This is the last book in the Chesapeake Valor series and is the long-awaited story of Kate Maxwell and Luke Gallagher. Where has Luke been and what has he been doing for years? . . .I am not going to say and spoil it. But, oh, what a story he has to tell and the unbelievable dangerous situation he brings right to the door of the Valor-Team (as I call them), setting things into motion that escalate to a race against time.


I like that there is a duel story-line in this one as well. As much as I wanted to read Luke and Kate’s story, I hoped to read about the case Griffin and Finley are pursuing in this story. That case is one that is very special to Griffin and I wanted him to find a credible lead and a closure of sorts. I am glad it was included in this book. Not saying more as I don’t want to give anything away. What they uncover certainly was a surprise to them as well.


Dead Drift is a fast-paced, gripping story with mystery and dangerous situations. A plot and story-line with twists and turns, unexpected surprises along the way, unraveling twisting threads of secrets, lies and betrayal while on the brink of a biological disaster. . .whew! I will miss the characters in the Chesapeake Valor series. Well done Dani Pettrey!

I loved it! The ending of this story was just as intense and spectacular as the beginning of the series. I thought that Dani did a great job continuing this riveting story and wrapping up all the loose ends from the previous books. I have really enjoyed reading Dani's books. Her stories pull the reader in and her a part of the investigating team. I love it when there are just enough hints throughout the book in order for you to solve the crime along with the characters. Her books are far from predictable and that's what makes exciting.
If you are looking for a great series, full of mystery, murder, justice and crime solving, then pick up Dani's newest series.

***I received this e-book from Bethany House Publisher as part of Dani's Suspense Street Team. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.

What an exciting end to a thrilling series. I think this is now my favorite series from Dani Pettrey. I enjoyed each of the four books but this was probably my favorite. All the loose ends were tied up and every couple's story ended on a satisfying note.

I would say that you need to read these stories in order to get the full benefit of the story. It's not a series that I would recommend as a stand alone set of stories. I know that four books seems like quite a commitment but I think it's worth it. Each book has two different yet related story lines. The first is the featured couples story and that is somewhat complete in that particular book. The second story line is that of an unsolved homicide that is most likely connected to a serial killer. At the end of each book you are left needing to get your hands on the next so you can find out who the killer is and why they would do such a thing.

If you like fast paced mysteries with a bit of romance thrown in then you'll enjoy this book and series.

Dani Pettrey has quickly made her way on to my must read list. In her latest and final installment in her Chesapeake Valor series, we get to find out what happened to Luke Gallagher, which has been a mystery through the entire series.

Even after Luke disappeared, Kate Maxwell, a private investigator, never stopped loving him. In Dead Drift, the two get to work together to unravel a thread of secrets while dealing with a potential biological disaster in America. As you can imagine, the two have a lot to work through, not just with the case, but in their lives as well.

With a perfect balance of suspense, mystery, and romance, Pettrey ties up her series perfectly. Now I'm off to wait to see what she writes next!

Wow. I’ve been waiting for Luke’s story since Cold Shot started the Chesapeake Valor series, and it does NOT disappoint. Whew! (Sorry, I’m still swooning.) Action-packed plot, heatstroke-inducing romance, endearing and dynamic characters...its only flaw is that it’s the series finale!

I did wish for a lot more of the epilogue and that part of Luke’s character (no spoilers – sorry, you’ll have to read the book for yourself) but I understand that that’s not the main focus of this story. Maybe Dani’ll bring us back to the Chesapeake down the road, and we’ll get to see that then. Overall, a fantastic read!

This is the conclusion to the Chesapeake Valor series and I was not disappointed. I could not put this book down. I did some laughing and crying. I love how Kate and Luke finally get back together. I am glad they were saved for last. This had twists and turns and lots of suspense. I received a copy of this book from the author for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.

I've enjoyed very much Dani Pettrey's books in these series! The characters are endearing and their care for each other tangible. I think the only thing that ends up being a pet peeve for me is that some topics are brought to deal with the inner struggles of the characters but they're dealt with too quickly; these books are honestly plot driven (which is totally fine to me!) but the inner turmoil seemed to forced and a bit "just put there" for how they're dealt with. Nevertheless, the action and mystery are great and keep you up and I would recommend her books!

I have to admit that after I finished Dani Pettry’s novel Blind Spot, I scoured the internet until I found when the next story, the final book in the Chesapeake Valor Series, would be released. Dead Drift certainly was worth the wait.

