Such a great setting for this romantic suspense book! The Sanctuary is home to exotic animals but Paradise is hoping that it will be home to her as she confronts her past. Blake is doing the noble thing by coming home to help his mom and brothers but comes alongside Paradise to help discover all of the attacks on the Sanctuary.

My favorite characters were Jenna, Levi and Isaac. Those little boys were so sweet!

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the arc. The opinions are my own.

Romance, murder, mystery , past secrets, memories good and bad!

This is the first book in a new series by this author.

Paradise has left town in not such a good way when she was 15, her parents had been murdered, she was really bad foster home, it didn’t get better after she left town.
She is back now with more memories, swirling around her head then she wants, who murdered her parents?

She takes a job at the animal sanctuary, where she worked when she was a teenager and what inspired her to become a veterinarian, unfortunately it is run by her ex-boyfriend Blake and his mother.

Paradise is all alone in the world. She has nobody, and no one in her corner when she arrives at the sanctuary she immediately is greeted by a dead body, a break in, fire, many secrets!

This book was fantastic, I can’t wait for more in this series!

This was an interesting story but stretches believable. Too many things happen too quickly for law enforcement not to pay attention. First in series so time to more fully develop story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

This title is published on March 4th, 2025.

Ambush by Colleen Coble promised plenty of action and suspense. While it delivered somewhat on this expectation, it did so in a very underwhelming manner.

The best way I could think of to describe this book was to picture a Hallmark movie crossed with a low budget action movie. There was a romance between the two main characters which was the most compelling part of the story. However, one of the characters had an arc focusing on the death of her parents, which took up plenty of the opening chapters but ultimately went absolutely nowhere (I can only presume this will be featured more heavily in a potential sequel). The other character's arc was focused on keeping his mother's wildlife reserve running while it was terrorized by the most inept enemy you could imagine.

This enemy turns out to be someone who was barely featured in the book (with a very tedious link to the main characters which seemed to be a massive stretch) and at one point these attacks literally happen every chapter. Plot points are skimmed over in mere sentences with virtually no exploration of the trauma for the main characters and it all left me feeling like the book was a chore to finish. The title also, didn't really fit the plot in my opinion either.

We did get a classic cliche though, a storm for the book's conclusion!

1.5 stars rounded up to 2, out of 5.

This was a great book! Paradise Alden returns to the The Sanctuary in her home town to care for the animals as a veterinarian. Right away a woman’s body is found and she has clearly been murdered. A series of other crimes happen and it’s clear the local lawman is trying to arrest Blake. Blake returned home to help his mother run the animal sanctuary after the death of his step-father. The descriptions of the sanctuary and the animals are well done and I was able to visualize what it looked like. The other settings in the book are equally well described. Besides this being a mystery there is also a bit of romance happening but it is not the main part of the book. I admit I did not have any idea who the culprit was for all the unfortunate happenings at The Sanctuary and was surprised when it was revealed. I received an arc of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions expressed are my own.

The cover of this book is what caught my eye initially but the author's skillful storytelling had me eagerly flipping pages.

This is a fairly new to me author and honestly I can't wait to check out more from her in the future. I thought the storyline and characters were really interesting and her writing style has such a natural flow to it. I binged this book in a day because I had to know what happened.

If you enjoy reading books in the Romantic Suspense genre I would definitely check this one out!

Thank you Colleen Coble, Net Galley and Thomas Nelson for providing me with an ARC of this book!

I’ve been a fan of Collen Coble and her books for years, and never hesitate to recommend her books. She has really hit it out of the park this time. Another winner!
Paradise Alden spent much of her childhood in Nova Cambridge, Alabama. It was a happy childhood until both of her parents were murdered and she ended up in an abusive foster care home. She left her hometown at age 15, and now 15 years later she is returning to work at the wildlife refuge as their veterinarian and with the hope of healing old wounds; some visible and some not so much. The owner of the animal shelter is the mother of her former boyfriend, Blake, who she unexpectedly finds is also living and working there.
Upon the day of her arrival, a woman is found dead on the property, that is only the beginning of a series of other unexplained, dangerous situations they find themselves in.
This is a captivating, fast-paced story that is a page-turner, from the very beginning. Colleen’s characters are always lovable and unforgettable, and that is very true in this heartfelt story. Whether you are an animal lover or not, you will find the vast number of animals to be a delightful addition to his heartwarming story.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. All comments and opinions are my own.

