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
ONE LIE CHANGED THE WAY SHE LIVED HER LIFE. WHAT WILL SHE DO WHEN THE TRUTH IS REVEALED?
If I am looking for a mix of mystery with a hint of romance, I know I can turn to Colleen Coble. Her stories are always page turners, even if I can read the book in one sitting.
One Little Lie takes the reader to the Deep South where beignets are must have treats and shrimp boats dot every river in the area. Ms. Coble firmly planted me right in the middle of the perfect location for making bodies disappear in one place and pop up in another while make Chief Jane hunt for the suspects.
Jane’s past in a cult and her struggles to overcome her life of lies that I found most captivating. Truth and facts were the only things she cared about. When she discovered that lies surrounded her, and people she loved most were at the heart of those lies, her struggle to trust becomes understandable.
Reid and his son were a pair that was touching to watch. I can not recall the last time I read a story that highlighted life with a teen that comes from the father’s perspective. Their relationship is close, but their are still secrets between them.
One Little Lie is the perfect example of how the truth can not always restore what is lost in the lies but it can bring resolution and start healing. This fast paced, gripping tale will have you at the end he of your seat, dying to turn the next page. And mad when you get to the last page.
**I was provided a copy of this story by the publisher through CelebrateLit. A favorable review was not required, but freely given.
One Little Lie by Colleen Coble is a marvellous contemporary Christian murder suspense. It is the first book in the Pelican Harbor series and what a cracking series that promises to be.
The reader’s heart races as the tension rises. Once again I got completely absorbed in the action. As the body count rose, I totally failed in predicting the outcome.
When lives are built on lies, sooner or later there will be a fall as the truth must come out. We must face the consequences and answer for our choices.
There is the theme of cults and churches. Cults enforce their wills on people, manipulating and controlling others. They can be dangerous. In contrast churches are safe places when they function as God intended. It is in the church community that we build relationships with each other and with God.
Life may have been hard and cause disappointments. In our anger we may turn away from God. “He’s [God] never been there when I needed Him.” This is a lie planted by the enemy as Jesus promised never to leave us nor forsake us. Quite the opposite, when we walk away from God, He waits, longing for our return. “She’d left God behind long ago, and she doubted he’d care to hear from her now.” Like the father in the prodigal son, when God welcomes us back to His arms, there is much rejoicing.
There is the theme of restoration. God will restore to us the years the locusts have taken. When we turn to God, He can and will heal our past hurts.
One Little Lie is an exciting read that will consume. The ending is perfectly poised for book two. You will need to read this book before continuing the series.
I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.
A green police chief, vigilante justice, and a town full of secrets. Mixing these with Colleen Coble’s compelling suspense and a dollop of romance brings you One Little Lie, a “most excellent” police adventure.
I loved the storyline and most of the characters. The jury is still out on a few of them, namely the mayor, whom I’m trying to figure out. I did enjoy Jane Hardy and Reid and Will Dixon. Will sounds like one very neat teenager. Jane and Reid work together well. I have to wonder about how involved Reid was in the cases, as a civilian. Yet, my mind argues back that real life can be hard to separate into separate columns, and this just solidifies that point.
The bay seems to be a little murky and so are so many of the relationships in this faith-filled novel. We see true friendship, bad parenting, misguided parenting, great parenting, and arms that lost the child they should have parented. I can just imagine Jane, if she had a theme song, singing “Lies,” from Jonathan Butler eons ago. The question is, who would she be singing it about? Faith, love, forgiveness, deceit, and revenge all surface in Pelican Harbor. Unfortunately for us, the readers, a neat ending does not. I appreciated Coble’s note that explained her reasoning. I appreciated that we had a “soft” ending, with more to come in the next Pelican Harbor installment ( Two Reasons to Run, coming September 2020), rather than a rushed, messy ending. Definitely a book to pick up, but preferably during daylight hours, with plenty of safe people around.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author and publisher through Celebrate Lit via NetGalley. This does not affect my opinions, which are solely my own.
Yes! She has done it again. Bested herself with a suspense book that is original and engrossing. It will keep you on your toes and you will find it hard to put down. I found it fascinating that the main characters had escaped a cult, but how one lie told in the midst of that snowballed and was still affecting the lives of so many. Lies, secrets, murder, a vigilante, sparks of romance flying, and a vindictive ex all cumulate to make a top notch read. I loved the characters and had empathy for each and the baggage they carried around. I felt like I was on a narrow back country road trying to navigate the twists and turns on the edge of my seat. Definitely a must read and I will be stalking my mailbox until book 2.
