The Book: 40 Days 40 Nights

The Author: Wendy Cartmell

The Story: Enter the mind of a terrorist, causing chaos on Aldershot Garrison. He wears a mask of respectability that hides his hatred of the British Army and all things western.

Live through 40 days and 40 nights of turmoil as Sgt Major Crane deals with the engineered accidents, thefts and murders. Will he be able to keep Team GB safe?

Or will the terrorist win?

Review by Billb: This is the second Crane novel that I have read. Again it is a fast moving topical story set in a well-known background, and could actually have happened if the original British Olympic Committee plan to use Aldershot had been accepted. It is a story, which examines the social context of the characters as well as the plot.

The private lives, the stress and strains of modern living, and the social problems of immigrants, are all well documented and woven in to the plot, which is very topical in this day and age.

The story line is easy to read as the plot unfolds, but still leaving the reader eager for more. The end was not easily defined until the very end and therefore held the readers attention until the final page of the book.

Well done to Wendy with her second book. I look forward to reading the next in the series.

A Review by Jan-Jan: Excellent sequel to Steps to Heaven, another Sgt. Major Crane novel. The key characters are believable and robust. The plot and the writing are tight, so no time is wasted on unnecessary description, dialogue or navel-gazing – rather like Crane himself.

The set-up and execution of the story is well handled, and research has clearly been done but is not pushed at the reader.

If you like English crime novels – try this.

A Review by Dixie: 40 Days 40 Nights is a fast paced novel giving an insight into the mind of a terrorist. Crane is tenacious in his investigations & its good to have his private thoughts as it makes him more endearing. The unfolding story in this book keeps you on the edge of your seat!

A well-written second novel from the author, and I can’t wait to see what else happens to Crane in the next of the series.

The Book: Submerged

The Author: Dani Pettrey

The Story: A sabotaged plane. Two dead deep-water divers.

Yancey, Alaska was a quiet town…until the truth of what was hidden in the depths off the coast began to appear.

Bailey Craig vowed never to set foot in Yancey again. She has a past, and a reputation–and Yancey’s a small town. She’s returned to bury a loved one killed in the plane crash and is determined not to stay even an hour more than necessary. But then dark evidence emerges and Bailey’s own expertise becomes invaluable for the case.

Cole McKenna can handle the deep-sea dives and helping the police recover evidence. He can even handle the fact that a murderer has settled in his town and doesn’t appear to be moving on. But dealing with the reality of Bailey’s reappearance is a tougher challenge. She broke his heart, but she is not the same girl who left Yancey. He let her down, but he’s not the same guy she left behind. Can they move beyond the hurts of their pasts and find a future together?

A Review by Katie McCurdy: Whoa! What an adventure! I had a feeling that Dani Pettrey would write a romantic suspense that sucked me in from page one and wouldn’t let me go till the very end. And that’s exactly what happened! While the suspense and tension wasn’t very high in the first half of the book, things DO happen that keeps the reader going…and then I hit that halfway mark and it just took off!

There is quiet a large cast of characters in Submerged. Not only does the reader really get to know Bailey and Cole, but also his other siblings and best friend, Landon. And not just briefly, either–by the end of the novel I had come to care for Piper, Kayden, Gage, and Landon just as much as I did Bailey and Cole. Pettrey did an amazing job weaving so many characters into the plot and still making each person and their struggles unique and memorable. Makes me look forward to the next book even more!

And the writing! Wow, was I impressed. So vivid, sharp, and clean. Takes the reader right into the moment, making the characters come alive. And the way she described Yancey, Alaska and all its charm makes me want to go visit this little town. Very well done!

I would recommend this book more for older teens, since there are a few mature situations this book deals with. One character was known to sleep around in her younger days, and while nothing is described, one character remembers having to listen to the teen boys lewd conversations about their times with her. As I said, nothing too descriptive, but this sordid past plays a big part throughout Submerged.

But, really, Pettrey handled this situation so well and carefully, I was impressed by how clean she kept the book, considering the situation her characters find themselves in. All around, I found Submerged to be a wonderful, awesome read that I know I will pick up again. The characters will remain vividly in my thoughts for a long time to come! Here’s a high-five from me, Dani, on writing an awesome romantic suspense!! Loved it!!

Review by A. K. Shorey: Bailey Craig is a reluctant visitor to Yancey, Alaska, the town she fled as a young adult. The mistakes she made as a teenager haunt her heart, and she’s sure the memories live on in Yancey as well.
However, a funeral and business affairs force her return. Once there, she can’t avoid crossing paths with Cole McKenna, the man she’s never been able to forget. Seeing him brings back the shame of her past. As much as she tries to avoid Cole, a murder forces her to work with him to find the person responsible.

Dani Pettrey has crafted a compelling suspense novel. The story grabs the reader as the tension escalates. The deep-water diving scenes had me holding my breath.

The faith element is seamlessly woven into Submerged. Bailey’s reluctance to believe she’s worthy in God’s eyes is something many of us may have struggled with at some point in our lives.

Some of the scenes are a bit intense. I recommend Submerged wholeheartedly, but the story is best suited for older teens and adults