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Alaskan Courage #4
Silenced
Jake Knew Something Was Wrong.
But He Never Guessed How Wrong.
A relaxing day of rock climbing takes a disturbing turn when Kayden McKenna's route brings her face-to-face with a dead climber. Is it a terrible accident or something darker? When the case is handed to overburdened sheriff Landon Grainger, he turns to Jake Westin for help. With Jake's past now revealed, he's ready to use his talent for investigation again--but he could never prepare for where the mystery will take him.
Kayden's climbing expertise soon leads her and Jake to the realization that the death was no accident. And worse, it seems the killer is onto them. When strange things begin happening in Yancey, Jake is terrified that once again his world may put someone he loves in danger. But the truth is far worse than he could ever imagine.
But He Never Guessed How Wrong.
A relaxing day of rock climbing takes a disturbing turn when Kayden McKenna's route brings her face-to-face with a dead climber. Is it a terrible accident or something darker? When the case is handed to overburdened sheriff Landon Grainger, he turns to Jake Westin for help. With Jake's past now revealed, he's ready to use his talent for investigation again--but he could never prepare for where the mystery will take him.
Kayden's climbing expertise soon leads her and Jake to the realization that the death was no accident. And worse, it seems the killer is onto them. When strange things begin happening in Yancey, Jake is terrified that once again his world may put someone he loves in danger. But the truth is far worse than he could ever imagine.
338 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2014
230 people are currently reading
2806 people want to read
About the author
Dani Pettrey
39 books2,850 followersPraised by New York Times best-selling author Dee Henderson as “a name to look for in romantic suspense,” Dani Pettrey has sold nearly a million copies of her novels to readers eagerly awaiting the next release. Dani combines the page-turning adrenaline of a thriller with the chemistry and happy-ever-after of a romance. Her novels stand out for their “wicked pace, snappy dialogue, and likable characters” (Publishers Weekly), “gripping storyline[s],” (RT Book Reviews), and “sizzling undercurrent of romance” (USA Today).
Her Alaskan Courage series and Chesapeake Valor series have received praise from readers and critics alike and spent multiple months topping the CBA bestseller lists. Dani has also been honored with multiple awards, including the Daphne du Maurier Award, two HOLT Medallions, a Christy Award finalist, two National Readers’ Choice Awards, the Gail Wilson Award of Excellence, and Christian Retailing’s Best Award.
She researches murder and mayhem from her home in Maryland. For more information about her novels, visit danipettrey.com
Her Alaskan Courage series and Chesapeake Valor series have received praise from readers and critics alike and spent multiple months topping the CBA bestseller lists. Dani has also been honored with multiple awards, including the Daphne du Maurier Award, two HOLT Medallions, a Christy Award finalist, two National Readers’ Choice Awards, the Gail Wilson Award of Excellence, and Christian Retailing’s Best Award.
She researches murder and mayhem from her home in Maryland. For more information about her novels, visit danipettrey.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 453 reviews
April 25, 2014
Review on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/review/R3F1UHDG...
Review on my blog (to be posted 4/29): http://christianbookshelfreviews.blog...
You know those books you start with giddy excitement, because you've been anticipating it so much, and then dread finishing since that'll mean the story is over??? Silenced was one of those books for me.
The McKenna family, along with their friends, is one of my favorite set of characters. I just love the way they interact with each other and all of their different personalities. Silenced is mainly about Kayden and Jake, though we also get a little teaser to Reef's story and see some of the changes in his life.
The mystery in Silenced was good. I was never able to stick with one guess as to the guilty party to the first crime and was somewhat surprised by the reveal. The suspense was great and I had a hard time putting the book down, even when I was really tired. Oh, and I was so happy about something else that took place in this story, but I won't say what to avoid spoilers. :)
Overall, Silenced was a wonderful book with both suspense and romance. I'm eagerly anticipating the next McKenna book and highly recommend this series!
*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention/review it on my blog. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I've done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.*
Review on my blog (to be posted 4/29): http://christianbookshelfreviews.blog...
You know those books you start with giddy excitement, because you've been anticipating it so much, and then dread finishing since that'll mean the story is over??? Silenced was one of those books for me.
The McKenna family, along with their friends, is one of my favorite set of characters. I just love the way they interact with each other and all of their different personalities. Silenced is mainly about Kayden and Jake, though we also get a little teaser to Reef's story and see some of the changes in his life.
The mystery in Silenced was good. I was never able to stick with one guess as to the guilty party to the first crime and was somewhat surprised by the reveal. The suspense was great and I had a hard time putting the book down, even when I was really tired. Oh, and I was so happy about something else that took place in this story, but I won't say what to avoid spoilers. :)
Overall, Silenced was a wonderful book with both suspense and romance. I'm eagerly anticipating the next McKenna book and highly recommend this series!
*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention/review it on my blog. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I've done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.*
May 9, 2021
Whew! What an adventure!
