Fragile Designs
by Colleen Coble
Pub Date 02 Jan 2024
Thomas Nelson--FICTION,Thomas Nelson
Christian| Mystery & Thrillers| Romance

Netgalley and Thomas Nelson sent me a copy of Fragile Designs to review:




Carly Harris has been struggling to support herself and her baby since her police-officer husband Eric was murdered. Her career as an antique dealer isn't sustainable, and neither is her dream of becoming a novelist. So when her grandmother suggested they turn the family's large Beaufort home into a bed-and-breakfast, she immediately started clearing it out. By doing so, she uncovers a family secret Eric kept hidden. And an heirloom the wrong person wouldn't hesitate to kill for.


Lucas Bennett isn't big on his neighbor, not since she broke his brother's heart. Lucas can't help but get involved when Carly asks for help because she thinks she's found a Fabergé egg worth millions of dollars that could put her family's lives in danger. Eventually, they're entangled in a mystery with Russian mafia ties.


Lucas is in deep, and while he trusts he can protect Carly and her family, he realizes he is vulnerable to an unexpected kind of danger. There's nothing he can do to stop the freefall. Working together, Carly and Lucas realize they may have found something more valuable than gold. But it's only a matter of time before Carly-or someone she loves-gets hurt.


I give Fragile Designs five out of five stars!

Happy Reading!

After Carly Harris' husband is murdered, she's left to raise their son on her own. As an antiques dealer, she doesn't make much but she knows how to spot a good find and that's just what she does amongst some belongings bequeathed to her. When Carly finds a genuine Fabergé egg in the attic of her grandmother's house, her life turns upside down.

I found nearly every bit of this book to be unbelievable and over the top. I've read many books by the author and this almost didn't even seem like her writing. It was bizarre, to say the least, and I just did not enjoy my time reading it. There were a few redeeming things - two of the characters. Carly's grandmother and great aunt were wonderful and sweet which was lovely to read. Carly's character, her love interest, her siblings, her former love interests were so over the top and, at times, insufferable. The common thread amongst Colleen's characters, for me, has always been an overwhelming sense of faith and hope. Not necessarily that they were always fearless or the strongest people but they had strong faith and hope. These characters either didn't have that or it wasn't conveyed well, and I just didn't enjoy them as much as others. It's possible that I had too many expectations going in, but this one wasn't for me. I will definitely keep reading this author, but just won't recommend this particular book.

Colleen Coble is so good at romantic suspense. I loved this story. It pulls you right in. I loved the mystery and history aspect of this story. I love Russian history and have always kicked myself that I didn't buy a fake Faberge egg when I visited Russia. They really are beautiful. This story had so many layers and twists and turns. It kept me second guessing. I loved seeing the relationship between Carly and Lucas change and develop. It was really sweet. Carly's growth during this story was beautiful. The story got really intense at times, but it was so good.

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher through Netgalley and this is my honest review.

I loved this. This is not normally my genre of book. I don’t like Lifetime movies or cheesy romance. I love mystery/thrillers but non Christian ones are usually riddled with cursing and other inappropriate content that we are meant to guard our minds from so I gave it a chance. I’m glad I did.

It was mysterious and tense, yet heartwarming and hopeful. I really loved Lucas and Carly. I definitely recommend this and plan to buy my mom a copy as soon as it’s released because this type of book is the only thing she reads.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for an advance copy of this e-book in exchange for my honest review.

I have been a fan of Colleen Coble for quite some time and I think this is one of the best books I have read by her in recent years. This story was full of romance, family secrets, surprises, and an amazing coastal setting. I think what I liked best about the story is the unique aspect of the plot which centers around what is believed to be a Faberge egg. I really enjoyed learning more about the story behind the valuable Faberge eggs. Carly, the main character, who finds the egg quickly figures out there are others who will stop at nothing to get their hands on it. She seeks help from her neighbor, Simon, who is a homicide detective as well as the older brother of Carly's ex. This makes for an interesting dynamic as their relationship grows throughout the book. This story is full of dangerous situations and a surprise ending that will keep lovers of suspense on the edge of their seats.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for a copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

Really intense mystery-thriller from Colleen Coble! This is one of my favorites of hers so far, with interesting characters and a family arc for the MC which is worthy of a good contemporary women's fiction as well. I loved the woman-and-her-grandmother relationship in this one and couldn't get enough of it. I also loved how central her baby Noah is to the plot and how he's clearly her number-one priority and comfort.

The romance is step by step and I loved that the guy went to his older married partner for advice on relationship and marriage questions instead of just trying to judge based on his own emotions.

Carly's relationship with her sisters is incredibly complex. They seem to want to be together but they're demanding and self-centered; yet there's clearly a strength below the surface they haven't tapped into. I loved the unpredictability of these relationships and I was glad I didn't predict the outcome correctly.

Overall, a nicely layered story that I couldn't put down and will definitely be rereading.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free reading copy. A favorable review was not required.