Every time I read a Colleen Coble book I think this is her best work yet. And then another is released.

Paradise Alden’s story is amazing and you will cheer for her all the way through. Everything about this book is top notch. You won’t be able to put it down until you’ve finished the last word and then you’ll want to start over and read it again.

I was given an advanced reader’s copy from Thomas Nelson and Netgalley. Opinions are my own.

Loved this book! Paradise, a wildlife veterinarian, and Blake the son of the owner of The Sanctuary Wildlife Preserve face challenges at every turn! Many twists to the story keeps you racing to the end. Definitely a five star!

Wow, another 5 star book by Colleen Coble. Ambush is number 2 in her Sanctuary series and is a thriller second chance romance in Christian suspense. It has an intriguing storyline.. Paradise is a veterinarian that has accepted a job at a wildlife sanctuary. In her hometown of Nova Cambridge, Alabama. She left a scarred teenager of the foster care system amid a first love betrayal with her boyfriend Blake Lawson. She has returned home to try to heal from her trauma from a jaguar attack and to discover who murdered her parents. Paradise begins her job at the Sanctuary determined not to get involved in any relationshis again as she has a serious mistrust of people in general but especially men. Her very first day a dead body shows up on the Sanctuary grounds. Soon a series of deadly events begin happening, threatening herself and the boy who is now a heart stopping handsome man who is getting blamed for the events. Paradise knows better than to believe that Blake is harming anything at the Sanctuary when he left the Marines to help his mother run it and take care of his little brothers even if his betrayal years ago cost her everything. Together they join forces to investigate the mysteries surrounding them and the Sanctuary. Ambush has been a very enjoyable read from beginning to the cliffhanger ending. I can't wait for the next one!! I want to thank NetGalley and publishers Thomas Nelson for this advanced copy for my honest review.

Paradise returns to her hometown after being away for years. She is to work with the animals at a wildlife sanctuary. Also working there is her boyfriend from when she was a teen. Soon a body is found and lots of other scary events happen. I sure hope this is the start of a new series because I had some questions at the end of the book.

The Sanctuary, an animal rescue refuge, is under attack--but by who? Why would anyone want to sabotage it? This is a good read by Colleen Coble, definitely intriguing. Paradise and Blake need to put aside their differences from long ago and work together to figure out what's going on. If you're looking for a solid suspense story, you've found it in this one.
This book was provided to me by the publisher but all opinions are my own.

Ambush by Colleen Coble is a Christian romantic thriller and Colleen Coble is fast becoming a favourite author. Ambush has so much suspense and many twists that keep you engrossed. The characters were engaging and I liked the character development. Most importantly, I love that the female protagonist renewed her relationship with God - a lesson on healing and restoration. However, the book is quite slow for a thriller and I didn't like the cliffhanger at the end. Thank you, Netgalley and Thomas Nelson, for giving me this book in exchange for my honest review.

I read this book in one night. I thought I would just read a couple chapters before bed and ended up reading the whole thing. I loved the characters and the animals. The description of the sanctuary was actually something I could invision, and the events kept me on the edge of my seat. This book left me on a clifhanger so I hope this means there's more to come!

What a fascinating book. I loved learning about an animal sanctuary and what it takes to run one. It’s a great romantic suspense. It’s a roller coaster of suspense Following along the clues was a twist road. It kept me glued to the pages. The conclusion of the book still leaves us with a mystery. I look forward to the next book to see what happens next. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced free copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

I really enjoy Colleen Coble’s books. I like the focus on God and a little mystery at the same time. This book was a quick read with a twist at the end. It was lighthearted and easy to enjoy.

This was a novel that I had found on NetGalley and was attracted by the title and the cover. I was fortunate enough to be granted an advance copy to review by the author (Colleen Coble), her publisher (Thomas & Mercer), and the fine folks at NetGalley.

