Book Review & CelebrateLit Giveaway: The Killing Tide by Dani Pettrey

About the Book

Book: The Killing Tide
Author: Dani Pettrey
Genre: Inspirational Romantic Suspense
Release Date: August 2019

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.

When investigative reporter–and Finn’s boss’s sister–Gabby Rowley arrives, her unrelenting questions complicate an already volatile situation. Now that she’s back, 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?

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Praised by New York Times best-selling author Dee Henderson as “a name to look for in romantic suspense,” Dani Pettrey has sold more than half a million copies of her novels to readers eagerly awaiting the next release. Dani combines the page-turning adrenaline of a thriller with the chemistry and happy-ever-after of a romance.

Her novels stand out for their “wicked pace, snappy dialogue, and likable characters” (Publishers Weekly), “gripping storyline[s],” (RT Book Reviews), and “sizzling undercurrent of romance” (USA Today).

She researches murder and mayhem from her home in Maryland. For more information visit www.danipettrey.com

My Thoughts

The Killing Tide
by Dani Pettrey
Book 1 in the Coastal Guardians series
Rating: 4/5

If you are in need of a fast-paced thriller, look no further. I am a huge fan of Dani Pettrey’s Romantic Suspense and I was not disappointed with this first book in a new series. Ever since watching the movie, The Guardian, with Kevin Costner and Ashton Kutcher, I have been in awe of what the Coast Guard rescue teams do. I was excited to catch a glimpse into their world and the author did not let me down.

After a traumatic rescue mission, special agent Finn Walker is forced to retire from his Coast Guard rescue team but joins the Coast Guard Investigative Service (CGIS) as a second chance to help others. He is driven by a past that haunts him and his ability to save others. When tragedy after tragedy strikes, he knows that something is wrong and is determined to keep those he loves as safe as possible while unraveling the mystery.

Fearful after an attempt on her life, Gabby Rowley’s older brother forces her to come back home where he and his CGIS team can protect her. Gabby, an investigative reporter, is stubborn and hates that her independence is being taken away, but her real fear is seeing Finn again after she walked out on their relationship to pursue her career. She has a knack for sniffing out a story and when the CGIS loses a team member, she is determined to get to the bottom of the story despite the threat on her life. Will Gabby and Finn be able to do their jobs, stay safe, and work together without reigniting that chemistry? Can Gabby find a way to pursue her dream job and her dream of finding love?

This story was jam-packed full of interesting characters and storylines. As the first book in the series, the author is definitely trying to set up some of the next few books in the series while doing justice to the current story. I love that her characters are flawed and relatable. They have a sixth sense about investigating crimes and weaving all the clues together, but they have their own hardships and trauma to deal with. I am excited to read what comes next.

I highly recommend this book for anyone who enjoys clean romantic suspense.

My thanks to the author, NetGalley and CelebrateLit for providing me with an ARC of the book. All opinions expressed here are entirely my own. No positive review was expected and no compensation received.

More from Dani

Pettrey kicks off her new Coastal Guardians series with an intense blend of suspense, love, and faith. The Killing Tide features romance that’s as thrilling as the action, and faithful characters integrated seamlessly into a complex web of crime.

— Kate Campos BookList

The Killing Tide is the first book in my Coastal Guardian series. My husband was Navy, so why am I writing about the Coast Guard? Because I think their mission to keep our waters and our country safe should be highlighted more. Before I started writing The Killing Tide, I’ll admit I knew little about the Coast Guard. I had a friend in high school who joined the Guard right after graduation, but that’s about the depth of my experience with them. Then, my husband and I watched a movie called The Finest Hour.

If you haven’t seen it, I highly urge you to. It’s the true story of one of the most dangerous and daring rescue attempts in Coast Guard history. Boatswain’s Mate First Class Bernie Webber takes a small team to rescue the crew of the Pendleton T2 oil tanker, which split in half off the coast of Cape Cod during a brutal nor’easter in 1952. I won’t ruin the ending for you, but let’s just say it’s a wonderful testament to courage in adversity. After watching it, I knew I had to write a series about the Coast Guard. I began researching and came across the Coast Guard Investigative Service and my interest was highly peaked. After talking with Coast Guardsmen, both newly in the service and those long retired, I began to see the story weaving together like a movie in my mind. I hope you enjoy reading the CGIS Wilmington teams’ adventures, cases and…of course, romances.

