book review

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?

Dani Pettrey’s newest book The Killing Tide, the first in her new Coastal Guardians series, releases TODAY, and you’re going to want to get this one ordered ASAP!

The Killing Tide’s arrival actually caused a tug-of-war battle in our house. While my husband isn’t much of a reader, he does enjoy Dani’s books, and he’s been anxiously awaiting this one. It came, and soon we were both pulling on it, wanting to be the one to read it first! (I lost.)

It lives up to the hype! The Killing Tide will thrill you in classic Pettrey style. I love the way that Pettrey writes about characters who live for adventure, and that’s Gabby to a tee. As a reporter out for the next big story, she doesn’t mind taking risks to find the truth. That attitude only ups the ante for the reader – especially since Finn and her family would prefer for her to choose safer options.

The setting is pretty cool, too: Wilmington, North Carolina. My husband went to college there, and while we don’t get back as much as we’d like, it’s a great coastal town. Dani included our favorite restaurant in one lunch scene – Dockside; don’t miss their crab nuggets! – and even paddleboarders, some of whom were floating past the last time we were there. I would have liked to see more of the sites that make Wilmington unique, but Dockside definitely nails the city.

The very best element of The Killing Tide, however, is definitely the action. There are many suspenseful scenes that will raise your blood pressure, and with a wide cast of Coast Guard characters, most of them take place in the waters of the Atlantic. The beauty and mystery of the ocean up the tension even more.

I’m not sure when the next book releases, but I’m positive it won’t be in my mailbox soon enough. I know for a fact that it’ll cause another tug-of-war – because neither of us can wait for the sequel.

In the meantime, maybe we’ll be able to get back to Wilmington, stop in at Dockside, and hang out on Wrightsville Beach, looking for Finn and Gabby. After reading The Killing Tide, I’m pretty sure they’ll be there, looking for more surfside action.

I received a free copy of this book from the author. All opinions are my own.

Between the years of 1869 to 1939 more than 100,000 poor British children were sent across the ocean to Canada with the promise of a better life. Those who took them in to work as farm laborers or household servants were told they were orphans–but was that the truth?

After the tragic loss of their father, the McAlister family is living at the edge of the poorhouse in London in 1908, leaving their mother to scrape by for her three younger children, while oldest daughter, Laura, works on a large estate more than an hour away. When Edna McAlister falls gravely ill and is hospitalized, twins Katie and Garth and eight-year-old Grace are forced into an orphans’ home before Laura is notified about her family’s unfortunate turn of events in London. With hundreds of British children sent on ships to Canada, whether truly orphans or not, Laura knows she must act quickly. But finding her siblings and taking care of her family may cost her everything.

Andrew Fraser, a wealthy young British lawyer and heir to the estate where Laura is in service, discovers that this common practice of finding new homes for penniless children might not be all that it seems. Together Laura and Andrew form an unlikely partnership. Will they arrive in time? Will their friendship blossom into something more?

Inspired by true events, this moving novel follows Laura as she seeks to reunite her family and her siblings who, in their darkest hours, must cling to the words from Isaiah: “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God”.

Wow, can Carrie Turansky write! No Ocean Too Wide is one of those books that might get you labeled ‘crazy’ by anyone who’s near you when you’re reading – because if you’re anything like me, you’ll be yelling back at the people in the book who are making Laura’s life so difficult!

Honestly, for much of the story it seems as if the McAlister family can’t catch a break. The system is against anyone without money or standing, and despite the obvious care and character that each family member possesses, life takes dark turns for them. Turansky made this all feel so incredibly real that it was difficult to read at times. I didn’t want to see these sweet people face any more trouble, and yet the writing on the wall was clear: blue skies were not overhead yet. Knowing that this is based on basic practices that were real makes it that much more frustrating.

While there was an ending for certain parties in this story, neither the series nor the over-arcing plotline is complete. I’m anxious to know how Turansky will find resolution for the McAlister family AND what happens to this practice of sending kids overseas. As kid transports have been done for different reasons throughout history, I suppose that means that it wasn’t completely ended – but perhaps it was greatly improved? I can’t wait to find out.

