"Submerged" by Dani Pettrey

Submerged by Dani Pettrey
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I really wanted to love this book! I lived in Alaska for around 10 years total, and loved the idea of a book set there. However, I was pretty disappointed. Frankly, it sounded more like it was set in California, Florida or Hawaii than it was Alaska most of the time. "Surfer" lifestyle--in Alaska?!? The story is supposed to take place in a fictional town on the peninsula just south of Kodiak. Um, I lived on Kodiak. Her descriptions do not in any way match what I remember. She talks of Piper and Landon trekking through salt marshes ("the glades") but never mentions mosquitoes. If Landon is complaining of trekking through mud, he would definitely be complaining of the mosquitos!! They're Alaska's unofficial state bird, for crying out loud! lol They would be being eaten alive during the summer! The worst thing is all the diving. At one point they talk of staying in the water for around an hour. Not in Alaska!! My sister's brother-in-law fell in the water in Kodiak and nearly died of hypothermia in 4 minutes!! Nothing was mentioned of special dive gear for the cold water, and even with special gear they would have been seriously limited on how much time they could stay in. For Cole to show up with a dive mask and tell Bailey she only needed a swimsuit (for a moonlit dive--ummm "Land of the Midnight Sun"?!?) shows how badly this book was researched. I wish she had done a lot more research of what the area is really like.

Some of the story line I thoroughly enjoyed. Dani dealt with Bailey's rough past very well. She didn't fall into the trap of being too descriptive, but she didn't gloss over it, either. Cole is almost too good to be true. He is all care and concern for Bailey, seeming to have no trust issues or doubts about her despite what she did to him years ago, but has issues trusting a young man he's been working with that's in a bad situation. The guy has been doing great for months, but he's very quick to suspect him when something goes missing. A little bit of a double standard to me.

The last think is a personal preference. I don't like it when books rewrite history. "Well, everyone THINKS that such and such happened, but what REALLY happened was....."

I struggled with how many stars to rate this. I ended up going with three vs. two for the sensitive way she dealt with Bailey and her story.

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"Fatal Judgement" by Irene Hannon

Fatal Judgment by Irene Hannon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I read these out of order, but thankfully, it didn't make a huge difference. I read #2 first and liked it so much I went in search of the first book.

I really like Irene Hannon's characters. Liz is a sweet lady who has gone through and is going through some pretty rough stuff, but doesn't turn her back on God and get bitter. That doesn't mean she's perfect and doesn't occasionally question God (who among us hasn't at one time or another?!?), but she still trusts Him and leans on him. She is instrumental in getting Jake heading back toward God.

Jake is a great character. I love the fact that even though he had a really bad opinion of Liz at the beginning, he doesn't let it cloud his judgement and is pretty quick to start questioning the information he had been given about her. He keeps his heart and mind open to the possibility that he was wrong, and has no problem admitting so when the truth becomes clear.

The story line was well written. I enjoyed the pace of the book. You know who the "bad guy" is fairly early on, but that doesn't detract from the story at all. In fact, you get to understand what drove him to these actions. It doesn't make you sympathize with what he does, but it does make you understand more what made him tick.

Excellent book that I thoroughly enjoyed. I'm looking forward to reading book #3 soon! :-)

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"The Unfinished Gift" by Dan Walsh

Wow!!  This is my second Dan Walsh book, and he knocked it out of the park again! 

Patrick Collins is seven years old, and on his Christmas list are only three items. He wants the army to find his father. He wants to leave his grandfather's house. And, for reasons even he doesn't understand, he wants the soldier that's tucked away in his grandfather's attic.

Set at Christmastime in 1943, The Unfinished Gift tells in an engaging, simple style the story of a family, and reminds us of the surprising things that affect powerful change in our hearts--like a young boy's prayers, a shoebox full of love letters, and even an old wooden soldier, long forgotten. This nostalgic story of forgiveness will engage readers everywhere.

