Oh yay! Some of you made it back. Author Dani Pettrey set a pretty high bar with Cole and let's face it, becoming an FHF hero is already an oxygen required, nose-bleed high kind of bar to reach. Please keep that in mind when I tell you I spent the first two-thirds of Shattered getting my stomach in a knot because Landon was a really good hero in a really good story but he wasn't quite an FHF hero.
Then I hit Chapter 36.
I actually wanted that to be the excerpt but after deliberating it at length decided that scene was too deep into the novel and would give too much of the story away. Anyway, once Landon spring jumped straight into FHF, the rest of his novel was a crazy thrill ride adventure where I had no idea what was happening. Every time I thought I'd figured out who the killer was I was wrong and so many times I just wanted to bite through my lip because I was feeling everything Landon was feeling. Then the unthinkable kept happening and Landon kept my heart swinging from tender moments to panic moments almost to the very end. After brooding in angst and frustration for two hundred pages, when he finally threw the switch, man did he throw the switch. Loved it. Loved him. Let's take a closer look at Yancey, Alaska's Deputy Landon Grainger.
About Landon Grainger's novel Shattered by Dani Pettrey (released Feb. 1, 2013):
When her prodigal brother's return to Yancey, Alaska, is shattered by his arrest for murder, Piper McKenna is determined to protect him.
Deputy Landon Grainger loves the McKennas like family, but he's also sworn to find the truth. And he knows those closest to you have the power to deceive you the most. With his sheriff pushing for a quick conviction, some unexpected leads complicate the investigation, and pursuing the truth puts Landon's career in jeopardy.
When Piper launches her own investigation, Landon realizes he must protect her from herself--and from whatever complications await as the two follow clues deep into Canada's rugged backcountry. Not only does their long friendship seem to be turning into something more, but this dangerous case is becoming deadlier with each step.
From Shattered by Dani Pettrey:
Piper never listened. Never learned. First poking her nose into his investigation and ticking off the eyewitness, and now this—out in the middle of nowhere with Denny, again.
He
cut through the forest, headed for the clearing they’d all used back in high
school as a summer make-out spot. Knowing Denny, that’s where they’d be.
Visiting it in winter didn’t make Denny any less predictable. Seriously, what
did Piper see in the guy? Sure, he had good looks and money, but she was more
than that.
Laughter
reached his ears—Piper’s. She was probably touching Denny’s arm the way she did
when she said something she found amusing. Just as she had the night of Cole
and Bailey’s engagement party.
It
had nearly brought him to his knees. He couldn’t shake the image from his mind,
couldn’t breathe, so he’d ended up at Hawkings trying unsuccessfully to drown
the memories from his mind.
It’d
been wrong. He never should have let it get to him. Never should have turned to
alcohol to numb the pain. He knew better. Seeking solace in a bottle never
brought anyone any good.
Stepping
clear of the forest, he found them. Piper’s hand was resting on Denny’s arm,
just as he’d imagined, and the two of them were huddled beneath a blanket with
a picnic of sorts spread out before them. How cheesy could Denny be?
The
urge to hurl gnawed at his gut.
“But
what if you’re wrong?” Denny said, stroking her chin with his gloved thumb.
“But
Landon’s—”
“Ready
to throttle you?” he said, stepping forward.
Piper
sprang to her feet. The blanket that had been covering her pooled at her feet.
“What are you—?”
“Doing
here?” His jaw tightened, his heart whirring in his ears. “I could ask you the
same. Surely, you’re not out in the middle of nowhere with a man again.”
Denny
scrambled to his feet. “We were just having a picnic. And I don’t see how it’s
any of your business.”
“Not
my business? Well, it seems Piper and I are both lacking in the ability to
determine what is and isn’t our business.”
Her
brows pinched together. “What are you talking about?”
“Not
here.” He grasped her by the arm. “We’ll talk in the truck.”
“Truck?”
She tugged against his hold. “I can’t leave.”
“Wrong.”
He pulled her with him.
Denny
hurried after them. “You can’t just haul her away.”
Landon
tightened his grip. “Watch me.” When Denny continued his pursuit, Landon turned
and growled, “Denny, stay out of this.”
Piper
trudged alongside him, tugging against his hold. “Landon, you’re being rude…
and ridiculous.”
“I’m
being ridiculous? You’re the one who acts without thinking. First with Ashley,
now with Denny in the middle of nowhere?”
“And
you are the one who acts without feeling.”
