RS Review: In Close [Mass Market Paperback]

I've finished "In Close" the 3rd book in her Bulletproof trilogy by Brenda Novak.

Product Description

Claire O'Toole's mother, Alana, went missing fifteen years ago. That was big news in Pineview, Montana, the kind of town where nothing much ever happens. Then, last year, Claire's husband, David, died in a freak accident — after launching his own investigation into Alana's disappearance.

Is Alana dead? Or did she simply abandon her husband and daughters? Claire is determined to find out — and her former boyfriend, Isaac Morgan, wants to help. Although their relationship didn't end well, he still has feelings for her. And yet it isn't until he starts to suspect David's death wasn't an accident that he's drawn back into her life.

Together, Claire and Isaac search for answers to the questions that have haunted Pineview all this time. But as they soon discover, someone's prepared to kill so those answers won't be found ….


About the Author

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author Brenda Novak has penned over 40 novels. A two-time Rita nominee, she's won The National Reader's Choice, The Bookseller's Best, The Bookbuyer's Best and many other awards. She runs an annual on-line auction for diabetes research every May at www.brendanovak.com. To date, she’s raised over $1 million. Brenda considers herself lucky to be a mother of five and married to the love of her life.

Product Details
Mass Market Paperback: 448 pages
Publisher: Mira; Original edition (October 25, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0778312666
ISBN-13: 978-0778312666

My Review:

Fifteen years ago in Pineview, Montana Claire O'Toole's mother, Alana, disappeared without a trace.  The case wasn't solved and it became a cold case.  Claire suffered a devastating lost last year when her husband David died in a car accident.

Claire needs to know what really happened to her mother and as a homage to her David she starts an investigation of her own.  While looking through her mother's attic she finds some files with articles about her mother's disappearance that David had.  Before she could read them she is suddenly attacked by someone.

She screams for help and to her embarrassment her savior is non other then her ex-lover Issac Morgan.  Their relationship ended very badly and now she tries to avoid him.  Issac finds evidence that David's accident wasn't an accident and someone killed him because he was onto to them.  Issac and Claire agree to work together and in their investigation they find out what really happened to Alana and a big secret about her younger sister that no many people know about.

I didn't really connect with Claire because it seemed like she only cared what other people thought of her and she sacrificed her life to please undeserving people like her younger sister Leanne.  Her behavior was kind of childish especially when Issac rejected her love and she ran back to David and married him.

I connected with Issac and I felt like he totally regretted rejected Claire's love because he wasn't ready to deal with the way she made him feel.  He was going through a lot and had to deal with issues and he just lost the only dad he knew at the time before he could enter a real relationship.  He now knows he wants Claire in his life forever and would do anything to obtain his goal.

Leanne was a piece of work and a horrible person to boot.  I hate the way she treats Claire and I believe she blames her for her problems and insecurities.

This book had lots of twists and turns and was very fast paced and thrilling.

4/5

Books in series:

1.  Inside
2.  In Seconds
3.  In Close 

RS Review: In Seconds [Mass Market Paperback]

I've finished "In Seconds" the 2nd book in her Bulletproof series by Brenda Novak.

Product Description


They're back…

Laurel Hodges has changed her identity twice. She's been on the run for the past four years, trying to outdistance the gang members who blame her for the death of one of their own. She's finally found peace and stability in the small town of Pineview, Montana. But just when Laurel thinks she and her children are safe … the nightmare starts all over again.

The Crew, a ruthless prison gang with ties to Laurel's brother, will never forget and they'll never forgive. And now that they've finally tracked her down, they'll stop at nothing.

