This is a great suspense book, betrayals around every corner. You never know who you can trust. There is an unexpected twist at the end of the story. I really enjoyed the book and can’t wait for the next installment. Thank you to net galley for an advanced readers copy.

Again the writing duo of Colleen Coble and Rick Acker did a fantastic and seamless team effort of writing a story. Where Secrets Lie is the second book in the Tupelo Grove series by these two authors, and it did not disappoint. It can easily be read as a stand-alone book but reading the first book (What We Hide) will bring a more thorough background to the story. It is a suspenseful mystery with plot twists that I did not see coming. The portrayal of the characters, their inner feelings, and their strengths and weaknesses make the complex characters realistic and relatable. A college campus administration full of dark secrets and the winner-takes-all game of artifact smuggling this mystery kept me on the edge of my seat!
I read a complimentary copy of the book from the publisher, Thomas Nelson Fiction, through NetGalley and was not required to write a positive review. The opinions are my own.

This second book in the Tupelo Grove series could be a stand alone narrative but I feel it would be best to be able to read the first in the series to get better connection of the characters, such as of Jess, Simon, Savannah, and Hez, among others. Not having read the first in the series, I feel I missed out on a lot of backstory. I hope to read the first book at some point.

I appreciate the ARC and will be purchasing this book for our library

I was so excited to get back into Hez and Savannah’s story—and it was even better than I hoped. Colleen Coble is one of my favorite authors, and the books she’s written with with Rick Acker as a coauthor are some of her best.
The last book ended on a cliffhanger, and this one jumped right back in. Even though you start out knowing who the “bad guy” is, there are plenty of twists and turns to keep you on your toes. You’ll never guess what’s going to happen next.
And it just keeps getting better! So many times in this book something happened that I never saw coming. Just when I thought I had it figured out, a new twist came out of nowhere. No spoilers, but the ending somehow left me feeling satisfied, while also craving more!
Hez and Savannah have a lot of trust issues, but I loved seeing them come together to fight for justice. I can’t wait to see where the next book takes us. Because that last sentence left me with a thousand questions!
I received a copy of this book through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Book 2 in the Tupelo Grove series was riveting! This writing duo spun a tale of secrets, deception, murder, and more that had me spellbound. Savannah Webster, a college professor, is working hard to help her family's university make a comeback after a stolen artifact debacle. Her sister Jess is working her magic on the financial end but has much to hide. Hez, Savannah's ex-husband, is the legal expert working to help the university by starting a law clinic. Hez and Savannah are working to repair their relationship, and things seem to be on the upswing - until Savannah finds an empty liquor bottle in Hez's condo. A recovering alcoholic, Hez vehemently denies it's his, but the seed of doubt has been planted, and Savannah must face her own demons. When law students uncover the fact that stolen artifact ring is still in process, things swirl out of control and danger lurks around every corner. Grab this latest thriller and be prepared to stay up late!

Where Secrets Lie is the 2nd book of the Tupelo Grove series by Colleen Coble and Rick Acker. After reading What We Hide, I was just jumping at the bit for this sequel! Having the characters return for this book was like welcoming good friends back home. The characters have strong, believable back stories that make it easier for you to relate to the ups and downs of their lives. The story-line is very well planned and I can see this becoming a strong series for both Colleen Coble & Rick Acker.

This book was a mystery which I'm still trying to solve.

A second chance romance between Savannah Webster and her ex-husband Hez takes a suspicious turn yet again when she finds the evidence of ghost of past resurfacing. Will she be able to trust him again to give them another chance??

Whereas Hez is determined to move past his mistakes and start over with his new life, Savannah and the new mentorship for the law students at the university. But what he accidently unveils the dark side, the secret of the smuggling ring that's going on around the university and the involvement of the people in it, he finds himself admist the most dangerous place.

Will their relationship be able to survive this storm looming over their heads or it will blow away whatever they have gathered yet again??

The book has a gripping tale of the smuggling rings and other crimes involved with the decline of Tupelo university but you will only enjoy it when you read the books in order.

Though I didn't enjoy the book for the obvious reasons that I haven't read the previous book in the series. I'd like to give this author duo another chance and I'm looking forward to get my hands on their other books.


