Thank you NetGalley for the ARC! What We Hide by Colleen Coble and Rick Acker is a slow burn murder mystery. When Savannah, a history professor, notices missing pieces of an old collection of artifacts she enlists help from her soon to be ex-husband Hez to help her figure out where the missing pieces are. The twists of the story took me down many different paths that I could never have anticipated and the ending had me on the edge of my seat. My heart is still thumping and I’m so very much looking forward to the sequel to see where the story leads. Overall a great read that I would recommend to others.

What We Hide by Colleen Coble and Rick Acker - 4.5 Stars (Book 1 in the Tupelo Grove Series)

A new series from Colleen Coble - cowritten with Rick Acker - and they do not disappoint! I really enjoyed this one. I was engaged from the very beginning and had to know ALL the things! I read part physical and listened to the audio as well. The narrator was great and did a really great job on the different character voices and emotion. You really felt like you were there in the moment with the characters of the narration.

In this book, Savannah is a professor who works with her sister and CEO, Jess. Her and Jess are complete opposites but very close with one another regardless. We see the story open up with Savannah filing for divorce with her husband, Hezekiah (Hez). They have been separated for 2 years following the events of the death of their young daughter, Ella.

Cut to a professor being murdered, Savannah being accused of the murder, Jess getting involved and obviously keeping secrets, Hez representing Savannah as her lawyer, someone after Savannah, Hez and Savannah trying to work their marriage out and you have the makings of a GREAT romantic suspense story!

I overall enjoyed my time with this and the way it ended, I NEED the next book ASAP! The twists in this were done very well, even if I somewhat figured out some things. :) Loved that cliffhanger at the end either way.

My only complaint is I wanted Hez and Savannah to talk a bit more about their relationship but I understand they were trying to work through the mystery and they were trying to work through their feelings of grief and guilt from the loss of their daughter.

Overall, I am looking forward to the next book in the series.

Thank you to Thomas Nelson for a complementary copy of the book to honestly read and review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Trigger Warning Info: I haven't seen many reviews mention this so I want to take note. This book deals heavily with the death of a child by pool drowning. We see one parent deal with guilt and grief from it, the other with their extreme grief, and how it affects their marriage. Scenes in this book include visiting her gravesite, reliving the experience, a parent talking to another friend who also lost a child and talking through their grief, etc. I wanted to mention this in case anyone is sensitive to that content and needs to be aware before they pick this up.

What We Hide is a terrific beginning to a new series. Set in a small college town, it features a professor who is trying to write the story of the archaeological collection associated with her family and her estranged attorney husband who is back after two years.

This story is filled with murder, betrayal, remorse, intrigue, and forgiveness. It is considered Christian fiction and does contain a few conversations about faith and prayer. While a couple of scenarios toward the end lean toward outlandish, for the most part, this is a solid novel with relatable characters and enough twists and turns to keep you guessing.

I enjoyed this, and I think you will too.

Family friendly.

Regret can be a mean taskmaster and the worst is, it can keep you stuck in the past. Will Hez and Savannah be able to overcome a terrible heartbreaking regret to get to hope, healing and a future? I love how the characters grow even while struggling with their faith. This is a gripping emotional story filled with intrigue and suspense? And believe me, the bad guy will keep you guessing! Colleen Coble and Rick Acker did an excellent job in making me forget my to-do-list as I wanted to see what's going to happen next!

What We Hide brings to readers a new partnership between two trusted authors, Colleen Coble and Rick Acker, with a product which brings forth the relational aspects, fast moving suspense and sound legal terms that readers from both authors love.

There was a lot of twists and turns in this suspenseful and though I did guess who the murderer was, there was a cliffhanger ending I did not expect.

The emotional history between Hez and Savannah was a refreshing break between all the suspense and murder. Hez was a character with lots of personal growth, but I can still see a lot of potential for both Hez and Savannah throughout the series – here is me hoping we will see more of these characters.

I enjoyed this story and hope for a follow up story to answer some open questions.

BOOK: WHAT WE HIDE

AUTHOR: COLLEEN COBLE & RICK ACKER

PUB DATE: JULY 2ND 2024

👩🏼‍🏫👨🏼‍⚖️

REVIEW

Thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for this ARC. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

👨🏼‍⚖️👩🏼‍🏫

This was a nice book in romantic suspense genre and I liked it. It was equal parts romance and suspense. When I started it, I thought it was going to be boring, but I was wrong. I enjoyed reading as Savannah and Hez found each other again. It was fulfilling to read and I was rooting for them. I liked how the authors was realistic about Hez's addiction, his recovery and character development.

