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Whiskey Creek #1
When Lightning Strikes
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!
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!
448 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published August 28, 2012
1155 people are currently reading
5771 people want to read
About the author
Brenda Novak
233 books6,904 followersIt was a shocking experience that jump-started Brenda Novak’s bestselling author career.
“I caught my day-care provider drugging my children with cough syrup and Tylenol to get them to sleep while I was away,” Brenda says. “It was then that I decided that I needed to do something from home.”
However, writing was the last profession she expected to undertake. In fact, Brenda swears she didn’t have a creative bone in her body. In school, math and science were her best subjects, and when it came time to pick a major in college, she chose business.
Abandoning her academic scholarship to Brigham Young University at the age of 20 in order to get married and start a family, Brenda dabbled in commercial real estate, then became a loan officer.
“When I first got the idea to become a novelist, it took me five years to teach myself the craft and finish my first book,” Brenda admits. “I learned how to write by reading what others have written. The best advice for any would-be author: read, read, read….”
Brenda sold her first book, and the rest is history. Now a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, she continues to publish two or three novels a year, in a variety of genres.
Brenda and her husband, Ted, live in Sacramento and are the proud parents of five children—three girls and two boys. Now that they are empty-nesters, she spends her free time babysitting her two grandchildren.
When she’s not with her family or writing, Brenda is usually raising money for diabetes research. To date, she's raised almost $2.6 million. Her youngest son, Thad, has diabetes, and Brenda is determined to help him and others like him. She also enjoys traveling, watching sporting events and biking--she rides an amazing 20 miles every day!
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Author-...
“I caught my day-care provider drugging my children with cough syrup and Tylenol to get them to sleep while I was away,” Brenda says. “It was then that I decided that I needed to do something from home.”
However, writing was the last profession she expected to undertake. In fact, Brenda swears she didn’t have a creative bone in her body. In school, math and science were her best subjects, and when it came time to pick a major in college, she chose business.
Abandoning her academic scholarship to Brigham Young University at the age of 20 in order to get married and start a family, Brenda dabbled in commercial real estate, then became a loan officer.
“When I first got the idea to become a novelist, it took me five years to teach myself the craft and finish my first book,” Brenda admits. “I learned how to write by reading what others have written. The best advice for any would-be author: read, read, read….”
Brenda sold her first book, and the rest is history. Now a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, she continues to publish two or three novels a year, in a variety of genres.
Brenda and her husband, Ted, live in Sacramento and are the proud parents of five children—three girls and two boys. Now that they are empty-nesters, she spends her free time babysitting her two grandchildren.
When she’s not with her family or writing, Brenda is usually raising money for diabetes research. To date, she's raised almost $2.6 million. Her youngest son, Thad, has diabetes, and Brenda is determined to help him and others like him. She also enjoys traveling, watching sporting events and biking--she rides an amazing 20 miles every day!
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Author-...
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March 21, 2016DNF at 22% b/c ridiculous.
April 13, 2015
This is going to be short and sweet.
I ended up really enjoying this one. I wasn't sure I would because early on it was just a bit ho-hum for me. But at about 30% things changed and I'm so happy they did.
I think the best way to describe this book is that it was one of those feel good stories. The heroine Gail was very likable and never once did she drive me batty with unnecessary drama. And the hero Simon was that asshat you hated to love but loved anyways. And in the end he was quite a sweetheart!!
This was my first book by Brenda Novak and certainly won't be my last!
I ended up really enjoying this one. I wasn't sure I would because early on it was just a bit ho-hum for me. But at about 30% things changed and I'm so happy they did.
I think the best way to describe this book is that it was one of those feel good stories. The heroine Gail was very likable and never once did she drive me batty with unnecessary drama. And the hero Simon was that asshat you hated to love but loved anyways. And in the end he was quite a sweetheart!!
This was my first book by Brenda Novak and certainly won't be my last!
June 22, 2012
Until about the last ten percent of this book I was without a doubt giving this one a five star review. I was getting ready to make posters of this bad boy. Hang them up in my room to swoon over them. There I was, starting it soon after dinner, and then it was two in the morning and I. Could. Not. Stop. Reading. It has been so long since a simple romantic contemporary did that to me. And those are the ones that stick, because those are the ones that got me started. My first loves were Susan Elizabeth Phillips and Jennifer Crusie. Rachel Gibson came in and swept me away. And then there were hits and misses with Susan Donovan and Christie Ridgway, but there at the core were these fantastic stories about headstrong people fighting their way through life and the humor, heart, and basic human element of love that holds it all together. It's why characters like Daisy Devreaux and Alex Markov will always hold a place in my heart despite the millions of books I've read since then. It's why just saying "Francesa Day and Dallie Beaudine" give me that swoony feeling like someone just sighed, "Clark Gable."
So, cards on the table, I've been waiting for that sort of story again. Here is another genre that people think is easy. That all they have to do is make two people bicker then fall in love and bang it out then bam! you've got a romance. Sure, whatever. Do whatever you'd like. But for us fans who keep tattered copies of books on our shelves there is a magic to getting it right. And this is the first time in a long while that I read a story that got it right. Almost.
I've read Brenda Novak before, but her romantic suspense books that were heavy on the murder. There were a few I liked, and some I dismissed. But after reading the blurb on this one I knew I had to give it a try. The whole Hollywood thing is something SEP has done, and has done well, and I like the drama that paparazzi and publicity can give the story. And this one caught me hook, line and guts from the start. Simon O'Neal is the biggest star of the moment. It's 2002 and he's Brad Pitt. It's 2007 and he's Johnny Depp. He's gorgeous and throws it down in some unforgettable sex scenes with co-stars he happens to be banging it out with off screen too. He's Robert Downey Jr. screwing things up right now with the drinking and the ladies and it looks like he doesn't care. He's showing up at his ex-wife's house, demanding to see his kid, fist fighting with bikers, and isn't listening to his publicist.
Gail threw the deuces on this trainwreck of a guy, and just so happens now every big client is doing the same to her. Simon has pull in this town, and now to save her business she has to go play nice. And things happen and then it's do or die to save both her business and his chances of getting his son back. So what do they come up with? A plan to get married and play nice.
Sounds ridiculous, but it was pulled off really well. I love the planning then went into it. I loved Gail's frustration coming up against Simon's apparent indifference. Simon was such a different sort of hero. It would have been easy to make him a lot of obvious things, but he wasn't. Novak never went there with it. Aspects of his personality were revealed in details here in there, in conversation, in actions. The romance evolves slowly, and the steam factor between these two was ridiculous. I loved just watching them and couldn't put it down because each scene just gave more. Offered more insight, more romance, more Simon and Gail. It was delicious and fresh, and it was a perfect combination of surprises and moments of YES! I WANTED HER TO SAY THAT!
That being said, the ending disappointed me. It was building up to so much. Fireworks! Declarations of passion and love! But alas, it was a quiet, quick defusing. A sort of, "Hey, no big. Drama solved itself. Also, turns out I am in love with you so let's do this." I wish the epilogue wasn't more focused on opening it up to the next in the series rather than making the ending of this one fatter and happier. But all in all, despite the rushed ending, this one still gets a place on the shelf and gets me excited to come back to Whiskey Creek.
So, cards on the table, I've been waiting for that sort of story again. Here is another genre that people think is easy. That all they have to do is make two people bicker then fall in love and bang it out then bam! you've got a romance. Sure, whatever. Do whatever you'd like. But for us fans who keep tattered copies of books on our shelves there is a magic to getting it right. And this is the first time in a long while that I read a story that got it right. Almost.