About the Book:

Burning debris littering the ground . . . smoke pluming in the acrid air . . . this is just the beginning if he fails.

Seven years ago, operative Luke Gallagher vanished to become part of an elite team set on capturing a deadly terrorist. When Luke returns to face those he left behind, their help becomes his only hope of stopping his target’s latest threat of an attack that would shake America to its core.

Private investigator Kate Maxwell never stopped loving or looking for Luke after he disappeared. But she also never imagined he left her or his life by choice. Now he’s back, and together they must unravel a twisting thread of secrets, lies, and betrayal, all while on the brink of a biological disaster.

Will they and their love survive, or will Luke and Kate become the terrorist’s next mark?

My Thoughts:

This novel is brimming with suspense, mystery, and romance. There were so many strong elements in this story that I’m having difficulty pinpointing where to start! But because I’m a sucker for a great romance, I’ll start with the love factor.

You get a glimpse of Luke and Kate’s romantic history earlier in the series, but their rocky relationship takes center stage in this story. CIA operative Luke Gallagher had always loved Kate Maxwell but his decisions had left her heart wounded and his soul dark. One of my favorite lines of the story was:

“To Luke, home had become far more than a physical dwelling. To him a home was where his heart resided, and she was sitting three inches to his right.”

There was both witty banter and deep conversations between these characters. It was moving to see how Luke’s past choices had affected Kate’s ability to trust. These two worked together in pursuit of exposing a terrorist plot all the while trying to sort out the rifts in their own relationship.

The suspense element was fast-paced and engaging. It was unpredictable and filled with surprises. As a reader, I love when I can’t guess the ending! The story was the grand finale of a spectacular series. Props to the author for crafting an intricate plot but writing it in a fluid way so I never got lost or confused.

I was sad to see this series come to an end, but I look forward to more from this talented author.

To purchase your copy of DEAD DRIFT click here!

*I received a copy of this story from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

About the Author:
Dani Pettrey is the bestselling author of the Chesapeake Valor series and the Alaskan Courage series and winner of the 2014 Daphne du Maurier Award for Inspirational Novel, the 2014 Christian Retailing’s Best Award for Suspense, and the 2013 Holt Medallion for First Novel. She and her husband reside in the D.C. Metro area. She can be found online at http://www.danipettrey.com.

From the write-up, I anticipated this one to be romance-focused whilst having an investigation as the setting but in Dead Drift by Dani Pettrey I got so much more! The FBI and CIA are working against the clock to stop a terrorist attack of monumental proportions and, there is a second case, a serial killer is on the loose! Two great cases with a team with a fantastic skill set keeps the pace swift and its full of action! The romance is there, it’s realistic and convincing! Christianity is interspersed throughout and beautifully handled! I haven’t read the three previous books in the series but I will be shortly! Whilst I am keen to get to know the other characters better, I still thoroughly enjoyed it! It’s a five out of five and highly recommended!

Another great book by Dani Pettrey, I'm hoping there are still more coming in this series. This book picks off where the other book left off so if haven't read the other books in the series you will need to read them. I did not want to stop reading the book and when I wasn't reading the book I would find myself thinking about how the stories would work themselves out.

Excellent conclusion to the Chesapeake Valor series. This is like two stories in one--the culmination of the search for Jenna's kidnapper/murderer, and the search for the terrorist who wants to destroy the US. I liked how all of the storylines wrapped up, and loved the swoon-worthy romance. This entire series has been an excellent balance of action, adventure, romance, and a bit of suspense.

I have had the pleasure of reading all of Dani Pettrey’s books. My thoughts:

What I liked

Not as many povs. I really think book three suffered from the case of too many povs. Fortunately, Luke told most of the story in this book, just like I thought he should. He’s been such a mystery for most of the story that I wanted to know who he was and what he had been up to. Unfortunately, I didn’t learn too much about him personally (see below), but we definitely learn what he’s been up to and why he made the decisions he made.

A suspense and a mystery. This book manages to go back and forth, deftly juggling both a suspense and a mystery. I believe a suspense novel is based on the idea that you, the reader, know who the bad guy is, but you read to see the main character(s) connect the dots. This would be the international issue that was introduced in the previous book. I will admit that I was not as invested in the suspense, as I appreciate a good old-fashioned who-done-it more, but Pettrey does a good job of not overpowering you with information so as to get you lost or uninterested. She also managed to make the bad guy feel more human and not just come across as some evil villain. I was, however, really looking forward to solving the mystery of who killed Jenna, and while some parts seemed to randomly come together fast, I did enjoy Griff and Finley solving that mystery.

