Ambush, the first novel in The Sanctuary Series, delivers a unique setting, compelling characters, and a steady dose of suspense. I especially enjoyed the wildlife-centered sanctuary theme, the well-developed characters, and the clean, heartfelt romance. The strong family bonds and small-town setting added to its charm.

The story is packed with action, unfolding in a continuous stream of events. However, some plot threads remain unresolved by the end, which I found somewhat disappointing.

Karen Peakes’ narration was outstanding, bringing each character to life with nuance and energy. For me, her performance was a perfect 5/5.

While Ambush lands at a 3.5-star rating for me, the setting and characters have drawn me in, and I’m eager to continue with the series.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)

This was an engaging and suspenseful read! The mystery had me hooked from the start, and I loved the mix of small-town secrets, danger, and second-chance romance. Paradise was a strong and determined main character, and her past made her journey even more compelling. The tension kept building, and the twists were well done, even if some parts felt a little predictable. The setting was also really atmospheric—I could almost feel the eerie presence of danger lurking beneath the moss-draped trees. If you enjoy romantic suspense with emotional depth, this one is worth picking up!

Masterful author Colleen Coble has begun a new series called The Sanctuary. I was delighted and honored with the privilege to read the ARC.

Ambush is the title of the first installment. This story is mysterious, intense, emotional, and thrilling. I felt a connect with ALL the characters at my first meeting, and their personal their stories, ranging from the pain of their pasts to the current situation, including a bit of romance.

So what’s going on in The Sanctuary? Here goes…

Paradise Alden, our female main character, (very cool name), is a veterinarian struggling through PTSD after suffering an attack by a jaguar. Paradise has recently secured a position at The Sanctuary, located in her hometown, also the place she fled many years ago. Blake Lawson is a former Marine paramedic who has come home to help his mom manage The Sanctuary after his stepfather’s death. He is also Paradise’s ex-boyfriend. Blake broke her heart 15 years ago. For this reason as well as the murder of her parents, she ran away to Nova Cambridge, Alabama. Paradise is floundering and even feels like God may have abandoned her. She us taking a big step and a chance that this job at The Sanctuary may provide some answers to who took her parents lives and lay some things to rest, so she can begin to heal.

The Sanctuary specializes in providing refuge to exotic animals that have been mistreated and abandoned. They care for chimps, wolves, tigers, parrots and so much more. Here is a safe place for them to recover from their mistreatment and live happy, comfortable lives for the rest of their days. The cute but dangerous animals make for interesting tension and plot twists.

Ambush is simply a wonderful Christian romantic book of suspense. Coble deftly weaves faith into her writing without coming across as preachy.

I found the ending satisfying as she wrapped up all the loose ends completely. Colleen Coble has nailed Ambush as the series starter. Readers will like the unique setting, with compelling characters with their mysteries and intrigue.

The audio narration was excellent as well. I’m amazed at how one reader can manage so many different voices. I’d love to be a fly in the wall watching Karen Peakes navigate and keep the many voices separate as she performs this book.

There is so much wonderful about this book!

I came across this one on the read list of GR friend, Pam, and thought it sounded really good and definitely my kind of story and immediately requested it. I love stories about animal sanctuaries and the “Perfect for fans of Allison Brennan” mention in the book summary was the clincher. I like Allison Brennan and I am a fan of her work. I didn’t notice the Christian label until after I received it and reminded myself, again, to always check labels before requesting a book. Not being religious, at all, I had some concerns about it but decided to check it out anyway. I was pleasantly surprised that the religious passages were far and few between and very brief and not at all preachy or offending, at least not to me.

The book summary introduces the different storylines of Paradise, a veterinarian coming back home after 15yrs (a scenario that always makes for a lot of drama) to start a new job after being attacked by a jaguar at her previous job. She’s also back in the same town where her parents were killed and she was left orphaned and homeless when relatives refused to take her in. Now, she’s trying to find out what really happened to her parents and why they were killed, as well as why the rest of her family refused to take her in afterwards. She also wants to try and make amends with her first love, Blake, so that she can move on with her life. There is also a secondary storyline of someone trying to drive Blake and his family out of business by sabotaging the sanctuary.

