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Bella

by Steve Piacente (Goodreads Author)

4.06 of 5 stars 4.06 · rating details · 54 ratings · 37 reviews

Isabel Moss knew she might lose her husband when he went off to war.
When the call came, she was almost ready.
What stopped her cold was the second call…

- From the author's website

Paperback, 268 pages

Published June 13th 2010 by Createspace

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Jul 03, 2012 Diana (Offbeat Vagabond) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: mystery, suspense, thriller

Posted here: http://offbeatvagabond.blogspot.com/2012/07/indie-book-review-bella-by-steve.html

Huge thanks to Steve Piacente for providing this book. Also a huge thanks to Danielle over at BookWhore for the giveaway and book club for Bella. Now I didn't know exactly what to expect with this book. I usually don't read military conspiracy books. But I must say, given the style of the book and the story, I was very intrigued.

We have our main character, Danny. He is a journalist. So, of course, he...more Posted here: http://offbeatvagabond.blogspot.com/2012/07/indie-book-review-bella-by-steve.html

Huge thanks to Steve Piacente for providing this book. Also a huge thanks to Danielle over at BookWhore for the giveaway and book club for Bella. Now I didn't know exactly what to expect with this book. I usually don't read military conspiracy books. But I must say, given the style of the book and the story, I was very intrigued.

We have our main character, Danny. He is a journalist. So, of course, he is looking for the next big thing. It drops in his lap when a beautiful woman named Isabelle (Bella) comes to him and tells him about her dead husband Hank. He died in battle. Problem is, it was by friendly fire and the Army covered it up and said it was by the enemy. Bella tells him an anonymous caller told her that the Army lied. Danny doesn't believe her and knows something is off about her. But he eventually starts to work with her to get to the truth and finds she may not be as crazy as he thought.

I really liked the story. It was a great mystery to try and figure out. I love the chase of the story and where it goes. What seems like the story of a grieving widow, turns into thriller that has you looking over your shoulder every five seconds. I love that not only are we trying to figure out if the Army is lying, but we also try to figure out Bella. Is she lying? Is she looking for sympathy by putting on a performance?

I also love the way the story is written. It has a style all on its own. Piacente definitely has a way with words. The dialogue was great between the characters and was quick. I at least imagined it that way. Just nice and snappy. This book had a sort of film noir feel to it. It had a great vibe.

The characters, however, are a bit questionable. Danny is great at his job, but everything else has been thrown out the window. He has a wife and a kid, but he doesn't really act like a father or a husband. Then when Bella shows up, he is getting all sort of red flags (from himself and his colleagues). But he won't listen. He pissed me off. Then there is Bella who I didn't like from the beginning and disliked even more near the end. Her story is definitely heart-wrenching, but it doesn't excuse her actions.

Overall, I did enjoy the story a lot. You do get to the bottom of things, but I am not sure if Bella herself was satisfied with it. This is the very first book I have read where I felt the need to slap nearly everyone in it. As a matter of fact, I wanted them to fight each other. I mean, come on! The book is pretty realistic except for that aspect. Once you read it, you'll understand what I mean. The ending felt pretty rushed, but we get all we need really. This is a quiet thriller. No Jason Bourne-like scenes or secrets that are beyond explosive (was expecting that second one), but it still has an impact. I would recommend this for those who love a good mystery/thriller.(less)

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Aug 07, 2011 Maria rated it 4 of 5 stars

Bella is an action-packed, suspense novel with a gut-wrenching, heart-breaking storyline that keeps you glued to the pages.

The story focuses on Isabella Moss - a widow who was told that her husband had died in the war by enemy fire. But one day, she gets an anonymouse phone call telling her that her husband didn't die they were everyone had told her. That he actually died by friendly fire. That one phone call starts Bella off on a whirlwind chase for the truth - which leads her directly to repor...more

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Jul 16, 2011 Donna McBroom-Theriot rated it 5 of 5 stars

Book Quotes:
“She was, as Frost said, an awakener, not a teacher. Now I am awake, alert even. I am not especially thrilled that my blissful sleep was disturbed. I was, to be sure, hibernating through life...Some creamy smooth women come armed like bear traps, treacherous, but not appearing so, lest you’re tempted to study one nose to tooth and get yourself snapped in two. Such blessed females are immune to the routine plagues...Women mutter Bitch; men murmur Baby…You know the kind of girl I’m tal...more

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Jun 17, 2011 Giovanni Gelati rated it 5 of 5 stars

