Submerged: An Adventurous Second Chance Romance Action Suspense Thriller (Alaskan Courage) - Perfect for Beach Reading & Romantic Getaways

My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars.Disclaimers: I received the sequel Shattered from Netgalley and loved it so much that I went back and bought this one. I absolutely loved this one and can't wait to reread Shattered and read more from this author.An Overview of the Novel: Cole McKenna is often called in to help the police recover evidence on deep-sea dives, but the most recent dive has left him reeling. Two people were killed and they suspect murder was at play. One of the victims was alive when he rescued her, but dead by the time she got to the hospital. Even worse, that victim was Bailey's aunt. Bailey, the girl Cole had loved and the girl who had left breaking his heart in the process.The last thing Bailey wants to do is return to Yancey. Her reputation in that town precedes her. It doesn't matter that she's changed and left that part of her in the past. The people of Yancey won't be able to see past that. And then there's Cole. She's not entirely sure she's ready to face him again.But as Cole and Bailey work together to solve Bailey's aunt's murder will they be able to rekindle their old attractions for each other or will the murderer get to them first?My Overall Thoughts/Impressions: I loved Shattered and so to say I had high expectations for Submerged is a vast understatement. I was expecting this novel to blow me away and it did.It took me about ten pages before I was absolutely hooked. Dani Pettrey is the queen of suspense and in my mind ranks right up there with Irene Hannon and Dee Henderson and that is saying something because those two women are fantastic writers.Dani set up the suspense in such a magnificent way. Her characterization was brilliant, the plot was gripping, and the writing was masterful. I still think my favorite character was Piper, who stars in the sequel, but I really enjoyed Cole and Bailey.I loved learning more about their past and about what had led them to where they were today. Dani did an excellent job at not info dumping, but rather slowly revealed piece upon piece until readers had pieced together her plot and her characters.Pettrey is an author that I will be keeping close tabs on. I can't wait to read more from her.So Why 5 out of 5 stars? I was going to give this a 4.5 but balked at the idea because there was nothing about this book that deserved less than a 5 star rating. The characterization was great, the plot and suspense were masterfully built, the writing was brilliant, and the overall story was incredible. In short, everything made this a 5 star book.In Summary: Dani Pettrey is a master at blending elements of romance, faith, and suspense together. Nothing ever felt forced. Pettrey's attention to detail made for a gripping plot and compelling characters. She just made me a life-long fan.The Wrap-up: I love this author and both of her books have been magnificent. She's easily claimed a spot as one of my favorite authors. If you love romantic suspense, then pick up Submerged and Shattered today. Just trust me on this one.Love,Danica Page