While I admire each McAlister’s character, this story isn’t for the faint of heart. It’s not a happy-go-lucky story, so it may be best for those with a strong interest in history or social justice issues. It’s not your typical beach read, but it is a very well-written, dramatic, tug-at-your-heartstrings kind of story, and I’m very glad I read it. Grab a box of tissues and settle in to read No Ocean Too Wide. You’ll be very glad you did.

I received a free copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

When Ashley Showalter and Ben Henning meet on Ashley’s horse rescue farm, they quickly discover how much they have in common. Both were raised by single moms. Both want to help where they see a need. And both work with horses in the Boise valley. Ben needs Ashley’s help and expertise after starting an equine therapy barn on his great-great-grandfather’s farm—and the more time they spend together, both Ashley and Ben have the feeling that there could be something more between them. They also carry the burden of past experiences that may drive them apart if the truth is ever revealed. Ben is a recovering alcoholic with five years of sobriety behind him, while Ashley’s brother is an opioid addict residing in court-ordered rehab. Holding fast to the belief that addicts can never be cured, Ashley has promised herself she will never walk knowingly into the chaos created by addiction. Ben knows that with God, all things are possible—but will Ashley find it within herself to give love a chance? Or will her brother’s mistakes and the pain of her past jeopardize her future with Ben?

 

I never expected to call a story about the consequences of drug use ‘sweet,’ but that’s exactly what Hatcher’s penned in Cross My Heart.  Despite – or maybe because of? – Hatcher’s personal experience with a person fighting addiction, she writes this story with heart, grit, and sweetness in equal doses.

I loved the raw brokenness in the first book in this serious, and I loved the Ben’s quiet strength in this one.  The contrast is refreshing, and as my very favorite type of main character is a strong, independent leader, I think Ben rocks.  He has his faults, but he’s spent years bringing them to the light and learning to overcome them, and that’s admirable.  We all need that kind of example.

Ashley is pretty admirable, too.  She’s the strong one in her family, but given her family, that isn’t saying much.  She needs help, but she doesn’t want to admit it.  On the other hand, she knows exactly what she’s called to do and doesn’t let anyone dissuade her from that.  That’s a different kind of strength, and I loved this dichotomy.

By far the best parts of the book, though, were the flashbacks and lessons learned from the correlations between Ben’s great-grandfather Andrew and the modern-day storyline.  I had thought that Hatcher had told all there was to tell of Andrew’s story in the first book of the series, but I was happy to be shown otherwise in Cross My Heart.  I loved Andrew’s pieces as much as Ben’s, and his story was both fascinating and inspiring.  There is much we can learn from the history and the generations who came before, and this is never so evident as in Andrew’s story.  

My great-grandparents were wonderful models of faith for me, and I knew them well.  I do not have their Bibles, or notes left therein, but I often sat with Grandma in church and held the hymnal for her.  I know her favorite hymns and favorite scriptures; how much more would notes in a Bible share?  Hatcher has taken a fantastic idea and developed it well throughout the series.  I love the familial, historical, and faith connections and can’t wait to see what she does in the next book in the series.

I can see Cross My Heart appealing to a wide range of people: to people of faith, in a crisis of faith, without faith, who care about animal rights, who are mission-minded, or have difficult families.  Despite the many issues it tags, however, the over-arcing theme is one of peace and a quiet faith that He has it all in control.

That makes it a perfect summer read, for while life is running at a calmer or slower pace for many of us, it won’t be long before we’re back at warp speed, and Cross My Heart provides the perfect reminder to slow down, spend some time with Him, and trust in His plans.

I received a free copy of this book from the author.  All opinions are my own.

 

Dear Ronie Kendig,

I usually try to make the first line of a review something strong and quote-able, but I’m having trouble finding the words to do so for Storm Rising. Not because I don’t want to, but because I’m still feeling shell-shocked after that cliffhanger of an ending I read late last night, as I wiggled and mentally cheered as the action climaxed in wonderful ways.

Except, not all so wonderful. I was so pumped up by the story that I was ready to start on the next one, Kings Falling, immediately, even though it was somewhere past midnight. I know that Storm Rising hasn’t released yet, but surely you’ll have the sequel out soon, right? and so I looked up the date.

April of 2020? That can’t possibly be right. It should be something like, July 10. 2019. Because it’s glaringly obvious that you put a masterful amount of talent and effort and creativity into this book, and so of course you’ll take the time to make the next one just as riveting and wonderful as this one is, but ….

