The Killing Tide

I have been reading Dani Pettrey’s books for years and her latest, The Killing Tide, does not disappoint. Gabby is an investigative reporter whose life is in danger from one of the men who she helped put behind bars. She protestingly agrees to leave Raleigh and go to Wilmington where her Coast Guard brother and his team can help protect her. However, she also returns to Finn who she once ran away from to keep from falling in love.
I really enjoyed the plot, however, I found myself wishing for more of Gabby and Finn’s backstory. I was wondering why she spent a winter in the loft on his property. It was also slightly confusing to have some much of Rissi’s inner monologue but it does seem to set up well for the next book in the series. All in all, The Killing Tide is an exciting read that I couldn’t put down.

I love Dani Pettrey's books. This one has a lot of characters, a lot of stories, a lot of background things happening all at the same time. I had to really focus to remember who was who and to keep up with the fast-moving pieces and parts of the book. With that said, it's an amazing book and I look forward to more in this series!

This is the first book in the Coastal Guardians series. I was excited to start a new series by one of my favorite authors.

Gabby is on the run. A drug lord is trying to have her killed, and she ends up staying with the man whose heart she broke last time she was in town. She chose her career over love, and now it’s like she’s getting put in the same situation. When people are murdered, Finn’s team has to investigate the deaths, including a few of their own. Two investigations are going on at the same time, and it seems like they will intersect at some point. With Gabby disappearing to investigate on her own all the time, keeping her safe is a hard job.

Gabby disregards anyone who wants to protect her to the point of wandering off for coffee with a “friend.” I put the word friend in quotation marks because she takes the woman for coffee to pursue an “angle” (her words) for a story. The friend is 7 months pregnant and has just lost her husband to murder. How low can Gabby go? Pretty low. I never understood what Finn saw in her. She’s already chosen her career over him once before, and she’s clearly willing to do it again with no hesitation for most of the book. She resents people trying to keep her safe and readily puts herself and OTHERS (including a pregnant woman and her sister) in dangerous situations with no regard for their anyone’s safety. She’s literally like that for almost the entire book, and I hated her character.

My final review is 2.5 stars. If the story were only about Gabby and Finn, it would probably be lower. The saving graces for the book are Noah and Rissi. I ended up hating Gabby’s character so much that even when she has her “changing moment” at the very end, it didn’t affect my view her. I was also disappointed in the ending. I don’t mind antagonists that act like Bond villains, but if they don’t hesitate to kill everyone in their way for most of the book, it doesn’t make sense later on if they suddenly change and put people in a rescuable situation.

Side Note – The ARC I had was awful. The formatting (I had a Kindle version) was horrible. Scene switches had no gaps, so it was jarring to start reading the very next paragraph and realize it involved different people. Also, attention to detail was lacking. When talking about bail hearings, the time wasn’t consistent. There were also numerous wrong words (ex. “roller her eyes”). This is NOT the caliber of work I’m used to from this author, and I have no idea what happened.

This is the first book of Pettrey’s that I haven’t liked, and I’m sorry for it. Her writing is normally so great that it hurts to say I don’t like it.

*The formatting and mistakes did not affect my overall rating. They are mentioned purely to reflect what I experienced reading the copy I was given. My hope is that these glaring mistakes were fixed before the publishing date.

*I received a copy of this book from Bethany House from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Killing Tide follows in the way of Dani Pettrey’s previous titles with a strong mystery story, plenty of action and high-stakes suspense, and charming, faith-filled romance.

When investigative journalist, Gabby Rowley’s life is threatened by the drug lord she helped send to prison, her protective big brother, Noah, insists she return home with him to Wilmington, North Carolina, where he and his Coast Guard Investigative Service team can keep an eye on her. But when bodies begin to pile up, including one of their own, Gabby is drawn to the investigation, even if it means working alongside old flame and the man she left behind, Finn Walker.

The Killing Tide plunges readers straight into the story and lives of the many characters. It took me a little while to work my head around the plot and backstory. It felt like perhaps I had missed a prequel, like I should know these people and the people they know. Instead, the characters’ backstories are mostly filled in throughout the novel, while some are just alluded to, with more details perhaps to be revealed in the second book in the series. The writing jumps around a lot in The Killing Tide. The pace is very quick and the action, deaths, twists and investigation clues just keep coming. Some sections are only a half a page long, before they jump to another thread of the story, another character’s perspective, and then switch again. Once I got my head around who was who and how they fit together, The Killing Tide was an easy story to enjoy.

Aside from Finn and Gabby, there are a lot of other main characters, some of which share in the chapter perspectives. Finn and Noah, Gabby’s brother, are teammates, and their fellow CGIS unit are a tight-knit group. As Dani Pettrey often does, this book is situated around a strong family-like work team.

I really enjoyed the multiple threads of the investigation. Just when you think all the clues have been laid out, another death is revealed or another layer to the organisation was discovered. The end bad guy was a surprise and I liked how that was a plausible and clever reveal. All the main characters are strong men and women, equally capable of saving themselves and others - and they need to do so multiple times over.

The Killing Tide is a fun and exciting first book in a new series. Book two in the Coastal Gaurdians series is set to follow Rissi - another member of the CGIS team and the past that returns to haunt her.

The publishers provided an advanced readers copy of this book for reviewing purposes. All opinions are my own.

THE KILLING TIDE by DANI PETTREY is a fast paced romantic thriller, with a good Christian message. It starts out with a lot of characters, which could be a bit confusing, but they all seem to fit into the picture as one carries on reading. The plot is exciting and well worked out. It is an enjoyable read.
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Bethany House Publishers. The opinions in this review are completely my own.

I LOVED Pettrey's Alaskan Courage series, so I was really excited for The Killing Tide. But, I have to admit that while the plot was well done, it just wasn't my thing. I've read one too many drug cartel based stories. I don't enjoy them, no matter how hard I try! The reason that I didn't fully enjoy The Killing Tide, isn't so much that there were any big issues with the book, but more that it wasn't suited to my reading tastes. Like the drug cartel plot. I just can't seem to get into them.
Plus, I felt like Gabbi & Finn's romance was almost non-existent. There was lot's of internal "thinking about said character" and then a few kisses, but the actual romance...and leadup--it just wasn't there. And almost half the time in the book was spent equally between the secondary characters. While I like secondary characters, I don't like for them to get as much attention as the main ones.
Add to that, I didn't feel a real connection to any of characters--so, I think all round, this just wasn't my type of book. However, it may really stoke someone else's reading dreams--for sure. I know that, my cup-of-tea or not, this book took a lot of creative brainpower to write, and it was indeed executed well, and I give Pettrey props for that, because I know writing this book was no small feat. It just wasn't my jam.

Also, a note about the kindle version I read--I hope this changes before this book hits the shelves, but there were SO MANY typos. Incorrect words, double words, etc. littered throughout and I hope the manuscript is cleaned up by the editing team before it hits the market.

*I was given a free ebook copy by the publisher in return for my honest opinion*

Dani Pettrey definitely knows what is required to create a romantic suspense. I adore how she creates a whole cast of brave heroines and heroes to fill her stories. By entering into a new story, Pettrey invites her readers into a world that becomes real and unique. In Killing Tide, readers are introduced to a team of Coast Guard Investigative Services that are as close as family. They spend time together, caring for each other inside and outside the job. The characters are memorable, yet brave. Gabby has a past that Pettrey hints out and doesn't resolve by the end of the first edition. While Finn has a past too, but Pettrey didn't keep it hidden from the readers. The romance between Finn and Gabby flourishes and sparks from the past romance they shared. Killing Tide is a death-defying story of chasing buried treasures and uncovering the truth of a boat explosion and castrophy of a dead man. The story captured my attention pretty quickly, and Pettrey didn't let go until the last hair-raising moment. I enjoyed spending time with these characters and can't wait to see what dilemma they find themselves in for the next story.
I received a complimentary copy of The Killing Tide by Dani Pettrey from Bethany House Publishers, but the opinions stated are all my own.

Dani Pettrey has a knack for writing faith-based suspense that draws her readers to wanting more. The Killing Tide once again accomplishes this task.

Gabby Rowley was a top-notch investigative reporter for the Raleigh (NC) Gazette. Her stories on Xavier Fuentes had assisted local enforcement in bringing down the major drug-kingpin and the seizure of $30 Million in cocaine by the DEA. Now Fuentes’ gang would stop at nothing to take Gabby down - permanently. Members of the Raleigh PD, her supervisor at the Gazette, and her brother, a member of a Coast Guard Investigative Service team, agreed she needed time to recuperate Wilmington West Virginia. Gabby was not quite ready for Finn Walker, her former boyfriend, to be a part of that same CGIS team.

While staying in Wilmington, Gabby stumbles into another smuggling crew. To get her story she would need to follow the CGIS team as they track down the smugglers and avoid the dangers presented by Xavier Fuentes as he escapes from prison.

Gabby and her family’s faith will provide guidance as they move ahead day by day. There are some who do not yet understand this thing called faith, but prayer may be able to move them forward.

Whether a reader’s personal library, a local church library, or a public library, The Killing Tide could easily find a home. If Dani Pettrey follows a similar pattern to her earlier works, we will be seeing additional using the same characters - this reader will be looking forward to those books.
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This review is based on a free electronic copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review. The opinions expressed are my own.

This is another Dani Pettrey home run! This story involves the Coast Guard, most especially Coast Guard Investigative Service agent Finn Walker and his unit when they have to investigate the death of one of their own.
Meanwhile, Gabby, Finn’s boss’ sister, a reporter, comes to stay under Finn’s protection because someone who was convicted of a crime due to a story she wrote is trying to kill her. Of course, being a reporter, she can’t seem to keep her nose out of the investigation and makes Finn’s life more complicated and gets herself into danger as well.

Dani Pettrey’s books are always full of suspense and interesting characters and I look forward to each new installment as they come out in her series.

I received a Kindle copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I received an ARC of this book, and I am so glad I did! I love this new series set around The Coast Guard, and as always, I love the writing style of Dani Pettrey. Her characters bring you into the story, and her suspenseful writing truly does keep you on the edge of your seat trying to figure out who did what! Be prepared for lots of emotional highs and lows throughout the story, and dive into The Killing Tide as soon as it comes out!

"The Killing Tide" is a Christian romantic suspense novel. It's the first book in a new series. After Harper's investigative reporting puts a drug lord in prison, he orders his people to kill her. Her brother, Noah, asks her to stay with one of his Coast Guard team, Finn, so they can keep her safe. Noah's team must also investigate the death of a Coast Guard officer who has been murdered. Harper wants to help her friend, the wife of the murdered officer, discover why he was killed. She's not really interested in being safe and knows how to protect herself, so she faced danger from the murder investigation as well.

The constant danger to the main characters kept the suspense high. The characters were complex, dealt with realistic struggles, and I cared about what happened to them. Finn and Harper had dated before the start of this story, so it was a matter of Harper deciding if she loved and trusted Finn enough to keep her reporting close to home. Some of the characters prayed to God to help them stay safe, etc. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this suspenseful novel.

This is the first book in the Coastal Guardian series. I enjoyed this book and will be watching for the next book in the series. I enjoyed the mystery and the characters. It kept me hooked from beginning to end

Wow! Once again, Dani Pettrey writes a thoroughly suspenseful, edge-of-your-seat thriller that is difficult to put down once you begin reading it! This is book one in a new series and I cannot wait to read book 2 in the series! The Killing Tide sets up the story of Coast Guard Investigative Service special agent Finn Walker. Mingled in with Finn's story is the beginning of Noah's story -- including the stories of both of his sisters and their families. Many other characters are also introduced as their jobs and friendships intertwine with Finn's. Romance, suspense....GREAT book!

The Killing Tide delivers fast-paced suspense and action from the very first page. Investigator journalist Gabby Rowley is attacked and her life is on the line. With the help of her brother, Noah, and Coast Guard Investigator Finn Walker, Gabby moves back to her small town roots and drops off the grid. But she loves a good investigation, and soon finds herself in perilous situations as she seeks justice when her friend’s husband is murdered.

The Killing Tide is complex and thrilling. There are a lot of characters to keep track of, which made it hard to get into at first. But I’ve never read a novel where the characters face one life threatening situation after another. There are drug lords, murders, explosions, shoot-outs, conspiracies, underwater attacks, poisonous snakes, you name it, Dani Pettrey throws it at Gabby and Finn and the rest of the investigation team! But in the midst of life-threatening situations, Gabby and Finn begin to rekindle their romance making it a sweet tale in the midst of tragedies.

I definitely recommend adding this to your reading list. Pre-order The Killing Tide now as it comes out 8/6. This it the first in a series, and you don’t want to miss this action-packed over the top exciting summer read, because there is more to come.

I received an ebook review copy of this book through NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

From the very first page of The Killing Tide by Dani Pettrey, the reader is thrown into an intensely dangerous web of suspense, murder, betrayal, and a desperate fight for survival.  The Killing Tide aptly titles this work with the plot occurring mainly near the coast of North Carolina with many different situations involving the ocean.. Also, from the first two chapters the reader can already see the death toll rising with several suspicious deaths, some of which are very obviously of criminal intent.  I have to say that Ms. Pettrey has the exceptional talent of grabbing her reader's full attention in the very first few pages and keeping it until the last page, which is exactly my experience with this current work. 
I absolutely loved this work by Ms. Pettrey, as I have all of her works that I've read. Like many of her other books, I could hardly put it down.  Some of the reasons I love Ms. Pettrey's writing is her down-to-earth characters who face struggles that we all experience or that we can all easily relate to. Ms. Pettrey introduces characters that are flawed, but working to grow and improve, as well as antagonists that are very stealthy and easy to mistrust. Another aspect of Ms. Pettrey's style that I thoroughly enjoy is her great talent for creating a very suspenseful and surprising plot with many twists and turns, always leaving a shock for the ending. Without spoiling the book, I have to say that the interaction between the coast guard, rescue personnel, medical staff, reporters, and military/post-military members definitely fits my love of action, suspense, family, faith, and excitement.

The main character, Gabby Rowley is a tough, independent, hard-working woman who loves her career. Gabby has an insatiable thirst for knowledge and a curiosity that far exceeds that of cats ;) As an investigative reporter Gabby is used to being roadblocked, but she has to deal with a major setback as her life is threatened by a dangerous drug lord (whom she helped put in jail), making her become a fugitive.  Gabby is forced to retreat back to her hometown of Wilmington, North Carolina with the target on her head. Gabby doesn't want to bring dangers to her family and tries to keep her presence quiet, yet is surprised at the many suspicious happenings around her hometown.  Gabby is nervous to come back to her hometown for many reasons, but mainly because it is home to her old friend and the boyfriend she left behind to follow her career--Finn Walker.    
Finn Walker fits the role of the investigator for the Coast Guard very well with his past experience as a rescue swimmer diver, his unrelenting push for justice, and his fierce protection of those he loves. Finn was left with a broken heart at Gabby's departure from Wilmington, but he pushes aside his own past hurt to help protect her when she comes back into town.  The heartbreak and guilt that Finn deals with in this book really stuck with me, because of his duty in his job to save others and to fight injustice and evil. Finn definitely was a loyal and patient man, as he dealt with Gabby's impatience, sneaking away from her protection, and her fears. Finn was definitely one of my favorite all time characters in the Christian fiction world. I appreciated his strength, courage, loyalty, patience, compassion, as well as his past failures and his struggles with losing someone he was trying to rescue. Finn and Gabby's tenuous friendship give the already suspenseful book an added bit of intrigue and romance.

Overall, I was very impressed with this book and I would highly recommend it. Every chapter was packed with new situations and challenges to be faced by the very relatable characters. I absolutely enjoyed this taste of mystery, suspense, humor, intrigue, romance, and faith. The Killing Tide was another excellent work by Ms. Pettrey, one which I hope you have the chance to read!

I received an arc copy of book from Netgalley to review. I really enjoyed this book & highly recommend it! I loved Finn & Gabby and all the main characters, the story and want to read Rissi & Mason’s story next. Noah also needs a love interest! I will post review on Amazon, Good Reads & Bookbub as well!

What happens when you mix boats, an angry drug dealer, a natural born reporter, a dedicated team of Coast Guard Investigators and a deadly mystery? The result is a fast paced, action filled story that won’t disappoint. The author did a fantastic job developing believable characters, while keeping the reader guessing what would happen next. I loved this book. I like how the author interweaves Christianity without being preachy. If you’re looking for a book that will grab you and yank you into it’s world, this book is for you!

