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Before We Were Strangers
Something happened to her mother that night. Something no one wants to talk about. But she's determined to uncover her family's dark secrets, even if they bury her.
Five-year-old Sloane McBride couldn't sleep that night. Her parents were arguing again, their harsh words heating the cool autumn air. And then there was that other sound--the ominous thump before all went quiet.
In the morning, her mother was gone. The official story was that she left. Her loving, devoted mother! That hadn't sat any better at the time than it did when Sloane moved out at eighteen, anxious to leave her small Texas hometown in search of anywhere else. But not even a fresh start working as a model in New York could keep the nightmares at bay. Or her fears that the domineering father she grew up with wasn't just difficult--he was deadly.
Now another traumatic loss forces Sloane to realize she owes it to her mother to find out the truth, even if it means returning to a small town full of secrets and lies, a jilted ex-boyfriend and a father and brother who'd rather see her silenced. But as Sloane starts digging into the past, the question isn't whether she can uncover what really happened that night...it's what will remain of her family if she does?
Five-year-old Sloane McBride couldn't sleep that night. Her parents were arguing again, their harsh words heating the cool autumn air. And then there was that other sound--the ominous thump before all went quiet.
In the morning, her mother was gone. The official story was that she left. Her loving, devoted mother! That hadn't sat any better at the time than it did when Sloane moved out at eighteen, anxious to leave her small Texas hometown in search of anywhere else. But not even a fresh start working as a model in New York could keep the nightmares at bay. Or her fears that the domineering father she grew up with wasn't just difficult--he was deadly.
Now another traumatic loss forces Sloane to realize she owes it to her mother to find out the truth, even if it means returning to a small town full of secrets and lies, a jilted ex-boyfriend and a father and brother who'd rather see her silenced. But as Sloane starts digging into the past, the question isn't whether she can uncover what really happened that night...it's what will remain of her family if she does?
384 pages, Hardcover
First published December 4, 2018
1241 people are currently reading
15488 people want to read
About the author
Brenda Novak
238 books6,962 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 1,134 reviews
February 24, 2019
Before We Were Strangers by Brenda Novak is a 2018 MIRA publication.
A little heavy on the dramatics, but still a good, solid thriller-
When Sloane McBride was five years old, her mother suddenly disappeared, never to be seen or heard from again. Sloane has a few vivid memories of the night her mother left, and for many years she has suspected her father of foul play. Now, after ending a successful run as a popular supermodel, Sloane has returned to her hometown, hoping to finally discover what really happened to her mother all those years ago.
However, the adage about never going home again is proving true for Sloane in the most awkward of ways, not to mention the rather chilly reception she receives from her father and brother. However, the deeper she digs, she uncovers a few disturbing secrets about her mother, which causes her to question her own memories, and her powerful convictions about her father’s guilt.
Are Sloane’s memories faulty? Did her father have something to do with her mother’s disappearance or did she leave of her own accord?
Brenda Novak is usually a very dependable author. She writes across several genres, from contemporary romance to traditional thrillers. However, I seem to gravitate more towards her romantic suspense novels, since she is one of the few still around who writes them in a more traditional format. Although I had a few issues with this one, I still couldn’t put it down!
The mystery surrounding Sloane’s mother is a very solid thread. This part of the story is compelling and has some nice plot twists. However, the romantic angle was more like a soap opera, and all three characters in the love triangle, if you will, end up looking pathetic at one point or another, but none more than Sloane’s former best friend who alternately loves and hates Sloane. However, I kept turning those pages as fast as I could, all the same. What can I say? Sometimes, I’m a real sucker for an over the top sudsy drama.
Overall, the mystery has all the elements of a good, twisty thriller, which makes this one worth your time, even if you would rather skip all the heavy melodrama.
3.5 rounded up
A little heavy on the dramatics, but still a good, solid thriller-
When Sloane McBride was five years old, her mother suddenly disappeared, never to be seen or heard from again. Sloane has a few vivid memories of the night her mother left, and for many years she has suspected her father of foul play. Now, after ending a successful run as a popular supermodel, Sloane has returned to her hometown, hoping to finally discover what really happened to her mother all those years ago.
However, the adage about never going home again is proving true for Sloane in the most awkward of ways, not to mention the rather chilly reception she receives from her father and brother. However, the deeper she digs, she uncovers a few disturbing secrets about her mother, which causes her to question her own memories, and her powerful convictions about her father’s guilt.
Are Sloane’s memories faulty? Did her father have something to do with her mother’s disappearance or did she leave of her own accord?
Brenda Novak is usually a very dependable author. She writes across several genres, from contemporary romance to traditional thrillers. However, I seem to gravitate more towards her romantic suspense novels, since she is one of the few still around who writes them in a more traditional format. Although I had a few issues with this one, I still couldn’t put it down!
The mystery surrounding Sloane’s mother is a very solid thread. This part of the story is compelling and has some nice plot twists. However, the romantic angle was more like a soap opera, and all three characters in the love triangle, if you will, end up looking pathetic at one point or another, but none more than Sloane’s former best friend who alternately loves and hates Sloane. However, I kept turning those pages as fast as I could, all the same. What can I say? Sometimes, I’m a real sucker for an over the top sudsy drama.
Overall, the mystery has all the elements of a good, twisty thriller, which makes this one worth your time, even if you would rather skip all the heavy melodrama.
3.5 rounded up
November 22, 2018
I have become a fan of Brenda Novak from reading several of her more thrilling titles but with over fifty books in publication she has anything from the lighter contemporary romance to darker thrillers. Before We Were Strangers is more along the lines of a romantic suspense novel but with enough mystery to keep readers turning the pages and guessing along.
In this story Sloane McBride had left home at eighteen and had not looked back for the last ten years. Sloane had her reasons for escaping her small town but they weren’t the normal dreaming of something bigger or searching for more, Sloane had wanted to escape her father who she suspected may have had something to do with her mother’s disappearance when she was five.
However, Sloane had not only left behind her father and brother but also her high school boyfriend and her best friend. As much as Sloane loved them both she couldn’t stay near her father for another day which made leaving tough but returning will be even tougher since the two had turned to each other after Sloane’s absence. Having married, had a child and divorced in the last ten years Sloane isn’t sure how either will handle her return as she looks for clues from the past.
Before We Were Strangers was another Brenda Novak novel that didn’t take long at all to become completely engrossed in. Sloane’s memories of that night when she was five and her mother vanished have had her in fear that her father is a murderer. In the years that have passed her father has also gained power in the small town making getting at the truth that much more tough for Sloane but with a bit of help and determination the secrets slowly rise to the top.
I will admit to being a little leery of the whole love triangle angle of the story since I’m usually not a fan of dating a friend or family members ex, again with those boundaries, however this is the creepiest, most disturbing dynamic that made the book even more compelling. There’s actually no “cheating” involved but instead this set up is even more mind games to add to the suspenseful side of the story. A great read from beginning to end that I’d definitely recommend checking out.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
In this story Sloane McBride had left home at eighteen and had not looked back for the last ten years. Sloane had her reasons for escaping her small town but they weren’t the normal dreaming of something bigger or searching for more, Sloane had wanted to escape her father who she suspected may have had something to do with her mother’s disappearance when she was five.
However, Sloane had not only left behind her father and brother but also her high school boyfriend and her best friend. As much as Sloane loved them both she couldn’t stay near her father for another day which made leaving tough but returning will be even tougher since the two had turned to each other after Sloane’s absence. Having married, had a child and divorced in the last ten years Sloane isn’t sure how either will handle her return as she looks for clues from the past.
