Archive for July 18, 2020

The Crushing Depths by Dani Pettrey Banner

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The Crushing Depths

by Dani Pettrey

on Tour July 1 – 31, 2020

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53163130

 

My Review

Even though this is the second book in the series and I hadn’t read the first, I easily came to know the characters and their roles in each other’s lives. It’s a rather large cast as Rissi and Mason are part of the Coast Guard team assigned to investigate a questionable death aboard an oil rig. Some evidence points to murder and an environmental activist group falls under suspicion. Or it could be someone connected to the rig with their own hidden agenda.

The investigation has barely begun before it becomes apparent it was no accident. The helicopter transporting Rissi and Mason to the rig crashes and it appears to have been sabotage. In such an isolated location, with so many suspects and a hurricane looming closer, it’s a race to solve the case before more people die.

I had an enjoyable time trying to figure out what was really happening and who was behind it. Rissi and Mason quickly became my favorite characters. They shared the same scars from growing up in an abusive foster home and lean on each other as things get dangerous. I liked all of the other characters too. Each had baggage and something to offer and I wanted so much for them to be safe and find happiness.

This had a mystery or two that was not easily solved and evolving relationships that kept me intrigued and hopeful. It was so easy to read and I finished it in one sitting. And I’d definitely like to continue with the series and see how these characters get along in life.

4 Stars

 

Synopsis:

 

When an accident claims the life of an oil-rig worker on the first drilling platform off the North Carolina coast, Coast Guard investigators Rissi Dawson and Mason Rogers are sent to take the case. Tensions surrounding the oil rig are high and the death has everyone on edge. Environmental activists are threatening to do whatever it takes to stop the structure from being completed, while rumors are being whispered about ancient curses surrounding this part of the ocean.

Mounting evidence shows the death may not have been an accident at all. Was he killed by one of the activists or, perhaps more frighteningly, a member of his own crew? Rissi and Mason have to sort through not only a plethora of suspects, but also their own past and attraction to each other.

Just as the case seems like it’ll break open, worse news arrives. A tropical storm has turned their way and soon they’re cut off from any rescue–and right where the killer wants them. It’s a race to discover his identity before he eliminates the threat they pose.

 

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Genre: Inspirational Romantic Suspense

Published by: Bethany House

Publication Date: June 30th 2020

Number of Pages: 320 ISBN: 0764230859 (ISBN13: 9780764230851)

Series: Coastal Guardians #2

Purchase Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | ChristianBook | Goodreads

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Read an excerpt:

Chapter One

Late September Thirty-eight miles off North Carolina’s coast Greg Barnes clinked along the grated metal steps, his boot heels rasping with each shuffle as he headed topside for a much-needed breath of smoke. Thrusting the door open with a resounding creak, he stepped out into the night air. A litany of protestors’ chants mimicked the shrill whining of cicadas. He glanced at his watch. 1930. Didn’t those eco-nuts ever give it a rest? As if the cursed rig wasn’t enough—they had the dang relentless protestors going practically day and night. Exhaling, he rubbed his thumb along the smooth surface of the tarnished gold lighter in his pocket. His tight muscles seized, making his movements stiff. He shook his head. Those people needed to get a life. Edging around the far corner of the main separator facility, he pressed his back against the structure’s cool outer wall. Generators whirred across from him, finally drowning out the clatter. He scanned his surroundings and exhaled in relief. Finally, alone. His leg twitched. Just one drag . . . maybe two. It’d been an awful day, and that was the gentleman’s way of putting it. With unsteady hands, he pulled the plastic-wrapped pack from his shirt pocket. It crinkled beneath his hold and the sweet scent of tobacco wafted beneath his nose. He tamped the cigarette in his palm and slid it between his cracked lips. Just one drag. Tugging the lighter from his pocket, he flipped it open, then rolled the pad of his thumb across the ignitor. A spark flashed and fire roared, hissing over him in a sizzling cascade of torment.

