Crime scene photographer, Avery Tate, is excited for her friend, Skylar Pierce. Sky’s modeling career is finally taking off and she’s the featured subject of a major photographic art exhibit. Maybe now Skylar can move out of the trailer park where they both grew up and they can both put their pasts behind them. When Avery arrives at the exhibit, she is disgusted by the images she sees. All of the models photographed appear to be dead but each has enough spark of life in their eyes that Avery sees the illusion created by the photographer. Skylar’s picture, though, is different. Skylar genuinely appears to be dead and there is no spark of life in her eyes. Sky had invited Avery to come, insisting that she would meet Avery there. Where is she and is Sky that good a model or did the photographer do something awful to her friend?
Parker Mitchell, independent crime scene investigator, used to employ Avery as his photographer so he knows that if she’s spooked about something, he needs to pay attention. As the two delve into Sky’s disappearance, pieces of Avery’s past crash into her present. Can Parker and the rest of his friends find an apparent killer before Avery becomes his next victim?
If you read Dani Pettrey’s first book in the Chesapeake Valor series, Cold Shot, then you NEED to follow that up by reading Still Life! While Still Life can be read as a standalone novel it is WAY better if you’ve read Cold Shot, too. There is an ensemble cast of characters that flow from one book to the other and book 2 builds on what book 1 started. You’ll enjoy meeting Declan Grey, Griffin McCray, Finley Scott, Tanner Shaw and Kate Maxwell. Each has a specific skill, each works for a different branch of government law enforcement and each would do anything to help one of the others in the group.
Mystery/suspense lovers will love this book. I completely had the wrong guy pegged as the killer until the reveal at the end, and that doesn’t happen to me often! I look forward to book 3, Blind Spot, scheduled for publication in October 2017. Can’t wait to read it!
I received this book from the publisher through NetGalley. The review is my honest opinion.

WOW - FANTASTIC - are the first two words that come to mind when I think of the novel. The story is imaginative, hideously good, elaborate and descriptive. The author sure took their time to build the characters and what their roles would be. To have the villain's thoughts brought out is creepy and awesome you can't get any better than that. Dani Pettrey has you guessing who, what and definitely where they are. The law enforcement officers have everything in control - especially since they leave all things in the hands of GOD. In GOD's hands all things are safe. So, do they find the villain? Do the two law enforcement officers fall for each other? Do they let GOD heal their pasts so they can move on? Is the girl safe? This and many more questions can be answered by reading this advantageous book. It is well worth it.

I loved Dani Pettrey’s first series, which was pure romantic suspense, and set in Alaska. It reminded me of Susan May Warren’s Team Hope trilogy, or Dee Henderson’s O’Malley series, both of which I loved.

Still Life is the second novel in her new Chesapeake Valor series, and this series is a bit more like Terri Blackstock or Ronie Kendig. Each novel has the same set of characters, all involved in law enforcement in one way or another. The romance takes a definite second place to the action and suspense, and there is an overall plot arc linking the novels (and therefore means you should read the novels in order, starting with Cold Shot, to give you the background to the individual characters and their historical relationships).

I’d call these suspense novels with romantic elements rather than romantic suspense novels. And that’s not necessarily a bad thing (especially not for people reading a blog called Suspense Sisters!). Too much focus on the romance would be to the detriment of the suspense plot—the varying threads and the number of characters mean the added complexity of a romance plot could result in a complete mess.

As it was, there was enough to concentrate on with two or three couples investigating different aspects of the art theft and the potential disappearance of Avery’s friend, Skylar. That was an intriguing relationship—both girls grew up in the same trailer park, but Avery’s decision to become a Christian in her late teens meant she’d had a very different adulthood to Skylar, and the novel did an excellent job of showing this. It also did an excellent job of showing how the actions of the past impact on the present and future ...