Right off the bat I want to tell you I am interviewing this author today @ 6.30pm EST on my blogtalk show, The G-ZONE. Here is the link for that:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/gelatiss...
Lincoln Crisler starts off the show at 6pm, Steve is on at 6.30. I have to hand it to the author; he can write a serious novel that is not just good but multi-faceted. I really enjoy the prose, the witty nature of his journalist main character and the many ways he tried to humanize him. Many people like to put d...more Right off the bat I want to tell you I am interviewing this author today @ 6.30pm EST on my blogtalk show, The G-ZONE. Here is the link for that:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/gelatiss...
Lincoln Crisler starts off the show at 6pm, Steve is on at 6.30. I have to hand it to the author; he can write a serious novel that is not just good but multi-faceted. I really enjoy the prose, the witty nature of his journalist main character and the many ways he tried to humanize him. Many people like to put down self-published authors but “Bella” is another prime example why it works so well. The plotline was tight, the characters well developed, excellent dialogue, and no dead pages. I don’t hesitate to recommend this read and I am really looking forward to getting my opportunity to talk to the author later today. Tune in for what I am sure is going to be a very fast paced, engaging conversation. If Steve Piacente is anything like the characters he has created I am going to have my hands full.
Here is the synopsis:
“A striking widow intent on proving the military lied about her husband's death lures a Washington journalist into the investigation. Working together, they discover the power of temptation, the futility of revenge, and the consequences of yielding to either. “
A little something on the author:
“It began for me in 1954. Eisenhower was president, no one beat the Yankees, and Elvis was still an unknown. TV was three channels and two colors, black and white. Growing up, I didn't particularly like school. I liked baseball, egg rolls and comic books, and it was Superman that got me interested in reading and writing. Raised in New York and educated in Washington, I kept moving south after college, eventually learning all they left out at journalism school at the foot of street-smart newspaper editors in Florida and South Carolina. In 1985, one of those editors found me presentable enough to send back to D.C., this time as correspondent for the Tampa Tribune. The job ended four years later, and I found myself in steep competition for a similar slot with the Charleston, S.C. paper. I remember pumping the Charleston editor's hand and pleading, "Please don't let me become a press secretary." The man was merciful, enabling nine more years of Washington reporting, and front row exposure to the real South, as Charleston is far deeper into Dixie than Tampa, geography be damned. As time wore on, my NY sensibilities blended with Southern convention to produce stories on intriguing topics such as public celebration of the Confederate flag, and segregationist Senator Strom Thurmond. It was a great time until Charleston ran out of cash and shuttered its one-man D.C. bureau. Out in the cold, I - by this time a father of three ravenous, athletic, college-bound children - found warmth in a little known Federal agency. I began as a speechwriter and today head the web, new media, and graphics teams. Though Bella is my first real fiction, some thin-skinned politicians would say the stories I wrote about them were just as fabricated. In fact, no fiction bubbled up until I earned my license to write in the Johns Hopkins Master of Arts program in 2000. During this time, I also reentered the classroom at American University, my alma mater, and began teaching journalism classes. My insistence on clean, tight writing did no lasting harm to the three afore-mentioned children, now taxpaying adults in the fields of public relations, graphic design, and engineering. It wasn't until years later that I learned that the kids snuck secret help from their mom, Felicia Piacente, a special education administrator in the Montgomery County (Md.) Public School System. “
Things have changed around here. I am now the published author by Trestle Press of “I Have Chrome Balls, Don’t You?” an “In Between The Collaborations”, “Down Low- Dead” with Vincent Zandri, “The Jersey Shore Has Eyes” with Big Daddy Abel”, “G.S.I Gelati’s Scoop Investigations Psychotic Detectives” with Thomas White, “Who Whacked The Blogger” with Benjamin Sobieck,“Thad and The G-Man’s Most Awesome Adventure” with Thad Brown , “Hotel Beaumont” with B.R. Stateham, “Bring Us Your Living…Now!” with HR Toye and the soon to be released “Edge of Cataclysmic” with Big Daddy Abel. All the stories are available @ Amazon, Barnes & Nobles and Smashwords. I am also the host of the wildly popular The G-ZONE blogtalk radio show. Thanks for stopping by today; We will see you tomorrow. Have a great day. http://www.gelatisscoop.blogspot.com

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Jan 13, 2011 Tina Peterson rated it 5 of 5 stars

The back of the book:
A striking widow intent on proving the military lied about her husband's death lures a Washington journalist into the investigation. Working together, they discover the power of temptation, the futility of revenge, and the consequences of yielding to either.

My review:
Bella is the ideal Political Thriller. You have the military, the government, senators, generals, congressmen and others covering up a story. A story about Hank Moss, upcoming tennis star and soldier in Afghani...more

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Feb 29, 2012 Matt rated it 3 of 5 stars

When asked to review this book, by the author, I was unsure what to expect. I'd read the summary and it seemed interesting, so I thought I'd give it a shot and hope for the best. In doing so, I discovered some interesting writing, good character development, and a decent story that kept my attention from beginning to end.

I will generalise here and say that Americans are too obsessed with their wars and the need for them. Just as September 11, 2001 seems to have somehow been a battle cry to write...more When asked to review this book, by the author, I was unsure what to expect. I'd read the summary and it seemed interesting, so I thought I'd give it a shot and hope for the best. In doing so, I discovered some interesting writing, good character development, and a decent story that kept my attention from beginning to end.

I will generalise here and say that Americans are too obsessed with their wars and the need for them. Just as September 11, 2001 seems to have somehow been a battle cry to write ad nauseum about the subject and terrorists, so too does the US (and to some degree, the highly influenced Canadians public) find the need to beat a dead horse. When I got into the 'war' part of the book, I wondered if Piacente was going to flog me with "RAH RAH USA" blather for the sake of national ego-boosting. He did a great job in promoting an anti-war, anti-military cover-up angle and rejuvenated the bully tactic that Bush and his cronies made so famous... if you speak against the military, you must side with our opponents. The main character in the book fights against this 'rah rah sis-boom-bah' that has become so nauseating and makes a case that news is not always what benefits or promotes the home team. There are stories that need telling and trying to kybosh them for the sake of looking good is just a waste.

