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Dear Maggie
New York Times bestselling author Brenda Novak presents a suspenseful story of a woman searching for the truth.Maggie Russell, a police reporter in Sacramento, works the night shift, and she's finally stumbled on the big crime story that will truly establish her career—if it doesn't end her life. A serial killer who moves from one city to the next.As if things aren't complicated enough, Nick Sorenson, the paper's new photographer, seems to be taking an unusual interest in this case. And in her. Maggie doesn't realize that she's falling in love with a man who's not what he seems to be. A man whose deceptions may save her life.
304 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 1, 2001
183 people are currently reading
574 people want to read
About the author
Brenda Novak
239 books7,008 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 55 reviews
November 23, 2015
I like a 'genre' story with a hefty side-helping of romance (and not the other way around) so this story hit that romantic suspense sweet tooth with a determined reporter, a serial killer on the loose, a young son to protect, and, oh ... who's that hunky new photographer the paper just hired. What? You mean he's an FBI agent working under cover? This story had the usual romance tropes of the young son, the guy's dog, the quirky BFF, you name it. But it also had a credible suspenseful thriller which would have stood on its own with or without the romance. I enjoyed it.
April 4, 2017
Great book I really enjoyed it. Lots of action but some romance good read
December 29, 2016
2 ½ stars. At best it kept my interest enough to read the whole thing.
This was published in 2001 by Harlequin. It’s number 987 in the Superromance series.
A serial killer is after a reporter. An FBI agent wants to be near her to catch the killer. He doesn’t tell her who he is because he is undercover. They fall for each other. Then she is mad because he lied to her by not telling her what his job was.
It felt churned out - as if Harlequin said write a story about the above. So the author filled in the blanks and kept it under 300 pages. I didn’t feel like the author was inspired. There was nothing special or different. There was no interesting character or chemistry.
Brenda Novak has done some wonderful stories. But not this.
DATA:
Narrative mode: 3rd person. Story length: 299 pages. Swearing language: moderate plus the s*** word. Sexual language: none. Number of sex scenes: one referred to no details shown. Setting: current day Sacramento, California. Copyright: 2001. Genre: romantic suspense.
This was published in 2001 by Harlequin. It’s number 987 in the Superromance series.
A serial killer is after a reporter. An FBI agent wants to be near her to catch the killer. He doesn’t tell her who he is because he is undercover. They fall for each other. Then she is mad because he lied to her by not telling her what his job was.
It felt churned out - as if Harlequin said write a story about the above. So the author filled in the blanks and kept it under 300 pages. I didn’t feel like the author was inspired. There was nothing special or different. There was no interesting character or chemistry.
Brenda Novak has done some wonderful stories. But not this.
DATA:
Narrative mode: 3rd person. Story length: 299 pages. Swearing language: moderate plus the s*** word. Sexual language: none. Number of sex scenes: one referred to no details shown. Setting: current day Sacramento, California. Copyright: 2001. Genre: romantic suspense.
September 12, 2019
I have been reading Brenda for a long time & just finished this early release. It's a really good book & enjoyed it very much! If you're not in her Facebook book group,you should be....it's the best book group ever!
September 22, 2017
Actual Rating: 2.5 Stars
I feel like our MC, Maggie, should just take out an advertisement and broadcast everything about her life into public: where she lives, where she works, all of her trade secrets, what she and her son look like, and how best to infiltrate her home--a home she doesn't even bother taking precautions to secure or guard while there's a serial killer running around killing women.
And her reason for not locking her doors or windows at night while she's sleeping, is simply because the house is too hot, there's no central air. But she says that there's an air conditioner in her bedroom. She really could lock all the doors and windows at night, then lock herself and her son in her bedroom and sleep with the air conditioner on. Maybe.
Of course, since she gives no reason as to why she's also being so open about her entire life with "John," her new online potential boyfriend, I suppose her behavior is par for TSTL anyway. They'd only met all of twice, maybe; he takes her on a cyber date, refuses to send her a picture of himself... so SHE sends him a picture of herself with her son... y'know, just to hint that she'd like to see a picture of him. She spends a lot of time telling him anything and everything about herself, even some of the confidential stuff she works with as a reporter.
And at that point, she STILL has no idea who this guy really is.
Honestly, if "John" weren't our male MC, playing undercover to try to "get to know" Maggie, and get friendly with her to make it easier to protect her, I foresee Maggie stumbling into some psychotic serial murderer who probably uses the internet to lure unsuspecting lamb to be chopped. For a single mother who's apparently heard and seen a lot of stuff in her job as a crime reporter, she really doesn't seem to have a grasp about how dangerous strangers can be.
