One Wrong Move - Book Review

Dani Pettrey is one of my favorite romantic suspense authors and One Wrong Move, one of her newest books, is the start of another wonderful series. If you liked her Chesapeake Valor series and Irene Hannon's Triple Threat series, then One Wrong Move is perfect for you!

Plot Summary

Security expert Christian O'Brady's con artist parents dragged him into a life of crime at a young age. His unique past gives him the tools needed to make any security system impenetrable. Or so he thought. When an art gallery with one of his systems is robbed, he teams up with an insurance investigator with a reputation to find the thieves.

After FBI forensic analyst Andi Forrester is accused of mishandling evidence that sends an innocent man to prison, she becomes an insurance fraud investigator and uses her skills to investigate crime. As Christian and Andi delve deeper into the case, they uncover clues that show the thieves have more on their mind than stealing artifacts. Andi and Christian are pulled into a game with no set rules and another player out for revenge. One slip up and the game could end with them losing their lives.

Personal Thoughts

Christian is a sweet guy, but he is not to be trifled with. I liked watching his interactions with his siblings, Riley and Deckard, as well as how seriously he took his job. Andi is a strong smart woman who isn't one to shy away from danger. I can't count how many times someone told her to stay put so she wouldn't get hurt and she went anyway.

Deckard MacLeod and Harper Grace, Andi's best friend, while not the main couple, had a prominent role in the story. Christian prompted Deckard to look into Andi's case and Harper quickly jumped at the opportunity to help. Harper's quirky personality paired well with Deckard's no-nonsense attitude. They worked well together and I can't wait to see if they become a couple in later books ....

Riley and Grayson's chemistry was obvious, even though they appeared only once or twice together. I wanted more of them!!! (Spoiler: they're the main couple in the next book 😃).

The plot was wonderful. There were really two cases going on. Each provided their own intrigue. One case involved shootings, high speed chases, and twisty riddles. The other was full of secrets, lies, and a huge scheme. In other words, I was hooked throughout the book.

Notes

This book is best for teenagers and adults.

Steam Level: 💋💋💋

This is the first book in the Jeopardy Falls series.

Ramblings Inspired by the Book

Christian and Andi both have something in their past that haunts them. For Christian, it's con artist parents who drag him and his siblings into a life of crime. For Andi, it's being accused of mishandling evidence and putting an innocent man behind bars.

Christian and Andi's story reminds me that we don't have to let the past affect us. I love how this was illustrated when Andi and Harper were talking on the phone after Christian told Andi about his past. Andi, wanting to respect his confidence, didn't divulge the details. Harper came up with the analogy "he wore Mickey ears" and told Andi, "It sounds to me like whatever he did is behind him and he's a new creation in Christ". The Mickey ears are off and long gone; it's time to embrace who he is now. Personally, I get a kick out of this illustration.

I love how Pettrey weaves in a redemption message and how the past is in the past; Christ has forgiven us of our sins and when we accepted him as our Savior our past, no matter big or small or embarrassing, was wiped away. It no longer has any bearing on our life. This quiet message permeates Christian and Andi’s journey. The past doesn't define them. It’s the same thing for us. What we did in the past is wiped away and we now have a new life. It doesn’t matter what we did. We are a new creation in Christ with a new beginning. While this is a powerful message that's often talked about in church, I feel like it had a unique impact when paired with this story.

For those of you who have read One Wrong Move, what did you think of it? For those who have not read it, would you? Tell me in the comments below!