The story flips back and forth between Paradise and Blake, who are secretly reinvestigating the murders of Paradise’s parents when the current Sheriff, Paradice’s cousin, kind of drags his feet on providing her info on the old case. They are also investigating all of the sabotage going on at the sanctuary after the local Sheriff’s department refuses to recognize that all of the attacks are related and also won’t acknowledge that the death of Blake’s stepfather was murder and not an accident.

There’s a lot going on and Coble was really good at building intensity and suspense when moving from one incident to another that Blake and Paradise found themselves in as they go digging into old family history and suspects as well as dealing with new attacks on the sanctuary and possible culprits. They are also attempting to deal with (and failing miserably) their still present attraction to each other. It’s a case of not being over that first love that has them still drawn to each other as much as ever. The end seemed to come fast in some really scary and intense scenes.

The character development of Paradise and Blake was well done and good on a few other characters. Would have loved a little more background on Blake’s mom as well as Paradise’s relatives. The pacing was steady and the storyline very interesting. This is the first book I have read by Coble, but she is a good writer and storyteller and I may check out her other work. I also liked Coble’s Author’s Notes about her inspiration. I’m looking at an overall rating of 4.3 that I will be rounding down to a 4star review. I want to thank NetGalley, HarperCollins Christian Publishing for sending me this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

#NetGalley #HarperCollinsChristianPublishing #Ambush

I enjoyed this book and its clean cliché romance and crazy mystery. I enjoyed the characters and appreciated no spice. If you enjoy Christian mystery/romance this one is for you!

Ambush is the first book in the new Sanctuary series by Colleen Coble. It is a faith based romantic suspense story starring Paradise and Blake. These two main characters have a history together dating back to their teenage years. They have both now returned home for different reasons. Paradise is the new veterinarian for the wildlife refuge that Blake and his family run. A lot of mysterious things start to occur once Paradise arrives to work. Paradise and Blake need to work together to solve this mystery. At the same time, Paradise wants to discover who murdered her parents. Blake and Paradise manage to rekindle their relationship during this time.
This book has a wonderful sense of found family. Paradise fits in well with Blake’s mom and brothers. There is tension, drama, mystery, suspense and some romance.
Karen Peakes did an exceptional job narrating this story. She portrayed all characters superbly. I highly recommend listening to this audiobook.

I am becoming a big Colleen Coble fan. Every book I've read (or listened to) has been an enjoyable mix of romance and mystery. When I first started this book, about an exotic animal vet who's lost some confidence after being attacked by a jaguar, I wasn't sure I'd really like the setting in an exotic animal sanctuary in the south. But, I quickly became engrossed in the story of this woman who's come back to her hometown in order to try to regain that confidence and also find out who killed her parents many years ago. To do so, however, she must work closely with her first love, someone who she felt betrayed her back then and wasn't ready to forgive.

An added bonus to this story is the inclusion of some characters from her previous book in this series ("What We Hide"). The funny thing is that I didn't even realize it for quite awhile--very cleverly woven into this story. I also thought it was quite educational, incorporating education about the behavior of the various exotic animal species. Overall, a great audiobook! Can't wait to read the next one!

Thank you to HarperCollins Christian Publishing and NetGalley for providing an advance review copy of this audiobook. My opinions are my own.

Ambush
by Colleen Coble
Narrated by Karen Peakes

Ambush is Book 1 in a new series by Colleen Coble. This is the story of Paradise returning to her hometown, the town where her parents were murdered and the town where she lost her first love. Blake is now helping his mom run the animal sanctuary, the same one that an outside force is trying to get shut down by any means, including murder. The clock is ticking as Paradise and Blake end up teaming up to try to figure out who is behind everything. This story was decent. It wasn't as exciting as the summary made it sound. The narration is done well and I enjoyed listening to Ms. Peakes perform the various roles. .

