GIUSTI, DEBBY
THE OFFICER'S SECRET
Secrets on and off base.
In the middle of the night, Maggie Bennett finds her army officer sister dead in her military housing. She's devastated by the loss of the estranged sibling with whom she was trying to reconnect. But as U.S. Army criminal investigations agent Nate Patterson begins asking questions about the officer's suspicious death, Maggie can't tell the handsome man everything she knows. Except that her sister was definitely murdered -- for a secret Maggie can't share. Then she walks into the killer's trap and has to trust Nate with the truth...and her heart.
My Review:
Taut, suspenseful writing makes The Officer's Secret a page-turner. I felt like I had slipped into an NCIS episode -- Giusti has done her research or has inside information because she has the investigative and military angles covered but, at the same time, the romance doesn't take second place. She's managed to find a great balance and the combination propels the plot into an exciting read. And she totally stumped me!!!!! I was gullible enough to follow the red herrings she generously threw my way and she completely flummoxed me at the end!!!! I love it when a suspense surprises.
Nate is the kind of take-charge hero a girl can drool over. His need to protect and his reluctant attraction combined with high ethical standards are a lethal combination but it's his skewed guilt over an incident in his past that makes him vulnerable and stole my heart.
Maggie has her own problems that she is determined to keep buried in the past. Her reluctance to give Nate her complete trust places her in the path of danger and definitely hikes up the suspense a couple of notches.
Nate and Maggie's developing romance heats up the plot -- soft, tender scenes juxtaposed between tense suspenseful ones that culminate in an explosion of action and romance. A thrilling read!
Reminder: If you would like a chance to win a copy of The Officer's Secret by Debby Giusti, leave a comment below. A draw will be held on Sunday April 24 for all the books I read between April 11 - 23. For more information about the Giveaway check out the April Showers Bring Reading Hours blog posted on March 31.
Well, I know the first comment never gets picked but someone has to be first:)
ReplyDeleteI have had my eye on this one for the past month since I learned it was coming out. I love a good military mystery! And I am the same way:) It is getting harder to actually have a mystery where I am surprised at the end so I can't wait to read this one. Please enter me:) Thanks!
esterried[at]yahoo[dot]com
I'm like you, Charity. I love suspense and like to think of myself as a supersleuth (LOL), so it's a treat when an author surprises me.
ReplyDeleteAnd there's no jinx to being the first to comment...at least I hope there isn't. I discovered this random number thingy on line and I count my commentors off and enter the number range in the online thingy and voila -- random results. It's much more reliable then chasing my dog around the house to pull the scrap of paper he pulled from a hat out of his mouth. :-)
I enjoy romantic suspense and this sound like another thrilling adventure by Debby Giusti. Please include me!
ReplyDeleteworthy2bpraised at gmail dot com
Count yourself in, Merry! Good luck!
ReplyDeleteI read my first Love Inspired Suspense book last month and enjoyed it. Thanks for entering me in the drawing.
ReplyDeletetwinwillowsfarm at gmail dot com
Good luck, Pegg!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the chance to win Debbie's book. :)
ReplyDeleteAnn_Lee_Miller@msn.com
Your welcome, Ann Lee!
ReplyDeleteWow, sounds like a great book! I love military novels and suspense, so this would be right up my alley!
ReplyDeleteonepilgrim86[at]yahoo.com
If you like military suspense, Hope, you'll definitely like this one. It has that kind of vibe to it! Good luck!
ReplyDelete