Tuesday, September 4, 2018

REVIEW: CHESAPEAKE VALOR 3: BLIND SPOT ~ DANI PETTREY


Blind Spot is the third book in the Chesapeake Valor series by Dani Pettrey, and the series is best read in order as we check in with characters from the first two books, and more importantly, find connections to cases going back to both previous books.  If you were to start the series with Blind Spot you would probably be able to connect the dots, but my guess is you would feel a little lost at times. 
 
 

Blind Spot commences a few weeks following the conclusion of Still Life, and focuses on FBI agent Declan Grey as he continues to investigate the threat that “the wrath is coming”, a terrorist threat that he believes is imminent, though his superiors aren’t as convinced.  The gang’s newfound friend, Tanner Shaw, joins the FBI as a crisis counselor, and as Declan’s investigation leads to a human trafficking victim Tanner has been helping to transition, Declan and Tanner are paired together to crack the case.

 
Declan and Tanner met in Cold Shot, and while they initially appeared to be like oil and water, there was certainly an undeniable spark; only, Declan believed himself in love with his friend, Kate – who was still in love with their friend Luke, who had disappeared seven years prior.  However, the more time Declan spends with Tanner, the more he realizes that his feelings for Kate were never quite what he had thought, and that what he is coming to feel for Tanner goes much deeper than what he ever felt for Kate.  Mistaken first impressions, misunderstandings and Declan’s overprotective tendencies towards Tanner have been getting in the way, but as Declan and Tanner are forced to work together they each start seeing the true other, and can no longer deny the attraction between them.  Within their first few hours as partners, however, Declan and Tanner find themselves attacked several times, confirming Declan’s belief that he is getting closer to the truth, and before Declan can begin to consider the ramifications of his feelings for Tanner, he must keep them both alive.  It also becomes apparent that there is much more to Tanner than he ever imagined as she possesses skills no mere crisis counselor should have, and it’s time for the gang to learn the truth about their new friend’s past. 
 
While Tanner and Declan look into the death of Steven Burke (who was found murdered in Still Life), and find a surprising connection to Jenna McCray (Griffin’s sister) and Max Stallings (who was arrested in Cold Shot), the others investigate a case concerning the guys’ one time little league coach.  While helping all the others, Kate is still searching for her college boyfriend, Luke, who had disappeared without a trace seven years prior.  Kate is the only one of the friends who believes that Luke is still alive after all this time, and Blind Spot finally confirms that Luke is indeed very much alive.  We finally learn why he left and get an idea of what he’s been up to, but to poor Kate’s dismay, she finally discovers that Luke left his life, and all of them, voluntarily.  I’ve been hurting with Kate and for Kate since Cold Shot, and I look forward to digging into the next book, Dead Drift, to finally get to Kate and Luke’s story.  The boy’s certainly some ‘splainin’ to do, but the few scant scenes in Blind Spot have already softened my heart towards an obviously lost Luke.  If anyone can forgive him and help him heal (besides Jesus), it’s our girl, Kate. 
 
Usually I get annoyed when an author divides her time (and therefore my time) between the main characters and secondary characters, but what Pettrey does beautifully is make the reader so invested in all the characters and both cases that as we spend time with Griffin and co, we are very much present, but still anxious to rejoining Declan and Tanner to continue their investigation as well.  She creates a perfect balance between the two cases.  The Chesapeake Valor books read more as an ensemble series than main characters and secondary characters, and we get to spend a satisfying amount of time with all the characters in each book.
As always, the characters’ faith is ever-present yet not overwhelming for non-believers.  Again, both characters go into the relationship with steady faith, which I find refreshing as usually in religious fiction one of the characters leads the other to Christ – which is, of course, wonderful, but I am quite enjoying reading about couples who share a love of God from the get-go and who are only stronger as a unit because of it. I would classify the book as action/suspense first, with a satisfying touch of romance and religion.  A good balance; a satisfying, action-packed, emotional read.  The Chesapeake Valor series gets better with each book.
 
 
Product Information:


Title: Blind Spot

Series: Chesapeake Valor (Series Best Read In Order)

Author: Dani Pettrey

Publisher: Bethany House Publishers

Year: 2017

Pages: 329

ISBN-10: 0764212966

ISBN-13: 978-0764212963

ASIN: B0713TL6RN


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