Submerged

Deep Water . . . Amazing Grace

Professor Bailey Craig, prim, proper, saved and sanctified . . . and terrified to go back home to Yancey, Alaska, when her Aunt Agnes dies in a plane crash . . . but she has to go, just long enough to see to her aunt's body and the shop that her aunt left to her . . . in Yancey, Bailey faces all her old demons and her one true love, Cole . . . and is surprised to learn that he, too, has become a Christian . . . the investigation into the crash that killed Aunt Agnes progresses, drawing both Cole and Bailey further into the mystery . . . Cole, a diver and Bailey, a professor of Russian Studies are instrumental in the discovery of the truth . . . Bailey is forced to deal with her sorted and painful past . . . long ago she accepted Christ as her Savior . . . but she has never forgiven herself . . . never allowed herself to really believe that Jesus or anyone else could really love her . . . in Alaska's deep waters, will she finally be free?

9 of 10 people found this review helpful

Christian book

The story was okay but too many references to religion. If you enjoy Christian literature then you would enjoy it more than I did.

22 of 26 people found this review helpful

Excellent! Kept me engaged throughout the book!

What made the experience of listening to Submerged the most enjoyable?

The story kept me on the edge of my seat! I couldn't stop listening!

Who was your favorite character and why?

Cole and Bailey! Their propriety in relationship with each other and God were portrayed well!

Have you listened to any of Christina Moore’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I search books with Christina Moore as the narrator first, then I decide if the book's story is worth my time. She is the best!

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Absolutely! I couldn't stop listening!

9 of 11 people found this review helpful

Submergerged

Somehow I missed that this was a Christian romance when I read the synopsis. Too much talk of god to suit me. Thumbs down.👎

12 of 16 people found this review helpful

Submerged Left Me Breathless

Would you consider the audio edition of Submerged to be better than the print version?

Though I own this book in print, I chose to listen to it because I couldn't wait until I had enough time to fully immerse myself in this story. I consider a story's ability to be translated into audio in my review, and Submerged rated high for me.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Cole was my favorite character in this book. I really liked his integrity and his desire to seek different perspective to the different situations he was confronted with. He was a well developed character which allowed me to feel his pain and rejoice with him.

What does Christina Moore bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I enjoyed her inflections and found it easy to slip into the story after a couple of words, no matter how many times life interrupted me.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The beginning of the book started out with a bang and soon after my heart was screaming. I was close to the end of the book when I found myself screaming once again. I loved it.

Any additional comments?

This is my first experience with Dani Pettrey and Christina Moore and I am ready for some more.

4 of 5 people found this review helpful

OK, But Predictable

Is there anything you would change about this book?

It would take a lot to bring this up to a 5 star.

What about Christina Moore’s performance did you like?

Yes, it was pretty good and I am not usually a fan of female narrators.

Do you think Submerged needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

It would be expected with all the family members to choose from.

Any additional comments?

I really liked the Alaska-Russian theme in the story. I have always wanted to go to Sitka because of that.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Not A great listen

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

The story line goes on and on about how unforgiven the girl is towards herself

How did the narrator detract from the book?

It was a slow narration with not much to hold your attention

Any additional comments?

The book had great potential.

3 of 4 people found this review helpful

Painful

What disappointed you about Submerged?

I am nine chapters in and I'm stopping now. I only got this far because I was listening while I cleaned out an old filing cabinet. The story itself might turn out to be fine. It does have some unusual features, like the setting and the diving and the fact that the female protagonist was formerly the town slut. But the writing is trite and the author insists on stating the obvious.

As an example, two characters in the search and rescue business are talking and one says to the other something like, "The NTSB -- National Transportation Safety Board -- will be here tomorrow." Okay, maybe you need to clarify the acronym for the reader. But guys who work together don't talk to one another this way. There's a more elegant way to accomplish the same end, but it has eluded this author, time and time again. Painful.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

Writing this clichéd has to be hard for a narrator, but this one does the book no favors. In particular, her male voices sound strained.

7 of 10 people found this review helpful

Could not take the headset off!!

Would you listen to Submerged again? Why?

Most definitely will listen to it again. Dani Pettrey is in line with Dee Henderson -- one of my favorite authors. Submerged keeps you on the edge of your seat.

What other book might you compare Submerged to and why?

Dee Henderson, Ann Perry's Thomas & Charlotte Pitt series, and Terry Blackstock's Newpointe 911 series. I also thoroughly enjoy Colleen Coble as well as others in the 'clean' suspense genre

What about Christina Moore’s performance did you like?

She clearly enunciates and her voice is very soothing. not high-pitched.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I tried to listen to it in one sitting only I feel asleep and had to backtrack.

2 of 3 people found this review helpful

Couldn't get past misogynistic Christian Judgement

VERY preachy, and holds a misogynistic view of a young woman who struggled with alcohol in her youth, was taken advantage of, used, and tossed aside by many of the men in her community. ie: Old-school in a bad way..

It's a murder-mystery - I like the genre - It is supposed to be a romance as well, but I couldn't get past the community-using-then-abusing of main character coupled with the misogynistic-BS-moral-judgments: The community this takes place in judges the main character for her past, for sex out of wedlock, (and plenty of it) and her own self-shaming is over the top.

Backstory goes like this:
When main character was a young woman she struggled with alcohol, and got used by every Tom, Dick and Harry in the community - Every time she was drunk again the list of her abusers grew. Old-fashioned public shaming ensues.All of the blame is then heaped squarely on this young woman's shoulders, never touching on the amoral, illegal acts of the men in this small community who never offered help, but only used her, then joked about her and publicly shamed her, even calling her names (to her face). The young woman is eventually driven out of town by her abusers and has to pick up the pieces on her own.

Story begins when the young woman must return to the town she grew up in. Her own self-talk is full of self-loathing and Christian moralizing of her past, not the healthy rage she should be feeling for all those people who only hurt and used her, and then furthered the abuse by mistreating her emotionally when she was sober.

Narrator does an acceptable job. Writing isn't bad.

Two thumbs down on this misogynistic primer of Christian moral judgments.