I love Coble and her books! This one did not disappoint. Such a good mystery and I was hooked from the start!

This was a very good read. Although the story moved slowly at times, it picked up very quickly and kept my interest. This book read in a way that played like a movie in my mind. I very much enjoyed this read.

This is my favorite by Coble so far! What a delightful mystery. There is still death and intrigue but nothing too dark. There was one plot I couldn’t figure out and I think she left it open for interpretation but overall really enjoyed this book!

Coble delivers another enjoyable Christian romance set in South Carolina. I liked the storyline surrounding the Faberge egg. An easy read with the right amount of suspense to keep the story flowing.

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book kept me captivated once it reeled me in.

I started this book unsure if I actually wanted to read it. Needless to say. I’m so glad I did. After the first hour of reading, I was HOOKED.

This story was like a puzzle with so many pieces and I was left turning page after page to get to the finish line. I wanted to know how all my little pieces produced the big picture.

The author did a wonderful job writing a story that made me lose myself at times. I found my self pulled in, feeling emotions for the characters as I was reading line after line. It was a perfect touch of soft romance, nothing heavy which was a nice touch. The MC becomes so incredibly likeable (even when I disagree with her at times) and helped me to think about the choices I would make in her shoes. It was a good sorry with a solid plot, an ending that I didn’t quite expect but a few unanswered questions. I would have loved for her to button some things up and then it would have been a 5 star read for me, but I don’t like feeling as if I have to assume how things get done. I don’t want to spoil anyone’s time reading it because I do recommend it, and you may not have those questions, but I certainly did.

If you like a mystery with amateur sleuthing, police detective work, and familia drama, this book will be a great one to cuddle up with.

I am a long time fan of Colleen Coble and this new title does not disappoint! I truly enjoyed reading this book with elements of love, suspense, and mystery. This book kept me guessing and the pages flying through my hands (metaphorically, of course, I was reading on a Kindle). This is definitely a book that I would recommend to friends and to Colleen...keep more coming!

Thanks to NetGalley for a review copy of this excellent title!

My feelings about this book are pretty similar to the other Colleen Coble book I read- Strands of Truth. I would say Colleen Coble knows her audience and has mastered writing to them.

I’m not exactly her core audience so there was enjoyment for me reading this book, but aspects of it that didn’t quite land.

Just like in Strands of Truth there were some interactions, reactions, dialogue, and word choice that at times seemed unnatural to me— are eyes really intelligent? would Lucas really have called Emily a dimwit? — and the like. But these parts aren’t all over the place and don’t hinder your ability to stay in the story.

In the author’s note, Coble said that she’s been fascinated with Faberge eggs and wanted to write a story about it. So no, Coble didn’t contemplate- what would be the most realistic, thrilling story I could write? and then crank this out. This came from- how can I write a romantic suspense story that incorporates Faberge eggs? I think she did a good job of coming up with something!


The basic premise is (and I agree with other reviewers that the Goodreads summary probably provides too much information… and has Lucas’s name wrong?) Carly Tucker, who lives with her grandmother after her husband’s unsolved murder and 9 months after she has his baby, comes across a treasure in the antique collection left to her by her great-grandmother. She discovers it’s an authentic Faberge egg that was declared lost and may have been part of the reason her husband was murdered.

But there are multiple groups, including the Russian mafia, out to secure the egg and Carly and her family find themselves in the center of a lot of danger as Carly attempts to figure out the story of the egg.

Throw in some romance between Carly and the detective next door who is helping her case and a long lost twin sister of her grandma who has another piece of the puzzle and you’ve got a drama filled book!



Carly wasn’t a super relatable character for me personally because, like some other readers, it got on my nerves how much she let her sisters walk all over her and cater to their every whim. I wouldn’t have put up with that. But at least Coble writes some good character development for her throughout the story as she is confronted with some hard information about her past relationships. Lucas helps her stand up for herself while still acknowledging that her serving nature and humble spirit are good things.

