Member Reviews
In the fourth and final installment of the Chesapeake Valor series, Luke Gallagher returns home after being gone for 7 years trying to catch a deadly terrorist. He now must rely on the help of his friends to help him stop this terrorist before something terrible happens on American soil. Kate Maxwell was devastated when Luke disappeared from her life, now that he's back she's struggling with her feelings for fear of him leaving again. Will they be able to stop Ebeid before he uses his deadly weapon? Will Kate ever be able to trust Luke again and be able to move on with their relationship?
Another great installment in this series! You'll quickly fall in love with the characters of you haven't already. There were a few storylines to follow throughout the book, you have the terrorist threat they're trying to thwart and then you have the mystery of who killed Griffin's sister. Both will keep you guessing. It's full of twists and turns and the suspense you no doubt love of you're an avid Pettrey reader. You definitely should read these in order, because you probably will be missing important information from the last book. Highly recommend this book and the entire series!
**I received this book free from the publisher for review. I was not required to write a positive review and all thoughts and opinions are my own.
4.5 stars
A great ending to the series, and my favorite couple out of the group of friends. However, the continual focus on his “rippling muscles” got old and kept it from being a favorite.
Luke is pretty much a super-spy and because of all the glimpses of him in previous books, I knew I was going to love this one. Kate’s loyalty over the years and her refusal to give up looking for him is paying off now, but just as he suspected, what he knows is indeed a deathly peril for his friends.
A side story with a serial killer features the couple from book one.
Thanks to the publisher for a free reading copy. A favorable review was not required. However, this review is based on a final copy that I purchased.
It's a race against time...and a deadly killer...
Wow! Just WOW! Dani Pettrey has taken readers on a roller coaster ride before but the Chesapeake Valor series and especially Dead Drift really takes the cake!
I was held captive from the first page to the last as the characters, and readers, finally get the long anticipated answers to both the terrorist crisis, that, by the way, could easily have been ripped from today's news headlines, and the painful mystery surrounding the murder that has haunted the group of friends for over a decade.
Tense, riveting, and full of surprises, Dead Drift is a powerful conclusion to another amazing romantic suspense series from author Dani Pettrey. While reading this book you'll run an whirlwind along with the characters as they try to put their lives back together while racing to literally save the world from a group of diabolical terrorists. Yeah, this story really is that action-packed and it's sure to keep the reader awake late into the night with the promised “just one more chapter...”
(I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are entirely my own.)
Chesapeake Valor is a 4 part series by award-winning Dani Pettry. Still Shot is the first one I read of the series and can be read as a stand-alone story (but why would you not read the others? I mean it is Dani Pettry. Suspense is what she does best) Especially since it was such a great book I needed to see more of what was going so I went back to read the rest of the series, Blind Spot, Dead Drift and Cold Shot (which is the first).
“In college, Griffin McCray and his three best friends had their lives planned out. Griffin and Luke Gallagher would join the Baltimore PD. Declan Gray would head to the FBI and Parker Mitchell would go on to graduate school as a crime scene analyst. But then Luke vanished before graduation and their world--and friendships--crumbled.” (Description from Amazon)
My one of my favorite things about the books is they are a team A terrorist attack is coming and each person is using their gifts to solve the plot and save the world from terrorists . Another thing really makes the books over the top Is that the book is written from more than one point of view. You get to hear the reasoning behind the good, the bad, and the ugly. Secrets are revealed and relationships are restored.
Each book in the series focuses on one of the friends. The storytelling is fabulous and there is great attention to detail from the science of crime scene investigation to the protocols. The details to gun descriptions are spot on, as well as the processes of photography of the crime scenes.
The women in the book are strong and struggle with letting the men trying to protect them from the the terroist plot to destroy our country I love how the struggles of our relationship with Christ are explored and dealt with, leaving you with a bigger understanding of who God is. I love the zeal the characters have for God, even after experiencing some terrible things. Zeal for God is what Dani’s books are all about. The zeal for truth found in Jesus.
I received these books complimentary from the publisher in return for my honest review. I love them so much I bought all four. Dani calls her books “up all night” and this is spot on as well because once you get started you stay up all night to read them. I mean what else are you going to do? You opened it, right? It is like turning the movie off in the middle if you have to sleep.
Did the bad guy get away? Are they going to find the bomb in time? Who is going to get shot next? Each time a new one comes out I reread the others first to make sure I remember all the character development. I see something new to love every time.in time for my vacation.
I am looking forward to her new book The Killing Tide coming out sometime this summer.
Can I just say, “I love Dani Pettrey!” Her books are awesome and I feel privileged to have gotten to know her better by being part of her Suspense Squad Street Team.
