Item: Still Life
Author: Fizzy Pop

Still Life by Dani Pettrey
Series: Chesapeake Valor #2
Published by Center Point Large Print on January 31st 2017
Genres: Christian, Fiction, Romance, Suspense
Pages: 383
Amazon|Barnes&Noble|Goodreads

Blacklisted in the photography business over a controversial shot, Avery Tate answered an ad for a crime scene photographer. She expected to be laughed at, but crime scene analyst Parker Mitchell hired her outright — and changed her life. But six months ago, when her feelings for Parker became too strong, she left his employ to sort out her heart.

If you haven’t yet read my review for ‘Cold Case‘, the first book in the Chesapeake Valor series by Dani Pettrey, well it’s really quite similar to the review you are about to read for ‘Still Life’. I think my understanding and feel into the story is better since I read the books back to back, but there’s still things I am struggling with. The same things that I struggled with before. I really want to like this author but I’m halfway through this series (as it stands right now) and I’m just meh.

To be fair, I have a better grip on the characters this time around. I’m starting to consider the idea that I can keep them straight. Truth, some of the characters make better sense to my brain if I switch their names around. Crazy right? The faith elements still don’t feel authentic. Too formal and too forced. I don’t know many people that speak about their faith and God so formally. It detracts from the idea and feel of a true personal relationship. Finally, again, off screen everything. I felt disconnected from what was happening, not only with the characters, but also with the mystery with so many things being told after the fact.

I was still drawn into the mystery, I was still trying to figure it all out when it was laid out for me. I didn’t fall for the obvious distraction so for that I get something right? I’m still invested in this series, I’m still interested in this author. This book was a bit better than the first so the next book will be a bit better than this one right? That’s the theory I’m going with today, anyway.

About Dani Pettrey

A consummate world traveler: Africa, South America, Australia—been there, done that.

A die-hard thrill seeker: heli-skiing, cave diving, storm kayaking—if it’s extreme, she’s there.

A bullet-dodging, high-speed-car-chasing, treasure-hunting adventurer.

An antiquities theft investigator, FBI agent, archaeologist, forensic anthropologist, and a detective who tracks down justice for a living.

Okay, not really, but her characters are. And, that’s why she loves the passion God has placed in her for telling stories.

In real life, Dani Pettrey is a wife, former homeschooling mom and author. She feels blessed to write inspirational romantic suspense because it incorporates so many things she loves–the thrill of adventure, nail-biting suspense, the deepening of one’s faith and plenty of romance. She’s a huge fan of dark chocolate, is always in search of the best iced mocha and her dream is to one day own a little cottage on a remote stretch of beach. She and her husband reside in Maryland, where they enjoy time with their two daughters, son-in-law, and 2 super adorable grandsons.

Just in case you’re curious…The real Dani does love traveling. She’s been to some amazing places (Greece, Hawaii, the Keys) and there are many more she hopes to visit in the future.

And while she’s not quite up to sky-diving, cave diving or heli-skiing (too high, too enclosed, too cold!) she and her family love hiking, canoeing, wave jumping and a ton of other outdoor adventures a little further down on the risk scale.