I do feel like there was a plot hole in terms of how little security the families had after people broke into their property multiple times and then someone was found killed in one of the rooms. I don’t think just moving next door was quite enough to feel safe to sleep at night, but I suppose it’s one of those necessary plot holes to provide a place for some action.

I enjoyed the setting of South Carolina with its live oak trees and trying to imagine the mansion as it was being remodeled. I wish I could see it in real life.


Recommendation

Overall, I would recommend this book if you enjoy a good, clean romantic suspense story or if you’re really into Faberge eggs.

It’s not going to keep you up at night, but I never dreaded picking it up to keep reading.

Even if you don’t purposefully read Christian fiction, I think it’s worth giving a shot if romantic suspense is up your alley. If you’re mostly into edgy thrillers, this may not be a good match for you.


[Content Advisory: no swearing or sexual content; infidelity]


**Received an ARC via NetGalley**

Solid novel from Coble, although I have enjoyed her recent collaborative work more. Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced review copy!

It is hard for me to admit that Fragile Designs was my first book that I have read by Colleen Coble. One thing that I can promise is that it will not be my last. I really liked so much about Fragile Designs. It had all the elements necessary for it to be a successful romantic suspenseful mystery. Fragile Designs was fast paced and well plotted. The characters were not only likable but so well developed. Of course, there were a handful of characters that were difficult to like, as well. I appreciated that Colleen Coble put a strong, capable and caring woman protagonist at the center of this story. From what I gathered about Colleen Coble’s distinctive signature aspects of her writing, Fragile Designs included a “clean” romance and also had elements that included distinctive Christian values that were apparent in the fictional characters in this book. Fragile Designs took place in both South Carolina and Georgia. I listened to the audiobook that was so well narrated by Karen Peakes. Her interpretation of and the distinction between the characters was outstanding.

Carly Tucker/ Harris had been married to her police officer husband, Eric, for three years when Carly discovered that she was pregnant with their first child. She had not worked up the courage yet to tell Eric her news. Perhaps today would be the day that she would tell Eric that he was going to become a father. Things had not been great between Carly and Eric lately. Maybe that was why she hadn’t shared her news with him yet. Carly was shocked by what she discovered when she arrived home and went to find Eric. When Carly found Eric, he lay brutally murdered on the floor of their garage. In that instant, Carly became a widow and she would become a single mother.

A little over nine months later, Carly was living with her beloved grandmother, Mary Tucker, in her old but rather large home in Beaufort, South Carolina. The home had been in Carly’s grandmother’s family for generations. It sat on scenic waterfront property but the house was in dire need of many repairs and updates. Carly’s grandmother had been contemplating a renovation and an idea of turning the house into a bed-and-breakfast. Mary Tucker thought that a bed-and-breakfast was exactly what would secure Carly’s and her infant son, Noah’s, livelihood and futures. Ryan, Carly’s high school boyfriend, who happened to live next door, agreed to do the needed renovations. Carly’s grandmother envisioned that Carly and her two younger sisters could all have a share in the planning of the bed-and-breakfast and its future. The sisters were informed about the plans and arrived ready to do their part. Carly and her sisters’ relationship was not one that was warm and loving. Her sisters resented Carly and blamed Carly for many things. They were downright nasty and even cruel to Carly. After their mother died and their father disappeared from their lives, Carly felt responsible for her sisters and practically raised them. Carly’s sisters showed no signs of appreciation or love for her.

