"Submerged" by Dani Pettrey

[reviewsbyerin]

I had heard so many great things about Dani Pettrey's writing that I couldn't wait to start this book when it fell into my hands. I don't read a lot of action or suspense books in general, but I enjoyed this one a lot and hope I get to read the follow-up books in her Alaskan Courage series, each of which focuses on a different sibling in the fictional McKenna family.

Starring in this book is Cole McKenna, a professional deep sea diver. Our story opens when a small plane crashes in the frigid waters outside his hometown of Yancey, AK, and Cole is sent in to search for survivors and recover what he can from the wreck. It becomes clear that something sinister has come to their small town when the plane is found to have been sabotaged, and visitors are turning up dead all over the peninsula.

Bailey Craig thought she'd never go back to Yancey, the site of the worst mistakes of her life. But her aunt's death in the plane crash brings her back home, and she must stay long enough to put her aunt's affairs in order, which is no small task given the murder investigations going on. Bailey's background in Russian-Alaskan history becomes useful when it's discovered that the murderers are tracking down specific artifacts, and Bailey and Cole are thrown into each other's company in the course of the investigation.

Having already had his heart broken by Bailey back in high school, Cole is glad to see his friend again but very cautious towards anything more than friendship. Bailey can't believe Cole and his family are so welcoming and genuine towards her after the way she treated Cole all those years ago. It's clear that they have forgiven her. Is it possible that she could forgive herself?

Soon the action heats up as Bailey and Cole track the killers, who are also tracking them. Who will find the artifacts first, and how many lives will be lost before the killers can be stopped?

There was much that I liked about this book, including the closeness of the McKenna family, and their relationships with each other as well as the community. The romance was developed in a very real but reserved fashion, which I especially appreciated as a naturally reserved person myself. I am looking forward to reading more about this family in the future!