Harper Taylor is used to being alone—after all, she grew up in one foster home after another. Oliver Jackson finally took her under his wing when she was a runaway teenager, and now Harper pours her marine biology knowledge into Oliver’s pen shell research. But she’s never stopped wishing for a family of her own.
So when a DNA test reveals a half-sister living just two hours away, Harper is both hopeful and nervous. Over warm cinnamon rolls, Harper and Annabelle find striking similarities in their stories. Is it just a coincidence that both their mothers died tragically, without revealing Harper and Annabelle’s father’s name?
Oliver’s son Ridge still sees Harper as a troubled teen even all these years later. But when Oliver is attacked, Ridge and Harper find themselves working together to uncover dangerous secrets that threaten to destroy them all. They must unravel her past before they can have any hope for the future. ~from the publisher
Strands of Truth is a page turner. From the first dive Harper takes to the conclusion the tale has a lot of twist and turns. The reader is taken on the ride of Harper trying to find who her parents were and stay ahead of a killer. For those who like a little romance, this story has a little of that between Ridge and Harper. Although this reader wanted to find how the story would end and if Harper finds information about her real family, it was sad to see the story come to the end. Coble fans will not be disappointed and any Terri Blackstock fan’s who are looking for another author to entertain them will be satisfied with Strands of Truth.
I received an ARC ebook from Netgalley and the publisher, Thomas Nelson, in exchange for an honest review.

Colleen Coble is a master at Christian romantic thrillers and Strands of Truth did not disappoint. I love how she focuses more on the thriller part. The romance is there, but it's not the main focus of the story. This story focused on the results of DNA testing done. Harper discovers that she has a half sister, but immediately attacks on their lives begin. The main characters are just so wonderfully written that I became emotionally invested in their stories. Also a bonus for me not suspecting who was behind all this until close to the end. If you love thrillers, I highly recommend! Absolutely unputdownable. Thank you to Netgalley and Thomas Nelson for the copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

Harper has felt rejection most of her life, beginning with the death of her mother during her birth to her unknown father it goes downhill. She finally thinks things are looking up when she finds a half sister through DNA search
Things rapidly spiral out of control as her special undersea project is vandalized and her “mentor” is attacked and left on support at the hospital.
Ridge, her antagonist “foster” brother begrudgingly steps in to help Harper with her safety. He finds himself realizing she might not be as conniving as he has painted her in the past. Dive in you won’t be sorry you just might have an I can’t put this book down moment.

I loved this suspense filled book from the first page. Colleen Coble is one of my favorite novelists and since I have fallen behind on her books was glad to get a new one pre-publication. The only downside was I felt as if I had read this before, guess when you are older and have been an avid reader for as long as I have it happens.

I received an advance e-copy from NetGalley. This did not effect my review, which is my true opinion of this novel.

Strands of Truth is a Christian mystery novel by bestselling author, Colleen Coble.

Harper Taylor and Annabelle Rice both submit DNA in a search for potential family members and find that they are half sisters. Strangely enough their mothers both died under suspicious circumstances when they were babies, without revealing the name of their shared father.

Oliver Jackson is Harper’s mentor and business partner. He is attacked while on a dive with Harper. Oliver’s son, Ridge, isn’t especially fond of Harper but joins forces with her to figure out who attacked his father and why. What is it about Harper’s past that’s bringing danger now? Are the emotions developing between Ridge and Harper real or just a result of the constant contact they’re in because of their investigation?

Strands of Truth is an interesting read. Part of the backstory is revealed through flashbacks from the viewpoint of Lisa Taylor and Judy Russo, Harper’s and Annabelle’s mothers, respectively. The flashbacks are handled with dated headers, so there is no confusion. Scenery is also used effectively. The plot is engaging and holds the reader’s attention. Christian themes are melded seamlessly into the characters’ thoughts, actions and dialogue. They’re presented naturally and unobtrusively. Giving and receiving grace, especially God’s grace is a special theme.

Overall I enjoyed this novel and rate it 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it to readers who enjoy a good mystery, especially with Christian themes.

My thanks to Thomas Nelson — FICTION and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book. However, the opinions expressed in this review are 100% mine and mine alone.

Colleen Coble authored another good book! I enjoyed it, but I wish the plot had been resolved a bit more smoothly. It felt a bit forced at times.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. As someone who is slightly fascinated by DNA and genealogy, I found this book intriguing in how it combined a DNA test to find unknown family members with the heinous plot that ended up killing two women and almost a third. I found it enthralling trying to figure out how all the strands of the plot wove together. The author gave just enough foreshadowing to have me wonder how it was going to play into the story but didn’t give too much away that I figured it out too early. I liked that the author had several scenes in the past leading up to the first woman’s murder. There were also little things Coble included that gave depth to the story like the female protagonist getting an embryo donation, manatees, and pen shells. This was an enjoyable book and I look forward to her next book.

