REVIEW: SABOTAGED ~ DANI PETTREY

Sabotaged by Dani Pettrey is the fifth and final instalment of the Alaskan Courage series.  The book can be read as a standalone as this story focuses on Reef and Kirra, but the books are definitely best read in order as you get to revisit main characters from previous books. 

Reef and Kirra are partnered as volunteers during the annual Idatrod when the frontrunner, Kirra’s uncle, goes missing.  Reef insists on accompanying Kirra as she searches for her uncle Frank.  They soon learn that Kirra’s cousin has been kidnapped and that Frank is being forced to do “a job” to ensure Meg’s safety.  Kirra and Reef embark on the journey of their lives as they try to not only find the missing Meg, but discover what Frank is being forced to do. 

Along the way, Kirra is forced to confront a buried hurt that is still hovering over her life and influencing not only her present but any chance of a happy future as well.  As Reef assists, supports and comforts Kirra during this very stressful time she comes to find he is no longer the irresponsible playboy hooked on adrenaline and excitement that she once knew. He grounds her and gives her stability during a time that is anything but stable. God is no doubt using Reef to help Kirra face and overcome her demons.  Could it be that her childhood nemesis is the answer to her prayers?

I love the McKenna family and I love the Alaskan Courage series, but sadly this final instalment (one I’ve been looking forward to so much) is my least favourite in the series.  Reef has become unrecognisable from the character we first met.  Now, this might be intentional – Pettrey may want to illustrate the way a person can change once he gives his heart to the Lord – but my problem is this character does not seem like Reef at all; it felt like a whole new character for me.  This Kirra also seemed different to me than the Kirra we met in Silenced.  I love the fact that she is a vet and she runs a shelter for rescued sled dogs, yet none of this was incorporated into this story, which I found very disappointing.  The Mckenna family business, Final Frontier Adventures, also played no part this time around which felt strange to me. 

The action portion of this story also didn’t grab me as strongly as the previous books did.  I remember reading the previous books, especially Shattered, and being so tense!  I feared for characters’ lives in the other stories, but not this time around.  The danger just didn’t feel real to me. I enjoyed that Pettrey made the reader so much a part of the scene in the past (she took me diving, skiing, kayaking, mountain climbing) and sadly I didn't experience that feeling this time around. 

I love that Reef and Kirra found each other, but it all just seemed to happen a little fast for me.  I found the pacing of their relationship a little unrealistic.  Having said that, the characters complement each other well and it was lovely to see how Reef helped Kirra come to terms with her past, and helped her heal.  Focus on faith is ever present, which I appreciate and enjoy, and we get to visit with all the other McKennas and their significant others one last time.

All in all a satisfying conclusion to the Alaskan Courage series. 

Bethany House Publishers has graciously supplied me with a complimentary copy of this book, via Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.  Thank you very much!

Product Information:

Title: Sabotaged

Series: Alaskan Courage (Standalone)

Author: Dani Pettrey

Publisher: Bethany House Publishers

Year: 2015

Pages: 337

ISBN-10: 076421196X

ISBN-13: 978-0764211966 

ASIN: B00MBTYFV8

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Review: Shattered ~ Dani Pettrey

Review: Stranded ~ Dani Pettrey

Review: Silenced ~ Dani Pettrey

REVIEW: THE CRYSTAL SLIPPER ~ SELENA FULTON

Sometimes you just have to believe...

 

A single crystal slipper. It was probably the weirdest gift librarian Celinda Branham ever received during a Christmas gift exchange. Who would even wear these in the real world? Not Celinda, wearer of sensible shoes and fairy tale naysayer. That said, she certainly has the requisite wicked stepmother, irritating stepsister, and empty bank account. Of course, if she actually believed in all that fantastical junk, she could wait for her Prince Charming...

 

Only Prince Charming doesn't exist.

