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Stillwater Trilogy #1
Dead Silence
There's a body buried behind a Mississippi farmhouse
Grace Montgomery knows who it is, and she knows why it happened. She was only thirteen the night it all went wrong. And now, like then, she has no choice but to keep her mouth shut.
Grace left the town of Stillwater thirteen years ago, trying to forget, trying to make good. As an assistant D.A. in Jackson, she's finally achieved the success that was supposed to change her life. But it hasn't so she's come back to confront her own history. Which means returning to the farmhouse now owned by her brother and facing the people of Stillwater, a number of whom suspect the truth.
Widower Kennedy Archer is one of those people. He's running for mayor and needs to stay as far away from Grace as possible. And yet she's an enigma he can't resist. Even though her enemies are close to finding out what really happened and that could ruin them both.
"
Grace Montgomery knows who it is, and she knows why it happened. She was only thirteen the night it all went wrong. And now, like then, she has no choice but to keep her mouth shut.
Grace left the town of Stillwater thirteen years ago, trying to forget, trying to make good. As an assistant D.A. in Jackson, she's finally achieved the success that was supposed to change her life. But it hasn't so she's come back to confront her own history. Which means returning to the farmhouse now owned by her brother and facing the people of Stillwater, a number of whom suspect the truth.
Widower Kennedy Archer is one of those people. He's running for mayor and needs to stay as far away from Grace as possible. And yet she's an enigma he can't resist. Even though her enemies are close to finding out what really happened and that could ruin them both.
"
419 pages, Paperback
First published July 7, 2006
754 people are currently reading
3349 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 246 reviews
February 8, 2017
What a wonderful book. I didn’t want to stop reading.
Complex characters. It kept me up late at night. It was in my thoughts throughout the day until I finished it. The romance and feelings of family love were wonderfully satisfying at the end. Just lovely. This book is the first in a trilogy.
STORY BRIEF:
Grace Montgomery was sexually molested by her stepfather. The locals believed her preacher stepfather "walked on water" and didn't know about his perversion. The stepfather died and only Grace, her mother and brother knew what really happened. Grace remembers burying him on the family farm. The rest of the town suspects the Montgomerys were at fault somehow, but no body is found. Grace slept with a few teenage boys in town during this troubling time of her life. She was made fun of and called white trash because of it. She left town, worked hard to get an education, was at the top of her college class and became an assistant D.A., never losing a case. She is still haunted by her past and returns to Stillwater for a couple of months, hoping to soothe and/or heal from her past. The local boys still make fun of her, and others still look down on her. Joe is one of those boys who slept with her as a teen. He desperately wants to do so again, but she won't have anything to do with him. He continues to try to hurt Grace and her family as much as he can. He believes they killed his uncle, the preacher, and continues to point fingers and search for evidence.
Kennedy married his high school sweetheart Raelynn and had two boys, currently ages 8 and 10. Raelynn died in an auto accident a couple years earlier. His boys meet and love being with Grace. She is great with them as well. The boys and a few other occurrences bring Kennedy and Grace together.
DATA:
Narrative mode: 3rd person. Story length: 411 pages. Swearing language: moderate plus s*** but not often used. Sexual language: none. Number of sex scenes: one (plus two more that were referred to, no details shown). Setting: current day small town Stillwater, Mississippi. Copyright: 2006. Genre: romantic suspense with emphasis on relationships.
THE STILLWATER TRILOGY:
This is book 1 in the series. The story is complete with a happy ending for the couple, but the dead uncle’s body has not been found. The mystery surrounding his disappearance will continue in books 2 and 3. My reviews of the Stillwater Trilogy follow.
5 stars. Dead Silence. Copyrt 2006
4 stars. Dead Giveaway. Copyrt 2007
2.5 stars. Dead Right. Copyrt 2007
Complex characters. It kept me up late at night. It was in my thoughts throughout the day until I finished it. The romance and feelings of family love were wonderfully satisfying at the end. Just lovely. This book is the first in a trilogy.
STORY BRIEF:
Grace Montgomery was sexually molested by her stepfather. The locals believed her preacher stepfather "walked on water" and didn't know about his perversion. The stepfather died and only Grace, her mother and brother knew what really happened. Grace remembers burying him on the family farm. The rest of the town suspects the Montgomerys were at fault somehow, but no body is found. Grace slept with a few teenage boys in town during this troubling time of her life. She was made fun of and called white trash because of it. She left town, worked hard to get an education, was at the top of her college class and became an assistant D.A., never losing a case. She is still haunted by her past and returns to Stillwater for a couple of months, hoping to soothe and/or heal from her past. The local boys still make fun of her, and others still look down on her. Joe is one of those boys who slept with her as a teen. He desperately wants to do so again, but she won't have anything to do with him. He continues to try to hurt Grace and her family as much as he can. He believes they killed his uncle, the preacher, and continues to point fingers and search for evidence.
Kennedy married his high school sweetheart Raelynn and had two boys, currently ages 8 and 10. Raelynn died in an auto accident a couple years earlier. His boys meet and love being with Grace. She is great with them as well. The boys and a few other occurrences bring Kennedy and Grace together.
DATA:
Narrative mode: 3rd person. Story length: 411 pages. Swearing language: moderate plus s*** but not often used. Sexual language: none. Number of sex scenes: one (plus two more that were referred to, no details shown). Setting: current day small town Stillwater, Mississippi. Copyright: 2006. Genre: romantic suspense with emphasis on relationships.
THE STILLWATER TRILOGY:
This is book 1 in the series. The story is complete with a happy ending for the couple, but the dead uncle’s body has not been found. The mystery surrounding his disappearance will continue in books 2 and 3. My reviews of the Stillwater Trilogy follow.
5 stars. Dead Silence. Copyrt 2006
4 stars. Dead Giveaway. Copyrt 2007
2.5 stars. Dead Right. Copyrt 2007
January 7, 2016
The first book in the Stillwater trilogy by Brenda Novak. Grace Montgomery, an Assistant DA in Jackson, comes back to Stillwater to come to terms with her past. But the people of Stillwater aren't making it easy for her. Her stepfather disappeared 18 years ago and the people of Stillwater blame her and her family. Kennedy Archer is a widower with two boys who is running for mayor. Getting involved with Grace isn't a good idea for his political aspirations.
