Dani Pettrey is the bestselling author of the Coastal Guardians, Chesapeake Valor, and Alaskan Courage Series. A two-time Christy Award finalist, Dani has won the National Readers’ Choice Award, Daphne du Maurier Award, HOLT Medallion, and Christian Retailing’s Best Award for suspense. She plots murder and mayhem from her home in the Washington, DC, metro area.
In this interview, Dani shares some of her insights into her lates novel, Two Seconds Too Late.
FF: Two Seconds Too Late is the second book in the Jeopardy Falls Series. Can you share a little bit about this story with us and also how it builds on the first book, One Wrong Move?
Two Seconds Too Late features skip tracer and expert tracker, Riley MacLeod, of MacLeod Investigation and Security PI firm. When a friend goes missing from a highbrow couples’ retreat, she is paired with fellow PI Greyson Chadwick. With each harboring deep feelings for the other, playing a couple at a retreat starts out as fun, but as they get deeper into the case and their feelings for one another, they find everything is at stake including their lives.
FF: What continuing elements connect each book in the series?
The MacLeod siblings and Greyson Chadwick are all featured in each installment of the series, developing the family bound between siblings. Though their horrific childhood and teen years continue to haunt them as they struggle to break free from its clutches, despite the fact they all turned over new lives. It’s learning to reconcile the past as the past and lay their wounds at the Lord’s feet. The themes of hope, forgiveness and restoration are woven throughout the series.
FF: What inspired you to set this thriller at a luxury spa couples’ retreat in northern New Mexico?
We lived in New Mexico for seven years and I fell in love with the area—particularly northern New Mexico. I thought a spa couples’ retreat where Riley and Greyson must play a couple in love would be just the thing to push them to finally reveal their true feelings for each other.
FF: Can you tell us more about the dynamic between Riley MacLeod and Greyson Chadwick?
Riley lives with passion, goes by her gut in all situations, and doesn’t mind risk. Greyson, who is a decade older than her loves everything about Riley except her penchant for danger. He, on the other hand, works by logic and in a meticulous, methodical manner. When the two are paired on the case, their methods clash and an undercurrent of romantic tension sizzles beneath the surface. They aren’t sure which is more dangerous—the case that keeps escalating or their escalating feelings for one another.
FF: How do you balance the romantic elements of the story with the high-stakes investigation and danger?
I believe that in romantic suspense or romantic thriller novels as I tend to write, the romance and the danger are inextricably woven together. One feeds the other.
FF: Without giving away any spoilers, can you hint at the “hidden truth” that rocks Riley and Greyson to the core?
That would be a big spoiler, but let’s just say nothing they believe is what it seems until the truth is so shocking it obliterates the case they thought they were working.
FF: Your book touches on themes of trust and survival. How do these play out in Riley and Greyson’s relationship?
Given the danger they are in from the very onset, they must fight for survival throughout the case and learn to trust not only each other, but God to get them through.
FF: As an experienced author of suspense novels, how do you keep coming up with fresh, pulse-pounding twists for your readers?
I truly believe God lays the stories on my heart, but, even still, I often have to play around with the idea to make sure it’s fresh and not something I’ve done before or done in the same way. Looking outside the box and flipping ideas on their heads can be really helpful.
FF: What message do you hope readers will take away from this story?
While we can’t know or see our future, God can, and we can trust Him with it. Given that, we should live each day to the fullest and trust God will equip us to meet each moment day by day.
FF: Can you give a sneak peek for readers of what might be coming in the next series installment?
Hmm. This is always a fun question. Let’s just say Deckard and a certain forensic botanist for the FBI that was introduced in book one, will be making a repeat appearance.
Two Seconds Too Late
Jeopardy Falls Series #2
Dani Pettrey
Bethany House
Genres: Romantic, Mystery/Suspense
Release Date: April 29, 2025
ISBN-10: 0764238493
ISBN-13: 978-0764238499
Book Summary:
A missing woman. Two hit men. When every second counts, who will survive?
In the stark but beautiful wilds of northern New Mexico, a couples’ retreat at a luxury resort turns into a chilling nightmare when a woman vanishes. Skip tracer Riley MacLeod and private investigator Greyson Chadwick pose as a couple to hunt for clues that might reveal the missing woman’s location. Those leads uncover a harrowing truth: They’re not the only ones looking for her. What begins as a normal tracking case turns into a deadly chase when they, too, become the hunted.
As Riley and Greyson work together, their partnership ignites a tumultuous attraction, but Greyson’s secrets prevent him from acting on his feelings for her, and Riley can’t bring herself to fully trust him. Delving deeper into the case, they find themselves fighting not only for justice and the chance at a loving relationship…but also for their very survival.
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