 

But Preston Chandler believes in fairy tales. Oh, does he ever. All he did was spurn the advances of a certain witch, and now his sister is under a sleeping spell. And the only way to break it? Find the other glass slipper and give someone "Love's First Kiss." But when Preston finally tracks down Celinda, he's dismayed to discover that the shy librarian who owns the other shoe has no interest in anything remotely resembling magic - including love. Now he must find a way into his Cinderella's cynical heart, or lose his sister... and his only chance for true love.

Entangled Publishing has graciously supplied me with a complimentary copy of this book, via Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.  Thank you!

The Crystal Slipper by Selena Fulton is a contemporary take on two classic fairy tales (Cinderella with a dash of Sleeping Beauty).  Preston spurns the affections of a woman who turns out to be a novice witch.  In a moment of fury she punishes him by targeting the one woman she knows he loves: his sister.  Preston's sister is under a sleeping spell, looking for all the world as if she is in a coma. Preston knows better: his only chance at saving his sister is breaking the spell by reuniting two crystal slippers. Preston tracks down the second slipper in America, in the possession of a painfully shy librarian. However, reuniting the slippers is only the beginning; only love's first kiss can break the spell.  To break the spell Preston must not only convince Celinda to give him her heart, but he must finally humble himself and fall in love as well.  The problem is, Celinda doesn't believe in magic, fairy tales or love...

I mostly enjoyed this refreshing take on a classic. Fulton totally revamped the storyline which meant it was not a predictable read at all.  I really liked Celinda, I found her to be a very complex yet relatable character.  I enjoyed seeing her coming into her own, conquering her demons and finally allowing her true self to shine.  The problem is I can't say the same about Preston.  While Fulton tried her best to make him a sympathetic character, I never warmed up to him quite as you should warm up to the hero.  I resented his attempts to make Celinda fall for him when he had no intention of catching her.  Throughout the book he used her to further his own agenda, despite seeing how truly sweet and vulnerable she is.  *Spoiler alert*  I mean, she even gives him her virginity (though the book remains faithful to the fairy tale genre by not containing a sex scene), and the first thing he thinks is he hopes she doesn't want anything long term.  The morning after he's so cold and distant, even I wanted to slap him.  He's by no means the worst hero I've ever come across, but I would have appreciated a few more pros other than he is rich and handsome.  I suppose he is a decent guy trying to save his sister's life, but he could have handled the Celinda-situation much, much better.

Another issue I have with the book is that throughout the story the threat of a hostile takeover looms over Preston as he is neglecting the family business in his quest to save his sister.  This issue is never settled in a tangible manner and the reader is left to assume that it sorted itself out and everything worked out perfectly.  I would have preferred a clear resolution, perhaps even a dramatic scene or two. Furthermore we have a manipulative witch who never has to answer for her crimes, an evil stepmother and a paedophilic stepfather who are introduced purely to frustrate the reader, and receive no real comeuppance.  Authors should never introduce situations that need to be resolved if they have no intention of actually resolving them.

Having said that, overall The Crystal Slipper is a very charming, sweet, enjoyable read.

Product Information:

Title: The Crystal Slipper

Author: Selena Fulton

Publisher: Entangled Publishing

Year: 2014

Pages: 222

ASIN: B00N6LOHK4

REVIEW: HER PERFECT GAME ~ SHANNYN SCHROEDER

Charlie Castle is an expert archer and a fierce warrior - in her favorite video game, anyway. But college life was a program she couldn't quite master. To land a cybertech job without a degree, she's entering a "hackfest" over spring break, where she also hopes to meet the sweet gamer who's been flirting with her online. Instead, she runs into the man she had once thought was the love of her life; the man who walked away years ago, without saying goodbye.

Jonah Best has never gotten over Charlie, whose kisses were always as deliciously creative as her coding. But now that they're face to face again, he doesn't know how to admit that her online admirer is really him - or how to convince her that he's offering her a job for her incredible skills, not her sex appeal. Can Jonah cut through their communication glitches and persuade Charlie that the next level up for them should be forever?