The suspense plot was excellent, with multiple threads and plenty of red herrings, which made it difficult to work out who-dun-it, but the end answer was both obvious and satisfying. If fast-paced Christian thrillers are your thing, then you’ll enjoy Still Life. But do read Cold Shot first, because that will make Still Life all the more enjoyable.

Thanks to Bethany House and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.

When a controversial shot turned Avery Tate into a persona non-grata in the photography world, she applied for a position as a crime scene photographer. To her surprise, the crime scene analyst, Parker Mitchell, hired her. But when feelings toward the man started to grow, she bolted.

Now, in order to support a friend who modeled for a photography exhibit, Avery must face the very community who rejected her. But when Skylar doesn’t appear and the photographer insists he didn’t take the only shot of her posing dead, the evening takes a macabre turn.

With Skylar missing, Avery has no option but to turn to Parker for help. However, working with him could prove more dangerous than she ever imagined. Not only is she falling harder for someone whose heart belongs to another, their investigation also leads to a twisted individual — one who now has his sights set on Avery.

The guys are back! Longtime friends Parker, Griffin, and Declan tackle another case in the second installment of Dani Pettrey’s Chesapeake Valor series. A story of second chances, Still Life centers on Parker and Avery.

Darker than her previous novels, due to Avery’s broken past and one very disturbed man’s obsession with death, the author still manages to find the balance of showing sin and evil without going overboard with gory details.

The romance aspect differs from the typical path so many stories follow in that Parker and Avery are already in love with each other by the time the reader joins them. This allows us to see some struggles they faced as a couple and how their pasts colored their new relationship. Given her history, I could sympathize with Avery’s fear of rejection. She did too well as it was, considering all she had experienced.

While I love Pettrey’s style and writing, this book didn’t rank as high for me as her previous novels. I found the mystery too predictable. Despite the presence of red-herrings, I easily saw through them as characters and events that were only meant to mislead. Also, the thread of faith didn’t flow as naturally. Nonetheless, I enjoyed getting to know Parker and Avery, and more than ever, I can’t wait to find out more about the missing fourth friend — Luke.

I recommend Still Life to Pettrey’s fans and romantic suspense readers, though I would suggest starting with Cold Shot if you haven’t read it yet.

Storyline


After being blacklisted by the art community of Baltimore, Avery Tate - a professional photographer - has been working as a crime scene photographer with crime scene analyst, Parker Mitchell. They are quickly attracted to one another, but there's a problem: Parker is still in love with and loyal to his old girlfriend who was murdered a number of years ago. So rather than be continually faced with what will never happen, Avery quits and moves on.

But when she discovers her childhood friend Skylar is missing after having been photographed for an art gallery showing, she suspects foul play. She knows of no one better to help her solve the mystery than Parker - and the two set out to find Skylar.

Also weaved in is a story about a mysterious ship of refugees that arrives in a Baltimore with illegal activities on board. And the question still remains - whatever happened to the gang's friend Luke, who disappeared without a trace seven years ago?

While the plot lines were exciting and very well written, a few places felt choppy and several things were left unexplained. It took us quite awhile to really get into the book. As in the first book, sometimes the many characters and their places in the plots felt confusing and chaotic.

Depth
Avery grew up labeled "trailer trash," and still has a hard time believing she isn't in that life anymore. Unfortunately, this case places her right back in the heart of her childhood. She feels responsible for Skylar's wild lifestyle since she introduced her to it in the first place, and fears that she may have died without ever having changed, like Avery had.

Faith
Faith is this book's strongest quality! Parker and Avery both have a strong faith in God. Parker continually reminds those around him that they can lean on and rely on the Lord. He encourages Avery that she is a new creation in Christ and Jesus has redeemed her from her past. Many characters pray for guidance and live clean lives, pleasing to God in purity and speech.

Love Story
Anyone who loved Dani Pettrey's Alaskan Courage series may be a bit disappointed in this series' romance. Although a genuine and respectable love story is certainly written, the emotions were hard for us to connect with. Parker and Avery have to overcome a few realistic obstacles before they can be together but even then, it didn't feel as though the romantic tension had built enough for us to be terribly excited about them as a couple.