Great start to the series. Of course there is a cliffhanger which anyone who knows me knows I dislike. But I knew going in that there was the possibility of one. But luckily the entire series is out and I can read one after the other and not worry about having to wait. So anyway, the story was gripping and the characters likable. It wasn't totally without flaw for me but they were minor and I don't want to give any spoilers away. I highly recommend this series.
Great start to the series. Of course there is a cliffhanger which anyone who knows me knows I dislike. But I knew going in that there was the possibility of one. But luckily the entire series is out and I can read one after the other and not worry about having to wait. So anyway, the story was gripping and the characters likable. It wasn't totally without flaw for me but they were minor and I don't want to give any spoilers away. I highly recommend this series.
June 8, 2020
Dead Silence by Brenda Novak is the first book in the Stillwater Trilogy. Although each book features a different couple, they need to be read in order as the books are connected.
Dead Silence introduces Grace Montgomery and Kennedy Archer. Grace did not have an easy childhood. She lost her innocence from the age of thirteen and since then everything went spiralling out of control. Her break came when she got the opportunity to leave Stillwater. She turned her life around. Several years still haunted by the tragic events that occurred when she was only thirteen years old, she returned to Stillwater hoping to exorcise the ghosts of her past. Up on her return she realized the residents unfavorable opinion of her had not changed and that they still blamed her family for the disappearance of their beloved Reverend Lee Barker who was her stepfather.
Kennedy Archer was the popular boy in school whom Grace had a crush, but he never gave her the time of day. Now eighteen years later, a widower and father to two adorable little boys, he found himself drawn to Grace. She wanted nothing to do with him, despite her attraction to him, as he was a reminder of her horrible past. However, when his son Teddy kept visiting and hanging out with her, she found herself caught up in her attraction for Kennedy. But will she be able to let go of the past and cease the happiness that she deserves?
I enjoyed the interaction between Grace and Kennedy, and I loved the bond she developed with his sons. The relationship between the main characters developed too fast for my liking given the circumstances. I admired how he stood by her, especially when she revealed the truth of what happened in her past.
I found the mystery intriguing. Readers know what happened to the reverend and why, but the location of his remains was an enigma. Only one person knows and he ain’t talking. There were moments when I feared for Grace as there was one person determined to see her pay for the reverend’s disappearance.
The supporting characters enhanced the story, and I enjoyed getting to know them, although there was one I didn’t particularly like. I especially loved Grace’s brother Clay, whose story we will be getting in book two and I cannot wait to see how that one will play out.
I enjoyed the narration. This was my first time listening to Suzanne Toren, and I thought she did a wonderful job capturing the characters. I loved how she brought across the emotions of the characters. I would definitely listen to her again.
Conclusion/Recommendation
I found this to be a splendid start to the series and I am looking forward to the next book.This review was originally posted on Totally Addicted to Reading
Dead Silence introduces Grace Montgomery and Kennedy Archer. Grace did not have an easy childhood. She lost her innocence from the age of thirteen and since then everything went spiralling out of control. Her break came when she got the opportunity to leave Stillwater. She turned her life around. Several years still haunted by the tragic events that occurred when she was only thirteen years old, she returned to Stillwater hoping to exorcise the ghosts of her past. Up on her return she realized the residents unfavorable opinion of her had not changed and that they still blamed her family for the disappearance of their beloved Reverend Lee Barker who was her stepfather.
Kennedy Archer was the popular boy in school whom Grace had a crush, but he never gave her the time of day. Now eighteen years later, a widower and father to two adorable little boys, he found himself drawn to Grace. She wanted nothing to do with him, despite her attraction to him, as he was a reminder of her horrible past. However, when his son Teddy kept visiting and hanging out with her, she found herself caught up in her attraction for Kennedy. But will she be able to let go of the past and cease the happiness that she deserves?
I enjoyed the interaction between Grace and Kennedy, and I loved the bond she developed with his sons. The relationship between the main characters developed too fast for my liking given the circumstances. I admired how he stood by her, especially when she revealed the truth of what happened in her past.
I found the mystery intriguing. Readers know what happened to the reverend and why, but the location of his remains was an enigma. Only one person knows and he ain’t talking. There were moments when I feared for Grace as there was one person determined to see her pay for the reverend’s disappearance.
The supporting characters enhanced the story, and I enjoyed getting to know them, although there was one I didn’t particularly like. I especially loved Grace’s brother Clay, whose story we will be getting in book two and I cannot wait to see how that one will play out.
I enjoyed the narration. This was my first time listening to Suzanne Toren, and I thought she did a wonderful job capturing the characters. I loved how she brought across the emotions of the characters. I would definitely listen to her again.
Conclusion/Recommendation
I found this to be a splendid start to the series and I am looking forward to the next book.This review was originally posted on Totally Addicted to Reading
November 11, 2017
Dead Silence was a great start to the Stillwater series. And I am glad all three books are more connected than it just being set in the same town or having characters that appear in multiple books. I loved how the author didn't spill the beans on what happened eighteen years ago. We received small clues into the event, which was a great way to keep me interested throughout the book. The main character Grace definitely didn't have a easy childhood/teenage years, but she ended becoming a very strong woman. Kennedy seems like a straight-up guy and the all American boy next door. He does his best to approach Grace, to whom he is attracted to. But Grace can't forget about the past that easily, plus she is keeping secrets. But when Kennedy's son Teddy keeps on visiting and hanging out with Grace, she can't ignore him anymore. I have to say that I absolutely LOVED the interactions between Kennedy's two boys and Grace. Especially Teddy was such a cute and curious boy. I did think the relationship between Kennedy and Grace developed a bit fast, but it didn't bother me that much. I am looking forward to seeing what will happen next.
June 1, 2021
Well this wasn't bad but the characters lacked something likeable for me to give any more than 3 stars.
Brenda Novak seems to start out with kickass heroines and about 40/50% in they turn into something overly willing and stupid.
This is romantic suspense but what I really liked about the story was the enemies to lovers element where she had been treated badly by the hero and his friends in Highschool and now returned to her own town successful career more beautiful and all the guys that treated her badly were drooling. I love this kind of plotline.