I've read Brenda Novak before, but her romantic suspense books that were heavy on the murder. There were a few I liked, and some I dismissed. But after reading the blurb on this one I knew I had to give it a try. The whole Hollywood thing is something SEP has done, and has done well, and I like the drama that paparazzi and publicity can give the story. And this one caught me hook, line and guts from the start. Simon O'Neal is the biggest star of the moment. It's 2002 and he's Brad Pitt. It's 2007 and he's Johnny Depp. He's gorgeous and throws it down in some unforgettable sex scenes with co-stars he happens to be banging it out with off screen too. He's Robert Downey Jr. screwing things up right now with the drinking and the ladies and it looks like he doesn't care. He's showing up at his ex-wife's house, demanding to see his kid, fist fighting with bikers, and isn't listening to his publicist.
Gail threw the deuces on this trainwreck of a guy, and just so happens now every big client is doing the same to her. Simon has pull in this town, and now to save her business she has to go play nice. And things happen and then it's do or die to save both her business and his chances of getting his son back. So what do they come up with? A plan to get married and play nice.
Sounds ridiculous, but it was pulled off really well. I love the planning then went into it. I loved Gail's frustration coming up against Simon's apparent indifference. Simon was such a different sort of hero. It would have been easy to make him a lot of obvious things, but he wasn't. Novak never went there with it. Aspects of his personality were revealed in details here in there, in conversation, in actions. The romance evolves slowly, and the steam factor between these two was ridiculous. I loved just watching them and couldn't put it down because each scene just gave more. Offered more insight, more romance, more Simon and Gail. It was delicious and fresh, and it was a perfect combination of surprises and moments of YES! I WANTED HER TO SAY THAT!
That being said, the ending disappointed me. It was building up to so much. Fireworks! Declarations of passion and love! But alas, it was a quiet, quick defusing. A sort of, "Hey, no big. Drama solved itself. Also, turns out I am in love with you so let's do this." I wish the epilogue wasn't more focused on opening it up to the next in the series rather than making the ending of this one fatter and happier. But all in all, despite the rushed ending, this one still gets a place on the shelf and gets me excited to come back to Whiskey Creek.
October 19, 2018
I'm only an hour from the end, but I give up. Even giving it the premise that he's the most famous actor ever and she's a hotshot PR exec the beginning doesn't work. Both have underlings who are incompetent, if not malevolent, and thy make choices that are convenient for the plot but make no other sense. Like Simon not giving his lawyer the emails and texts from his ex-wife. Dude, that's the guy you are paying to know how to use it best to achieve your goal of getting your son back. Pretending you know better than (s)he (we never meet the attorney) does is arrogant. Withholding that information is so very stupid I just can't even. It does serve the purpose rather well of showing how irredeemably evil the ex is. But that doesn't actually make this any better because we're supposed to buy that a judge awarded her sole and exclusive custody of their kid along with a restraining order on him.
Well that was a longer diversion than I meant. Still that foreshadows the final straw that broke this camel's back. That . Yeah, it's emotional and all, but the blind stupidity required for that to happen is astonishingly bad. I suppose Novak is going for "he cares so much about his kid and that's attractive, right" but it doesn't work that way for me, at any rate.
I may come back to a different Novak book later and maybe even this series. There are some interesting social dynamics and this book introduces a friend group I wouldn't mind getting to know better. But I'm not terribly hopeful because this story did nothing for me, despite a couple of tropes that normally draw me in.
Well that was a longer diversion than I meant. Still that foreshadows the final straw that broke this camel's back. That . Yeah, it's emotional and all, but the blind stupidity required for that to happen is astonishingly bad. I suppose Novak is going for "he cares so much about his kid and that's attractive, right" but it doesn't work that way for me, at any rate.
I may come back to a different Novak book later and maybe even this series. There are some interesting social dynamics and this book introduces a friend group I wouldn't mind getting to know better. But I'm not terribly hopeful because this story did nothing for me, despite a couple of tropes that normally draw me in.
July 17, 2018
Awww! This was so sweet!
3.5 stars
I don't know why I'm still surprised Lol! xD
March 30, 2015
LOVED this book! Sweet, heartfelt, and even though there was potential for it, no unnecessary angst or drama. Just a great feel good romance!
December 4, 2013
3.5 Stars
Simon O'Neal is a hard drinking, womanizing Hollywood superstar. He surrounds himself with people who fawn over him and won't call him on his reckless behavior.
Gail Dimarco was his PR consultant until she sacked him as a client. But after an over-zealous employee intimated that Simon sexually assaulted Gail, they need to get together and do some serious damage control.
Simon is in a bitter custody battle for his son, and any more bad press will destroy his already shaky case. To rehabilitate his reputation, Gail marries him and they flee Hollywood for Gail's hometown of Whiskey Creek.
When Lightning Strikes is a cute contemporary romance about a broken man and an insecure woman. Away from the craziness of Hollywood, Simon is able to set his life in order, and in Simon's arms Gail is feeling treasured for the first time in her life. But someone has other plans and will do anything to ensure that Simon and Gail don't succeed.
Fans of Robyn Carr and Toni Blake would probably enjoy When Lightning Strikes
Many thanks to Harlequin and Netgalley for this ARC
Simon O'Neal is a hard drinking, womanizing Hollywood superstar. He surrounds himself with people who fawn over him and won't call him on his reckless behavior.
Gail Dimarco was his PR consultant until she sacked him as a client. But after an over-zealous employee intimated that Simon sexually assaulted Gail, they need to get together and do some serious damage control.
Simon is in a bitter custody battle for his son, and any more bad press will destroy his already shaky case. To rehabilitate his reputation, Gail marries him and they flee Hollywood for Gail's hometown of Whiskey Creek.
When Lightning Strikes is a cute contemporary romance about a broken man and an insecure woman. Away from the craziness of Hollywood, Simon is able to set his life in order, and in Simon's arms Gail is feeling treasured for the first time in her life. But someone has other plans and will do anything to ensure that Simon and Gail don't succeed.
Fans of Robyn Carr and Toni Blake would probably enjoy When Lightning Strikes
Many thanks to Harlequin and Netgalley for this ARC
February 7, 2017
Despues De La Tormenta es el primer libro de la serie Whiskey Creek creada por Brenda Novak y narra la historia de Simon y Gail.
Durante la primera mitad del libro me plantee bastantes veces abandonar la lectura, no conseguia conectar con la historia ni tampoco conseguia engancharme, luego la trama avanza y fue cuando realmente empece a disfrutar de la novela, por lo que si van a leerla les aconsejo que lo hagan con mucha paciencia, ya que es un libro un poco denso al principio.
Honestamente inicie esta historia porque me recordo a las sagas Fool´s Gold y Virgin River, dos series con las que disfrute mucho, desgraciadamente esta novela no fue todo lo que esperaba y aunque no es horrible de leer, si es cierto que no me ha gustado lo suficiente como para continuar la saga, sobre todo despues de haber leido algunos spoilers de los proximos libros.
En conclusion, una historia sin mas, no es nada novedosa o original pero se hace entretenida.
2.75 Estrellas!
March 4, 2015
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️4.5 STARS⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I am hooked on this series. HOOKED. I can't seem to depart with it, now reading book 5 already!
5 books in a row! And the worst is that I wouldn't have open this book if not for a friend putting it right under my nose!
I love contemporary romance, I don't mind the lack of steam if the story is worth it. In that case, Brenda Novak lays out it all so cleverly, capturing the reader's attention within the first chapter.
I could really appreciate her writing, the care she gave to built her characters, they all had a story to tell.
Whiskey Creek reminded me of the "feel good" vibe I had reading Jill Shalvis' Lucky Harbor series, where you find yourself wondering what would it be like to actually live in this specific small town, meeting that very same group of friends... And that's when I can tell she did a great job at it. She made me project myself in this little place called Whiskey Creek.
"When Lightning Strikes" opens the series beautifully, with a fake marriage trope, mixed with an enemy to lovers one, and a Cinderella one!
Gail DeMarco is a great PR in Los Angeles, one of her former clients being THE Simon O'Neal, the huge movie star... Disheveled movie star, he's having a hard time and is well on his path to self destruction. Unfortunately for Gail, a misunderstanding is going to cost her the business she worked hard for, and put big movie star O'Neal's chances to get his son back at jeopardy... They HAVE to team up!
