Fragile Designs by Colleen Coble Review

 

I finished my first book of the year on Saturday, but am only now getting a chance to post about it because I've been sick with the flu. Fragile Designs is another awesome book by Colleen Coble. I absolutely loved it. The story drew me right in and wouldn't let go. I probably would have finished it faster than the three days it took me, if I hadn't been so sick.

The prologue begins with Carly arriving home and discovering her police officer husband murdered. Then the next chapter skips ahead nine months where the reader finds Carly and her son Noah living with Carly's grandmother who has decided she'd like to renovate her spacious home to make it a bed and breakfast, a business Carly would run. She enlists the help of her sisters, who she is not on good terms with.

While cleaning out the attic, Carly comes upon some family secrets. She wonders if there is a connection between them and her husband's death, so she enlists the help of her grandmother's neighbor, who is also a police officer, and also the brother of her ex. So, there is a bit of bad blood there, but he is willing to help.

This leads to quite the adventure with lots of danger and mystery and the digging up of surprising truths. There is quite a bit of twisting going on in this story with connections I didn't see coming. I also loved that Carly was taking what she was learning and using it to write a novel. And of course, there is the romance, a relationship that develops between Carly and Lucas, which neither one of them could really see coming when they first started out given their background.

The author really had me guessing and caught me by surprise when one of the bad guys was revealed. And yes, it's quite the web and there are multiple villains.

Definitely a book I highly recommend

Friday Fun - January 5, 2024

Welcome to my Friday Fun post. This is where I share with three different book parties that post on Fridays: Book Beginnings on Fridays, the Friday 56, and First Line Friday.

This week I have two books to share with you.

The Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C.S. Lewis was my last book of 2023. I read it for one of my reading challenges. 

I'm currently reading Trust the Stars by Tricia Goyer. This book released last month. It's the first book by this author I have read and I am enjoying it very much. On another note, isn't that cover gorgeous?

And, my library got in Colleen Coble's newest book, Fragile Designs, so I had to drop everything and read this. I'm almost done, and as expected, it is awesome.

        Book Beginnings on Friday     

(Please join Gilion Dumas for Book Beginnings every Friday to share the first sentence (or so) of the book you are reading, along with your initial thoughts about the sentence, impressions of the book, or anything else the opener inspires. Please remember to include the title of the book and the author's name.)

and

First Line Friday

(Please join C arrie for First Line Friday.)

Here is my Book Beginnings/First Line Friday selection:

  The Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C.S. Lewis:

"There was a boy called Eustce Clarence Scrubb, and he almost deserved it."

Well the author wasn't really a fan of this name or thought it was negative, but I sort of like the name

Trust the Stars by Tricia Goyer:

"Alessandra Appiani walked with a quickened pace toward the front door of the Vatican, her footsteps echoing on the marble floor and the fateful words echoing through her mind."

I really needed to know why she was at the Vatican and what those fateful words were.

Fragile Designs by Colleen Coble:

"Another wave of nausea hit Carly harris the minute she opened her car door and got out in the garage."

Okay, so is she sick, or maybe pregnant?

Now for:

The Friday 56

The Friday 56 is normally hosted over at Freda's Voice. But Anne from My Head is Full of Books is taking over for a while. 

Rules:

*Grab a book, any book.
*Turn to page 56 or 56% in your eReader
(If you have to improvise, that's ok.)
 *Find any sentence, (or few, just don't spoil it) that grab you.
*Post it.
*Add your (url) post below in Linky. Add the post url, not your blog url. It's that simple.

Here are my Friday 56 selections.

The Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C.S. Lewis:
 

"Caspian nodded to Bern and then stood aside. Bern and Drinian took a step forward and each seized one end of the table. They lifted it, and flung it on one side of the hall where it rolled over, scattering a cascade of letters, dossiers, inkpots, pens, sealing-wax and documents."

Trust the Stars by Tricia Goyer:

"Olivia thought about Louis's response as she walked inside the laundromat, stepping on shattered glass. Her heart warmed that Louis had come back to check on her, but at the same time, she knew Sergio likely would be a regular fixture from now on."

Fragile Designs by Colleen Coble:

"It had taken over an hour for Lucas's adrenaline-driven heart rate to return to normal. The lingering stence of blood wafted down the stairs to where he stood waiting to hear of any evidence."

Reviews:

Last week I shared four books in my Friday Fun post. If you'd like to read my reviews, I invite you to click on the links below. 

The Confession by Beverly Lewis

Water from my Heart by Charles Martin

Prince Caspian by C.S. Lewis

A Persevering Heart by Lisa M. Prysock

Reading Challenges 2023 Conclusion

I participated in several challenges in 2023, and I completed all but one prompt in one of them. 

