Secrets, Lies and Betrayals by Lynn Wood is a political thriller that focuses on the life of Lea (Michaela), an American-born young woman whose childhood was consumed by a traumatic loss. At age three, Lea was the casualty of an attack perpetrated by political extremists. In that attack, a madman assassinated her grandfather in broad daylight at a political peace treaty in Tel Aviv. Lea survived the attack somehow, but her entire life changed that day. Years later, Lea is a young adult living in Rome, trying to embrace her new identity. Lea's father is an overzealous politician determined to become elected as the new president of the United States. His career makes Lea a political target once again. Just when Lea thought it was safe to live her life, someone unexpectedly betrays her family and leaks her real identity to the public. Under the protective wing and guidance of Max, her head of security, they race to find out who betrayed her trust and endangered her life. The truth will shock you.

Secrets, Lies and Betrayals is full of action, drama, danger, lies, secrets, tragedy, mystery, intrigue, betrayal, and political conspiracies. It will grab your attention from the beginning and won't let go until you discover the complete truth behind the many secrets and lies. The characters (especially Lea and Max) are believable and lifelike--you can't help but become absorbed in their stories and identify with them, their lives, thoughts, and actions. The plot unfolds from different POVs, which I rather enjoyed. This writing technique will help readers to submerge themselves in the entire story. I also enjoyed the political elements and conspiracy details because they enhanced the action and danger in the plot and propelled the story forward. There are ample amounts of surprises and plot twists that kept me guessing what would happen next. Great story! I eagerly look forward to reading more in this series. Political thriller fans will be delighted.

Secrets, Lies and Betrayals is a work of fiction by Lynn Wood in the political thriller, crime, and interpersonal drama subgenres, and is the first book in the Protect and Honor series. The story follows Michaela Manning, a woman living under a false identity to escape her dark past. As a child, Michaela witnessed her grandfather’s assassination and narrowly survived the same attack. Raised in Europe under the protection of Maxwell Cole, an ex-special forces operative, Michaela's hidden life is jeopardized when her father, a U.S. senator, becomes a presidential nominee. The search for the senator’s long-lost daughter intensifies, forcing Michaela into hiding again. Betrayed by someone she trusted, she must uncover the truth before her enemies find her.

Author Lynn Wood draws readers into a world where the past never truly stays buried with a confident command of narrative detail. The sense of danger surrounding Michaela is palpable, making her struggle to maintain her fabricated life both tense and heartbreaking. I felt deep empathy for her as she balanced on the edge of exposure, her childhood trauma always lurking beneath the surface. These themes were well-handled in her characterization, and the narrative format and dialogue around her did a lot to show readers her pain without over-sensationalizing it for effect. The political thriller aspect added layers of complexity to the plot with different, interlocking strands, weaving in suspense and conspiracy that kept me turning the pages and always offering satisfying tie-ins. Michaela’s relationship with Max brought a touch of humanity and warmth to the story, offering a glimmer of hope amidst the chaos, and I really liked their dialogue and banter together. Overall, Secrets, Lies and Betrayals is an excellent work of drama that I would certainly recommend.

Secrets, Lies and Betrayals is the first book in the Protect and Honor series by Lynn Wood. An assassination occurred while U.S. Senator Mac McMillan was holding his granddaughter in his arms. Lea was born Michaela Manning, and her identity was kept a secret from the public following the murder. Maxwell Cole, former Special Forces, rescued Michaela and kept a close eye on her while she was growing up in Europe. As an adult, Lea fell in love with Rome and hoped to find a man who would make her happy. Gabriel had no idea a woman could completely change his life until he met Lea. Lea’s father was running for president and someone had exposed her past. Max and Lea had to flee as they tried to figure out who had divulged her secrets.

Secrets, Lies and Betrayals by Lynn Wood was intriguing and had my attention from the start until the end. It was fast-paced and filled with drama, betrayal, grief, and romance. The way the scenes were structured and the mood captured in each gave me the impression that I was right at the heart of the action. The characters had vivid personalities, captivating backstories, and powerful personalities. Despite being unable to escape her past, Lea had created a life she loved for herself. Lea and Gabriel's relationship was comfortable and natural, and I could forget about the danger she was in. The plot was expertly written and had every component needed to be a compelling political thriller. The story was enjoyable and went above and beyond my expectations.

Secrets, Lies and Betrayals by Lynn Wood is a captivating thriller that follows the life of Michaela Manning, a young woman on the run from political extremists. Michaela was given a second chance at life with a new identity. She is the survivor of a gruesome attack orchestrated by political extremists that took the life of her beloved grandfather. Even though she's been given a new identity as Lea Milan, Michaela still needs to reconcile with the pains of her past. Her father is an ambitious politician seeking to create political change once elected as the president of the United States. When Michaela has her life dragged into the spotlight by someone she trusts, she goes on the run with Max, her security guard, savior, and friend. They both pledge to locate the person who betrayed her and finally stop these extremists. But can they neutralize the threat before it is too late?

Secrets, Lies and Betrayals is a well-written and innovative novel that will win the admiration of readers everywhere. Wood builds an elaborate story packed with conspiracy, political radicalism, secret identities, action, drama, and suspense. I applaud Michaela's and Max's growth throughout the novel. Despite the hindrances Michaela faces, she reclaims her voice and her life. Michaela is not a victim. She is a survivor! Wood's writing style is well-paced and engaging. She uses a lot of vivid descriptions throughout the storyline, bringing the story and its characters to life. This action-packed thriller does an excellent job of keeping you on your toes. After each plot twist, I tried to guess what would happen next, only to be surprised by the outcome again. The secret reveals made this book hard for me to put down. Wood even includes many impressive elements that relate to the current political climate in our modern world. If you are looking for an intense thriller to lose yourself in then Secrets, Lies and Betrayals is the book for you.