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Bulletproof #1
Inside
Virgil Skinner served fourteen years for a murder he didn't commit. He's finally been exonerated, but he can't escape the gang he joined in order to survive. They'll do anything to keep him from telling what he knows. And if they can't get to Virgil they'll go after his sister and her kids.
The California Department of Corrections needs someone to infiltrate another gang, one that's taking control of the state's most notorious supermax. Virgil agrees to do it under an alias--in exchange for his sister's protection.
Chief Deputy Warden Peyton Adams is opposed to having Virgil in her prison. How will she protect him if things go bad? Besides, she's far too attracted to him; she might even be falling in love with him. That makes her all the more desperate to keep him safe--and it gives him someone else to lose.
The California Department of Corrections needs someone to infiltrate another gang, one that's taking control of the state's most notorious supermax. Virgil agrees to do it under an alias--in exchange for his sister's protection.
Chief Deputy Warden Peyton Adams is opposed to having Virgil in her prison. How will she protect him if things go bad? Besides, she's far too attracted to him; she might even be falling in love with him. That makes her all the more desperate to keep him safe--and it gives him someone else to lose.
440 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published June 28, 2011
267 people are currently reading
2661 people want to read
About the author
Brenda Novak
238 books6,961 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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Displaying 1 - 30 of 247 reviews
July 24, 2014
I wasn't sure I would be able to connect to a story involving a prison setting and was even reluctant to try. Well, I got over that after the first couple of chapters.
Quick summary
Virgil Skinner spent 14 years in prison for a murder he didn't commit. He was just exonerated but it comes with strings attached. He's got to go back inside, undercover at another facility, Pelican Bay, to help the Feds dismantle a seriously dangerous gang. Peyton Adams is the prison's chief deputy warden and she's got to keep him safe while he's there without blowing his cover.
The romance
Virgil is the penultimate tortured hero! So much of this story takes place outside of the prison while he and Peyton spend some precious time together. For her it's a risky situation as it could put her career in jeopardy but she's drawn to this man who, in spite of all he's experienced has a certain nobility about him. It's an unconventional relationship and one you can't help rooting for while a sense of futility seems to surround them.
The suspense
I don't want to divulge too much about the story as events unfold rapidly with quite a few twists and turns. Virgil joined a gang called The Crew while in prison and they expect him to continue membership on the outside. When he walks away, they launch a deadly search for him, putting his sister at risk and adding an additional threat to that he's facing going back inside. They are vicious and frightening.
The bottom line
The tension, both sexual and otherwise, is maintained throughout the duration of the story. Virgil is an extremely complex character who is the heart of the book. His relationship with Peyton, at times, is almost as tragic as his life was but is also his redemption as she understands the man inside. There aren't too many moments where your pulse gets to slow down and don't let the prison backdrop deter you. Novak created an authentic, realistic environment that's gritty and daunting but makes it work! Of course, I've now got to finish the trilogy.
Quick summary
Virgil Skinner spent 14 years in prison for a murder he didn't commit. He was just exonerated but it comes with strings attached. He's got to go back inside, undercover at another facility, Pelican Bay, to help the Feds dismantle a seriously dangerous gang. Peyton Adams is the prison's chief deputy warden and she's got to keep him safe while he's there without blowing his cover.
The romance
Virgil is the penultimate tortured hero! So much of this story takes place outside of the prison while he and Peyton spend some precious time together. For her it's a risky situation as it could put her career in jeopardy but she's drawn to this man who, in spite of all he's experienced has a certain nobility about him. It's an unconventional relationship and one you can't help rooting for while a sense of futility seems to surround them.
The suspense
I don't want to divulge too much about the story as events unfold rapidly with quite a few twists and turns. Virgil joined a gang called The Crew while in prison and they expect him to continue membership on the outside. When he walks away, they launch a deadly search for him, putting his sister at risk and adding an additional threat to that he's facing going back inside. They are vicious and frightening.
The bottom line
The tension, both sexual and otherwise, is maintained throughout the duration of the story. Virgil is an extremely complex character who is the heart of the book. His relationship with Peyton, at times, is almost as tragic as his life was but is also his redemption as she understands the man inside. There aren't too many moments where your pulse gets to slow down and don't let the prison backdrop deter you. Novak created an authentic, realistic environment that's gritty and daunting but makes it work! Of course, I've now got to finish the trilogy.
May 26, 2015
Going Back Inside
Thanks to Buggy for recommending this story to me. She knows I'm a fan of prison stories. When I read author Brenda Novak's preamble:
I went to Utah to visit my daughter and she insisted on showing Prison Break to me on DVD. "You'll love it," she said, and she was right. I found the characterization, plotting, acting and dialogue fantastic. I was so captivated, in fact, that I rented every season and watched the whole thing. But, when it was all over, I decided there was one thing about Prison Break I would've done differently, and that was the romance between the two lead characters. The writers took a very minimalist approach and yet, for me, it was the most interesting part of the whole show. So...I decided to write my own romance set inside the high-risk, high-conflict world of a maximum security prison.
I jumped up and down with excitement. Prison Break is my all time favorite TV show, inspiring me to become a writer, but I felt the same way about the missed opportunities for romance. This novel didn't quite live up to my stratospheric expectations, but it was still an enjoyable read.
The deputy warren of a notorious California supermax prison is female: Peyton Adams. She doesn't take any shit, and she's not afraid to express her objections to a plan for infiltrating a gang by planting inside the prison an exonerated ex-prisoner: Virgil Skinner. (Virgil isn't my favorite name choice for this hunk of muscle and love.)
Virgil served 14 years for a murder he didn't commit, and to say he has trust issues is putting it mildly. Peyton is a woman in a man's world who follows the rules and doesn't want to do anything to jeopardize her career, which is her life focus. So how will these two manage their palpable attraction to each other? Virgil's confession hurt my heart:
"You can stop pretending to look at me like a human being. I'm garbage, right? A beautiful woman like you, someone with a normal life, and so much . . . promise, has no interest in gutter trash like me. I'm nothing to you."
Peyton has her own motivation for working in a prison, and I like her backstory. She keeps various pieces of artwork inmates have given her over the years, and defends them when Virgil mocks her:
"Because they mean something to me, okay? And so do the men who created them. They're proof that beauty can be found where you'd least expect it. That most people have some good in them. That the amount of talent that goes to waste in prison is a tragedy."
These characters intrigued me, and I definitely wanted to see what would happen to them, but I didn't feel a rush of passion for either character. Still, this is a solid read that I recommend for any lover or romance and/or prison stories.
Thanks to Buggy for recommending this story to me. She knows I'm a fan of prison stories. When I read author Brenda Novak's preamble:
I went to Utah to visit my daughter and she insisted on showing Prison Break to me on DVD. "You'll love it," she said, and she was right. I found the characterization, plotting, acting and dialogue fantastic. I was so captivated, in fact, that I rented every season and watched the whole thing. But, when it was all over, I decided there was one thing about Prison Break I would've done differently, and that was the romance between the two lead characters. The writers took a very minimalist approach and yet, for me, it was the most interesting part of the whole show. So...I decided to write my own romance set inside the high-risk, high-conflict world of a maximum security prison.
I jumped up and down with excitement. Prison Break is my all time favorite TV show, inspiring me to become a writer, but I felt the same way about the missed opportunities for romance. This novel didn't quite live up to my stratospheric expectations, but it was still an enjoyable read.
The deputy warren of a notorious California supermax prison is female: Peyton Adams. She doesn't take any shit, and she's not afraid to express her objections to a plan for infiltrating a gang by planting inside the prison an exonerated ex-prisoner: Virgil Skinner. (Virgil isn't my favorite name choice for this hunk of muscle and love.)
Virgil served 14 years for a murder he didn't commit, and to say he has trust issues is putting it mildly. Peyton is a woman in a man's world who follows the rules and doesn't want to do anything to jeopardize her career, which is her life focus. So how will these two manage their palpable attraction to each other? Virgil's confession hurt my heart:
"You can stop pretending to look at me like a human being. I'm garbage, right? A beautiful woman like you, someone with a normal life, and so much . . . promise, has no interest in gutter trash like me. I'm nothing to you."
Peyton has her own motivation for working in a prison, and I like her backstory. She keeps various pieces of artwork inmates have given her over the years, and defends them when Virgil mocks her:
"Because they mean something to me, okay? And so do the men who created them. They're proof that beauty can be found where you'd least expect it. That most people have some good in them. That the amount of talent that goes to waste in prison is a tragedy."
These characters intrigued me, and I definitely wanted to see what would happen to them, but I didn't feel a rush of passion for either character. Still, this is a solid read that I recommend for any lover or romance and/or prison stories.