Sheriff Myles King, who happens to live next door with his thirteen-year-old daughter, appoints himself Laurel's personal guardian. His growing attraction to her could change his life — Myles is beginning to picture marriage and family. But it could also end his life. If he can't save her, everything he's built, everything he wants, could be destroyed. In seconds …

Product Details
Mass Market Paperback: 400 pages
Publisher: Mira; Original edition (August 30, 2011)

Language: English
ISBN-10: 0778312445
ISBN-13: 978-0778312444

My Review:

Laurel has been on the run for two years from THE CREW a viscous gang who are set on revenge against the people who wrong them. She has been living in Pineview, Montana with her two children and doesn't want to get involve with anyone just in case trouble comes abrewing. Myles King the sheriff has lived next door to LLaurel and has asked her out a couple of times but she has always refused

Laurel.  He lives with his teenage daughter and lost his wife 3 years ago.  He's very popular with the ladies but he isn't interested in them only in his next door neighbor. 

When a real estate agent is murdered in town it raises Laurel's suspicions that she has been found again.  She was in witness protection for a couple of years when the marshall who was protecting them was killed she decided to go on her own.

Her older brother Virgil served fourteen years in prison for a crime he didn't commit and was finally exonerated four years ago.  Her joined "The CREW" for necessity while in prison but they have held a grudge ever since he left them.  Now they want revenge against him, his family Rex aka Pretty Boy his best friend who was also in the gang.  Now Virgil with the help of Rex wants to finally finish the game and end the threats.

The villain INK is from the first book and he truly is a scary psychotic killer who has no remorse and feels nothing.  All he knows is that he must exact revenge against the family who wronged his gang.  The killings are very descriptive and brutal.

5/5

Killer Heat [Mass Market Paperback]

I've finished "Killer Heat" the 3rd book in her Department 6 trilogy series by Brenda Novak.

Product Description

The bodies of seven women have been discovered in Skull Valley, Arizona. Jonah Young, a private security operative from Department 6, has been hired by the Yavapai County sheriff to assist in solving these murders. But Jonah's not prepared for the complications that arise when he's forced to work with a woman from his past, private investigator Francesca Moretti. 

Jonah betrayed Francesca ten years ago. She hasn't forgiven him and she's pretty sure she never will. But the woman she was hired to find has been murdered in exactly the same way as the seven in Skull Valley, so, Francesca has to work with Jonah. They quickly zero in on the most likely suspect — but questions remain. Questions they have to answer. Because if they bet on the wrong man, it might be the last thing they ever do….

Product Details

Mass Market Paperback: 448 pages

Publisher: Mira; 1 edition (September 28, 2010)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 0778328317

ISBN-13: 978-0778328315

My Review:

Storyline:  Private investigator Francesca Moretti was hired to find missing April Bonner. The Chandler, Arizona sleuth follows a clue that takes her to a salvage yard near Prescott. There she sees April's corpse and has a run in with the owner Butch Vaughn who lured the unfortunate woman via the matchmaker Net persona of Harry Stratham. Thanks to a woman and child, who Francesca assumes is his family, she escapes.

Yavapai County Sheriff's office hires the Department 6 private security firm to investigate the gruesome murders of seven women found in Skull Valley. Agent Jonah Young leads the inquiry, but he is stunned when he sees Francesca. A decade ago, they went to the police academy together, but as they fell in love he betrayed her with her best friend.  With the worst possible ending -- a child was born from that night. When the cops find no body on Vaughn's property he files an assault charge against Francesca. As the two team up to clear Francesca's reputation, they target Butch as the only suspect, but lack proof; while the killer targets them.

Characters:  Francesca is a very tough, smart, independent and determined to prove that Butch killed all the women.  Hmm I thought she was a very complex person because I was wondering how she forgave her best friend for betraying her and not forgiving Jonah?  She totally blames him for the betrayal?  She's still quite upset and has never stopped loving him though she won't admit it!

Jonah is a very hunky, tough and a great investigator.  He was scared of his deep feelings for Francesca so he got drunk and sleep with her best friend.

Butch and his family are quite scary and I certainly wouldn't want to meet them!

Romance: I did like the romance between Jonah and Francesca because the second time around it went slowly, they found out they are different people now and Jonah waited until Francesca told him she forgave him.

Killer(s): The killer was quite scary and creative in their killing and no one saw them or heard anything. 

This book had alot of hair-raising moments and red herrings so you didn't figure out who the real culprit was until near the end.

