This was a captivating story that ran the gamut of betrayal, loss, family, and hope wrapped in an intriguing romantic mystery. The pace is good, and the characters are likeable and well developed. The mystery is both complex and intriguing with a Russian twist that I particularly enjoyed. What sets this book apart from other well written mysteries is the underlying faith of these characters that is so naturally a part of their story. Carly and Lucas, in particular, clearly rely on their respective faith in the good times and the bad. I found it refreshing. My only disappointment is that this book apparently does not launch a series. I would love to see more of Carly, Lucas, and their family and friends.

Karen Peakes does an excellent job of voicing these characters, bringing each one to life.

I was given a copy of this to review by Zondervan and Thomas Nelson Audio.
Carly Tucker has had a rough year. Her husband has died and left her with a baby to raise. In the process of starting a project with her family she discovers a treasure. Things quickly go south for her. Her grandmother’s police officer neighbor gets involved to help. This story has a unique premise, a bit different from anything I have read.
This is a wonderful, inspirational, suspenseful romance! I think it was done well! The only thing I hope is that we will have stories about other characters in the book.
I would recommend this book to anyone who loves Christian (inspirational) or clean romantic suspense. There were definitely some nail biting moments.

Wow!! This book had everything!! Heartache, suspense, plot twists, adventure, love, and even some palindromes! This story was so well written. I felt drawn to the characters and wanted everything to work out. You couldn’t help but root for the main character to finally have something go her way. There was even a part that made me tear up. Excellent book. I highly recommend!!!

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read this ARC.

Fragile Designs is a fast paced thriller centered around Carly’s husband’s unsolved murder and a Fabergé egg family heirloom. As Carly tries to figure out how to keep the egg (and her family) safe, she uncovers secrets from her husband’s past as well as her grandmother’s.

There were times I found my heart racing as I flipped the pages, needing to know what was going to happen next and whose life was in danger. My favorite thing about the book is that there is no strong language which is usually very prevalent in thrillers.

Rating:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

Read if you like:
Clean thrillers
Fabergé eggs
Russian mafia

Thank you Thomas Nelson for a gifted physical copy and audiobook.

There was so much going on in this book that it was hard to follow sometimes. This was my first novel by the author, and I wasn't expecting it to be more of a Christian fiction. It was fast-paced and held interesting facts, but it was just too much all over.

Audio version

This was really a fun and cute love story. The audio version was told very well. Both characters were interesting and well fleshed out. Both romantic leads grew over the arc of the story, and complemented each other. I saw the writing on the wall as far as the twist and ending but it didn’t detract from my enjoyment.

I didn’t necessarily love the dirty talk. I’m not a prude, just not a fan. I would read/listen to more by this author.

Superbly twisted with pulsating turns at every stage leading one to a passionate thriller which I could not put down! Fabulous with a sinister overtones - Great!

This book did not work for me. I mean I know it's a fiction, but there were so many unwanted elements thrown it that could have been edited, like the ow kid, the half sister, the catty real sisters. Just too much, so it really did not capture my attention. I stopped reading vat about 60%

The narrator herself is pretty good. She differentiated voices well and brought out the emotions well enough.

Fragile Designs by Colleen Coble - 4.5 Stars - A SOLID Romantic Suspense

Ya'll, Colleen does it AGAIN with another edge of your seat romantic suspense read! I was HERE for this from the very beginning and truly INVESTED! In this story we follow Carly Tucker, whose police-officer husband is killed during a home break-in. Her husband didn't know she was pregnant before his death so Carly is left to raise little baby Noah all by herself.

She's staying with her grandmother and has plans to turn the family's home into a bed-and-breakfast with her sisters --but the DRAMA and animosity that exists between the sisters is truly tragic. They think the worst of her all because of true misunderstandings but Carly is a character who just wants to take care of others and help everyone the best she can. Which leads me to her finding a letter in the attic from her husband that depicts how he discovered Carly's grandmother was adopted many years ago and the story starts to unfold here....was his death an accident?

Carly reaches out to her grandmother's neighbor and the brother of her ex-boyfriend from high school, Lucas for help since he is a local homicide detective. After they find a Faberge egg in the belongings, worth millions, the journey to protect her family begins as it seems more people are aware of this mysterious egg than they thought.....

So the story took off here and I was sooo here for it because Colleen just knows how to keep you interested and in that "NEED TO KNOW" state when reading her books! We have this guy Lucas who is really getting to know the real Carly and this whole Russian Mafia set up thing with this egg that's worth SO much money -- mixed in with the family drama and TEA -- Colleen, sign us up honey because I had to KNOW what was gonna happen next!

Truly a favorite romantic suspense and I just can't wait to see what Colleen comes out with next. I didn't know anything about Faberge eggs until now and it just seems so interesting too!

As a side note, I did listen to this audiobook and the narrator did a FANTASTIC job with the narration! I loved her southern accent characters too! As a southern belle myself, the grandmother's voice was perfection! The narrator really kept me engaged in the story.

We also have a nice light faith thread here with prayers and discussions of God's plan etc. Enjoyed that part of it as it seemed very natural.