March 28, 2011
I loved this book, an endless of suspense events piling one after another. I was antsy and on edge through the whole book. Brenda Novak is a true master of suspense, will read more of her works.
I loved Virgil, the tortured hero who was a convict since he was 18. Fourteen years in prison made him a hard man, but his only weakness was his sister and her children. He'd do anything to keep them save, even going back to prison as a snitch.
The mollify of Virgil's hardheartedness was the part I loved most. He was so tender towards Peyton and yet very skeptical of the affection she gave him. It was so heart wrenching that he felt that he was way beneath her thus he fought so hard against his feelings. I always loved a battered hero...
Looking forward to book #2. Please let it be Pretty Boy's story.. (Yes you guessed it, another tortured hero).
I loved Virgil, the tortured hero who was a convict since he was 18. Fourteen years in prison made him a hard man, but his only weakness was his sister and her children. He'd do anything to keep them save, even going back to prison as a snitch.
The mollify of Virgil's hardheartedness was the part I loved most. He was so tender towards Peyton and yet very skeptical of the affection she gave him. It was so heart wrenching that he felt that he was way beneath her thus he fought so hard against his feelings. I always loved a battered hero...
Looking forward to book #2. Please let it be Pretty Boy's story.. (Yes you guessed it, another tortured hero).
October 20, 2011
3.5 stars
As I was reading Inside by Brenda Novak, I couldn’t help feeling angry and disdainful. I really didn’t like the characters and I rolled my eyes at some of the situations the main character Peyton Adams found herself in. But something happened on the way to writing this review. The more I thought about the book, the more I liked it.
Inside is an eye-opening commentary on life in an over-crowded prison population, a place that is scarier than anything I’ve ever read before. Initially, I was repulsed by the subject matter. It felt so real: the lawlessness, the lack of hope, the corruption, and the gangs. The writing is compelling, well-paced. I was glued to this book.
In Inside, an ex-con who had been wrongfully convicted and incarcerated has made a deal to be placed inside a prison to bring down the gang members of Hell’s Fury. Virgil Skinner has been hardened by years in prison. Skinner is a character that the reader can be emotionally invested in, despite his unfortunate background.
Peyton Adams the Chief Deputy Warden, is in charge of Skinner’s case. She takes a special interest in his safety and is keeping an eye on him. There is an attraction between Peyton and Skinner and this is where I had my problem with this book. A relationship between a prison warden and an inmate sent to infiltrate a gang just didn’t sit right with me. First of all, Skinner’s situation seemed hopeless. The inappropriateness of their relationship bothered me too. But continue reading. The story gets exciting very fast.
Aside from my reservations about the main characters, the plot was compelling. Something made me keep reading. Virgil’s mission was almost suicidal. It didn’t look like there would be a good outcome. The gang members were vicious, with no regard for human life. Peyton’s coworkers gave new meaning to corruption and betrayal.
All in all, Inside is an exciting edge-of-your-seat kind of read. I’m looking forward to the next book In Seconds.
As I was reading Inside by Brenda Novak, I couldn’t help feeling angry and disdainful. I really didn’t like the characters and I rolled my eyes at some of the situations the main character Peyton Adams found herself in. But something happened on the way to writing this review. The more I thought about the book, the more I liked it.
Inside is an eye-opening commentary on life in an over-crowded prison population, a place that is scarier than anything I’ve ever read before. Initially, I was repulsed by the subject matter. It felt so real: the lawlessness, the lack of hope, the corruption, and the gangs. The writing is compelling, well-paced. I was glued to this book.
In Inside, an ex-con who had been wrongfully convicted and incarcerated has made a deal to be placed inside a prison to bring down the gang members of Hell’s Fury. Virgil Skinner has been hardened by years in prison. Skinner is a character that the reader can be emotionally invested in, despite his unfortunate background.
Peyton Adams the Chief Deputy Warden, is in charge of Skinner’s case. She takes a special interest in his safety and is keeping an eye on him. There is an attraction between Peyton and Skinner and this is where I had my problem with this book. A relationship between a prison warden and an inmate sent to infiltrate a gang just didn’t sit right with me. First of all, Skinner’s situation seemed hopeless. The inappropriateness of their relationship bothered me too. But continue reading. The story gets exciting very fast.
Aside from my reservations about the main characters, the plot was compelling. Something made me keep reading. Virgil’s mission was almost suicidal. It didn’t look like there would be a good outcome. The gang members were vicious, with no regard for human life. Peyton’s coworkers gave new meaning to corruption and betrayal.
All in all, Inside is an exciting edge-of-your-seat kind of read. I’m looking forward to the next book In Seconds.
August 5, 2012
I was apprehensive about starting this book for two reasons, one because the past Brenda Novak I had read hadn't worked for me and two I wasn't sure about a prison romance but well to my surprise I enjoyed the book. The heroine is a corrections officer and four years older than the hero, the hero has been released from prison after fourteen years. He was setup and now has been exonerated but as an angry eighteen year old he joined a gang and those actions had consequences and now to protect his sister and her kids he has agreed to go to prison again. The romance despite being fast worked for me, it starts off before he gets inside and they have sex before he goes to prison. I felt really bad for the hero, he had been deprived of so much in his life but overall the book worked well.
May 20, 2015
2.5 Stars
February 9, 2013
Overall Rating: 4.95 // Action: 3 / Emotion: 5 / Romance: 4 / Sensuous: 2 / Suspense: 5 // Laughter: 0 / Teary: 1
Some books just reach deep into your heart and grab hold of your senses and will not let go. Inside, the first book in The Bulletproof Series, by Brenda Novak is one of those books. ♥ Loved ♥ this book! So many things were right about this book. The unique story line. The strong emotional pull. The insight into the psyche of the characters. The amazingly incredible build up of so much nail-biting suspense. The unbelievable, undeniable romance. This book is an un-put-down-able read . . . and worth every minute of it.
The interpersonal dynamics that Novak created between all these characters was so well-written and so well-developed that they all felt real. These characters could walk from the pages of the book they were so believable.
This book is so powerfully intense. Novak was phenomenal as she kept the reader so deeply involved in the emotional relationship growing between Virgil and Peyton while at the same time slowly building the suspense level to such proportions that it was literally impossible to sit still and keep reading. Novak has marvelously moved the characters around on her chess board with such well-written dialogue and inspiring such a richly stirring connection to them that it is impossible to imagine how she is going to say "checkmate" at the end of the book and save Virgil from death for the requisite happily ever after ending.
Inside, Brenda Novak's first book in The Bulletproof Series, is a must read for Romantic Suspense Fans. See Wolf Bear Does Books for a more in-depth, detailed, review of Inside (contains a few spoilers).
Some books just reach deep into your heart and grab hold of your senses and will not let go. Inside, the first book in The Bulletproof Series, by Brenda Novak is one of those books. ♥ Loved ♥ this book! So many things were right about this book. The unique story line. The strong emotional pull. The insight into the psyche of the characters. The amazingly incredible build up of so much nail-biting suspense. The unbelievable, undeniable romance. This book is an un-put-down-able read . . . and worth every minute of it.
The interpersonal dynamics that Novak created between all these characters was so well-written and so well-developed that they all felt real. These characters could walk from the pages of the book they were so believable.
This book is so powerfully intense. Novak was phenomenal as she kept the reader so deeply involved in the emotional relationship growing between Virgil and Peyton while at the same time slowly building the suspense level to such proportions that it was literally impossible to sit still and keep reading. Novak has marvelously moved the characters around on her chess board with such well-written dialogue and inspiring such a richly stirring connection to them that it is impossible to imagine how she is going to say "checkmate" at the end of the book and save Virgil from death for the requisite happily ever after ending.
Inside, Brenda Novak's first book in The Bulletproof Series, is a must read for Romantic Suspense Fans. See Wolf Bear Does Books for a more in-depth, detailed, review of Inside (contains a few spoilers).
June 22, 2011
This is a Quickie Review. For the full review, please visit The Romanceaholic.
Expected Release Date: June 28, 2011
Publisher: Harlequin
Imprint: Mira
Author’s Website: http://www.brendanovak.com
My Source for This Book: Netgalley
Part of a Series: Yes – Bulletproof Book 1
Series Best Read In Order: N/A
Steam Level: Steamy
Holy wow. This book was absolutely fantabulous!
Pulse-pounding action, police corruption, a spurned lover, and deadly gangs out for revenge, all paired with a delicious romance make this a novel that can’t be missed. Despite some concerns I might have had with the epilogue, this is hands-down a must-read, and I gladly give it a very solid 5/5 Stars.
Expected Release Date: June 28, 2011
Publisher: Harlequin
Imprint: Mira
Author’s Website: http://www.brendanovak.com
My Source for This Book: Netgalley
Part of a Series: Yes – Bulletproof Book 1
Series Best Read In Order: N/A
Steam Level: Steamy
Holy wow. This book was absolutely fantabulous!