Colleen Coble never disappoints me. This book was awesome. It was a bit complex but I think that's what pulled me in and made me keep reading. This is one of those books that really makes you stop and think that things like this are quite possible! I am already looking forward to her next book!

" Strands of Truth " by Colleen Coble is a suspence, romance book and will leave you hanging on your seat on what is coming around the corner. Harper Taylor was a foster child and went from one home to the next . She is looking for her mother's past and her sister as well. She has to dig to find her answers. There is suspense with the cliffhangers in front of Harper stopping her from moving forward. Crime activity abounds in this book over and over. What are the generational secrets that will come forward? I enjoyed the ups and the downs of each phase of the book. I liked Harper's tenacity to find what she was looking for in her past even though obstacles kept coming her way. The scenes are well described and easy to follow. I would highly recommend this book. I am thankful to the publisher, netgalley for allowing me to read and review this book. I am not obligated to write a positive review. I will post this review on facebook, goodreads, my blog, netgalley, Amazon. our church staff.

Strands of Truth was a fascinating read. I found the storyline to be intriguing and thought-provoking. I liked the characters right away and I enjoyed how romance wasn't the main focus of the book.



The writing style was A+ and it was very easy to stay interested in the story, even though I wasn't able to read it uninterrupted and had to take lots of breaks.



All in all, Strands of Truth was very good and I recommend it. Colleen Coble knows how to write good suspense!



*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention/review it on my blog. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I've done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.*

I loved this story!

The suspense was just the perfect tension to keep me needing to see what was going to happen next.

I loved the characters and was pulling for them to find the answers they were searching for.

Colleen Coble is a masterful story teller. Her stories are full of beautiful settings, interesting characters, and wonderful plots.

I think if you like a suspenseful romance, you'll like this book.

Strands of Truth#NetGalley
Colleen Coble ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This is my first book of Colleen Coble’s that I have read. I have heard about her books from other readers and am sorry I took so long to read one of them. I thoroughly enjoyed her writing style and character development and her dedication to detail. Each character was very likable almost to the point of being too perfect. The storyline was very detailed in fleshing out each character. There is a murder mystery that keeps you guessing until the very end. I love that this author is a Christian writer and makes her book enjoyable without bad language, cursing, sexual scenes and the macabre that some writers tend to think they need in order for the book to be marketable. I will definitely be reading more of her books in the future as well as recommending them to my friends and family.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced read copy of this book for an honest review.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Colleen Coble has really written a fantastic book this time that hit all of the right notes with me. First of all, because she is a Christian author, this is a clean read. It is romantic suspense that is is wrapped up in a very clever title and an extremely well-researched plot. The romance and the suspense in this novel come together seamlessly and the author captured my attention from the very first page. Harper Taylor is a sympathetic character, orphaned at a young age when her mom was killed in a car accident. Left with her drug-addled grandmother, she learned at an early age to make her own way in life. She got a degree in marine biology and is studying pen shells. I had no idea what this was or bivalves or sea silk. Ms. Coble explains all of this to her readers in the context of an intriguing plot. When Harper has a DNA test done, she finds a half sister with the same strange background as hers. Annabelle also lost her mother to an accident when she was young. Neither woman knows who their father is and this is part of the mystery. The drama builds when there is a plot to kidnap both of them and harm comes to someone with whom Harper is very close. The puzzle likes in the sea silk and the truth is slowly revealed, just the way I like a mystery to be. This book is fast-paced with an awesome, blow-you-away ending! Fans of romantic suspense will not want to miss this book! It entertains and educates at the same time! Loved it!

I was captivated from the start as it begins in 1990, St. Petersburg, Florida, “Lisa ran to her Datsun Bluebird and jerked open the yellow door. Her pulse strummed in her neck, and she glanced behind her to make sure she wasn’t being followed.”

I was fascinated by how this author got the idea for this page-turning thriller, she says, “Everywhere we look there are ads for DNA kits to trace your ancestry and family. While this kind of information is fascinating, the possible abuses are daunting as well. What will people do with new family information? It has the power for great connections but also for great hurt… I heard all kinds of dramatic stories. My mind always runs to murder mysteries, so that’s where the germ of this story idea was born”

Harper Taylor is in search of family. Her mother died in a car accident in which Harper was born soon after. She was raised in foster homes and was on the run until she met mentor Oliver Jackson, who took her under his wing, helped her to navigate life and provided a way for her to graduate college. His two other children think Harper’s a gold digger. This is reinforced in Oliver’s son, Ridge mind when his father reveals his plan for him and Harper to work together at the new pen shell research lab his father owns. Ridge is shocked. His father never consulted him about this working arrangement.

