Title: Come Home to Me

Author: Brenda Novak

Series: Whiskey Creek, #6

Publisher: Harlequin

Imprint: Harlequin MIRA

Publication date: March 25th, 2014

My rating: 3.5 of 5

(Book read on April 17th-18th, 2014,  from a review copy received from the publisher via NetGalley, in exchange of an honest review.)   

Summary:

 

Home is where her heart is... 

When Presley Christensen returns to Whiskey Creek with her little boy after two years away, she has completely changed her life. She's made peace with her past and overcome the negative behavior that resulted from her difficult childhood. Now she's back in the small town that was the closest thing to "home" she ever knew—the town where she can be with the sister who's her only family.

There's just one catch. Aaron Amos still lives in Whiskey Creek, at least until he moves to Reno to open a branch of the Amos brothers' auto body shop. And no matter how hard she's tried, Presley hasn't been able to get over him. Seeing him again makes the longing so much worse. But she hopes she can get through the next few months, because she can't fall back into his arms…or his bed. She's come too far to backslide now. And there's a secret she's been guarding - a secret she'll do anything to protect.

 

My Thoughts on the Book:

 

When I read When Snow Falls a few months ago, I was left dying to read Presley & Aaron's story. They had been through so much (especially Presley), so I couldn't wait for their happily ever after.

But, this book wasn't everything I wanted it to be. I wish it was more concentrated on the relationship between Aaron & Presley - I wish we saw more of its development & the romance, instead of being told that it happened. And the secondary storyline with Cheyenne & Dylan was kinda awful, and totally diminished my enjoyment of this book. If I was in Dylan's shoes, and someone did that to me, I would definitely feel betrayed, so I really did not like it. She just used Aaron to get what she wants, and it was really selfish of her, despite her "unselfish reason". I wouldn't have minded if Dylan knew about it, and he agreed, that would've been good solution, but going behind his back - no, just, no!

Now, after getting that off of my chest - overall, I liked a lot this book (not counting Cheyenne's storyline). Wyatt was adorable, and Aaron was amazing with him. Presley was too unsecure, and despite having changed herself a lot, she was stubborn, and didn't want to accept that Aaron isn't the same guy, and has changed, too. So, I can't say that I quite liked her in this book, though I still kinda liked her from When Snow Falls. As I said, everything she's been through, she deserved her HEA, and with the guy he loves (Aaron), not with the next best thing a.k.a Riley. I really, really did not like Riley. I wanted to, but couldn't. I'm guessing he isn't as bad & unlikable as he seemed in this book, but to be honest - I don't care.

The chemistry between Presley & Aaron was great, I just wish there was more romance between them. And I really, really liked Aaron, he's awesome, and yummy, and so sexy, and just so good. And I was glad that he didn't give up. And the ending was just so sweet, and finally - romantic.

Come Home to Me is enjoyable addition to the Whiskey Creek series, and if you've enjoyed When Snow Falls, and you're interested in Presley & Aaron, then this book is a must-read, and I recommend it!

 

 

 

Challenges: 

2014 Review Pile Reading Challenge

Title: When Lightning Strikes

Author: Brenda Novak

Series: Whiskey Creek #1

Publisher: Harlequin

Imprint: HarlequinMIRA

Publication date: August 28th, 2012

ISBN: 9780778313519

(Novel read on August 16th-17th, 2012, from an e-copy acquired through NetGalley from the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.) 

My rating: 4 of 5 

 

Summary:

Welcome to Whiskey Creek - Heart of the Gold Country!

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!

 

My Thoughts on the Book:

After reading Brenda Novak's prequel novella When We Touch, I was really looking forward to reading the first book in the Whiskey Creek series When Lightning Strikes.

So, now that I read When Lightning Strikes, did I enjoy it? Yes, I enjoyed it a lot. The story developed a little different then I expected, and that was good. And poor Simon. he has been through a lot. Ok, we don't know that at the beginning, so we don't know why he has been acting the way he has, but after what he's been through, I can definitely understand it. The chenistry between Gail & Simon was so good, and I liked them together a lot, and I liked them as characters a lot.

I don't want to go into details, so I won't spoil the story, but lets just say that it seems that the series are less rose-colored then contemporary romances usually are, and I liked that fact a lot, it was quite different and a little refreshing.  

The ending was so sweet & romantic, and if you're a fan of contemporary romances, I recommend this book a lot! I'm definitely looking forward to the next book in the series When Snow Falls (don't you love these titles). 

Challenges:

100+ Books In A Year Reading Challenge 2012

1st in a Series Challenge 2012
Netgalley Knockout

Title: When We Touch

Auhors: Brenda Novak

Series: Whiskey Creek #0.5

Publisher: Harlequin

Imprint: HarlequinMIRA

Publication date: July 31st, 2012

ISBN: 9781426875793

(Novella read on July 2oth, 2012, from an e-copy acquired through NetGalley from the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.) 

My rating: 4 of 5 

 

Summary:

 

You’re invited to a wedding in Whiskey Creek, Heart of the Gold Country.

Unfortunately, it’s the wrong wedding. Olivia Arnold is arranging the festivities—and it’s the hardest thing she’s ever done. Because she should be marrying Kyle Houseman. They were together for more than a year…. But her jealous sister, Noelle, stole him away—and now she’s pregnant.

All their friends in Whiskey Creek know as well as Olivia does that Kyle’s making a mistake. His stepbrother, Brandon, knows it, too. But Kyle’s determined to go through with it, for his child’s sake.

Olivia’s devastated, but surprisingly Brandon—the black sheep of the family—is there to provide comfort and consolation. The intensity between them, both physical and emotional, shows Olivia that maybe Kyle wasn’t the right man for her…

But is Brandon?

 

My Thoughts on the Novella:

 

Although Brenda Novak has been on my author-to-try list for a long time now, until now I hadn't read anything from her, and now I know that I'll definitely read more. I enjoyed a lot this prequel novella to her new Whiskey Creek series, and I'm definitely looking forward to the first book in this series When Lightning Strikes.

I'm definitely not a fan of stealing your sibling's boyfriend, I mean seriously, what's wrong with Noelle? I really, really disliked her. And I thought Kyle was an idiot - sleeping with your ex-girlfriend's sister, and so soon? And you're technically on a break, and you love her & want her back, and then you go & sleep with her sister?! Seriously? Noelle is so selfish & spoiled, and although Kyle was far from innocent in that whole thing, I really felt sorry for him in the end. In the end he redeemed himself & he's not a bad guy, and decided to do the right thing, both for his upcoming baby & for Brandon & Olivia. Poor, poor Kyle, to be stuck with someone like Noelle. I know this might be awful of me, but I wish he'll get a full-length book of his own with another woman some time later - I know, that's awful, but I can't see their marriage being successful... 

But, it was better that this happened, at least for Olivia & Brandon, because they definitely belong together. They've been friends for years, and I liked them both as characters,  especially Brandon, he was so amazing & yummy, and they were amazing together, with great chemistry between them :) 

So, I enjoyed this story a lot, it was fun & sweet & romantic & sexy, and I'm definitely looking forward to reading Gail's story, and soon, so I recommend this novella a lot!