Liz Bradford's Review of Cold Shot by Dani Pettrey

Cold Shot – April’s An Author’s Take

(No spoilers here! This is a review not a synopsis. You’ll have to read the book to find out what happens!  😉

Also, this post contains affiliate links. By clicking and purchasing you help support my family at no additional cost for you.

In last month’s post, I mentioned that when I start a good story I don’t stop. Well, that’s exactly what happened with Cold Shot by Dani Pettrey!

This book has been sitting on my kindle since last summer when I got a great deal on it. I’ve been wanting to read it but hadn’t made the time. Well, I finally made the time. And let me say, it was time well spent! Dani hooked me into the story quickly, and her characters compelled me to keep reading. I started it a few nights ago when I went to bed, but I was so tired that I feel asleep within two pages (I was so sad; I wanted to read!). But I picked it up easily the next day and finished within three days. Spent most of the day Sunday reading the second half. I couldn’t put it down.

 

You meet the whole cast of characters for the series (well, almost all) within the first chapters and fall in love with each one. Dani developed each character thoroughly enough that there was no confusing characters. She described each character to give you a clear picture of what they looked like, but also left enough space for you to picture them in your own head. I don’t like it when author’s give too much detail about a character’s appearance, but I also want to know what the author sees when they think of the character. Dani nailed it!

 

The story is told in third-person close (the point of view that uses she, he, etc., but keeps the narrator’s voice as what one character is thinking and feeling per scene). As many author’s in this genre (like myself), Dani uses multiple points of view. Most of the story is told from Finley or Griffin’s, the main characters, points of view, but some scenes are from Parker’s or Avery’s (they are the main characters in book two); as well is some scenes from the villain’s POV. I like her use of the villain’s point of view as it gives the reader an increased sense of urgency, revealing things the main characters have no way of knowing. She does so in a way that doesn’t give away the end, but makes you really curious. There were a few points where I was like, “Wait, what?” but, as I knew they would, the pieces all fit perfectly together once I knew more of the story. She wove it together perfectly.

 

Her style of story telling is very similar to my own. Her characters are real with genuine struggles and authentic faith. With enough suspense to keep you on the edge of your seat (without giving you a heart attack), enough mystery to keep your mind spinning trying to guess what’s going on (without confusing you), enough romance to warm your heart (without making you want to gag), Dani painted a beautiful story.

 

Dani Pettrey is now one of my FAVORITE authors! Thanks, Dani for a great story! I’ll be diving into book two tonight!

 

As of 4/4/18 the kindle edition of Cold Shot is only $.99!!! That’s a steal! Click here to pick it up!

Story Ideas

Where’d That Idea Come From?

Many people as writers, “Where do you get your story ideas?”

But some days I’m like, “How do you not have ideas?” 🙂Story Ideas - Liz Bradford

 

If I had time to write all my ideas I think I could fill an entire library!

 

Most of my ideas are inspired from something else.

 

Other stories work as a type of spring board for my ideas. I’ll watch a show or read a book and a little piece of a character or storyline will jump out at me, and I’ll follow it down a little bunny trail. Or I’ll see a news article, and the same thing happens. Sometimes the idea comes out of seemingly nowhere. Sometimes the story idea will even come out of a dream I have. I’ll play the scene or character out in my head and see where it takes me. If I find something worth pursuing, I’ll write the idea down. I use Evernote a lot for this since I can just turn on my phone and type up a new note. I also have a binder that holds all my ideas and notes until they can take on a life of their own, but I’m using Evernote more and more since it syncs with my computer, and I can just copy and paste into my writing program. Read More

An Author's Take by Liz Bradford

March: An Author’s Take

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. By clicking and purchasing you help support my family at no additional cost to you. Thanks!

Cicero said, “A room without books is like a body without a soul.” I’m inclined to agree. And what would a writer’s blog be if we didn’t talk about books! 😉

A room without books is like a body without a soul. – Cicero

I love books. I love the way they look. I love the way they smell. And mostly I love reading! I’ve never considered myself to be a voracious reader. But once I discovered reading could be fun when I was in fifth grade, I’m always looking for a new book to read. If only I had time to read all the books that I keep downloading on my kindle…

 

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