Before We Were Strangers was another Brenda Novak novel that didn’t take long at all to become completely engrossed in. Sloane’s memories of that night when she was five and her mother vanished have had her in fear that her father is a murderer. In the years that have passed her father has also gained power in the small town making getting at the truth that much more tough for Sloane but with a bit of help and determination the secrets slowly rise to the top.
I will admit to being a little leery of the whole love triangle angle of the story since I’m usually not a fan of dating a friend or family members ex, again with those boundaries, however this is the creepiest, most disturbing dynamic that made the book even more compelling. There’s actually no “cheating” involved but instead this set up is even more mind games to add to the suspenseful side of the story. A great read from beginning to end that I’d definitely recommend checking out.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
December 24, 2018
What I love about reading is when you find that "gem" that keeps you thinking when you put the book down, or you can't put the book down because you are racing to the next page. A good book should make you "feel" and this did not disappoint.
Sloan is grieving over the loss of her friend who has been a father to her. She shared with him the reason she left her childhood home and he urged her to get answers. Sloan believes her father killed her mother when she was 5 years old and while she is terrified of him, feels that the answers will provide the closure she needs to move on with her life.
Her father is the mayor of the city she grew up in and is finding his power has a far reach. He does not want her to come home and blocks her attempts for a long stay as he is aware of the reasons for her return. He is up for re-election and believes her inquiries will thwart his efforts for another term. She is forced to stay with an old friend who married her childhood boyfriend. This is awkward to Sloan as she left abruptly after her high school graduation which broke her boyfriend, Micah's heart. Sloan's friend, Paige and Micah, are divorced, but there are lingering resentments as Paige feels Sloan is the reason for the breakup. This part of the storyline unfolds masterfully as the author is able to capture the pain that Paige feels as she cannot hide that she loves Micah too much, yet Micah does not love her enough. Sloan is in the middle as Paige feels guilty for marrying her best friends boyfriend, but is not willing to give him up. And the tension between Micah and Sloan is so palpable. Their feelings have not changed but they know if they act on their feelings that the consequences will be unforgiving.
Micah is also a police officer and he is aware of Sloan's intentions for her short stay. He is compelled to help her as he has concerns with her father's behavior and believes his power with the town needs to be reigned in. They learn that Sloan's mother had secrets that divided her family and as she starts to uncover the truth, she realizes her own life is in danger.
I won't give away any more as this story is a worthwhile read. I read it in one sitting and it just had that adrenaline that you want in a story. Another excellent reading experience from this author!!
Sloan is grieving over the loss of her friend who has been a father to her. She shared with him the reason she left her childhood home and he urged her to get answers. Sloan believes her father killed her mother when she was 5 years old and while she is terrified of him, feels that the answers will provide the closure she needs to move on with her life.
Her father is the mayor of the city she grew up in and is finding his power has a far reach. He does not want her to come home and blocks her attempts for a long stay as he is aware of the reasons for her return. He is up for re-election and believes her inquiries will thwart his efforts for another term. She is forced to stay with an old friend who married her childhood boyfriend. This is awkward to Sloan as she left abruptly after her high school graduation which broke her boyfriend, Micah's heart. Sloan's friend, Paige and Micah, are divorced, but there are lingering resentments as Paige feels Sloan is the reason for the breakup. This part of the storyline unfolds masterfully as the author is able to capture the pain that Paige feels as she cannot hide that she loves Micah too much, yet Micah does not love her enough. Sloan is in the middle as Paige feels guilty for marrying her best friends boyfriend, but is not willing to give him up. And the tension between Micah and Sloan is so palpable. Their feelings have not changed but they know if they act on their feelings that the consequences will be unforgiving.
Micah is also a police officer and he is aware of Sloan's intentions for her short stay. He is compelled to help her as he has concerns with her father's behavior and believes his power with the town needs to be reigned in. They learn that Sloan's mother had secrets that divided her family and as she starts to uncover the truth, she realizes her own life is in danger.
I won't give away any more as this story is a worthwhile read. I read it in one sitting and it just had that adrenaline that you want in a story. Another excellent reading experience from this author!!
February 20, 2023
This book sucks you right in. A model, returned from a career in New York. An estranged family with a controlling father and a brother who won’t believe a word she says about what happened the night their mother disappeared. A best friend who married her ex right after she left town… and who may or may not be on her side. A cop who married a girl to do the right thing, rather than the one girl he’d always loved. This has all the makings of a really juicy soap opera, and you just can’t stop turning the pages.
But as Sloane digs deeper into the twisted history of what happened the night her mother disappeared, she starts receiving more threats. Her father controls everything in their small Texas town. Micah, her ex, now a police officer, wants to help. But the situation is complicated by the fact that Paige, his ex-wife in a nasty divorce and Sloane’s (maybe) best friend shows up at every turn, sure wanting Micah back and convinced he still has feelings for Sloane. (She may not be entirely wrong.) This was a complete page-turner!
But as Sloane digs deeper into the twisted history of what happened the night her mother disappeared, she starts receiving more threats. Her father controls everything in their small Texas town. Micah, her ex, now a police officer, wants to help. But the situation is complicated by the fact that Paige, his ex-wife in a nasty divorce and Sloane’s (maybe) best friend shows up at every turn, sure wanting Micah back and convinced he still has feelings for Sloane. (She may not be entirely wrong.) This was a complete page-turner!
February 20, 2023
Thanks to Netgalley and Harlequin for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. Expected publication December 2018
Although I finished this book on the weekend, I needed to give myself some time to reflect before I reviewed it. Before We Were Strangers attracted me for it's gorgeous cover-sure! But more importantly, I like the whole storyline of a prodigal daughter(or son) returning and trying to bring the dark family secrets out into the open. Sloane McBride, this novel's protagonist squares off with her father, now her hometown's mayor, and her older brother over the disappearance of her beloved mother when she was only 5. Brenda Novak does a brilliant job at making Daddy McBride a total douchebag and I really despised him.
From the very beginning, Sloane's father does everything to make his daughter want to leave. He's also so horrible to many characters in the book. The snake in the Garden of Eden had more value than this guy. The parts in the novel that focus on the mystery are definitely a slow burn which pretty much escalates in the last number of chapters. But since Sloane doesn't have a lot of friends, her one outlet is the handsome high school boyfriend she left behind. Like many romance novels, Sloane was a hard act to follow because even though the hottie married Sloane's childhood best friend and had a child with her. Sloane was always at the forefront of his mind. Much of the novel is consumed with this love triangle.
And that's where this book falls into 3.0 territory for me. Because I am a you gotta own up to the decisions you make in life, don't go pointing fingers at others. That's where the high school boyfriend falls into a very Nicholas Sparks type, Sloane who's facing some really intense shit( I mean she really feels her Dad killed her mother). But nope best friend and high school hottie got to talk about how Sloane was the third person in their marriage and the reason they ended up divorced. All I have to say is that is some messed up shit. You were all 18 years old and now you're parents of an eight-year-old. Grow the f----- up! I shall credit the author for invoking such a strong reaction from me, but this just wasn't my cup of joy!
Goodreads review published 14/10/18
Although I finished this book on the weekend, I needed to give myself some time to reflect before I reviewed it. Before We Were Strangers attracted me for it's gorgeous cover-sure! But more importantly, I like the whole storyline of a prodigal daughter(or son) returning and trying to bring the dark family secrets out into the open. Sloane McBride, this novel's protagonist squares off with her father, now her hometown's mayor, and her older brother over the disappearance of her beloved mother when she was only 5. Brenda Novak does a brilliant job at making Daddy McBride a total douchebag and I really despised him.
