Review: The Killing Tide by Dani Pettrey

My rating: 3 stars / I liked it

Synopsis

A Corpse That Only Leads to Secrets.
An Old Flame with Danger Written all over Her.
Things Are about to Get Very Complicated.

When one Coast Guard officer is found dead and another goes missing, Coast Guard Investigative Service special agent Finn Walker faces his most dangerous crime yet. His only clues are what little evidence remains aboard the dead officer's boat, and the direction the clues point to will test Finn and the Guard to their limits.

The already volatile situation is complicated even further by the arrival of Gabby Rowley--Finn's boss's sister and an investigative reporter with unrelenting questions about the crime. Now that she's returned, the tug on Finn's heart is strong, but with the risks she's taking for her next big story, he fears she might not live through it.

Thrown together by the heinous crime, Finn and Gabby can't ignore the sparks or judgments flying between them. But will they be able to see past their preconceptions long enough to track down an elusive killer, or will they become his next mark?

My Review

There's plenty of action and suspense in this quick-paced novel that introduces us to a new team of agents, their friends and family. Gabby has a tough shell and is 100% devoted to her job and identity as an investigative reporter- and the risk to her life seems like an afterthought. I was surprised at how cavalier her attitude is about the safety of herself and others, but perhaps that's just her defense mechanism. She and Finn have had a relationship in the past but she left him behind to pursue a new job opportunity in another city. So in this book the chemistry and angst is already present in their interactions. Part of the story is told from Rissi's point of view as well, and I'm hoping the next book features her as the main character. She is the youngest member of the CGI team as well as the only female, and she also competes in various water sports competitions during the story with Gabby's brother Noah and Travis, another agent. The different loose threads and angles they are each investigating in the beginning tighten up as the plot progresses and the reading was full of tension as it drew closer to the climax. A great one for suspense fans!

(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)

AMAZING E-BOOK SALE: The Alaskan Courage Series by Dani Pettrey

Only $4.99 for all five books in the Alaskan Courage series!!!

This is my favorite suspense series and I love how each book focuses on one of the siblings in the McKenna family, with a subplot that leads into the relationship of the next book. Definitely binge-worthy! Don't miss this great deal!!!

Synopsis

Dani Pettrey's bestselling romantic suspense series, Alaskan Courage, features the nail-biting adventures of the McKenna family siblings as they encounter danger in the Alaskan wilderness.

Now available in one volume!

1 Submerged

2 Shattered

3 Stranded

4 Silenced

5 Sabotaged

Review: Sins of the Past by Dee Henderson, Dani Pettrey, Lynette Eason

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

Synopsis

Three Novellas from Bestselling Authors
 
In Dee Henderson's "Missing," a Wyoming sheriff is called to Chicago when his elderly mother goes missing. Paired with a savvy Chicago cop, the two realize her disappearance is no accident, and a race against the clock begins.
 
Dani Pettrey returns to Alaska with "Shadowed," introducing readers to the parents of her beloved McKenna clan. Adventure, romance, and danger collide when a young fisherman nets the body of an open-water swimming competitor who may actually be a possible Russian defector.
 
Lynette Eason's "Blackout" delivers the story of a woman once implicated in a robbery gone wrong. The loot has never been found--but her memory of that night has always been unreliable. Can she remember enough to find her way to safety when the true culprit comes after her?

My Review

All of these stories are fast-paced and full of suspense as the mysteries are worked out and solved. I liked the first story and the way it showed the methodical work of the police and detectives, leaving no stone unturned but having to prioritize certain leads before others. Sharon, the lead missing persons detective had a great rapport with John, the sheriff whose mother has gone missing, and I liked the friendship that developed there. The romance angle was kind of out of the blue because they are both so pragmatic and the focus was so much on the case, but friendship is always a good place to start ;)

I was so excited to read the second story since I'm a fan of the author's Alaskan Courage series. It was cool to get to know Ben and Libby and see how they met as young adults. It is set during the Cold War, and the politics with the Russians and espionage made for high tension as the murder is investigated. I would have liked more on the relationship and romance, but it was still a great story and had a full plot.

The last story Blackout had one of my favorite suspense tropes- amnesia of the victim. For me it automatically ramps up the anticipation and anxiety while the holes are being filled and not knowing where or when the danger will strike. A great conclusion to the collection.

