Brenda Novak

Two sweet contemporary romances by New York Times bestselling authors Brenda Novak and Christine Rimmer.

Baby Business – Brenda Novak

Macy McKinney needs money, a lot of it, to pay for her daughter's operation. Businessman Thad Winters, a widower, wants a child without the complications of a relationship. He's willing to pay for that. He interviews applicants–and hires Macy to have his baby. Once Macy's pregnant, they decide that a temporary marriage will simplify the situation' but it does exactly the opposite! A deeply emotional story about what it means to love a child–and what happens when you marry the right man…for the wrong reasons.

Not Quite Married – Christine Rimmer

It was hard for Clara Bravo to face gorgeous Dalton Ames after he ended their fling, especially when she was notifying Dalton that she was pregnant. Even more difficult, was turning down the irresistible banker's proposal–just for their baby's sake. Dalton pushed Clara away because he couldn't risk his heart again after his recent divorce–not because he didn't feel anything for her. When he discovered her pregnancy, Dalton was determined to create the picture–perfect home with the one woman he could never forget. Now, if only he could convince Clara that their family was forever…

For the first time as a stand–alone ebook!

Down on her luck, Cierra Santos is seeking refuge in the small town of Dundee during a snowstorm when she is taken in by a man who helps her discover a new sense of home. But Ken Holbrook provides more than safety and comfort because, with him, she also finds love.

Originally published in 2010

One Christmas can change your life…

Kyle Houseman believes he'll never find anyone he could love as much as Olivia Arnold, who's now married to his stepbrother. Not only did he lose her, he's been through one divorce and has no desire to go through another. He's determined to be extra careful about the next woman he gets involved with – which is why he fights his attraction to the beautiful stranger who rents his farmhouse for the Christmas holiday. 

Lourdes Bennett is a country music artist. She's only planning to stay in Whiskey Creek long enough to write the songs for her next album – the album that's going to put her back on top. Her dreams don't include settling in a town even smaller than the one she escaped. But as she comes to know Kyle, she begins to wonder if she'd be making a terrible mistake to leave him behind…

Join the many readers who've fallen in love with Whiskey Creek, the Northern California town created by New York Times bestselling author Brenda Novak.

When Lightning Strikes (the story that started it all)

Gail DeMarco left Whiskey Creek to make a name for herself in Los Angeles. Her PR firm has a roster of A-list clients, including Simon O'Neal. But Simon, who's just been through a turbulent divorce, won't cooperate, so she drops him—and he retaliates by taking the rest of her clients with him. Desperate to save her company, Gail makes a deal with Simon. What he wants is custody of his son, but that's going to require a whole new image. He needs to marry some squeaky-clean girl like Gail, who'll drag him off to some small, obscure place like Whiskey Creek…

When Snow Falls

After growing up in cheap motels, moving from town to town with her sister and mother, Cheyenne Christensen is grateful to be on her own. 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. She's determined to find answers—but things get even more complicated when she lands right in the arms of Dylan Amos, oldest and baddest of the hell-raising Amos brothers. He's exactly the kind of guy she's sworn to avoid. But…maybe there's more to Dylan than she thought.

When Summer Comes

One day, Callie Vanetta receives devastating news. She needs a liver transplant. But her doctors warn that, in her case, the chances of finding a compatible donor aren't good. Determined to spend whatever time she has left on her own terms, she keeps the diagnosis to herself and moves out to her late grandparents' farm. One night, a stranger comes knocking at her door. He's an attractive and mysterious drifter by the name of Levi McCloud, and he offers to trade work for shelter. Callie figures she doesn't have anything to lose. He needs a temporary place to stay; she needs an extra pair of hands. Then she realizes she does have something to lose—her heart.

And…you're invited to a wedding in Whiskey Creek in this special bonus novella, When We Touch.

The Seattle police suspect Madison Lieberman's father was the serial killer they call the "Sandpoint Strangler." Madison refuses to believe it. Her father is now dead, and all she wants is the chance to create a new life for herself and her six-year-old child.

Then she discovers something in the crawl space beneath her parents' house. Something that makes her question her father's innocence. Or the innocence of someone else who's equally close to her…

When another woman turns up dead, crime writer Caleb Trovato wonders whether they're dealing with a copycat killer. Or is the real Sandpoint Strangler still alive? Caleb's sure Madison knows more than she's telling, and he's determined to find out what. But he doesn't expect to fall in love–or to lead Madison and her child into danger….

Home is where her heart is 

When Presley Christensen returns to Whiskey Creek with her little boy after two years away, she has completely changed her life. She's made peace with her past and overcome the negative behavior that resulted from her difficult childhood. Now she's back in the small town that was the closest thing to "home" she ever knew–the town where she can be with the sister who's her only family. 