From the very beginning, Sloane's father does everything to make his daughter want to leave. He's also so horrible to many characters in the book. The snake in the Garden of Eden had more value than this guy. The parts in the novel that focus on the mystery are definitely a slow burn which pretty much escalates in the last number of chapters. But since Sloane doesn't have a lot of friends, her one outlet is the handsome high school boyfriend she left behind. Like many romance novels, Sloane was a hard act to follow because even though the hottie married Sloane's childhood best friend and had a child with her. Sloane was always at the forefront of his mind. Much of the novel is consumed with this love triangle.
And that's where this book falls into 3.0 territory for me. Because I am a you gotta own up to the decisions you make in life, don't go pointing fingers at others. That's where the high school boyfriend falls into a very Nicholas Sparks type, Sloane who's facing some really intense shit( I mean she really feels her Dad killed her mother). But nope best friend and high school hottie got to talk about how Sloane was the third person in their marriage and the reason they ended up divorced. All I have to say is that is some messed up shit. You were all 18 years old and now you're parents of an eight-year-old. Grow the f----- up! I shall credit the author for invoking such a strong reaction from me, but this just wasn't my cup of joy!
Goodreads review published 14/10/18
December 23, 2018
Sloane McBride’s mother, Clara, disappeared 23 years ago following a violent argument with her father, Ed. Sloane was only five-years old at the time but vividly recalls the details of what she saw and heard that night. She left town suddenly and without warning when she was eighteen to escape her father’s domination and emotional cruelty, leaving behind her boyfriend, Micah, and best friend, Paige. Now she’s returned home to Texas after having gained fame and success as a model to finally investigate and solve the mystery of her mother’s disappearance. At the top of her suspect list? Her father.
The story begins with the death of Sloane’s beloved agent, mentor and benefactor who had encouraged her to go back home and reconnect with her family and friends. I really felt how alone Sloane was with no real meaningful relationships to anchor her anywhere. Even her return home was met with suspicion and hostility. Every relationship was complicated, including her best friend and ex-boyfriend who had married each other, share a son and are now divorced. The reactions to her return felt real, even if some were harsh and unfair, consistent with small town dynamics.
The mystery was gnarly, taking twisty and uncertain paths, especially with unreliable witnesses who were swayed by Sloane’s influential father, the town mayor. I found Sloane pretty naive and too trusting at times, especially where it concerned Paige. The romantic element was subtle, providing some relief to the tension. I enjoyed this story for its unpredictability and mystery, thinking I had this thing figured out until a major curve ball was thrown. There are a host of characters you won’t like and everyone has their share of flaws. That just made everything more interesting.
(I received an advance copy from NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review)
The story begins with the death of Sloane’s beloved agent, mentor and benefactor who had encouraged her to go back home and reconnect with her family and friends. I really felt how alone Sloane was with no real meaningful relationships to anchor her anywhere. Even her return home was met with suspicion and hostility. Every relationship was complicated, including her best friend and ex-boyfriend who had married each other, share a son and are now divorced. The reactions to her return felt real, even if some were harsh and unfair, consistent with small town dynamics.
The mystery was gnarly, taking twisty and uncertain paths, especially with unreliable witnesses who were swayed by Sloane’s influential father, the town mayor. I found Sloane pretty naive and too trusting at times, especially where it concerned Paige. The romantic element was subtle, providing some relief to the tension. I enjoyed this story for its unpredictability and mystery, thinking I had this thing figured out until a major curve ball was thrown. There are a host of characters you won’t like and everyone has their share of flaws. That just made everything more interesting.
(I received an advance copy from NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review)
December 26, 2018
★ 2.5 STARS ★
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June 1, 2020
This was a pretty decent read. A woman goes back to her home town, in hopes to solve the mystery of her mother’s disappearance. It has its share of drama, with a love triangle.
November 3, 2018
The plot of this book is quite strong - a daughter returns to her home town after 10 years away, determined to face up to her buried suspicion that her father had something to do with the disappearance of her mother all those years ago. It promised the unearthing of buried skeletons, a mystery being untangled and the conflicting emotions tied up with such a 'prodigal' return.
Unfortunately for me it failed to deliver on some of those promises. One of the main frustrations I had was with the pace of the book, for the first two thirds it felt like hardly anything happened and then suddenly all of the action is crammed into the last third. Also it promised a 'twist' of an ending, which for me was not a surprise at all.
But my main problem was with the cliched nature of some of the writing and the juxtaposition of the characters relationships with their conversations. Hopefully this example will help illustrate my point:
I don't know about you, but nothing is more likely to turn me on than discussing the possible murder of my mother and the possibility that my father and his lover may have had something to do with it....?!?! I mean, WHAT an opportune moment for some foreplay, huh??
There is a special place in my heart for books that have really bad sex scenes in them - and I'm afraid this has made its way into that category. I think if a sex scene is genuine, it probably isn't supposed to make you laugh, and I'm afraid this one made me snigger:
Two things here - what an unnecessary description of her breasts. Secondly, AGAIN, I'm not sure that talking about your friend that died of cancer is really setting the mood here...or is it just me?
It just felt like the author was so keen to ram home the rekindling relationship between Sloane and Micah, that all thought of how people actually behave together was lost. Top this off with some of the cliched contrived plot devices (of course the first time she is reunited with her ex, Micah, Sloane just had to be wearing nothing but a towel....cue my eye roll) and it become irritating.
Apologies if this seems a harsh review, but unfortunately things like this took away from from what could have been quite a good story of intrigue, murder, family dynamics and redemption. But the clunky writing detracted from all of that.
Thanks to the Publisher and Netgalley for this preview copy in return for an honest review.
Before We Were Strangers is published on 4th December 2018 by Harlequin-Mira
All my reviews at hintonhitsthebooks.wixsite.com/blog
Unfortunately for me it failed to deliver on some of those promises. One of the main frustrations I had was with the pace of the book, for the first two thirds it felt like hardly anything happened and then suddenly all of the action is crammed into the last third. Also it promised a 'twist' of an ending, which for me was not a surprise at all.
But my main problem was with the cliched nature of some of the writing and the juxtaposition of the characters relationships with their conversations. Hopefully this example will help illustrate my point:
"Their affair for one. His womanizing. What he's said about his wife. It doesn't have to mean they murdered her"
"Or it could mean they did it together." His hand slipped between her legs as he kissed her neck(.....)
Sloane closed her eyes as his fingers evoked little darts of pleasure.
"She didn't seem to be suffering from too much regret," she said, struggling to keep her mind on their conversation."
I don't know about you, but nothing is more likely to turn me on than discussing the possible murder of my mother and the possibility that my father and his lover may have had something to do with it....?!?! I mean, WHAT an opportune moment for some foreplay, huh??
There is a special place in my heart for books that have really bad sex scenes in them - and I'm afraid this has made its way into that category. I think if a sex scene is genuine, it probably isn't supposed to make you laugh, and I'm afraid this one made me snigger:
'He ran his fingers down between her breasts, which weren't particularly large but they were perfectly formed. "But..."
"My friend was...sick"
"Clyde, right? The one who died of cancer?" She nodded as he smoothed the hair out of her face."
Two things here - what an unnecessary description of her breasts. Secondly, AGAIN, I'm not sure that talking about your friend that died of cancer is really setting the mood here...or is it just me?
It just felt like the author was so keen to ram home the rekindling relationship between Sloane and Micah, that all thought of how people actually behave together was lost. Top this off with some of the cliched contrived plot devices (of course the first time she is reunited with her ex, Micah, Sloane just had to be wearing nothing but a towel....cue my eye roll) and it become irritating.
Apologies if this seems a harsh review, but unfortunately things like this took away from from what could have been quite a good story of intrigue, murder, family dynamics and redemption. But the clunky writing detracted from all of that.
