Killer Headline

Protecting the Witnesses #2

by Debby Giusti

Two women in the witness protection program have been murdered in Montana. The connection? The mob…and the victims' green eyes. Coincidence? Not according to journalist Violet Kramer, who's counting on her exposé to reveal the truth, protect women in danger—and establish herself as an ace reporter. Undercover cop Clay West thinks she's making a deadly mistake that could bring the mob to her door. And when the lawman with the piercing black eyes insists on protecting her himself, Violet knows she's already in danger.

Genres: Love Inspired, Romance, Romantic Suspense, Love Inspired Suspense, Mystery, Category Romance, Christian

224 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2010

About the author

Debby Giusti is a medical technologist who loves working with test tubes and petri dishes almost as much as she loves to write. Growing up as an Army Brat, Debby met and married her husband – then a Captain in the Army – at Fort Knox, Kentucky. Together they traveled the world, raised three wonderful Army Brats of their own and have now settled in Atlanta, Georgia, where Debby spins tales of suspense that touch the heart and soul.

Reviews

[Carol [Goodreads Addict] · Rating 4 out of 5]

Killer Headline is the second book in the multi author series, Protecting the Witnesses. This one is by Debby Giusti who is a new to me author! I read these out of order! I read the last book first, loving it and realizing I needed to start at the beginning to see how everything played out. Each book is a different couple but a continuation of the main story.

Reporter Violet Kramer is trying to make a name for herself while working at the Missoula Daily News in Montana. She has an informant who has let her know that two women in Montana that were in the witness protection program were murdered have some things in common. And why the mob is after them! There are other women who are also in danger and Violet will do whatever it takes to write this story and to keep the other women safe. But things get complicated when a certain Chicago police detective shows up and decides he’s her protector.



Detective Clay West is on probation from the Chicago PD. In the interim, he’s being sent to Missoula to warn a certain reporter to let her story go. And to protect her. These two have met before and have clashed, even with the attraction sparking between them. Violet is stubborn and independent. She has her reasons for wanting to keep the women safe. Even though it puts her own safety at risk. Clay has his hands full trying to get her to not only trust him but to keep her alive.



There are plenty of twists and turns involved as Clay and Violet try to uncover the truth. One of the women Clay and Violet are looking for who is in danger is the heroine of the next book, Cowboy Protector, by Margaret Daley. I can’t wait to read it.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Protecting the Witnesses
Book 2

In this second book, we follow newspaper writer, Violet Kramer, who knows a lot more about the mafia activity than she should. Clay West has been asked to protect her, but she refuses to give up her quest to write the article about the mafia. All Clay can do is continue protecting her and praying she doesn't get killed. But can he protect his heart from falling in love with her?

The suspense was pretty good. I enjoyed the tension between Clay and Violet better than anything else. They seemed to frustrate each other. I'm guessing they've been attracted to each other since they met two years ago and that's where the "sparks" came from...It was interesting to see "who" it was in the end - I would have never guessed...

[Marybelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book' sweet romance, but not as good as e first book in the series. It got off target a couple of times.

[J.E. Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the 2nd book in the Protecting the Witnesses series. Women in the Witness Protection program are being murdered. From everything newspaper reporter, Violet Kramer, has been able to find out, the mob is behind it. When she gets to close to the proof, her life is in danger. Undercover cop, Clay West, tries to protect her, but she is a very stubborn and determined woman.

The story is very intense with lots of edge-of-your-seat moments. The twists and turns throughout the story will keep you guessing right up to the end. Every part of the story wrapped up nicely. The writing style makes it an easy read and the characters are witty and show lots of emotion.

I had a hard time putting this one down. Great to the last page. Highly recommended.

[Paige Lynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I absolutely love this cover. It hits all the right notes for me and is the biggest reason I wanted to pick this one up. I didn't read the first in the series, but it is not necessary at all to understand and enjoy this one. I did like the depictions of Christian themes in this one, and wanted more. But I just didn't like the story, overall, as much as I thought I would. The heroine came across as terribly naive in a bubblegum pop, sortve way. I didn't buy her as a serious journalist. However, the ending to this is a good one. It's plenty exciting for me to want to know how it ends.

[J. Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Forgiveness Fills in the Gaps

I’ve come to really enjoy anything that Debby Giusti writes. Killer Headline is fast paced and has enough twists and turns to keep you wondering “who done it.”
Thank you, Ms. Giusti, for another very entertaining afternoon.

[Vicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Because this is the 2nd book in this series, I was pleasantly surprised to meet "old friends" from this series that I have already read. It's a good series but reading them in order is best.

I recommend the book and the series.

[Sandra Webb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book!

[Lydia Gates · Rating 3 out of 5]

So so. Appreciate christian view. But it was a swishy romance and less mystery. I was not inspired by the book.

[Tracy David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good. Not as good as the first in the series.

[A.J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

ISBN-13: 978-0-373-44381-9
©2010
21 chapters/208 pages

Initial Reaction (1/18/13)—Big surprise: the heroine, Violet Kramer, is really annoying. Girl has the nerve to call the hero smug and cocky—when she won’t listen to anyone’s advice about maybe letting the pros go after the Chicago Mafia. Here’s a hint, Vi: They know more about the mob than you; it’s their job, which they’ve been doing a LOT longer than you. Ever think that maybe your being uncooperative could get someone (an undercover officer maybe), killed (to say nothing of yourself)? I really hate the notion of a “Christian feminist,” a chick with a chip on her shoulder and a grudge against men to “prove herself.” Tip: Christianity and feminist-ism don’t mix. One is all about Light and Truth and being under submission to a Man (after all, He is called Adonai, right? Which, translated, means Lord, Master), Who sees neither male nor female but one’s heart. The other’s all about the breakdown of society and the destruction of true equality by the advancement of one sex through the tearing down (emasculating) of another, not to mention the absolute annihilation of God’s family unit. Besides, chips on shoulders and grudges equal pride and lack of forgiveness, Vi. If you call yourself a Christian, you have nothing to prove to anyone because God told you in His Word just how valuable and special and unique, etc., you are to Him and to the world in general. Your conceit could very easily get someone killed, and if you think God’s pleased by either your pride or the destruction it could bring about, think again. You’re not being a very good ambassadress for Christ’s Light to shine.

My Review (1/19/13)—Okay. It turned out much better than I’d anticipated—no, that’s not true. I was hoping that Violet would come to her sense before the end and that she’d stop being such a proud and contumacious nincompoop—and she did. Eventually. Of course, it takes almost being killed (at least twice, endangered countless times), getting someone ELSE killed, and ALMOST getting TWO others killed. But she did learn she needed to let go and let God (and the man God brought into her life). It’s not as if being controlling’s not human; of course, it is. As people, we WANT to be “in control,” hate having to rely on someone else, etc. But, in this case, people’s lives were at stake (including hers), and the people asking her to relent were pros—FBI, Chi PD, US Marshalls. Personally, in real life, I wonder if they’d let her run loose so long. I’d’ve locked her up for obstructing justice, impeding an investigation—SOMETHING…and don’t hand me the “freedom of the Press.” The Press’s “freedom” doesn’t trump law enforcement investigations (read: justice being served) or putting people (innocents) in harm’s way! The First Amendment of the Constitution says the CONGRESS (read: the government) shall make no LAWS infringing the press. Well, I don’t see as the police, FBI, or the Marshalls telling the Violet (the Press) to back off, as making a LAW via Congress. So, nice try, but the Press has used that trump card far too long—and incorrectly!

Anyhow, it turned out very well, the story. The love story I had one problem with (besides the age difference), and that’s: At the beginning, Clay West (I think—I’m writing this review, 8/15/16, and my notes from my reading saw only “CW,” so I hope this was the hero’s name—and I don’t remember what the age difference was between them, so I may not feel the same if I were to read the book again) was not a Christian and Violet was. The Bible’s very clear on being unequally yoked. She should’ve kept her distance from Clay until he’d found the Lord. Otherwise, you’re just picking and choosing things to obey in the Bible as if a Chinese menu—a little from Column A, more from B, none from C. The Bible’s non-negotiable. You have to follow all or nothing at all. God doesn’t give credit for in between. In fact, Jesus says clearing in Revelation that He doesn’t like the tepid Church. Of course, as humans, there are areas we’ll do well in, areas we’ll do poorly in, and areas we are half-and-half in—but this just shows you the areas in which the Holy Spirit’s at work in you, where you need to work with Him more. But to know the Scripture and decide not to follow it because you don’t like it (because he has the sexiest eyes, body, grin, etc.), is not going to cut it.

