It started with one little lie. But Jane Hardy will do everything in her power to uncover the truth in this gripping new romantic suspense. Jane Hardy is appointed interim sheriff in Pelican Harbor, Alabama, after her father retires, but there’s no time for an adjustment period. When her father is arrested for theft and then implicated in a recent murder, Jane quickly realizes she’s facing … she’s facing someone out to destroy the only family she has.
After escaping with her father from a cult fifteen years ago, Jane has searched relentlessly for her mother–who refused to leave–ever since. Could someone from that horrible past have found them?
Reid Bechtol is well-known for his documentaries, and his latest project involves covering Jane’s career. Jane has little interest in the attention, but the committee who appointed her loves the idea of the publicity.
Jane finds herself depending on Reid’s calm manner as he follows her around filming, and they begin working together to clear her father. But Reid has his own secrets from the past, and the gulf between them may be impossible to cross–especially once her father’s lie catches up with him.
“Colleen Coble always raises the notch on romantic suspense, and One Little Lie is my favorite yet! The story took me on a wild and wonderful ride.” –Diann Mills, bestselling author
- Full length romantic suspense
- Includes discussion questions for book clubs
- Part of the Pelican Harbor series
- Book One: One Little Lie
- Book Two: Two Reasons to Run (available September 2020)
- Book Three: Three Missing Days (available April 2021)
more
Readers of suspense will love this page-turner with a twisty plot and a slow burn romance! Don’t miss this first book in the Pelican Harbor Series!
Colleen Coble once again proves she is at the pinnacle of Christian romantic suspense. Filled with characters you’ll come to love, faith lost and found, and scenes that will have you holding your breath, Jane Hardy’s story deftly follows the complex and tangled web that can be woven by one little lie.
“The truth is easier to handle than most people think. A lies is a betrayal that hits you where you really live.”
Colleen Coble knows how to write romantic suspense. I’ve read many of her books and can confidently say that she knows how to reel her readers in from the prologue and keep us hooked until the very last page. In her latest offering, One Little Lie, the author weaves the lives of a father-daughter duo who escape a cult compound into a small town in Alabama that suddenly sees a multitude of murders and violence. In her trademark style, the author brings in many secondary characters into the plot to add details that only become clear at the very end of the book and to throw the reader off from the true villain. The villain actually does have a voice in the story as well, which is interesting. The plot moves fast with plenty of adrenaline, action, and unforeseen twists; romance between Jane and Reid is subtle. From one little lie in each of the character’s past and/or present, their lives spiral out of control and the lies bring them colliding into each other in one brilliantly plotted story.
Jane, our heroine, is the newly appointed police chief in Pelican Harbor who still bears the scars from her childhood in a cult. She’s strong, independent, intelligent, and compassionate but tends to hold on to her anger tightly. Reid is a documentary journalist who comes into town to create a documentary on small town police chiefs. He’s loyal, passionate, protective, and tender but has a secret and an ulterior motive in being at Pelican Harbor which provides a subplot in the story. Both of the main characters, along with Reid’s son Will, are incredibly easy to love.
When I first started the book, I didn’t realize that this series may turn out to be more like the author’s Rock Harbor series where the entire series focuses mostly on the main character(s). I’m so used to her series following different sets of main characters who are loosely related to each other that I was slightly confused when critical key issues were not addressed by the time I got to the last chapter. Then I realized that the second book will likely pick up where the first book left off (on an emotional cliffhanger, of course). Can’t wait to read what happens next with Jane, Reid, and Will.
If you enjoy romantic suspense, you will thoroughly enjoy this book. I received a copy of the book from Thomas Nelson via Celebrate Lit Tours and was under no obligation to post a positive review. All comments and opinions are solely my own.
I was not happy with the ending! Why, do you ask? The ending left cliffhangers I wasn’t expecting. I thought I still had another chapter to go. I wanted closure.
One Little Lie kept me riveted to the edge of my seat. I was surprised so many times that I lost count. I’m happy to learn that book two is set to be released in September.
The is a clean Christian suspense with a little romance. There is mild violence but nothing with gory detail.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher, Thomas Nelson – Fiction, through NetGalley. Any and all opinions expressed in the above review are entirely my own.
Can secrets turn into lies? Are lies ever permissable? Does learning the truth cause even more hurt? These are the questions that are very pertinent in this new book by Colleen Coble. One Little Lie is the story of Jane Hardy, the newly appointed police chief of Pelican Harbor, and the past that she has tried to forget. It is also about Reid Bechtol and his son Will and the secret that Reid is hiding.
“How did he get to this point of subterfuge and lies? He didn’t even recognize himself any more. Even more importantly, he was letting God down. He wasn’t the man he thought he was.” (p. 173)
I really liked that Reid had such a close relationship with his teenage son and that he showed such protective concern for Jane. Coble offers a glimpse of Jane’s troubled past and this allows us to understand why she is so determined to live a honest and productive life. Her involvement in a cult when she was just a young girl left her scarred and unable to fully trust and Coble powerfully conveys Jane’s fears, her hurts, and her struggle with forgiveness. There is, however, one secret that left me very surprised and an ending that left me with questions that only another book can answer!