..."I’m sure you and your friends can recall a great many things about me, and I don’t blame you for not being impressed. But I also remember a great many things about you and am equally unimpressed. So save your feeble attempts to be a nice guy for someone who can’t see the shriveled heart behind that phony smile.”
so she was punchy and didn't take any crap and then suddenly she wasn't punchy and after sleeping together once she was saying that she wanted to have his baby. rollie of the eyes lol!
I thought he was a complete idiot at times too. He had evidence relating to her step father's disappearance and he buried it under a tree instead of destroying it like he told her he did. He also didn't defend her enough in my opinion with his friends and mother.
“Just tell me you’re innocent,” he said. “Tell me you had nothing to do with Barker’s disappearance and I’ll give you a baby, marry you, let you share Teddy and Heath.”
The quote above was after he was aware that her stepfather had sexually assaulted her for years so he was still asking her to say she was innocent in his disappearance even though he knew she had been abused...I mean I would hope any man would want her to be bloody guilty of his disappearance given he knew she was abused by him...and how condescending to offer to give her a baby and marriage if she just is a good girl and tells him she is innocent.
Brenda Novak seems to start out with kickass heroines and about 40/50% in they turn into something overly willing and stupid.
This is romantic suspense but what I really liked about the story was the enemies to lovers element where she had been treated badly by the hero and his friends in Highschool and now returned to her own town successful career more beautiful and all the guys that treated her badly were drooling. I love this kind of plotline.
..."I’m sure you and your friends can recall a great many things about me, and I don’t blame you for not being impressed. But I also remember a great many things about you and am equally unimpressed. So save your feeble attempts to be a nice guy for someone who can’t see the shriveled heart behind that phony smile.”
so she was punchy and didn't take any crap and then suddenly she wasn't punchy and after sleeping together once she was saying that she wanted to have his baby. rollie of the eyes lol!
I thought he was a complete idiot at times too. He had evidence relating to her step father's disappearance and he buried it under a tree instead of destroying it like he told her he did. He also didn't defend her enough in my opinion with his friends and mother.
“Just tell me you’re innocent,” he said. “Tell me you had nothing to do with Barker’s disappearance and I’ll give you a baby, marry you, let you share Teddy and Heath.”
The quote above was after he was aware that her stepfather had sexually assaulted her for years so he was still asking her to say she was innocent in his disappearance even though he knew she had been abused...I mean I would hope any man would want her to be bloody guilty of his disappearance given he knew she was abused by him...and how condescending to offer to give her a baby and marriage if she just is a good girl and tells him she is innocent.
September 8, 2016
Grace Montgomery es una ayudante de fiscal que se matriculó la primera de su clase, con matrícula y que jamás, jamás ha perdido un caso.
Su infancia es desastrosa. Su padrastro (un honorable y muy respetado pastor en su comunidad) abusó de ella hasta los 13 años, edad en la que el querido pastor desapareció.
18 años después y empujada por su prometido que le da un ultimátum para que supere sus problemas y se casen o lo dejan, vuelve al pueblo donde todo ocurrió.
Nada de esto es un spoiler. El lector sabe desde el principio qué pasó, cuando pasó y más o menos, cómo pasó. Lo que el lector no sabe es la de estupideces que van a hacer los personajes para que la historia tenga una trama.
Se supone que Grace es una tía lista e inteligente que trabaja para el fiscal del distrito metiendo a los malos en la cárcel. Ella mejor que nadie debería saber que no se pueden partir candados y reventar cerraduras y allanar casas privadas porque tu hermana te lo pide pofa plis y encima lo haces sabiendo que no va a servir para nada. Porque tú sabes toda la verdad. No es inteligente. No es nada inteligente pero era necesario para crear tensión y descubrir algo importante. Y así sigue la cosa. Todo el mundo haciendo el tonto y acabo preguntándome cómo es posible que todo haya salido tan bien durante 18 años con las tonterías que hacen en 2 días.
Después llega el protagonista y cuando tiene en su poder algo que puede hundir a la protagonista coge el tío y lo deja donde el malo maloso lo pueda encontrar sin mucha dificultad. Y lo sabe. Pero no hace nada al respecto. No tengo palabras para decir lo mucho que esto me saca de mis casillas.
Y después está el dilema moral con el que te deja la autora. Por muy malo que sea el malo, los buenos son peores, mienten constantemente, incluso entre ellos mismos, y al final no hay justicia para nadie. El suspense queda pendiente para el próximo libro y los buenos cimentan su felicidad en mentiras y asesinatos sin resolver. Que mal…
El romance ha estado bien en la mayor parte aunque los cambios de actitud de las personas que rodean a los protagonistas me ha hecho verlo como algo demasiado rápido y banal.
La madre del prota pasa de arpía a encantadora en un pestañeo y el prometido de Grace
En fin…debería haberlo dejado sin terminar pero el romance me estaba gustando y quería ver que hacía la autora al final. No ha merecido la pena… Esta autora y yo, definitivamente, no nos llevamos bien…
***
Grace Montgomery is an assistant district attorney who was the first of her class and never, ever has lost a case.
Her childhood is horrible. Her stepfather (one honorable and highly respected pastor in her community) abused her until age 13, when the beloved pastor disappeared .
18 years later and pushed by her fiancé that gives her an ultimatum to overcome her problems and get married or split apart, she returns to the town where it all happened.
None of this is a spoiler. The reader knows from the beginning what happened, when it happened, and more or less, how it happened. What the reader does not know is the stupid things the characters will do for the plot´s sake.
It is assumed that Grace is a clever and intelligent woman who works for the district attorney putting bad guys in jail. She should know better than anyone that you can´t go bursting padlocks and locks and breaking and entering private homes only because your sister asks you pretty please and do it knowing that it will not help anything. Because she knows the whole truth. It is not smart. It's not intelligent but it was necessary to create tension and discover something important. And so it goes the thing. Everyone goofing around and I was just wondering how it is possible that everything went so well for them during the last 18 years with all the nonsense they did in 2 days.
Then we have the hero. The hero, who is in possession of something very important that can destroy the heroine, and he goes and left the darn thing where bad (and creepy) guy (or anyone for that matter) can find it without much difficulty. And he knows it. And he does nothing to prevent that to happen… I have no words to explain how much this drives me crazy…
And then there is the moral dilemma that the author leaves you with. No matter how bad the bad guys were, the good ones are worse, constantly lying, even among themselves, and at the end there is no justice for anyone. The suspense remains unresolved- maybe in the next book- and the MC´s base their happiness on lies and unsolved murders. That bad…
I was loving the romance, although the changes of attitude of people surrounding the MC´s made looks it as something rushed and shallow.