I received a complimentary copy from CelebrateLit/publisher. The honest review and opinions are my own and were not required.
One Little Lie is the first in a new series (The Pelican Harbor) by Colleen Coble, and is another thrilling winner. Having previously read and enjoyed this author’s books I was looking forward to reading this new one and was not disappointed. Action, suspense, murder mystery, and a little romance too, what more could a reader ask for? Romance and suspense are a hard combination to beat. Lots of action with some twists and turns in this multifaceted story. It was hard to stop listening to the book. Narrator Devon O’Day does a great job giving voice to the characters, making for an enjoyable listening experience. Looking forward to the next book in the series. Lovers of romantic suspense won’t want to miss this one.
Wow, there was a lot going on in this book! I loved the first chapter of the book which really set the stage for the rest of the story. It gave me an instant connection to emotion and really peaked my interest.
From the beginning there is a steady build of information and mystery. There are a LOT of characters in this book and because of that, this book is more plot driven than character driven. I liked the main characters but I didn’t really connect with them emotionally aside from the very beginning. I wouldn’t call this a romantic suspense because the romance was barely there at all. It was more a mystery/suspense with a toss of awareness/attraction that is mostly not acted upon. This story ends with some mystery resolution, but left most other things hanging. I guess the story continues in the next book which will be great, but I was left feeling a bit let down.
The mystery though was on point. I was suspecting many people and trying to work it all out in my head but yeah, I didn’t get it right. The intensity ramps up slowly but I could feel it happening. It’s exactly what you want to feel when reading this type of book.
Content: some gruesome murder scenes, some violence, peril. Christian elements.
– I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
Do you ever finish a book and immediately go online to find out about the next book in a series? That’s exactly what I did after reading One Little Lie by Colleen Coble.
There is a lot that kept me invested in this book. From the murders, what exactly is happening with Jane’s dad, Reid’s story, and Jane’s history, Coble definitely kept me guessing until the end…and then she left me hanging!
While the romance is minimal (just the seeds sown, really) in the first book in this new series, the next book promises more with the same characters.
There is a reason Coble is a go-to romantic suspense author for many readers, and One Little Lie is evidence of why that is. Fans of Terri Blackstock’s If I Run series should grab this book.
Disclosure statement: I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book and was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.
This was one of those stories that compelled me to keep turning the pages. There were so many questions to be answered and lots of secrets to be uncovered. I really liked the pull of the suspense.
Jane’s background, surviving a cult, was interesting and unusual. I liked how her feelings about the church were realistic. Having been surrounded by false teaching early in her life, she was skeptical of every church and even God Himself. Watching her learn a different side to the God she thought she knew made me feel hopeful for her. She was confident and strong despite what life had thrown at her.
Reid came along with his share of secrets but a little further down his path with God than Jane was. It made for a good match between them. His background gave him a good understanding of Jane’s struggles. His feelings for her made him want to help her on her faith journey.
Full review is at my website: lorainenunley(dot)com
I received this book complimentary as a participant of the Prism book tour. I was not required to give a positive review. All of the opinions I have expressed are my own.
One Little Lie is the first book in the Pelican Harbor series, and after reading this one I certainly cannot wait to read the next book. I thought that the premise of this book was interesting; how one lie can turn into so much more. I enjoyed getting to know the characters in this book and I thought that they were interesting, relatable, and people I could see in real-life situations. Colleen Coble is one of my go-to authors when I need a good mystery without gory details or overdramatic scenes and she certainly came through again with this great book.
I give this book 4 out of 5 stars for the creative mystery, the strong characters, and for keeping my attention through the whole storyline and leaving me in anticipation of the next book in the series.
*I volunteered to read this book in return for my honest feedback. The thoughts and opinions expressed within are my own.
There is nothing better than a good suspenseful story that has all the elements that make you want to read as fast as you can. I loved the characters and how their problems seeped into each others lives. What is so good about this story is the undeniable intrigue that had my heart pounding as danger seems to lurk right below the surface.