Characters. Kudos to Pettrey for creating a cast of characters that each had their own personalities and quirks, so much so that I never got them confused with the others. My favorite two will always be Griff and Finley followed by Parker and Avery, but they were all wonderful fictional people to spend time with.

Spiritually, the characters pray and seek God and make real efforts to grow and develop their faith.

What I didn’t like

Honestly, this is a matter of personal preference. This is a plot driven book. Something is happening in just about every chapter; places blowing up, people being shot at, clues being stumbled upon (some of the clues were handed to them so quick, I wondered what took them so long to get there). With so much action, there was very little room for genuine characterization. To me, Luke and Kate were very superficial. That’s not necessarily bad, it just leaves for some rather unmemorable characters. I do believe that to a great degree, Pettrey relies on the first two books in her series to tell the stories of most of her characters (I usually adore the first two book), but then that means you mostly get action in the last two. This works for some people, but it wasn’t exactly my cup of tea.

Also, the romance was a bit of a disappointment. It was almost as though the main couple had to get together cause there was no one else left. There was talk about attraction and for once I was like, skip attraction, do they connect on a personal level? I wasn’t sure they did. As a romance lover, I would have liked more. However, if you’re going into this book ready for action, I think you will be satisfied.

Romantic scale: 6

Overall, I loved the first two books in this series and am super impressed with Pettrey’s vision by having an overarching mystery and suspense that spans four novels. But, I do think in the rush to do it all, some character development was missing and ironically, some of the suspense/mystery happened too fast.

**I received a copy from Netgalley. My opinion was not affected in anyway.**

Dead Drift by Dani Pettrey met all of my expectations and then some. You can read this as a stand alone but why would you? This series (Chesapeake Value) has been so good and this final book will mean so much more to you if you have been following Kate’s search for Luke. She knew in her heart that he was not dead. I was not sure how Dani was going to redeem Luke. How could we understand why he left and why it had been 7 years. But she did it. You understood what his 18 year old patriotic and slightly over confident self was thinking.

If Kate and Luke’s story is not enough to keep you up at night, we find out what happened to Griffin’s sister. This was a fascinating and heartbreaking storyline. She was on her way to meet Parker (her brother and Parker’s best friend) and is found 3 weeks later after floating up from the ocean. This killer is very smart and sophisticated. I wanted more details as to how he was able to know so much. Very emotional and satisfying conclusion to this storyline.

The book has a ton of action and adventure as the rest of the team is trying to stop a terrorist attack. This book is a must read for fans of romantic suspense.
I absolutely loved these characters and Dani does a great job of including them in each of the books while still keeping one couple as the main storyline.

Book four in the Chesapeake Valor series starts off running and stays that way till the end. Luke Gallagher is finally back with his friends and family, but not as a happy reunion, but to stop a terrorist. I liked seeing how Luke worked as getting back to a "normal" life, while at the same time having to do all he can to keep himself and Kate alive.
I have really enjoyed this series and seeing the characters evolve. It will be hard leaving them behind, but look forward to seeing what comes next.
I received a copy of the book from the author, the review is entirely my own.

Dead Drift is romantic suspense at its best. All I have to say: FINALLY! I was highly anticipating this story, largely due to the investment I had in these characters and mystery after three previous books. This final installment was everything I wanted it to be: pulse-pounding ACTION, puzzles to solve, situations to escape, friendships that bring all the emotion and a romantic relationship built on history and attraction.

Readers of the whole series will be happy with the occasional perspectives of earlier lead characters and TWO serious plot lines — one involving a terrorist threat and Luke and another seeking to resolve a murder mystery important to Griffin. My favorite parts of this series, other than seeing the dynamic of this team, were the long-awaiting wrap up of ongoing plot threads and the romance between Luke and Katie. For Luke to not have been “on the scene” much in previous books, I still instantly liked him because of the way the rest of the team considered him. He had a LOT to go through in this story, seeking forgiveness being a big part of it, but his integrity and determination proved admirable — and the story was all the better for it.

Thank you to Bethany House for the review copy. This is my honest and unsolicited review.