As for this being published by the Christian division of HarperCollins, I have to say that the Christian part of the story just felt kind of thrown in there. It added nothing of value to the story IMO, and just feel like it was put in there just to have a Christian aspect in the story. It could have been left out and the story would have been the same.

Thanks to NetGalley, HarperCollins Christian Publishing, and the author for the chance to listen to and review this ARC!

Paradise lost her parents at a very young age, but never knew the truth around their murders. She finds herself back in her childhood hometown working for her former love and his mom at their animal sanctuary following an accident at her previous job. Paradise has a lot of unresolved trauma and emotions from her childhood; through this book she works on resolving these issues by trying to find the truth behind her parents’ murder and by letting her guard down and letting her former love, Blake, back in. After Paradise touches ground in her childhood hometown, a whole string of bad events kicks off that threatens herself and everyone she now holds near and dear to her. Paradise and Blake work together to solve every mystery and problem that come their way and even find their way back to each other romantically after so many years apart and their own rocky history.

I feel the same way I did about Conor’s other book WHAT WE HIDE after reading this - this was meh, but a little better. What I liked most was Paradise’s efforts to heal her past while creating a future, her relationship with Blake - it felt way more focused on their connection and partnership not the physical aspect which I appreciated - it was sweet, and Blake’s younger brothers - they were absolutely adorable.

Overall, this is not the most amazing book I’ve listened to, but I did like it for the most part.

I received an advanced audio copy of "The Ambush" by Colleen Coble and although this was my first book by this author, I really did enjoy it. I thought it had an interesting storyline and did keep me intrigued. As far as a thriller, I would classify this more on the realm of mystery and slight suspense. I didn't mind the romantic aspects of the book although it was slightly obvious as to where it was going.

The narrator was great and I did enjoy her take on all the different southern accents, because of this it did make me want to keep listening. There where certain parts in the book where I did feel like it dragged on a bit and I figured out the "twist" way before the ending. All in all, I give this 3 Stars overall and would love to see what else this author comes out with.

Thank you NetGalley, HarperCollins Christian Publishing, and Colleen Cobble for this ARC.

Colleen Coble is one of my favorite authors and always a must read!

Ambush is everything you love about Colleen's books and then some - this read has something for every reader for sure. The main female lead, Paradise started life out great with loving parents the boy "next door" and then "Life" happened and everything she knew & loved was gone and the worst kept happening. Fast forward, she returns to her childhood home and mysteries abound and murders too. Secrets are unfolding and right when you think some answers are coming to light... THE END - is book two ready yet? Can't wait to see Paradise's story continue and learn more about those hidden secrets coming to light.

Disappointing mystery with forced religious elements and a flat narration. Felt more like a Lifetime movie than a thriller. Thanks to NetGalley for the audiobook ARC.

What a ride! This is my first book of Cable’s and it was so good. I was hooked from the start. There was danger lurking in every page, from human and animal. I loved the tension and suspense. This book is well done.

Paradise returns home to try to find her parent’s killer from years ago. It brings with it complications of a past relationship and hurt. Not only from their murders, but what happens to Paradise after. There is so much to this story. I enjoyed the behind the scenes glimpse of an animal preserve. Even though these animals aren’t in the wild, the author does a great job of showing the that they are still smart, skilled predators and quite dangerous. Even behind the fences.

I enjoyed the relationship of Blake and Paradise and I appreciated the forgiveness shown and how the reader was able to see their relationship grow and develop in the book. Jenna and the boys were also great. Each character helping Paradise trust again. As well as help in healing past trauma.

There is a great sense of found family through the book. And the author does a great job of keeping the suspense and sense of urgency through the story. There is a great balance of tension, while bringing in romance. I am excited to read another book from Colleen Cable.

The narrator was fabulous. There is a variety of southern accents that were expressed well for the needed characters. Peakes’ performance was perfect for the setting and the variety of tension needed for each situation. From young boys to older characters, each was done well. I was completely invested in the story.

