Tag Archives: Dani Pettrey

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

Sins of the Past, by Dee Henderson, Dani Pettrey and Lynette Eason (Bethany House, 2016)

Three romantic suspense novellas in one book, from three of the top Christian writers in the genre: Sins of the Past delivers shorter, but still satisfying, reads.

Stories feature a cop whose mother has gone missing, a competitive swimmer who may be a killer’s next target, and a paramedic who’s in danger because of an accident she can’t remember. In each case, the present crisis comes from something that happened in the characters’ past (hence the title).

Fans of Dani Pettrey’s Alaskan Courage series will be pleased to step back to the 70s to meet the McKenna clan’s parents. The other two stories take place in the present.

I’m not usually fond of shorter fiction, but these novellas contain enough depth that they feel complete. There’s no sense of being rushed or short-changed on plot or characters.

Readers of Christian romantic suspense will definitely want to grab a copy of Sins of the Past. For more about the book and its authors, and to read an excerpt, see the publisher’s website.

[Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group.]

Review: Submerged, by Dani Pettrey

Submerged, by Dani Pettrey (Bethany House, 2012)

A small plane crashes in the water near small-town Yancey, Alaska, and rescue diver Cole McKenna and his family are drawn into the investigation. When another body is found, the police suspect foul play.

For Cole, the hardest part is working with Bailey Craig, niece of one of the dead passengers. Bailey is back for the funeral, and the townsfolk all remember her high school reputation. She and Cole were sweethearts, before she went wild.

Submerged is suspense with heart: both romantic and family. Cole feels a burden for his younger siblings, and for a troubled teen in the church youth group. He also sees Bailey’s struggle with self-worth. Despite the faith that turned her life around, she feels like she’ll never measure up.

As the two of them search her aunt’s belongings for clues to the mystery, danger mounts, and old feelings come back to life.

This is book one in the Alaskan Courage series, and the ebook version is free on most platforms. I’m looking forward to reading more about the McKenna family. For more about this five-book series, or about author Dani Pettrey, visit danipettrey.com.

[Review copy from my personal library.]

Review: Cold Shot, by Dani Pettrey

Cold Shot, by Dani Pettrey (Bethany House, 2016)

When recent remains are found in an old Gettysburg burying site, forensic anthropologist Finley Scott must work with a park ranger who’s more than he seems. Griffin McCray is a former sniper who left the Baltimore police force after a tragic incident. There’s more pain than that in his past, which is why he’s trying to keep his distance from the attractive Finley.

Someone is desperate to prevent the body being identified, and to stop the investigation. Griffin and Finley, as well as two of Griffin’s trusted contacts (he used to call them both friends) must find the truth before the sniper they’re hunting targets them.

Cold Shot is a fast-paced suspense with a strong romantic thread, with Griffin as Finley’s self-appointed guardian. Despite his need to stay aloof, he can’t leave her unprotected. There’s also a significant amount of history between the three men.

Other key players in the novel are FBI agent Declan Grey and crime scene analyst Parker Mitchell. This is book 1 in the Chesapeake Valour series, and it looks like subsequent books will feature Declan and Parker, as the three friends and their associates tackle other crimes. The main characters are engaging, and I look forward to following them through the series. They’re all Christians, and they’ll definitely need their faith to get them through their struggles.

Finley and Parker both live in Baltimore, a city the author clearly knows well. She captures a strong sense of place in Finley’s neighbourhood and in the other settings of the book. As I read, I wondered if I’d really find some of the restaurants and other places in real life, and the answer is yes.

Dani Pettrey is the author of the popular Alaska Courage romantic suspense series. For more about the Dani Pettrey and her books, visit her website. Her books page includes a sample chapter of Cold Shot as well as tour of Finley’s neighbourhood.

[Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group.]