Pulse-pounding action, police corruption, a spurned lover, and deadly gangs out for revenge, all paired with a delicious romance make this a novel that can’t be missed. Despite some concerns I might have had with the epilogue, this is hands-down a must-read, and I gladly give it a very solid 5/5 Stars.
December 24, 2015
I did not like this story. It’s a helpless victim feel.
I was depressed for 90% of the book. The last 10% was suspenseful and exciting, but that was not enough to make it worthwhile. The author used too many bad guys to create tension and conflict. Almost everything in the book had a bad guy involved. Some examples follow.
Peyton the heroine has two bad bosses. Twice the warden (her boss) demands she do something that is wrong or against her better judgment. Bad things result. The warden assigns Peyton to work for Rick. Rick is in charge of placing Virgil inside the prison as a snitch. Peyton is against what Rick is doing. Rick is jealous of Virgil and for petty reasons does things that will harm Virgil while he is inside. Rick hides information from Peyton and orders her to do something against her better judgment. Two different prison guards lie and do bad things causing problems for Peyton and the plot. The Witness Protection program is supposed to relocate Virgil’s sister and keep her safe, but there is a leak (an unknown bad guy) and other bad guys get to her. They plan to rape her and kill her and her children. Of course there are more bad guys in prison doing bad things to Virgil while he is there. It’s like everyone the main characters interact with are bad guys. Even the hotel desk clerk had a loose mouth telling things she shouldn’t. Yes that was a minor thing, but when adding up the bad guys, I’ll throw her in the pot as half of one.
The author wrapped up major things at the end, but I was frustrated that one item was left hanging. A guard did bad things. He knows who killed a judge. We don’t know if he told the authorities who it was. And we don’t know how and if the guard was punished. Did he go to jail?
DATA:
Narrative mode: 3rd person. Story length: 441 pages. Swearing language: strong including religious swear words but rarely used. Sexual language: mild plus the f-word used once. Number of sex scenes: 2, plus 2 referred to with no details. Setting: current day mostly California. Copyright: 2011. Genre: contemporary romance, prison.
I was depressed for 90% of the book. The last 10% was suspenseful and exciting, but that was not enough to make it worthwhile. The author used too many bad guys to create tension and conflict. Almost everything in the book had a bad guy involved. Some examples follow.
Peyton the heroine has two bad bosses. Twice the warden (her boss) demands she do something that is wrong or against her better judgment. Bad things result. The warden assigns Peyton to work for Rick. Rick is in charge of placing Virgil inside the prison as a snitch. Peyton is against what Rick is doing. Rick is jealous of Virgil and for petty reasons does things that will harm Virgil while he is inside. Rick hides information from Peyton and orders her to do something against her better judgment. Two different prison guards lie and do bad things causing problems for Peyton and the plot. The Witness Protection program is supposed to relocate Virgil’s sister and keep her safe, but there is a leak (an unknown bad guy) and other bad guys get to her. They plan to rape her and kill her and her children. Of course there are more bad guys in prison doing bad things to Virgil while he is there. It’s like everyone the main characters interact with are bad guys. Even the hotel desk clerk had a loose mouth telling things she shouldn’t. Yes that was a minor thing, but when adding up the bad guys, I’ll throw her in the pot as half of one.
The author wrapped up major things at the end, but I was frustrated that one item was left hanging. A guard did bad things. He knows who killed a judge. We don’t know if he told the authorities who it was. And we don’t know how and if the guard was punished. Did he go to jail?
DATA:
Narrative mode: 3rd person. Story length: 441 pages. Swearing language: strong including religious swear words but rarely used. Sexual language: mild plus the f-word used once. Number of sex scenes: 2, plus 2 referred to with no details. Setting: current day mostly California. Copyright: 2011. Genre: contemporary romance, prison.
August 2, 2013
DNF a little more than halfway through. The story had potential - could have been a real blockbuster for me, but Peyton I just could not stand. Her liberal views on rehabilitation for convicts were admirable, and I agreed with some of them, but let's face it that not ALL convicted criminals are able to be productive members of society again. Especially gang members. I understood where she was coming from (her father) but again - her father BROKE THE LAW, good intentions or not.
Virgil was what he was. A man who has spent the majority of his adult life in prison. He's a good man deep inside, caring for his sister and children, but he's still a very hard man. No matter what, prison changed him in irrevocable ways. I liked him but I didn't like him with Peyton. I thought he deserved better treatment than what she gave him.
For what I did read - 2 stars. OK but not great.
Virgil was what he was. A man who has spent the majority of his adult life in prison. He's a good man deep inside, caring for his sister and children, but he's still a very hard man. No matter what, prison changed him in irrevocable ways. I liked him but I didn't like him with Peyton. I thought he deserved better treatment than what she gave him.
For what I did read - 2 stars. OK but not great.
September 10, 2018
Remember Prison Break? If not, I highly recommend you binge watch it (season 1 is amazing and some of season 2). This book reminded me of PB but with a bit more romance! My first Brenda Novak book - I've been in the mood for Romantic Suspense and I really enjoyed it. I would certainly read more books by this author. If any friends have some to recommend, let me know!
Meanwhile, watch Prison Break!!
April 2, 2011
This book captivated me from the very start. My first Brenda Novak novel, and if all her other books are as good as this one, I will be starting her back list right away!
I haven't read a prison novel quite like this one before. Our hero, Virgil spent 14 years in prison for a crime he didn't commit. After his exoneration, he is "recruited" for an inside job as an informant on gang issues at Pelican Bay given his extensive background in prison and a member of "The Crew".
Peyton, our heroine is a Chief Deputy Warden at Pelican Bay Prison. I liked her, but something about her irked me. She felt almost too idealistic, but I admired her will to change things inside prisons.
What I liked about this book, were the flaws of the characters. The tortured hero and his survivalist attitude, his reservations about any affection shown to him, his gruff and secretive manner. Always looking over his shoulder and trying to decipher ulterior motives in everyone around him.
If you are a lover of novels featuring hero's who walk the line, and are tortured and flawed, then you will enjoy this novel.
The ending/climax was pretty surprising as well. I hope we see more of a certain "Crew" member in the second book!
I haven't read a prison novel quite like this one before. Our hero, Virgil spent 14 years in prison for a crime he didn't commit. After his exoneration, he is "recruited" for an inside job as an informant on gang issues at Pelican Bay given his extensive background in prison and a member of "The Crew".
Peyton, our heroine is a Chief Deputy Warden at Pelican Bay Prison. I liked her, but something about her irked me. She felt almost too idealistic, but I admired her will to change things inside prisons.
What I liked about this book, were the flaws of the characters. The tortured hero and his survivalist attitude, his reservations about any affection shown to him, his gruff and secretive manner. Always looking over his shoulder and trying to decipher ulterior motives in everyone around him.
If you are a lover of novels featuring hero's who walk the line, and are tortured and flawed, then you will enjoy this novel.
The ending/climax was pretty surprising as well. I hope we see more of a certain "Crew" member in the second book!
October 4, 2011
4.5 stars: I did not expect to enjoy this book as much as I did. I expected it to be a book-long view of prison from the inside. Instead what I got was the story of two unlikely lovers who would never even have met if the hero hadn't been wrongfully convicted of his step-father's murder. Virgil Skinner (which, hello, is NOT a sexy hero name, but grew on me over the course of the book) has emerged from fourteen years of prison with his sense of decency intact. And he is willing to go back inside so that his sister can be protected from the gang he joined in order to survive his imprisonment. The heroine, Peyton, is deputy warden of Pelican Bay, where Virgil will be sent undercover to infiltrate a gang. There is a hotbed of political intrigue lurking just beneath the surface of Pelican Bay, with dirty Corrections Officers, a corrupt bureaucrat in the prison system who wants to get into Peyton's pants, and a network of gang members both inside and out who want Virgil Skinner dead. And yet, there is time for a decent amount of romance here and it is the threat to Virgil and Peyton's HEA that kept me at the edge of my seat as much as anything. The next book in the trilogy is about Virgil's sister, and I look forward to it.
October 9, 2012
Just a quick review... I'm just about to review the second and third books in this series and wanted to do them justice.
I really enjoyed this one. Great characters, incredibly strong plot, connected together by a strong dose of realism. You can tell this author did her homework on the subject of gangs in prisons, but it's not an overwhelming data dump.
Quite often I find "top authors" a bit disappointing. It can feel like they're churning out their one (or two) books a year and they're just twisting and reworking tried and true formulae rather than coming up with something which grabs you. I've never found this author to be like that. I've enjoyed every one of her books I've read, mainly because she puts together a completely watertight plot, full of twists and credibility, and doesn't overwhelm us with nonsensical romance guff.