Somehow they're going to come up with this deal of fake marriage, (the idea is a bit OTT, but if you can get past that, the rest of the story is worth it) and Gail is going to do everything to make it work, even bringing Simon O'neal back to her home town : Whiskey Creek.
Sexual tension was a guideline throughout the whole story and led to some very sexy times, a little angst, and some really sweet moments.
All in all I really enjoyed this one, as well as the 4 following books, you get to know a little more each member of the "friday coffee" group, and you'd think you've seen everything in a little town like Whiskey Creek, but Brenda Novak keeps coming up with great, great ideas, keeping her little golden place anew.
If you like a good contemporary romance novel : THIS IS IT!
I am hooked on this series. HOOKED. I can't seem to depart with it, now reading book 5 already!
5 books in a row! And the worst is that I wouldn't have open this book if not for a friend putting it right under my nose!
I love contemporary romance, I don't mind the lack of steam if the story is worth it. In that case, Brenda Novak lays out it all so cleverly, capturing the reader's attention within the first chapter.
I could really appreciate her writing, the care she gave to built her characters, they all had a story to tell.
Whiskey Creek reminded me of the "feel good" vibe I had reading Jill Shalvis' Lucky Harbor series, where you find yourself wondering what would it be like to actually live in this specific small town, meeting that very same group of friends... And that's when I can tell she did a great job at it. She made me project myself in this little place called Whiskey Creek.
"When Lightning Strikes" opens the series beautifully, with a fake marriage trope, mixed with an enemy to lovers one, and a Cinderella one!
Gail DeMarco is a great PR in Los Angeles, one of her former clients being THE Simon O'Neal, the huge movie star... Disheveled movie star, he's having a hard time and is well on his path to self destruction. Unfortunately for Gail, a misunderstanding is going to cost her the business she worked hard for, and put big movie star O'Neal's chances to get his son back at jeopardy... They HAVE to team up!
Somehow they're going to come up with this deal of fake marriage, (the idea is a bit OTT, but if you can get past that, the rest of the story is worth it) and Gail is going to do everything to make it work, even bringing Simon O'neal back to her home town : Whiskey Creek.
Sexual tension was a guideline throughout the whole story and led to some very sexy times, a little angst, and some really sweet moments.
All in all I really enjoyed this one, as well as the 4 following books, you get to know a little more each member of the "friday coffee" group, and you'd think you've seen everything in a little town like Whiskey Creek, but Brenda Novak keeps coming up with great, great ideas, keeping her little golden place anew.
If you like a good contemporary romance novel : THIS IS IT!
August 27, 2019
Gail DeMarco created a successful PR firm with many A-list clients, including Simon O'Neal,one of the most successful and gorgeous actors in Los Angeles. When she decided to cut him loose after his umpteenth self-destructive act, his business manager retaliated by taking all of her clients with him. Simon is in the middle of a nasty custody battle with his ex-wife and needs to clean up his image so he and Gail make a deal: he'll get her business back in order if she'll agree to marry him and give him instant respectability. Gail reluctantly agrees to do so to keep her staff employed and her business afloat.
I honestly thought this story might be a little on the silly side given the premise. There was absolutely nothing silly about this book with its flawed and complex characters. Simon O'Neal is so layered and has every reason to be angry given his personal circumstances but he chooses to keep them secret and takes the hits for his public venting. No one knows the underlying reasons for his behavior. Gail is extremely smart and has great instincts but is a bit naive when it comes to matters of the heart. She was raised by an overly protective father and her mother was absent so she hasn't had a lot of experience with men, even though she knows how to handle herself in the business arena.
If the characters had stayed in Los Angeles, the story probably would have been as predictable as I was fearing. However, Gail's decision to have them move to Whiskey Creek provided a much more interesting backdrop and experience. We learn more about the people in Gail's life and the influence they have on who she is. We also get to watch Gail in action as she works to bring Simon back to a healthier place physically and emotionally, putting her own feelings and heart at risk. What started as a modern marriage of convenience transitioned to something quite different and special. You cannot help but adore Gail and then fall in love with the true Simon. There are some interesting secondary characters that give the story added flavor but never seem to overwhelm the central players.
I loved this story and was surprised by just how much I enjoyed the book and its characters. I've read a couple of Novak's historical romances and was uncertain if the shift to this genre would bring me as much pleasure as those books did. This is a great start to the series and I am really looking forward to the next book's release.
(I received an ARC from NetGalley)
I honestly thought this story might be a little on the silly side given the premise. There was absolutely nothing silly about this book with its flawed and complex characters. Simon O'Neal is so layered and has every reason to be angry given his personal circumstances but he chooses to keep them secret and takes the hits for his public venting. No one knows the underlying reasons for his behavior. Gail is extremely smart and has great instincts but is a bit naive when it comes to matters of the heart. She was raised by an overly protective father and her mother was absent so she hasn't had a lot of experience with men, even though she knows how to handle herself in the business arena.
If the characters had stayed in Los Angeles, the story probably would have been as predictable as I was fearing. However, Gail's decision to have them move to Whiskey Creek provided a much more interesting backdrop and experience. We learn more about the people in Gail's life and the influence they have on who she is. We also get to watch Gail in action as she works to bring Simon back to a healthier place physically and emotionally, putting her own feelings and heart at risk. What started as a modern marriage of convenience transitioned to something quite different and special. You cannot help but adore Gail and then fall in love with the true Simon. There are some interesting secondary characters that give the story added flavor but never seem to overwhelm the central players.
I loved this story and was surprised by just how much I enjoyed the book and its characters. I've read a couple of Novak's historical romances and was uncertain if the shift to this genre would bring me as much pleasure as those books did. This is a great start to the series and I am really looking forward to the next book's release.
(I received an ARC from NetGalley)
December 28, 2015
This is not romance frippery. It’s a good story with good conversations and interesting relationship development.
I was pleased and engrossed and enjoyed the whole journey. Gail was being with Simon to help him and she was sticking to her principles. I loved her Attila the Hun protectiveness over Simon when he was in the hospital. I liked the slow build up of their relationship and how Simon falls for Gail, a less attractive woman than the beauties he had in the past.
One thing interesting at the beginning: Simon’s manager did bad things to Gail without Simon’s knowledge that Gail thought was done by Simon. Then Gail’s assistant did something bad to Simon without Gail’s knowledge that Simon thought was done by Gail. It created conflict but kept the main characters as good guys.
AUDIOBOOK:
I wanted to buy the audiobook but did not because the narrator Amy Rubinate had too many bad reviews.
DATA:
Narrative mode: 3rd person. Story length: about 445 pages. Swearing language: mild plus the s-word. Sexual language: mild. Number of sex scenes: 1 plus 2 referred to. Setting: current day small town Whiskey Creek, and Los Angeles, California. Copyright: 2012. Genre: contemporary romance.
------------------------------------------------
THE SERIES:
This is book #1 in the Whiskey Creek series. Each book can be read as a stand alone, but there is a flow of characters through the books which makes it nice if read in order. Here are my ratings for them.
My Favorites (4 ½ or more stars):
#0.5 When We Touch - 102 page novella
#1 When Lightning Strikes
#5 Take Me Home For Christmas
#8 This Heart of Mine
2nd choice (3 ½ stars):
#9 A Winter Wedding
#2 When Snow Falls - It was hard to feel hope or anticipation. Chey would not allow herself to act on her feelings. She kept her feelings “secret” for most of the book.
3rd choice:
The main plot was one character keeping a “secret” for most of the book. I did not enjoy the lies. In some stories I did not like the reasons for keeping the secret.
2 ½ stars. #3 When Summer Comes
2 stars. #4 Home to Whiskey Creek
2 ½ stars. #6 Come Home to Me - secret baby
3 stars. #7 The Heart of Christmas - Hero is on the run from bad guys. When heroine asked questions he could have answered in generic terms but he was silent. That didn’t feel right to me.
