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"Where Secrets Lie" by Colleen Coble and Rick Acker is an absolute gem, earning a well-deserved five stars. As the second installment in this delightful Christian mystery series, it continues to captivate with its inspirational characters and masterfully woven plot. The story is easy to read, yet rich with suspense and heartfelt moments that keep you turning the pages eagerly.

The characters are not only relatable but also embody deep faith and resilience, adding layers of meaning and inspiration. The plot is wonderfully crafted, filled with twists and revelations that keep you guessing until the very end. It’s the kind of book that sparks thoughtful discussions, making it an excellent choice for book clubs.

If you're looking for a mystery that blends intrigue with uplifting themes, "Where Secrets Lie" is a must-read. Colleen Coble and Rick Acker have created a story that lingers in your thoughts long after the final page. Highly recommended for fans of Christian fiction and mystery lovers alike!

Thank you Netgalley and Thomas Nelson for the chance to read the ARC of Where secrets lie by Colleen Coble and Rick Acker. I was eager to read the 2nd book in the Tupelo Grove series as I loved the 1st book Where we hide, which I read with my sister in our bookclub! What we hide ended with a surprising twist (I recommend reading it before jumping into Where secrets lie) and the suspense continues as Savannah and Hez not only try to pick up the pieces of their broken marriage, but continue to try to solve the mystery behind the theft of artifacts, and sabotaging the university. I love the characters, especially Savannah and Hez, and adore Cody the dog!!! I am definitely looking forward to the next book in the series! Totally recommend this to those who read romantic suspense, and legal thrillers.

Book 2 in the Tupelo Grove series keeps the suspense going. While more bad guys are exposed and some questions are answered, more questions come to the surface. Who is out to kill people, and are people accidentally dying? Are all the villains on the same side, or are there multiple different groups at play? There's still some trust issues. There's also people that should be watched closely and/or be suspicious of. With a bit of a cliffhanger ending, I'm definitely looking forward to the next book in the series.
I received an ARC copy from NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.

This was certainly a page turner! It’s a fast moving story. It’s filled with lots of twists and turns. There’s surprises around every corner. You won’t be able to put this book down! I’m anxiously waiting for the next one in this series.

Colleen Coble and Rick Acker craft a masterfully entertaining christian suspense thriller.  Tupelo Grove a picturesque southern college steeped in history, finds itself in the middle of trouble.  Savannah and Hez recently escaped a life threatening situation. Jess is back also with her drama. This is book two in the series, but can be read as a stand-alone. Very well paced, great chemistry among the characters. These are characters that you want to succeed. 

Thank you to Thomas Nelson for the ARC / ALC. Karen Peakes is an amazing narrator. The production quality was top notch.

Where Secrets Lie picks up not long after the first book, What We Hide, leaves us. Savannah and Hez are working on their relationship, trying to overcome the past. Hez continus his work mentoring law students at Tupelo Grove University's legal clinic. Savannah takes on the job of Tupelo Grove University President. Her half sister, Jess, becomes the CFO. They are continuing to investigate the smugglers who are stealing valuable artifacts from the University. These people are dangerous and will stop whoever tries to stop them. Savannah, meanwhile, worries that Hez may have fallen back into his old "habits" and what that could mean to their starting over.

This book has it all, thrills, suspense, and romance. The characters are well developed and you can't help but want Savannah and Hez to get their second chance. Colleen Coble and Rick Acker are a fantastic writing team. They know how to keep the reader engaged and turning the pages for what is next. I can't wait for the next book!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Thomas Nelson Fiction, for a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This story will strongly appeal to readers who seek a compelling blend of passionate romance and gripping criminal suspense. The story masterfully intertwines these two elements, creating a reading experience where the development of deep emotional bonds is set against a backdrop of high-stakes danger and intrigue. Readers will be drawn into a world where characters grapple with personal redemption, striving to overcome past mistakes and build a better future for themselves, often finding solace and strength in burgeoning romantic relationships. Simultaneously, the unraveling of intricate and perilous conspiracies will keep readers on the edge of their seats, with unexpected twists and turns that escalate the tension and raise the stakes. The convergence of these personal journeys of redemption and the exposure of dangerous criminal networks fuels a narrative that is both emotionally resonant and relentlessly thrilling, promising a truly captivating read for those who appreciate stories that delve into the complexities of the human heart amidst extraordinary circumstances.

such a brilliantly written mix of legal, romance and family drama come into this book. and the balance is just spot on. we are back with book two and back with Savannah and her husband Hez who are trying to rebuild all that was lost to them when their marriage came under fire. but they both want to keep it together. they both want to make it work. but there is the underlying issue of corruption happening at the university where Savannah is a professor. so in this book we have some truly relatable factors with the added suspense and legal dramas that both authors bring to the table perfectly.
its a whip smart book. you can love any of the genres and appreciate how good this book is. and its a totally unique and different kind of book for me and i really appreciate the chance i got to read such a book with all the characters involved.
bringing both authors with their respective backgrounds was a really clever idea. and i hope they felt they worked together as much as their writing shows because they must have then had a great time with this.

Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Publishing for introducing me o a new mystery series . I read this as a stand alone which went perfectly well and leaves me eager to read more about these characters. It was easy to pick up the back story of these characters.
The first thing that surprised me was that very early on the reader was privy to what was going on. For me it did add to the interest of the plot as the reader then learned how Savannah and Hez worked things out to solve the mystery.
The setting of a college campus ( one having problems with finances as well as corruption with archeological pieces ) was very interesting.
This is also very much a family drama with the romance of Savannah and Hez, her family troubles and the clashing of the families responsible for starting the university. It also has elements of a legal drama as well. Great assets to the story’s interest.
After reading I understand that is a genre Christian fiction. The writers definitely displayed an agenda that I was not always comfortable with . Some of the references seemed a bit contrived.
Overall I really enjoyed reading this book and would recommend to mystery enthusiasts.

I almost stopped reading this book before I hardly got started. It had been some time since I read the first one. This book sounded so familiar, but then I realized that it was a new story. I'm glad I kept reading. The twists and turns keep the reader engaged. You feel like you are back in the small town of Pelican Harbor. A lot of times when there is a series of books, the ending resolves the story line. I guess the ending did resolve the main story line, but it does end with a real cliff hanger.

Colleen Coble and Rick Acker's Where Secrets Lie, the second book in the Tupelo Grove series, is a gripping tale that immediately captures the reader's attention. The authors' masterful storytelling weaves a complex web of secrets and surprises, keeping me on the edge of my seat. I became deeply invested in the characters of Savannah and Hez, feeling a strong affinity for them. The book's suspenseful plot had me biting my nails in anticipation of what would happen next. I am eagerly anticipating the release of the third installment. *I was provided with a copy of this book by the publisher, and this review is my honest opinion.

I liked a lot of different aspects of this book, it just fell flat for me. I read this one without reading the first and felt really lost, because I didn’t know what happened in the first book.

Savannah Webster, a college professor at Tupelo Grove University, has recently started dating her ex-husband, Hezekiah Webster. Savannah and Hez hope to put their tumultuous past behind them, learn from their mistakes, and press forward into a brighter future.
When Savannah gets passed over for tenure, her world seems to cave in. She resists moving away from the town where their only child is buried. When her father offers her the university presidency, Savannah reluctantly agrees.

She soon discovers a smuggling ring operating on campus, and Hez and his Justice Chamber students are willing to help with the investigation. Someone seems determined to ruin the struggling institution by whatever means possible.

When Savannah finds an empty wine bottle in Hez’s kitchen, she starts to second-guess her decision to restore their relationship. How can she trust a man whose alcoholism contributed to the demise of their first marriage?

While Hez and Savannah struggle to repair their relationship and move past old ways of relating to each other, the pressing need to uncover the smuggling ring continually interrupts them. Despite Savannah’s misgivings, she knows that she and Hez can bring the perpetrators to justice together. But at what cost?

What I Loved About This Book

The second in the Tupelo Grove series, Where Secrets Lie, peels back a layer on the mysterious smuggling ring and Savannah’s family members' involvement. I couldn’t stop turning pages as Savannah and Hez uncover twists and turns they (and the reader) never expected.
The truth will shock you. But is it the whole truth?

This is the second book in a series but can be read on its own; however, reading the first book, What We Hide [book:What We Hide|201335482], will add more context to the story. The co-authors worked well together, weaving faith elements naturally into the story without overwhelming the plot. Simon, one of the characters, is especially charming. The main characters Savannah and Hez are compelling, and the story wass filled with tender, intense, and surprising moments. It was a gripping Christian mystery/thriller with clean romance that kept me engaged throughout. The ending hints at developments for the next book, particularly regarding Savannah and Hez’s relationship.

Overall, I highly recommended this book for fans of Christian suspense with heartfelt storytelling.

