Whoa. Buddy. This book was incredible.
From the first page my heart was racing and I don't think it stopped racing throughout the entirety of the book.

Whether it was a gun fight, or a hot chase, or the sweetest little moments where I asked, "Are you going to kiss her yet?" I don't think my heart calmed down at all during the story.

I'm not usually totally satisfied by suspense novels but this one did the trick.
The suspense was grueling, (in the best sort of way,) and it was not overpowered by the romance and Christian themes. They were all balanced perfectly.

Now the short chapters irritated me and I didn't appreciate the constant jumps in POVs but it's something I can live with.

The story line was incredible. The characters were amazingly built.
The character growth for both Finn and Gabby was truly satisfying.
Not only their growth as individuals, but in their relationship.

They dated back in the day or almost started dating or something, but the feelings were there, as evidence by their inability to stay away from each other.

Their relationship was very pleasing, though there were times I wanted to slap them both on the head. Especially Finn. But then again, especially Gabby. XD

I personally would prefer a heavier Christian theme but I know a lot of people prefer it to be at a minimum. I think there was good balance between the two.

I can't say say enough about the suspenseful moments. The mystery had me never wanting to stop reading.

Hearts and lives were on the line throughout the whole book and it had my heart racing probably above a healthy level.

By the end of the story I was speechless
It pained me because I knew I'd never be able to get out the words to explain how friggen awesome this book was!!

-Rebekah

Grab your copy now!

**I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest review. I was in no way obligated to leave a positive review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are purely my own.**

Full of the action-packed suspense and romance that Pettrey is known for. The author grabs your attention at page one and keeps it all the way to the end. This rapid page turner will have you on the edge of your seat from cover to cover.

Another excellent mystery by Dani Pettery! The story is hard to put down, with all its twists and turns. totally a side note, but I fell in love with the cover too.;)

Wow! Insane. This book will take you on an amazing ride with a shocking ending. Set up for a sequel also. Love this author.

With action and suspense starting on the first page and continuing to the end, The Killing Tide will likely satisfy those readers who enjoy Christian mystery and suspense books. The beautiful cover set the stage for the story, and multiple twists and turns kept me turning the pages and guessing. Dani Pettrey is a master at creating colorful and layered characters that come alive on the page. Although I really liked Finn Walker, I had a hard time warming up to Gabby Rowley. While she is independent and plucky, she was also quite irritating when she kept putting herself and others in danger by disregarding those who were trying to protect her. I was a bit confused by the sheer number of characters introduced in the book, but since it’s the first in the Coastal Guardians series, I’m sure we’ll be learning more about many of them.

One thing that bothered me is that the book showed Gabby being present during discussion of investigation progress by Coast Guard members while they were trying to solve crimes. I highly doubt that civilians would be included in actual crime investigation discussions, especially if they were a reporter as Abby was. All in all, I enjoyed the story and I’m looking forward to learning more about the other characters in the series. Pettrey is a talented writer and knows how to keep the suspense going.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy from Bethany House/ NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

The Killing Tide starts off Pettrey’s next series with a cast of characters who are likeable and engaging, with strong ties that make them feel more like a family unit than coworkers. I enjoyed each new character as they came across the page and am looking forward to several of them being featured in future books.
While this novel had a strong premise and characters I enjoyed, I just didn’t like it as much as her previous books. Some of the circumstances felt disjointed, and a little forced, at least from my perspective.
However, there was still a lot I enjoyed about this book. I really liked the different angle that she explored in this book with the Coast Guard. I learned a lot about what the Coast Guard does and how they operate, and it was all very fascinating.
I’ll certainly be reading the next book in this series, and would recommend this novel—especially to Pettrey fans—just for me, it wasn’t to my taste completely.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

3.5 Stars

The Killing Tide has an amazing cover and it’s even better in print. I’m visual, so I base whether or not I want to read a book on the cover first and the blurb second. Both of these things made me anticipate the release of The Killing Tide (Coastal Guardians 1). The mystery and suspense is good too. Anyone who has read a Pettrey book knows she is one of the “big fish in the sea” when it comes to writing compelling stories.

So this was how she was going to die…

Quite a first line, huh? Waves of intrigue crash onto the page right from the beginning. The plot is believable as far as the Coastal Guardians go with their extensive training and investigative techniques.

