Strands of Truth took me back in time! Being born in the 60’s myself and I grew up in Clearwater, FL this is where the book took place. This book kept my interest even though I found at times to be totally confused with all the characters in this book. Just ok for me. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this book for my honest review.

Harper Taylor is desperate to have a family of her own. Her mother died when she was born, her grandmother was not really a good substitute, and died when Harper was young. Time spent in the foster care system was dangerous and disappointing. Fortunately she found a mentor, but his family resented the attention he gave her, even as she grew into an intelligent and contributing member of society.
When this mentor set her up with a job working side by side with his son, Ridge, the son, sees it as an opportunity to show his father that Harper was only ever after their money. Can working together change his view of her?
As a birthday gift, Harper's best friend gave her one of those Ancestry DNA test kits. Does she actually have family somewhere in the world? Possibly closer to home than she expected?
When Harper and her newly found potential sister start having attacks on them, can it be tied to past secrets? Danger lurks around every corner as Harper not only seeks to find out about her unknown father but also tries to research benefits of pen shells.
Even without knowing anything about mollusks or clams, I found this an interesting aspect of the book. I feel like I have enough family already, but if there was a question about who my parents were, I would want to take advantage of new technologies myself.
The mysteries were interesting and the tension kept building through this whole book.

Colleen Coble has long been on my favorite authors list. Her newest book "Strands of Truth" took it to a whole new level. Amazing suspense that kept me flipping pages to the end. The story has a great flow that keeps the pace moving and the story humming. Harper has always longed for one thing, family of her own. After her mother died and she entered the foster system it became even more important. One piece she has never had information on is her father. He never had a face or name and she is left wondering if there are any other family members she doesn't know. After entering her DNA in an online site, she gets a hit. A sister she never knew about! But once they meet, strange things start happening. There are kidnapping attempts and attacks on Harper, her sister, and friends as close as family. Through it all Harper leans more and more on Ridge, a man who has never trusted her, mad that his father helped Harper through the foster system as a teenager. Ridge learns that everything he thought he knew was a lie. He had to start trusting, " That's when trust comes the hardest, but it's also when it brings the most blessing." As the hunt for Harper's father and the reason for the danger continues, they learn that trust and love can grow in any situation. In a heart pounding climax all the answers come from the same source!
The characters in this book seem to spring to life and take the reader along on each trip, investigation, and life saving race. Colleen Coble has weaved a tail that pulls you in and has you experiencing every heart pounding moment along with the characters. The story seamlessly flows from page to page until you suddenly realize the story is done. Everything you want in a suspense book is here! I will gladly (impatiently) wait for another book from this gifted author! I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Thanks to Net Galley for providing me with a digital ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Colleen Coble is at it again! Riviting Christian Suspense! A real page turner. Had me guessing to the end of the book.

After Harper's mother was killed in a suspicious car accident when Harper was born, Harper grew up in foster care. She never really had anything that resembled a family until Oliver Jackson took her under his wing much to the resentment of his two children, who were sure she was only after Oliver's money. When Harper discovers a long lost half sister, Annabelle, whose mother also died under mysterious circumstances, both Harper and Annabelle find themselves the victims of attempted kidnappings. With the help of Oliver's son, Ridge, Harper sets out to find out who her father was and what is the connection between her mother and Annabelle's mother's death before something tragic happens. This is a fast paced mystery with a touch of romance thrown in. It's unique theme which revolves around marine biology and sweet and slow developing love story should please the readers of both genres.

Colleen Coble is one of my very favorite romantic suspense authors. She always delivers fast-paced, twisting stories sure to keep me up way to late at night. Strands of Truth proved to be another great read. The action takes off right from the start and never stops. I loved the characters, the setting, and the very chilling plot — this one is definitely recommended!

Harper Taylor and Ridge Jackson don’t like each other and definitely don’t trust one another, but when Oliver, Ridge’s father and Harper’s mentor, is attacked they join forces to find out just what is going on. As the danger increases — and it does at an alarming pace — they cannot continue to deny their attraction to each other. Romance and peril occupy much of their time. 😉 There are lots of plot threads that are seemingly unrelated, but become clearer as they uncover clues from the present and from the past. I really liked that aspect of the book. Not one, but two, unsolved mysteries are connected with all the present day doings. The mystery involves family connections and DNA tests and is a chilling reminder of how unstoppable an obsessed person can become. The Dunedin, Florida-area setting is dear to my heart — I spent the first year of my marriage right up the road in Tarpon Springs. Real life local sights and flavor are brought into Strands of Truth, and all I can say about that is road trip anyone? Scenes from old Florida also are incorporated into the story. I loved revisiting childhood memories as the main characters visit the mermaids of Weeki Wachee. False impressions and jealousy play a large part in the relationships between multiple characters. Coble will make you think about what the other guy is feeling. One negative I found was the farfetchedness (is that a word?) of a few of the scenes. But the mystery was too much fun for them to seriously influence my reading experience.

I finished Strands of Truth in just one day — I could not put this book down! I’m betting you’ll love it too!

Recommended.

Audience: adults.

