Deadly Deception by Marissa Garner

When her mother disappears, Jessica Hargrove’s life begins to unravel. And her problems are only just beginning. A horrible secret has been revealed, threatening to destroy three generations of her family, and the one person who may be able to help her is the man she’s never stopped loving, the man who once broke her heart.

LAPD Detective Sean Burke is back in his small hometown, pondering if his career in the big city is what he really wants anymore. As painful as it is to see Jess again, she needs him. He can’t walk away when she’s about to lose everything she holds dear. But will what he discovers ruin their second chance at love?

DEADLY DECEPTION author Marissa Garner spent some time with The Big Thrill discussing the latest book in her Rogue Security series:

What do you hope readers will take away from this book?

My research for DEADLY DECEPTION taught me that there isn’t just one victim in the heartbreaking crime (sorry, no spoilers) that’s a key element in this story. The consequences can affect an entire family and even multiple generations. By sharing this information through my characters, I hope readers will gain, as I have, a greater appreciation for the true magnitude of this heinous crime. All of us must be vigilant as even the darkest evil can be hidden by deception.

No spoilers, but what can you tell us about your book that we won’t find in the jacket copy or the PR material?

In Risky Redemption, book one of my Rogue Security series, I took chances with the characters and plot structure that I hadn’t tried before, and the result was a darker, edgier story than your usual romantic thriller. My editor even labeled it non-traditional. I’ve continued that non-traditional approach in DEADLY DECEPTION, not with the structure but with the central crime. You could say I’m still having trouble coloring inside the lines. In DEADLY DECEPTION, the reader will also learn a lot more about the former CIA assassin and ex-SEAL Jake Stone, who founded the security and private investigation agency and is the cornerstone of this band-of-brothers series.

What authors or books have influenced your career as a writer, and why?

Sandra Brown’s romantic thrillers have had the greatest influence on my writing. I learned something important from every one of her books. I strive to have the same balance of romance and thrills in my stories. Brenda Novak, Lisa Jackson, Linda Howard, and Allison Brennan have also been great influences.

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Marissa Garner is a wife, writer, chocoholic, and animal lover, not necessarily in that order. As a child, she cut pictures of people out of magazines and turned them into characters in her simple stories. Now she writes edgy romantic thrillers and steamy contemporary romance. Her stories will titillate your mind as well as your libido. She lives in Southern California but enjoys traveling from Athens to Anchorage to Acapulco and many locations in between.

To learn more about Marissa, please visit her website.