Chapter Two

Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina Rissi Dawson sat at the long table on Dockside’s waterfront deck, gaping at Mason Rogers. He turned to look at her, his green eyes illuminated in the bright pole lights lining the wooden structural beams. She averted her eyes as heat rushed up her throat, spreading across her cheeks. He’d caught her staring again. Embarrassment drenched her. It’d been three days since his arrival, and she still couldn’t wrap her mind around the fact he was actually sitting next to her. The boy she’d had the biggest crush on as a teen was back in her life. And on her Coast Guard Investigative Service team. He handed her the basket of hush puppies the restaurant served instead of bread to start everyone off. His hand brushed hers with the movement, and her heart fluttered. “Thanks,” she said, keeping her gaze fixed on the red basket as she pulled two balls of fried cornmeal from it. She plopped the still-warm puppies onto the round plate to the right of her Coke. Get it together, girl! The whir of a boat’s motor dropping to an idle sounded over the deck’s edge. A teen jumped out of the white outboard and onto the pier, tying her up to the cleat. Rissi loved living in a place with a boat drive-thru. Noah raised his glass of iced tea. “Everyone . . .” The team lifted their glasses in response to their boss’s prompting. Noah dipped his chin. “Welcome, Mason. Happy to have you on board.” The team clinked their glasses together, even Caleb who sat brooding to her left. Observant as he was, there was no chance he missed the way she looked at Mason. In recent months, he’d developed feelings for her, so it wasn’t surprising he’d bristled at Mason’s arrival—especially after learning she and Mason shared a past, though he didn’t know the half of it. Only that they spent time in a children’s home together for a handful of months as teens. The opening riff of “Sweet Home Alabama” emanated from Noah’s jean pocket. He hitched up as he extracted his phone. “Rowley,” he answered. “Yes?” Standing, he headed down the ramp toward the restaurant’s pier. “Rockfish tacos,” the waitress said, placing the plate in front of Rissi. The sweet, tropical scent of the mango slaw swirled in the air. The waitress handed out plate after plate to each of them, setting Noah’s burger at his spot while he continued to pace the pier. Caleb bit into his Carolina BBQ pork sandwich, the scent of vinegar wafting in the night’s gentle breeze. Finn Walker did the same with his crab cake sandwich. He and Noah, who was from Maryland, had argued for months over which state had the best crab cake. Finn had been convinced it was North Carolina, right up until Noah had crab cakes flown in fresh from Jimmy’s Famous Seafood in Baltimore. It took two bites for Finn to concede the win. “Sorry about that, folks,” Noah said, retaking his seat. “Everything okay?” Emmy Thorton asked. Rissi looked forward to seeing the quirky angel every day at the station. “Rissi, Mason.” Noah lifted his chin in their direction. “I’ve got an assignment for you.” Her and Mason? They’d worked a case his first day on the team, but Finn had joined them for most of the investigation. This would be the two of them . . . alone. A mixture of elation and fear sifted through her. “Great.” Mason set down his lemonade. “We’ve got a death out on the Dauntless.” “The offshore oil platform?” Mason asked, swiping a drop of lemonade from his bottom lip. Stop staring, girl. So he’s jaw-dropping gorgeous. So you share a past. Still, staring is plain rude. Despite not having a mother to teach her, Rissi knew or, at least had come to learn, her manners. Noah laid his napkin across his lap. “You two need to determine if the death was an accident or if foul play was involved. Helo is leaving from Textra Oil’s copter hub in forty-five. I need you both on it.” Mason pushed back from the table. “No problem.” “Great,” Noah said. “You’ll be joining the head of operations, a commercial diver, and the deceased’s replacement on the company copter.” Rissi took one last bite of her taco before setting it down. She dabbed the corner of her lips with a napkin. “They aren’t wasting any time in replacing the deceased.” “The deceased’s name is Greg Barnes. I talked to the head of operations, Bob Stanton, and he said they needed to replace him ASAP.” “Must be an important position.” She reached for her glass and took a final sip. “You’d think,” Noah said. “But Bob said the main reason they need to replace him fast is they’ve been working with a skeleton crew.” Mason’s brows pinched as he stood. “Why?” “Several guys didn’t show up for their three-week rotation transport out,” Noah said, popping a fry in his mouth. “I know why they didn’t show up for that copter ride out there.” Tom Murphy leaned toward them from his table situated to their right. “Why?” Mason asked, moving around to the back of Rissi’s chair. He held it out for her as she stood. She glanced over her shoulder at him and smiled. “Thanks.” He nodded. Tom, one of Wrightsville’s most colorful fishermen, crooked his index finger, drawing them in. “That rig’s cursed.” “Cursed?” Caleb chuckled. “You can’t be serious?” Tom waggled his finger. “It’s no laughing matter, young man.” “I’m sure it’s a good story, Tom,” Rissi said. No reason not to be polite. “But I’m afraid we’ve got to catch a copter ride.” Tom shrugged and turned back to his food. “It’s your lives at stake.” “What do you mean?” she asked before they passed his table, unable to stem her curiosity. “You’ll see.” He smiled, his right incisor missing. “Henry’s curse is real.” “Henry?” Why was she letting herself get sucked into this? Tom let out a high-pitched chuckle. “Oh, you’ll learn all about Henry.” “Shall we?” Mason said, gesturing to the wooden ramp leading down to the gravel parking lot. Excusing themselves, they moved down the ramp. Mason leaned in. He smelled of the ocean and warm spice. He whispered, “Did that guy seriously just cackle?” She nodded, strangely curious about the old man’s ghost story. “I thought people only did that on Scooby-Doo.” She let out a slip of laughter. “I wouldn’t be laughing,” Tom called after them as they rounded the ramp on his side of the deck. “You two be careful out there, you hear? It’s a dangerous place to be. Just ask the men on board.” *** Excerpt from The Crushing Depths by Dani Pettrey. Copyright 2020 by Dani Pettrey. Reproduced with permission from Dani Pettrey. All rights reserved.