I'm not sure why she figured that she knew and understood "John" so well. I'm not even sure why she was so quick to trust him. I suspect this was just part of the plot device to get our hero and heroine into a situation where there would end up being super-angst by the end of the book, because lies and deceit are being tossed around. I also figure that we might be playing into a bit of the "You've Got Mail" thing (a movie of which I loved, BTW, when it first came out in 1998).
Keeping in mind that this book was written in 2001, when internet was still kind of a newly developing commodity, I suppose I shouldn't give her so much crap about not realizing the dangers of cyber scams and cyber predators. Maybe. In present day, people still fall for these things, no matter how many warnings are put out there. But she is a crime reporter--I figured that, having seen and heard so much about the dangers of the world, she'd have more of a sense of basic security than to trust a strange man she'd never met online before so readily.
Even before the age of computers, you wouldn't just trust a random stranger enough to tell him your whole life's story after just one conversation... right?
Back to the book itself...
I had considered pulling my DNF trigger as each chapter progressed. Maggie didn't get any less frustrating, and Nick is kind of boring anyway. There are literally no other characters of any significance in this book. Maybe Rambo--but he's a dog, and most of the time, animal companions tend to make a difference--except that he wasn't all that present in the book.
But, as it turns out, I was curious enough about the identity of the serial killer than I would have liked. And also, I don't think I've ever DNF'd a crap book written by Brenda Novak--and there have been some pretty bad ones--if only because there's a certain, attention-grabbing train-wreck quality to her story progressions. The action keeps moving forward, and you can't seem to find a stopping point because the action keeps moving forward, and the next thing you know, you've read half the book and then some... so you may as well finish the rest of it. It's only another hundred and fifty pages after all--how long could that take?
Also, at some point in the book, Maggie starts gaining some sense; I think this was after the serial killer starts contacting her by leaving her voice mail messages on her work phone, and implying that he knows what she went shopping for one night, as well as what color panties she owns. Then she freaks out and starts thinking about the safety of her son, her friends, and herself. Then she starts locking her doors and windows, agrees to have a police team stationed outside her home to keep her safe, agrees to leave her son at a safer location most of the day while she's at work, agrees to let our main hero move in with her for the sake of not being alone.
It doesn't matter that she barely knows said main hero; she knows only that he's in town for a short while, he's a new photojournalist who is working for her newspaper temporarily... he's been hitting on her and watching her at work...
He's really an undercover FBI agent trying to investigate the serial murders while keeping an eye on Maggie since the last victim was also an investigative reporter who'd had contact with the serial killer.
Of course, Maggie doesn't know this. Because she doesn't know anything about the men she meets in this book before she lets them live in her home, or learn about her entire life's story.
Anyway...
The crime aspect of the book wasn't entirely engaging, truth be told; and the ending chapters were standard "damsel in distress" scenario. The romance was lukewarm, and a bit off-putting considering how much lying and secrecy went into the entire relationship since the beginning.
Maggie is your standard, innocent and almost virginal heroine, who's only ever had one sexual relationship with an ex-husband, and is super conservative with her own behavior, even though she readily breaks out of her prudishness for the hero. Obviously she's had sex, since she has a son, but she certainly acts like it's a new thing to her.
Nick is the standard broody alpha with commitment issues... who lusts after the heroine, but finds that he's ready to settle down and get married and be in love for the long haul after he meets said heroine. Because of that special "I've never felt this way before" factor.
I can't say I'm a hundred percent fond of Brenda Novak books, but for some reason, I end up finishing them easily, and keep coming back for more. At the very least, they're not entirely terrible, even if this one DID get really frustrating.
***
Halloween Bingo 2017
Other Possible Squares:
- Murder Most Foul: For obvious reasons.
- Amateur Sleuth: Female MC is a reporter, although the entire investigation is kind of laughable.
- Romantic Suspense: There is romance, there is suspense, there is murder and mayhem...
- Terrifying Women: Romantic suspense with a murder, written by a woman.
I feel like our MC, Maggie, should just take out an advertisement and broadcast everything about her life into public: where she lives, where she works, all of her trade secrets, what she and her son look like, and how best to infiltrate her home--a home she doesn't even bother taking precautions to secure or guard while there's a serial killer running around killing women.
And her reason for not locking her doors or windows at night while she's sleeping, is simply because the house is too hot, there's no central air. But she says that there's an air conditioner in her bedroom. She really could lock all the doors and windows at night, then lock herself and her son in her bedroom and sleep with the air conditioner on. Maybe.
