Pelican Harbor #1
One Little Lie
Colleen Coble
This is the first book in this series, and I can hardly wait for the next installment.
Pelican Harbor, Alabama is a small, sleepy Jane Hardy is a small woman, some people think she is too small to be the acting sheriff in Pelican Harbor, Alabama. When Jane’s father retired, she was hired as the interim. A short time after she takes over the sheriff's office, her father is arrested, accused of theft and murder. Jane believes he has been set up; she needs to find the proof.
When Jane was growing up, she and her parents were part of a cult. Fifteen years ago, she and her father escaped. Her mother refused to leave. Jane has searched for her mother but has been unable to find her.
Reid Bechtol is a journalist that makes documentaries. He has requested permission to make a documentary on Jane as female sheriff in a small town. Jane has little time or interest in the project. However, the committee that hired her insists she cooperate. Jane and Reid quickly become friends, and she finds herself attracted to him. They join forced her father to prove innocent.
Reid has a past and secrets. Will the secrets destroy the budding relationship?
One Little Lie is well written. I love the characters. Jane and Reid are strong lead characters. I enjoyed their budding relationship now if it can stay strong. We will have to wait for the next book to see if their relationship survives. This book is a police procedural tale with a great K-9 dog.
I highly recommend this book.
Thank you Thomas Nelsen and NetGalley for the ARC.

Colleen Coble's One Little Lie (audiobook) plunges listeners into a tense world where a dark past relentlessly pursues a woman seeking her lost mother. Fifteen years ago, Jane escaped a cult with her father, but her mother chose to stay behind. Ever since, Jane has been searching for her, haunted by the fear that someone from that horrifying past might have tracked them down.

Enter Reid Dixon, a renowned documentary filmmaker whose latest project focuses on Jane's career. Though Jane dislikes the spotlight, the committee overseeing her work embraces the publicity. As Reid films, Jane finds herself increasingly relying on his calm presence, especially as they begin to work together to clear her father's name from a new accusation.

However, Reid carries his own secrets from the past, creating a widening gulf between them. This divide becomes almost impossible to cross once her father's "one little lie" finally catches up with him. Coble crafts a compelling narrative of suspense, family secrets, and the arduous search for truth, leaving listeners questioning who can be trusted when the past refuses to stay buried.

This story was hard to follow for me, and hard to put the pieces together. We start out in a cult then fast forward to a father and daughter sheriff. The pieces don't come together until almost the very end of the story. It was hard to believe everything lining up the way it did. The main case for this story felt kinda like an afterthought. I did enjoy the audio for this story the female voice was very nice to listen to and easy to follow.

I liked the story, but it definitely leaves you h hung. This author always does a great job getting the reader into the characters.

It seems like the audiobook only had 67% of the book. Since the book is already published, I was able to get it from my library.

Lots of secrets and lies in this book. It was interesting to be along for the ride.

If you're into romantic suspense with a small-town vibe, One Little Lie by Colleen Coble might be right up your alley. The story kicks off with Jane Hardy stepping into her father's shoes as interim sheriff in Pelican Harbor, Alabama. Things take a wild turn when her dad gets arrested for theft and murder, and Jane's left trying to clear his name while dealing with a bunch of old secrets resurfacing.

The book's got a lot going on—there's a cult from Jane's past, a documentary filmmaker tagging along, and a murder mystery to solve. It's fast-paced and keeps you guessing, with a mix of drama, suspense, and a bit of romance. The characters are relatable, and the setting adds a nice touch to the story.

Overall, if you're looking for a quick, engaging read with a bit of everything, One Little Lie delivers. It's the first in the Pelican Harbor series, so if you enjoy it, there's more to dive into.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

This book is full of twists and turns! Colleen Coble knows how to write a murder mystery with lots of suspense that will keep you intrigued. This is the first in The Pelician Harbor series, which are all about Jane Hardy, so be prepared to read or listen to more. There are no swears or alcohol and level 1 kisses only. Dual POV.

My main problem with this book was that I found the plot implausible. I could not buy into the fact that neither Jane or her father recognized the documentarian. I knew where the story was going from the moment Button had her baby. Sigh. But I kept reading. I felt the novel could have used a better editor to ensure that the characters motivations were realized more realistically.

The narrator was great.

An amazing and gripping story, I was hooked after the first chapter. I will definitely be reading more book by Colleen Coble. I’m now a total fan of and cannot wait to check out her other works. Never a dull moment and couldn’t wait for the next chapter, highly recommend reading “One Little Lie”.

This book was absolutely captivating—I couldn’t put it down and ended up finishing it in a single day! After her father retires, Jane steps into the role of sheriff, just as a string of murders begins to unfold in the town. As she investigates, she's constantly haunted by memories of her past life in a cult, adding a chilling layer to the story. Meanwhile, Reid, a journalist working on a feature about the new sheriff, finds himself and his son growing closer to Jane as they become entangled in the town’s dark mysteries.

The story kicks off this new series with a bang—it's packed with action and moves at a rapid pace. While the romantic tension is present, it takes a back seat in this installment, likely setting the stage for future developments. There's a strong emphasis on establishing characters and building the foundation for upcoming books. The secret referenced in the title was genuinely shocking, and the book ends on a major cliffhanger. I’m eagerly anticipating book two!

I received a digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.

#OneLittleLie #NetGalley

Man, I haven't read a romantic suspense in a while and I think I forgot how much I absolutely love them! This was my first Colleen Coble book and her work is totally worth the hype. I loved the setting of this one near Gulf Shores and Colleen did an amazing job with world-building, character development, and making me second guess things along the way. I enjoyed the seamless mentions of God and faith throughout and I can't wait to read more about Jane's journey where that is concerned. I haven't read a series in a while that leaves you on a cliffhanger so I'll definitely be picking up the second book soon!