Kensington Books has graciously provided me with a complimentary copy of this book, via Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.  Thank you!

Her perfect game is the second book in Shannyn Schroeder’s Hot & Nerdy series, and can be read as a standalone novel.

The story focuses on Jonah and Charlie, former lovers facing a second chance at happily ever after.  Their love story started years ago when Charlie’s college room-mate had committed suicide after an old boyfriend released very private materials of her over the internet.  Charlie became determined to prevent such an atrocity from ever happening again and befriended Jonah, who taught her everything she needed to know about hacking.  Charlie became obsessive in her efforts to prowl cyberspace looking for transgressors.  Helplessly watching the girl he loved lose herself, Jonah could no longer stand by and watch Charlie engage in the self-destructive behaviour that had started to take over her life, and walked away from the girl he loved.  Now, years later, he realises the error of his ways and wants a second shot at love.  Charlie is her old self again, the girl he fell in love with, and she’s an even better hacker than he remembers. 

Jonah’s abandonment gave Charlie the wake-up call she needed to get her life back on track.  While she managed to get over her heartbreak, she never forgot the only man she truly loved.  When she unexpectedly meets up with Jonah at a hackfest, Charlie can’t deny the pull she feels towards him, but something is holding her back - Charlie has started to fall for her online friend, "Win".  Can she choose between the man she loved who had broken her heart and her trust, and the safe, reliable friend who had helped her heal her heart? 

I had a hard time really getting into this story for two reasons.  Firstly, I never felt connected to the characters; I never really got immersed in the story to the extent that I was heavily invested in the outcome.  While I respect Charlie as a hacker and gamer, I never came to like her.  I do appreciate, however, that Charlie is not your typical heroine.  She has attitude, she’s nerdy and unapologetic for it.  As for Jonah, I had a hard time dealing with his reason for leaving Charlie the way that he did.  He claims he loved her too much to watch her self-destruct.  For some reason this felt like an easy out to me.  Perhaps because the author didn’t really establish exactly what Charlie had done that was so terrible.  Personally I just didn’t get the impression that she was that far gone.  Either way, to my mind you don’t abandon someone you love when they lose their way – you help them find their way back.  The fact that Jonah left without first breaking up with her, without even saying goodbye? I had a hard time respecting him after that.  Sure he was remorseful and sweet, but I never came to believe Jonah was sincere in his reasoning. 

Secondly, the whole hacking aspect wasn’t really explained in a way that I could understand.  It just didn’t translate well.  I never knew if the characters were playing some kind of game and were using their skills to create cheats, or whether they were working in Matrix like code.  I had absolutely no idea what was going on, on the computer screens.  Having said that, I do appreciate the fact that the author wrote a book about a girl gamer/hacker, and that she was good enough to give the guys a run for their money.  I also enjoyed the convention setting.  The author took me to Comic-Con, if you will, and those scenes were quite enjoyable.  While I may not have bonded with the characters in the way that I wanted, I do think that the author did a good job of portraying the chemistry between Jonah and Charlie.  It was obvious they were still very much infatuated with each other despite their separation, and their connection was tangible.  However, I do feel that Charlie fell back into Jonah’s arms way too easily and way too quickly – he should have had to work for it just a little given the way he had abandoned her.

Product Information:

Title: Her perfect game

Author: Shannyn Schroeder

Publisher: Kensington Books

Year: 2014

Pages: 112

ASIN: B00KM906W2

ISBN-10:1601833342

ISBN-13: 9781601833341

REVIEW: RULES OF PROTECTION ~ ALISON BLISS

Entangled Publishing has graciously provided me with a complimentary copy of this book, via Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!

