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Whiskey Creek #2
When Snow Falls
“Full of mystery, humor, and oh-so sexy scenes. I couldn’t wait to see if love would win in the end.”—First for WomenAfter growing up in cheap motels, moving from town to town with her sister and mother, Cheyenne Christensen is grateful to be on her own. She’s grateful, too, for the friends she found once her family settled in California. But she’s troubled by the mystery of her earliest memories, most of which feature a smiling blonde woman. A woman who isn’t her mother.Although Cheyenne has repeatedly asked for explanations, the people who could help aren’t talking. Cheyenne is set on finding answers, but without so much as a birth certificate, it won’t be easy.Things get even more complicated when her closest friend is attracted to the man Cheyenne has secretly loved for years. For Eve’s sake, she decides to step aside—which lands her right in the arms of Dylan Amos, oldest and baddest of the hell-raising Amos brothers. He’s the kind of guy she’s sworn to avoid. She can’t afford to make a mistake, not when she finally has a chance to learn who she really is and change her life for the better. But…maybe there’s more to Dylan than she thought. Maybe letting him go would be a bigger mistake.Previously publishedDon’t miss Brenda Novak’s latest book, When I Found You!
446 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 23, 2012
457 people are currently reading
2995 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 494 reviews
November 20, 2013
I enjoyed this book. I did however have some issues with the wishy washy hot and cold heroine. She changed her mind often and hurt the hero in the process again and again. I don't know why he stuck with her. I would have liked more time in his POV. I really liked him and would have liked a bit more insight into why he liked her in the first place. It seemed to come out of the blue. Also the book started oddly. He wasn't in it for the longest time. It seemed like Joe was going to be the hero instead. Very odd author choice there.
Still I love this series and can't wait for the next book as I'm all caught up with Whiskey Creek now. :-(
Still I love this series and can't wait for the next book as I'm all caught up with Whiskey Creek now. :-(
December 4, 2018
I had a few problems with Cheyenne and Dylan’s romance, or more specifically issues with Chey. She is a 31 year old virgin, wanted to save it for someone special. She wanted someone like Joe, whom she has had a crush on since high school. But when her friend Eve lets it be known that she also has a crush, Chey just steps to the side and lets Eve have at him. Then Dylan makes one off the cuff remark to Chey and the next thing you know, Chey and Dylan are in bed. Even in romantic fiction, for me that made no sense and they had no connection. Devlin had been watching Chey from afar. Don’t get me wrong, I loved Dylan and thought he was a standup guy. After all he took on his brothers after his dad was put in prison and his mom died when he was a kid. He had a bad boy image, but that all shaped the man he was today.
Chey drove me insane with her wanting to hide Dylan and their relationship from the town. But she was still mooning over Joe. Ugh. The love scenes happened off page and the book practically read at chic-lit. So if you want details, you won’t be happy with this book. Chey’s relationship with her mother and sister was also a sore point. Chey was just too wimpy, especially when she knew that she was being fed lies. Presley, Chey’s sister practically took over the book. Her and Aaron’s book is going to be pretty interesting to say the least. While I had issues with the book, I will still pick up the next one.
Chey drove me insane with her wanting to hide Dylan and their relationship from the town. But she was still mooning over Joe. Ugh. The love scenes happened off page and the book practically read at chic-lit. So if you want details, you won’t be happy with this book. Chey’s relationship with her mother and sister was also a sore point. Chey was just too wimpy, especially when she knew that she was being fed lies. Presley, Chey’s sister practically took over the book. Her and Aaron’s book is going to be pretty interesting to say the least. While I had issues with the book, I will still pick up the next one.
February 9, 2017
Really enjoyed this book, stayed up till 2am because I couldn't put it down. It was tough to read in spots, the heroine's had a very difficult life and reading about her abusive childhood was hard but it was really great watching her rise above all the obstacles.
What can I say about the Hero, Dylan? He's one of the best Heroes I've read in a very long time. Loved him!
What can I say about the Hero, Dylan? He's one of the best Heroes I've read in a very long time. Loved him!
March 18, 2022
Brenda Novak is one of my favorite authors and I'm loving her more and more with every book by her I read. When Snow Falls literally had me hooked from page one. Cheyenne has survived an extremely difficult childhood with her sister Presley. Together they are dealing with their mother dying from cancer. Along the way they experience a roller coaster of events and feelings, however, each ends up uncovering secrets and finding their way. The themes of this book are family, secrets, love, and overcoming life's obstacles. I definitely recommend this book and I cannot wait to read the next in the series.
October 13, 2013
Simply ADORED this book...there are only few words needed to describe it...Wonderful, Charming, and Heartwarming. Following Cheyenne on her journey of self-discovery was a ride of a lifetime and I would have only wanted one man by my side...Dylan Amos.
Yes, you do need to read a good ways into the book until you meet Dylan, but there is so much you need to learn about Chey and the women that she "thought" were her family, but maybe she has been lied to all along. We get to know Cheyenne, what kind of daughter she is, what kind of friend she is, what kind of career-minded woman she is...She is simply someone that has never really walked on the wild side and once she meets Dylan Amos...oh boy does she want to walk on the wild side with him.
Dylan Amos is...just an amazing hero. I fell in love at first sight and never looked back. He is supposed to be this bad-ass hell raiser, but he is really just the man who held his family together when they could have fallen apart, he worked hard to raise his three younger brothers and he unfortunately carries a bad reputation from his younger days around with him. I love the dynamic between Dylan and Chey, the sparks, the magic, and then the words get lost in translation...I was so frustrated but yet it was so real to me. I just loved them together, and I was miserable when they were apart.
When Snow Falls tells a story of friendship, family loyalty, and finding the one person who loves you no matter what. You will fall in love with this story, so make room on your Keeper Shelf for this one. I honestly would recommend reading the series in order, starting with When Lightening Strikes, but if you are looking to snuggle up with a wonderful romance one a cool, fall night, I'd pick this one hands down!!
Enjoy and Happy Reading!!
Yes, you do need to read a good ways into the book until you meet Dylan, but there is so much you need to learn about Chey and the women that she "thought" were her family, but maybe she has been lied to all along. We get to know Cheyenne, what kind of daughter she is, what kind of friend she is, what kind of career-minded woman she is...She is simply someone that has never really walked on the wild side and once she meets Dylan Amos...oh boy does she want to walk on the wild side with him.
Dylan Amos is...just an amazing hero. I fell in love at first sight and never looked back. He is supposed to be this bad-ass hell raiser, but he is really just the man who held his family together when they could have fallen apart, he worked hard to raise his three younger brothers and he unfortunately carries a bad reputation from his younger days around with him. I love the dynamic between Dylan and Chey, the sparks, the magic, and then the words get lost in translation...I was so frustrated but yet it was so real to me. I just loved them together, and I was miserable when they were apart.
