When Lightning Strikes (Whiskey Creek, #1)

Oct 11, 2012 Lexxie (un)Conventional Bookviews rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: adult, chick-lit, contemporary, i-own, kindle, look-forward-to, romance, read-in-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 a...more

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Mar 24, 2013 Sandhya rated it 4 of 5 stars

A good , entertaining read!!
Brenda Novak is a new author for me...but iam enjoying this series....!! The best thing about the book is Ms. Novak's writing style...she has beautifully written....i have become a fan of her!!
When lightning strike is a sweet book... with great characterization of Simon and Gail. I really enjoyed the book...which i finished in one day....almost like a single read!!
Story goes like this....
Gail DeMarco left Whiskey Creek, California, to make a name for herself in Los An...more

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Feb 01, 2013 Amanda Faul rated it 3 of 5 stars

I actually read these books totally out of order and read When Lightning Strikes last. I'm glad I did since I think the later books are far superior and I might not have rushed to keep reading if I had read this one first. There was nothing wrong with When Lightning Strikes but I found that it lacked some of the charm of the later books. I think there were a few reasons for this:

1) The plot was less heartwarming and more soap opera. At no point could I really identify with either characters prob...more

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Dec 30, 2012 Talina Perkins rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

(4.5 star Top Pick review written by Talina Perkins for Night Owl Reviews)
Plot & Character:
An inspiring and heartwarming romance!

When Lightning Strikes is the first of Brenda Novak’s Whisky Creek series set in a small town in Northen California. Gail DeMarco, a Hollywood publicist, and A-list actor Simon O’Neal take us through the darker side of fame and fortune, showing us through their story just how hard it is to give trust to others when it can be used as a weapon.

I loved the unique bl...more (4.5 star Top Pick review written by Talina Perkins for Night Owl Reviews)
Plot & Character:
An inspiring and heartwarming romance!

When Lightning Strikes is the first of Brenda Novak’s Whisky Creek series set in a small town in Northen California. Gail DeMarco, a Hollywood publicist, and A-list actor Simon O’Neal take us through the darker side of fame and fortune, showing us through their story just how hard it is to give trust to others when it can be used as a weapon.

I loved the unique blending of the hero and heroine. This contemporary romance is brought to life through the author’s eloquent writing style which added just the right flare to the story. Her attention to setting and secondary characters also added another layer, making it that much more consuming. The pacing was smooth and kept my attention through the first two-thirds of the story though the ending came off as a little rushed. However, the author did a wonderful job of adding in a delightful twist that left me smiling as I ended the book. And if I read the clues right, I know who we’ll join in Whiskey Creek in the next installment!

Against the wall and with no one to turn to Simon has only one out that can deliver him from the spiraling downfall that is his train wrecked life off the set. And it’s someone he doesn’t even like-his publicist. Straight laced Gail DeMarco is faced with losing her PR Company due to one Simon O’Neal and the only way to save it is by marrying him and cleaning up his public image in order to get custody of his child. Before long they both find themselves learning who to trust, but on event after another left me wondering what would become of their false marriage. The author did a great job of keeping the story flowing with multiple twists and ending with a pleasant surprise that makes me anxious for the next installment!

Writing:
Ms. Novak weaves a story with an elegant form that speaks of her seasoned talent in romance writing. No wonder so many readers come back to her stories time and again!

Summary:
When Lightning Strikes is a perfect contemporary romance to enjoy any time of year but is especially perfect for sending summer on its way while welcoming the cooler months of autumn. I recommend this book to all readers that love great story telling and romance!(less)

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Aug 31, 2012 Rhonda rated it 4 of 5 stars

Well this is the third book this week that I have read of Brenda Novak Whiskey Creek. I
would enjoy reading more books featuring Whiskey Creek.
Gail DeMarco is the owner of her PR firm and she had a fight with Simon O'Neal her biggest star but quit on him. Because he was not listening to her and was out of control. Drinking too much, fighting and he had cheated on his wife a bunch of times now he was divorced trying to get visiting rights to his son Ty.
Simon hit back and took all of her clients wi...more

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Aug 27, 2012 Crystal rated it 4 of 5 stars

My Thoughts
When Lightning Strike was a cute, fun read! I’m a big fan on the contemporary romance and that’s what I felt this was. I was expected it to be the usually cliché romance, but it was much more than that. The characters are far from perfect and the story takes you through their journey of love, discovery, and what it takes to get back to the person you want to be.