The epilogue was just a tad nauseating - not really awful, just made me feel a bit green for a few pages, but I'll withhold judgement until I read the other two in the series.
4 stars. Really enjoyed it.
I really enjoyed this one. Great characters, incredibly strong plot, connected together by a strong dose of realism. You can tell this author did her homework on the subject of gangs in prisons, but it's not an overwhelming data dump.
Quite often I find "top authors" a bit disappointing. It can feel like they're churning out their one (or two) books a year and they're just twisting and reworking tried and true formulae rather than coming up with something which grabs you. I've never found this author to be like that. I've enjoyed every one of her books I've read, mainly because she puts together a completely watertight plot, full of twists and credibility, and doesn't overwhelm us with nonsensical romance guff.
The epilogue was just a tad nauseating - not really awful, just made me feel a bit green for a few pages, but I'll withhold judgement until I read the other two in the series.
4 stars. Really enjoyed it.
January 4, 2015
Another great novel by a great author. Read my full review http://devastatingreads.blogspot.ca/2...
September 1, 2014
REVIEW OF EBOOK & AUDIO; 31 AUGUST 2014
Narrator: Angela Dawe
I couldn't turn the audio off, which meant only one hour or so sleep but TGIF. Very suspenseful. Gripped me from start to finish. However, I am not inclined to give it 5 stars because there was something about Peyton's characterization that did not sit right with me. I was very uneasy about the way she let Wallace's overtures go without telling him straight off they weren't welcome or appropriate. Even though only the reader is to privy Wallace's internal monologue re. his not-quite-sane analysis of Peyton and him, he does hit on her quite unmistakeably but her reaction felt too cool and unperturbed to be realistic to me. As a result, Wallace continued with his crazy pursuit. As a reader I felt manipulated here; I felt the tension in this Wallace-Peyton thread was contrived and unrealistically portrayed, his character over-done.
That's my only complaint, though. I loved everything else, especially the developing romance between Peyton and Virgil because it ran alongside the suspense thread. There were a few heart-thumping moments, as is to be expected of a prison-location story. If it weren't for the way the Wallace-Peyton thread was executed, this would be one RS book I'd read/listen to again.
I don't recall any sex in the story but I know Virgil and Peyton did get it on. I must have been so engrossed in the suspense plot, was already satisfied with the romance, that I subconsciously set aside the sex? Maybe, but on second thoughts, a little more heat in this department would be welcome. Then again, I'd stayed away from this author all these years because my perception, based on the reviews, was that she was low on romance and even lower on sex.
My Goldilocks Scale:
Suspense: Better than expected
Romance: Just Right
Sex: Too low
Lastly, about Pretty Boy.
Now that I know who he is, I understand the calls for him to have his own book. I absolutely concur with all the Pretty Boy fans. What I don't understand is why Ms Novak stuck him in the Whiskey Creek series, which is a contemporary romance series, instead of giving him, Rex McCreedy, a romantic suspense book. I was stumped when Ms Novak told me Rex's book is Heart of Christmas (Whiskey Creek #7).
I will read that just to finish my personal Bulletproof arc - which would not be complete without Pretty Boy. If Laurel got her story (and she's less interesting than Pretty Boy), I don't get the author's decision not to include Rex McCreedy in this series.
The Narration: Angela Dawe's voice and cadence is so easily recognizable that I didn't have to read the audiobook info to know who it was. While I like her voice, my problem here was that I was constantly reminded of the heroine from the Tiffany Snow's, series. Kathleen Turner. I've mentioned in my review there how I prefer Dawe's performance of Christina Dodd's Danger in a Red Dress to her Kathleen character. Dawe uses her Kathleen cadence in the Bulletproof series so while still listenable, I wish she would go back to her more mature-sounding voice since it would have suited Peyton's character as the Chief Deputy Warden more.
I'm not sure if I want to read another installment as the reviews aren't pulling me but I'll try the Stillwater trilogy. Novak hasn't published any new RS series since Bulletproof, it appears.
Narrator: Angela Dawe
I couldn't turn the audio off, which meant only one hour or so sleep but TGIF. Very suspenseful. Gripped me from start to finish. However, I am not inclined to give it 5 stars because there was something about Peyton's characterization that did not sit right with me. I was very uneasy about the way she let Wallace's overtures go without telling him straight off they weren't welcome or appropriate. Even though only the reader is to privy Wallace's internal monologue re. his not-quite-sane analysis of Peyton and him, he does hit on her quite unmistakeably but her reaction felt too cool and unperturbed to be realistic to me. As a result, Wallace continued with his crazy pursuit. As a reader I felt manipulated here; I felt the tension in this Wallace-Peyton thread was contrived and unrealistically portrayed, his character over-done.
That's my only complaint, though. I loved everything else, especially the developing romance between Peyton and Virgil because it ran alongside the suspense thread. There were a few heart-thumping moments, as is to be expected of a prison-location story. If it weren't for the way the Wallace-Peyton thread was executed, this would be one RS book I'd read/listen to again.
I don't recall any sex in the story but I know Virgil and Peyton did get it on. I must have been so engrossed in the suspense plot, was already satisfied with the romance, that I subconsciously set aside the sex? Maybe, but on second thoughts, a little more heat in this department would be welcome. Then again, I'd stayed away from this author all these years because my perception, based on the reviews, was that she was low on romance and even lower on sex.
My Goldilocks Scale:
Suspense: Better than expected
Romance: Just Right
Sex: Too low
Lastly, about Pretty Boy.
Now that I know who he is, I understand the calls for him to have his own book. I absolutely concur with all the Pretty Boy fans. What I don't understand is why Ms Novak stuck him in the Whiskey Creek series, which is a contemporary romance series, instead of giving him, Rex McCreedy, a romantic suspense book. I was stumped when Ms Novak told me Rex's book is Heart of Christmas (Whiskey Creek #7).
I will read that just to finish my personal Bulletproof arc - which would not be complete without Pretty Boy. If Laurel got her story (and she's less interesting than Pretty Boy), I don't get the author's decision not to include Rex McCreedy in this series.
The Narration: Angela Dawe's voice and cadence is so easily recognizable that I didn't have to read the audiobook info to know who it was. While I like her voice, my problem here was that I was constantly reminded of the heroine from the Tiffany Snow's, series. Kathleen Turner. I've mentioned in my review there how I prefer Dawe's performance of Christina Dodd's Danger in a Red Dress to her Kathleen character. Dawe uses her Kathleen cadence in the Bulletproof series so while still listenable, I wish she would go back to her more mature-sounding voice since it would have suited Peyton's character as the Chief Deputy Warden more.
I'm not sure if I want to read another installment as the reviews aren't pulling me but I'll try the Stillwater trilogy. Novak hasn't published any new RS series since Bulletproof, it appears.
April 3, 2011
When I begin reading this ARC from Netgalley, I was skeptical of ever coming to like the main male character, Virgil. It takes a special author to be able to create a character who has been an active member of a notorious prison gang for most of his adult life and make me come to believe he is a worthy hero of a romantic suspense novel. Novak was able to do this, much to my surprise. I liked the main female character, Peyton, from the beginning. She was a strong and caring character. I found this book to be very different from most of what I read as it dealt with a prison setting and storyline. Even though that is not a premise that I find very appealing, my attention was captured at the beginning of the story, and I never lost interest. I found that I enjoyed the book, and am already looking forward to Novak's next book.
Virgil Skinner was innocent of the crime that has kept him locked away for sixteen years, but even after he is exonerated in the murder, his release is not a certainty due to his longtime membership in a violent prison gang. A deal is struck, and Virgil will be able to go free, as well as gain a new identity for himself and his sister if he agrees to infiltrate another gang in a different prison. Peyton Adams is the assistant deputy warden in the prison where Virgil will be incarcerated. Peyton doesn't feel like Virgil will be able to remain anonymous and safe in the prison, but she is not able to discourage those who are planning the endeavor. Peyton and Virgil quickly develop feelings for one another. Peyton and Virgil have to come to terms with their feelings for one another while trying to keep Virgil alive.
I feel like Brenda Novak took a big risk and really went out on a limb with this one. For me, it paid off. I enjoyed this story and grew to like the unusual character, Virgil. This was a fast paced book, and it was difficult to imagine how Virgil was going to come out of the situation intact with so many people trying to end his life. This wasn't my favorite book by Novak, but it was a good one. I'm glad that I read it, and am eagerly awaiting the next book in the series.
