Ambush was my first Colleen Coble book. I've seen her name all over the place and even though suspense/murder mysteries aren't usually my preferred genre I decided to give it a shot! I enjoyed and appreciated the suspense and thrill of the setting being held at a wild animal sanctuary. This gave for some hold your breath type of scenes in the story. I also appreciated the development of Paradise and Blake's relationship. You can't help but root for them.
The reason for the 3 stars is because it took me at least to the 40% mark to become invested in the story. In the beginning there are a lot of nefarious things that happen and it didn't feel like there was any urgency. Almost like those things happen to them all the time so why bother getting upset. Also, out of the 4 mysteries, only 2 get resolved. I've found out there is a second story in the series and it revolves around the same characters and setting and hopefully wraps up the last two mysteries. I'm a bit skeptical there is much more to add to the story that won't feel repetitive from the first. That is my hesitation about wanting to continue the series but maybe I'll give it a try and Colleen Coble will prove me wrong.

Clean suspense/bit of romance story.

Thank you NetGalley for an eARC of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Colleen Coble never disappoints and Ambush is no exception. It is the first book in a new series. The setting is an animal sanctuary owned by a woman whose husband died. Her older son, Blake, leaves a police department to help her with the sanctuary and his two young stepbrothers. Along comes Paradise who is returning to her hometown after 15 years. Paradise and Blake have a romantic past.
So loved the inclusion of the sanctuary. Also loved getting little snapshots of the behaviors of a fennec fox and lions. I never realized how dangerous hyenas can be. The dynamics between Blake and his step brothers brought tears to my eyes. A great mix of thriller and romance. Many many thanks to Colleen Coble, Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for providing me with an arc of this engaging read published on March 4th.

Title: Ambush
By: Colleen Coble
Pub. Date: March 4, 2025

Genre:
Fiction, Women’s, Romance, Mystery, Christian
(Second Chance Romance)

Trigger warnings:
Animal Sanctuary sabotage, Suicide (mentioned)

Memorable Quotes:
“I never realized having the resource of prayer was such a big deal. It’s somehow comforting to know events are outside my control and that’s okay. It makes me realize I never had the control I thought I had.”

Summary/Review:
As a girl, Paradise suffered the trauma of her parents murder. After an unexpected turn of events, and suffering from PTSD, Paradise finds herself back in Alabama. Fifteen years have passed and she decides to take the job as a veterinarian at the Animal Sanctuary. Little did Paradise know that her old flame, Blake, is back in town working at the Sanctuary too. After their own unexpected family tragedy, Blake comes home to help his mother care for his younger brothers. Together Blake and Paradise make amends, and join forces to determine who is behind the sanctuary sabotage, while working undercover to reveal the truth behind the death of Paradise’s parents.

Ambush is the first in Coble’s Sanctuary series. Coble is an auto-buy for me. Although this is not my favorite of her works, it is still an excellent, action packed, fast paced novel. Colleen Coble creates the perfect mix of romance and suspense, while adding a hint of Christianity. The plotline delivers the reader with deeply connected characters, action packed sabotage, while informing the reader of the ins and outs of animals and owning a sanctuary. With the dynamics of betrayal and trust, the identifiable characters of Paradise and Blake will be remembered long after the last page. I recommend this new series and can’t wait for the next pub day!

Thank you to Colleen Coble, Thomas Nelson Fiction , and NetGalley for the opportunity of an Advanced Readers Copy. I am voluntarily leaving this review.

#Ambush
#ThomasNelsonFiction
#reluctantreaderreads
#advancedreadercopies
#NetGalley

Ambush by Colleen Coble was good, although not great. I really loved the premise and the setting - a veterinarian returning to her home town to work at a local wildlife refuge. It was such a fun setting, so different from the traditional local girl returns home to small town books. Of course. the refuge is owned by the family of her high school boyfriend, which allows for some fun and intrigue. The protagonist, Paradise, had a troubled past when her parents died/were murdered in the home town, and now there is a mysterious death at the refuge to solve as well. It was an easy and fun read, although I would have enjoyed some less obvious character development.

Thanks to Thomas Nelson and Netgalley for an ARC of this book. I always enjoy Colleen Coble and this one is no different. Suspense, murder in the environment of a wildlife sanctuary. Paradise and Blake move back home for different reasons and they share a history together. A very redemptive story set in a very interesting setting. I highly recommend. 4.5 stars.

Colleen Coble is a wonderful writer.
She is automatic read for me.
Ambush starts strong and kept me glued to the pages. There are many questions, lots of twists, and plenty of suspense to keep the story moving. I enjoyed Paradise and Blake, and their renewed relationship; Jenna and the two younger boys were delightful. I also enjoyed catching up with characters from other books and visiting familiar settings. I am very much looking forward to returns to their area in future books!!