Jane has been appointed Police Chief after her father retires. It is obvious that not everyone is happy with this news and Jane finds herself deep in an investigation where bodies turn up, her father is being investigated and lies tarnish people’s integrity. Oh how I loved reading that Jane didn’t back down from anyone and was determined to get to the truth. Jane’s past is very secretive to most and she can’t shake that maybe it will come out at some point.
Reid was an interesting character and I wasn’t quite sure what his true motive was . He has been granted to follow Jane and do a documentary on her because she is a female Chief of Police. Does he know about Jane’s past? Reid has his own secrets that start to pop up and he knows he needs to deal with them. I did find it interesting that his son never knew his mother and the author gives subtle hints that may tie him to someone in the story. This is the type of writing the author is known for. She weaves several characters together and has their lives intersect at critical moments. The author is also very good at placing faith elements in her story that are gracefully done. I did find it a bit odd that Reid would allow his son to tag along at some of the places him and Jane went. It bothered me that a teenager would be allowed to listen in on investigations and be put in danger.
As the title implies, lies no matter how many you tell always find a way to the surface. We often think one little lie won’t hurt anyone. This story proves how wrong that thinking is as secrets, lies, deceit and revenge unravel lives and put people’s reputation on the line. My heart went out to Will as he realizes he has been lied to all his life. How do you trust someone who has never been truthful to you?
The story is filled with action and lessons in forgiveness, overcoming your past and trust. I loved how the author takes a story and captures realistic issues while keeping readers guessing of the outcome. Not all questions will be answered in this book, so be looking for the next in this series.
“A lie is a betrayal that hits you where you really live.”
I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.
What an outstanding story!! I hardly know where to start when it comes to talking about it.
Maybe a good place to start is to say how great the mysteries were in this book. If you are looking for intensity with your mysteries, this book delivers. Evil is definitely at work on several different levels but so are all the secrets and outright lies. Which makes this the perfect title for this book.
And the people? Wow, they were well drawn with plenty of depth. Even the ones that weren’t all that likeable. But I really liked Jane, Reid and Will. They were so well written that it was easy to become interested in what happens to them. But yes, Reid is hiding some important information too.
There is a lot of pots being stirred but without making it overwhelming. There is also elements of faith in God and also how people in the cult had been lied to and now feared anything to do with church or God. Still not overwhelming to me in the story either.
The story comes to a slamming conclusion with many things exposed. There are several threads that have NOT concluded yet so…cliffhanger? I went “ouch” when I got to that part. The writing was so good though I still had to give it 5 stars on Amazon.
There is another book in this series supposed to come out in September. You will have to decide if you want to continue or not.
“I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.”
Colleen Coble is a master of stories filled with mystery, intrigue, crime a lot of suspense and romance to last one a life time.
One Little Lie did not disappoint. A story surrounding people with pasts and a lot of danger and secrets to disrupt the present, this book will keep you hooked till the last page. The characters are wonderful and the storyline captivating.
Jane and Reid’s uncommon romance will delight your heart.
I received a copy of the book and this is my honest opinion.
I have read nearly all of Ms. Coble’s books. She is a wonderful storyteller and infuses her tales with mystery, suspense, romance, and faith.
One Little Lie, book #1 of The Pelican Harbor series, deals with themes of healing from the past and overcoming fear and self-doubt.
It includes a light element of romance, but I’d classify this as suspense or mystery. There were times the mystery seeped into my reading, though. Sometimes there were numerous things going on and so many linked events that I got a little confused. In the end, most things wrapped up nicely.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through Prism Book Tours.
An engrossing thriller that will hook you from page one. Colleen Coble continues to demonstrate why she has become one of my must-read authors. One Little Lie is a perfect balance of mystery, small town living, law enforcement and light romance. Jane is following in her father’s footsteps, making a name for herself, and now forced to prove his innocence. Enter Reid, a man on a mission who discovers that things are not always what they seem. I thoroughly enjoyed the chemistry of the characters and the pace of the story. For those who like closure to their story, be forewarned, this is the first installment of three and does leave you at a cliff-hanger. I cannot wait for book two! I received a complimentary copy of this book and all opinions expressed are my own.
One Little Lie is the first book in Colleen Coble’s new Pelican Harbor series. Jane Hardy has been made acting police chief in the small town of Pelican Harbor, Alabama, after the sudden retirement of her father Charles. Town mayor Lisa Chapman has agreed to have documentary journalist Reid Dixon follow Jane and document her time as a new police chief in his new project to examine what it is to be head of a small town force. But neither Jane nor Lisa know of their connection from the past.
