Description

Ambush delivers an exhilarating mix of romance and suspense, featuring characters so authentic they feel like old friends. This gripping novel is the first in a brand-new series from USA TODAY bestselling author Colleen Coble, following a determined young woman who will stop at nothing to uncover the truth behind her parents’ murder—even if it means working alongside the man who once broke her heart.

Paradise Alden’s early years in Nova Cambridge, Alabama, were filled with happiness—until the night her parents were brutally killed. Since then, life has hardened her. She endured abuse in the foster care system, was deeply hurt by her first love, and nearly lost her career to a jaguar attack. These painful experiences have left her questioning everything: men, God, and even herself.

Now, fifteen years later, Paradise has returned to her hometown as a last attempt to rebuild her life. She hopes that working as a veterinarian at a wildlife refuge will help her heal and finally bring back the memories of that fateful night. But no sooner does she arrive at The Sanctuary than a body is discovered on the grounds. Soon, a series of dangerous incidents follows—arson, a shooting, a break-in, and multiple cases of escaped animals—all pointing to one suspect. But Paradise refuses to believe Blake Lawson is responsible. For the past six months, he has been helping his mother manage The Sanctuary and care for his stepbrothers after their father’s passing. Even though his betrayal years ago shattered her world, she knows he isn’t capable of such crimes.

Someone sinister is hiding among the moss-draped trees of Nova Cambridge, and Paradise is determined to ensure that this killer doesn’t slip away unseen.

Ambush is everything Colleen Coble’s readers love—suspense that keeps you on edge, perfectly woven with a slow-burn, closed-door romance. With a unique setting in a wildlife sanctuary, a string of dangerous sabotage attempts, and secrets worth killing for, this is a novel that will keep you turning pages late into the night. An ideal read for fans of Allison Brennan and Dani Pettrey.

The Sanctuary Series will continue with Prowl (book two, releasing November 2025) and Conspiracy (book three, releasing July 2026).

Also available now from Colleen Coble: Fragile Designs. Additionally, check out her collaborations with Rick Acker: What We Hide and I Think I Was Murdered.

Each book includes discussion questions, making them perfect for book club conversations.