Category: Brenda Novak
Every Waking Moment by Brenda Novak
Sometimes you have to risk it all…
Emma Wright has finally escaped the dangerous man who’s dominated her life for the past six years. She’s taken her five-year-old son, Max, and fled across the country, seeking freedom, safety, a fresh start. But Max’s father is no fool. And he isn’t willing to give them up so easily.
Preston Holman trusted the wrong person when he called his good friend, Dr. Vince Wendell, to his house to treat his sick little boy. When Dallas died only two days later, everyone, including his wife, believed it was a tragic act of fate. Only Preston was convinced that Dallas’s rapid decline stemmed from something far more sinister. Now he’s given up everything — his home, his wife, his past life — to pursue the man he believes killed his son. He’s after revenge, closure. But the police won’t listen. And he knows it’s very likely that Wendell will strike again.
When Preston meets Emma, he doesn’t want anything to do with her or her problems. He’s carrying a gun he eventually plans to use. And she has a boy who reminds him far too much of Dallas, which stirs up the old memories and the pain. But she’s in desperate need of a ride, and he can’t leave her stranded. Fortunately, what we most resist is sometimes the very thing we need.
Every Waking Moment is a perfect example of romantic suspense. This is the fourth book I’ve read by Brenda Novak and every book I read gets better and better. She is great at telling stories that are believable. She develops characters that have such depth and heart. I read this book in almost one sitting, I couldn’t put it down. An outstanding book that I highly recommend!
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I recently read Brenda Novak’s Stillwater Trilogy. I really enjoyed all three books; Dead Silence, Dead Giveaway and Dead Right and have been yacking about it to anyone and everyone. When I finished the series I felt I need to email Brenda and express my thoughts and tell her how much I love her writing. I also had a few questions I had to ask her and she was more then willing to answer them for me. Thanks Brenda 
. here is my little Q&A with Brenda Novak.
How did you come up with the idea for the Stillwater Trilogy?
I was at a writer’s conference when I first conceived of the idea. There’s so much creative energy when a group of writers come together. I actually get some of my best ideas when I’m attending workshops and visiting with others who love the same things I do. I wanted to try my first trilogy, and I wanted something that was based on a deep, dark secret. From that, I chose what kind of secret (murder) and the method and the characters. Grace was the first to emerge from my imagination. She came to me so clearly that daydreaming about her would sometimes choke me up (she has such a tragic past). That’s when I knew she was “real” to me, that I could really relate to her. LOL
When you first started writing Dead Silence, Did you know you had a trilogy in the works? Or did the idea to continue with another book come after writing Dead Silence?
As I mentioned above, I started out with the idea of wanting to try my hand at connected books. I actually wondered if I could have four stories on the table (with one story for the sister living in NYC), but three worked out just perfect.
What character from the 3 books was the most challenging to write about?
DEAD RIGHT was the toughest. I’m not sure it was Madeline’s fault, however. LOL I’d just put so much out there already (in the first two books) that remaining consistent and keeping it fresh and suspenseful became my major goals. Also, DEAD RIGHT is a little more plot driven than the other two books, and I think I excel more at character-driven books.
My favorite character from the series was Clay. Who was yours?
Clay was my favorite, too. I love a dark, brooding hero, especially one as tough as Clay. It was so fun to give him get his own happy ending, to see him finally settle down and find peace.
Will you be writing another trilogy anytime soon? If so, can you tell us abit about it?
I have a new trilogy coming out, back-to-back next summer. This one’s called The Last Stand Trilogy and centers on a victim’s charity run by three women who have very personal reasons for getting involved in the fight against violent crime. They work on all different kinds of cases–but the most frightening ones are their own. :-) TRUST ME, STOP ME and WATCH ME will be out June, July and August of 08. I’m currently having my web site redone to become a virtual tour of The Last Stand offices. It should be very cool. Look for it in January.
Dead Right (Stillwater Trilogy, #3) by Brenda Novak
Plot Summary: The people of Stillwater, Mississippi, are asking questions about murder. Again.
Twenty years ago, Madeline Barker’s father disappeared. Despite what everyone else thinks, she’s convinced her stepfamily had nothing to do with it. But the discovery of his car proves he didn’t just drive away. Worse, the police find something in his trunk that says there’s more to this case than murder.