The protagonist, Paradise Alden, led an almost idyllic childhood Nova Cambridge, Alabama until the night her parents were murdered. In the years following this tragic event (which would obviously leave their own psychological scars), her life is further upset as she faces abuse in the foster care system, her first love's betrayal, and the jaguar attack that nearly destroyed her career has led to an unshakable distrust--in men, in God, and maybe in even in herself.

After fifteen years, returning to her hometown is a last resort to finding her life again. She's hoping the wildlife refuge where she's accepted a veterinarian job will be the perfect place to heal from her recent traumas and unlock her memories about the night her parents died. But on the day she arrives at The Sanctuary, a body is discovered on the grounds. And soon, a series of deadly events threaten her future and the man who, despite all odds, still makes her pulse stutter. Arson, a shooting, a break-in, and multiple instances of animals being freed from their enclosures all point back to him, but Paradise knows Blake Lawson isn't responsible. Not the man who has been helping his mother manage The Sanctuary these past six months and care for his stepbrothers in the wake of their father's death . . . even if his betrayal years ago cost her everything.

When I first looked to list this book as one that I was going to read, I noticed that it was listed under the heading of a "Christian book" (not exactly what I had assumed based on the title and the cover of the book). I know that you shouldn't judge a book by its cover (which I feel defeats "the racoon principle"...lol). I expected it to have a little more "grit" based upon the aforementioned principles (but whatever).

As a whole, I couldn't find anything wrong with the book but I normally would not be a book that I would regularly read (as I would usually read thrillers, action, or legal) and as such I suppose that I would it would earn three and a half stars out of five stars. After reading this book, I feel that it would be a favourite of fans of second-chance romance/ christian literature.

As with all my literary ramblings, these are just a few of my five cents worth.

I was given their book by NetGalley for an honest review-
I loved everything about this book- the characters, the mystery, the emotions. A totally great read!
Paradise has been abused in the foster care system after her parents were murdered. Fifteen years later she returns home to work at the wildlife refuge hoping to heal and find out who murdered her parents and why. Her first day back a murdered woman is found at the refuge. Then begins a series of scary incidents that happen leaving them to wonder who is doing this and why? Can they find the murderer? Will she rekindle her romance with Blake? You won’t want to miss this book!

Paradise Alden had a less than desirable childhood. From the early loss of her parents, to being placed in foster care and struggling through terrible experiences within the system. The one bright spot in her growing up years was Blake Lawson, her first love. As she returns to the place where she grew up, she's hoping to face her past, find justice for her parents and healing for her own heart. And the place she ends up returning to is the one place that puts her in daily constant contact with Blake - The Sanctuary - the Lawson family run wild animal sanctuary.

I love a story that has built in a past history for the couple that falls in love. It builds a richness to the story that is often missing when characters meet and quickly fall in love. Paradise and Blake are a sweet team as they seek justice for Paradise's parents and seek to get to the bottom of what is happening at The Sanctuary.

I loved that this story built on characters met in What We Hide! As I'm anxiously waiting the next book in the Tupelo Grove series, it was fun to revisit those characters and see their stories progress as well!

"Ambush" by Colleen Coble is an engaging romantic suspense novel set in Nova Cambridge, Alabama. The story follows Paradise Alden, a veterinarian who returns to her hometown after 15 years, hoping to heal from past traumas and uncover the truth about her parents' murder.

As Paradise begins work at a wildlife refuge called The Sanctuary, she encounters a series of dangerous events that threaten both her safety and that of Blake Lawson, a man from her past. Their complicated history adds depth to the story as they work together to unravel the mysteries surrounding them.

Coble's writing is clear and accessible, making the book easy to follow. The plot moves at a good pace, with enough twists to keep readers interested. The author does a good job of developing Paradise's character, showing her growth as she deals with her past and learns to trust again.

The small-town Southern setting provides an interesting backdrop for the story, and Coble's descriptions help bring it to life. While the romance between Paradise and Blake is an important part of the book, it doesn't overshadow the suspense elements.

Overall, "Ambush" is an enjoyable read for fans of romantic suspense. It offers a good balance of mystery, personal drama, and romance, making it a solid choice for readers who enjoy these elements in their fiction.