BOOK REVIEW: 'Deadly Silence' by Rebecca Zanetti—5 Stars

Deadly Silence is the perfect combination of action-adventure, mystery, science-fiction, espionage, and the sexiest romance. Enter to win a signed copy!

[For Mature Audiences;Some Spoilers]

Rebecca Zanetti’s Blood Brothers series was one of my favorite finds of 2016! When I read the summary for Deadly Silence (first book in the series), I didn’t totally know what to expect. Sure, there would be some romance and suspense, yet beyond that, I was unsure. But within the prologue, this book opened up an intriguing and expansive world. I couldn’t put it down! And when I finished reading Deadly Silence, I wasn’t ready to leave… which is why I count myself so lucky that Blood Brothers is actually a spin-off of the Sin Brothers series that is equally as engaging. These books have elements of action-adventure, mystery, paranormal/science-fiction, espionage, and the sexiest romance. I don’t know how Rebecca does it, but she does it so, so well. Deadly Silence needs to be on your MUSTREAD list.

In Deadly Silence we meet Ryker, Heath, and Denver Jones. As youngsters in a boys home in North Carolina, the three develop a very close bond as they try to survive a really abusive situation. Despite Ryker, Heath, and Denver not knowing one another before they get to the boys home, once they arrive, they all garner the attention of Dr. Sylvia Daniels, who comes to the home to perform various physical and intellectual tests. The boys know that they are special, but perhaps it would be safer to hide their extra abilities. Eventually, when their lives are threatened, they run away from the home. The three boys swear a blood oath with one another to be family. As adults, they own a PI firm where they use their special skills in order to find the lost.

It’s one of the Lost Bastard’s cases (investigating the Copper Killer, a serial killer who rapes and murders red-haired women who have a connection to law enforcement) that brings Ryker to Wyoming and into Zara Remington’s life. Zara is a paralegal, and when Ryker moonlights with her firm, the two kick things off. The relationship is supposed to be temporary: friends, food, and benefits. But when it turns out that Ryker is staying in town more long term, could their be an opportunity for more? Things get even more complex when Zara finds herself accused of murdering her best friend and Ryker and his brothers are the only ones capable to getting her out of this mess. At the same time, the Jones brothers past catch up with them when they learn the truth about Sylvia Daniels and her “experiments”.

What I love most about Deadly Silence is how the characters and their experiences interweave to make a compelling story on several levels.

Ryker and Zara’s developing relationship is at the forefront. The chemistry between them is insane, but, at first, Ryker isn’t sure that he wants to bring Zara into his crazy, dangerous life…though naturally, his instinct is to cover and protect those he cares about. Similarly, Zara clings fiercely to her independence. Ryker promises to protect her, but does Zara want to trust him completely, especially when it’s clear that he’s keeping secrets? There’s push and pull, but once these two are on the same page, it’s SO SWOONY!

“Don’t tell me what to do,” she whispered, fighting need along with her temper.
“You like me telling you what to do.”
“Only in bed,” she burst out.
He smiled, the expression gentle and dangerous all at once.
“Then get in bed.”

She shook her head just a little. If she got in that bed, she’d forget all about her anger, her independence, her safety. Oh, he’d keep her physically safe, but she’d known from the first kiss that he’d shatter her heart if she let him.

“Not until we reach an agreement.” She clutched the towel like it was a lifeline.
“If you make me come and get you, I’ll make you beg tonight.”
A full-body shiver took her, and it had nothing to do with fear. Oh, she’d begged him before, and the result had been multiple orgasms that still filled her dreams…

…When her lips touched his, the beast inside Ryker—the one he secretly believed made him different from normal people—roared to the surface. For his entire life, what he’d wanted had been held out of his view, out of his grip. Including this woman. Oh, she was flush against him, her mouth working his, the dampness from her skin edging through his T-shirt. Yet she held herself away, wanting to limit what they had…Zara was something special, even among good people. She was smart and kind, and she made choices with her eyes open. He wanted to be one of her choices…

…Her thighs trembled against his legs. She swallowed and breathed out. “Each time…”
Yeah. He rested his forehead on hers. Each time felt like something new. Finally, after a century or two, he rested, fully embedded in her. Heat surrounded and caressed his cock, and he had to inhale to keep himself in check. “You okay?”
Her smile nearly lit him on fire. “I’m better than okay.” She punctuated the words with her nails on his ass. “I’ve missed you, Ryker.”
Those words. She had no idea what those small words did inside him.

*FANS FACE*

These two are incendiary! And it’s wonderful to watch the relationship become even more solid as Ryker helps Zara weather the storm of her best friend’s murder, and she helps him (and his brothers) with the threat from their past.

Speaking of the Jones brothers, Deadly Silence is Ryker’s story, but it’s very much about introducing us to Heath and Denver too. The way these three love and defend one another is unreal, and it’s really fantastic to see this portrayal of male relationships. Of course, their situation is heightened because Ryker, Heath, and Denver have been on the run for years, fleeing a Sheriff (Cobb) who has accused them of murdering his brother (the guy in charge of the boys home). But when it turns out that Cobb is working with Sylvia Daniels in order to capture the brothers and exploit their abilities, they have to figure out how to free themselves, for good.

I don’t want to give too many spoilers, but Ryker, Heath, and Denver learn that they are not the only ones that Sylvia Daniels worked with (AKA experimented on). As a result, their family expands and it’s really lovely. Similarly, Zara is also integral, as she makes some big sacrifices in order to protect Ryker and his family.

By the end of Deadly Silence (after several insane action sequences that involve, guns, bombs, and helicopters) we have several questions and concerns about the Jones brothers ability to remain free, but no matter the challenges, there’s so much love. And with that, there’s also hope.

I recommend Deadly Silence to EVERYONE. If you are a fiction reader, there will definitely be something here for you. It’s now available as a mass market paperback, with extra bonus scenes not available anywhere else.

Go HERE to enter to a giveaway win one of 15 SIGNED copies up for grabs.

And what’s great is that after you finish Deadly Silence, you can delve deeper into the world with the four books of the Sin Brothers series (also 5 STAR reads).

Plus, Heath’s book Lethal Lies, continuation of the Blood Brothers series, is coming May 16! If you think Ryker has a protective streak, you haven’t seen anything yet. Heath wears his bleeding heart on his sleeve and it’s enough to make you keel over from the swoons! (Go HERE to read an excerpt.)