This story was chock full with twists and suspects and dangerous events. The cast was great, especially the leads and the baddies. Not that I like psychos or anything, but the ones in this book were written well enough to appear on Criminal Minds.
The stalker angle was exquisitely written. It kept the tension high and my nerves on edge.
The fact that this book featured the rock climbing community made me so happy. I wish adventure sports would be featured a lot more in Christian fiction (in a variety of genres, please!), and this book was a great start toward that. The rock climbing and the equipment stores and gear were all used well throughout the plot, and I soon felt like I was immersed in the community myself because the author infused the book with details that made the rock climbing aspects (named above, plus more I’m probably forgetting) pop right off the page in an atmospheric way. This book is proof that research is required even when writing contemporary fiction. Trust me, y’all: Research pays off and enriches the story.
There was heavy emphasis on marital affairs through the first third or so of the book. That’s really the main thing that docked a star. The other thing was the use of one derogatory term.
Only one book to go in this series!
Content: tattoos, marital affairs, derogatory term
This story was chock full with twists and suspects and dangerous events. The cast was great, especially the leads and the baddies. Not that I like psychos or anything, but the ones in this book were written well enough to appear on Criminal Minds.
The stalker angle was exquisitely written. It kept the tension high and my nerves on edge.
The fact that this book featured the rock climbing community made me so happy. I wish adventure sports would be featured a lot more in Christian fiction (in a variety of genres, please!), and this book was a great start toward that. The rock climbing and the equipment stores and gear were all used well throughout the plot, and I soon felt like I was immersed in the community myself because the author infused the book with details that made the rock climbing aspects (named above, plus more I’m probably forgetting) pop right off the page in an atmospheric way. This book is proof that research is required even when writing contemporary fiction. Trust me, y’all: Research pays off and enriches the story.
There was heavy emphasis on marital affairs through the first third or so of the book. That’s really the main thing that docked a star. The other thing was the use of one derogatory term.
Only one book to go in this series!
Content: tattoos, marital affairs, derogatory term
June 6, 2019
Silenced is book four in the Alaskan Courage series. This book can stand alone. So, if you haven’t read the other three books that come before Silenced, you won’t be lost in the storyline. But, I definitely recommend that you read the entire series because it is just so good! It is fun to see each McKenna sibling get their happily ever after! There are five siblings and they each get their own book in the series. Silenced focuses on Kayden McKenna and Jake Cavanaugh.
I love the way the author combines so much into these stories! There is always a wonderful romance brewing between the main characters and lots of romantic tension. On top of that, there is danger and a mystery or two to solve. Throw in at least one murder and the beautiful, majestic setting of Alaska and you have a book that kept me eagerly turning the pages to the very end. Silenced is a wonderful addition to the Alaskan Courage series.
I really enjoyed getting to know Kayden McKenna. She is so guarded, even with her family. And I just think Jake is a wonderful hero. He has such a tragic and painful past that he has had to overcome, and he is so desperately in love with Kayden! When they get paired up to work on solving the murder of a rock climber, it is fun to see their attraction to each other grow and their relationship develop throughout the book.
I highly recommend Silenced to readers who love action-packed mysteries, combined with wonderful romance.
I received a complimentary copy of Silenced from the author, through Bethany House Publishers, in exchange for an honest review, which I have given.
To read this review on my blog (and to enter to win a copy of Silenced - contest runs from 5/3/14 - 5/10/14) go to:
http://brittreadsfiction.wordpress.co...
I love the way the author combines so much into these stories! There is always a wonderful romance brewing between the main characters and lots of romantic tension. On top of that, there is danger and a mystery or two to solve. Throw in at least one murder and the beautiful, majestic setting of Alaska and you have a book that kept me eagerly turning the pages to the very end. Silenced is a wonderful addition to the Alaskan Courage series.
I really enjoyed getting to know Kayden McKenna. She is so guarded, even with her family. And I just think Jake is a wonderful hero. He has such a tragic and painful past that he has had to overcome, and he is so desperately in love with Kayden! When they get paired up to work on solving the murder of a rock climber, it is fun to see their attraction to each other grow and their relationship develop throughout the book.
I highly recommend Silenced to readers who love action-packed mysteries, combined with wonderful romance.
I received a complimentary copy of Silenced from the author, through Bethany House Publishers, in exchange for an honest review, which I have given.
To read this review on my blog (and to enter to win a copy of Silenced - contest runs from 5/3/14 - 5/10/14) go to:
http://brittreadsfiction.wordpress.co...
June 25, 2014
Cant wait! 2014 is to far away!
July 16, 2015
An enjoyable read that had me captivated from the start and pulled me in with every page. Pettrey truly has a gift with words that can literally cause one to picture it so clearly in their minds from just reading her words.
While I enjoyed this book, I felt that it was sort of a rehashing of the three previous books in the series. Girl finds dead body. Girl has an issue with the murder described in the story according to the guy's point of view with some guy but ends up falling in love with him and he with her at the end of the book.