The main characters are Gail and Simon. Gail is responsible, kind, and the owner of her own PR Company. Simon I the movie sta...more

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Aug 05, 2012 Suzanne Barrett rated it 5 of 5 stars

PR executive Gail DeMarco unleashes a world of hurt to her company when she decides to no longer represent Simon O’Neal. The superstar’s off screen antics are troublesome and gail’s tired of putting out the publicity fires caused by his drinking and loose morals. What she doesn’t count on is having Simon’s manager direct the bulk of her clients to a rival PR firm.

With Gail’s business about to go under, she must swallow her pride, apologize to Simon and hope he’ll be decent enough to stop the hem...more PR executive Gail DeMarco unleashes a world of hurt to her company when she decides to no longer represent Simon O’Neal. The superstar’s off screen antics are troublesome and gail’s tired of putting out the publicity fires caused by his drinking and loose morals. What she doesn’t count on is having Simon’s manager direct the bulk of her clients to a rival PR firm.

With Gail’s business about to go under, she must swallow her pride, apologize to Simon and hope he’ll be decent enough to stop the hemorrhaging. Just when she thinks she’s got the problem neutralized, her enterprising associate takes matters into his own hands and causes yet another firestorm...in the means of a leaked false rape charge against Simon. The only cure seems to be new publicity about a reformed Simon–a sober, moral man enjoying the bliss of a new marriage...to Gail. But can she keep up the pretense of a business arrangement that will terminate in two years without losing her own heart to the man she’s secretly lusted after for years?

Simon desperately want to regain the custody of his son and will do whatever it takes to make that happen. But a marriage in name only? Can he control his self-destructive urges long enough to create a new image?

When Lightning Strikes is the first in a new series by acclaimed writer Brenda Novak. Set in California’s Gold Country (not far from Novak’s home), Whiskey Creek is the embodiment of all that’s good about small town life, and it’s as far from Los Angeles and as foreign to Simon as a town can be. Never mind that Gail’s father and older brother and a host of friends have heard the stories about Simon and are determined to protect her from heartbreak and disappointment as best they can. However, something magical happens in the small community and Simon discovers a life that is refreshingly wholesome. He also discovers a few things about his new wife that surprise him.

I loved both the story and setting. Simon is a delicious hero and Gail a worthy heroine. The protagonists’ reservations about going through with the marriage seemed just a bit tedious, but they were well justified as the story picked up steam. I read WHEN LIGHTNING STRIKES in two sittings and was sad to see it end. Just a beautifully written, well-paced, delightful story as only the multi-talented Ms. Novak can create.

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Jun 28, 2012 Margaret rated it 3 of 5 stars