Harper’s DNA match comes back, she is thrilled to meet Annabelle, her half-sister. They share the same father neither one of them have met and know nothing about. Soon after their meeting crazy things start to happen. Why does someone want to abduct these women and attack Oliver?

This story took surprising twists and turns I didn’t see coming. There is danger, suspense and intrigue as the plot thickens for Annabelle and Harper. My mind was blown with some of the plot twists. I couldn’t stop reading and wondering why people were trying to kidnap Harper, Ridge’s father and did any of this have to do with her connection to Annabel.

The references to the cities I visited when I lived in Florida were enjoyable to read. I was fascinated by the fun facts about the tourist attraction in Florida, Weeki Wachee. It’s an amusement park where people could see the enchanted springs where mermaids live, you can take a trip on a river boat cruise, learn about Florida wildlife, and swim in the pristine waters at Buccaneer Bay. I liked the behind the scenes tour the author took readers on in the past and then fast forward to the present.

This story is an adventure I won’t soon forget. It’s an engaging romantic, suspense mystery tour that will stay in your heart and mind long after you close this book. This would work well for your next book club pick. The author includes eight questions to help generate lively discussions for your group. There is so much to talk about.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher, Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”

Nora St. Laurent
TBCN Where Book Fun Begins! www.bookfun.org
The Book Club Network blog www.psalm516.blogspot.com
Book Fun Catalogue front page www.bookfun.org

Wow! This book will keep you completely hooked until the end. Mermaids, Sea Silk, Murder and Mystery that will weave through this story and have your heart beating as you try to figure it all out. Who would have thought a DNA test could start this whirlwind... if you've never read a book by Colleen Coble you will never regret picking this one up.

 I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley on behalf of the Publisher and was under no obligation to post a favorable review.

If you’ve read my blog for very long (or know me personally) you probably know how much I LOVE Colleen Coble and everything she writes.

Her most recent book Strands of Truth is one more to add to the list of must-reads by her. It checks off every box in the suspense category—kept me on the edge of my seat, had great characters, plot twists, and even a little romance!

One thing I always love about Colleen’s books are that they are so varied, and I always learn about something I didn’t know before. So far I’ve read books about blueberry barrens, lavender fields, life in Michigan’s UP, rescue dogs and so much more!

Strands of Truth revolves around a brand-new subject I never enjoyed before—marine biology. Biology was my least favorite subject in school, but (not surprisingly) Colleen makes it seem interesting in this tale!

Summary

Harper Taylor never had a family of her own, but Oliver Jackson took her under his wing when she was a teenager. Now, he’s funding her research and the pen shell beds she’s always dreamed of. But Oliver’s son, Ridge, still sees Harper as the troubled teenager who he believes has conned his father.

When Oliver is attacked just as secrets from Harper’s past begin to come to light, Ridge and Harper must put the past behind them and work together to find who’s behind it.

Harper has searched her whole life for family, and now she finds that she has a half-sister, Annabelle, who lives only a short drive away. When they meet for the first time, they notice similarities between their stories. Then someone attempts to kidnap Annabelle, and seems to be following Harper. Ridge and Harper are moving towards a relationship even as they struggle with all that’s going on, but Harper is still keeping a secret from Ridge that may change everything.

My opinion

I loved this Strands of Truth, and wasn’t able to guess who was behind everything, or even how it was all connected. Colleen did a really great job with this one, and it kept me up late to finish it!

I did have one issue with this book that bothered me. Harper Taylor wanted a baby and a family so badly that she used artificial means to get pregnant. I understand that this is becoming more common in our modern world, but it is not God’s way, and I disagree with it. I was disappointed that Colleen included it in this book.

I still really enjoyed the story, and I’m already excited for the next installment in this series which is due out in the spring!

Recommendation

I hope that you’ll be able to see past the one part of the book that isn’t great, to the story that really is great. Colleen is a queen of Christian suspense, and I’d hold her books up to secular ones any day. If you’re looking for suspense alternative that is thrilling without blood, gore or bad language, you should definitely check out Strands of Truth.




I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for this review.

I've never read a Colleen Coble book I didn't enjoy! She just has a gift for writing outstanding Christian Fiction Suspense. I only have to see her name on a book and I know it will be a great read! Starting at the beginning, she draws you into the story like you're a part of it! Swimming throughout the story is danger, risks, secrets, and a love as precious as a pearl! I kept trying to figure the secrets out but I like surprises and this certainly fit that. I love getting to the end and then think "Wow, I didn't see that coming!" It makes you want to just hibernate until you've read it completely. I also learned what pen shells are and what they are used for and how having one's DNA tested can change one's life. Has this hooked you? Good! Read the book!
Blessings,
Karen
Rating: 5*
I received this book as a gift and all opinions are my own.