Thanks to the Publisher and Netgalley for this preview copy in return for an honest review.
Before We Were Strangers is published on 4th December 2018 by Harlequin-Mira
All my reviews at hintonhitsthebooks.wixsite.com/blog
July 15, 2019
This was my first Brenda Novak book, and probably my last.
The story was good, the writing not so much. I lost track of how many times I rolled my eyes... I actually put it down about 30 pages in because I thought the writing was going to annoy me too much.
I ended up picking it back up and read it in a day. Quick, easy read, good story, but pretty bad writing.
The story was good, the writing not so much. I lost track of how many times I rolled my eyes... I actually put it down about 30 pages in because I thought the writing was going to annoy me too much.
I ended up picking it back up and read it in a day. Quick, easy read, good story, but pretty bad writing.
December 23, 2018
This was such a pleasant surprise of a read! I had never read one of Novak's novels prior to this one so I had absolutely no idea what to expect. As soon as I read the first chapter I knew this would be a fast paced, good time of a read and it did not let me down! I would give this 4.5 stars because it filled every single expectation I had for the specific genre it is categorized as and felt like every aspect of this novel was above average! I liked and really hated the characters, which is a great thing... I had absolutely no idea how this one would end, and kept going back and forth on what I thought would happen, and when it was finally revealed in the very last couple of pages I was completely satisfied! This had a big romance element to it which I normally would not enjoy but it was done in a way that I was able to definitely tolerate it if not appreciate it for the fact that sometimes love is a bumpy, winding road and things don't work out perfectly right away. the character development like previously stated was on point to where I absolutely hated a couple of the characters and found myself really rooting for some others. The one complaint I would have, if I had to make any complaint, was that at some points the reactions of the characters seemed a little less than realistic, but that was truly on a rare occasion... I would highly recommend anyone that likes Chevy Stevens novels to go out and try one of Novak's as I felt this one read a lot like most of hers, but really anyone that likes a good murder mystery / family drama / romance should pick up this book in particular!
November 30, 2018
Well hello there Brenda Novak. My first book by her and I was a little hesitant because of the romance part.. while I do like my rom-coms, I tend to not like romance mixed in with my thrillers - but Novak has decidedly changed my mind on this with Before We Were Strangers. While the romance is a bit heavy, the plot is as twisted as the characters and this book is a breeze to read!
I absolutely admire Sloane's tenacity and as I'm rooting for her throughout this entire read, I was also like, "Oh no girl, just WHAT are you doing?!" Her character pulled me in right from the very first few pages.. and boy oh boy, in my last review I was discussing about how these books steer me clear of the desire to have ever grown up in a small town and this one also just proves my point... though if I had Micah waiting for me... well, hell.... 😉
There were a couple things that kind of stood out to me - I was giggling through one of the sex scenes because WOW I don't think I've ever seen so much dialogue happen in a sex scene before. I didn't mind it, it just seemed a bit... odd. And then there was just one typo with the reference to the Menendez Brothers being written as Melendez and you bet your sweet ass I googled it to see if there were other killers that I somehow did NOT know about because I used to research the crap out of this topic! Also, I'm reading an uncorrected proof so I digress.
What I especially love about this book is that I was going through all the ups and downs with Sloane and figuring things out WITH her rather than trying to piece mail everything together myself during my read. Ya get me? And I did let out a bit of a WTF gasp during the last few pages when something was discovered.... if you've read the book then you know what I mean. If you haven't then, well, GET ON IT.
Don't let the romance part deter you from this read - and keep an eye out for Novak. I just found another author to pile on to my bookshelves.
Thanks so much to Harlequin/MIRA books and the author for this copy.
I absolutely admire Sloane's tenacity and as I'm rooting for her throughout this entire read, I was also like, "Oh no girl, just WHAT are you doing?!" Her character pulled me in right from the very first few pages.. and boy oh boy, in my last review I was discussing about how these books steer me clear of the desire to have ever grown up in a small town and this one also just proves my point... though if I had Micah waiting for me... well, hell.... 😉
There were a couple things that kind of stood out to me - I was giggling through one of the sex scenes because WOW I don't think I've ever seen so much dialogue happen in a sex scene before. I didn't mind it, it just seemed a bit... odd. And then there was just one typo with the reference to the Menendez Brothers being written as Melendez and you bet your sweet ass I googled it to see if there were other killers that I somehow did NOT know about because I used to research the crap out of this topic! Also, I'm reading an uncorrected proof so I digress.
What I especially love about this book is that I was going through all the ups and downs with Sloane and figuring things out WITH her rather than trying to piece mail everything together myself during my read. Ya get me? And I did let out a bit of a WTF gasp during the last few pages when something was discovered.... if you've read the book then you know what I mean. If you haven't then, well, GET ON IT.
Don't let the romance part deter you from this read - and keep an eye out for Novak. I just found another author to pile on to my bookshelves.
Thanks so much to Harlequin/MIRA books and the author for this copy.
December 19, 2018
Before We Were Strangers is a great thriller. It was totally worth my time.
December 6, 2018
Brenda Novak has written another thriller that kept me turning the pages and reading every chance that I could. In her typical style, she has created realistic characters and a well thought out, interesting plot that pulled me in right away. Sloane McBride left home right after graduation, leaving her father and brother along with her boyfriend Micah and best friend Paige. Her father, Ed, is a domineering and controlling parent that Sloane has grown up believing had something to do with the disappearance of her mother. When she was five years old, she and her parents were alone at home as her brother was spending the night with a friend. She heard terrible fighting between her parents with shouting and thuds, then silence. Her mother disappeared that night. Her father claimed that she just left. On foot.
Ten years later, Sloane is a successful, famous model. When her manager/mentor died, she decided to take a year off and return home to find out what happened to her mother. She now feels strong enough to confront her father, who is now mayor and still a powerful man in the small town in Texas where she grew up. But she won't have an easy time of it. She has reconnected with Paige on social media. But Paige, who was always in love with Micah, managed to marry him and have a child. They are now divorced and he is a police officer. What a tangled mess that she walks back into. No one is really happy to see her. Paige claims to be but is she? Micah could not understand why she left without a word-then or since. Ed uses his power to block Sloane from finding a place to stay and from getting help from the police department. After all, why should he make it easy for her to ruin his life? Her brother Randy loves their father and is angry that she is back to pin their mother's supposed death on their father. Micah finally offers to help her when he sees her situation. This mystery takes us on a wild path with road blocks and surprises along the way. People are not as they seem and the story is full of jealousy, greed, dishonesty, small town politics, twists and turns. Sloane does find answers but not without encountering some danger along the way. Just when we think we have an answer to the mystery, things take a different turn and are not as clear cut as expected. But the story is edgy, suspenseful and has some romance that adds a positive touch.
I received a complimentary ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review. The thoughts expressed are mine only.
Ten years later, Sloane is a successful, famous model. When her manager/mentor died, she decided to take a year off and return home to find out what happened to her mother. She now feels strong enough to confront her father, who is now mayor and still a powerful man in the small town in Texas where she grew up. But she won't have an easy time of it. She has reconnected with Paige on social media. But Paige, who was always in love with Micah, managed to marry him and have a child. They are now divorced and he is a police officer. What a tangled mess that she walks back into. No one is really happy to see her. Paige claims to be but is she? Micah could not understand why she left without a word-then or since. Ed uses his power to block Sloane from finding a place to stay and from getting help from the police department. After all, why should he make it easy for her to ruin his life? Her brother Randy loves their father and is angry that she is back to pin their mother's supposed death on their father. Micah finally offers to help her when he sees her situation. This mystery takes us on a wild path with road blocks and surprises along the way. People are not as they seem and the story is full of jealousy, greed, dishonesty, small town politics, twists and turns. Sloane does find answers but not without encountering some danger along the way. Just when we think we have an answer to the mystery, things take a different turn and are not as clear cut as expected. But the story is edgy, suspenseful and has some romance that adds a positive touch.
