Sabotaged (Alaskan Courage)

Sabotaged

Dani Pettrey

Book Summary: Finally Returned Home, Reef McKenna Finds His Beloved Alaska Facing Its Greatest Threat Growing up, goody-two-shoes Kirra Jacobs and troublemaker Reef McKenna were always at odds. Now, working together as search-and-rescue for Alaska's arduous Iditarod race, a growing attraction seems to be forcing aside old arguments. Then Reef catches Kirra sneaking from camp in the middle of the night. Kirra's uncle, a musher in the race, has disappeared. Kirra and Reef quickly track the man, but what they discover is harrowing: Frank's daughter has been kidnapped. Kirra and Reef, along with the entire McKenna family, are thrown into a race to stop a shadowy villain who is not only threatening a girl's life--but show more appears willing to unleash one of the largest disasters Alaska has ever seen.

Review: Great Storyline. The McKenna family is fun and it was great to read the final in the series. Everyone made an appearance. With the Iditarod as the backdrop for the suspense was fantastic. It seemed at times that the bad guys had eyes everywhere and that may it more intense. Kirra was very well written and demonstrated a growth throughout the book that made it enjoyable. Loved Reef, he was easy going and likable from his original appearance in previous books. The story lined challenged ‘the how far would you go’ questioned with the buffer of in faith we are in Christ, that we must pray and look to Him for our way in this fallen world. Not preachy but very thought provoking.

I would like to thank Bethany House for allowing me to read and review this book in return for a free copy and I was never asked to write a favorable review by anyone. show less

I continued my Alaskan vacation once I got home by listening to Sabotaged, the final book in Dani Pettrey’s Alaskan Courage series. If you are a fan of this series, you will be pleased to know that Pettrey finishes it off with appearances by all the McKenna clan and their significant others. The book starts out fast, and the suspense never lets up. Featured characters Reef and Kirra have their hands full with threats and attacks by unknown assailants. Although eco-terrorists seem to be the main threat, there could be hidden agendas as well. Reef and Kirra criss-cross the state making this book a true Alaskan adventure. From Anchorage to Fairbanks to Seward to Nome and along the Iditarod Trail, the two track down clues of her abducted show more cousin and renegade uncle. Suspense is a big part of Sabotaged, but romance is central as well, as Reef and his long time nemesis Kirra discover they have a lot in common. Sparks certainly fly between the two. Specific to the audiobook — I found it easy to listen to and get lost in.

If you are looking for romantic suspense, Pettrey is a go-to author. Begin at book 1 in the series, though, because each McKenna’s story is revealed and built upon from book to book. With 5 volumes, you are in for some great hours of binge-reading!

Recommended.

Audience: adults.

(I purchased the audiobook from Audible. All opinions expressed are mine alone.) show less

Dani Pettrey recently slid the Alaskan Courage series to a dramatic finish in Sabotaged, a story that highlighted Reef - the former prodigal - while still involving all the siblings & their mates to some degree. Loyal readers of the books get to say goodbye (*wail*) to their own personal favorite character/couple with a very satisfying send-off, but not before we are taken along on a dangerous race to save lives and the Alaskan frontier. I thought Sabotaged could not have been a better way to end the series! We get to spend time with all of the McKennas, Reef finally has his chance to shine, and it's all set against the backdrop of an iconic Alaskan event - the Iditarod - and the current political debates about the pipeline. It seemed a show more fitting way to close this chapter, pun totally intended. show less

The fifth novel in Dani Pettrey’s Alaskan Courage series, Sabotaged, rounds out the story of the McKenna clan with a new mystery to solve and everyone on board for the ride.

As the famous Iditarod begins, Kirra’s beloved uncle, a musher, disappears, her cousin is kidnapped, and the fate of the Alaskan wilderness is held in the balance. Kirra and fellow search-and-rescue team member Reef McKenna race to solve the mystery. With a gunman chasing them across Alaska, extreme environmentalists on the loose, and lives on the line, Reef and Kirra learn more about each other with each step to learning more about her cousin’s kidnapping.

Reef and Kirra are interesting characters, and I’ve enjoyed how they have been interwoven into previous show more Alaskan Courage books. I identify with Kirra because it could also be said of me that I grew up as the “goody-twp-shoes” girl. And, ironically, Reef reminded me a lot of my popular, adventure loving brother who wasn’t always on the straight and narrow.