Virgil Skinner was innocent of the crime that has kept him locked away for sixteen years, but even after he is exonerated in the murder, his release is not a certainty due to his longtime membership in a violent prison gang. A deal is struck, and Virgil will be able to go free, as well as gain a new identity for himself and his sister if he agrees to infiltrate another gang in a different prison. Peyton Adams is the assistant deputy warden in the prison where Virgil will be incarcerated. Peyton doesn't feel like Virgil will be able to remain anonymous and safe in the prison, but she is not able to discourage those who are planning the endeavor. Peyton and Virgil quickly develop feelings for one another. Peyton and Virgil have to come to terms with their feelings for one another while trying to keep Virgil alive.
I feel like Brenda Novak took a big risk and really went out on a limb with this one. For me, it paid off. I enjoyed this story and grew to like the unusual character, Virgil. This was a fast paced book, and it was difficult to imagine how Virgil was going to come out of the situation intact with so many people trying to end his life. This wasn't my favorite book by Novak, but it was a good one. I'm glad that I read it, and am eagerly awaiting the next book in the series.
May 24, 2011
It was a horrible experience that jump-started New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Brenda Novak's career-- she caught her daycare teacher drugging her children to get them to sleep. Deciding she needed to work from home, she penned her first novel, and has been a household sensation ever since. Other titles include: Trust Me, Watch Me, Stop Me, Dead Silence, Dead Giveaway, Dead Right, The Perfect Couple, The Perfect Murder, The Perfect Liar, and Mother, Please. She also heads an annual fundraiser for diabetes research every May. Brenda resides in Sacramento, California with her husband and five children.
This is book one in the Bulletproof trilogy, with In Seconds and In Close coming later this year. Though part of a trilogy, these are stand alone reads.
Virgil Skinner served fourteen years for a murder he didn't commit, but now, he's going back in. The California Department of Corrections needs someone to infiltrate a gang that's taking control of its most notorious supermax. He has no choice but to help. The gang he joined in order to survive prison the first time is threatening his only family-- his sister and her two kids. Authorities offer to protect them, so if he doesn't do it, they'll be dead. Chief Deputy Warden Peyton Adams is not happy about her superiors plans to bring Virgil in her prison. Though something has to be done about the gang, this reeks of failure. Failure that could kill the man she's suddenly having feelings for. A man who has already suffered enough.
Just when I thought Brenda Novak couldn't get any better, she does. This book breaks ground on a premise that is beyond unique. I wondered how she was going to pull this off in a romantic suspense, but she did, and made it plausible. The amount of detail and research it took to write a book about being "inside" must have been staggering. I'm left haunted and pained by prison life after reading this. The conflict was impenetrable, the romance hot, and the characters' stories heart-breaking. This isn't highly recommended, it's a must read!
Kelly Moran,
author of Summer's Road.
This is book one in the Bulletproof trilogy, with In Seconds and In Close coming later this year. Though part of a trilogy, these are stand alone reads.
Virgil Skinner served fourteen years for a murder he didn't commit, but now, he's going back in. The California Department of Corrections needs someone to infiltrate a gang that's taking control of its most notorious supermax. He has no choice but to help. The gang he joined in order to survive prison the first time is threatening his only family-- his sister and her two kids. Authorities offer to protect them, so if he doesn't do it, they'll be dead. Chief Deputy Warden Peyton Adams is not happy about her superiors plans to bring Virgil in her prison. Though something has to be done about the gang, this reeks of failure. Failure that could kill the man she's suddenly having feelings for. A man who has already suffered enough.
Just when I thought Brenda Novak couldn't get any better, she does. This book breaks ground on a premise that is beyond unique. I wondered how she was going to pull this off in a romantic suspense, but she did, and made it plausible. The amount of detail and research it took to write a book about being "inside" must have been staggering. I'm left haunted and pained by prison life after reading this. The conflict was impenetrable, the romance hot, and the characters' stories heart-breaking. This isn't highly recommended, it's a must read!
Kelly Moran,
author of Summer's Road.
June 18, 2011
This is the first book of Novak’s that I have read and I was really impressed by it. Since it is Romantic Suspense, I won’t be spilling any secrets of what goes on in this book. You’ll have to see for yourself. Rich details are what makes this book stand out. There’s no doubt that a lot of research went into this book and I’m sure many readers will come to appreciate this book as I have. For me, it was the characters that stood out so I’ll talk a little about each of my favourites:
Virgil Skinner was the shining star of this book! I absolutely loved Virgil. He was rough and brooding, cunning and dangerous. There were so many aspects of his character that I came to love. He was wrongly accused of a crime and yet still dealt with the consequences. He entered prison when he was eighteen years old and fourteen years later, he has been released, only to be put back in again. I felt terrible for him. He lives in constant danger, looking over his shoulder for signs of The Crew, a gang that is out to get him. And yet, there’s this vulnerability behind his tough exterior. The fact that he truly seems to care about Peyton is an added bonus.
Peyton...I love a strong heroine. Peyton matched Virgil perfectly, and although their relationship is strained from the very beginning, there are some great moments of sexual tension and lust between them. It was a thrill to read about.
Rick Wallace got on my nerves a little bit. He is an all- or-nothing kind of guy. And although I can respect that in the professional sense, the fact that he keeps interfering in Peyton’s personal business annoyed me. This may not be due to Rick himself, perhaps I was just too invested in Peyton and Virgil’s relationship to think of any other possible couplings with Peyton.
Laurel is such a sweetheart. I loved her character her strength. I am super excited to read her book and can’t wait to read about her happy ever after. Surely, there’s no one else who deserves it more than she does. In Seconds will be released in August 2011.
Virgil Skinner was the shining star of this book! I absolutely loved Virgil. He was rough and brooding, cunning and dangerous. There were so many aspects of his character that I came to love. He was wrongly accused of a crime and yet still dealt with the consequences. He entered prison when he was eighteen years old and fourteen years later, he has been released, only to be put back in again. I felt terrible for him. He lives in constant danger, looking over his shoulder for signs of The Crew, a gang that is out to get him. And yet, there’s this vulnerability behind his tough exterior. The fact that he truly seems to care about Peyton is an added bonus.
Peyton...I love a strong heroine. Peyton matched Virgil perfectly, and although their relationship is strained from the very beginning, there are some great moments of sexual tension and lust between them. It was a thrill to read about.
Rick Wallace got on my nerves a little bit. He is an all- or-nothing kind of guy. And although I can respect that in the professional sense, the fact that he keeps interfering in Peyton’s personal business annoyed me. This may not be due to Rick himself, perhaps I was just too invested in Peyton and Virgil’s relationship to think of any other possible couplings with Peyton.
Laurel is such a sweetheart. I loved her character her strength. I am super excited to read her book and can’t wait to read about her happy ever after. Surely, there’s no one else who deserves it more than she does. In Seconds will be released in August 2011.
July 2, 2013
Chief Deputy warden Peyton Adams is put in charge of a sting operation, due to rising gang activity at Pelican Bay State Prison in Crescent City, California. The man going "inside" is former gang member and 14-year convict Simeon Bennett, aka Virgil Skinner. The two form a, um..."relationship" if you can call it that.
Simeon Bennett/Virgil Skinner is a truly frightening character - one who reminded me all too much of my ex-boyfriend, which is a credit to the realism that Brenda Novak has invoked, but it also left me wondering what her main character, Peyton Adams, could possibly see in him.
Not only does he threaten her with a knife, but he's recently been released from prison, where he's spent the past fourteen years of his life. Virgil continually gives Peyton the cold shoulder, even after they've made love, and yet Peyton seems unable to separate sex and love. It reminds me of an episode of Two And A Half Men, where the character Alan, after a week of incredible sex with a woman, is about to run off and marry her. Fortunately for Alan, his brother and mother give him the cold slap of reality that he desperately needs.
Peyton Adams gets no such reality check, and clings to Virgil like a floating piece of debris from the Titanic, despite the fact that he seems to have no real redeeming qualities, or any interest in her as a human being.
Simeon Bennett/Virgil Skinner is a truly frightening character - one who reminded me all too much of my ex-boyfriend, which is a credit to the realism that Brenda Novak has invoked, but it also left me wondering what her main character, Peyton Adams, could possibly see in him.
Not only does he threaten her with a knife, but he's recently been released from prison, where he's spent the past fourteen years of his life. Virgil continually gives Peyton the cold shoulder, even after they've made love, and yet Peyton seems unable to separate sex and love. It reminds me of an episode of Two And A Half Men, where the character Alan, after a week of incredible sex with a woman, is about to run off and marry her. Fortunately for Alan, his brother and mother give him the cold slap of reality that he desperately needs.
Peyton Adams gets no such reality check, and clings to Virgil like a floating piece of debris from the Titanic, despite the fact that he seems to have no real redeeming qualities, or any interest in her as a human being.
Read
March 22, 2013I'm in the minority for this book. The suspense was tight, the action was tight, the writing was tight, and the romance was hot--but I felt like reality suffered to make all those things true and I wasn't able to suspend my disbelief. In the end, I was just frustrated.