I received a complimentary ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review. The thoughts expressed are mine only.
April 2, 2018
Another great book by Brenda Novak! Once I started, I couldn't put it down. I was so completely invested in the characters and their story - I had to know how the story ended.
February 24, 2018
Thank you to Harlequin Mira and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a copy in advanced in exchange for this review.
Something happened to Sloan's mom when she was 5. She woke up one morning to find her gone. Sloane moves out of her Texas small town when she is 18. A new loss means that she is returning. What will be in store for her as she seeks answers?
There was so much potential here for a great read! A childhood mystery, so called "friends", and questions surrounding a father...
However, I found myself rolling my eyes quite a few times during the story. There's a lot of excessive detail that makes you go "yeah, right". The first time I rolled my eyes was with Sloane's modeling career and the loss that causes her to return to Texas. Immediately, something just didn't feel right, especially as she ends up at an old friend's house. I rolled my eyes again when the friend's ex-husband, who also happens to be Sloane's ex-boyfriend (are you still with me?) arrives at the house where Sloane is staying, and she's in nothing but a towel. His reaction is immediately to question why she left in the first place....ten years ago. Maybe you should have moved on? Somehow, I powered through the rest of the book, and it's amazing that my eyes did not get stuck in my head from rolling. I think the book could have been better without some of the eye rolling details and getting straight to the point.
Something happened to Sloan's mom when she was 5. She woke up one morning to find her gone. Sloane moves out of her Texas small town when she is 18. A new loss means that she is returning. What will be in store for her as she seeks answers?
There was so much potential here for a great read! A childhood mystery, so called "friends", and questions surrounding a father...
However, I found myself rolling my eyes quite a few times during the story. There's a lot of excessive detail that makes you go "yeah, right". The first time I rolled my eyes was with Sloane's modeling career and the loss that causes her to return to Texas. Immediately, something just didn't feel right, especially as she ends up at an old friend's house. I rolled my eyes again when the friend's ex-husband, who also happens to be Sloane's ex-boyfriend (are you still with me?) arrives at the house where Sloane is staying, and she's in nothing but a towel. His reaction is immediately to question why she left in the first place....ten years ago. Maybe you should have moved on? Somehow, I powered through the rest of the book, and it's amazing that my eyes did not get stuck in my head from rolling. I think the book could have been better without some of the eye rolling details and getting straight to the point.
December 7, 2018
Before We Were Strangers by Brenda Novak
Suspense. Fast paced and gripping.
Wouldn’t really call it romance. There is a romance but the couple were high school sweethearts and kind of just fall back into that.
The story is fully focused on the investigation of a couple of cold cases of murder. Murder of family that puts the suspicion directly in the immediate family.
Sloane’s father, the Mayor, has so much power and has no principles when leveraging that power. A very ugly person.
Sloane’s former best friend has some serious confidence problems. She really messes up both her life and others by the choices she makes. I would love to see a follow up about Paige, but I don’t think she can totally reverse from her base line “me” thinking.
Overall I liked the suspense and story telling.
Suspense. Fast paced and gripping.
Wouldn’t really call it romance. There is a romance but the couple were high school sweethearts and kind of just fall back into that.
The story is fully focused on the investigation of a couple of cold cases of murder. Murder of family that puts the suspicion directly in the immediate family.
Sloane’s father, the Mayor, has so much power and has no principles when leveraging that power. A very ugly person.
Sloane’s former best friend has some serious confidence problems. She really messes up both her life and others by the choices she makes. I would love to see a follow up about Paige, but I don’t think she can totally reverse from her base line “me” thinking.
Overall I liked the suspense and story telling.
March 25, 2019
Sloane was five years old when her mother disappeared. Sloane remembers hearing her parents argue, and the next day her mother was gone. Sloane left home at eighteen, moved to New York, and started a career as a model. She has done well for herself, but she has always felt there was more to the story about her mother. A loving mother doesn't just walk away from her children. Sloane decides to move back to her small town and finally discover what happened to her mother.
Sloane is an interesting character. She moved away from home as soon as she could, and she did well for herself. She's smart, independent, and determined. When she left home, she left behind a father she didn't get along with, a brother who did whatever their father said, a high school boyfriend who loved her, and a childhood best friend. After years away, Sloane's relationship with everyone is different when she returns to her hometown.
A suspenseful mystery with plenty of drama. Family drama, mystery, and a little romance make this a compelling read.
Sloane is an interesting character. She moved away from home as soon as she could, and she did well for herself. She's smart, independent, and determined. When she left home, she left behind a father she didn't get along with, a brother who did whatever their father said, a high school boyfriend who loved her, and a childhood best friend. After years away, Sloane's relationship with everyone is different when she returns to her hometown.
A suspenseful mystery with plenty of drama. Family drama, mystery, and a little romance make this a compelling read.
July 10, 2019
This book was awful. I kept with it because I wanted to know who did it. However, the conclusion was unfulfilling. The reason for the 1 star was because of how poorly this book was written. The dialogue was ridiculous. I kept asking myself if anyone would really talk like this. The moronic dialogue was simply too distracting to take this thriller seriously.
August 17, 2018
The storyline and characters just fell flat for me. It was almost 300 pages into the book before anything really came to the boiling point with the storyline, and then things moved so quickly to the ending and the wrap-up/final twist. The premise was a good one, but something made me not connect.
August 22, 2024
This was such a fun buddy read with Nenia!
Summary
A super juicy, dramatic thriller. Supermodel Sloane McBride returns to her small Texas hometown after ten years with no contact. For Sloane's entire life, her mother's mysterious disappearance has plagued her; now, she's determined to uncover the truth. Back in Millcreek, Sloane must reckon with old heartbreak, jealousies, and secrets. It seems like no one in town can be trusted--not to mention that Sloane's mayor father seems to have it out for her. After so many years have passed, will Sloane finally find out what happened to her mother?
Comments
So far, I've enjoyed every Brenda Novak book I've read; Before We Were Strangers was no exception. This book relied on the 'small town, big secrets trope,' which never seems to get old.
The entire town's disinterest and lack of suspicion regarding Sloane's mother's disappearance was really amusing to me. But at the same time, I've listened to enough true crime podcasts to know that this situation--everyone knowing something is off, but doing nothing about it--is far from outlandish.
I find most thrillers so similar and formulaic that, unless they're truly unique and innovative, it's hard for me to rate them higher than three-stars. However, I was undeniably entertained!
Summary
A super juicy, dramatic thriller. Supermodel Sloane McBride returns to her small Texas hometown after ten years with no contact. For Sloane's entire life, her mother's mysterious disappearance has plagued her; now, she's determined to uncover the truth. Back in Millcreek, Sloane must reckon with old heartbreak, jealousies, and secrets. It seems like no one in town can be trusted--not to mention that Sloane's mayor father seems to have it out for her. After so many years have passed, will Sloane finally find out what happened to her mother?
Comments
So far, I've enjoyed every Brenda Novak book I've read; Before We Were Strangers was no exception. This book relied on the 'small town, big secrets trope,' which never seems to get old.
The entire town's disinterest and lack of suspicion regarding Sloane's mother's disappearance was really amusing to me. But at the same time, I've listened to enough true crime podcasts to know that this situation--everyone knowing something is off, but doing nothing about it--is far from outlandish.
