In Ambush- we join Paradise as she returns to her Alabama hometown after 15 years of being absent. Her parents' (unsolved) murder sent her into the foster care system and sent her life into a tailspin. She determined her path in life to become a veternarian, albeit a traumatized one, and lands a job at The Sanctuary. Working through life wounds and being given a chance at a do-over romance, while also trying to bring your parents' unknown killer to justice would be enough to imbalance anyone. But someone has secrets that they want to stay hidden no matter the cost. Arson, attempted murders, and predators escaping their enclosures through seemingly locked gates are just a few of the threats. As the incidents wrack up at The Sanctuary, Paradise has to determine what in her life is worth fighting for and what's better left alone.

Ambush started off with action and then we get back stories and details which I love! If a book is too slow at the beginning it makes it difficult to care about the characters long enough to get into the the story build up.

Faith content was decently solid- God themes/events kept coming back time and again and that reflects how real life is to me. Sometimes it is very easy to keep Him at the forefront of your mind, but you can fall into the routines of life and then something happens to bring the focus back to Him.

Lots of characters and moving parts added some distraction to the story- this at times made it a little difficult to keep straight. There were plenty of suspenseful bits, however at times I forgot "oh yeah we were trying to solve a murder here too".

I did guess some pieces of the outcome. Others were surprises, but a few of my misguesses were likely due to lack of storyline info more than nefarious genius.

Overall, Ambush was an enjoyable read. I most definitely will be continuing The Sanctuary Series as they are released.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and HarperCollins Christian Publishing for an ARC audiobook in exchange for an honest review. All opinions posted are my own.

Colleen Coble is on my must-read list, a great author of romantic suspense. This is the first in a new series by her and I love how it intertwines with her Tupelo Grove characters. This very new and refreshing story is set in a wildlife refuge and involves a deadly mystery, past trauma, and future hope. Sensitive subjects are parental death, arson, and shootings but dealt with in a soft manner.

Coleen Coble is amazing! This audio version of the book is riveting. The narrator was fantastic. There is plenty of action, suspense, thrills, and sweet romance that make this book an edge of your seat kind of read. The whole time, I was thinking it reminded me of Jurassic Park, but with exotic animals instead of dinosaurs. The characters are genuine and loveable. Especially, the two little boys. They captured my heart.
I highly recommend this suspenseful novel to any reader who likes thrillers, This has a splash romance, and an inspirational message. Don't miss this one.
*I was given a copy of this book by Thomas Nelson Publishers, and this is my honest opinion.
4.5 stars

Karen Peakes, who has read other books written by Colleen Coble, expressively narrates this new series set in a small Alabama town. Paradise Alden, a veterinarian, has returned to her home town to finish recovering, mentally and physically, from injuries sustained by the attack of a panther. She accepts a job at the wildlife sanctuary where she worked before becoming a vet.

Burdened with memories, Paradise is hoping to face down past as well as present trauma. When she was small, her parents were murdered. She doesn't remember, but she does remember how poorly she was treated by other family members and the foster care system. And even, her high school boyfriend Blake, who inadvertently caused her life to get even worse while trying to help her. Blake, a military veteran, has returned to Nova Cambridge as well to help his recently widowed stepmother care for her two small sons and the animal sanctuary she now owns. It isn't a peaceful homecoming for either of them.

Animal escapes, murder, arson, and other difficulties plague the place and Paradise and Blake nearly lose their lives in a storm. As Paradise begins to remember more about the murders of her parents, she becomes determined to solve the mystery. No one had ever been charged with the crimes. And while Blake is determined to help her, they are also determined to learn who has been causing the chaos at the animal sanctuary.

The book sets the stage for the next installment in the story of Blake and Paradise and readers will await it with pleasant anticipation.

Ambush is Christian suspense book. Paradise has been gone for fifteen years and is now an injured vet. But when she returns ready to help with an exotic animal park, she finds she still loves the man she left behind

This contains an audiobook review.

This is the first book in a new series by Colleen Coble. I would classify it as a Christian mystery/light suspense, kisses only romance. I did not read the blurb before starting this book, but I did know where the story was going to be set. That really appealed to me. I wasn't disappointed either.

The main characters have a history that we learn about as the story unfolds. There are actually several storylines that are taking place throughout the book. Sometimes it seemed too unbelievable that there was another dead body or catastrophic event taking place. How many events can these people endure? So in that respect it was a bit unrealistic. But it was entertaining.

What really helped bring the story to life for me was the audio narration. I thought that the female narrator did an amazing job at reading the book and giving all of the characters their own distinct voice, from child to older woman. She did a fabulous job. I did listen at 1.5 speed, if that makes a difference to you. I also appreciated that the author's note was read in the audiobook. That is important to me.

I was given an advanced audio copy of this book by Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Fiction Audio. I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

This was my first time reading a book from Colleen Coble! I loved how the audiobook was highly engaging and really pulled me into the story. I loved how our main character is an exotic animal vet (haven't seen this in a book before), and how the animals were intertwined into our plot.

