“But her only answers were here in this place, where shadows from the past still reached out to shape her life.”
Colleen Coble is one of the authors that is on my automatic read list, and this book demonstrates the reason perfectly. She does an amazing job creating suspense while peppering in details from the characters’ backstories. She sets the scene so well that it’s almost like I’m experiencing everything with them. The first book in the Sanctuary series focuses on forgiveness, second chances at love, and how God uses even the bad things that happen in our lives for good. I felt so bad for everything Paradise had been through. Even after everything she had faced, she managed to stay kind and gentle. I can’t imagine being suspected of the things Blake was being accused of and I loved how he and Paradise supported each other through everything. I did guess one of the conspirators but the twists made me doubt myself. The ending was so surprising and suspenseful and I absolutely cannot wait until book 2 comes out.
I really enjoyed the narrator. She did a great job portraying the emotions in the story.

This book is full of danger and action. Paradise returns home and immediately there’s a murder. Mishap after mishap occurs and she and Blake are thrust together to try to figure things out. The differences and betrayal between them are dealt with relatively quickly which I was glad for. I hate to see misunderstandings and hurt linger through an entire book.

There are a lot of possible villains and just when you think it’s moving in one direction, there’s a big twist. I like reading about the animals although I think I’d get rid of the hyenas. such troublesome creatures. There are a lot of loose ends to be tied up in the coming books. I’ll look forward to seeing how things resolve.

I listened to this as an audiobook. The narrator was good and pleasant to listen to. It was easy to follow along while listening. It was enjoyable and held my interest.

Thank you to Thomas Nelson for providing me with a free audio copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

I am so glad I found the author Colleen Coble, it is a joy reading her stories. I loved this book. I enjoyed the narrator aswell. I loved all of the characters (well the ones that weren't a creepy cop 😂, that one gave me the absolute ick) I was a tad disappointed in myself not to have realised it is the first book in the series that meant of was left craving answers that will no doubt be revealed in the next books.

Thanks for letting me listen, can't wait for the next one!

Ambush
Colleen Coble
This is the first book in Colleen Coble’s new series. The focus of this series is second chance relationships and returning to the past out of fear and anxiety. The main character in this tale is Veterinarian Paradise Alden.
Life has not always been kind to Paradise; she grew up in Pelican Bay, Alabama. Her home life was destroyed by her parents’ murder. She was sent to Foster Care where she was abused, she was betrayed by her best friend and first love, Blake Lawson. She left Pelican Bay 15 years ago and never intended to return but when she was offered the position of veterinarian for an exotic animal/wildlife refuge. Paradise accepted the position because she needed the money, and she needs to heal both physically and emotionally. The Sanctuary was run by Blake, his mother, Jenna, and two young brothers. On the day she arrived at The Sanctuary a body was found. Odd, dangerous things begin happening at The Sanctuary, placing her life in danger and the lives of the people she comes to think of as family. Blake Lawson was Paradise’s first love, and she still loves him despite his betrayal. A deputy in the sheriff's office is determined to pin the crimes on Blake.
Author Colleen Coble does it again. Her books are beautifully written, they are clean romance and she subtlety adds faith and Christianity. In Ambush our heroine is Paradise. She is a strong female lead, one that has been through a lot in her short life. Paradise is a courageous young woman although she doesn’t realize how strong and courageous she is.
There are three points I would be remiss if I did not mention them:
The Bible is our North Star; it helps us navigate life.
We cannot control what happens to us, but we can control how we respond.
God never moves—we do.
I eagerly await the next book in this series.
Thank you NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for the ARC

Ambush is the first book in a new series by Colleen Coble. The series will be titled "A Sanctuary" and I liked the idea of the book a lot. The idea of a sanctuary for animals that have no place to go and of Paradise Alden returning to her hometown and getting a second chance at her high school romance is an interesting storyline. I tend to enjoy a mystery and not a romance genre but sadly this book had more of the romance than the solving of the mystery for my taste. It came across as a Hallmark-type movie and that is not my favorite. Colleen Coble is a Christian writer and I enjoy her work but this book was a little over the top even for me. Many of her other books have great Christian values and show the characters living their lives in a Christian way without coming across as preaching.
The book was narrated by Karen Peakes and she does an excellent job with the characters and keeping you listening.
Thank you to Netgalley and HarperCollins Christian Publishing | Thomas Nelson Fiction for the ARC. This is my honest review.