I find most thrillers so similar and formulaic that, unless they're truly unique and innovative, it's hard for me to rate them higher than three-stars. However, I was undeniably entertained!
November 28, 2018
Having read the Evelyn Talbot chronicles, I knew Novak could write a captivating series; having now read Before We Were Strangers, it’s clear Novak can write a captivating standalone novel too! I read this book over the course of a day, it was so suspenseful, there was no way I could put it down part way through!
Let’s look firstly at the mystery in this novel – Sloane returns to her home town to find out what really happened to her mother. Sloane was only five when her mother left, she had a difficult childhood growing up with her father, as the blurb states, she fears her father wasn’t just difficult, but deadly! Let’s focus on that on that word, deadly, did her father kill her mother? That’s one hell of a mystery to solve, made all the more difficult by the strained relationship she has with her father and brother.
This mystery will have you back-and-forthing on Sloane’s father’s guilt, one minute, you’re sure he’s a murderer, the next minute you’re supporting his innocence, but what never goes away is your dislike for him – what a horrid man! He was a great character, as was Sloane’s brother, Randy, these two really gave you a focus for your dislike! As much as you disliked them was as much as you liked Sloane, she’s the kind of character who is instantly likeable, she may make a few unwise decisions, inadvertently putting herself in danger, but you root for her the whole time, and hope she can find her closure.
This plot oozes tension, especially as it’s set in a small-town, so not only does everyone know everyone, but rumours spread like wildfire. If you love the claustrophobia novels set in small-towns bring, the dark, tense atmosphere, then you absolutely need to read this novel.
Also, if you enjoy romantic suspense/thrillers, you absolutely need to read this novel. There is a strong romance element to this novel; when I think romance books, I shy away from them, but when Novak writes romance in her plots, I find them addictive and thrilling – there’s always a threat hanging over the romance and that danger element makes it exciting. If the plot’s dark, the romance isn’t ‘fluffy, they’re so cute’ romance, it’s more like ‘ride or die’ romance, as in ‘I’m coming with you because you could die if you go alone!’ The point I’m making, don’t let the word ‘romantic’ scare you off! Crime fiction, psychological thriller, women’s fiction, whatever your preference, I still recommend this book! Anyway, Sloane is super likeable, you go girl, go get your man, just don’t die before you get your happily ever after!
The plot is twisted, you’ll meet some twisted characters, rife with suspense and tension, you’ll be gripped until the very last page! The complex conflicts and the heightened emotions will ensure you stay hooked, family-ties and friendships are pushed to breaking point. In this small-town, Sloane must fight through the betrayal and lies to find the truth about what happened to her mother.
*My thanks to DaVaughn Smith (Author Brenda Novak Representative) for providing me with a digital copy of this novel*
Let’s look firstly at the mystery in this novel – Sloane returns to her home town to find out what really happened to her mother. Sloane was only five when her mother left, she had a difficult childhood growing up with her father, as the blurb states, she fears her father wasn’t just difficult, but deadly! Let’s focus on that on that word, deadly, did her father kill her mother? That’s one hell of a mystery to solve, made all the more difficult by the strained relationship she has with her father and brother.
This mystery will have you back-and-forthing on Sloane’s father’s guilt, one minute, you’re sure he’s a murderer, the next minute you’re supporting his innocence, but what never goes away is your dislike for him – what a horrid man! He was a great character, as was Sloane’s brother, Randy, these two really gave you a focus for your dislike! As much as you disliked them was as much as you liked Sloane, she’s the kind of character who is instantly likeable, she may make a few unwise decisions, inadvertently putting herself in danger, but you root for her the whole time, and hope she can find her closure.
This plot oozes tension, especially as it’s set in a small-town, so not only does everyone know everyone, but rumours spread like wildfire. If you love the claustrophobia novels set in small-towns bring, the dark, tense atmosphere, then you absolutely need to read this novel.
Also, if you enjoy romantic suspense/thrillers, you absolutely need to read this novel. There is a strong romance element to this novel; when I think romance books, I shy away from them, but when Novak writes romance in her plots, I find them addictive and thrilling – there’s always a threat hanging over the romance and that danger element makes it exciting. If the plot’s dark, the romance isn’t ‘fluffy, they’re so cute’ romance, it’s more like ‘ride or die’ romance, as in ‘I’m coming with you because you could die if you go alone!’ The point I’m making, don’t let the word ‘romantic’ scare you off! Crime fiction, psychological thriller, women’s fiction, whatever your preference, I still recommend this book! Anyway, Sloane is super likeable, you go girl, go get your man, just don’t die before you get your happily ever after!
The plot is twisted, you’ll meet some twisted characters, rife with suspense and tension, you’ll be gripped until the very last page! The complex conflicts and the heightened emotions will ensure you stay hooked, family-ties and friendships are pushed to breaking point. In this small-town, Sloane must fight through the betrayal and lies to find the truth about what happened to her mother.
*My thanks to DaVaughn Smith (Author Brenda Novak Representative) for providing me with a digital copy of this novel*
October 27, 2018
Brenda Novak really knows how to weave a great story! What would you do if you thought your Father had murdered your Mom? Sloane won't stop until she finds out the truth of what happened on that night twenty three years ago. This book is full of twists and kept me turning the pages well into the night. It is full of mystery and suspense, but also a touch of romance. Full of richly detailed characters that are true to life. This book will definitely keep your interest throughout. Just when you think you have it all figured out, bam, a new revelation emerges. Incredible writing with believable dialogue. I loved this book!! I highly recommend this one!!
December 26, 2018
4.5 Stars
This is my first Brenda Novak novel and honestly the cover did me in. I thought the the cover was really pretty. I was sucked by the summary and I’ve seen this author everywhere. Had it not been the cover, I probably would have passed on this one.
I did the audio version and I 100% think the narrator made the book for me. I love listening to her voice. I tend to like to listen to higher pitched voices and I could have listened to her all day. This is my first book by Ann Marie Gideon and it will not be the last. I enjoyed her voice a lot. She reads well, I love her voice transitions and it was just a pleasure listening to her read.
This is a murder mystery book that will suck you in. I will have to say that the book isn’t really romance. There is a romance story, but the steam level is pretty mild and the tension between the two is kind of the secondary storyline to the main one the entire book is focused on. Usually if I read that in a review I would be turned off, but the book is written so well, I didn’t mind.
Sloane hasn’t been back in town in ten years. She never had a good childhood and once she turned 18 she was ready to leave. The only thing is, she left her high school boyfriend.
A lot can happen in ten years.
Sloane was a model in New Year and is coming back to her roots. She wants to figure out what happened to her mother and who killed her.
Micah made a life for himself. He is now divorced and has a son. Did I like that Micah hooked up with Sloane’s best friend after Sloane left? No, BUT it added great tension to the story. The author knows how to write good tension. I really liked the ex tension. She was a villain I loved to listen too.
Sloane believes her dad was somehow involved in her mother’s disappearance and boy did I like trying to figure out what happened to her mother. The narrator did such a wonder impression of the father that every time I listened to him I got goose bumps.
Like I said, the best part of the book was the build-up and tension. The author knows how to write a pretty picture. You have Sloane and Micah with unresolved issues. You have the father causing trouble for Sloane and you have Micah’s ex and Sloane’s best friend causing grief. There was plenty to read and plenty to suck you in.
I think if you are interested in a crime novel with slight romance, this book is for you and you must do it in audio!
This is my first Brenda Novak novel and honestly the cover did me in. I thought the the cover was really pretty. I was sucked by the summary and I’ve seen this author everywhere. Had it not been the cover, I probably would have passed on this one.