As a dedicated reader, I immersed myself in "Fragile Designs" by Colleen Coble, a captivating Christian Suspense Romance penned by an author whose work had been highly recommended to me multiple times. The narrative held my interest from start to finish, keeping me engaged with its intriguing storyline. Just when I believed I had unraveled the mystery, unexpected twists surfaced, leaving me pleasantly surprised and thoroughly entertained. For those seeking an enjoyable mystery read that consistently captivates, I highly recommend giving this novel a chance.

I received an ARC copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book has it all— interesting historical facts, adventure, suspense, romance and inspiration, wrapped up in one great story. It pulled me in from page 1 and was truly hard to put down. The characters are interesting and likable and the storyline is captivating.
Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas-Nelson publishers for the opportunity to read for my honest review.

3.5 stars, rounded up to 4.

Colleen Coble is a go-to author of mine for romance and mystery, and she is in fine form with this release.

Of particular interest to me was the Faberge egg and its history; I've long been fascinated by (okay, okay, borderline obsessed with!) all things Romanov, so this fit right in!

The editing didn't seem quite as tight as other Coble books I've read--a bit wordier and more telling than showing. Still, I kept at it and was rewarded in the end; Coble proves to still be on her game, as I was kept guessing until the end. Faith is woven throughout as well, a nice return to standard with this publisher.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

"Fragile Designs" is the latest stand-alone book from Colleen Coble whose Annie Pederson series I had enjoyed very much. Carly Harris life had turned upside down after the murder of her husband Eric almost over year earlier. Because she was pregnant and had given birth to her baby boy, she is unable to continue her earlier career as an antique dealer. And so, her grandmother with whom she is currently living with, proposes to change her house to a bread-and-
breakfast with the help of Carly's sisters, hoping that it will help Carly get back on her feet.

When she comes across certain unusual documents and objects in her effort to get the house ready for renovation, she enlists the help of Homicide Detective Lucas Bennett, her grandmother's neighbor and Eric's long time best friend, to sort out through the issue. When people connected to the documents get attacked one by one, Lucas and Carly join together to protect Carly's family from the dark forces who won't even hesitate to kill to get what they wanted.

Who is behind the various attacks? Is Eric's murder connected to this strange issue? Will will these events affect the way Carly and Lucas see each other?

Fragile Designs is a banger of a book with an extremely engaging story. All the characters appearing in the story are clearly defined; they are all people we meet in our day to day lives and every one of them have distinctive tasks that help move the narrative forward.

Carly was very likable and I loved the arc her character goes through. The pacing was on- point and there are enough smatterings of thrilling elements to make the story an enjoyable and a totally engaging read. I loved the book and would love to read more of Coble's work.

This book is a *Must Read*!! It's a great read that will keep you on the edge of your seat. It's full of suspense, drama, twists and turns that will keep you guessing until the end. I loved it and highly recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of Christian suspense.
I received a complimentary copy from Thomas Nelson via NetGalley and was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Coble is one of my favorite suspense writers. When you have one of her books you know it's going to be interesting and this book Fragile Designs was no exception. I don't know anyone that writes romantic suspense as well as Coble.... A young widow of a police officer has been cleaning out an old house that her grandmother wants her and her sister to turn into a bed and breakfast. She uncovers something concerning her husband that she didn't know about and also something that could be just a novelty but to her it looks like it's the real thing. She once worked in the antique field and recognizes this as the real thing. But of course she must get it authenticated so she keeps silent about it. As she cleans she discovers more mystery and also her life becomes threatened because of her discoveries. This is such a good entertaining suspense as all of Coble's writings are.... My thanks to the publisher and the author for providing a complimentary digital copy via NetGalley and this is my fair and honest opinion.

Wow! Colleen Coble hit it out of the park with Fragile Designs!! I’ve read many of Colleen’s books, but this one was stands out from the others (in the best possible way).

There is sooo much drama… Family drama, break-ins, murder—this book has it all! To avoid the risk of spoilers, I’ll just say it’s sure to keep you on the edge of your seat until you turn the last page.

The characters are so incredible! Not perfect, mind you, but incredible nonetheless. There are a lot of prejudices and preconceived notions that the characters are forced to make a choice—they can reconcile their differences, or they can continue on their miserable roads. They’re all so complex that I honestly had a difficult time discerning who was trustworthy and who was deceitful, which was a refreshing change; I usually have the “bad guys” pegged from the beginning. This book certainly had me second-guessing my sleuthing abilities!

If you enjoy Christian suspense, you’re sure to love this latest by Colleen Coble! I’m not sure if this is intended to be part of a series, but I earnestly hope so!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Fragile Designs by Colleen Coble is one of my favorite books that I've read in the past several years. This book has everything from treasure hunting, mystery, romance, family issues to the power of love throughout it all! I can't recommend this book highly enough and I'm sad that it's over for me! Carly Harris is a flea market and antique enthusiast who makes her living selling her amazing finds. One day she returns home and sees her husband's truck in the garage running with the door closed. This is very strange. As she enters the garage and opens the door, she yells for Eric. He's not there and the door leading to the house is open. Carly enters the house calling for Eric, but there's no response. As she makes her way from room to room she doesn't see him anywhere. She looks out in the yard and sees that the door to her shed is open.

