Sunday 10 April 2016

Review ~ Silent Sentry by Theresa Rizzo


Book Description:

Award-winning author Theresa Rizzo delivers a thrilling crime novel packed with suspense, romance, and redemption.

The Scarfilis and Donnatellis love deeply and protect fiercely. “Family takes care of family” is the code they live by.

So when a hacker threatens Gianna Donnatelli’s life, Dr. Joe Scarfili is determined to keep her safe, only he has no police or tech experience, and Gianna’s penchant for aiding Detroit’s underprivileged is the same kind of altruism that got his wife killed. Gianna protects Joe with the same unyielding resolve. 

Gianna pushes all his insecurity buttons. Joe tries her patience like no other. But together they’ll fight to save each other and their love… Or die trying.

Buy Links:


Our Review:

Reviewed by Donna ~ 4 stars
***ARC received for an honest review***


“Be careful who you trust, so you don’t get your heart broken – or any other body parts.”


Theresa Rizzo is a new to me author and when I was presented with the synopsis to this book I knew I wanted to read. Mafia based books draw me like a moth to a flame so I was anxious to dive into this one. I am also a huge lover of romantic suspense. Romantic suspense has all the emotions of a budding romance laced together with suspense and intrigue that keeps the plot moving and the pages turning, what’s not to love?

Gianna Donnatelli and Joe Scarfili have known each other all their lives. Their families have always been the best of friends and as a result Gianna and Joe have known each other since they were kids. Fiercely protective Italian families that always have each other’s backs, after all, family is family and family takes care of family.

Gianna Donnatelli was a feisty woman who was extremely intelligent and self-assured. Having come from a nursing background her medical knowledge was second to none but her love had always been with computers. Gianna went back to uni and got her computer based qualifications and then combines her two loves in one fantastic invention. This invention has infinite possibilities and a potential to make Gianna and her business partners billionaires overnight. With patents pending and an IPO ready to go, Gianna is insanely busy, but not too busy to notice when a hacker tries to infiltrate her prized invention.

Joe Scarfili is a surgeon and a widow, he had a heart of gold and was beautiful on the inside and out. Joe still had a lot of hurt and grief bubbling around inside of him but Gianna is the first woman since he lost his wife to turn his head. When their paths cross in the hospital after Gianna is attacked, Joe goes into full blown protection mode and it is this that puts Joe and Gianna closer together than they have ever been. Could this be the beginning of something good for the both of them?


“As time goes by, the hurt doesn’t hurt so much.”


Interlaced with Gianna and Joe’s blossoming relationship is a plot of suspense and intrigue, with computer hacking, murders, attempted kidnappings, mafia links, bombs, you name it, it could or can happen. With many possible suspects and the finger waving in many directions it was really difficult to pin point who or what was behind all the bad currently happening in Gianna and Joe’s lives. Theresa Rizzo had my mind running a mile a minute trying to comprehend all the plot twists and red herrings that she laid perfectly within this suspenseful read. I have to say I really thought I had got this one, I was convinced, I even bragged about it, until the end, when I was so far from the truth it was frankly embarrassing. Still, nothing new there then!


“So you’d best protect them – more than me. Because without them, I have nothing to live for. And neither will you.”


I loved the protectiveness between Gianna and Joe, on both sides. Having been so close before crossing the friend zone it really cemented their feelings for one another and the extent that these two would go to protect the other, even if it meant putting their own lives on the line. Gianna was stubborn at times, but after all, she is Italian so Joe shouldn’t have expected anything less. Gianna was a go getter, she went after what she wanted and what she had worked so hard for, no matter the consequences and frankly, Joe was just hanging onto her coat tails trying his best to keep her out of trouble. But watching their relationship blossom under the most intense and trying circumstances was testament to their love for one another. If they could make it through this, they could make it anywhere.


“He needed to feel the reassurance of her warm body, solid form and heart beating strong against his. Joe needed Gianna, and that scared him silly.”


With emotions running high from past and present, threats to lives and livelihoods this book has something for everyone and with a fast paced, action filled plot it will certainly keep you on your toes. While for me the ending seemed a little rushed it did not detract from my enjoyment of the story as a whole. It was a book that I couldn’t put down until I knew the perpetrator and while I was way off the mark, I should have seen the wood for the trees. I thoroughly enjoyed this one and I will certainly be checking out other titles from this author.

No comments:

Post a Comment