Toodles 💕

Where Secrets Lie is the second book in the Tupelo Grove series. I also read the first book, and I thoroughly enjoyed both of them. While I believe there is enough background information that it could work as a standalone, you would be better off starting with the first one in the series.

This duo of authors worked to produce a thriller that kept me fascinated by the twists and turns throughout the book. The characterization was well done showing how each person reacted to the events in their lives. There was one character that I wish the authors would have kept around because since this is a Christian book, the person seemed to be on the way to making an important faith step, and it would have been good to see.

Overall, like all of Coble's books, this was another great story.

I would have enjoyed this book more had I read the first book in the series. While the
characters were well described and defined I felt a bit lost in some of the relationships.
I also had no idea of the genre of the story and did not fully understand this until I
read the end notes. My unknown question was answered. The story was decent
and while the story was fine, I never felt part of the story. I don’t feel any special
curiosity in the next book. I am certain many, many readers enjoy these books, and
I am glad I read the book because I now have another genre to investigate.
My thanks to Thomas. Nelson Publisher via NetGalley for the download copy
of the book for review purposes.

Where Secrets Lie by Colleen Coble and Rick Acker
This was a phenomenal book!
Savannah Webster tries to put her life back on track with a second chance for her ex-husband, Hez. She believes they are ready until she finds evidence that his past demons are back. With their complex family issues, they also face the danger of taking on an international smuggling ring that the University is entangled with.
Savannah takes charge at the helm to try and rescue the University after complete financial devastation. Danger is everywhere, in every direction.
There is so much suspense packed in and I was hooked early on! This is the second book in the Tupelo Grove series. Hez is still my favorite character!
The story is so well layered with wonderful characters that are so well developed, the reader just exists as part of the story. I loved it! I can’t wait for more! The duo of writers is truly gifted, the writing is seamless.
Twists and turns will keep you turning pages until the end! 5/5⭐

This second book in the Tupelo Grove series could be a stand alone narrative but I feel it would be best to be able to read the first in the series to get better connection of the characters, such as of Jess, Simon, Savannah, and Hez, among others.

There are growing tensions as Savannah tries to save Tupelo Grove University (TGU) from going belly up, all the while attempting to figure out how the artifact smuggling chain continues. She does so with the help of Hez and Simon along with a few others. There is murder, with shocking reveals and the comfort of Cody the unique, likeable dog.

As usual, I like the faith-based input and how Jesus figured in some of the peoples' lives. This is always a plus for me. What's more, book club readers will find helpful discussion questions at book's end. In my opinion, readers who enjoy mysteries and thrillers will no doubt enjoy reading this novel and feel the satisfaction of a story well told.

~ Eunice C., Reviewer/Blogger ~

March 2025

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

Where Secrets Lie is a continuation of the Tupelo Grove series by Colleen Coble and Rick Acker. I was shook by the cliff hanger at the end of the first book, and could not wait to get my hands on this story. As the smugglers ring continues to battle against the good that Savannah and Hez Webster are trying to carry out a war is being fought for life and the university. Coble and Acker seem to be the masters of creating a backstory that you do not see coming, and I wouldn't be surprised if they have the entire series plotted out to the end and began writing backwards in order to create such buried and well-thought out storylines.

While I absolutely loved book one, this book was a bit harder for me to stay engaged in. It's not that there was a lack of things happening, however this storyline was just not quite as engaging as the first storyline. I can assume it's continuing to move us forward in the overall story, but I missed some of the dialogue and interactions between characters from the first book. The characters this time did not feel as well rounded.

Where Secrets Lie is the second book in the Alabama-based Tupelo Grove series. This one seemed more fast-paced than What We Hide. Coble and Acker write seamlessly together. The plot, while a bit far-fetched at times, was intriguing. We learn a lot more about Jess and her life in this one, which really made me sad. I appreciated how trauma and addiction are handled.

If I hadn't read the first book, I would have been lost with this one so I definitely suggest reading What We Hide first. Now I'm patiently waiting for what comes next because that cliff-hanger....