I was pleased and engrossed and enjoyed the whole journey. Gail was being with Simon to help him and she was sticking to her principles. I loved her Attila the Hun protectiveness over Simon when he was in the hospital. I liked the slow build up of their relationship and how Simon falls for Gail, a less attractive woman than the beauties he had in the past.
One thing interesting at the beginning: Simon’s manager did bad things to Gail without Simon’s knowledge that Gail thought was done by Simon. Then Gail’s assistant did something bad to Simon without Gail’s knowledge that Simon thought was done by Gail. It created conflict but kept the main characters as good guys.
AUDIOBOOK:
I wanted to buy the audiobook but did not because the narrator Amy Rubinate had too many bad reviews.
DATA:
Narrative mode: 3rd person. Story length: about 445 pages. Swearing language: mild plus the s-word. Sexual language: mild. Number of sex scenes: 1 plus 2 referred to. Setting: current day small town Whiskey Creek, and Los Angeles, California. Copyright: 2012. Genre: contemporary romance.
------------------------------------------------
THE SERIES:
This is book #1 in the Whiskey Creek series. Each book can be read as a stand alone, but there is a flow of characters through the books which makes it nice if read in order. Here are my ratings for them.
My Favorites (4 ½ or more stars):
#0.5 When We Touch - 102 page novella
#1 When Lightning Strikes
#5 Take Me Home For Christmas
#8 This Heart of Mine
2nd choice (3 ½ stars):
#9 A Winter Wedding
#2 When Snow Falls - It was hard to feel hope or anticipation. Chey would not allow herself to act on her feelings. She kept her feelings “secret” for most of the book.
3rd choice:
The main plot was one character keeping a “secret” for most of the book. I did not enjoy the lies. In some stories I did not like the reasons for keeping the secret.
2 ½ stars. #3 When Summer Comes
2 stars. #4 Home to Whiskey Creek
2 ½ stars. #6 Come Home to Me - secret baby
3 stars. #7 The Heart of Christmas - Hero is on the run from bad guys. When heroine asked questions he could have answered in generic terms but he was silent. That didn’t feel right to me.
December 1, 2016
Hacía mucho que no leía este tipo de novela y me ha encantado. Lo echaba de menos y no creo que tarde mucho en coger el siguiente libro de la saga.
No puedo decir que sea una historia rompedora ni fuera de lo normal, es el clásico comienzo para una saga como esta, pero igualmente me ha encantado. Simon y Gail son una bonita pareja, y su relación la típica que es imposible que no te guste.
No puedo decir que sea una historia rompedora ni fuera de lo normal, es el clásico comienzo para una saga como esta, pero igualmente me ha encantado. Simon y Gail son una bonita pareja, y su relación la típica que es imposible que no te guste.
January 26, 2018
Fairly run of the mill small town contemporary, just okay in comparison to other series I've read. Stereotypical characters and situation (bad boy actor saved by homely small town girl), lots of obvious set up for other characters and I just didn't get the feel good vibe from Whiskey Creek.
This ones a miss for me.
This ones a miss for me.
December 9, 2012
This would really be a 3.5, if we were allowed to give half stars. (GoodReads, I'm looking at you.) But as much fun as I had reading this small-town romance, which is admittedly not my usual type, there were some things about it I just could not get past.
For starters, what begins as a business-arrangement marriage quickly turns into the heroine trying to saaaave her alcoholic (supposedly he's not actually an alcoholic because it was easy to give up the booze when he put his mind to it...cause that's how alcoholism works), womanizing, damaged movie star husband. It was a little too close to codependent behavior, and even though I knew it would turn out in the end (it IS a romance novel, after all), I just couldn't help but be bothered by it.
I also didn't like how easily our heroine, who had built her very successful business from scratch, just walked away from it to make her husband her new business. Granted, she's in public relations so a movie star husband fits in with her expertise, but still.
And finally, I was disturbed by the specter of spousal abuse being raised, and then "settled" by the possibly abused but definitely unhappy wife saying that she didn't want to risk losing her daughter in a divorce, but that she might be brave enough to leave when her daughter was older. Um, really? You don't think staying in an unhappy and possibly abusive relationship is having an effect on a young girl? Be serious. (This was a minor subplot, it should be noted.)
So while the book was well plotted and paced and I enjoyed reading it, I was bothered enough that I'm not sure I can revisit Whiskey Creek in book two. But if you have greater skills at ignoring this stuff (no judgment...really. I ignore other stuff that drives people crazy all the time), then this could be a really entertaining read for you.
Oh! Oh! And take a look at the cover. The male model looks totally wooden. It's as though we had a reversal of the eighties comedy sensation Mannequin. Ok. I'm done now.
For starters, what begins as a business-arrangement marriage quickly turns into the heroine trying to saaaave her alcoholic (supposedly he's not actually an alcoholic because it was easy to give up the booze when he put his mind to it...cause that's how alcoholism works), womanizing, damaged movie star husband. It was a little too close to codependent behavior, and even though I knew it would turn out in the end (it IS a romance novel, after all), I just couldn't help but be bothered by it.
I also didn't like how easily our heroine, who had built her very successful business from scratch, just walked away from it to make her husband her new business. Granted, she's in public relations so a movie star husband fits in with her expertise, but still.
And finally, I was disturbed by the specter of spousal abuse being raised, and then "settled" by the possibly abused but definitely unhappy wife saying that she didn't want to risk losing her daughter in a divorce, but that she might be brave enough to leave when her daughter was older. Um, really? You don't think staying in an unhappy and possibly abusive relationship is having an effect on a young girl? Be serious. (This was a minor subplot, it should be noted.)
So while the book was well plotted and paced and I enjoyed reading it, I was bothered enough that I'm not sure I can revisit Whiskey Creek in book two. But if you have greater skills at ignoring this stuff (no judgment...really. I ignore other stuff that drives people crazy all the time), then this could be a really entertaining read for you.
Oh! Oh! And take a look at the cover. The male model looks totally wooden. It's as though we had a reversal of the eighties comedy sensation Mannequin. Ok. I'm done now.
February 11, 2021
Sonbahar Kokusu (Whiskey Creek Serisi 1)
Brenda Novak
Bu kadın bana iyi geliyor sanırım .
Okuduğum her kitapta bir rahatlama bir huzur özellikle kadınlarının verdiği sıcaklık
Seviyorum yazdığı kitapları
Bu kitabını neden bu denli geç okudum onu da bilmiyorum ama kitap hızlıca akıp gitti...
Gail Gail bu karekter güçlü ve kararlıydı en çok sevdiğim . Ve Simon ah her zaman ki erkek karekter 😁 zengin yakışıklı oyuncu ...
Simon karekterini anlamak çok kolaydı ve bir o kadarda Zordu nedendir okuyunca anlayacaksınız . Yaşadığı şeyler kolay gelmedi okudukça etkiledi . Yavaş yavaş ilerledi kitap yaşanılanlar sonuçlar sadece sonunun daha çok anlatılmasını isterdim o kadar 🥰
Brenda Novak
Bu kadın bana iyi geliyor sanırım .
Okuduğum her kitapta bir rahatlama bir huzur özellikle kadınlarının verdiği sıcaklık
Seviyorum yazdığı kitapları
Bu kitabını neden bu denli geç okudum onu da bilmiyorum ama kitap hızlıca akıp gitti...
Gail Gail bu karekter güçlü ve kararlıydı en çok sevdiğim . Ve Simon ah her zaman ki erkek karekter 😁 zengin yakışıklı oyuncu ...
