Title: Silent Sentry
Author: Theresa Rizzo
Release Date: April 3, 2016
An entrepreneur must team up with the man she’s secretly loved to outwit a psychotic hacker before he destroys all she holds dear.
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.
Suspense-filled romance…
Giana Donnatelli and Dr. Joe Scarfili have known each other forever. Their families have been friends since they were young which meant their lives have intersected for years. Their relationship, however, is much more complex than family friendship. With danger stalking both of them, it’s hard to say what is more risky to their hearts—their mysterious enemy or their attraction for each other….
This is a new author for me and I was thrilled to start reading and finding characters and a story that had me totally engrossed from the start. Gianna was a balanced mix of beautiful, smart and stubborn. She was determined to follow her dreams despite the sudden danger, yet practical enough to know she needed help. She felt vulnerable and, despite her feelings for Joe—or because of them—she couldn’t help but appreciate having him by her side.
I was equally on team Gianna and Joe; it was hard to pick when both of them were so likable. Joe had many swoon worthy characteristics including drop-dead gorgeousness and heart-fluttering protectiveness. The two meshed well as they worked side by side to defend themselves against an unknown attacker despite their obvious emotional baggage. The uncertainty that existed between them added another layer to a not-so-simple plot…
“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.”
It’s hard to say what was the focal point in this suspenseful romance with so many elements coming together to make it a riveting read. The danger is palpable and, with so many possible culprits, the twists and turns kept the story fresh with surprises around every corner. I loved the relationship between Gianna and Joe as they both fought the feelings that were growing between them under very trying circumstances. The humor that peeked out amidst the turmoil brought a welcome lightheartedness to the emotional roller coaster. There is love and then there is love for a car—two very different things entirely!
While the ending seemed rushed and a bit to flat to me, the overall story was full of memorable characters and heart-felt emotion which keep me coming back for more!
~ Review by Diane
Theresa Rizzo is an award-winning author who writes romantic crime fiction and emotional stories that explore the complexity of relationships and families through real-life trials.
Born and raised in Grosse Pointe, Michigan, she currently lives outside of Boulder, Colorado with her husband of thirty-three years. After attaining a BS in Nursing, Theresa retired to raise four wonderful children and write.