A birthday celebration turns deadly when Emily Foster stumbles upon a mob hit.  Being the first witness who managed to stay alive, Emily is suddenly invaluable to the FBI.  She finds herself in the care of none other than Special Agent Jake Ward, the hot guy she was shamelessly flirting with at the club before the murder happened.  Furious at Jake when she realises he had only used flirting with her as a cover, Emily is hardly a cooperative witness, but when bullets start flying as she attempts to leave the police station she can no longer deny that her life is in danger.  Swooped into witness protection before she can bat an eye, Emily is given a new name and is headed for a new life in a new town.  Within mere hours Emily’s safe house is compromised and Jake realises the mob has inside help.  For reasons of his own Jake can’t afford to let anything happen to Emily - She is the key to finally putting away the man who had his parents murdered.  Knowing someone in the FBI is feeding the mob information, Jake goes rogue and whisks Emily away to The-Middle-Of-Nowhere, Texas.  Suddenly the city girl finds herself on a farm with Jake’s aunt and uncle, and Emily can’t decide what her biggest challenge will be; country living or Jake Ward?

Rules of Protection, the debut novel of Alison Bliss and the first book in the Tangled in Texas series is a fun, fast read featuring a cast of colourful characters.  I really like Emily.  She’s a pretty tough city girl (foster care will do that to you), but has an undeniably vulnerability to her.  She has absolutely no filter and whatever she’s thinking comes out of her mouth, getting her in trouble with Jake quite often.  I love, love, love her attitude.  Her words and actions amused me to no end and I was definitely invested in her story.  I was a little annoyed at first by her aggressive promiscuity (I hadn’t seen anyone try so hard to get a guy in bed since Bella Swan), but it later became apparent that it’s all part of a defence mechanism and Emily is by no means a slut.  

Jake is a very rigid man, extremely stubborn and I found him to be awfully hard on Emily.  Even so he was easy to like.  It’s clear that keeping Emily safe is his number one priority, and she's not making it easy for him.  He’s out of his depth with Emily and doesn’t quite know how to handle her.  Being used to ladylike Southern belles, Jake definitely meets his match in the opinionated, streetwise Emily.  The sparks coming off Emily and Jake together are explosive.  Two strong personalities are bound to clash, and clash they do.  Jake is a strict rule follower and Emily is a rule breaker.  That alone causes enough friction to fan the flames even hotter.  The chemistry between Emily and Jake is really great and it was fun watching these two navigate their way towards a relationship.  

I like that Emily is by no means a damsel in distress.  While Jake never hesitates to protect her, she doesn’t need it.  She’s resourceful and brave, and does what she needs to do to get herself out of trouble.  Jake's past also comes into play and he must ultimately choose which is more important; his revenge or Emily's safety.  The identity of the FBI mole is also a constant mystery that demands to be solved. 

The country setting was very realistic and the secondary characters add a rich layer to the story.  The action is spread out quite nicely and is just the right ratio to romance.  *Mild spoiler alert* Jake was a massive jerk to Emily right before the final showdown, and while she did punish him for his actions in a way neither he nor I saw coming, I do think she let him off the hook way too easily.  I would have liked to see some grovelling and an apology for his past actions.  But hey, I guess love makes you soft :)

Product Information:

Title: Rules of Protection:

Author: Alison Bliss

Publisher: Entangled Publishing

Year: 2014

Pages: 314

ASIN: B00MEGM7NQ

  

REVIEW: COME BACK TO ME ~ MILA GRAY (SARAH ALDERSON)

Pan Macmillan has graciously provided me with a complimentary copy of this book, via Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.  Thank you!

Come Back to Me tells the story of a once in a lifetime love.  Jessa has secretly been in love with her brother’s best friend, Kit, since she was old enough to be interested in boys.  Sadly she was never as striking as the kind of girls Kit seemed to gravitate to, and she made her peace with loving him from afar; until the summer she turns 18 when a stolen kiss changes everything.

