"DEAD LAKE" BY DARCY COATES

"Dead Lake" by Darcy Coates

My Synopsis & Review:

A young professional artist named Sam stays alone in her Uncle Peter’s cabin for a week to gain creative inspiration and create several paintings, without interruption, for an upcoming exhibition. Her uncle built this cabin himself about 10 years ago as a beautiful place to escape to on occasion, and when he offered it to his niece, she gladly accepted thinking it was just what she needed to get away from all distractions and focus on her art for a bit.

The cabin rests on the shore of a large lake, surrounded by densely wooded mountains, a two-hour drive from the nearest town. It has no electricity, no phone reception, and no running water. In this place, the only method of communication with the outside world is via a battery powered two-way radio. Sam had looked forward to this isolation and believed it would help her, however her fear of this place gradually rises as eery to downright horrifying things occur, both natural and supernatural.

I read this as I was in the mood for a creepy and quick read, and although I enjoyed reading this book, how it was written, and its pacing... it was more terrifying than I imagined it would be and scared me enough to give me some nightmares.

I recommend this book to those who love stories that make your heart race and your skin crawl. To those who frighten easily or somewhat easily, I recommend not reading this book at night or in the dark.

My ⭐ Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Notes: If any of you would like to learn more about Darcy Coates and her books, check out her website, DarcyCoates.com. Also, you can find my review of Dead Lake with my book highlights at Goodreads, here.

Credits: The book cover seen in this post is courtesy of Amazon.com.

"THE KILLING TIDE" BY DANI PETTREY

"The Killing Tide" by Dani Pettrey

Synopsis:

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?

My Review:

The opening line in this book really grabbed my attention.

So this was how she was going to die….

The Killing Tide has all sorts of dangerous criminals posing a threat to the main characters from the very beginning. This book contains many of the things I love most about Dani Pettrey’s Submerged (one of my favorite books)—interesting family and friendships, action and adventure, thrilling suspense and mystery, an exciting water/dive rescue theme, and a cast of brave heroes and heroines.

Sadly, I feel the main characters of this book (Gabby and Finn) are lacking depth, making it difficult to get invested in them. Their romance is also quite superficial and a bit too heavy for my liking, with more of a focus on physical/sexual attraction than their personalities or internal traits. After finishing this book, I felt like I didn't really know or care too much about these two characters and found myself a lot more interested in the side characters.

Dani Pettrey is one of my favorite authors, and while I didn't love The Killing Tide, I enjoyed reading it and look forward to the next book in the Coastal Guardians series. I’m especially interested in finding out more about the secondary characters, Noah Rowley and Rissi Dawson.

On a side note, the cover of this book is amazing!

My ⭐ Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Note: You can find my Goodreads review of "The Killing Tide" with my 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.

"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.

"DECEIVED" BY IRENE HANNON

"Deceived" by Irene Hannon

(Private Justice #3)

Synopsis:

For three years, Kate Marshall has been mourning the loss of her husband and four-year-old son in a boating accident. But when she spots a familiar-looking child on a mall escalator, she's convinced it's her son. With police skeptical of her story, she turns to private investigator Connor Sullivan for help. As the former Secret Service agent digs into the case, the boating "accident" begins to look increasingly suspicious. But if Kate's son is alive, someone is intent on keeping him hidden--and may go to lethal lengths to protect a sinister secret.

My Review:

Yet another well written suspense novel by Irene Hannon with richly developed characters and a captivating storyline.

This is the final book in the "Private Justice" trilogy. Each book in this series focuses primarily on one of Phoenix, Inc.'s private investigators and a case he is working—Cal in "Vanished" (book #1), Dev in "Trapped" (book #2), and Connor in "Deceived" (book #3). I really enjoyed getting to know all of the characters in this series, and I loved the close friendship between these three investigators.

I found "Deceived" to be a gripping read and an excellent conclusion to the "Private Justice" series!

My ⭐ Rating: 5 out of 5 stars.

Notes: This is an older review (2017) that I'll be updating when I read this book again. You can find my Goodreads review of "Deceived" with my highlights here.

Credits: The book covers and synopses seen in this post are courtesy of Amazon.com. Also, if any of you would like to learn more about Irene Hannon and her books, check out her website, IreneHannon.com.

"TRAPPED" BY IRENE HANNON

"Trapped" by Irene Hannon

(Private Justice #2)

Synopsis:

When librarian Laura Griffith's sixteen-year-old sister disappears on a frigid February day, leaving only a brief note behind, Laura resolves to do whatever it takes to track down the runaway teen. That includes recruiting ATF agent turned PI James "Dev" Devlin to help. But the deeper he digs, the more he begins to suspect that something sinister is at work in the girl's disappearance. And the closer he gets to uncovering the truth, the clearer it becomes that the situation isn't just dangerous--it's deadly.

My Review:

This is quite a chilling story with just the right amount of creepiness and complete terror, alongside a heartfelt budding romance. Hannon is rather talented in creating thrilling stories with well-developed, intriguing characters.

I read "Vanished" and "Trapped" (books 1 & 2 in the "Private Justice" series) back to back and these two books share numerous similarities, including many of the same character introductions, relationship details, and very similar plots and settings. For this reason, I recommend putting a bit of time between each book, to avoid the feeling of repetitiveness. The books in this series were written as stand-alone novels that have some connections to one another, but can each be read on their own.

"Trapped" is well written and very well-paced, with suspense building more and more as the story progresses and details are gradually revealed about its villain. I found this book to be highly enjoyable and difficult to put down.

Irene Hannon is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors!

My ⭐ Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Notes: This is an older review (2017) that I'll be updating when I read this book again. You can find my Goodreads review of "Trapped" here.

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

"VANISHED" BY IRENE HANNON

"Vanished" by Irene Hannon

(Private Justice #1)

Synopsis:

Reporter Moira Harrisons is lost. In the dark. In a thunderstorm. When a confusing detour places her on a rural, wooded road, she's startled by the sudden appearance of a lone figure caught in the beam of her headlights. Though Moira jams on her brakes, the car careens across the wet pavement--and the solid thump against the side of the vehicle tells her she hit the person before she crashes into a tree on the far side of the road.

A dazed Moira is relieved when a man opens her door, tells her he saw everything, and promises to call 911. Then everything fades to black. When she comes to an hour later, she is alone. No man. No 911. No injured person lying on the side of the road. But she can't forget the look of terror she saw on the person's face in the instant before her headlights swung away. The person she hit had been in trouble. She's sure of it. But she can't get anyone to believe her story--except a handsome former police detective, now a private eye, who agrees to take on the case.

My Review:

This book has all of the things I now look for in a good suspense novel... A mentally and emotionally captivating plot driven by dangerous circumstances that keep you on the edge of your seat, with compelling characters, and subtle elements of faith and romance, without any profanity, graphic violence, or sexual content.

One of my favorite quotes from this book is: "After that, I started laying my problems and needs before God and asking for grace and guidance and whatever other virtues he thought I needed..."

"Vanished" captured both my mind and my heart. I found this book to be thrilling, uplifting, and truly entertaining. This is the first book I've read by Irene Hannon, and I very much look forward to reading more of her suspense work!

My ⭐ Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Notes: This is an older review (2017) that I'll be updating when I read this book again. You can find my Goodreads review of "Vanished" here.

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

"AGAINST THE TIDE" BY ELIZABETH CAMDEN

"Against the Tide" by Elizabeth Camden

Synopsis:

After a childhood rampant with uncertainty, Lydia Pallas has carved out a perfect life for herself. She spends her days within sight of the bustling Boston Harbor, where her skill with languages has landed her an enviable position as a translator for the U.S. Navy.

Lydia's talents bring her to the attention of Alexander Banebridge, a mysterious man in need of a translator. Driven by a campaign to end the opium trade, Bane is coolly analytical and relentless in his quest. He cannot afford to fall for Lydia and must fight the bittersweet love growing between them.

When Bane's enemies gain the upper hand, he is forced to turn to Lydia for help. Determined to prove her worth, Lydia soon discovers that carrying out Bane's mission will test her wits and her courage to the very limits.

My Review:

As a beautiful work of historical Christian fiction, I consider Elizabeth Camden’s “Against the Tide” to be a great read for all—not just for Christian readers. This book is very well written with fascinating characters and an excellent blend of mystery, suspense, adventure, romance, and redemption.

The development of each character in this book is very well paced. Camden keeps you guessing as the history and motives of each character are slowly unveiled with brilliant timing. Most of the characters have visible flaws, which I really appreciate because this makes them much more realistic, more human.

Bane in particular is such a complex, mysterious, and intriguing character! The Bane you see in the beginning, middle, and end of this story, are all very different. This character is constantly evolving throughout this book and my opinion of him changed drastically from beginning to end, which I love. I believe he has more depth than any other character in this book.

There is also a character that is so inherently evil that reading about him/her made my skin crawl, however this character has an outward appearance to most of a well-educated and highly intelligent individual with a kind disposition, which makes this person even more creepy—a definite wolf in sheep’s clothing. I won’t spoil who this character is, but I will say that this person adds a lot of shock and suspense to this story!

The plot of “Against the Tide” is centered around an opium (a narcotic drug) addiction problem in the U.S. that had led to extreme crime and severe suffering in the late-1800s, and from what I could tell this book is historically accurate. The author really did her research. I found this story especially interesting because the U.S. is facing a very similar problem today with opium addictions.

Outside of some necessary terrors that keep the reader on the edge of his or her seat, this book is clean with no cursing or sexual situations in it, which I really admire the author for. I'm also impressed with how the author blended faith into this story without being overbearing or "preachy," making this book appealing to both believers and nonbelievers.

I finished this book not wanting it to end, and I will undoubtedly be reading it again multiple times in the future.

“Against the Tide” is a very enjoyable and exciting read that I highly recommend.

My ⭐ Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Notes: This book has one of my favorite book covers! You can find my Goodreads review of "Against the Tide" 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 Elizabeth Camden and her books, check out her website, ElizabethCamden.com.