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

Coble & Acker have done it again! The second book in the Tupelo Grove series is absolutely fantastic! It takes you on thrilling ride of intense danger, tangled secrets, intrigue, and family drama. It is impossible to put it down with a shocking ending that left my mind spinning and anxiously awaiting book three!

This book continues with Savannah and Hez navigating their way back to a relationship after much trauma and a divorce. The danger surrounding them as they fight to save TGU quickly ramps up as they begin to uncover many secrets leaving you guessing where the danger is coming from and who is behind it.

This series is a must read! As an avid reader, I can honestly say this is a favorite new series. I was already a Coble fan, but these two authors together are absolutely amazing.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book by the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are completely my own.

I received a copy of Where Secrets Lie from NetGalley and settled in to read it. The teaser ads said it's a stand alone novel, but I could tell from the first page that there was a complicated backstory and I felt lost. So, I put it down and got a copy of the previous book, What We Hide, from my local library. I'm so glad I did! There is so much you need to know about the plot and characters before reading this book! You will enjoy it much better if you start at the beginning!

Where Secrets Lie is the continuing story of Hez and Savannah Webster. After agreeing to divorce in the previous book, Hez and Savannah realize they still love each other and want to get married again. In the midst of their rekindled romance, they team up to find out who is stealing and selling priceless artifacts with certificates of authenticity on university letterhead. As they continue to dig, someone doesn't want the truth to come to light and will do anything, including murder, to stop them.

There is much more to the story, but I don't want to reveal some of the surprises! The authors have written a truly suspenseful Christian fiction novel that kept me guessing until the end! The ending leaves an opening for a next book so I will definitely be waiting for the next one! I recommend any fans of Colleen Coble, Dani Pettrey, or Lynette Eason read this book! I think you will enjoy it as much as I did!

Where Secrets Lie
by Colleen Coble; Rick Acker
Pub Date: June 3, 2025
Thanks to the authors, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
Colleen Coble continues to captivate with the second installment of the Tupelo Grove series, Where Secrets Lie. As a fan of her suspenseful romances, I found this book to be another thrilling addition to her collection.

The story picks up where the first book left off, delving deeper into the mystery surrounding Savannah and Hez. Their journey is not just about unraveling secrets but also about personal growth and resilience. Coble does a wonderful job of weaving suspense with heartfelt moments, making it hard to put the book down.

The setting of Tupelo Grove once again plays a vivid role, immersing readers in a world full of intrigue and small-town charm. The twists and turns kept me guessing until the very end, and I can’t wait to see where Savannah and Hez’s story goes next.

If you're a fan of Colleen Coble or love a blend of romance and mystery, this book is a must-read.

I really enjoyed this newest read by Colleen Coble and Rick Acker. It was a fast paced romantic suspense novel. I enjoyed the chemistry between Hez and Savannah. I believe this is my favorite book, so far, in the series. I look forward to the next one!

I really loved this book. It was fast paced and had lots of little twists to keep me guessing. I love that the characters have depth and are intertwined in different ways. A must read! I am already looking forward to seeing what comes next
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

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

Where Secrets Lie by Colleen Coble and Rick Acker is an exhilarating second book in the Tupelo Grove series that picks up right where the first book left off. With nonstop suspense, the story keeps you hooked from start to finish as the characters face escalating danger and unravel a web of secrets. The shocking twist at the end will leave you wanting more, while the second-chance romance woven through the narrative adds a heartfelt touch that will make your heart happy. This fast-paced, gripping tale balances tension and emotion perfectly, making it a must-read for fans of romantic suspense.

3.5- I couldn't put it down. The mystery picks up where the first book left off, and there's a lot of suspense. The point of view switches between Hez and Savannah and Jess, which is very interesting as the puzzle pieces are put together. So, why three stars? The romance was a little meh for me. I thought it was overly dramatic.

Heads up, once again the last chapter is a cliffhanger that will result in me reading the next book.

I really enjoyed this newest read by Colleen Coble and Rick Acker. It was a fast paced romantic suspense novel. I enjoyed the chemistry between Hez and Savannah. I believe this is my favorite book, so far, in the series. I look forward to the next one!

I received this book from the publisher through NetGalley for my honest opinion.