One Little Lie reminds us that the lies that seem permissable to prevent hurt are often the source of the greatest hurt of all. Colleen Coble has written a wonderful story and I recommend it to all who enjoy Christian suspense and contemporary romance.
I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit tours. A positive review was not required and these are my honest thoughts.
One Little Lie by Colleen Coble is the debut of The Pelican Harbor Series. Jane Hardy escaped a cult fifteen years ago with her father. They have been living in Pelican Harbor, Alabama where Jane was just appointed the chief of police following her father’s sudden retirement. Reid Dixon, a journalist who makes documentaries, is making a film on small town police department’s and he will be following Jane around for the next two weeks. Jane is shocked when the FBI arrest her father for theft and money laundering. Jane knows that someone is setting him up and she intends to discover who is behind the plot. She will need Reid’s help if she is to save her father while solving a string of vigilante crimes. Reid has another reason for being in Pelican Harbor, but he is not yet willing to reveal the truth. But who knows what trouble his silence will cause. One Little Lie is described as a romantic suspense, but I believe it is more of a police procedural with a little romance. I enjoyed all the action happening in the book. It kept the book propelling forward at a quick pace. I liked that I was pulled into the story right away. Fifteen years have passed since Jane and her father escaped the cult. Jane still wonders about her mother who refused to leave with them. Jane has her hands full with a series of vigilante crimes. After the first two incidents, a woman is found murdered. Then a torso is found in a cooler in the bay where shrimpers are known work. Then Jane’s father is arrested, and she knows that someone is setting him up. Jane needs help if she is going to help her father and find the vigilante. I liked the complex crimes with various twists and turns. There are good clues to help readers solve the crimes before the solution is revealed. Those who are avid readers of whodunits will find this mystery a piece of cake. The take down scene was filled with suspense and action. I loved the addition of Parker, Jane’s K9 dog. I like that the romance was just a small part of the book. It was a natural evolution of Jane and Reid being thrown together. The Christian element was light but powerful. I like how the author handled it. I admit that I was reluctant to pick up One Little Lie because it was written by Colleen Coble (but I really liked the blurb). I have not enjoyed her books in the past, but One Little Lie was different. I am now eager for the next book in The Pelican Harbor Series.
Colleen Coble always raises the notch on romantic suspense, and One Little Lie is my favorite yet! The story took me on a wild and wonderful ride.
WOW, what a ride!! This is a Must Read book! It is full of action, adventure, suspense, mystery and a touch of romance. I’m not going to get into what the book’s about, you can read that on the back cover, plus I don’t want to let a spoiler slip out. This book is very well written and keeps you on the edge of your seat. It will keep you turning the pages to see what happens next. If you’ve never read a book by Colleen Coble or if you are a long time fan, you’re going to love this book. This book would be wonderful for a book club, it has really good discussion questions at the end. Thank you Thomas Nelson–FICTION via NetGalley for the ARC copy of this awesome book. All opinions expressed are my own.
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I borrowed an audiobook copy of this book from the local library and thoroughly enjoyed the book. As a child Jane and her parents were part of a cult. When the cult was breaking up, Jane was involved in a fire, and her father told her that her baby had died to get her to leave with him. Now she’s police chief and is being forced to allow Reed to follow her around and document her at work. When he can’t find a videographer, his son Will steps in. Someone is framing her father of crimes he did not commit so the plot has interesting turns. Colleen Coble also addresses the mental struggles from being part of a cult, and losing a child.
Ms. Coble has created another masterpiece! I was immediately drawn into the drama. The twists and turns kept me turning the pages. I read this novel in one sitting. The cliffhanger has left me anticipating the next installment in this series. I love binge reading complete series!
Recommend to readers who enjoy inspirational suspense.
I won a copy. I’ve expressed my honest opinion.
I read all of Colleen Coble’s books, and One Little Lie didn’t disappoint. These books are inspirational, interesting characters and plot, and clean language!
Colleen Coble’s OneLittleLie is a delightful vacation read. I liked that she addressed being trapped, then escaping from a cult.
What is so well done is the myriad of threads that all end up connecting to the main character. Often times subplots will focus on other characters in the story, but these secondary characters are all connected to Jane, the MC and her core problem in some way. So well crafted.
Loved Reed and Will.
highly recommended.
I love following one character through a series. The character arc has time to develop nicely and it a realistic manner. That’s why I enjoyed this series.
I really enjoyed this book
When the past that you have tried everything in your power to forget and done everything possible to hide from seems to be catching up to you what do you do? Well I’m not going to tell you but you are for sure going to want to read this book! Thanks for the excitement Colleen!
This is one of Colleen Coble’s best! She does a great job unwrapping the plot little by little. There’s plenty of action and twists to the story, but what really keeps you interested is the great characters. I found it a great read!
I wanted to read more. It kept me interested. Colleen Coble novels are very entertaining and inspirational.
Couldn’t put it down
I would have given it give stars except for ending. .. Realize it is a series , some things left hanging for the next book. .
I always enjoy her books for their mystery and inspiration
Because of covid I am more drawn to happy stories. There is an element of mystery that I enjoy. The writing is very descriptive of people and the environment. I love the Christian aspect. It brings me joy.