Dani Pettrey starts off a new series with The Killing Tide, about a group of Coast Guard Investigative Service special agents. This one centers around Finn Walker, who is facing a very dangerous crime with little to no evidence, while at the same time dealing with the woman who broke his heart coming back into his life again. Gabby Rowley, sister of one of the Coast Guard special agents, and investigative reporter, is supposed to be in hiding because of a threat to her life. But Gabby has a mind of her own and doesn't want to stay hidden and keep her nose out of the crime that's taken place. The crime that the Coast Guard needs to solve, not her.

Pettrey once again gives her readers a book full of suspense and great characters. We get a brief glimpse of all the special agents, and know that they each will most likely have a book dedicated to them. Fans of Pettrey will delight in this kick off to her new series,

*My thanks the Bethany House for a complimentary preview copy of this book via Net Galley. The opinions stated here are entirely my own.

Darn you Dani Pettrey, you always cost me sleep! The Killing Tide kept me awake long after I should have been sound asleep! Your plots pull me along compelling me to keep reading. Your characters are realistic and have clever dialogue. I believe The Killing Tide to be your most intense book thus far! So my advice to Readers of The Killing Tide is to wait until you have time to immerse yourself in this book. Don't plan on doing anything else! LOL So send the kids to grandmas, send the hubby fishing, then grab a pitcher of ice tea and snacks then settle in for an intense read!

I was given a copy of this book by NetGalley.com with no expectations. All thoughts are my own.

Wow this book was amazing. It drew me in from the first page and had me on the edge of my seat until the very last page.

The writing was vivid and I felt like I was actually in the story. It had my heart racing many times, and breaking in a few. I loved how well the romance, suspense, and faith melded in this story. None overpowered the other and they flowed beautifully.

I love these characters! They are all so sweet and interesting. I am so glad this is a series because I can't wait to get to know all of them better.

I highly recommend this book and new series to anyone who enjoys romantic suspense. You will no be disappointed.

*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of the book mentioned above in the hope that I would review it on my blog. A positive review was not required. All opinions 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.*

What a thrilling romantic suspense! Dani Pettrey has sure made quite a beginning for this new series.

Gabby Rowley is an investigative reporter who just had an attempt on her life - forcing her to hide for a while. Unintentionally, the situation leads her back to where she spent her winter recuperating from a disastrous stint in South Sudan, Finn Walker`s loft. Despite tending a broken heart and even though we're only given snippets of their time together, it`s obvious why Finn was able to crawl under Gabby's barriers.

I guess it was a risk to start a series with characters who have a history together rather than hinting in a previous book about past hurts. I was wary I'd feel something was missing, that I'd be thrown into their story. Let me make it clear this was not the case! Dani Pettrey was able to develop each character very well, leaving no space for doubt that we know these characters well.

I love the dynamics between the dive team and the Rowley family. I hope Noah gets his story so we can hang out with them. For now, I'm super excited about Rissi's story!!

“He was drawn to her like the tides were to the moon.”

“He’d done exactly what he vowed not to do. He’d fallen in love with her all over again.”

The Killing Tide, the first installment in Dani Pettrey’s new Coastal Guardians series, is an action-packed romantic suspense novel that takes readers on an extremely dangerous and thrilling ride and keeps them highly invested in the storyline until the very last page. Dani Pettrey is a favorite author of many romantic suspense readers because of her thrilling storylines, her swoon-worthy heroes, and her ability to weave the characters’ faith seamlessly into her novels.

Gabby Rowley finds herself in extreme danger after her work as an investigative reporter leads to $30 million in cocaine being seized by the DEA and a major drug dealer being sent to prison. After Gabby faces an attempt on her life, her brother Noah, a special agent in the Coast Guard Investigative Service, and other members of his team are enlisted to provide protection for her. As Noah, Finn, and the rest of the CGIS team investigate the suspicious death of a Coast Guard officer, the case becomes more complex and dangerous than they ever anticipated. Sparks continue to fly between Finn and Gabby, as unresolved feelings from the past resurface. The chemistry between Finn and Gabby is off the charts, and the romantic storyline will have readers swooning.

Readers will become familiar with the entire Coast Guard Investigative Service team in the novel, and it is heartwarming how this team of special agents has a family-like dynamic and supports each other during the good times and the bad. There are many new characters introduced at the beginning of the novel, which is typical in the first book of a new series, but readers will quickly fall in love with the entire CGIS team. These characters will undoubtedly be featured in future installments of the Coastal Guardians series. Gabby and Finn’s faith helps them face the difficult situations they encounter in their daily lives, and even in their deepest struggles and moments of doubt, God is always with them.

The Killing Tide is highly recommended for readers of romantic suspense, especially those who enjoy books by authors such as Lynette Eason, Lynn H. Blackburn, Rachel Dylan, Natalie Walters, and Elizabeth Goddard, and fans of TV shows such as NCIS, NCIS: Los Angeles, and Hawaii Five-0. Readers will be eagerly anticipating the second book in the series, The Crushing Depths, to discover more about their favorite members of the Coast Guard Investigative Service team.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House and was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine.


Additional Quotes:

“The ocean settled her soul like nothing else. Being near God’s creation reminded her of His sovereignty and majesty. Setting the moon in the sky to control the tides . . . it awed her. Jesus walking on water, calming the storm . . . Knowing He tamed something so wild and free settled her soul in a way nothing else did.”

“God had most definitely made a masterpiece with Finn Walker. Combining his stellar physique with green eyes, a strong jaw, and chiseled cheekbones made it hard not to sigh when he walked in a room.”

One thing I love about Pettrey's books is that when you flip open the page expecting romantic suspense/adventure, you get it. In spades. The Killing Tide was no different.

The action picks up right from the get-go and is seriously non-stop the whole way through. Warning: the chapters are short, so it's easy to "just one more" yourself all the way to the finish without realizing how much sleep you've lost. (Ask me how I know!) I blame the engaging story and likeable characters, with Pettrey's signature style of weaving plot lines and making readers crave more of the characters in action and interaction alike.

I'm excited to see what this new Coastal Guardians series brings, as this book had one of the best buildups to the next book I've read in a long time. It wasn't so much a cliffhanger at the end as it was a stunning way to set up The Crushing Depths (book two) without detracting from the impact of The Killing Tide's resolution. It left me in awe of the first book and ready to dive into the next.

I definitely recommend The Killing Tide. Might as well add The Crushing Depths to your TBR, too.

“The Killing Tide” is another great read by Dani Pettrey! I have loved all of her books, and this one was no different. I was hooked from the first page to the last page. This book had a lot of suspense and some romance thrown in along the way.

This book follows Gabby and Finn. Gabby is an investigative reporter and she is put on temporary leave from her work because of an evil man who could be coming after her. Therefore, she goes back home to be protected by Noah (her Coast Guard brother) and Finn (her ex-boyfriend Coast Guard). There is another mystery going on while Gabby is there. I love how Dani is able to capture this romantic tension with them, yet she keeps everything clean.

My favorite quote is: “He was drawn to her like the tides were to the moon.” How romantic is this?
I highly recommend this book to everyone out there who enjoys romantic suspense books. This book won’t disappoint.

I received this book from the publisher for my honest opinion.

Just when I think Pettrey can’t do any better, she blows me away with a new story line. This debut of The Coastal Guardians has the makings of her best series to date. The Killing Tide is a Christian Romantic Suspense that will rope you in from the very first page. Action packed and fast paced, you won’t be able to put this one down.

This book contains the breadth of lovable characters Pettrey is known for. They are likable, dynamic, and quirky, a unique gift Dani continually brings to each and every story. Finn is a bold, but soft hero; One you fall in love with from the very start. Gabby is a fierce, independent heroine whose sometimes brash decisions keep you guessing.

I enjoyed the unique structure of this book. It kept you guessing and wasn’t the a + b = great Chrisitian romantic suspense formula. Pettrey breaks the rules in all of the right ways. I would gladly recommend this to any of my friends. Another A+ for Dani and her team.

I was given an early copy of this manuscript through NetGalley for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

4 big waves! (Instead of stars)

I’m a big fan of the romantic suspense genre and Dani Pettery is a big part of that love. Her new book The Killing Tide, which comes out in August, didn’t disappoint. It’s was a wonderful summer read. Light enough so I didn’t have to use my brain much and I could just sit back and enjoy the unfolding story.
What I Liked…
It was action packed but also character driven, which is important to me. A dash of mystery, she kept me guessing as to who the bad guy was till the end. I also never mind a little clean romance thrown in as well!
My only complaint is that the ending felt a tiny bit rushed, I suppose I wasn’t ready for it to end because now I have to wait a year for book two.

Gabby Rowley, reporter for the Raleigh Gazette, finds herelf in need of a safe harbor once again when drug kingpin Xavier Fuentes tries to kill her. She has two choices. Enter protective custody with the government or stay in Finn Walker’s guesthouse—again—a leave her protection up to her brother, Noah, and his coworkers.

Gabby choses her second option—even if it means dealing with an overprotective older sibling and close contact with the man she has feelings for. Feelings she doesn’t trust because of trauma in her past.

Hanging around Noah and the Coast Guard Investigative Services team seems like an interesting, but safe, option. Until Gabby gets sucked into a murder investigation full of confusing clues and shadowy suspects.

Although Finn Walker hesitates to let Gabby stay at his guest house, he knows it’s the safest place for her. Of course, his emotions feel anything but safe around Gabby. Just when he started to fall in love with her, she chose a job in Raleigh over deepening their relationship. Evidently, he’d read her wrong.

To make matters worse, people he’s known and worked with for years seem to have double lives as well. And those double lives have extracted a high price. Will he and the other CGIS team members find the killer before he strikes again?

If you’re looking for a new series filled with action, suspense, and intrigue, Dani Pettrey’s new Coastal guardians will fit the bill. Pettrey shines at weaving suspenseful plots and secondary characters that eventually star in their own books.

Knowing that Dani Pettrey was going to write a new series was like a real gift to me since I love all of her books. This one, like the other books in her other series, is a clean read with romance, suspense and not a few thrilling scenes. Finn Walker is a member of CGIS and is busily engaged investigating the death of another member of the Guard. Then he is tasked with keeping investigative reporter Gabby Rowley safe since she is being targeted by a drug kingpin. There is a lot of action in this tale and many new characters for the series are introduced. I enjoyed getting to know Gabby and about her trauma in Sudan and Finn and his feeling of hopelessness since he has not been able to save everyone in danger. The stories of Rissi, Noah, Mason and Emmalynne all promise to keep the series alive and burning in the readers’ hearts for several years to come. As the quintessential hero, Finn will long live in the hearts and dreams of those who read this book and see him for the Godly man that he is. I highly recommend this book to fans of Dani Pettrey and to anyone who loves a good romance without all of the bad language and graphic sexual scenes!

This has a composite cast with the set up for book two. Like other Dani Pettrey books there’s action, romance, and a host of characters working together. A truly enjoyable read.

The Killing Tide was very slow in the beginning and had multiple characters that were hard to keep track of. I finally got it in my head who all the people were, but I have to admit I got confused in the end (it was probably because I skipped pages). I just never felt involved in the plot so much I couldn't put it down.

You would think I would give this book just one star but yet it had a great mystery (some one would love) and a good romance with faith based quality writing. I did love the ending.

I guess it just wasn't for me.

I received this book from Netgalley and all opinions expressed are my own.

The Killing Tide is a fast paced romantic thriller involving a cast of characters from the Coast Guard's CGIS. This particular book features Finn and an investigative reporter named Gabby. I have to admit it took me a quick minute to get into it because of the many characters in the book. But once I got a few chapters in, I felt I knew them all and they were my good friends. I'm excited because this is the first in a series and I am already anxious to read the next book about Rissi.
*I was gicen a copy of this book by the publisher and this is my honest opinion..

I've been hearing so many good things about this book! And when I remembered that I could grab it on NetGalley... oh happy day! The Killing Tide has to be one of my favorite books by Dani so far. The setting of the Alaskan Courage series had me hooked, and the danger from her Chesapeake Valor series was thrilling, but I was so invested in the characters of this new series! Especially Rissi. (I was going to be pretty upset if her story wasn't next, but it looks like I'm safe ;) ) The setting of this was also pretty great, although I'm not so sure that I'm too excited for our next trip to Topsail *insert nervous laughter* By the ending I'm pretty sure I was reading faster and faster with each chapter. I couldn't help being a little nervous for Gabby and Kenzie and Finn and Noah as they all got into some pretty tight scrapes! And I'll confess to a little horror at the freaky bad guys at the end. (But an admiring horror... that she could write something so deliciously scary!) Don't let the short chapters fool you into thinking that you are going to find an easy stopping place. If you put it down for anything other than food (I always get hungry reading Dani's books cause the characters are always eating!) then I don't know what to tell you except that you're off your rocker crazy. As a navy girl at heart, I still know that you guys are going to LOVE the Coast Guards in this series! 5 Bright Shining Stars!!!

Gabby Rowley is an investigative reporter. And as such, her life is threatened by a major drug lord she helped put away in prison. Her brother Noah seeks the help of his friend CGI agent Finn Walker to protect her. But keeping an eye on Gabby turns out to be a bit of a challenge.

The Coast Guard Investigative unit, are investigating a murder of one of their own.
Gabby feels certain that she can fend for herself as she tries to find clues in the investigation.

Dani Pettrey always writes such interesting novels. Reading The Killing Tide and how these agents risk their lives every day, helping people at sea, is pretty mind boggling. I have a growing respect for the men and women in all sections of military, sacrificing their time and lives on our behalf.

Ms Pettrey will be donating 10% of the profits of the sale of this book to the Coast Guard Foundation.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the publisher. All views expressed are my honest opinion.

This was the first story by Dani Pettrey that I didn't finish the book and think it was awesome. It was good, don't get me wrong, but it's not one I would necessarily pick up to read again. 

The story started off well enough, but it made me wonder why Gabby who was under protection had no regard for any of her friends and family. She was determined to shoot off and do her own thing, her selfishness shined through. In turn, while I was interested in the story I wasn't keen on the way it happened.

The end was interesting in how the pieces were brought together, but even so there was so much death and sadness that it just didn't jive with me. I haven't given up on her as an author, however I probably won't be reading very many in this particular series.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.

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?

Another great book by Dani Pettrey. Gabby is running for her life from a mob hit. Finn has the perfect place for her. His guest house. The only problem is that he is still in love with her from when she stayed there several months ago. Gabby's brother is Finn's boss. They work for the Coast Guard Investigative Services. The team rotate watching Gabby while trying to solve a double murder of their Coast Guard team mates. The only problem is Gabby keeps trying to snick out and try to solve the crime herself.

I recommend this book to anyone who likes a great mystery.

I was given this book by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I was not compensated in any way.

Fans of Dani Pettrey can expect a thrilling ride in this first book of what I expect will be another great series.

When I saw that she will bring out a new book, I had great expectations and I was not disappointed. From the first page of the first chapter, right till the end of the book, I was taken on a suspenseful ride with so much happening that I was engaged right till the end and was shocked by the revelation of the villain (who was quite twisted).

I loved the premise of the plot and the Coastal Guard Investigation Service team we meet. Noah, we have met in the Chesapeake Valor series but here we get to know him and his team. All of the members in the team was so interesting and lovable - I am hoping for an extended series with books about each of them. The ending just made me want to pick up book 2 (please release soon!).

Finn and Gabby - Finn quickly stole my heart and I just enjoyed his character more as the story continued. Gabby, with her venturesome personality cause quite a few suspenseful scenes. The author did a great job of introducing small hints of events in their pasts which was revealed as the story developed.

I also enjoyed the Rowley family dynamics and hope to see more of them in the series.

If you loved investigative stories, for example NCIS, and teams where they are more like family, and never-ending suspense, you should definitely go and get this book!

Thank you NetGalley and Bethany Publishers for allowing me to read this book. I love all Dani Petry's books and she did not disappoint with this one. Finn Walker of the Coast Guard Investigative Services is a swoon worthy hero and a very real person.. He is in love with Gabby Rowley an Investigative Reporter who is being chased and running for her life. While under the protection of Finn and her brother Noah she gives them major problems trying to keep her safe as she is getting involved in the case Finn is working. There is suspense up to the very end of the book and the ending is astounding when the identity of culprit is revealed.. This is a great book and I highly recommend it to suspense fans.

With a series title of Coastal Guardians and the book title of The Killing Tide, it was a for sure add to my reading list. Dani Pettrey is an author I have read time and time again. She does a superb job of writing suspenseful romance and creating series where you learn about all of the characters lives. But with that said, The Killing Tide didn’t quite hit the same mark for me as some of her other series. The storyline follows Gabby (the main female character) as she goes back to her home town for safety after her life is threatened. Finn Walker, who works under her brother as a Coast Guard Investigator, is working on a horrible crime and the bodies keep piling up. Gabby and Finn have a rocky past, but he is in charge of keeping her safe. Meanwhile, she just can’t stop her investigative instincts as a reporter. She is consistently putting herself and others in dangerous positions to get the story.

