This book was quite fascinating. I enjoyed learning about these historic eggs while also walking through this mystery. Colleen Coble definitely has a knack for making her characters real, giving them opportunity for growth, and drawing out the tension and stress of the crazy as well as the everyday situations that the characters face. I was excited when I saw this book and sad when I finished it. I definitely recommend to anyone looking for a clean but interesting and well-written thriller.

**Though I was given a copy of the book, all thoughts expressed above are completely my own**

I can count on Colleen Coble to craft a wonderful suspense plot. She keeps the romance clean, so this is not a traditional "Romantic-Suspense", but other than that this is a great book. I loved how the hero, Lucas, has to reevaluate his preconceived opinion of the heroine, Carly. It takes a real, honest man to admit he was wrong. I really felt for Carly and the way her family used her and gave her no respect and then she ends up with a first husband who treated her like a door mat and cheated on her. I was happy she found a decent guy in Lucas.

Carly Harris's husband, Eric, is murdered in their home and leaves his pregnant wife with few options. She moves in with her grandmother and after the birth of her son, starts planning for the rest of her life. Maybe she will return to her old career as an antique dealer or pursue her dream of becoming a novelist or perhaps join her grandmother, Mary, and turn her home in Beaufort into a Bed and Breakfast. Before her husband died, he was going through the endless boxes and antique furniture left to Carly by her great-grandmother. That task now falls to Carly and since her two sisters are waiting for a distribution from that estate, she needs to get it done. What she discovers has her questioning Eric and their relationship. She finds documentation that her seventy-year-old grandmother was adopted and that one of the few personal items from her birth mother could be a valuable Fabergé egg that has been missing from the Russian Revolution times and is worth millions.

Lucas Bennet has lived next door to Mary his whole live and she was a loving presence in his life when he needed one. He and his brother, Ryan, were often after thoughts in their home. Mary was there for them. When Carly comes to him for help, his first instinct is to turn her down because years ago she broke his brother's heart, but he couldn't turn his back on Mary's granddaughter no matter his feelings about her. When danger comes to Carly and her family Lucas has to use all his skills as a homicide detective to unravel the mystery and keep them safe. Because there are others interested in finding the valuable egg and people are dying.

My thanks to the Publisher and Author for providing a complimentary digital Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this novel via NetGalley. This is my fair, honest and personal review. All opinions are mine alone and were not biased in any way.

"Our lives are so fragile. Maybe it's by design, so we look to God."
Carly's life is more complicated than she anticipated. Raising her son after the death of her husband was unplanned. Trying to solve a family secret recently brought to light proves to be more challenging and dangerous than she expected. Realizing that not everything is as it seems almost pushes her over the edge. Thankfully she has her faith and more support from those who truly care about her.
The focus of the plot is a historical item of value. The cover does provide a bit of a hint, and I think the idea that such a priceless heirloom could be hiding in the attic is certainly fascinating. There is plenty of suspense, family drama and surprises. More than that, there is plenty of faith and forgiveness to guide through tough circumstances. All of this is beautifully woven together to create a fantastic book.
The setting of coastal Carolina provides an interesting place to live. This book also has a strong hint of home & garden television since restoration is involved. There is so much that is pleasing about this book. This book is my favorite Colleen Coble book ever! (And that is saying a lot as I have finished almost all of her books!) Such a creative and fascinating plot with plenty of suspense and surprises!
Thanks to Netgalley for letting me read this book! I wanted to read and review the book. All opinions are my own.

The book did keep me engaged in reading but I found it pretty far fetched/not really believable. Too many characters that didn’t have much to do with the storyline. Things didn’t add up for me so made it very unbelievable.

Fragile Designs is an intriguing story of a young widow, Carly, whose police officer husband was murdered. Carly goes to live with her grandmother who begins doing extensive work on her old home to turn it into a bed and breakfast. While going through old family items, Carly finds what she believes may be a lost Faberge egg. Mysterious things begin happening. Homicide detective, Lucas Bennett, has lived next door all of his life and cares for Carly's grandmother who helped mother him after his mother's death but he doesn't care much for Carly. I loved how Carly found relatives that they didn't even know existed and how she tried to show love to everyone! I enjoyed Fragile Designs very much and recommend it to others. I received a complimentary e-book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Fragile Designs starts with a family tragedy that will lead this young widow to share her Grandmother's home as they refurbish to start their own business. She finds letters belonging to her great grandmother that changes what they know of their family history.