My examples are all spoilers, so don't read further if you don't want to be spoiled.
* I was first bothered by the fact that Virgil stayed in a hotel in the prison town. If they wanted to keep him a secret, they should've put him up in another town. That they didn't only seems to have made the plot convenient (as was proven true later in the book).
* The characters trusted each other too fast. I see no reason for Virgil to have stopped holding Peyton at knife point when he discovers her in this hotel room. *I* know she's the heroine, but for all he knows, she started as a crooked CO who's been hiding it well enough to make it to warden.
There are more, but those are the ones that frustrated me the most. Novak clearly did a lot of research about prison life, but I just felt like everything was happening for the sake of the plot, rather than as how the situation would actually play out.
My examples are all spoilers, so don't read further if you don't want to be spoiled.
* I was first bothered by the fact that Virgil stayed in a hotel in the prison town. If they wanted to keep him a secret, they should've put him up in another town. That they didn't only seems to have made the plot convenient (as was proven true later in the book).
* The characters trusted each other too fast. I see no reason for Virgil to have stopped holding Peyton at knife point when he discovers her in this hotel room. *I* know she's the heroine, but for all he knows, she started as a crooked CO who's been hiding it well enough to make it to warden.
There are more, but those are the ones that frustrated me the most. Novak clearly did a lot of research about prison life, but I just felt like everything was happening for the sake of the plot, rather than as how the situation would actually play out.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 16, 2012
I really enjoyed this romantic suspense. I have a particular fondness for ex-con books. I enjoyed how he was multifaceted. He was basically a good man who had made some bad choices but who was trying to go straight. I liked his vulnerability. The story was full of tense situations and the plot made sense. I dropped this from 5 stars because for me the ending was a bit weak. It ended while the hero and heroine were apart with someone else saving the heroine. I always feel like the two main characters should solve the problem/dilemma together. The epilogue was okay but could have been stronger if it were about the hero and the heroine instead of about the hero's sister and his BFF. So it lost a point but I really did enjoy it. I had to sit on my hands to keep myself from reading ahead and spoiling it for myself.
September 22, 2011
I Fell Hard for Virgil
Virgil Skinner served a fourteen year prison sentence for a murder he didn't commit. He was eighteen when he went in - little more than a child. He quickly learned to do what he needed to do to survive.
Full exoneration is all well and good, if fourteen years overdue, and walking away from the pen is all Virgil ever wanted, but he knows - knows - what will happen to him on the outside, what will happen to his sister and her two children if he doesn't do something, because he has no intention of sticking with the gang he hooked up with inside. They were a means to an end and that part of his life is over. That being said, he has no intention of turning on them. He'd given his oaths and he'd stand by them. Virgil knew that wouldn't stop the gang from hunting down him and anyone he cares about as soon as it became clear he was out of more than just prison.
That's why he agreed to the deal with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, why no sooner had he been set free from one hellhole that he agreed to go willingly into another, to the notorious Pelican Bay. A maximum security prison from hell in northern California, Virgil agrees to go in undercover, jumping in with the gang there and acting as a snitch for the CDCR. He's doing so - and would do far more - for no other reason than to protect his sister and her kids. He would take any risk, do whatever he had to do, if he could just keep his sister, his niece, and his nephew safe.
He hadn't expected Peyton Adams, Chief Deputy Warden of Pelican Bay and vocal opponent of this undercover operation. What surprised him is that the passionate, idealistic woman thought the op too dangerous for him. She was concerned she wouldn't be able to protect him when he went in. She's right, but he doesn't care about that. And Peyton's worry for his safety, or the way she looks at him like a man instead of an ex-con...well, he couldn't let himself care about any of that. No matter how good it feels. Because if he lets himself care, he'll do something far more dangerous than anything he's ever done before...he'll start dreaming a woman like Peyton could ever want to be with a man like him.
~*~
For my first foray into books by Brenda Novak, I think I found a great starting place. I enjoyed her writing style and appreciated the research that she put into capturing the lingo and life in a prison. It added an air of authenticity to many of the characters and to aspects of the plot. The story had depth and the various threads and external conflicts were woven together nicely, creating a cohesive, captivating narrative that started strong with two appealing main characters.
I have to admit, though, Virgil was the brightest spot of it all for me. I loved him. Novak created an utterly sympathetic character, the proverbial tragic hero, and imbued him with a sense of tarnished nobility. He's a realist to the point of pessimism, yet he shows glimpses of naked yearning and hope for a future he tries desperately not to need. It's heartbreaking at times, and watching him do what he had to do despite it all garnered respect.
Peyton was a solid female lead. I'm hard on them, I know; finicky with my preferences. In Peyton, though, Novak created an intelligent, competent woman who had her life well in hand. I enjoyed her. She didn't have the same spark or story presence that Virgil had, but she complimented him nicely.
Novak showed off quite an aplomb for creating characters that a reader can easily love or hate, depending on their roles. Her secondary characters were realistic and three dimensional. I'm afraid I have to admit, Virgil wasn't the sole focus of my reader-crush. I started two-timing him as soon as Pretty Boy was introduced into the story. Tacky and shallow, I know, but still, I would have loved seeing even more of him and I hope he's a character that will pop up in later books.
For all that the book was deftly and expertly executed and the characters entertaining, I wasn't crazy about the end of the book. After the careful, well-paced, diversely-plotted build up of the external conflict and the organic development of the romance, I didn't feel the resolution of the book did either justice. The epilogue, while tying up enough loose ends to at least appease me in reference to the external plot, wasn't enough to make up for the lack of relationship development between Peyton and Virgil between the final scene of the book and the epilogue. I felt a little gypped on the romance in that regard. I was also a little disappointed by the lack of apparent gain for Virgil's stint undercover. With everything that was risked and sacrificed in the big picture, I would have liked to have seen more benefit defray all that cost.
Even with those issues, Inside was a very solid, entertaining series debut. It certainly had it's fair share of action, plenty of suspense, a romance that was both heartwarming and seductive, and characters to root for (or despise when necessary). Not a bad introduction to an author with whom I wasn't previously familiar. Not bad at all.
Disclosure: An ARC of this book was provided to me by Harlequin imprint Mira Books via NetGalley. This rating, review, and all included thoughts and comments are my own.
~*~*~*~
Reviewed for One Good Book Deserves Another.
Virgil Skinner served a fourteen year prison sentence for a murder he didn't commit. He was eighteen when he went in - little more than a child. He quickly learned to do what he needed to do to survive.
Full exoneration is all well and good, if fourteen years overdue, and walking away from the pen is all Virgil ever wanted, but he knows - knows - what will happen to him on the outside, what will happen to his sister and her two children if he doesn't do something, because he has no intention of sticking with the gang he hooked up with inside. They were a means to an end and that part of his life is over. That being said, he has no intention of turning on them. He'd given his oaths and he'd stand by them. Virgil knew that wouldn't stop the gang from hunting down him and anyone he cares about as soon as it became clear he was out of more than just prison.
That's why he agreed to the deal with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, why no sooner had he been set free from one hellhole that he agreed to go willingly into another, to the notorious Pelican Bay. A maximum security prison from hell in northern California, Virgil agrees to go in undercover, jumping in with the gang there and acting as a snitch for the CDCR. He's doing so - and would do far more - for no other reason than to protect his sister and her kids. He would take any risk, do whatever he had to do, if he could just keep his sister, his niece, and his nephew safe.
He hadn't expected Peyton Adams, Chief Deputy Warden of Pelican Bay and vocal opponent of this undercover operation. What surprised him is that the passionate, idealistic woman thought the op too dangerous for him. She was concerned she wouldn't be able to protect him when he went in. She's right, but he doesn't care about that. And Peyton's worry for his safety, or the way she looks at him like a man instead of an ex-con...well, he couldn't let himself care about any of that. No matter how good it feels. Because if he lets himself care, he'll do something far more dangerous than anything he's ever done before...he'll start dreaming a woman like Peyton could ever want to be with a man like him.
~*~
For my first foray into books by Brenda Novak, I think I found a great starting place. I enjoyed her writing style and appreciated the research that she put into capturing the lingo and life in a prison. It added an air of authenticity to many of the characters and to aspects of the plot. The story had depth and the various threads and external conflicts were woven together nicely, creating a cohesive, captivating narrative that started strong with two appealing main characters.
I have to admit, though, Virgil was the brightest spot of it all for me. I loved him. Novak created an utterly sympathetic character, the proverbial tragic hero, and imbued him with a sense of tarnished nobility. He's a realist to the point of pessimism, yet he shows glimpses of naked yearning and hope for a future he tries desperately not to need. It's heartbreaking at times, and watching him do what he had to do despite it all garnered respect.