This book was very good and I loved the twists and turns. The DNA technology was very interesting to me. This book has it all...mystery, romance and Christian writing. Loved It!

So, I'd like to start off by saying that I appreciated the lack of physical touch in this book. There was definitely attraction, and a few awkward moments, but really. (minor spoiler here) the couple didn't even kiss until the end. So there's that. I was pleasantly surprised at how clean it was. That's probably what kept this boat from sinking to two stars.

Okay, now . . . the setting. The diving and overall setting was super cool to read about, but all the talk about mollusks and pen shells and byssus and sea silk went right over my head. (Not gonna lie, I eventually Googled some of that stuff.) But Harper's house boat sounded super cute and quaint (I mean, really. She wants to get rid of the old orange shaggy carpet that clashed with the turquoise bedspread? C'mon, Harper, where's your sense of adventure??)

The murder mysteries were unique and intriguing and sad . . . but I kept getting Lisa and Judy mixed up. And Grace and whoever the other best friend was. Good grief, there were so many minor characters, I finally gave up trying to remember them all. If I couldn't place a name, they just stuck in my head as a vague idea.

Okayyyy, the main characters. *deep breath* Let's go.
Harper. *cringes* I enjoyed Harper's character. I really did. But the book started out with Harper at a clinic, adopting an embryo. The problem? Harper is a single 30-year-old woman so desperate to have children and show them the love that she never had as a child, that she takes matters into her own hands when she comes to the conclusion that she'll probably never get married soon enough to have kids. Now, some wouldn't have a problem with this. I couldn't show you exact Scriptures to back me up. But I also believe that a single parent adopting a child (or embryo in this case) goes against God's design for family. Harper claimed to be a Christian, yet there was nothing in the book that mentioned her waiting for His timing, trusting Him, or even wondering if He wanted her to have any children at all.

Okay, rant over. Let's move to Ridge. Dude has serious trust issues—almost as bad as Harper herself. He's bitter and has held a grudge against Harper for nearly two decades because his father seemed to give more love to the 'daughter of his heart' than to his own two children. So when his dad comes up with a situation in which they can work together, his first reaction was repulse—until he realized that he could use this as an opportunity to prove once and for all that Harper was only here to mooch his dad's money! Brilliant! *headesk* Someone shoot me. One of my least favorite tropes is enemies-to-lovers. And this is a classic moment in that very trope.

So, okay, let's dive into more depth on the romance. They both have admitted their attraction to each other. (Actually it was more of an I-realize-that-I-hated-you-to-protect-myself-from-my-attraction-to-you-all-these-years kind of admittance, but I digress.) She wants to run her fingers through his thick, gorgeous black hair. He wants to protect her with his entire being. They both pretty much know exactly what the other is thinking. Yet Harper is convinced of his love one moment, then convinced of the opposite the next. And Ridge? Well, he was a little more steady, which I appreciated. But *cringes* both characters seemed a little . . . shallow?

So why three stars instead of two? Like I mentioned before, the romance wasn't awful. (Aside from their constant denial.) And the mysteries kept me intrigued. The intense moments kept me hooked and let's just not forget the stun gun. That was fabulously angsty.

Thank you to the author and publisher for the ARC of Stranda of Truth.Colleen has written a story with lots of suspense and mystery. The tension builds throughout the book culminating in an ending that ricochets through you.
I will definitely be reading more of Colleen's books.

Strands of Truth is my first Colleen Coble book, and I'm officially hooked! The story grabs you from the very beginning with its unique cast of characters and fast-paced action.
Be prepared to be rocketed into the danger surrounding the life of Harper Taylor. Fair warning...you will not get the recommended amount of sleep until you finish this book! From the first chapter, the story moves quickly. The narrow, twisty trail Harper and Ridge navigate to avoid danger and to find the truth is exhilarating. The small clues left to follow will only satisfy you for a few pages before you want more. I usually enjoy being one step ahead of the characters, but hanging on every word as I stumbled through the mystery with Harper and Ridge was a breathtaking experience.
I loved the complexity and depth of Harper and Ridge. The evolution of their relationship was perfect, and I enjoyed watching them discover each other after knowing each other for years.
Harper is a sweetheart, and I loved her tenacity. Her sea silk hobby was quite interesting--enough to warrant an internet search for more information.
Ridge is a complex guy, but what I really loved was watching his heart soften through the book. Not just toward Harper, but in general, as he gave his family second chances. It made this handsome guy even more of a hunk. ;)
If you want to be completely captivated by a story, then you'll want to read Strands of Truth. Any fan of Christian suspense will enjoy it.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.