Carly and her grandmother agreed that the first thing that needed to be done was cleaning out the house. There were so many pieces of furniture that Carly’s grandmother had inherited from her mother that had been stored in the attic. Since Carly had the knack and talent for recognizing valuable pieces and pieces that were not worth anything but sentimental value, she was tasked with cleaning out the attic. Carly would decide what to keep and what to sell. During Carly’s first attempt at this task, she discovered a letter in an old chest with life changing information. The contents of the letter revealed a long kept secret. Shaken by the contents of the letter, Carly continued to go through the abandoned items and furniture only to discover a true treasure. If the treasure was what Carly suspected it was, her life and perhaps her safety and that of her family could be affected. Carly began to wonder if her husband’s death could have had anything to do with the things she just discovered? All this was way beyond Carly’s comfort level and knowledge. She knew that she needed help but who could she trust with this newly acquired knowledge? Carly decided to seek out Lucas Bennet’s assistance. Lucas was Ryan’s older brother. He was a homicide detective and lived next door to Carly’s grandmother. Even though Carly believed that Lucas disliked Carly ever since she broke up with his brother back when she was in high school, Carly decided to take a chance on Lucas. Would Lucas be able and willing to help Carly?

I really enjoyed Carly’s character. She was strong, capable, determined, caring and always thinking of others before herself. Carly enjoyed taking care of others and she was a great mom to Noah. She held her discoveries close to her heart until she had enough evidence and proof that they were true. She did not want to lift hopes without verifying the facts. I enjoyed the relationship that blossomed between Carly and Lucas. It was unexpected for both but so undeniably beautiful. Both Carly and Lucas were faced with many challenges and questions throughout the book. Fragile Designs was about secrets, murders, long lost and recovered treasures, deceit, family dynamics and drama, gangs, Russian mafia and adoption. I really enjoyed listening to the audiobook of Fragile Designs by Colleen Coble and highly recommend it.

Thank you to Thomas Nelson for allowing me to listen to the audiobook, Fragile Designs by Colleen Coble, through Netgalley in exchange for a honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Great read, at first I didn’t think I was going to like it, but the more I read the more I wanted to read. Carly is a yong widow with a new son who goes to live with her grandma. Her husband, was murdered. When she sets out to find out why things become complicated. Her neighbor comes to the rescue

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you for allowing me to review

This book had me hooked from the very beginning. So many twists and turns you didn’t see coming. I had a hard time putting this book down. It’s love stories with a few twists and turns. Great read. Highly recommend

Fragile Designs was an easy read. I thought the suspense was intense, but not always believable to me how things turned out. I thought the storyline of the egg was intriguing and I liked the history aspect.

The characters and romance were likeable. I liked how there were some twists in this book. The ending was good and wrapped things up nicely.

All in all, I liked Fragile Designs. It was an easy, fast read and I look forward to seeing what Coble's releases next.

*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. 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.*

"Family secrets can be the most dangerous of all"
Fragile Designs is about Carly and how she moved into her grandma's house with her son after her husband was murdered. One day while looking through the attic at her grandma's house she finds a Faberge egg and a mystery. This was a easy read for me and had me turning pages till the end. The author did a great job writing this book and had great characters. I enjoyed this book and would recommend this one to any reader who loves a good mystery. Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for this book in exchange of my honest review of Fragile Designs.

I've been a fan of Colleen Coble's books for what seems like forever. There haven't been very many that I haven't read, so when Fragile Designs appeared on NetGalley, I had to request it. Then, I bought it because I enjoyed it so much.

Carly Harris lost her police officer husband, Eric, to an unknown murder just days after she learned she was pregnant with their first child. Struggling to support herself and her infant son, Noah, she moved in with her grandmother. Before her husband died, she worked as an antiques dealer and had aspirations to become a novelist, but those dreams weren't sustainable when she added motherhood to her plate. When her grandmother asks her to go through her great-grandmother's things to prepare them for sale, and then, to work with her sisters to turn her large Victorian home into a B&B, Carly finally gets excited about something again. In the process of clearing the attic, Carly comes across a secret that even her grandmother doesn't know, and she finds what she believes is an unimaginable treasure hidden away in her great-grandmother's trunk.

