The Deadly Shallows - (Coastal Guardians) by Dani Pettrey (Paperback)

It was fun and interesting to read a book set in the area I was born and raised in - Wilmington, North Carolina. It's a historic Atlantic coast city sandwiched between the Cape Fear River and the Atlantic Ocean. There is a lot of water in the area. Historically, the city is pre-American Revolution and played a key role in the Civil War. During World War II it was riddled with military importance. I say this to give an idea why this story about the Coast Guard contingency in the Wilmington/Coastal area is credible in possibility. The story begins explosively with an attack at a graduation ceremony that leave multiple deaths - both civilian and military. The characters leap into action investigating and piecing together the bits of information that soon leads to the conclusion that this is more than a deranged individual out to reap deadly horror. Packed with more than one story line that seem to be separate but in the end the maze leads to centrality. The team of investigators work individually and with cohesive teamwork to determine the who and why and where this deadly criminal activity is headed. The book is a good, clean read with strong moral compass guiding the individuals. There are strong romantic vibes throughout the book with sweet conclusions. I found the story intriguing and fun to envision locales familiar to me. DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy to facilitate a review. Opinions are mine, alone and are freely given.

CGIS Agent Noah Rowley is investigating the shooting that took place at the graduation at the Coast Guard Base. Although he moved right in to stop the massacre, many were killed, and Noah was injured. While trying to find the ones behind it, he keeps running into dead ends. Additionally, Brooke, a Coast Guard medic who was at the graduation, and helped the injured, has been kidnapped. Why did they take her? Because of a strange turn of events involving Austin's dog and her neighborhood children, Austin finds herself pulled into an investigation with Agent Caleb Eason. Has chemical dumping been going on, if so, can it be stopped? This thriller is full of non-stop action, along with the mystery of who the bad guys are. Danger and murder lurk around every corner, and when something is discovered, another problem pops up. All the while, the body count continues to climb. In the midst of all this, a relationship develops between Noah and Brooke, as well as, between Austin and Caleb. Each of the couples have secrets that need to be shared for their relationships to progress, but can they? Although this story stands alone, it is part of the Coastal Guardian series. Friends from the other books pop up in this one, along with the importance or destruction a family can cause its members. The tale is told from a Christian perspective, but non-believers are also part of it. This five-star book will appeal to fans of action, intrigue, and mystery. Bethany House Publishing has provided Tickmenot with a complimentary copy of, The Deadly Shallows, for the purpose of review.

CGIS Agent and team leader Noah Rowley is tasked with figuring out who and why is behind the mass shooting on the Coast Guard base. When Coast Guard flight Medic Brooke Kesler finds herself in the enemy's crosshairs she is befuddled. She was simply doing her job and stepping in where needed, taking the only surviving gunman for desperately needed medical attention, who knew his desperate whisper would put a target on her back? Noah teams up with Brooke to try to figure out what they're missing. His investigative team jumps in to assist in each of their areas of expertise. They work tirelessly even as they're continually called on to review more and more evidence and follow more and more clues. Book 3 of the Coastal Guardians series, The Deadly Shallows, is my favorite of the series so far. I enjoyed how Pettrey navigated this story while simultaneously pulling in another one. I like how the team interacts and their continual dependence on God to help them navigate the day to day. I like these characters. Their personalities, insecurites, and determination to get to the bottom of whatever is going on is always intriguing. It takes a very talented author to pull off so many idiosyncrasies without dropping the ball on anyone. Pettrey does an excellent job, again! I'm anxious for Logan and Emy's story ... I'm sure it will prove to be dynamic! There were a few things that didn't follow but all in all they get lost in the big picture of the drama and mystery so they weren't too important. Thank you NetGalley and Bethany House for the opportunity to review this saga. All opinions are my own.

The Deadly Shallows by Dani Pettrey is the third book in her Coastal Guardians series. Coast Guard flight medic Brooke Kesler transports the only surviving gunman from the mass shooting at the Coast Guard base. What he whispers to her puts her life in jeopardy. CGIS Agent Noah Rowley will do his best to protect Brooke, but is his best enough? This was a very fast-paced, action-packed thrill ride. You never knew where the bad guys were going to show up next. It kept you guessing and turning the pages. I received this book from the publisher for my honest review.