I did not think I would enjoy reading this book. It was not really mu cup of tea sort of speak, but I am glad I had the opportunity to read this.
Gail is a PR agent living in Hollywood. She is in danger of losing her firm because of a miscommunication between her and an ex client of hers. She is the type of person who will do anything to make things right so that she and her employees can keep their jobs. She just never factored falling in love.
Simon is a famous Hollywood actor. He has been tr...more I did not think I would enjoy reading this book. It was not really mu cup of tea sort of speak, but I am glad I had the opportunity to read this.
Gail is a PR agent living in Hollywood. She is in danger of losing her firm because of a miscommunication between her and an ex client of hers. She is the type of person who will do anything to make things right so that she and her employees can keep their jobs. She just never factored falling in love.
Simon is a famous Hollywood actor. He has been trying to get custody of his son, but with all of the bad publicity he is getting, he feels like that will never happen. Simon is acting the way he is because of some personal relationships he has with his ex-wife and father. He never thought he would have to make a deal just to prove he can be a good father to his son. He also never factored love into the mix.
Gail, Simon, and Simon’s manger came up with a p0lan to help clean up Simon’s image. All parties involved signed a contract with tall of the specific details that outlined what could and couldn’t be done while their contract was in effect. The contract would be in effect for two years. After those two years are up, Gail and Simon would go their separate ways with no hard feelings.
Throughout the book, Gail kept fighting her feelings for Simon thinking that it was just a business deal and nothing else was going to happen. Feelings were no9t supposed to get involved. But with everything else, feelings got involved. Gail realized she was in love with Simon when she thought she was never going to see him again when their contract was up. It took Simon going back to Hollywood without Gail for him to realize that. When they professed their love for each other it was in a very public setting and the media knew their marriage is for real and not just a scam.
When I first started reading this book, I did not think I would enjoy reading it. I honestly did not think I would be able to finish it. It started off a little slow for me. I guess that was because you had to be introduced to the characters and a little background was needed. I thought it could have been written a little better. The characters could have been introduced a little differently, in my eyes at least.
However, the more I read of the book the more I could relate to the characters. I understood what the author was trying to get across. The message is that nothing and no one is exactly what everyone thinks they are. There are always something’s that are hidden.
I do recommend this book. It is a good read and you will regret reading it. It is a good summer read.

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Jun 19, 2012 Teena in Toronto rated it 3 of 5 stars

This is the first book by this author that I've read and I enjoyed it.

It was a fairly light read. I liked the writing style and the story was good. Gail has her own company and a good head on her shoulders. Simon is tormented and just wants to get his son back.

Does Simon get Ty back? Will Gail and Simon stay together at the end? You'll have to read it and find out.

I'm not crazy about the cover, though. Simon is supposed to be a studly movie star, a bad boy. Even with the leather jacket, the guy...more

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Apr 28, 2013 Darlene rated it 4 of 5 stars

This was a very good book. I read this one after reading the second in a series of four. But even so, it gave insight to two of the characters that are mentioned in the second book, but mostly in passing as this one focused on Gail and Simon who married as a business arrangement after a co-worker of Gail's leaked a false story to the press because he was mad over how Simon managed to lure most her clients away from her PR firm after she and Simon severed their working relationship. The marriage...more This was a very good book. I read this one after reading the second in a series of four. But even so, it gave insight to two of the characters that are mentioned in the second book, but mostly in passing as this one focused on Gail and Simon who married as a business arrangement after a co-worker of Gail's leaked a false story to the press because he was mad over how Simon managed to lure most her clients away from her PR firm after she and Simon severed their working relationship. The marriage was just ruse to make the media and everyone else think the reason the story was published was because she was mad at Simon. Simon, being a very sought after Hollywood actor with millions to spend and any woman he wanted at his side. He did not want another marriage because of his failed marriage and was afraid to fall in love again and get hurt. She only wanted her clients back and her firm to be as big as it once was when Simon was her client. They enter into the business arranged marriage. After an accident that Simon had after receiving an explicit text from his ex-wife and Gail finding him after demanding his staff find him in his house, she realized that maybe in some way she may actually have feelings for him. In the hospital she takes charge of their marriage, makes demands and takes him to her hometown, Whiskey Creek. While there, they start to let their feelings for each other come out. The no "sex" rule she put in place went out the window. All was going well until they were photographed in a very compromising position on the front steps of their house and it was leaked to the media. His ex-wife got a hold of him, saying she was willing to work out some sort of agreement over their son. He went back to LA, leaving Gail behind. She figured this was the end, when her friends let her know about a video all over the net of Simon in bed with his ex-wife. Reluctantly she watched the video, didnt want to believe what she saw. When Simon found this out, he went to his personal assistant demanding what role he had in all of it. He was mad that Simon had backed out of multi million deal picture and wanted him back in LA and would do anything to get him there, including making a deal with his ex wife. Once Simon had the truth, he contacted Gail, she came back to LA. After everything was taken care of and he had his son Ty, the three of them went back to Whiskey Creek and after much nagging from Ty about wanting a sister, they started planning a family and Ty was soon to have his wish when they found out they were pregnant.
I am looking forward to reading the third book in this series. (less)

