The title of this book by James Nathaniel Miller ll, No Pit So Deep, captures the complex difficulties of a war veteran suffering from post traumatic stress syndrome. However Cody Musket is not the only character suffering from PTSD in this intense romantic thriller. Brandi Barnes is a young single mother whose work as a journalist has put her in danger; danger Cody Musket steps in to rescue her from.
None of this is evident at the beginning of the book when Cody, Brandi, and Brandi’s daughter, Knoxi are first introduced. It is many years since the couple met and there are a few references to those early days of their relationship. It is through a deadly occurrence that the story flashes back to the incident that brought Brandi and Cody together; the moment that changed the course of their lives.
While Cody has survived the horrors of war, his experiences have left him deeply scarred. Brandi is also wounded by a traumatic life experience. Involved in an abusive relationship, her boyfriend attacks her when she refuses to abort the baby she is carrying. Left with mental and physical scars, she opts to raise Knoxi with the help of her parents.
Cody miraculously survives his physical injuries and becomes a baseball player. Even with his success, he carries the burden of his past. As he is drawn deeper into a romantic relationship with Brandi she becomes aware of his inability to admit his growing feelings for her.
Brandi is a journalist who is exposing human trafficking rings. When she is attacked by three thugs at a local movie theater, Cody steps in, and using his skills he saves her. This is only the first incident where Cody rescues Brandi, her two-year-old daughter Knoxi, and even Brandi’s parents from the violent attackers. Determined to protect Brandi he convinces her to join him as he travels with his team.
The book is well written and has plenty of action as well as clean romance. The relationship between Cody and Brandi develops very quickly and it is sometimes hard to believe. Brandi has a very strong spiritual faith and this is highlighted often throughout the story. Her parents also have an interesting understory that reflects both faith and her mother’s own experience with PTSD.
There are a lot of colorful characters in the book. Cody is certainly the most developed and it is his persona that carries the tale. A warrior wounded physically, mentally, and emotionally, it is impossible not to root for him to overcome his demons and get the girl. His history is told through numerous flashbacks and it is heartbreaking to live his experiences through his eyes.
Brandi’s personality swings between her concern and tenderness toward Cody and her desperate and somewhat selfish need to have him commit to her. Perhaps this is a result of her tragic past, but it makes her a little less sympathetic.
This is a story of miracles; the miracles of survival of body and spirit and the human need to connect with others in spite of painful pasts. It’s apparent the author knows a great deal about war and suffering. He also knows a great deal about baseball as Cody’s career is vividly described throughout.
Since this is the first book in this series it ends somewhat abruptly, leaving the reader hanging with the question, what happens next? There is no return to the incident at the beginning of the book so this is definitely not a standalone story. I would have preferred some reference to the initial occurrence before closing this chapter of the Cody Musket story.
I recommend this to any reader who enjoys a clean romance with a significant amount of action to keep things moving along. It is certainly inspiring, although at times it may seem unbelievable. Overall it is a well-written book.
This review can also be found at Readers Review Room
Between the Beats 
This sounds like a good story!