I was hoping for a romantic suspense book and instead got a book heavy on suspense and very light on romance. The story took place in a small town and there were too many murders and illegal activities going on, it was hard to keep it all straight. And it just didn't seem believable to me that an idyllic town by the sea would have so many shady personalities in one place. The cult background of the main character was interesting, but I wish it was delved into more. The romance aspect was pretty much nonexistent for most of the book. It turned out to be a disappointment for me.

Great mystery by Colleen Coble! It was a true page turner! The past and the present collide in this book about Jane's past cult life and being reunited with her 15 year old son! I can't wait to read the next book in the series!

I received an advanced reader copy of this book and am voluntarily reviewing it.

An exciting start to a new series! Set on the Gulf Coast in Alabama, this tightly wound murder mystery had plenty of suspense, action and a plot twist or two to keep it interesting. The romance is understated and not the focus, with promise to develop more in the sequel. The main character is strong, going from a stressful childhood in a cult to become a small town police chief. Her struggles with relationships and faith were understandable given her past. Bonds of family, especially between parent-child, was important to the storyline on many levels, especially when trust is broken. It will be interesting to follow these relationships in the next book. I liked the K-9 partner, Palmer, and hope to see him get an active role in the next book too.
Recommend this to fans of crime suspense with inspiration and a hint of romance.

Colleen Coble is at the very top of my must read, favorite authors list, so anytime she has a new book out, I absolutely cannot wait to get my hands on it. As such, I also have pretty high expectations for her novels as well. That can be a little dangerous sometimes if expectations are too high... but One Little Lie did not let me down! This book was absolutely fantastic!

From the beginning, I was drawn into the drama that fills up Pelican Harbor. For such a small town, there was a LOT going on. It was certainly a lot to keep up with, but I loved discovering how everything fit together in the end. In the first book of this new series we are introduced to Jane Hardy. Jane grew up in a cult and has tried to put that past behind her, but it seems the past and the lies told have a way of catching up! I won't give too much away, but it's certainly an action packed story that I could not put down! I loved this inclusion of the cult, as this is a topic that I personally find fascinating. I am certain I am not alone in that opinion either. I hope to see more about that in future books in the series as well.

If you have read other series by Colleen Coble in the past, I would say the style of this one reminds me a bit of her Rock Harbor series. The plots are of course completely different, but like in that series, while the primary mystery is tied up at the end of the story, the relationships and side stories are not. It ends at just a bit of a cliffhanger that leaves you ready to dive into the next book in the series to see what happens in the life of Jane Hardy. As such, you might find you want to wait for the series in it's entirety... but it's so good, who could REALLY wait that long?

Overall, this has everything that I have come to love from Colleen Coble--- great suspense, unexpected twists, themes of faith and yes, romance too. It was a great start to this new series and I cannot wait to see what happens next. Current fans of Colleen Coble will certainly want to add it to their collection, and new readers are sure to fall in love too!

**I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley for consideration. All thoughts are 100% my own.

Romantic Suspense and Collee Coble go hand-in-hand. Coble really knows the requirements of the genre, and she plays them for the reader. With her new introduction to her Pelican Harbor series, One Little Lie deals with a teenager who left a cult and has moved on with her life. The suspense in this story isn't scary or put readers on the edge of their seat.It does have readers flipping through the pages to see how the story ends. There is some romance between the Jane and Reid, but it isn't overbearing like a contemporary romance. The characters fall for each other as the story progresses. The writing is wonderful. I really like the cover because it leaves a lot to the imagination and fits the genre nicely. While the suspenseful element does wrap up nicely by the end of the novel, Coble leaves a open ended ending for Jane and Reid. Have to come back for the second book to see what happens. Overall, One Little Lie is a fabulous romantic suspense story filled with enough twists and romance to satisfy any fans. If the cult issue interests readers, than Christy Barritt just completed a five book mystery involving a cult. Tosca Lee featured a dystopian series with a cult. Plenty other novels diving into the cult realm.

I received a complimentary copy of One Little Lie by Colleen Coble from Thomas Nelson Publishers, but the opinions stated are all my own.

One Little Lie provides the reader with an intriguing start to Ms. Coble’s newest series. I love her books and this one did not disappoint. In fact, as soon as I finished it, I wanted to read the next book in this series! This intense book focuses on Jane Hardy who has just been appointed interim sheriff. Jane’s past is unique and she is faced with the task of trying to prove her father (the previous sheriff) is innocent of suspected crimes. At times, it seems as if the past is catching up with her, but she also wants closure for her past as well. As the reader reads, you will be caught up in what is occurring, what is going to occur, and wondering what really happened in the past. I can not wait for the next addition to the series to release! Be prepared to read straight through this one once you start! I highly recommend this book and believe that you will not be disappointed!
***I was given a free electronic copy of this book from the publisher for an honest review. This is my honest opinion. Even though I received this copy free, I have purchased her books before.