The hero´s mother goes from shrew to a charming woman in the blink of an eye and Grace´s fiancé,
Anyway ... I should have left it unfinished but I was loving the romance and wanted to see what was the author going to do with the end. It has not been worth it ... This author and I definitely do not get along...
Su infancia es desastrosa. Su padrastro (un honorable y muy respetado pastor en su comunidad) abusó de ella hasta los 13 años, edad en la que el querido pastor desapareció.
18 años después y empujada por su prometido que le da un ultimátum para que supere sus problemas y se casen o lo dejan, vuelve al pueblo donde todo ocurrió.
Nada de esto es un spoiler. El lector sabe desde el principio qué pasó, cuando pasó y más o menos, cómo pasó. Lo que el lector no sabe es la de estupideces que van a hacer los personajes para que la historia tenga una trama.
Se supone que Grace es una tía lista e inteligente que trabaja para el fiscal del distrito metiendo a los malos en la cárcel. Ella mejor que nadie debería saber que no se pueden partir candados y reventar cerraduras y allanar casas privadas porque tu hermana te lo pide pofa plis y encima lo haces sabiendo que no va a servir para nada. Porque tú sabes toda la verdad. No es inteligente. No es nada inteligente pero era necesario para crear tensión y descubrir algo importante. Y así sigue la cosa. Todo el mundo haciendo el tonto y acabo preguntándome cómo es posible que todo haya salido tan bien durante 18 años con las tonterías que hacen en 2 días.
Después llega el protagonista y cuando tiene en su poder algo que puede hundir a la protagonista coge el tío y lo deja donde el malo maloso lo pueda encontrar sin mucha dificultad. Y lo sabe. Pero no hace nada al respecto. No tengo palabras para decir lo mucho que esto me saca de mis casillas.
Y después está el dilema moral con el que te deja la autora. Por muy malo que sea el malo, los buenos son peores, mienten constantemente, incluso entre ellos mismos, y al final no hay justicia para nadie. El suspense queda pendiente para el próximo libro y los buenos cimentan su felicidad en mentiras y asesinatos sin resolver. Que mal…
El romance ha estado bien en la mayor parte aunque los cambios de actitud de las personas que rodean a los protagonistas me ha hecho verlo como algo demasiado rápido y banal.
La madre del prota pasa de arpía a encantadora en un pestañeo y el prometido de Grace
En fin…debería haberlo dejado sin terminar pero el romance me estaba gustando y quería ver que hacía la autora al final. No ha merecido la pena… Esta autora y yo, definitivamente, no nos llevamos bien…
***
Grace Montgomery is an assistant district attorney who was the first of her class and never, ever has lost a case.
Her childhood is horrible. Her stepfather (one honorable and highly respected pastor in her community) abused her until age 13, when the beloved pastor disappeared .
18 years later and pushed by her fiancé that gives her an ultimatum to overcome her problems and get married or split apart, she returns to the town where it all happened.
None of this is a spoiler. The reader knows from the beginning what happened, when it happened, and more or less, how it happened. What the reader does not know is the stupid things the characters will do for the plot´s sake.
It is assumed that Grace is a clever and intelligent woman who works for the district attorney putting bad guys in jail. She should know better than anyone that you can´t go bursting padlocks and locks and breaking and entering private homes only because your sister asks you pretty please and do it knowing that it will not help anything. Because she knows the whole truth. It is not smart. It's not intelligent but it was necessary to create tension and discover something important. And so it goes the thing. Everyone goofing around and I was just wondering how it is possible that everything went so well for them during the last 18 years with all the nonsense they did in 2 days.
Then we have the hero. The hero, who is in possession of something very important that can destroy the heroine, and he goes and left the darn thing where bad (and creepy) guy (or anyone for that matter) can find it without much difficulty. And he knows it. And he does nothing to prevent that to happen… I have no words to explain how much this drives me crazy…
And then there is the moral dilemma that the author leaves you with. No matter how bad the bad guys were, the good ones are worse, constantly lying, even among themselves, and at the end there is no justice for anyone. The suspense remains unresolved- maybe in the next book- and the MC´s base their happiness on lies and unsolved murders. That bad…
I was loving the romance, although the changes of attitude of people surrounding the MC´s made looks it as something rushed and shallow.
The hero´s mother goes from shrew to a charming woman in the blink of an eye and Grace´s fiancé,
Anyway ... I should have left it unfinished but I was loving the romance and wanted to see what was the author going to do with the end. It has not been worth it ... This author and I definitely do not get along...
July 18, 2018
The whole premise of this novel appealed to me, because usually we join the story in time for the crime and we know what happened and just watch the fallout. Instead, this novel and series centres around a crime committed decades earlier and have to work out whether the good guys are all they seem.
Unfortunately I didn't enjoy this novel as much as I had hoped, because the murder seemed to constantly play second fiddle to the insta-love between Kendall and Grace. It not only crossed the line to cheesy but threw up on it, made love on it and then showered it with kisses. Insta-lust I not only can handle, but actively encourage. This sickly sweet insta-love. No.
Even if they had been insta-love but they had suffered some genuinely tense set-backs, but they just kept overcoming everything within pages of an obstacle arising and it grew old.
I actually enjoyed the characterisation of the 'main' characters, particularly the Archers and Montgomery's. They had flaws and strong personalities and I liked reading about them. Some of the supporting characters were less well-developed. For example,
I don't often like these 'small town' settings because there is a lot of judgement, prejudice and religious goings-on. I found it annoying that the town still held a grudge all these years later because the Reverend went missing and they thought - without any sort of proof or reason - that the family had killed him. The pettiness in grown adults bugs me and it is one of my book pet-hates.
The plot could have been really interesting had the murder been the focus. I think that because it was written as a trilogy, the plot suffered. There was barely any progression from the start to the end when elements began to be revealed. It was like Novak knew that she had to draw out the plot across three novels. Instead, there should have been more plot points relating to that plot. Maybe evidence being found without realising, or new witnesses coming forward. Something to keep the tension up.