I was almost afraid to read this book--afraid I'd be let down after the last book I read of Mr. Walsh's.  I needn't have worried.  Once again, a quiet story that wraps itself around your heart and won't let go.  I read this book in one sitting because I just couldn't put it down!  The characters are well rounded and feel real--like someone I could sit down and chat with awhile.  There wasn't huge suspense, and I could guess sometimes what would happen next--or at least pretty close to it--but that didn't seem to matter.  Dan Walsh is a master at his craft and I look forward to reading more of his books!!  Five stars out of five!

"Deadly Pursuit" by Irene Hannon

As a social worker, Alison Taylor has a passion for protecting children and seeing that justice is served on their behalf. But when she starts getting harassing phone calls and bizarre "gifts," it seems she may be the one in need of protection. When her tormentor's attentions take a violent turn, her brother Cole comes to her aid, along with his new partner, an ex-Navy SEAL, Detective Mitch Morgan. As her relentless stalker turns up the heat, Mitch takes a personal interest in the case. Protecting Alison has become more than just a job--because his own happiness now depends on keeping her safe.
I really enjoyed this book.  I really enjoy this genre of Christian fiction.  Some of that is probably due to my husband being ex-Navy, ex-police officer (now a preacher!).  The pace was good without being too overdone.  There were a few too many "coincidences" that had they not happened, the case would not have been solved, but overall it was a good story, well written.

I LOVE this heroine!!  Alison is independent without being obnoxious about it--she isn't trying to constantly prove she can do everything as good as a man.  She has a kind heart, and puts action to her feelings.  She doesn't cut Mitch, the hero, any slack in his loss of trust in God--but she's not hard or mean about it.  Mitch's relationship with her brother, Cole, is hilarious.  Definitely a good read.  This is book 2 in the Guardians of Justice series.  I really want to go find the first book now!  4 stars out of 5.

"Startling Beauty: My Journey from Rape to Restoration" by Heather Gemmen

I bought a stack of books from a book store that was going out of business, and this book was in it.  I knew I had to read it.  Only God could turn a woman's worst nightmare into something of startling beauty.  While Heather's husband was at church in a meeting and her kids were asleep down the hall, a man came into her house and raped her.  After struggling with the issue, she ends up taking a pill to keep her from getting pregnant.  It doesn't work and she ends up pregnant anyway.  What makes that even worse, 2 years before she had lost a baby several months into the pregnancy, and they had not been able to conceive again.  Now she is pregnant, but with her rapist's child.  This book sucked me in and held me while I read of the way God worked in their lives through all their struggles with the after effects of the rape, and how He turned this horrible experience into something of Startling Beauty.  Very powerful book.  5 out of 5 stars.

"Heart's Safe Passage" by Laurie Alice Eakes

All Phoebe Lee wants out of life is to practice midwifery in Loudon County, Virginia.  But when she refuses to accompany her pregnant sister-in-law to help save her husband from a prison during the War of 1812, Phoebe finds herself pressed aboard a British privateer.

Captain Rafe Docherty promises to get Phoebe's brother-in-law out of prison in exchange for information Rafe needs to exact revenge on the man who destroyed his family.  As he realizes his attraction to Phoebe, she determines to get ashore before her patient goes into labor--and before her own heart is in danger.  But an enemy in their midst threatens to end their plans--and their very lives.

I won this book on The Dust Will Still Be There Tomorrow facebook page.  I really, really, REALLY wanted to like it!  Unfortunately, before the book was over, I was over the book.  I felt that the author went for shock value more than anything.  Everything was over the top.  I can't give much illustration of this without giving away too many spoilers, but by halfway through the book I could pretty much tell what would happen next just because I knew it would be extreme. 


Everyone's taste is different.  This review reflects only how I feel about this book.  I would have to only give "Heart's Safe Passage" 2 out of 5 stars.

Giveaway!

Christian Book Review Blog is hosting a giveaway for this book!  http://christianbookreviewblog.blogspot.com/2012/11/author-interview-and-giveaway-road-to.html

Check out the above link to enter!