Ambush is a definite must-read for suspense fans. The story centers around an animal sanctuary and someone isn't happy that the place is operating. Paradise Alden moves back home to take a job as the vet for The Sanctuary. Too bad her ex, Blake Lawson, works there. From page one, someone is sabotaging the Sanctuary. Blake and Paradise must figure out who wants to run the Sanctuary into the ground, and who would be capable of murder.

This story is exciting, action-packed, and full of heart. I always enjoy trying to solve the case right along with the characters. And Paradise and Blake make an interesting couple. The setting is fascinating with all of the different wild animals roaming about. Overall, this is a high-energy, intriguing read. 

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

Another riveting story to start a new series by Colleen Coble. Paradise lost her mother when she was young and went into foster care. When abuse was evident, a neighbor and boyfriend reported it and she wss removed. It was almost 15 years before she returned. Now as a Vet hired to work part time at the Wildlife Sanctuary, Paradise comes face to face with her past love. Blake helps his mother, Jenna run the sanctuary after the unexplained death of his stepfather.

Paradise has to come to terms with her past: the unsolved murder of her parents, family that didn't step up to help forcing her to foster care, and Blake. The Sanctuary is under fire from an unnamed source with accidents, damages, and bow a dead body. Colleen keeps the suspense level up and adequately deals with the romance to have Blake and Paradise reconnect to solve the mystery.

Although I received a free ARC from Net Galley and the publisher, all opinions are my own. A great read and now the dilemma of waiting for book 2!

I really enjoyed this book about the wildlife preserve in southern US. Added to the interesting premise of the wildlife preserve was the mystery surrounded the death of the main characters parents. When it becomes apparent that the preserve if being targeted, the main characters need to unravel not only the past but the mystery surrounding the preserve and why someone wants it to fail. Colleen Coble is a good author who brings characters and plots alive. I look forward to reading more of her books.

Ambush is a novel filled with suspense, romance, and intrigue. The plot will keep the reader guessing. This also contains a great focus on animal rescue sanctuaries. Ambush contains lots of danger built into the story which keeps the pages turning. And there is a great faith element throughout.
I never have been too keen on plots where the female character is portrayed as broken with emotional baggage and then along comes the strong male character who helps aid in her recovery. So this wasn’t my favorite Colleen Coble novel. But she is a great author who really transports the reader into her books. And I am anxious to see what comes next in the rest of the series.
I received a free copy from NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

Ambush by Colleen Coble is an engaging and emotional read that blends mystery, romance, and suspense. Paradise returns to her Alabama hometown to work as a veterinarian at a wildlife sanctuary, hoping to heal from a traumatic attack at her previous job. However, she’s also determined to uncover the truth behind her parents’ long-unsolved murders. Adding to the tension, she finds herself working alongside her first love, stirring up a whirlwind of emotions.

The novel weaves multiple storylines together—Paradise’s search for answers, the sanctuary’s unexplained sabotage, and her personal journey of healing. While some scenes are predictable, the plot twists keep the suspense high. A particularly heartbreaking moment occurs when Paradise reveals the consequences of being reported while in foster care, which may be triggering for some readers.

Overall, Ambush is a compelling story of resilience, love, and mystery, making it a great choice for fans of faith-based romantic suspense.

Having read and enjoyed a number of Colleen Coble's books, I looked forward to reading Ambush and was not disappointed. It is a captivating book that reels the reader in from the first page with tension that will have you holding your breath until the end. The author exhibits her skill in storytelling with her believable characters, action-packed scenes, and being able to keep the reader guessing as to which character is the villain. Ambush is a fast-paced story that readers who enjoy suspense and a sweet romance will not want to miss. I was given a complimentary copy of the through NetGalley and was not required to write a positive review. The opinions are my own.

Ambush by Colleen Coble, first in The Sanctuary series

Paradise returns to her hometown in Alabama after being gone for many years. She is going to serve as the vet for the wildlife sanctuary. Solving her parents’ murders is what drew her back. In the process of trying to get answers, she gets many other questions.

After the mysterious death of his stepfather, Blake left the military to help his mom raise his brothers and run the wildlife sanctuary. He is focused on his family and keeping everyone safe including Paradise. Paradise and Blake were high school sweethearts. They have to work together to protect the animals.

This suspenseful book is entertaining and engaging. It kept me guessing until the end. I thoroughly enjoyed the behind the scenes look of a wildlife park. I am looking forward for the next book in the series!

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for the advanced reader copy. The options shared are my own.

Great book! Keeps you reading and guessing til the end! Definitely think there could be a sequel. Would love to find out what happens with characters next!

Too much Lifetime and TBN and too little thriller. I wish it had been better described. I feel like I wasted a bunch of time with obvious plots, shallow characters, and ridiculous stretches in order to try to wrap the whole thing up.