 

 

Author Bio:

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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 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 have appeared on the CBA, ECPA, Publisher’s Weekly, and Amazon #1 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.

Catch Up With Dani Pettrey: DaniPettrey.com, Goodreads, BookBub, Instagram, Twitter, & Facebook!

 

 

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Death By Windmill: A Mother’s Day Murder In Amsterdam

A Travel Can Be Murder Cozy Mystery Series

by Jennifer S. Alderson


Death by Windmill: A Mother’s Day Murder in Amsterdam
(Travel Can Be Murder Cozy Mystery Series)

Cozy Mystery
3rd in Series
Publisher: Independently published (May 16, 2020)
Paperback: 218 pages
ISBN-13: 979-8646330070
Digital ASIN: B0843K7HNQ

A Mother’s Day trip to the Netherlands turns deadly when a guest plummets from a windmill. Was it an accident or a murder? For Lana Hansen, the answer will mean freedom or imprisonment for someone close to her…

 

Wanderlust Tours guide Lana Hansen and her mother, Gillian, haven’t seen eye to eye in over a decade, ever since Lana was wrongly fired from her job as an investigative reporter. So when Lana’s boss invites Gillian to join her upcoming Mother’s Day tour to the Netherlands, Lana is less than pleased.

 

What could be worse than spending ten days with her estranged mother? Lana is about to find out…

 

The tour begins on a high note when the majority of guests bond during their visit to the Keukenhof flower gardens and a cruise around the picturesque canals of Amsterdam.

 

Despite her initial reservations, Lana thinks this might be the best group she had ever led. Until she discovers one of her guests—a recent retiree named Priscilla—is the person who destroyed her career in journalism.

 

All Lana can see is red. But circumstances dictate that she figure out a way to lead the tour, make peace with her mother, and not murder her guest. She doesn’t know whether she can handle the pressure.

 

Lana needn’t worry. Shortly after their fight, Priscilla falls off the balcony of a historic windmill at Zaanse Schans. Was she pushed or simply careless? The investigating officers suspect murder—and topping their suspect list is Lana’s mom!

 

Can Lana save Gillian? Or will her mother end up spending the rest of her days in a Dutch prison?

 

About Jennifer S. Alderson

Jennifer S. Alderson was born in San Francisco, raised in Seattle, and currently lives in Amsterdam. After traveling extensively around Asia, Oceania, and Central America, she moved to Darwin, Australia, before settling in the Netherlands. Her background in journalism, multimedia development, and art history enriches her novels. When not writing, she can be found in a museum, biking around Amsterdam, or enjoying a coffee along the canal while planning her next research trip.

Jennifer’s love of travel, art, and culture inspires her award-winning mystery series—the Zelda Richardson Mysteries and Travel Can Be Murder Cozy Mysteries—and standalone stories.

Author Links: Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / LinkedIn / BookBub

Purchase Links – Amazon 

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TOUR PARTICIPANTS

July 13 – The Book Decoder – REVIEW  

July 13 – The Pulp and Mystery Shelf – SPOTLIGHT

July 14 – I’m All About Books – SPOTLIGHT

July 14 – A Wytch’s Book Review Blog – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

July 15 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW

July 15 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

July 16 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

July 16 – Hearts & Scribbles – SPOTLIGHT

July 17 – Here’s How It Happened – REVIEW

July 17 – The Book Diva’s Reads – GUEST POST

July 18 – Literary Gold – SPOTLIGHT

July 18 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

July 19 – StoreyBook Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

July 19 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – REVIEW

July 20 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – CHARACTER GUEST POST

July 20 – My Reading Journeys – SPOTLIGHT

July 21 – Book Club Librarian – REVIEW  

July 21 – Ascroft, eh? – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

July 22 – Island Confidential – SPOTLIGHT

July 22 – Reading Is My SuperPower – REVIEW

July 23 – eBook Addicts – REVIEW

July 23 – Diane Reviews Books – SPOTLIGHT

July 24 – Christa Reads and Writes – REVIEW

July 25 – Elizabeth McKenna – Author – SPOTLIGHT

July 25 – MJB Reviewers – SPOTLIGHT

July 26 – Baroness’ Book Trove – REVIEW

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