Stay Close, Novac!

by Jan Romes

Jessi Novac leads the quiet life of a romance author until someone leaves a series of explicit notes under her windshield wipers and heavy breathing on her answering machine. Until NYPD can track down the culprit who's trying to scare the bejesus out of her, Jessi hides out at her grandmother's beach house in Myrtle Beach where she hopes to get her bearings. Instead, her life takes an even bigger tilt toward crazy when she meets her clumsy neighbor. She's suspicious of Ian Alexander, and attracted to him at the same time. Their relationship becomes a calamity of errors until strange things start happening at the beach house. Jessi clings to Ian for protection, but soon discovers her heart may be in more danger than her life.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, Mystery Thriller, Romantic Suspense

116 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 4, 2012

About the author

Jan Romes is a hopeless romantic who grew up in northwest Ohio with eight zany siblings. Married to her high school sweetheart for more years than seems possible, she is also a proud mom, mother-in-law, and grandmother. She likes to read most genres, writes witty contemporary romance and women's fiction, enjoys finding new ways to stay fit and gardens even though she doesn't claim to have a green thumb.

Jan's passionate about reading, writing, publishing, and anything else that involves the written word. She loves to connect with readers. You can find her on Twitter, Facebook, at writer's conferences and book signings. If you love books as much as she does, she'd love to hear from you.

If you'd like to stay current on her most recent works-of-heart, click the Follow button here on Goodreads or on Amazon. She'd also be tickled if you'd check out her website: www.authorjanromes.com

Reviews

[Anna Casamento Arrigo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fantastic read by Jan Romes. Come on over to Myrtle Beach and escape the city! That’s exactly what Jessie does when she finds herself the victim of a stalker. A romantic writer, Jessie leaves the city and heads to Myrtle Beach in an effort to escape whoever is terrorizing her. Sadly, she also takes with her her mistrust and suspicions about people, especially men. It’s grandma’s house what can possibly go wron?. Ah! Ian catches her eye and his good looks have her intrigued and interested. Still, the fear that has followed her leaves skeptical and leery of bringing him into her life. Still…A very well written suspenseful romance with some tickles to your funny bone. Another fantastic read and most certainly recommended!

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got your back: "Stay Close Novac" by Jan Romes
Jessi Novac is a romance writer in NYC, someone is scaring the life out of her, leaving nasty notes on her windshield and calling her home breathing heavy. She decides to leave the city until this person is caught, she heads to her grandmothers cottage in Myrtle beach. She arrives very late due to plane changes. She hears a loud banging and a moan, she gets up and is ready to flip out on this person, it's to early for this noise. Next door she finds a handsome handyman had fell off a ladder, Ian Alexander is fixing his uncles porch. Jessi starts flipping out on him until she sees he's hurt. Normally she'd jump right in to help but, because she's not trusting anyone at the moment, she questions him first. Still not trusting him she helps him and tells him to quiet it down. Jessi can't stop thinking how delicious Ian looked, she doesn't want to think this way, she doesn't trust him. Things start getting scary around her cottage and she finds herself running to Ian for safety. Are these things in her mind being blown up because of her imagination. Can she trust Ian? Will her life ever get back to normal? Read and find out, it's a fun read. Jan Romes doesn't disappoint.

[Katie Mettner · Rating 5 out of 5]

What can I say other than Stay Close, Novac was the most charming book I've read in a long time! Jessi "coffee is better than sex" Novac is a romance author who finds herself stalked by an unknown goon, so she jets away from New York to her grandmother's beach home to stay safe and finish her latest romance novel. At 6 a.m. she comes face to face with a man and a hammer and NO coffee. Jan Romes takes you through a few days in the life of Jessi and her hammer welding hero, Ian, as they try to figure out who the stalker is and unsuccessfully fight their feelings for each other. Throw in some arguing parents and an agent addicted to salt water taffy and you have great comedy! This story was a lighthearted, easy going, make a new friend kind of love story. I gave it five stars because it is incredibly well written and kept me flipping the kindle pages until I finished! Stay Close, Novac made me feel all happy and mushy inside by the time I finished and I highly recommend you pick it up for your next trip to the beach, your next rainy day or today because it's a story you'll love. Jan Romes takes her aluminum bat and knocks this one out of the park!

[Kristy]

DNF @35%

On my Kindle since 2017. Apparently I started reading this at some point but never finished. I should have suspected there was a reason for that...the reason is that everything and everyone in this book is tedious.

