Independent and tenacious journalist Vivian DeMarco is back in Walton, Georgia, for one reason–to do her job and get out. When her boss suddenly dies under suspicious circumstances, Vivian’s only hope for finding the truth–and the next big story–is small-town law enforcement’s lanky poster boy, Deputy Ryan Frost. But the deeper they dig, the more twisted the truth becomes, and Vivian finds … herself fighting for not only answers but also her life. False leads, incriminating emails, and someone called The Watcher force Vivian to confront the secret of her past and decide: How much is she willing to risk for the sake of a headline?
Author Natalie Walters welcomes you back to Walton, Georgia, where everyone knows your name–but no one knows your secret.
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My Review of Deadly Deceit by Natalie Walters: Wow! This was wonderful!!! Just as good, no, I take that back. Almost better than Living Lies, though not quite since I enjoyed the first one so much. This series is so good, the writing style is spectacular, the characters jump off of the page, the subjects through hard are, I must say this is a need to read for everyone who enjoys suspense.
The subjects covered in this book are not as hard and yet harder than the ones covered in the first book, Deadly Deceit shares pain, hurts, and forgiveness with a set sorry that is extremely enjoyable though maybe just slightly unrealistic though not too over the top and it is possible that things like what happens in this book could happen.
Rating: 5 stars.
Recommendation: 16 up for violence, inappropriate actions, and mentions of affair/s as well as the consequences of said affair/s.
Verse: John 3:21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God. (King James Version.)
Disclaimer: I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion
This is the second book in the Harbored Secrets series. First and foremost I will say that even though it is the second book in the series you can still read it even if you haven’t read the first one, “Living Lies”. However, it is that much better if you have read the first one. In this book, two of the minor characters, Vivian and Ryan, from the first one become the two major characters. You do get to find out more of the two original main characters, Lane and Charlie, story though which I appreciated because I usually end a book wanting to know more of what happened to the people. In the beginning of the book, Vivian’s boss is murdered. You would think that is the biggest mystery that you will encounter but it turns out there is even more going on than just one man’s murder. There is a person called The Watcher who is making things interesting for everyone. Is he also the person who murdered Vivian’s boss??? I guess you’ll have to read it to find out. Natalie does a great job developing the story and characters. You won’t regret reading this novel. You’ll be on the edge of your seat til the very end.
This second novel in the Harbored Secrets series seals the deal. Walters is a writer with a gift, and one you should add to your “must read” list.
Vivian, a reporter with one goal, and Ryan, a nerdy small-town deputy are our dream team couple of this novel. Walters bring a banter to this relationship that in unparalleled. It’s hard to create a playful relationship, but she does it with ease.
Walters is a breath of fresh air in a genre I didn’t know needed it. I love all things romantic suspense, but Walters writing reminds me of why! She.Is.So.Good.
The crimes and suspense of this story were so unique and kept me guessing until the very end. Blackmail, murder, and cover-ups, this story has it all! I loved that two unlikely characters cross in this charming small town. As you get to know each of them, I knew there would be a happy ending (because hello, we just know!), but I didn’t see how it was going to work out until the end. I loved that Walters was even able to write a believable (and non-trivial) relationship strain that provided it’s own line of suspense.
I can’t wait to go back to Walton, Georgia in Silent Shadows.
Natalie Walters is a new Author, this being her second book, but you would not know that when you read her books. In this short time she has become one of my favorite authors of Christian Romantic Suspense. This book is very well written and will keep you not only guessing throughout about who is the bad guy but it is on the edge of your seat intensity as well. The romance is a welcome addition and the hero Ryan Frost, aka Captain America, is a great guy. Vivian as the heroine is most likable as well. This can be read as a stand-alone but I recommend reading Living Lies first as you will enjoy it much more. I am waiting anxiously for the third book in the series.
This is Walter’s sophomore debut, and I think this book is even better than her first. What I liked about it is the fact that while romance does play a part, that is not the only focus. The importance of relationships are emphasized – parent and child, siblings, friendships. The main character recognizes that she has not been connecting with others, and that realization impacts everything. She also comes to realize why she struggles with commitment and starts to make changes to help herself heal from past hurts. God does play a part in the book, but the themes are not preachy. Vivian had played a part in book one, and it was interesting to see how she transformed throughout book two. Now I am excited to read book three as the likable minor character of Pecca will take center stage.
