Cold Shot (Take two)

GIVEAWAY

PETTREY, DANI
COLD SHOT

Four best friends and then one went missing...

In college, Griffin McCray and his three best friends had their lives planned out. Griffin and Luke Gallagher would join the Baltimore Police Department, Declan Grey would head to the FBI, and Parker Mitchell would study to become a crime scene analyst. But then Luke vanished before graduation and their world -- and friendship -- crumbled.

Now years later, Griffin has left the police and his friendships behind. Still trying to forget a case that went bad when he was a SWAT team sniper, he's living a quiet life as a park ranger at Gettysburg. Quiet until skeletal remains are uncovered near Little Round Top -- and they aren't Civil War-era.

Griffin just wants the case to go away, but charming forensic anthropologist Finley Scott discovers evidence pointing to the work of an expert sniper. When FBI agent Declan Grey steps in to take over the case, past and present collide. Griffin soon realizes he'll need to confront some of the darkest days of his life if he -- and those he cares about -- are going to escape a downward spiral of crime, danger, and murder.

My Review:

published in 2016
My thanks to my public library for providing me with an audio version of this book read by a marvelous narrator - Therese Plummer. I'm about to read the last book in this series and when I saw that the library had this recorded version of the first Chesapeake Valor series I thought it would be a great way to reacquaint myself with the gang. Stellar recording! Therese Plummer has a real talent for telling a story and portraying different characters in such a way that it's easy to tell who is who just by the slightest inflection. And her voice gets all fast and tense at the suspensey bits and the way she portrays Griffin...blissfully toe-curling! So if you don't have your own copy of Cold Shot or -- gasp! -- you haven't read it yet, here's your chance.

Exceptional start to a new series. I have to admit to being gutted after I read the last book in the Alaskan Courage series. I didn't want to leave the McKennas and I was mildy put out at the author for not making that clan bigger so there could be more books. :-) However, Dani Pettrey has redeemed herself with this magnificent start to a promising new series and a new host of swoonworthy heroes.

The stars of the Chesapeake Valor series aren't from the same family, but they are a brotherhood...of sorts. Fractured relationships are the result of past tragedies but they are beginning to move towards restoration. In Cold Shot they are united by a common goal -- solving a complicated cold case.

Pettrey provides delectable hints of background that she slowly reveals throughout the read. There's still plenty to learn about these intriguing men though, which has me rabidly anticipating the release of the next book.

So for now we'll concentrate on Griffin -- a taciturn and gruff park ranger who is carrying around a world of hurt and bitterness. He doesn't make a good first impression on Finley...or a good second, third or fourth one either. It is sheer delight to be privy to their inner thoughts as they size each other up. Finley's unsettled by her attraction to Ranger Grumpy until she burrows beneath the gruff exterior and catches glimpses of the real man. Be still my heart -- I was swooning way before she started (mind you I had the advantage of 'hearing' his musings about her.)

A delectable romance with loads of promise ensues. Pettrey develops it slowly, teasing her readers with just a glimpse of what is in store. Finley and Griffin learn to work together, respecting each others' strengths and weaknesses before gradually unbending enough to engage in some heart-to-heart talks that lead to a deeper relationship. Unexpected humour and compelling faith conversations make their love story even more thrilling.

As to the suspense -- intense, complicated -- the kind that keeps your heart racing and breath puffing out in shallow gasps from time to time. "Duck!" and "No!" became a kind of reading chant as I raced along plenty of hair-pin plot turns. Phew! Still catching my breath.

And I can't forgot to mention the road trip loving Irish wolfhound. Yes, I said Irish wolfhound. I might have swooned more over the dog than the hero. :-)

A definite 'must read' if you enjoy romantic suspense. Dani Pettrey fans will be ecstatic and she's sure to garner new ones with this enthralling story.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:


If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of  Cold Shot please leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you post a comment and add your email address, please use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in the address to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email please remember to put the title in the subject line so that it's easy for me to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday October 21 2018.  Offer open to international readers. Good luck!