First, let me state that the author does an excellent job of capturing your attention with intensity and suspense from the first chapters. But along with that you are introduced to many characters and scenes that you are trying to keep straight and figure out. So, while I did like that it started off with a bang (literally), it was confusing at times. Once you get further into the chapters, the story is easier to follow and keeps you on edge. You will want to read to the end and won’t be disappointed!

Most of the characters are easy to relate to and I do look forward to learning more about them in the next book. In this book, Gabby’s character was one that I just did not like. But I don’t think you should like every character in a book, even if they are the main character. It just makes you engage with the character in a different way. Her constant disregard for people and their safety was unnerving. She truly only cared about getting the story, no matter the cost. And her idea of being a friend was not my definition of friend. Her behavior goes against my grain, and although I didn’t like that in her character it was also a way to see things from a different perspective.

Overall, I enjoyed the story and the suspense. It may not be my favorite book by this author, but it’s worth a read.

*I received an ebook review copy of this book through NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I love when a book's villain is not who I expect it to be. The ending of this book took me by complete surprise! With this being the first in a new series, there's a lot of new characters to meet and get to know but the action starts right with chapter 1 and doesn't stop until you've reached the end! You may even recognize one of the characters from the Chesapeake Valor series. It's always so much fun when a character spins off into a new series! I'm looking forward to the next in this series for sure!

I would give this book a solid 3.5 stars. I may enjoy it more if i read it once it comes out and is in paperback, but it was a bit hard to follow. I was a huge fan of Dani Pettrey’s Alaskan courage series and the Chesapeake Valor series however, this book was very hard to follow. There were a lot of characters that played a big role in this book, and i mean a lot. Too many that it was very hard to keep track of. The main story i thought was supposed to be about Finn and Gabby, but there were major parts about other characters and this made the book hard to follow. And it felt like there could have been a story before this book, about what happened to Gabby before she went to go live with her family and what happened with Fuentes. Dani did tie everything together at the end and the plot together made sense, but to me it felt a little forced. I loved Gabby’s drive and passion for her job and career, it was inspiring.

Overall, a solid read, but not one that I will probably keep on my shelf to read again. I enjoyed the bit of suspense that was there, but again, a little hard to follow. I like how the author explores different places and types of jobs and integrates that into her stories, i just think it would be a little more enjoyable to read without some of the extra fluff characters.

I loved the Alaskan Courage series by Dani Pettrey, so I was thrilled to have the chance to read The Killing Tide before it hits the shelves. I must say, it does not disappoint! As always, Ms Pettrey creates characters that are immediate new friends for her readers. I was drawn into the plot and found it difficult to put this book down. (My only areas of criticism were: 1) the Blue Fire Reader app through which I was first trying to read The Killing Tide - after I switched back to my more friendly Kindle app, things went much more smoothly *I realize this wasn't a criticism of The Killing Tide*; and 2) I became very aware of a high usage of the word "brow" around chapter 50. My brain had a hard time getting over it.). All in all, I can't wait to see more from Dani Pettrey and specifically, more from the Coastal Guardians series!

Try as I might, I could not get into this story. I think it is because I really did not like Gabby at all. I've been a journalist and the things Gabby did are things that could have gotten me fired from my job. Recklessness as depicted here and in other things such as movies and TV is not admired in journalists and reporters. So be aware of that mindset when you see I gave this only two stars.

Please understand I really enjoy Dai Pettrey novels. She's a great writer and good researcher, but she fell down on this one. But then everyone has a right to fail at least once.

This review is on Goodreads, has been facebooked, tweeted and is on my blog.

When I found out Dani was coming out with a new series Costal Guardians, I set my expectations high and I wasn’t disappointed.

This book had me hooked from the very first page and I couldn’t put it down. Turning each page in anticipation with what comes next.

We had previously met Noah in the Chesapeake Valor series and only caught a glimpse of what was to come, but here we get to learn more about him and his team. All of the members on the investigative team had their own strengths, but how they used those strengths within the team is what made it feel like they were family! I couldn’t help but fall in love with each of these new characters and I hope to get a book about each of them especially Noah.

I will admit I was a little nervous at first seeing as Finn and Gabby did have a history together, but the worry quickly passed as the story progressed. The way Dani was able to grow and build these characters individually and together given their history was absolutely brilliant.

My finally thought on The Killing Tide is that Dani delivers another amazing story filled with suspense, adventure and romance. The way she wrote this villain was uniquely twisted and something I didn’t see coming so, if you love investigative stories that have you on your toes than this is the book for you!

*I received a free copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers, these opinions are my own.*

This is my first book by this author and I really enjoyed it even though the MCs are basically on different sides. The Hero is a CGIS agent Finn Walker has to catch a killer. Our heroine Harper is there as an investigative reporter which sure does spicen things up. The writing is solid and the pace is goos. I recommend this book.

The Killing Tide is a thrilling start to Dani Pettrey's new Coastal Guardians series. Fans of her previous books will enjoy this suspenseful, character driven, page turner of a novel that plunges readers right into the story from the very first pages.

Gabby Rowley is an investigative journalist who's recent role in the take down of a highly successful drug lord has put a price on her head. After an attempt on her life, her older brother Noah decides the best place for her is back home with her family around to protect her. Noah is a member of the Coast Guard Investigative Services special agent team, and decides the best plan of action is for Gabby to stay in his fellow team member Finn's guest house. Finn and Gabby have a history, and it ended with her choosing her career over him, and breaking his heart into pieces in the process. However, despite the unresolved feelings on both ends, Finn will stop at nothing to keep Gabby safe.

Finn and Noah's work with CGIS is often dangerous, and they're about to experience one of their most dangerous cases yet. A situation gone wrong at sea results in the death of two of their own, and suspicions are soon placed on those they never would thought they couldn't trust. As the case builds and builds, more and more players are revealed, and the enormous depths as to just how far this case truly extends have only begun to be revealed. As Finn and Noah struggle to solve the case, and bring those behind everything to justice, they also struggle to keep Gabby safe and sound, and out of the line of fire. They'll need faith, prayer and God's help more than ever before, to truly get to the bottom of just what they've gotten themselves into.

From start to finish, The Killing Tide is a roller coaster ride of a story, and showcases once again just how talented of an author Dani Pettrey is. The reader can always tell just how much research goes into each and every one of her stories, and I loved the fact that she chose to set her new series around the CGIS. As with each of her previous series, this one is highly character driven, and the reader is introduced to quite a few characters within the CGIS and their surrounding friends and family that will most likely play a roll in the consequential novels. I have to applaud the fact that with and every one of this author's books I've read, the faith element has been at the front and center, and I was very happy that this was the case here as well. It's always refreshing when a crime fighting team remembers to call on His help, and not depend on only their own devices.

I did have a couple of minor issues with this one that I do want to mention. As much as I love how character driven Dani Pettrey's novels are, this one tends to get a tad carried away with this, and there's quite a few characters and corresponding back stories introduced, many of which we're never truly explained. I'm hoping this is because they'll be explained in future novels. As well, I really found the writing jumped around a lot within this one, and while I never truly got confused, I think it would have been a bit more enjoyable if this had been minimized a bit. Also, while I loved many of the characters featured throughout; especially Finn, Noah, Caleb and Rissi, I was never really sold on Gabby's character by the end of the story. She makes some pretty bad decisions in the name of her career, putting both herself and others in danger in the process, and her selfishness kind of grated on my nerves. Thankfully it wasn't enough to ruin the story for me, but I have a feeling I'll enjoy the stories about the other characters more.

Overall though, I really enjoyed this one and thought it was a great start to her new series. I especially enjoyed the fact that the ending completely blew me away, and I'd actually thought I had a big piece of it pieced together, and am happy to admit that I was completely wrong. I highly recommend this to anyone who's been a fan of Dani's previous novels or any fans of Christian suspense.

Final Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐


Thanks so much to Bethany House for the opportunity to advance read this!



I received a complimentary copy of this novel from the publisher (Bethany House) via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I was not required to give a positive review.

This is the first book in Dani Pettrey’s new Coastal Guardians series! I’ve been a big fan of her books since Submerged and was super excited for this one. I always love first books, with all the potential for new stories and new characters, and this one definitely met all my expectations and exceeded a few of them!
As usual, my favorite part of this book was the characters. Gabby and Finn are for sure on the list of favorite characters from Ms. Pettrey’s books, though I’m pretty confident most of the other characters on the team are going to fall into that category, too. Gabby is an investigative reporter, staying with her family after making an enemy who now wants her dead. To go with that, she’s stubborn, curious, determined, and kind. Finn, part of the Coast Guard Investigative Service, has some things in his past that haunt him, but that he doesn’t let that stop him from doing what’s right. I loved his integrity and loyalty to his friends. He’s also as stubborn if not more so than Gabby, and determined to keep her safe. I enjoyed watching them butt heads and learn to work together, but also become something more. I so enjoyed how the story didn’t solely focus on them as a couple, but came from multiple perspectives within the team. Sometimes the switching between characters’ thoughts was a little confusing for me, but not too bad, once I caught back up. The momentary confusion was definitely worth what it added to the story.
Can we talk about the mystery and suspense for a moment? It was definitely suspenseful - Ms. Pettrey is well known for keeping the tension running throughout the story and this one is definitely not an exception! I loved the mystery, too! I spent the entire story trying to guess “whodunit” and didn’t have a clue, which was great! I appreciate books that can stump and surprise me. My only bit of negative to that is something that happened in the end (I’m not going to spoil) seemed more than a little far fetched. But it wasn’t a big enough issue to ruin the story for me.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book! I would highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys mystery and suspense!

*My thanks to the author and publisher for my copy of this book! I was not required to write a review, positive or otherwise, and have not been compensated for it in any way. All opinions expressed are my own.

It’s always a disappointing thing when a book by one of your favorite authors doesn’t end up working for you. This was the case for me and The Killing Tide.

What I Liked

-I thought the actual mystery aspect of the story was well done. It was pretty well-paced and Pettrey did a good job of weaving together multiple cases.

-I liked the setting and that many of the main characters are in the Coast Guard. That’s something new I haven’t read a lot of before and I found it pretty interesting.

-I thought Pettrey did a good job with incorporating the characters’ faith in into the story. There wasn’t really any big lesson, it was just daily life and I liked that.

What Didn’t Work for Me

-Gabby drove me crazy for pretty much this whole book. The first time we meet her she narrowly escapes an attempt on her life and she ends up going to her brother so he and his Coast Guard friends can help protect her. But then she fights against the notion of needing to be protected the whole time and continually runs away from the people who are supposed to be watching her, which I just found really annoying and selfish. And her whole defense is that she needs to chase the story because God made her passionate about it and to ask her not to do it is wrong. Um, pretty sure that’s not how God works. She just really, really rubbed me the wrong way and pretty much ruined the book for me.

-The romance didn’t really work for me. We find out that prior to the events of this book, Gabby and Finn had started a relationship, which was cut short when Gabby moved away. They both already had strong feelings for each other when the story starts and so we miss all of the build up. I never really felt their chemistry when they’re reunited and so I never got invested in them as a couple.

-There are a lot of characters that are thrown out in the beginning. I had a really hard time keeping them straight. It took about half the book before I could start to tell them all apart. While I don’t have a problem with any of them, none of them really stood out to me as someone I would be excited to read about next.

-I think my biggest problem with the book, though, is the way that Gabby was involved in the official investigation. Let me preface this by saying Gabby is not in law enforcement, she is a reporter. Throughout the story Finn has her help him process a crime scene where there were multiple murders, she uses Coast Guard computers to do her own research on the case, she accompanies Finn while he is investigating leads and persons of interest, and she is part of debriefing sessions of multiple cases. And the reason for all this? She’s incorrigible and would just go out and investigate on her own if they didn’t include her, so might as well keep an eye on her. THIS IS NOT HOW LAW ENFORCEMENT WORKS. My brother is a police officer and I talked to him about some of these things and asked what would happen if he involved a civilian like this while working. He would be fired. I understand for the sake of fiction there are certain allowances made, but I feel this is just way too unbelievable. And this is a complaint I have about several books by this author.

Overall

Overall, The Killing Tide was just not for me. Even though the pace seemed steady and there was a lot of action, I found myself bored for most of the book. I found Gabby so unlikable that it made it hard to get through the story at times. However, everyone I know that has read this have all really loved it, so it might just be me and my mood. I do plan on reading more from Pettrey in the future and am hoping my experience with this book is just an anomaly.

Overall Rating (out of 5): 2.5 Stars

Upfront information: This is a Christian Fiction Romantic Suspense book that has some violence but most of it is "off-camera".

Finn Walker doesn't like to lose people close to him. Sometimes life as a CGIS agent doesn't allow him that luxury. Especially in a small town on a small team. Everyone becomes like family. When the woman who left him heartbroken returns because of a threat to her life, will he be able to focus on the cases before him or worry about protecting her?

This story encompassed many things that I enjoy reading about: US military members, law enforcement, and detective work. Ms. Pettrey's baseline stories are Christian based Romantic Suspense and she did a wonderful job of mixing all these elements together. I look forward to seeing what happens with the main characters and what adventurous case she'll have them on next.

I am grateful to NetGalley and Bethany House for providing an advance reader's copy of this book.

There is so much going on in this book:
Shootings
Explosions
Drownings
Hired hits
You get the picture. And while I love an action-packed book, this was almost too much. Every chapter had another incident. I was impressed how the author tied everything together but thought some of believability was not there - I would hope all of the above would bring in the FBI in real life, but that wasn't the case with this book.

There are hints of romantic connections throughout the book involving several couples, but given everything else going down, they aren't explored much, and that made sense to me.

Since this is an ARC, I know there are still edits to be made. But as a reader, it was very hard to follow at times, when the author switched from one character's thoughts (this is told in the third person), within the same chapter. At the very least, I hope there is some distinction made in the final copy so that the reader can identify the character has changed. I had to reread several sections because they didn't make sense.

Overall, I wasn't invested in any character in this book - there were just too many with too many different storylines. But I had to finish because I wanted to see how it all pulled together.

I finished reading "The Killing Tide" by Dani Pettrey and it was good. 4⭐. A good suspenseful romance with a lil bit of faith mixed in. I'm looking forward to reading more from this author! Especially book #2 in the Coastal Guardians series.
* I was part of a launch team for this book. All opinions are my own.

My Review of The Killing Tide by Dani Pettrey:
Every book by Dani Pettrey is worth reading. And the cover for this book is marvelous. And the blue/green of the water stands out so well against the white, this cover brings across the story so well.
I have waited so long for this book. But it was worth the wait! The characters were WONDERFUL! The book was so jaw-dropping good. I’d say it’s her best but I can’t, none of the couples beat Dead Drift and Luke and Kate in my opinion, though I loved Finn and Gabby. I read this all too fast, it was wonderful and I didn’t put my kindle down until I had read the last page . . . When I read Pettrey’s books I’m pulled into a suspense with themes of redemption and love. Finn, I must say was a spectacular guy and Gabby was strong without being too strong and I felt that her reasons for doing everything she had a point, unlike some of the strong female characters I’ve read about.
I do think the ending wound up a little too fast but it was all right and I love how Noah was so involved in the whole book I can not wait for the next book in this series, I also need to read the Alaskian Courage series which has been on my to-be read list for way too long.
I did feel like there was less spiritual content then I would like and it was a little more creepy when the bad guy was in it.

This is the first in the Coastal Guardians series by Dani Pettrey. Gabby is on the run from a drug lord trying to kill her. She flees to her family’s home town and back into the arms of the man she left to fulfill her dream job. Can she handle being around him?

After one Coast Guard officer is killed, Coast Guard Investigative Service agent Finn Walker steps in to find the culprit only to wind up knee-deep into a deadly ring bent on evading capture, no matter the cost. To top everything off, the woman he fell in love with is back into his life after breaking his heart.

Together, Gabby and Finn race to find more disturbing evidence that implies the two cases could be linked. Can they face their feelings for each other before the ring takes them all out?

Dani Pettrey does it again. This adrenaline-laced plot kept me turning the pages to find out more. It captured me from the first chapter. The twists and turns make an intriguing story.

There were times when I got confused with all the characters, but I’m assuming other books in the series will tie them all together. I can’t wait for book two!

I give The Killing Tide five deep sea dives. It will leave the reader breathless!

*An e-copy was given to me from NetGalley for my honest opinion.

The Killing Tide by Dani Pettrey is the first book in her new series. This is important to know because the book is introducing all of the characters. This may feel overwhelming and confusing at first. Also, Dani sets up the characters throughout this book for the next one in the series. So you will see several scenes with the secondary characters.