Since I thoroughly enjoyed the first book in this series, I was anxiously awaiting a return to Walton, Georgia. Deadly Deceit grabbed my attention from the very first pages. Again Natalie Walters has written a story with romantic suspense revolving around wonderful characters living in this small town. Her characters are relatable, easy to like and dealing with realistic struggles. I thought the lessons regarding truth, forgiveness and being chosen were well developed and good reminders. The touches of humor were nicely added. I definitely recommend clearing your schedule to read this book because I found it hard to put down. Deadly Deceit certainly can be read as a stand-alone. Of course, now I anxiously await the next book in the series! I was given a copy of this book by the publisher. All opinions are my own.
“All it takes is a whisper to ignite a flame.”
With heart-pounding suspense and intense action, author Natalie Walters is sure to delight readers in Deadly Deceit, the second installment of her Harbored Secrets series. After the death of her boss, journalist Vivian DeMarco’s determination to find justice places her in close contact with Deputy Ryan Frost. Soon many people’s lives and reputations are in danger as The Watcher searches for his next victim, leaving behind a trail of destruction in his wake.
This is an incredible story of family, forgiveness, redemption, and love. Readers will fall in love with the handsome Deputy Ryan Frost, who has taken on the role of protector for his mother and sister and now bears a resemblance to a muscular version of Prince Harry. Since readers were last acquainted with Deputy Frost in Living Lies (book #1 in the series), he has spent the last nine months training in Quantico with the Advanced Tactical Response Task Force. When reading Living Lies, the secondary characters of Ryan and Vivian did not deeply resonate with me. However, in Deadly Deceit, I absolutely love Ryan’s and Vivian’s character transformations and their intense chemistry. Natalie Walters definitely knocks it out of the ballpark with this novel.
Deadly Deceit is highly recommended for fans of romantic suspense, and readers who enjoy novels by authors such as Lynette Eason, Lynn H. Blackburn, and Irene Hannon. After reading the sneak peek of Silent Shadows, the conclusion to the Harbored Secrets series, which is included at the end of this novel, I can’t wait to read book #3 of this series. March 2020 can’t come soon enough!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell and was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine.
3.5 stars
“I’ve got a marmalade dropper, and I think . . . . I think it’s the story you’ve been waiting on.”
Harold Kennedy’s cryptic message took Vivian DeMarco straight to his front door. At nearly midnight, what awaited her was not a news story, but a tragedy; bringing her face to face with the one person from her not so distant past who might be willing to help assuage her guilt and unravel some very confusing clues.
Deputy Ryan Frost is pretty certain that Vivian DeMarco is not telling him everything she knows about the death of her beloved editor. And as the case morphs from accidental to homicidal, he becomes convinced that working alongside the tenacious journalist will keep her safer, but neither of them could have predicted the magnitude of the case nor the “unexpected, but not awkward” steps towards attraction.
While the story line steadily advances, it’s about half-way through the book before the depth of its characters really begin to impact the outcome. Ryan and Vivian are both bruised by their pasts and tend to tip-toe around issues that could ultimately make a difference. Will their walls remain built with bricks of “abandonment, rejection, alone and unloved” or can they be replaced with “family, friendship, belonging, and love”? Ultimately, it’s a race against time and a matter of life and death.
Enjoy this ingenious suspense with its many “harbored secrets”, while being reminded that hope shines brightest in the darkest of moments.
I received a copy of this book from Baker Publishing through Interviews and Reviews. The opinions stated are entirely my own.
I am a huge fan of Natalie Walters!! You won’t want to miss this stand a lone novel of suspense!
Walters has crafted an edge of your seat suspense! I was engaged in the drama from the opening scene until the final word. I enjoyed following Vivian on her journey from victim to Victor. It’s a journey we’ve all been invited to embark upon by our Loving Farther.
Recommend to readers who enjoy inspirational suspense.
I purchased a copy. I’ve expressed my honest opinion.
