Fragile Designs

Colleen Coble

Jan 2024 · Sold by Thomas Nelson

About this ebook

There’s only one thing more dangerous than family secrets.

Since her police-officer husband Eric’s mysterious murder, Carly Harris has been struggling to support herself and their infant son. Her career as an antique dealer isn’t sustainable, nor is her dream of becoming a novelist. So when her grandmother proposes she and her two sisters restore the family’s large Beaufort home and turn it into a bed-and-breakfast, she immediately gets to work clearing out the house. In the process, she uncovers a family secret that Eric kept hidden. And an heirloom that the wrong person wouldn’t hesitate to kill for.

Homicide detective Lucas Bennett isn’t his neighbor’s biggest fan, not since she broke his brother’s heart years ago. But when Carly turns to Lucas for help, believing she’s found a lost Fabergé egg that would be worth millions and that could put her family’s lives in danger, he can’t help but get involved. Soon, they’re entangled in a mystery with threads that lead all the way to the Russian mafia. Lucas has gotten in deep, and while he trusts his ability to keep Carly and her family safe, he begins to realize he’s vulnerable to an unexpected kind of danger. And he’s helpless to stop the freefall. As they continue working closely together, Carly and Lucas realize they may have found something more precious than gold. Yet it’s only a matter of time before Carly—or, worse, someone she loves—gets hurt.

• Contemporary romantic suspense
• Stand-alone novel
• Book length: approximately 90,000 words
• Includes discussion questions for book clubs

Ratings and reviews

Outstanding: I have read many books by this author and I think it is safe to say that this one was my favourite! I loved how the plot felt unique and interesting and I found myself frantically turning pages in order to discover what was going to happen next. The pacing was excellent and the story seemed to flow effortlessly. I was drawn into both the mystery and the family drama. There was a sweet slow burn romance between Carly and Lucas and it was lovely seeing them journey towards love. Relationships and family played heavily in this story and the characters were portrayed in such a way as to feel authentic and relatable. All in all, this was a most enjoyable book. I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review. All opinions expressed are solely my own.

About the author

Colleen Coble is the USA TODAY bestselling author of more than seventy-five books and is best known for her coastal romantic suspense novels. Connect with her online at colleencoble.com; Instagram: @colleencoble; Facebook: @colleencoblebooks; X: @colleencoble.