"SUBMERGED" BY DANI PETTREY

"Submerged" by Dani Pettrey

Synopsis:

A sabotaged plane. Two dead deep-water divers.

Yancey, Alaska was a quiet town...until the truth of what was hidden in the depths off the coast began to appear.

Bailey Craig vowed never to set foot in Yancey again. She has a past, and a reputation--and Yancey's a small town. She's returned to bury a loved one killed in the plane crash and is determined not to stay even an hour more than necessary. But then dark evidence emerges and Bailey's own expertise becomes invaluable for the case.

Cole McKenna can handle the deep-sea dives and helping the police recover evidence. He can even handle the fact that a murderer has settled in his town and doesn't appear to be moving on. But dealing with the reality of Bailey's reappearance is a tougher challenge. She broke his heart, but she is not the same girl who left Yancey. He let her down, but he's not the same guy she left behind. Can they move beyond the hurts of their pasts and find a future together?

My Review:

Reading this book, I found myself wishing I could be a part of the McKenna clan. I really enjoyed getting to know this fictional family. The camaraderie and playfulness between siblings and how they all look after one another is quite appealing.

The characters of Submerged are all well developed with varied personalities, ranging from really likable to really detestable. The story plot is very well-paced and the crime elements are mysterious and thrilling, with a bit of a Nancy Drew vibe. I really love the rescue diving theme in this book!

One of my absolute favorite things about Submerged is its message that no one is undeserving of love and forgiveness. This is especially evident in the wonderful character arc of Bailey Craig, as she undergoes a quite significant internal transformation from the beginning to the end of this story. I loved seeing this character evolve and heal from her brokenness.

Submerged is Dani Pettrey's first published novel, the first book I ever read by this author, and one of the first Christian suspense books I ever read (now a favorite genre). I love this book and can't wait to read the rest of Pettrey's written works.

My ⭐ Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Notes: This book belongs to the "Alaskan Courage" series. My reviews for the rest of books in this series can be found on Goodreads, which there is a link to near the top of my blog. Also, you can find my Goodreads review of "Submerged" with my book highlights here.

Credits: The book cover and synopsis seen in this post are courtesy of Amazon.com, and if any of you would like to learn more about Dani Pettrey and her books, check out her website, DaniPettrey.com.