DNF'd at 49%. The story itself was alright, but every other page had something about god this, god that, church, praying, how prayer is stronger than medicine, blah blah blah. Nothing about this marketed itself as Christian Fiction so I feel free to say that it was more than a little annoying. Moving on to the next book.

It was a little hard to get into this book, but once I did it was a page-turner!
I enjoyed learning a bit about the lifestyle of our main characters, and the good and bad things that can happen when people obtain DNA test results. The suspense was well done, as was the developing relationship between the two main characters.
The only criticism I have is that there were so many characters it was hard to keep them all straight during the story’s development. At least it was for me.
I received this book from the publisher via net galley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

I enjoy this author's books and am glad I was given the opportunity to discover her writing through my church book club book. If not for that first book, I'm not sure I would have discovered Colleen Coble.

This book has a wonderful thread of suspense from the very beginning. The many relationships and the dynamics of those was intriguing. And then you factor in the DNA and how that leads to murder, kidnappings, and opens the door for romance and you have a delightful story on your hands.

You will travel back in time to learn about the early murders and part of the history of the main character. I enjoyed learning about marine biology and sea silk. Any book that can increase my knowledge on various aspects of the world is a good read!

The ability to learn how to trust and forgive others was a wonderful focus and is a goal we should all have for our lives.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Great read. The author wrote a story that was interesting and moved at a pace that kept me engaged. The characters were easy to invest in.

I'm a huge fan of suspense crime stories and it's not often I find a really well written plot that leaves me guessing until the end. But this story did not disappoint. With recent DNA testing available, Harper, a young woman who feels alone in the world, suddenly experiences attempts on her life for no apparent reason. Where are the connections? Follow Harper and her long time nemesis, Ridge, as they rush to put any pieces of the puzzle together before more people are harmed or killed. This book will have you turning the pages until the end of the story.
"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

A fast-paced, intriguing thriller that captivated me from page one. Before I knew it, I was half-way through and then, I was finished! An enthralling story that I could not put down. Colleen Coble has a way of creating believable characters and story-lines that transport you straight to the heart of the action. Harper has been knocked down over and over and finally finds her silver lining with her half-sister and stories of her mom, but the knowledge comes at a steep price. Harper is determined to protect her family at all costs and perhaps fall in love along the way…You will not be disappointed.
Note: I received a copy of the book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for this honest review. The opinions expressed are my own.

“Strands of Truth” by Colleen Cable has plenty of mystery and intrigue. Set in Clearwater, Florida, the seaside geography and picturesque setting make an unusual backdrop for murder.
I chose this book solely because of the cover, the woman in the red coat. There are so many book covers depicting a woman in a red coat that I decided to read as many as I could and see what there was about this red coat. Perhaps I needed to purchase one or maybe I should be wary of anyone I saw wearing one. I was not disappointed in this latest addition to the “red coat” list. It has plenty of conflict, intrigue, and mystery without buckets of blood or graphic violence.
Harper Taylor loves sitting on her boat with the beach town in view. Trees frame the brick shops and the brightly painted shops. Jet Skis and windsurfers add to the ambiance. Not everyone gets along, however, and backstories reveal conflict and animosities.
Taylor and her business partner’s son Ridge Jackson have a grant to investigate the medical benefits that might be derived from mollusks and snails, specifically the pen shells. The project is complicated by an ancient Native American burial site just yards past the beds. However, something else is going on because there have been several unusual deaths and multiple assaults under questionable circumstances, most aboard boats. In a second storyline, Taylor seeks to find long lost relatives and perhaps her father by using DNA family history databases.
I received a review copy of “Strands of Truth” from Colleen Cable and Thomas Nelson Fiction. It is easy to read; the characters are believable and likeable, and the action progresses at an appropriate pace with plenty of conflict.

Colleen Coble has been a favourite suspense author of mine for some time.
Waiting for a new book is like waiting for a serving of delicious food. You wait and wait for it , then devour it as quickly as possible. This author dishes up novels full of heart pounding suspense and mystery, keeping the reader tense and on the edge of her chair, from beginning to end. This time, Colleen has managed to use interwoven tales that seemingly are unrelated. Readers are kept guessing as to what will eventually be the connection. This was also a learning experience. I had no knowledge of the uses of deep sea creatures, previous to this.

The characters are described in a realistic, detailed way, making them easy with whom to identify. Harper's quest for her birth father became mine as I travelled alongside her at this difficult time in her life. I felt her highs as well as her lows as she travelled this roller coaster called life. Each character had their own quirks, desires and fears.

The plot was outstanding as Coble displays her unique talent of taking two tales and creating a plot of intrigue, deception and a very frightening tale, finally showing the connection near the end of the story. The fast pace kept me guessing as to what would happen next. Twists and turns appeared at the most unexpected times. The world passed me by as I just could not put this book down!!

A fabulous new story of suspense, worthy of five stars!
I am eagerly awaiting the next one!!

This book was a gift. The thoughts and opinions expressed are honest and my own.