Of course, since she gives no reason as to why she's also being so open about her entire life with "John," her new online potential boyfriend, I suppose her behavior is par for TSTL anyway. They'd only met all of twice, maybe; he takes her on a cyber date, refuses to send her a picture of himself... so SHE sends him a picture of herself with her son... y'know, just to hint that she'd like to see a picture of him. She spends a lot of time telling him anything and everything about herself, even some of the confidential stuff she works with as a reporter.
And at that point, she STILL has no idea who this guy really is.
Honestly, if "John" weren't our male MC, playing undercover to try to "get to know" Maggie, and get friendly with her to make it easier to protect her, I foresee Maggie stumbling into some psychotic serial murderer who probably uses the internet to lure unsuspecting lamb to be chopped. For a single mother who's apparently heard and seen a lot of stuff in her job as a crime reporter, she really doesn't seem to have a grasp about how dangerous strangers can be.
I'm not sure why she figured that she knew and understood "John" so well. I'm not even sure why she was so quick to trust him. I suspect this was just part of the plot device to get our hero and heroine into a situation where there would end up being super-angst by the end of the book, because lies and deceit are being tossed around. I also figure that we might be playing into a bit of the "You've Got Mail" thing (a movie of which I loved, BTW, when it first came out in 1998).
Keeping in mind that this book was written in 2001, when internet was still kind of a newly developing commodity, I suppose I shouldn't give her so much crap about not realizing the dangers of cyber scams and cyber predators. Maybe. In present day, people still fall for these things, no matter how many warnings are put out there. But she is a crime reporter--I figured that, having seen and heard so much about the dangers of the world, she'd have more of a sense of basic security than to trust a strange man she'd never met online before so readily.
Even before the age of computers, you wouldn't just trust a random stranger enough to tell him your whole life's story after just one conversation... right?
Back to the book itself...
I had considered pulling my DNF trigger as each chapter progressed. Maggie didn't get any less frustrating, and Nick is kind of boring anyway. There are literally no other characters of any significance in this book. Maybe Rambo--but he's a dog, and most of the time, animal companions tend to make a difference--except that he wasn't all that present in the book.
But, as it turns out, I was curious enough about the identity of the serial killer than I would have liked. And also, I don't think I've ever DNF'd a crap book written by Brenda Novak--and there have been some pretty bad ones--if only because there's a certain, attention-grabbing train-wreck quality to her story progressions. The action keeps moving forward, and you can't seem to find a stopping point because the action keeps moving forward, and the next thing you know, you've read half the book and then some... so you may as well finish the rest of it. It's only another hundred and fifty pages after all--how long could that take?
Also, at some point in the book, Maggie starts gaining some sense; I think this was after the serial killer starts contacting her by leaving her voice mail messages on her work phone, and implying that he knows what she went shopping for one night, as well as what color panties she owns. Then she freaks out and starts thinking about the safety of her son, her friends, and herself. Then she starts locking her doors and windows, agrees to have a police team stationed outside her home to keep her safe, agrees to leave her son at a safer location most of the day while she's at work, agrees to let our main hero move in with her for the sake of not being alone.
It doesn't matter that she barely knows said main hero; she knows only that he's in town for a short while, he's a new photojournalist who is working for her newspaper temporarily... he's been hitting on her and watching her at work...
He's really an undercover FBI agent trying to investigate the serial murders while keeping an eye on Maggie since the last victim was also an investigative reporter who'd had contact with the serial killer.
Of course, Maggie doesn't know this. Because she doesn't know anything about the men she meets in this book before she lets them live in her home, or learn about her entire life's story.
Anyway...
The crime aspect of the book wasn't entirely engaging, truth be told; and the ending chapters were standard "damsel in distress" scenario. The romance was lukewarm, and a bit off-putting considering how much lying and secrecy went into the entire relationship since the beginning.
Maggie is your standard, innocent and almost virginal heroine, who's only ever had one sexual relationship with an ex-husband, and is super conservative with her own behavior, even though she readily breaks out of her prudishness for the hero. Obviously she's had sex, since she has a son, but she certainly acts like it's a new thing to her.
Nick is the standard broody alpha with commitment issues... who lusts after the heroine, but finds that he's ready to settle down and get married and be in love for the long haul after he meets said heroine. Because of that special "I've never felt this way before" factor.