This entire series is incredible! One of my favorite things about it, is that the characters from the first books are part of the story and not just an afterthought in the epilogue. I loved reconnecting with everybody and finally getting to learn more about the mysterious Luke and where he has been and what he has been doing for the last 7 years.
I really liked how Kate was with Luke after his long absence. She could’ve been super snarky or mean - not my favorite- instead, she was understanding while still guarded. Towards the end of the book when...okay that would be a spoiler...but anyway, I totally felt her pain and Declan’s humorous line was great!
Jenna’s killer storyline literally gave me chills! Especially the hotel room scene, well make that hotel room scenes. Creepy!! The culmination of Jenna’s story brought tears to my eyes. And then Parker actually made me cry! And the end! Wow, I was trying to figure out how to move my eyeballs faster to see what was going to happen next! 5 stars!!!
I have only read this series by Dani. I am looking forward to her first series, Alaskan Courage, which I have heard is great. Oh and I am hoping that maybe Mack will get a book?! 🤞
I received a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts are my own.
I have been waiting for Luke's story pretty much forever! Never fear, Dani Pettrey did not disappoint. This was my favorite in the series. Not only is the action and suspense amplified, the chemistry between Luke and Kate is intense. They had so much back stuff to sort out, but even among that you could not deny their love for each other.
Dani Pettrey is a pro at writing novels that will keep you on your toes, turning the pages as quickly as you can, and giving you such a satisfying end that it causes you to pause and sigh. While I'm sorry to see the series go, I am looking forward to what's coming next!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. I was not required to write a favorable review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This book was a fantastic read. All the characters worked seamlessly together and it brought all the stories to a satisfying conclusion.
Dead Drift is the thrilling conclusion to the Chesapeake Valor series by Dani Pettrey. This novel includes a dual storyline which adds to it's edge of your seat page-turning suspense. It's a race against time for Luke and Kate to stop the threat of biological warfare while Griffin and Finley work to solve Jenna's murder before the killer strikes again! There's non-stop action, just the right amount of romance, and all questions will finally be answered!!
Although it can be read as a stand alone novel, I would definitely recommend reading the others in the series first. This is because one of the things I have come to expect and appreciate from a Dani Pettrey novel are her interwoven characters with complex relationships. If you start with Dead Drift, you'll miss out on some of the characters histories.
I was given a copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
I enjoyed the conclusion to this series. The characters are interesting and I am loved that all were able to find the happily ever after.
Dead Drift is the fourth and final book in Pettrey's Chesapeake Valor series. I've really enjoyed reading these stories and, while I'm sad that the series is over, I loved how this one wrapped everything up wonderfully.
The suspense in Dead Drift was awesome. There were several scenes that had me glued to the pages and I was, at times, fearful of what was going to happen to the characters.
I loved the romance. In case you don't know, I am a huge fan of second chance romance stories...so this one was right up my alley. You could tell right away that Kate still had feelings for Luke but that she was still hurting from his disappearance years ago. I enjoyed seeing them reconnect and the ending was interesting. ;)
All in all, Dead Drift was a fantastic read and my favorite of the series. I definitely recommend it. I am looking forward to reading Pettrey's next book.
*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.*
I have eagerly anticipated this story since the first book in the series. Kate and Luke’s story has been a thread through each of the books, gaining momentum with each successive one, and I was so excited when they finally got their own book. All the questions of why Luke disappeared and what he’s been doing were answered, as well as a loose thread that had been hanging from the first book about Griffin McCray’s sister. So very satisfactory.
This book followed along in the same style I’ve come to expect and enjoy from Dani Pettrey…didn’t want to put it down!
The characters were well done, and Kate is one of my favorites! It’s always great to follow the stories of those from the previous books as well, and see the developing relationships.
The spiritual content was also good. Kate and Luke spoke of their relationship with Jesus Christ throughout, and prayed for guidance. Luke acknowledged that his relationship with the Lord had suffered through the years, but I appreciated that he recognized and repented of his wrong actions.
I only have a couple disclaimers to make. First of all, there’s a scene where two of the characters go to a tattoo parlor and get tattoos for the sake of making a necessary contact. I was disappointed because it was talked about as a very positive thing and something one of them had been wanting for a long time. There was quite a bit of romance, kissing, etc. and throughout the books, the two main characters will often stay in the same house and sometimes the same hotel room, even though they never sleep together. Not a very good testimony, in my opinion. Lastly, there was another almost-torture-scene in this book that had me shuddering! It involved a lady in this case, and though nothing bad was happened, it was certainly hinted at.
Overall, I would still rate this 4 out of 5 stars! An thrilling conclusion to a great series!
*Disclaimer: I received this ebook from Bethany House Publishers via Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
This action packed five-star book is the conclusion to the Chesapeake Valor series. I have to admit I am quite distraught. There are just some books where you become emotionally invested in the characters and you don’t want to say goodbye. This one of those series, but it’s a great conclusion. Whether you’re male or female, Dead Drift will hold your interest. It has mystery, action and just the right amount of romance. Each book has focused on one of four childhood friends and this book is all about Luke and his love interest Kate. Readers will finally learn who killed Griffin’s sister, which has been the mystery throughout the series. And, the action revolves the team’s efforts, especially Luke, Kate, Declan, and Tanner, as they race against time to stop a catastrophic terrorist attack. The only thing that could make this book better is if it weren’t the last book in the series. I’m going to miss this crime fighting group.
Wow... Just wow! This is an amazing ending to a wonderful series! This book drops you right in the middle of all the action and keeps you on the edge of your seat until the very last page. I laughed, I cried and I literally stayed up all night just so I would have to stop reading at a "good part". The characters are works of art and the struggles they go through are absolutely relatable. I highly recommend this book (and the whole series).
Received this book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Griffin and his wife Finley take time off their day jobs to hunt down the person who they think killed Griffin’s sister. They suspect it’s done by a serial killer.
The only bad thing about this book is the fact it’s the last novel in the Chesapeake Valor series. I didn’t realize that when I requested to review it. I was a little lost but that was no fault of the authors. I need to catch up and read book one.
If you are looking for a fast paced, suspenseful story, filled with action and adventure, with parts that were hard to read because of what the evil, enemy does. This is the book for you. Oh, and be sure you read the book one first. Grin!
What a great way to end the series!!! I enjoyed seeing all the characters come together in this last book. Not only did the author focus on the groups relationships with one another, she also used each person's strength and ability to solve the problem. There were a few twists here and there, keeping the reader interested. A fantastic series by Dani! I can't wait until her next series!
This is book four in the Chesapeake Valor series, even though it is a somewhat stand a lone book you will miss a lot of the history and understanding by just jumping in with this one. Plus the entire series is amazing. So start with book one (the entire series just makes for better reading and understanding if read in order). If you are not one to like books that lead into another you may not like this series, (however now that we are in book four you don't have to wait for the next one to come out). But if you love Suspense, Mystery, handsome detective/marshals/PI etc... type books you will love this one. The entire series would make a great four part movie or mini series, just saying.
I fell in love with all the characters in this series from book one and love how they all play such important rolls throughout the series. Dead Drift will focus on the illusive Luke Gallagher, who went missing seven years ago, leaving behind all his friends and the love of his life, Kate Maxwell. Kate has never believed he was dead and has loved him and been mad at him all at the same time.
When Luke must join his long time friends and the women he has never stopped loving, there is excitement, suspense, romance and so much more.
I love the writing style of Dani Pettrey and this novel does not disappoint.
I know whenever I pick up a Dani Pettrey novel that I will not be disappointed. Great story lines, great characters, and carefully researched topics. Each and every book is very well-written and I always feel a connection to the characters, so much so that I eagerly anticipate the next novel to see what my "friends" are up to. "Dead Drift " is full of adventure and excitement, and edge of the seat suspense. Throw in a little romance and you have a recipe for success. Without a doubt this is one author I can count on to give me exactly what I'm looking for.
Dead Drift by Dani Pettrey
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
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Story Notes
Dani Pettrey presents her readers with her final installment of the Chesapeake Valor series – a finale that will require an entire day (and night) once started to see if everyone will be caught and if answers will finally be found.
Dani Pettrey is a favorite author of mine and I’ve loved getting to know her characters in the Chesapeake Valor series. They are real, honest people in various fields of law enforcement who are committed to justice for every case they undertake. This last book in the series will focus more on Luke Gallagher, a CIA agent, who disappeared 7 years ago without a word to his friends or girlfriend, Katie Maxwell. Believing at the time that the case he had been handed would be a short trip with lots of action, Luke jumped right in, never dreaming years would pass before viable leads would bring him back home. He’s back on US soil to stop the terrorist he’s been chasing all those years but he will have to ask for help from his friends if he is going to stop a terrible attack from happening. Katie has spent the last seven years waiting for Luke Gallagher to come home, fully believing he was kidnapped or some similar story. When she finds out he willingly left her behind without a word to go chase a case, her pining quickly turns to anger. Why did he leave? Was she so unimportant to him that he couldn’t even say goodbye? Did he even love her at all? These are the questions racing through Katie’s mind at Luke’s reappearance and she is determined to get the answers. Luke carries the pain of having deeply hurt Katie and her mistrust of him like a heavy burden, but he can’t let himself think of that right now, he has a terrorist to catch. But Luke will soon find out that going at a case alone is not only lonely, but its also extremely dangerous. When he asks his friends for help, they get to work without question, knowing he will explain everything when he is able. With the help of all the agencies his friends belong to, Luke will finally get a chance to remove this terrorist threat forever. Now, if he can only get Katie to trust him with her heart again, everything will be great. Katie isn’t sure that Luke should be trusted again, given his single-minded drive to solve his case. Does he really have room for her in his life or is she just the person he turns to when he has some free time. Katie will have to decide if love is worth taking a chance on again or if she should move on with her life. Alongside this action story is the secondary one that has been developing throughout the first three books – what happened to Griffin’s sister Jenna? Griffin and Finley have been working the case for a long time and have finally found some solid leads – ones that require them to put in some travel time. As they go from place to place, following the clues, they begin to see that this case is so much bigger than just Jenna, its the work of a very sick psychopath. The clues lead them to a recently deceased detective who had been working the case on his free time and his records give them the biggest, albeit confusing, clues they’ve had yet: Leader. Glock. Handcuffed. Message. Wrists. Barn. Agent. As they examine the clues and work out the puzzle, they will find that the person behind all the missing girls is someone they’ve met before, someone who has plenty to lose if they figure out the underlying motive. Solving the case will bring the peace Griffin has been searching for for years and will also give fellow investigator Parker Mitchell the release from guilt he’s carried since Jenna’s death. With the end of the two cases comes the renewal of friendship between the four friends (Griffin, Declan, Parker and Luke) that was broken at the time of Jenna’s death as well as the new lives for all of them with the love and peace that God has brought. I loved the ending of this series as it answered many of the questions that I had throughout the other books. I won’t say it was my favorite of the series (Griffin and Finley’s story is still the best) but it did have plenty of action and drama to make it a good read. The issues of trust that Luke and Katie had to work through seemed a theme throughout the series and it was good to see that Ms. Pettrey kept her answers to their problems the same – trust God first, then reach out to others with that same trust. Forgiveness was another theme that was woven into this series, both forgiveness of others and forgiveness of self. Each of the couples had to encounter and work through these two issues so that they could both come out stronger and be a faith challenger for the other. I don’t know where Ms. Pettery will go next with her excellent writing skills but I will be most curious to see where that will be. Her ability to craft series stories that are separate and yet tightly intertwined make her books ones I have purchased and reread several times. I also appreciate her ability to keep the police/crime work authentic and extensive, while not overwhelmingly technical. I will certainly recommend this book and series to others as I am sure they will enjoy it as much as I did. I look forward to Ms. Pettrey’s next adventures and hope they will be available soon!
I received this E-book free of charge from Bethany House Publishers via NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. I will receive no fiscal compensation from either company for this review and the opinions expressed herein are entirely my own.
What a way to end an amazing and breathtaking, suspenseful series. I have been devoted from the start to reading these book in the series, and truly think that this was the best book out of them all. Kate and Luke are some of the strongest characters independent of each other and yet are these mega epic characters when working together. Each time they were in a scene (which was often) I think my pages start to smoke with how much heat and love was between these two even though they took forever to see it.
We are going out with a blast and epic endings with this book, and I will surely miss the crew but am so happy with how this book ended the series.
This is the last book in the Chesapeake Valor series and is the long-awaited story of Kate Maxwell and Luke Gallagher. Where has Luke been and what has he been doing for years? . . .I am not going to say and spoil it. But, oh, what a story he has to tell and the unbelievable dangerous situation he brings right to the door of the Valor-Team (as I call them), setting things into motion that escalate to a race against time.
I like that there is a duel story-line in this one as well. As much as I wanted to read Luke and Kate’s story, I hoped to read about the case Griffin and Finley are pursuing in this story. That case is one that is very special to Griffin and I wanted him to find a credible lead and a closure of sorts. I am glad it was included in this book. Not saying more as I don’t want to give anything away. What they uncover certainly was a surprise to them as well.
Dead Drift is a fast-paced, gripping story with mystery and dangerous situations. A plot and story-line with twists and turns, unexpected surprises along the way, unraveling twisting threads of secrets, lies and betrayal while on the brink of a biological disaster. . .whew! I will miss the characters in the Chesapeake Valor series. Well done Dani Pettrey!