I also felt that since I had seen Kayden's obvious dislike and distrust for Jake in the previous books, it was really hard for me to believe the utter transformation she made to disliking him to literally obsessing over him. Her thoughts were constantly drifted to him and how good he looked, how kind he was, etc.
It was almost unreal to experience her transformation. But I will say that their love story is really sweet once you get past that and get into the story.
Another problem I have with this series is the complete backstage part the previous characters we have come to love play in the following book. After Bailey and Cole's story, Bailey is literally reduced to a drink maker and server. It is so hilarious to read that she does and says nothing in all three books so far except smile and fix drinks.
Also, Gage's girlfriend Darcy St. James has an extremely strong and tenacious personality in the third book that I came to enjoy reading about. How is she portrayed in this novel? You guessed it- a FOOD maker this time. However, she only serves and makes food a couple of times in this novel instead of the ten times that Bailey makes drinks in the other novel. Bailey has her beat there.
Other than that, I really enjoyed this suspenseful romance novel that had me on the edge of my seat at times!
While I enjoyed this book, I felt that it was sort of a rehashing of the three previous books in the series. Girl finds dead body. Girl has an issue with the murder described in the story according to the guy's point of view with some guy but ends up falling in love with him and he with her at the end of the book.
I also felt that since I had seen Kayden's obvious dislike and distrust for Jake in the previous books, it was really hard for me to believe the utter transformation she made to disliking him to literally obsessing over him. Her thoughts were constantly drifted to him and how good he looked, how kind he was, etc.
It was almost unreal to experience her transformation. But I will say that their love story is really sweet once you get past that and get into the story.
Another problem I have with this series is the complete backstage part the previous characters we have come to love play in the following book. After Bailey and Cole's story, Bailey is literally reduced to a drink maker and server. It is so hilarious to read that she does and says nothing in all three books so far except smile and fix drinks.
Also, Gage's girlfriend Darcy St. James has an extremely strong and tenacious personality in the third book that I came to enjoy reading about. How is she portrayed in this novel? You guessed it- a FOOD maker this time. However, she only serves and makes food a couple of times in this novel instead of the ten times that Bailey makes drinks in the other novel. Bailey has her beat there.
Other than that, I really enjoyed this suspenseful romance novel that had me on the edge of my seat at times!
October 21, 2016
Stalo sa vám už niekedy, že túžite porozprávať o niečom dokonalom, no nenachádzate slov?
Presne tak sa cítim ja teraz, už hodinu uvažujúc nad tými správnymi slovami, ktoré by dokázali opísať niečo neopísateľné. Stále mi schádza na um len jediné slovo, ktoré dokonale opisuje moje pocity- dokonalé.
Kniha je písaná veľmi pútavo. Keď sa prehryziete prvými stránkami úvodu, spustí sa nezastaviteľná lavína, ktorá vás neustále bude hnať dopredu a nútiť napredovať v čítaní.
Na tomto príbehu je úžasné to, ako nás pani spisovateľka celú dobu drží napätí. Ku koncu som už ani neverila, či mám nos medzi očami. Úžasné a hlavne nečakané rozuzlenie zaklincovalo, že som sa rozhodla knihu hodnotiť za plných 5 bodov. :) Kto miluje detektívky, zamiluje sa aj do tohto. Neodolateľne.
Presne tak sa cítim ja teraz, už hodinu uvažujúc nad tými správnymi slovami, ktoré by dokázali opísať niečo neopísateľné. Stále mi schádza na um len jediné slovo, ktoré dokonale opisuje moje pocity- dokonalé.
Kniha je písaná veľmi pútavo. Keď sa prehryziete prvými stránkami úvodu, spustí sa nezastaviteľná lavína, ktorá vás neustále bude hnať dopredu a nútiť napredovať v čítaní.
Na tomto príbehu je úžasné to, ako nás pani spisovateľka celú dobu drží napätí. Ku koncu som už ani neverila, či mám nos medzi očami. Úžasné a hlavne nečakané rozuzlenie zaklincovalo, že som sa rozhodla knihu hodnotiť za plných 5 bodov. :) Kto miluje detektívky, zamiluje sa aj do tohto. Neodolateľne.
September 22, 2020
Great read. I now can't wait to read more of Dani Pettrey. This book is wonderful, esp they had two of the characters that hated each other in the first 3 books now have a love interest. I loved the main Female character who was afraid of love because losing her mother. I loved the mystery again. I never saw what was going to happen. They had you focus on one crime and then they put another crime right with it. Wonderful. I love Dani writing and I love how she puts you right into the book!! The last book is next and I am sure I will probably finish this book in a day to. I just can't put it down. FYI to those who read audiobooks: This is a great audiobook to listen to . Love the narrator. Her voices are excellent. I am so glad I have chose to listen to this series on Audiobooks!!
April 21, 2014
I came across Dani Pettrey's first suspense novel, Submerged, in Lifeway Christian and decided to take a chance on a new author. The cover looked great and the blurb on the back cover sounded like it would be good.