Peyton was a solid female lead. I'm hard on them, I know; finicky with my preferences. In Peyton, though, Novak created an intelligent, competent woman who had her life well in hand. I enjoyed her. She didn't have the same spark or story presence that Virgil had, but she complimented him nicely.
Novak showed off quite an aplomb for creating characters that a reader can easily love or hate, depending on their roles. Her secondary characters were realistic and three dimensional. I'm afraid I have to admit, Virgil wasn't the sole focus of my reader-crush. I started two-timing him as soon as Pretty Boy was introduced into the story. Tacky and shallow, I know, but still, I would have loved seeing even more of him and I hope he's a character that will pop up in later books.
For all that the book was deftly and expertly executed and the characters entertaining, I wasn't crazy about the end of the book. After the careful, well-paced, diversely-plotted build up of the external conflict and the organic development of the romance, I didn't feel the resolution of the book did either justice. The epilogue, while tying up enough loose ends to at least appease me in reference to the external plot, wasn't enough to make up for the lack of relationship development between Peyton and Virgil between the final scene of the book and the epilogue. I felt a little gypped on the romance in that regard. I was also a little disappointed by the lack of apparent gain for Virgil's stint undercover. With everything that was risked and sacrificed in the big picture, I would have liked to have seen more benefit defray all that cost.
Even with those issues, Inside was a very solid, entertaining series debut. It certainly had it's fair share of action, plenty of suspense, a romance that was both heartwarming and seductive, and characters to root for (or despise when necessary). Not a bad introduction to an author with whom I wasn't previously familiar. Not bad at all.
Disclosure: An ARC of this book was provided to me by Harlequin imprint Mira Books via NetGalley. This rating, review, and all included thoughts and comments are my own.
~*~*~*~
Reviewed for One Good Book Deserves Another.
August 6, 2017
Virgil Skinner in jail for something he didnt do. Now exonerated and set free only to be put in a position where he is placed in jail again in order to get info on a rival gang Doing this will keep his sister and her family safe. But they arent safe and needed to be placed in protective custody until Virgil is done. Making it more complicated is Virgil's involvement with the Chief Deputy Warden Peyton Adams.
This book keeps you turning the pages as all Novak's books do. And of course I have started the 2nd in this series to keep the story going.
This book keeps you turning the pages as all Novak's books do. And of course I have started the 2nd in this series to keep the story going.
July 19, 2019
What an excellent beginning to the Virgil Skinner series! I'm very interested to see where this exonerated ex-con goes with his life! And Peyton Adams...how can you just not love that character? This was a good look into the prison system and how gangs infiltrate and takeover!
I don't know that I've found a Brenda Novak book that I haven't liked so when this one popped up, I just had to have it! I guess now I have yet another new series to follow, but I am excited to see where it goes!
I don't know that I've found a Brenda Novak book that I haven't liked so when this one popped up, I just had to have it! I guess now I have yet another new series to follow, but I am excited to see where it goes!
April 1, 2020
Looooved this!!! Action packed!
May 31, 2021
Una bella storia dove la parte gialla è sormontata da quella romantica.
November 24, 2022
Lo compré a veinte pesitos en la feria de los libros que organizamos hace poco en mi ciudad. No estaba segura si me iba a gustar, pero me aventuré y lo compré.
Está bien entretenido, pensé que iba a ser más erótico, pero no. La trama está padre y ya quiero leer la continuación.
Está bien entretenido, pensé que iba a ser más erótico, pero no. La trama está padre y ya quiero leer la continuación.
June 29, 2011
Review originally posted here: http://thebookpushers.com/2011/06/28/...
Publisher: MIRA
Publish Date: June 28th
How I got this book: NetGalley
This was my first Novak read, and I have to admit that I’m a little disappointed no one demanded I read her sooner. I really loved this book!
Peyton is the second in command at Pelican Bay prison, and the gang problems are escalating to the point that a judge was murdered. An investigation is started, and a top secret operation is established, one in which an undercover agent goes into the prison to try and get insider information. Peyton isn’t too keen on the plan, but is forced to go along with it. When she meets Virgil, she is even more determined to keep him safe, because the feelings that arise between the two of them are explosive.
Virgil’s hands are tied. He was wrongly accused and spent 14 years in prison for a murder he didn’t commit. Now that he is out, he and his sister’s lives are in danger and the only leverage he has to protect them is to help out in the undercover operation. He will have to once again go to prison and find out anything and everything he can on gang activity. While he is resigned to his fate, meeting Peyton has suddenly given him something to live for, and the mission becomes so much more. But when people start turning and the gang after Virgil start putting pressure on the wrong people, Virgil and Peyton might be at risk of loosing more than just their hearts to each other.
I knew the moment I read the author’s note in the beginning that I would love this book. Novak admitted to writing this after inspiration from the TV show Prison Break, and who doesn’t love a little Wentworth Miller? *drool* I have to say though: WOW! The added romance into the story kept me so engaged, so enthralled with the story I couldn’t put it down.
Peyton and Virgil are the kind of characters that just kept pulling me back in, even sticking in my mind well after I put the book down. Starting with Virgil, the poor man was probably the most tortured yet honorable man I’ve ever read. He was strong willed, went through hell and back, and was kicked in every way possible his entire life, yet he still came out of it strong, noble, and with the desire to live right. There is no way that someone wouldn’t be able to fall in love with him. He was just that incredible of a character. I also truly loved Peyton. Like Virgil she was strong willed and completely trustworthy. She knew the difference between right and wrong and wasn’t afraid to fight for what was right, even if the path was a bit difficult. I think the biggest thing that really endured me to her was that although she was a warden, although she worked with hardened criminals her entire life, she still cared. She still saw them as people, still treated them with respect and fought for their rights and lives. She is the type of woman I hope we have working in the corrections offices everywhere.
I liked that their relationship somewhat tortured them a bit too. Neither one of them really wanted to fall in love with the other, but it just so happened that they couldn’t seem to stop themselves. I’ve always loved these kind of romances, but I can honestly say that I think Novak did it in the best possible way. It was rough and gritty at times, but it was also very obvious that the two fell and fell hard for each other.
I also really enjoyed the way that Novak didn’t sugar coat the violence that is in the prison system, the extensive networks and reaches of some gangs, and how easily honorable men can be turned at the hands of crazy criminals. Between the gang that Virgil was trying to infiltrate, the one who wanted him dead, and the many different nefarious sub-plots involving corrupt officials had me on the edge of my seat. The suspense was subtle while at the same time keeping me complete engaged and biting my nails until the very last page.
I can’t wait to continue on with the series and read more about Virgil’s sister, his best friend and former gang affiliate Pretty Boy and hopefully see more of Peyton and Virgil. I can say that I am definitely going to be checking out more of Novak’s work and will probably be making quite a few bookstore trips in the future.
All in all I loved this book. The characters, both the main and secondary were easy to relate to, well developed, and pulled me in emotionally. The plot continued to twist and turn and thicken at each and every page turn. Inside kept me on pins and needles and was everything I had hoped for and so much more.
I give Inside an A.
Publisher: MIRA
Publish Date: June 28th
How I got this book: NetGalley
This was my first Novak read, and I have to admit that I’m a little disappointed no one demanded I read her sooner. I really loved this book!
Peyton is the second in command at Pelican Bay prison, and the gang problems are escalating to the point that a judge was murdered. An investigation is started, and a top secret operation is established, one in which an undercover agent goes into the prison to try and get insider information. Peyton isn’t too keen on the plan, but is forced to go along with it. When she meets Virgil, she is even more determined to keep him safe, because the feelings that arise between the two of them are explosive.
Virgil’s hands are tied. He was wrongly accused and spent 14 years in prison for a murder he didn’t commit. Now that he is out, he and his sister’s lives are in danger and the only leverage he has to protect them is to help out in the undercover operation. He will have to once again go to prison and find out anything and everything he can on gang activity. While he is resigned to his fate, meeting Peyton has suddenly given him something to live for, and the mission becomes so much more. But when people start turning and the gang after Virgil start putting pressure on the wrong people, Virgil and Peyton might be at risk of loosing more than just their hearts to each other.
I knew the moment I read the author’s note in the beginning that I would love this book. Novak admitted to writing this after inspiration from the TV show Prison Break, and who doesn’t love a little Wentworth Miller? *drool* I have to say though: WOW! The added romance into the story kept me so engaged, so enthralled with the story I couldn’t put it down.