When Snow Falls tells a story of friendship, family loyalty, and finding the one person who loves you no matter what. You will fall in love with this story, so make room on your Keeper Shelf for this one. I honestly would recommend reading the series in order, starting with When Lightening Strikes, but if you are looking to snuggle up with a wonderful romance one a cool, fall night, I'd pick this one hands down!!
Enjoy and Happy Reading!!
February 1, 2013
*ARC received from Netgalley on October 8th 2012*
This and other reveiws can be found on my blog: (un)Conventional Bookviews.
I just love the Whiskey Creek series and When Snow Falls is no exception! It is well written, with fleshed-out characters who try to do the best they can with what life has given them. I was happy to have this after I finished When Lightning Strikes, so I could continue with this universe straight away!
This and other reveiws can be found on my blog: (un)Conventional Bookviews.
I just love the Whiskey Creek series and When Snow Falls is no exception! It is well written, with fleshed-out characters who try to do the best they can with what life has given them. I was happy to have this after I finished When Lightning Strikes, so I could continue with this universe straight away!
September 30, 2012
I really enjoyed this one, provided by netgalley. Really, really enjoyed it. I loved the characters - ALL of them (and how often does that happen?), loved the plot and loved the writing.
I was completely hooked by the story from the first page, and I particularly liked how the author took her time introducing each of the characters, with real care and precision, and making sure that she gave them all the word count they needed for us to understand them, appreciate their backstories and care for them. You get involved in the romance, yes, but also in the secondary stories, in the pain and confusion of the heroine's sister, even of the motivations and machinations of the heroine's mother. It all ends up being a very richly detailed story, and a far superior contemporary than I expected. No one is perfect, there are no real villains (or if there are, they all have their reasons), no real heroes either, and the story is rather grey and murky right up until the end, which is resolved, but not in a neat and complete way. The heroine's friends feel real - bloody irritating, think they know what's best for the heroine, concerned for her, and yet, too protective, too caring, and too clouded by their own issues to understand fully. It really is a very good study of a benevolent clique.
Anyway, I loved this story, and I'm going to read the first in the series straight away (yes, even diving straight into the second in the series made no difference to my enjoyment of this one), and will absolutely be reading all the others about the "bad boy" Amos family.
5 stars. Loved it. Don't let the uninspiring cover turn you off.
I was completely hooked by the story from the first page, and I particularly liked how the author took her time introducing each of the characters, with real care and precision, and making sure that she gave them all the word count they needed for us to understand them, appreciate their backstories and care for them. You get involved in the romance, yes, but also in the secondary stories, in the pain and confusion of the heroine's sister, even of the motivations and machinations of the heroine's mother. It all ends up being a very richly detailed story, and a far superior contemporary than I expected. No one is perfect, there are no real villains (or if there are, they all have their reasons), no real heroes either, and the story is rather grey and murky right up until the end, which is resolved, but not in a neat and complete way. The heroine's friends feel real - bloody irritating, think they know what's best for the heroine, concerned for her, and yet, too protective, too caring, and too clouded by their own issues to understand fully. It really is a very good study of a benevolent clique.
Anyway, I loved this story, and I'm going to read the first in the series straight away (yes, even diving straight into the second in the series made no difference to my enjoyment of this one), and will absolutely be reading all the others about the "bad boy" Amos family.
5 stars. Loved it. Don't let the uninspiring cover turn you off.
February 15, 2014
Aggravating. If I had to describe this book in one word, it would be aggravating. You’re a 31 year old virgin and the some guy, who’ve you’ve hardly said hello to him in the 17 years that you’ve known him, propositions you for sex... and you accept. That very night. Like it was nothing. May have very well been a recipe for all that you’ve cared about your virginity that day. What’s worse, we get some part of the book from Joe’s point of view. Dylan isn’t even introduced to us until Chapter 9! How does that make any sense??
I did like Dylan. I thought he was a great big brother and very responsible. For such a nosy small town, they should have picked up on the last time he’d been in trouble, rather than condemning him. I guess I expected grown ups to act like grown ups and realize that people could change.
I liked Cheyenne, though I think her story would have worked better for her had she been much, much younger. The same goes for Presley. I had a hard time imagining her as the older sister. I was annoyed with her most of the book. I especially hated her decision to
This was NOT a romance. This was fiction. Your town has about 2,000 people and more drama than a small city. Sheesh. I would want to leave that literal soap opera, too! Sounds like a seriously crappy place to live. Wayyyy too much drama!
I did like Dylan. I thought he was a great big brother and very responsible. For such a nosy small town, they should have picked up on the last time he’d been in trouble, rather than condemning him. I guess I expected grown ups to act like grown ups and realize that people could change.
I liked Cheyenne, though I think her story would have worked better for her had she been much, much younger. The same goes for Presley. I had a hard time imagining her as the older sister. I was annoyed with her most of the book. I especially hated her decision to
This was NOT a romance. This was fiction. Your town has about 2,000 people and more drama than a small city. Sheesh. I would want to leave that literal soap opera, too! Sounds like a seriously crappy place to live. Wayyyy too much drama!
March 4, 2015
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️4 STARS⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
November 4, 2018
Me ha durado un suspiro. ¿Porqué no habré leído antes a esta autora?
January 8, 2025
Cheyenne was such an annoying FMC. Plus, the whole child kidnapping plot was minimized so much--you would think with that topic, it would play a huge part of the story. But nope, it didn't.
November 22, 2015
Excellent book. Cheyenne and her sister had a miserable childhood being dragged all around by their mother who was an alcoholic, sometimes prostitute, sometimes con artist. They finally settled in Whiskey Creek when her mom got cancer. Chey took to small town life easily, made some good friends and has created a good life for herself. She's had a crush on her friend Gail's brother Joe for years, but when her friend Eve shows an interest in Joe she steps back. Meanwhile, bad boy Dylan Amos has been interested in Chey for a long time. When he sees an opportunity to snag her interest, he goes for it. Now he has to convince her that he's what she wanted all along.
I really liked Cheyenne. Throughout her life she has tried to do the right thing. She wants a far different life than the one her mother and sister are living. I liked the way that she kept her eye on her goal. She has also felt out of place in her family. She doesn't look like them, plus she has memories of a different life that make her wonder if she is who they say she is. Chey has been waiting for the guy she's had a crush on for years to notice her, but when her friend Eve states her intention to go after him Chey steps aside. Chey does go on one date with him while Eve is away after Eve tells her to, but discovers that there just isn't any zing. Meanwhile, she has met Dylan Amos, the oldest of the Amos brothers. He has a reputation as a bad boy and she doesn't want to screw up her life taking a chance on trouble. But the heat that was missing with Joe is there with Dylan and Chey can't stay away from him. As she gets to know him, Chey discovers that Dylan is different than she thought. I liked the way that Cheyenne follows the girlfriend rule of not poaching on another's man, even though she had liked Joe for a lot longer. Her one date with him showed her that there was nothing really there, even though she wanted there to be. When Dylan approaches her and makes his proposition she is offended at first, but she can't get him off her mind. I thought it a little odd that after holding on to her virginity for all those years she gives in to Dylan so quickly, but the heat is definitely there. I didn't really like the way that she was so judgmental at the beginning, looking only at his reputation. It was good to see her realize that in spite of his reputation he was really a good man. I loved the way that she came to depend on him when she needed support. I also thought it was great how she stood up for him to her friends. She finally grew confident enough in herself to be able to please herself without worrying about what other people think.
