Rick Acker

USA TODAY bestselling romantic suspense author Colleen Coble and Rick Acker deliver the final book in their beloved Tupelo Grove series: Hez and Savannah Webster have survived storms that would bury others without a love as strong as theirs--but can they withstand the final battle in the deadly Legare-Willard feud that threatens to sweep away everything they've fought for?In spite of a crumbling university, stolen artifacts, deep family secrets, and deadly ambitions that have all stood in their way, Hez and Savannah have almost secured their second chance at happiness. But just as they're getting ready to adopt her nephew, two other petitioners also file for custody--both of whom only want Simon for their own gains. The legal battle to try to protect him is intense, and exacerbated by the threats to Hez and Savannah's lives. Between the financial company that Hez outmaneuvered to save the university from ruin and the bad blood from the head of the Willard family, it's hard to say who wants them out of way more. When secrets about what really happened to their daughter come tumbling out, it's almost more than they can bear. Will Savannah be able to find the courage to do the right thing even when it hurts her family?The Tupelo Grove series reaches its breathtaking conclusion as an enemy's agenda for revenge runs darker than swamp water and justice remains as slippery as quicksand in this heart-pounding narrative that underscores the power of redemption and forgiveness.

USA TODAY bestselling romantic suspense author Colleen Coble and Rick Acker deliver the final book in their beloved Tupelo Grove series: Hez and Savannah Webster have survived storms that would bury others without a love as strong as theirs--but can they withstand the final battle in the deadly Legare-Willard feud that threatens to sweep away everything they've fought for?In spite of a crumbling university, stolen artifacts, deep family secrets, and deadly ambitions that have all stood in their way, Hez and Savannah have almost secured their second chance at happiness. But just as they're getting ready to adopt her nephew, two other petitioners also file for custody--both of whom only want Simon for their own gains. The legal battle to try to protect him is intense, and exacerbated by the threats to Hez and Savannah's lives. Between the financial company that Hez outmaneuvered to save the university from ruin and the bad blood from the head of the Willard family, it's hard to say who wants them out of way more. When secrets about what really happened to their daughter come tumbling out, it's almost more than they can bear. Will Savannah be able to find the courage to do the right thing even when it hurts her family?The Tupelo Grove series reaches its breathtaking conclusion as an enemy's agenda for revenge runs darker than swamp water and justice remains as slippery as quicksand in this heart-pounding narrative that underscores the power of redemption and forgiveness.

USA TODAY bestselling romantic suspense author Colleen Coble and Rick Acker deliver the second book in their compelling Tupelo Grove series (following What We Hide), where a crumbling university, stolen artifacts, deep family secrets, and deadly ambitions all stand in the way of a second chance at happiness.College professor Savannah Webster is ready to give her ex-husband, Hez, another chance, and she believes he's finally ready for them to face their many past trials as a team. But when Savannah finds evidence that points to Hez's old demons resurfacing, the fragile trust they've built begins to crumble. And it's not just their relationship that hanging in the balance--the survival of the university Savannah's family poured their lives into is also under threat.Hez is determined to put his past mistakes behind him with his new role mentoring law students at Tupelo Grove University's legal clinic. His primary focus with the clinic is to help Savannah pull the university out of a pit of debt and bad decisions made by the previous leadership, including her father. But their quest for stability takes a dark turn as they try to root out the dangerous smuggling ring the university is entangled in, and their investigation puts them in the crosshairs of criminals who will stop at nothing to eliminate any obstacle in their path.The twists continue until the final page as a dangerous world of smuggling and financial instability collides with the complex dynamics of legacy and family.Colleen Coble and Rick Acker's Where Secrets Lie is gripping suspense with closed-door, second-chance romance. "With an unpredictable plot, complex characters, and a college campus that holds dark secrets, this mystery will keep you guessing." (Robert Dugoni)..Looking for more from these authors? Don't miss What We Hide, the first book in the Tupelo Grove series, or the standalone novel I Think I Was Murdered. All their novels include discussion questions that are perfect for book clubs.