Simon karekterini anlamak çok kolaydı ve bir o kadarda Zordu nedendir okuyunca anlayacaksınız . Yaşadığı şeyler kolay gelmedi okudukça etkiledi . Yavaş yavaş ilerledi kitap yaşanılanlar sonuçlar sadece sonunun daha çok anlatılmasını isterdim o kadar 🥰
July 23, 2012
I am so glad that Brenda Novak has started a new series, and I loved this first full length Whiskey Creek book. When I saw that the new series appeared to be contemporary romance, I was afraid that I would really miss the suspense that she generally puts in her novels. This book worked for me so well that I didn't even notice that it wasn't a romantic suspense. I loved the characters and the storyline, and I can't wait to read the next installment.
Gail DeMarco has done very well with her PR firm until actor Simon O'Neal leaves her firm, causing most of her other clients to leave as well. Gail knows she must do damage control or her employees will be left high and dry, but she never intended to have to actually marry Simon. When these two exchange vows and take refuge in Whiskey Creek their relationship develops in ways that are unexpected for both of them.
I loved both Gail and Simon, and enjoyed seeing Simon put his destructive ways behind him. The storyline was enjoyable, and I loved the setting of Whiskey Creek. This book is a good example of why Novak is a must-read author for me. In my opinion, she has a solid winner in this one. I received this book as an ARC through Netgalley.
Gail DeMarco has done very well with her PR firm until actor Simon O'Neal leaves her firm, causing most of her other clients to leave as well. Gail knows she must do damage control or her employees will be left high and dry, but she never intended to have to actually marry Simon. When these two exchange vows and take refuge in Whiskey Creek their relationship develops in ways that are unexpected for both of them.
I loved both Gail and Simon, and enjoyed seeing Simon put his destructive ways behind him. The storyline was enjoyable, and I loved the setting of Whiskey Creek. This book is a good example of why Novak is a must-read author for me. In my opinion, she has a solid winner in this one. I received this book as an ARC through Netgalley.
January 11, 2022
3,5
İlk başlarda sevməyəcəyim bir romantik əsər daha deyə düşünərkən, sonlarda onu sevməyə başladım. Kitab olduqca axıcıdır və 448 səhifə olmasına baxmayaraq 1-2 gündə, hətta dayanmadan oxudunuz təqdirdə 1 gündə bitəcək bir kitabdır.
Lakin əlbəttə sevmədiyim tərəfləri də oldu. Simon və Gail'il saxta evlilik planlarını qurduqları qisimləri oxumaq tam bir işgəncə idi. Oxuyanlar nə demək istədiyimi anlayacaqlar. Onsuzda rahatsız edici bir söhbət durmadan özünü təkrar edirdi. Gail'in barda Simon'la danışdıqdan sonra birdən o dərəcədə ağlaması da mənə onun xarakterinə uyacaq bir şey kimi gəlməmişdi, sonradan göstərdiyi davranış və düşüncə şəklinə baxaraq deyə bilərəm ki, o özünün problemlərini göz önündə yaşayacaq biri deyildi.
Lakin kitabın qalanında Gail sevdiyim bir obraz oldu. Kitabda da təsvir edildiyi kimi, əslində sərt görünməyə çalışan, amma yumşaq qəlbi olan biri idi. Simon isə ilk başlarda qıcıq olsam da yaşadıqlarını düşünəndə mənə etdikləri normal bir insanın edəcəyi şeylərmiş kimi gəldi və onun bu çöküşünü anlamağa başladım. Bella isə ən nifrət etdiyim insan tiplərindən biridir, doğrudan da gerçək həyatda belə insanlar çox təəssüf ki mövcuddur, başqalarını idarə etməyə çalışan, insanların sevgisindən sui-istifadə edən və s.
Bundan başqa kitabda daha yaxşı işlənməsini düşündüyüm qisimlər də oldu. Məsələn Sophie obrazı, onun ailə həyatı və ətrafındakıların ona qarşı münasibətləri, işlənişi yaxşı başlasa da yarım qalan bir hekayə oldu. Bundan başqa kitabın sonunda hər şey birdən birə sürətli şəkildə baş verməyə başladı və buna görə də üzərində durulmalı bəzi məqamlar səthi qaldı.
Bütün bunları bir kənara buraxsaq əgər, əsərdə sevgi və romantizm ilə yanaşı ailə bağları, evlilik münasibətləri, səni aşağı deyil, yuxarı çəkən insanların əhatəsində olmaq, hər şeyin kənardan göründüyü kimi olmaması fikti məncə yaxşı çatdırılmışdı.
Yazardan almaq istədiyim bəzi kitablar var idi, lakin yazarla tanış olub, buna sonra qərar vermək istəmişdim, məncə seriyanın davamını oxumağa dəyər. Amma ümid edirəm sonrakı kitablar daha yaxşı işlənər👌🏻 Axıcı kitab və romantizm sevdalısı olanların oxuyub sevə biləcəyi kitablardan biridir. Mənim favori romantika janrında kitablarım arasına girməsə də oxumaqdan zövq aldığımı da etiraf etməliyəm❤️
"Simon arkasından konuşulan bu eski eş için kötü hisseden tek kişi olsa gerekti. “Sorunlu kişi” olmanın nasıl bir şey olduğunu gayet iyi bilirdi. Aym zamanda bir boşanmamn asla herkesçe bilinen nedenleri olmadığım da biliyordu."
"Anlamıyorsun, değil mi?” dedi. “Hiç kimse bunu senin için yapamaz. Eğer hayatının değiştiğini görmek istiyorsan dik durmalı ve savaşmaksın.”
"Simon burada hayatın yavaşlığından rahatsız olmuştu; ta ki acele etmenin bir anlamı olmadığını fark edene dek. Bir kerecik olsun, olur da bir yere belirli bir saatte gidemezse dünya başına yıkılmayacaktı."
İlk başlarda sevməyəcəyim bir romantik əsər daha deyə düşünərkən, sonlarda onu sevməyə başladım. Kitab olduqca axıcıdır və 448 səhifə olmasına baxmayaraq 1-2 gündə, hətta dayanmadan oxudunuz təqdirdə 1 gündə bitəcək bir kitabdır.
Lakin əlbəttə sevmədiyim tərəfləri də oldu. Simon və Gail'il saxta evlilik planlarını qurduqları qisimləri oxumaq tam bir işgəncə idi. Oxuyanlar nə demək istədiyimi anlayacaqlar. Onsuzda rahatsız edici bir söhbət durmadan özünü təkrar edirdi. Gail'in barda Simon'la danışdıqdan sonra birdən o dərəcədə ağlaması da mənə onun xarakterinə uyacaq bir şey kimi gəlməmişdi, sonradan göstərdiyi davranış və düşüncə şəklinə baxaraq deyə bilərəm ki, o özünün problemlərini göz önündə yaşayacaq biri deyildi.
Lakin kitabın qalanında Gail sevdiyim bir obraz oldu. Kitabda da təsvir edildiyi kimi, əslində sərt görünməyə çalışan, amma yumşaq qəlbi olan biri idi. Simon isə ilk başlarda qıcıq olsam da yaşadıqlarını düşünəndə mənə etdikləri normal bir insanın edəcəyi şeylərmiş kimi gəldi və onun bu çöküşünü anlamağa başladım. Bella isə ən nifrət etdiyim insan tiplərindən biridir, doğrudan da gerçək həyatda belə insanlar çox təəssüf ki mövcuddur, başqalarını idarə etməyə çalışan, insanların sevgisindən sui-istifadə edən və s.
Bundan başqa kitabda daha yaxşı işlənməsini düşündüyüm qisimlər də oldu. Məsələn Sophie obrazı, onun ailə həyatı və ətrafındakıların ona qarşı münasibətləri, işlənişi yaxşı başlasa da yarım qalan bir hekayə oldu. Bundan başqa kitabın sonunda hər şey birdən birə sürətli şəkildə baş verməyə başladı və buna görə də üzərində durulmalı bəzi məqamlar səthi qaldı.
Bütün bunları bir kənara buraxsaq əgər, əsərdə sevgi və romantizm ilə yanaşı ailə bağları, evlilik münasibətləri, səni aşağı deyil, yuxarı çəkən insanların əhatəsində olmaq, hər şeyin kənardan göründüyü kimi olmaması fikti məncə yaxşı çatdırılmışdı.
