Join me every Friday to see my spotlight on one of my favorite authors who will be sharing a few of their favorite things!
Scroll to the bottom of the post for a GIVEAWAY!
Featured today is Harlequin MIRA and St. Martin’s Press author BRENDA NOVAK! Thanks for joining me and sharing some of your favorites Brenda!
It was a shocking experience that jump-started Brenda Novak’s career as a bestselling author–she caught her day-care provider drugging her children with cough syrup to get them to sleep all day. That was when Brenda decided she needed to quit her job as a loan officer and help make a living from home.
“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 says. But she sold that book, and the rest is history. Her novels have made the New York Times and USA Today bestseller lists and won many awards, including five Rita nominations, the Book Buyer’s Best, the Book Seller’s Best and the National Reader’s Choice Award.
Brenda and her husband, Ted, live in Sacramento and are proud parents of five children–three girls and two boys. When she’s not spending time with her family or writing, Brenda is usually raising funds for diabetes research (her youngest son has this disease). Click on the graphic below to visit her website to see how you can help!
Brenda would love to invite other book lovers to join her online book group. It’s a fabulous, super supportive group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/brendanovaksbookgroup/
CONNECT WITH BRENDA:
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Amazon | Book Group
My favorite color is … periwinkle.
My favorite place to read is … on my Exercycle (because then I don’t notice the desire to stop–LOL).
My favorite snack is … any baked goods!
My favorite type of music is … Top 40.
My favorite hot beverage is … hot chocolate (crazy about it).
My favorite type of flower is … hydrangeas.
My favorite time of day is … I love all parts of the day, but it’s nice to relax at night, when my work is done.
My favorite candy is … chocolate covered toffee.
My favorite hobby is … reading or learning new things via documentaries.
My favorite place to vacation is … Europe (fascinated by the history).
Look for Brenda’s latest release with Harlequin, FINDING OUR FOREVER, the kick-off to her new Silver Springs series!
ORDER LINKS:
Amazon | Harlequin | Kobo | Nook | iBook | GooglePlay
FINDING OUR FOREVER
Silver Springs
The search for her birth mother brought Cora Kelly to the New Horizons Boys’ Ranch. Getting a job there was easy enough, but confiding in Aiyana, the ranch’s owner, that she’s really her daughter? Cora’s not sure she can do that, not unless she’s confident the news will be welcomed. And once she gets to know Elijah Turner–Aiyana’s adopted son and ranch manager–that decision becomes even more difficult.
Although Elijah can’t deny his deep attraction to Cora, he’s always struggled with trust. Anyone with his past would, and there’s something about the ranch’s newest employee that isn’t exactly as it seems. But if the feelings she awakes in his guarded heart are any indication, she might be just what he’s long been waiting for.
COMING SOON in the Silver Spring series …
PRE-ORDER LINKS .. releasing May 30
Amazon | Kobo | Nook | iBook | GooglePlay
NO ONE BUT YOU
Silver Springs
Struggling to make ends meet after a messy divorce, Sadie Harris is at the end of her tether. Her waitressing gig isn’t enough to pay the bills let alone secure primary custody of her son, Jayden, a battle she refuses to lose. Desperate, she accepts a position assisting Dawson Reed—the same Dawson Reed who recently stood trial for the murder of his adoptive parents. Joining him at his isolated farm seems risky, but Sadie is out of options.
Dawson has given small-town Silver Springs plenty of reasons to be wary, but he’s innocent of the charges against him. He wants to leave his painful past behind and fix up the family farm so he can finally bring his dependent sister home where she belongs.
As Sadie’s and Dawson’s professional relationship grows into something undeniably personal, Sadie realizes there’s more to Dawson than the bad boy everyone else sees—he has a good heart, one that might even be worth fighting for.
PRE-ORDER LINKS … releasing July 25
Amazon | Kobo | Nook | iBook | GooglePlay
UNTIL YOU LOVED ME
Silver Springs
Sometimes starting over means finding everything you’ve been missing…
After catching her fiancé cheating—with another man–usually straight-laced, workaholic scientist Ellie Fisher liberates her wild side just long enough to indulge in a passionate one-night-stand with a tall, dark stranger she meets at a trendy Miami bar. Embarrassed by her recklessness, she ducks out the following morning without learning the guy’s full name, something that shouldn’t have been a problem…until a pregnancy test turns positive.
Being a professional football player, Hudson King has always been cautious around women. But this one had been different—so disinterested in his celebrity, so convincingly into him. When Ellie tracks him down, claiming she’s carrying his baby, he’s stunned. And more than a little betrayed.