Piacente does a great job of making his main character have a life outside the main storyline; a wife, a child, romance, despair. He humanises him to the point that he could be a cousin, an uncle, a neighbour. Some authors so want to inculcate you with their ideology that they forget the subtleties and leave you wishing you'd not spent that money on a book. This was a well-weighted book with enough personal background to keep it interesting.

If I had to offer one suggestion, I suppose it would be to keep the tangential nature of some of the side storylines to a minimum. Write a prequel if you want to get into deep background. It causes me to try to skip ahead to what the author is trying to illustrate with the long flashback in the middle of the paragraph.

Kudos, Mr. Piacente.
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Jan 24, 2012 Shaeeza Haniff rated it 5 of 5 stars

Bella
By
Steve Piacente

Danny doesn’t stand a chance the minute Bella entered his life stepping deliberately with her pearl heeled pumps. He was a goner and he knew it and more importantly Bella knew it first.

Daniel Patragno had a reasonable sort of life, a reporter job in a small newspaper, a home, a wife he adored, a son whose vocabulary far exceeded the expectations of his first grade teacher, good friends and peace of mind.

Bella entered his life and suddenly Danny can’t seem to find which wa...more

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Jan 05, 2011 Deborah rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: latest-reads, new-author-for-me, paperback-i-own, reviewer-book

"A striking widow intent on proving the military lied about her husband's death lures a Washington journalist into the investigation. Working together, they discover the power of temptation, the futility of revenge, and the consequences of yielding to either." Cover summary

Steve Piacente's first book, "Bella," is a smash hit. He is an author to be reckoned with...an author with his own "voice," and particular charm that I expect we'll soon be hearing much about in reading circles. See his websit...more "A striking widow intent on proving the military lied about her husband's death lures a Washington journalist into the investigation. Working together, they discover the power of temptation, the futility of revenge, and the consequences of yielding to either." Cover summary

Steve Piacente's first book, "Bella," is a smash hit. He is an author to be reckoned with...an author with his own "voice," and particular charm that I expect we'll soon be hearing much about in reading circles. See his website www.getbella.com for specifics on Steve's stellar career and more on "Bella."

Written with such a snappy dialogue, quick quips, humor and irony that the pages spark with a life rarely seen in books of any genre, "Bella" is a read that both intrigues and entertains. Piacente's tight, well-sculpted novel has the precision of a plastic surgeon's new face-lift! It's beautiful!

The main story captured the essence and repercussions of a young athlete who was killed in Iraq by "friendly fire," and whose death was then "covered up" by the military. Piacente's use of characterization, plot and description are stellar. I love his news-jockey/journalist, Dan Patragno, who was at once sassy and serious, sharing an inner dialogue of a seasoned, albeit jaundiced, investigative reporter. Danny is a loveable character with strengths and rough edges that make me long to know more about him and his journalistic exploits. The secondary plot of this book is good, too.

In fact, all of Piacente's characters are richly drawn: The Bella in question, Isabel Moss, widow of the lost soldier, is an atypical heroine; a siren, injured, sexy, intelligent, beautiful, broken and desirable as white oleander. Danny's buddies Gus and Clay are such odd-men-out and, yet, genius players that we only want more of them! His primary school son is to die for!!

Read "Bella," because it's a great book. Read it because you don't want to be left off this rising star's first book trail. And, read it because you won't want to miss his other Dan Patragno books which I'm begging him to write. (less)

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Apr 03, 2013 Caren ~ the misfit geek rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: for-review, suspense-thriller, traveling-books, new-authors-to-me

I wasn’t sure what I would think of this book when I picked it up. The description intrigued me and I saw there were a lot of terrific reviews. Sometimes this ends up disappointing me. I was not disappointed. I was hooked right away. Although it is categorized as a political thriller, it was more like a drama for me.

The plot revolves around the story of an accidental act of fratricide and the resulting cover-up by the military. The deeper story seems to be a man hell-bent on self-destruction. Th...more

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Jul 04, 2011 Inga rated it 5 of 5 stars

I picked this book today on purpose. Since it is 4th of July, I think this book is very suitable for the day’s celebrations.

My review:

Steve Piacente is an excellent writer and his first novel Bella is absolutely a very good book to read. Steve’s writing style shows that he has been working as a journalist: his use fg language is like seeing a bird fly high up above the clouds – it’s witty, intelligent, quick, intriguing and beautiful to read. If he keeps writing, I am sure that he will have a...more

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Mar 02, 2012 Lou rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: february-2012-list, mystery-thriller

9/11 a date imprinted on the minds of many a time in history that saw the loss of countless lives and changed the minds and hearts of those that were left behind forever. Sometimes the truth is darker than fiction. Steve Piacente has penned a story that could have been any one of the stories we have seen on the news in the past, a story about a man Hank Moss who lost his beloved sister in the fallen and gave up all. He put his career on hold, he was a top professional tennis player and had a wif...more 9/11 a date imprinted on the minds of many a time in history that saw the loss of countless lives and changed the minds and hearts of those that were left behind forever. Sometimes the truth is darker than fiction. Steve Piacente has penned a story that could have been any one of the stories we have seen on the news in the past, a story about a man Hank Moss who lost his beloved sister in the fallen and gave up all. He put his career on hold, he was a top professional tennis player and had a wife and kid, he enlisted himself to go and fight in Afghanistan and never returned again except in a casket. His wife Isabel (Bella) a strong main character of this story wants the truth on his death and those responsible held accounted for. Bella seeks out the help of Danny a Washington journalist to uncover the truth and bring it out into the open. Danny finds himself seduced by the one strikingly beautiful widower, recently himself out of a marriage with a child to his name, is he on the rebound? Or is he caught in a web of deceit and just a pawn in a game?
This story is it just about selling the papers and getting the votes or its more about the truth even though it could dispirit those in a similar position as Hank Moss?