Paradise's parents were murdered when she was a child and she was abused in foster care. Upon returning to her hometown 15 years later, she hopes she can start over in a new veterinary job. This was a fast paced ride with arson, a dead body, and a shooting to name a few. This is my second Colleen Coble book and I do enjoy her writing.

Ambush is the first installment in the Sanctuary series, and also marks the first book I’ve ever read from Colleen Coble. I can tell that it lightly connects to other series she’s penned, one completed and one ongoing: Pelican Harbor and Tupelo Grove, respectively. This book was mysterious, intense, emotional, and propulsive. I was intrigued by the characters at first meeting, and then I quickly became completely invested in their stories, from the pain of their pasts to the romance of their present. Ambush excites me because, not only am I incredibly interested to see where Sanctuary goes from here, I’ve been introduced to a new-to-me author whose writing I really enjoy and who had a huge backlist for me to dig into while I’m eagerly awaiting the second installment in this series.

Paradise Alden, our female main character, is a vet struggling through PTSD after suffering an attack by a jaguar. She’s facing her fears on multiple fronts by taking a job at a wildlife refuge, The Sanctuary, in her hometown—a place she ran from 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’s also Paradise’s ex-boyfriend, the one who broke her heart fifteen years ago. After this betrayal and the murder of her parents, she fled Nova Cambridge, Alabama, and lost her trust in men and God and even herself. This job at The Sanctuary is her chance to find some answers and lay some things to rest. But maybe, just maybe, it will also be a sanctuary for her. Maybe here, she can start to heal.

The Sanctuary specializes in providing refuge to exotic pets who have been mistreated and abandoned. From chimps and wolves to tigers and parrots, The Sanctuary is a safe place for them to recover from their mistreatment and live a happy, comfortable life for the rest of their days. It’s a fascinating setting, one that I found so fun and unique. It provided Coble with a lot of room for interesting tension and plot twists. The Sanctuary was the first element of the story with which I fell in love. But then there were the characters. Not only did I grow to love Paradise and Blake, I was also charmed by Blake’s mom and his two young half brothers. Coble did a great job capturing the voices of these five and seven year-old boys without making them overly cutesy or too well-spoken. She struck a balance with them that felt believable and sweet.

As is coming to be the case with so many Christian romantic suspense authors I’ve had the pleasure of reading recently, Coble does a wonderful joy weaving faith into her writing without every coming across as preachy. Paradise’s faith journey was an important component of this book, and it was handled beautifully. The faith here managed to be both vital to the story and understated; it added without ever taking anything away from the plot. I’m eager to see if Coble’s inclusion of faith is always this expertly handled.

The book has an ending that satisfies without wrapping up completely. There are still some deep mysteries to be addressed, and more growth and development to be seen in the characters and their relationships. My guess would be that further installments in the series would continue to largely follow Paradise and Blake.

Ambush is a phenomenal series starter. It’s well paced, well written, and well balanced. The setting is unique, the characters compelling, and the mysteries at its core intriguing. There wasn’t any element of this book that didn’t work for me. I’ll be counting down the months until I can see where the story takes Paradise, Blake, and the rest of the Sanctuary gang next!

(Side note: The audio narration was excellent. Peakes made a propulsive story even more gripping!)

Paradise Alden returns to her hometown after a not so idealistic upbringing to accept a new job after years of being a way. Upon her arrival, things start happening. With the help of a “friend”, she unlocks the mystery of who’s behind these events.

Colleen Coble kicks off her new Sanctuary Series with Ambush, a fast-paced blend of romance, suspense, and faith. With a wildlife refuge setting, a decades-old murder mystery, and a rekindled love story, this novel has plenty to keep readers engaged.

Paradise Alden returns to Nova Cambridge, Alabama, hoping to heal from past trauma and find answers about her parents’ murder. But her fresh start at The Sanctuary, a wildlife refuge, turns into a nightmare when another murder occurs. The prime suspect? Her first love, Blake Lawson—the man who once broke her heart. Despite her lingering distrust, she’s convinced of his innocence, and together they must uncover the real threat before it’s too late.

Coble does a great job balancing suspense with emotional depth. The parallel storylines—one involving sabotage at the refuge and the other a long-buried mystery—add layers of intrigue. The setting itself brings extra tension, with both human threats and unpredictable animals lurking in the background. The romance is sweet, if a little predictable, and the faith element is woven in naturally. For those who prefer audio, the narrator is excellent.