Yazardan almaq istədiyim bəzi kitablar var idi, lakin yazarla tanış olub, buna sonra qərar vermək istəmişdim, məncə seriyanın davamını oxumağa dəyər. Amma ümid edirəm sonrakı kitablar daha yaxşı işlənər👌🏻 Axıcı kitab və romantizm sevdalısı olanların oxuyub sevə biləcəyi kitablardan biridir. Mənim favori romantika janrında kitablarım arasına girməsə də oxumaqdan zövq aldığımı da etiraf etməliyəm❤️
"Simon arkasından konuşulan bu eski eş için kötü hisseden tek kişi olsa gerekti. “Sorunlu kişi” olmanın nasıl bir şey olduğunu gayet iyi bilirdi. Aym zamanda bir boşanmamn asla herkesçe bilinen nedenleri olmadığım da biliyordu."
"Anlamıyorsun, değil mi?” dedi. “Hiç kimse bunu senin için yapamaz. Eğer hayatının değiştiğini görmek istiyorsan dik durmalı ve savaşmaksın.”
"Simon burada hayatın yavaşlığından rahatsız olmuştu; ta ki acele etmenin bir anlamı olmadığını fark edene dek. Bir kerecik olsun, olur da bir yere belirli bir saatte gidemezse dünya başına yıkılmayacaktı."
September 4, 2012
Originally posted at http://smexybooks.com/2012/09/review-...
PR firm owner Gail DeMarco finds herself in hot water when her A list client retaliates against some bad PR she gave him and as a result, Gail has been dropped by her other clients. With her business going downhill quick, Gail has to swallow her pride and convince Simon to call a truce and to take her back.
Hollywood bad boy, Simon O’Neal only wants one thing; to see his little boy. He agrees to forgive Gail and help her out for a price. He needs to clean up his image pronto and he wants her to help him pull it off.
Gail agrees to marry him (reluctantly) and use her company and her spotless reputation to polish up the tarnish that clings to Simon’s. Once they hammer out the details and sign the contract, Gail convinces Simon to leave Hollywood and come with her to her hometown of Whisky Creek, California. Gail feels that a small town with no Hollywood distractions is just what Simon needs to settle down and get back in touch with himself. Simon agrees and finds himself not only taken with the town, but also taken with Gail. Gail fears falling in love with the love em’ and leave em’ bad boy, convinced he could never truly love her. When the inevitable happens, can Gail save Simon and her heart, or will she lose both?
When Lightning Strikes is the first installment of Brenda Novak’s Whiskey Creek Series. A romantic contemporary that unfortunately tripped coming out of the gate for me and never quite recovered. The storyline isn’t bad, it’s just boring. The premise holds a lot of promise. A marriage of convenience between a Hollywood bad boy and morally upstanding good girl.
Perfect.
Only, what sounded good in the excerpt doesn’t translate well onto paper for me. I love Brenda Novak’s romantic suspense books. And while I know this is NOT a romantic suspense, it’s her ability to bring her character to life and the rich in depth world she builds around them is the appeal for me. I felt this book missed the mark. There is no life or passion to our protagonists. No real emotional connection. I would have found both Gail and Simon to be inspiring protagonists if only Novak would have worked harder on their characterization. We see their faults and then their change of heart, but to me the catalyst for these changes is glossed over. In fact, a majority of the story glosses over the why’s and just gives you the results.
I found Gail suffered from a martyr complex and she makes sure you know just how great her sacrifice is. Through 3/4 of the book all you hear about is how she is sacrificing herself for Simon’s wellbeing. How, no matter what happens, Simon will never really shake his bad reputation or become a better person. She tosses his bad behavior in his face so many times, if I were Simon, I would have caused problems just to spite her. Her family and friends don’t like Simon, which is Gail’s fault because she did nothing but bad mouth him to them. I found it hard to believe that she, as a PR specialist, would have publicly lamb blasted him in the first place. He was her client. She spent a fair amount of time telling everyone how terrible he is, then can’t understand why everyone can’t just like him and get over it.
Simon was a little better. His divorce from his wife was brutal and he lost custody of his son because of his bad behavior during and after the divorce. You learn later that there was a very good reason for Simon’s behavior but he refuses to stand up for himself, fearful he will never see his little boy again. Im sorry, but if you have evidence that could give you your heart’s desire, then you use it. You don’t sit on it due to what if’s and maybe’s. I will admit that he does try his best to fit in with Gail’s family and friends and in their “pretend” marriage.
We have a rushed low key romance on Simon and Gail’s part and even a tiny love triangle that fizzled for me. I expected some challenge or conflict in that aspect but nothing really happens. He’s used more as an “a-HA” moment then anything else. I did enjoy the secondary characters. They seemed more personal and acted in a realistic fashion. We meet Simon’s dad who I thought was one of the more interesting characters. Simon and Gail’s time in Whiskey Creek was, in a nutshell, not interesting.
To sum it up, this story is very cookie cutter with textbook characters and situations. No real conflict or angst. No real emotional soul searching or romantic epiphanies. Even the bombshell ending played out like a write by numbers scenario and I felt cheated.
Rating: D
PR firm owner Gail DeMarco finds herself in hot water when her A list client retaliates against some bad PR she gave him and as a result, Gail has been dropped by her other clients. With her business going downhill quick, Gail has to swallow her pride and convince Simon to call a truce and to take her back.
Hollywood bad boy, Simon O’Neal only wants one thing; to see his little boy. He agrees to forgive Gail and help her out for a price. He needs to clean up his image pronto and he wants her to help him pull it off.
Gail agrees to marry him (reluctantly) and use her company and her spotless reputation to polish up the tarnish that clings to Simon’s. Once they hammer out the details and sign the contract, Gail convinces Simon to leave Hollywood and come with her to her hometown of Whisky Creek, California. Gail feels that a small town with no Hollywood distractions is just what Simon needs to settle down and get back in touch with himself. Simon agrees and finds himself not only taken with the town, but also taken with Gail. Gail fears falling in love with the love em’ and leave em’ bad boy, convinced he could never truly love her. When the inevitable happens, can Gail save Simon and her heart, or will she lose both?
When Lightning Strikes is the first installment of Brenda Novak’s Whiskey Creek Series. A romantic contemporary that unfortunately tripped coming out of the gate for me and never quite recovered. The storyline isn’t bad, it’s just boring. The premise holds a lot of promise. A marriage of convenience between a Hollywood bad boy and morally upstanding good girl.
Perfect.
Only, what sounded good in the excerpt doesn’t translate well onto paper for me. I love Brenda Novak’s romantic suspense books. And while I know this is NOT a romantic suspense, it’s her ability to bring her character to life and the rich in depth world she builds around them is the appeal for me. I felt this book missed the mark. There is no life or passion to our protagonists. No real emotional connection. I would have found both Gail and Simon to be inspiring protagonists if only Novak would have worked harder on their characterization. We see their faults and then their change of heart, but to me the catalyst for these changes is glossed over. In fact, a majority of the story glosses over the why’s and just gives you the results.
I found Gail suffered from a martyr complex and she makes sure you know just how great her sacrifice is. Through 3/4 of the book all you hear about is how she is sacrificing herself for Simon’s wellbeing. How, no matter what happens, Simon will never really shake his bad reputation or become a better person. She tosses his bad behavior in his face so many times, if I were Simon, I would have caused problems just to spite her. Her family and friends don’t like Simon, which is Gail’s fault because she did nothing but bad mouth him to them. I found it hard to believe that she, as a PR specialist, would have publicly lamb blasted him in the first place. He was her client. She spent a fair amount of time telling everyone how terrible he is, then can’t understand why everyone can’t just like him and get over it.
