Monday, February 11, 2013

Dani Pettrey's Shattered ~ Reviewed

By Dani Pettrey
Published by Bethany House
ISBN#978-0-7642-0983-3
364 Pages

Back Cover: When her prodigal brother Reef's return to Yancey, Alaska, is shattered by his arrest for murder, Piper McKenna is determined to protect him. 
Deputy Landon Grainger loves the McKennas like family, but he's also sworn to find the truth. And he knows those closest to you have the power to deceive you the most. With his sheriff pushing for a quick conviction, some unexpected leads complicate the investigation, and pursuing the truth puts Landon's career in jeopardy.
When Piper launches her own investigation, Landon realizes he must protect her from herself--and whatever complications await as the two follow clues deep into Canada's rugged backcountry. Not only does their long friendship seem to be turning into something more, but this dangerous case is becoming deadlier with each step.

Review:



Dani's book Shattered has all the elements I look for in a good novel; mystery, romance, drama and characters I can root for. This Alaskan Adventure starts out with a murder. The McKenna family welcomes their brother Reef back into the fold. I'm thankful for the review copy of a book that had me yelling at Piper to get out of where she was before she got hurt and excited every time Landon Grainger uncovered a clue that got him closer to the killer. One of Landon's "hard fast rules is people lie; evidence doesn't that was precisely how he had to work this case-by the evidence." Not his emotions, they always make a mess of things.
Piper on the other hand was fueled by emotion. She had a hard fast rule too, she didn't care about all the evidence they had against her brother, Reef. He was innocent in her book. She'd do whatever it took to prove it and she meant anything.

Piper is feisty, and determined to do detective work on her own not giving thought to the danger she faced. Piper is willing to risk anything to get information that would prove Reef's innocence. Landon loved that about her, it also was the very thing that drove him crazy. She was loyal, stubborn and jumped into things before she checked them out. Landon feared he would be unable to protect Piper, the woman he loved.

Landon and Piper chase down clues, leaving no rock unturned in hopes of finding evidence that would set Reef free. Landon watches as the McKenna family put their faith in action; it's a mystery to him. I liked how this author naturally weaves a spiritual thread into this suspenseful drama.

Piper explains to Landon about faith, "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see."

Landon's struggles internally with this faith walk, and thinks, "Could God really fill the hole eating away inside of him? Could He give him the strength he needed? He wondered; just like on the job, he needed evidence. Blind faith wasn't an option."

This book could be read as a stand-alone but I highly recommend reading Submerged where the reader first meets the McKenna family up-close and personal. Shattered is one adventure you won't want to miss!

Reviewed by: Nora St.Laurent
TBCN Where Book Fun Begins 

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