(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)

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Don't miss the next collection by these three suspense authors . . .

Read my 5 star review here

Synopsis

In Dee Henderson's novella "Betrayal," Janelle Roberts is freed--thanks to people she doesn't know--after serving six years of a twenty-year sentence for a murder she did not commit. But a murderer is still at large, and Janelle needs to be somewhere safe with someone she can trust. She may not survive another betrayal.

In Dani Pettrey's "Deadly Isle," Tennyson Kent is trapped on the isolated island of her childhood by a storm surge, and she is shocked when the typically idyllic community turns into the hunting grounds of a murderer. Cut off from any help from the mainland, will she and first love Callen Frost be able to identify and stop a killer bent on betrayal before they become the next victims?

In Lynette Eason's "Code of Ethics," trauma surgeon Ruthie St. John saves the life of Detective Isaac Martinez. After a betrayal leads to him getting shot and then attacked while in recovery, Isaac is now a key witness determined to testify. But someone is intent on silencing him--and those around him--forever. Together, Ruthie and Isaac go on the run, desperate to escape the killers hunting him.

Review: The Cost of Betrayal by Dee Henderson, Dani Pettrey, Lynette Eason

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

Synopsis

In Dee Henderson's novella "Betrayal," Janelle Roberts is freed--thanks to people she doesn't know--after serving six years of a twenty-year sentence for a murder she did not commit. But a murderer is still at large, and Janelle needs to be somewhere safe with someone she can trust. She may not survive another betrayal.

In Dani Pettrey's "Deadly Isle," Tennyson Kent is trapped on the isolated island of her childhood by a storm surge, and she is shocked when the typically idyllic community turns into the hunting grounds of a murderer. Cut off from any help from the mainland, will she and first love Callen Frost be able to identify and stop a killer bent on betrayal before they become the next victims?

In Lynette Eason's "Code of Ethics," trauma surgeon Ruthie St. John saves the life of Detective Isaac Martinez. After a betrayal leads to him getting shot and then attacked while in recovery, Isaac is now a key witness determined to testify. But someone is intent on silencing him--and those around him--forever. Together, Ruthie and Isaac go on the run, desperate to escape the killers hunting him.

My Review

Wow! Each of these stories is amazing, yet so different from each other. I enjoyed them all equally and felt they complemented each other so well. The first story "Betrayal" from Dee Henderson is so fascinating, I loved seeing the process of a cold case break wide open at the hands of a couple of FBI agents who were in the right time at the right place. I thought it was interesting how it switched perspectives to show a broader view of the story. I appreciated that the conclusion was so realistic and didn't take the conventional approach that I expected.

"Deadly Isle" by Dani Pettrey was intense and had great romantic tension! The pace was swift yet the characters felt fully developed as they work to investigate and solve the mystery so tragically close to home. Teni and Callen have a history and the memories that surfaced while they helped each other during the raging storm brought a sense of belonging and relief.

"Code of Ethics" by Lynette Eason also had a fast pace and the sense of working against the clock. I liked that Ruthie was comfortable with law enforcement and their procedures because of her family, even though she is a doctor. There are twists and turns as she and Isaac dodge the killers while searching for the evidence that will prove his suspicions correct. I loved the attraction and bits of romance that were slipped in as Ruthie and Isaac got to know each other while also depending on each other for their lives.

(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)

Book Tour, Excerpt & Giveaway: The Cost of Betrayal by Dee Henderson, Dani Pettrey, Lynette Eason

Welcome to THE COST OF BETRAYAL Blitz with JustRead Publicity Tours.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Title: The Cost of Betrayal

Authors: Dee Henderson, Dani Pettrey, Lynette Eason

Publisher: Bethany House

Release Date: September 4, 2018

Genre: Novella Collection / Romantic Suspense

FAITH WILL BE TESTED. TRUST SHATTERED.

THREE BESTSELLING ROMANTIC SUSPENSE WRITERS REUNITE FOR NOVELLAS OF DEADLY BETRAYAL.

Dee Henderson - "Betrayed"

After serving six years of a twenty-year sentence for a murder she didn't commit, Janelle Roberts is finally freed. But the truth is still waiting to be discovered, and a murderer is still at large. Janelle needs to be somewhere safe with someone she can trust. She may not survive another act of treachery.