👩🏼‍🏫👨🏼‍⚖️

The suspense was very good too, but I was disappointed at the cliffhanger ending, it confused me. It was perfectly paced and I liked the conspiracy behind the unveiling of each perps. It kept me turning the pages. I liked Hez as a lawyer, he was a very good one.

👨🏼‍⚖️👩🏼‍🏫

I also liked the Tupelo Grove University setting, and how it was involved in the crimes committed.

👩🏼‍🏫👨🏼‍⚖️

This book had an amazing storyline and characters. It was worth it

What a wonderful collaborative effort! I have not previously read any of Rick Acker's work, but have enjoyed many of Colleen Coble's over the years. I enjoyed being back in the Pelican Harbor area and Coble's inclusion of some cameo appearances of characters from her Pelican Harbor series. This is the second book that I have read lately that includes portions told from the viewpoint of an unidentified character. It is a tool for building the mystery of who done it as readers try to pair the person's monologue to the traits of known characters, a tool that has its place in the mystery genre, but one I hope does not become over-used. The premise of the mystery, one of embezzlement and smuggling, could easily be pulled from today's headlines. The themes around the struggle to create balance between family and work, and the weight of grief on relationships add depth to the story. The pace of the story is perfect, the authors' ability to evoke emotion stellar, and the character development well-done.

I recommend What We Hide, and am grateful to have received a complimentary copy from Thomas Nelson via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this ARC publication for an honest review.

I loved this book! Savannah and Hez both were broken by a shared tragedy. Their marriage crumbled under the depth of grief as Hez turned to the bottle. Now Hez wants a second chance as he has finally got his life together...just as Savannah is finally ready to let the marriage and her pain go. Hez must win back her trust and show her he is a changed man even as Savannah fights against the softening of her heart. Oh, the heartbreak of these two characters who despite it all still love each other. This was more than a second chance romance. There is murder and mystery galore as Savannah turns to Hez to get her out of legal trouble as she is accused of murder. Twists and turns throughout! My only complaint is now I have to wait for book two...sigh.

5 stars

What We Hide is the first book in A Tupelo Grove Novel series by Colleen Coble and Rick Acker. This is a fast paced story that is filled with mystery and suspense. This story is well written and easy to imagine. I was pulled in with the mystery of what was happening at the University as well as the struggles Savannah and Hez have endured following the loss of their daughter. After turning Hez away and filing for divorce, Savannah finds herself suspected of murder and she turns to him to help her.

This is such an enjoyable story to read. It is filled with so much action and twists and turns that it keep me reading it just to find out what would happen next. I also found it interesting to see how Savannah and her sister both work at the University formed by their family in different ways. I was caught totally off guard as to what was happening, why and by whom.

I voluntarily received a complimentary copy of this book, this is my honest review.

This is my second Colleen Coble book and I thought it was better than the first one I read (Edge of Dusk). She did have a co-author so maybe that was the difference. The mystery was the best part although it took them a little bit long to get to the whodunit part. Overall, it was good enough that I plan to read the second one in the series.

My anticipation for this book was high, given how much I enjoy the author's previous works. Initially, though, I struggled to find my footing with this book because of the abundance of characters and multiple storylines. Typically, I connect with author's characters immediately, but in this case, Hez was the sole character I found compelling. The others lacked a certain appeal. Savannah's indecision regarding her relationship with Hez—her husband from whom she is in the process of divorcing—was frustrating, as she vacillated repeatedly. Her decisions, especially concerning her safety, often defied logic. Hez, despite his self-reproach over their daughter's death, aspired to improve himself and help others. The pacing felt slow at times, prompting me to read faster in search of more interesting parts. Despite this, I enjoyed the book. and look forward to the next book. The epilogue - just wow!!

This amazing book is the first in a series. The characters are all well developed, mysterious at time and very intriguing. I love the storyline with its twists and turns that ends on a cliff hanger.
If you have read any of Colleen Coble's other books then you know what you are in for. If you are new to the author and like a good captivating Christian based mystery with a touch of romance then this one is for you!
Thank you NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for my ARC in exchange for my honest feedback

3.5 stars! This is the first book in the Tupelo Grove series. The story takes place on a college campus where historical artifacts continue to go missing. Jess is the university’s CFO, and is framed for murdering two people. Savannah (Jess’s sister) and Hez (Savannah’s attorney husband) work to figure out who is behind the murders.

The book was a little slow moving at times, but I can see where this series will be interesting!

Colleen is a Christian fiction writer, and this is the second novel of hers that I have read. I enjoy that her books are suspenseful, but not filled with vulgarity.