Gabby, the heroine, is an investigative reporter with a back story involving Finn, our hero. While Gabby is not afraid of danger, many of her attitudes and actions seemed irresponsible and bratty to me. She’s constantly going against wise counsel where her safety is concerned. I just couldn’t connect with her character. And I would have found her inclusion in every aspect of the CGIS case more plausible if she had been introduced as official support personnel.

Regardless of my disconnect with Gabby, I still liked the story and I learned a lot about the United States Coast Guard while reading The Killing Tide. I’m anticipating book two highlighting more of our brave Coastal Guardians.

I recommend this book to fans of contemporary romantic suspense interlaced with strong faith. I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.

I was excited to pick a copy of this book up for review, since I don’t think I’ve ever read a romantic suspense with a Coast Guard hero. The CGIS (Coast Guard Investigative Service) is a federal law enforcement agency which never really gets more than a supporting role in fiction, so I was definitely interested to learn more about the service. Imagine my surprise to discover that apparently CGIS agents are happy to allow civilians they’re attracted to, to assist them in processing crime scenes. Or help them question witnesses. At least, according to this author. Somehow, I don’t think this is actually representative of the real CGIS.

The agents in this book seem more concerned about what brand of shoes they’re wearing than the crimes they’re investigating. Seriously, I don’t think a single character put on a pair of shoes without the brand being named - it got to the point where I actually think the author might be being paid for product placement. It’s THAT bad. Not only shoes, either.

I struggled to maintain the narrative thread because the point of view character kept changing. Though the narrative ostensibly centers on Gabby, an investigative reporter whose brother Noah is in the CGIS, and her love interest, Noah’s friend and colleague Finn, the PoV kept jumping to Noah and another colleague, Rissa, and their part in the investigation. Mid-chapter and without warning, the narrative shift and change in pace was jarring to say the least.

More than all of this, what annoyed me most intensely was the overt evangelism of the characters. Thinking that she was grateful a new widow was a Christian because ‘at least she’d be comforted knowing her husband was with God’ was an attitude that horrified me from Gabby, even more than discovering she walked out on a three month relationship with Finn with NO NOTICE when she got a job offer in a different city. Seriously, she up and left the same day! I couldn’t believe he was willing to SPEAK to her, much less put his life on the line for her sake, or that her brother would have the gall to ASK him to. Her holier-than-thou attitude and constant thinking about how grateful she was for God’s provision and protection really grated once I knew how badly she’d treated someone she professed to care about.

I was so irritated by the obvious misrepresentation of the CGIS’ professionalism (two traitor members and a bunch of incompetent ones), the product placement, the evangelising and Gabby being such a queen bee - there’s a difference between being a driven investigative reporter and stubbornly TSTL - that I honestly didn’t care if the plot was any good or not. Not a spoiler: it could have been, but ended with a deus ex machina instead, the main villain not having been anywhere in the plot up until he suddenly turned up and started killing subordinates for failing him.

This is the second story I’ve read set in the American South in a matter of a couple of weeks where literally everyone is white, too. Oh. Except one of the villains, who was Latinx. Which is actually worse than all-white, when your only character of color is a villain.

Fail on all counts, including racism, so this is getting a one star from me.

Dani Pettrey does it again. This author is an expert with the Christian romantic suspense genre. She does an excellent job with blending the romance, the suspense and the Christianity into one superb book. This series focuses on the CGIS, Coast Guard Investigative Services. We always hear so much about NCIS, so this was awesome. This book focuses on Gabby & Finn. Finn is CGIS and Gabby is a reporter. Chapter One starts off with Finn tearing his rotator cuff during a rescue. Gabby is nearly killed in chapter 2 and the action does not stop! And she doesn't let a little thing like nearly getting killed stop her from trying to get her story. Not only do we get nonstop action, we also get romance, but the romance doesn't overshadow the story. Being that this was the first book in a new series, it does get a little confusing as there are so many characters to learn. I loved that the characters were living their faith openly. I just really enjoyed the entire story and I can't wait for the next book in the series. Thank you to Netgalley and Bethany House for the copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

“Fire ripped through Finn’s right shoulder, ricocheting down his arm.”

Opening line of The Killing Tide by Dani Pettrey
From the first page, The Killing Tide by Dani Pettrey keeps a cracking, action-packed, pace full of tension and suspense. The ”good guys” are all awesome and I loved seeing the investigations unfold from their multiple viewpoints, and without repetition, it’s been beautifully done!

Our leading ladies are feisty, intelligent and determined. The gents are equally well-rounded and the team gels together fabulously. I’m so glad this is a start of a series and I get to spend more time with them!

The coast guard angle is well-research and feels realistic, I have a new appreciation of the amazing work these men and women do. It is another feather in the cap of this book that 10% of the profits from it go to the Coast Guard Foundation…in case you needed one more reason to buy this book!

Christianity with gently lived out by the characters and tough topics like guilt, forgiveness and purpose tackled elegantly and soulfully.

There are several twists in the mystery and it kept me guessing…who is working as a double-agent and who is the one behind it all? The ending is clever! And wanting to know what happened next meant I read it straight through and I highly recommend this one. It’s five out of five on the en-JOY-ment scale and I can’t wait for book two!

The Killing Tide, by Dani Pettrey, is the first book in her new Costal Guardians series. Members of CGIS, the Coast Guard's investigative branch, must solve a series of crimes while also keeping a journalist safe from a drug dealer.

Gabby Rowley is on the run from the man who she exposed in an investigative news article. Her Coast Guard brother insists his team can protect her, including Finn Walker, the man she had a brief relationship with six months before.

Finn jumps at the opportunity to protect Gabby. He and her brother set her up in Finn's guest loft where Finn can keep a close eye on her. But Finn has distraction of his own when a good friend is found murdered while on a fishing trip.

Gabby cannot keep from using her investigative journalist skills to help find the truth about who murdered Finn's friend. However, the deeper she digs, the more in danger she becomes.

I'm a big fan of Dani Pettrey's books. She always has a great collection of characters who work well as a team. Finn's CGIS crew are no different and I love how Gabby's spunk fits right in.

I found the story began a little slow, partly because there were so many names to keep straight. But once Gabby and Finn began their dance over the investigation, her safety, and their relationship, I couldn't put the book down. By the end, I was already anticipating book two.

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I received this book free from NetGalley in order to provide an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

This is one action-packed story! From bullets and knives to snakes and sharks to explosions and drownings, this book might just have it all. I enjoyed how the author wove together multiple cases within CGIS, as well as including the drug lord who's after Gabby. It could be a little confusing at times, but it all came together for a memorable climax. Looking back, there were clues to the identity of the Big Bad, but I never had a chance at guessing who it was (granted, I also drew a blank when the name was revealed, and it took until some more context was meted out to place precisely who it was).

Fictional investigative reporters tend to have a reputation for putting the story first, above relationships and common sense and courtesy, and Gabby fits the mold pretty well . . . I'd hoped for something a little different, but I did like that Gabby and Finn already had a relationship to build off of. I actually ended up liking a lot of the secondary characters better than the main couple, especially with all those dangling threads lurking in there to hook one into their stories. I'm guessing--based on the author's pattern in previous series--that they'll be the stars of future books, which gives me something to look forward to--I really enjoyed the crew, particularly Rissi and Evelyne.

Thank you Bethany House and NetGalley for the complimentary ARC. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions are my own.

This was an excellent debut to Dani's new series! It was a very easy and quick read but boy did it pack a ton of suspense and surprises within its pages. I love the new crew of folks we are meeting in the Coastal Guardians and I can not wait for ALL of their stories! This a series that will be on must read as they release pile! The story moved very quickly and flowed well throughout and it definitely kept me guessing. There multiple things that happened that I was not expecting. Highly recommend for anyone that loves great Christian fiction suspense stories!

I received this book from the author and was not required to post a positive review. All thoughts are my own.

SUSPENSE OVERLOAD!

Dani Pettrey has started off her new Coastal Guardians series with a BANG! Be ready to block off some time because this plot is extremely compelling and once you start reading it, you will want to stay with it. Her characters are complex yet come across as very believable. Her descriptive imagery will have you feeling as though you are right where the action is taking place. Her villains and the evil they plan and inflict are totally realistic. THE KILLING TIDE is based on an incident involving the Coast Guard Investigative Service. One of their officers has been killed and another is missing. Special Agent Finn Walker gets his most difficult assignment to date - Solve the murder and see if any of his fellow CGIS Special Agents are involved! All he needs is the “help” of Investigative Reporter Gabby Rowland (his boss’s sister). He quickly finds out that Gabby is a very “Independent Thinker” and thinks nothing of putting herself in dangerous situations in order to find out what she wants to know. How can he protect her and work his case when someone/or more than one wants them both dead? Do they go their separate ways and hope that that by separating, they will have a better chance of survival? Or, do they decide on a truce and decide to join forces and set a trap for whomever is following them? Also, what will they choose to do about the growing attraction between them?? A truly spectacular book that will keep you awake reading all night! I was provided an ARC of this book by Bethany House and NetGalley. The opinions expressed here are completely my own and without influence.