With no other recourse, Madeline decides to hire a private investigator—even if the cops don’t like it. Even if her family doesn’t like it. But when PI Hunter Solozano begins to uncover some shocking evidence, someone in Stillwater is determined to put a stop to Madeline’s search for the truth. And that means putting a stop to her. Permanently.
My Review: Dead Right is the final installment of the Stillwater Trilogy. The 3rd novel was just as good as the others in the series; Dead Silence (book #1) and Dead Giveaway (book #2). What impressed me the most with all 3 books was the depth of the characters. They are characters that you can really feel for. Madeline and the Montgomery’s are a family that have been though so much. You just want everything to work out and for them to all be happy and finally put the past behind them. I only fault I found with Dead Right was the ending. I thought it was rushed. I was also surprised at how quickly Clay trusted Hunter. Considering how protective he was of his family over the years. I do want to warn any readers that are a little more sensitive. This series of books deals with the act of child abuse and molestation. It does have some graphic details in it. Pedophiles disgust me, but I think all 3 books have more love in them than disgust and hate. Overall I was very impressed with the whole series. I enjoyed every page.
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Dead Giveaway (Stillwater Trilogy, #2) by Brenda Novak
Plot Summary: The Reverend Lee Barker went missing nineteen years ago….
And the people of Stillwater, Mississippi believe they know why. They’re convinced he was murdered, by his stepson, Clay Montgomery. But only Clay, and his mother and sisters, can say for sure. They were the only ones there that fateful night, the only ones who know what really happened. And they’re not talking.
Allie McCormick is a cold case detective from Chicago. After a particularly difficult divorce, she’s returned to Stillwater with her six-year-old daughter to find the peace she once knew in her hometown, and to work for the local police force while she’s starting over. But when Clay’s powerful enemies join forces to put him behind bars, Allie feels duty-bound to uncover the truth. Her instincts tell her he didn’t murder the Reverend Lee Barker.
Maybe Clay’s a dark and brooding man with more than his share of secrets, but he was just sixteen at the time. And he’s not a cold-blooded killer. At least that’s what Allie believes, until she finds proof that behind the preacher’s pious demeanor lurked the heart of a monster.
Then she has to ask herself whether justice has already been done….
My Review: A few days ago I finished the first book in the Stillwater trilogy, Dead Silence. I enjoyed the book so much, I picked up the sequel Dead Giveaway right away, and started it. I read it in record time. I just couldn’t put it down. The plot was so intense. Even the sub-plots were interesting. The chemistry between Allie and Clay was electric. Their chemisty made Dead Giveaway seem a lot more spicy than Dead Silence, and really the romance/sex was kept to a minium, which should be the case for the books genre; romantic suspense. Personally, I think Brenda Novak could have pulled off having a few more love scenes between Allie and Clay. I also have to mention the ending to this book. Which was very smart thinking on Allie part. The Vincelli’s saw the truth in the end.
Both books from the series have been page turners from start to finsih. I hope the 3rd book, Dead Right is just as exciting. I can’t wait to read it.
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Dead Silence (Stillwater Trilogy, #1) by Brenda Novak
Plot Summary: There’s a body buried behind a Mississippi farmhouse…
Grace Montgomery knows who it is, and she knows why. She was only thirteen the night everything went wrong. And now, like then, she has no choice but to keep her mouth shut.
Grace left the town of Stillwater thirteen years ago, trying to forget, trying to make good. As an assistant D.A. in Jackson, she’s finally achieved the success that was supposed to change her life. But it hasn’t, and Grace realizes she has to defeat the past or the past will defeat her. So she’s finally come back to face her own history. And to face the people of Stillwater, including Kennedy Archer, the boy who had everything. She’s a different person now, tough, self-possessed, and completely uninterested in the people she’d once tried to please. Except for Kennedy… But Grace knows how dangerous loving Kennedy could be, to him and to her.
My Review: This is the first time for me reading anything by Brenda Novak. I really like her writing style. Dead Silence is the first in the Stillwater Trilogy. The book grabbed my attention right from the start and held it right to the end. This book is a great example of a romantic suspense. I really enjoyed the characters in this book. The best part of the book was Grace’s relationship with Teddy, a little 8 year old boy that befriends her on her first day back in town. I highly recommend this book. I am looking forward to the next in the series, Dead Giveaway, which is about Clay Montgomery, Grace’s brother.
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