Overall
This is the second book in Dani Pettrey's Chesapeake Valor series and some themes were continued from book one and will continue through the series, which we love! Unfortunately, some parts of the book were disappointing to us and left us a little confused. However, the faith was strong and the general storyline was extremely entertaining. We look forward to the next book in the series, where we can continue to explore the mystery that surrounds the entire series - what ever became of their missing friend Luke.

While I liked Cold Shot, the first book in Dani Pettrey's Chesapeake Valor Series, Still Life is a far superior book. With a large cast, multiple crimes, and several romances, the author had a lot of balls to keep in the air, which she accomplished remarkably well.

I'll admit that since it's been quite a while since I read Cold Shot, I was at least a third of the way through Still Life before I got a handle on who was who once again, a task made more difficult by several names that could fit either gender. That difficulty aside, I thoroughly enjoyed the characters and the pacing. A masterful plot twist had me quickly rethinking the identity of the true perpetrator.

Parker and Avery, who are center stage in this book, are likable characters whose sweet romance is endearing. I also enjoy the Baltimore setting, a locale somewhat familiar to me.

Still Life is a perfect bend of nail-biting creepiness, criminal intrigue, new beginnings, and sweet romance. I'm eagerly looking forward to the next book in the series!

This story grabbed my attention from the start as I liked how the characters were able to work at solving the mystery based on multiple outcomes. While they kept up hope for one outcome, they kept their options open for more. I liked how Avery was open about her past even when she was ashamed of it, but realized that being open could help them with the investigation and that made her more real to me in that she was willing to let go of the past to focus on the future.
I also like learning some of the history of the area as the author used some of the local history in the area as part of the crime scene. It gave me a taste of hidden treasures that are around many towns and a bit of a nod to the first book as it too has a bit of a historical theme.
I highly recommend this book and series and look forward to seeing what happens next,

The saga continues in my reading a series’ Book 2 prior to Book 1! I will remedy that in the near future; Still Life is a gripping read that kept me guessing until the very end. I admit that I am somewhat clueless when it comes to mysteries and figuring out “whodunit”. My excitement at picking up clues approaching the denouement was palpable!

Still Life‘s subject matter certainly fell on the moribund end of the spectrum; certainly understandable given the genre. Read Still Life in broad daylight, or at least not much past twilight; its vivid descriptions and engrossing plot will keep you up later than you anticipate, and you may need to wind down a bit prior to actually pursuing sleep!

I don’t know if the complimentary copy I received was final or an eARC; I guess the former, as the release date came and went. With that, I found multiple grammatical errors (most notably around apostrophes) and the occasional homonym error that proved distracting through the climax and denouement.

I also wonder at Parker’s sudden switch from grieving a past love to suddenly being “all in” with Avery. Pettrey spent so much time regurgitating Parker’s old relationship and what a hard time he’d been through, that the switch felt forced and fast. It would have been more believable had some of the reiterations been left out or condensed.

And finally, I struggled keeping all of the characters straight. Many of the names could be used for boys or girls, or typically for one gender and then surprisingly used for another in this series, and I took a good 2/3 of the book to get them all straight.

Still, I enjoyed Still Life and would happily pick up Books 1 and 3 in the series. I appreciated the clean romance, faith elements, quick pacing, hidden clues, and final wrap-up.

Still Life can be read on its own, but I highly recommend reading the first book in the series, Cold Shot, to get a greater understanding of the cast of characters. That's where we first meet Avery and Parker with their palpable chemistry despite traumatic pasts preventing them from acting on their feelings. I also want to point out that I really appreciated that the author didn't rehash or summarize the entire plot from Cold Shot in Still Life, only brief mentions of how the characters had connected, so even if you read the books out of order the story hasn't been spoiled. I think this would also intrigue a reader who hasn't read the first book and make them want to experience Griffin and Finley's story. (It actually made me want to go back and read it again!)