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Aug 30, 2012 Ian rated it 3 of 5 stars

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 rehabi...more

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Jan 21, 2013 Dianne Socci-Tetro rated it 5 of 5 stars

When Lightning Strikes – by Brenda Novak

This is a lovely, clever, funny, thoughtful and ultimately romantic novel. It astonishes me that I have not had a lot of experience with this author and I am wondering how the heck I ever missed her. I’m going to make up for it now!

Gail Demarco has made one of the biggest mistakes in her career. You can clearly see why she has cut loose Simon O’Neal since he is a drunk trying drink away the pain from the disappointments in his life. Now that Gail has cut h...more

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Aug 24, 2012 Meg - A Bookish Affair rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, chick-lit, fiction, romance

3.5. "When Lightning Strikes" is a perfect summer book. This is the kind of book where you want a good story that holds your attention but is light and fun. You don't want to think too hard about it. It is a romance but is light on sex scenes for those that don't care for those. There are some but they are few and far between.

I thought that this story was sort of an interesting take on how Hollywood functions. Admittedly, I'm a big fan of gossip rags and they're always a little more interesting...more

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Aug 26, 2012 Stephanie Collins rated it 4 of 5 stars

I must say I have enjoyed the little novella and now this book set in Whiskey Creek. My only wish was that this wasn't a trilogy but maybe we will get lucky and see a lot more of this fun little town.

We start this story in LA where Gail is desperately trying to save her business after she lets her opinion of a former client actually come to light. She says some pretty hurtful things about him and although they are completely true probably not the best thing to do when in the PR business for ent...more

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Nov 19, 2012 Mari rated it 4 of 5 stars

3.5 stars. This was a cute and romantic story, it uses the big celeb falls in love with a normal person but the way it was done isnt the common setup. It was definitely more than I expected storywise. The heroine is his PR manager, she's had enough of his antics and scandal. They butt heads and they squabble, they get into this agreement to help restore his image. We know in hollywood everything isnt always what it seems. Simon needs help big time, his career is swallowing him up and Gail may ju...more

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Dec 08, 2012 Meagan rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: romance, fiction, series

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 th...more 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.(less)

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Aug 28, 2012 Becky Moe rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary, netgalley

When Lightning Strikes is the first full-length novel in Brenda Novak's Whiskey Creek series, following the novella When We Touch. It's a much more satisfying book in terms of the plot and character development—two things it's much easier to do well in a longer piece. There's a lot more shades of grey in this book—characters are more well-rounded and realistic (unlike the distinct good sister/bad sister vibe in When We Touch) , although I do have to admit I'd be really hard pressed to find somet...more

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Aug 29, 2012 Eva rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: romance, contemporary, adult

I am still a little surprised (as well as impressed) at how well Brenda Novak can switch between mystery/thrillers to contemporary romance. I have yet to be disappointed in any novel I have read by Ms. Novak regardless of the genre.

I am already hooked on this series (Whiskey Creek Trilogy) and I have only read the prequel and this book, When Lightning Strikes, the first book in the trilogy. Such sweet and endearing romance... the kind that makes you feel all warm and happy inside.

As with most...more

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Sep 26, 2012 Sharon Galligar rated it 5 of 5 stars

I just love getting in on the first of a series, and "When Lightning Strikes" is the first in Brenda Novak's new series, "Whiskey Creek."

