Shade Tree Book Reviews and Blog: SILENT SENTRY - Theresa Rizzo

SILENT SENTRY

Threresa Rizzo

SYNOPSIS

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.

REVIEW

I have read and studied medieval literature and Shakespeare , but why or why did I keep thinking about a twisted Romeo and Juliette when I read this delicious novel? Except in this novel, Romeo and Juliet were not suicidal, star-crossed teenagers, like the original lovers were. In fact, they weren’t suicidal at all. They were well educated, adults who had known each other as children, or should I say as teenage and child?

That aside, once again, Theresa takes up another social issue to address in her newest novel. But this time, she lands her heroine in the inner city of Chicago where the poorest of the poor cannot fend for themselves against the riff-raff of the gangs and warfare that wage around them. Enter a young entrepreneur and a young doctor and you have two warring stories flying across the pages. No make that three, for there are truly three distinct storylines that are tightly interwoven through this book. Each one is breathtaking unto itself as you try to figure out who will win in the fight between good and evil, the will to overcome. With a heavy dose of romance thrown in to lighten the overtones and undertones of the social justice that is being addressed between the lines.

Oh, no, I didn’t forget about those pesky Italians from Shakespeare. They are there in their 21^st century garb and just as nasty and just as willful. But the world has got much larger than it was in the fifteen and sixteen hundreds. It seems to have permeated globally. For some reason, it seems that it is the young, and the innocent who always get caught in the cross-fire of the warfare for money and power. Nothing ever changes.

No, don’t get me wrong. This story is enjoyable. It is fast-paced. There is laughter, and love, but there is a much deeper message to be had, if you peel back the words and the pages and let it sink in a little. Great job, again, Theresa. Your story craft continues to grow. You brought many a smile to my face as I rifled through the pages of this novel. There was no leisurely reading allowed. I give this one a great FVIE STAR review!!!! Well worth the read!

This book was provided to this reviewer at no cost to read and assess for other readers in exchange for a fair and honest written review of the novel. Shade Tree Book Reviews aka Blogging Under the Shade Tree is not associated with the Author or publisher of this novel.

ABOUT THERESA

Biography

I was born and raised in Grosse Pointe, Michigan. Growing up in an Irish-Italian family was never dull or quiet. I have four siblings, two sisters and two brothers. My mother was a nurse and my father a general surgeon, so my interest in medical issues is hardly surprising.

As a youngster, I struggled with mild dyslexia. I couldn't read until third grade, but after years of remedial work, the wondrous world of books opened up to me and I've been a voracious reader ever since. Though possessing a fertile imagination, my practical side never even considered pursuing a writing career, because I'm too fond of eating. So I became a registered nurse.

After college, I married my high school sweetheart and had four children. Though I adore my kids and am very proud of them, parenting requires a lot of patience-- not exactly my strength, so I began writing. Writing gave me a creative, intelligent outlet that I needed, and it was far less expensive than therapy and a defense attorney. Writing allows me to create wonderful characters who, if they disappoint me, I can make their lives miserable--literally-- or simply kill them off, without going to jail! How great is that?

We lived in the Chicago, then San Diego, before settling in beautiful Colorado. We absolutely love the mountains! When not skiing, hiking, or writing in the mountains, I love to play tennis, take long walks, work in my gardens, decorate our house, read, work with my tile mosaics, and crochet.

It's true that writing is a lonely endeavor. Learning the craft and the publishing industry is a lengthy, complex process made much more fun when I joined the Romance Writers of America, and later, the Rocky Mountain Fiction Writersand the Crested Butte Writers.

I've been fortunate to make friends with many interesting people. Writers are a remarkable, entertaining breed who possess quick wits and huge hearts. They've enriched my life immensely and I'm very grateful to each and every one as you can see is you watch my writing journey video.