Blog Stops

Through the Fire Blogs, June 17

Back Porch Reads, June 17

Losing the Busyness, June 17

Older & Smarter?, June 18

Genesis 5020, June 18

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, June 19

Worthy2Read, June 19

For Him and My Family, June 20

deb’s Book Review, June 20

Inklings and notions, June 20

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, June 21

Texas Book-aholic, June 21

Pause for Tales, June 21

Betti Mace, June 22

Read Review Rejoice, June 22

Spoken from the Heart, June 22

KarenSueHadley, June 23

Ashley’s Bookshelf, June 23

The Christian Fiction Girl, June 24

Life of Literature, June 24

Book Bites, Bee Stings, & Butterfly Kisses, June 24

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, June 25

Blossoms and Blessings, June 25

A Good Book and cup of Tea, June 25

Emily Yager, June 26

Splashes of Joy, June 26

Just the Write Escape, June 27

Blogging With Carol, June 27

Moments, June 27

Stories By Gina, June 28

Cathe Swanson, June 28

Daysong Reflections, June 28

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, June 29

Mary Hake, June 29

Lights in a Dark World, June 29

With a Joyful Noise, June 30

Inside the Wong Mind, June 30

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Dani is giving away the grand prize package of a Kindle, $20 Amazon gift card and a signed copy of The Crushing Depths!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/fcce/the-killing-tide-celebration-tour-giveaway

June 30, 2020 by Kim Book Reviews

Book Review: Don’t Keep Silent by Elizabeth Goddard

Don’t Keep Silent
by Elizabeth Goddard
Book 3 in the Uncommon Justice series
Rating: 4/5

Wow. That was an intense read! From the very beginning you get swept away into this world where the reader cannot stop reading until the end. I have not read the first two books in the series but I need to now that I’ve had a taste. It’s been a while since I’ve read anything by Elizabeth Goddard but this book did not disappoint.

Rae Burke is an investigative reporter with a heart for justice that is desperately trying to find out what happened to her sister-in-law, Zoey, who recently went missing. Her search leads her to Wyoming where Zoey’s mother lives and also where her favorite former DEA agent, Liam McKade, lives. They met while she was on assignment overseas and unfortunately, things ended when Liam got shot saving her life and blew his cover. She hopes she can explain what happened and win back Liam’s trust. Rae knows she needs his investigative help and protection if she’s going to find her sister-in-law before it’s too late. Can Liam learn to trust Rae again after she used him and broke his heart?

From the very beginning, I was hooked. This story is fast-paced and full of action and intrigue. I loved the characters and their motivations for what they did. Since this book was from a Christian publisher, I was expecting more faith aspects to be incorporated but they were nearly absent. Some of the scenes with Rae’s brother could have been better with a faith aspect but that’s only my opinion. This absence is why I rated it one less star. Everything else about this story is very well done and well written.

I highly recommend this book if you enjoy clean romantic suspense.

My thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of the book. All opinions expressed here are entirely my own. No positive review was expected and no compensation received.

June 29, 2020 by Kim Book Reviews

Book Review: The Peasant’s Dream by Melanie Dickerson

The Peasant’s Dream
by Melanie Dickerson
Book 11 in the Hagenheim series
Rating: 4.5/5
Release date: July 7, 2020

Reverse Cinderella story? Yes, please. I always love a good fairytale retelling but when you reverse the roles and fill out the characters and backstory so much, I did not want to put the book down. I am a huge fan of Melanie Dickerson because she takes the time to really develop her characters and fill in the fairytale background. She brings you back into her world of Hagenheim and it was such a fun adventure. Though this is part of a series, you can read this book by itself but I still highly recommend reading the rest of the series because it’s that good.

Frederick is a talented woodcarver who dreams of being able to escape his abusive father’s farm and make a living for his mother and younger twin sisters. When he gets a chance to sell some of his carvings at the market, a priest sees his talent and convinces the bishop to hire Frederick to carve the new doors for the cathedral. While at market, Frederick meets Adela and a friendship begins.

Adela is the youngest daughter of the Duke of Hagenheim who wishes she could travel and pursue her painting and creative side. Her father is very protective of her and Adela just wishes she could explore the world without being recognized as the Duke’s daughter. She disguises herself as a servant and goes off to explore the marketplace where she meets Frederick. She is surprised to find someone who understands her as an artist – someone who is kind and makes her smile. Although her parents are trying to help her find a kind nobleman to marry, Adela doesn’t feel anything for him – at least not what she starts feeling for Frederick, who doesn’t know who she really is.

What happens when Frederick finds out the truth about Adela’s status? What happens when someone wants Frederick out of the way? Can Adela and Frederick find a way to be together?

I am never disappointed with a Melanie Dickerson novel. Her characters have depth and a charm that makes the reader want to cheer them on. She has been building this world of Hagenheim for many years and it’s always such a pleasure to dive back into this fantasy world. I feel like the transformation that the main characters go through could have been developed more but it doesn’t take away from the amazing adventure and the awesome reveals in this story.

I highly recommend this book if you enjoy fairytale retelling with a twist.

My thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of the book. All opinions expressed here are entirely my own. No positive review was expected and no compensation received.