Gabby and Finn are the main characters in this story. Gabby is an investigative reporter and I really wanted to like her but never could. She was all the bad things you think of when you think of investigative reporters. She only thought of the story. She put people she supposedly cared about in danger to get her story. Gabby’s friend is pregnant and just lost her husband and Gabby is interviewing her for the story. Not to mention that the reason Gabby is in town is to hid out from a drug lord who wants to kill her. So running off from her security is just selfish and stupid.

Finn was great. I enjoyed his character and he could do much better than Gabby. He could find someone who loves him and puts him first. I liked how the author revealed Finn’s background.

I am super excited to read the next book in the series with Rissi. She is a character that I can really like. I am already intrigued to see if she who she will end up with. Also Emmy sounds like she is going to be a fun character.

There were several deaths in the beginning and the author made them personal to the team which I thought brought out more of the characters and feelings. The mystery was good and Dani was able to surprise me with the ending.

Although I never liked Gabby, this was a good book that I would recommend because you are going to want to read it for the series. I have loved all of Dani’s books and Gabby was an anomaly. If you don’t like Gabby as much as I did, feel free to speed read her sections 

I received this book from Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review.
You can see my full review at More Than a Review dot com where I rate the level of sex, violence, language and drug/alcohol use in books.

A new book, new series by one of my favorite authors!
I've been a huge fan of Dani Pettrey, from the day I first found her books. I couldn't wait to read this newest release.
I was a tiny bit disappointed. These characters did not quite cut it for me.
I loved the action, the mystery, and the suspense. All of that was quite in keeping with Dani Pettrey's earlier works.
But.
The Characters.
I've loved her earlier ones. I just couldn't quite decide about Gabby. (Did I like her or didn't I)
She was a reporter, and a rather annoying one at that.
The story begins when she and Finn had already had a relationship, so I wasn't given the opportunity to see them falling in love. The story tells a lot about them, but it doesn't really give the chance to get to know them as I would have preferred.
Gabby refuses to listen to what anyone tells her, she's determined to get her next story. I loved her determination, but hated how she consistently fought against her brother and anyone else trying to keep her safe.
The ending I found to be quite satisfying. The mystery was solved, completely in ways I did not expect, and I loved that.
Even though this is not my favorite book, I will still keep on reading Dani Pettrey's books as soon as they come out!
Disclaimer: I receive complimentary books from various sources, including, publishers, publicists, authors, and/or NetGalley. I am not required to write a positive review, and have not received any compensation. The opinions shared here are my own entirely. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255

The Killing Tide gives me yet another reason why Dani Pettrey is among my favorite Romantic Suspense authors. This one is the beginning of her new series, Coastal Guardians. It starts off full of action filled suspense. I was left guessing what would happen next. It had so many twists and turns that I could never predicted. I loved the Finn and Harper duo. They made quite the team.
I highly recommend The Killing Tide. It gets five plus stars from me. I can not wait to get my hands on the second installment from the Coastal Guardians series and see what adventures the characters will get into.
I received this book from the publisher, but was not required to write a review. This review is 100% my own honest opinion.

I grabbed my sandals and headed to my favorite chair on the patio to dive into the newest book (and first in the series), The Killing Tide by Dani Pettrey. The patio was as close as I could get to the ocean at the time, but as I dove into the story, I started to feel like it was close enough for the time being.

The new series opens up with a Coast Guard officer being found dead and another one missing. With an intriguing start, we get to meet Finn Walker and Gabby Rowley. Their relationship is an interesting one, as Gabby is Finn's boss's sister.

While this book held the usual suspense I've come to expect from Pettrey, it didn't keep me captive the way her other books have. In defense of the author, the ARC version of the book I had didn't have section breaks, which made the story challenging to follow as one scene ran into another. While I tried not to let the formatting interfere with my enjoyment of this book, I'm sure it had some impact on the development of the story as it was a huge distraction.

Despite the formatting, I enjoyed the variety of characters and setting of this book. I'm chalking my struggle with feeling captivated by the story to the formatting because Pettrey is a talented author, and I've enjoyed many of her other books.

Oh. My. Word! In The Killing Tide, Dani Pettrey introduces a new cast of characters, a new setting, and her personal brand of high octane, cannot-put-it-down, lose-sleep-over-it romantic suspense.

There is so much I loved about this book: a team of investigators that are a team and a family you want to be a part of, excellent information and insight into the Coast Guard Investigation Services, twists and turns that leave you white-knuckled, and swoon-worthy romance between at least two (with hints of more to come) characters.

And y’all, there is nothing more attractive than a man with a strong faith and a protective streak like Finn Walker.
As if all of that wasn’t enough: THAT ENDING! The one that had me immediately online and adding the next book to my TBR. Books like The Killing Tide are proof that Pettrey deserves a place at the top of my must-read romantic suspense authors list.

Disclosure statement:
I receive complimentary books from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including NetGalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

Oh my stars! I am speechless in the best way, how do I even begin to find the words to say how much I loved this book?! This was my most anticipated read of 2019 and I am absolutely delighted to say that it exceeded all my expectations!
In my opinion Dani Pettrey just blasted her own already sky-high bar somewhere into outer space!
I loved Gabby and Finn instantly, as well as the rest of the CGIS team, and I can't wait to hang out with them all again! As I have come to expect from Dani's books the suspense in The Killing Tide was top notch, and more times than I can count it got my adrenaline pumping like mad as I breathlessly perched on the edge of my seat!
The Killing Tide totally and completely sucked me into its vortex of spellbinding amazingness on page one and would not let go, which delighted me to no end!
I loved, loved, LOVED this book and read it in about 24 hours because I could not stop turning pages!
I could seriously go on gushing for days about how amazing this book is and how much I loved it!
My only complaint is having to wait for the next book in the Coastal Guardians series, but I can be patient because I know it will be well worth the wait!
The Killing Tide is an absolute must read for fans of Christian romantic suspense! Seriously, go buy it RIGHT NOW! You can thank me later! ;)
This book without question has a permanent spot on my keeper shelf, and it is in my top 5 favorite reads of the year!
I wish I could give The Killing Tide more than five stars, because if I could I'd give it as many stars as there are drops of water in the ocean or grains of sand on the beach, that's right: innumerable, and it truly deserves each and every one!


I received a copy of this book from the publisher which did not influence my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions are one hundred percent my own.

Dani Pettrey is a talented author, and I won't deny that. While I haven't actually found one of her books that I hands-down love yet, I keep coming back and trying more. This series, in particular, seems to have a lot of promise. Plus, I can't get over that gorgeous cover.

Plot and story wise, Pettrey's books are sound and incredibly unique. I am always sucked in by that aspect and can't stop turning pages! I had no idea who the perpetrator was until it was revealed near the end, and I was quite shocked! Although for a moment, I had to remember who that character was, so maybe a little more interaction with him in the book would have made that clearer for the reader. The ending took a pretty creepy turn that I didn't particularly care for, but the action and suspense throughout was on point. My adrenaline was racing at times!

Character and romance wise are where I feel that Pettrey falls short. For me, at least. The characters seem to be based entirely around each other and the romance, leaving little room for character arcs and development. Characters can make a or break a story for me most times, so that is perhaps why I feel a lack of connection with Pettrey's books. Although I will say that her secondary characters seem to be so much more developed and I honestly found myself more attached to them than our main characters. And as for the romance, it ends up being far too steamy for my tastes. There are many heated scenes throughout including passionate kisses, loads of physical attraction and 'tingles' and 'jitters' at the other's nearness\touch. While of course it never becomes an all-out sex scene in any way, I nonetheless found myself blushing and skimming through these scenes. The romance was based so much on physical attraction and not the characters personality or character qualities, which always gets a thumb-down for me.

All in all, if you are looking for a suspense-y, action-packed story heavy on the romance, definitely check this one out! It wasn't my favorite, but it could be yours. :)


FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for promotional purposes. I was not required to write a positive review. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.

Dani Pettrey is one of my favorite romantic suspense authors. I love her writing style and her stories always keep you flipping the pages while furiously trying to figure out who the bad guy is! I also love how she incorporates the entire team into each of the stories in that particular series. By the last book, you feel like they are old friends!

I liked reading about this new group of characters and their relationships with each other. I also enjoyed that they were members of the Coast Guard, which is a branch of the Armed Forces that isn’t featured a lot.

My biggest issue with this story was Gabby. I felt like she not only needlessly put herself in danger, but others too. I also didn’t feel like it was realistic to have her help with the investigations, since she was not part of the Coast Guard. My other issue with this story was that I felt there was just too much at play, which made it seem a bit improbable.

Even though I didn’t connect with this story as much as I would’ve liked, I will definitely be reading the next story in this series. I think Rissi and Mason have an interesting history and I can’t wait to see how it all plays out!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts are my own.

I've enjoyed a lot of Pettreys writing in the past, especially the series set in Alaska, but this one fell somewhat flat for me. Not bad, just not as good as others. 6/10 stars.

Warning: Once you begin this book, it’s going to be hard for you to put it down. Every time I came to a place that I thought I could put the book down for awhile, something else would happen to keep me reading “just one more chapter”. I’m going to be careful in this review to not give anything away with the plot, because it’s the surprises along the way that give this book its spark.

The eye-catching cover gives you a clue about the suspenseful feel all throughout the story. Dani Pettrey’s books never disappoint me. I love books that have complicated, twisting plot lines and she’s certainly given us that in this book. There is also quite a bit happening in this book with several different characters. It took me a couple of chapters to get everyone in their proper place in my mind, but that didn’t hinder my enjoyment of this story. Although there is a romantic storyline, I most enjoyed the “NCIS” type of investigative feel to the book. The Coast Guard investigative team gives this story a fresh feel, and the scenes involving the Coast Guard were riveting. Everything comes together in an ending that I did not see coming. And that’s why I’ll keep reading anything that Dani Pettrey writes.

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

The Killing Tide by Dani Pettrey is book 1 in the Coastal Guardians series. This series starts out with a ton of excitement and action. I loved all the information about the Coast Guard and the sweet history between Harper and the man she’s relying on to keep her alive. What makes this book stand out is the author’s skillful storytelling with suspense that never stops. If you love suspense— this is the book for you. I highly recommend it! I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher with no obligations. These opinions are entirely my own.

The Killing Tide
Coastal Guardians #1
By Dani Pettrey

Gabby Rowley broke his heart when she left 6 months ago but now she is back in Wilmington, North Carolina, and under Finn Walker's watchful eyes thanks to the threat on her life. Investigative reporting is her life and it has once again caused her to be on the wrong side of a gun - a gun from which she barely escaped.

With the expose she did on drug dealer Xavier Fuentes having put her on the top of his list of enemies Gabby has no choice but to return home - her boss has given her no choice in the matter and her big brother Noah is more than happy to help her home. But to further protect Gabby she's being hidden at the guest loft next to Finn's home. Can you say AWKWARD??

Unfortunately for those determined to keep her safe Gabby is very resourceful at evading them when she is on the scent of a story and the case that has just landed in the laps of the Coast Guard Investigative team of which Noah and Finn are a part of has her interest peaked. One member of the Coast Guard has been murdered, another has been attacked, and then there is the ship that just exploded following a potentially suspicious death. How can she ignore a story that demands that the truth be revealed?

The Killing Tide is the first book in the Coastal Guardians series and believe me if this series is like Dani Pettrey's previous series the excitement will just go up. Not to give anything away but the climax is more than a little intense. And you'll never see it coming so don't assume anything...

Overall this is a good read that fans of Dani Pettrey will enjoy - the location has changed with as we are taken to the coastal regions of North Carolina and our heroes are with the Coast Guard. What we learn in this first book is that there are definitely some stories to discover about the officers who call Wilmington home and I for one am most anticipating book 2 which I believe the final few pages hint at what is to come. For those who like to know the genre of their books, this is a contemporary romantic suspense. And if you read it just before bed, well you may not get too much sleep (unless you have very strong will power) as you may fall into the "just one more chapter" trap.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.

Fantastic read! My first ever Dani Pettrey read and I absolutely loved it. Full review coming soon! A Huge thanks to Ms. Pettrey and NetGalley for an advanced copy of the Killing Tide. Looking forward to more novels from Ms. Pettrey.

3.5 stars, rounded up
This is the exciting first novel in Pettrey's Coastal Guardians series. It starts with action and doesn't let up until the last page. That's not to say that the book is short on romance, because it delivers a hefty amount of that as well.
I really liked and identified with Gabby's character and appreciated the journey she needed to travel in order to trust again.
One slight shortcoming is the sheer number of characters introduced. I get that it's necessary in the beginning of a series, but I thought that giving back story for so many of them was confusing. I hate to admit that when the ultimate villain was revealed, I had to turn the pages back in my book to figure out who the person was.
Overall, this is the truest definition of a heart-pounding romantic suspense novel--both the action and adventure and the love story make the heart beat in their own ways. I am looking forward to the next books in this thrilling series.

From the first to the last page Dani Pettrey kept me on the edge of my seat, and quickly page turning.
You never know what is around the next corner, and it is a good thing, the surprises are very abundant, and most I never saw coming, and don’t won’t get too comfortable in your surroundings.
Past meets present, and facing your life hits you head on, and while there is a bit of romance, you need to hold your loved one’s close as you don’t know whom will be here tomorrow.
When you think all that is bad has finished, be careful!
I love that this is the first in this series and more is to come!

I received this book through Net Galley and Bethany House Publishers, and was not required to give a positive review.

Gabby Rowley is an investigative reporter who is more than willing to lay down her life for a story. So far her luck has held, but for how long? Memories of the betrayal that threatened her life in Southern Sudan haunt her, and a new threat from drug lord Xavier Fuentes is a real and present danger. Giving in to pressure from her brother, a member of the Coast Guard Investigative Service, Gabby accompanies him back to North Carolina to be under the watchful eye of his team, including Finn Walker, the man she walked away from in order to pursue her career.

The Killing Tide is classic Dani Pettrey with her signature style. Those who enjoy action and suspense will find plenty of both in this book. The characters model the integration of faith and prayer into daily life as Christians. I am grateful to have received a copy of this book from Bethany House via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion. I was under no obligation to provide a positive review and received no monetary compensation.

I'm a big fan of Dani Pettrey and I was excited to read The Killing Tide as it's a start of a new series. Plus, the cover is gorgeous!!

The opening of The Killing Tide is gripping and immediately pulled me into the story. Finn Walker makes a fantastic CGIS special agent and hero. I connected with him and wanted him to find happiness and of course, the bad guy.

The opening scenes with Harper were definitely intriguing, but I admit, I had a hard time connecting with her. I don't think she deserved Finn and honestly, I sped through her scenes to get back to the others.

I also found a lot of the other scenes from other povs drew me out of the story. I know this book is leading up to others in the series, but still, I would have rathered not read about the other members.

*I received a complimentary copy via NetGalley. My review was not required nor influenced.

Guess what is releasing this next week? Good news, right? Dani Pettrey is a talented author and one of my favorites in the romantic suspense genre. I've been anticipating this book for what seems like a long time. Oh and just a shout out to the cover! I love when a book cover represents what is inside so well. It just makes me happy. And I love those colors!!

You better buckle up for this book. Seriously. It is nonstop, petal to the metal, fast paced, forward momentum. I was sucked in from the first few pages and had a hard time putting this one down for "real life". haha. Sometimes with suspense novels, it's more about the plot than the characters. I don't know how Dani Pettrey does it, but there is such a fantastic balance of character building in the midst of a growing mystery and death defying scenes. It makes for such an awesome story.

I love the setting for this new series and also the homage it pays to some largely unsung heroes that protect our waters. I'll admit that some of it creeps me out (think underwater fighting, drowning and sharks!) but it's okay, I'm okay. 😨 It could never be my job but I sure am grateful for those who are our coastal guardians.

This book spotlights Finn and Gabby (I LOVE Finn! Gabby, not so much.) but also introduces us to a team of people who this series will revolve around. The stage has been set for the next novel and once again, I am left anticipating the next book. It cannot get here fast enough.

Content: violence, death, Christian elements, kissing

- I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

This was a fast paced, quick read. I really enjoyed the supporting cast, and I'm looking forward to the next book in the series. I found the ending to be a little over the top, but, overall, it was a fun read. If you enjoy romantic suspense give this one a try.



I received a free copy from the publisher for review.

In this fast paced and energetic thriller, Dani Pettrey delivers her best book yet! Readers will not want to miss this one!