The author Steve Piacente, also experienced as a Washington journalist, knows the world around the journalist character Danny well and weavers the story and hooks you in with the need for truth. There are some really nicely put together descriptive passages in this story and he tackles many feelings in this story of love and loss, trust and dishonesty. For a debut he has done well in tackling a big story of fiction that has quite a non-fiction reality to it.

"They wound up placing a few mementos in her casket-a childhood bible, a family photo, her diary and a lock of her daughters hair. At the wake, five-year-old Sally gestured toward the casket and tugged his sleeve.Is she there, Uncle Hank? That was when Hank decided to put his career an family on hold and go fight in Afghanistan."Hitting tennis balls seems ridiculous right now,"he told Sports Illustrated the day he enlisted."I don't want special treatment from the Army. I just want to go."

"The Secretary of Defense posthumously promoted Hank to corporal and awarded him a Silver Star for gallantry, valor and heroism."A hero and a patriot who made the ultimate sacrifice," the Secretary said."

"The same things once impressed your wife. No more. Your wife not only knows your tricks, she knows every shirt, tie and pair of pants hanging in the closet. After a few years, she doesn't even look up when you go out the door. So an adoring new girlfriend-or boyfriend for the neglected wife-is great for a flagging ego. What no thinks about is that after a little time, once the glow fades, the adoring girlfriend learns to hide the harmonica because the same songs over and over begin triggering migraines that make her feel like her eyes are bleeding."

Also video of the author and book trailer here.(less)

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Feb 11, 2012 Indie e-books rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: thriller, reviewed-at-indieebooks

Bella is a compelling and tragic novel about the extent to which a widow will go to find out the truth about her husband's death: She was told that he'd died by enemy hands but this lie is shattered by an anonymous phonecall and in the midst of her pain she resolves to find the truth, whatever the cost.

This novel isn't narrated from Bella's point of view however, instead it is narrated by Washington journalist Danny Patragno, who is roped into the investigation by her 'persuasiveness' and a litt...more Bella is a compelling and tragic novel about the extent to which a widow will go to find out the truth about her husband's death: She was told that he'd died by enemy hands but this lie is shattered by an anonymous phonecall and in the midst of her pain she resolves to find the truth, whatever the cost.

This novel isn't narrated from Bella's point of view however, instead it is narrated by Washington journalist Danny Patragno, who is roped into the investigation by her 'persuasiveness' and a little prod from his editor... For me, the advantage of the first person point of view is that it feels more personal and the author uses it with style to pull you in.

Throughout the book there is the underlying theme of journalistic integrity, which I found especially interesting in light of the phone hacking scandal dominating the UK press at the moment. Any good journalist will check their facts and strive to get both sides of the story, but to sell the piece to the general public there needs to be a 'hook' and this can often be sensationalist. In the end I don't think anyone can be unbiased, but they can at least try, which is what Danny struggles with.

There were some curve balls thrown into the story, but generally it was believable as life will ultimately throw up such surprises. Any negatives? If I'm going to be brutally honest I initially found the ending a little drawn out. For most of the book I was focussed on resolving the mystery of Hank's death and once this was done I also expected the story to finish. However, in hindsight, the majority of the ending sequence comprehensively delivered the consequences of Danny's actions throughout the book. Instead of closing the book with a 'solution' to the mystery, it tied up the frayed personal strings of his life, an ending that was perhaps worth the investment.

Overall the editing was on par with what I would expect from a traditionally published book and it was an excellent read, as evidenced by a couple of nights lost sleep over when I found I couldn't put it down...(less)

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Jan 02, 2012 Julie Schoerke rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Journalists, anyone who loves a thriller, great for male and female readers

BELLA has all the components that keep me turning pages until I'm finished. And then I wanted more, of course, by the last page. Dan Patragno, Washington, DC journalist, is a favorite new character of mine. He's a flawed protagonist in a story of moral ambiguity and professional ethical purgatory. The author doesn't waste a word, which I greatly appreciate. The writing is tight as only a journalist-turned-author could accomplish to this degree.

Thank goodness Piacente is releasing another novel...more

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Mar 21, 2011 Nina rated it 5 of 5 stars

This book is my first-ever book giveaway win. And you know what? It definitely is an epic win!

Bella by Steve Piacente is about a woman's struggle to find out the truth about her soldier husband's death, and to reveal the truth to the whole nation. Helping her win her cause is cocky and jaded newspaper reporter Dan Patragno whose life may have been tainted by this beautiful widow's entrance into his life.

At its core, Bella is not just a book that solves a mystery, nor is it only to document a wom...more This book is my first-ever book giveaway win. And you know what? It definitely is an epic win!

Bella by Steve Piacente is about a woman's struggle to find out the truth about her soldier husband's death, and to reveal the truth to the whole nation. Helping her win her cause is cocky and jaded newspaper reporter Dan Patragno whose life may have been tainted by this beautiful widow's entrance into his life.