I can't say I'm a hundred percent fond of Brenda Novak books, but for some reason, I end up finishing them easily, and keep coming back for more. At the very least, they're not entirely terrible, even if this one DID get really frustrating.
***
Halloween Bingo 2017
Other Possible Squares:
- Murder Most Foul: For obvious reasons.
- Amateur Sleuth: Female MC is a reporter, although the entire investigation is kind of laughable.
- Romantic Suspense: There is romance, there is suspense, there is murder and mayhem...
- Terrifying Women: Romantic suspense with a murder, written by a woman.
May 26, 2011
Even thought this book was first published in 2001, I just read it. Brenda Novak was a great writer of romance in 2001 and has just gotten better over the years with her writing of romantic suspense.
In this book Maggie Russell is a police reporter in Sacramento, working the night shift. She's divorced with a 3 year old son. Maggie has finally stumbled on the big story that can truly establish her as a reporter, but it may end her life.
What Maggie doesn't know is that Nick's an undercover FBI agent tracking a killer and keeping an eye on Maggie, at work and through email as John. Maggie doesn't know she's falling in love with a man who's not what he seems to be. A man who's deceptions may save her life.
In this book Maggie Russell is a police reporter in Sacramento, working the night shift. She's divorced with a 3 year old son. Maggie has finally stumbled on the big story that can truly establish her as a reporter, but it may end her life.
What Maggie doesn't know is that Nick's an undercover FBI agent tracking a killer and keeping an eye on Maggie, at work and through email as John. Maggie doesn't know she's falling in love with a man who's not what he seems to be. A man who's deceptions may save her life.
January 7, 2022
Great book! Loved the suspense, building of romance, and the characters. Maggie is a nighttime police reporter and Nick is an undercover FBI agent. Nick is assigned to watch over Maggie while a serial killer is on the loose. Darla, Maggie's best friend, is trying to get her to date but Maggie is struggling after her divorce. Nick is definitely not on that list of people Maggie would even consider. Oh how things change. Great building of suspense, budding romance with not only one, but two guys. Little does Maggie know about her online romance buddy. Loved, loved, loved, the ending as well. I have been reading Brenda Novak's new books that are included in her monthly book boxes but have started reading her older books as well. So glad that I made that decision. I have a feeling lots of good reads are ahead for me.
April 3, 2019
A romance and a mystery all in one book makes this one a real keeper for me! The suspense built all the way up until the end. Maggie is a newspaper reporter chasing a story about a serial killer and Nick is an undercover FBI agent who is trying desperately to save her since he is quickly falling in love with her. I enjoyed the interaction between Nick and Maggie and between Nick and Zach, Maggie’s three year old son. I also enjoyed the non-visible character of John, a virtual love life for Maggie. The entire book was totally entertaining! I highly recommend it for readers of mystery, suspense and romance.
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I own a hard copy of this book. All of the opinions expressed are my own. I was not required to post a positive review.
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I own a hard copy of this book. All of the opinions expressed are my own. I was not required to post a positive review.
June 9, 2020
Dear Maggie is an easy read but will keep you turning the pages.
Maggie is a single Mother raising a little boy, because her husband was a selfish prick!
But she is making it as a police reporter following all the leads she can get to make it as a top reporter.
She is following a serial killer (Dr. Dan) He starts to follow her.
Nick who takes the pictures of the crime scenes, who really is under cover FBI, but Maggie does not know this. He is taken with Maggie and Maggie is drawn to him.
So a killer, romance equals page turner!
Maggie is a single Mother raising a little boy, because her husband was a selfish prick!
But she is making it as a police reporter following all the leads she can get to make it as a top reporter.
She is following a serial killer (Dr. Dan) He starts to follow her.
Nick who takes the pictures of the crime scenes, who really is under cover FBI, but Maggie does not know this. He is taken with Maggie and Maggie is drawn to him.
So a killer, romance equals page turner!
February 7, 2018
Another solid romance with a single mom dreaming of the perfect guy with "FP" for her young son. A bff that wants her out there dating not dreaming. Not to forget her Mom hundreds of miles away fixing her up with loser after loser. Then there's that new guy at the office that keeps watching her. Now add in a serial killer that has set his eyes on her. Some romance, some suspense, some thrills. Good read? Must be because I stayed up until 4:30am to finish it!
December 20, 2017
Good...read it
Highly recommend. Novak has written an interesting story with characters that are smart unlikable. The intrigue is taut and keeps your interest. At times, I wanted to check to make sure my doors were locked. Nick is a sexy hero and Maggie is a heroine who the reader can respect. One of the best I have read of Brenda Novak.
