The Agent's Secret Past Interview

Today we’re welcoming Becca Miller, the heroine of THE AGENT’S SECRET PAST, by Debby Giusti, a March Love Inspired Suspense. Wow, you’ve just had quite an adventure.

1. Tell us a little about yourself and how you came to be in the midst of such suspense.

I’m a special agent with the US Army Criminal Investigation Division. For the last eight years, I’ve been stationed out of the country with deployments to the Middle East, Korea and Germany. Two weeks before the story begins, I arrived at Fort Rickman, Georgia, for my new assignment. I grew up in an Amish community in Alabama and never thought the past would catch up to me, but it did.

2. So, during the book you met Special Agent Colby Voss. Tell us a bit about him. What was your first impression? When did you know it was love?

Colby was one of the first people I met when I started my new job, but he was all business, and I wasn’t interested in getting involved with anyone, especially another special agent with whom I worked. After the explosion, Colby was like my guardian angel, although I didn’t want him underfoot at first. When I had to confront the past, Colby was at my side. His support through it all touched my heart and proved to me how special he was.

3. What strengths/skills do you have? What is your greatest weakness?

I’m a military warrant officer and a dedicated special agent who investigates crime and works hard to keep our military and their family members safe. My weakness? Caring too much and sometimes responding with my heart instead of my head.

4. What scares you?

Losing Colby. Although I know God listens to my prayers for his safety.

5. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

I would have confronted Jacob eight years ago instead of running away.

6. Where were you in your faith at the start of your story?

Foolishly, I had closed the Lord out of my life.

7.Where are you in your faith at the end of the story?

Thank goodness, I came to my senses and realized I needed God. He’s the center of my life now, along with Colby.

8.You’ve got a scripture at the beginning of the story. Tell us why this scripture is significant.

Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it.” Luke 9:23-24

My dad groused about his plight in life and always thought he carried a heavier cross than others had to bear. He never invited the Lord into his heart to help carry the load. I was like that for awhile until I realized the Lord was walking with me even in the darkness.

9. If you could be a dessert what would you be and why?

My mother used to make tapioca pudding when I was a girl. I loved to eat it warm, and it’s still my favorite dessert. Although it sounds strange, I’d be a bowl of tapioca pudding so I could bring enjoyment to others.

My Amish Suspense

Debby Giusti here!

I just received the go-ahead from my Love Inspired Suspense editor, Emily Rodmell, on the proposal for the sixth book in my Military Investigations Series. The story—untitled at this point--features a heroine in the US Army Criminal Investigation Division who grew up Amish. I’m thrilled Emily liked the idea and excited about including some of my past experiences with the Amish in the story.

My dad was career army and we lived in numerous spots around the country, but he and my mother were originally from Ohio, and I graduated from The Ohio State University. Often during college, friends and I would head to Plain City, an Amish community not far from Columbus, to enjoy the wonderful restaurants that featured favorite Amish delights.  

Sometimes we'd head farther north into Holmes County that boasts of having one of the largest Amish communities in the US. Picturesque farms dot the rolling hills, and we’d pass horse drawn buggies on the way to local dairies that sold cheese and ice cream, which provided special treats on a hot summer’s day and a lovely escape from campus life.

After marrying, my hubby and I lived in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, where I’d shop at the nearby Amish farmers’ market stocked with local produce and fresh baked pies and breads. Often we’d drive to Lancaster County, in the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch country, with favorite stops at Intercourse and Bird-in-Hand. Visiting Zook’s Fabric store was fun. On one trip, my husband bought a straw hat, and I found a lovely hand stitched slip for my youngest daughter.

As you know, the Amish speak Pennsylvania Dutch, a derivative of the German language. My great-grandparents came from Fulda, and my husband and I lived in Germany for three years. I became quite fluent in German while there. Hearing the Amish dialect reminds me of my time in Deutschland and makes me feel a certain kinship with the Amish.

Doing research and pulling information from my past for this next book has been so much fun, but now I need to write the story. I’ll keep you posted on my progress in the days ahead.