At its core, Bella is not just a book that solves a mystery, nor is it only to document a woman's search for truth. Like its title character, Bella is a complex story that will lure, tease, taunt, and leave you wanting for more. Told through the eyes of Dan, the voice is bitter yet fascinated by this extraordinary woman. But as much as it is about Bella's charm, struggles, frustrations, and complexities, it is also Dan's own as he is shown dealing with his problems that may or may not be caused by the appearance of Bella in his life. Reading through his account, the reader cannot help but be torn between Dan's own opinions and Bella's demonstrated behavior. The different aspects of Bella's multi-dimensional personality that is written in the book contradicts with each other, as we witness her transform from angry woman to aggrieved widow to charming temptress. It is easy enough to agree with everything Dan tells us about this woman, yet we could not help but be caught off guard by the actual Bella gracing the pages of this book who appears so unpredictably predictable.

The premise of the story also holds its own as it compels the readers to immediately pick up this book as soon as one reads the blurb and synopsis. Who can resist mysteries? And then once the pages are turned, readers would be pleasantly surprised to realize that the story has a lot more to offer than the gratification of solving a mysterious case. Actually, the purported mystery in this novel is solved early that leaves more room to explore Bella's character herself, which appears to be the main focus for this book - quite naturally since this is a book entitled Bella, right?

I would like to congratulate the author in crafting such a creative and emotional masterpiece that would surely beguile every reader's book desires and lure and trap them as Bella unconsciously did to Dan Patragno but unlike the latter, the reader would learn a very valuable lesson without getting too beaten up to appreciate it.(less)

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Jan 03, 2011 Moonlight Gleam rated it 4 of 5 stars

The novel Bella is written from Dan Patragno’s point of view. He is a Washington correspondent for a Florida paper who is drawn to Isabel Moss, a grieving widow to a husband who died under alleged enemy fire. The latter believes the military was involved in a cover-up of her husband’s murder. She refuses to believe that he was killed by enemy fire, but rather by the actions of one of their own. Through her persuasiveness and allure, Isabel Moss gets Dan Patragno assigned to the story. Although D...more

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Sep 15, 2012 Kimberly Krey rated it 4 of 5 stars

The novel, Bella, offers a fascinating look into the intriguing life of journalist, Danny Patrango. Mr. Patrango is approached by fiercely determined (and stunningly beautiful)widow, Isabel Moss, who's desperate to uncover the truth behind her husband's death. Along the way Patrango discovers just how far the grief-stricken woman is willing to go to reveal the truth. The question is: how far is he willing to go?
Clever writing, great story telling, and a unique plot keep this book interesting fro...more

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Feb 03, 2011 Charlotte Tomic rated it 4 of 5 stars

Steve Piacente's novel Bella! is a beautifully written thriller about a beautiful widow who entraps an investigative journalist she hires to dig into the cause of her husband's death - not believing the military's explanation. The book moves briskly and the characters are well-developed and the plot turns keeps you going until the conclusion. I would recommend it for anyone looking for a novel that resembles what could actually have happened in our country and how love lost tears apart the lives...more

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Feb 17, 2013 Gina rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: book-club, conspiracies, mystery, mystery-crime, politics, reporters, stb-bookclub, suspense, thriller, traveling-books, 2013, ccc-club, challenges-2013, drama, military, government, published-2000-s, relationships, marriage, war, family, family-dysfunction, fathers, florida, government-control, grief, psychology, psychology-women, psychological-dilemmas, reviewed, romance, science-technology, sports, terrorists, war-on-terror, 5-00-rating, debut

Description- Isabel Moss knew she might lose her husband when he went off to war.
When the call came, she was almost ready.
What stopped her cold was the second call…

A striking widow intent on proving the military lied about her husband's death lures a Washington journalist into the investigation. Working together, they discover the power of temptation, the futility of revenge, and the consequences of yielding to either.
Bella is a young mom living the life she dreamed of - she's married to Hank Mo...more Description- Isabel Moss knew she might lose her husband when he went off to war.
When the call came, she was almost ready.
What stopped her cold was the second call…

A striking widow intent on proving the military lied about her husband's death lures a Washington journalist into the investigation. Working together, they discover the power of temptation, the futility of revenge, and the consequences of yielding to either.
Bella is a young mom living the life she dreamed of - she's married to Hank Moss - a hunky, charismatic rising pro tennis player ... they have a great child. Then Hank's sister dies in 9/11. He enlists in the military and dies in battle. As Bella is mourning, an anonymous caller tells her the Army lied about Hank's death. She enlists the help of a Washington reporter and they set off to find the truth. But they uncover a lot more along the way.

When I first got this book in hand I wasn't sure if I would really like it. I thought it would be more of a "true" military/government scandal book with that being the main part of the plotline. I was expecting more of a David Baldacci or Brad Metzer type of novel. However, I couldn't be more wrong. The introductory paragraph talks about a certain type of woman. The kind of woman that has everything going on and can reel it men, use them, abuse them, and then toss them out without a thought. The narrator, Danny Patragno, is describing this type of woman and how he thought he would see her coming in advance and never let that happen to him. I found this chapter intriguing since this isn't the typical content of the type of book I was expecting.