3.5 stars "Cold water rose from below. Deeper water. She dove, bullets straying farther from her. . . . Her breath nearly burning in her lungs, she swam as fast as she could towards shore." There was death in those shallows, and Coast Guard flight medic Brooke Kesler knew exactly what was riding on reaching solid ground, and then . . . . she would have very little time to figure out the "what next"; her body had been brutally abused, plus, she had seen one of their faces. Under extreme duress, when she thought her life might end then and there, the name that whispered from her lips had been . . . . Noah. . . . . . . would they ever have a conversation about "what next". CGIS Special Agent Noah Rowley had a lot on his plate; a mass shooting, a toxic waste dump, a highly classified weapons theft . . . . and Brooke. The fact that she had been through such a traumatic experience broke his heart, making Noah more determined than ever to stand by her side; forever, if she would let him. Unfortunately, Brooke didn't have all the facts about Noah's past, totally his fault. Would knowing more keep their relationship in the "good friends" category? He sincerely hoped not, but time would tell. What I enjoyed most about this book were the relationships, they were woven deeply and securely into everything that happened, definitely softening the jagged edges of a plot line that included more body bags than I could count. It's always nice when a series closes on a very high note!

Action packed from the start....a Coast Guard graduation turns deadly when armed men come in shooting. It's up to CGIS Agent Noah Rowley and his team to find out who is behind the shooting and why. Coast Guard medic Brooke Kesler is taken captive adding to the suspense. The story takes lots of twists and turns as you discover the true reason behind the shooting. There is a second story line involving Caleb and Austin when her dog suddenly becomes ill and hazardous waste is discovered in the sound out her back door. Dani does a wonderful job of bringing all of the characters to life and having them involved in figuring out what is happening. I can't wait for Caleb and Emmy's story in the next book. This one was action packed, suspenseful, romantic, humorous, and inspirational.

Award-winning author, Dani Pettrey, is known for her fast-paced romantic suspense books. The Deadly Shallows (Coastal Guardians Book #3) exemplifies this as it is riveting from the first scene to the last! Be prepared to block off time to read because you will want to immerse yourself in this story. Pettrey brings back characters that readers know and have grown to love from previous books in the series. These characters are members of the Coast Guard Investigative Service (CGIS) and are realistic, and relatable, and readers have grown to appreciate them, flaws and all. Pettrey has allowed the characters to struggle in their personal lives and has she shown how they overcome adversity. She displays their growth when a mass shooting occurs on the Coast Guard base and they immediately rally into action each using their unique gift set to meet the needs around them. What I liked most about this book is that Pettrey shows the importance of teamwork, loyalty, and the trust they feel towards each other. When Coast Guard flight medic Brooke Kesler finds herself treating one of the attackers, he whispers one word to her that puts her life in imminent danger. It will be up to the team to keep her safe while also solving the crime. Pettrey’s strategic use of romance helps cement her characters and her plot together. The suspense element makes all Pettrey stories feel intensely real as if readers are experiencing the action instead of merely reading about it. The Deadly Shallows will not disappoint as it is riveting from the first scene to the last! I was provided a complimentary copy of this book by Bethany House Publishers & NetGalley. The opinions expressed here are completely my own and without influence.

It was difficult to decide which drove this story, the romance or the suspense. There was a lot of both. In this book two new couples are formed as they each collaborate on their own case. I am a big fan of Dani Pettrey, but I must say that this is not in my top three favorites of her books, although I enjoyed it enough to feel comfortable recommending it to others. It's just a personal preference for me to have the scales tip a bit more to the suspense storyline than to the romance one. I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy of The Deadly Shallows from Bethany House without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own.

I struggle with reviews because I don’t want to give anything away, but want you to know how much I LOVED this book! The series is phenomenal, and Dani has outdone herself again with this third book in the series! She is one of a handful of authors that I would buy their book just because it has her name on it. No reviews. No synopsis. The Deadly Shallows is chalk full of suspense, excitement, romance, and a whodunit that will have you staying up way too late! I could not turn the pages fast enough to get to the end! Do yourself a favor and read this series! I was given a copy of this book by the publisher for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Although I generally like to savor the Christian romantic suspense that I read, I just couldn’t do it with this book. The pace was so fast and the action was so intriguing that it was impossible to put down. Beginning with a mass shooting, the heart-pounding action just kept up the rapid race through all of the events leading up to the deaths and all that the USCGIS agents were doing to find the perpetrators who had executed such horror at such a celebratory event. Brooke was called on to exhibit her skills as a medic time and time again and Noah Rowley, the team leader, has to use all of his expertise and a lot of prayer to trace the clues. The story is twisted and engaging as Noah’s team is led on a not-so-merry chase to find the group of men responsible for the devastation, only to discover that their planned mayhem is not over. The love stories in between the mystery and suspense were equally mesmerizing, with Noah and Brooke’s unlikely attraction as well as Caleb and Austin’s playful one. The scenes with the couples were like a break from the intensity of the main story and a much needed distraction from the seriousness of the crimes that were being investigated. All of the characters were well-developed, even the villains who were just as despicable as one would expect. The entire book was a race to the finish for me and I loved each minute I spent with the Coastal Guardians as they struggled to make sense of the violence and chaos before it became worse. Fans of romantic suspense will love this book, especially the intensity and the research that went into such a brilliantly written story! Disclaimer Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guidelines Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”