I enjoyed the camaraderie between the members of the group of friends that worked together to solve the many angles of the case. It definitely balanced out the anxiety I felt from the suspense and creepiness of the crime. I noticed much less tension in their relationships than the first book when they were initially reunited. Now they are supportive with each other both socially and professionally. The details of the step-by-step investigation never felt mundane, but exciting as each revealed a deeper aspect in the plot. Some occasional glimpses into the mind of the villain also ramped up the anticipation as the story moved swiftly forward. A separate FBI case is explored simultaneously by Declan and Tanner which really got the pace hopping and provided an introduction to their fledgling relationship.

There are several twists in the case and Parker and Avery are practically inseparable as they partner up for their tasks in uncovering the mystery. It gives them plenty of opportunity to experience reawakened feelings and angst over what is keeping them apart. Fortunately their shared faith plays a major role in helping them overcome mental obstacles that were holding them back. There is a strong theme of redemption through Christ and forgiveness of self in their conversations that exhibited the respect they held for each other and their beliefs. Their romance takes a backseat to the intensity of the suspense plot, but they have their fair share of special moments ;)

I loved the setting of Baltimore, and the descriptions the author subtly included of the urban environment, the landscape, and even the influence of the weather conditions gave me a strong sense of the location and just how different it is from what I'm used to. I was drawn to the details of photography and art in the story, but it was also disturbing to see how they were used to represent the subject matter of death in a grotesque manner. Still Life is a book that kept me glued to the pages and I'm so excited to discover what's in store for Declan and Tanner in the next book, Blind Spot!

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

This book was amazing! I felt like I was reading an episode of Criminal Minds only not near as gory as those sometimes are with a little bit of CSI in there with all of the crime scene processing. But most importantly I was especially thrilled that for most of the book I had no idea who the killer was!

Pettrey is very skilled at descriptions. I've always loved how she can describe a scene or a location or even people. Throughout this book I was captivated by the details both of descriptions but also of the interviews with subjects.

But as much as I loved all the story about the crimes and the investigations what I really truly loved was the relationship between Parker and Avery. I loved how honest they were with each other. And of course I also loved the kissing and the falling in love. But what first caught my attention with these two was the fun wit and banter between them. I love couples that tease and have fun together. I was almost sad to get to the end of the book because I could have enjoyed many more pages of those two!

And before I close this review I must mention the part of this book that probably touched me the most. The spirituality. Bethany House and their authors truly write the best books with spiritual emphasis even though they are fiction. Multiple times Pettrey shares the prayers of her characters and multiple times her characters remind each other of God's forgiveness and second chances and I love reading books that are so spiritually uplifting.

I am very excited for book 3. It cannot come out fast enough. I need more from this series asap!