The plot is packed with mystery and some action, as Reef and Kirra race to save her cousin and their beloved Alaskan wilderness. Sometimes the plot became almost redundant, as the two spent most of their time driving or interviewing potential suspects. But as a whole, it was well thought-out and an interesting take on the vulnerabilities of people, passionate environmentalists and those who are out for revenge.

However, I was somewhat disappointed in this last Alaskan Courage book for two main reasons: I would have loved more history and information about the Iditarod. I learned a little, I suppose, but one of the reasons I loved Submerged (Book 1) was because I learned so much about the connection between Alaska and Russia and the history therein. There was such rich opportunity to share more of the culture, history etc. of the Iditarod, but I came away without that.

The second reason, and more integral to the book, was that I didn’t feel Reef and Kirra changed, evolved, grew, etc. at all. Now, if you have read the previous books, you’d have seen how Reef has been changing for some time. But as a stand-alone, you don’t get that at all. It’s more like both Reef and Kirra are discovering just how much he has changed. That made the story rather fall flat to me.

I wanted to know more about Kirra, to see her struggles, her personality, not just because of a trauma in her past, but because of who she is as a person. Like I said, I identify with her. But I didn’t feel like she was fully explored and rounded out as a character.

Overall though, I love the Alaskan Courage series, Sabotaged included. I look forward to seeing what new book Pettrey has in store for us next!

I received a complimentary copy of Sabotaged from Bethany House Publishers, but I was not otherwise compensated for this review. All writing, thoughts, and opinions are solely mine. show less

In this finale of the Alaskan Courage series, Kirra’s uncle, Frank, has disappeared from the Iditarod race. We soon learn that his daughter has been kidnapped, and he is being forced into some dangerous and illegal activity in the hopes of saving her life. Much of the book deals with Kirra and Reef trying to chase down Frank and locate his daughter. A complex plot has the characters figuring out exactly who is responsible for the kidnapping, but the path is not straightforward, and like in real life, sometimes people who seem to be on the same side are not honest with each other. Exciting and entertaining, this mystery, with just enough romance thrown in, is a great way to end a wonderful series.

It has arrived. It is a bittersweet moment for me, the final book in the Alaskan Courage series. Throughout these five books the McKenna’s have become my friends, they have become a book series I will re-read over and over. However, even with it being the end of the series, it did not keep me from devouring this book from the very start! Sabotaged may be one of my favorites of the set (However, I really am partial to Kayden’s story in Silenced). Pettrey has continued to impress with each book, with twists and turns you never know quite what you are getting into.

Reef’s story is no different,although through him and Kirra I believe that Dani has reached another level with her characters. I loved the characters of the previous book show more but there is something about Kirra and Reef that is very human and authentic. The problems they face on a personal and emotional level and you can connect with their struggles and inner turmoil of figuring how to navigate a new relationship with the baggage of someone’s past and working on moving on while embracing what God has planned for you.

I can never say enough good things about the Alaskan Courage series and I highly recommend all of them. Just a warning, once you start you won’t want to put them down, so you may want to purchase them all at once!

I received this book complimentary from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. show less

Dani Pettrey has done it again, and we are back in Alaska with the extended McKenna family. This time we are following the Iditarod and Kirra Jabobs and Reef MccKenna are thrown together in a desperate effort to rescue her Uncle Frank’s daughter, and her cousin, Meg.
Again there seems to be danger at each turn, and who have to wonder who will be left by the end of the book. Whether someone is shooting at you, or being a car careening off the road and into icy water there is lots of danger and more to go around. The question we start asking is “why”? How can anyone survive all that seems to be happening?
We are introduced to the stealing of a valuable Fabragé egg, the rich oil fields, and the natural minerals that abound in Alaska, show more and are trying to connect the dots as to what needs to be done to save Meg. Or is there another angle that we are not seeing clearly.
Through all the troubles we find great faith and a love of God, He is there with then at each turn, and all they need to do is ask for his help. There is also a bit of romance going on here, one we have followed from another book, and a new one, but will the budding love be able to survive?
I loved this book and the others in this series, they are all page-turners, and full of mystery. You don’t have to have read the previous books to enjoy this one, but I would recommend you read them, they are all equally as exciting as this one. Enjoy!

I received this book through Bethany House Bloggers Tour, and was not required to give a positive review. show less