The Killing Tide by Dani Pettrey

Posted by abakersp in Mystery/Suspense / 0 Comments

Today I am so happy to finally be talking about The Killing Tide by Dani Pettrey. This book…….yep. It’s so good, and I have been waiting forever to read it. Okay, it was only months, but still. That’s a long time to a reader!

The reading of this book was a little different for me though. I actually got to read it with my daughter, as in at the same time! We never get to read books together because we never have two copies, so this was a big treat for us! We had so much fun reading and talking about the book. At one point Caitlin had a bunch of time to read that I didn’t, so she was way ahead. Let me tell you something – that gives me some motivation lol. I just read until my eyeballs wanted to pop out. And now, well we’re waiting for the next book to be released so we can read that together too 🙂

Friends, if you have the opportunity to read a book with someone, I encourage you to do it. I’m not talking about book clubs, I’m talking about a friend, family member, or fellow book lover. It’s so nice to have someone you can talk to about the book while it’s happening, not after. Now if only I could get Caitlin to read other books with me……..

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?

Amazon / Goodreads / Bookbub

Wow.

I’ve been waiting to read this new series from Dani Pettrey for a long time now, and let me tell you it was well worth the wait. Pettrey is so good at keeping readers on the edge of their seats, all while bringing these romantic scenes at just the right moments. And with swoony Finn as the hero in this installment, it’s pretty much impossible not to have a couple of **sighing** moments. In addition, readers will enjoy the suspense, the action, and the hunt for the truth.

There were several times I thought I knew for sure how the bad guys were going to pan out. Of course, the more I read the more I changed my mind, but then towards the end Pettrey delivers such a twist in who the ultimate bad guy was, I really didn’t see it coming. And I loved it! In fact, I had to skin back through previous chapters to see if I could see the bad guy in that person while I originally read about them. Pettrey brilliantly brings all the pieces together in the end, and had this reader catching her breath and unable to put the book down until I reached the end.

Let’s talk about the romance a bit. There’s just something about two people who know they should be together but try to fight it. All this tension builds up as the story goes on, until it explodes with a toe curling kiss that you’re just waiting for. But I love what Pettrey does after that. It’s not all roses, and glorious and them finally being a couple. Nope, instead she builds up more tension, and has the readers just begging for more. **sigh** Finn and Gabby just might be my favorite Pettrey couple.

I will say that in the beginning of the book, Gabby kind of annoyed me. She acted before she thought, and found herself in some pretty silly situations. And I get it – she was all about uncovering the truth for her story. But at some point I wanted her to step back and understand all the risks she was taking in doing so. And while it was slowly, almost painstakingly slow, I think she started to get that. Yes, she still put herself in danger, but she thought about it first. It was a step in the right direction and actually once this shift sort of happened, I found myself enjoying her character even more.

To say that I cannot wait for the next installment in this series is a huge understatement. But until it comes out, I’ll just enjoy Finn and Gabby’s story a bit longer! If you haven’t had the chance to read this one yet, I highly recommend that you do 🙂

“But he’d stuck with her – his scent, his touch, his tender smile. How and why had she left him behind?”

“…she wasn’t an orchid needing constant attention. She was more like a tumbleweed – sturdy and made to roam.”

“She stood by the conviction of God first, family second, job third. But did her actions and not just her words prove that she lived out what she professed?”

“The lady was impressive – frustrating as all get-out, but attractively impressive.”

“Being near God’s creation reminded her of His sovereignty and majesty.”

Dani Pettrey

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 a 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).

Her Alaskan Courage series and Chesapeake Valor series have received praise from readers and critics alike and spent multiple months topping the CBA bestseller lists. Dani has also been honored with multiple awards, including the Daphne du Maurier Award, two HOLT Medallions, a Christy Award finalist, two National Readers’ Choice Awards, the Gail Wilson Award of Excellence, and Christian Retailing’s Best Award.

From her early years eagerly reading Nancy Drew mysteries, to paging through Agatha Christie novels or watching on-the-edge-of-her-seat adventure movies, Dani has always enjoyed mystery and suspense. She considers herself blessed to be able to write the kind of stories she loves—full of plot twists and peril, love, and longing for hope and redemption. Her greatest joy as an author is sharing the stories God lays on her heart. She researches murder and mayhem from her home in Maryland, where she lives with her husband. Their two daughters, a son-in-law, and two adorable grandsons also reside in Maryland. For more information about her novels, visit www.danipettrey.com.