Boy, am I glad I did. I've now read all 4 in the series. Silenced is book four and it's Kayden McKenna's story. With Jake Westin Cavanaugh along, too, of course.
Kayden tried to be tough and can handle anything life throws her way. But she has weaknesses, as everyone does. But she's determined not to let her feelings get too involved with Jake. Love hurts too much when it's taken away.
Jake Westin Cavanaugh has already lost his wife and unborn child and he's also afraid to love again. He can't stand another loss.
Someone else is on the island that wants the worst for both Kayden and Jake. One person has already died and Jake and Kayden are trying to find the killer. It soon becomes clear that they themselves are the target of this culprit.
Dani Pettrey writes a tight suspense novel. I thought I had figured things out, but soon realized I was wrong. But it was so much fun discovering the real answer.
You will find yourself not wanting to put this book down, so pick a time when you can read uninterrupted for a good long while. It's that good. I found myself gasping in disbelief, smiling at the wonderful emotion of this book.
Through it all, Dani Pettrey weaves the truth of God's goodness, how He always wants the best for His children, even when they fight Him on it. He continues to work quietly and sweetly to give us His blessings and bring us to the fullness of His love and provision.
If you've never read Dani Pettrey, don't be afraid to try a new author. You'll be glad you did! I can't wait for book five in the McKennas' lives!
Boy, am I glad I did. I've now read all 4 in the series. Silenced is book four and it's Kayden McKenna's story. With Jake Westin Cavanaugh along, too, of course.
Kayden tried to be tough and can handle anything life throws her way. But she has weaknesses, as everyone does. But she's determined not to let her feelings get too involved with Jake. Love hurts too much when it's taken away.
Jake Westin Cavanaugh has already lost his wife and unborn child and he's also afraid to love again. He can't stand another loss.
Someone else is on the island that wants the worst for both Kayden and Jake. One person has already died and Jake and Kayden are trying to find the killer. It soon becomes clear that they themselves are the target of this culprit.
Dani Pettrey writes a tight suspense novel. I thought I had figured things out, but soon realized I was wrong. But it was so much fun discovering the real answer.
You will find yourself not wanting to put this book down, so pick a time when you can read uninterrupted for a good long while. It's that good. I found myself gasping in disbelief, smiling at the wonderful emotion of this book.
Through it all, Dani Pettrey weaves the truth of God's goodness, how He always wants the best for His children, even when they fight Him on it. He continues to work quietly and sweetly to give us His blessings and bring us to the fullness of His love and provision.
If you've never read Dani Pettrey, don't be afraid to try a new author. You'll be glad you did! I can't wait for book five in the McKennas' lives!
September 29, 2014
I had been looking forward to Jake and Kayden's story. I was not disappointed. Great action, sweet love story. I was cheering for these two all the way through. Made for a great weekend read! Thanks, Dani, for another fabulous book. :-)
March 6, 2015
SUMMARY: Jake Knew Something Was Wrong.
But He Never Guessed How Wrong.
A relaxing day of rock climbing takes a disturbing turn when Kayden McKenna's route brings her face-to-face with a dead climber. Is it a terrible accident or something darker? When the case is handed to overburdened sheriff Landon Grainger, he turns to Jake Westin for help. With Jake's past now revealed, he's ready to use his talent for investigation again--but he could never prepare for where the mystery will take him.
Kayden's climbing expertise soon leads her and Jake to the realization that the death was no accident. And worse, it seems the killer is onto them. When strange things begin happening in Yancey, Jake is terrified that once again his world may put someone he loves in danger. But the truth is far worse than he could ever imagine.
REVIEW; Book 4 in the Alaskan Courage series delivers the same punch with riveting, page turning excitement as the first 3 in this series about the McKenna siblings and their fight for justice. Kayden is the more close-off, hard hearted of the McKenna siblings. This book is filled with mystery, romance, adventure, and two McKenna weddings. The conclusion sets the scene for Book 5 which has just been released and will undoubtedly continue to keep readers riveted to the adventures and thrills that the McKenna family always deliver.
FAVORITE QUOTES: "We can only run from God's plans for so long. Embrace what he has for you."
"Because God doesn't promise the way will be easy--far from it--but He promises to carry us through, to give us the courage and grace we need when we need it. He most often doesn't change the circumstances; He changes us."
But He Never Guessed How Wrong.
A relaxing day of rock climbing takes a disturbing turn when Kayden McKenna's route brings her face-to-face with a dead climber. Is it a terrible accident or something darker? When the case is handed to overburdened sheriff Landon Grainger, he turns to Jake Westin for help. With Jake's past now revealed, he's ready to use his talent for investigation again--but he could never prepare for where the mystery will take him.
Kayden's climbing expertise soon leads her and Jake to the realization that the death was no accident. And worse, it seems the killer is onto them. When strange things begin happening in Yancey, Jake is terrified that once again his world may put someone he loves in danger. But the truth is far worse than he could ever imagine.