[Deanna Lynn Sletten · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jessi Novac is a romance author whose life is recently in turmoil. She is being stalked, so she decides to hide out in her grandmother's Myrtle Beach home until the police can find out who is following her. She needs peace and quiet to finish writing her latest novel on time, but instead is sidetracked by the handsome handyman next door. Her life becomes a succession of adventures and misadventures as she realizes she's still being followed and as she also finds she is falling in love with her handyman hero.

Stay Close, Novac! is a fun, witty and face-paced romance novel. The author, Jan Romes, writes in a way that reminds me of Janet Evanovich with her charm and wit. Even though this is a short novel, the story is quite full and you walk away feeling like you have read a book twice its size. I really enjoyed reading Stay Close, Novac! and will definitely read more of Ms. Romes novels.

[Suzanne Rogers · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found "Stay Close, Novac" to be a really cute and winsome read. Someone in NYC is stalking Jessi, and she flees town for the safety of Myrtle Beach. A neighbor turns out to be just the distraction she needs...but is Ian truly everything he appears to be? Ian's got ex-wife issues of his own to deal with. Throw into the mix a pair of overprotective, bickering parents and you've got a maelstrom of delicious conflict. I love the way the two protagonists "fit" together as a couple. Ian is a real hero! If you're looking for a light, fun romance about two likeable people, "Stay Close, Novac" fits the bill.

[Lisa Crane · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book by Jan Romes which I've read, and I really enjoyed it. The humor throughout the story made the H/h very likeable, and I was rooting for them to find their HEA.

Another reader complained about how quickly Ian and Jessi fell in love, but sometimes you just know. (Oh, and it's fiction.) I really think my only problem was Ian's bitterness, believing that all women are "takers"; while I understood his reasons, it just didn't quite seem to fit with his character. Again, I did understand his reasons, so maybe that's just my feelings.

I'd recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a light, humorous romance. Definitely a fun read!

[Sandra Owens · Rating 5 out of 5]

There wasn't anything not to like about Stay Close, Novac! As I read Ian and Jessi's story I found myself chuckling, other times laughing out loud. It's the perfect book to take to the beach with you or to curl up with on a lazy Saturday afternoon. I love the author's quirky humor and will definitely read more of her books.

[Kellie Kamryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

From the beginning, I was sucked into this great romance. Jessi is hiding out from a stalker when her neighbor Ian literally falls off a ladder at her feet. A quirky, fun page-turner with a few twists and turns and I couldn't it put down until I was finished. Ms. Romes has created another winner!

[Teri Heyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the third book I've read by Jan Romes. It's a fun, witty romance that keeps you reading, with enough twists and turns to keep you wondering how it will all end.

[Nancy Badger · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book for summer reading! Enjoy the romance.

[Karen Harper · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book I’ve read written by Jan Romes even though I think it’s the first one she’s written. I discovered this amazing author when I read her latest book, Two More Miles.

Even though I admit Two More Miles is my favourite book, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. In some ways, this was a more intense read because of the nature of the story. Who likes being stalked? Not me, but I do enjoy a bit of a mystery, especially one I couldn’t solve.

There were a few twists and turns I didn’t see coming and I even had a little chuckle now and again. Now to decide which one of her books to read next.

Written by Karen from A Thousand Lives Book Blog

[Carol Cassada · Rating 4 out of 5]

Suspenseful romance

Romance novelist Jessi Novac's life is turned upside down when she becomes a stalking victim. She escapes to the safety of Myrtle Beach, where she meets handsome neighbor Ian Alexander. Jessica finds herself attracted to Ian, but with her stalker on the loose and secrets about Ian coming to light she doesn't know her to trust. The story has a nice romance with Jessi and Ian, and plenty of suspense. The supporting characters of Jessi's bickering late he added some humor to the story. The ending mind of wrapped too quickly in my opinion, I would've liked a little more climax.

[Jude Haste · Rating 5 out of 5]

ROMANTIC.COMEDY: A FUN & EMOTIONAL TALE

I really engaged with this emotional, intriguing & funny tale. This Romantic Comedy was humourous with an edge of steam that sharpened the tale. Main characters.had.plenty of spark and were well developed. Skilful writing keeps you on your toes and great descriptive detail makes you feel part of it all. Loved this book lots of fun and realistic from Author Jude Haste

[Mary Schmidt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun romance

This was a fun romance to read. There are thrills and nervous people due to a stalker. How the MCs sprang to life and fell in love was amazing.