4/5

Question:  If you were cheated on what would you do and why?  Feel free to answer all the choices if you like!

1.  Forgive your boyfriend/girlfriend but not your best friend
2.  Forgive your best friend but not your boyfriend/girlfriend
3.  Forgive both
4.  None
5.  Other

White Heat [Mass Market Paperback]

I've finished "White Heat" the 1st boo in her Heat Department 6 series by Brenda Novak.

Product Description

A dangerous cult has recently taken over the desert ghost town of Paradise, Arizona. Members worship at the feet — and in the bed — of its charismatic leader, Ethan Wycliff, and obey his orders blindly. They've already tried to murder one woman and they're implicated in the disappearance of another.

Nate Ferrentino, who works for private security contractor Department 6, has been assigned to infiltrate this group. It's a challenge he welcomes — until he learns that colleague Rachel Jessop will be going undercover with him. Thanks to their shared history, he'd much rather go alone….

The problem is, only married couples can participate in cult rituals. So, like it or not — and they don't —Rachel and Nate must pretend to be husband and wife.

There's no choice. Because if Wycliff isn't exposed, if he isn't stopped, more people will die. And Rachel might be one of them.

Product Details
Mass Market Paperback: 400 pages
Publisher: Mira (July 27, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0778327957
ISBN-13: 978-0778327950

My Review:

Former Navy SEAL Nate is paired with former cop and security newbie Rachel. They have been tapped to infiltrate a mysterious cult lead by the handsome and charasimatic sociopath Ethan. Ethan and his followers have made an Arizona ghost town their base and are suspected of nefarious doings including the attempted stoning of a woman and the disappearance of another. The catch is that the cult only accepts married couples leading Nate and Rachel to address their undeniable attraction for each other.

Rachel had a one night stand with her superviser Nate. He was more than willing to jump her bones but freaked when she blurted out that she loved him. In his past he had a lover who attempted suicide after he broke off with her and since then has been afraid of "love".  It's unbelievable that Rachel, a woman who is supposedly intelligent and familiar with the sexual politics in law enforecement, would bed down her superior based on some subliminal cues. Nate, as a superviser would be so foolish to bed a subordinate in these day of ages is equally unbelievable. Factor in Rachel's own fanatacal religioius upbringing,

The homosexual courtship of Ethan and his ugly, evil and scary henchman Bartholomew was more interesting than the main hero/heroine.
 
This book is quite disturbing, scary, sick and twisted especially if you are against cults, etc.!
 
4/5

Body Heat [Mass Market Paperback]

I've finished "Body Heat" the 2nd book in her Department 6 series by Brenda Novak.

Product Description

Twelve people have been shot at point-blank range and left to rot in the desert sun. It's Sophia St. Claire's job to do something about it. She's Bordertown, Arizona's new chief of police — and she's out of her depth.

Help arrives in the form of Department 6 hired gun Roderick Guerrero. As far as Sophia's concerned, his involvement only makes things worse. Maybe he's managed to turn his life around. And maybe he's a good investigator. But as the bastard son of a wealthy local rancher, he has a history he can't get past. A history that includes her.

Rod refuses to leave town until the killer is caught. He's not worried about the danger posed by some vigilante. It's Sophia who threatens him. Because he's used to risking his life — but his heart is another story.

Product Details
Mass Market Paperback: 448 pages
Publisher: Mira (August 31, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0778328031
ISBN-13: 978-0778328032

My Review:

Storyline:  Sophia is the new chief of police in Bordertown and need to find out who has shot twelve people point-blank range and left their bodies in the sun to rot.  The thirty-year-old Chief turned her life around and went from nearly becoming a Hell's Angels member to a career in law enforcement, but her history uniquely qualifies her to understand the people with whom she works. However, Sophia is short on experience with this type of criminal activity, and the investigation founders with few results until Department 6 ex-SEAL Rod Guerrero is called in to help. Rod goes reluctantly, but he cannot turn his back on his father's plea. Rod's mother was an undocumented alien and Rod is the bastard son of a wealthy Bordertown man. He owes it to his mother and her people to find the killer. However, when Rod arrives in Bordertown, he runs smack into Sophia, the teenage girl who humiliated him many years ago. He has never forgiven her for this and tensions run high on both their parts.

