Suspense, romance, and generational secrets meld in this engrossing new novel from USA TODAY bestselling author Colleen Coble. Strands of Harper Taylor’s childhood are resurfacing—but will the truth save her . . . or pull her under? Harper Taylor is used to being alone— after all, she grew up in one foster home after another. Oliver Jackson finally took her under his wing when she was a runaway … another. Oliver Jackson finally took her under his wing when she was a runaway teenager, and now Harper pours her marine biology knowledge into Oliver’s pen shell research. But she’s never stopped wishing for a family of her own.
So when a DNA test reveals a half-sister living just two hours away, Harper is both hopeful and nervous. Over warm cinnamon rolls, Harper and Annabelle find striking similarities in their stories. Is it just a coincidence that both their mothers died tragically, without revealing Harper and Annabelle’s father’s name?
Oliver’s son Ridge still sees Harper as a troubled teen even all these years later. But when Oliver is attacked, Ridge and Harper find themselves working together to uncover dangerous secrets that threaten to destroy them all. They must unravel her past before they can have any hope for the future.
Suspense, romance, and generational secrets meld in this engrossing new novel from USA TODAY bestselling author Colleen Coble.
“Free-dive into a romantic suspense that will leave you breathless and craving for more.” –DiAnn Mills, bestselling author
“As always, Colleen Coble never disappoints. Strands of Truth is no exception. I was hooked from the first page. Trying to read this story slowly is impossible. Don’t be surprised when you find yourself flipping the pages in a hurry to find out what happens next! This one is for your keeper shelf.” –Lynette Eason, bestselling, award-winning author of the Blue Justice Series
“Colleen Coble’s latest book, Strands of Truth, grips you on page one with a heart-pounding opening and doesn’t let go until the last satisfying word. I love her skill in pulling the reader in with believable, likable characters, interesting locations, and a mystery just waiting to be untangled. Highly recommended.” –Carrie Stuart Parks, bestselling author of Formula of Deception
“Once again, Colleen Coble delivers an intriguing, suspenseful tale in Strands of Truth. The mystery and tension mount toward an explosive and satisfying finish. Well done.” –Creston Mapes, bestselling author
“Just when I think Colleen Coble’s stories can’t get any better, she proves me wrong. In Strands of Truth, I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. The characterization of Ridge and Harper and their relationship pulled me immediately into the story. Fast paced, with so many unexpected twists and turns, I read this book in one sitting. Coble has pushed the bar higher than I’d imagined. This book is one not to be missed.” –Robin Caroll, best-selling author of the Darkwater Inn series
“It’s in her blood! Colleen Coble once again shows her suspense prowess with a thriller as intricate and beautiful as a strand of DNA. Strands of Truth dives into an unusual profession involving mollusks and shell beds that weaves a unique, silky thread throughout the story. So fascinating I couldn’t stop reading!” –Ronie Kendig, bestselling author of The Tox Files
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This is an author I really like and this book did not disappoint.
Liked it but since it has been a little while, I don’t remember details.
This book took me in right from the beginning and I couldn’t put it down. It was a great distraction from current events!
One of my favorite authors!! When I pick up her books I can’t put them down!! Love her writing!
Hard to put her books down keeps you on the edge
I usually like her books, but this wasn’t one of her best. Interesting story line, but poorly written.
While I enjoy Colleen Cable’s writing, thus lacked the intensity of her other books. She is still one of top 10 favorite authors!
Love her books.
Could never fails to deliver! A great read!!
Excellent!
Very likeable characters. Good plot keeps you guessing until the end.
One thing leads to another until the very end! Had a hard time putting this one down. Great story!
Great tead
Another outstanding book by Colleen Coble – I was fully engaged from the very start of the book and couldn’t put it down until I finished it. So many twists and turns and complex characters – a mystery to solve and danger all added up to keep me reading until all was resolved. It was sweet to see how Ridge and Harper were influenced by their backgrounds and families (or lack of family) and able to learn to forgive and extend grace. With every book that I read, I consider it my favorite … until I read the next book and that one becomes my favorite! A win/win!
Really enjoyed this suspense from Colleen Coble. It contains a mix of mystery solving in both the past and the present as Harper searches for her birth father, and the truth behind her mother’s death.
I initially listened to the audiobook, but also have a copy of the paperback (which I received from the publisher for an honest review), and will more than likely go back and read the paperback again.
Colleen Coble consistently developes memorable characters you’ll remember long after the pages are finished and the story’s completed. You’ll be right there with them, wondering how Strands of Truth could have ended so quickly. For me, I hope for a sequel.
In this fascinating story line you find two grown, successful women with similar backgrounds. They use DNA to search for their real father, instead finding each other. They are half sisters. They also discover that each of their mothers were murdered shortly after giving birth, leaving both to be raised in not-so-great foster homes. Now they search for their real father together. But why were their mothers murdered?