“What
the blazes is that supposed to mean?” That he didn’t care, didn’t feel? She
couldn’t be further from the truth. He’d been drowning in his feelings for her.
“Why
can’t it ever be the other way around? Why can’t you express what you are
feeling? Or is it simply that you don’t feel?”
Don’t
feel? He wanted nothing more than to press her up against his truck and show
her exactly how he felt about her—kissing her until she was weak in the knees.
But the last time he’d followed his heart, it got shattered. This time, it
looked like it was going to get shattered no matter what he chose to do, and
there wasn’t a thing he could do to stop it. As long as he had breath in his
lungs, his heart belonged to her.
He
opened the passenger side door of his truck and hefted Piper in. “Trust me, I
feel plenty.”
Her
eyes widened, and he knew he’d said too much. He slammed the door and stomped
around to the driver’s side.
Climbing
in his truck, he started the engine. “Feelings,” he said, shifting the gear
into drive, “put you in the middle of nowhere with a man, and that’s
dangerous.”
She
linked her arms across her chest as he sped down the road. “I’m in the middle
of nowhere with you.”
“That’s
different.” And she knew it.
“How
exactly? You are a man, aren’t you?” She cocked her chin up a defiant notch.
“Or is it just that you’re not dangerous?”
“More
dangerous than you know.”
Copyright 2013 by Dani Pettrey. Excerpt used with permission. All rights reserved.
Gallant Score:
For being so angsty Landon has a gallant streak a Texas mile-wide. He earns some serious orange for the things he doesn't do, as much as those he does. You're going to see this more toward the middle and the end.
Softie Score:
I suspect it's there, Landon's soft side, he just doesn't have much of a chance to show it because he's busy protecting Piper and trying to solve a murder. But the place in particular it shines through in the novel, (and in a very special exclusive toward the bottom) you get the FHF-hero heart squeeze for sure.
Stupid Strike:
Copyright 2013 by Dani Pettrey. Excerpt used with permission. All rights reserved.
For being so angsty Landon has a gallant streak a Texas mile-wide. He earns some serious orange for the things he doesn't do, as much as those he does. You're going to see this more toward the middle and the end.
I suspect it's there, Landon's soft side, he just doesn't have much of a chance to show it because he's busy protecting Piper and trying to solve a murder. But the place in particular it shines through in the novel, (and in a very special exclusive toward the bottom) you get the FHF-hero heart squeeze for sure.
This is not because Landon has a hard time expressing himself to Piper and pretty much everyone when it comes to what's going on with him inside. Landon earned this bit of orange in a bar with some whiskey and one Becky Malone. That's all I'm going to say. But it's actually nice to put some orange here for a change because it reminds me (and you guys hopefully) that great heroes will sometimes do stupid things. And if we're being honest, unless we're the ones hurt by it, we usually love them a little more for it. Because they're more like us.
Wounded Score:
I have to say for as bad as Landon has it for Piper and as wrecked as he is about it, he actually does a really, really great job of well, doing his job. I can't say I can't imagine what it's like to have to ask questions and consider the possibility that people you care about deeply are going to be hurt because of you and your conviction to do the right thing. I can't say that because I lived it with Landon in this novel. Landon has scars on his heart from Piper, scars on his heart from his father, and scars on his heart from some bad decisions in his past. But in spite of all that, he's so strong in so, so many ways. And one of the things I truly love about this man is how he gives God the credit, and isn't afraid to pray for help sincerely and often.
Swoon Score:
Only one of these is because of his picture, I promise. I'd painted a pretty good one in my head already of the outside but I gotta tell you hero-girls, if you'll get a few chapters in and let the intrigue and suspense of the novel and getting to revisit the McKenna clan carry you into the story where Landon begins to change and grow, you're going to be so, so glad you did. Shattered is a good book anyway apart from Landon. He's not what carries the story because Piper is such a strong heroine (I so wanted to be her by the end!) but he has so may moments that will make you feel. Frustrated, angry, scared, hurt, courageous, that by the time you reach the end worn out and head still spinning because the novel twisted and turned on you (in a good way), you're going to love Landon as much as Piper. And me.
The giveaways:
I have to say for as bad as Landon has it for Piper and as wrecked as he is about it, he actually does a really, really great job of well, doing his job. I can't say I can't imagine what it's like to have to ask questions and consider the possibility that people you care about deeply are going to be hurt because of you and your conviction to do the right thing. I can't say that because I lived it with Landon in this novel. Landon has scars on his heart from Piper, scars on his heart from his father, and scars on his heart from some bad decisions in his past. But in spite of all that, he's so strong in so, so many ways. And one of the things I truly love about this man is how he gives God the credit, and isn't afraid to pray for help sincerely and often.