The story moves quickly into Danny meeting with Isabel Moss, the recent widow of Hank Moss who was killed while in Afghanistan during Operation Freedom. Isabel Moss has just had an anonymous call telling her that her husband wasn't killed by enemy fire and she was coming to Danny, the reporter assigned to Washington by her local paper in Tampa. She wants Danny to investigate her husband's death and expose the cover up in the Tampa paper. At first Danny is very hesitant and aware that Isabel is using her sexuality blatantly by showing him her leg during the interview. So Danny does have some doubts, even if they are buried deep inside, about whether or not to do the story. He knows that it will take a lot of work to uncover a military secret when he has no real access to military workings. But he knows if he finds something, this would be the story of the year. So he listens to his ego and goes for it.

Making contacts with old friends and the re-emergence of the anonymous caller confirms the fact the Hank did not die the way the military told Isabel. So this makes Danny work even harder. However, along the way, he loses his sense of direction and starts an affair with Isobel who is irresistible to him. Once he finds out his wife has had an affair with a close friend he is able to justify his actions.

The novel moves at a fast clip with Danny and Isobel partnering up to gather intelligence. The reader soon realizes that the book, and therefore one of the main themes, is revenge. Why do people seek revenge? How do they get it and what are it's effects? Does it help or hurt in the end? The writing was tight without any extra fluff. Piacente just tells it like it is and in doing this the reader may feel a bit uncomfortable, but a novel should invoke feelings in a reader and the author was able to do that in his writing. The main characters were well developed and there weren't too many extra characters to keep track of along the way.

For me this was the perfect military conspiracy novel mixed with just the right amount of unhealthy lust and relationship issues. I was surprised by how much I liked this book and would recommend it to anyone looking for a different take on Washington scandals. I will definitely be seeking out this author's other works. 5 stars.(less)

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Nov 03, 2012 Cameron rated it 4 of 5 stars

Originally posted on the blog: What the Cat Read

I picked this book up and read it as a part of the Book Whore Book Club, host by Book Whore, during the months of May-June. During this time I had the wonderful opportunity to engage in discussion with fellow readers and was able to see this book through the eyes of many, not just myself. If you are curious to see what went on during the discussion, please feel free to visit Book Whore's blog. Now, on to the review!

I rather enjoyed this novel. No s...more Originally posted on the blog: What the Cat Read

I picked this book up and read it as a part of the Book Whore Book Club, host by Book Whore, during the months of May-June. During this time I had the wonderful opportunity to engage in discussion with fellow readers and was able to see this book through the eyes of many, not just myself. If you are curious to see what went on during the discussion, please feel free to visit Book Whore's blog. Now, on to the review!

I rather enjoyed this novel. No surprise there since I love a good conspiracy story, and this is nothing if not a good conspiracy story. This book definitely left me guessing at every turn of the page.

One thing that automatically hooked me was its noir feel to the preface. It rather reminded me of the old black and white version of Sunset Boulevard with Gloria Swanson, a movie that I absolutely adore bytheby. The fact that the story itself was set shortly after the events of 9/11 made it even more of an intriguing read. True, I was nothing but a young kitten at the time when this tragedy took place, but I wasn’t oblivious to the pain the nation was feeling. I truly empathized with Isabel’s desire to want to learn the truth regarding her husband’s death and the roller coaster ride Piacente sends us on in the search for answers left me stunned. It’s truly a well written book.

Another thing the book had going for it was it’s non-stop action. There was always something happening within each chapter. From fake cops to full on military cover up, this book makes you want to keep reading in order to find out what happens next.

The only issue I had with the story was my general dislike of the main characters. Danny actually ticked me off and his actions throughout the book left a rather bad taste in my mouth, and I couldn’t get over my suspicions towards Isabel’s motives a lot of the time. This was actually one of those rare books where I loved the story but just couldn’t stomach the characters. And I tried really hard to give them the benefit of the doubt. Did this detract from my enjoyment of the book? A bit, yes, but the overall plot more than made up for it all.

Piacente also raises a rather interesting question towards the end of the book. Namely, is it better to lie in order to spare pain and protect the greater good or should the truth always be told regardless of possible consequences? If you are curious as to what I mean by this question, I highly suggest you read the book in order to find out!

So when all is said and done, I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys books that deal with conspiracy issues, cover ups, mysteries, etc. I advise those that do read it to see beyond the characters to the real issue the book is trying to bring to light. And should you read this book, I invite you to come and share your thoughts with me on it here on the blog. =^.^=(less)

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Jul 03, 2012 Danielle (Bookwhoreblog) Perez rated it 3 of 5 stars

This book was read with Book Whore Book Club, and gave us some great discussion questions. I went back and forth between a three star rating and a four star rating. I don't deal with a point five ratings so I had to make a decision. Pretty epic battle when you are arguing with yourself over the rating.

Steve Piacente has a great writing style that is unique. While reading the story I got a distinct male reading voice in my head. The book is masculine like the writer himself, and the story is told...more This book was read with Book Whore Book Club, and gave us some great discussion questions. I went back and forth between a three star rating and a four star rating. I don't deal with a point five ratings so I had to make a decision. Pretty epic battle when you are arguing with yourself over the rating.

Steve Piacente has a great writing style that is unique. While reading the story I got a distinct male reading voice in my head. The book is masculine like the writer himself, and the story is told from a male point of view. So as a woman I got a front row seat inside the mind of a man, pretty scary when you think about it. The male perspective is not sugar coated making the story realistic and believable. I could picture this Dick Tracey type reporter tracking down clues to get to the truth.

