THE CRUSHING DEPTHS by Dani Pettrey, Reviewed by Nicole Cook

“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.”
Using the Inkwell Inspirations ranking system, I categorize The Crushing Depths as a 2.5 (having a moderate faith message), which is perfect for readers who enjoy romantic suspense with a moderate amount of spiritual content integrated into the storyline.

Back Cover Blurb:
They know the power and peril of the ocean.
But as they get closer to the deadly truth . . .
An even greater danger lurks just beneath the surface.

When an accident claims the life of an oil-rig worker, Coast Guard Investigators Rissi Dawson and Mason Rogers are flown to the scene thirty-eight miles from shore. Tensions aboard the rig are high, and the death has everyone on edge. Environmental activists are threatening to do whatever it takes to stop the "plague on the environment" from continuing its work. Meanwhile, rumors are circulating on board about an ancient curse lurking in the depths below.

Mounting evidence shows the death might not have been an accident. Was the man killed by one of the activists or, more frighteningly, a member of his own crew? Rissi and Mason have to sort through not only numerous suspects, but also their own haunted pasts and their attraction to each other.

Just as the case seems about to break open, worse news arrives: a tropical storm has turned their way. Now they're cut off from any rescue--right where the killer wants them.

Bethany House June 30, 2020

Available in digital ebook, paperback and hardcover:
Buy The Crushing Depths at Amazon
Buy The Crushing Depths at Christianbook.com


 
Author Bio:
Praised by New York Times bestselling author Dee Henderson as "a name to look for in romantic suspense," Dani Pettrey has sold more than half a million copies of her novels to readers eagerly awaiting the next release. Dani combines the page-turning adrenaline of a thriller with the chemistry and happy-ever-after of a romance. Her novels stand out for their "wicked pace, snappy dialogue, and likable characters" (Publishers Weekly), "gripping storyline[s]" (RT Book Reviews), and "sizzling undercurrent of romance" (USA Today).

Her Alaskan Courage series and Chesapeake Valor series have received praise from readers and critics alike and spent multiple months topping the CBA bestseller lists. Dani has also been honored with multiple awards, including the Daphne du Maurier Award, two HOLT Medallions, two National Readers' Choice Awards, the Gail Wilson Award of Excellence, and Christian Retailing's Best Award.

Dani considers herself blessed to be able to write the kind of stories she loves--full of plot twists, peril, love, and a longing for hope and redemption. Her greatest joy as an author is sharing the stories God lays on her heart. She researches murder and mayhem from her home in Maryland, where she lives with her husband. Their two daughters, a son-in-law, and two adorable grandsons also reside in Maryland. For more information about her novels, visit www.danipettrey.com.