What an amazing finale to Dani Pettrey's Chesapeake Valor series! Honestly, I feel like I need to go back a reread all of them. Each book was released about a year apart, so I feel like I may have forgotten some of the details leading up to Dead Drift. Take my advice and don't start with this one...read them all! Each book builds on the one before it and this story begins right where the last one left off. The Chesapeake Valor series tells the story of a group of friends that are more like family (and some are!) and how their lives have changed by one traumatic event. Dead Drift mainly tells the story of Luke, who disappeared from the lives of his friends for seven years, and the girl he left behind...Kate.

Suspense. Romance. A murder mystery. Terrorist plots. Friendship. You'll get all of this as you dive into this intense, well-paced novel. I don't typically read much suspense, so I wasn't really used to the level of intensity...but it was great! Enough to get the pulse racing, but not too much that it made me feel uncomfortable. There was just the right amount of romantic tension and tender moments, which helped balance out the action and suspense. You basically get a little bit of everything. I couldn't put it down!!

Personal takeaway...Trust in the mission God has called you to. He will give you the wisdom and strength to complete it.

**I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in order to share my honest opinions, which I did.**

Luke Gallagher vanished seven years ago without a word to his family, his serious girlfriend. Kate Maxwell, or his three best guy friends. The first three books in the series were about those friends, and it’s finally time to solve the mystery of Luke’s disappearance, subsequent re-appearance - and best of all, what Kate is going to do about it. In all that time, she never quit loving Luke or searching for him. Now that he is back, he needs his friends’ help to stop an imminent terrorist attack. He and Kate must figure out their very complicated relationship as they try to stay ahead of a terrorist network determined to get revenge on American soil.

Dani Pettrey’s conclusion to her four-part Chesapeake Valor Series was dynamic and explosive! We were eager for this book and were not disappointed. While a few plot lines didn’t quite tie up and the end felt a bit rushed, the storyline nevertheless was exciting, intricate and beautifully written. Luke and Kate’s love story played out realistically and tenderly, which was our favorite part. Dani is one of our favorite up and coming authors and she has shown she is brilliant at both suspense and romance. We look forward to her next series!

This is another wonderful and suspenseful story by Dani. She always keeps me on the edge of the seat with her many twist in her books. Thank you to Net Galley and the publishers for this wonderful read. Can’t wait for her next one in the series.

This is the forth book in the Chesapeake Valor series and I highly recommend reading this series in order as characters and storylines carry over. After the first 3 books we are left with a lot of questions waiting for answers. This is the book that answers those questions and wraps everything up.

There are really two main storylines happening throughout the book. Griffin and Finlay are working on his sister’s murder case and then Luke, Kate, Declan and the rest of the team and working on the terrorist threat. We learn more about where Luke has been the last 7 years.

Jenna’s murder case has been carried over throughout each book and finally Griffin is able to get closure when they are able to find the person responsible. This was not an easy case and puts both Finlay and Griffin in a precarious situation, but they are able to overcome and get justice not only for Jenna but all his other victims. They also are able to provide closure for all the families affected.

The terrorist case was the main focus of the book and while I loved that justice was won in the end I did feel like the actual takedown seemed to be wrapped up behind the scenes and we didn’t really experience it. I felt a bit disappointment by this; I would have enjoyed getting more of a glimpse of how this happened.

The connection between Kate & Luke was apparent and I was happy for them to finally reconnect, but I did feel like Kate was pretty quick to overcome the feelings she has been dealing with for the last 7 years. However by the end I didn’t care about this and just loved that they were finally together.


I absolutely loved reconnecting with these characters and finally getting to know Luke, the friend that disappeared 7 years ago. I especially enjoyed the team effort that was shown. It is sad to have to say goodbye to this group of friends that has grown over the series. But I am pleased with the way this series wrapped up. I will be on the lookout for what Ms. Pettrey releases next.

I can’t tell if I am happy to finally get to see this story play out, or if I am devastated that this series is over. I have enjoyed this series immensely and I was sad to see it end, however, this book was amazing and I loved reading it.

This book was just as good as the rest of the series and I could not put it down. I was hooked immediately and it didn’t let up until the last page.

I was really glad to finally see Luke and get his and Kate’s story. It’s been hinted at for so long! It was completely worth the wait. Their story has so much history and mystery to it. They are both strong, brave, and stubborn, making them a dynamic couple!

Recommendation: This was a great conclusion to an amazing series. I highly recommend it to anyone who has been reading the Chesapeake Valor series.

*I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher. A positive review was not required. All opinions are my own.*