#FragileDesigns #NetGalley
A plot with twists at every turn. Carly is a collector of family heirlooms, an old chest reveals a family secret and with it a string of unlikely deaths and intrigue. An old letter, a Russian shawl and a colored egg all find there way into this suspenseful story. Colleen Coble and her way with words kept me turning pages.

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher and all opinions expressed are entirely my own.

This is my first Colleen Coble book and I would like to say that I have been sleeping on her. The book follows Carly the most selfless woman ever whose husband does mysterious. She moves in with her grandmother and discovers a priceless heirloom. With the help of her neighbour and ex-boyfriend's brother homicide detective, she manages to protect her family as well as heal.. Fragile designs has everything from romance to suspense and everything in between. What a wonderful read

I have to say this book has it all. Looking for a thriller? You got it. Looking for a mystery? You got it. Looking for some romance? You got it. Looking for family drama? You got it. I loved it. Carly Harris finds her husband dead. He was looking through all her family antiques. She becomes a single mom real fast. She starts to look into the trunk and finds a mysterious piece that looks like an egg painted over. So the story starts. The cop neighbor next door who helps Carly hide her find because it seems like there are quite a few different parties looking to kill for it. The letter that she finds and shows her grandmother. Grandma never knew she was adopted! This suspenseful novel kept me wanting more. The characters were well developed and likeable and the whole story was just too good to put down. I highly recommend this book.
Thanks to #netgalley, #thomasnelson and @collencoble for an ARC of this great thriller.

Richly drawn characters, a compelling plot, a puzzle and a history lesson make this mystery a must read for readers who enjoy romantic suspense with plenty of intrigue.

Carly Harris is living in Beaufort with her grandmother and her young son, Noah, after the murder of her husband. The mysterious death of her husband, Eric, is still unsolved. When Carly's grandmother proposes that they turn the home into a bed and breakfast, Carly is on board. First, she needs to go through things. She is an antique dealer and knows value when she sees it. When she finds a letter from her husband showing that her grandmother was adopted and she has a twin, she is shocked to her core. She also finds a very valuable piece of art that someone will kill to have in their possession. She believes this may also provide some clue as to what happened to her husband.

Her grandmother suggests that she ask for their next door neighbor's assistance. Lucas is a detective who also happens not to like Carly. He feels that Carly broke his brother's heart many years ago. However, he is a good man and a law enforcement officer, so he agrees to assist her in finding out how more about the letter and seeing if it ties into her husband's murder.

Their hunt for more information is going to take them on a dangerous road where no one can be trusted. At the same time Carly is battling two bratty sisters who take advantage of their sister in every way possible. She is a giver, and they are definitely takers. As Carly and Lucas gather more information, the puzzle gets more complex. There are several earth shattering things that come to light while they are working this case together. Jaw dropping information that will leave you with a gaping mouth. Lucas is beginning to realize that Carly is not a bad person. She is actually one of the most giving, unselfish people he has ever met.

Colleen Coble never disappoints me with her mysteries. The plot line of this one was very interesting with a mystery at its core, but I also received a history lesson as well regarding Faberge eggs. Carly was a wonderful character that I would love to have as a friend. Her sisters needed a lesson in manners, which they will soon learn. This was a lesson that sometimes what we learn from our past can enrich our future, even if it is a painful lesson at first. I loved the way this book wrapped up in the end. I was very surprised and pleased as well. This one is well worthy of five stars.

Thank you Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This is a great Christian thriller! Often the books I’ve written from a Christian perspective are a bit cheesy, but this one is well done. I really enjoyed the suspense and the romance!

Fragile Designs
Colleen Coble
January 01, 2024

We are in South Carolina. Carly Hayes is returning home from grocery shopping when she sees her husband's truck in the drive. Thinking he is working on cleaning out her workshop, she calls out to him. No answer, she phones him and hears the ring from another corner in the shed. She finds him shot in his back, places a call to 911.
Months later she is living with her grandmother finally working on separating furniture and boxes of items that she will sell at the weekend workshops. She and her tiny son, Noah have tried to make peace with Eric’s murder.
This is a typical pageturner from Coble. The suspense is chilling yet Carly’s family brings the journey together along with their neighbor, Lucas Bennett, a police officer who keeps a close eye on the clan.
Fragile Designs will be published by Thomas Nelson on January 02, 2024. I was lucky to be able to read the ARC via NetGalley. Ms. Coble has always been a favorite mystery writer of mine. This is a new series with a great cast of characters. It’s a great read, one readers should not miss. Enjoy!