I did the audio version and I 100% think the narrator made the book for me. I love listening to her voice. I tend to like to listen to higher pitched voices and I could have listened to her all day. This is my first book by Ann Marie Gideon and it will not be the last. I enjoyed her voice a lot. She reads well, I love her voice transitions and it was just a pleasure listening to her read.
This is a murder mystery book that will suck you in. I will have to say that the book isn’t really romance. There is a romance story, but the steam level is pretty mild and the tension between the two is kind of the secondary storyline to the main one the entire book is focused on. Usually if I read that in a review I would be turned off, but the book is written so well, I didn’t mind.
Sloane hasn’t been back in town in ten years. She never had a good childhood and once she turned 18 she was ready to leave. The only thing is, she left her high school boyfriend.
A lot can happen in ten years.
Sloane was a model in New Year and is coming back to her roots. She wants to figure out what happened to her mother and who killed her.
Micah made a life for himself. He is now divorced and has a son. Did I like that Micah hooked up with Sloane’s best friend after Sloane left? No, BUT it added great tension to the story. The author knows how to write good tension. I really liked the ex tension. She was a villain I loved to listen too.
Sloane believes her dad was somehow involved in her mother’s disappearance and boy did I like trying to figure out what happened to her mother. The narrator did such a wonder impression of the father that every time I listened to him I got goose bumps.
Like I said, the best part of the book was the build-up and tension. The author knows how to write a pretty picture. You have Sloane and Micah with unresolved issues. You have the father causing trouble for Sloane and you have Micah’s ex and Sloane’s best friend causing grief. There was plenty to read and plenty to suck you in.
I think if you are interested in a crime novel with slight romance, this book is for you and you must do it in audio!
January 4, 2021
This novel had more romance than I usually like, but the basic story of a young woman returning to her hometown (after being gone for ten years) to try to discover the reasons why her mother went missing when she was a child was interesting. Did her father kill her mother, or is there some other explanation for a loving mother’s disappearance? The father is a nasty piece of work, a small town despot who is accustomed to getting his way. The sweetheart she left behind is there, loving and helping as much as he can. The novel has an easy, progressive style capped off with the traditional unveiling of the killer.
October 8, 2024
I liked more the mystery part than the love story between the characters.
There is a mystery that is the focus of this book, and it’s the disappearance of the heroine’s mother when she was only 5, and the heroine saw her and her father fighting just the night when she disappeared.
Her father is a very rich and influential man in a small town and the heroine has always wondered what happened to her mother.
She had a boyfriend during high school and they were very much in love, but this didn’t stop her from moving away and leaving his sorry ass without even a thank you sir after having sex with him which if you ask me was a very rude and insensitive thing to do.
She moved to ny and became a supermodel for vogue, but this doesn’t seem to make her happy, who knows why since it doesn’t seem to me a rough fate to be rich, beautiful, young and famous and with a job that is super glamorous, and that has as a benefit the company of the most handsome men in the world. Meh.
Anyhooo.
Her bff aka mentor dies and she finds herself without a home, even if, being a vogue model she should have some pin money stacked somewhere to buy some meager house. She decides she wants to go back to her lil mean quaint old country hometown because it’s time she found out what happened to her mother. She tried to look for her with a pi but she never succeeded.
She has been in touch in the last year with her former bff, who, guess what, has married her boyfriend not even one year after the heroine moved away.
Talking about chicks over d1cks.
They’re divorced now, and the heroine accepts the offer of the bff to go and live with her and the child she had with the hero until she finds a house to rent.
Ok, that was a bit ott for me. It would have been all right if the heroine were really over the ex, which she was not, and if her boyfriend were also good with her being gone like that, because ok, they were high school and it their story had ended and they were both emotionally over that, I wouldn’t find anything wrong, because after ten years they could be laugh all together about the time they were a couple.
Sadly this isn’t the case.
Because the hero only married ow because he got her pregnant and never loved her at all, and ow has always had a crush on the hero, even when he was with the heroine, and even after she left him and after they were married, she was always obsessed and jealous of her and never trusted him at all, so that in the end he gave her everything and beyond to get rid of her and divorce her, even if the heroine was not in the picture.
I must admit that, even if there are many unpleasant characters in this romance, the heroine’s friend and ow was the worst of all.
She tried to steal the hero when he and the heroine were a couple, she seduced him when the heroine left and she got pregnant on purpose when he was going to dump her. She was nasty during their divorce, and afterwards she betrayed the heroine trust pretending to be her friend, all the time being jealous of her and behaving as if the heroine was the one to steal the hero from her, when it was always her. I only enjoyed that the hero didn’t love her, ever and emotionally cheated on her for years stalking the heroine on the socials and keeping her pictures and the newspaper where she modeled. Ow deserved it. Of course she knew it was alway the heroine for the hero, he was madly in love with her and the heroine was the one that got away, so she always was his secret and unattainable dream woman. The hero never told her ily, and never tried to pretend to love her, even if he told her that he and the heroine were over, since he never thought he would see her again.
The reasons for the heroine leaving in such a hurry and ghosting all her friends and the poor hero were imo very flimsy. She didn’t like her father and wanted to be out of his influence but what she did to the hero was really unforgivable.
They were in love, and the hero wanted to marry her, but she thought that, since he didn’t want to leave his town she didn’t want him to sacrifice himself to be with her.
I mean, it’s not as if he had so many opportunities in that town to begin with, no career as a professional athlete, no promises of rockstar, no nothing, in the end he became a cop, that’s all, and he should have been in another town with her so I found that she was selfish and careless and not at all thinking for what was best for him. He could have very well followed her in NY snd they would have been happy together.
I hate when one partner makes decisions presuming to know what the other wants.
The hero was shattered and drove himself through all Texas looking for her, and was heartbroken for months, I mean, she didn’t even sent him a text.
Ok, I didn’t like that he shagged her bff and got her pregnant but I suppose that in a small town where everyone knows everyone and there are limited options, ow surely must have attached to him with glues until his18 yo hormonal self gave in and he used her as a stress reliever.
Not nice but what the heroine did was even less nice.
So, back to present.
The heroine starts to ask around town about her mother and she finds out her father basically is trying to ban her from town, she can’t find a place to live and even her brother threatens and even rough her up in a very disturbing scene.
The hero in the meantime understands he wants her back and forever, even if she has all the intentions to leave town as soon as she finds out about her mother.
So, I won’t spoil the mystery because it was very good to read.
About the romance part, she and the hero are back together of course even though ow tries in every way to stop them from reconciling.
No way, and the hero was very determined in that, he loves the heroine and always had.
I mean, ow is delusional. How could she think she was able to replace the heroine, a supermodel who was the one who got away and the hero never forgot?
She should never have gone after him, as the heroines father, who is a piece of work, told her in a very good and satisfying way.
Double standards. No, the heroine moved on. She had three men during ten years, I think they lasted some time because it’s never said they were ONS, and she admits she was with a hockey player for six months. But she had only mediocre sex, I suppose only missionary which is sad and which is why I didn’t rate more. Because let’s be honest, there’s always this ugly old thing that women don’t have the right to good sex with more partners during their lives while men have great sex with dozens of different women. Why is that? Does having good sex with other men beside the hero make a woman less worthy of being loved? Is sex still considered a distasteful duty to be enjoyed only with one person in your life? Because this is so very wrong.
Whatever.
I also didn’t like the end too much, when the heroine finds out the truth about her mother, the final is rushed and it skips to one year and a half later when all things are already solved. Pity.
I enjoyed the book, because the plot was good, and even if I was not very into the characters they were well defined and complex, and in the end it was well balanced.