The first challenge again comes from the Avid Readers of Christian Fiction Facebook Group I am in.

These are the books I read:

The Unlocking the Past: Unlock the Adventure Reading Challenge is from Crystal Caudill's blog.

These are the books I read:

There is also the reading challenge from the Eating Our Words Facebook group. 

These are the books I read:

We also had the option to read the books for the Eating Our Words challenge any time of year. So, I ended up reading two books for each month's prompt. Here are the books I read through the year that fit these categories:

I also found a new-to-me Facebook group that is also doing a challenge, The Posse:

These are the books I read:

I'm also joining in with a new-to-me challenge this year:

These are the books I read:

I'm also going to try to read a book set in each of the 50 states. I'd already decided I wanted to do this, and then I found the Literary Escapes Challenge. 

These are the books I read:

I'm also going to try to read books set in as many European countries as possible with the 2023 European Reading Challenge from Rose City Reader. 

These are the books I read:

Finally, someone in my Avid Readers of Christian Fiction group came up with a 55 book challenge: I read all 55 books for this challenge

In January I read 10 books for this challenge

In February I read 7 books for this challenge

In March I read 9 books for this challenge

In April I read 8 books for this challenge

In May I read 5 books for this challenge

In June I read 2 books for this challenge

In July I read 3 books for this challenge

In August I read 2 books for this challenge

In September I read 2 books for this challenge

In October I read 2 books for this challenge.

In November I read 1 book for this challenge.

In December I read 5 books for this challenge.

Read a book...

1-With a pink spine: The Heavens Before by Kacy Barnett-Gramckow (my thoughts)

2- By an author whose name starts with an  A: Midnight on the River Grey by Abigail Wilson (my thoughts)

3- 450 pages or longer: The Perfect Storm by Cali Black (my thoughts)

4- Published in 2023: Remember Me by Tracie Peterson (my thoughts)

5- That has won a Christy award: A Portait of Loyalty by Roseanny M. White (my thoughts)

6- With multiple people on the cover: Lethal Intentions by Jennifer Chastain (my thoughts)

7- With a car or truck on the cover: Murder Goes Glamping by Malissa Chapin (my thoughts)

8- That is the third book in a series: An Hour Unspent by Roseanna M. White (my thoughts)

9- That has a map inside: A Divine Romance by Ifueko Ogbomo (my thoughts)

10- A debut novel: In the Midst of the Storm by Latisha Sexton (my thoughts)

11- By an author you’ve never read before: The Hope of Azure Springs by Rachel Fordham (my thoughts)

12- That has food on the cover: A Persevering Heart by Lisa M. Prysock (my thoughts)

13- Featuring a woman from the Bible: The Prophetess: Deborah's Story by Jill Eileen Smith (my thoughts)

14- With flowers on the cover: In Her Sights by Karen Witemeyer (my thoughts)

15- Featuring a child or teen as the main character: Innocent Voices by Julie Bonn Blank (my thoughts)

16- That you got for free: Ring of Secrets by Roseanna M. White (my thoughts)

17- Featuring an athlete: The Sound of Light by Sarah Sundin (my thoughts)

18- That you pick because of the cover: Dream of Kings by Sharon Hinck (my thoughts)

19- Recommended by someone you know: Her Deepest Secret by Jessica R. Patch (my thoughts)

20- Set in a cool climate: Cold Light of Day by Elizabeth Goddard (my thoughts)

21- Set during the Great Depression: Bridge of Gold by Kimberley Woodhouse (my thoughts)

22- Featuring friends to lovers: Impending Strike by Sami A. Abrams/Lynnette Eason (my thoughts)

23- Published the month you were born: The Game by Cali Black (my thoughts)

24- With a blue cover: Wonderland Trials by Sara Ella (my thoughts)

25- With a main character with blonde hair: Innocent Lives by Julie Bonn Blank (my thoughts)

26- Set on an island: King of the Crown Imperials by Joanna Alonzo (my thoughts)

27- Set in a different country than you: Heidi by Johanna Spyri (my thoughts)

28- That takes place more than 200 years ago: Stay With Me by Jody Hedlund (my thoughts)

29- That features a member of the military: A Battle Worth Fighting by Sarah Hanks (my thoughts)

30- Set in South or Central America: Water from my Heart by Charles Martin (my thoughts)

31- By a male author: The Mistletoe Promise by Richard Paul Evans (my thoughts)