On her first day, Jane is presented with the death of a young woman, which seems to be the work of someone calling themselves the Vigilante, as well as the dismembered torso of an unidentified man found in a large ice chest when caught in a shrimp boat net. When the journalist and her father become entangled in the investigation, Jane must clear them both and determine what is behind these seemingly unconnected crimes. Once the identity of the torso is determined, other crimes ensue and Jane and Reid find themselves in the crosshairs of a merciless person set on revenge.
This is yet another intense thriller by Ms. Coble. Her descriptions have you right along side her main characters and will keep you rapidly turning the pages late into the night. I did enjoy this book and I do recommend it!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Thank you in advance to the publisher, TNZ Fiction/Thomas Nelson, and Prism Book Tours for providing a complimentary advance review copy. A positive review was not required. All words and thoughts are my own.
Possible content warnings: teen pregnancy, cult, somewhat gruesome body find, stalking, and child abuse.
Last Christmas (2019), my mother got me the Lavender Tides series, along with the then new release – “Strands of Truth” thinking I would enjoy them based on the blurbs. And, she was right – I did “skim” them (haven’t fully read them yet) and they’re definitely high up on the never-ending TBR. However, this is the first book by the author I’ve read.
Right off, from the prologue, the novel grabbed me – pregnant teen, cult, and fleeing the cult. I am definitely old enough to remember the Branch Davidian cult and subsequent siege at Waco (Texas) in 1993, and the notorious David Koresh.
That was another reason this novel had my interest – someone escaping from a cult and later becoming a law enforcement officer. Even more impressive – Jane is elected Sheriff of Pelican Harbor.
By chapter three, I was hooked.
In addition to Jane Hardy being elected Chief, a position previously held by her father – she has to investigate two murders; she’s trying to figure out where her mother is; and her father’s arrest for theft and murder is also stressful. She’s also dealing with Reid covering her career.
Reid has his own secrets in addition to a wonderful teenage son. One is that he was tied to one of the murder victims; another secret is Lauren, his ex-wife, who comes back after being declared dead after going missing. It’s pretty obvious she wants money, but is using Will to blackmail Reid. And, it turns out one secret of Reid’s is who Will’s mother really is.
When the issue of Will’s mom was brought up, I remembered the baby born in the prologue. And, as I kept reading – I kept getting this nagging suspicion. That’s another reason I just couldn’t put this book down. I had to know what was going on. Keen-eyed and attentive readers will soon figure it out for themselves.
Coble crafts a unique, highly-addictive, emotionally entangling, and very disturbing plot. With as disturbing as it was, I almost felt uncomfortable at enjoying this book so much. I really didn’t want to stop reading. This suspense novel has murder, kidnapping, blackmail, police corruption, stalking, and references to cults.
While others could feel bogged down by all that is going on in it, Coble has found a way to make it all work and carefully weave it together. The cases, the people – every little bit. It’s a wild roller coaster of a reader.
There were a few suspects I had my eye on, but was honestly surprised at where the writer took it. I had at least two different suspects, none of those panned out. In looking back, there is a “warning” about one of the suspects.
While this is distributed by Christian publisher Thomas Nelson’s TNZ Fiction line, the references to God and faith were not overwhelming or glaring. I found them minimal, yet quite relevant to the story’s pace and setting. It is a clean read with no sexual encounters or foul language.
There is some violence, and perhaps some “gruesomeness” to it due to the violence.
This is part one (1) of the “Pelican Harbor Series”. And, while most first books are easily standalone reads – this isn’t. While the main cases are concluded, there are a few personal issues that are not concluded at the end. Some of which will carry over to part two (2); “Two Reasons to Run”; which is due out September 2020.
The synopsis of the second book will have some spoilers.
Pelican Harbor is full of people with secrets. In the first of a new series from Coble, Jane has just assumed her father’s prior position of police chief of the harborside town. Jane has some secrets of her own that she’d prefer to keep to herself, but when her father is accused of murder, she finds her cautious existence turned upside down.