I'm not sure how the next two books will even read, because we now know the plot in its entirety. So what could possibly now come up that is fresh and new and keeps the interest?
Overall, I had high hopes and this book just didn't deliver. There was a lack of the interesting plot and a focus on the romance which made it all very tepid. I have both the second and third books, but I'm not sure if I will try them yet.
Unfortunately I didn't enjoy this novel as much as I had hoped, because the murder seemed to constantly play second fiddle to the insta-love between Kendall and Grace. It not only crossed the line to cheesy but threw up on it, made love on it and then showered it with kisses. Insta-lust I not only can handle, but actively encourage. This sickly sweet insta-love. No.
Even if they had been insta-love but they had suffered some genuinely tense set-backs, but they just kept overcoming everything within pages of an obstacle arising and it grew old.
I actually enjoyed the characterisation of the 'main' characters, particularly the Archers and Montgomery's. They had flaws and strong personalities and I liked reading about them. Some of the supporting characters were less well-developed. For example,
I don't often like these 'small town' settings because there is a lot of judgement, prejudice and religious goings-on. I found it annoying that the town still held a grudge all these years later because the Reverend went missing and they thought - without any sort of proof or reason - that the family had killed him. The pettiness in grown adults bugs me and it is one of my book pet-hates.
The plot could have been really interesting had the murder been the focus. I think that because it was written as a trilogy, the plot suffered. There was barely any progression from the start to the end when elements began to be revealed. It was like Novak knew that she had to draw out the plot across three novels. Instead, there should have been more plot points relating to that plot. Maybe evidence being found without realising, or new witnesses coming forward. Something to keep the tension up.
I'm not sure how the next two books will even read, because we now know the plot in its entirety. So what could possibly now come up that is fresh and new and keeps the interest?
Overall, I had high hopes and this book just didn't deliver. There was a lack of the interesting plot and a focus on the romance which made it all very tepid. I have both the second and third books, but I'm not sure if I will try them yet.
June 18, 2010
This book was super good!
It's about a woman named Grace Montgomery who comes back to her childhood city of Stillwater, Mississippi to finally face her demons of what actually happened when her stepfather mysteriously "dissapeared". The town is small so every hates Grace and is convinced that her family is responsible for the dissapearence of their beloved reverend.
Kennedy Archer is one of those people. He is running for mayor, so he needs to maintain his positive appearence. But she has something about her that he just can't stay away from...
This book has excelent writing style that makes you never want to stop reading and the book has such a cliffhanger, you even need to read the next book!
I definitely reccomend this book to anyone who likes romantic suspense, or just suspense because it is a really great read.
It's about a woman named Grace Montgomery who comes back to her childhood city of Stillwater, Mississippi to finally face her demons of what actually happened when her stepfather mysteriously "dissapeared". The town is small so every hates Grace and is convinced that her family is responsible for the dissapearence of their beloved reverend.
Kennedy Archer is one of those people. He is running for mayor, so he needs to maintain his positive appearence. But she has something about her that he just can't stay away from...
This book has excelent writing style that makes you never want to stop reading and the book has such a cliffhanger, you even need to read the next book!
I definitely reccomend this book to anyone who likes romantic suspense, or just suspense because it is a really great read.
December 11, 2019
1.5 stars rounded up
I think this is listed as romantic suspense but maybe "insta lust hint hint we may have info on a cold case" would be a better classification.
There is a cold case but aside from a lot of page filler nothing really happens until the end of the book and then you're provided with a cliffhanger. Like no progress really happens...kind of like walking on a treadmill...you don't actually get anywhere.
What you do get is an insta lust romance which did nothing for me and a really bad cliche bad guy.
This is a 3 book series so I'm assuming from a cold case standpoint nothing happens until book three. If you want insta lust romances, this may work for you. I like suspense and this was pretty much a fail that I had to skim read to finish.
I think this is listed as romantic suspense but maybe "insta lust hint hint we may have info on a cold case" would be a better classification.
There is a cold case but aside from a lot of page filler nothing really happens until the end of the book and then you're provided with a cliffhanger. Like no progress really happens...kind of like walking on a treadmill...you don't actually get anywhere.
What you do get is an insta lust romance which did nothing for me and a really bad cliche bad guy.
This is a 3 book series so I'm assuming from a cold case standpoint nothing happens until book three. If you want insta lust romances, this may work for you. I like suspense and this was pretty much a fail that I had to skim read to finish.
November 22, 2012
I've heard a lot about Brenda Novak from friends and was curious do read the book.
It's a quick read, light, not anything really special in terms of mistery and thriller, as we know almost everything from the beginning and just wait to see the expected relationship between Grace and Kennedy develop and if the crime is discovered or not.
I've seen this is a trilogy, I think it will be more of the same, just changing the main character. I'll probably read it, though, a little romantic mysteries never hurt anyone :)
It's a quick read, light, not anything really special in terms of mistery and thriller, as we know almost everything from the beginning and just wait to see the expected relationship between Grace and Kennedy develop and if the crime is discovered or not.
I've seen this is a trilogy, I think it will be more of the same, just changing the main character. I'll probably read it, though, a little romantic mysteries never hurt anyone :)
February 6, 2011
I didn't know this is a trilogy. So, put on hold Dead Right n start with this first.
Really good eventhough the characters are quite complex. However, you cannot help but sympathize with Grace.....after going through a "rough" childhood, she succeed in life but you cannot forget the past. Can't wait to read the 2nd series.
Really good eventhough the characters are quite complex. However, you cannot help but sympathize with Grace.....after going through a "rough" childhood, she succeed in life but you cannot forget the past. Can't wait to read the 2nd series.
February 5, 2019
This could have been a phenomenal book except for two fundamental problems outside of the insta-love.
The first being that I was left unclear as to what happened to Grace. Was it physical or sexual. A knife was mentioned and some metaphors, but I wasn’t clear if what he did to her included sexual penetration or what her mother found when she came home the night in question. Because this is the fundamental to Grace’s problems and actions, I felt we as readers should have been given clear (not necessarily descriptive) answers.