REVIEW; Book 4 in the Alaskan Courage series delivers the same punch with riveting, page turning excitement as the first 3 in this series about the McKenna siblings and their fight for justice. Kayden is the more close-off, hard hearted of the McKenna siblings. This book is filled with mystery, romance, adventure, and two McKenna weddings. The conclusion sets the scene for Book 5 which has just been released and will undoubtedly continue to keep readers riveted to the adventures and thrills that the McKenna family always deliver.
FAVORITE QUOTES: "We can only run from God's plans for so long. Embrace what he has for you."
"Because God doesn't promise the way will be easy--far from it--but He promises to carry us through, to give us the courage and grace we need when we need it. He most often doesn't change the circumstances; He changes us."
April 17, 2014
As with all previous Alaskan Courage books, I LOVED this book. We've watched Jake and Kayden fall in love - at arms length - in the past three books. We also discovered Jakes true identity in book three. In Silenced it all comes together.
Jake is head-over heels in love with Kayden. Although Kayden feels the same about Jake now that she knows his secret, they don't have the courage to admit their true feelings. When they are forced to work together to solve a murder, only to discover Jakes past is somewhat linked to the odd events, and Kayden's life is in danger, their feelings are clear.
This book has it all, romance, chemestary, mystery, and two weddings. It's a true page turner. What it doesn't have is fluff. You jump straight into the story on the first page.
It also sets the intro for book five which apparently will focus on Reef and Kirra. I can't wait. But I will be sad because that will be the last of the McKenna's. I don't recall loving a family this much since Dee Henderson's O'Malley series.
Jake is head-over heels in love with Kayden. Although Kayden feels the same about Jake now that she knows his secret, they don't have the courage to admit their true feelings. When they are forced to work together to solve a murder, only to discover Jakes past is somewhat linked to the odd events, and Kayden's life is in danger, their feelings are clear.
This book has it all, romance, chemestary, mystery, and two weddings. It's a true page turner. What it doesn't have is fluff. You jump straight into the story on the first page.
It also sets the intro for book five which apparently will focus on Reef and Kirra. I can't wait. But I will be sad because that will be the last of the McKenna's. I don't recall loving a family this much since Dee Henderson's O'Malley series.
April 30, 2014
Dani Pettrey knows how to write a page-turner. She kept me guessing for most of the book, not revealing "who dunnit" until she wanted to. Even then, the tension was strong. I also enjoyed the rock climbing scenes and the strong family angle woven through this book -- as it is in all of Pettrey's novels.
February 22, 2025
4.5/5
Loved this one . More action . Just the family dynamic of the McKennas is brilliant . Definitely a slow
Burn . So excited for the last book with Reed and Kiera!
Loved this one . More action . Just the family dynamic of the McKennas is brilliant . Definitely a slow
Burn . So excited for the last book with Reed and Kiera!
March 6, 2025
I just love the atmosphere of the Alaskan landscape in this series! I love the sibling dynamic, as well as this small town! The mystery was good, but it did have some dark moments. I would say, though, I love Kayden and Jake, their romance was ok. It became a little too "lovey dovey" for me, with some mention of focusing on the guy's muscles.(I'm not a huge fan of that in my romances). To me, it seemed a little out of character (for both Kayden and Jake) from the other books, but that's just my opinon. Overall, it wasn't too distracting, and I still enjoyed my read. I can't wait to finish up this series! (3.5 stars)
September 17, 2023
The fourth book in the Alaskan Courage series. I have one left then I am finished with another series.
This story follows Kayden Mckenna and Jake Westin. They were introduced in the first book and got much page time in the third book. I always shipped Jake and Kayden. I was super excited for this book. The only reason that this has a four-star instead of a five, is due to the fact the first mystery was solved halfway through the book. It was also lack luster after the build-up to finding the killer.
But the second mystery picked up so fast that I didn't dwell too much on the first mystery. Like the other books, this is a slow-burn romance. I really do like Dani's writing.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Rtc
This story follows Kayden Mckenna and Jake Westin. They were introduced in the first book and got much page time in the third book. I always shipped Jake and Kayden. I was super excited for this book. The only reason that this has a four-star instead of a five, is due to the fact the first mystery was solved halfway through the book. It was also lack luster after the build-up to finding the killer.
But the second mystery picked up so fast that I didn't dwell too much on the first mystery. Like the other books, this is a slow-burn romance. I really do like Dani's writing.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Rtc
April 27, 2024
A relaxing day of rock climbing takes a disturbing turn when Kayden McKenna comes face to face with a dead climber. With cases overburdening sheriff Landon Grainger, he turns to Jake Westin for help. Jake could never prepare for for where the mystery will take him. Kayden's climbing expertise soon leads her and Jake to the realization that the death was no accident. As the strange things begin happening Jake is scared his world may put someone else he loves in danger.
August 31, 2021
Once again I loved this book! I love how we immediately start the book with a murder. I love Kayden although I feel like she could be a little nicer to Jake. I'm glad they are getting along though. I love that Landon became sheriff in this one. I was so glad that Cole and Bailey got married! Angela is super messed up and I hate that she is trying to hurt Jake like she is. I love that Landon and Piper also got married at the end. This was a suspenseful book that I loved. 10 stars!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 2, 2023
Another great book in this series. I love seeing updates on previous stories in this one, and I’m excited about the teasers for the final book.
August 12, 2015
Oh my gosh! What a great book!
I absolutely love it when a book that I have really been looking forward to turns out to exceed all of my expectations. This was definitely the case with Silenced. It only took one book to get me hooked on this series. And by book #2, I was adding Dani Pettrey to my "Favorite Authors" list. The books just keep getting better! Which makes me wonder if it's possible that I might like Sabotaged more than Silenced.
I absolutely love it when a book that I have really been looking forward to turns out to exceed all of my expectations. This was definitely the case with Silenced. It only took one book to get me hooked on this series. And by book #2, I was adding Dani Pettrey to my "Favorite Authors" list. The books just keep getting better! Which makes me wonder if it's possible that I might like Sabotaged more than Silenced.
September 29, 2020
It has been a while since I read books 1-3, but this was a series I wanted to finish. I finally had time for this one via audiobook.
I loved returning to the McKenna clan! I could identify in some ways with Kaiden and I feel her fears and hard shell were realistic and made for a great spiritual theme in the book.
Romance wasn’t quite as heated or edgy in this book as some of the others. There still was a lot of focus on feelings and external looks; more than I would personally recommend for a teen.
My only complaint would be that the book seemed a little separated. While the initial mystery was a good segue and coverup for a plot twist toward the middle, it did feel like the happenings of the beginning were lost in the new danger that appeared toward the latter half.
I loved returning to the McKenna clan! I could identify in some ways with Kaiden and I feel her fears and hard shell were realistic and made for a great spiritual theme in the book.
Romance wasn’t quite as heated or edgy in this book as some of the others. There still was a lot of focus on feelings and external looks; more than I would personally recommend for a teen.
My only complaint would be that the book seemed a little separated. While the initial mystery was a good segue and coverup for a plot twist toward the middle, it did feel like the happenings of the beginning were lost in the new danger that appeared toward the latter half.
May 2, 2014
I can't share any spoilers, although I'd LOVE to. I can promise the tension you've been waiting for between Jake and Kayden is totally there. The plot was fantastic, along with the climbing theme that ran through book like the fingerprints from climbing chalk. AND you get to go to Cole & Bailey's wedding, so if you're a loyal Pettrey fan this will be a fun culmination of your romantic meanderings. The McKenna siblings have reunited in another story of murder, revenge, love, and faith all harnessed together and clipped by a romantically red caribiner.
June 21, 2017
I plowed through this fast-paced story in one sitting—absolutely could NOT put it down! This is a great addition to the Alaskan Courage series, but it may lose some readers who haven’t been following the series up to this point, especially as most of the romantic tension between Jake and Kayden is dependent on everything that happened between them in the previous books. But the mystery definitely exceeded my expectations; it was great to see more of the continuing stories of the other McKenna siblings; and I’m excited to read the fifth book!
June 6, 2016
I had to read this fantastic book twice because I was scared I missed something! I couldn't put it down! Read my full review here.
September 25, 2014
My Comments
Two things I know for certain when reading a book by Pettrey……the writing is so good it should be a movie AND I LOOOOOOVE the McKennas!!!!!! When you see any book by Pettrey, you KNOW it’s gonna be a great adventure, some romance, and a beloved family of outdoors loving brothers and sisters that each have a significant other suited for them as well as the faith it takes to solve a mystery. Silenced DOES NOT disappoint and it’s easily Pettrey’s best book (they just get better and better with each one)!!!
I simply loved every bit of Kayden’s story and her character feels so real, even if the reader doesn’t relate to every aspect of her personality. The death of Kayden’s mom still resonates with her and despite the full life she has with her siblings and outdoor activities, she has been changed since her mom’s passing. She also has certain fears within her that cause her to distance herself from everyone she loves. However, even though she doesn’t express herself as openly as younger sister, Piper, she still loves her family with an intense and protective passion.
Kayden and Piper are climbing a mountain one day, as Gage and Jake watch from below, when Kayden comes across a dead body. She is visibly disturbed by this discovery and the McKennas get help called in right away. I knew immediately that the death wasn’t an accident, but despite all the different suspects who get questioned I couldn’t figure out who the killer was.
The character LEAST LIKED in this book is easily….Brody! He is Kayden’s ex-boyfriend and owns a gym. *Minor spoiler* Jake and Kayden have to repeatedly visit Brody for questions. After the second time Brody blatantly disrespects Kayden, I was silently begging Jake to pound on the guy. Jake finally deals with him and I was satisfied with the results. *End of spoiler* You just don’t mess with the McKennas and that should be common sense by now :)
Kayden’s plane gets tampered with and she receives several threats. I honestly had no idea who was behind those threats, big time thumbs up to Pettrey for keeping the story real AND unpredictable! I suspected one minor character who is introduced briefly into the story, but the mystery had nothing to do with her.