Colleen Coble has skillfully built this small town community and populated it with characters that have intertwined history. As they dig further into the lives of her family, they will question who can be trusted and how will the safety of her family be preserved. A good mystery mixed with a beginning romance will keep readers coming back for more of Colleen Coble's titles.

This story pulled me in from the first page to the last. I loved it! The premise was fascinating to me. I don't know a lot about Faberge Eggs, but I've heard about them before. It was interesting to learn a lot more about them and their history. Carly's husband is murdered and she has no idea what is going on. She has to find a way to take care of her infant son so takes him to live with her grandmother who lives in a charming old place that will be renovated into a B & B. Next door lives Lucas and his brother (who used to date Carly when she was a teenager and who Lucas didn't approve of for his brother). Lucas is a homicide detective and although there is a strained relationship with Carly, when dangerous things start happening next door with Carly, he begins to help her from a law enforcement angle. They keep things quiet, however, because Carly has found what she thinks is a Faberge Egg in the attic and that could be worth millions! Carly's sisters are a piece of work also - very selfish and entitled! All of the sudden, Carly is in real danger and the twists and turns begin! The story takes such surprising twists that I was enthralled with all the people and angles involved! I couldn't wait for everything to be solved! I loved Carly and Lucas together too! A wonderful romantic suspense story!

Carly and Eric Harris' marriage isn't what it should be. Carly doesn't understand the change in her husband. She realizes a lot of stress comes with his occupation as a police officer. Carly has just found out she is pregnant with their first child, and finds Eric dead in her shop from a gun shot. Eric died without ever knowing he was about to be a father. Who killed him and why?

Carly and her infant son are now living with her grandmother as supporting the two of them as an antique dealer isn't profitable enough.

What a surprise when her grandmother decides the big house should be restored and turned into a bed-and-breakfast that Carly can run! Her grandmother wants Carly's two sisters to assist in the restoration of the home, which makes Carly more than a little nervous as her sisters aren't shy about hiding how they feel towards her. Carly just doesn't understand their anger. How will the three of them possibly work together on this huge undertaking?

As Carly is going through things in the attic, she finds a letter written two days prior to her deceased husband's murder. One of the things Eric had discovered was that Carly's grandmother had been adopted. Carly's grandmother didn't even know about this. Also, she had a twin sister! AND, their birth mother had left behind for her baby daughters something of great value and importance. Does that possibly have something to do with Eric's murder?

Carly seeks out the help of a neighbor, Lucas, who is a detective. The more they search for information regarding the artifact they found, the higher the increase of danger to the entire family.

Lots of twists and turns in this story. Wonderful characters. I have enjoyed all Colleen Coble books that I have read, and I have read most of them!

I was given an advanced ecopy by the publisher, Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. I was under no obligation to leave a positive review.

Carly Tucker feels her life turn upside down when she finds her husband murdered in their home. At her grandmother's request she moves to the family home with her baby, Noah. A plan to turn the home into a bed and breakfast gives something for the young widow to think about. Carly discovers the fact that her grandmother was adopted, unbeknownst to the elderly lady. This mystery is a tip of an iceberg which leads to danger and intrigue. It is very likely to be connected to her law officer husband's murder.
Special thanks to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Publishers for my advanced reader's copy of this book. This is my own unsolicited opinion about it. It is an excellent Christian suspense and sweet romance. Carly asks neighbor Lucas Bennett for help. The homicide detective is wary of her because he believes she broke his brother's heart years ago. This is an interesting story in itself. Add in family tension from her sisters, Grandmothers' mysterious past, a possible treasure and even the Russian mob and Coble has given us a twisty-turny story! I really enjoyed it.