The second problem was with Joe at the end of the book. He violated her by breaking into her house, stealing her underwear and assaulting and battery on the farm yet this is never mentioned after the fact. I thought for sure she would have brought that up when the police showed up. Just like the beginning of the next book, in this instance there would have been bruises to prove it. And since she was a silent victim before, it showed lack of growth that she wouldn’t speak up. They had nothing to lose and all to gain by discrediting Joe that he had some obsession with her.
For these reasons I have to lower my rating because the author ignored natural behavior to take the plot where she wanted making it unbelievable.
I’ll give this 3.5 stars, but I did enjoy. I ignored the insta love but couldn’t get past the other two issues.
The narrator was good.
The first being that I was left unclear as to what happened to Grace. Was it physical or sexual. A knife was mentioned and some metaphors, but I wasn’t clear if what he did to her included sexual penetration or what her mother found when she came home the night in question. Because this is the fundamental to Grace’s problems and actions, I felt we as readers should have been given clear (not necessarily descriptive) answers.
The second problem was with Joe at the end of the book. He violated her by breaking into her house, stealing her underwear and assaulting and battery on the farm yet this is never mentioned after the fact. I thought for sure she would have brought that up when the police showed up. Just like the beginning of the next book, in this instance there would have been bruises to prove it. And since she was a silent victim before, it showed lack of growth that she wouldn’t speak up. They had nothing to lose and all to gain by discrediting Joe that he had some obsession with her.
For these reasons I have to lower my rating because the author ignored natural behavior to take the plot where she wanted making it unbelievable.
I’ll give this 3.5 stars, but I did enjoy. I ignored the insta love but couldn’t get past the other two issues.
The narrator was good.
January 4, 2019
I absolutely loved this book. This was the first book I had read for enjoyment and I was hooked to her books ever since! I have read just about every book Brenda has wrote because of this novel. I highly recommend any book that she writes!
June 29, 2025
Grace Montgomery has returned to her hometown of Stillwater, Mississippi after thirteen years since she left. Her brother Clay still lives in their family house.
She had grown up on a farmhouse with her mother Irene, her stepfather Lee Barker, her younger sister, Molly, and her older stepsister, Madeline.
Clay and her family all harbor a secret regarding the sudden disappearance of their stepfather eighteen years ago.
After graduating from law school Grace has been working as an assistant district attorney in Jackson for the past five years.
Grace had taken a vacation to come down for two reasons: a woman named Evonne had recently passed leaving Grace her recipes as a parting gift.
Evonne used to sell her homemade produce (soaps, lotions, eggs, sweet potato pies 🥧 and brownies to name a few) in her front yard.
Second, Grace has been doing quite well in the city. Until her boyfriend, George E. Dunagan, Attorney-at-Law, had asked her to marry him.
He had then given her a three-month ultimatum to see a therapist and resolve her childhood issues.
Back in Stillwater, Grace leased Evonne’s place for three months where she’d be staying.
Lee Barker’s nephew Joe Vincelli still believes Grace, Clay, and Grace’s mother Irene had a hand in his uncle's disappearance.
Meanwhile, Kennedy Archer, father of two boys, Teddy and Heath, who had lost his wife two years earlier is planning on running for mayor. His father Otis who’s the current mayor is retiring after thirty years in service.
When Joe learns of Grace’s return, he starts pressing Kennedy to talk to the Chief of Police McCormick into reopening his uncle’s case. Joe and Kennedy have been childhood friends.
Grace and Kennedy both went to the same high school though they weren’t exactly best of friends. Now, Grace is back and Kennedy can't resist who Grace has become and can’t seem to take his mind off her. Moreover, his kids have taken quite a liking to her.
But given Grace’s family’s reputation would Kennedy risk being seeing with her even if this might hurt his chances of winning the election?
She had grown up on a farmhouse with her mother Irene, her stepfather Lee Barker, her younger sister, Molly, and her older stepsister, Madeline.
Clay and her family all harbor a secret regarding the sudden disappearance of their stepfather eighteen years ago.
After graduating from law school Grace has been working as an assistant district attorney in Jackson for the past five years.
Grace had taken a vacation to come down for two reasons: a woman named Evonne had recently passed leaving Grace her recipes as a parting gift.
Evonne used to sell her homemade produce (soaps, lotions, eggs, sweet potato pies 🥧 and brownies to name a few) in her front yard.
Second, Grace has been doing quite well in the city. Until her boyfriend, George E. Dunagan, Attorney-at-Law, had asked her to marry him.
He had then given her a three-month ultimatum to see a therapist and resolve her childhood issues.
Back in Stillwater, Grace leased Evonne’s place for three months where she’d be staying.
Lee Barker’s nephew Joe Vincelli still believes Grace, Clay, and Grace’s mother Irene had a hand in his uncle's disappearance.
Meanwhile, Kennedy Archer, father of two boys, Teddy and Heath, who had lost his wife two years earlier is planning on running for mayor. His father Otis who’s the current mayor is retiring after thirty years in service.
When Joe learns of Grace’s return, he starts pressing Kennedy to talk to the Chief of Police McCormick into reopening his uncle’s case. Joe and Kennedy have been childhood friends.
Grace and Kennedy both went to the same high school though they weren’t exactly best of friends. Now, Grace is back and Kennedy can't resist who Grace has become and can’t seem to take his mind off her. Moreover, his kids have taken quite a liking to her.
But given Grace’s family’s reputation would Kennedy risk being seeing with her even if this might hurt his chances of winning the election?
November 14, 2015
Intriguing, Intense, Deeply Emotionally & Touching! A Powerful Read! I Loved It!
July 26, 2018
Author: Brenda Novak. I see her books all over the place and I'm giving it a whirl. Not bad.
Female lead: I like my women with more backbone but she wasn't bad.
Male lead: Odd, I understand where Novak was going with him I just thought he was a bit of a cut out. I'm not complaining.
Other characters: There were a variety of female characters and personalities. The mothers were both interesting. Now the big surprise for me was the kid. I liked him and actually looked forward to scenes with him. I normally avoid kiddies at all costs.
The genre: The Romance was okay but didn't feel overly romantic. Sex was used as a filler, yahoo.
The plot: Interesting enough and well paced. The flashbacks were excellent, I never got annoyed.
The conclusion: There is thankfully no cliffhanger but there are questions still to be answered. I think I want to know how this trilogy's going to pan out.