Finn Walker, special agent with the Coast Guard Investigative Service, has spent years doing the job he loves, trying to save others. But when a member of the Coast guard is found dead and another goes missing, he has his work cut out for him. With very few clues and even less to go on, Finn must stretch the limits of his investigative knowledge to solve the case. When his old flame, investigative reporter Gabby Rowley, comes back into town, it makes things even more complicated. To make matters worse, Gabby is in town because a ruthless crime boss she helped put away has put a price on her head. Gabby came home to wait until things blow over; she doesn’t want to put her family in jeopardy, so she stays in Finn’s guest house. Gabby can’t ignore her investigative instinct and works together with Finn to try to solve the case, stay alive, and keep her feelings for Finn under control.

Dani Pettrey set the bar pretty high with her Alaskan courage series. I was skeptical she could top it. I am pleased to say she blew me out of the water with The Killing Tide. This is a story fans will not want to miss. At first, I was a little unsure how I felt about Gabby but I quickly developed a strong connection with her and couldn’t deny my strong feelings for everything she went through. Her backstory and all that lead up to her becoming the person she is at this moment really made me root for her to succeed in all she attempted. Finn was an easy character for me to connect with. He left his feelings dangling from his sleeves and readers will find it hard to keep from connecting with him. I loved the ending and the way the suspense built up to a maximum at just the right moments. This is a perfect blend of romance and suspense to make an absolutely great story. This book is an exceptionally quick read, the story flows beautifully with short chapters and different point of views giving readers a full scope of how the story plays out. I highly recommend this to fans of Pettrey’s previous works as well as new readers to her, this will be a great place to start and get hooked on a wonderful new author.

I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

Genre : Christian,Romance, Action, Mystery
My rating: 3.5 stars (close to 4 stars though)
Language: Clean! (There is mention of someone "swearing", but they do not list the words)
Age Range: 15+
Content: Many people die, body parts (not very detailed though), kissing, abuse to a child, and a small part about a guy wishing a girl was sleeping beside him instead of his dog.
Favorite Characters: Rissi and Finn

Conclusion:
This book was surprisingly a lot more about romance than what I thought it would be. It was obvious that the two people would get together and I was able to figure out many plot twists. The "villain" was someone I was not expecting - maybe because they weren't in the book very much at all.
However, it was still a good book! The faith views was really good, the romance was sweet/adorable and the action kept me turning the pages, wanting more. I would recommend this book.

Book was from NetGalley for me to review. All opinions are my own and this is my honest review.

The Killing Tide was packed with action right from the first page. Gabby Rowley was a very strong willed character whose actions sometimes frustrated me, mostly toward the first half of the book. I felt that she grew a lot within the pages of this novel, and by the end of the story, she had sorted out her priorities.

Finn Walker was a character that I really liked in The Killing Tide. We find that he and Gabby had a past relationship, which Gabby threw away for a job opportunity. The fact that Finn still cared for Gabby and willingly took on the responsibility for her protection, even after she broke his heart, made him stand out to me as a special person in this story.

I liked the way the team ran their investigation into the deaths that occurred toward the beginning of the novel. There were many team members to meet in this first book of the series, and hints of possible romantic interests for future stories. I loved the way this book concluded and am excited to read the next book in the series.

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

If you like a tight story and fast-paced writing, you'll likely enjoy The Killing Tide.

To the author's credit, there were a lot of characters to introduce in this new series, and I was able to keep them all straight! Their names and personalities were distinct enough to prevent confusion.

Dialogue is snappy and moves the story along through a series of mysterious murders implicating known bad guys and some presumed good guys as well.

There's not a whole lot of room for the romance, but being a second-chance romance, the reader didn't have to see the first bloom of attraction. We get it all in bread crumbs of backstory. And that's enough!

Danger comes straight at the reader, right away! Finn and Gabby both are placed in different dangers before they even get back in each other's presence again.
Gabby might be scared but she is one tenacious lady. She does care about the people around her so that is a plus. But when she gets her teeth into a story? She just doesn't give up when digging to the truth. More than once I just wanted to shake her though. She takes such dangerous chances and more than once. She made such bonehead decisions that I just groaned. And when she ropes another woman into her stupid choices? Especially a very pregnant woman. It doesn't even cross her mind that she could get her hurt or killed. A hit-man is after her and she does this? Yes, I know she thinks she's hidden so well but still. She does it more than once too. Nope, I wasn't liking her so much in those moments.

The conversation about Tess having an ominous feeling about something bad happening to her husband Will was good. BUT...it felt like it was replayed just a bit too much. Still it also does play a part in the story so it is important.
If you are looking for a story with a lot of action, this book definitely qualifies! There is so much going on and the bodies just keep seem to pile up. Is anyone really safe? Just be prepared for a fairly large cast of people. I found that a bit overwhelming at first. I had to go back and re-check who people were and how they fit in the story more than a couple times.
The book keeps the tension pretty high throughout with some breath-taking twists leading up to the end.

Faith will and does play a good part of this story. I liked how it showed many of the people using their faith in their everyday life. That added without overpowering the story.

“I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.”

Losing those you care about isn’t easy, especially when you are an investigator and are tasked with finding out who’s behind their murders. Sometimes there are secrets that get brought to the light, and questions that no one can answer. Reputations become tarnished, and life might never be the same. Finn is one of those investigators, and he wants the criminals brought to justice. Luckily he has an amazing Coast Guard team to back him up, and fight right along side him if the need arises.

Pettrey does it again. In a breath-taking, nail biting story about those who fight for what’s right, and protect those who can’t protect themselves. I loved every moment I spent on the Coast, and am dying to go back and visit the team soon. Even if it seems that every time I catch my breath, Pettrey is trying to take it away again. The chemistry of the Coast Guard team was undeniable and I would love to get to know them all even more. I had no way of guessing where this story was going to go, but just hung on and enjoyed the ride. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves Romantic Suspense. I received a complimentary copy of this book and was in no way forced to post a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.

This is the first book in the Coastal Guardians and what an interesting book it is……Gabby Rowley finds herself in extreme danger after her work as an investigative reporter {and a nosy one} leads her to having to run for her life as she knows too much. Her brother Noah, places her with his co-worker, for the drug lords know where her family lives and he wants to keep them safe. The only thing she has stayed with Finn before and they fell for one another, but her job is first and foremost in her life so she leaves and returns to her job. He is reluctant to let her stay but for the sake of Noah, he does, hoping he want regret it. Then we have a corpse and then another death that the Coast Guard is investigating and Gabby cannot restrain from getting involved which adds to the danger she is already in. While sparks are shooting between her and Finn the danger becomes more and more real to the both of them. A book filled with action, suspense and romance. A winning combination that always makes for an interesting read…….. I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House and was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine.

Dani Pettrey certainly came out of the gate swinging with this new series! Fans of romantic suspense, heavy on the suspense, will want to get their hands on a copy of The Killing Tide immediately.

I have been eagerly waiting for this book since I devoured the Chesapeake Valor series last year. Pettrey writes some of the best suspense out there and she did not disappoint. The pace was breakneck and every time I thought I had finally wrapped my head around what was happening new evidence would surface and I was back to square one. I never in a million years could have expected the final reveal and I wouldn’t want it any other way!

With such an intriguing team of Coast Guard Investigators introduced, I’m not sure who’s story I want next. One thing I know for sure is that I cannot wait to get my hands on the next book in the series.

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

Light suspense, intriguing mystery, and even some exotic animals just to spice things up!
I enjoyed this story, was slightly disappointed in the over the top (imho) romance and PDAs but there’s nothing x rated and it IS after all listed as romantic suspense so it’s to be expected.
Overall a good, fun read
I volunteered to read an advance copy of this book and give my opinion on it.

This had too many characters telling their POV's for me to be able to keep them straight. I thought the first several chapters were really slow and the book lost my attention. I would start reading it, then get bored or overwhelmed with everyone and put it down, and then try again. Less people and more action and I would have been happier.

I generally enjoyed this Christian romantic suspense. It is the first book in a new series from this author. That surprised me as there was quite a bit of history between the two main characters, Gabby and Finn. They had apparently had a previous relationship and Gabby had run. I understand there needed to be a serious obstacle to their potential romance but I still felt like I had missed a previous story.

I found it a bit difficult to be captivated by Gabby. She's a newspaper reporter and seems to disregard the welfare of others as she pursues a story. She disregards the protection those who care for her want to give her, putting herself an others in extreme danger.

I also felt the suspense at the end did not ring true to how the bad guys had behaved earlier. And then there was a little surprise suspense at the end that seemed impossible.

That being said, I did like the plot centered around smuggling. I got a clearer sense of what the Coast Guard does and how they investigate marine crimes. I also liked many of the support characters and trust their stories will be told in further books in the series.

I still think Pettrey's Alaska series is the best. While this book did not grab me as much as some of her others, I am still looking forward to reading more of her novels.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

Another action-packed, adrenaline-pumping romantic suspense winner from Dani Pettrey! I have been following the author since her Alaskan Courage series and am thrilled about this new Coastal Guardians series. Her writing style is quite easy to follow and the plot is intricately woven with interlocking details and clues. The action and suspense are top notch without being scary. The camaraderie amongst the Coast Guard Investigative Service team members is amazing and enviable even though their job is dangerous; their friendships and unwavering loyalty based on mutual trust, faith, and interdependence within the team inspire admiration.

I loved Finn, the main character in this particular story. He’s been hurt and rejected by Gabby in the past but can’t seem to let her go. His protective, tender, loving ways really carry the story through to the end. Gabby’s a self-centered, headstrong, and impulsive investigative reporter whose brother is Finn’s boss on the CGIS team. She’s been terribly hurt, emotionally and professionally, by a man in her past so has a hard time accepting Finn’s love. Finn is persistent though, even as they track down a mastermind trying to kill Gabby and a smuggling ring that becomes more slippery as they uncover who is actually involved. I really enjoyed getting to know Riss, another member on the team, and can’t wait to find out her full story!

I received a copy of the book from Bethany House Publishers and was under no obligation to post a positive review. All comments and opinions are solely my own.

Finn and Gabby were an interesting couple. It’s always a challenge for an author to show a couple with history meeting again after a space of time, and Pettrey mostly did a good job compensating for all the things we didn’t see about their history.

The danger starts right up on page one and the story is off to a thrilling start. Gabby’s got a target on her back and her brother doesn’t hesitate to call his buddy Finn to help keep Gabby safe. I really enjoyed Noah’s protective streak and how determined he is to make sure his sister lives through this threat.

Finn was a likeable hero who won me over pretty fast. He’s a man’s man and takes his job seriously. I have a nephew in the Coast Guard, and I love finding stories whose protagonists are also. Their investigative service (CGIS) plays heavily into solving this mystery and the thrills never stop as the plot twists and turns on itself countless times. I read it all in a single sitting!

18+ for heavy romantic attraction and focus on romance
Clean with a bit of violence.

Thanks to the publisher for a free reading copy. A favorable review was not required.

I have read every book by Dani Pettrey and I think this is one of her best. It may have had the most danger of any suspense book I’ve ever read. It surprised me as I usually think of the Coast Guard responding to boat crises or recovery operations and not dealing so much with murder and all kinds of skullduggery.

At first I didn’t get why Gabby would have made the decisions that she did. She’s incredibly reckless. She seems to be unconcerned about how others are affected by her actions. Yet everything became clear and I found myself drawn to her and her fearless pursuit of truth.

This series is off to a great start and I can’t wait to read the next book. The last pages of this one heightened my eagerness to find out more about Ris and her story. Thank you to Bethany House for providing me with a free e-copy. All opinions are my own.

P.S. What a great cover!

#TheKillingTide #Netgalley

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.

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)~

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.”

“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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.;)

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.

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.**

The Killing Tide, the first book in Dani Pettrey’s new romantic suspense series, is just what fans of Pettrey have come to expect — fast-paced action, complex characters, an ensemble cast, and spark-filled romance. From the opening chapter to the last page, the reader is fully engaged in this twisting, turning novel. I never knew what to expect as the author kept me and the characters on edge. This one is definitely a recommended read!

The North Carolina coast is the setting of The Killing Tide. Many of the characters are members of a US Coast Guard investigative team that participates in ocean rescues, retrieval dives, and investigations of criminal cases. Among the investigators is Finn Walker who is enlisted to keep journalist Gabby Rowley safe following an attempted hit by a drug dealer. Gabby is good at her job, and soon inserts herself into the CGIS investigations. She is not, however, good at keeping out of trouble! 😉 Finn and Gabby have a past and unresolved relationship issues, and their chemistry is still firmly in place. Fans of romantic suspense will love their interactions and the tough spots in which they find themselves. The cases being investigated seem unrelated, but soon a common thread emerges. I liked the ways the group worked together to piece the puzzle together. I also liked that I was kept guessing and was surprised by just whodunit. The faith element in The Killing Tide is strong. Main characters Gabby and Finn are believers, yet have struggles common to the Christian life — guilt, feelings of not being good enough, and superimposing desires over God’s will. The two encourage each other to silence the accusing voices in their heads and find God’s truth and purposes.

The Killing Tide is a great start to the Coastal Guardians series. I can’t wait for more!

Recommended.

Audience: adults.

To purchase, click HERE.

(Thanks to Bethany House Publishing for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

Coast Guard Investigator Finn Walker has his work cut out out for him, assigned to the case of a murdered officer discovered in suspicious circumstances, and another Coast Guard member has also disappeared. His job is not made easier when his boss's sister, investigative journalist Gabby Rowley, whom he has history with, comes digging around looking for her next big story.



The story jumps around following multiple characters, which made it a little trickier to understand everything that was going on at first. But as the story progressed the following multiple characters became as strength with the rising intensity, as the stakes rose and the threads of the story slowly started to connect. Fast paced action and a suspenseful mystery that kept me on my toes, with abounding cliffhangers.



Gabby is like a dog with a bone when she's on the tale of a good story, she showed up to fight for answers. She is stubborn and determined to the point of near recklessness. She has a passion for truth and justice. I liked how though she is determined and has an all-in attitude, she is recovering from an event that left her scarred more vulnerable than her ready-for-anything exterior would suggest.



Finn is struggling with the aftermath of a diving mission gone wrong, he is fiercely protective by nature and feels privileged to be serving his country in the way that he does. The Coast Guard was a natural choice for Finn, and is a natural in the water. He struggles to trust and losing control.



A wonderfully complex thriller with multiple twists and great leading characters. I really liked Rissy the only woman on the Coast Guard team, she is new to the team and wants to do her best to prove that she's earned her spot on the team. A heart pounding adventure, with great tension and a plot that keeps you guessing. Highly recommend checking this one out!



I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

When Gabby Rowley's investigative reporting puts a drug kingpin behind bars, attempts on her life send her running home. Her brother, Noah is a Coast Guard Investigative Services officer, and is far better able to protect her than the police can. While home is her best chance for protection, is she prepared to face Finn Walker, the man she fell in love with last time she was home but ran from rather than lose out on a story?

Finn's feelings for Gabby never went away. Can he protect her from herself, when she pokes around in his dangerous investigation? Her nose for a story is what sent her home in the first place. As fellow Coasties are killed and evidence points to drug runners, can Finn solve the case with his attention divided between keeping Gabby out of trouble, and the murderers intent on keeping their identities secret?

Gotta say, I did NOT like Gabby Rowley very much. It wasn't enough that she was foolhardy with her own safety. She had to take her pregnant, newly-widowed friend into danger, too. As if that wasn't enough, then she comes within seconds of getting her own sister killed by a madman. All for a story. If I were her friends and family, she would be off my Christmas card list! Her change of heart feels a bit "too little, too late" for me.

Dani Pettrey is amazing at keeping the suspense screaming. Every time i thought everyone was safe, someone else stepped into danger, or another bad guy crawled out from under his rock.

Suspense lovers will love this story. It's a great beginning to the Coastal Guardians series!

Dani Pettrey’s latest novel is a trifecta of reading pleasure. There’s suspense, intrigue, and romance. Who doesn’t like that combination? Add in some really bad guys, two engaging and likable characters (Finn and Gabby), and you have the recipe for a “can’t put it down until it’s finished” novel. There's a faith element in the book, which if you’ve read any of Pettrey’s other books is always present. I like the Christian element, so I don’t think it’s preachy. And, you never have to worry about anything foul or gratuitous in her books. The mystery is tight and if you’re like me you won’t know the true bad guy until the end. Definitely worth your time to read.

Wow! Starts out with the attempted murder of an investigative reporter, Gabby Rowley, and explodes from there. Gabby's brother works for the Coast Guard and brings her home where he can protect her from the drug boss that's trying to kill her. Coast Guard Investigative Officer Finn Walker is assigned to protect her. He is trying to solve the murder of another CG officer and Gabby tags along. This book is action from the beginning to the end. Highly recommended, five stars. One of Dani's best.