Peyton and Virgil are the kind of characters that just kept pulling me back in, even sticking in my mind well after I put the book down. Starting with Virgil, the poor man was probably the most tortured yet honorable man I’ve ever read. He was strong willed, went through hell and back, and was kicked in every way possible his entire life, yet he still came out of it strong, noble, and with the desire to live right. There is no way that someone wouldn’t be able to fall in love with him. He was just that incredible of a character. I also truly loved Peyton. Like Virgil she was strong willed and completely trustworthy. She knew the difference between right and wrong and wasn’t afraid to fight for what was right, even if the path was a bit difficult. I think the biggest thing that really endured me to her was that although she was a warden, although she worked with hardened criminals her entire life, she still cared. She still saw them as people, still treated them with respect and fought for their rights and lives. She is the type of woman I hope we have working in the corrections offices everywhere.
I liked that their relationship somewhat tortured them a bit too. Neither one of them really wanted to fall in love with the other, but it just so happened that they couldn’t seem to stop themselves. I’ve always loved these kind of romances, but I can honestly say that I think Novak did it in the best possible way. It was rough and gritty at times, but it was also very obvious that the two fell and fell hard for each other.
I also really enjoyed the way that Novak didn’t sugar coat the violence that is in the prison system, the extensive networks and reaches of some gangs, and how easily honorable men can be turned at the hands of crazy criminals. Between the gang that Virgil was trying to infiltrate, the one who wanted him dead, and the many different nefarious sub-plots involving corrupt officials had me on the edge of my seat. The suspense was subtle while at the same time keeping me complete engaged and biting my nails until the very last page.
I can’t wait to continue on with the series and read more about Virgil’s sister, his best friend and former gang affiliate Pretty Boy and hopefully see more of Peyton and Virgil. I can say that I am definitely going to be checking out more of Novak’s work and will probably be making quite a few bookstore trips in the future.
All in all I loved this book. The characters, both the main and secondary were easy to relate to, well developed, and pulled me in emotionally. The plot continued to twist and turn and thicken at each and every page turn. Inside kept me on pins and needles and was everything I had hoped for and so much more.
I give Inside an A.
June 17, 2011
This review is also published at http://thebookaholiccat.com
Inside is the first book of the new trilogy The Bulletproof by Brenda Novak.
Virgil Skinner has had a very tough life. He has served fourteen years in prison for a crime he didn’t committed. During those years he did what was necessary to survive in a prison, like joining a dangerous gang called The Crew. Now that he has been acquitted of all counts he wants to live a normal and quiet life, but being a member The Crew is a lifetime commitment, the only way to leave the gang is death. He knows as soon as the gangs realizes he has deserted, the gang will go for the persons he loves the most, his sister Laurel and her two little kids.
The government knows this as well and offers him a solution; they need him to infiltrate another dangerous gang in prison called Pelican Bay. In exchange for his help with this matter his sister and kids will be place under the witness protection program and will receive new identities. He is willing to do anything to protect them and accepts the offer knowing the risk is so high it may cost him his life.
Peyton Adams has been working as Chief Deputy Warden in Pelican Bay for the last six months. She considers the operation the California Department of Corrections is planning to do in her jail a very high-risk operation with low probabilities of success. She feels is will be almost impossible for her to offer protection to Virgil as an undercover agent and she knows if any member of Hell’s Fury suspects anything about Virgil he will be kill immediately.
Meeting Virgil a couple of days before he is supposed to enter jail didn’t help her at all. Now she knows his story and why he has accepted this crazy offer. Payton thinks he has suffer enough and he shouldn’t be put in that position. To complicate things even more, Virgil is not just what his tough appearance shows, in the short time she discovers he is much more, he intrigues her and makes her want him as she has never wanted before. And now he will be in her jail as a snitch and he will be her responsibility.
Virgil is a tortured hero. He has been in jail for a homicide he didn’t commit since he was eighteen. For his last fourteen years his life has been lived like a life in a jungle, where just the strongest survives. He is used to be looking back to see where the next attack will come from and tenderness and caring are things he has forbidden himself to experience. He may have been an innocent man when he entered jail, but he is not so innocent anymore. He is an ex-con and feels he doesn’t deserve anything good. Despite all this he has a good heart and is disposed to do anything in his power to protect the people he loves.
Peyton is an idealist. She had a difficult childhood with events that forged her in the woman she has become. She is dedicated to her work and wants to make a mark in society. She believes in the goodness of people and tries to give always the benefit of the doubt before making a final opinion of a person.
There is a palpable attraction between Virgil and Payton since the beginning. The relationship was well developed with all the complications of this difficult situation. Virgil and Peyton are very different but they complement each other perfectly making the romance in this book a believable one.
The secondary characters are so well written that you cannot do anything but love some and wish them the best and hate others and wish they would disappear at least six feet under.
We just get some glimpses of Virgil’s sister Laurel’s story, for what we learned her life has been a hard and sad one, but even though she has had that kind of life Laurel has always been there for Virgil. Mrs. Novak next book in this trilogy will be Laurel’s book, is called In Seconds and will be available August 30th 2011. I can’t wait to read it.
The world pictured in Inside is a very tough world, is the one of prisons, gangs, corruption, violence and painful realities.
This book is packed with action, suspense and intrigues. Mrs. Novak will have you biting your nails while devouring this book page by page.
There were some couple of open ends I thought needed a resolution. I don’t know if Mrs. Novak left them like that in purpose, and is planning of retaking them in the next installment. I hope that is the case.
Inside was my first book by Brenda Novak and I can guarantee you it won’t be my last. I really liked this book and enjoyed her writing style. I’m planning to read In Seconds as soon as it’s available.
Inside is the first book of the new trilogy The Bulletproof by Brenda Novak.
Virgil Skinner has had a very tough life. He has served fourteen years in prison for a crime he didn’t committed. During those years he did what was necessary to survive in a prison, like joining a dangerous gang called The Crew. Now that he has been acquitted of all counts he wants to live a normal and quiet life, but being a member The Crew is a lifetime commitment, the only way to leave the gang is death. He knows as soon as the gangs realizes he has deserted, the gang will go for the persons he loves the most, his sister Laurel and her two little kids.
The government knows this as well and offers him a solution; they need him to infiltrate another dangerous gang in prison called Pelican Bay. In exchange for his help with this matter his sister and kids will be place under the witness protection program and will receive new identities. He is willing to do anything to protect them and accepts the offer knowing the risk is so high it may cost him his life.
Peyton Adams has been working as Chief Deputy Warden in Pelican Bay for the last six months. She considers the operation the California Department of Corrections is planning to do in her jail a very high-risk operation with low probabilities of success. She feels is will be almost impossible for her to offer protection to Virgil as an undercover agent and she knows if any member of Hell’s Fury suspects anything about Virgil he will be kill immediately.
Meeting Virgil a couple of days before he is supposed to enter jail didn’t help her at all. Now she knows his story and why he has accepted this crazy offer. Payton thinks he has suffer enough and he shouldn’t be put in that position. To complicate things even more, Virgil is not just what his tough appearance shows, in the short time she discovers he is much more, he intrigues her and makes her want him as she has never wanted before. And now he will be in her jail as a snitch and he will be her responsibility.
Virgil is a tortured hero. He has been in jail for a homicide he didn’t commit since he was eighteen. For his last fourteen years his life has been lived like a life in a jungle, where just the strongest survives. He is used to be looking back to see where the next attack will come from and tenderness and caring are things he has forbidden himself to experience. He may have been an innocent man when he entered jail, but he is not so innocent anymore. He is an ex-con and feels he doesn’t deserve anything good. Despite all this he has a good heart and is disposed to do anything in his power to protect the people he loves.
Peyton is an idealist. She had a difficult childhood with events that forged her in the woman she has become. She is dedicated to her work and wants to make a mark in society. She believes in the goodness of people and tries to give always the benefit of the doubt before making a final opinion of a person.
There is a palpable attraction between Virgil and Payton since the beginning. The relationship was well developed with all the complications of this difficult situation. Virgil and Peyton are very different but they complement each other perfectly making the romance in this book a believable one.
The secondary characters are so well written that you cannot do anything but love some and wish them the best and hate others and wish they would disappear at least six feet under.
We just get some glimpses of Virgil’s sister Laurel’s story, for what we learned her life has been a hard and sad one, but even though she has had that kind of life Laurel has always been there for Virgil. Mrs. Novak next book in this trilogy will be Laurel’s book, is called In Seconds and will be available August 30th 2011. I can’t wait to read it.
The world pictured in Inside is a very tough world, is the one of prisons, gangs, corruption, violence and painful realities.
This book is packed with action, suspense and intrigues. Mrs. Novak will have you biting your nails while devouring this book page by page.
There were some couple of open ends I thought needed a resolution. I don’t know if Mrs. Novak left them like that in purpose, and is planning of retaking them in the next installment. I hope that is the case.
Inside was my first book by Brenda Novak and I can guarantee you it won’t be my last. I really liked this book and enjoyed her writing style. I’m planning to read In Seconds as soon as it’s available.
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