Beauty on the Backroads

Stories of grace for life's unexpected turns

mystery

Edge of your seat suspense: Review of Shattered by Dani Pettrey

The weather outside was frightful and cold when I dived in to Dani Pettrey’s second novel in the Alaskan Courage series, Shattered. Wrapping myself in blankets and sweatshirts while watching snow fall on a gray winter day was a sure-fire way to immerse myself in the setting. But Pettrey’s writing is such that even on a hot summer day readers will feel like they’re there.

Not long ago, I read Pettrey’s first novel, Submerged, on the recommendation of a friend, and I was caught up in the characters and mystery of the story. I didn’t hesitate to take the cShatteredhance to review her second novel and return to the island with Shattered.

The McKenna family is once again thrown into the middle of a murder mystery. Reef, a brother who  has been estranged from the rest of the family, has returned to his hometown of Yancey, Alaska but is soon a suspect in the murder of a fellow snowboarder. His sister Piper is convinced of his innocence and sets out to prove it. Deputy Landon Grainger, a longtime family friend, wants to believe Reef is innocent, but when the evidence points strongly to Reef and the sheriff wants a quick conviction, Landon puts his  job on the line to pursue the truth with Piper.

I haven’t read mystery/suspense in a long time, but picking up this set of books from Pettrey has sparked my interest. They’re compelling, the characters have depth and feeling, and the plot is full of twists and turns that keep readers turning the pages.

The McKenna family is tight-knit, but they behave like a real family with problems. They look out for each other but they drive each other crazy sometimes. I want to re-read these books to spend time with the family because it’s not hard to imagine they’d welcome you to their family get-togethers.

And while I’m not the biggest fan of cold weather, Pettrey makes Alaska down-right appealing.

If you’re looking for an enjoyable escape with unpredictable plot twists, then pick up Pettrey’s latest. (Or the first one in the series, Submerged.)

I’m a new fan not only of Pettrey but of this genre of novel.

And the good news is: Pettrey just announced three more books to be published in this series. So, there’ll be plenty of romantic suspense in the future as well!

Meet Dani: pettrey

Dani Pettrey is a wife, homeschooling mom, and author. She feels blessed to write inspirational romantic suspense because it incorporates so many things she loves–the thrill of adventure, nail biting suspense, the deepening of her characters’ faith, and plenty of romance. She and her husband reside in Maryland with their two teenage daughters.

Visit her website at www.danipettrey.com.
You’re invited!
Dani Pettrey is celebrating the release of Shattered with a Nook HD giveaway and a Facebook Author Chat Party {3/14}. Shattered Pettrey
One winner will receive:

  • A brand new Nook HD
  • Submerged and Shattered by Dani Pettrey {Be caught up in this riveting series.}

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on March 13th. Winner will be announced at the “Shattered” Author Chat Party on 3/14. Connect with Dani for an evening of book chat, trivia, and a chance to win gift certificates, books, and other fun prizes!

So grab your copy of Shattered and join Dani on the evening of the March 14th for a chance to connect and make some new friends. (If you haven’t read the book – don’t let that stop you from coming!)

Don’t miss a moment of the fun; RSVP today. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 14th!

In exchange for this review, I received a free advanced digital copy of Shattered from LitFuse Publicity Group.

A day at the beach: A review of Shadows on the Sand by Gayle Roper

If Seaside, New Jersey was a real place, I’d book my next vacation there. Murder and intrigue notwithstanding.

Shadows on the Sand was my first Gayle Roper novel, and I’m not sorry I took the plunge. It was an enjoyable blend of romance and mystery. Thrilling in all kinds of ways.

In it, Carrie Carter runs a cafe and when her dishwasher turns up missing, and then dead, she finds herself looking for answers. Greg, a former police officer, a widower and a regular at the cafe, is drawn into the search. While the storyline has its predictable moments, the journey is fun and exciting, with enough twists and turns to keep you in it till the end.

Click here for a sneak peek at the first chapter.

I especially loved the characters. Carrie and Greg and the supporting “cast” became real to me. I believed their emotions, their struggles, their reactions. My only criticism of Carrie is that I kept imagining her older than the 33 years the author created her to be. She had a rough past, so maybe that’s why she seemed older in thought and deed.

I’m not sure what impacted me more, though: the story or the author’s note at the end. Roper reveals that she was recently widowed, a characteristic she shares with Greg in the book. His struggles became more meaningful as I realized she was writing, in part, from what she knew and experienced.

That, my friends, is the key to good writing. I appreciated Roper’s openness in sharing that particular struggle and transforming it into a creative work for the blessing of others.

Shadows on the Sand is Roper’s fifth book in the Seaside Seasons series. I’m looking forward to reading what I’ve missed in the other books.

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As part of the Blogging for Books program, I received a free digital copy of Shadows on the Sand from Waterbrook Multnomah Publishing Group.

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So, if you made it this far, you might be willing to go a step further, right? Click on the link below to rate my review on the Blogging For Books Web site and you’ll be entered for a chance to win a FREE book from Waterbrook Multnomah. That’s worth a few extra seconds, right?

http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/bloggingforbooks/reviews/ranking/14639