Colleen Coble, a master storyteller, weaves a captivating tale in this book. Carly Harris, amidst the challenges of her husband's mysterious murder, new motherhood, and a dysfunctional family, embarks on transforming the family’s large Beaufort home into a bed-and-breakfast to assist her loving grandmother. The narrative unfolds with suspense, introducing readers to unexpected twists while offering a glimpse into Russian history.

The story skillfully balances mystery, compelling characters, and a touch of history. The pacing keeps the reader engaged, making for an enjoyable experience. The evolving relationship between Lucas and Carly adds depth, emphasizing the complexity of relationships and the dangers of making assumptions.

For fans of Colleen Coble, this book is a must-read, and for those new to her work, it serves as an excellent introduction. The blend of mystery, well-drawn characters, and historical elements makes it a compelling and satisfying read.

Disclaimer: I would like to thank Thomas Nelson for the opportunity to review this book. I was under no obligation to provide a review and all opinions expressed here are my own.

3 1/2 stars rounded up to 4

Carly Tucker’s husband is killed during a break-in. In order to help support her, she and her son are invited to come live with her grandmother and help plan a complete renovation of her beach home for a bed-and-breakfast. The big trick is figuring out how to do it with her two sisters, who she has a rocky relationship with. Then as she starts to dig into her grandmother’s items she discovers a true treasure- a Faberge egg. What unfolds from that discovery could put all their lives in jeopardy.

So, overall I enjoyed this one. At times I felt like Carly was being completely irrational and making horrible decisions. Didn’t seem very likely, but I can see how it was necessary to keep up the suspense in the book. For me it was just annoying. But learning more about the Faberge eggs was interesting and ultimately it had a satisfying ending.

Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This story began a high level of intensity and immediately captured my attention. After reading the synopsis, I had high hopes for this release from an author who I have enjoyed reading over the years. However, this book was simply ok for me.

With intrigue and a unique premise, I enjoyed the aspects of the Faberge egg, lost family found and a relic of historic significance. The Russian mafia interest added a certain level of anticipation and excitement, also.

I liked the dual POV and I enjoyed Lucas' character. I found him to be relatable and endearing for the most part, but I struggled immensely with Carly. As a young mom, I felt she made questionable choices concerning her grandmother and son and wasn't relatable or believable. She was good to a fault and the author seemingly needed to continue reminding me of that. Quite frankly, Carly came across to me as lackluster and boring. I wanted her to stand up for herself, have doubts, inner turmoil and struggles from the highly emotional events of her past, yet she seemed more concerned with writing her novel than taking time to process what was happening in her life.

Because I read an ARC copy of this story through NetGalley, perhaps some of the details were ironed out before print, but I found far too many inconsistencies in details which is a big pet peeve of mine when reading suspense (for instance, Lucas reviewing security footage on his home a week later only to find someone had broken in and accessed his safe? My cameras notify me of movement IMMEDIATELY!).

The questionable, dull or sometimes dismissive reactions of the main characters, especially Carly, after deep suspense elements made me want to DNF. I kept wishing for reactions that better followed normal human behavior.

Lastly, the word use of the baby "squawking" instead of crying, rousing or fussing, nearly drove me crazy. I couldn't get past it and it was used seven times. Similarly, I found other phrases in the book mildly crude and felt they could have been worded better.

Overall, this book had a great premise and an exciting plot with a lot happening that kept me invested in seeing it through, but the rating ultimately reflects reliability issues, word choices and inconsistent details that could have made it so much better.

*I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary ARC ecopy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. All thoughts are my own and I was not required to write a positive review. Please know that while I may not have enjoyed this book entirely, I still encourage you to read it and see what you think! All books are subjective to the reader's own opinions, beliefs and enjoyment.