Simon was a little better. His divorce from his wife was brutal and he lost custody of his son because of his bad behavior during and after the divorce. You learn later that there was a very good reason for Simon’s behavior but he refuses to stand up for himself, fearful he will never see his little boy again. Im sorry, but if you have evidence that could give you your heart’s desire, then you use it. You don’t sit on it due to what if’s and maybe’s. I will admit that he does try his best to fit in with Gail’s family and friends and in their “pretend” marriage.
We have a rushed low key romance on Simon and Gail’s part and even a tiny love triangle that fizzled for me. I expected some challenge or conflict in that aspect but nothing really happens. He’s used more as an “a-HA” moment then anything else. I did enjoy the secondary characters. They seemed more personal and acted in a realistic fashion. We meet Simon’s dad who I thought was one of the more interesting characters. Simon and Gail’s time in Whiskey Creek was, in a nutshell, not interesting.
To sum it up, this story is very cookie cutter with textbook characters and situations. No real conflict or angst. No real emotional soul searching or romantic epiphanies. Even the bombshell ending played out like a write by numbers scenario and I felt cheated.
Rating: D
October 11, 2012
Lovely and unlikely love story. I loved every single word on the page. Gail and Simon started their relationship for all the wrong reasons, but what a wonderful story!
This and other reviews can also be found on my blog: (un)Conventional Bookviews
When Lightning Strikes is book 1 of the Whiskey Creek series, and I have already read the prequel – and I loved that, too!
From there, a merry-go-round is taking both Simon and Gail on a wild ride. And it ends up with Gail telling Simon he should marry an innocent-looking woman he can trust, stop drinking, and get his life back together so he can regain shared custody of his son. Things don’t go according to Gail’s plans when Simon’s manager Ian thinks that Gail is the woman who should play the role of the bride. As she secretly admires Simon, she wants nothing to do with a fake marriage at first, but she gives in when she sees an opportunity to save both Big Hit and Simon, even if she is very afraid to lose her heart in the process.
Simon’s ex-wife is a true bitch in this book! She only uses Ty as a means to hurt Simon, and throughout their marriage, she is the one who was cheating on him – not the other way around. Simon plays the tough guy to not let anyone see how hurt he is, both to be separated from his son, and because of his Bella’s betrayal. In the beginning, not even Gail realizes how much he’s had to go through, and how Bella continues her slow torture after filing a restraining order against Simon.
This and other reviews can also be found on my blog: (un)Conventional Bookviews
When Lightning Strikes is book 1 of the Whiskey Creek series, and I have already read the prequel – and I loved that, too!
From there, a merry-go-round is taking both Simon and Gail on a wild ride. And it ends up with Gail telling Simon he should marry an innocent-looking woman he can trust, stop drinking, and get his life back together so he can regain shared custody of his son. Things don’t go according to Gail’s plans when Simon’s manager Ian thinks that Gail is the woman who should play the role of the bride. As she secretly admires Simon, she wants nothing to do with a fake marriage at first, but she gives in when she sees an opportunity to save both Big Hit and Simon, even if she is very afraid to lose her heart in the process.
Simon’s ex-wife is a true bitch in this book! She only uses Ty as a means to hurt Simon, and throughout their marriage, she is the one who was cheating on him – not the other way around. Simon plays the tough guy to not let anyone see how hurt he is, both to be separated from his son, and because of his Bella’s betrayal. In the beginning, not even Gail realizes how much he’s had to go through, and how Bella continues her slow torture after filing a restraining order against Simon.
October 18, 2016
Çerezlik şeker kitaplardan biriydi, özellikle ikinci yarısını daha çok sevdim :)
Ünlü bir Hollywood yıldızı olan Simon O'Neal, özel hayatında zor günler geçirmektedir,eşinden boşanan ve oğlunun velayetini kaybeden Simon'ın başı alkol ve kadınlarla derde girer, bu olayların üstüne bağlı bulunduğu Halkla İlişkiler şirketinin sahibi Gail ile yaşadıkları bir kavga ve sonrasında yaşanan bir taciz olayına adı karışınca, bir an önce imajının düzeltmesi gerektiğine karar verilir..
Menajeri Ian ve Gail, Simon'ı bu durumdan kurtarmanın tek yolunun, hollywood'un parıltılı hayatı dışından, düzgün ve ağzı sıkı bir kadınla, anlaşmalı bir evlilik yaparak, bir süreliğine manşetlerden uzak durması olduğuna karar verir, fakat Gail'in hesaba katmadığı tek şey o kadının kendisi olacağıdır :)
Gail dışarıdan soğuk görünen, sadece işiyle meşgul olan ve erkekler konusunda seçici davranan bir kadın, özellikle bir starla hiç işim olmaz diyenlerden, ama bir anda parmağında Simon'ın yüzüğü ve elinde iki yıllık bir kontratla baş başa kalır :)
Aslında kitabı iki bölüme ayırabiliriz, ilk yarıda bu anlaşmaya kadar gelen süreç işlenirken, ikinci yarıda evlendikten sonra yaşadıkları aşk işlenmiş, Gail gerçekten de Simon'un kurtarıcı meleği oldu diyebilirim :)
Simon'un boşandığı eşi Bella'nın yaptıklarını okuyunca Simon'un neden bu hale geldiğini daha iyi anlayacaksınız, kadın gerçekten iğrenç biriymiş ! 3,5 / 5
http://gulunkitapligi.blogspot.com.tr/
January 29, 2015
4.25 stars. I've had this on my To-Read for the longest time. I am so happy I was able to read it! I really enjoyed it but I wish we had gotten to hear more about Olivia, Brandon, and Kyle from the first story. All I know is Kyle is now divorced...what happened to the baby??? That's frustrating but I still liked the book :).
February 23, 2016
This was a really good read. I loved the characters, the personalities, the ups and downs, emotions, the plot, and the great ending. This one definitely got me interested and ha me wanting to know what would happen next when I wasn't reading. A great beginning and has me wanting to read more in the series! Written well and had hating/loving the characters. Enjoy!
July 21, 2018
Yaz maratonu yapayım dedim, hep aynı tarz kitaplara denk geldim. Aslında severim sönük kız, ünlü adam aşkını ama iki kere üst üste okuyunca bazı kısımlarda tekrara gelir diye düşünmüştüm. Başta öyle gibiydi gerçi, sahte evlilik, ünlü bir aktörün imaj kurtarma çalışması için normalde yanında tutmayacağı sönük bir kadınla evlenmesi. Ancak bir önceki yorumumun aksine buradaki kadın gerçekten güçlüydü. Ve aralarındaki aşk öyle hemen vuku bulmadı cidden savaştılar. Benim için 5 yıldızlık bir kitap olmasa da kesinlikle 4 yıldızı layığıyla hak ediyordu. Simon adamsın!
August 9, 2020
Liviano, simple, entretenido, rápido. Un poquito predecible, pero se perdona.
August 23, 2013
Listened to on audio. Narrated by Amy Rubinate.
3.5 stars for the book. 4 stars for the narration.
I liked the narration on this. Evenly paced, well performed, there is literally nothing I can complain about! The reason for 4 stars rather than 5 though, is that whilst nothing stood out as irritating or offputting, neither did anything make me want to rush out and see what else this narrator has done.
As for the book, I really enjoyed it. Very well written. I enjoyed the story, the town, some of the supporting characters were great (although there were just too many introduced to us that I totally failed to keep up with some of them!) I loved the H & h and felt it was a well told tale of two unlikely people coming together through odd circumstances and falling in love against the odds. I really liked that these two fell in love quite naturally. As much as I enjoy a love-at-first-sight story, it was kind of refreshing to see a relationship growing slowly over time.
My only issues were that, firstly, it moved very slowly. This is usually ok if whatever else is going on is interesting, but I was a little bit bored with the friends and family's reactions to Simon. I could have done with a fewer people giving him a hard time.
Secondly, I really liked Simon but I didn't understand how he could be so clueless about the people around him. Being manipulated by Bella, Ian and his Dad made me feel that he was a little weak or stupid - neither of which is particularly appealing.
