Dani Pettrey: Dead Drift

By Kelly Bridgewater

Burning debris littering the ground . . . smoke pluming in the acrid air . . . this is just the beginning if he fails.

Seven years ago, operative Luke Gallagher vanished to become part of an elite team set on capturing a deadly terrorist. When Luke returns to face those he left behind, their help becomes his only hope of stopping his target's latest threat of an attack that would shake America to its core.

Private investigator Kate Maxwell never stopped loving or looking for Luke after he disappeared. But she also never imagined he left her or his life by choice. Now he's back, and together they must unravel a twisting thread of secrets, lies, and betrayal, all while on the brink of a biological disaster.

Will they and their love survive, or will Luke and Kate become the terrorist's next mark?

From Amazon

My Thoughts:

I love suspense in any form. I discovered Dani Pettrey when I read the first book in her Alaskan Courage series Submerged. I love the idea of Alaska and a family that works in the outdoors solving mysteries was a unique and wonderful idea. I have fallen in love with each consecutive Pettrey's stories.  So of course, I want to read Dead Drift, the final book in her Chesapeake Valor series. I couldn't wait to see how she concluded the series.

First, there is two parallel stories running the length of the novel. Luke and Kate who are running away from someone who wants to bring harm to them and allow Luke to seek solace in capturing a guy he has been chasing for seven years. The second storyline features Griffin and Finley. If you have read the first book in the series, Cold Shot, then their names should be familiar. They were the main characters. They are working together to hunt for a serial killer who killed Griffin's sister. I actually liked Griffin and Finley's story line better because they were actually hunting for a serial killer, whereas, Luke and Kate's story was focused a lot on their personal romance.

The romance between Luke and Kate is front and center in their storyline. I don't remember, and I might have to return and read the first three books to verify, much about Luke. I remember Kate working alongside the other members, but I don't think she said anything about Luke. Their romance was a little over the top for me. Who has time to apologize when someone is chasing you?

I enjoy stories with serial killers. They are interesting to me. I like seeing how the author will create a plot that captures my attention and doesn't let go. Pettrey did a good job with the serial killer storyline. I wish the story focused more on their story than the other one. I had a hard time putting the novel down. I finished it in one day.

In conclusion, Dead Drift is riddled with non-stop action, and Pettrey does a good job at bringing back familiar characters and creating a story that races against time. I anxiously await her next series Coastal Guardian series. I believe fans of Lynette Eason, DiAnn Mills, Irene Hannon, and Carrie Stuart Parks would love to read this series.

I received a complimentary copy of Dead Drift by Dani Pettrey from Bethany House Publishers, but the opinions stated are all my own.

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Dani Pattrey: Blind Spot

By Kelly Bridgewater

FBI agent Declan Grey is in the chase of his life--but isn't sure exactly what he's chasing after. Threatened by a terrorist that "the wrath is coming," Grey fears something horrible is about to be unleashed on American soil. When his investigation leads him to a closed immigrant community, he turns to Tanner Shaw to help him. She's sought justice for refugees and the hurting around the world, and if there's anyone who can help him, it's Tanner.

Tanner Shaw has joined the FBI as a crisis counselor . . . meaning she now has more opportunity to butt heads with Declan. But that tension also includes a spark she can't deny, and she's pretty sure Declan feels the same. But before anything can develop between them, they discover evidence of a terror cell--and soon are in a race against the clock to stop the coming "wrath" that could cost thousands their lives.

From Amazon

My Thoughts:

In my opinion, nothing is better than a goodromantic suspense with tons of suspense and a hint of romance. Like most people, I was introduced to Dani Pettrey's writing with her Alaskan Courage story. I really enjoyed that series, and I am glad that she has continued writing another series. With the third addition to the Chesapeake Valor series, Blind Spot, the story has just what I'm looking for. Plenty of nail-biting moments and characters who have gripped my attention from the first book, Cold Shot, and continue to Blind Spot.

I enjoy Pettrey's writing. She is great at inviting me into the story and capturing my attention from the get go. Right in the first chapter, Pettrey invites me into the tension and sparks my interest with the idea of something sinister. She also is good at making the setting come to life. Also, I enjoy how this series revolves around terrorist attacks and trafficking, which is completely relevant to the news today.