Welcome back to fictional Walton, Georgia – a place with warm, small-town vibes, but with much deeper and dangerous secrets lying just below the surface. Reporter Vivian DeMarco is left reeling after the death of her boss, and she makes it her lone mission to find out why he died under suspicious circumstances. Deputy Ryan Frost has recently returned from training at Quantico, and the buff sheriff’s deputy with some incredible computer code cracking skills barely resembles the gangly young man he used to be. These two definitely collide and sparks begin to fly along with the danger surrounding them.
I love an underdog, and deputy Ryan Frost was definitely just that in the past. Now, after a stint at Quantico, he’s got the brawn to fit the brain, and his awkwardness has melted away. It’s very satisfying to see a character fully evolve and realize his value to the community and to himself. I think he’s my favorite character by far. Vivian DeMarco is a relentless reporter who is always out to get the story, never stopping to think of the consequences of her actions, even though it may harm herself or an innocent bystander. This time around it’s personal for her because she actually cared about her boss, and she’s not going to stop until she finds out what happened. I definitely remember these two minor characters from the first book, Living Lies, and it’s interesting to see where this novel takes them. I enjoyed the book from the beginning to the heart pounding suspenseful end, because there is definitely more to this small town than meets the eye!
NOTE: Although this is book two in the Harbored Secrets series, they are both easily read as a stand-alone. That said, I really enjoyed the first in the series, Living Lies, and I highly recommend it. Her newest release will be Silent Shadows in March, 2020, which I will definitely be reading.
I received a copy of this book from the author and I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
I read Living Lies, the first book in the Harbored Secret series, earlier this year and I loved it. I had high expectations for the follow up book and I was not disappointed! This story takes readers back to Walton, GA and features Vivian, a reporter, and Ryan, a small-town deputy. Both Vivian and Ryan were part of the story in book one. I really enjoyed seeing both of them in a new light in Deadly Deceit and revisiting with other friends from Walton. Ryan and Vivian had great chemistry complete with playful banter and the suspense with lots of twists kept me turning those pages. In all fairness, I listened to the audiobook so I guess I should say the suspense kept me tuned in. Although you could read Deadly Deceit as a standalone, I would highly recommend starting with Living Lies. I can’t wait to start Silent Shadows, the third in the series, and the Harbored Secrets Christmas novella she announced would be coming to her newsletter subscribers later this week.
Although I struggled to get into the story at first, I was hooked a few chapters in. Vivian is a character who is easy to like. In some romantic suspense novels, the romance distracts the characters from focusing on solving the case. In this one, the relationship developed more naturally, which I appreciated. The mystery/suspense was interesting and not too graphic. I figured out the twists and turns and wasn’t surprised by anything, but it was still enjoyable to see the characters figure out what was going on. Once I got to the second half of the book, I was unable to put it down.
This is book 2 in a series. Although I read the first book in this series, it is not necessary to read it to enjoy this book. Characters from the first book are in this book, but any necessary backstory is explained by the author. I look forward to reading book 3!
I was so excited to see that this story was about Deputy Ryan, who was my favorite law enforcement officer, and the reporter I wasn’t sure I would like from the first book in this series. How would the author get me to like, if not love, Vivian? I didn’t need to worry. In the time between the two books, Vivian and Ryan had both changed and grown. I loved their chemistry right from the beginning. Full review is at my website.
I received this book complimentary in a giveaway. I was not required to give a review. All of the opinions I have expressed here are honest and my own.
Another amazing book from one of my favorite suspense authors! This book was so well written with just the right amount of romance to go along with the edge-of-your-seat suspense. There’s a murder to solve, which uncovers blackmail, cyber crime and more.
I loved the playful banter between Vivian and Ryan and the super hero references as well as being back in the small town of Walton. This book was so good that I devoured it in a day. I can’t wait for the final book of the series to release!
Natalie Walters nails her portrayal of a small town with big secrets! Themes of community, loyalty, and friendship keep this action-filled romantic suspense well within the boundaries of my tolerance of all things scary.
Vivian continues her pursuit of a simpler life in this second installment of the Harbored Secrets series. Her true nature, hopes, and insecurities are revealed as the layers of her often prickly personality are gradually pushed aside. Hometown hero Ryan has mostly outgrown his status of the nerdy underdog while retaining an approachable, nearly adorable nature. Vivian and Ryan’s entertaining banter is sprinkled with countless superhero references that lighten the mood without diminishing the seriousness of their circumstances.