Female lead: I like my women with more backbone but she wasn't bad.
Male lead: Odd, I understand where Novak was going with him I just thought he was a bit of a cut out. I'm not complaining.
Other characters: There were a variety of female characters and personalities. The mothers were both interesting. Now the big surprise for me was the kid. I liked him and actually looked forward to scenes with him. I normally avoid kiddies at all costs.
The genre: The Romance was okay but didn't feel overly romantic. Sex was used as a filler, yahoo.
The plot: Interesting enough and well paced. The flashbacks were excellent, I never got annoyed.
The conclusion: There is thankfully no cliffhanger but there are questions still to be answered. I think I want to know how this trilogy's going to pan out.
March 17, 2025
Why can’t I find more Brenda Novak books at used book stores it’s so frustrating! She writes her stories so well. Idk how I feel about this plot line continuing for another 2 books but we’ll see how it goes
June 25, 2020
Round up to 4.5 stars.
November 6, 2020
Round up to 4.5 stars. This really does stand the test of time.
November 27, 2020
Round up to 4.5 stars.
July 16, 2022
One of the best I've read this year
September 29, 2025
New author for me. Great read!
March 11, 2020
I thoroughly enjoyed Dead Silence. I can't wait to read the rest of the trilogy.
Possible Spoiler
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My only complaint is that Joe didn't at least face assault charges.
Possible Spoiler
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My only complaint is that Joe didn't at least face assault charges.
June 22, 2018
I am NEVER dis-pointed when reading a Brenda Novak book. I like how Clay was there for his sister, and never backed down. I love how it all turned out for Grace. I can't to read the rest of the series!! Thank you Brenda for reading such an amazing book.
September 5, 2020
3, 5 🌟Me gustó, es muy diferente de lo que he leído de esta autora hasta ahora. Algunas cosas poco creíbles y algo de drama innecesario pero es bastante entretenida. Lista para el segundo!
May 18, 2018
It was a good read! Book 3 was the best of the trilogy by far
November 12, 2007
It's been eighteen years since Reverend Barker went missing, but the mystery still haunts the people of Stillwater. And Grace Montgomery has the answers they need.
This is the first in Brenda Novak's Stillwater trilogy. I've been meaning to start reading this before now (which is a common refrain in my blog, I know), but I've finally made it. Brenda's a member of my RWA chapter, so I'm always worried that I'm going to be too harsh or too kind. You are welcome, as with all of my reviews, to take this one with a grain of salt.
Grace Montgomery has overcome a lot of things in her life. Her family has never been accepted or liked in Stillwater, and was even more reviled after Reverend Barker and his daughter came into their lives. The Reverend was far from the good and holy man the other townspeople believed, however. His disappearance left unanswered questions and a reputation Grace has struggled all her life to overcome.
She never expected Kennedy Archer, the mayor's son and one of the most popular and well-liked men in town, to take her side. In high school, he'd turned a blind eye to the way his friends treated and used her. Now, he can't keep his eyes off of her himself. If she'd only trust him with her secrets, he's sure he could make the bad times a thing of the past.
Brenda is an expert at penning characters who move you, for good or ill. If I like one of her characters, I genuinely like them. If I dislike them, I don't just dislike them a little bit. That remains true for this book.
It's also interesting to note that, for all this was marketed as a romantic suspense, it's really more of a community/family-oriented story than a true suspense. The "bad guy" is known from the very beginning and the only mystery is whether the truth will come out, not what the mystery actually is.
So I didn't find that the book held a lot of tension for me. It is only when one of the characters finds a critical piece of evidence and takes matters into his own hands that I got caught up in the race to see how things would turn out. The build up to that point didn't really propel me along, but for the last couple of chapters, I flipped pages furiously and held my breath.
I am curious to see how the next book goes, as I'm not at all sure how stretching a mystery the reader already knows about will go. However, I will be reading and I'm sure that, whenever I get to it, I'll post it here.
This is the first in Brenda Novak's Stillwater trilogy. I've been meaning to start reading this before now (which is a common refrain in my blog, I know), but I've finally made it. Brenda's a member of my RWA chapter, so I'm always worried that I'm going to be too harsh or too kind. You are welcome, as with all of my reviews, to take this one with a grain of salt.
Grace Montgomery has overcome a lot of things in her life. Her family has never been accepted or liked in Stillwater, and was even more reviled after Reverend Barker and his daughter came into their lives. The Reverend was far from the good and holy man the other townspeople believed, however. His disappearance left unanswered questions and a reputation Grace has struggled all her life to overcome.
She never expected Kennedy Archer, the mayor's son and one of the most popular and well-liked men in town, to take her side. In high school, he'd turned a blind eye to the way his friends treated and used her. Now, he can't keep his eyes off of her himself. If she'd only trust him with her secrets, he's sure he could make the bad times a thing of the past.
Brenda is an expert at penning characters who move you, for good or ill. If I like one of her characters, I genuinely like them. If I dislike them, I don't just dislike them a little bit. That remains true for this book.
It's also interesting to note that, for all this was marketed as a romantic suspense, it's really more of a community/family-oriented story than a true suspense. The "bad guy" is known from the very beginning and the only mystery is whether the truth will come out, not what the mystery actually is.
So I didn't find that the book held a lot of tension for me. It is only when one of the characters finds a critical piece of evidence and takes matters into his own hands that I got caught up in the race to see how things would turn out. The build up to that point didn't really propel me along, but for the last couple of chapters, I flipped pages furiously and held my breath.
I am curious to see how the next book goes, as I'm not at all sure how stretching a mystery the reader already knows about will go. However, I will be reading and I'm sure that, whenever I get to it, I'll post it here.
February 7, 2008
First of all I would like to say I'm really enjoying Novak's writing style, she keeps me entertained and wanting to know more. The thing is that this book is written from a victims point of view, we know from the beginning that Grace was a victim of her stepfather (I was guessing right away at sexual abuse) and that that trigered her behaviour in high school leading her to be a victim then and now of some boys who never grew up.
I always have some trouble reading books / scenes where the characters are brought low, humiliated because I find them really upsetting. I'm sure this is a great plot device to keep people reading but it's also why I don't watch horror movies - I'm always anticipating the bad things - I kept waiting for someone to come to Grace's door and insult her.