[Melanie Adkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jessi Novac is being stalked. After her stalker's latest attempt, Jessi leaves New York City. She decides to head to her grandmother's beach house and the peace and quiet that comes with it. Jessi knew of over zealous fans and how out of control they could be. She just figured her stalker was one of them. Jessi is a romance novelist. One of the best. Her first morning in the beach house is not all she thought it would be. Her neighbor awakens her with pounding and sawing. Furious at her neighbor, Jessi heads outside to set him straight. From there they become terrific friends. Ian Alexander is trying to finalize his divorce settlement and regain some peace in his own life. Ian isn't expecting Jessi when they meet. She stirs his heart and emotions like no other woman ever has. Still gun shy after his horrific marriage, Ian isn't sure he wants to get to know her. Fate steps in and puts the two of them together over and over. Finally they have to admit, there is more between them than friendship.


Humorous, romantic and a solid story make this book a wonderful beach read! The characters are terrific and well defined. You will enjoy the way this story unfolds and the secrets that pop up. I enjoyed the humor added to keep this from being a story full of fear. The down to earth qualities of the characters make it easy for you to fall in love with them. Jan Romes has another wonderful hit on her hands with this book. I loved it!


I didn't find any issues here.


I gave this one 5 out of 5 books because it will make the day at the beach even more amazing.

[Victoria Simcox · Rating 5 out of 5]

At greater risk than her life, is Jessi’s affection for Ian. She had relied on him for safety when weird situations took place at the beach house. Not long before that their liaison had amounted to a bunch of mishaps. For some reason Jessi finds herself enticed with Ian as well as having her guard up toward him. Her life became chaotic when she first met the awkward guy, Ian who resided only next door to her. She takes refuge at her grandma’s beach house due to some weirdo frightening her to the point where she didn’t want him to find her. Then the police find him. All Jessi was doing was living a serine life as a romance author until the notes were stuffed under her wipers of her car. First off, I want to go the beach house Jan Romes writes about; the way she describes it is so inviting. This is a fun, upbeat, romance story and mingled throughout it is comedy, facetiousness, intrigue and mystery. Jan has a sense of humor and it shines through her writing. With so much heavy upheaval in our world this narrative is a breath of fresh air. Bravo to a superb read!

[Sally · Rating 2 out of 5]

Although this was well written for the most part (although, much of the dialog was corny), I really wished the story wasn't so rushed. I'm really not a fan of insta-love. After about 2 days of knowing each other they were declaring their undying love? What's the rush, why not develop that relationship? There were also plot-holes, coincidences and implausibilities that were too hard to take. The resolution was so convoluted and sudden, there was no suspense ... and lots of eye-rolling on my part.

[Ellis Vidler · Rating 4 out of 5]

I fell for this book from its appealing title: Stay Close, Novac! It promised fun, mystery, and romance, and Ms. Romes delivered. Jessi Novac flees to the beach to escape a stalker, but there are plenty of complications, starting with the clumsy handyman who moves in next door. This is a fast read with lots of action and smiles, a great way to spend an afternoon. I really liked it and recommend it.

[Natalie Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book! Jan had me laughing, on the edge of my seat and teary-eyed through her writing. Every scene kept me involved in the story. Jessi has one of those personalities that you just love. And Ian is the type of man you daydream about. I gave Stay Close, Novac 5 Stars! This was an excellent story mixed with romance, suspense and mystery. I recommend this to all of my friends.

[J. Conrad · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fun, witty romance novel that kept me giggling throughout. I liked the fast pace of the book and the unusual situations (like Ian throwing cans of dog food) that made the story funny and interesting. Stay Close, Novac! is well-written and perfect for when you want something light-hearted and entertaining in this genre.

[Alison]

kindle - chick lit

[Nancy Fornataro · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a fun read, the plot moves along fast, I liked the dialogue (very believable) and I think the author did a great job on this one. I would certainly read any new ones by her.

[Marlene · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely, quick read. The story line and the characters were warm and fun. Great book to read at the beach or a lazy rainy day.

[Ennej · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wanted to give this a 4 1/2, but couldn't get the half star. I enjoyed this book, it was a fun read, with a little bit of everything, romance, mystery, suspense. A good summer read.