The Book Review: Brenda Novak "When Lightning Strikes"

When Lightning Strikes (Whiskey Creek)

Brenda Novak

Published by Harlequin Mira; August 2012

Paperback, 441 pages.

Listed $7.99, I borrowed it from the Library.


Book Description

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!


Review

I am a huge fan of Brenda Novak's! I especially love her romances. I read all of her books in the Dundee, Idaho series and this one proves to be similar in spirit and fun. 

Normally I do not like books with fake "rich and famous" people but this one was actually believable and not annoying. Gail DeMarco is someone I would admire and I think her honesty and integrity are not far-fetched. Maybe to some, but not to me. 

Simon O'Neal is also not an annoying or unbelievable movie-star character with issues. Of course he has issues. Both of the main characters have issues but they are not totally insurmountable. Simon's are more intense and his relative stupidity when it comes to women is a tad cliche'. 

Whiskey Creek is someplace I would like to live. I do kind of live in that kind of environment. We don't have a haunted Inn but we do have a haunted house. We have a couple of diners that have been here forever, so I get that part of the community and I love it! 

The DeMarco family is semi-dysfunctional (hello, issues.), but they have down-to-earth values and love each other. Simon's family is a train-wreck but that works for a Hollywood Hottie. His ex & his agent however, make me want to vomit, or punch someone. So considering I got emotional about it, I guess you could say I "fell for" the characters.

Overall I liked the novel and am looking forward to the next installment.

Currently reading: When Snow Falls (Whiskey Creek #2)!