Dani Pettrey’s The Killing Tide is the first book in a new series, Coastal Guardians. Once again Pettrey has written a book filled with mystery, suspense, and romance. Finn Walker is a special agent with the Coast Guard Investigative Service. When a suspicious death of a Coast Guard officer occurs, Finn is called in to investigate this horrendous crime. Gabby Rowley is a curious reporter who once had a relationship with Finn. Could this crime be linked to attempts that were made on her life? Are the old feelings still there?

Pettrey keeps the reader guessing to the very last of the book. There are a number of characters in this book and almost everyone seems to be a suspect. If you are looking for a book heavy on the action, I highly recommend this book. An enjoyable read, indeed.

I received a free copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers. All opinions expressed are my own.

Once again Dani Pettrey gives readers a fast paced and intense story! As well, she gives us strong characters that you love or learn to love before the story is over.

This story grabbed me from the opening pages, with the action. It continued to hold me hostage with the action and the surprising ending. It kept me up late reading more than once!

The characters was so good. I feel in love with Finn as soon as I met him. I had to learn to love Gabby, as an investigative reporter, her personality and lack of boundaries bugged me, a lot. But as the story progressed it was fun to watch her grow and become more likable.

I’m looking forward to book 2 in the series, especially with how Pettrey leaves us hanging at the end of book 1! Great stuff!

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author via netgalley.com. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This book opens with gunshots and action and it continues until the very end! There is heart pounding danger and suspense that keeps you as a reader on your toes. I liked the romance sprinkled throughout the story, especially since the characters have a past that make their interactions more interesting. I was not a big fan of Gabby because I sometimes felt like she went too far for a story. Also, I think I was introduced to too many characters too quickly and I had a hard time keeping them all straight at first. The villain was the perfectly creepy type that you love to hate, and overall, this story was a great read! I look forward to more in the series!

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley/Bethany House Publishing in exchange for an honest review.

The Killing Tide by Dani Pettrey kept me on the edge of my seat. The twists in the plot were clever and the connections between characters were intriguing. Highly recommend any of Dani Pettrey books.

I’ve read most of Dani Pettrey’s book and this wasn’t my favourite. At times I found the faith elements in the book felt forced and a little preachy. They didn’t seem as natural as some other books I’ve read. There were also a lot of different strands that almost seemed like different plots at times. Nevertheless, the book was fast-paced and suspenseful, with some romance and Christian elements thrown in. I liked that we got to see a little bit of the grieving process for the wife of one of the murder victims as it’s not generally seen in books unless it’s one of the main characters. It was a decent book in the Christian romantic suspense genre.

There's plenty of action and suspense in this quick-paced novel that introduces us to a new team of agents, their friends and family. Gabby has a tough shell and is 100% devoted to her job and identity as an investigative reporter- and the risk to her life seems like an afterthought. I was surprised at how cavalier her attitude is about the safety of herself and others, but perhaps that's just her defense mechanism. She and Finn have had a relationship in the past but she left him behind to pursue a new job opportunity in another city. So in this book the chemistry and angst is already present in their interactions. Part of the story is told from Rissi's point of view as well, and I'm hoping the next book features her as the main character. She is the youngest member of the CGI team as well as the only female, and she also competes in various water sports competitions during the story with Gabby's brother Noah and Travis, another agent. The different loose threads and angles they are each investigating in the beginning tighten up as the plot progresses and the reading was full of tension as it drew closer to the climax. A great one for suspense fans!

(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)

There are a few authors for which I wait, agonizingly, for their next release; Dani Pettrey is one of them. People sometimes ask who is your favorite author, to which I honestly cannot reply. Seriously, how would a confirmed lifelong bibliophile choose just one favored author or book? It just cannot be done. However, I do have a number of authors whose storytelling skills are top-notch, in my opinion, and Dani Pettrey is one of them.

The Killing Tide is the first in Dani Pettrey’s newest series, Coastal Guardians; set in the riverfront town of New Bern, near the coast of North Carolina, the series focuses on the US Coast Guard unit based approximately 35 mile northeast, this series promises to be full of Pettrey’s trademark exciting romantic suspense.

Gabby Fowler, an investigative reporter based out of Raleigh, is in the crosshairs of a very angry drug kingpin, a man who is determined to find and kill the woman who put him in prison, one nosey reporter. When an attempt on her life fails, Gabby’s siblings determine she needs to go home so her brothers, members of a Coast Guard Investigative unit can protect her. Gabby wants nothing to do with going home as she fears putting her family in danger.

Agreeing that it would not be well for Gabby to stay at the family home, she is instead ensconced in the garage apartment of Finn Walker, a special agent with the unit. Finn and Gabby have a history together, one that includes broken hearts. Sparks fly and hearts pound as Finn and Gabby struggle to maintain a safe “distance”. Until a killer strikes, and Finn is all about protecting Gabby from harm, while Gabby’s investigative reporter instincts rare up.

Things get interesting when the killer strikes again, and Gabby becomes a target. But, is she a target of the killer on the loose in New Bern or has the drug kingpin tracked her down? Even more, will her brothers and Finn, all members of the same team, be able to keep her safe plus stop the killer?

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and am under no obligation to write a positive review. All thoughts and opinions therein are solely my own, and freely given.

What an excellent way to start Dani’s new series, Coastal Guardians. The Killing Tides was a quick read, but full of surprises and suspense. Several things happened throughout the story that I did not expect especially the ending. Will Finn and Harper be able to ignore the sparks between them? Will they be able to see past their preconceptions long enough t9 track down an elusive killer before they come his next Mark? Looking forward to the second book.

This is a series that should be on everyone’s to be read pile.

I received a copy from the author in exchange for an honest opinion.

I have been a fan of Dani Pettrey since her first novel, Submerged. She has a fantastic ability to merge the thrill of suspense with the warmth of romance. This latest novel, The Killing Tide, continues her now-signature, headlong-rush-into-peril style. The plot twists and turns with one unexpected danger after another and is sure to keep you turning the pages to find out what happens next. The only thing holding me back from awarding it a full five-star rating is a wish for more development of the main characters, Finn and Gabby, and their relationship. The abundance of secondary characters—who are sure to star in their own books soon—and a tendency to overdo background details were a bit of a stumbling block. All in all, though, this book is an exciting read that will keep you guessing until the heart-stopping end.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This book is sure to delight Petry fans!! This adventure has it all rolled up into one and I like a book that can keep my attention. This is my first Petry book and now if there are others out there I will need to read those too!I enjoyed this coast guard adventure with Gabby and Finn.
I love that Gabby is 100 percent into her job. I wish that everyone was. Especially in the job that I worked at. There it seemed that each worker was out for themselves and didn't understand teamwork.
This is the only thing that I really liked about Gabby. For one I can't stand her nickname if that is her nickname. 2 I don't like her personality and impulsiveness.
I almost felt sorry for Finn!! I do however love his strength and determination. I felt sorry for Finn because he had to keep an eye out for Gabby and therefore it's a wonder that he was able to manage! Especially with his heart on the line. His feeling for her has never gone away.
Can they work past everything they need to? Or will the killer get them too?
A fabulous book and one you don't want to put down!
My thanks to Netgalley for a copy of this book. NO compensations were received.
All opinions are my own.

The Killing Tide drew me in with the beautiful and intriguing cover. It is my first taste of Christian suspense, and it has me counting down the days until the next book in the series releases! What a ride!
The Killing Tide throws you into the action from the very first chapter, and you’ll be left guessing which way the plot is going to twist next until the very end. I loved getting to know every member of the CGIS team. All the working parts of the investigation kept the plot moving quickly and kept you turning page after page to get the next lead. Oh, to be a fly on the wall in that place!
Gabby is a headstrong, brave reporter. I loved her inspiration to be a journalist. She believed her ability to hunt down the truth was a God-given gift, and she should use it to expose those who do wrong in the world. What better motivation is there? She was reckless on several occasions, but I loved her big heart--how she loved all her family and friends with such a fierceness, she was willing to put herself in danger over them.
Finn is nothing short of a hunk. But it is his gentle heart that makes him irresistible. I loved his protective instinct for Gabby, and how he was willing to be vulnerable for her despite their past. He is forgiving of others but is stubbornly hard on himself. I think a lot of people can relate!
The danger in this book is riveting and lurking around every corner. There are a few twists and turns and a giant pretzel at the end! You won’t want to miss the riveting conclusion!
I can’t wait for the next book in the series, so I can get to know the other members of the team even more. If you love crime/suspense (think NCIS or CSI)...you will LOVE this book!
I was given an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Coast Guard officer Finn Walker finds one fellow officer is dead and another missing. He wants to find justice for them, but the clues are leading to a direction that will affect a number of people. Can he find the killer before he strikes again?

Investigative reporter Gabby Rowley is on her way home from a press awards dinner when someone starts shooting at her. Is the drug lord she wrote about in her expose behind the attempt on her life?

Pettrey creates an ensemble of characters whom readers enjoy getting to know – they are realistic, strong but flawed, facing challenges in their life that help the reader to connect with them. The story is filled with end-of-your-seat suspense.

I’ve been a long time fan of Dani’s, thoroughly enjoying her Alaskan Courage series from years ago. Now, she’s back with another highly anticipated novel that delivers exactly what readers want… Mystery, murder, suspense, romance, and a team of friends who are fiercely equipped and devoted to protecting those they love. Also, can we just take a moment to swoon over the gorgeous cover?

Without giving too much of the story away, I’ll say that I loved Finn and Gabby, and their unique dynamic together. It was interesting learning about these two characters who had a history together and watching them reconnect on a new level.

Pettrey keeps readers on the edge of their seats from the dramatic opening chapters to the nail biting ending with exciting events taking place throughout The Killing Tide. She kept me guessing until close to the end when process of elimination really helped me determine the villain and even then, I was still surprised with how the story played out.

One of my favorite parts of Pettrey’s series is how the books interlock, following the lives of friends, who in this case also happen to be teammates on the CGIS team. Readers will meet the entire team in this novel and as they dive into Finn and Gabby’s story, they’ll get a peek into the lives of the characters from the next novel she has planned. I always enjoy the strong friendship and fierce determination Pettrey’s characters have. Their faith, their loyalty, and their morals are always honorable. I also really enjoyed the coastal setting, for obvious reasons!

The only tiny drawback for me was the part of The Killing Tide that Pettrey penned from the villian’s point of view. I found myself rushing through those parts, not really caring what the villain was up to or thinking because I was enjoying Finn, Gabby and CGIS team more! I preferred to be surprised with the next turn of events just as the character’s were, always wanting to side with them and cheer on their defeat of whatever bad circumstances came their way.

I highly recommend The Killing Tide to those who enjoy romantic suspense, mysteries and even popular, fictional investigative television shows.

I have always enjoyed Dani Pettrey's books. She is a gifted writer in Christian suspense. But this book was not a favorite of mine. I can't quite put my finger on it because I liked and connected with the characters and the story. I did have a little trouble remembering all the characters. There did seem to be a lot of dialog and the going back and forth between the two stories was confusing at times.
I will try her again.
I received a Kindle copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Another great beginning and a host of interesting characters in the newest series by Dani Pettrey. And how about that awesome cover?!! After reading Pettrey's two previous series, I kind of know what to expect: suspense, romantic tension, and a subtle faith aspect. What keeps me coming back is that I love the high speed pace and the plot aspects I mentioned before. The unexpected ending was great...it was probably my favorite part of the novel. I'm not sure if it was just the digital copy I had, but there were times when the story would jump from one person's perspective to another, without a paragraph or chapter break. I had to go back a few times and reread just to follow what was going on. I also found Gabby's tendency to ignore the warnings of those who were trying to protect her and go investigate irritating. People were putting their lives on hold and willing to do anything for her, but her lack of respect for them in order to pursue her own interests left a sour taste in my mouth. She does have some positive traits that I liked, such as courage and persistence, but it was kind of overshadowed at times. Finn basically seemed like the guy who could be or do no wrong, and that made him very likable. Definitely hero material! You should also expect, as in the other series, a large cast of characters. It can seem like a lot to keep up with, but it does offer a lot of variety. Overall, I enjoyed the book and look forward to seeing what happens next!



*I received a free copy of this novel from the publisher to give an honest review, which I did. All opinions are my own.*

From the first book that I ever read form this author she has always provided suspense with every page. Her first book of a new series held my attention and can’t wait for the next one.

From page one, the action begins and doesn’t stop until the end! This is an excellent suspense! As I’ve reflected on this book and as I read it, it almost played out in my mind like an episode of a tv crime show, but so much better! One of the things I loved was the knowledge about the Coast Guard in this book. The characters were members of the Coast Guard, so it was so nice and encouraging to see more of what they do. Such a well written, non- stop action book! Definitely a must read for suspense/thriller fans! And bonus! There was romance! I'm looking forward to reading more about these characters and the Coast Guard from Author Dani Pettrey. I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All views stated here are my own.

Excellent start to a new series! The characters were interesting, and I can’t wait to read more about them. This particular books plot was suspenseful and interesting. The ending was unexpected and a nail-biter!

Gabby is an investigative reporter who was instrumental in putting a very bad dude away for a long time and he still has henchmen after her. Her brother Noah is in the Coast Guard Investigative Service and she goes home to North Carolina where he and his team can help her.

Finn Walker is on his team and he and Gabby have history. She chose her current career over staying in town with him. She broke his heart but he is not going to let that stand in the way of providing protection for her.

As always, the storytelling is strong, the characters are intriguing and the twists and turns keep you on your toes until the very end. I'm excited to continue this new series from Ms Pettrey. Definitely one of the best books in christian fiction in 2019!

This book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

My thoughts: My crew are huge NCIS fans, and even purchased the seasons on DVD so they can watch them at anytime. And having lived in Michigan, near Lake Michigan, we went to the annual Coast Guard Festival every summer. I still remember my young son tugging on my hand and pointing to a Coastie way up on a mast and saying, "I want to do that someday, Mommy." Oh my heart.


Said son lived and breathed the Coast Guard and my heart ripped in two the day he got on the airplane to head to boot camp. And while he is not yet CGIS that is his ultimate goal and if he stays the course, Lord willing, he'll get there.


You might be interested to know that some of the Coasties he worked with were walk-on actors on NCIS as Coasties.


All that to say is that THE KILLING TIDE is Dani Pettrey at her finest. CGIS fiction in the style of NCIS (for other fans), nonstop suspense, romance, and of course, our country's finest, the Coast Guard.


And while I had suspicions who-dun-it, the getting there was so pleasant I didn't stress over it and oh, by the way, I was half-right and half-wrong. It took me a long time to read this book because I have a busy life, but I kept picking it up night after night.

Okay, the ending felt a bit forced and convenient and the scene changes during the story were jarring.

If you like NCIS you will love THE KILLING TIDE.


I was given a copy free. All opinions are my own.

This is book one in the Coastal Guardians series, what a great place to start. I fell in love with the entire Coast Guard Investigative Service (CGIS) group and can't wait to read more about them. This book is full of mystery, suspense, drama, friendship, romance and so much more.

Agent Finn Walker (sigh) is a handsome intelligent member of the GCIS. He must protect not only his heart but Gabby Rowley, his bosses sister and the woman who has broken his heart before.

Gabby Rowley is a great investigative reporter who just can't leave a story alone, even at the expense of her safety. I can't wait for book two.

I loved this story so much. This book has you on the edge of your seat for sure. The author has a few main characters not just 2 or three, but they all play a huge part in the story and without them the story would not be what it was, also that being said it was not that hard to follow either. This book is a murder mystery and you won’t want to put it down. This is a good clean read and well worth it. I can’t wait to read Rissa story, oh man I can only imagine what’s going on there.

I was excited for a new series by Dani Pettrey. Lots going on in this book which is good! I loved the interaction between Finn and Gabbi. It wasn't obvious who was behind everything but it was believable when it became clear. I hate when I guess right too early in the book! 
I will be patiently waiting for there next book in the series.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley on behalf of the Publisher and was under no obligation to post a favorable review.

I am a big fan of suspense novels but I am an even bigger fan of Christian fiction and this novel by Dani Pettrey satisfies my love for both of these genres. The Killing Tide is book one of Pettrey's new Coastal Guardians series and it centers around a team of Coast Guard Investigative agents working the coastal regions of North Carolina and based out of the Wilmington, NC office. This book features several of these agents but the main focus is on Finn Walker and the reporter who captured his heart but then walked away six months ago. Gabby Rowley lives and breathes investigative reporting and she can't see herself doing anything else, even though she is now sidelined because of her involvement in a drug investigation. Through a series of events, she and Finn find themselves thrown together and once again, their hearts and their lives face dangerous risks!
The action in this book begins immediately and it never let up. Just when I thought there couldn't be anything else happen, BOOM, it did! There was a scene that had me wondering just how much more Gabby could endure and I didn't come close to guessing the conclusion. As Finn and Gabby work together to find the killer (or killers), they once again experience their incredible chemistry and Gabby begins to question if her work is really all that she wants. But, along with the intense intrigue and suspense, there is an underlying message of faith. I appreciate the many prayers that Pettrey is able to incorporate into her plot; she subtly shares her Christian beliefs without cramming religon down her reader's throats.
Since it is the beginning of a new series there is apparently lots more adventure to come with these Coastal Guardians. The Killing Tide is also romantic, suspenseful, and thought-provoking. What more could a lover of romantic suspense and Christian fiction ask for?
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House and I am voluntarily offering this review. The opinions stated here are entirely my own.