Have you visited Amish communities? What did you think of their plain lifestyle? Do you enjoy reading Amish stories? 

Wishing you abundant blessings,

Debby Giusti
www.debbygiusti.com
www.seekerville.blogspot.com

The General’s Secretary, book 4 in my Military Investigations series, is available here. The Soldier’s Sister will be released in October. Watch for the Amish story, book 6, in March 2014.

THE GENERAL'S SECRETARY

By Debby Giusti

Trusting the Wrong Person Can Be Deadly...

Lillie Beaumont's dark past has just turned up on her porch--fatally wounded. The dying words of the man imprisoned for killing Lillie's mother suggest hidden secrets. Criminal Investigations Division special agent Dawson Timmons agrees. He has his own motive for seeking the truth, and it gives Lillie every reason to doubt him. But even as they reluctantly begin to face painful secrets together, Dawson fears that a murderer is waiting to strike again. And this time, Lillie is right in the line of fire...

The Harlequin of the Moment

Yesterday, we talked about the first Harlequin that we read.  Today, we're talking about the most recent.  So, what are you reading, per Harlequin, today.
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Captain's Mission is the first book I've read by Debby Guisti. I really like Debby so I was pleased that I enjoyed her book too! This is book 2 in her "Military Investigations" series. Her heroine CID Agent Kelly McQueen has the unpleasant task of investigating the death of a solider during a tranining exercise. The soldier was killed was under the command of Captain Phil Thibodeaux. The mystery of whe ther the soldier was killed by accident or murdered soon begins to threaten Kelly in particular. And what about the aging mother of the dead soldier? Why isn't she getting the care Kelly thinks she needs. Both Phil and Kelly have to get past their pasts to figure out the truth of this death and what's keeping them from a love they both deserve. Good book!

Lyn Cote


I just finished Camy Tang's "Protection for Hire" and highly recommend it. The alpha heroine is a former mobster who has given her life to Christ and doesn't quite know what to do with herself. It's such a great inner conflict to watch this heroine try to figure out how to be herself while also projecting her faith. Camy handles it beautifully and I really enjoyed the insight into the Asian/American culture.


Linda Goodnight



I'm reading Cheryl Wyatt's "Doctor to the Rescue".

Leann Harris


The Harlequin I read most recently was WAKING UP MARRIED by Mira Lyn Kelly, from the new Harlequin KISS line. I really enjoyed the snappy banter between the hero and heroine. It will be fun seeing how this new contemporary line develops.

Teri Wilson


I last read Regina Scott's The Rake's Redemption, a November 2012 LIH title. I couldn't wait to read this book since it promised to solve the mystery of the Everard Legacy. Naturally, it did not disappoint me one bit. Now, I'm in deep with one of the LIH titles off my TBR pile - Renee Ryan's Courting the Enemy. Love, love, love her WWII spy thriller romances. They keep me on the edge of my seat.

Christine Johnson



The most recent Harlequin book I've read is our own Winnie Grigg's "Hand-Picked Husband." Love Winnie's books. I also recently enjoyed Susan Sleeman's "Double Exposure" and Sandra Orchard's "Critical Condition" which, incidentally, is about a nurse! I've come full circle.

Lenora :)



I most recently read Virginia Carmichael's debut novel from Love Inspired, Season of Joy. I loved the setting (a homeless shelter), and I loved the characters and really rooted for them to find their happy ending!

Missy


Oh wait! I read Seasons of Joy by Virginia Carmichael, too. And I really loved it. It was a tender story about personal growth and helping those in need, and I really loved the main character's work with the homeless shelter. That's a spin you don't see very much of in novels.

Naomi Rawlings



Last week I read Lyn Cote's Frontier Family, a Love Inspired Historical. I walked away with new knowledge about Quakers, with a real urge to spend a weekend in a cabin (she described it so well), and an attachment to Sunni and Noah. It was a great story that inspired me to go looking for her previous Gabriel Sisters' book.

Pamela Tracy