Deadly Deceit has just the right balance of romance and action type suspense to keep me on the edge of my seat without giving me night terrors! Walters crafts witty dialogue and a fascinating plot with exciting law-enforcement-meets-investigative-reporting vibes. I highly recommend this series!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and was under no obligation to post a review. The opinions expressed are my own.
I was excited to read this book because of Ryan Frost. He is one of my favorite characters from Living Lies and when I realized Deadly Deceit held the promise of getting to know the deputy better, I couldn’t wait to be back in the small town of Walton, Georgia where everyone knows your name—but no one knows your secret.
Deadly Deceit follows Vivian DeMarco a reporter temporarily living in Walton trying to get her career back on track. Things take a drastic turn when her boss suddenly dies under suspicious circumstances, leaving her with a name and an endless amount of questions. Vivian’s only hope to uncover the truth is Ryan Frost a deputy who’s torn between the life he’s living and the one he’s always dreamed of.
I personally loved the crime in this book and how the farther you read the more twisted the truth became. It truly felt like each answer only brought more questions, which left me baffled as to who was behind the dark cyber threats and carefully crafted web of blackmail.
I also loved Ryan and Vivian together and honestly they’re the duo I didn’t know I needed in my life. Their story was well written and I was surprised by how much I enjoyed the adorably geeky side of their relationship. Their dynamic was unique and heartwarming and I loved every minute of watching their story progress. Both characters had strong arcs, neither overshadowing the other and I enjoyed how Natalie used the difference in personalities to help each character push the other to grow into the person they were holding themselves back from becoming.
My final thought on Deadly Deceit is that Natalie delivers another fantastic book filled with suspense, mystery and romance. This book will capture your heart with its small town charm, heartwarming characters and strong messages of acceptance woven throughout the story.
*I purchased my own copy of this book. I was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.*
This is a fascinating romantic suspense with hard-to-forget characters. Vivian is a reporter and Ryan is an local deputy. Their paths collide when Vivian’s mentor and friend is murdered. There are a lot of twists in this well-written mystery that ended up leading me to make the wrong guess about the villain several times. I really enjoyed being fooled repeatedly because that spoke to what a good job the author did in her plot. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a clean romantic suspense with a lot of mystery in it!
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I won a copy of this book from an online competition and the author. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”
A thrilling, small town suspense story. Vivian follows a lead to take down the Watcher. Be prepared to grip the edge of your seat as all the victim’s stories are shared and the far reaching depths of the Watcher’s twisted sense of justice come to light.
Deadly Deceit by Natalie Walters is a thrilling contemporary Christian suspense. It is the second book in the Harbored Secrets series but can be read as a stand-alone.
Everyone has a past, we cannot change it but neither must we let it rule us. “So tired of hiding the secret… he was chained to his past.” Secrets can be burdensome. They weigh us down. We need to share them and live in the light. But what happens when someone threatens to reveal your secret? Secrets go hand in hand with guilt. We were never meant to live under a cloud of guilt but in freedom. When we are hurt, we may retreat into ourselves, building a wall to protect our hearts. That is not freedom, that is a prison. The bricks around our heart need to be demolished. We need to learn to trust.
There is the theme of fathers. Some let us down. We may project our image of and feelings towards our father onto other male figures and even God. God is our loving Father. He will never leave us nor forsake us. “She hoped… when she prayed, God would listen.” God always hears and answers our prayers but not always in the way we want.
Forgiveness is a major theme. If we do not forgive, we risk imprisoning ourselves in bitterness. “Forgiveness can release us from bitterness. It’s what God wants.” To forgive is freeing to us as the chains of bitterness fall.
There are crimes to be solved. The reader sees the darker side of humanity. We are called to be the light and spread the hope we have found in Jesus. “Finding light in the darkness of humanity.”
The characters were realistic and well drawn, being easy to empathise with.
I loved Deadly Deceit. It was my first book by Natalie Walters but I am looking forward to reading many more. I think it would make a fabulous movie.
I want to leave you with this powerful quote on forgiveness:
“Forgiving someone is not saying what they did to you is okay. Forgiving is saying you will no longer allow what they did to you to control your life.”
I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.