Be prepared to be WOW-ed by edge of your seat suspense!! Dani Pettrey has the awesome ability to suck you into the story and make you forget everything else going on around you! I love how she weave faith into the story without comprimising the story itself. It actually makes you love the characters more beacause you "get" their hearts!! This new series is deffinitely a MUST-READ!!

Oh boy...I've got such conflicting emotions. Before I dive in, I'd just like to put a disclaimer here and say that HELLO I DO NOT LIKE STORIES WITH JOURNALISTS AS THE PROTAGONIST. I'm not quite sure why, I just don't. It really gets on my nerves.

So, let's start with the setting.
I loved the beachy setting, with all the surfing and the small-town-coffehouse feels. That was amazing. I loved the CGIS setup, though other than their title, I honestly couldn't tell that they were a branch of the military.

The characters...
Finn was fantastic. For the most part. I loved his character, his struggles with self-confidence and his path to redemption. But his seemingly uncontrollable emotions around Gabby? I understand that it's pretty much impossible to control your emotions. But he could've used a bit more self-restraint.

Gabby. Oh boy. I'm not gonna lie, she drove me absolutely insane. Wasn't going to let anything—and I mean NOTHING—get in the way of a story that wasn't hers until she appointed herself to it. And when there'd been more than one attempt on her life, she didn't seem to get the memo that SHE NEEDED PROTECTION. Good grief, lady, give your overprotective brother a little slack and make him worry a little less!

Noah? He was amazing. 'Nuff said.

Rissi...I loved her character, but I was a little confused as to why she got her own POV in the book? I'm assuming it's to set the stage for the next book, which I'm assuming is her story? 'Cause if it's not, I'm so confused. (The ending, though—I COMPLETELY saw that coming.)

The plot.
So, the plot was good and engaging. I really enjoyed the suspense aspect of it. It kept me guessing, and the mystery was fantastic. But...the romance. Let's talk about the romance, shall we?

So, Gabby and Finn were getting really serious—in love, even—and then she got a job opportunity and just dumped him?! This girl has seriously messed-up priorities. It's pointed out several times in the book that Gabby will do anything for a story, even if it means putting others below her job. And she refuses to believe it! In Gabby's mind, she's practically never wrong, and I'm sorry but it's messed. up. I get that being an investigative reporter is her job and everything, but seriously, she's not trained for combat, y'all!

*coughs* Okay, back to the romance. She dumps him with hardly a goodbye, and then six months later is practically forced to stay in his guesthouse by her brother. Which I understand. But then, when she's fully planning to leave things the way they are with Finn (no marriage, basically) they take walks, sit on the beach in the moonlight, and do some serious making out. Then she's like, "Rats, shouldn't have done that," and plans to avoid that more in the future...but of course it doesn't happen.

*deep breath* can you tell I didn't like the romance? XD I honestly would've rated this book 1 or 2 stars except that the mystery/suspense part was really good. (And that bit with the Collector's 'babies'? I totally called it as soon as I read it.) Plus, I loved Rissi's POV. I promise, I didn't mean to make this a rant review. But, uh, yeah...not thrilled. XD

*I received a free e-copy from Netgalley for my honest review. All thoughts are my own.

Reporter Gabby Rowley's life is in danger after she helps put away a drug lord. Taking refuge with her brother and his buddies in the Coast Guard, Gabby's physical safety is more certain, but her heart is in more danger than ever.

When Gabby walked away from their relationship, it took Finn Walker a long time to get over her. Now that his ex-girlfriend is in need of protection, he's ready to help in any way possible, even if it means letting his own feelings get tangled up again.

A rash of mysterious deaths of Coast Guard officers and local divers have Finn's team on alert. What's going on in the deep blue sea? Gabby can't help getting involved, her reporter's intuition on high alert with the suspicious circumstances.

I freely admit that I don't read much suspense, so that could color my enjoyment of this book, but I had a hard time following all the various threads. There were a lot of characters, both point of view and secondary, and it hard to keep people straight or grow to care about them. As an avid reader, though, I also had an issue with the nonsensical progression of the main characters' emotions. They were not relatable or understandable. The backstory was also presented in such a way that I never grasped the reason certain things were they way they were. All of these made for a rather disappointing reading experience on my part.

However, there are some good action sequences, and the identity of the bad guy will definitely keep a reader guessing. If you enjoy romantic suspense this might be a book you would enjoy. The setting was certainly unique, and it does a good job setting up interest in the characters who will feature more prominently in future books in this series.

I received my copy of the book from the publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.

Review

Dani Pettrey has written some of my favorite contemporary mysteries so of course I had to pick up her new one. My thoughts:

What I liked

The use of the Coastguard. Pettrey does her research. I’ve never given much thought to the U.S. Coastguard so it was fascinating to me, as a reader, to learn what all their job entails. I realize this is a novel, but it was very much high action, lots of water, and plenty of nefarious criminals.

Mysteries. There is more than one mystery in this novel and all of them are very layered and complex. They are quite the balls of thread to unravel and you can tell that the author takes her time to craft them. Things also happen very quick. Reading one of Pettrey’s novels is often like watching an episode of NCIS.

Spiritually, the characters pray, realize the importance of accepting God’s grace, and learn to rely on him.

What I didn’t like

Gabby. I’ve never met a female journalist in person. I have, however, met several of them within the confines of fiction. Based off of novels, here is what I have learned about female journalists, they are: abrasive, self-centered, deceptive, they will put themselves and others in danger if it means getting the story, and they don’t care what relationships they have to sacrifice to make things happen. If you can’t tell, I don’t like female main characters who are journalists. I had high hopes Gabby would be different. She wasn’t. I understand that her main goal in the novel was to recognize her own faults. But I was completely turned off by her behavior almost immediately and was therefore unable to connect.

Too much going on. Dani Pettrey almost always starts her novels in medias res. The reader is just dropped there right in the middle of things and relationships. But this one was too much too fast. I read the first three chapters and wondered if I was reading the first book in a series. I had to stop and check Amazon to see if I had missed something. There was so much action and so little character development. This may have worked if the story stayed purely from Gabby and Finn’s point of view. But it didn’t. There were so many characters and I didn’t know who they were (like I knew their names, but not their personalities). I like to see friendships form and relationships develop. Without any kind of background, I found myself largely not caring whose point of view I was reading cause it all felt the same and I was definitely skimming towards the end.

Romantic scale: 7

Overall, not my favorite book by the author. This may be a personal thing, however. I’m a much more character-driven reader than plot-driven and the little character I got was unfortunately, largely unappealing.

**I received a copy from Bethany House via Netgalley. My opinion was not affected in any way.**

I'm a huge fan of Dani Pettrey's previous two series, so it's no surprise that I was eager to pick up The Killing Tide as soon as possible.

I found the book easy to read. It started off great and I found the story to be enjoyable. The book was written very well and I liked the characters...although Gabby could be a little frustrating at times withe her carelessness.

All in all, The Killing Tide was very good and I'm looking forward to the next book; I have a feeling I know who the main characters will be and I can't wait for their story.

*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention/review it on my blog. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I've done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. 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.*

Dani Pettrey ramps up the danger and thrills in the first book of her Coast Guardians series. I was drawn in from page one and couldn't turn the pages fast enough.

I immensely enjoyed this book and look forward to the next book in the series. Gabby was a frustrating character who grew as the story progressed.

As a Navy brat I enjoyed the team aspect of the book.

I highly recommend this book!

This was an exciting, romantic, suspenseful, explosive read!

Dani Pettrey starts her brand new series off with an absolute bang in this fabulous book.

Quinn was THE BEST, and following his and Gabi’s perilous journey was both heartbreaking and wonderfully thrilling.

Ms. Pettrey’s signature writing style takes the reader on a fascinating adventure—with of tons of emotion and faith to go along with the nail-biting suspense.

I liked that there was “history” between the main characters, plus I got a taste of some awesome family dynamics as Gabi is forced to return to her family (and the guy she left behind) when her job as a reporter puts her on a dangerous criminal’s kill list.

I also very much appreciated the huge faith aspects woven through this beautiful story—the characters’ faith through hardship and pain was amazing to read.

At the end of the book, Ms. Pettrey gives a tease into Book 2 in the Coastal Guardians series, The Crushing Depths and I am too excited about it!! 😆

Also, can I mention for a moment THE COVER!? 😍

NOTE: I received a copy of this book for free, and a positive review was not required.

THE KILLING TIDE is a roller-coaster ride of emotion and danger with friendship, family, faith and romance woven throughout. Fans of inspirational romantic suspense and this author will find much to love in this story!

I loved the beginning of this story! It just hooked me from the start with the action, danger, and romantic tension. I also loved the family dynamics and getting a little bit of an inside look into the coast guard. Gabby was so stubborn, but that also was one of the things that made her a good journalist. Finn... he's just one of the good guys. Tough, but tender and he definitely had the feels for Gabby (she did too, but she tried to pretend she didn't). The romance was already there in this story and so you don't get as much of the slow beginning, but there's still plenty of chemistry and sparks. The suspense aspect was pretty intense and violent in parts, so be ready for it. The inspirational element was woven through well.

In the end, was it what I wished for? I really enjoyed reading this! I think the first half of the book was my favorite, but I enjoyed the second half as well. Definitely a book to grab if you enjoy this genre. I'm looking forward to the next installment!

Content: Some violence and innuendo, but clean.
Source: I received a complimentary copy from the publisher through JustRead Tours, which did not require a positive review nor affect it in any way.

The Killing Tide by Dani Pettrey is a romantic fiction. Finn Walker a special agent with the Coastal Guard Investigative Services who is investigating the death of a Coastal Guard officer. Investigative reporter Gabby is hiding from a mafia leader whom she put behind the bars. Finn and Gabby who are stuck together investigate the serial deaths of the coastal guards.

Finn and Gabby love each other but remain calm in the fear of losing each other. Finn tries his best to keep Gabby safe while Gabby is a strong and brave journalist who won't give up a story for any reason.
During the investigation, Finn and Gabby fall in danger's way many times but their determination finally helps them unravel the suspense and the killer and also catch a big smuggling racket.

A sweet story of love, family, suspense and second chance. I loved it.

I very quickly became invested in this story. The opening scene had my heart pounding. Gabby is being hunted by a would-be killer and returns to town where she can be surrounded by family and CGIS agents who will be able to protect her from her hunter. However this is not her choice and resists protection.

So many people are killed in separate incidents in just the first couple chapters alone. These incidents raised a lot of questions that had me trying to figure out how everything connected. Slowly over the course of time answers are provided.

In addition to the mysteries that going on I quickly became invested in the characters themselves. While this story really focuses on Gabby and Finn’s relationship, I found myself enjoying getting to know Rissi the little insights into her background have left me really wanting to know her more.

Wow.

I’ve been waiting to read this new series from Dani Pettrey for a long time now, and let me tell you it was well worth the wait. Pettrey is so good at keeping readers on the edge of their seats, all while bringing these romantic scenes at just the right moments. And with swoony Finn as the hero in this installment, it’s pretty much impossible not to have a couple of **sighing** moments. In addition, readers will enjoy the suspense, the action, and the hunt for the truth.

There were several times I thought I knew for sure how the bad guys were going to pan out. Of course, the more I read the more I changed my mind, but then towards the end Pettrey delivers such a twist in who the ultimate bad guy was, I really didn’t see it coming. And I loved it! In fact, I had to skin back through previous chapters to see if I could see the bad guy in that person while I originally read about them. Pettrey brilliantly brings all the pieces together in the end, and had this reader catching her breath and unable to put the book down until I reached the end.

Let’s talk about the romance a bit. There’s just something about two people who know they should be together but try to fight it. All this tension builds up as the story goes on, until it explodes with a toe curling kiss that you’re just waiting for. But I love what Pettrey does after that. It’s not all roses, and glorious and them finally being a couple. Nope, instead she builds up more tension, and has the readers just begging for more. **sigh** Finn and Gabby just might be my favorite Pettrey couple.

I will say that in the beginning of the book, Gabby kind of annoyed me. She acted before she thought, and found herself in some pretty silly situations. And I get it – she was all about uncovering the truth for her story. But at some point I wanted her to step back and understand all the risks she was taking in doing so. And while it was slowly, almost painstakingly slow, I think she started to get that. Yes, she still put herself in danger, but she thought about it first. It was a step in the right direction and actually once this shift sort of happened, I found myself enjoying her character even more.

To say that I cannot wait for the next installment in this series is a huge understatement. But until it comes out, I’ll just enjoy Finn and Gabby’s story a bit longer! If you haven’t had the chance to read this one yet, I highly recommend that you do 🙂

Wow! This book is actioned packed from the first page until the last. Somehow with solving a mystery and the tragic loss of life, Dani Pettrey is able to squeeze in a love story.



I loved how the author was able to give just enough information to keep me engaged. She did a wonderful job of keeping me guessing who was behind the murders until the last page. She also didn't reveal why people were dying, just that the characters were involved in some illegal activity.



I really loved the characters, setting, and plot. This book has great pacing and is a page-turner.



Source: I received a complimentary copy. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

“A corpse that only leads to secrets.
An old flame with danger written all over her.
Things are about to get very complicated.”

Once again Dani Pettrey delivers! She’s one of my top inspirational romantic suspense authors and I’ve read every book she’s written. “The Killing Tide” is an exceptional tension filled story that had my sleuthing abilities on high gear. I was trying to piece things together along with the characters. The ending was shocking! Or at least the culprit behind everything. I also loved learning about the Coast Guard Investigative Service; something I didn’t even know existed until now. But I suppose it makes sense that each branch of service has its own unit for crime investigation.

The only thing I didn’t like in this is the amount of characters Pettrey introduces in the beginning. I never did really figure out who was who by the end; only Finn and Gabby. I tend to get overwhelmed with a lot of people in the story and their roles aren’t clear in my mind. It took a bit of the enjoyment factor out for me. I’m sure some readers don’t mind and would not find this to be a problem.

Pettrey is a solid suspense author with an eye for detail and accuracy. Her characters show how it’s supposed to be as a team working together and her procedurals are top notch. I also admire how she interweaves faith and Biblical truths as if it were a natural part. Pettrey fans will applaud this beginning to a new series “Coastal Guardians”!

*I received a complimentary copy from the author and was not obligated to leave a favorable review. *

Anything written by Dani Pettrey is bound to great, and I'm not wrong about this book! Every time i open one of her stories I need to make sure i have a few hours to kill because i cannot out it back down.
Finn and Gabby made a great beginning for the Coastal Guardians series. Can't wait for the next one.

The Killing Tide
by Dani Pettrey
Book 1 in the Coastal Guardians series
Rating: 4/5

If you are in need of a fast-paced thriller, look no further. I am a huge fan of Dani Pettrey's Romantic Suspense and I was not disappointed with this first book in a new series. Ever since watching the movie, The Guardian, with Kevin Costner and Ashton Kutcher, I have been in awe of what the Coast Guard rescue teams do. I was excited to catch a glimpse into their world and the author did not let me down.

After a traumatic rescue mission, special agent Finn Walker is forced to retire from his Coast Guard rescue team but joins the Coast Guard Investigative Service (CGIS) as a second chance to help others. He is driven by a past that haunts him and his ability to save others. When tragedy after tragedy strikes, he knows that something is wrong and is determined to keep those he loves as safe as possible while unraveling the mystery.

Fearful after an attempt on her life, Gabby Rowley's older brother forces her to come back home where he and his CGIS team can protect her. Gabby, an investigative reporter, is stubborn and hates that her independence is being taken away, but her real fear is seeing Finn again after she walked out on their relationship to pursue her career. She has a knack for sniffing out a story and when the CGIS loses a team member, she is determined to get to the bottom of the story despite the threat on her life. Will Gabby and Finn be able to do their jobs, stay safe, and work together without reigniting that chemistry? Can Gabby find a way to pursue her dream job and her dream of finding love?

This story was jam-packed full of interesting characters and storylines. As the first book in the series, the author is definitely trying to set up some of the next few books in the series while doing justice to the current story. I love that her characters are flawed and relatable. They have a sixth sense about investigating crimes and weaving all the clues together, but they have their own hardships and trauma to deal with. I am excited to read what comes next.