I think we might have to revolt. Your reader-fans, I mean. Because I’m not sure how we’re supposed to function for the next nine whole months while we wait for Kings Falling. Take yesterday, for example ….

It was a beautiful sunny Sunday afternoon. I made lunch after church and then grabbed Storm Rising and headed out to my hammock in the backyard. I couldn’t wait to start – usually, I can finish a book out there, swaying gently, under a canopy of blue sky and green leaves.

Except yesterday, the kids were playing kickball nearby, and they kept wanting me to watch. It was so hard to keep closing the book, but I tried to be a good mom and do so. They finally went inside, and I settled in, ready to zoom through the story, but ….

Your writing isn’t quite like that of most suspense stories. Rather than focusing strictly on the action, of which there’s a great deal, your lyrical prose kept catching my attention, slowing me down and forcing me to note the details in the scene. I read lines over and over, thinking about what it must feel like, what the words would look like on a banner or a poster or a hat, framed on a wall somewhere, and had to ponder the sound and the meaning before I could read on again.

Before I knew it, it was time to make dinner, because my people were hungry …. again. I grilled and cooked and hurried, and then, with the guys heading off to fish, I blended a mocha and headed to the deck, ready to finish the story, when ….

My Big Helper showed up, hinting that she wanted to play a game and talk. It soon became apparent, over about 45 games of Sorry, that what she really wanted was to brainstorm ideas for the novel she wants to write this summer. Now, Sorry is my all-time favorite game, and I love that my girl knows that she’s called to write, and I most definitely want to encourage that, but Lief was trying to figure out what was going on with Iskra! I needed to be turning pages and figuring out where you were taking these two, because they are fascinating, but, no, historical fiction was calling her name, and so ….

We brainstormed plot lines, made lists, did some research, and just when I thought I could read some more, because it was getting dangerously close to sundown Sunday, the time when I stop my fun reading and resume my regular evening work, when ….

The guys came home, fishy and excited, ready to talk. I listened to fish stories, and then we watched a few games of Jeopardy!, and then instead of going to bed, the kids had their own story-plotting meeting, and then they wanted to share aaalllllll of their new ideas, until ….

Suddenly it was 11 PM. Everyone disappeared, the lights were off, and I didn’t feel like booting up my computer to continue work on my current project at such a late hour, so reading it was … except should I continue in the Tolkien book for future school planning or pick up Storm Rising again?

I knew I should pick up Tolkien. I mean, The Hobbit is THE HOBBIT. It has this big reputation reminiscent of cult-classic with the costumes and foods and fonts and everything that entails. As much as I love to read, I’m also the homeschooling teacher-mom, and I spend my summers reading books and planning curriculum, and Tolkien is on everyone’s to-read list, but ….

I needed to know Lief’s secret and what Iskra would choose and the secrets that the Book would reveal and so much more. So, smirking a little at The Hobbit‘s cover – they were just hiking and complaining anyway, right? – I picked up Storm Rising again.

I read. Through the action and the drama and the love and the pain and the suspense and the danger, I read. Through the mystery and the hope and the heartache, I turned pages. I read. I paused and considered words and reread. And ….

Finally, when the clock was nearing 2 AM, I turned the last page.

Then immediately picked up my phone to check Amazon for the release date for Kings Falling.

So, here we are. Almost 24 hours later, and I’m still misspelling words and feeling antsy and ready to tune back into The Book of the Wars.

I’m sure I’m not the only one feeling off-kilter about this, so I’m also not sure how we’re supposed to function for the next nine whole months in limbo.

So, please, work your magic. Do your thing. Create. Weave music into your words and love into your characters and bring them to life on the page just like Geppetto did to his boy, and just as you did to Lief and Iskra and the other amazing characters in Storm Rising.

But, please …

do it quickly!

Thank you.

Sincerely,

Your biggest, fannish-reader ever.

Amy

Dear Blog Reader,

Seriously – if you only have time to read one book this month or this summer or this year – make it this one. The Book of the Wars series is like Indiana Jones for a new generation, and it’s awesome. You won’t want to miss it.

I received a copy of this book from the author. My opinions are all my own.