It was a real treat that Reef is in this story and he has experienced a delightful transformation! I was utterly proud of him and glad that he’s part of the family once again.
On top of the serious investigation Jake and Kayden are handling, there is also Cole and Bailey’s wedding PLUS Piper and Landon’s engagement going on….WOW, the McKennas are busier than ever supporting one another even while a killer is on the loose!! And the more the investigation exposes, the more uncomfortable things become for Kayden (in a good way, I enjoyed her thought process) as she deals with her personal feelings for Jake.
Jake is an amazing man and is perfectly matched for Kayden in every way. There is such understanding between them and despite Kayden’s resistance to the man, she can’t help but be drawn to him. Jake is praying for Kayden throughout the book, observing her unspoken communication, and eager to spend as much time as possible with her on the investigation and in their personal lives. The more they are together, the more Kayden admires him.
The two movies I thought of while reading this amazing book were Vertical Limit and Cliffhanger, both are action films with mountain climbers minus the McKenna family :)
There are only a few climbing scenes in the book, but Kayden and Jake speak to climbers and evaluate every aspect of this competitive sport to figure out the dysfunctional life and drama of the deceased climber. We also learn that climbing is a small and tight community of people who stick together and Kayden gets a lot of attitude during her investigation with Jake. I found that to be uncalled for considering Kayden is also a professional climber, but she is deemed traitorous for her involvement in the investigation.
I simply loved every bit of this book and highly recommend readers get a copy of it ASAP! Even though Silenced is part of a series, it can be enjoyed as a standalone. However, once you read this book, you’ll definitely want to read the rest of the series, it’s just that good! Please visit Pettrey on facebook or on her nicely done website, she loves to hear from us readers and she has put together a fabulous/creative page of extras for those of us who love to see behind the scenes information for these great characters that are easy to love.
**Also, there will be an opportunity to chat with Dani AND win a copy of Silenced at the Banter being held on facebook on Fri. May 23rd! Here’s the link, you don’t want to miss it **
https://www.facebook.com/#!/events/25...
I want to thank the author and Bethany House for the print review copy received. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. It was my pleasure participating in this blog tour and I thank the author and publisher for this opportunity.
March 23, 2016
In this fourth installment of the Alaskan Courage series, beautiful outdoorsy Kayden and hunky Deputy Jake are thrown together to work on a case involving the murder of a rock climber. When threatening notes start to appear, they assume they're getting close to the murderer. Or is something even more sinister afoot? And more importantly, will Kayden and Jake shake off their doubts, declare their undying love for each other and have a kissy? I can't say more due to spoilers, but suffice to say there are a few twists and turns and death-defying moments as the novel hurtles towards a satisfying conclusion.
I've read the first three books, so some groundwork for Jake and Kayden had already been laid. Kayden had been quite icy towards Jake, but thawed considerably in Book 3 after learning more about his secret past. Now that past puts them both in danger. I enjoyed it, though I get a bit frustrated when two characters are clearly in love but spend most of the book thinking the other couldn't possibly feel the same way about them. Have a conversation people! The first two-thirds of the book was also a bit more of a police procedural than the previous books. But once the stakes are raised and the race is on to find the crazy baddy before it's too late, it becomes a real page-turner. It also lays the foundation for a romance between another two characters for Book 5.
I've enjoyed this series about the five McKenna siblings and their lives and loves in beautiful Alaska. It fits in the Christian inspirational-romance-suspense genre. If you like authors such as Dee Henderson, Colleen Coble and Terri Blackstock, you would probably enjoy this series. A light holiday read, and I don't mean that in a derogatory way. I like a light read in between other books.
I've read the first three books, so some groundwork for Jake and Kayden had already been laid. Kayden had been quite icy towards Jake, but thawed considerably in Book 3 after learning more about his secret past. Now that past puts them both in danger. I enjoyed it, though I get a bit frustrated when two characters are clearly in love but spend most of the book thinking the other couldn't possibly feel the same way about them. Have a conversation people! The first two-thirds of the book was also a bit more of a police procedural than the previous books. But once the stakes are raised and the race is on to find the crazy baddy before it's too late, it becomes a real page-turner. It also lays the foundation for a romance between another two characters for Book 5.
I've enjoyed this series about the five McKenna siblings and their lives and loves in beautiful Alaska. It fits in the Christian inspirational-romance-suspense genre. If you like authors such as Dee Henderson, Colleen Coble and Terri Blackstock, you would probably enjoy this series. A light holiday read, and I don't mean that in a derogatory way. I like a light read in between other books.
December 31, 2014
Silenced by Dani Pettrey is book four in the Alaskan Courage series. I don't normally read modern day fiction but the murder mystery of this book intrigued me so I thought I'd give it a try. I read Christian based books and this book is listed as a christian book, but I don't feel like I can promote it as that. There were a few words that I felt did not belong in a "christian" book and there were a few things that went against my moral beliefs. It is nothing severe, but I am very particular and have strong convictions so for me it was troublesome. Also, I had not read any books by Dani Pettrey prior to Silenced and if you plan on reading this one I would definitely recommend reading the whole series in order. I enjoyed the story line, but I was a little lost when it came to the characters.