Bethany House sent me a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

I was so excited to read this book after loving Cold Shot, the first book in Dani Pettrey’s Chesapeake Valor series. I adore diving into a new series and meeting new characters, but there’s just something about the second book in a series, where you’ve already met the characters and kind of know them and now you have the chance for them to become dear friends. And these characters definitely do that in this book! I was so stoked to dive into Parker and Avery’s story and found I didn’t want to come up for air after opening the first page. The story takes off and left me hanging on and occasionally scrambling to catch up and remember what all was happening. I loved the dual mystery going on, and how Ms. Pettrey managed to bring all of the loose ends together in a way that left me simultaneously sighing at the ending and wanting to know when Declan’s book would be releasing.
One of my very favorite things about Ms. Pettrey’s writing is how she creates this community of characters in her series and has them stepping in and out of each story. This book was primarily Parker and Avery’s, but it was also a little bit Declan’s and a little bit Kate’s, with Finley and Griffith stepping in to help and letting us keep track of where they’re story is going. Everyone is back from the first book, along with Tanner, who brings an intriguing expectation for the next book, and the mystery of the fourth friend that is carrying over. As aforementioned, I immensely enjoyed the mysteries and the twists and turns, therein. I appreciated the detail the author put into the story for both cases, explaining some of the procedures to clue in the curious, without bogging down the story with information. I was left guessing “whodunit” throughout the book and I was so close! I loved reading a book that left me thinking, and rethinking, and trying to guess motive, and wondering if I was right, and then that surprise ending just blew my plotting out of the water!
Despite how thoroughly Ms. Pettrey tied up all of the loose ends with the mystery, I did think a couple of the personal issues with Avery and Parker were glossed over a bit, in order to keep the story flowing. I would’ve actually been okay with the suspense taking a break for a few pages in order to bring a bit more resolution to their relationship. Though with the way the author keeps the characters consistent and continuing to play leading roles in each book, I’m hopeful more of it will carry over into the next book. And I’m really hoping Declan’s book will be next (hint,hint)!
Overall, I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoyed romantic suspense with a mystery that will keep you guessing!

This book had me on the edge of my seat from page one, it's a fast-paced mystery that is truly nerve-wracking. The only thing I can think to compare it to is a very clean version of Criminal Minds (never actually seen the show by the way so don't get freaked out). Terrorists, art theft, a mysterious killer, a stalker and second chances it has it all.

This action-packed book is truly a delightful read! The characters are quirky and lovable and the story line is worth every one of the nails you bite off (and people wonder why my nails are so short) and ever hour of sleep you lose!

Dani Pettrey knows how to write a good romantic suspense. I loved her "Alaskan Courage" series and was incredibly excited to dig into this one. However, when Cold Shot debuted, I was left slightly let down. I still loved the book, but it wasn't quite what I expected. Now digging into book two in this series I find I'm warming to the change of pace. The "Chesapeake Valor" series leans even more toward an ensemble cast with shared screen time than her past books. The pacing is slightly different than "Alaskan Courage" series, but that isn't a bad thing. In fact, I'm finding it a good thing. It's just enough of a difference to keep things fresh while maintaining Pettrey's voice.

In Still Life we revisit Avery Tate and Parker Mitchell. They've realized their attraction--one we all picked up on in book one--but aren't quite sure what to do about it. Avery was ready to build a relationship with Parker, but he wasn't able to let go of his first love who'd died. Yet he knows he's come to care for Avery. Pettrey does a wonderful job of writing Parker's struggle and moving him forward while also making Avery patient yet strong. These two are well matched, and I loved seeing them on page together. They are definitely a couple you'll root for.

The suspense and twists in this book were very well done. For some the subject matter at times may borderline creepy, but as one who gets creeped out easily, I found it never quite got as dark as it could. Pettrey balanced that darker story with enough light to keep you turning pages rather than setting the book down. My only complaint was the ending seemed slower paced than it could have been. While twists were revealed, they seemed to lack any heart-racing moment. Still, this is definitely a read you'll want to add to your shelf, especially as Pettrey manages to take the on-going back story to another level, feeding the reader just enough information to keep you sucked into the mystery that will no doubt span this entire series.

All together I've come to really enjoy this series. While one couple is high-lighted in each book--their story is told and they receive their HEA--this is very much a bigger cast series. The page time is split with other POVs as Pettrey has done in the past, and there's evidence that something much bigger is going on in the background of this cast's lives. I think the final book is where we'll receive that pay-off. That fact has sucked me in, and I'm eagerly awaiting book number three to continue the ride with these characters.

When Avery Tate makes her way back into the art world that rejected her to support a friend, she never imagined she would end up investigating her possible death!