The Killing Tide by Dani Pettrey is the first book in the Coastal Guardians series. Finn Walker is investigating the death of Coast Guard officer and disappearance of another Coast Guard officer. When an investigative reporter, Gabby Rowley, teams up with him, it is race to solve the mystery and keep themselves alive as the danger mounts. I am usually a huge fan of Pettrey's books, but found this one hard to get into and overwhelmed by the number of characters and subplots. Nevertheless, I eagerly await the second book as Pettrey has laid the ground work for another riveting series.

Healthier at the Ocean? Gabby Rowley is an investigative reporter whose story exposed a dangerous man, and is now running for her life. She relocates to her hometown to hide. Once there, she finds her brother, as well as, her former love interest, Finn, ready to protect her.

Both men are special agents with the Coast Guard Investigative Service, and are working on an interesting case. As the story unfolds, murders, mystery and suspects abound. With more curiosity than a cat, Gabby tries to involve herself by attempting to uncover the person behind it all.

Unfortunately, Gabby’s snooping exposes her location to the killer hunting her. Besides trying to solve the crime, the Coast Guards are forced to spend a lot of time protecting Gabby from both the man after her, as well as, herself.

This fast-moving yarn has lots of action and mystery. Gabby was hard to like because she constantly breaks her word to family and friends, along with doing lots of fool-hardy things. There are a number of characters to keep track of, but the story will grab your interest, and the person behind it all is a surprise. Christianity is brought into the story in a very natural way, and adds to the tale’s appeal. This 5-star book will be enjoyed by those liking action, fast-moving tales, or romance. Bookreadingtic received a complimentary copy of The Killing Tide, for the purpose of review.

This story has so many twists and turns. I did not want to put this book down. I loved Finn Walker and Gabby Rowley. They were so good together. I did get mad at Finn once in a while when he got mad at Gabby for doing some of the dangerous things that he also did every day. I am looking forward to reading the second book in this series. I loved the action and learning a little bit about the Coast Guard Investigative Service. I received a copy of this book from the author for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.

This was an amazing book! I really loved all the characters. I especially loved the coast guard centered story for a change of pace.

I especially loved Gabby. I really related worth how she was torn in two directions. She was far from perfect, but I loved her.

Finn was dreamy. Also not perfect, but definitely a true hero!

Pettrey is a fantastic writer. I had no idea who the bad guy was or how the story would conclude and the whole book kept me on my toes. I cannot wait to read book two!

I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. This is my honest review.

The Killing Tide #1 Coastal Guardians by Dani Pettrey

Whenever I pick up a book by Dani Pettrey I know two things: I will get immersed in the story and I will end up reading way past my bedtime, as I did with The Killing Tide. There is always some aspect of her stories that stay with me long after I close the last page.

My favorite character is GCIS (Coast Guard Investigative Service) agent Finn Walker. A man of integrity, handsome, dedicated and with a strong faith which impacts those around him. I love his strength and dedication to GCIS, those he loves and his growing faith. As he faces his most dangerous crime he certainly does not need any distractions, especially the destruction of Gabby Rowley, his boss’s sister. Gabby is an investigative reporter and has a history with Finn, one that did not end well. Now they are thrown together for her protection, however, she does not intend to stay sheltered when there is a crime to be unraveled. Thus begins a suspenseful, dangerous search to uncover the few clues they have to catch the murderer.

Gabby is a strong-willed woman set on a path that seems to be filled with dangerous situations at every turn. I found myself shaking my head at some of the things Gabby does to stay in the investigation despite the danger to herself and thereby bringing more danger to those protecting her. At times I didn’t like her much and then she does something that changes my mind about her. I really like her family and their part in the story and I hope to see more of them in future books as the series unfolds. A gripping story.

~(I bought a copy and also received a copy of this book from the author/publisher/NetGalley (no monetary gain were exchanged), this is my honest review)~

I absolutely love Dani Pettrey. In this newest book in her Coastal Guardians Series, she again delivers with her hallmark style: unforgettable characters embedded in a plot that keeps you riveted with plot twists, danger, and romance. This combination is a winning success, and I have never been disappointed with her writing. Each book is an adventure that leaves you with a mixture of satisfaction combined with anticipation for the next book - which can never come out soon enough! Fans of contemporary suspense will not want to miss this book.

I received this book from Netgalley. All opinions are my own.