Lots of page turning suspense!
When Kayden is rock climbing things turn deadly when she discovers a body. At first it appears that it was a simple accident from an inexperienced climber, but as the authorities begin to investigate all evidence points to murder. Kayden joins with Jake to help uncover the mystery and the suspect list keeps growing. Kayden begins getting threatening messages and soon becomes the killer's target. Can Jake solve the crime before anyone else gets hurt?
Again I must stress that this series needs to be read in order. The deeper I got in the book the more confused I became at times due to the characters and their story lines. I think it would be a much more fulfilling reading experience if you could enjoy the series from the beginning.
Lots of page turning suspense!
When Kayden is rock climbing things turn deadly when she discovers a body. At first it appears that it was a simple accident from an inexperienced climber, but as the authorities begin to investigate all evidence points to murder. Kayden joins with Jake to help uncover the mystery and the suspect list keeps growing. Kayden begins getting threatening messages and soon becomes the killer's target. Can Jake solve the crime before anyone else gets hurt?
Again I must stress that this series needs to be read in order. The deeper I got in the book the more confused I became at times due to the characters and their story lines. I think it would be a much more fulfilling reading experience if you could enjoy the series from the beginning.
March 6, 2015
This is the 4th book in the Alaskan Courage series. The last time I flew threw a series so fast was when I read the O'Malley series from Dee Henderson. Can't wait to read the last book in the series, but also want to in a way delay reading that because then the adventure ends.
Kayden is one tough lady! Emotionally and physically - there was something she did which I don't think I will ever be able to do, but maybe when your life is threatened you have a different sort of adrenaline which makes pain not so painful....
Wow, Dani Pettrey has one creative mind to come up with a character so emotionally twisted (think criminal minds type of bad guys). It was really exciting for me as reader to follow the clues and was actually spot on with my suspicion of one character - due to my love for suspense series like criminal minds, the blacklist etc.
Jake and Kayden was also so cute. Kayden wanting to be strong and independent, and Jake being there for her but letting her be independent...bordering on stubborn. The lesson - live your life to the fullest, don't let fear stop you from living was also a personal lesson for me.
Was great to start to see Reef and Kirra's story and looking forward to reading their story in book 5.
The only reason for 4.5 stars instead of 5 is that I felt the first murder's story was not completely closed for me.
Highly recommended for all suspense lovers.
Kayden is one tough lady! Emotionally and physically - there was something she did which I don't think I will ever be able to do, but maybe when your life is threatened you have a different sort of adrenaline which makes pain not so painful....
Wow, Dani Pettrey has one creative mind to come up with a character so emotionally twisted (think criminal minds type of bad guys). It was really exciting for me as reader to follow the clues and was actually spot on with my suspicion of one character - due to my love for suspense series like criminal minds, the blacklist etc.
Jake and Kayden was also so cute. Kayden wanting to be strong and independent, and Jake being there for her but letting her be independent...bordering on stubborn. The lesson - live your life to the fullest, don't let fear stop you from living was also a personal lesson for me.
Was great to start to see Reef and Kirra's story and looking forward to reading their story in book 5.
The only reason for 4.5 stars instead of 5 is that I felt the first murder's story was not completely closed for me.
Highly recommended for all suspense lovers.
October 17, 2019
Once again, Dani delivers breath-taking suspense woven perfectly with mesmerizing action and a delightful romance, all wrapping up in a satisfying conclusion. (I feel really professional after that sentence – and this sentence just took all professionalism.) But seriously. It’s all true. I love the McKenna family and all their stories, and meeting up with my favorite characters from previous books is delightful. Love especially Bailey and Darcy! :) Anyway. Back to my review. I could NOT put this book down – almost literally. I read it all in one day and was tied to it the whole time. Dani is an amazing author and one of my favorite authors hands-down. I can’t wait for book 5!
**Dani actually sent me a copy of this book, but I wasn’t required to review it, much less positively. I wasn’t paid for this review in any way. All opinions are my own.**
**Dani actually sent me a copy of this book, but I wasn’t required to review it, much less positively. I wasn’t paid for this review in any way. All opinions are my own.**
June 27, 2016
I read this awhile back so this won't be a detailed review. I've read and loved the entire seies, and as one reviewer mentions, there hasn't been a as good of a family series since Dee Henderson's O'Malleys. Others have summarized the story well enough so I won't go there. Dani writes with a golden pen, with insightful character formation, tightly woven plot lines and fast paced adventures that keep you turning pages while your faith is subtly built. My dream is to become an arc reader for her so I don't have to wait in line for a library copy. I highly recommend this book and the whole series and I was born in Alaska. These books make a bit homesick especially during a hot Georgia summer!
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