It was nice spending time getting into Declan and Tanner's head this time around. They have been on the fringes in the previous two stories, so it was nice to hear their story from their perspective. It was nice seeing what made them tick and watch their romance develop on a deeper level. Tanner is a smart, athletic woman who has a number of hidden skills that Declan stands in awe at. While Declan doesn't appear to be such a mean guy when Pettrey allowed me to come close and personal to his personality.

There are two mystery plots in this story. One has to do with a dead man and a "missing" couple. The other subplot has to do with a terrorist plot that I believe has been carried over from the previous novel. I enjoyed both stories and couldn't wait to see justice served. There were moments where I held my breath, waiting to see what danger the characters would end up in. Pettrey does a great job at actually leaving the end as a cliff-hanger, which I didn't see coming, but I can tell you I'm really happy she did. Makes me want to return for the next installment.

Overall, Dani Pettrey's Blind Spot is a thrill-ride of a tale with two different stories fighting for the central story with fascinating characters that kept me glued to the page. I highly recommend this novel for fans of Brandilyn Collins, Lynette Eason, and Carrie Stuart Parks. I really can't wait for the next book.

I received a complimentary copy of Blind Spot from Bethany House Publishers, but the opinions stated are all my own.

My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Dani Pettrey: Stil LIfe

By Kelly Bridgewater

Blacklisted in the photography business over a controversial shot, Avery Tate answered an ad for a crime scene photographer. She expected to be laughed at, but crime scene analyst Parker Mitchell hired her outright--and changed her life. But six months ago, when her feelings for Parker became too strong, she left his employ to sort out her heart.

Now, for the first time, Avery is facing the world that rejected her to attend the gallery opening of a photography exhibit and support her best friend, who modeled for the show. But the only image of her friend is a chilling photo of her posing as if dead--and the photographer insists he didn't take the shot. Worse, her friend can't be found. She immediately calls Parker for help. As Avery, Parker, and his friends in law enforcement dig into the mystery, they find themselves face-to-face with a relentless and deadly threat.

From Amazon

My Review:

I really enjoyed Dani Pettrey's Alaskan Courage Series and couldn't wait to see what else happens with her writing. After reading Cold Shot, I enjoyed seeing the friends work together to solve crimes and hoped to see more of their relationship.  When I spend a couple of hours reading a mystery, suspense, or romantic suspense, I want to be taken away on a fast pace journey to solve a murder. I, also, want to see a romance that is evident on the page but isn't the focus of the story. I want the romance to deepen the characters.

Pettrey starts the story with a bang and moves along at a nice clip. There were moments were the romance took over and made me want to return to the mystery solving part of the story. Pettrey does follow the clues and keeps asking different people who fingerprints show up at different crime scenes. Her research into the world of art and the suspense elements flowed seamlessly across the story. I never once was taken out of the story and wonder if what she wrote was true or not.

The writing was clear and concise. I stayed in the point of view characters for each scene and completely empathized with each individual character. Through the four different characters solving two different crimes, I understood and enjoyed spending more time with them. As for the characters, no one really matured and grew in the story. No one became a better person by the end. No one's relationship with God was changed for the better or worse. All the characters started one way and ended the same. I wished there was more character development in each individual characters.

As for the plot, there were two plots to keep suspense lovers happy. There was a terror threat and a dead body. I really liked the dead body story. It flowed nicely and kept moving. On the other hand, the terror threat story doesn't come until about fifty percent through the story, and it didn't fit right with the story. It felt like Pettrey needed something to fill her story, so she threw in another twist from left field. As for the suspense, it read like every other romantic suspense novel I have ever read. It is suitable for mature audiences with really no violence on the pages. Fans of Pettrey's other works, Dee Henderson, Lynette Eason, Colleen Coble, and Terri Blackstock should pick up Still Life.

The art angle was original, and I didn't solve the crime until about the end right before Pettrey revealed him/her, which is good for any writer to do. God was mentioned in the story, but not a lot. It won't keep anyone away from reading the novel. Even though Pettrey is marketing this book as darker than previous books, I didn't find it any darker at all. It had the normal about of violence for a romantic suspense novel. Steven James, my contemporary favorite author, is a master at psychological thrillers, and they are MUCH darker!

An interesting look in the art world, Dani Pettrey's latest novel Still Life continued her story in Chesapeake Harbor while filling in information about each individual character's life while keeping the suspense moving.

I received a complimentary copy of Dani Pettrey's Still Life from Bethany House Publishers, and the opinions stated are all my own. 

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Do you enjoy romantic suspense novels that touch the darker side of crime? Why or Why not?