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

Where Secrets Lie
By Colleen Coble and Rick Acker
***.5
Thank you to Thomas Nelson Fiction and NetGalley, along with the authors for an early review copy of this novel.
This is book 2 in the Tupelo Grove Series. College professor Savannah Webster and her ex-husband, Hez, are about to try again, but then she finds evidence that he is falling into old habits. Meanwhile, things are going crazy at the University, and Savannah finds herself in the President’s chair. Hez begins the legal battle to try to save the school. Jess has too many secrets and demons. This book is full of twists and turns.
I really love this series as a whole, but out of the two books currently out, this one is not my favorite. It keeps me coming back for more because I love all the twists and turns. There are things that happen that we kind of see foretold in book one, and then there are many new twists and turns. I love that the book includes discussions of many hard questions, including second chances, trust, and the death of a loved one. The book also includes a person who is struggling with guilt over what he/she is doing. This book felt rushed in places-like pieces of the plot were just skipped over. I wish there were more details about what was going on instead of just jumping ahead. As with book one, I love the setting, I want to visit Tupelo Grove and Pelican Harbor, and have a beignet at the café under Hez’s apartment.
I would recommend this book for those people who love Suspense books set in the deep South, especially those with some faith content. I would not recommend this book to people who might be triggered by the death of a family member.
#WhereSecretsLie #NetGalley

I could not read Where Secrets Lie quick enough. I just had to know what was going to happen next. And it was on my mind even when placing the book down. Colleen Coble did a great job of pulling her readers into the intrigue happening. The first half of the book kept my attention and constantly wanting to read more.
I will say this book seemed to go in waves for me. It was filled with intrigue and then there would be a lull for setting things up for the next set of circumstances which needed to be solved. But it was worth reading until the end. While this can be read as a standalone, I think a lot more can be gained by first reading book 1 in the series- What we Hide. Where Secrets Lie is heavy in romance for those who enjoy romance. For me the “whodunnit” was what kept me focused and anxious for the next book in this series.
I received a copy of this from NetGalley with no obligations. All opinions expressed are my own.

Book Two of the Tupelo Grove series is more in the life of Savannah Webster, history professor, and her former husband, attorney Hez Webster as they work to resolve issues that caused their marriage to end and look to rekindle their life as husband and wife again. The corruption and network of stolen artifacts connected to some at Tupelo Grove University is ongoing and something that they want to end. This story hits all the emotions with hurt, sadness, revenge, conniving, hate but yet with faith, hope, and love. This is a suspenseful read that kept me engaged until th end. I enjoy seeing characters from a couple of other Colleen Coble series set in the Mobile area. The collaboration of Colleen Coble's romantic suspense stories and Rick Acker's law background makes for a great read.
I received a copy in exchange for an honest review. These are my thoughts.

Where Secrets Lie by Coleen Coble and Rick Acker

This book of many characters has mystery, romance and overtones of Christianity. I’m not a romance novel person, so some of this was too much for me. Sisters Jess, Savannah and her ex- husband Hez are the primary characters. Other family members also play a role.

Hez is all about winning back Savannah, Savannah is all about protecting TGU and Jess is not what she seems. I was never on the edge of my seat, and truthfully just barely engaged. There was little real drama, lots of stolen kisses and many missed meals.

I made it to the end, but can only give this story three stars. There will be a follow up to the TGU saga, but it will go on without me. I don’t know the intended audience, but it may be for romance readers.

** “Let God worry about tomorrow. And try not to worry. It solves nothing, and it disrupts our trust and faith.” **

Authors Colleen Coble and Rick Acker continue their joint thriller series with “Where Secrets Lie,” a continuation of the drama faced by former spouses Savannah Webster and Hez Webster.

As Tupelo Grove University continues to face smuggling issues and financial woes, Savannah is seeking to obtain tenure, her sister Jess is still the university’s CFO and Hez still hopes to open a justice center at the school. But when disappointment is followed by more deadly incidents, they face some devastating circumstances that could tear their reblooming relationship apart.

These two authors seemingly blend together a story brilliantly, doing an incredible job of creating a fast-paced, intense plot filled with twists and turns, including another shocking ending. They develop some great characters, including a boy named Simon and an alligator named Boo Radley, and they also include some old friends from Coble’s Pelican Harbor series.

They also include some great themes in “Where Secrets Lie,” including “if good people do nothing, evil wins”; forgiveness is hard; secrets never lie buried; the power and impact of justice and mercy, and how it can be hard to achieve and accept them; and God cares for us and our futures.

Fans of Lynette Eason, Kelly Irvin, Terri Blackstock and Irene Hannon will love this novel, which is due out June 3. I would not recommend reading this as a standalone novel.

Five stars out of five.

Thomas Nelson provided this complimentary copy through NetGalley for my honest, unbiased review.

This is the second book in the Tupelo Grove series. I had high hopes that his book would be better than the first book. I'm sorry to say that is wasn't. It was difficult for me to get through it. I can't say that I will be reading the next installment.

I was given this book by Thomas Nelson Publishing via Net/Galley in exchange for an honest review. I was not compensated in any way.