Some parts of this book felt very slow while others felt way too rushed, causing me a little confusion at points. Once we got through a portion of the book, it seemed like the focus was much more on her faith and Christianity than it was about investigating the murder of her parents. If you are someone who enjoys those aspects more in your reading, I would highly recommend the audiobook version of this book!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Fiction Audio for providing with an audiobook arc!

Paradise Alden is ready to confront the demons of her past. She takes a job as the vet at a big animal rescue in the hometown her parents were murdered in, hoping to find out more about what exactly happened that horrible night.

The animal refuge is run by the family she was closest to after her parents died, but they're also the reason she was bounced back into the foster system, when she was in a bad situation. Trouble is, sometimes bad can turn worse, and unfortunately that's what happened to Paradise.

In this first book of a new series by Colleen Coble, Paradise is searching for answers, but does she want justice? Or will she be able to find forgiveness in her heart for past transgressions?

The action gets started as soon as Paradise steps into her new role, and it doesn't let up. With large animals (especially the large predators) in their sanctuary, careful execution of strict procedures are paramount to safety, and when locks are left open, animals not where they're meant to be, and traps set for the unwitting, accidents are inevitable.

For me, the pacing was a little unhinged. It is one hurdle after another after another with barely room to adjust before the next big event happens. More incidents doesn't necessarily mean more danger, and I think this book could have done with some trimming of the excessive dangerous episodes.

I found the relationship between Paradise and the son of the Sanctuary owner, Blake, very well done. They were once teenaged sweethearts, but after fifteen years of hard lifetime apart, will they be able to forgive one another and develop a friendship anywhere near the level of trust they once did? There are a lot of complicated emotions there, and the dynamics of Paradise and his family is a beautiful thing.

One of the main themes of the book is forgiveness and finding faith. When Paradise confronts one of her greatest fears, she has a moment of transcendence, but for me her realizations felt too in-your-face and repetitive through the rest of the book. If they had been a little more inter-woven into the story and subtle in the language, I think it would have been more immersive.

Overall it was quite a unique setting for a story which was very interesting to read. The characters are good, and I'm curious to know where the series is headed next!

Note:: I received an early copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

I loved seeing other characters from past series pop into this book. So fun! I forgot how expertly Colleen can weave in more than one mystery into a book. She starts a cliffhanger that will get resolved at the end if the series. This had a lot of plot twists as to be expected, and the ending was so intense I couldn't stop listening! The ending was 5 star quality and my emotions were all over those chaptets.The narrator was awesome as well!
Some of the first half the book felt bit soap opera-ish especially when the character Lacey entered. Overall and maybe due to the spectacular ending I give it a 4.5.

Ambush is a thrilling adventure set in a wildlife sanctuary. The story is captivating, the characters are inviting, and the location is perfect. There are multiple layers to the plot, so each page is gripping and satisfying, but not complete, which meant the pages kept flying! Like Paradise, I wanted answers, and I wanted closure. Instead, I received an adventure with a little bit of both. I love that this is a series starter, so I know there is more to come. In the meantime, this story is brilliant and a satisfying intro. I don’t want to divulge any details, so if you enjoy thrilling adventures, mystery on multiple layers, romance, and small town living amid a wildlife sanctuary, you are going to love this.
I also had the pleasure of listening to the audiobook version and the narrator did an excellent job of capturing the characters: personalities, accents, and emotions.
I received a copy from the publisher, Thomas Nelson, via NetGalley and all opinions expressed are solely my own, freely given.

Thank You Netgalley and Colleen Coble for another great mystery. I received the electronic and audio ARC. My favorite way to read books are as a tandem read. I would say this book was a second chance romance with a mystery involved. The mystery part wasn't cheesy and was very real. I loved the safari feel of the book and enjoyed the whole thing. This is a Christian tagged read so if any mention of the big guy bothers you, I would pass. As always, the narrator, Karen Peakes was great. I loved Paradise and Blakes story.

I was given an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Colleen Coble has always been one of my favorite authors so when I knew this would be good. And I was totally right!
This book was extremely hard to put down because it immediately drew me in. I loved how this author incorporated the wild animals into this story line. This was definitely a first for me and I loved it. This book was very fast paced, action filled, suspenseful and was a total shock at the end. I loved how the past of Paradise was incorporated into this book as well, which helped explain her insecurities and why she is the way she is. I highly recommend this book to anyone!

Thank you to Netgalley, Thomas Nelson Publishers, and Colleen Coble for the ARC of this book. I listened to the audiobook version. All opinions are my own.