Bella is a roller coaster of crazy emotions and stressful situations. The plot is so intense trying to uncover the mystery behind Bella's husband’s death, I literally trusted no character. I was a paranoid reader; I mentally pictured a bad guy hiding behind every situation in my mind. My reading paranoia blinded me so I never saw anything coming. The entire book took me by surprise.

This is probably the first book in my life that I enjoyed the book, and HATED the main characters. I may have just hated the choices they made, but I can't decide. Isabelle the leading lady is cold and calculating, I couldn't trust her, I kept thinking she was the bad guy. I spent the entire book thinking everything Isabelle said was a lie, but you can chalk that up to my reading paranoia.

Danny the main man in this story is going through a midlife crisis, and makes one bad choice after another throughout the entire book. I would always start to like Danny a bit then he would screw up and I was back to hating him. While I hated Danny's failure for a choice every time, it did make his character realistic.

This book is incredibly well written, and the suspense of solving the mystery does keep you wanting more while reading. I never had a moment of not wanting to find out what was going to happen, or wanting to put this book down. The reason I think I am leaning toward the three star rating is because of the drama between characters. I found the love square going on unrealistic, for all parties involved. I loved reading about the actual story but I hated reading about the destructive situation going on in the characters lives.

The drama in the love square isn't enough to take away from the story. I think this is a good book and I love the facts that are laced into the story. I had fun googling finding out if some of the events in this book were true, and excited when I found out they were. I definitely recommend this book to adult readers. (less)

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Oct 02, 2012 Lyn M (A Book Addict's Musings) rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: readers looking for stories with great characters in them.

Recommended to Lyn M (A Book Addict's Musings) by: Sisterhood of the Traveling Book.

Shelves: new-to-me-authors, 2012, traveling-books, borrowed, contemporary, political, read-for-review, character-studies

When I picked upBella by author Steve Piacente, I wasn't sure what to expect. I had seen it classed as a political thriller, a mystery/thriller, a romance. Sort of all over the gamut. For me, it turned out to be a character study into the minds of the two main protagonists, Dan Patragno, a mediocre journalist who is dissatisfied with his life, and Isabel Moss, a beautiful young widow whose husband was recently killed in Afghanistan. I was drawn into the story by the author's writing style, whic...more When I picked upBella by author Steve Piacente, I wasn't sure what to expect. I had seen it classed as a political thriller, a mystery/thriller, a romance. Sort of all over the gamut. For me, it turned out to be a character study into the minds of the two main protagonists, Dan Patragno, a mediocre journalist who is dissatisfied with his life, and Isabel Moss, a beautiful young widow whose husband was recently killed in Afghanistan. I was drawn into the story by the author's writing style, which just seemed to flow. His crafting of the characters in this story was what kept me reading, though. I am not just talking about Dan and Isabel, either. I was excited to see that Piacente had included a number of subsidiary characters that were rich and interesting, even down to the characters with the smallest roles. The story was peppered with real people and real emotions, however flawed they were or unexplainable their actions seemed.

As a political thriller, however, I felt the book fell short. I read a lot of thrillers, and when I do I am generally looking for one of two things. First and foremost, I love to be surprised by them. Nothing makes me sit up and take notice, or rave about a book more, for that matter, than when an author takes a story in an unexpected direction or makes a character do something that I totally did not see coming. Neither of those things happened for me in this book. It was pretty apparent to me early on where the political side of this story was going to go, and I was not wrong in my presumptions. I will still give high marks, though, if a book is not surprising, but has a mystery that I enjoyed solving along with the characters in the book. In this case, this book did a reasonably good job, but I still enjoyed the characters and their flaws more than the mystery story line. To me, the mystery part of this story was simply a venue for the characters to showcase their flaws and foibles.

All in all, though, I think the author said it best when he said, "Bella is usually described as a political thriller, but the novel is mostly about the relationship between Bella, the alluring widow, and Dan, the married reporter she persuades to help her uncover the truth about her husband's death." I totally agree with him and as such the book is a success. If you are indeed writing what you know, Steve, please keep it up. You have a talent character studies. (less)

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Jan 22, 2012 Naomi rated it 5 of 5 stars

Anyone on Goodreads who knows me, knows I read alot of books. So, I love it when a book shocks the hell out of me. Bella was it! When I first read the jacket for Bella, I thought probably not as good as the other reviewers are saying. I was wrong! Bella is like reading a train wreck with several trains in participation. Not only is it a mystery/thriller, but, IMO, it is also a "psychological study" in watching the downspiraling of a man who is easily led into manipulation and willing to throw aw...more

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Aug 14, 2011 Dannye rated it 3 of 5 stars

Character Study of a Man

Classified as a romance novel in the sub-genre of Men’s Romance, which is not a sub-genre that I have read before, Bella by Steve Piacente was not my usual experience with “romance.” Dan Patragno, journalist and main character, is not so much in the middle of a romance as he is infatuated with Isabel Moss, behaving irrationally as the result of this fateful passion. More than a romance, I saw Bella as a tale of betrayal: betrayal between husbands and wives, betrayal betwe...more

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Apr 16, 2012 Debbie Heaton rated it 5 of 5 stars

Bella focuses on Isabella Moss, a widow whose husband allegedly died in combat. But an anonymous phone call reveals the opposite—death by friendly fire. In pursuit of the truth, Bella teams with reporter, Dan Patragno, and together they take on the government, army and themselves.