Strands of Truth is another thrilling winner from author Colleen Coble. Having read a few other books by Coble, I was looking forward to reading this one and was not disappointed. Romance and suspense are a hard combination to beat. There is lots of action with some twists and turns in this multi-layered story where past murders are connected to the present dangers. It was hard to put the book down. Who would think that doing a DNA test could lead to danger and even death? Harper longed for a family--to be where someone loved her no matter what. Ridge doesn't quite trust Harper and yet knows she needs his help. Would they find who was targeting her before it was too late? And would they perhaps find love too? Strong characters, a fast-moving plot that kept me guessing to the end and a sweet romance all come together to make this a book readers who love romantic suspense stories will not want to miss.
I received a complimentary copy of this book via CelebrateLit. A favorable review was not required and opinions are my own. This review is part of a CelebrateLit blog tour.

"The right time for the truth is every minute of every day."

Strands of Truth by Colleen Coble is an incredibly fascinating mystery that will have you working overtime trying to figure it all out. Such fun all the way through.

Two cold-case murders collide with the present when Harper Taylor is attacked not long after finding a half sister, Annabelle Rice, through a DNA analysis. What is going on? Finding out is certainly entertaining, but it will test your patience as you fly through the chapters. The clues to the old crimes and the new ones are parceled out in such a deliciously slow manner.

Flashbacks to old crimes can be tricky to navigate without annoying or confusing the reader, but Colleen Coble obviously knows what she's doing. The pacing of both the modern story and the flashbacks are neither too slow nor too quick, and the author's writing style is suburb. 

Greed, revenge, and obsession are what's on tap in Strands of Truth, and all three have no statute of limitations. When Harper discovers she has a half sister and that both their mothers were allegedly  murdered, the strands of truth start to unravel. But at what cost? Someone is out to abduct one or both of these sisters, and trying to figure out why will leave you reading well into the night. Figuring out the truth will consume you until everything is finally revealed, one page at a time. Strands of Truth is one huge guessing game, for both the main characters and the reader, and that is what makes this book so fabulous and addicting. When you reach the ending chapters, and all the clues are falling into place, you will be completely stunned!

But a book labeled as a Romantic Suspense needs to have some romance, and Strands of Truth delivers, but not in the standard boy-meets-girl-and-they-fall-in-love kind of way. Just like the murder mystery, the romance aspect is unique and full of surprises and twists. Spoilers are no fun, so grab a copy of Strands of Truth by Colleen Coble and enjoy that sweet romance, heart-pounding suspense, and complex mystery for yourself. That ending, though. What a ride!

The author provided a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

My thoughts on Strands of Truth:
Strands of Truth will keep you on the edge of your seat! Such an amazing read that I cannot recommend to everyone enough! Get it now!

Wow. This book is so suspenseful. You don’t know what is going to happen next. It just keeps moving along at a fast clip and you’re along for the ride. Don’t read when you’re home alone on a dark and stormy night or you might just find yourself jumping at every noise and lightning strike.

I’ve long been a fan of Colleen Coble and knew that I would love this book. Her writing just captivates you and holds you in a spell so that you can’t get away from it.

This one is the same. I could not have even begun to figure out what was going on at the beginning but I had it figured out by the time the ending came. Such an intense mystery that is full of suspense and nail-biting.

I loved watching the two main characters come to a place where they could actually get over their differences and be understanding of each other. Maybe they’ll even become close? I also watched seeing relationships unfold and how showing understanding and kindness can change people. Such good lessons within this suspense book!

Definitely, one I recommend and would read again myself. You feel sorry for and want to bring justice down upon certain people at the same time. Get your copy today. You won’t regret reading this book!

I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from Celebrate Lit. All views expressed are only my honest opinion. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC regulations.

This book is full of twists and turns. I loved how it took something relatively new with DNA research and turned it into a suspense plot. It was fun trying to figure out who and why. This book keeps you guessing until the end. I would recommend it.

This is a fantastic romantic suspense novel. I loved the twists and turns throughout the book. I really enjoyed learning a little bit about the marine animals and mollusks and the sea silk. It is so interesting to see what uses DNA testing can have in this world. Sad to know it can be used for evil as well as for good. I loved the characters and the use of going back to the past to learn about some of the story. I received a copy of this book from Celebratelit for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.

Strands of Truth
by Colleen Coble

Thomas Nelson–FICTION

Thomas Nelson

Christian , Mystery & Thrillers

Pub Date 10 Sep 2019

I am reviewing a copy of Strands of Truth through Thomas Nelson Fiction and Netgalley:

Harper Taylor has grown used to being alone, she did after all grow up being pushed from one foster home to another. But when she was a teenager Oliver Jackson took her under his wing, and now Harper pours her Marine Biology Knowledge Into Oliver’s pen shell research. But she has always wanted to start a family of her own.

When DNA tests reveal that she has 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?

Ridge, Oliver’s son sees Harper as a troubled teen even Now, all these years later. But when Oliver is attacked Ridge and Harper find themselves working together to uncover dangerous secrets that threaten to destroy all of them. They must unravel her past before they can have any hope for the future.

I give Strands of Truth five out of five stars!

Happy Reading!