Highly recommend. Novak has written an interesting story with characters that are smart unlikable. The intrigue is taut and keeps your interest. At times, I wanted to check to make sure my doors were locked. Nick is a sexy hero and Maggie is a heroine who the reader can respect. One of the best I have read of Brenda Novak.
May 5, 2019
Really liked Maggie as a strong heroine who put her life at risk to finally stop a serial killer and liked Nick who was her romantic link in the book more ways than one , good story and hoped
there were more books with her character in it , but this is a Standalone Maggie could have more stories to tell being a writer for the paper .
there were more books with her character in it , but this is a Standalone Maggie could have more stories to tell being a writer for the paper .
November 29, 2019
Great Read
Maggie met Nick when he got a job where she worked. He had asked her out, but she said no. Then they started working on the same serial killer case. Nick just hoped she would forgive him when she found out he was an FBI agent. But when the killer fixed his eyes on Maggie, Nick had to pull some desperate measures to keep her safe.
Maggie met Nick when he got a job where she worked. He had asked her out, but she said no. Then they started working on the same serial killer case. Nick just hoped she would forgive him when she found out he was an FBI agent. But when the killer fixed his eyes on Maggie, Nick had to pull some desperate measures to keep her safe.
November 3, 2017
really enjoyed this book from Brenda Novak. She's one of my favorite authors. I've read all of her recent books and am now going back and reading some of her earlier ones. Enjoyed Maggie and Nick's interaction, and the suspense of the hunt for a serial killer.
May 29, 2018
When Maggie goes to the scene of a dead woman in the street she doesn't realize she will become a target of the killer or the love of the agent chasing him. The suspense of the built slowly but not so slow as to make one frustrated. Great book.
July 16, 2018
Brenda Novak never disappoints! Once again her words suck you right into the lives of these exciting characters as you experience every range of emotion with them. This book is the perfect blend of suspense, romance, and thriller.
September 29, 2018
I loved this book. It pulled me in from the beginning and din't let go. I love the characters. I love that we knew the twist to one of the characters even if Maggie didn't. It helped getting to know that other character better and both sides. I love the twist and turns this book had.
February 20, 2019
DEAR MAGGIE
Interesting romantic suspense thriller, although it seems like I have read this plot before. Maggie a journalist, Nick undercover FBI- he tries to keep her safe without blowing his cover.
Interesting romantic suspense thriller, although it seems like I have read this plot before. Maggie a journalist, Nick undercover FBI- he tries to keep her safe without blowing his cover.
June 7, 2020
Maggie is trying to succeed and raise her son alone. Nick is hunting the bad guy. He is undercover. They both are holding back their desires. Maggie stands tough doing her job, trying to get information. The bad guy does what bad guys do.
July 9, 2024
Dear Maggie was a very good book. It started a bit slow but once I got past the few pages I just could not put it down. I definitely recommend this older book from Brenda Novak. Suspense and romance and always a plus for me. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️+
December 22, 2017
Another awesome book!
May 19, 2017
What an amazing book filled with twists and turns that keep you guessing all the way to the end of the book. Also has a touch of romance.
August 11, 2017
Review
Another great read of Brenda Novak's. Could not put this one down until I finished it. Everyone who is a Brenda fan needs to read and enjoy.
Another great read of Brenda Novak's. Could not put this one down until I finished it. Everyone who is a Brenda fan needs to read and enjoy.
Read
October 22, 2017totally enjoyed how Maggie had turned to the internet and also dating services and yet in the end ended up with her Man of Mystery could not put this down
December 4, 2017
Awesome
I loved this book. Brenda does not disappoint, she keeps you interested and again hard to put down. Great job Brenda Novak!
I loved this book. Brenda does not disappoint, she keeps you interested and again hard to put down. Great job Brenda Novak!
May 17, 2018
It started off a little slow for my liking, but then I had a hard time putting it down. I absolutely loved this story. Brenda is my new favorite author, I can’t wait to read all her books
August 26, 2018
Enjoyable read from a great author, Brenda Novak.
February 12, 2019
Another must read! I loved the suspense and twists in this story
April 4, 2019
Kept me on the edge of my seat
Wow another amazing story by a womderful author. I was on the edge of my seat throughout most of this book.
Wow another amazing story by a womderful author. I was on the edge of my seat throughout most of this book.
April 12, 2019
I read this book when I was 13 and I absolutely fell in love with it and now I'm reading a again at 31 and I'm so happy I found it again
Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews