I have been giddily eager for What We Hide ever since I first heard about it. Two of my fave suspense authors – Colleen Coble AND Rick Acker?!? Sign me up! I’ve been very impatiently waiting for a new Rick Acker book anyway… and then to find out he’s coauthoring it with Colleen Coble?!? Ahhhhhhhh!! I knew I was in for a great read but oh my goodness, y’all… the TWISTS! There were a couple I suspected but wasn’t sure about … and then a couple I did not see coming at all. Wow. I’m still reeling from one of them that had my jaw dropping in stunned amazement and elation (over what promises to be an exceptional second book) – like that Chris Pratt gif from Parks and Rec.

Savannah and Hez Webster are an estranged couple still dealing with the fallout of a heartbreaking tragedy that drove a wedge in their marriage and sent Hez spiraling into addiction. The last thing Savannah expects is for Hez to show up, clean and sober and asking for a second chance… at least that’s the last thing she expects until she finds a dead body and becomes a suspect for the murder. Fortunately Hez happens to be a fabulous attorney and Savannah is a determined amateur sleuth, and I enjoyed watching them work together to figure out who is behind the murder and why, especially because it provides space for some sweetly romantic sparks to rekindle and allows Hez to show Savannah that he’s really changed. It’s also soon clear that there is much more than murder going on at Savannah’s beloved Tupelo Grove University, and I loved digging deeper into these layers that surprised me more than once. (Cue the Chris Pratt gif again)

Bottom Line: What We Hide by Colleen Coble & Rick Acker is stellar in every way. The seamless writing, the characters, the faith notes (subtle but meaningful), the timing of plot reveals, the twists, the three different narrative perspectives (Savannah, Hez, and a shadowy mastermind), even the cameos by characters from some of the authors’ solo novels/series. All of it comes together to create this ideal blend of mystery, suspense, romance, courtroom drama, and a little psychological thriller too, while also giving us relatable and multidimensional characters we can stay invested in. I cannot wait for book two, especially after the way this book ends. Wow! I’m still processing! This is a dynamic author pairing, and I hope there are many more collaborations to come.

(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)

4.5 stars rounded up.

This was a very entertaining, fast-paced mystery that was easy and enjoyable to read. I loved the plot (very interesting turned sinister) and the twists until the end.


There were two things for me that didn’t really work. The biggest one was the communication between Hez and Savannah. It was immature, especially for folks that had been married and through so much. It didn’t jive with me and got old quickly. I also didn’t think that the religious references needed to be in the story and they felt out of place.

Advance reader copy provided by Thomas Nelson
/Harper Collins but all opinions are my own.

What We Hide is the fantastic start to a new romantic suspense series! Colleen Coble’s teamed up with Rick Acker to create a memorable legal mystery thriller with a lawyer who’s trying to save his marriage while defending his wife against murder charges. There’s also a smuggling ring selling artifacts from Tupelo Grove University where his wife works. Will Hez be able to solve the mystery & exonerate his wife?

I thoroughly enjoyed this story! Hez Webster’s a charming, sympathetic lawyer who’s a recovering alcoholic. He blames himself for his young daughter’s death & has been separated from his wife for a while. Now clean & sober, he wants a second chance.

Savannah’s a history professor now teaching at the university her family founded & hoping for tenure. Separated from her husband after the death of their daughter, she’s finally seeking a divorce. When Hez shows up out of the blue wanting a second chance, she immediately balks. But when she discovers a dead body & becomes the prime suspect, she needs Hez’s help to clear her name.

Filled with twists & turns, this story kept me quickly turning the pages. There’s a lot going on with multiple suspects. The artifact smuggling ring and murders are just two pieces of the puzzle. There’s also family drama involving Savannah’s sister. The courtroom drama added an interesting element to the story & I enjoyed the balance between it & the suspense.

I appreciated the tender second chance romance as Hez and Suzanna try to work through their grief. Neither one of them wants a divorce, but is it the best way for both of them to move on? There’s also a thoughtful faith element deftly woven through the story dealing with forgiveness & second chances.

While several things are wrapped up at the end, the mystery continues. I can’t wait to find out what happens in the next book. Highly recommend to inspirational romantic suspense fans. I received an advanced complimentary copy from the publisher. All opinions are my own and voluntarily provided. 4-4.5 stars

What We Hide is the first book in the Tupelo Grove series by Colleen Coble and Rick Archer. Tupelo Grove University has a long and checkered history dating back to carpetbagger days and the Willard family. Then, the Legare family came upon the scene and added to the shady past. But Legare’s are still involved in the school with CFO Jessica Legare and her sister History professor Savannah Webster. As a mystery unfolds around the university which includes theft of artifacts, embezzlement, and murder, Savannah’s almost ex-husband, seasoned investigative defense attorney Hezekiah Webster comes to her aid to solve the many issues that spring up as quickly as they are solved.

This is only the first of a new series and it has so many unexpected twists, red herrings, and buried nuggets it leaves the reader anxious for more. While there is a satisfying conclusion, the epilogue sets up a diabolical foreshadowing of what is to come and I cannot wait to see what comes next! I very much enjoyed this book and wholeheartedly recommend it!

Whew! That epilogue made me go back and reread sections of the book, just in case I could make more sense of the mystery. This storyline is wrapped up, but it's definitely a cliffhanger for the next book in the series.

Great mystery that kept me guessing. Some predictions I got right, some not so much. There were a few plot points I thought would be explored more and they weren't, but the ending reveals those are likely to be tackled in book two.

Dun, dun, dun!

Thanks Netgalley for the ARC! All opinions are my own and are not influenced by the free read.

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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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

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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.