I received a NetGalley approval for the audio from the publisher. All views are my own.

Colleen Coble's Ambush masterfully intertwines second-chance romance, suspenseful mystery, and the charm of a Hallmark drama, creating a compelling narrative that keeps readers engaged from start to finish.
Set in Nova Cambridge, Alabama, the story follows Paradise Alden, a veterinarian returning to her hometown after a traumatic past, including the unresolved murder of her parents. Her new position at a wildlife refuge, managed by her former love, Blake Lawson, sets the stage for rekindled emotions and unresolved tensions. The refuge becomes a focal point for mysterious events-sabotage, arson, and break-ins
-that threaten both the sanctuary and its inhabitants.
As Paradise delves deeper into these incidents, she confronts her own past traumas and the lingering feelings she harbors for Blake.
Coble's portrayal of Paradise and Blake's relationship is both heartfelt and realistic, capturing the complexities of rekindled love amidst adversity. The suspense elements are well-crafted, with each twist adding depth to the overarching mystery. Fans of Coble's previous works will appreciate the subtle nods to characters from her other novels, offering delightful Easter eggs for loyal readers.
I listened to the audio for this book and enjoyed my listening quite a lot !
Ambush is a testament to Coble's ability to blend romance and suspense seamlessly, making it a must-read for those seeking a story rich in emotion, intrigue, and the enduring power of love.

I went into this book with high expectations, however, I was left disappointed. The romance aspect of it was fine, but the mystery aspect was far from the best. There seemed to be a lot going on, and unfortunately, not as much suspense of twists as I would have liked. It is Christian-based, so I expected some talk about God and religion, however, the moments where it was brought up felt unnecessary. This book was just not the book for me, but I'm sure it will appeal to the right audience.
Thank you NetGalley, HarperCollins Christian Publishing, and Colleen Cobble for this ARC.

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.

The narration was flat. There wasn’t variation in the characters. And there were way too many characters to not distinguish between them better.

Paradise comes back home to her tragic past, and her first love that broke her heart. Her parents were murdered and she intends to find out who did it.

This audiobook had a great storyline, a great plot, great characters and a great narrator! 5 stars!

Many thanks to Net Galley and HarperCollins Christian Publishing for an audio ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Wow! I just discovered Colleen Coble and I can say she is good at what she writes. I was hooked into the mystery and story from the beginning.
Paradise returns home to Alabama and ends up working for her ex-boyfriend, the one she maybe never got over. Blake never got over Paradise and knows it was his fault she wasn't taken care of. Paradise has one goal: find out who murdered her parents. She gets a lot more than she expected.

Karen as the narrator did a wonderful job adding the suspense and the southern accents into her narration. It kept the story interesting and had me coming back for a few minutes each time to fit more . I tend to listen to books on a faster speed because I'm a fast talker, so the voices worked for me with the faster speed. Karen did a great job at differentiating between the characters and their voices. Even the little boys voices were different.

The setting for this story was new and intriguing, an animal sanctuary. This is the first novel in the series and has a lot going on. There are elements of mystery, suspense, second chance, romance and faith. There are twists and turns I didn't expect and you will be guessing the entire book. You don't want to miss this!

This was my first time reading a romantic suspense novel and I really loved it! I definitely need to read more. I really enjoy Colleen’s writing. I was completely invested the entire time mostly on the mystery than the romance. But their story was still pretty endearing. The young boys made the story that much sweeter 🥹 every time they talked about their faith in God I teared up a little. Paradises journey with her faulty was probably my favorite part to the story. If you like romantic suspense with closed door romance then I highly suggest this one! I’m looking forward to reading the rest of the series. I listened to most of this on audio and I loved the narration! Karen Peakes (narrator) keeps me interested the entire time.

Ambush presented itself as a mystery to be solved but seemed to pull in too many directions. There was a constant stream of accidents that was over the top. Then the last half went from mystery focused to sudden love and religion, It was predictable and lacks connecting the original plot.