They must work together after a rocky beginning.  Some members of the town council, a detective from the Sheriff's office and an ex Police Chief want Sophia to fail.

Characters: All of the characters were well written and it felt like you really knew them in real life.  She's still friends with her ex-boyfriend who's a member of the Hell's Angels and still in love with her. 

Romance: I really liked the romance between Sophia and Roderick because you definately could see and feel the sparks between them everytime they were together.  Really loved their idea of foreplay (snarking at each other) since it was such a hoot.

Killer: Never figured out one of the killers was until near the very end and that was scary because that person acted so normal during the whole book!

3.5/5

The Perfect Murder (Last Stand) [Mass Market Paperback]

I've finished "The Perfect Murder" the 3rd and last book in the Perfect series by Brenda Novak.  This is also a book in the Last Stand series!

Product Description

For more than a year, Sebastian Costas has been trying to unravel the truth behind the murder of his ex-wife and son. Despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary, he's convinced that her second husband — a cop — committed both murders, then faked his own death. Now Sebastian has followed the slimmest of leads to Sacramento…and that's where he finally gets the break he needs. Jane Burke, an investigator with The Last Stand, calls him in connection with a separate crime — a crime that could lead him straight to the man he's been looking for.

Once married to a serial killer, Jane has spent the past five years rebuilding her life. And with Sebastian she finally has a chance at happiness. But the man they're after is after them, too. For him this has become a personal battle, one he's determined to win. Whatever it takes…

Product Details
Mass Market Paperback: 448 pages
Publisher: Mira; 1 Original edition (September 29, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0778327256
ISBN-13: 978-0778327257

My Review:

Storyline:  Malcolm Turner killed his wife and stepson and then commited suicide!  He thought he planned the perfect murder but did he?  Sebastian ex-wife was married to Malcolm and believes Malcolm is still alive and took Emily's money to start a new life and is determined to bring him to justice!  Police believe that Malcolm is dead because the body and DNA found at the scene of the crime proved to be his!  Emily and Colton (Sebastian's son) were both shot but Malcolm committed suicide somewhere else!

Then Sebastian is contacted by Mary McCoy a ex-girlfriend of Malcolms when they were in highschool.  She believes it's Malcolm because he knows too much about her and calling himself Wesley Boss.  Sebastian flies to Sacramento to trap Malcolm and tells Detective Willis that Malcolm is alive and goes by the alias of Wesley Boss.

Malcolm was bored and his money was running about because of his gambling.  So he kidnapped two girls to do his housework and laundry.  One day while he went to the grocery store he left one girl Marcie gagged and chained up in his van with his cell phone which he forgot.  Marcie managed to call her older sister Gloria when Malcolm comes back to the van.  He took the phone and threw it away.  The police manage to trace it back to a Wesley Boss and a fake address.

Gloria gets in touch with Jane who works at the Last Stand since the police couldn't get a lead on finding her two sisters Marcie and Latasha.  She tells Jane that Marcie called her but she was whispering very low and was cut-off.  Jane agrees to take Gloria's case and to work with the police. 

Jane calls Detective David Willis who tells her to get in touch with Sebastian Cotas.  He is looking for the same man Wesley Boss (aka Malcolm Turner).  Jane and Sebastian agree to work together when they realize they are looking for the same person.

Characters:  I really liked Sebastian because he was very determined to bring Malcolm to justice.  He has the looks that makes all the women to stop and stare (when I read that part I was laughing).  I thought Jane was okay and I really feel for her after what she went through.

Romance: The romance between Jane and Sebastian was very steamy when they got together even though she denies it.  When she was fighting her attraction to Sebastian I thought it was quite funny!

Killer:  The killer had no conscious and didn't care who got in his way!  I couldn't believe what he did to the girls especially Marcie.

4/5