COLD SHOT by Dani Pettrey

Griffen McCray and his close friends in college, Declan Grey, Parker Mitchell and Luke Gallagher, had high hopes for the future, all working together in some area of law enforcement, that is until Luke disappeared leaving a gaping hole in the friends circle.  After years of working as a SWAT team sniper and trying to forget a case gone wrong, Griffen appreciates his non-stressful job of park ranger at Gettysburg.  Then he catches a couple of grave vandals and realizes that they have uncovered a modern grave.  Finley Scott is a forensic anthropologist currently working a dig at Little Round Top in Gettysburg.  Griffen calls her to the scene to get her take on the situation.  He also calls Declan (now FBI) and Parker (now a crime scene analyst) to help with the case.  After Finley examines the body, she finds evidence that point to the work of a sniper and Griffen's experience will definitely be called upon.  But working with Finley has stirred up feelings inside Griffen that he's not sure he wants deal with.  Finley has some fears where men are concerned because of a past experience, but for some reason Griffen makes her feel safe. When the case takes a dangerous turn, Griffen finds that his feelings for Finely are more than protectiveness.  The case also brings to the surface some long suppressed tension between Griffen and Parker that has never been resolved.  Will the team be able to put the pieces together and solve the mystery before it's too late?  Can a strained friendship be restored and whatever happened to Luke?

WOW!  I absolutely loved this first book in Dani Pettrey's new Chesapeake Valor series.  Cold Shot is the perfect title for this hard to put down thriller.  Not only will you find lots of twists and turns but you'll be on the edge of your seat and anxious to solve the mystery.  The characters were so true to life that you're just sure if you went to the Gettysburg area you would find them.  The interaction and dynamics between all the friends was very realistic.  I appreciated not only the strong bond between them but also their faith; a faith that sustained them through difficult issues.  Griffen was my kind of hero; tough yet tender and protective of those he loves.  Finley was someone I truly admired.  She was such an endearing person, one I would love to have as a friend.  Parker and Declan (along with Kate and Avery) were such well drawn characters that it makes me anxious to know more about them.  There is a part of the story that's left unsolved but main part of the story has a very satisfying conclusion and I must say I can't wait to read the next book in the series.  This author just keeps getting better and better.  If you enjoy a romantic suspense that keeps you guessing, has some great romantic tension and has you reading way past your bed time, then I highly recommend Cold Shot.

*This complimentary copy was provided by Bethany House through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

For more information about this book or other books by Dani Pettrey I encourage you to visit her website at www.danipettrey.com/

A few favorite quotes:

"She loved sun catchers. I didn't understand it.  Her love for them.  I mean it's colored glass, but she said when the sun flooded in and the colorful rays bounced off the dim interior, it reminded her how God brings beauty and light to the darkest places.  And that all the broken pieces of different and uniquely shaped glass making up one beautiful image reminded her how God brings beauty out of brokenness and uses the smallest of pieces to make up a whole."

"Whenever the panic surged, she reminded herself that God was with her in the darkest places and that she would pass through.”

“Cupping her face, he swooped in.  Her lips parted, and he pressed his to hers - tender at first, then growing passionate in intensity."

MERMAID MOON by Colleen Coble

Mallory Davis's mother died 15 years ago.  Feeling like she was the cause, Mallory left behind the home she loved as well as the man she loved and was going to marry, Kevin O'Connor, and has never returned.  Out of the blue, Mallory receives a distressing phone call from her father and with his last breath, tells her he loves her and instructs her to 'find mother'.  Believing that her father's death was no accident, Kevin (who is now a game warden and the local law in Downeast Maine) believes she's right and begins to look into it.   Things heat up when Mallory and her daughter Haylie are threatened.  As they begin putting the pieces together, both Kevin and Mallory are surprised by what they find and begin to realize there's a whole lot more to this situation than they ever anticipated.  Will they figure it out before it's too late.

Once again Colleen Coble delivers a well thought out, tightly written, and at times nail-biting, romantic suspense.  Right away you're pulled into the story and you don't want to put it down until you find out how it all turns out.  I was trying to unravel the mystery right along with Mallory and Kevin as it was most certainly a tangled web.  For those who have read The Inn at Ocean's Edge, you'll find Luke, Claire and Kate a part of this story which I thoroughly enjoyed.  You don't need to read that book for this book to make sense but it does give you the background of those characters.  The main theme of the story was second chances.  Sometimes we get stuck because of a mistake or mistakes we've made in the past when instead we should be growing through them and not allowing them to define our future.  That was a great reminder.  Kevin's father was a good example of what unforgiveness can turn into.  You'll understand when you read the story.  There was a little something at the end that I felt was unresolved but it wasn't anything that detracted from my reading experience.  I loved that this is also loosely connected with Denise Hunter's Summer Harbor series. That was great fun!  If you've never visited Maine, or even if you have, I would highly recommend taking a trip there via Mermaid Moon.  You'll enjoy the beautiful landscape, ride a boat, meet some great friends and, oh yea, solve a murder.

*This complimentary copy was provided by Thomas Nelson through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

A couple favorite quotes:

"Moonlight filtered through the bedroom curtains.  Mallory had tried to read awhile, but even the latest Denise Hunter romance couldn't keep her attention from wandering upstairs to where Kevin slept."

"The more we're hurt, the harder it is to get past it.  And it's even worse when that person has hurt someone you love."

For more information about this book or other books by Colleen Coble I encourage you to visit her website at colleencoble.com/