Romance

I love Whiskey Creek but this was not one of my favorites. The suspense element was okay but somehow I felt that it either needed to be more suspenseful or not be in there at all. It kind of distracted from the romance but was't robust enough to really convince you that you were reading a romantic suspense book. I'm glad that the Amos boys are getting stories of their own and really hope that Mack and Natasha's book kicks ass. ( )

Last in the Whiskey Creek series. India's druggie ex-boyfriend broke in and shot her heart surgeon husband. After moving to Whiskey Creek to escape the memories, she finds out that he's trial ended in a hung jury and he's out of jail. Her in-law's are taking care of her daughter, and are convinced that her past is the reason that Charlie is dead. India meets up with Rod Amos, her neighbor and falls in love hard. And he wants to find the ex, find that gun and have India be able to put her old life behind her a buid a new one with him. ( )

Good story with an excellent mix of mystery and romance. India has come to Whiskey Creek to start a new life for herself and her daughter. A year earlier, her husband had been shot and killed by her ex-boyfriend. She's suffering from some guilt because she feels partly responsible for what happened. While she is getting settled in Whiskey Creek, her in-laws are taking care of her daughter. India is worried about that also, because she feels that they are looking for any excuse to keep Cassia with them. On her way home one evening, India comes across Rod, who has just been run off the road and attacked. She stops to help him, and discovers a man who could make her forget her troubles or make them even worse.

Rod is one of the Amos brothers, notorious in Whiskey Creek for their ability to attract trouble. He's gotten into his fair share of it, and that night was no different. He had simply been trying to protect his stepsister from a drunk, who didn't appreciate the interference. He's grateful that India stopped to help. He'd noticed her when she moved in, and is intrigued by her as they talk that night. He's also attracted, but she doesn't seem to know what she wants from him.

I liked Rod. He has a reputation for trouble, but much of it stems from when he was younger and dealing (or not dealing) with turmoil in his life. He has a good job in the family auto body business, and a good relationship with his brothers. He has his own sense of honor and loyalty to those he loves. So far he has avoided any serious relationships, thanks to things that happened with his family when he was younger. Something about India brings out the protectiveness in him, and he finds himself wanting more than the casual encounters he's had with others. There is also a hint of vulnerability as he feels that he's not good enough for her.

I also liked India. She had a rough time when she was younger and made a lot of mistakes. But she pulled herself up and found a good man and a good life. She was devastated by what happened, and is still dealing with her feelings of responsibility. She is determined to avoid the kind of temptation that Rod poses, but his kindness and protectiveness, as well as the chemistry between them, makes it difficult. She's very independent and doesn't want to drag him into her troubles. However, she has no problem involving herself in his, and I loved how she was determined to help him clear his name after the fight at the beginning of the book.

I liked the development of the relationship between them. Once they got past their initial encounter and the awkwardness caused by her actions that night, a friendship began to grow. When India found out that her ex was out of jail because of a hung jury, she was afraid for her life and that of her daughter. I really liked Rod's insistence on her safety. It was fun to see them both try to resist the pull between them and fail so miserably. One of the things that I really liked was that, while the chemistry was hot, they also took the time to talk to each other. They shared the mistakes of their pasts and their fears. When India decides it's time to look for the murderer and the truth about what happened that night, Rod insists on helping. Her worry about his safety made her realize that her feelings for him were much deeper than she had expected, and increased her struggle to get past the fears that were holding her back. I liked Rod's patience as he waited for her to get past her husband's death and accept that she could love and be loved again. I also liked how Rod's love gave her the courage to stand up to her in-laws and their threats and to seize the chance for happiness.

The mystery/suspense portion of the book was also really good. I ached for India and everything she had been through since the death of her husband. Her fear when Sebastian was released was deep and believable. I liked how her growing feelings for Rod gave her the motivation to try to find the information needed to re-try Sebastian, though her decision to do it alone wasn't particularly smart. Rod's involvement was not a surprise, but the lengths he went to had me on the edge of my seat at times, waiting for something to go wrong. The final confrontation was intense. I liked that India took an active part in it. The resolution was really satisfying.

There was also a secondary story involving Rod's brother Mack and their stepsister Natasha. There's definitely something going on there, but Mack is fighting it for all he's worth. He feels that it just isn't right for him to feel this way about his "sister". Natasha, on the other hand, knows exactly how she feels and what she wants and isn't shy about going after it. I liked that Mack was trying to do the right thing and encouraging her to get her education, but he made a few mistakes along the way, that caused unnecessary hurt for her. There was some promising progress by the end of the book. As Mack and Grady still don't have books of their own, I'm hoping that there are still some Whiskey Creek stories to come. ( )

Upon completing Discovering You, book 10 in the Whiskey Creek series, I could see how Brenda Novak acquired her best-selling author status. This book was ALWAYS hard to put down, and NEVER hard to pick up. Ms. Novak's story struck a chord with me. It was chock-full of everything that would keep a person fully absorbed in the story; a seemingly inappropriate relationship, obsession, rivalry, intrigue, suspense and of course, romance. (Uhh....this is not a wholesome romance book. There were a few, not a lot, of sexy scenes, which I preferred to gloss over.) I was fully invested in the suspenseful parts of the book since I love romance with a bit of suspense. Ms. Novak handled this beautifully. I was on the edge of my seat, wondering how bad-boy Rod Amos was going to keep himself from being killed by his girlfriend's (India Sommers) husband's murderer; but he felt compelled to protect her, despite it meaning he might have to put himself in harm's way. Rod and India certainly had many challenges to face in order to be a couple - India's husband's somewhat recent murder, her judgmental ex in-laws, Rod's bad-boy image and blue-collar status, India's guilt, her young child.... I really felt for Rod's character. He was tough because of having lost his mother to suicide, and his father to prison. Fortunately he could depend on the love of his oldest brother, Dylan, who practically raised him. That's another part of the book I loved, the brothers' (five, including Rod) dialogue among themselves. It was portrayed in such a way that you cared about those men and their lives. Their affection for one another was palpable, even under the tough exterior, and this was endearing.

In a nutshell, Brenda Novak without question knows how to write a story. And even though I typically don't comment on various errors I find in books, I noted that I didn't catch even a spelling error in Discovering You. It was flawless.

Aside from the fact that I prefer my romance sweet, this book, depicting modern-day relationships and contemporary life, was excellently executed and I thoroughly enjoyed the story. Phenomenal. ( )