Shattered (Alaskan Courage)

by Dani Pettrey

Paperback, 2013

Status

Available

Call number

813.6

Publication

Bethany House Publishers (2013), 366 pages

Description

"Piper McKenna would be overjoyed at the sight of her estranged brother, except that he's covered in blood. She knows he's innocent, but can they prove it?"--Provided by publisher.

User reviews

LibraryThing member scifimom58
I found this an excellent story line, however, the beginning of the book was so broken, I almost stopped reading it. Mind you, I love when a writer sections a book into each character's view and leaves me hanging until their next chapter. But, this wasn't a cliffhanger, just broken bits of
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information that seemed to start in the middle of the story and used every cliched vice a writer could use. I swore if I read "the woman he loved" one more time, I'd burn the book.
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LibraryThing member judyg54
Warning: Don't start this book unless you have a big chunk of time to read, because once you get into the story, you are not going to want to put it down. The beginning pages find the McKenna family with a huge problem. The youngest brother shows up at Piper's door (read book one, Submerged, first
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so you know who Piper and the rest of the McKenna's are), Reef is covered in blood and is claiming he didn't kill Karli Davis. But who did and why? This is what you will try to find out as you travel by plane across country, go from Alaska to California and back and track the clues till they lead you to the truth. It is a wild ride, filled with adventure and suspense, but also some lovely romance!

The chemistry between Piper and Landon in this story is just great. I loved reading how this relationship was blossoming for both of them. Piper is one little spitfire who doesn't back down when she sets out to prove her brother innocent. Landon is a officer of the law, who does things by the book. They together set out to track down the clues. The Mckenna family is just fun to hang out with. I couldn't help laughing when they were revealing their middle names and their mother's reasoning behind them. The story is filled with suspense, but there is also moments when you just have to smile. The author also does a great job of incorporating into this story the faith in the Lord that some of them had and how that has an impact on others for the good. God is able to transform lives! It was encouraging to see that in this story. There is also the beginning of another McKenna family member and a certain newspaper reporter relationship that I look forward to reading hopefully in another book in this Alaskan Courage series. I don't give out 5 stars very often, but this one was definitely deserving of it.

Paperback: 368 pages
Publisher: Bethany House Publishers (February 1, 2013)
ISBN-10: 0764209833
ISBN-13: 978-0764209833

This complimentary copy provided by Bethany House Publishers through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
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LibraryThing member TammyPhillips
A suspensful and intriguing tale of a family rallying to prove a wrongfully accused brother innocent. I enjoyed escaping into the Alaska painted by Dani Pettrey and I look forward to reading more from her. She writes characters in a way that makes you feel like you know them and you miss them when
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the story ends. This suspensful romance reminds me of Dee Henderson, but while Dee allows her character's romances to develop throughout the majority of her stories, Dani keeps her characters romance from being revealed to each other until the very end. I prefer reading about developing romance as in Dee's books, but it will not keep me from returning to read more from Dani in the future.
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LibraryThing member MandaT
I just finished the second book in Dani Pettery's Alaskan Courage series called Shattered. This book continues the story of the McKenna family and centers primarily around Piper and her brother Reef. Reef finally returns home. Of course, his return is just for a snowboarding tournament which is
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quite a disappointment to his family. But things quickly go from good to bad when he is charged with killing one of the tournament players, Karli Davis. Piper is convinced of her brother's innocence but others are not so sure. Piper goes on the hunt trying to find the real killer and get her brother declared innocent.

There a lot of twists and turns to this plot that will not disappoint you. I really enjoyed reading this second book in the series. The story was exciting and kept my interest right up through the end.

**I received this book free from Library Thing in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
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LibraryThing member PhDinHorribleness
I haven't read the first book in this series, but it is at the top of my list now! There were moments where I felt like there was some backstory I was missing that I might have gained from reading Book One in the series first, but nothing so major as to disrupt my enjoyment of this book. A
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Christian romance murder mystery, this is unlike any other book I have read. I love that the main story is the murder mystery with some romance on the side and just enough reminders of Christianity to be inspiring. I definitely did not want to put the book down as the characters raced after clues in all directions to find the real killer. There are a few surprising twists and enough plot to keep you interested. A great read!
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LibraryThing member milibrarian
Piper and her siblings are shocked when their brother is arrested for the murder of a fellow snowboarder. Deputy sheriff Landon Grainger also has problems believing that his friend is guilty, but the evidence says otherwise. As Landon and Piper investigate they also struggle to sort out their own
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emotions. This is an easy, fun read, but, at times, the plot is predictable. The characters, however, are great. This is the second book in a series, and it would probably be best to read them in order.
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LibraryThing member DARKANG3L
When I first started reading this book, I wasn't sure if I was going to like it or not, but the more I got into it, the more I became intrigued. This is definitely a book that held my attention the more I read. Pettrey created a story that is both endearing and mysterious. With blooming romance
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between old friends and a murder investigation that could take a deadly turn, this story does not have dull moment.

The only thing that really put me off from the book, is the constant switch of perspectives. I'm not saying that it's a bad thing, because it's not, but the frequency of how often the perspectives were switched did irk me some.

Overall, this is definitely a book worth reading. I don't usually read novels like this, but I'm glad I did. It was a refreshing change that spiced up my reading.
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LibraryThing member starbritejan
This is one book I knew I would like as soon as I started reading i!. It held my attention throughout the book. I really want to read the first book in this series and am expecting it to be as exciting as this one! Great story line and full of suspense to keep you on the edge of your seat! Great
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reading!!
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LibraryThing member tiinaj1
Shattered starts out slow and was a bit hard to get into for me but once it started rolling WOW! I found it very hard to put down. The story was well thought out, full of layers and emotion which kept me thinking and involved in the story (ie - wondering what will happen next). Another plus is that
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the spiritual content of the book was very well done and it was nice to see each character's thought process as they considered who God was, what he had done for us and in this book it was nice to see a character who was drawn to God and leaned on him during a section of the book that was full of tension. There is a love/romantic story involved and there are 2 mysteries that are layered on top of each other. As the story gets more involved each story is clear cut and easy to follow.

I ended up loving this book even though at the beginning I struggled to stay with it. There are numerous mentions to Book 1 in the Alaskan Courage Series (Submerged, Book 1) and while Shattered can be read on it's own I definitely want to go back and read Submerged so I can get a feel for Cole & Bailey's story. This is romantic suspense at it's finest!

Disclaimer: I was given a copy of Shattered to read and review on GivingNSharing. I was not required to have a positive review and no money exchanged hands.
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LibraryThing member Organicshoes
Newcomer Dani Pettrey returns with her second book in the Alaskan Courage Series which follows the McKenna family. Reef McKenna has returned to Yancey, Alaska after being away for long and Piper McKenna could not be happier, that is until Reef is arrested for murder, although Reef has shown up at
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Piper’s covered in blood he swears that he is innocent. Piper does not believe that her brother could ever murder someone but with the police wanting an open and shut case, and Landon looking focusing on the facts Piper knows it is up to her to find the truth.

Landon continues investing case and finds that Piper has been asking questions and searching for her own leads, Landon and Piper have had tension between them since the engagement party but he knows that Piper will not stop until she discovers the truth. Joining together Piper and Landon head to the Canadian back-country in search of answers. Throughout the search Piper feels as if she is being watched, but finding clues has her pushing aside her intuitions in search of the truth for Reef. Landon and Piper may be getting close to the truth and have caught the attention of someone dangerous.

Pettrey does not disappoint in her second book! If you loved Submerged you will love Shattered as you join the McKenna’s on their latest adventure! This book will keep you on the edge of your seat with twists and turns that you will never see coming! Make sure to block out the weekend for this one! You will not want to put it down!

I received this book complimentary from Bethany House publishers in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
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LibraryThing member Glenajo
Second Great Book in the Series

When Piper’s younger brother is accused of murder, the family pulls together to save him. Piper, however, cannot wait for the police to complete their investigation, so she investigates on her own, until Deputy Landon Grainger, a friend of the family, steps in to
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take over. Unable to let go, Piper joins Landon and they encounter the killer’s hostility.

Piper is a great character, but Landon’s feelings of inadequacy toward Piper really make him interesting read. Pettrey has a way of making her characters come alive through their thoughts and dialogue. The entire family is an interesting mix of Christian and non-Christian, that is dealing with their emotions from the death of parents. The mixture makes the family seem a more realistic and absorbing read. The mystery-suspense part of the story is compelling as their investigation moves from Alaska to Canada and California. Great mystery, solid inspirational romance in a very believable story. If your favorite genre is inspirational romantic suspense, put this on your list.

Received from NetGalley.
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LibraryThing member Maydacat
This novel has a little bit of everything – mystery, suspense, and romance. The characters are likable and well written. The storyline is intriguing, and the suspense builds throughout the story. This is the second installment of a series, and, and though complete, seems to continue where the
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first novel left off. Not having read the first novel, all these characters and their back story were unknown to me. If you are a person who likes romance stories, you may not care for the intrigue with the mystery/thriller aspect. If you really enjoy mysteries (as I do), you may find the romance a bit off-putting. Landon acted more like a high schooler in the throes of puppy love rather than a grown man (a detective yet!) who should be able to declare his feelings. I don’t know why he didn’t! Every time the author had a passage in which Landon encountered Piper and the reader was privy to his thoughts, I wanted to scream, “Enough already! Just get on with the mystery!” The author did a good job of bringing Christianity into the storyline without being too preachy. The questions that arose about beliefs melded well with the plot and the characters. I enjoyed the novel very much, and I was able to put up with Landon’s constant sappy thoughts about “the woman he loved” even while I wished he could garner enough intestinal fortitude to declare his love out loud. It was spellbinding to uncover the clues that led to the murderer and the reason behind the murder, as the characters painstakingly chased down leads. A well-written tale, it will be interesting to see what the author has in mind for her next story.
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LibraryThing member emily.ann
I got this book without reading the first book in the series. It worked without reading the first book, but feel it would have been nice to have read book 1, Submerged, first.
That said, there was enough background and growth of characters for me to enjoy the book. It was interesting to see what
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information they would get next and where that would take them. I was quite curious about who the guilty party was. I liked the background that they gradually dug up on the victim and what that meant to their case. I was actually more interested in the crime part than the romance part in this book, perhaps because Landon's and sometimes Piper's thoughts/emotions seemed uncomfortable and as if they were younger than they are. By the end, they were better, though.
Overall, good story, good book, worth reading.
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LibraryThing member croknot1
Even though I enjoyed the beginning of the novel, it didn't hold my interest for long. A good story, it just didn't excite me too much.
LibraryThing member love2readnovels
Piper McKenna is thrilled that her wayward brother Reef has returned home, until she sees him covered in blood. A girl in the snowboarding competition has been killed and two other snowboarders see Reef with her and the murder weapon. The assume he's guilty. Reef swears he's innocent and though the
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evidence against him is overwhelming, Piper believes he's telling the truth. Deputy Landon Grainger loves the McKenna family and is heartbroken when he has to arrest Reef. He vows to find the truth but he also knows from personal experience that those close to you can deceive you. Piper, Landon and the rest of the McKenna's get frustrated as the sheriff seems more interested in pushing the case ahead then finding out the truth. Landon risks his career to not only help Piper but to protect her as well. Their close friendship seems to be changing into something much deeper. Slowly they push ahead gathering clue after clue. But it's very clear someone doesn't want them to find the truth.

This well-written thriller is making my favorites list! I thoroughly enjoyed Piper and Landon in Submerged so I was very anxious to read Shattered. I absolutely loved it! First let me say that the dynamics of the whole McKenna family was amazing. It was so much fun! They're a close-knit family and the way they interact with each other just draws you in. Piper and Landon are an excellent leading couple. The chemistry between them was 'ooh la la'! I loved their bantering which was both funny and touching. I enjoyed watching them get right to the edge of expressing their feelings. It caused me to hold my breath! I must say, you'll find lots of great bantering and chemistry between all the characters. That, for me, is what sent it to my favorites list! I liked the message that people can change through the transforming power of Christ! Even the greatest of sinners. We're also reminded that being a Christian doesn't make our journey easy, in fact, it probably won't be, but you can have the confidence that it will be filled with purpose and at it's end an eternal paradise. That's hope! This was one of those stories that you just don't want to end, but what a great ending it was! I HIGHLY recommend Shattered! I will be tappin' my toes waiting to see which McKenna will be next! I can't wait! Great job, Dani Pettrey!

Paperback: 368 pages
Publisher: Bethany House Publishers (February 1, 2013)
ISBN-10: 0764209833
ISBN-13: 978-0764209833

*This complimentary copy provided by Bethany House Publishers through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*
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LibraryThing member sdbookhound
A little romance, a little mystery, a little suspense all wrapped up in one little book. Shattered was a quick and enjoyable read. The only think I wish was that I had realized that this book was part of a series. I was able to follow the book without having read the previous book, but I do think
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reading it would probably have given some nice background on the characters. The publisher is known for its Christian fiction, however the Christian aspect of this book is quite understated in my opinion. Overall a nice book and I will recommend it to friends that enjoy this kind of fiction.
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LibraryThing member SusanGibsonSnodgrss
I am so glad I discovered Dani Pettrey's work last year. Submerged was great and Shattered follows along right in its footsteps. She writes hair raising suspense and tender romance, all with the grace of God thrown in, which this reader loves.

We met the McKennas siblings in Submerged and she told
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the story of Cole and Bailey. This time we have Piper McKenna's story. Piper has long loved Landon but only as a family friend. However, things have shifted a bit and both are struggling with their newfound feelings for one another.

Add to the mix, Piper's brother Reef has just been found over a murdered woman, with blood all over his hands. The drama that follows is like being on a roller coaster ride as the McKennas set out to prove Reef didn't kill this woman, who, they find out soon enough, had a horrible reputation and possibly a lot of folks wanted her dead.

The romance is tender and absolutely precious. I am excited to read further books because there are three siblings left. I hope Pettrey tells all their stories.

Don't miss out on this book.
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LibraryThing member macnoid
This is book 2 in the Alaskan Courage series, but I enjoyed the story without having read bk 1. I have to say I DID run to the library to get bk 1 when I finished this; there was enough tidbits about the backstory, that I had to go read bk 1 and find out what happened before!!
Basically, the story
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is about the McKenna siblings and their friends/family. Reef Mckenna finds a friend murdered, and is arrested for the crime. Piper, his sister, is certain he is innocent, and does all she can to prove it. Landon has been 'adopted' into the clan but as the deputy sheriff, he has to arrest her brother. His loyalties are torn between his job responsibilities, and his feelings for Piper, and her other brother who is his best friend. When it becomes obvious that Piper is putting herself in danger to help her brother, Landon takes a leave to help her search for the real killer, and her siblings get involved, too.
Overall, the story is great...lot of suspense...keeps you wondering who did it!! Enough twists and turns in the plot, and enough action and suspense to keep you reading one more chapter, and then another till you are done! (Some of the action is a bit over done/ unbelievable, but hey, it's fiction, and made a great story!!!)
All that being said, I did think the Landon character was often portrayed like a love sick teenager instead of a mature man...he is a professional lawman, after all! Some of this thoughts were rather sappy, and got sappier! I just think he should have been portrayed with a little more maturity!
I liked the characters, and how they interacted, how they supported each other. Like in most Christian fiction, we saw struggles with faith, and growth in faith. And a 'clean' romance story.
I have a feeling there will be another book coming, as she didn't really clear up the mystery of Jake's character. Plus there are enough characters to develop some other relationships a bit more! I will be watching for book 3!!! And sharing these books with my reader friends!
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LibraryThing member Books007
After her brother is wrongfully accused for murder, Piper goes on the hunt to find answers. Deputy Grainger helps her along the way and a romance develops between the two.

Although Christian fiction isn't what I normally read, I am glad I gave this a try. While a little slow to start - and maybe
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even predictable to some - it turned out to be a good romantic suspense and I enjoyed reading it. (I did not - however - realize it was book 2 in a series. May have helped some but could be read alone also.)
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LibraryThing member polarmath
I really enjoyed reading this book. It kept me turning the pages to see where they would wind up next and what clue they would uncover. The relationships of the book were great too seeing how they developed. I think I will have to go and find the first book and eagerly await a new one.
LibraryThing member PatriciaW4
Piper McKenna is happy to have her brother Reef back in Yancy, Alaska. But their reunion is a dramatic one, what with him showing up with blood on his clothing, and a short while later, him being accused of murder. To make matters worse, no one believes in Reef’s innocence…except Piper.

Landon
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Grainger has known the McKenna family for years, which includes knowing about Reef’s less than stellar reputation and seeing Piper as the younger sister to his best friend, Cole.

But in his capacity as a sworn deputy, it’s his job to find out the truth and trust the facts, no matter how much Piper protests and how attractively she’s grown beyond the role of little sister.