Fragile Designs by Colleen Coble had an intriguing beginning. Carly is a strong woman who puts her family first. She has a big heart. At times, though, I did find myself rolling my eyes. I do not want to give anything away, but I am curious as to how Carly could be that naïve (in her relationships with men). The main characters are developed while others fell a little flat. There was one individual in particular who had a major role that I thought needed more development. The first third of the book was engaging. It had me curious to find out what would happen next. Then, unfortunately, the story seemed to slow down as a slew of new characters were introduced along with farfetched, superfluous storylines. I wish the author had not tried to overcomplicate the mystery. I liked that the mystery involved a Faberge egg. Like the author, I find them appealing. They are unique works of art. I liked the action. I did feel that the story could have used more of it, especially in the middle. The guilty party can easily be identified despite the misdirection. A dramatic scene near the end had me rolling my eyes (again). The epilogue neatly wraps up the book (gives readers a heartwarming ending). There were some details in the book that were unrealistic (no way would they happen in real life). Carly made some choices regarding her child during the story that were questionable (would have mothers with young children screaming “what are you thinking”). The longwinded and repetitive explanations slowed down the pace of the story (and took away from the suspense). Fragile Designs has a good concept. I wish the last third of Fragile Designs had been like the beginning.

Thank you so much, Netgalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction, for an advanced copy of this book! I'm very excited! The opinions in this review are entirely my own.

Another great book by Colleen Coble! It wasn't my all-time favorite of hers, but definitely a great read! The only reason I only give it 4 stars is because it felt a bit long-winded in some chapters. There was just the right amount of suspense, not too much romance, I liked the two POVs, and the character building.

"Fragile Designs" by Colleen Coble is a compelling novel that delves into the intricacies of human relationships, personal growth, and the complexities of forgiveness. Set against the backdrop of a small coastal town, the story follows the protagonist as she uncovers long-buried secrets that threaten to unravel her carefully constructed life. Coble's masterful storytelling and vivid descriptions draw readers into a world of mystery and intrigue, keeping them on the edge of their seats until the final page.
This gripping narrative prompts readers to contemplate the resilience of the human spirit and the enduring power of love. Through skillful character development and a riveting plot, Coble weaves a tale that resonates with readers long after they've turned the last page. The novel's exploration of trust, perseverance, and the importance of second chances makes it a must-read for upperclass students seeking thought-provoking literature.

I've read many of Coble's books, and they are always enjoyable. This was no exception. With the Russian mob and FBI, this story has some unique twists. Thankfully, the romance angle didn't overpower the mystery. There's enough action, family drama, and suspense to keep readers engaged and guessing. I found the grandmother's angle the most interesting part of the storyline.

I enjoyed this book very much. The story line was intriguing and the characters were interesting. There were some twists and turns. Filled with betrayal, found family, love and forgiveness.

Fabergé eggs have fascinated me for as long as I can remember, so as soon as I heard that Colleen Coble's newest book would be about one, I preordered that baby!

I found it to be a little confusing at first, and it read almost like a short story in that there was a lot of information thrown at you very quickly. But my brain caught up. This book was full of intrigue, suspense, and plot twist after plot twist.

If you're as enthralled with Fabergé eggs as I am, then you'll want to put this on your must-read list.

When I pick up a book by Colleen Coble, I know without a doubt that I am in for a story that will keep me on the edge of my seat... and Fragile Designs is absolutely no exception!

Right from the start, I was drawn into this story. I didn't know much about Fabergé eggs before reading this book, but I thought it was a really unique aspect to this story and definitely kept me intrigued. Throw in a good dose of family secrets and drama, suspense and of course the romance and I couldn't help but enjoy this story. There were lots of twists and turns to keep me guessing. The romance was sweet and slow, taking more of a backseat to the suspense, while still making the romance fan in me happy. The family dynamics were messy and oh, so very complicated. With so much going on in the story, it would have been easy for it all to be too much... but as always, the author blended it all wonderfully to create a story I really enjoyed.

Colleen Coble is one of my very favorite Christian suspense authors and this story is a great example as to why that is. If you enjoy a good romantic suspense, this is absolutely one not to be missed.

**I received a complimentary copy for consideration. All opinions are my own.

Fragile Designs by @colleencoble
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I have liked all her other books I’ve read so far, so I was not surprised that I liked this one. I love a good mystery that doesn’t give me nightmares and this one hit the spot. Bonus points - it is set in South Carolina & Savannah!
This book just released yesterday (1/2). If you like meeting authors, there is an event in Charleston tomorrow night where she will be signing this specific book!
I received an ARC ebook from @netgalley in exchange for my honest review. #netgalley #goodreads #bookstagram #literarypearlsof24