But after growing up as an orphan, he’ll do anything to stay involved in his child’s life, so he urges Ellie to move to Silver Springs where they can co-parent. Hudson has a lot of love to give—certainly enough for his child, and when their initial spark reignites, perhaps for Ellie too…
PRE-ORDER LINKS … releasing October 31
Amazon | Kobo | Nook | iBook | GooglePlay
RIGHT WHERE WE BELONG
Silver Springs
Savanna Gray needs a do-over. Her “perfect” life unraveled when, to her absolute shock, her husband was arrested for attacking three women. With her divorce settled, she takes her two children home to Silver Springs to seek refuge between the walls of the farmhouse where she was born. It needs a little TLC, but she’s eager to take control of something.
Gavin Turner understands the struggle of starting over. Abandoned at a gas station when he was five, it wasn’t until he landed at New Horizons Boys Ranch as a teen that he finally found some peace. He steps up when Savanna needs help fixing things–even when those things go beyond the farmhouse.
Despite an escalating attraction to Gavin, Savanna resolves to keep her distance. She trusted her ex, who had a similarly tragic background, and is unwilling to repeat her past mistakes. But it’s hard to resist a man whose heart is as capable as his hands
And coming soon in her “The Evelyn Talbot Chronicles” series with St. Martin’s Press …
PRE-ORDER LINKS … releasing October 3
Amazon | Kobo | Nook | iBook | GooglePlay
HELLO AGAIN
The Evelyn Talbot Chronicles
SHE CAN MAKE SENSE OF A COMPLEX CRIMINAL MIND
Evelyn Talbot, a psychiatrist at a maximum-security prison in remote Alaska, studies some of the world’s worst serial killers. But she’s about to meet her most elusive patient at Hanover House yet: Dr. Lyman Bishop, AKA the Zombie Maker given his fondness for performing icepick lobotomies on his victims. A brilliant cancer researcher, Bishop is either the most cunning psychopath Evelyn has ever encountered—or he is wrongly convicted.
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A CRIMINAL CAN SEE INTO HER OWN?
When a new ice-pick fatality occurs, it seems Bishop really was wrongly convicted. Except…Evelyn has a personal connection to the murder victim and that suggests the killer may be someone from her own past: Jasper Moore, her high school boyfriend who tortured her and left her for dead when she was only sixteen. Jasper murdered three of her friends back then—and was never caught. Is he trying to send a message with this copycat crime? Is he coming for her next? The only thing Evelyn knows for sure is that if Jasper is on her trail, she might not be able to escape again . . .
Previously in this series:
ORDER LINKS:
HANOVER HOUSE
The Evelyn Talbot Chronicles
Welcome to Hanover House….
Psychiatrist Evelyn Talbot has dedicated her life to solving the mysteries of the psychopathic mind. Why do psychopaths act as they do? How do they come to be? Why don’t they feel any remorse for the suffering they cause? And are there better ways of spotting and stopping them?
After having been kidnapped, tortured and left for dead when she was just a teenager—by her high school boyfriend—she’s determined to understand how someone she trusted so much could turn on her. So she’s established a revolutionary new medical health center in the remote town of Hilltop, Alaska, where she studies the worst of the worst.
But not everyone in Hilltop is excited to have Hanover House and its many serial killers in the area. Alaskan State Trooper, Sergeant Amarok, is one of them. And yet he can’t help feeling bad about what Evelyn has been through. He’s even attracted to her. Which is partly why he worries.
He knows what could happen if only one little thing goes wrong…
ORDER LINKS:
Amazon | Kobo | Nook | iBook | GooglePlay
HER DARKEST NIGHTMARE
The Evelyn Talbot Chronicles
THE HUNT FOR A SERIAL KILLER
Evelyn Talbot knows that a psychopath can look perfectly normal. She was only sixteen when her own boyfriend Jasper imprisoned and tortured her―and left her for dead. Now an eminent psychiatrist who specializes in the criminal mind, Evelyn is the force behind Hanover House, a maximum-security facility located in a small Alaskan town. Her job puts her at odds with Sergeant Amorak, who is convinced that Hanover is a threat to his community…even as his attraction to beautiful Evelyn threatens to tear his world apart.
BEGINS WITH AN ESCAPE FROM HER PAST
Then, just as the bitter Alaskan winter cuts both town and prison off from the outside world, the mutilated body of a local woman turns up. For Amorak, this is the final proof he needs: Hanover has to go. Evelyn, though, has reason to fear that the crime is a personal message to her―the first sign that the killer who haunts her dreams has found her again. . .and that the life she has so carefully rebuilt will never be the same….
I’m giving away a Brenda Novak Book Group t-shirt!
US only please!
Winner will be able to pick their choice of saying, size, shirt color and font color (that is IN STOCK in Brenda’s Store at the time of your win). Options will be for the Silver Spring Crew Neck, or any of the three options in Round Neck t-shirt. ($22 VALUE)
Colors and availability shown here: https://brendanovak.com/store/
The Silver Springs series looks great, can’t wait to read them! 🙂
FINDING OUR FOREVER was really good and gets you invested in waiting for more to come in the series! 🙂
I loved silver springs finding our forever, I can’t wait for the rest.