SHATTERED is a compelling, suspense-filled romance, book 2 in the Alaskan Courage series. Pettrey explores what a family is willing to do to save one of their own. Each step of the way, as Piper gets closer to answers, she finds herself in greater danger, making for a compelling read. The romance between Piper and Landon unfolds slowly but believably, up to its satisfying conclusion. Landon's angst at his attraction to his friend's sister, and his belief that he's not good enough for her plays well against Piper's perceived unrequited feelings for Landon.

I didn’t read the first book in the series, but I’d be interested in the next title as the unusual setting combined with the intriguing McKenna family and Pettrey’s ability to move the story forward while holding taut the suspense are a big draw.
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LibraryThing member BrookeYvonne
As other readers may have noted, I too felt that I missed out by not reading the first book introducing Piper and Landon's story in the first book of the Alaskan Courage series, Submerged. Shattered picks up with one of one the two lead character’s realizing they have feeling with the other
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person, but that other doesn’t have a clue…yet.

I had to reread some of the pages in the beginning of the story to become more familiar with the characters, but the author outdid herself with the characters and really began to care about them – loving or hating them. It was quite interesting to have the setting in Alaska...as that is where I grew up. It's always fun to see how others describe it.
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LibraryThing member jbbkelsey
‘Shattered’ by Dani Pettrey is both a great romance book and mystery book. The story takes place in Alaska, the family of siblings, the McKennas, and their friends, travel quite a bit to uncover the mystery of why a professional snowboarder was killed, and their brother, Reef, was framed for
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it. I liked the descriptions of the mountains and snow in the book and I could just picture it, as it is described. The book has the McKennas going from one lead to another, doors closing every step they take. The mystery is not solved until the very end of the book, so you will want to keep reading it to find out who the real killer is!
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LibraryThing member Nise
This is book two in the Alaskan Courage series, but stands alone well. After enjoying the first book (the author's debut), I looked forward to this story. The author almost lost me near the beginning using a plot device I detest: Boy likes/loves girl A, but there is girl B who loves/wants boy. Girl
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B gets herself in compromising position with boy and girl A shows up, sees and misinterprets. Thankfully, it did not overshadow the mystery and the story moved on without anymore from Girl B! The author kept me guessing as the suspense built with each twist and turn. I liked getting to know this family better and look forward to the next installment.
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LibraryThing member retha.groenewald.56
Shortly after Reef, Piper McKenna’s brother, returned to Yancey, Alaska, he is arrested and accused of murdering Karli Davis.

“Shock reverberated through Piper as she watched her brother scrub blood from his hands. ‘I am going to get Cole,’
Kayden said, disappearing through the back door
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before Piper could argue. ‘He won’t understand.’ Reef shut off the
water and turned to face Piper, blood still smeared across his shirt.

Evidence is overwhelming against Reef. Despite the fact that he arrived at her house covered in blood, Piper believes her brother is innocent.

Deputy Landon Granger, who knows the McKenna family very well, is the one who arrests Reef to Piper’s utter shock. His defence is that he is acting according to what the facts reveal. Facts cannot be disputed. He also has first-hand experience how those closest to you can deceive you. Facts weigh heavier than faith. Deputy Landon Granger also believes in a thorough investigation.

Landon stared back at the door, the only door in and out, replaying Reef’s version of events in his mind. If Reef was telling the truth, there was no way the person who killed her could have exited without him seeing.

Was Reef McKenna telling the truth? Did Reef McKenna murder Karli Davis? Could he be innocent? If Reef McKenna is innocent, who killed Karli Davis? Will closer investigation reveal new evidence? Is everything as it seems?

Shattered is a great story where an interesting plot blends with suspense and romance.

Each of the characters has their own story to tell. Each one of them has to decide for themselves whether they are going to trust in God?

I enjoyed the twists and turns of the plot. Although I liked the character Piper McKenna, her attitude of “I am going to do it no matter what” was irritating at times.

For the romance lovers, there are interesting relationship developments that could go in any directions. It will be interesting to see in the next book where it will lead to.

Baker Publishing House Group / Bethany House Publishers as part of their media review bloggers program provided this eBook to me for free in exchange for this honest review.
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Language

Original language

English

Original publication date

2013-02-01

Physical description

366 p.; 8.5 inches

ISBN

0764209833 / 9780764209833

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