This is a charming romance that features a gal who has never thought she was pretty or sexy enough, and a guy who has looks, charm, money, but desperately needs the love of a good woman! And the chemistry between these two characters is like a firecracker - it sizzles along the fuse, slowly working it's way up to the end and when it really ignites, the firewor...more

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Oct 11, 2012 Sara rated it 3 of 5 stars

I didn't expect to like this book, but when I picked it up this morning I couldn't seem to put it down.
this is a totally new element from Novak and I'm not used to seeing something so romantic and old-fashioned from her, but it was actually pretty good.
I grew to like Simon, the lead pretty quickly and Gail, the heroine is a relatable Plain Jane.
(view spoiler)...more

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Aug 28, 2012 Danita Moon rated it 5 of 5 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 gi...more 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.

Simon O'Neal was filled with so much anger which fed his "bad boy image" and led to his downward spiral Hollywood style. He is carrying around a secret that was the catalyst to his downward spiral leaving those closest to him wondering why he is throwing his career and his life away. He doesn't care what the paparazzi have to say about him in the beginning. Gail DeMarco puts her pride aside and looks to Simon for forgiveness.

Gail DeMarco is a conservative business woman. She is very straight laced and to Simon O'Neil she has no feelings. She's extremely intelligent and knows how to turn a bad situation into a positive. Unfortunately, when it comes to matters of the heart she's a bit naive and inexperienced. Gail has that tough as nails attitude and the need to succeed because she felt she had to prove herself to her overly protective father.

As Gail and Simon embarked on their arrangement to reverse his "bad boy image" to the Hollywood star image he had before, she began to see how complex Simon and that there were several layers to his character. As the story progressed Gail began to see that Simon needed to remove himself from the place that was the cause of his anger and would eventually break him.

Gail's decision to take Simon to her hometown of Whiskey Creek was a good lead in to introduce the other characters that would be part of the series. Not only did we learn more about Gail but we also got to see Gail peel away the layers of the shell that Simon had built. As the story progresses we get a look not only into Gail's history but Simon's as well. This is a true love story of two people who are polar opposites but come together because they learn to trust each other and didn't expect anything from each other. Simon swore he would never fall in love again but with Gail he found true love because she loved him for him and not for the money.

Watching Gail the once straight laced and hardnosed business woman softened towards the one person she once hated put together a plan to heal Simon both physically and emotionally while putting her own feelings at risk was a wonderful way of showing Gail learning what love is and to see the true Simon. Simon was able to heal completely and was able to release his inner demons.

The introduction of secondary characters was done in such a way that it didn't take away from the main characters but it was just enough to keep me wanting to know more about the people of Whiskey Creek. Whiskey Creek was shown to be a town who stuck by each other and supported each other. They were unsure of Simon but the way Brenda Novak developed the character the town soon welcomed him as one of their own and Simon finally felt that he belonged somewhere.

I've always been a romance suspense reader and have read all of those written by Brenda Novak. Then I decided to try her historical romance novels which aren’t a genre I had any interest in but I was surprised on how much I enjoyed them and was left wanting more.

After reading the prequel to the series WHEN WE TOUCH I was chomping at the bit for WHEN LIGHTNING STRIKES and I wasn't disappointed. This was a well written story which dealt with the deepest and darkest emotions that can affect anyone. The story was so well written that I started out with so much hatred for Simon and was hoping that karma would come around. Then Brenda Novak wrote such imagery that pulled the layers away that showed the raw emotions and the hurt that Simon was feeling and the way she developed the love between Gail and Simon was fantastic. Brenda Novak has a unique way of writing because no matter what book I pick up of hers I'm drawn in after the first paragraph.

I read this book in one day because I couldn't put it down. You can never go wrong reading a title by Brenda Novak. I have read every book written even genres I typically wouldn't read because she writes in such a way that she draws you in. I'm looking forward to visiting Whiskey Creek again.