Kit has never been interested enough in any girl to consider having a serious relationship, but all that changes when he finally gives in to his feelings for Riley’s little sister.  Kit and Jessa’s secret relationship comes with a whole lot of complications, including the fact that Riley would never approve of their relationship, and Jessa’s domineering father hates Kit with an intensity that terrifies her as much as it baffles her.

A summer of secret hook-ups brings Jessa to life as Kit brings out the absolute best in her.  In Kit’s arms Jessa blossoms into a confident young woman, finally finding the strength to stand up to her father and stand up for what she believes in.  The only damper on their otherwise perfect romance is that lurking in the back of their minds is the fact that they only have four weeks together until Kit and Riley are redeployed.  A year-long separation awaits the new lovers – a separation they suspect will be hard but bearable.  Little could they have guessed how drastically that separation would tear them apart.

Come Back to Me is the first new adult book by Sarah Alderson, written under the pseudonym Mila Gray.  It differs from Alderson’s young adult books in the frequency and explicitness of intimate scenes (obviously more on both counts).  

What I loved most about this book is the characters.  Jessa and Kit are both easy to love, and it’s impossible not to root for their happily-ever-after.  They are wonderful individually and even better together, truly bringing out the best in each other.  I absolutely love the character development in this book as both Jessa and Kit have a lot to face and a lot to overcome.  The progression of their relationship is realistic and solid.  It’s clear from the first moment that this is a once in a lifetime, forever-kind-of-love, and Jessa and Kit are deeply committed to each other from the very start.

Kit is an absolute gem of a boyfriend.  He brings Jessa to life in a way I’m not sure I’ve experienced in another book.  He helps Jessa find herself, accept herself and express herself.  The things he does to help her get out from under her father’s thumb are so practical yet so darn sweet.  In turn Jessa is perfect for Kit.  She is the softness he needs in a hard world, the only person he can completely let down his guard with, knowing she loves him just as he is.  The freedom he finds with Jessa is unlike any he’s ever known.

Throughout the book we not only deal with the complications of Kit and Jessa’s relationship, but the prologue of the book (which is set in the not too distant future) stays in the back of your mind like a ticking time bomb.  The mystery of why Jessa’s father hates Kit so very much also begs to be solved, making Come Back To Me a complex read about first love, loss, forgiveness and growth.  Emotionally this is by far deepest book Gray/Alderson has delivered; emotions range from deliriously happy to completely devastated, ensuring the reader goes on a roller-coaster of emotions.  As much as you as reader want to convince yourself that Kit and Jessa’s happily ever after is guaranteed, Gray/Alderson makes it impossible.  It is that doubt that drives the reader to continue turning the pages late into the night.

While Come Back To Me is not my favourite book by Gray/Alderson (Will anything ever surpass Lila?), I am by no means disappointed.  I expect Gray/Alderson will be just as successful in the new adult genre as she is in young adult.

Product information:

Title: Come Back To Me

Author: Mila Gray (Sarah Alderson)

Publisher: Pan Macmillan

Year: 2014

Number of pages: 352

ASIN: B00KCRMYU0

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Review:Fated ~ Sarah Alderson

REVIEW: IN TOO DEEP ~ TRACEY ALVAREZ

Fido Publishing has graciously provided me with a complimentary copy of this book, via Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.  Thank you!

She vowed never to return.

To save her brother from financial ruin, Piper Harland must do the one thing she swore she'd never do - return to the tiny island hometown where Ryan "West" Westlake crushed her heart. Piper is tough, resilient and a little wild - much like the remote and beautiful Stewart Island where she grew up. As a cop who's part of the elite New Zealand Police National Dive Squad, bringing the dead back to their families still doesn't stop the guilt she feels over her father's drowning death. Now, nine years later, she's obligated to return to a hostile community as the outsider, and forced to work with the man who was once her best friend and first lover.

She's a risk he can't take.

West is an Island man, through and through. As owner of the local pub, he lives and breathes the local community, and sure as hell can't imagine living anywhere else. But most of all he refuses to ever fall for a woman like his flighty mother. He lost Piper once to give her the chance to fulfil her dreams of becoming a cop. But now she's back for an unexpected six week visit to help her brother - his best mate. Maybe West wants her a little bit, maybe he can't resist the temptation to tease and touch her, but can he fall in love with such a flight risk?

Saying goodbye for the second time might just destroy them both.

In Too Deep is the first book in the Due South series by Tracey Alvarez.  The story concludes, there are no cliff-hangers, and the book can be read as a stand-alone.

Straight off the bat I loved Piper.  She’s a tough cop, facing her worst nightmare every time she takes part in a search and rescue or recovery dive.  When Piper was a teenager she was best friends with her brother, Ben, and his best friend, West.  She, however, made the mistake of falling for West, and after a few blissful weeks of secret hook-ups, West broke her heart in the worst possible way – telling her he only slept with her because she was convenient and willing, that he wasn’t even attracted to her.  I don’t care what his motivations were (leaving her before she left him, letting her go to follow her dream of becoming a cop in Wellington), once I read this I had a really hard time warming up to West.  Piper and I both learned, however, that it is very hard to stay angry with West.  His treatment of Piper does improve throughout the book, and you truly find yourself rooting for these two.

I didn’t like Piper’s family much at first.  Her brother, Ben, is such an ungrateful jerk, willfully hurting his sister time and time again.  Her sister, Shaye, actually throws things at Piper because she’s mad at her for leaving home.  The thing is Piper has never felt welcome in her own family, always feeling like the outsider; her family don’t try hard to make her feel otherwise, either. On top of that Piper blames herself for her father’s death, and so does Ben.  The author does a really good job of explaining everyone’s motivations, and Piper’s conflict with her family is skilfully handled throughout the book.  It takes several weeks for them to repair their family ties, and this whole thread was very realistic – as was the community’s treatment of Piper.  At first treated very much like an outsider, Piper is gradually reclaimed by the community. 

I was emotionally involved in Piper’s journey right from the start.  Everything she felt, I felt.  Piper's guilt, doubts and fears are all legitimate and the way she handles all of them, and comes to terms with them, leads to wonderful character development.  West also has to face the issues keeping him from the woman he loves, and the author does a good job of seeing both of them through their trials.  As far as romance novels go, this one is very realistic, which makes it that much better.  Everything isn’t perfect, everything doesn’t magically work itself out and a happily-ever-after for Piper and West is never a certainty. 

I thoroughly enjoyed this book – especially the ending where everyone finally realises that relationships are give and take.  Piper and West are each willing to make major sacrifices for the other, and everything wraps up as it should.      

Product information:

Title: In Too Deep (Due South Book 1)

Author: Tracey Alvarez

Publisher: Fido Publishing

Year: 2014

Number of pages: 309

ASIN: B00HEZR8V8

REVIEW: PERSY AND THE PRINCE ~ JANE MYERS PERRINE

Beyond The Page has graciously provided me with a complimentary copy of this book, via Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.  Thank you!

Persy Marsh grew up in a well-to-do family, with a socially ambitious mother.  Literally making herself sick in order to live up to her mother’s standards, Persy ultimately rebelled, left that life behind and moved into a poor community where she is trying to make a difference.  In the hotel she now works for she meets Jordan Prince, manager of the hotel and member of the wealthy Prince family.  Attracted to each other, Persy and Jordan fight their attraction every step of the way; Jordan knowing a Prince could never get involved with someone like Percy (whom he obviously believes to be a poor dog walker for his hotel), and Percy fearing getting sucked back into the world of the rich she once left behind.  They didn’t count on changing each other, and not caring what society thinks…

I truly hate writing negative reviews, but I honestly battled my way through this one.  Apart from some distracting typos, I had a very hard time warming up to Jordan after his and Percy’s first date. He takes Persy out to a lousy place because he is afraid she would embarrass him at his usual, upper-crust hangouts (and, dare I say, he thinks she should be grateful he deigned to spend his precious time with her at all).  He takes her out with the sole purpose of getting her in his bed.  When she puts a stop to their make-out session, he gets very angry and goes on about how she’d led him on and now refuses to follow through.  When she asks him to forgive her (seriously?!), his response, and I quote: “I don’t want to”.  Such an immature reaction doesn’t endear a leading man to me.  He then states they should never see each other again, and makes her walk home alone – he doesn’t even see her home safely?  How do I respect this guy?  This quote capped it though: “As gorgeous as I am, I don’t understand why she hasn’t fallen madly in love with me”.  I’m not even kidding.  And he’s not just thinking it, he’s saying it to himself in the mirror!  If I had not made a commitment to review this book, this is where I would have stopped reading; at the 11% mark.  He literally thinks to himself “I’ll just stick around until I have her body, then I’ll be content”.  

The next day at the hotel he completely takes advantages of his position as her boss, publicly yelling at her for something she had supposedly done wrong – it turns out she did nothing wrong, but instead of apologising for his behaviour, he finds something else to cause a scene over.  Later he’s intrigued that she’s capable of writing an impressive letter – what, because she’s poor, she’s stupid?  It really went downhill from there.  He enjoys parading by her with a string of glamorous women on his arm, and he says things to her like “You sure know how to ruin an evening”, “stop acting like an idiot” and (after she’s brutally attacked and beaten) “there’s not a man in the world who’d want to be seen in public with your face that colour”. 

I liked the blurb and expected a sweet story about a down-to-earth rich girl who falls in love with an uptight business man, softening his heart with her free-spirited ways - Sadly, this is very possibly the worst so-called hero I’ve come across, and that alone made this book really hard to enjoy.  I like Persy very much and found myself wishing she would raise her standards and find a man worthy of her. I was hoping Jordan would redeem himself towards the end of the book, and while he did improve (slightly), his earlier behaviour had put me off way too much and I just could not come to care for him. 

Product information:

Title: Percy and the Prince

Author: Jane Myers Perrine

Publisher: Beyond The Page

Year: 2014

Number of pages: 153

ASIN: B00KAFQ9HS

REVIEW: SILENCED ~ DANI PETTREY

Bethany House Publishers has graciously provided me with a complimentary copy of this book, via Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.  Thank you!

A blissful day of free climbing turns ugly when Kayden McKenna discovers the body of a dead climber.  Kayden’s experience and expertise immediately alert her that the fall was no accident, a claim soon confirmed by the Yancey coroner. 

Ever since Jake Cavanagh’s secret past was revealed (by Darcy in Stranded), Landon has been trying to convince Jake to become a deputy with the Yancey Police.  Short staffed and desperate for help, Landon finally convinces Jake to take on this one case.

Kayden’s expertise and connections to the climbing community make her a vital part of the investigation team, and Kayden and Jake are paired together to solve the murder.  Working closely together and spending time alone may finally be the catalyst that brings two stubborn, broken people together.

Silenced by Dany Pettrey is the fourth book in the Alaskan Courage.  Each book can be read as a stand-alone, though I recommend that they be read in order as each book features the same characters, and it’s a pleasure to continue their journeys with them.

Kayden discovered heartbreak at the age of sixteen when her beloved father passed away.  Never mind the pain she felt at losing a loved one, she saw what it did to her mother when the love of her life died.  That’s when Kayden made the decision to never give her heart to a man - if you didn’t give someone your heart, they couldn’t shatter it.  Two short years later Kayden’s mother passed away from Rheumatoid Arthritis.  That loss made Kayden completely withdraw into herself, refusing to ever be dependent on someone else.  Kayden became the strong one in the family; the one who never let anyone see her pain, the one who never broke down, the one who never cried – at least not where anyone could see.  Her mother’s illness also fuelled her to become the health nut we have come to know and love.  Kayden fights every day and denies herself life’s small pleasures in the hope that living a rigidly healthy existence will keep her from suffering the same fate as her mother.

Jake used to be a dedicated, if arrogant, detective.  His refusal to back off a murder case ultimately cost the lives of his wife and child, something Jake has never been able to forgive himself for.  Once the guilty parties were behind bars he left the police, left his town and started drifting from one place to the next, never settling in one place for too long – until the McKennas.  Before Jake knew what hit him, he had a new family; but there was truthfully only one reason he stayed: Kayden. Even though she made no secret of the fact that she didn’t trust Jake, she had his heart and there was nothing he could do about it.

Kayden was fascinated and intrigued – and very possibly, in love – with Jake since the moment she met him; though nobody would ever suspect.  Kayden’s open hostility and distrust towards Jake was a point of contention with her family, but it served its purpose – nobody would ever guess he held her heart.  Ever since the truth about Jake’s past came out, Kayden’s fallen even harder for the strong, silent man who has become a part of her life.  This case, spending all this time alone with Jake, would take every bit of her willpower to stay strong, to remind herself why they could never be together.

Getting to know the woman who holds his heart is a gift Jake couldn’t be more thankful for.  He can’t hide his surprise, though, as Kayden continues to open up towards him.  Could there be any chance, any chance at all, that Kayden could actually return his feelings?  The climbing community doesn’t take kindly to Kayden suspecting one of them to be guilty for the murder, and subtle and not-so-subtle threats soon surround Kayden, bringing out Jake’s protective instincts.  Yet when the case is wrapped up, the threats continue – and they get darker.  When Kayden is severely injured right before his eyes, with him powerless to stop it, Jake can no longer ignore the truth – his past has come back to haunt him, and to once again rip the woman he loves out of his life.

I love the McKenna family, and I love this series, but Silenced may be my favourite yet.  Kayden and Jake have both intrigued me from the start of the series, and I thoroughly enjoyed finally getting into both of their heads – and hearts.  What a joy to watch them embrace their feelings for each other.  Who knew Kayden has been in love with Jake all along?  Yet it makes perfect sense.

The focus on faith is again ever present.  Kayden and Jake share a strong faith, and it makes them that much more compatible, and brings them that much closer to each other.  I especially love Pettrey’s soundtrack for the book, and Jake and Kayden’s song happens to be one of my personal favourites – Collide by Howie Day; perfect!

In Submerged the McKennas took me diving; in Shattered they took me skiing; in Stranded they took me on several outdoor adventures, including kayaking, and in Silenced they took me climbing.  Pettrey’s writing is truly exceptional – she doesn’t tell you, she shows you.  I’m always right there with the McKennas, joining them in their adventures – that’s one of the things I love most about this series; I know I’m in for some adventure, suspense, and romance.  This time around we also get to attend two weddings: Cole and Bailie’s, and Piper and Landon’s.  It’s such a pleasure to watch these relationships take off and grow.

I really look forward to the next book in the series, Sabotaged, which will focus on Reef and Kirra.  I’ve had a soft spot for Reef ever since reading Shattered, and I’m very intrigued by Kirra who we met in Silenced.  I look forward reading this story knowing that she might be the one to finally anchor Reef, and he might be the one to repair the damage that was done to her – though we don’t know what happened to change her yet.  Sabotaged is scheduled for release in 2015 – a long wait, but sure to be well worth it.

Product information:

Title: Silenced

Author: Dany Pettrey

Publisher: Bethany House Publishers

Year: 2014

Number of pages: 337

ASIN: B00GHXROW6

Related posts:

Review: Alaskan Courage #1 Submerged ~ Dani Pettrey

Review: Alaskan Courage #2 Shattered ~ Dani Pettrey

Review: Alaskan Courage #3 Stranded ~ Dani Pettrey