When the photography world turned its back on Avery Tate, she put her talents to use as a crime scene photographer. She started working with analyst Parker Mitchell and it wasn’t long before she developed feelings for him as more than just working partners. She knew she couldn’t work with him feeling the way she did, so she quit working with him, but it wasn’t enough to shut of her growing feelings. Now, for the first time since being rejected, Avery is going back to the art world for a gallery opening to support a friend that is being featured in one of the photos. However, when she arrives her, friend is nowhere in sight except for a picture that shows her deceased. The photographer says that is not the picture he took. Avery knows she is in over her head and calls Parker to help. Together they search for the truth of what happened to her friend and who might be to blame.

Dani Pettrey is becoming a top name in the Christian Romantic Suspense world and for good reason. Her Alaskan Valor series was top notch. Now with the second book in her Chesapeake Valor series she is continuing that trend. I really liked the concept of this book. And while it was a really good read I can’t say that it was my favorite. I had several issues. Even though there weren’t a massive amount of characters, I found myself having a hard time following who was who at different times. Between Avery and Parker as well as Declan and Tanner there seemed to be too much going on. I wish the focus would have been on one of the couples and their growing romance instead of trying to go back and forth between them both. Avery and Parker were the main focus and they came together pretty good. The tension really heated up about three quarters of the way through. At this point there, was a spot I thought it was about to take off into warp speed, instead it totally fizzled out. I don’t want to give too much away about the story but I was really disappointed it didn’t go in the direction I was hoping. Other readers might not have a problem with this but for me it wasn’t as good as it could have been. Overall it was still an enjoyable read and romantic suspense lovers will want to add this to their list.

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

I loved this story!!
The setting is the Chesapeake Shore and this story centers around Parker and Avery. As the story opens Avery is finding things more complicated than she ever imagined and turns to Parker for his help. This gripping thriller flows effortlessly with twists and turns that keep you guessing until the end. These characters while strong and well developed are also very complex. Parker on the surface seems like a dream, but he's hiding a past that he can neither forget nor forgive himself for. He's known as a guy who just can't commit, but few know the true story. Avery Tate is a beautiful, young woman who has literally beat the odd and is a girl with a checkered past. She grew up in a less than desirable neighborhood and ran away from home at a young age. At the age of 19 she was introduced to Christ and it changed her life completely. Unfortunately the past has a way of sneaking up and smacking you in the face and for Avery this is very true.
The author has a unique talent for penning a story that literally comes to life. This story has elements of forgiveness, romantic tension, mystery, suspense, faith and love. Each element will pull the reader in deeper into the story.
This is a book I would recommend to anyone who loves a good suspense, but I will warn you that once you pick it up you won't want to put it down.
** I received this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

Still Life is Dani Pettrey's edgiest novel to date. Inspired by The Black Dahlia, The story opens at a macabre art show in which a photographer has attempted to capture the beauty of death. Shock ripples through the gallery on opening night when it’s discovered that one of the pieces has been replaced with a fake. When Skylar, who appears to have modeled for both the original and forgery fails to appear, her friend Avery becomes concerned—something about the second portrait is eerily unsettling. Thus the stage is set for crime thriller that is rather unusual for it's genre.

The most notable deviation from the Christian fiction formula for romantic suspense is the dark subject matter. I would go as far as to say Still Life leans towards a psychological thriller. There's an undeniable attraction between Parker and Avery, but I felt the primary suspect's morbid fascination with death almost upstaged their romance. Furthermore, Avery and Skylar’s checkered pasts exemplify the difference between a life redeemed by Christ and one lived in the flesh.

Aside from Parker and Avery; Declan, Finley, Kate, Tanner, and Griffin (who is now a homicide detective) also reunite to collaborate on this case. With Pettrey’s knack for bringing new readers up to speed, Still Life could stand on its own. However, in order to have a more complete understanding of the secondary storyline which involves Luke, refugees, and a terrorist plot, I advise beginning with Cold Shot.

In summary, Still Life is an edgy, suspense/romance sure to satisfy those who crave diversity in Christian fiction. The darker tones of the novel do not diminish the author’s overarching message surrounding Avery’s character. That is, “if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come” (2 Corinthians 5:17). I look forward to the continuation of the Chesapeake Valor series.