Dani Pettrey - "Deadly Isle"

Tennyson Kent is trapped on the isolated island of her childhood by a storm surge, and she is shocked when the typically idyllic community turns into the hunting grounds of a murderer. Cut off from any help from the mainland, will she and first love Callen Frost be able to identify and stop a killer before they become the next victims?

Lynette Eason - "Code of Ethics"

When Detective Isaac Martinez lands in the ER with a gunshot wound, he pulls through thanks to trauma surgeon Ruthie St. John. But as the witness to a crime and possible corruption, Martinez is at risk from someone intent on silencing him--and those around him--forever. When he barely survives another attack while recovering, both he and Ruthie must flee, trying to outrun deadly killers while locating the evidence they need to end the danger.

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EXCERPT

From Code of Ethics by Lynette Eason

Ruthie slid the chart back into its slot and slipped down the hall to room four. She pushed open the door and came to an abrupt halt. A young man dressed in green scrubs held a syringe, ready to push it into her patient’s IV. “Excuse me. Who are you?”

The person turned and shot her a small smile. “I’m the new night nurse. I was just getting ready to give Mr. Martinez here his medicine.”

“I just read his chart. He’s already had it.”

But the person had already turned back to the port. He inserted the needle.

Ruthie gasped. “I’m his doctor and I said stop!”

He continued to ignore her. Fear for the man in the bed overrode anything else. She lunged forward and shoved the nurse away. He stumbled backward with a surprised cry while the syringe fell from the port and tumbled to the floor.

He shot to his feet. His dark eyes glittered, menace emanating from him. Chills enveloped Ruthie. He was no nurse. He sprang at her and wrapped his fingers around her throat.

She let out a scream before his grip tightened and cut her air off.

Realization finally hit.

This man was here to kill her patient.

But he was going to do his best to kill her first.

****

Isaac woke at the sound of the scream. Instinct had him reaching for his weapon only to find his hand flailing uselessly at his side. Sounds of a scuffle reached him and he tried to speak. A crash sounded. Another scream.

“What’s going on in here?”

A curse.

Then scrambling, running footsteps.

“Security! And I need a doctor! Ruthie, are you okay?”

Isaac worked himself into a sitting position, hating the weakness and the flashes of pain. The door opened and several hospital workers rushed in.

“Ruthie!”

Isaac looked down to see a woman on the floor and another woman squatting in front of her. “Hey.”

The first woman, dressed in street clothes, scrambled to her feet and focused on him. “You need to lay back down. You don’t want to move wrong and tear that wound open.” She sounded hoarse.

He waved a hand. “I’m fine. What happened?”

“You’re not fine, you’ve been shot. And had surgery. Don’t mess up my work.” She touched the bandage on his shoulder. “No blood, that’s good. How do you feel?”

“Like I’ve been shot. Who are you?”

She jolted and snapped her gaze up to meet his.

And that’s when he noticed the red marks that would soon turn to bruises. He blinked and reached out to stroke the side of her neck. She flinched away. “Who choked you, and why?”

“I’m Dr. Ruthie St. John, the surgeon who removed the bullet in your shoulder earlier today. As for who tried to choke me, I’m not sure. But he was trying to jam this into your IV.” She held up a syringe.

For more excerpts from the other stories in The Cost of Betrayal, be sure to check out the other stops on the tour!

ABOUT THE AUTHORS 

Dee Henderson is the author of numerous novels, including Taken, Undetected, Unspoken, Full Disclosure, and the acclaimed O'Malley and Uncommon Heroes series. Her books have won or been nominated for several prestigious industry awards, such as the RITA Award, the Christy Award, and the ECPA Gold Medallion. Dee is a lifelong resident of Illinois.

CONNECT WITH DEE: website | facebook

Author Image:
© Michael Pettrey Photography

Dani Pettrey is a wife, mom, grandma, and the author of the Chesapeake Valor series, and the Alaskan Courageromantic suspense series, which includes her bestselling novels Submerged, Shattered, Stranded, Silenced, and Sabotaged. Her books have been honored with the Daphne du Maurier award, two HOLT Medallions, a Christy Award nomination, two National Readers’ Choice Awards, the Gail Wilson Award of Excellence, and Christian Retailing’s Best Award, among others.
She feels blessed to write inspirational romantic suspense because it incorporates so many things she loves—the thrill of adventure, nail-biting suspense, the deepening of her characters’ faith, and plenty of romance. She and her husband reside in Maryland, where they enjoy time with their two daughters, a son-in-law, and a super adorable grandson.