I also liked the way that Chey takes care of her mother and sister in spite of the way that they treat her. She has been trying to get answers from her mother for years about her missing birth certificate and the memories that are so vivid. Mom is a real piece of work that I never did develop any sympathy for. I really hoped that she'd come clean before she died. I liked the resolution of Chey's identity, though it seemed almost anti-climactic after all the attention the questions got during the book. Chey's sister Presley seems to be going down the same road as their mother. She is an alcoholic and drug addict and is very selfish. I developed some sympathy for her as the book went on and I saw that it was her way of coping with her life. I liked the way Presley took control of her life at the end and I look forward to reading her story.
I loved Dylan. His childhood hadn't been all that easy either. His mom committed suicide when he was young, then his father became an abusive drunk who ended up in prison. Dylan dropped out of school to take over the family business and raise his four brothers. He developed a reputation as a hell raiser when he was younger as he was coming to terms with his new life. For the past several years he has turned it around and no longer gets in trouble, except when he is rescuing his brothers. I really liked the way that his family was so important to him. He has long been interested in Cheyenne, but knows that a good girl like her isn't going to want anything to do with him. I loved seeing him get up the courage to go after her, even though he was kind of crude about it. He really didn't expect her to take him up on it, but when she did he was wonderful. I loved the way that he was so gentle and loving. He really didn't deserve her attitude over the next days that he wasn't really what she wanted. In spite of it, he was there for her when she needed him. There was a vulnerability about Dylan that made him even more appealing. I really loved seeing the softer side of him when he gave Chey her Christmas present. I loved seeing him open up to her about his own past as they got to know each other. He gave her a lot of emotional support in her search for the truth about her past, and also in finding her sister when Presley disappeared after their mother's death. I loved the ending on the porch of the B & B.
One thing I had trouble with during this book and the previous one When Lightning Strikes was the attitudes of the group of friends. They are basically good people, but they tend to be very judgmental. In both books the women are told by their friends that they are making terrible mistakes by getting involved with their chosen men. It doesn't seem to matter that none of them actually know the men in question, they base their opinions solely off reputations and gossip. Even on the cruise we see them making comments about other people that aren't very nice. I hope that they learn a little compassion soon.
I really liked Cheyenne. Throughout her life she has tried to do the right thing. She wants a far different life than the one her mother and sister are living. I liked the way that she kept her eye on her goal. She has also felt out of place in her family. She doesn't look like them, plus she has memories of a different life that make her wonder if she is who they say she is. Chey has been waiting for the guy she's had a crush on for years to notice her, but when her friend Eve states her intention to go after him Chey steps aside. Chey does go on one date with him while Eve is away after Eve tells her to, but discovers that there just isn't any zing. Meanwhile, she has met Dylan Amos, the oldest of the Amos brothers. He has a reputation as a bad boy and she doesn't want to screw up her life taking a chance on trouble. But the heat that was missing with Joe is there with Dylan and Chey can't stay away from him. As she gets to know him, Chey discovers that Dylan is different than she thought. I liked the way that Cheyenne follows the girlfriend rule of not poaching on another's man, even though she had liked Joe for a lot longer. Her one date with him showed her that there was nothing really there, even though she wanted there to be. When Dylan approaches her and makes his proposition she is offended at first, but she can't get him off her mind. I thought it a little odd that after holding on to her virginity for all those years she gives in to Dylan so quickly, but the heat is definitely there. I didn't really like the way that she was so judgmental at the beginning, looking only at his reputation. It was good to see her realize that in spite of his reputation he was really a good man. I loved the way that she came to depend on him when she needed support. I also thought it was great how she stood up for him to her friends. She finally grew confident enough in herself to be able to please herself without worrying about what other people think.
I also liked the way that Chey takes care of her mother and sister in spite of the way that they treat her. She has been trying to get answers from her mother for years about her missing birth certificate and the memories that are so vivid. Mom is a real piece of work that I never did develop any sympathy for. I really hoped that she'd come clean before she died. I liked the resolution of Chey's identity, though it seemed almost anti-climactic after all the attention the questions got during the book. Chey's sister Presley seems to be going down the same road as their mother. She is an alcoholic and drug addict and is very selfish. I developed some sympathy for her as the book went on and I saw that it was her way of coping with her life. I liked the way Presley took control of her life at the end and I look forward to reading her story.
I loved Dylan. His childhood hadn't been all that easy either. His mom committed suicide when he was young, then his father became an abusive drunk who ended up in prison. Dylan dropped out of school to take over the family business and raise his four brothers. He developed a reputation as a hell raiser when he was younger as he was coming to terms with his new life. For the past several years he has turned it around and no longer gets in trouble, except when he is rescuing his brothers. I really liked the way that his family was so important to him. He has long been interested in Cheyenne, but knows that a good girl like her isn't going to want anything to do with him. I loved seeing him get up the courage to go after her, even though he was kind of crude about it. He really didn't expect her to take him up on it, but when she did he was wonderful. I loved the way that he was so gentle and loving. He really didn't deserve her attitude over the next days that he wasn't really what she wanted. In spite of it, he was there for her when she needed him. There was a vulnerability about Dylan that made him even more appealing. I really loved seeing the softer side of him when he gave Chey her Christmas present. I loved seeing him open up to her about his own past as they got to know each other. He gave her a lot of emotional support in her search for the truth about her past, and also in finding her sister when Presley disappeared after their mother's death. I loved the ending on the porch of the B & B.
One thing I had trouble with during this book and the previous one When Lightning Strikes was the attitudes of the group of friends. They are basically good people, but they tend to be very judgmental. In both books the women are told by their friends that they are making terrible mistakes by getting involved with their chosen men. It doesn't seem to matter that none of them actually know the men in question, they base their opinions solely off reputations and gossip. Even on the cruise we see them making comments about other people that aren't very nice. I hope that they learn a little compassion soon.
October 14, 2019
Este segundo libro de la saga es casi mejor que le anterior. la dura vida de Cheyenne con su madre y su hermana te atrapa y cuando se le acerca Dylan, ya no puedes parar de leer y te enamoras perdidamente de él.
April 18, 2021
Me pasó algo muy extraño, la protagonista me cayó pésimo en un comienzo, después la entendí. El libro agarra vuelo de la mitad en adelante, no me enganchó en un comienzo. Juzgue usted, yo lo encuentro un poco sobrevalorado.
June 28, 2021
Ablasını hiç sevmedim bencil pisliğin tekiydi.