Many thanks Bethany House Publishers for providing me with a review copy. All opinions are my own.

After the Alaskan Courage series first introduced us to Dani Pettrey, I was excited to read her new series: Chesapeake Valor. Book 1, Cold Shot, did not disappoint with the story of Griffin and Finley. It also promised the future stories of the rest of their friends – Parker, Declan, Luke.

Still Life continues the group’s story. As a freelance CSI tech, Parker works often with skilled photographer Avery. Amidst mystery and danger, Parker and Avery fall in love. Meanwhile, Declan, Griffin, and the others make frequent appearances as they help investigate Parker and Avery’s case.

I love series that share the lives of a family or a group of friends, following the characters from book to book. I really enjoyed getting to know Finley and Griffin, so it was fun to see them in Still Life just about to get married. Plus, reconnecting with Kate, Declan, and the rest added so much to this inspirational suspense story.

Avery has what you could call a painfully checkered past, and Parker is still dealing with hurts from his own past. They both experience quite a bit of personal growth in this story, which centers around the Baltimore art scene and its fictional dark side. Having never been to the East Coast, after reading Still Life, I wish I could ramble around those artsy neighborhoods.

*There are some elements to this particular plot that are better suited to a mature audience. Nothing terribly graphic, but the criminal in this story is a photographer obsessed with death. Draw your own conclusions from that and be aware. It’s still an excellent book.

I'll admit, romantic suspense is not my typical genre. I'm more of a romantic historical fiction type girl, but Dani Pettrey's Alaskan Courage series sold me. When she began this new series with Cold Shot, once again I was drawn in by the twists, fast moving plot, suspense, and the connection between the characters. Still Life continues with the same elements.

Still Life's suspenseful side was pretty intense. It may be that I'm a little more sensitive to that aspect because it's been so long since I've read much suspense, but it was very well done. I was reading at night and got the shivers more than once! Avery's friend has been featured in a Black Dahlia-style shoot: models posing as if they were dead. Throw in a couple of shady characters, a few murder suspects, and our main characters' struggles with their past, and you've got all the elements of a great romantic suspense novel.

My only hang up, which I mentioned in my critique of Cold Shot, is the amount of characters to keep up with. There are a lot of people in Avery and Parker's "inner circle." Then you add the secondary characters who play a part in their investigation....let's just say I had to think a lot about who was who. You may have to have a reference sheet handy. Just sayin'.

Overall, despite the long character list, this book represents the author and genre well. Not too creepy, but just enough to keep you on your toes and guessing about "whodunnit" til the end. The spiritual aspect of the novel was not an afterthought, either. The characters' need for Christ to overcome their past and resolve the issues in the present was a key part in the novel. Well done.

*I received a free copy of this novel from the publisher, via NetGalley, in order to give an honest review, which I did.

Better than the first! And the first one was EXCELLENT! In this story Pettrey focuses on crime scene analyst, Parker Mitchell, and his former photographer, Avery Tate, as they work together to find her missing best friend.

As a photographer, I enjoyed how the story opened, an art exhibit for a photographer, albeit an obnoxious one. However, the focus quickly shifted to Avery's missing friend. I enjoyed how the author kept the focus on the main story but she weaved interesting aspects for the overarching plot that has many eagerly awaiting the next book.

The thing I liked most about this book was Avery. As I read her story and learned more about her, I admired her strength of character. I could feel for how she was trying to deal with her past. And Parker is just the bomb! Such a great man of character and integrity.

If you read and enjoyed Cold Shot I think this one is even better. If you didn't read the first book, you can start with this one and not feel lost. Pettrey gives enough backstory to understand the characters.

My Rating 5 Stars!

Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher, via Netgalley.com, but I was not required to leave a review. The opinions expressed here are strictly my own.