Grace and her family are hiding from everyone that they killed her stepfather 18 years ago. They are hiding it even from her stepsister who keeps trying to find what happened to her father. Grace's return to Stillwater after 13 years is going to open up a lot of wounds and bring past horrors to light.
One of the things that puzzled me was Grace's dislike of Kennedy Archer. Wouldn't it be more obvious to hate the guys who used her and kept insulting her than the guy who did nothing but also didn't use her? And what made Kennedy keep feeling guilty if he didn't do anything? I could understand about wanting to have a non belligerant relationship because of Teddy but it's like he was immediately worrying and lusting after her as soon as she got back. And how come it took him so long to see that Joe was a real jerk?
It still made for a captivating read as the reader is kept in suspense about wether Madeline is going to discover the truth, Joe is going to hurt Grace, Kennedy and Grace will marry and what really happened all those years ago. Since this is a trilogy I guess the answer to the last question will only come up in book 3. A B-
I always have some trouble reading books / scenes where the characters are brought low, humiliated because I find them really upsetting. I'm sure this is a great plot device to keep people reading but it's also why I don't watch horror movies - I'm always anticipating the bad things - I kept waiting for someone to come to Grace's door and insult her.
Grace and her family are hiding from everyone that they killed her stepfather 18 years ago. They are hiding it even from her stepsister who keeps trying to find what happened to her father. Grace's return to Stillwater after 13 years is going to open up a lot of wounds and bring past horrors to light.
One of the things that puzzled me was Grace's dislike of Kennedy Archer. Wouldn't it be more obvious to hate the guys who used her and kept insulting her than the guy who did nothing but also didn't use her? And what made Kennedy keep feeling guilty if he didn't do anything? I could understand about wanting to have a non belligerant relationship because of Teddy but it's like he was immediately worrying and lusting after her as soon as she got back. And how come it took him so long to see that Joe was a real jerk?
It still made for a captivating read as the reader is kept in suspense about wether Madeline is going to discover the truth, Joe is going to hurt Grace, Kennedy and Grace will marry and what really happened all those years ago. Since this is a trilogy I guess the answer to the last question will only come up in book 3. A B-
November 30, 2015
I am a sucker for books written around what I like to call "THE BIG SECRET". They always suck me in from the jump. I like how the reader knows a small portion of the secret from the beginning, only a few characters know the secret, and there is an interesting story that unfolds where characters are trying to protect "THE BIG SECRET". You always know that more and more people are going to learn about said secret. The part that I like is the reader is never wholly presented the secret, we get to learn it in it's entirety as the story progresses.
The "B.S." in this story was the murder of a beloved town reverand Lee Barker, who became the Montgomerys stepfather after he married their mother, Irene. Clay, Grace, and Molly Montgomery were his stepchildren, Madeline was his biological child. Part of the secret was that the "holy" man was a wolf in sheeps clothing - he wasn't as perfect as the town believed. He was abusive to everyone in the household, but he was the most abusive to Grace. He molested her. The family finally has enough, and Lee Barker dies and is buried on the property. I won't go into details, because that will spoil the story.
Grace isn't favored in Stillwater. She and her family are looked upon as white trash and have been ever since her mother and Lee married. Lots of small town problems and politics come into play.
The reason I didn't rate this book higher is because of the highschool silliness. I can't seem to wrap my head around a bunch of thirty-somethings who can't move past highschool. It's immature and annoying, both in fiction and real life. Move on, grow up, divide and conquer (meaning GET OVER IT).
I did like the romance part of it. That was sweet all around, and I especially liked the kids. They were really cute, and I liked how things turned out for them.
I recommend this book and will be finishing the series. The questions weren't answered in the end, so don't be disappointed with the lack of a conclusion.
The "B.S." in this story was the murder of a beloved town reverand Lee Barker, who became the Montgomerys stepfather after he married their mother, Irene. Clay, Grace, and Molly Montgomery were his stepchildren, Madeline was his biological child. Part of the secret was that the "holy" man was a wolf in sheeps clothing - he wasn't as perfect as the town believed. He was abusive to everyone in the household, but he was the most abusive to Grace. He molested her. The family finally has enough, and Lee Barker dies and is buried on the property. I won't go into details, because that will spoil the story.
Grace isn't favored in Stillwater. She and her family are looked upon as white trash and have been ever since her mother and Lee married. Lots of small town problems and politics come into play.
The reason I didn't rate this book higher is because of the highschool silliness. I can't seem to wrap my head around a bunch of thirty-somethings who can't move past highschool. It's immature and annoying, both in fiction and real life. Move on, grow up, divide and conquer (meaning GET OVER IT).
I did like the romance part of it. That was sweet all around, and I especially liked the kids. They were really cute, and I liked how things turned out for them.
I recommend this book and will be finishing the series. The questions weren't answered in the end, so don't be disappointed with the lack of a conclusion.
Read
April 10, 2012I don't read romantic suspense, and I don't think I will again. I don't like the feeling of waiting the entire book for something bad to happen. As for the setting of this book - Stillwater, Mississippi? It has a lot annoying, unpleasant people in high concentrations. Something must be in the water. Probably the body of the reverend who has been missing for over a decade.[return][return]The book follows Grace and her return to Stillwater, a town that abused and traumatized her. Even with a successful career, she can't get over the demons of her past. Namely, a night when she was thirteen when her stepfather, the reverend, vanished. No one else in town can let that go because they suspect Grace's family had something to do with it. They are right. But the exact circumstances of that night remain a mystery for most of the book.[return][return]The romance in the book is straightforward. The widowed and wealthy Kennedy falls for Grace, but she rebuts him, thinking that her associating with him will hurt his political career. They do make a decent couple, mainly because they are the only intelligent and decent people in the entire town. The sex scenes are very light and not graphic at all, which is fine. But there is something really aggravating when after two times in bed together - sneaking around - Grace speaks of how they shouldn't use protection because she wants his baby. Brain... cells... rotting. I hate it when women do that in books! It's just stupid and cliche and unrealistic! I know it's supposed to emphasize their true wuv and how they are destined to be together forever, but at that point I pretty much lost the remaining respect I had for this book.[return][return]Someone, please annihilate the little fictional town of Stillwater. It clearly did not pass the existence litmus test, and should be destroyed.
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