CONNECT WITH DANI: website | facebook | twitter | pinterest | instagram

Author Image: © Mary Denman

Lynette Eason is the bestselling author of Oath of Honor and Called to Protect, as well as the Women of Justice, Deadly Reunions, Hidden Identity, and the Elite Guardians series. She is the winner of three ACFW Carol Awards, the Selah Award, and the Inspirational Reader's Choice Award, among others. She is a graduate of the University of South Carolina and has a master's degree in education from Converse College. Eason lives in South Carolina with her husband and two children.

CONNECT WITH LYNETTE: website | facebook | twitter

TOUR GIVEAWAY

(1) Winner will win The Perfect Hideout JustRead Book Box!!! It includes a copy of The Cost of Betrayal and many more goodies!
For more info on the box or want one yourself, check out our Etsy Shop.

Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule shown below. Giveaway will begin at midnight September 4, 2018 and last through 11:59 PM EST on September 12, 2018. Winners will be notified within a week of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. Due to shipping cost, only US mailing addresses valid.  For our giveaway rules and policy, click HERE.

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TOUR SCHEDULE

For the full tour schedule, click on either of the launch pages below.

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Review: Dead Drift by Dani Pettrey

Book Four in the Chesapeake Valor series

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

Synopsis

Private Investigator Kate Maxwell never stopped loving Luke Gallagher after he disappeared. Now he's back, and together they must unravel a twisting thread of secrets, lies, and betrayal while on the brink of a biological disaster that will shake America to its core. Will they and their love survive, or will Luke and Kate become the terrorist's next target?

My Review

This is a fast-paced, gripping, and intense book, the conclusion of the Chesapeake Valor series that follows a group of friends that serve in various fields of criminal justice. I was so excited to read Kate and Luke's story, especially since he's been such a mystery from the beginning. This is a series that I think is best read in order, but honestly you could still read Dead Drift on its own and be fine. I appreciate that the author catches the reader up with the characters and their relationships without info-dumping the plots of the previous books, so even if you read this book first, you can still go back and enjoy the stories of the other friends in the previous three books (which are all excellent!)

I loved learning more about Luke and Kate's relationship from when they were together before his prolonged absence courtesy of the CIA. It showed why they never gave up on each other and made their reunion that much sweeter- after Kate gave him heck to pay, of course ;) The highly dangerous cases they are working on solving and attacks they are trying to prevent bring them closer together, and also heighten the fears they have of losing each other again. They have issues to work out and also get to know each other again as the changes people they have become- although the important things haven't changed. They have amazing chemistry, and I also loved the deeper ways they connect, through their faith and supporting each other.

Besides the terrorist case Luke is leading, Griffin and Finley are following up clues from his sister Jenna's murder, and the two plots woven together create a nice balance and kept the pace cracking along, making the book impossible to put down. With twists and turns along the way and dramatic, nail-biting climaxes, the story wraps up with satisfying conclusions for this group of friends that have become tight-knit and stalwart once again. Highly recommend this book and the entire series!

(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)

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Don't miss the previous books in the Chesapeake Valor series . . .

Book One

Read my 5 star review here

Synopsis

In college, Griffin McCray and his four best friends had their lives planned out. Griffin and Luke Gallagher would join the Baltimore PD. Declan Gray would head to the FBI and Parker Mitchell would go on to graduate school as a crime scene analyst. But then Luke vanished before graduation and their world--and friendships--crumbled.

Now Griffin is a park ranger at Gettysburg, having left life as a SWAT-team sniper when a case went bad. The job is mostly quiet--until the day he captures two relic hunters uncovering skeletal remains near Little Round Top. Griffin just wants the case to go away, but charming forensic anthropologist Finley Scott determines that the body is modern--a young social justice lawyer missing since spring--and all evidence points to the work of an expert sniper. When FBI agent Declan Gray takes over the case, past and present collide. Griffin soon realizes he'll need to confront some of the darkest days of his life if he--and those he cares about--are going to escape a downward spiral of murder that crosses continents.

Book Two

Read my 5 star review here

Synopsis

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.

 Book Three

Read my 5 star review here

Synopsis

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.