Only one of these is because of his picture, I promise. I'd painted a pretty good one in my head already of the outside but I gotta tell you hero-girls, if you'll get a few chapters in and let the intrigue and suspense of the novel and getting to revisit the McKenna clan carry you into the story where Landon begins to change and grow, you're going to be so, so glad you did. Shattered is a good book anyway apart from Landon. He's not what carries the story because Piper is such a strong heroine (I so wanted to be her by the end!) but he has so may moments that will make you feel. Frustrated, angry, scared, hurt, courageous, that by the time you reach the end worn out and head still spinning because the novel twisted and turned on you (in a good way), you're going to love Landon as much as Piper. And me.
About Deputy Landon Grainger's author Dani Pettrey:
Dani Pettrey is a wife, home-schooling mom, and the
acclaimed author of the romantic suspense series Alaskan Courage, which
includes her bestselling debut novel Submerged and latest release Shattered.
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 her characters' faith, and plenty of romance. She
and her husband reside in Maryland with their two teenage daughters. Visit her
website at www.danipettrey.com
The FHF exclusive directly from the author:
(Instead of a vignette of backstory or off-page insight into our hero, Dani actually wrote us a scene from their early beginnings. Can't tell you guys how excited I am to be able to share this with you! It's REALLY GOOD. =)
She came bounding across the beach,
sand kicking up behind her bare feet. Her big brown eyes wider than her
smile—she’d discovered something. Cole’s kid sister was always discovering something. A
born explorer, that one. Landon grinned.
“Cole!” Piper squealed. The freckles
spattering her sweet face were in full swing from the summer sun.
“What’s up, Piper?” Cole bear-cradled
his ten-year-old sister up in his arm.
“Look what I found.” She uncurled
her hands.
Landon leaned over her slender
shoulder, taking in the wadded up piece of paper.
Trash?
The kid was excited about someone’s toss away?
“It’s wet.” She grinned, blinking
her big eyes at Landon. “Maybe it washed up on the sand. It looks old.”
The paper was weathered. He’d give her
that much. He gently took it from her hand, carefully unfolding it and
smoothing it out on a rock.
She wriggled free of Cole’s football-maneuver
hold and bent in the sand beside Landon, her eyes alight with anticipation.
At
the Point 10 p.m. Saturday
“What’s happening at the Point?” she
asked so innocently, Landon didn’t have the heart to tell her teens his age
used the Point as a make-out spot. She was pure and he longed for her to always
stay protected—had ever since she’d first wrapped her tiny fist around his
finger as a toddler.
“Tomorrow’s Saturday.” She looked
back at Cole. “Can we go?”
“I’m afraid 10 is past your bedtime,
kiddo,” he said. “Maybe when you’re older.” He smiled and headed back to his
new friend Bailey wading along the shoreline.
Piper crossed her arms with a huff.
“I’ll tell you what,” Landon said,
standing. “I’ll check into it. See if anything suspicious is going on and
report back to you.”
She eyed him sideways. “You will?”
He smiled. “Anything for you,
Pipsqueak.” He tugged her braid.
A soft smile curled on her lips.
“Thanks, but I thought we’d agreed you’d stop calling me that.”
“Just like I agreed never to toss
you in the sea.” He grinned, moving towards her.
She held up a delicate finger,
stepping back. “Don’t you dare.”
She was so adorable; thinking a
simple shake of her finger was enough to stop him.
“Landon!” A peal of laughter burst
from her lips as he flipped her over her his shoulder and headed for the surf.
Amazon Barnes & Noble Christianbook.com
One copy of Shattered
(winner's choice of format, print or ebook)
For existing readers, $10 Amazon or
Barnes & Noble giftcard.
Please include if you would like to be entered for
the book or for the gift card and if your profile won't let me look up your
e-mail, please include your address in a spam fighting format like callmeAlaska at treehouseoflove dot com.
IMPORTANT: For the giftcard drawing, as always we
need the name of a character not used in the excerpt or the feature and once
that character has been used, please choose another.
Winners will be announced on Feb. 28th, 2013
One more thing. I want to know who among the hero girls has ever been snow skiing, rock climbing, scuba diving, or tangled with organized crime. Or if you want to and haven't, why not?
