"Fragile Designs" is a Christian romantic suspense. Carly feels like she has to earn her family's love and that it's her responsibility to make her younger sisters happy after being abandoned by their father. She has been taking the blame even when she knows it's not her fault because she doesn't want her sisters to dislike their father or her husband, with the result that they dislike her. She comes to realize that her behavior isn't helping anyone, and she attempts to change.

Initially, she's thrilled to find the historic, valuable Faberge egg and is eager to research the story behind how it came to be in her possession. But when several groups come after it and aren't afraid to kill anyone standing in their way (mainly each other), she worries for her family. They're more valuable than the millions that the egg's worth. Her neighbor, detective Lucas, helps protect them while solving who's after the egg.

The main characters were likable, complex, and reacted realistically to events. The suspense came from the danger to her family and anyone connected to or after the egg. There was also plenty of family drama adding to the mix. Lucas supported Carly in her effort to no longer take blame and guilt from her family, and he protected them all during the danger. Carly and Lucas came to admire each other's character as they spent time together. Carly hadn't the best experience with marriage while Lucas didn't feel he could find a wife able to deal with his job, so both had to overcome their reservations about marriage.

There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this complex and interesting suspense novel.

I received an ebook review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.

Carly and Eric Harris' marriage isn't what it should be. Carly doesn't understand the change in her husband. She realizes a lot of stress comes with his occupation as a police officer. Carly has just found out she is pregnant with their first child, and finds Eric dead in her shop from a gun shot. Eric died without ever knowing he was about to be a father. Who killed him and why?

Carly and her infant son are now living with her grandmother as supporting the two of them as an antique dealer isn't profitable enough.

What a surprise when her grandmother decides the big house should be restored and turned into a bed-and-breakfast that Carly can run! Her grandmother wants Carly's two sisters to assist in the restoration of the home, which makes Carly more than a little nervous as her sisters aren't shy about hiding how they feel towards her. Carly just doesn't understand their anger. How will the three of them possibly work together on this huge undertaking?

As Carly is going through things in the attic, she finds a letter written two days prior to her deceased husband's murder. One of the things Eric had discovered was that Carly's grandmother had been adopted. Carly's grandmother didn't even know about this. Also, she had a twin sister! AND, their birth mother had left behind for her baby daughters something of great value and importance. Does that possibly have something to do with Eric's murder?

Carly seeks out the help of a neighbor, Lucas, who is a detective. The more they search for information regarding the artifact they found, the higher the increase of danger to the entire family.

Lots of twists and turns in this story. Wonderful characters. I have enjoyed all Colleen Coble books that I have read, and I have read most of them!

I was given an advanced ecopy by the publisher, Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. I was under no obligation to leave a positive review.

I listened to the audio book version of Fragile Designs and it was absolutely captivating! I really felt for Carly throughout much of the story as she dealt with some truly bad behavior from some of her family members. I enjoyed when she stopped letting herself get pushed around, realized that she had allowed herself to be treated badly, and finally made some changes to how she responded to certain people. I loved the way Lucas stood up for her at various times in the book.

The slow growth of romantic tension between Lucas and Carly balanced nicely with the suspense threaded throughout the story. There were details that I figured out before the main characters, but a couple of surprises, as well, keeping me listening intently through to the very end. I loved this story from start to finish.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Colleen Coble has done it again. Trademark twists and turns conplete with relationahip dynamics are just some of the reasons I enjoyed this book. A Farege Egg being an intricate part of this story made it a must read for me. Trusting God in unimaginable circumstances is always a prevelant theme not in a preachy way that always encourages me in my relationship with God. Her charecters always feel real and like people I wokld like to meet in real life, except the villians.

Our lives are so fragile. Maybe its by design so we look to God.

In the aftermath of her husband Erics unsolved murder, Carly must raise her son alone. As she learns more about what Eric was really into, the secrets he kept bring her entire household into danger. Discovering a valuable Faberge egg, enduring attacks from the Russian mafia, and finding unknown family members all collide until the truth is uncovered once and for all. Life is fragile and not everyone will survive, but Carly trusts God and His plans while fighting hard against the evil surrounding her.

This is an action packed story, sprinkled with a little bit of romance, that is hard to put down. A complex plot with many characters, it was difficult to keep it all straight at times. I found myself searching for a characters name on my kindle to refresh my memory. But it is a fast paced, enjoyable read from a top notch author and well worth the time. If you like Christian fiction, suspense, or romance, this is the book for you.

*I received a complimentary copy of this e-book from NetGalley and Thomas Nelson-Fiction. All thoughts and opinions are my own.