Thirdly, I felt some information was kept secret for too long and it was a bit annoying. Like why Sophia was a pariah, why Gail's Dad was so hard to please, what happened with Bella etc... These things were hinted at lots of times but then not disclosed until later, which became more frustrating each time.
Despite those small things, I did really enjoy this book and I'm going to see what the rest of the series brings. I really liked this authors style, therefore, I'm hoping they will get better and better.
3.5 stars for the book. 4 stars for the narration.
I liked the narration on this. Evenly paced, well performed, there is literally nothing I can complain about! The reason for 4 stars rather than 5 though, is that whilst nothing stood out as irritating or offputting, neither did anything make me want to rush out and see what else this narrator has done.
As for the book, I really enjoyed it. Very well written. I enjoyed the story, the town, some of the supporting characters were great (although there were just too many introduced to us that I totally failed to keep up with some of them!) I loved the H & h and felt it was a well told tale of two unlikely people coming together through odd circumstances and falling in love against the odds. I really liked that these two fell in love quite naturally. As much as I enjoy a love-at-first-sight story, it was kind of refreshing to see a relationship growing slowly over time.
My only issues were that, firstly, it moved very slowly. This is usually ok if whatever else is going on is interesting, but I was a little bit bored with the friends and family's reactions to Simon. I could have done with a fewer people giving him a hard time.
Secondly, I really liked Simon but I didn't understand how he could be so clueless about the people around him. Being manipulated by Bella, Ian and his Dad made me feel that he was a little weak or stupid - neither of which is particularly appealing.
Thirdly, I felt some information was kept secret for too long and it was a bit annoying. Like why Sophia was a pariah, why Gail's Dad was so hard to please, what happened with Bella etc... These things were hinted at lots of times but then not disclosed until later, which became more frustrating each time.
Despite those small things, I did really enjoy this book and I'm going to see what the rest of the series brings. I really liked this authors style, therefore, I'm hoping they will get better and better.
October 30, 2016
If you like daytime dramas, this is your catnip. It was an entertaining story that I couldn't put down. However, certain subjects should not be brought up if not handled correctly; in this book's case it was domestic violence (side character who may end up as main character in later in series) and date-rape (heroine's past). I liked Simon (hero) much more than I did Gail (heroine); he really made an effort to change his life for the better. Gail was decent, but I wanted her to be a stronger woman; she came with a ton of insecurities that got repetitive after a while and her relationship with her family bordered on controlling. Overall, I liked the story enough to continue the series. 3 stars.
September 5, 2014
★★★½✩ (This is a review of the audiobook.) Amy Rubinate does a nice job of narrating this book. I thought this was definitely going to be a three star book for me. I wanted to feel happy while out doing my errands, or maybe even hopeful... or enthralled. Alas, I frequently felt sad. However, the last fifth of the book came in with better feelings between the main characters, and saved the day.
July 2, 2013
3-1/2 stars
I liked this more than I thought I was going to. Somehow it was just really readable. The relationship between the two of them was the entire thrust of the story with not a lot of attention paid to secondary characters although they were there, the author didn't jump into any one else's POV. I just really enjoyed watching them fall in love.
I liked this more than I thought I was going to. Somehow it was just really readable. The relationship between the two of them was the entire thrust of the story with not a lot of attention paid to secondary characters although they were there, the author didn't jump into any one else's POV. I just really enjoyed watching them fall in love.
November 12, 2019
Ternyata aku suka buku pertama seri Whiskey Creek ini, pdhl ini buku ke-4 tante Novak yg saya baca. FYI, gw gak suka dgn 3 buku sebelumnya yg direkomendasikan oleh Tiny Shen. Ini mungkin yg namanya karma kualat 😝😝😝
Karir Gail DeMarco sbg PR di Hollywood terancam krisis krn "menendang" Simon O'Neal, aktor playboy sekakap Charlie Sheen dlm meniduri wanita. Manajer Simon, Ian memastikan klien-klien Gail hengkang. Simon sendiri sedang berseteru dgn mantan istrinya dan sedang dlm perebutan hak asuh anak semata wayangnya, Ty. Gail yg terjepit memberikan ide utk menyelamatkan karier Simon tetapi malah menjadi bumerang bagi dirinya sendiri. Ya, Gail hrs menjalani pernikahan pura-pura selama 2 tahun dgn aktor tampan cabul ini.
Saya suka fake relationship trope ini, krn sifat mereka jelas bertolak-belakang. Gail yg kaku dan sistematis sebenarnya memiliki hati yg lembut dan rapuh, dia bersedia mengorbankan diri dan menjaga perasaan dan hatinya terhadap Simon. Jelas Gail menyukai Simon jauh sebelum Simon bermasalah, sebaliknya Simon baru menyukai Gail setelah pernikahan mereka dan dirinya dibawa Gail ke Whiskey Creek. Persyaratan Gail bhw pernikahan mereka tanpa seks memang terasa konyol, tetapi inilah justru ketegangan romansanya. Bagaimana mereka mati-matian mengelak ketertarikan satu sama lain.
Simon mungkin bukan hero favorit saya tetapi komitmennya utk berhenti minum-minum dan kesetiaannya pd Gail (walaupun ini juga persyaratan utk tidak mengacau dan jika Simon sangat bertekad mendapatkan hak asuh anaknya) patut diacungkan jempol, sebab godaan sbg aktor terkenal dan mendapatkan wanita manapun yg melemparkan diri padanya pasti sangat mudah. Klimaks cerita menampilkan kerawanan hal ini walau eksekusinya bagi saya agak digampangkan utk mengejar HEA secepatnya. Tetapi not bad lah novel ini. Pesan moralnya, semua yg diusahakan dgn niat sungguh-sungguh pasti akan berbuah manis sesuai dgn ikhtiarnya.
Karir Gail DeMarco sbg PR di Hollywood terancam krisis krn "menendang" Simon O'Neal, aktor playboy sekakap Charlie Sheen dlm meniduri wanita. Manajer Simon, Ian memastikan klien-klien Gail hengkang. Simon sendiri sedang berseteru dgn mantan istrinya dan sedang dlm perebutan hak asuh anak semata wayangnya, Ty. Gail yg terjepit memberikan ide utk menyelamatkan karier Simon tetapi malah menjadi bumerang bagi dirinya sendiri. Ya, Gail hrs menjalani pernikahan pura-pura selama 2 tahun dgn aktor tampan cabul ini.
Saya suka fake relationship trope ini, krn sifat mereka jelas bertolak-belakang. Gail yg kaku dan sistematis sebenarnya memiliki hati yg lembut dan rapuh, dia bersedia mengorbankan diri dan menjaga perasaan dan hatinya terhadap Simon. Jelas Gail menyukai Simon jauh sebelum Simon bermasalah, sebaliknya Simon baru menyukai Gail setelah pernikahan mereka dan dirinya dibawa Gail ke Whiskey Creek. Persyaratan Gail bhw pernikahan mereka tanpa seks memang terasa konyol, tetapi inilah justru ketegangan romansanya. Bagaimana mereka mati-matian mengelak ketertarikan satu sama lain.
Simon mungkin bukan hero favorit saya tetapi komitmennya utk berhenti minum-minum dan kesetiaannya pd Gail (walaupun ini juga persyaratan utk tidak mengacau dan jika Simon sangat bertekad mendapatkan hak asuh anaknya) patut diacungkan jempol, sebab godaan sbg aktor terkenal dan mendapatkan wanita manapun yg melemparkan diri padanya pasti sangat mudah. Klimaks cerita menampilkan kerawanan hal ini walau eksekusinya bagi saya agak digampangkan utk mengejar HEA secepatnya. Tetapi not bad lah novel ini. Pesan moralnya, semua yg diusahakan dgn niat sungguh-sungguh pasti akan berbuah manis sesuai dgn ikhtiarnya.
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