Christian Fiction Devourers discussion

Suspense melds with romance as the past meets the present in this engrossing new novel from USA TODAY bestselling author Colleen Coble.

Harper Taylor is used to being alone. Her mother passed away in a car accident when she was an infant, she never knew who her father was, and now even the widowed grandmother who raised her is gone. She’s done just fine investing her marine biology degree and her energy into her pen shell business.

The last thing she expects is for the DNA test she took to reveal a likely half-sister. And when she and Annabelle meet, there are striking similarities in their stories. Is it just coincidence that both their mothers died tragically without revealing Harper and Annabelle’s father’s name?

When Harper’s business partner is attacked, his son Ridge steps in to help. Before long, he's spending more time with her than the business would dictate . . . and Harper finds she doesn’t mind in the least.

When yet another tragedy strikes close to home, though, Harper and Ridge realize that the secrets of the past can’t stay there. They’ll have to unravel Harper’s past before they can secure their future.

Who will be joining me for this month's Book of the Month read? Colleen Coble is one of my favorite suspense authors, and I have already read this one. Another great suspense read from Colleen.

I adored this one when I read it earlier this year. We'll see if I remember enough about it when it comes time for the discussion, as I don't have time to reread it right now.

I just read this in August so it's still fresh in my mind; I still have the library copy as it's not due yet. I'm looking forward to the discussion :)!

I am planning on reading it. Have it on hold at my library.

I started this yesterday and am already very intrigued!

Kate wrote: "I started this yesterday and am already very intrigued!"

That's how I felt from page one too!

this is a reread for me and couldn't wait to get into it so I read it yesterday. I just love Collen Coble and still think the book is fabulous!!

I plan to join in on this one.

Can't wait to start reading this one! Just received it from the library!!

Kate wrote: "I started this yesterday and am already very intrigued!"

Yes, I was as well! I am going to read another book by Coble this month as well.

Looks like we'll have a good group for this read.

Starting this tonight.

This was a really good read!

I've read the first three chapters as I'm searching for titles as comps for a book proposal, and I'm completely hooked. This is my kind of book! Well done. Amazing. Now I need to purchase the book to finish it. Don't you love the sample option in Kindle!!

It really is! Just one more chapter kind of book.

Welcome, Patricia! I'm glad you're hooked. I enjoyed this book too.

Sarita wrote: "It really is! Just one more chapter kind of book."
Yes, precisely! I read it over 2 nights, but had I started it first the first night, probably would have stayed up way to late to finish it.

Sorry I am running late. Things have been hectic around our house, and my husband is getting ready for his second cataract surgery. Unfortunately, there are no discussion questions available for this book; so I will open it up to free questions or discussions.

I will post one question: Has anyone found a relative through a DNA test?

I did! My dad was estranged from his oldest brother. My DNA connected me to the granddaughters of his brother. They didn't even know that my dad existed!!

That's so cool that you were able to find your dad's brother's family!
My parents and others worked really hard on tracing our family lines as far back as possible. They always had major roadblocks with my great-grandfather's line, though. Enter the advancement of DNA testing for family history research. My dad was tested, and he found a second cousin on that particular line! We don't know ALL the details yet, but a 40+ year old mystery was partially solved because of DNA testing.

I'll add a question: The opening scenes tell us about Harper's desire to be a mother, and her adoption of an embryo. Embryo adoption isn't widely talked about, but what's your take on it?

Personally, I am intrigued by the idea. This is the second book in as many years that I've read that discusses the idea, but previous to that, I'd had no notion. I think it's an interesting take on 'pre-birth adoption', and if ethically done (ie, the embryos are freely released for adoption, along with pertinent medical information from the biological parents), it could be an intriguing way to build a family.

Thanks for adding a question Kate, and yes that was an interesting idea. I have a cousin who did that and her son is now grown and married.

I love the idea of Embryo adoption. A child who wouldn't have a chance of life is able to have that chance. I believe it would have been easier to have a husband when deciding to do it but if the child does have that chance for love than for all means let singles do it. Our main character thought she was going to have her friend as help but then he dies. To do this as a single I believe you should have a support system and she does have her friend, then eventually her love interest. A chance of life is always beautiful and glad the book does focus on this!!

Well said Christine.

Loraine wrote: "Sorry I am running late. Things have been hectic around our house, and my husband is getting ready for his second cataract surgery. Unfortunately, there are no discussion questions available for th..."

No. The only one in my family who has done this is one of my adopted brothers and one of his, and I am using HIS terminology, DNA nephews showed up as some sort of possible cousin. Since his "dna mother" had an affair with him, perhaps he was trying to find out who is real "dna father" was.

We have family trees, and on my mother's side it goes back over 1000 years; my dad's is only several hundred, but suffice it to say that I am related to everyone in Iceland who isn't an immigrant. I have no interest in finding out of my dad had a "love child" with one of his affairs (yes, a hypocrite Christian).

BUT I find this fascinating. If I could send my DNA in anonymously I would do it in a heartbeat out of curiosity to see if they system can finally recognize Icelandic heritage plus to see if there was some unknown mixing way back in time.

Fact--the director of the Human Genome Project became a Christian as a result of what they learned! He used to be an atheist: https://www.cnn.com/2007/US/04/03/col... is something he wrote/said about this. I don't know or care what denomination he might be with, but he isn't the only person I know of to come to God after studying science (I came back to God that way, plus I know other atheist who became Christians studying secular science!)

God designed DNA, so why wouldn't it be great? And it codes for proteins, so why wouldn't there be genetic similarities across life forms?

Just finished the book today. Definitely a book that is hard to put down.

I have never done DNA testing, but might want to do it someday. I am pretty secure in my family tree, but you never know.

I did like how Harper and Ridge became closer and more trusting of each other through the book. And I liked the change in Willow.

Just finished!

I haven't done a DNA test. I have an uncle that did an extensive study of my family tree on my dad's side. LOTs of work and so much amazing information.

Embryo adoption is an interesting topic. Not sure I've fully wrapped my head around all the details and how I feel about it.

I really liked the flashbacks to Annabelle's mom and how that added to understanding what happened.

I struggled a lot with Ridge. He didn't like Harper at all and then by the end of the novel they were in love. That was quite a jump for me. Also, how he didn't give Harper a chance until the time period the novel begins, yet he gives us his time to be a mentor for a youth. There are other examples that didn't quite add up for me.

Overall, I liked the novel. The crime and motivation for it were very interesting.

I've also not used DNA test or heard about embryo adoption.

The romance was a bit unrealistic for me with the given facts.

The suspense and action was great though!

I realised who was behind it, or why, but the actual culprit was surprising.