December 28, 2015
3 ½ stars. 80% was kind of a downer, but I enjoyed the last 20%. I loved Dylan’s story.
It was hard to feel hope or anticipation for the heroine Chey. She would not let herself follow her feelings for Joe or Dylan which was frustrating to read. She admired and desired Joe most of her life but never let him know and never told her best friend Eve. When Eve said she desired Joe, Chey did everything she could to help Eve. Chey continued hiding her desire for Joe. When Joe asked Chey out, she would not go.
Then Chey and Dylan meet and it’s lust and addiction for each other. But Chey insults him and stays away because she knows her friends won’t approve of him. She goes back and forth several times with Dylan because of lust and hurts him because she won’t be seen with him.
I like the author’s thoughtfulness. She brings more depth to these romance stories which I like. I was surprised that Dylan quit smoking right after his first encounter with Chey. Even though they weren’t a couple, he wanted to improve himself for her. Dylan’s father went to jail when he was 18. Dylan dropped out of school to work to support his three younger brothers. He could have run off but he chose to be responsible to keep his brothers out of foster care. I love the idea that Dylan grew up with an abusive father and no one loving him, yet he overcame that and was responsible and loving to his younger brothers (and his wife and future children). He improved himself to rise above his circumstances. That’s a good story.
Secondary story:
Evil mother Anita kidnapped Chey when she was six. Anita’s biological daughter Presley knows about it but hides it from Chey. Presley fears she will lose Chey as a sister if Chey learns the truth. Chey has vague memories of her life prior to the kidnapping which Anita denies and claims is a dream. Good stories need bad guys and conflict, but Presley being bad depressed me. If the mother forced Presley to keep the secret I’d feel better about it. But the author made Presley evil on her own - keeping that secret from Chey. Presley loved Chey but her actions were not that of a loving sister.
DATA:
Narrative mode: 3rd person. Story length: 446 pages. Swearing language: moderate including religious swear words but rarely used. Sexual language: mild. Number of sex scenes: 3 plus 2 referred to with no details. Setting: current day small town Whiskey Creek, California. Copyright: 2012. Genre: contemporary romance.
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THE SERIES:
This is book #2 in the Whiskey Creek series. Each book can be read as a stand alone, but there is a flow of characters through the books which makes it nice if read in order. Here are my ratings for them.
My Favorites (4 ½ or more stars):
#0.5 When We Touch - 102 page novella
#1 When Lightning Strikes
#5 Take Me Home For Christmas
#8 This Heart of Mine
2nd choice (3 ½ stars):
#9 A Winter Wedding
#2 When Snow Falls - It was hard to feel hope or anticipation. Chey would not allow herself to act on her feelings. She kept her feelings “secret” for most of the book.
3rd choice:
The main plot was one character keeping a “secret” for most of the book. I did not enjoy the lies. In some stories I did not like the reasons for keeping the secret.
2 ½ stars. #3 When Summer Comes
2 stars. #4 Home to Whiskey Creek
2 ½ stars. #6 Come Home to Me - secret baby
3 stars. #7 The Heart of Christmas - Hero is on the run from bad guys. When heroine asked questions he could have answered in generic terms but he was silent. That didn’t feel right to me.
It was hard to feel hope or anticipation for the heroine Chey. She would not let herself follow her feelings for Joe or Dylan which was frustrating to read. She admired and desired Joe most of her life but never let him know and never told her best friend Eve. When Eve said she desired Joe, Chey did everything she could to help Eve. Chey continued hiding her desire for Joe. When Joe asked Chey out, she would not go.
Then Chey and Dylan meet and it’s lust and addiction for each other. But Chey insults him and stays away because she knows her friends won’t approve of him. She goes back and forth several times with Dylan because of lust and hurts him because she won’t be seen with him.
I like the author’s thoughtfulness. She brings more depth to these romance stories which I like. I was surprised that Dylan quit smoking right after his first encounter with Chey. Even though they weren’t a couple, he wanted to improve himself for her. Dylan’s father went to jail when he was 18. Dylan dropped out of school to work to support his three younger brothers. He could have run off but he chose to be responsible to keep his brothers out of foster care. I love the idea that Dylan grew up with an abusive father and no one loving him, yet he overcame that and was responsible and loving to his younger brothers (and his wife and future children). He improved himself to rise above his circumstances. That’s a good story.
Secondary story:
Evil mother Anita kidnapped Chey when she was six. Anita’s biological daughter Presley knows about it but hides it from Chey. Presley fears she will lose Chey as a sister if Chey learns the truth. Chey has vague memories of her life prior to the kidnapping which Anita denies and claims is a dream. Good stories need bad guys and conflict, but Presley being bad depressed me. If the mother forced Presley to keep the secret I’d feel better about it. But the author made Presley evil on her own - keeping that secret from Chey. Presley loved Chey but her actions were not that of a loving sister.
DATA:
Narrative mode: 3rd person. Story length: 446 pages. Swearing language: moderate including religious swear words but rarely used. Sexual language: mild. Number of sex scenes: 3 plus 2 referred to with no details. Setting: current day small town Whiskey Creek, California. Copyright: 2012. Genre: contemporary romance.
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THE SERIES:
This is book #2 in the Whiskey Creek series. Each book can be read as a stand alone, but there is a flow of characters through the books which makes it nice if read in order. Here are my ratings for them.
My Favorites (4 ½ or more stars):
#0.5 When We Touch - 102 page novella
#1 When Lightning Strikes
#5 Take Me Home For Christmas
#8 This Heart of Mine
2nd choice (3 ½ stars):
#9 A Winter Wedding
#2 When Snow Falls - It was hard to feel hope or anticipation. Chey would not allow herself to act on her feelings. She kept her feelings “secret” for most of the book.
3rd choice:
The main plot was one character keeping a “secret” for most of the book. I did not enjoy the lies. In some stories I did not like the reasons for keeping the secret.
2 ½ stars. #3 When Summer Comes
2 stars. #4 Home to Whiskey Creek
2 ½ stars. #6 Come Home to Me - secret baby
3 stars. #7 The Heart of Christmas - Hero is on the run from bad guys. When heroine asked questions he could have answered in generic terms but he was silent. That didn’t feel right to me.
October 26, 2012
There has never been a book written by Brenda Novak that I haven’t enjoyed. When Snow Falls is book two in her Whiskey Creek series. Well known for her place in the romantic suspense genre the Whiskey Creek series is her foray back into contemporary romance. After having been pleasantly delighted with the first book When Lightening Strikes, I naturally was ready to jump right into When Snow Falls. When Snow Falls has been written in such a way that allows you to watch this romance blossom into a full bloom.