During the course of her investigation, Jane finds support and comfort in an unusual place–the documentary filmmaker assigned to follow her as a publicity stunt by the mayor. Reid and his kind teenage son Will begin to draw Jane out of her protective shell, much to her surprise. Who can Jane trust? Are her neighbors out to get her? Or is there a killer targeting the people of her town?
Murder, mystery, a connection to a Senator and a long disbanded cult, “One Little Lie” is another stellar read from Coble. If you like her previous books, you will enjoy this first installment of the Pelican Harbor series. Coble thoroughly researches her settings and backstories of her characters and it shows. Details, actual events and places woven in to fiction always brings a sense of reality into her work.
Get ready to be pulled in to these new characters and get ready for the ride! I was an early reader, thanks to #NetGalley and Thomas Nelson publishing. All opinions are my own.
This book has it all: murder, betrayal, justice, secrets, and the start of romance. But one little lie is the powder keg that ignites a small town and the inhabitants that live there. Newly appointed Chief of police, Jane strives for honesty, independence, and integrity. Her childhood has taught her hard learned lessons and how to value her freedom of choice and upholding the law to the best of her ability. Her past is one Jane holds close, not wanting anyone to see what happened. Reid has learned to tell stories through the lens of a camera, shining a light on issues many people wouldn’t know about without his documentaries. But he has secrets of his own that he doesn’t want coming out right now. Jane’s small town is rocked by the repercussions of one lie that ripple out to encompass murder and her dad accused of breaking the law Jane holds dear. It’s a race to see who will expose the lie first, Jane or the murdering mastermind behind the lie.
The characters in this book come to life with their flaws and forgiveness, support and struggles. They feel like the town down the road I want to take a trip to visit. Colleen Coble weaves a tail that pulls you in and has you experience every heart pounding moment along with the characters. I can’t wait for the next book in this series, I need more answers. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
One Little Lie provides the reader with an intriguing start to Ms. Coble’s newest series. I love her books and this one did not disappoint. In fact, as soon as I finished it, I wanted to read the next book in this series! This intense book focuses on Jane Hardy who has just been appointed interim sheriff. Jane’s past is unique and she is faced with the task of trying to prove her father (the previous sheriff) is innocent of suspected crimes. At times, it seems as if the past is catching up with her, but she also wants closure for her past as well. As the reader reads, you will be caught up in what is occurring, what is going to occur, and wondering what really happened in the past. I can not wait for the next addition to the series to release! Be prepared to read straight through this one once you start! I highly recommend this book and believe that you will not be disappointed!
***I was given a free electronic copy of this book from the publisher for an honest review. This is my honest opinion. Even though I received this copy free, I have purchased her books before.
“Micah 6:8 says God wants us to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with Him.” But, what happens when one lie turns into a web of deception…
Oh, how I loved this book. Coble did an amazing job in creating a masterful web of deceit all started by one little lie. Then add in more than one person’s lies and you have a mystery so riveting, you won’t know what is a lie and what is reality! There is a very real feel of what it would be like for those coming out of a cult. The aftermath, the healing, and the ramifications when the sins of others impact us for years to come. Feeling like she has moved on as much as she could, Jane is excited to be appointed the new chief of police. However as lies and deceit are uncovered in the small town, she realizes she really hasn’t overcome the past. Her nightmares return in sleep and in reality. Then as she struggles with her job, family, and friends, she begins to question more and more about her relationship with God. I thought the faith element was very real for someone who’s gone through spiritual abuse. I’m excited to see how her relationship will grow with God as the series continues.
As Reid comes to do a documentary about her being police chief, he has his own issues to deal with that made me question who he is. This really kept me guessing. I loved his character, but I wasn’t sure what his story really was. Then as he became closer with Jane, his son and him were put in danger. I ended up loving Reid and could see how hard it would be for him to speak truth. However, my heart for him kept me rooting for a happy ending. It also speaks to how hard a lie of omission can be…that fear can steal our joy when we don’t tell the truth.
If you loved The Rock Harbor series, I think you would love One Little Lie. The mystery and deception that comes from one lie and how it can spin into a web of lies is written in a powerful way. It truly speaks to the importance of honesty. While I kept wanting the truth to come out, I cringed every time I saw one lie build on another. The mystery kept me guessing on multiple levels. A truly inspiring story and I’m looking forward to the rest of the series. I love Jane Hardy and can’t wait for the rest of the story!
I was provided a copy of this book through NetGalley by the publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.