Book Review: When Lightening Strikes by Brenda Novak

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This book was reviewed for
Night Owl Reviews
When Lightning Strikes
by Brenda Novak
Series: Whiskey Creek Book One
Release Date: August 28th 2012
Publisher: Harlequin MIRA
Source: Author
Age Group: Adult
Category: Contemporary Romance
Pages:  448 pages in print

My Rating :
4.5 Stars
TOP PICK FOR NIGHT OWL REVIEWS

Back of the Book:

Simon O'Neal's causing trouble again. And it's up to Gail DeMarco to stop him.

Gail DeMarco left Whiskey Creek, California, to make a name for herself in Los Angeles. Her PR firm has accumulated a roster of A-list clients, including the biggest box office hit of all—sexy and unpredictable Simon O'Neal. But Simon, who's just been through a turbulent divorce, is so busy self-destructing he won't listen to anything she says. She drops him from her list—and he retaliates by taking the rest of her clients with him.

Desperate to save her company, Gail has to humble herself by making a deal with Simon. The one thing he wants is custody of his son, but that's going to require a whole new image. He needs to marry some squeaky-clean girl who'll drag him off to some small, obscure place like Whiskey Creek….

Gail's the only one he can trust. She agrees to become his wife—reluctantly. But she isn't reluctant because he's too hard to like. It's because he's too hard not to love!

Teaser:

Simon’’s introduction to Gail’’s hometown started with a sign posted on the meandering highway they’’d been traveling since leaving Interstate 5: Welcome to Whiskey Creek, the Heart of the Gold Country. They’’d passed through other places, similar in size and architecture. Jackson and Sutter Creek also dated from the Gold Rush––era of the 1800s and looked it. But there was something different about Whiskey Creek. Subtle though it was, Simon noticed it right off. There was a definable unity here, a certain pride evident in the way the buildings were maintained and cared for that made him believe it should’’ve been named Happy Valley.

First Line:
She was ruined. She’’d become anathema——the Jerry Maguire of the Los Angeles public-relations biz. And it’’d happened almost overnight.

Plot & Character:

An inspiring and heartwarming romance! 

When Lightning Strikes is the first of Brenda Novak’s Whisky Creek series set in a small town in Northen California. Gail DeMarco, a Hollywood publicist, and A-list actor Simon O’Neal take us through the darker side of fame and fortune, showing us through their story just how hard it is to give trust to others when it can be used as a weapon.

I loved the unique blending of the hero and heroine. This contemporary romance is brought to life through the author’s eloquent writing style which added just the right flare to the story. Her attention to setting and secondary characters also added another layer, making it that much more consuming. The pacing was smooth and kept my attention through the first two-thirds of the story though the ending came off as a little rushed. However, the author did a wonderful job of adding in a delightful twist that left me smiling as I ended the book. And if I read the clues right, I know who we’ll join in Whiskey Creek in the next installment!

Against the wall and with no one to turn to Simon has only one out that can deliver him from the spiraling downfall that is his train wrecked life off the set. And it’s someone he doesn’t even like-his publicist. Straight laced Gail DeMarco is faced with losing her PR Company due to one Simon O’Neal and the only way to save it is by marrying him and cleaning up his public image in order to get custody of his child. Before long they both find themselves learning who to trust, but on event after another left me wondering what would become of their false marriage. The author did a great job of keeping the story flowing with multiple twists and ending with a pleasant surprise that makes me anxious for the next installment!

Writing:
Ms. Novak weaves a story with an elegant form that speaks of her seasoned talent in romance writing. No wonder so many readers come back to her stories time and again!

Summary:
When Lightning Strikes is a perfect contemporary romance to enjoy any time of year but is especially perfect for sending summer on its way while welcoming the cooler months of autumn. I recommend this book to all readers that love great story telling and romance!