When Snow Falls is Cheyenne and Dylan’s story and so very different from Gail and Simon’s story whom we met in When Lightening Strikes. Cheyenne Christensen cannot remember when it has ever snowed in Whiskey Creek, but she can remember the she has to take care of her dying mother Anita and her on again off again drug using older sister Presley to care for. When she begins having recurring dreams of a fancy child hood and a mysterious blonde woman, Cheyenne begins to question where she comes from. On top of all her other problems Cheyenne has been in love with Joe since she was fourteen years old, but she is not the only one who has feelings for Joe. When her best friend Eve announces that she has asked Joe to go on a date, Cheyenne steps aside out of respect for her friendship. Dylan Amos and his brothers come from the wrong side of the tracks. When Dylan makes a proposition that Cheyenne finds difficult to refuse, Cheyenne discovers an attraction to the kind of guy she’s always tried to avoid and discovers that Dylan just might not be as bad as he’s been rumored to be. As this romance begins to unfold her first love enters into the picture; torn between her first love and the bad boy from the wrong side of the tracks Cheyenne finds herself having to choose between the two.
I loved this book, however early on I found myself reverting back to the cover blurb to find out if I had read the names wrong as we don’t meet Dylan until a ways into the book. The only man we meet early on is Joe, and you really begin to think the story is a romance between Cheyenne and Joe. However once Cheyenne and Dylan eventually meet this book soars and meets all expectations of a Brenda Novak tale. I had a hard time putting this one down, it is filled with emotion that makes you just want to cheer these two lost souls on. When Snow Falls was well written and will tug at even the coldest of heart strings. I cannot wait for the next books in this fantastic series. It is easily a 4.5 star book.
When Snow Falls is Cheyenne and Dylan’s story and so very different from Gail and Simon’s story whom we met in When Lightening Strikes. Cheyenne Christensen cannot remember when it has ever snowed in Whiskey Creek, but she can remember the she has to take care of her dying mother Anita and her on again off again drug using older sister Presley to care for. When she begins having recurring dreams of a fancy child hood and a mysterious blonde woman, Cheyenne begins to question where she comes from. On top of all her other problems Cheyenne has been in love with Joe since she was fourteen years old, but she is not the only one who has feelings for Joe. When her best friend Eve announces that she has asked Joe to go on a date, Cheyenne steps aside out of respect for her friendship. Dylan Amos and his brothers come from the wrong side of the tracks. When Dylan makes a proposition that Cheyenne finds difficult to refuse, Cheyenne discovers an attraction to the kind of guy she’s always tried to avoid and discovers that Dylan just might not be as bad as he’s been rumored to be. As this romance begins to unfold her first love enters into the picture; torn between her first love and the bad boy from the wrong side of the tracks Cheyenne finds herself having to choose between the two.
I loved this book, however early on I found myself reverting back to the cover blurb to find out if I had read the names wrong as we don’t meet Dylan until a ways into the book. The only man we meet early on is Joe, and you really begin to think the story is a romance between Cheyenne and Joe. However once Cheyenne and Dylan eventually meet this book soars and meets all expectations of a Brenda Novak tale. I had a hard time putting this one down, it is filled with emotion that makes you just want to cheer these two lost souls on. When Snow Falls was well written and will tug at even the coldest of heart strings. I cannot wait for the next books in this fantastic series. It is easily a 4.5 star book.
September 12, 2012
When I finished reading WHEN LIGHTNING STRIKES I was left wanting more and WHEN SNOW FALLS picked up where WHEN LIGHTNING STRIKES left off. Brenda Novak writes in such a way that you can read the last page of WHEN LIGHTNING STRIKES and transition smoothly into WHEN SNOW FALLS.
The telling of Cheyenne's and Dylan's story was written in a way that you saw it grow from just a rose bud into a perfect long stem rose. There love was the purest of all love.
Brenda Novak tells the background story of the hard knocks of both Dylan and Cheyenne in such symmetry that you come to understand why they don't trust their feelings at first. They want to stay with what's safe not with whats true. Dylan's the rebel, the trouble maker in the eyes of Cheyenne's friends but they'll come to learn you can't judge a book by its cover.
There is a sub-story in WHEN SNOW FALLS which is that of Presley, Cheyenne's older sister, and Aaron Amos, Dylan's brother. As we Cheyenne's and Dylan's story unfolds Brenda Novak sets you up for the next.
WHEN SNOW FALLS is full of surprises and new characters will be introduced. I highly recommend this book to readers that enjoy a good love story between a prim and proper woman and the man from the wrong side of the tracks. You'll truly love Cheyenne's and Dylan's story. Keep a Kleenex handy.
The telling of Cheyenne's and Dylan's story was written in a way that you saw it grow from just a rose bud into a perfect long stem rose. There love was the purest of all love.
Brenda Novak tells the background story of the hard knocks of both Dylan and Cheyenne in such symmetry that you come to understand why they don't trust their feelings at first. They want to stay with what's safe not with whats true. Dylan's the rebel, the trouble maker in the eyes of Cheyenne's friends but they'll come to learn you can't judge a book by its cover.
There is a sub-story in WHEN SNOW FALLS which is that of Presley, Cheyenne's older sister, and Aaron Amos, Dylan's brother. As we Cheyenne's and Dylan's story unfolds Brenda Novak sets you up for the next.
WHEN SNOW FALLS is full of surprises and new characters will be introduced. I highly recommend this book to readers that enjoy a good love story between a prim and proper woman and the man from the wrong side of the tracks. You'll truly love Cheyenne's and Dylan's story. Keep a Kleenex handy.
November 11, 2012
Until she arrived in Whiskey Creek with her mother and sister, Cheyenne lived a transient life. Her mother would arrive in a town, do some small time swindles, work as a prostitute and even use her children to cheat people out of their money.
With terminal cancer her mother isn't long for this world and Cheyenne is desperate to get some answers before she takes them to the grave with her, but both her mother and her sister are keeping secrets for their own reasons.
Dylan has a reputation as a bad boy. He's someone the people of Whiskey Creek stay away from. He lives with his brothers and they've all had their run ins with the law. But he's always had a thing for Cheyenne even though she won't even give him the time of day. With the turmoil in Cheyenne's life he finds a small chink in her armor.
When Snow Falls is Brenda Novak at her best. A good solid story about fractured characters searching for their place in the world.
With terminal cancer her mother isn't long for this world and Cheyenne is desperate to get some answers before she takes them to the grave with her, but both her mother and her sister are keeping secrets for their own reasons.
Dylan has a reputation as a bad boy. He's someone the people of Whiskey Creek stay away from. He lives with his brothers and they've all had their run ins with the law. But he's always had a thing for Cheyenne even though she won't even give him the time of day. With the turmoil in Cheyenne's life he finds a small chink in her armor.
When Snow Falls is Brenda Novak at her best. A good solid story about fractured characters searching for their place in the world.
April 14, 2015
I liked how this one started out, it dragged for me in the middle, mostly because Cheyenne drove me nuts with her indecision. Things picked back up for me once Cheyenne finally decided on a guy and stuck with it, putting herself all out for the relationship.
For much of the story it seemed like Cheyenne was on her own without her friends, but it was what needed to happen, for Cheyenne to take chances and realize what and who was important in her life.