Grade: A

[Wendy Sparkes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Operation Black Veil: The woman in the black veil has told FBI Special Agent Jackson McGraw that Salvatore Martino, former don of the Martino Crime family, is seriously ill. Speculation is that his son wants to kill Eloise Hill, the girl who put his father behind bars, before he dies as a tribute to him.

Violet Kramer is a reporter who has a contact within the mob giving her information about the ladies already dead, who they are looking for, & who is next on the list. The mob is after any woman in the Witness Protection Program who matches the description of Eloise. Violet is a dedicated reporter & she won't release the name of her source. She also tries to help her escape from the mob. But Violet's articles are disturbing the mob. Detective Clay West asks her to withdraw until the mess is cleared up. She won't, believing that she has a story that needs to be told, & that all woman in the Witness Protection Program need to be warned. However, she's now the next target, & in spite of herself, Clay is determined to protect her.

I found Violet quite a hard character to relate to in the beginning, but when her past is finally explained, I did think about whether I would have acted differently under the circumstances, & came to the conclusion that actually, I wouldn't have. This helped me understand her "I'm going to do it my own way" streak so much better.

A good continuation in the "Protecting the Witnesses" Series - this book is #2. You really do need to read these books in order as each book, while a story on it's own, also has a plot which runs & develops through all the 6 books, building up to the grand finale in book 6. This means that you will not only want to read this book, but also the other 5 in the series! So if you are looking for a one off story to read, then this is not the book for you. However, if you are short of reading material & want a series to get you going, then this series will be ideal!

Other books in the series:
#1 Twin Targets (Steeple Hill Love Inspired Suspense #180)
#3 Cowboy Protector (Steeple Hill Love Inspired Suspense #188)
#4 Deadly Vows (Steeple Hill Love Inspired Suspense #192)
#5 Fatal Secrets (Steeple Hill Love Inspired Suspense #196) (Protecting the Witnesses Bk 5)
#6 Risky Reunion (Steeple Hill Love Inspired Suspense #200)(Protecting the Witnesses Bk 6)

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book 2 of the Protecting the Witnesses series. Two women who were in the Witness Protection Program in Montana have been murdered. The connection? The mob and the victims' green eyes. They are looking for a specific woman but so far have killed the wrong ones. Reporter Violet has managed to learn this and is determined to write a story to expose the truth and to warn other women. Undercover cop Clay thinks she is making a deadly mistake that could get her in the mob's sights, and this is proven to be the case when someone is sent to silence her.

My opinion - the people who are killing these women are not paying attention. The woman for whom they are looking testified against the mob don more than 20 years previously, yet they are killing young women who could not possibly be her and are in witness protection for other reasons. So far no one has clued into this.

[Judy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clay West has some time off after getting a bit too physical with a pimp in Chicago while he was under cover. He comes to Montana to get nosy reporter to stop researching the Chicago mob and Montana murders.

Violet Kramer is a bit head strong. She is so sure she can help other women in the Witness Program by writing her article that she just won't listen to anyone. Clay West has come to town to talk her out of her article and she won't accept the mob is onto her, until it's almost too late.

Second book in the Protecting the Witnesses series.

[Jan · Rating 3 out of 5]

The second book in a series, i found this book just too busy. As a journalist she is "driven" to get the story in a city and state hundreds of miles from where she lives, just because she wants the prestige. She falls for the cop that worked undercover to get the criminals that she is trying to write the story about. Seemed a little to far from reality for me. It had it moments of quality, but found it read more like a Lifetime movie.

[Donna · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was just an ok book. The lead female, Violet, was not likeable.I felt more annoyance toward her than I did empathy. Her attitude fluctuated too wildly to be particularly believable. There were also so many characters in the book that it was hard to keep track of who was who.

[Sandi Hart · Rating 5 out of 5]

I never saw this coming. I thought it may have been Jimmy, but I knew it wasn't. Quinn crossed my mind, but I wasn't sure. I like how it went back to Micah and Jade, but they only known eachother for two months, at most. They can't be getting married. Love it!

[Anneka · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lot of lessons in patience and discretion and caution needed to be learned. You can't always trust people.

[Rainbow Unicorn · Rating 3 out of 5]

An enjoyable series

[Sandy Duke · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy read, fast-paced.