USA TODAY bestselling romantic suspense author Colleen Coble and Rick Acker deliver the second book in their compelling Tupelo Grove series (following What We Hide), where a crumbling university, stolen artifacts, deep family secrets, and deadly ambitions all stand in the way of a second chance at happiness.College professor Savannah Webster is ready to give her ex-husband, Hez, another chance, and she believes he's finally ready for them to face their many past trials as a team. But when Savannah finds evidence that points to Hez's old demons resurfacing, the fragile trust they've built begins to crumble. And it's not just their relationship that hanging in the balance--the survival of the university Savannah's family poured their lives into is also under threat.Hez is determined to put his past mistakes behind him with his new role mentoring law students at Tupelo Grove University's legal clinic. His primary focus with the clinic is to help Savannah pull the university out of a pit of debt and bad decisions made by the previous leadership, including her father. But their quest for stability takes a dark turn as they try to root out the dangerous smuggling ring the university is entangled in, and their investigation puts them in the crosshairs of criminals who will stop at nothing to eliminate any obstacle in their path.The twists continue until the final page as a dangerous world of smuggling and financial instability collides with the complex dynamics of legacy and family.Colleen Coble and Rick Acker's Where Secrets Lie is gripping suspense with closed-door, second-chance romance. "With an unpredictable plot, complex characters, and a college campus that holds dark secrets, this mystery will keep you guessing." (Robert Dugoni).Looking for more from these authors? Don't miss What We Hide, the first book in the Tupelo Grove series, or the standalone novel I Think I Was Murdered. All their novels include discussion questions that are perfect for book clubs.

"It's a high-octane thriller with the grounding touches of Katrina's Norwegian heritage, the hygge of North Haven, and a very sweet romance between two likable, vulnerable people. Romantic suspense comfort food--just like waffles with cloudberry cream." --KIRKUSThis timely, high-concept novel delves into the impact of AI on a grieving widow who uses a chatbot to "talk" to her dead husband. What she never expects is the response when she asks it to tell her something she doesn't know: I think I was murdered.Reading a novel from bestselling authors Colleen Coble and Rick Acker feels akin to watching a BBC mystery series: by the end of the first scene you can relax, knowing you're in the capable hands of a story that will have a complex puzzle, character-driven plot, and satisfying reveal.Just a year ago, Katrina Berg was at the pinnacle of her career. She was a rising star in the AI chatbot start-up everyone was talking about, married with an adoring husband, and had more money than she knew how to spend. Then her world combusted. Her husband, Jason, was killed in a fiery car crash. Her CEO was indicted, and, as the company's legal counsel, Katrina faces tough questions as the Feds take over and lock her out of her office. The final blow is the passing of her beloved grandmother.Her most prized possession is the beta prototype for a new, ultra-sophisticated chatbot loaded onto her phone. The contents of Jason's email, social media backups, pictures, and every bit of data she could find were loaded into the bot, and Katrina has "talked" to him every day for the past six months. She has been amazed at how well it works. Even the syntax and words the bot uses sound like Jason. Sometimes, she imagines he isn't really dead and is right there beside her. She knows it's slowing her grief recovery, but she can't stop pretending.On a particularly bad day, she taps out: Tell me something I don't know. The cursor blinks for several moments and seems frozen before the reply flashes quickly onto the screen: I think I was murdered.Distraught, Katrina returns to her cozy Norwegian-flavored hometown in the Northern California redwoods and enlists the help of Seb Wallace, local restaurateur and longtime acquaintance, to try to parse out the truth of what really happened. They must navigate the complicated paths of grief, family dynamics, and second chances, as well as the complex questions of how much control technology has. And staying alive long enough to do that is far more difficult than either of them dreamed.Bestselling authors Coble and Acker deftly combine a high-concept plot with gripping intrigue and closed-door romance in I Think I Was Murdered. Don't miss it!"This fast-paced thriller incorporating today's headline news along with compelling family drama proves that the Coble-Acker partnership (What We Hide) will continue to produce hits. Recommend to fans of psychological thrillers such as Lies We Believe by Lisa Harris and Criss Cross by C.C. Warrens." --Library JournalLooking for more from these authors? What We Hide (Tupelo Grove, #1) is also available!