I highly recommend this book for anyone who enjoys clean romantic suspense.

My thanks to the author, NetGalley and CelebrateLit for providing me with an ARC of the book. All opinions expressed here are entirely my own. No positive review was expected and no compensation received.

This book was incredible! Lots of heart pounding suspense and action and from beginning to end. Clean romance between Finn and Gabby throughout the story. I couldn’t put the book down!

I was immediately drawn in by the story line and interesting characters. I was somewhat frustrated by Gabby and her lack of judgement sometimes which made her an easy target. I can not relate to wanting to investigate a story or solve a crime so much that my life doesn’t matter. I also felt like at times she was leading Finn on like she had done in the past-knowing she liked him and was drawn physically to him; but not wanting to invest in a relationship or jeopardize her own character path. She wasn’t my favorite character because of that.

I really liked reading about the Coast Guard officers and some of their rescues and day to day obligations. I especially liked Finn and Noah (Gabby’s brother). They both took their jobs seriously and with protecting their family members and loved ones.

I hope there will be more “Coastal Guardian” books! I really enjoyed it!!

I received a copy of this book complimentary for blog and social media review. All opinions are my own.

An incredible beginning to a new series

Wow! Be prepared to read until you reach the last page and then wonder how you missed figuring it out. This thriller had me on the edge of my seat, wondering what on earth could happen next. Gabby Rowley is a well-known journalist that has put herself in dangerous positions to get all the facts. In fact, she nearly died for one of those stories. In this situation she should be safe...after all the perp is in jail, right?

Noah, her brother, and his team work with the CGIS or Coast Guard Investigative Service. Sent to stay with the team as a precaution, Gabby finds herself involved in an investigation that has so many twists and turns, never mind the danger, that one has to wonder if she will be any safer. I found myself wishing I could take Gabby and shake her, hoping to dislodge her fixation on figuring everything out by herself, no caring about her safety. As she learns more about herself, will she begin to rely on God to lead her? The author has introduced us to a wonderful set of characters that I look forward to getting to know better.

What a fabulous beginning to the Coastal Guardians series. This digital copy was received through Baker Publishing Group, Bethany House Publishers, NetGalley and CelebrateLit. All impressions and comments are my own and were in no way solicited.

Okay, I'll admit, the cover is what grabbed my attention first. After that, the blurb. But then, from the first page, Dani Pettrey swept me away on a wild adventure.

This book came at the perfect time. Through The Killing Tide I found an escape from everyday existence and tumbled down a rabbit hole of action, romance, and beautiful dialogue. I'm a sucker for the dialogue, and this one ticks all the boxes for my perfect read.

No joke, I binge read the book in one sitting then started looking for book two. I love the characters and I can't wait to see what happens next.

Finn and Gabby have a past romance to overcome if there's to be any hope for their future, and although a happily ever after is the name of the game, the journey is the best part.

I requested a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. I was not required to leave a positive review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

I hope you are ready for an adrenaline rush because this story blasts off with intense heat and never stops til the end. My oh my has the author delivered a very tasty bit of intrigue mixed with drug smugglers, Coast Guard, an inquisitive reporter and murder. I loved reading about the Coast Guard. I don’t hear much about them, but they patrol the waters keeping us safe from people trying to sneak in with merchandise that is illegal. The author shows her homework with how much detail she shares about the Coast Guard.
I can’t imagine the danger they face everyday having to board vessels not knowing what they will find. When one of their own is found dead on a boat, Finn goes into action to start the investigation. Finn has his hands full trying to keep The Coast Guard name from getting slandered by accusations. He also has to deal with Gabby. They don’t have a nice past together but here they are working together. Gabby was not my favorite because she seemed to not be able to do what she is told. Her life is in danger, yet she wants to get in the middle of Finn’s investigation. I thought it was a bit selfish of her to push her way around and having Finn constantly watch out for her.
The mystery is quite good and I liked how the twists keep readers guessing who is guilty. If only Gabby would stay out of the way, or maybe she has a vested interest in solving the death of a Coast Guard. The deeper Finn digs into what happened on the boat where someone died, the more danger comes his way. It is a story that captures the thrills of chasing the bad guys while trying to unravel all the people involved. Get ready for a bumpy ride as we travel on sea and land to catch the killers before they destroy more lives.
I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.

I absolutely loved this book and an not wait for the next one in the series! The Killing Tide has everything from a sweet love story to the suspense we have come to love from Dani Pettry as well as the well thought out characters. I feel like I know them and am looking forward to more stories about these characters. The fun part is trying to figure out who did it and the twists and turns were so unexpected!

This is a wonderful author who is a favorite of mine. In fact, I have to admit that I’ve already read this book twice now! It’s that good. I could stop right there and just say I’ve read it twice and you should grab a copy and read it but maybe I should tell you why.

Finn and Gabby are characters who will grab your heart and not let it go. Finn has a lot on his plate trying to figure out who killed his friend and coworker. And then Gabby comes back. He loves her. He has for a while. She’s also the sister of another coworker. But she left before and he’s worried she’ll leave again. That is if he can keep her from getting killed now.

Gabby is being stalked by someone she put in jail. But he’s in jail so how can he be reaching her. After she’s shot at and chased her boss and her brother make the executive decision that she go into hiding. She can’t say she’s pleased and she definitely doesn’t want to put her family in danger. And then there is Finn. She’s not sure how she can face him and leave him again.

Wonderful read! Lots of suspense and action plus some romance and fun. You’ve got multiple characters that try to steal the show and I’m pleased to know that their own books are coming soon. In fact, I might have already read book two in this series and it’s just as good or better!!

I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from Celebrate Lit. All views expressed are only my honest opinion. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC regulations.

The Killing Tide by Dani Pettrey was my first read into this author’s works, but it most definitely will not be my last. This story is stellar! It’s an edge-of-your-seat kind of read that kept me so engaged I read well past my bedtime. I very much enjoyed the cast of characters, and found the deep sense of camaraderie and loyalty among the Coastal Guardians to be endearing. What a team they make! The plot is great and kept me guessing the whole time. I found the romance the perfect blend of realism and passion. There are a couple of kisses that made me a tad weak in the knees! And, I very much appreciated the thematic discussions weaved throughout. All in all, I find The Killing Tide a must-read Romantic Suspense story.

Gabby is quite the go-getter as an investigative reporter. So much so, she’s constantly willing to put herself in seriously dangerous spots to get her story. I’ve never understood purposely putting myself in harm’s way for a good story, but it was fun to watch Gabby do her thing. There are quite a few nail-biting scenes in this book. But I have to admit, there were moments in the story where Gabby frustrated me. I found myself wishing her character would take a second to think of others before she acted. And this point is actually made by a couple of the characters. Gabby believes that investigative reporting is her calling. God put the drive in her to seek out the truth, therefore it must be the path He set her on. Gabby has gotten to the point, though, where she is willing to sacrifice EVERYTHING and EVERYONE for the truth. Both Noah — her super cool brother — and Finn — her totally hot, James Bond-esque boyfriend — scold her a little because of her myopic self-focus. When one person critiques you, perhaps take their words with a grain of salt, but when more than one of your loved ones scolds you for the same thing, it’s probably God trying to get your attention. In fact, Gabby realizes that in all her searches for truth she’s never once consulted God to see if this truth searching was even the path He had for her. She just assumed that because the passion burned so deeply in her it must have been put there by God. I really love this self-reflective moment as it made me think about my own passions. How many times have I jumped into something absolutely positive that it was God’s will for me, but never actually took the time to ask if it was? Passions can be great. They can make life fuller. But passions left unchecked can cause some serious issues not just to oneself, but to our family, friends, and other loved ones. Of all the facets of this novel, this discussion of checking one’s passions against God’s will is quite thought-provoking.

I very much enjoyed The Killing Tide and heartily look forward to book number 2 in the series, The Crushing Depths. If you have not yet read The Killing Tide, and you enjoy a great Romantic Suspense novel, then I cannot recommend this book enough. Purchase your copy today. You won’t be disappointed that you did!

I received a review copy of this novel in eBook form from the author via Celebrate Lit. I also purchased a copy of this novel in eBook form from Amazon.com on June 17, 2020, in order to review. In no way has this influenced my review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Hello! Are you in need or want of a great book of intrigue? Dani Pettrey's new book "The Killing Tide" is waiting just for you !! As you swim through the pages of this sitting on the edge of you seat story, you will dive into the the lives of a coast guard and a reporter. A great pairing don't you think? But these two have a past that neither are sure about and whether they want to rekindle what they have lost. First, they have a murder to solve a murder, keep Gabby safe from danger (she's a reporter, it comes with the job). Can Finn keep her safe while he works endlessly to find out who murdered his fellow coast guard workers?
READ THE BOOK!!

Blessings,
Karen
Rating 5*
I requested a copy of this book, all opinions are my own.

Gabby Rowley is a magnet for trouble. Her passion for pursuing a good story has gotten her into deep water and she is now forced to hide out in a small coastal town. But going back means seeing Finn, the handsome Coast Guard investigator who she had once broken his heart.
As Finn works to keep Gabby safe and investigate several murders, a sinister plot threatens both their lives and the passion between them.
I enjoy the authors fast paced writing style and her complicated plots. Even getting to know the other characters who will no doubt have their own story in the series. I enjoyed the coastal setting and a glimpse into the life of those who serve in the Coast Guard. The mystery was well done.
However, the romance between Gabby and Finn seemed to have taken place more in the past and not so much in the present. Maybe the emotional connection between reader and characters was lost in all the action. While I like my romances clean, I didn't see a noticeable character change in Gabby or Finn that resolved their conflict.
Overall, I likes the setting and the mystery. So, if you like more a good mystery, action pact story this will definitely work for you. But if you are looking for a strong emotional roller-coaster ride - maybe not.

A fast-paced tale of crime and Coast Guard investigations, this compelling novel weaves an intricate web of intrigue and danger. If you like an intense thriller, this should fit the bill. All the threads, short scenes that quickly jump to another situation, and numerous characters (including two men whose names start with the letter F) make it complicated and sometimes hard to follow. This is a book where I wish a cast of characters was included at the front to help keep everyone straight. I felt like I couldn’t get to know so many characters well so didn’t sense the depth or connection that offers a more powerful emotional reading experience. They have lots of back story, but this is the first book in a new series. This mystery does stand alone, but the Coast Guard Investigative Service continues in the sequels. It is the first book I have read by this author, and if I read another I want a paper copy and not an ebook so it’s easier to flip back and forth. I received a copy from Celebrate Lit. all opinions are my own.

If this was a movie, I would be on the edge of my seat.

I hang my head in shame at the knowledge that I have never taken the time to read a Dani Pettrey book. And I kick myself for missing out on this amazing storyteller’s talents until now. Do you forgive me? Good. Thank you.

The Killing Tide started with intensity and only kept pushing me to the edge, wanting more with every turn of the page. I didn’t even want to turn on the television because this was more entertaining. If it wasn’t the “who-done-it” suspense it was the growing romantic tension. Even though there were various POV’s, once I found the rhythm it was easy to get lost in the unfolding story.

I love it when I can tell that the author spent time researching her facts. It was very clear that she has extensive knowledge on The Coast Guard and various branches of the investigative teams. She painted a vivid picture of the lay of the land so that I could see in my mind where the characters were.

Now, I will say, I wish I saw more of the building romance (because that’s what I enjoy) because Gabby and Finn had an obvious attraction and I wanted to feel it too. I like to see the chemistry bubbling over between a couple. The author gave me a peek of it but not much.

Overall, I would say The Killing Tide is a fantastic read and worthy of any Back Porch with a glass of ice cold tea or lemonade.

**I was given a copy of this book by the publisher through CelebrateLit. The views expressed are entirely my own and a favorable review was not required (but freely given).

An action-packed suspense with a bit of romance woven in. This story has everything one wants in the Thriller/Suspense. The intrigue, danger, all the twists and turns. Interesting characters to go along with the edge of your seat plot. The only issue I had was the large cast that we were introduce to almost immediately, it became hard to keep who's who straight at times. Lots of interest going on to lead into the next book.

Dani Pettrey writes tightly-plotted, complex stories. They are always interesting, with surprises and plot twists that feel plausible. Because The Killing Tide is the first book in a new series (Coastal Guardians), there was a lot of information and many characters to introduce. It was just a little confusing at the start, but it straightened out quickly. It’s fun to start the first book in a new series, knowing that you will be with that cast of characters for several books and each of them will get their own story.

The hero of The Killing Tide, Coast Guard Investigative Service special agent Finn Walker, is a solid, charming character. He’s steady. The heroine… not so much. If we’re going to have a character grow and change over the course of the story, she has to start out flawed. I get that. Gabby does improve, Her spiritual growth and personal change are handled beautifully. But I just didn’t like Gabby. An ambitious reporter, her willful and reckless behavior put other people in danger and upset her family. She even exploited a new widow, dragging her along into danger, just to get her news story. By the time she had her “epiphany,” I’d lost interest in her and was wondering why Finn didn’t find himself a nicer girl.

That doesn’t mean I didn’t like the book. I DO like the book. The setting and Coast Guard situation were interesting. The plot was great. I look forward to reading all the other books in the series. As usual, I will probably listen to them on audio. The narrator, Nina Alvamar, handled male and female voices nicely. Her reading was smooth and pleasant, neither dull nor overly dramatic.

My favorite thing about Dani Pettrey’s writing is that she’s not afraid to write books with real Christian characters. They talk, think, and act like real Christians. They interact with other Christians and non-believers in a realistic way. She’s not preaching; she’s portraying life. I love that.

This is book one of the Coastal Guardians Series. There is mystery, suspense and romance in this book. It is about the team of 6 members of the Coast Guard Investigative Services and the circumstances each face in their lives from work to their personal life. We also are introduced to Gabby an investigative reporter that has a past with Finn one of the team members. Gabby is in danger and Finn is assigned to watch over her, but she has her own mind and ideas. Gabby has her own agenda and is strong willed to say the least about her own ideas of her life ways. Can Finn and Gabby work together? Will Gabby be able to control her way of investigating? Who can you trust?

I would recommend this to all those that enjoy that drama, suspense with a touch of romance read. Do not start reading this book at bed time.... you will not want to go to sleep until you finish. Each chapter leads into a twist, turn or plain I need to know what happens mode. I found alot of characters in the book and it was ok as I like a fast page read, but I felt as a series, it could have been a few each book and bring more characters in as the series goes along. But that was not a miss for me, as I enjoyed the book alot and do recommend it for those that like the drama.

Pettrey continues to amaze with her latest series, Coastal Guardians, as a huge fan of her previous series I wasn't sure if I was ready for new characters, but Pettrey has once again proved me wrong and taken me on a suspenseful journey that has me falling in love with the latest characters and can't wait to read more.

The Killing Tide is book 1 of the coastal guardians series and takes you on a thrilling tale of mystery, limits are pushed and a killer is on the loose. This is a book you will dive into and won't come up for air until the last page.

This story was exciting from the first page. I love the Coast Guard, and my family's closest friends are in the Coast Guard. So when I read that one of my favorite authors was writing a series about the Coast Guard, I knew I definitely wanted to read this newest series. This story begins with a lot of characters on the CGIS team and flips around a lot by telling the story from several point-of-views. At first that was difficult to navigate and maybe that was due to me reading this as an e-book. But after I realized the story was shifting back and forth, I was able to recognize the change more readily. I think that all of the switching around for the point-of-views may be annoying for some, but I found that it gave a glimpse into each character to set up the rest of this series in future books. I like that Dani writes about a group of people and then gives each main character their own spotlight in a separate book. It creates that feeling of family. I also liked how Dani wrote in many of the silent prayers the team members had throughout the story. I thought it was a great way to communicate their relationship with God and show their dependence on Him as they lived their lives.
Gabby is quite the character, and can make even the most tolerant reader frustrated. She does go through a good change though as the story moves along. I will say that it's pretty unlikely that an investigative reporter would be allowed in on a CGIS investigation even if they are family. That seemed a little unbelievable for me.
Overall, the story was good, and many of the characters have interesting histories, so it will be fun to see what Dani does with that in future books. While I enjoyed reading this book and the fast-paced story, it was not my favorite of Dani's books. I'm hoping the next book, The Crushing Depths, is a better read.

***I received this e-book from netgalley and was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.

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. A truly spectacular book that will keep you reading all night!

Great story with mystery and suspense elements. Recommendable to those who like this genre. It was my first by Dani and I will check out some more of her books in the future.

I loved the characters and the storyline development of this book. It was absolutely one of my favorites so far and I can't wait to delve in to the next one that this author writes. The storyline was simple, enjoyable, and entertaining.