If you like a good suspense, pick this up. There is a good romance in this one, I just wanted a smidge more of their romance in this book but still as SOLID story! Full review to come on YouTube in my January wrap up!

Thank you to Thomas Nelson, Zondervan Audio and NetGalley for a copy to honestly read and review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

4.5/5 stars

Thank you HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Thomas Nelson Fiction for accepting my request to read and review Fragile Design on NetGalley.

Narrator: Karen Peakes

Stars: 3

The narrator does a nice job. Her voice is more fitted towards Hallmark stories than mystery thrillers. This is a combination of the two, more on the cozy side. I would have preferred a performing narrator.

The story itself is intriguing. I liked the Faberge' Egg mystery aspect of the book. I found it to be clever and looked forward to seeing how the author took the storyline. I found the Russian Mafia a bit much and some of the mom dialogue was cheesy. The mom holding her baby, the Russian says leave the baby while pointing a gun, and her line is I'm taking the baby, he'll need feed (breast) and you won't like the crying. Yep, she did. Of course the RM man says okay take the baby. Seriously he did. As for the romance, that moved too quickly for me. It didn't feel realistic. Your husband dies when you are pregnant, while breast feeding you fall in love? Of course, there is the Russian mafia, financial problems, and familial issues happening during this time as well, and a remodel.

I found myself invested in the resolution not the characters. Overall, it was okay.

"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!
I actually listened to this book through Netgalley. The narrator brought the story to life in a beautiful way. Reading the pages would also be enjoyable! So glad I could enjoy this one in advance. I wanted to read and review the book. All opinions are my own.

Great audio version of an excellent book. This book pulled me in with the great characters, the family drama, and the lost treasure from decades ago. I think it may be my favorite book by Colleen Coble.

Fragile Designs was an entertaining audiobook that I found enjoyable.

Colleen Coble has written an interesting story that has history woven in and was a great escape listen.
I did find it a bit unbelievable but don't let that detour you from listening/reading.

I received ARC of this audiobook from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I listened to the audio book version of Fragile Designs and it was absolutely captivating! I really felt for Carly throughout much of the story as she dealt with some truly bad behavior from some of her family members. I enjoyed when she stopped letting herself get pushed around, realized that she had allowed herself to be treated badly, and finally made some changes to how she responded to certain people. I loved the way Lucas stood up for her at various times in the book.

The slow growth of romantic tension between Lucas and Carly balanced nicely with the suspense threaded throughout the story. There were details that I figured out before the main characters, but a couple of surprises, as well, keeping me listening intently through to the very end. I loved this story from start to finish.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Holy cow that was a good mystery and suspense combo. The beginning was a bit slow & I almost gave up on it, but then it took off. I could not finish it fast enough. Great characters, great villain and really great mystery. I cannot wait for the follow up.

Carly and her family are taking on the task of renovating their house to turn it into a bed in breakfast. During the process they uncover family secrets and a valuable item. Soon they find themselves the target of someone that wants the item and they have to work hard at not becoming the next victim. I liked the relationships of the main characters and how they learned to work with each other overcoming the main crisis, but also the family issues that arose. I liked how she was able to interact with the neighbor and get old issues settled. A great read/ listen that will keep you guessing and rooting for the characters.

I was pulled into this story straight away. Beginning with Carly, hiding a secret from her husband, she plans to tell him that night, only to find him dead in her antique workshop.
What follows from that is a story of lies, murder and deceit onto riches, second chance love and lots of loving family time.
With plenty twists and heartfelt moments, it's a slightly different book to what I would normally read but it was brilliant!

To find out it took Colleen Coble 25 years to put this book together, you can tell its written with such love and care.

Thank you to the author, publisher and netgalley for my audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

For a mystery slow burn romance this was a well written book. Right from the beginning it had me hooked. All the teams that Carly went through and still her family was trying to tear her apart all while she was trying to keep them safe from the people coming after the faberge egg. Lucas falling in love with her after she was proving she wasn’t who he thought she was as a person. There were lots of holding my breath parts because I was getting scared for Carly and Noah and Lucas was there every step on the was to protect her and her child. Loved how this book ended. It was so happy and heart warming.

"Fragile Designs" by Colleen Cable is a compelling novel that delves into the complexities of human relationships and the fragility of life. The story revolves around the lives of three interconnected characters, each struggling with their own demons and striving to find meaning in their existence. Set against the backdrop of a small coastal town, the novel weaves together themes of love, loss, and redemption, drawing readers into a poignant and thought-provoking narrative.
Cable's masterful storytelling and vivid prose create a deeply immersive reading experience, allowing readers to empathize with the characters' dilemmas and profound emotions. The author skillfully navigates through the characters' past and present, unraveling the intricate web of their interconnected lives and the profound impact of their choices on one another.
The novel's exploration of human vulnerability and resilience prompts readers to reflect on their own experiences and relationships, making it a compelling read for those who appreciate introspective narratives that resonate on a deeply personal level.
I enjoyed reading this bo0k previously and thought I'd give it a listen. It was just as good both ways.

The audiobook was very well done. Filled with emotion and suspense. Found family, betrayal and love!