Carly heads outside calling for Eric but still there's no response. She smells freshly cut grass and is happy that Eric has mowed the lawn. As she enters the shed she sees boxes have been rearranged and other stuff moved around, but still no Eric. When she walks back into the yard she decides to call Eric. She can hear his phone ringing and it sounds like it's coming from the shed. Carly goes back and hears it ringing from behind a pile of boxes. As she walks towards it, she sees Eric lying facedown with a huge wound in his back. There's blood everywhere. Carly tries to feel for a pulse, but can't feel one. She runs out into the yard and calls 911. The ambulance arrives, but it's far too late for Eric. Someone killed Eric, but why? Who would do such a thing?

Carly was excited to tell Eric that she was pregnant, but she never got the chance. After the funeral Carly moves in with her grandmother. She can't support her and her son on a salary of antiques and flea market finds. Carly's grandmother asks her if she'd be interested in helping her turn the house into a bed and breakfast. Carly says yes and is relieved she'll have a way to make a living while still being able to be home with Noah. Her grandmother wants Carly and her 2 sisters to work on the plans for the renovation. She wants Ryan, the neighbor across the street to do the work. He's like family and his brother Lucas is a detective for the local police force. They've been family friends since the girls were young.

When Carly is up in the attic going through her great grandmothers' trunks that were left to her, she makes a shocking discovery. She finds a letter from her late husband dated 2 days before his murder. Eric had found out that Carly's grandmother was adopted and that she had a twin sister that was adopted by another family. He was making inquiries to find her twin when he was murdered. Could it be related to this information? Why would someone kill over this kind of news? Maybe it wasn't a random burglary after all. As Carly continues to look through the trunk she finds an enamel egg. It's weird because it seems as if someone as painted the egg red to cover its real beauty. Why? Carly takes it to the sink and begins washing it and peeling off the red paint. Carly thinks the egg is a Faberge' and is extremely valuable. Why was it hidden in the trunk? Had Eric found it? Did he know what it was? Was he murdered because of the egg?

As Carly begins to investigate all of this, she asks Lucas, the detective neighbor for help. She doesn't want to get her grandmother involved until she knows that she really does have a twin. Why upset her grandmother if it's not true. The book gets more and more thrilling as you read. The layers to this book are unbelievably compelling and you will love every minute. I rate Fragile Designs 5 stars with my very highest recommendation. I'm so sad that I won't be in this world anymore because it was so much fun! I'd like to thank NetGalley and Harper Collins Christian Publishing for an advanced copy of Fragile Designs in exchange for a fair review. #FragileDesigns

A very interesting, layered mystery with complex family dynamics. The relationships surrounding Carly are fragile, from the one with her deceased husband to her parents, sisters and the cop next door. But Carly tries to hold it all together while caring for her infant son., Noah.
Great plotting with twists and turns aplenty. The characters show growth amid danger. And love emerges despite reservations. Lots of hidden things are uncovered in this absorbing tale.
*A complimentary copy of this book was provided by Thomas Nelson via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are mine alone.*

This is a beautiful story and I loved it so much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This is my first book by Colleen Coble and it definitely won't be my last

If you are in the mood for a roller coaster of emotions in the best way possible, here is your ticket. I can't compliment Fragile Designs enough honestly. I wasn't exactly sure what to expect, but I was absolutely hooked from the beginning. I immediately fell in love with Carly's character, and Lucas soon after. I found the story revolving around Carly and her family, and their found treasure, so well written and interesting, I couldn't help but to finish this in one sitting. If you like romantic suspense and mystery, I highly recommend.
This was actually my first Colleen Coble novel, and I look forward to more! Thank you NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for a copy of this ARC!

Colleen Coble has written another page turning suspense!

Single mom, Carly Harris, is struggling to pick up the pieces after the unexplainable and unsolved murder of her husband. She moved home with her grandmother to figure out her next steps when her grandmother suggests they turn the large family home into a bed and breakfast alongside Carly's two sisters.

Homicide detective Lucas Bennet and his brother Ryan live next door to Carly's grandmother. Ryan is hired to begin construction on the house, even though Ryan and Carly have a history - one that ended with broken hearts. Carly turns to Lucas as she begins to find mysterious clues, including a potentially lost Faberge egg. In finding that egg, Carly has put her family into danger and Lucas must help her unravel the mystery of who it belongs to and who is after it all while keeping Carly, her son and grandmother safe.

This story kept me on the edge of my seat from beginning to end. I did not see some of the twists and turns coming, while some did feel a little predictable. The story was fast paced and a great read to start off 2024 with!

A great mystery, with a unique idea about a Faberge egg. The characters are realistic and the plot moves quickly.

Colleen Coble had me staying up way too late and staying curled up on the couch on snow days with this one! The story had me hooked and staying engaged in the drama from the beginning to the end. While some of the situations seemed a bit far fetched for me, the story still kept me engaged and I wanted/needed to keep reading to know what happened. Great suspenseful read, and I will be reading more from Colleen Cable in the future.