While Ambush is an enjoyable read, it does have a few drawbacks. The ending feels abrupt, and while the story is engaging, it has Hallmark-movie feel, making it less realistic at times. Still, it’s a light, entertaining read for fans of Christian romantic suspense.

I’ll be looking forward to the next book in the series, releasing in November 2025.
4 stars

** Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for review copies of the eBook and audio. The opinions are my own.

This book was an absolute joy to read! The setting in a wildlife rescue was beautifully immersive, with the lions and hyenas playing an integral role in the story. The author’s vivid descriptions made me feel like I was right there, experiencing the sights and sounds of the sanctuary.

Beyond the incredible setting, the narration was amazing, bringing the story to life with depth and emotion. The storyline itself was beautifully crafted, blending the wonders of wildlife conservation with a compelling and heartfelt plot. While the book includes Christian themes, they are naturally woven into the story and not heavy-handed.

If you're looking for a book that transports you into the wild while delivering a powerful and engaging story, this is definitely one to check out! Highly recommended.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC opportunity!

I really enjoyed this. It was well rounded with background details, growth, and a good murder mystery. I was surprised by who the culprit was and i liked that it kept me guessing.

My only complaints are that I wish i had a better understanding of why Greene was so awful to Blake, and where is Paradise’s brother/parents murderer? I imagine that may come in another story, but i wish it had been wrapped up here.

Thank you NetGaley and HarperCollins Christian Publishing for the opportunity to listen to this audio book.

I was hopefully I would fine my next series. This did not do it for me.
I will not continue, did not connect to the characters.

2.5 and voted up

In Ambush- we join Paradise as she returns to her Alabama hometown after 15 years of being absent. Her parents' (unsolved) murder sent her into the foster care system and sent her life into a tailspin. She determined her path in life to become a veternarian, albeit a traumatized one, and lands a job at The Sanctuary. Working through life wounds and being given a chance at a do-over romance, while also trying to bring your parents' unknown killer to justice would be enough to imbalance anyone. But someone has secrets that they want to stay hidden no matter the cost. Arson, attempted murders, and predators escaping their enclosures through seemingly locked gates are just a few of the threats. As the incidents wrack up at The Sanctuary, Paradise has to determine what in her life is worth fighting for and what's better left alone.

Ambush started off with action and then we get back stories and details which I love! If a book is too slow at the beginning it makes it difficult to care about the characters long enough to get into the the story build up.

Faith content was decently solid- God themes/events kept coming back time and again and that reflects how real life is to me. Sometimes it is very easy to keep Him at the forefront of your mind, but you can fall into the routines of life and then something happens to bring the focus back to Him.

Lots of characters and moving parts added some distraction to the story- this at times made it a little difficult to keep straight. There were plenty of suspenseful bits, however at times I forgot "oh yeah we were trying to solve a murder here too".

I did guess some pieces of the outcome. Others were surprises, but a few of my misguesses were likely due to lack of storyline info more than nefarious genius.

Overall, Ambush was an enjoyable read. I most definitely will be continuing The Sanctuary Series as they are released.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and HarperCollins Christian Publishing for an ARC audiobook in exchange for an honest review. All opinions posted are my own.

Colleen Coble is on my must-read list, a great author of romantic suspense. This is the first in a new series by her and I love how it intertwines with her Tupelo Grove characters. This very new and refreshing story is set in a wildlife refuge and involves a deadly mystery, past trauma, and future hope. Sensitive subjects are parental death, arson, and shootings but dealt with in a soft manner.

Coleen Coble is amazing! This audio version of the book is riveting. The narrator was fantastic. There is plenty of action, suspense, thrills, and sweet romance that make this book an edge of your seat kind of read. The whole time, I was thinking it reminded me of Jurassic Park, but with exotic animals instead of dinosaurs. The characters are genuine and loveable. Especially, the two little boys. They captured my heart.
I highly recommend this suspenseful novel to any reader who likes thrillers, This has a splash romance, and an inspirational message. Don't miss this one.
*I was given a copy of this book by Thomas Nelson Publishers, and this is my honest opinion.
4.5 stars

Karen Peakes, who has read other books written by Colleen Coble, expressively narrates this new series set in a small Alabama town. Paradise Alden, a veterinarian, has returned to her home town to finish recovering, mentally and physically, from injuries sustained by the attack of a panther. She accepts a job at the wildlife sanctuary where she worked before becoming a vet.

