where she works. The college her ancestors helped found.

The reader knows early on that there is smuggling of ancient artifacts taking place, but the mystery revolves around who is actually doing the smuggling, what exactly is being smuggled, and how is the murder related. As the story progresses, there are more mysteries and lots of suspense and twists, more deaths, and another suspect added into the mix.

Savannah and Hez do end up finding themselves working together to try to solve this mystery and find the killer and clear those who have come under suspicion. But more secrets and twists keep popping up and we can't be sure who can be trusted.

I had actually suspected the person who ends up being the murderer early on. But with all the twists, I figured maybe I was wrong. However, the authors throw in a final twist at the end along with a cliff hanger that makes me desperate to read the sequel. Which I hope isn't too long in the coming.

One thing that frustrated me was that Savannah and Hez weren't communicating with each other when it came to their relationship. They kept assuming. It's like, just sit down and talk it out please! I understand with the tragedy they shared from their past that there were things that they had to work through. I was thinking they would benefit from some biblical marriage counseling.

All in all, I loved this book and highly recommend it.

I received an e-copy of this book through NetGalley and was not required to write a favorable review. These are my own honest thoughts.

I was looking forward to this one, but it missed the mark for me. I preferred the mystery angle, which was solid, to the romance. The pace was much too slow for the genre. Scenes between Hez and Savannah didn't seem well thought out or fleshed out. Some dialogue felt immature, or even lacking, and scenes were redundant. The ending sets the stage for a sequel, but I'm not sure I'll check it out.

Possible trigger warnings: child death, grief

What We Hide was a story filled with second chances, love, murder & suspense. Savannah & Hez cross paths again due to her being accused of a murder & needing representation. What follows are surprises, more murder & fraud and a sweet love story that will have you wanting more, even after the book ends. While it wraps up, the story is left with your wanting a sequel. Great story.

A great start to the series:
This was a fabulous book and although it started off a little slowly, things soon heated up and the second half of the book was especially full of action and suspense. I particularly enjoyed the mystery aspects of this book and was curious to see how it would all play out. There were also enough twists and turns to keep things interesting and me guessing throughout. Whilst it doesn't end with a cliffhanger, the epilogue does reveal further mystery and I look forward to reading the rest of the series to find out what is going to happen. I am also anxious to find out whether Savannah and Hez are able to get their second chance at love and marriage.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review. All opinions expressed are solely my own.

What We Hide is the first book in the Tupelo Grove series by Colleen Coble and Rick Acker. University professor Savannah Webster has to reach out to her estranged husband and lawyer, Hez, when she is accused of murder and needs a defense attorney. The secret sale of the university's pre-Columbian artifacts might be connected to the murder, and it will be up to the two of them to prove Savannah's innocence and find out who is behind these crimes. Fans will also get to revisit characters from Coble's Pelican Harbor series. and is a masterful start to a new legal thriller series. When is book #2 coming out?

This is a book you absolutely must read to the very end. A real zinger awaits the reader!

The characters and plot are interesting and intriguing enough to keep the readers' attention. This is an enjoyable book that ends with a real WHAT?!?!?