32- Written in first person POV: The Mistletoe Inn by Richard Paul Evans (my thoughts)

33- Featuring a single parent: Dark of Night by Colleen Coble (my thoughts)

34- With a title that starts with B: Break of Day by Colleen Coble (my thoughts)

35- That is a love inspired book: Taken in the Night by Elizabeth Goddard (my thoughts)

36- That involves a wedding: Wait for Me by Jody Hedlund (my thoughts)

37- With an L in the title: Love Finds You in Liberty, Indiana by Melanie Dobson (my thoughts)

38- By an author from a different country than you: The Cost of the Crown by Joy Crain (my thoughts)

39- With a black cover: The Metropolitan Affair by Jocelyn Green (my thoughts)

40- With a title that has 5 or more words: The Secret Life of Sarah Hollenbeck by Bethany Turner (my thoughts)

41- With an illustrated cover: Neverending Mercy by Latisha Sexton (my thoughts)

42- From a genre outside your comfort zone: The Best Summer of Our Lives by Rachel Hauck (my thoughts)

43- Written by multiple authors: Written by multiple authors: A Very Bookish Easter by Kelsey Bryant, Abigayle Clarie, Sarah Holman, and Kate Willis (my thoughts)

44- Set on a farm: The Timepiece by Beverly Lewis (my thoughts)

45- By an author that has also written nonfiction: This is Where it Ends by Cindy K. Sproles (my thoughts)

46- By an indie author: In the Midst of a Starry Night by Latisha Sexton (my thoughts)

47- Published in 2012: Blood of Adam by Rachel S. Neal (my thoughts)

48- With a sunset on the cover: Bidding on a Second Chance by Emily Conrad (my thoughts)

49- That has cowboys: Blue Skies, Blue Eyes by Cali Black (my thoughts)

50- Without any people on the cover: The Vanishing at Castle Moreau by Jaime Jo Wright (my thoughts)

51- By an author who uses a three part name (C.C. Warrens, Ann H. Gabhart): The Number of Love by Roseanna M. White (my thoughts)

52- That features a hobby or skill you’d like to learn: In the Shadow of Denali by Tracie Peterson and Kimberley Woodhouse (my thoughts)

53- With a nanny, babysitter, or governess: The Christmas Blessing by Melody Carlson 

54- An author with the same two initials: Counterfeit Love by Crystal Caudill (my thoughts)

55- With a pet that isn’t a dog: The Christmas Cat by Melody Carlson (my thoughts)

My Goodreads goal was to read 100 books this year. Last year I had set it at 75 and I ended up reading 115. I have actually surpassed my goal. I hit 100 books on November 11th. My total for 2023 is 122 books.

Reading Challenges 2023: December Update

Here is what I read for my challenges in December:

I read The Silent Governess by Julie Klassen. Here are my thoughts.

I read Bidding on a Second Chance by Emily Conrad. Here are my thoughts.

I read The Hart of Christmas by Latisha Sexton. Here are my thoughts.

I used The Hart of Christmas for this challenge as well. They had changed the prompt to include books where the word "Christmas" was in the title.

I read The Confression by Beverly Lewis for this challenge. Here are my thoughts.

In January I read books that are set in the following states:

California: Taken in the Night by Elizabeth Goddard

Ohio: Counterfeit Love by Crystal Caudill

Oregon: Innocent Lives and Innocent Voices by Julie Bonn Blank

Pennsylvania: The Timepiece by Beverly Lewis 

South Carolina: Impending Strike by Sami A. Abrams/Lynette Eason

Washington: The Christmas Cat by Melody Carlson

In February I read books that are set in the following states:

Colorado: In the Midst of the Storm and In the Midst of the Darkest Hour by Latisha Sexton.

Indiana: Love Finds You in Liberty, Indiana by Melanie Dobson

Texas: The Inheritance Games, The Hawthorne Legacy, and The Final Gambit by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

In March I read books that are set in the following states:

Illinois: The Secret Life of Sarah Hollenbeck by Bethany Turner

Michigan: Dark of Night by Colleen Coble

Tennessee: Her Darkest Secret by Jessica R. Patch

Utah: The Mistletoe Promise by Richard Paul Evans

Vermont: The Mistletoe Inn by Richard Paul Evans

In April I read books that are set in the following states:

Florida: The Prayer Garden by Kelsey Bryant (one of the novellas in the A Very Bookish Easter collection)

Iowa: The Hope of Azure Springs by Rachel Fordham

Montana: Blue Skies, Blue Eyes by Cali Black 

In May I read books that are set in the following states:

Alaska: In the Shadow of Denali by Tracie Peterson and Kimberley Woodhouse

Oklahoma: The Best Summer of Our Lives by Rachel Hauck (You can read my thoughts here.)

Washington DC: In This Moment by Gabrielle Meyer (Not an actual state, but a game we play counts it as a state, so I thought I would include it.)

West Virginia: Neverending Mercy by Latisha Sexton 

Wisconsin: The Vanishing at Castle Moreau by Jaime Jo Wright

In June I read books that are set in the following states:

Kentucky: This is Where it Ends by Cindy K. Sproles 

Maine: The Blackout Book Club by Amy Lynn Green (You can read my thoughts here.)

Virginia: Rescue in the Wilderness by Andrea Byrd (You can read my thoughts here.)

In July I read books that are set in the following states:

Idaho: Over the Horizon by Penny Zeller (You can read my thoughts here.)

Minnesota: The Bookshop of Secrets by Mollie Rushmeyer 

New York: Ring of Secrets by Roseanna M. White (You can read my thoughts here)

In August I read books that are set in the following states:

Missouri: Cold Pursuit by Nancy Mehl

Nebraska: Falling Between the Pages  by A.M. Heath

In September I read a book set in the following state:

Wyoming: The Secrets Beneath by Kimberley Woodhouse (You can read my thoughts here)

In October I read a book set in the following state:

Kansas: The Extraordinary Deaths of Mrs. Kip by Sara Brunsvold. (You can read my thoughts here)

In November none of the books I read were set in any of the states I still need to complete for this challenge. 

In December I read a book set in the following state:

Georgia: A Persevering Heart by Lisa M. Prysock. (You can read my thoughts here)

In January I read books that are set in the following European Countries:

England: An Hour Unspent by Roseanna M. White

Switzerland: Heidi by Johanna Spyri

In May I read a book set in:

Denmark: The Sound of Light by Sarah Sundin

In August I read a book set in:

Greece: The Thief of Corinth by Tessa Afshar

In October I read a book set in:

Germany: The Fairest Beauty by Melanie Dickerson

In November I read a book set in:

Poland: The Warsaw Sisters by Amanda Barratt (my thoughts)

I also decided I was going to read one Christmas book each month. 

In January I read The Christmas Cat by Melody Carlson. 

In March I read The Mistletoe Promise by Richard Paul Evans and The Mistletoe Inn also by Richard Paul Evans

In April I read The Mistletoe Secret by Richard Paul Evans 

In May I read A Quilt for Christmas by Melody Carlson (my thoughts)

In July I read The Christmas Blessing by Melody Carlson (my thoughts)

In October I read a couple of books. I read Twice Loved by Wanda E. Brunstetter (my thoughts) and Project Scrooge by A.M. Heath (my thoughts)

In November I read The Engagement Cover (my thoughts), It Came Upon a Midnight Clear (my thoughts), and Movie-Made Romance by A.M. Heath.

In December I read The Hart of Christmas by Latisha Sexton and Bidding on a Second Chance by Emily Conrad.

Finally, someone in my Avid Readers of Christian Fiction group came up with a 55 book challenge:

In January I read 10 books for this challenge

In February I read 7 books for this challenge

In March I read 9 books for this challenge

In April I read 8 books for this challenge

In May I read 5 books for this challenge

In June I read 2 books for this challenge

In July I read 3 books for this challenge

In August I read 2 books for this challenge

In September I read 2 books for this challenge

In October I read 2 books for this challenge.

In November I read 1 book for this challenge.

In December I read 5 books for this challenge.

Read a book...

1-With a pink spine: The Heavens Before by Kacy Barnett-Gramckow (my thoughts)

2- By an author whose name starts with an  A: Midnight on the River Grey by Abigail Wilson (my thoughts)

3- 450 pages or longer: The Perfect Storm by Cali Black (my thoughts)

4- Published in 2023: Remember Me by Tracie Peterson (my thoughts)

5- That has won a Christy award: A Portait of Loyalty by Roseanny M. White (my thoughts)

6- With multiple people on the cover: Lethal Intentions by Jennifer Chastain (my thoughts)

7- With a car or truck on the cover: Murder Goes Glamping by Malissa Chapin (my thoughts)

8- That is the third book in a series: An Hour Unspent by Roseanna M. White (my thoughts)

9- That has a map inside: A Divine Romance by Ifueko Ogbomo (my thoughts)

10- A debut novel: In the Midst of the Storm by Latisha Sexton (my thoughts)

11- By an author you’ve never read before: The Hope of Azure Springs by Rachel Fordham (my thoughts)

12- That has food on the cover: A Persevering Heart by Lisa M. Prysock (my thoughts)

13- Featuring a woman from the Bible: The Prophetess: Deborah's Story by Jill Eileen Smith (my thoughts)

14- With flowers on the cover: In Her Sights by Karen Witemeyer (my thoughts)

15- Featuring a child or teen as the main character: Innocent Voices by Julie Bonn Blank (my thoughts)

16- That you got for free: Ring of Secrets by Roseanna M. White (my thoughts)

17- Featuring an athlete: The Sound of Light by Sarah Sundin (my thoughts)

18- That you pick because of the cover: Dream of Kings by Sharon Hinck (my thoughts)

19- Recommended by someone you know: Her Deepest Secret by Jessica R. Patch (my thoughts)

20- Set in a cool climate: Cold Light of Day by Elizabeth Goddard (my thoughts)

21- Set during the Great Depression: Bridge of Gold by Kimberley Woodhouse (my thoughts)

22- Featuring friends to lovers: Impending Strike by Sami A. Abrams/Lynnette Eason (my thoughts)

23- Published the month you were born: The Game by Cali Black (my thoughts)

24- With a blue cover: Wonderland Trials by Sara Ella (my thoughts)

25- With a main character with blonde hair: Innocent Lives by Julie Bonn Blank (my thoughts)

26- Set on an island: King of the Crown Imperials by Joanna Alonzo (my thoughts)

27- Set in a different country than you: Heidi by Johanna Spyri (my thoughts)

28- That takes place more than 200 years ago: Stay With Me by Jody Hedlund (my thoughts)

29- That features a member of the military: A Battle Worth Fighting by Sarah Hanks (my thoughts)

30- Set in South or Central America: Water from my Heart by Charles Martin (my thoughts)

31- By a male author: The Mistletoe Promise by Richard Paul Evans (my thoughts)

32- Written in first person POV: The Mistletoe Inn by Richard Paul Evans (my thoughts)

33- Featuring a single parent: Dark of Night by Colleen Coble (my thoughts)

34- With a title that starts with B: Break of Day by Colleen Coble (my thoughts)

35- That is a love inspired book: Taken in the Night by Elizabeth Goddard (my thoughts)

36- That involves a wedding: Wait for Me by Jody Hedlund (my thoughts)

37- With an L in the title: Love Finds You in Liberty, Indiana by Melanie Dobson (my thoughts)

38- By an author from a different country than you: The Cost of the Crown by Joy Crain (my thoughts)

39- With a black cover: The Metropolitan Affair by Jocelyn Green (my thoughts)

40- With a title that has 5 or more words: The Secret Life of Sarah Hollenbeck by Bethany Turner (my thoughts)

41- With an illustrated cover: Neverending Mercy by Latisha Sexton (my thoughts)

42- From a genre outside your comfort zone: The Best Summer of Our Lives by Rachel Hauck (my thoughts)

43- Written by multiple authors: Written by multiple authors: A Very Bookish Easter by Kelsey Bryant, Abigayle Clarie, Sarah Holman, and Kate Willis (my thoughts)

44- Set on a farm: The Timepiece by Beverly Lewis (my thoughts)

45- By an author that has also written nonfiction: This is Where it Ends by Cindy K. Sproles (my thoughts)

46- By an indie author: In the Midst of a Starry Night by Latisha Sexton (my thoughts)

47- Published in 2012: Blood of Adam by Rachel S. Neal (my thoughts)

48- With a sunset on the cover: Bidding on a Second Chance by Emily Conrad (my thoughts)

49- That has cowboys: Blue Skies, Blue Eyes by Cali Black (my thoughts)

50- Without any people on the cover: The Vanishing at Castle Moreau by Jaime Jo Wright (my thoughts)

51- By an author who uses a three part name (C.C. Warrens, Ann H. Gabhart): The Number of Love by Roseanna M. White (my thoughts)

52- That features a hobby or skill you’d like to learn: In the Shadow of Denali by Tracie Peterson and Kimberley Woodhouse (my thoughts)

53- With a nanny, babysitter, or governess: The Christmas Blessing by Melody Carlson 

54- An author with the same two initials: Counterfeit Love by Crystal Caudill (my thoughts)

55- With a pet that isn’t a dog: The Christmas Cat by Melody Carlson (my thoughts)

My Goodreads goal was to read 100 books this year. Last year I had set it at 75 and I ended up reading 115. I have actually surpassed my goal. I hit 100 books on November 11th. My total for 2023 is 122 books.

It sure seemed like a lot, but I was able to combine challenges at times.