When Lightning Strikes (2012) (edit title/settings)

• Rated 4 stars

“I liked this book which is the first I have read by this author. ”

• Rated 4 stars

“4 STARS Gail is the owner of a PR company that handles bad boy actor, Simon O'Neal. Simon is out of control and Gail finds herself getting sucked into a Jerry Maguire situation. As Simon tries to take Gail down he learns that if he wants to gain custody of his son he will need Gail. Gail down on her luck cannot believe she will need to help Simon to help herself. As the two work together they realize the person the thought they knew was only a front and their life starts to get more complicated.

To be honest I was not sure I would if I would even like this book. I am not really into the LA and acting scene so at first was a bit leery. However, Novak's writing kept me turning the pages until I literally could not turn the pages fast enough. I love Whiskey Creek and Gail and her friends. I am ready for another book, PLEASE.”

• Rated 4 stars

“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)”