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!

I loved this story from the very first page. It has so much action and so many surprises twists that kept me reading long past my bedtime. If you are looking for an action with romance all wrapped in one, then give this book a read.

I also loved learning more about Fabergé eggs and a little of the history behind them.

A little teaser about how it all starts- Carly sells collectibles and has recently found out she is pregnant. Her marriage has been pretty rocky and she isn't sure how her husband Eric will react. When she comes home, she discovers Eric in her shop murdered and her life is forever changed. Then we jump forward to time. Now Carly has moved in with her Gram and her baby Noah is two months old. As the past starts to come to light, trouble begins to follow. Will she be able to find answers with the help of her law enforcement neighbor Lucas?

Thanks to Netgalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction, I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Carly finds her policeman husband dead on the day that she's planning to tell him that they will be having a baby. She moves in with her grandmother, who is planning to completely renovate her large home and turn it into a B&B. Carly's family is highly dysfunctional, except for her relationship with her grandmother.

The story is full of twists and turns, surprises and mysteries. Lots of people die, and all for an unexpected treasure that has been found in the attic. She finds out many things that her husband has kept a secret from her.

Carly gets help with her family, the mysteries, and the danger from her neighbor, who she's known since her childhood. She finds out many things that her husband has kept a secret from her.

Every few pages, a new revelation seems to take place, so this story keeps the reader off-balance constantly. Plan to hang on for a real adventure.

Ok, so do I really have to tell you how great Colleen Coble's books are? Well, here is my view on this one anyway. Carly Harris has been struggling to survive since the death of her police officer husband. She moves in with her Grandma to regroup and when her Grandma suggests that they remodel the house and make it a bead and breakfast, she reluctantly agrees. Will the new plan help turn her life around and maybe move on after the death of her husband?

I really enjoyed this romantic suspense novel. It had a little bit of everything—romance, history, suspense, and action. Carly makes a great heroine and Lucas is super as the cop who overcomes his reservations about Carly to become her greatest supporter. Carly’s family made me cringe, but I enjoyed the twists and turns of their relationship.

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

Action, suspense, a touch of romance, this book seems to have a bit of everything and is well written. The story starts off with a death. Then a faberge is found which opens up several questions - how did it get there, where is the surprise that was in it, does Carly's grandmother really have a twin & is she alive? Then of course who is all after the egg, how far will they go to get it, are the people after the egg all part of the same criminal organization or is it multiple groups? Lots of egde of the system action. Then there's Lucas who in no way wants to fall in love with Carly or her infant son Noah, all the while willing to help & protect her.
I received an ARC copy of the book from NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.