Ambush is the first in a new series by Coble called "Sanctuary". In this first novel, main character, wildlife veterinarian Paradise Alden returns to her roots on the Gulf Coast of Alabama to both heal from a jaguar attack and search for answers related to the murder of her parents almost two decades earlier. With wounds from living in abusive foster homes, she is emotionally, physically, and spiritually fragile when she comes back to what was once truly "home" to her with the seemingly idyllic family and supportive community, before the death of her parents. With an invitation to work at the wildlife refuge owned by family friends whose son was once her crush, she decides to return in hopes of finding healing and stability. However, upon her arrival a body is found, break-ins are happening, and the suspense and danger continues to build. Will she ever be able to recover from all the loss and unpredictable events in her life that seem to continue to haunt her? And will working with her past boyfriend be a distraction or a comfort? Can she find faith again? I thoroughly enjoyed this novel, from the setting of the wildlife refuge and the beautiful descriptions of the animals and area, to the lovely Gulf Coast, to the twists and turns within the pages, to the suspense and drama, to the relationships of support and trust, and to the struggle to heal, this book has it all. I look forward to the other books in the series and hope to find out more about Paradise's story in future installments.

To be totally honest and open, I probably would have enjoyed this book if I was more of an animal lover...yeah yeah lower your pitch forks. Colleen Coble is relatively new to me and her books seem to be pretty "low risk" as far as romance and entertainment are concerned. You can pretty much call her books from page one. But that won't stop me from reading them, I enjoy a more "clean" romance and the Christian messages she weaves into her books. My most favorite aspect of this book was having Hezichiah from my first Coble book.
The mystery in this books (who killed the woman at the beginning) felt like it got lost in the budding romance, attacks on the sanctuary and Paradise searching for her parents killers. With all the plot lines I never felt totally compelled to find out the outcome of any of the plots....but it was a good book to past the time.
Last thing, despite what Coble stated in her authors notes, the name Paradise is stupid.
Thank you NetGalley and Thomas Nelson publishing for allowing me to review this advanced copy. These are my own thoughts and opinions, I was not influenced or paid.

I liked this novel, but unfortunately I ended up not being as invested in it as I had hoped. There are a lot of characters, a lot of action, a lot of suspects, a lot of suspense and a whole lot of melodrama. And honestly, I think that excess melodrama might be the main reason I didn't connect as much with it. Also, please note that this is a Christian novel, so it's definitely lighter on the romance side. The audiobook narrator did an excellent job, considering how many different male and female characters there were.

3.5 stars for my first Colleen Coble book. The setting was good, the storyline was intricate, and the progression of the romance felt natural. There were plenty of thrilling moments that helped to keep the story moving forward. But ultimately something about it just didn't fully capture my interest enough to want to constantly keep reading. It fell a bit flat for me but I'd like to try another title from this author.

This mystery had some unique and intriguing elements, particularly the wildlife sanctuary setting, which added depth and originality to the story. The vivid descriptions of animal interactions and behaviors were clearly well-researched and thoughtfully integrated, enhancing both the suspense and the sense of danger.

I enjoyed the main characters and appreciated how the author introduced them. However, with so many intertwining character storylines and motivations, I sometimes found it challenging to keep track of everyone’s roles and relationships.

The book had a mix of cozy, Hallmark-like moments while still maintaining a strong sense of suspense, striking an engaging balance between warmth and tension. Overall, it kept me curious, and I’m definitely interested in continuing the series!

Another good Colleen Coble book! I received an advance copy of the audio book and finished this one pretty quickly. I like that her books are more wholesome, yet you still get a good story. I certainly do t think highly of hyenas, or cheating gamblers, but Paradise and Blake are winners.

This was a really enjoyable audiobook. It has some suspense and action and a little bit of romance. Nothing was overdone. I loved the setting of the safari preserve and the exotic animals. Has a great plot to it. I’m looking forward to more books in this series as I see it is listed as book one.
Great narration as well. Just a really good book and enjoyable to listen to.

When Paradise moves back to her hometown to work along side her teenage love, Blake, she thinks she can separate her feelings from the past. There are things she still hasn’t forgiven him for, but she’s strong enough to keep her distance. Or is she? Can she compartmentalize her feelings when she sees him again? Or when she sees her childhood home? When it becomes apparent that Blake’s step father’s death may have not been an accident, the stakes are set higher. Mysterious things keep happening around the animal refuge, and if it keeps up, there’s no way for them to stay open. They have to get to the bottom of this, but that also means digging into the past.

TW: There is mention of childhood trauma for Paradise after she goes into foster care, and she’s worked half her life trying to sort those feelings while simultaneously never trusting anyone. She finds out Blake has never stopped loving her but she’s resistant to it because of everything that happened to her.

There was a lot I loved about this book. The way Paradise’s faith grew, and how she learned to trust God. She faced her past and was able to look forward without being bitter.

The romance between Blake and Paradise was a slow burn, but in some ways it felt as if it was rushed. I felt like she got over her past feelings way too soon. The mystery aspect was great but I felt there were just too many moving pieces and characters involved. In some ways it reminded me of a hallmark movie. A little bit of romance, little bit of mystery, and a feel good ending. I kept waiting for there to be a plot twist but there really wasn’t one. Still, I think there were a lot of positive aspects to this story and I’m interested in reading the next book! I love that it’s clean fiction that I can happily share with my teens and not have to worry about what they’re reading.

I read Ambush as an audio book and enjoyed the narrator and the way she portrayed the story.

I received this book for free from Netgalley in exchange for my honest unbiased opinion. I rate this book as 4 stars. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️