Into the Fire

In Dani Pettrey's Book Three of the Chesapeake Valor Series, Blind Spot, the handsome FBI Agent Declan Grey and the lovely Tanner Shaw unite to investigate what exactly "The wrath is coming" means and when and where it's supposed to be arriving in the USA. Their mutual attraction almost complicates their searching but for the most part it allows them to reveal who they really are beneath all their FBI and refugee counselor titles. Blind Spot puts into play all the characters from this series and shocks them all with a familiar face.

A friend of Tanner's is the only one who can identify a particular person of interest to help the FBI nail a terrorist, but Tanner insists her refugee friend will be intimidated by Declan and will need to speak with Tanner. Meanwhile, when the murder of an old friend at a yearly retreat, which Declan and Tanner are unable to attend, adds more complications to their multiple agendas of investigations, there's one more surprise to add to the milieu forcing a secret Declan doesn't want to keep.

The coming wrath requires urgency and it seems like the answers are slow to gather while time slips away. When the danger hits Declan and Tanner full on, although they know who's behind it, they can't reveal who rescues them. Shrouded in secrecy and confusion, they must stop an attack steeped in guesswork.

The romance between Declan and Tanner runs interference with the case, but the two professionals manage to keep their heads in the game. It might be a bit overdone at times. Their faith is prominent and mutually appreciated, but it too might have been a bit over-explained in parts of the story. Both likeable strong characters, their distractions with their relationship might have seemed a bit out of character under the threatening circumstances.

With series novels, different authors elect to end each book with stand alone efficiency or choose the minor or major cliffhanger method to entice the reader to anticipate the next story. With Blind Spot, the group is celebrating the last minute success of their efforts when their surprising reveal lets them know they're not even close to the final "wrath". End of story. I didn't like this choice. Too abrupt. Too leading. It's not the fact of it being a cliffhanger, it's the sudden end at an unexpected time. To a writer it seems like the word count hit the stop line and that was that.

Father, please continue to bless Dani with ideas and inspiration and keep her writing the stories you have just for her to tell. Encourage her when she needs it most and give her what she needs to do what you desire for her. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.