This is a definite must read. I also recommend that you read the prequel WHEN WE TOUCH to get an introduction to WHISKEY CREEK.
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Sep 10, 2012 Lynn rated it 4 of 5 stars

Fun, cute, sweet, hot, dramatic, a little sad- all of the necessary elements for a great romance. This book really was a lot of fun to read. Simon is a hit movie star on a downward spiral. Gail is his PR agent until she decides she just can't handle any more of his reckless and rude behavior. But, when Gail refuses to represent Simon anymore, all of Gail's other clients start defecting to a different PR firm. In an effort to save her business and the jobs of all of her employees, Gail goes to Si...more

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Sep 07, 2012 Donna rated it 5 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Aug 28, 2012 Angela Noviana rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: netgalley, contemporary-romance, ebook

Brenda Novak will be up in my list for contemporary romance about family or after-married which I love, along with Robyn Carr, Susan Wiggs, and Sherryl Woods.

Just like Gail, I am not reluctant to Simon, because he's too hard not to love! Many sacrifices and achievements he had done, but he did not give praise to himself for all of that. Furthermore, his attitude to Gail which I consider that I must give two thumbs up. In the middle of his adversity, he was able to distinguish between right and w...more

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Jul 14, 2012 Jonetta rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary-romance, netgalley-arc

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 giv...more 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)(less)

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Jan 13, 2013 Gemma rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013, acquired-2013

I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this. It has elements that I don't usually like (small-town theme, which I'm sick of), a hero who's slept with everything in a skirt, and a movie-star hero (I prefer ordinary people romances). It's also a series books, and I'm getting a little burned out on those lately, as I often find a lot of the book is used as setup for the next story.

But I really liked this one. The small-town theme wasn't too in-your-face, the hero had a good reason for ac...more

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Oct 23, 2012 Diana rated it 5 of 5 stars

This is a light-hearted story of how the other half live in the glitz and glitter of Hollywood. From the conniving ex-wife to the agent who is out for his own good to the alcoholic father who is jealous of his better looking and younger son, it is definitely an interesting read. Gail DeMarco has pretty much lost her PR firm because of some remarks she made about Simon O'Neal tp the media and firing of her company. She ends up in a business marriage with her ex-client that takes them from LA to W...more

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Sep 21, 2012 Lorri rated it 4 of 5 stars

This is the first book in the Whiskey Creek series and it was pretty good. As with all romance stories, it seems to have a happy ending, but the characters are interesting and you can't help but root for Simon. Gail has always been attracted to him but knew she would never stand a chance with him because she considers herself to be plain. Simon just wants custody of his son but his bitter ex wife does anything she can to prevent it. The plan to change Simon's image seems to be something both of...more

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Sep 04, 2012 Tori smexys_sidekick rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc, e-book, fiction, net-galley, read-in-2012, review-for-smexybooks, romance-contemporary

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...more

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Aug 28, 2012 Nicole rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2012, review, romance

Joint review with Has originally posted here: http://thebookpushers.com/2012/08/28/...

MinnChica: I’ve long been a huge fan of Novak’s romantic suspense series, so when I heard she was starting up a new contemporary romance series set in a small town, I was sold. I love small town romances, and with Novak’s writing style I knew I would be in for a treat. While I was very disappointed in the intro novella to the series, I had hopes that this book would be completely different, and one that would r...more Joint review with Has originally posted here: http://thebookpushers.com/2012/08/28/...

MinnChica: I’ve long been a huge fan of Novak’s romantic suspense series, so when I heard she was starting up a new contemporary romance series set in a small town, I was sold. I love small town romances, and with Novak’s writing style I knew I would be in for a treat. While I was very disappointed in the intro novella to the series, I had hopes that this book would be completely different, and one that would restore my faith in the series. I’m happy to report back to you that it did in fact far-surpass the novella and made me anxious to read more and more in the series.