You know you have an excellent author's book when you read through a migrain but just cannot stop reading! Plot-twists, turns, suspense, danger everywhere, who on earth can you trust, family drama, exes, forgiveness, faith & romance: this is just a few descriptions for what is happening! Lucas has his job cut out for him and then some to try and keep Carly and little Noah safe while trying to navigate the dangerous circumstances surrounding Carly's family. This was nailbiting stuff! Brilliant, excellent book that is definitely a cannot-afford-to-miss-story!

Colleen Coble's newest suspense, Fragile Designs, keeps her trademark suspense. The book has gripping characters that get the reader cheering them through mystery and suspense and light romance for the heroine.
Carly is a young widow who moved into her grandma's house with her newborn son after her husband was murdered. While looking through her grandma's attic for antiques, she discovers a Faberge egg and mystery with family discoveries follow. With the help of her neighbor Lucas, they try to protect the egg and their lives and those of the family.
I enjoyed Fragile Designs, but did get confused with the many storylines at certain points in the book as there are a lot of characters to remember. I did enjoy the main characters and that the love interest of Lucas and Carly.
I received a complimentary copy of Fragile Designs thanks to Thomas Nelson Publishing and NetGalley, but all opinions are my own.

Whew! I feel like I've been on an emotional rollercoaster after reading this story. This story is filled with danger, family secrets, hidden treasure, strained family relations, murders and break ins, and so much more. There are several interwoven storylines that add to the overall enjoyment of the reading experience. And with multiple possible culprits it kept me from being able to readily guess who was behind what was going on. I love when a good story takes me through a range of emotions - from laughing to crying and back again.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Fragile Designs by Colleen Coble is a well written romantic suspense novel with lots of action and many surprising twists. It had a little of everything in it.

The story starts out with the murder of Carly's husband and continues with the mystery about a missing Faberge egg. Is it all connected and who is responsible? Can old relationships be restored and new ones explored? By Carly always putting the needs of others before her own, she shows the depth of her love for them. The book also shows what lengths some people will go to, to satisfy their greed.

This book has wonderful characters and a plot that will keep you reading until the very end. I would recommend this book to everyone.

Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson - FICTION for an advance copy of this book.

After reading through several holiday romance stories and some young adult titles, I was ready for something different. Collen Coble has written a wonderful mystery that weaves in some romance as well.

Carly discovers what she believes to be a lost Fabergé egg that would be worth millions. Soon she realizes that her family is in danger and that her husband's death may have been tied to it. Thankfully, she has a neighbor, Lucas, who is also a homicide detective, willing to help her figure out what is going on while also helping keep them safe.

Along the way, they begin to develop feelings for each other.

Overall an enjoyable read where the intrigue and mystery balance out any romantic storyline.

I just finished reading this book ARC and it was BEYOND ADDICTING. When I had to put it down I was so mad. The storyline was fast paced, addicting and wonderful. I loved how you incorporated historical facts and the details about the eggs. I am a history nerd and find the beauty that’s often lost in history. This book was a wonderful combination of cozy mystery, sweet romance, suspense and page turning action. This is my first book by Colleen but it wont be my last. Well done!!!! #FragileDesigns #NetGalley

Carly, who makes her living going to estate and garage sales to buy collectibles then she sells them. Her dream job, ever since she was a teen is to write a historical novel, but this is on hold for now,

She comes home one day and can’t locate Eric, her husband. She goes out to check her workshop, where she keeps and sorts through all the treasures including some antiques she and her sisters inherited. He’s not there either, so she calls his phone and hears it ringing from back in the corner of the shop. She finds him lying face down on the floor with his shirt soaked in blood. He’s been murdered.

Carly is pregnant and planned on telling him that night.

.