I liked the choice that Cheyenne made in the men, was glad that Cheyenne didn't give up on her sister, even though Presley deserved it. I didn't agree with what Cheyenne was hiding about her sister, yes it's a maybe at this point, but it could cause big problems for them down the road.
For much of the story it seemed like Cheyenne was on her own without her friends, but it was what needed to happen, for Cheyenne to take chances and realize what and who was important in her life.
I liked the choice that Cheyenne made in the men, was glad that Cheyenne didn't give up on her sister, even though Presley deserved it. I didn't agree with what Cheyenne was hiding about her sister, yes it's a maybe at this point, but it could cause big problems for them down the road.
December 2, 2016
Es una historia mucho más profunda que la del primer libro, aunque he de admitir que Cheyenne al comienzo no me convencía demasiado... por suerte Dylan suple por completo esa sensación con su personalidad.
Es un libro duro y con un final muy emotivo, aunque me quedé cln las ganas de saber más de Presley y Aaron.
Es un libro duro y con un final muy emotivo, aunque me quedé cln las ganas de saber más de Presley y Aaron.
October 27, 2017
Raruno. No entendí cómo empezó la relación entre ellos.
February 14, 2019
FINAL DECISION: Mixed feelings on this one. I really loved the blue collar romance between Cheyenne and Dylan. I didn't like almost everything else around the romance. The story of the sister's drug addiction was over the top. The mystery woman story was only a mystery to Cheyenne so it wasn't a mystery at all. The friend and other man story wasn't convincing.
THE STORY: Cheyenne Christensen is struggling caring for her mother who is dying from cancer. Cheyenne also seems to have childhood memories about a caring woman who is not her mother. On top of this, her best friend has decided to ask out the man who Cheyenne has secretly been in love with for years. Determined not to interfere with her friend's potential romance, Cheyenne finds herself in the company of Dylan Amos, the oldest of the troublemaking brothers. Even the possibility of the man of her dreams can't seem to get Cheyenne's mind off the bad boy.
OPINION: This book was made up of so many different plot lines that it felt disjointed to me. I wanted more of the Cheyenne and Dylan romance and less of the 50 other side stories. The first half of the book makes such a big deal of the Cheyenne/Dylan/Joe/Eve plot and then it just dropped.
I really liked the Cheyenne and Dylan romance. It was nice reading a blue collar couple for a change. I really liked how Cheyenne begins to see that Dylan is more than what he did in his past. While I thought the beginning of their romance was strange because it occurred so quickly and without any real connection between the characters, I quickly enjoyed their growing and complicated relationship.
I wanted to like this book more because I liked the romance, but I thought that the book lost focus and kept diverting from a good romance to cover a bunch of other stories that just weren't that interesting to me.
WORTH MENTIONING: I don't really like that the heroine keeps secrets from the hero even at the end of the book. It's not a good start for their marriage.
CONNECTED BOOKS: WHEN SNOW FALLS is the second book in the Whiskey Creek series. Although there are characters from the town in each book, this book can be read as a standalone.
STAR RATING: I give this book 3 stars.This review was originally posted on Top10RomanceBooks.com
THE STORY: Cheyenne Christensen is struggling caring for her mother who is dying from cancer. Cheyenne also seems to have childhood memories about a caring woman who is not her mother. On top of this, her best friend has decided to ask out the man who Cheyenne has secretly been in love with for years. Determined not to interfere with her friend's potential romance, Cheyenne finds herself in the company of Dylan Amos, the oldest of the troublemaking brothers. Even the possibility of the man of her dreams can't seem to get Cheyenne's mind off the bad boy.
OPINION: This book was made up of so many different plot lines that it felt disjointed to me. I wanted more of the Cheyenne and Dylan romance and less of the 50 other side stories. The first half of the book makes such a big deal of the Cheyenne/Dylan/Joe/Eve plot and then it just dropped.
I really liked the Cheyenne and Dylan romance. It was nice reading a blue collar couple for a change. I really liked how Cheyenne begins to see that Dylan is more than what he did in his past. While I thought the beginning of their romance was strange because it occurred so quickly and without any real connection between the characters, I quickly enjoyed their growing and complicated relationship.
I wanted to like this book more because I liked the romance, but I thought that the book lost focus and kept diverting from a good romance to cover a bunch of other stories that just weren't that interesting to me.
WORTH MENTIONING: I don't really like that the heroine keeps secrets from the hero even at the end of the book. It's not a good start for their marriage.
CONNECTED BOOKS: WHEN SNOW FALLS is the second book in the Whiskey Creek series. Although there are characters from the town in each book, this book can be read as a standalone.
STAR RATING: I give this book 3 stars.This review was originally posted on Top10RomanceBooks.com
August 7, 2017
This book was a decent read. It was a great follow up to the first in the Whiskey Creek series. I gave it a 3 because it was a well written story with just enough drama, intrigue and romance.
You may ask why I gave it 3 stars instead of 4 or 5?
It didn't get a 4 or 5 because there was no point while I was reading it where I was trying NOT to cry. Or where I felt like the heroine was acting in her own best interest and not the interest of her friends. You know those stories where you begin to get frustrated with a main character because they deny the truth to themselves and people int heir lives? Or when you yell out your aggravation when MC doesn't EVER stand up for herself? Or when the book finally gets juicy and all the bullshit the heroine went through is coming to and end, then the book suddenly screeches to halt and leaving reading the author's thanks with a 'WTF?' expression on your face? That's when a book get a 3 for me.
That's when a book gets a 3. Weak heroine. Undecided and in denial about who she loves. Easily influenced by friends. Doesn't stand up for herself with anyone. I like my heroines, especially ones who've had a shit life like the one in this book, to have more backbone. 2. Abrupt ending without proper resolution to all the shit that happened in the story. That just makes me mad!!
You may ask why I gave it 3 stars instead of 4 or 5?
It didn't get a 4 or 5 because there was no point while I was reading it where I was trying NOT to cry. Or where I felt like the heroine was acting in her own best interest and not the interest of her friends. You know those stories where you begin to get frustrated with a main character because they deny the truth to themselves and people int heir lives? Or when you yell out your aggravation when MC doesn't EVER stand up for herself? Or when the book finally gets juicy and all the bullshit the heroine went through is coming to and end, then the book suddenly screeches to halt and leaving reading the author's thanks with a 'WTF?' expression on your face? That's when a book get a 3 for me.
That's when a book gets a 3. Weak heroine. Undecided and in denial about who she loves. Easily influenced by friends. Doesn't stand up for herself with anyone. I like my heroines, especially ones who've had a shit life like the one in this book, to have more backbone. 2. Abrupt ending without proper resolution to all the shit that happened in the story. That just makes me mad!!
February 14, 2021
I loved the book. It's an easy, quick read with a very strong story line.
Its set in a small town called Whiskey Creek and follows Cheyenne's love story.There are a couple of parallel story lines too but they all converge smoothly towards the end. Its such a complete story with viewpoints from all the characters- major and minor. That is what adds to the beauty of the book.
Dylan and Joe are the true stars of the book. Cheyyenne is OK. There are times I really couldn't like her- yes I can empathise with her situation but she's 31 not a kid so, I really couldn't forgive her being so.snooty towards Dylan and Presley, her sister. The constant comparisons between Dylan and Joe got tiresome. I liked Presley finally taking her life in control and get into rehabilitation.
I got into this book with no expectations at all, it was part of a challenge to.read.a boom with "snow" in title. Im really glad I chose this one- it was a pleasant surprise. Ms. Novak has woven different expectations from different social strata along with substance abuse really well.
My biggest grouse is an absence of Joe's love story in this entire series. He's such a decent guy he truly needed his own HEA.
Recommended: 👍
Its set in a small town called Whiskey Creek and follows Cheyenne's love story.There are a couple of parallel story lines too but they all converge smoothly towards the end. Its such a complete story with viewpoints from all the characters- major and minor. That is what adds to the beauty of the book.
Dylan and Joe are the true stars of the book. Cheyyenne is OK. There are times I really couldn't like her- yes I can empathise with her situation but she's 31 not a kid so, I really couldn't forgive her being so.snooty towards Dylan and Presley, her sister. The constant comparisons between Dylan and Joe got tiresome. I liked Presley finally taking her life in control and get into rehabilitation.
I got into this book with no expectations at all, it was part of a challenge to.read.a boom with "snow" in title. Im really glad I chose this one- it was a pleasant surprise. Ms. Novak has woven different expectations from different social strata along with substance abuse really well.
My biggest grouse is an absence of Joe's love story in this entire series. He's such a decent guy he truly needed his own HEA.
Recommended: 👍
December 15, 2019
Ay daraldım vallahi!
Bütün kitap acı verecek kadar yavaş ve saçma bir şekilde ilerlerken asıl önemli olan meselelerin bir bölüme sığdırılmış olması biraz sinirlendirdi ve üzdü :(
Üç veriyorum ama tam emin değilim her an iki olabilir jghfjgh
Bütün kitap acı verecek kadar yavaş ve saçma bir şekilde ilerlerken asıl önemli olan meselelerin bir bölüme sığdırılmış olması biraz sinirlendirdi ve üzdü :(
Üç veriyorum ama tam emin değilim her an iki olabilir jghfjgh
March 13, 2013
Okay, so I just finished my second Readers Choice Award book, and author, Brenda Novak, doesn’t disappoint with her next installment to the “Whiskey Creek” series. The novel started off a little slow for me, but by page 50, I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. Got to get me some of that Dylan Amos! He’s definitely one-to-die-for! Sexy. Badass. And, extremely fearless! He’s confident and bold, but yet tender and caring. He’s honest and responsible and would never turn his back on someone that he really cares about. The Amos brothers have a reputation for being troublemakers – bad seeds. Their father was in jail, and their mother committed suicide. The “brothers” were on their own, and with Dylan being the oldest, it was his responsiblity to see that the younger ones survived.
Cheyenne Christensen lived a hard, often deprived, life – moving around and never staying in one location for long. Her mother, Anita, was not a very good role model, and at the moment, even as she was dying of cancer, was still irritating and nasty. Ugggh!!! It was up to Chey and her sister, Presley, to make her final days as comfortable as possible. Chey tries to muddle through it, though. Afterall, she is her mom – right? But, that thought remains to be questionable deep inside Chey’s mind. You see, she’s been carrying a memory so vividly real about another woman in her past that she can never get to leave her mind. Who is this unknown woman, and why can’t she forget her? That mystery lurks within the confines of Chey’s unknown past.
Chey meets Dylan and is so attracted to him. He just reeks of sexuality and forbidden fruit that Chey can’t help but be curious as to what it would be like to be with him intimately. Dylan has been waiting for Chey for years. No one else has ever been more seductive and more delectable to him than Cheyenne Christiansen. But, will Chey give him a chance? Will they come together with a love so raw – so beautiful and riveting that both are wanting it to last forever regardless of the cynical comments of others? Chey was not always the nicest to Dylan – always wanting to hide their affair. But, I couldn’t help but cheer for this damaged couple. Both just wanting to fit in and live a life full of belonging and acceptance.
The author did a great job portraying the mostly clean, but intimate, love scenes. Certain acts were acknowleged, but anything explicit, was left to the reader’s imagination. And, that’s fine because not every novel’s sexual encounter has to be erotically interpreted. Some of the best novels’ love scenes, are left solely to the reader’s scintillating mental fantasies – which I have no difficulty conjuring up in my thoughts...lol!
“Solid. Warm. Responsive. She couldn’t complain about how Dylan made love. She couldn’t imagine anyone doing it better. He touched her with just the right amount of confidence and familiarity, was especially sensitive to the give-and-take that made it mutually rewarding and was willing to bestow pleasure even in nonsexual ways. Tenderness seemed to come more naturally to him than she’d ever dreamed it would. Besides all that, she liked the smell of him, the sound of his voice, the fact that he could make her feel so darn content.” – (pg. 202).
Looking forward to reading the next “Whiskey Creek” series novel, When Summer Comes!
Cheyenne Christensen lived a hard, often deprived, life – moving around and never staying in one location for long. Her mother, Anita, was not a very good role model, and at the moment, even as she was dying of cancer, was still irritating and nasty. Ugggh!!! It was up to Chey and her sister, Presley, to make her final days as comfortable as possible. Chey tries to muddle through it, though. Afterall, she is her mom – right? But, that thought remains to be questionable deep inside Chey’s mind. You see, she’s been carrying a memory so vividly real about another woman in her past that she can never get to leave her mind. Who is this unknown woman, and why can’t she forget her? That mystery lurks within the confines of Chey’s unknown past.
Chey meets Dylan and is so attracted to him. He just reeks of sexuality and forbidden fruit that Chey can’t help but be curious as to what it would be like to be with him intimately. Dylan has been waiting for Chey for years. No one else has ever been more seductive and more delectable to him than Cheyenne Christiansen. But, will Chey give him a chance? Will they come together with a love so raw – so beautiful and riveting that both are wanting it to last forever regardless of the cynical comments of others? Chey was not always the nicest to Dylan – always wanting to hide their affair. But, I couldn’t help but cheer for this damaged couple. Both just wanting to fit in and live a life full of belonging and acceptance.
The author did a great job portraying the mostly clean, but intimate, love scenes. Certain acts were acknowleged, but anything explicit, was left to the reader’s imagination. And, that’s fine because not every novel’s sexual encounter has to be erotically interpreted. Some of the best novels’ love scenes, are left solely to the reader’s scintillating mental fantasies – which I have no difficulty conjuring up in my thoughts...lol!