There is a mystery that is the focus of this book, and it’s the disappearance of the heroine’s mother when she was only 5, and the heroine saw her and her father fighting just the night when she disappeared.
Her father is a very rich and influential man in a small town and the heroine has always wondered what happened to her mother.
She had a boyfriend during high school and they were very much in love, but this didn’t stop her from moving away and leaving his sorry ass without even a thank you sir after having sex with him which if you ask me was a very rude and insensitive thing to do.
She moved to ny and became a supermodel for vogue, but this doesn’t seem to make her happy, who knows why since it doesn’t seem to me a rough fate to be rich, beautiful, young and famous and with a job that is super glamorous, and that has as a benefit the company of the most handsome men in the world. Meh.
Anyhooo.
Her bff aka mentor dies and she finds herself without a home, even if, being a vogue model she should have some pin money stacked somewhere to buy some meager house. She decides she wants to go back to her lil mean quaint old country hometown because it’s time she found out what happened to her mother. She tried to look for her with a pi but she never succeeded.
She has been in touch in the last year with her former bff, who, guess what, has married her boyfriend not even one year after the heroine moved away.
Talking about chicks over d1cks.
They’re divorced now, and the heroine accepts the offer of the bff to go and live with her and the child she had with the hero until she finds a house to rent.
Ok, that was a bit ott for me. It would have been all right if the heroine were really over the ex, which she was not, and if her boyfriend were also good with her being gone like that, because ok, they were high school and it their story had ended and they were both emotionally over that, I wouldn’t find anything wrong, because after ten years they could be laugh all together about the time they were a couple.
Sadly this isn’t the case.
Because the hero only married ow because he got her pregnant and never loved her at all, and ow has always had a crush on the hero, even when he was with the heroine, and even after she left him and after they were married, she was always obsessed and jealous of her and never trusted him at all, so that in the end he gave her everything and beyond to get rid of her and divorce her, even if the heroine was not in the picture.
I must admit that, even if there are many unpleasant characters in this romance, the heroine’s friend and ow was the worst of all.
She tried to steal the hero when he and the heroine were a couple, she seduced him when the heroine left and she got pregnant on purpose when he was going to dump her. She was nasty during their divorce, and afterwards she betrayed the heroine trust pretending to be her friend, all the time being jealous of her and behaving as if the heroine was the one to steal the hero from her, when it was always her. I only enjoyed that the hero didn’t love her, ever and emotionally cheated on her for years stalking the heroine on the socials and keeping her pictures and the newspaper where she modeled. Ow deserved it. Of course she knew it was alway the heroine for the hero, he was madly in love with her and the heroine was the one that got away, so she always was his secret and unattainable dream woman. The hero never told her ily, and never tried to pretend to love her, even if he told her that he and the heroine were over, since he never thought he would see her again.
The reasons for the heroine leaving in such a hurry and ghosting all her friends and the poor hero were imo very flimsy. She didn’t like her father and wanted to be out of his influence but what she did to the hero was really unforgivable.
They were in love, and the hero wanted to marry her, but she thought that, since he didn’t want to leave his town she didn’t want him to sacrifice himself to be with her.
I mean, it’s not as if he had so many opportunities in that town to begin with, no career as a professional athlete, no promises of rockstar, no nothing, in the end he became a cop, that’s all, and he should have been in another town with her so I found that she was selfish and careless and not at all thinking for what was best for him. He could have very well followed her in NY snd they would have been happy together.
I hate when one partner makes decisions presuming to know what the other wants.
The hero was shattered and drove himself through all Texas looking for her, and was heartbroken for months, I mean, she didn’t even sent him a text.
Ok, I didn’t like that he shagged her bff and got her pregnant but I suppose that in a small town where everyone knows everyone and there are limited options, ow surely must have attached to him with glues until his18 yo hormonal self gave in and he used her as a stress reliever.
Not nice but what the heroine did was even less nice.
So, back to present.
The heroine starts to ask around town about her mother and she finds out her father basically is trying to ban her from town, she can’t find a place to live and even her brother threatens and even rough her up in a very disturbing scene.
The hero in the meantime understands he wants her back and forever, even if she has all the intentions to leave town as soon as she finds out about her mother.
So, I won’t spoil the mystery because it was very good to read.
About the romance part, she and the hero are back together of course even though ow tries in every way to stop them from reconciling.
No way, and the hero was very determined in that, he loves the heroine and always had.
I mean, ow is delusional. How could she think she was able to replace the heroine, a supermodel who was the one who got away and the hero never forgot?
She should never have gone after him, as the heroines father, who is a piece of work, told her in a very good and satisfying way.
Double standards. No, the heroine moved on. She had three men during ten years, I think they lasted some time because it’s never said they were ONS, and she admits she was with a hockey player for six months. But she had only mediocre sex, I suppose only missionary which is sad and which is why I didn’t rate more. Because let’s be honest, there’s always this ugly old thing that women don’t have the right to good sex with more partners during their lives while men have great sex with dozens of different women. Why is that? Does having good sex with other men beside the hero make a woman less worthy of being loved? Is sex still considered a distasteful duty to be enjoyed only with one person in your life? Because this is so very wrong.
Whatever.
I also didn’t like the end too much, when the heroine finds out the truth about her mother, the final is rushed and it skips to one year and a half later when all things are already solved. Pity.
I enjoyed the book, because the plot was good, and even if I was not very into the characters they were well defined and complex, and in the end it was well balanced.
December 4, 2018
This is the first time a Brenda Novak book has been on my TBR list because I assumed she wrote mostly romance novels, which is not one of my favorite genres. However, Before We Were Strangers has been a most pleasant surprise: it is a contemporary mystery thriller that captures the reader's attention from the first page. Sloane McBride, at age 5, overheard her parents having a violent argument. The next morning, her mother had disappeared, never to be seen again. This abandonment stayed with the child into adulthood. She left her hometown in Texas as soon as she was 18, leaving behind her best friend and her boyfriend Micah. She returned 10 years later because she was convinced that her rich and powerful father was responsible for whatever happened to her mother. With Micah's help, they proceed to dig up the past in order to solve her mother's probable murder, in spite of her father's and brother's obstruction of their investigation. This is a whodunit that will stay with the reader, long after the last page. I look forward to more novels by Brenda Novak. Thank you to Mira Books and NetGalley for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
January 26, 2019
When Sloane McBride was five years old she overheard her parents arguing and the next morning her mom was gone never to be heard from again. Her father kept trying to convince her that her mother just left. Then at eighteen Sloane leaves her hometown of Millcreek, Texas, leaving behind her best friend, Paige, and her boyfriend, Micah Evans. Now ten years later she feels she can deal with the situation and finally find out what really happened all those years ago. But she has more to deal with since her best friend and boyfriend got married and had a son. Now they are divorced and Paige is trying to reconnect. And Micah is now a member of the police force.
I like the style of writing of this author. There are enough twists and turns that kept me guessing and I enjoyed it.
I like the style of writing of this author. There are enough twists and turns that kept me guessing and I enjoyed it.
May 26, 2018
This is a gripping suspense/thriller from Brenda Novak about a young woman who returns to her hometown after 10 years away to figure out what happened to her mother who disappeared when she was only five years old. She suspects her egotistical father has something to do with it. The plot has a lot of twists and turns and really kept me reading. Great characters with all the flaws and frailties to make this story so believable.
December 27, 2018
I tore into Novak's latest, which tells of Sloane, a model whose mother disappeared mysteriously when Sloane was five. Now an adult, Sloane travels back to her hometown to unravel the dark secrets of her past. Equal parts suspense and family drama -- you will love it!
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