Really enjoyed the book and would give it 3.5 stars. I loved the Pelican Harbor Series, so it was great to be back and see familiar faces. Loved seeing Jane, Reid and the rest of their family. At first the book was a little slow and I had a hard time getting into the story. Once Savannah and Beckett found the first body, it definitely picked up. Savannah always seemed to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. She made such bad decisions and put herself in danger. If there was a dead body, she would be the one to find it. I knew the killer and smuggler had to be connected to the college. From the start, I was very suspicious of one person. He/she ended up being involved, but I was completely wrong about some much. Jess kept some secrets from Savannah. Pretty big ones. I would have never guessed that was the reason she had to go to London. I can't imagine hiding something like that from your family. Simon needed a tracker on him. Between constantly running away from the boarding school and leaving the house without telling anyone. His impulsiveness put everyone in danger. You don't show up at stranger's houses, especially ones that want to kill you. Savannah and Hez seemed to do the exact opposite of people want to live. They put themselves in danger, many times because of Simon's actions. To say I was surprised by the ending is an understatement. There were so many twists and turns and the ending was the biggest one of all. I would have never guessed who was behind everything. I can't wait for the next book!!! I loved the description of Hez's dog.

Definitely recommend the book. I enjoyed the characters, story and writing style. It was a great mystery/thriller. 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.

Colleen Coble and Rick Acker have teamed up to deliver a suspense-filled new Tupelo Grove series. The first installment, What We Hide, starts off with a rousing bang. Mystery, twists and turns, romance, complicated family dynamics, and healing from past hurts – this book has every ingredient for success. I sped my way through this story, completely captivated. The second book cannot come out soon enough, in my opinion. This duo certainly knows how to spin a tale with enough layers and complexity to ensure your complete attention.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley. I was not required to provide a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

The first book in a new series is always exciting and this book lived up to the hype about it. With a complex plot and compelling, believable characters, this novel engaged me from the beginning and held me captivated until the end. Savannah Webster is a professor seeking tenure at Tupelo Grove University, but she is also a young woman with a past that injured her deeply and she is still having difficulty facing divorce from Hezekiah. The two of them had a meltdown after a tragedy in their family, and Hez turned to alcohol while Savannah turned away from him and the memories he evoked. Now that she is going to be charged with murder, she seeks out the help of Hez, one of the best lawyers she knows. The two of them get into some really tough and twisted situations as they try to find out who is selling artifacts and who actually committed the murder. Their investigation leads to danger as well as the possibility of restoring a relationship between the two of them. This is a well-written novel with a tight plot that crackles with tension and that moves along at a good pace. I enjoyed getting to know the characters who were portrayed realistically with believable flaws and fascinating, rich personalities. Reading this novel was a pleasure and I am looking forward to the next book in the series and getting to know more about the intriguing town of Tupelo Grove.
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 and all opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16th CFR, Part 255, “Guidelines Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

What We Hide by Colleen Coble; Rick Acker did not disappoint!
I enjoyed this well written, suspenseful story!
There is lots of action and you are drawn into the story from the beginning.
The pace is quick and the characters are believable.
I cannot wait for the next book.

Thank You NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

I received an arc from NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.

Whew this one was a little hard to get into at first and I am not a big fan of the divorce trope but the suspense and mystery were good.

That ending though left me wanting more!3.5 stars

This mystery was as taut and intricate as a spiderweb. It is intense and absorbing as secrets come to light that I never saw coming.

Savannah Webster and her husband, Hez, have suffered a tragic loss in their lives which has torn their marriage apart. The loss was enough to cause stress to their marriage. Then Hez drowned his sorrows in a bottle, which caused even further stress. Savannah decided to start fresh as a professor at Tupelo Grove University. She is living day to day. Hez arrives to ask for her forgiveness and let her know that he is clean and is a new man. She doubts his sincerity. Now he has thrown her off kilter again. However, when she is under suspicion for the murder of the university president, she knows she will need a good attorney. She knows Hez is the best. She finds herself in need of his legal services. They will have to put aside their personal needs in order to work through this process.

This was a superb mystery that just continued to build the further I got into the book. I felt such empathy for both Savannah and Hez. You could feel the love they had for one another, but the tragedy in their past seemed insurmountable. Forgiveness was a key component in this plot.

This book was jam packed with suspense and intrigue at every turn. Secrets abound in this book right up to the cliff hanger which will leave you speechless and wanting more! This was a wonderful start to a new series, and the pairing of these two authors was perfect.

Thank you to Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This team of authors have put together an exciting book of secrets. The characters are relatable and the action ebbs and flows. There will be times when you can't read fast enough, but you don't want to skip ahead for fear you'll miss something. Most everything is resolved by the end of the book, but it does leave enough loose ends to make you want the next book in the series. I thought I had it all figured out, but I was wrong and delighted that I was. Until the Epilogue. I was right after all. When is the next book coming out?

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC for an honest revue.