Then when someone kidnaps first one, then the other half sister, it is obvious that someone else was silently watching for their DNA matches, too. But the latter has more sinister plans in mind. This book is fast-paced and well-researched! I highly recommend it!
I have always loved a romantic suspense novel by Colleen Coble and Strands of Truth was no exception. The story grabbed my attention and kept it from the very beginning. Harper, one of the main characters, has her DNA tested in search of some answers about her family. Her mother died in a car accident when she was young and she never knew who her father was. She is able to track down a half-sister, Annabelle, who also had lost her mother and does not know who her father was. It quickly becomes apparent someone is after these two women. Who? Why? You’ll have to read to find out.
I found the DNA testing storyline very intriguing and thought provoking. Figuring out your ancestry has become quite popular so it made for a very relevant storyline for the times. I would definitely classify the story as romantic suspense because there is a romantic component. However, it is definitely not the focus of the story.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson Publishing through Net Galley. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
Wow! I would have given this book a few more stars, if I could have. I couldn’t put it down. Only drawback was in the beginning there were so many characters it was hard to keep them straight, but once I got them all straight in my head I couldn’t put the book down. I’d love for Colleen to write a book on Scott and also Mark. Loved them, especially Scott.
So, I’d like to start off by saying that I appreciated the lack of physical touch in this book. There was definitely attraction, and a few awkward moments, but really. (minor spoiler here) the couple didn’t even kiss until the end. So there’s that. I was pleasantly surprised at how clean it was. That’s probably what kept this boat from sinking to two stars.
Okay, now . . . the setting. The diving and overall setting was super cool to read about, but all the talk about mollusks and pen shells and byssus and sea silk went right over my head. (Not gonna lie, I eventually Googled some of that stuff.) But Harper’s house boat sounded super cute and quaint (I mean, really. She wants to get rid of the old orange shaggy carpet that clashed with the turquoise bedspread? C’mon, Harper, where’s your sense of adventure??)
The murder mysteries were unique and intriguing and sad . . . but I kept getting Lisa and Judy mixed up. And Grace and whoever the other best friend was. Good grief, there were so many minor characters, I finally gave up trying to remember them all. If I couldn’t place a name, they just stuck in my head as a vague idea.
Okayyyy, the main characters. *deep breath* Let’s go.
Harper. *cringes* I enjoyed Harper’s character. I really did. But the book started out with Harper at a clinic, adopting an embryo. The problem? Harper is a single 30-year-old woman so desperate to have children and show them the love that she never had as a child, that she takes matters into her own hands when she comes to the conclusion that she’ll probably never get married soon enough to have kids. But Harper claimed to be a Christian, yet there was nothing in the book that mentioned her waiting for His timing, trusting Him, or even wondering if He wanted her to have any children at all.
Okay, rant over. Let’s move to Ridge. Dude has serious trust issues—almost as bad as Harper herself. He’s bitter and has held a grudge against Harper for nearly two decades because his father seemed to give more love to the ‘daughter of his heart’ than to his own two children. So when his dad comes up with a situation in which they can work together, his first reaction was repulse—until he realized that he could use this as an opportunity to prove once and for all that Harper was only here to mooch his dad’s money! Brilliant! *headesk* Someone shoot me. One of my least favorite tropes is enemies-to-lovers. And this is a classic moment in that very trope.
So, okay, let’s dive into more depth on the romance. They both have admitted their attraction to each other. (Actually it was more of an I-realize-that-I-hated-you-to-protect-myself-from-my-attraction-to-you-all-these-years kind of admittance, but I digress.) She wants to run her fingers through his thick, gorgeous black hair. He wants to protect her with his entire being. They both pretty much know exactly what the other is thinking. Yet Harper is convinced of his love one moment, then convinced of the opposite the next. And Ridge? Well, he was a little more steady, which I appreciated. But *cringes* both characters seemed a little . . . shallow?
So why three stars instead of two? Like I mentioned before, the romance wasn’t awful. (Aside from their constant denial.) And the mysteries kept me intrigued. The intense moments kept me hooked and let’s just not forget the stun gun. That was fabulously angsty.
*I received a free e-copy from Netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion. All thoughts are my own.
Strands of Truth was a fascinating novel filled with suspense and mystery. I am very interested in genealogy, so I loved the DNA aspect of the storyline. I found myself skimming through the parts with Harper and Ridge’s interactions because I didn’t feel the connection between them, and I was much more interested in Harper’s relationship with her newly discovered half-sister and solving the mystery of their mother’s deaths so many years earlier. Overall, this was a well written novel that I enjoyed reading.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson and was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine.