THE BASICS
Reading the blurb to this book, I was immediately intrigued. It takes place in & off the coast of North Carolina, and involves murder, romance, mystery. And a good bit of the story takes place on an oil rig 20-something miles from the NC shore! That was probably what drew me in to begin with.

This novel follows several POVs (point-of-views) of different characters, many of which are a part of the Coast Guard Investigative Service. My hubby & I have been watching The Mentalist, and how the characters in this book worked to solve the mysteries sent their way reminded me a lot of Agent Lisbon, Patrick Jane, & their team. ;P

I LOVE stories with a military and/or nautical theme to them, and I enjoyed reading a little more about the Coast Guard in this book. I enjoyed the characters & the premise, but I will say the ending felt a little rushed. And there was quite a bit of head-hopping---however, in the books' defense, I was reading an ARC (advanced readers copy), un-proofed copy, so I'm sure all the issues I came upon will be fixed by the time it's released. :]

I really liked Rissi's gentle, yet firm if necessary, personality. She reminded me a lot of how I see myself. Her job on the investigative team was as a professional profiler, but I felt as if we didn't dive deep enough (pun intended) into her skills & abilities. That was a little disappointing as I don't think she was all that necessary or even helpful in the investigation... My thoughts, of course! Other than that, she was an adorable cinnamon roll & I loved her & Mason's sweet relationship.

VIOLENCE
A man is burned alive. A helicopter crashes into the ocean---metal collides with water, cracking windows & allowing in a flood of saltwater. In her efforts to free herself from a seatbelt, a character accidentally cuts her side with the knife she's using to sever the restraints as the cockpit begins sinking. As characters slip through the broken windows of the helicopter, at least one person is scraped by broken glass in their escape. Characters sustain other minor injuries: bruised rib, sore muscles, strained neck, etc. The passengers in said helicopter are rescued a little later; one man is unconscious, another missing, later assumed dead.

A children's home is referred to as a "hellhouse"; it's mentioned that the children were abused, beaten, belt-whipped. A woman bears scars on her back because of her history growing up there...

The animosity between two groups---the workers on the oil rig, Dauntless, and the protestors aboard the ship, Freedom---gets violent.

Characters examine a man's burned body, observing the 3rd-degree burns all over the flayed skin, bits & pieces of the man's orange uniform. Mention of a character's trauma from stepdad's suicide.

A woman is being stalked by unknown man. He vandalizes her home & property, enters her home to terrify her at some point, and leaves a whole slew of black widow spiders in her car...

A diver is pulled from the water dead, assumed killed by a stingray---[SPOILER] later determined to be foul play... Two men go at each other, fist to fist, bloodying noses & more.

SPIRITUAL CONTENT
Someone screams, "dear God!" at one point. A woman prays to Jesus for help. Several characters offer up prayers to God during a variety of circumstances. Many have a strong faith in their Savior.

Sailors & workers alike begin to believe or do believe that the oil rig is cursed due to an old legend.

A man mentions his life changed during basic training when he accepted Christ as his Savior. A couple prays over breakfast. A woman prays for strength.

At one point, Romans 12:19 is referenced.

LANGUAGE // ALCOHOL & DRUGS
A few slang words like, "dang," "bloody"; and at least one use of "hellacious." Other than those, if they even count, it's a clean novel!

A crewman on the oil rig goes topside for a "breath of smoke," seemingly nervous about something & craving the tobacco to "calm" him.

A man drinks at least two bottles from a six-pack. A couple share some wine or other type of alcoholic breakfast. I don't recall any overindulgence at all.

ROMANTIC CONTENT
A woman claims two male agents are sexist in assuming she was also male by her name, "Austin." (That bit just seemed kinda silly to be, though I do understand some people are actually like that. Austin herself was not a bad character.)

Obvious attraction between Mason & Rissi---mostly due to the history they share of growing up together & all the trials they faced in their rough childhoods. They share a few tender kisses... And both of their thoughts reflect said attraction to each other. Caleb believes himself in love with Rissi also, but doesn't feel he has even half a chance with her now that Mason is on board---because of that they have a little talk at one point, and it's implied another woman will eventually intrigue his attentions. No hard feelings there, I think. Caleb & Mason are both good, honorable men.

It comes to light that at least two of the Dauntless workers were womanizers---and went after other guys' girls, sleeping with them & whatnot... Two men fight it out because one had slept with the other's fiancee.

News comes to the investigators that a girl just out of high school was raped by one of the Dauntless workers.

CONCLUSION
All told, this was a pretty easy & quick read. I never truly figured out who the murderer was until it was revealed. The characters investigations took several different paths & I believed the POVs followed them easily. It was nice to be inside the heads of all the different characters---they each seemed to be unique & relatable in their own ways.

As mentioned earlier, by the time I made it to 92% & realized they had yet to find the murderer, I knew it was going to end rather quickly. That was kinda disappointing in how everything was wrapped up so rapidly, but otherwise, I believe the story in its entirety to be a good one, and would recommend to anyone looking for a clean mystery thriller. Also, this novel is the second in a series, but can be read as a standalone!

While I certainly believe this to be a good book, in my humble opinion---to be honest, it wasn't great enough that I might add it to my reread list in the future.

Still, these are my personal opinions only! Please read it for yourself if you desire!!


FOUR out of FIVE stars

I've read and enjoyed every single novel that Dani Pettrey's ever written, but the first title in the Coastal Guardians series hadn't been my favorite. I'd loved the Coast Guard setting, and I really enjoyed every member of the guard that was mentioned. However, I hadn't enjoyed Gabby, the main female character, and that affected my enjoyment of it overall. I'd loved the passages that were told from Rissi's point of view though, so I really couldn't wait to dive into her and Mason's story. The Crushing Depths grabbed my attention right from the opening lines, and I could barely bring myself to put it down once I started it.

Rissi and Mason's love story is a second chance romance. They knew each other as teens in a toxic group home, and hadn't seen each other for ten years until Mason shows up as the new member of Riss's guard. I personally loved their romance, and thought it was beautifully written. It's definitely not the focal point of the story, and instead is interwoven around the never ending suspense. It was kind of refreshing to read a less dramatic romance that simply focused on the rekindling of a friendship from childhood. I especially appreciated the fact that Rissi and Mason both come to realize that they've grown from the teenagers they last knew each other as, and both act respectfully of this fact to each other.

With every Dani Pettrey story, I'm always impressed at how strong the faith content is. The way it's written throughout this one was never preachy or inauthentic, but was always present as an important part of any of the team's missions. The praise and recognition was given to Him who was truly deserving, and they never hesitated to ask for His guidance when walking into dangerous situations. The faith element truly felt like second nature, and I love when Christian authors can write it in this manner.

I enjoy in all of Dani's novels how the team works so effortlessly together. It's never about individual success and achievement, and instead the focus is always on the team working together to figure out what's going on. They truly care about taking care of each other no matter the cost, and no one fails to realize the importance of true teamwork.

The suspense is definitely the true focus of this story, and it never really stops from the moment it starts. The reader is actually treated to two separate mysteries being investigated by the Guard, and that made this particular story even more of a nail biter than it already would have been. The main mystery is connected to an oil rig where catastrophic events keep happening, and Rissi and Mason find themselves dragged into the middle of it. Back near base, Coast Guard medic Brooke has a stalker terrorizing her, and Noah and the rest of the team are determined to figure out who is behind everything.

Coastal Guardians is proving to be another fantastic, suspenseful series by one of the genre's best. I truly adore Dani Pettrey's writing, and I can't wait to see what she has in store for her reader's in the next book. While I don't think it was made blatantly obvious as to who and what the next story is going to be about, hints are definitely given as to who might be the next romantic interests, and I'm going to be anxiously awaiting its release. I also have to quickly mention that I loved the tiny reference to the Mckenna family. If you were a fan of the Alaskan Courage series, definitely be on the lookout for this.

I wholeheartedly recommend this one to anyone who's a fan of Christian suspense novels, and anyone who's been a fan of Dani's previous novels. If you enjoy novels by Colleen Coble, Lisa Harris or Dee Henderson, then Dani Pettrey is definitely another author you're going to want to go ahead and check out.

Final Rating: 4/5.

Thanks so much to Bethany House and NetGalley for the opportunity to advance read this.

I received a complimentary advance reader copy of this novel from the publisher (Bethany House) via NetGalley to voluntarily read and review. I was not required to give a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Coast Guard investigators Rissi and Mason are sent to an oil rig to investigate the death of an employee. As Rissi and Mason work together, their shared history and friendship as foster children resurfaces. In the midst of an ongoing investigation with many unexpected twists and turns, Rissi and Mason's relationship also navigates new territory as they interact as adults and decide whether their former friendship has truly turned into a lifelong love. The book also continues the story line of all of the team characters who were introduced in book 1 of the series. Although this book can stand alone, read in sequence with the first book will provide a deeper understanding of the characters and their history together. This story will keep you guessing until the very end. I'm looking forward to a third book in this series!

Normally, I devour every single book the Dani Pettrey has put out since her Alaskan series. However, this latest book, The Crushing Depths, was rather slow and bland compared to her previous books. The mystery aspect was hard to get into and the conclusion was disappointing. The characters are fun and multifaceted so I hope the next in the series is more riveting.

The Coast Guard Investigative Service team from "The Killing Tide" is back at it. This time Rissi and Mason are assigned to investigate a fatal incident on an oil rig. As things unfold and more information is revealed, the daring duo feel that there is more going on with the case. The question is, how long will it take to get to the truth?

To me, this is a Romantic Suspense with a military/legal twist running through it. Be aware there is mild to moderate violence in this Christian Fiction story.

In some ways, I could see this book series turning into a television series along the lines of NCIS. It has action, tension, romantic touches, and whodunit mysteries to uncover.

From helicopter crashes, break-ins, fires, murder and mayhem, THE CRUSHING DEPTHS keeps the reader turning the pages quickly to the very end. I enjoyed it very much and loved the characters! Mason and Rissi were destined for each other from the time they were in foster care together. They helped heal each others wounds and made a miserable experience more palatable. Now they have found each other after a 10 year separation. On the same team for the CGIS and partners on an investigation of a death on an oil rig. With suspects spanning the rig, an environmental group and on land I found myself bouncing from one person to the next in an attempt to figure out "who done it." I also loved the side story of their team leader Noah protecting a, I hope, soon-to-be love interest. The second book in the Coastal Guardians series was everything I expected and more...so much more!

The Crushing Depths is the second book in the Coastal Guardians series but can be read as a stand alone book. This book has lots of twists and turns and it is not easy to guess who did it. The couple have a shared history as they grew up in the same children's home as kids and this closeness has stayed with them their whole lives. This is a religious mystery and their faith in God is steady. I really enjoyed reading this book

The Crushing Depths is book #2 in the Coastal Guardian series. This series is a Cristian fiction/ Mystery series. It is SO good! I first picked up the Killing Tide (book #1) and originally didn’t know what I thought about it. It took me 3 tried to get that I wanted to read it. NOT because it was a slow start or that it was a bad book. I just wasn’t used to the style of book.

The Coastal Guardian series is just that. It focuses on the US Coast guard in Raleigh, North Carolina solving murder mysteries. The First book follows the life of Finn Walker & Gabby Rowley. The Second book (this one) focuses on another crew member (Rissi Dawson & Mason Rogers.

Meet Rissi & Mason, both were raised in the same orphanage and had a rougher childhood. They seemed to depend on each other quite a bit. Now, that they are partners their relationship feelings ignite again.

Rissi & Newcomer Mason are assigned to investigate the murder of a man on an oil rig. With urban legends of a curse and a growing feud between environmentalists and the rig crew. Who is to blame for this murder?

This story is clean, has the right amount of romance, a little love triangle, the right amount of mystery and the twists are good. Dani Pettry knows how to focus on the main point of the novel with delivering just enough extra to take the novel to the next level.

Thank You to netgalley for providing me with the ARC.

'She wouldn't let fear stop her.'

I've been reading Dani Pettrey a long time and she definitely knows how to write suspense. This is her second in her Coastal Guardians series and it is just fascinating! I love the dynamics of the CGIS team and those very dynamics have me eager to read more about each team member in the future. This one mainly features Mason and Rissi and I just loved the preciousness of Mason's love for Rissi.

Danger and suspense are Pettrey's trademark and she does both so well, regularly adding more layers into the mix, leaving her readers' attention captured at the beginning and held tight until the end. Very, very suspenseful and captivating. Well done!

*My thanks to Bethany House Publishers for a copy of this book via Net Galley. The opinions stated in this review are entirely my own.

This book is full of twists and turns and the ending isn't easily guessed! This is something that I really enjoyed about the book and it compelled me to read it quickly. It is a clean read. It was nice that the main characters were upfront about things which made this the exception to a typical romance - I felt that this was very refreshing!

This is the second in the Coastal Guardians series. That said, it can be read as a standalone. I can see Dani Pettrey setting up the next books in the series so I'm looking forward to seeing the next story!

Would I recommend it? Yes, definitely worth a read if you enjoy authors like Irene Hannon or Lynette Eason.

This was a really good suspenseful read, great characters, great plot and a good bit of romance. I’ve not read anything from this author before, but will definitely check out the first book in this series

The Crushing Depths is the second book in the Coastal Guardian series. This series follows a team of Coast Guard Investigators as they seek justice. Action, tension, mystery and romance create a compelling story.

A death on an oil rig seems like an unfortunate accident, but Coast Guard are called to investigate the details of what happened. Investigators Rissi and Mason are flown to the rig, but their helicopter crashes on its way. Both investigators are fortunate to survive and even more determined to find out what is going on. Their investigation leads them to consider the rising tension between the rig crew and a group of environmental protestors and rumours of a curse that has the men on edge.

Book two in this Coastal Guardians series follows Rissi Dawson and Mason Rogers. Rissi and Mason were childhood friends. They both resided in a children’s home, following the breakdown of their own families. They both suffered horrific trauma and abuse in that children’s home. They were each the other’s support system. They were separated and only found each other recently. Working together gives them a chance to reconnect, but it is quickly clear to both of them that their past ties them together and their feelings run far deeper than friendship. Alongside their deepening feelings, both Mason and Rissi must face the hurts of their past. Flashbacks give the reader some insight into the trauma they faced. It gives a solid background to their romance and justifies why their feelings deepen so quickly.

Readers of book one will recognise the tight CGIS team that form the background of this series. While each book can be read as a complete and separate story, the backstory and romantic relationships of the characters overlap. While Rissi and Mason are the main characters, their team all partake in the investigation and some chapters are written from the perspective of other characters. Noah, leader of the group, features, and his growing feelings and protection of a Coast Guard Medic seems set to feature in the next book. All these story threads gives the book a family feel and I loved the teasing between the team and the support they give each other.

The mystery and investigation is exciting. From the initial explosion to the helicopter crash, the beginning is as exciting as the conclusion.

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

The Crushing Depths
by Dani Pettrey
Bethany House
You Like Them You Are Auto-Approved
Bethany House Publishers
Romance
Pub Date 30 Jun 2020 | Archive Date 28 Aug 2020

Great, col.orful characters and a wonderful suspenseful storyline. I really liked this book and look forward to more in the series.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bethany House for the ARC.

5 star

“The breeze whipping off the ocean swirled sea air around them. He loved the smell of the sea. It was the same no matter where he went. One of God’s great constants.”

The Crushing Depths, the second installment in Dani Pettrey’s Coastal Guardians series, is an action-packed romantic suspense novel that will keep readers guessing until the very end. Dani Pettrey consistently writes fabulous faith-filled romantic suspense novels filled with wonderful characters, surprising plot twists, and a perfect amount of romance.

Readers will be reunited with their favorite Coast Guard Investigative Service team members in this novel, and with the addition of CGIS agent Mason Rogers, the team is now complete. Childhood friends Rissi Dawson and Mason Rogers haven’t seen each other in 10 years until Mason joins the CGIS team. Chemistry and attraction from their youth carry over to present day as Mason and Rissi work together to solve a mysterious death on an oil rig. Personally, I love a lot of romance in my suspense and Dani Pettrey delivers perfectly. The scenes between Mason and Rissi are some of my favorites in the novel and their history together as children makes their relationship bonds even stronger.

There are many new minor characters introduced throughout the novel who play a role in the investigations, so readers will need to keep those characters straight as the number of suspects increases.

The Crushing Depths is highly recommended for readers of romantic suspense, especially those who enjoy books by authors such as Lynette Eason, Lynn H. Blackburn, and Irene Hannon. Readers will be eagerly anticipating the third book in the series 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.

“He’d dreamt of this moment more times than he could count and now that it was here, he didn’t want to rush a thing. After a decade, he was finally kissing the woman he loved.”

The Crushing Depths is book number two in Dani Pettrey's Coastal Guardians series. While the lead up to this story is introduced in book one, and you'll get to know the team a little bit better reading it first, I do believe this could be enjoyed as a standalone as well.

To be honest, I was iffy on the first book in this series. Though I'd looked forward to reading it since its release, it just fell a bit short for me. Still, I felt that more than anything it truly was the lead character that I didn't seem to connect with. I had appreciated the brief portions in that book that gave Rissi's perspective, so I wanted to give the series another shot with this book--- which did focus mostly on Rissi and Mason. The verdict? It was definitely worth the second chance. I could not put this one down.

The romance between Rissi and Mason was sweet. They had known each other as teenagers and lost touch. At the end of book one, we leave off as the two are being reunited after all those years. In The Crushing Depths, it picks right up where that one left off. While they were strictly friends when they were younger, there were always deeper feelings there. Coming back together, they find that time has done nothing to dull those feelings. I love a good second chance romance, and this one was truly fantastic. I found myself wanting to read even more of their backstory.

Still, as much as I enjoyed the romance, the suspense is definitely the highlight of this book. From the start, there was back to back action and mayhem. It kept me guessing not only what would happen next, but also how it all tied together. There were many viable suspects given throughout the story, which certainly kept you guessing as well. While it seems as though it can be assumed who the ultimate bad guy in the story is fairly early on, there were definitely some unexpected twists thrown in there that kept things interesting.

At the end, I did feel like I had a few questions left unanswered, however I also feel like throughout this story, we were also set up for things to come in future books, so perhaps those will be answered there. Overall, this was a great read and I am so glad that I gave the series another chance. It is definitely one that fans of Christian romantic suspense will want to check out, and I for one cannot wait to see what comes next.

**I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. All thoughts are 100% my own.

I absolutely enjoyed The Crushing Depths! I love a series that offers good team dynamics and the Coast Guard Investigative Service team definitely delivers that close knit, family of feel. The main characters had a shared history which drew them together and it was like a happy sigh whenever they shared feelings and moments together. The investigation was intriguing and I really didn’t know exactly which way it was going to end up until the conclusion. There was a bit of a side story with Noah and Brooke and that story was intense and suspenseful until it wrapped up. All I’m going to say is nothing scares me quite like a stalker! Oh my! This was a great suspense novel and I am anxiously anticipating the rest of this series!

THE CRUSHING DEPTHS is the second book in the Coastal Guardians series by DANI PETTREY, but it can easily be read as a stand alone. The author has once again given us a great romantic thriller and a most enjoyable read.
When Mason Rogers and Rissi Dawson, agents in the North Carolina Coast Guard Investigative Services, are sent to investigate a suspicious death on the Dauntless offshore oil platform, it is once again them against the world, as it was in the children's home in which they used to live. They have an unbreakable bond which is still evident after ten years, and we wonder if it is going to lead to something more.
I like the way the camaraderie amongst the CGIS team and the faith in God shown by some of them, contrasts with the wickedness of those who will do anything to get what they want. The plot is well worked out and fast paced with murder, stalking, a helicopter crash, a huge storm and sea rescues. to keep you on the end of your chair. It is also interesting to see what life is like on an oil rig.
I highly recommend The Crushing Depths to anyone who enjoys this genre. You will not be disappointed!
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Bethany House Publishers. the opinions in this review are completely my own.