Homicide detective Lucas Bennett lives next door to Carly's grandmother, and he isn't Carly's biggest fan. He believes she was the cause of the friction in her marriage to his former partner, and that she broke his brother's heart when she dumped him. When she comes to him asking for help, he gets a far different picture of her. Her story of finding a lost Faberge egg, added to the intruder he just shot in her house means his partner's murder might have a different reason than the department believes. As he works with Carly to find out if the egg is authentic, he falls - not only for Carly, but for baby Noah as well. Can he keep them safe when it appears that more than one murderous thug is after the prize?

I, too, have been fascinated by the story of the Faberge eggs, ever since I read the book Nicolas & Alexandra. I can't remember much about the story, since I think I read it more than 40 years ago when I was in high school, but I do remember the eggs. Coble does a great job here of not only informing her readers about their rarity, but also weaving the egg's story into her suspense-filled novel. I listened to this on my Libby app, but reading it was also great.

Readers who enjoy romantic suspense, will love this engrossing story.

Fragile Designs is a stand-alone novel by Colleen Coble. Carly Harris is struggling emotionally and financially in the wake of the murder of her husband and police officer, She discovers that her husband had been hiding a life-altering secret plus the discovery of a Fabergé egg puts her life in danger. Coble has once again created a suspenseful novel with an intricate plot, yet also showing forgiveness's power.

Christian suspense genre can seem a bit of an oxymoron, but authors like Colleen Coble deliver successfully. In her newest novel, Coble introduces readers to Carly, a young widow and new mother, who must find her way after her police officer husband is killed, not on the job, but outside their home. As she digs through an old trunk to expedite the sale of her great-grandmother's belongings, Carly finds an oddly painted trinket. Seemingly worthless, Carly cannot dismiss the feeling that it should not be discarded. And then she finds papers that will change the family's life forever. With that paper comes danger at almost every corner. While Carly and her next-door neighbor race to find answers before anyone more is hurt, both feel their lives changing forever. I loved that Coble has filled this novel with plenty of suspects and family conflicts, but also examples of self-less love and second chances. I received a copy of this novel from Netgalley.

This book was great, it felt fresh and not like anything else I've read lately. It kept me intrigued all the way through, I didn't want to put it down.

Loved this book. I love all of Colleen Coble's books. She makes her characters come alive on the pages and makes me want to fix the issues they are facing. I loved getting to know Carly and Eric and their sweet son Noah. I loved the dynamics between her and her grandmother and her sisters as well as the next door neighbor brothers. Highly recommend. Kept me guessing to the very end.

A page turning romantic suspense book about Carly and her family troubles. The element of danger when she finds a priceless heirloom is out of this world. The romance is a slow burn. The family drama with her sisters is chaotic and a deeply complex felt story. I loved this book and devoured it in a few short hours.

Widow Carly Harris barely scrapes a living for herself and her infant son on her unpredictable career as an antique dealer. When her grandmother suggests that she and her sisters renovate the family’s large home and convert it into a bed and breakfast, she moves to Beaufort and begins the task of cleaning out the house. As she works, she finds a secret her late husband Eric hid — one that points toward her family’s unknown history and a possible connection to Eric’s enigmatic murder.
With the help of Lucas Bennet, her next door neighbor and a homicide detective, Carly embarks on the hunt for the provenance of a family heirloom she believes to be a lost Fabergé egg. However, the quest for the truth can come at a high price, including the cost of those she loves.
Fragile Designs delivers a tangled mystery that scales from small-town USA to Russian Mafia. Having heard great things about Colleen Coble’s books, I excitedly delved into this book. The plot, however, felt a bit too implausible. I enjoyed the antique heirloom angle, the few glimpses we got of the B and B remodeling, and the complicated family dynamics. But as the scope widened to incorporate mobsters and international crime, it became too farfetched.

Nonetheless, it provided an entertaining read that suspense and mystery fans can enjoy. I definitely want to give another one of her books a try, especially one that sticks with small-town issues and family/community relationships since I did enjoy those parts.