I enjoyed this book. I requested to read it it based on the storyline, but was a little hesitant because the genre was Christian Romance, but it surprisingly read as a regular mystery novel. I liked that the characters were imperfect people, who were trying to have faith. But, I did feel the story was a bit superficial as I really wanted to get to know the characters better, and find out more about cults. I also needed more info on Reeds ex wife, that part of the book wasn't explored much. But, otherwise it's a fun, quick read.

#OneLittleLie #NetGalley by Colleen Coble is a great read with likable characters and unlovable villains. Set in Gulf Shores, Alabama this book examines cults, relationships, women in management, and living in a coastal community. There are twists and turns, a little romance, mystery and crime solving. #Collen Coble writes another exceptional book well worth the read. Can’t wait for the next book in this series!

Too much going on in a small town in a relatively short period of time. The subject of cults was interesting and thought it was not adequately discussed. Also how Reid , a journalist ending up being more of a detective did not sit well with me. The story of him and his son was pretty obvious . A religious theme in the middle of murders , evil, kidnappings, abuse was off kilter. Lots of characters coming and going and the ending certainly makes way for the next book. The new chief will certainly be hiring as half her force is gone.

This novel starts out fast and furious and does not slow down until the end.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced look at this new novel from Colleen Coble.

I absolutely loved this book! Great character development, and definitely seems like a series I will read as soon as a new book is released.

"One Little Lie" is a Christian romantic suspense novel. This is the first in a trilogy about Jane Hardy. The mystery was wrapped up by the end, but the relationship tensions still need to be resolved. Jane was raised in a cult, and that still affects her present.

Despite making little progress on the case, Jane did come across as competent as a police chief. Perhaps because she made sure to do the investigative parts right. So many murderers and clues were thrown at her that it became a mess that was difficult figure out. I found the mystery a bit confusing, though it wasn't too difficult to figure out who to suspect. In the end, it's really her father that solves the mystery, but at least she's critical to saving the day and arresting the bad guys.

The suspense stayed high since people kept turning up murdered and her father was accused of crimes he swore he didn't do. Jane believed him, but doubts were planted when others close to him keep saying that he's hiding things from her. Reid and his son initially showed up to tape her at work to use in a documentary, but soon they are helping her. Though initially at odds, Reid tried to be understanding and supportive and so gained her friendship. The characters reacted realistically to events and were likable. However, Jane felt distant and I never really engaged with her.

Jane had trouble trusting God because she still viewed Him as she was taught in the cult. There was no bad language or sex. Overall, I'd recommend this complex suspense novel.

A fast paced mystery that kept me on the edge of my seat!
It was full of twists and turns! I couldn’t read it fast enough and read it in one day! I really like this author’s books and will anxiously waiting for the next one! Thanks to Netgalley for the early copy

The book was a bit slow to start, but once I got into it I enjoyed it. The characters were people I liked and wanted to see how they did and there were plot twists that kept it interesting.
I received this book as a gift from the publisher for the purpose of an honest review.

I had a hard time following this book. I lost interest by 20% and I had started it 3 times. I'm definitely in the minority but it's just not for me. Thanks NetGalley and the publisher for this book for my honest review.

Coble has given us another masterpiece in suspense and crime!
Tackling the subject of cults is difficult. If you have been in one (part of my own background), triggers, learning how to navigate in the real world, and healing continue for years. Those who have not experienced or studied cults, often find it difficult to understand the draw, the power structure, extreme control, and the forced naivety found within cults. It’s not a simple “let’s leave one day” to get out.
Coble does a good job of portraying the long lasting fallout from cults and how one lie can cause hurt and break trust with many people.
Follow Jane, her father, Reid, and his son Will on a journey of danger, misplaced trust, and that one looming lie.
My only disappointment was to reach the end of the book with bated breath only to find book two continues the story!

I had difficulty getting into this book. The story kept jumping around a bit much for me. Good story, but just difficult to follow.

I enjoyed reading this book. It had a good story to it. I liked the variety of characters in it. I have read other books by this author and liked them too.

I cannot wait to read the second book in this series to find out how every one in this story is going to handle the secrets that were revealed in this first book. I loved the characters in this story. There were so many twists and turns throughout this suspenseful story. Every character seems to have a secret that needs to be revealed. I received a copy of this book from Netgalley for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.

'Faith wasn't something Jane could wrap her head around. How did you trust something you couldn't see?'

Jane Hardy fled a cult 15 years ago with her father. Now, living in Pelican Harbor, Alabama, her father has retired as police chief and she has been appointed as his replacement when she is called on to solve a series of vicious murders. But more is going on than these murders.

Reid Dixon films documentaries and is good at what he does. He has come to Pelican Harbor to film the chief of police for a few weeks as she does her job. Jane does not want him to do so, but the mayor does. Reid, however, has some secrets of his own from his past. It all started with one little lie. That lie has the potential to wreak havoc in Jane's life.

After her father is arrested for theft, Jane is on a mission to prove his innocence while dealing with her own issues.

Colleen Coble has long been a favorite for me, but not since her wonderful Rock Harbor (which I have read several times) series has she done such fine writing! Some of her very best in my opinion. And this is going to be a series! So we have more to look forward to. Coble is at her very best here. I look forward to the next book in Pelican Harbor.

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson Publishers through Net Galley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
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