The story inspired me to ask myself if the cover-up should be exposed at all or possibly risk damaging the public’s faith in the government; and if I were Bella, could I just let bygones be bygones and carry on with my...more

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Sep 17, 2011 Dixie Goode rated it 5 of 5 stars

This is a compelling, captivating book about a lot of good people who end up in really sad, tragic circumstances because even good people make dumb choices when their emotions rule their head. Sometimes you want to slap the characters and tell them to wake up and use their heads, but you never stop wanting to know how the sad twists and turns are going to turn out in this post 9-11 novel about deception and courage, passion and heartbreak.

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May 15, 2012 Pamela rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-reads, sisterhood

This was a good book, not the best mystery I have read, but a good book. The story is good and captivating, with lots of insight into the journalism realm. Before I knew it, I was halfway into it. There were too many "side-line stories" that made me feel as though I was putting on the brakes during my down hill ride, and I was a little bit frustrated with this. Thus the reason for the 3 stars instead of 4.

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Feb 14, 2013 Emilie rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads

First of all, I won this book for free through the first-reads section of the website, so that was wonderful! Much thanks to Steve Piacente and all involved in facilitating this great idea!
This book was very poetic in a graceful and understated way. I was immersed and fully enraptured by the end of the preface and stayed that way until the end of the book. The characters are round and dynamic but still down to earth and enough like real people that they are relate-able. The plot moved with fluid...more

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Mar 09, 2011 C.C. Cole rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

"Bella" by Steve Piacente is an intriguing novel about an investigative reporter seeking answers to questions asked by an alluring widow. As the main character moves closer to uncovering a U.S. governmental secret, he finds himself pulled into the life of this woman, while experience turbulence in his own family. This novel is well-written and in first person (a method I enjoy reading, but am still a novice at writing).

My only criticism of "Bella" is more of a preference to me than an actual qua...more

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Aug 31, 2012 Marilyn rated it 4 of 5 stars

3.5 stars.
so I finished this late last night. While it wasn't a huge page turner, I did enjoy it and think the author has talent. I was impressed for being a self-published book. The writing was witty...I chuckled in some spots. It just wasn't riviting. Not a lot of unexpected twists. The "romance" wasn't really that. More like an excuse to put some loving in your writing. Those were two people that had no business being together. What kind of new grief-stricken widow does that sort of thing any...more

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Aug 22, 2010 Jeffrey Blount rated it 4 of 5 stars

Here is an author who knows how to give his characters a voice. So strong and so distinctive. Right away you are pulled into this journalistic/political thriller. Very powerful,jump off the pages characters, strong plot, twists and turns and true human drama keep you turning those pages. I thoroughly enjoyed this read!!!

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About Steve Piacente

Bella has won a National Indie Excellence 2012 Book Award, and the Readers Favorite 2012 Gold Medal for Dramatic Fiction. Bootlicker, the prequel to Bella, was published on Sept. 29, 2012.

But it all started for me in 1954.

Eisenhower was president, no one beat the Yankees, and Elvis was still an unknown. TV was three channels and two colors, black and white. Growing up, I didn’t particularly like s...more Bella has won a National Indie Excellence 2012 Book Award, and the Readers Favorite 2012 Gold Medal for Dramatic Fiction. Bootlicker, the prequel to Bella, was published on Sept. 29, 2012.

But it all started for me in 1954.

Eisenhower was president, no one beat the Yankees, and Elvis was still an unknown. TV was three channels and two colors, black and white. Growing up, I didn’t particularly like school. I liked baseball, egg rolls and comic books, and it was Superman that got me interested in reading and writing.

Raised in New York and educated in Washington, I kept moving south after college, eventually learning all they left out at journalism school at the feet of street-smart newspaper editors in Florida and South Carolina.

In 1985, one of those editors found me presentable enough to send back to D.C., this time as correspondent for the Tampa Tribune. The job ended four years later, and I found myself in steep competition for a similar slot with the Charleston, S.C. paper. I remember pumping the Charleston editor’s hand and pleading, “Please don’t let me become a press secretary.”

The man was merciful, enabling nine more years of Washington reporting, and front row exposure to the real South, as Charleston is far deeper into Dixie than Tampa, geography be damned. As time wore on, my NY sensibilities blended with Southern convention to produce stories on intriguing topics such as public celebration of the Confederate flag, and segregationist Senator Strom Thurmond.

It was a great time until Charleston ran out of cash and shuttered its one-man D.C. bureau. Out in the cold, I - by this time a father of three ravenous, athletic, college-bound children - found warmth in a little known Federal agency called the U.S. General Services Administration. I began as a speechwriter and today head the agency’s web, new media, and graphics teams.

Though Bella is my first real fiction, some thin-skinned politicians would say the stories I wrote about them were just as fabricated. In fact, no fiction bubbled up until I earned my license to write in the Johns Hopkins Masters program in 2000. During this time, I also reentered the classroom at American University, my alma mater, and began teaching journalism classes.

My insistence on clean, tight writing did no lasting harm to the three afore-mentioned children, now taxpaying adults in the fields of public relations, web design, and engineering. It wasn’t until years later that I learned that the kids snuck secret help from their mom, Felicia Piacente, a special education administrator in the Montgomery County (Md.) Public School System.

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