“Solid. Warm. Responsive. She couldn’t complain about how Dylan made love. She couldn’t imagine anyone doing it better. He touched her with just the right amount of confidence and familiarity, was especially sensitive to the give-and-take that made it mutually rewarding and was willing to bestow pleasure even in nonsexual ways. Tenderness seemed to come more naturally to him than she’d ever dreamed it would. Besides all that, she liked the smell of him, the sound of his voice, the fact that he could make her feel so darn content.” – (pg. 202).
Looking forward to reading the next “Whiskey Creek” series novel, When Summer Comes!
October 17, 2012
Cheyenne and Dylan are far removed from the wealth and glitz that serve as the background of Gail and Simon in the first book in this series. Chey has known what it is to lack the most basic human comforts. Anita left her daughters alone or with strangers, she made them part of her scams, she even allowed a man to fondle Chey for money. Added to these horrific experiences are the memories of a very different life that make Chey question who she is and who her mother is. Although Dylan has been spared the poverty and neglect Cheyenne has endured, his background is far removed from the middle-class life that is typical in Whiskey Creek. His mother died from an overdose of sleeping pills when his youngest brother was still small, and his drunken father knifed a man in a bar and was sent to prison Dylan’s senior year. He dropped out of school to take over the family auto body shop and serve as parent to his four younger brothers. These backgrounds give both characters a dark complexity, and it gives them common ground. They are both the responsible ones in their respective families, taking on roles the adults in their lives abandoned and fighting to save siblings who escape through alcohol, drugs, and promiscuity.
I didn’t always like Chey. She uses Dylan in the beginning with no real understanding of her power to hurt him. She cares too much about what people think. But even when I didn’t like her choices, I understand them, and I was happy to see her grow to appreciate Dylan. The pacing seemed a bit slow in the early chapters, but once Chey and Dylan begin interacting, it picks up. The characters make this story a standout, one that I won’t soon forget.
When Summer Comes, Book #4, will be released January 22, 2013. It is Eve Harmon’s story. She meets a man on a motorcycle. I like the sound of that.
I didn’t always like Chey. She uses Dylan in the beginning with no real understanding of her power to hurt him. She cares too much about what people think. But even when I didn’t like her choices, I understand them, and I was happy to see her grow to appreciate Dylan. The pacing seemed a bit slow in the early chapters, but once Chey and Dylan begin interacting, it picks up. The characters make this story a standout, one that I won’t soon forget.
When Summer Comes, Book #4, will be released January 22, 2013. It is Eve Harmon’s story. She meets a man on a motorcycle. I like the sound of that.
October 25, 2013
Listened to on audio. Narrated by Tara Sands.
3 stars for the audio. Sometimes I really enjoyed the audio and thought her delivery was great, but other times I found her voice a bit grating. Occasionally I thought I was listening to teenagers at school and not adults having a conversation. Something was just off, for me.
2 stars for the book. This has got to be one of the most depressing books ever. Honestly, I wanted to DNF repeatedly because the characters were just so vile. Even the herione's so-called 'friends' were just awful people sometimes. I have never read about such a judgemental and mean spirited bunch of people...and then be expected to like them and think oh-it's-ok-because-they're-just-trying-to-protect her.
Jeez, with friends like those who needs enemies.
Dylan was a great character and probably the main reason I slogged through to the end. It didn't add up that he was so ostracised. I could see no real reason for the contempt everyone seemed to have for him. If being on the wrong end of crappy circumstances and a few fights make you a social pariah in this town, then I think you're better off moving.
The one thing that really did keep me engaged was that this is really really well written. I love the author's style but it takes her so long to get to the meat of the story that I very nearly called it a day.
A fabulous ending, but I'm not sure it was good enough after all the heartbreak and judgemental bullsh*t that I had to endure to get there.
3 stars for the audio. Sometimes I really enjoyed the audio and thought her delivery was great, but other times I found her voice a bit grating. Occasionally I thought I was listening to teenagers at school and not adults having a conversation. Something was just off, for me.
2 stars for the book. This has got to be one of the most depressing books ever. Honestly, I wanted to DNF repeatedly because the characters were just so vile. Even the herione's so-called 'friends' were just awful people sometimes. I have never read about such a judgemental and mean spirited bunch of people...and then be expected to like them and think oh-it's-ok-because-they're-just-trying-to-protect her.
Jeez, with friends like those who needs enemies.
Dylan was a great character and probably the main reason I slogged through to the end. It didn't add up that he was so ostracised. I could see no real reason for the contempt everyone seemed to have for him. If being on the wrong end of crappy circumstances and a few fights make you a social pariah in this town, then I think you're better off moving.
The one thing that really did keep me engaged was that this is really really well written. I love the author's style but it takes her so long to get to the meat of the story that I very nearly called it a day.
A fabulous ending, but I'm not sure it was good enough after all the heartbreak and judgemental bullsh*t that I had to endure to get there.
December 27, 2012
There were so many reasons for me not to like this book: a hero that I didn't really like, much less connect with, a heroine that doesn't seem to have a spine, and an ending that, even after 441 pages, doesn't feel entirely... ended.
And yet...
I loved it. I raced through the book, not picking up another in between (since I usually rotate about three at a time, this is a big deal.) Brenda Novak creates a great town with characters that you want know more about. This isn't one of those books where previous or future characters are shoehorned in. They actually occur naturally. I can't wait to read the next book.
Cheyenne Christensen grew up mostly living out of her mother's car until they landed in Whiskey Creek. There, she grew up on the wrong side of the tracks. But she managed to make a great group of friends, and even fell in love with her friend's brother, Joe. But now, her friend (a different friend than the sister) is interested in Joe. Since Cheyenne never said anything about her crush, she feels she doesn't have the right to prevent their dating.
Anyway, Cheyenne's mother is currently dying and her sister is a drug addict who lives at home and keeps going to party with the Amos brothers, a group notorious for their bad antics. Cheyenne doesn't need any more stress. So why is she feeling so attracted to the oldest of those brothers, Dylan? And why, now that Joe is finally starting to notice her, does she keep landing in Dylan's bed?
And yet...
I loved it. I raced through the book, not picking up another in between (since I usually rotate about three at a time, this is a big deal.) Brenda Novak creates a great town with characters that you want know more about. This isn't one of those books where previous or future characters are shoehorned in. They actually occur naturally. I can't wait to read the next book.
Cheyenne Christensen grew up mostly living out of her mother's car until they landed in Whiskey Creek. There, she grew up on the wrong side of the tracks. But she managed to make a great group of friends, and even fell in love with her friend's brother, Joe. But now, her friend (a different friend than the sister) is interested in Joe. Since Cheyenne never said anything about her crush, she feels she doesn't have the right to prevent their dating.
Anyway, Cheyenne's mother is currently dying and her sister is a drug addict who lives at home and keeps going to party with the Amos brothers, a group notorious for their bad antics. Cheyenne doesn't need any more stress. So why is she feeling so attracted to the oldest of those brothers, Dylan? And why, now that Joe is finally starting to notice her, does she keep landing in Dylan's bed?
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