Has: I have a confession to make – this is my first ever Brenda Novak book I’ve read (I know, I know) – overall I did enjoy my first taste and I really liked the tone and small-town vibe with an engaging romance. However I did find some issues with, Simon’s past and relationships with his ex-wife and father and how that affected him over the course of the book. But I love the marriage of convenience trope and Gail was a fantastic foil to Simon who is belligerent and on a self-destructive road due to his break-up with his ex-wife and is in the middle of a bitter custody battle. I loved how both Gail and Simon who were both Hollywood professional/star stripped down to their real selves when they settled into Whiskey Creek, and that for me is where the romance really developed and began to shine for me.

MinnChica: The whole marriage of convenience is one of those things that makes me smile inside. I don’t know why, but I love it to pieces. And I loved the way Gail and Simon handled it and the slow build up their relationship took. I’ll agree that the plot with Simon’s ex wife was annoying at times, and made me want to find Simon a better lawyer, but I liked the way his father played into the overall plot and how he went from this total D-bag to a somewhat supportive and proud father figure. I’ll admit that I thought Gail and Simon were pretty perfect for eachother. Gail was there to nudge and lead Simon toward better decision making, and Simon really gave Gail a chance to branch out and be wild and fun and exciting. I enjoyed their romance, and hope we get to see more of them in future books!

Has: I loved that aspect with Gail becoming more relaxed and less uptight as well as just letting go emotionally as well as sexually with Simon. Whilst she brought him stability and a touchstone that was reliable and honest. I really did believe that their relationship would last despite the fact I found his character initially unlikeable due to him being a womaniser and a cheater as well as a drunk. Although I wished there was more to expand on how strongly he felt for his ex before he succumbed to his self-destructive path because I didn’t really believe this was a good reason, even if though his wife betrayed him horribly at first with someone he was close to. This was the weakest aspect of the book for me, but the growing affection and attraction which turned to love with Gail reformed his character.

Their relationship was really heartfelt and warm and the backdrop of the small town really helped with the overall tone of the romance even though he was a huge star and she was a high profile PR executive. The supporting cast of characters also added to the atmosphere of the book, and lays down future story threads for the sequels which I will definitely be interested in picking up!

MinnChica: I agree that Simon was a little difficult to like at first, especially with the way he treated Gail, stole all her clients, and then made her bend over backward for him. He definitely came across self-centered and a huge jerk. But once he got to Whiskey Creek and spent more time with Gail and her friends, I loved the way he seemed to really look into himself and find the error of his ways and do the smallest yet sweetest things for Gail to prove that he was changing. I loved the dedication he showed toward her, and although he still had a few issues with how to handle his ex-wife, I fell in love with him right along side Gail. Although the ex-wife situation was a bit of a cluster-F, I was glad to see how he and Gail resolved the whole thing, and were able to stand up against the bull and hollywood spotlights to prevail as a couple.

Has: I totally agree! I think the strong-point to this book was how much he changed from that jerk we first met in the beginning of the book, and both of them realising their initial feelings and impression with each other was wrong. There was also a sense he took his time to get over his past and I liked that because it was realistic and there was no magic wand for him to get over his issues.

When Lightning Strikes is a sweet, heart-warming romance about redemption and taking a second chance on love, which I loved! The setting of the small town of Whiskey Creek, was filled with a great cast of supporting characters – but the romance for me was the real star of the book!

I give When Lightning Strikes a B-

MinnChica: All in all I was so happy with the first full length book in the Whiskey Creek series. I was a little worried after the novella, but Gail and Simon really came through with a stellar romance and a great introduction to the town and the group of people in it. I loved the marriage of convenience, and the way that Gail and Simon started out as enemies, and really came to depend and rely on each other. They built their romance on trust and friendship and it progressed slowly over the book. The romance, for me, was incredible well done. While there were a few plot points I wish would have been handled differently, namely the ex-wife and Simon’s agent, I felt the story was strong overall and the romance more than made up for everything else.
I give When Lightning Strikes a B+(less)

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When Lightning Strikes (Whiskey Creek #1)

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