"It's a high-octane thriller with the grounding touches of Katrina's Norwegian heritage, the hygge of North Haven, and a very sweet romance between two likable, vulnerable people. Romantic suspense comfort food--just like waffles with cloudberry cream." --KIRKUSThis timely, high-concept novel delves into the impact of AI on a grieving widow who uses a chatbot to "talk" to her dead husband. What she never expects is the response when she asks it to tell her something she doesn't know: I think I was murdered.Reading a novel from bestselling authors Colleen Coble and Rick Acker feels akin to watching a BBC mystery series: by the end of the first scene you can relax, knowing you're in the capable hands of a story that will have a complex puzzle, character-driven plot, and satisfying reveal.Just a year ago, Katrina Berg was at the pinnacle of her career. She was a rising star in the AI chatbot start-up everyone was talking about, married with an adoring husband, and had more money than she knew how to spend. Then her world combusted. Her husband, Jason, was killed in a fiery car crash. Her CEO was indicted, and, as the company's legal counsel, Katrina faces tough questions as the Feds take over and lock her out of her office. The final blow is the passing of her beloved grandmother.Her most prized possession is the beta prototype for a new, ultra-sophisticated chatbot loaded onto her phone. The contents of Jason's email, social media backups, pictures, and every bit of data she could find were loaded into the bot, and Katrina has "talked" to him every day for the past six months. She has been amazed at how well it works. Even the syntax and words the bot uses sound like Jason. Sometimes, she imagines he isn't really dead and is right there beside her. She knows it's slowing her grief recovery, but she can't stop pretending.On a particularly bad day, she taps out: Tell me something I don't know. The cursor blinks for several moments and seems frozen before the reply flashes quickly onto the screen: I think I was murdered.Distraught, Katrina returns to her cozy Norwegian-flavored hometown in the Northern California redwoods and enlists the help of Seb Wallace, local restaurateur and longtime acquaintance, to try to parse out the truth of what really happened. They must navigate the complicated paths of grief, family dynamics, and second chances, as well as the complex questions of how much control technology has. And staying alive long enough to do that is far more difficult than either of them dreamed.Bestselling authors Coble and Acker deftly combine a high-concept plot with gripping intrigue and closed-door romance in I Think I Was Murdered. Don't miss it!"This fast-paced thriller incorporating today's headline news along with compelling family drama proves that the Coble-Acker partnership (What We Hide) will continue to produce hits. Recommend to fans of psychological thrillers such as Lies We Believe by Lisa Harris and Criss Cross by C.C. Warrens." --Library JournalLooking for more from these authors? What We Hide (Tupelo Grove, #1) is also available!

USA TODAY bestselling romantic suspense author Colleen Coble and Rick Acker launch their Tupelo Grove series where a crumbling university, stolen artifacts, deep family secrets, and deadly ambitions all stand in the way of a second chance at happiness.Savannah Webster is trying to find her way forward. She and her husband, Hez, have been separated since tragedy tore them apart and he began numbing his grief and guilt with alcohol. She returned to Tupelo Grove University, which her family helped found over a century ago, to teach history.When Hez turns up in her classroom asking for a second chance, she rejects the idea immediately. But twenty-four hours later she's under suspicion for murder, and since Hez is the best attorney she knows, she reluctantly asks him for help. They suspect the murder is tied to someone selling off the university's pre-Columbian artifacts, but the secrets go much deeper than they realize.The only hope they've got is each other, and they're going to have to put their past behind them if they're going to stay alive long enough to uncover all that's hidden.Colleen Coble and Rick Acker's What We Hide is gripping suspense with closed-door, second-chance romance. They've "forged a seamless partnership with a singular voice" (Charles Martin), "where secrets simmer and unexpected twists leave you guessing until the shocking finale" (Kate Angelo)."A heart-pounding tale of stolen artifacts and murder . . . the second-chance romance adds dimension to the well-plotted whodunit, which leaves more than a few secrets to be uncovered in the next installment. Readers will be on tenterhooks." --Publishers WeeklyLooking for more from these authors? Don't miss their standalone novel I Think I Was Murdered (available now) or the second book in the Tupelo Grove series, Where Secrets Lie (available June 2025). All their novels include discussion questions that are perfect for book clubs.

USA TODAY bestselling romantic suspense author Colleen Coble and Rick Acker launch their Tupelo Grove series where a crumbling university, stolen artifacts, deep family secrets, and deadly ambitions all stand in the way of a second chance at happiness.Savannah Webster is trying to find her way forward. She and her husband, Hez, have been separated since tragedy tore them apart and he began numbing his grief and guilt with alcohol. She returned to Tupelo Grove University, which her family helped found over a century ago, to teach history.When Hez turns up in her classroom asking for a second chance, she rejects the idea immediately. But twenty-four hours later she's under suspicion for murder, and since Hez is the best attorney she knows, she reluctantly asks him for help. They suspect the murder is tied to someone selling off the university's pre-Columbian artifacts, but the secrets go much deeper than they realize.The only hope they've got is each other, and they're going to have to put their past behind them if they're going to stay alive long enough to uncover all that's hidden.Colleen Coble and Rick Acker's What We Hide is gripping suspense with closed-door, second-chance romance. They've "forged a seamless partnership with a singular voice" (Charles Martin), "where secrets simmer and unexpected twists leave you guessing until the shocking finale" (Kate Angelo)."A heart-pounding tale of stolen artifacts and murder . . . the second-chance romance adds dimension to the well-plotted whodunit, which leaves more than a few secrets to be uncovered in the next installment. Readers will be on tenterhooks." --Publishers WeeklyLooking for more from these authors? Don't miss their standalone novel I Think I Was Murdered (available now) or the second book in the Tupelo Grove series, Where Secrets Lie (available June 2025). All their novels include discussion questions that are perfect for book clubs.