Same here Diane! 🙂
I can’t wait to start the series!
You’ll love it!
I just love Brenda Novak’s writing I have downloaded a few of her books and in her book club.
She’s always such a pleasure to read! 🙂
I love the Evelyn Talbots’s series!
Me too Linda! Can’t wait for October! 🙂
Hi Brenda, love reading your books.
Thanks for stopping by Consuelo! 🙂
I’m currently reading Finding Our Forever and am looking forward to the Book Club discussion! Hanover House was suspenseful and I’m looking forward to the next books in that series as well! I really enjoy Brenda’s books!!
I’m looking forward to the discussion too … and yes, the Hanover House series hooked me very quickly. Looking forward to the next one. 🙂
I am a big fan of Brenda’s books and LOVE both the Whiskey Creek and Dundee, Idaho series and can’t wait for the rest of the Silver Springs series 🙂
Both great!
Thanks for the chase! Also follow Brenda’s Book group! Just finished Finding our forever great read.
chance
It’s a great group! 🙂
I can’t wait to dive into more Silver Springs!
You will love it Alisha! 🙂
I am looking forward to starting this new series.
The first book really draws us in … can’t wait for more. 🙂
I am a new reader in Brenda’s Book Group, I have 30 of her 50 books in one form or another. Print, Kindle on my lap top and 9 library books that I have not finished yet, am down to 4 !!! Then I can read my Kindle ones. Once you read a Brenda book you will want more !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Love Ya Brenda Novak.
So true Pamela! Her books are always hard to put down. 🙂
I’m currently reading Finding are Forever, n I’m loving it
I loved it too Tina!
Enjoy her books, and the group!
It’s a lot of fun!
I have many Brenda Novak books but my favorites are the Whiskey Creek series.
Great series!
Love Brenda Novak’s books. My favorite is the Hanover series. Can’t wait for Hello Again to come out.
I’m really looking forward to that one too Sheila!
I can’t wait to meet Brenda Novak!
Such fun! 🙂
I’ve read all of Brenda’s books. I’ve never been disappointed.
She’s great!
Hi Brenda! I enjoy all your books but Finding Our Forever is my favorite. Can’t wait for the next one!
Loved this one too!
Looking forward to reading this series.
The first was great! 🙂
I have 51 of Brenda’s books they have been just excellent readiyso far
You’re a great fan Virgie!
Reading the first in the series right now So far it’s a great read, 🙂 (her newest book)
Loved that one Mary! 🙂
All of Brenda’s books are amazing. I can’t wait to dive into the next Silver Springs novel.
Me too!
Loved Hanover House and Her Darkest Nightmare and all four historicals!!!
I’m a big fan of the Hanover House series too!
I haven’t read any of her books but I plan to just as soon as I can get my hands on one!
You won’t be disappointed April!
Yay! I found it! Brenda is a favorite of mine. On the quest to read 50. Half way there!
How fun Jane … good luck! 🙂
I love Brenda’s books and just finished reading Finding Our Forever! It was wonderfully amazing! I am also in Brenda’s Book Group! If anyone is not a member you should definitely join! So much fun!
It really is Rita!
Love Brenda’s books, can’t wait for the next 3 in series
They all sound great!
Love Brendas books
Me too! 🙂
I read over 50 of her books and I liked Hanover house the most.
That’s a really good series!
It’s wonderful to see Brenda visiting with you, Lynn. I’m not surprised at the terrific response, and good luck to everyone with the giveaway! (Please don’t enter me.)
Thanks for stopping by Kate, you’re a doll! <3
Hello Brenda! I enjoy your books. I just discovered the Stillwater Trilogy. Looking forward to its conclusion. I will try to complete the reading challenge. Who is the author for Home to You?
Sonnetta_jones(at)hotmail(dot)com
HOME TO YOU includes:
VIRGIN RIVER by Robyn Carr and WHEN LIGHTNING STRIKES by Brenda Novak
https://www.amazon.com/Home-You-River-When-Lightning-Strikes-ebook/dp/B01HB8X9WE/
I enjoy your books.
I can’t pick a favorite book as I love them all. Brenda is one of my favorite authors.
I love each book by Brenda! I’ve read 53. My favorite series is the Evelyn Talbot series. My favorite book, of hers, is Home To Whiskey Creek! Thank you for sharing this with her many
I cant pick a favorite either!! I love all of Brenda’s books and i love that she writes different genres!! I feel so blessed to be able to be a part of the bookgroup and to get to know Brenda better. I love how she is so caring, never too busy for us and is so down to earth. God Bless!! Brenda, you are so talented and i pray you dont stop writing for a very long time!!
Hi Brenda!! Love your FB group!
Hi Brenda.. I really loved reading The Secret Sister…