Jump ahead nine months later and baby Noah is two months old. Carly lives with her grandmother in Beaufort, South Carolina. While searching through the attic, she makes a shocking discovery, as well as finding a treasure wrapped in an old shawl, that changes not only the direction of all their lives, but their safety and well-being as well.



This book was fascinating, suspenseful and fast paced with a bit of romance and a lot of mystery tossed in. I thought it read like a movie.

Colleen Coble is my go-to author when I'm in the mood for a good clean Christian suspense. Fragile Designs was such a great and easy read that I got through the whole book in one afternoon. The mystery was interesting and I was compelled to keep reading and listening so that I could find out what happened with Lucas and Carly and her family.

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read/listen and review. All opinions are my own.

Publication date: 2 January 2024

If you’re looking for an edge of your seat read with plenty of twists and turns, Fragile Designs is it! I love a good thriller with complicated characters, a touch of romance, and nail biting suspense. This book really delivered on all those accounts. From the first, I was drawn to Carly’s plight as a young widow trying to navigate raising an infant son, complicated family relationships, family secrets, a treasure that may have caused her husband’s death, and danger from those who are after the treasure. Add to that the handsome neighbor next door who happens to be her old highschool sweetheart’s older brother and a colleague of her dead husband’s, and you have quite the story!

Colleen Coble always manages to deliver an unforgettable mystery that’s hard to put down. Her characters are complicated yet relatable and often in need of redemption. I appreciate that she doesn’t sugarcoat the kinds of trials they endure. The mystery behind the Faberge egg was fascinating. I loved learning more about what makes these so valuable and how the egg tied into Carly’s family history.

The romance between Carly and Lucas had such a great arc going from casual acquaintances to more in a believable way. Lucas is a cop which really helps when Carly and her family’s lives are constantly in danger. Lucas was really nervous around kids and wasn’t interested in marriage and family. I loved the way Carly and little Noah wove their way into his heart. Carly has been through so much especially with her deceased husband. I loved her grandmother and how she provided a way for Carly to earn a living and reconnect with her sisters through turning her home into a bed and breakfast.

The suspense really kept me on edge especially with the Russian mafia involved. I could hardly put it down! Each new clue added to my suspicions of an ever growing suspect list and I enjoyed trying to narrow it down. As with each of Colleen Coble’s mysteries, there’s an element of faith woven in that’s believable and natural.

I listened to the audiobook version and thoroughly enjoyed it. I felt like the narrator did a great job distinguishing between all the characters and really bringing the story to life. She put in just the right amount of emotion and I enjoyed how she voiced both female and male characters.

Definitely recommend to romantic suspense fans especially those who enjoy inspirational romantic suspense. I received an advanced listener copy from the publisher. All opinions are my own and voluntarily provided.

I really enjoyed this story. It was fun and very interesting. It kept me very intrigued. I loved the relationship between Carly and Luke. Also the relationship between Carly and her grandmother. The ending was so great and I never seen it coming. I have enjoyed so many books by Colleen Coble. I can't wait to read more books by her. Thank you for the early copy of this book.

Fragile Designs, by Colleen Coble, is a well written, easy to read and imagine story. This story is filled with action, suspense, mystery with touches of romance. I especially enjoyed her character, she is strong and giving. She has given so much of herself to her sisters, yet they blame her for things she has not done. I also enjoyed the grandmother and the dreams she has for her home and how to make it able for Carly to work from home. I enjoyed the mystery behind the items in the trunk left to Carly and who was after them and why.

I especially enjoyed how the relationships between Carly, her sisters and Lucas changed and grew as the story unfolded. This is a nice story of forgiveness and second chances.

I voluntarily received a complimentary copy of this book, this is my honest review.

Fragile Designs is a well written romantic suspense. The plot is a real edge of your seat page turner. Colleen Coble has written another winner. Fans of romantic suspense will love this book. My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley foe my advance ebook. This is my unbiased review.

Romance, Intrigue, and an unexpected villain at the end. What more can you ask for? Colleen Coble delivers another captivating read with an intriguing storyline. I highly recommend!

Loved this story! Strong fully rounded characters, lots of plot twists and enough action to make this one you can't put down till it's finished!