Still Life

Author: Dani Pettrey

Series: Chesapeake Valor #2

Publisher: Bethany House

Release Date: January 31, 2017

Rating: 4 Stars

Reviewer: Jessica Higgins

When Avery Tate makes her way back into the art world that rejected her to support a friend, she never imagined she would end up investigating her possible death!

When the photography world turned its back on Avery Tate, she put her talents to use as a crime scene photographer. She started working with analyst Parker Mitchell and it wasn’t long before she developed feelings for him as more than just working partners.  She knew she couldn’t work with him feeling the way she did, so she quit working with him, but it wasn’t enough to shut of her growing feelings.  Now, for the first time since being rejected, Avery is going back to the art world for a gallery opening to support a friend that is being featured in one of the photos.  However, when she arrives her, friend is nowhere in sight except for a picture that shows her deceased.  The photographer says that is not the picture he took.  Avery knows she is in over her head and calls Parker to help. Together they search for the truth of what happened to her friend and who might be to blame.

Dani Pettrey is becoming a top name in the Christian Romantic Suspense world and for good reason. Her Alaskan Valor series was top notch.  Now with the second book in her Chesapeake Valor series she is continuing that trend.  I really liked the concept of this book.  And while it was a really good read I can’t say that it was my favorite.  I had several issues.  Even though there weren’t a massive amount of characters, I found myself having a hard time following who was who at different times.  Between Avery and Parker as well as Declan and Tanner there seemed to be too much going on.  I wish the focus would have been on one of the couples and their growing romance instead of trying to go back and forth between them both.  Avery and Parker were the main focus and they came together pretty good.  The tension really heated up about three quarters of the way through.  At this point there, was a spot I thought it was about to take off into warp speed, instead it totally fizzled out.  I don’t want to give too much away about the story but I was really disappointed it didn’t go in the direction I was hoping.  Other readers might not have a problem with this but for me it wasn’t as good as it could have been.  Overall it was still an enjoyable read and romantic suspense lovers will want to add this to their list.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.