Book Review: Shattered

Synopsis: Piper McKenna's younger brother, Reef, is in big trouble.  Found at the scene of a murder, all the evidence is pointing his way.  Yet Reef insists he's innocent--and Piper, along with the other three McKenna siblings--believes him.  But Deputy Landon Grainger isn't so sure.  Torn between his love for Piper and his strong sense of justice, Landon doesn't know what to believe.  

Eventually, he and Piper set out on their own to look for clues, hoping to learn who really killed Karli Davis--and why.  Along the way Landon wrestles with how and when to tell Piper about his love for her, and Piper comes to realize that she loves him, but it takes them a while to actually communicate about their feelings for each other. :)  There isn't much time left before Reef's trial . . . will Piper and Landon be able to clear his name, or will Karli's killer catch up with them first?

I love a good murder mystery, and Shattered was definitely a page-turner.  While I hadn't read Submerged, the previous book in the series,  I didn't have any trouble getting into Shattered.  Probably I would have understood the McKenna family dynamic a little better if I'd read Submerged, though.  There were some things I didn't "get" about their family history--are their parents dead? how did they die?--etc.  But overall the story was pretty easy to follow.  This mystery had plenty of twists and turns and suspense, and I really enjoyed it.  The next book in the series, Stranded, is supposed to be released in Fall 2013, and I hope I will get the chance to read it, too!

**I received a free copy of Shattered from Bethany House in exchange for my honest review.  I was not required to give a positive review, and all opinions expressed are my own.