⭐⭐⭐⭐.5 rounded up
🌶️

I enjoyed this book, but I can say that it took a while to get to what the importance would be with the start of the book. And the ending? There are so many questions that I have, even if there are more books to it, I am not a fan of the ending

This book was a suspenseful ride from start to finish, filled with unexpected plot twists—especially between Jane and Reid—that kept me on my toes. While the mystery element was strong and often gripping, I found myself hoping for a little more romance to balance it out.

One challenge I had was keeping track of the characters; there were quite a few, and at times it was difficult to remember who was who. Harry, in particular, stood out—not necessarily for the right reasons. His maturity level didn’t quite match his age, which occasionally pulled me out of the story.

The narration was solid, and the author has a good grasp of tension-building. However, I did find my mind wandering at times. It was hard to keep my attention fully engaged throughout, which may be due to pacing or the complexity of the plot.

Despite the questions I was left with at the end—and there were many—I’m definitely intrigued enough to read the second book in the series. I’m hoping for more answers, a bit more romance, and just as much suspense.

I read this book several years ago. I didn't remember the title of it when I began to read the audiobook, though, and so it was like a new read all over. This plot is a very unique one, and the twists it takes you on will keep you guessing and leave you shocked. Absolutely loved it all over again.

This book is heavy on suspense and very light on romance. The story takes place in a small town where there are too many murders and illegal activities which just didn’t seem believable. The cult background of one of the characters was interesting, but it really wasn’t explored. Overall this title turned into a disappointment for me.. Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for providing me with the audio book to review and share my personal opinions.

⭐⭐⭐💫 (3.5 stars)

I was really looking forward to diving into this small-town crime/mystery, and while I’m definitely intrigued by what I’ve experienced so far, I unfortunately wasn’t able to complete the story due to receiving a partial audiobook through NetGalley. That did impact my overall review experience.

That said, the 30 chapters I did get to listen to offered a fast-paced and compelling start. The setup is strong: Jane Hardy, a newly appointed police chief in the quiet town of Pelican Harbor, is thrown into chaos when her father is accused of multiple crimes, and ghosts from their past start creeping in. Fifteen years ago, Jane escaped from a cult with her father, believing her newborn son had died. In the present day, long-buried secrets resurface as she tries to uncover the truth while also being shadowed by Reid, a journalist filming a documentary about her.

The cult backstory adds an eerie, emotional depth to the plot, and the slow-building dynamic between Jane and Reid provides a steady emotional counterweight to the unfolding mystery.

Though I can’t offer a full review just yet, I’m invested enough in the story and characters to continue it elsewhere. I’d recommend this to readers who enjoy clean suspense, family secrets, and strong female leads navigating trauma and trust.

Audiobook provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: One Little Lie by Colleen Coble
Genre: Christian Suspense / Mystery
Rating: ★★★★☆ (3.5 - 4 stars)

I recently picked up One Little Lie by Colleen Coble, and I have to say—it was a ride. This is the first book in her Pelican Harbor series, and it kicks off with a strong sense of mystery, layered characters, and secrets that beg to be unraveled.

The standout for me? Police Chief Jane Hardy. She’s the kind of female lead I love to see in suspense fiction—tough yet emotionally complex, driven by justice but still learning how to navigate personal betrayal and trust. Coble does a great job making Jane feel real, and her past, shaped by a controlling cult, adds a unique and unsettling backdrop that gives the story depth.

The pacing is quick, and the mystery is solid, keeping me turning the pages to see how everything connects. There’s a subtle romance thread with Reid, a journalist who has his own complicated role in Jane’s life, but it doesn’t take over the plot—which I appreciated.

Now for the part that fell a little short for me: the ending. While the buildup was strong, the resolution felt a bit rushed. Certain elements tied up too neatly, and I was left wishing for just a bit more complexity or closure, especially with how personal the case was for Jane.

Still, the book delivers a lot—small-town secrets, a smart female lead, emotional tension, and a clean read with threads of faith woven in. If you’re a fan of Christian suspense or enjoy mysteries that focus more on characters than just crime-solving, this one is worth checking out.

Final Thoughts:
A gripping start to a new series with a memorable main character, though the ending may not hit as hard as the buildup promises. Still, I’m curious enough to continue with the next book and see where Jane’s journey goes.

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to listen to this story. Unfortunately I found the narrator not enjoyable to listen to. However this is a great story for those who enjoy cozy mysteries. The plot was intriguing but was not able to keep my interest. Overall it was a decent book but I feel that I am not the right reader for this book.

When Jane Hardy is appointed interim sheriff upon her father's retirement, the last thing any of them expect is to have her father arrested on criminal charges thereafter!

The fact that Jane and her father both share a problematic part that includes cult membership, along with the abandonment of her mother who choose to remain with the cult, does not help matters.

Additionally, Jane finds herself under pressure by the local authorities to cooperate with a documentary maker who is interested in her career!

And while she knows that working with Reid may help her to find out who's behind the strange string of events the has led to her father's arrest, Jane must tread carefully since nothing (and no-one) is as it seems...

Entertaining story telling from Colleen Coble, and Jane's family story was a particularly interesting element here. Worth checking out. It gets 3.5 stars.

An okay book. Didn’t really jump to me. I won’t be reading more by this author. Or recommending to friends and family it was quite boring tbh. Nothing too mysterious for my liking.