3 out of 4 stars
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Cody Musket is a star athlete with fans all over the United States, but he’s more than a baseball player. He’s a former Medal of Honor winner with haunting secrets from his past military career. Brandi Barnes is a journalist whose editorials on human trafficking have put her in danger. After an attack on her life brings Cody into her path, love may become their greatest weapon to combat the darkness in No Pit So Deep: The Cody Musket Story, a novel by author James Nathaniel Miller II.
This first book in the Cody Musket series has a multicultural cast of characters and a blend of contrasting elements that work well together. There are thrilling moments of action along with stirring moments of human connection. The author touches on a range of critical issues in the US, including the modern slave trade, racism, and veterans dealing with post traumatic stress disorder. The book addresses dark subjects head-on, yet there’s plenty of humor and a strong thread of faith woven through the story, balancing the tone.
Cody and Brandi keep the dialogue interesting, not always taking the most obvious route. The novel’s material can get rather gritty, particularly where war violence is concerned, but the grittiness isn’t gratuitous. It effectively serves its purpose, bringing the depth of Cody’s trauma to life. It also strengthens the overall theme from the title—a title that a number of readers of faith may recognize.
The romantic chemistry between the hero and heroine is relational, not merely physical. However, these two characters have longstanding, deep-seated issues, and neither one seems like they would form relationships suddenly. Hence, the development of their emotions toward each other feels rushed. Brandi’s serious problem with men is mentioned several times, so it seems there’d be more doubt or hesitancy in her behavior and her thoughts about Cody, particularly in their first days together. Within hours of their initial encounter, Cody and Brandi have both declared a desire to be friends, and they begin to interact as people who already believe in each other.
The third-person narration doesn’t have a lot of rampant “head-hopping.” However, the point of view does switch between characters rather abruptly in places. In some moments, it becomes unclear from whose point of view a scene or a reflection is unfolding. Also, a couple of events in the novel are so blatantly coincidental that they feel out of place. Moreover, the way the development switches gears toward the end of the novel doesn’t quite fit. New characters and new background stories are introduced so late in the book, it feels as if the novel isn’t sure exactly where or how to wrap things up.
Nevertheless, even with its weaknesses, this is an entertaining story with depth, an engaging style, and an inspirational message. Therefore, I give No Pit So Deep a rating of 3 out of 4 stars. I’d recommend it to fans of Christian thrillers and romantic suspense, especially those with an interest in military and social issues.
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No Pit So Deep
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