Ambush by Colleen Coble
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A nice PG romantic suspense filled with hope, working through past trauma, and forgiveness. I have liked all of Coble’s books I’ve read so far and this was no exception. I especially loved the connections to characters in her last book I read.

Thank you @colleencoble, @netgalley, and @thomasnelson for a free ARC of this ebook. All opinions are honest and my own.

#netgalley #closeddoorromance #ambush #sanctuaryseries #colleencoble #goodreads #bookstagram #literarypearlsof25

Paradise is coming back to her home town in Alabama and the scene of the double murder of her parents. She has had plenty of trauma in her life and now she is going to be a veterinarian at the local animal preserve. Before she came, she was mauled by a panther and now experiences anxiety around large cats. She hopes that working with them again will help to regain her confidence around them. On the first day on the job, a woman is discovered murdered. The woman had been leading a protest group about the preserve. The problems continue to add up, from arson, unlocked cages, shooting, and falling objects, it seems that someone is sending a loud message. The local police officer decides that the owner's son is responsible and doesn't even investigate. Blake, the son, and her decide it is up to them to clear his name.

A lot of plot happens in this book. Paradise questions her faith, investigates her own parents' murders, and begins to fall in love. If you are looking for action and some romance with a faith element, then Ambush should be a great read. Not all is tied up and so you will want to look for Book #2 in the series when it comes out. The ending seemed abrupt, but sometimes a series ends this way as it builds for the next book.

Paradise Alden has returned to the town she grew up in after fifteen years. Nova Cambridge, Alabama. She is now a veterinarian and has returned to work at the Sanctuary, a that is home to bears, hyenas, giraffes, big cats-as in tigers, jaguars, leopards, and so many other wild animals. Did I mention hippos? Paradise bears the scars of a not-so-long-ago attack from a big cat. Scars on the outside as well as on the inside. She loves the big cats and realizes she needs to overcome her fear of them. She hopes she can do this at the Sanctuary. Another reason for coming back to her hometown, is that her parents were murdered when she was a child and the murder was never solved. Whoever killed them is still out there.
The Sanctuary is owned by the mother of the one (Blake) who Paradise feels turned his back on her at the worst time of her life. This led to her being sent away from her hometown. However, Paradise and Blake will be working together so they will have to learn to get along.
Things get crazy as soon as Paradise arrives. A dead woman is found in a horse trailer. She was murdered. Then, other things happen. Someone left the gate open to the hyenas and they are advancing on Blake. One thing after another happens and the local policeman seems a bit too big for his britches and has quite the attitude. He does not give attention to all the incidents that he should. He wants to believe Blake is doing all of this himself. Did I mention that before Paradise got to the Sanctuary that Blake's stepdad died due to a fall from the hayloft in the barn? He seldom had reason to go up there, and he'd had railings installed as a safeguard for his two young sons. There is someone wanting to purchase the Sanctuary, but Blake's mother, and his stepdad prior to his death turned the offer down. All these events bring bad publicity to the Sanctuary, and they make income from giving tours. Could all these things be done to put them out of business so they are forced to sell?
This story is full of suspense and action, with some romance. Well developed characters. Love the story line in this book!
I was given an advanced ecopy from the publisher, Thomas Nelson through Netgalley. I was under no obligation to leave a positive review.

It’s a great romantic suspense. It’s a roller coaster of suspense Following along the clues was a twist road. It kept me glued to the pages. The conclusion of the book still leaves us with a mystery. I look forward to the next book to see what happens next

This was honestly kind of a mess.
The premise of Ambush grabbed me right away—a wildlife sanctuary setting, a murder mystery, and a veterinarian with scars both physical and emotional, a gorgeous cover with moody atmosphere. Unfortunately, the execution didn't live up to what the concept promised.
I found the book painfully slow to get going. The first hundred pages dragged as Paradise and Blake circled each other with their unresolved past. Just when I thought the pace would pick up with the discovery of a body, the plot seemed to meander rather than gaining momentum.
Things got confusing as more characters and subplots were introduced. I had trouble keeping track of who might be targeting the sanctuary and why. Was it related to Blake's stepfather's death? Paradise's parents' murder? Some grudge against the sanctuary itself?
Eh. I lost interest quickly and just got through it because I said I would read it.
For a book marketed as a thriller, Ambush lacked the tension and urgency that should have kept me up reading past midnight. Instead, I found myself setting it down for days at a time with no burning desire to pick it back up.
I did enjoy the animal scenes. Those felt authentic and showed Coble had done her research. The romance felt predictable, with Paradise forgiving Blake's betrayal too quickly. I do like drama and mess though, so......
The book does set up an intriguing series with the unresolved mystery of Paradise's parents' murders, but I'm not invested enough to continue with future installments.