Title: Seaside Secrets (Pacific Coast Private Eyes)
Author: Dana Mentink
Pages: 219
Year: 2016
Publisher: Love Inspired Suspense
My rating 5 out of 5 stars.
As a reader, do you ever look for something to read that is quick but exciting to read? I enjoy the many different stories and authors in the Love Inspired Suspense books. These books include romance, action, adventure and more. They are small enough to carry around and short enough for when a quick read is all one desires. I picked up Dana’s book recently from my personal library collection as the picture and the series, Pacific Coast Private Eyes, is about a diverse family who endured tragedy and came from various careers to keep their father’s company operating.
In this installment, we read Navy Chaplain Angela Gallaher’s story about serving overseas and coming home on leave to see if her shattered life and faith can be restored. While in the town of Cobalt Cove, taking time to face her personal struggle with PTSD, she meets Dr. Dan Blackwell who also served overseas in the same area. He is recovering from a serious hand injury and unsure if he will ever return to the operating room, because all he can remember are the names of those whom he couldn’t save.
Now, with two threads of the tale going on, another one is added when Abigail’s twin brother nicknamed Tank, contacts her for reasons she has yet to understand. While she understands her family business is being private eyes, she also knows she isn’t ready to enter that world until she can face her own demons. Soon, the mystery of Tank’s contact turns into a deeper mystery involving many more characters in the story and discovering nefarious actions going on in the local hospital. Along with a couple of antagonistic brothers who appear to people as one thing, but might be something altogether darker once the layers are peeled back from their lives. What else is happening in the shadows of the beauty of Cobalt Cove? Grab a copy and discover for yourself.
I highly recommend the whole series as Dana Mentink does a fabulous job of weaving a gripping story right from the first page! ( )

Dana Mentink has done it again. Whenever I read one of her romantic suspense books I know I'm about to be taken on a fast-paced, riveting, action-packed joyride. And that's exactly what I got with Seaside Secrets.
Tank Guzman needs Angela Gallagher's help, but not the help she's accustomed to giving. As navy chaplain she's assisted many to cope with their grief, but the pain of witnessing Tank's brother's death in Kandahar, Afghanistan has her wondering if she's truly qualified to carry on that role. Julio Guzman, Tank's brother, died while trying to protect her, and the guilt she carries, along with the PTSD, finds her stepping away from her duties as chaplain and into helping with her family's detective agency in California, Pacific Coast Investigations. Tank Guzman contends that someone is trying to kill him, but his bitter attitude towards Angela because of his twin brother's dying while trying to save her, along with his checkered past, makes Angela skeptical. Perhaps he's setting her up to be harmed as revenge for his brother's death. Nevertheless, she feels that Tank is telling the truth, and an obligation to help him because of Julio. Dan Blackwater, the heart doctor who served in Afghanistan with Angela and tried but failed to save Julio's life, wants to help her get to the bottom of what's going on with Tank, but Angela wants to keep Dan at arms length because of her attraction to him, unwilling to foster a relationship while she's uncertain about her own life and future. But when a young woman, Lila Brown, narrowly escapes being blown to bits, and Angela's life is eventually threatened, she concedes to a helping hand in Dan; one that might aid her in healing, and possibly in finding someone intent on murder.
Seaside Secrets starts off at a fast pace and keeps your heart pounding until the stunning conclusion. Dana Mentink is an excellent suspense writer. I was thoroughly impressed by the revelation of why Tank Guzman was running; very creative. I loved this book and recommend it highly. ( )

Seaside Secrets (Pacific Coast Private Eyes #2) Dana Mentink
Read 4/25/2016 Reviewed 5/10/16

Dana Mentink’s Pacific Coast Private Eyes series continues in the second book Seaside Secrets. Although it is part of a series it can be read as a standalone. In this book we get to know Angela (Angie) Gallagher is a Navy Chaplain suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) because of her assistant/bodyguard was killed saving her life. She is currently on leave and helping out with her deceased father’s private eye business. Angie goes to Monterey (Cobalt Cove) to help her assistant twin brother who is in trouble. While there her PTSD kicks in and is found by Dr. Dan Blackwater the surgeon who tried to save her assistant’s life. Dr. Blackwater is suffering from his own for of PTSD. This book is so good, I read it in one sitting. I couldn’t put it down because the action just kept flowing. There are a lot of twists and turns that keep you guessing and plenty of surprises.
Dana Mentink is one of my favorite Christian suspense authors and I have never been disappointed by one of her books. I would recommend this book to anyone that enjoys a fast paced, twist turning romantic Christian suspense. Disclaimer: I was given this book in exchange for leaving an honest review.

Seaside Secrets is book two in The Pacific Coast Private Eyes series. I absolutely loved the first in the series and now this book. Author Dana Mentink grabs your attention from page one. This book is jam packed full of suspense, action, and adventure. There are so many things to love about this book! First and foremost is the message that God never leaves us and is patient. Through everything never give up because he never gives up on us.
In this book Angela(Angie) Gallagher is a Navy Chaplain currently on leave after the tragic death of her friend and assistant Julio. He died protecting her and she is holding on tight to the enormous guilt. She suddenly gets a cryptic message from Tank Guzman who is Julio's identical twin brother saying that he needs her help. So she doesn't hesitate to drive from Coronado to Monterey (Cobalt Cove) only problem she ends up at a festival that is very loud and starts to affect her anxiety and PTSD. Then she overhears a woman mention Tank's name and not to meet with her? What is going on??? She is now even more determined to find out where Tank is and what is going on. That is until the person on the phone pulls a knife on her and tells her to mind her own business.
She ends up running into a ghost from her war days, Dr. Dan Blackwell who tried to save Julio. He knows what Angie is going through and wants to keep her safe especially after the person pulls a knife and their car blows up! Angie ends up taking off! Where could she be??? He ends up finding her on the beach crying and shaking, everything is coming back to her ten fold because of her PTSD. She thinks God is not listening anymore and just can't pray. Dan tries to reassure her that God is patient and is still with her. If a knife and a blown up car isn't enough Tank meets with them and tells them someone is trying to kill him? And everyone thought Cobalt Cove was a quiet place. Adventure, mystery and a multitude of suspects start coming out of the wood work. They are at a loss about who to trust in this small town. She ends up calling in some help, Marco and her sister Donna from the PI group.
What have they gotten themselves into and how are they going to get out before someone they care about gets hurt???
You will be on the edge of your seat throughout this book. Who,what,when,where, and why will have you second guessing everyone. ( )