It only took one chapter for me to realize that I was not going to finish this book. With amateur prose and drama fit for a teenage romance, I couldn't stomach the rest. This type of book is why the "Christian" tag causes me to hesitate upon reading. There is no reason for this genre to have an almost fake and unnecessary, blatant, forced message of faith. I was disappointed that instead of a good story I was met with unreal, saccharin representation of a crime novel. ( )

One of the greatest book discoveries for me in 2020 was the Dive Team investigations series by Lynn Blackburn. I found them thanks to other book reviewers on Instagram and I am so glad I gave them a chance. How did I miss these when they released? They are the epitome of everything I love about the genre of romantic suspense. All of them are full of swoonworthy heroes who repeatedly save the day, but not because the heroines are weak and need rescuing. It is quite the opposite actually. All of the women are smart and independent, but find themselves in some pretty precarious situations. I like that each of the three couples relationships develop throughout the book. Instant relationships would just not be believable given the characters backgrounds and nail-biting situations going on in each story. It's not surprising that my favorite part of the series by far was the page-turning suspense! Each book hooked me from the beginning and I found myself totally surprised at the end! I really don't think I could pick a favorite hero, heroine, or book in the series. I loved them all!
The blessing in disguise with finding this series late was I got to binge read the entire series so there was no waiting in between!

Note: The novella, Unseen Enemy, is available to the author's newsletter subscribers and is a connector between this series and the first book in her new series which releases this spring. Can't wait! ( )

“In Too Deep,” is a faith-based romance novel masquerading as a police procedural. Eventually, “thriller” the elements mentioned in the marketing blurb all appear, but they are embedded in hundreds of pages of typical romantic novel developments.

Boy (Adam) and girl (Sabrina) are attracted to each other, but initially they interpret the other as disinterested. Gradually they work through their self-doubts and the ambiguity and find true love. Along the way they frequently think about or invoke “our Father,” or just “Father.”

The focus on romance extends beyond the focal characters. Each of the six central characters is a gracious, thoughtful, wonderful, devout person who likes and respects each of the other central figures. There is no interpersonal tension among this tight-knit group. In one scene the principal characters engage in a group prayer with each taking a turn contributing to the prayer.

Unfortunately, the focus is on the emotional connections among the primary characters. Comments suggest that the previous novel in this series focused on Ryan (a detective) and Leigh (a critical care nurse) who are newly engaged, and my guess in that Gabe and Anissa, also detectives, will be fall in love in the next novel.

This book is definitely a disappointment. I enjoy a good romance novel, but I prefer to pick one because the plot description appeals to me, not because I have been misled. Tami Hoag does a superior job of integrating romance into the police procedural. Although not primarily a romance writer, Curtis Sittenfeld’s “Eligible,” is a thoroughly enjoyable contribution to the romance genre. Debbie Macomber is another romance writer I enjoy, and despite the flaws I have noted in Melody Carlson’s novels I continue to find her books worth reading. I am unlikely to read another offering by Blackburn. ( )

A forensic dive team in North Carolina is the focus of Lynn H Blackburn’s series, Dive Team Investigations. In book one, we met the team members and focused on Ryan and Leigh’s story. Book two, In Too Deep, tells the chilling tale of Adam and Sabrina. While I believe the book could stand on its own, I started out feeling that the team members were already my friends, not people I had just met.

What’s to love about this book? Blackburn strikes a good balance between great romantic suspense and relationship-driven narrative. What I loved most is that Sabrina is intelligent beyond belief, yet that character trait is countered by an unusual lack of common social skills. In other words, a great, but lovable, flawed protagonist.

Heavy topics are handled within these pages. My antennae went up. We’re talking about sex trafficking and labor trafficking. Where is the author taking me? Guilt, awareness, action? For me, I choose awareness.

I loved that prayers are a part of everyday needs in the novel, and some are spoken aloud. They’re not preachy, but natural, clear, and honest.

Points to Blackburn for exhibiting a sense of humor at a few critical points. Some thoughts just made me laugh. Try “baby cops.” Another was a paragraph listing Sabrina’s many injuries, followed by the statement she had never looked more beautiful. That just tickled my funny bone.

Thought-provoking quotes:
“You love the victims and the victimizers. We don’t understand that, Lord.”(How true!)
and
“...it’s not about how big our faith is. What matters is how big our God is.”~Sabrina

I highly recommend this series, and can’t wait for Gabe and Anissa’s story. I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are solely my own, and no positive review was required. ( )

In Too Deep takes the reader back to the town of Carrington and its dedicated law enforcement officers, especially those involved in the dive team investigations. This series just keeps getting better — the cases are puzzling, the danger imminent, and the romance sweet. The second book in Dive Team Investigations focuses on geeky computer whiz Dr. Sabrina Fleming and handsome Adam Campbell, a white collar specialist. Together they make a good team, professionally and personally. If you are a fan of romantic suspense, you need to check this one out. Recommended!

The Dive Team Investigations series features an ensemble cast of professionals who work together on tough cases. Sabrina and Adam’s story is told in In Too Deep, but the reader will love how they interact with characters found in book one. I loved the developing romance between the two main characters — it was realistically portrayed with missteps, misunderstandings, and doubts that were very believable. Both Sabrina and Adam have some baggage that could cause some rough patches, but I loved how they accepted each other based on their own attitudes and actions. They are also both Christians who rely on God in both good and bad circumstances. Trust in His goodness is a part of both of their lives. This was actually very refreshing, as many books I read have characters with more doubts than faith. I loved that they both were quick to go to God for all their problems. Human labor trafficking is the center of the police investigation, and Blackburn did a great job in making this reader aware of the insidious evil all around us. And because this book is suspense there is plenty of action with enough twists to keep the reader guessing.

Although it can be read as a standalone novel, In Too Deep is a great continuation of Blackburn’s series. I am eagerly anticipating more danger and romance to come! If you Santa put a gift card in your stocking, consider diving in to these great books!

Recommended.

Audience: adults.

(Thanks to Revell for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.) ( )