Burdened with memories, Paradise is hoping to face down past as well as present trauma. When she was small, her parents were murdered. She doesn't remember, but she does remember how poorly she was treated by other family members and the foster care system. And even, her high school boyfriend Blake, who inadvertently caused her life to get even worse while trying to help her. Blake, a military veteran, has returned to Nova Cambridge as well to help his recently widowed stepmother care for her two small sons and the animal sanctuary she now owns. It isn't a peaceful homecoming for either of them.

Animal escapes, murder, arson, and other difficulties plague the place and Paradise and Blake nearly lose their lives in a storm. As Paradise begins to remember more about the murders of her parents, she becomes determined to solve the mystery. No one had ever been charged with the crimes. And while Blake is determined to help her, they are also determined to learn who has been causing the chaos at the animal sanctuary.

The book sets the stage for the next installment in the story of Blake and Paradise and readers will await it with pleasant anticipation.

Ambush is Christian suspense book. Paradise has been gone for fifteen years and is now an injured vet. But when she returns ready to help with an exotic animal park, she finds she still loves the man she left behind

This contains an audiobook review.

This is the first book in a new series by Colleen Coble. I would classify it as a Christian mystery/light suspense, kisses only romance. I did not read the blurb before starting this book, but I did know where the story was going to be set. That really appealed to me. I wasn't disappointed either.

The main characters have a history that we learn about as the story unfolds. There are actually several storylines that are taking place throughout the book. Sometimes it seemed too unbelievable that there was another dead body or catastrophic event taking place. How many events can these people endure? So in that respect it was a bit unrealistic. But it was entertaining.

What really helped bring the story to life for me was the audio narration. I thought that the female narrator did an amazing job at reading the book and giving all of the characters their own distinct voice, from child to older woman. She did a fabulous job. I did listen at 1.5 speed, if that makes a difference to you. I also appreciated that the author's note was read in the audiobook. That is important to me.

I was given an advanced audio copy of this book by Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Fiction Audio. I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

This was my first time reading a book from Colleen Coble! I loved how the audiobook was highly engaging and really pulled me into the story. I loved how our main character is an exotic animal vet (haven't seen this in a book before), and how the animals were intertwined into our plot.

Some parts of this book felt very slow while others felt way too rushed, causing me a little confusion at points. Once we got through a portion of the book, it seemed like the focus was much more on her faith and Christianity than it was about investigating the murder of her parents. If you are someone who enjoys those aspects more in your reading, I would highly recommend the audiobook version of this book!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Fiction Audio for providing with an audiobook arc!

Paradise Alden is ready to confront the demons of her past. She takes a job as the vet at a big animal rescue in the hometown her parents were murdered in, hoping to find out more about what exactly happened that horrible night.

The animal refuge is run by the family she was closest to after her parents died, but they're also the reason she was bounced back into the foster system, when she was in a bad situation. Trouble is, sometimes bad can turn worse, and unfortunately that's what happened to Paradise.

In this first book of a new series by Colleen Coble, Paradise is searching for answers, but does she want justice? Or will she be able to find forgiveness in her heart for past transgressions?

The action gets started as soon as Paradise steps into her new role, and it doesn't let up. With large animals (especially the large predators) in their sanctuary, careful execution of strict procedures are paramount to safety, and when locks are left open, animals not where they're meant to be, and traps set for the unwitting, accidents are inevitable.

For me, the pacing was a little unhinged. It is one hurdle after another after another with barely room to adjust before the next big event happens. More incidents doesn't necessarily mean more danger, and I think this book could have done with some trimming of the excessive dangerous episodes.

I found the relationship between Paradise and the son of the Sanctuary owner, Blake, very well done. They were once teenaged sweethearts, but after fifteen years of hard lifetime apart, will they be able to forgive one another and develop a friendship anywhere near the level of trust they once did? There are a lot of complicated emotions there, and the dynamics of Paradise and his family is a beautiful thing.

One of the main themes of the book is forgiveness and finding faith. When Paradise confronts one of her greatest fears, she has a moment of transcendence, but for me her realizations felt too in-your-face and repetitive through the rest of the book. If they had been a little more inter-woven into the story and subtle in the language, I think it would have been more immersive.

Overall it was quite a unique setting for a story which was very interesting to read. The characters are good, and I'm curious to know where the series is headed next!

Note:: I received an early copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.