There's just one catch. Aaron Amos still lives in Whiskey Creek, at least until he moves to Reno to open a branch of the Amos brothers' auto body shop. And no matter how hard she's tried, Presley hasn't been able to get over him. Seeing him again makes the longing so much worse. But she hopes she can get through the next few months, because she can't fall back into his arms…or his bed. She's come too far to backslide now. And there's a secret she's been guarding–a secret she'll do anything to protect.

Brenda Novak

The Reverend Lee Barker went missing years ago

And the people of Stillwater, Mississippi, believe they know why. They are convinced he was murdered by his stepson Clay Montgomery. But only Clay–and his mother and sisters–can say for sure. But they're not talking.

Allie McCormick is a cold–case detective from Chicago. After a difficult divorce, she's returned to Stillwater with her six–year–old daughter to find the peace she once knew in her hometown, and to work for the local police force while she's starting over. But when Clay's powerful enemies join forces to put him behind bars, Allie feels duty–bound to uncover the truth

Brenda Novak

Twenty years ago, Madeline Barker's father disappeared. Despite what everyone else thinks, Madeline is convinced her stepfamily had nothing to do with it. But the recent discovery of his car finally proves he didn't just drive away.

Worse, the police find something in the trunk that says there's more to this case than murder. With no other recourse, Madeline decides to hire a private investigator–even if the cops and her family don't like it. But when P.I. Hunter Solozano begins to uncover some shocking evidence, someone in Stillwater is determined to put a stop to her. Permanently.

There's a body buried behind a Mississippi farmhouse.

Grace Montgomery knows who it is, and she knows why it happened. She was only thirteen the night it all went wrong. And now, like then, she has no choice but to keep her mouth shut.

Grace left the town of Stillwater thirteen years ago, trying to forget, trying to make good. As an assistant D.A. in Jackson, she's finally achieved the success that was supposed to change her life. But it hasn't–so she's come back to confront her own history. Which means returning to the farmhouse now owned by her brother and facing the people of Stillwater, a number of whom suspect the truth.

Widower Kennedy Archer is one of those people. He's running for mayor and needs to stay as far away from Grace as possible. And yet…she's an enigma he can't resist. Even though her enemies are close to finding out what really happened–and that could ruin them both.

Can she ever trust another "bad boy"? 

India Sommers once had the perfect family–until an ex–boyfriend broke in and shot her husband. Not only did that cost her the man she loved, a respected heart surgeon and the father of her child, but she also feels responsible. Charlie died because of the people she hung out with before she had the strength to change her life. 

Just after moving to Whiskey Creek with her little girl, Cassia, to start over, she's learned that her ex–boyfriend's trial ended in a hung jury. He's getting out of jail; he could try to find her again. And that's not all that scares her. She's extremely attracted to her next–door neighbour, but Rod Amos is the handsome "bad boy" type that's given her so much trouble in the past. If she got involved with him, her in–laws would sue for custody of Cassia. 

India has to keep her distance from Rod–but the more she gets to know him, the more difficult that becomes.

Emma Wright has finally escaped the dangerous man who's controlled her every move for the past six years. Taking her five-year-old son, she has fled across the country–seeking freedom, safety and a fresh start. But Max's father isn't giving them up so easily.

Preston Holman understands the lengths a parent will go for his child. He's given up everything to pursue the man he believes killed his son.

When Preston meets Emma, he wants nothing to do with her or the boy who reminds him so much of his own child. Yet he can't abandon them–and as he's drawn into the danger that surrounds them, Preston begins to wonder if he's finally found something to live for beyond revenge.

Who's going to win the battle of Dundee, Idaho? The town's bad girl or its favorite son?

Rebecca Wells desperately wants to overcome her reputation. She's finally trying to put an end to her twenty–four–year rivalry with the perfect Josh Hill, a rivalry that began when she was a kid and the Hills moved in across the street. Great–looking, popular, a successful horse rancher, Josh is Dundee's golden boy –– and the son her father always wanted.

But even when her father insists they call a truce, it's hard for Rebecca to drop her resentment of Josh. She refuses to acknowledge that she feels more for him than she's ever let on. The man she loves to hate is also the man she'd hate to love!

New York Times bestselling author Brenda Novak welcomes readers to the town of Silver Springs, where surprises wait around every corner! 

The search for her birth mother brought Cora Kelly to the New Horizons Boys' Ranch. Getting a job there was easy enough, but confiding in the ranch's owner that she's really her daughter? That task is daunting. Especially with Elijah Turner watching her every move. 

Elijah can't deny his deep attraction to Cora. But there's something about the ranch's newest employee that has him questioning her motives. If she's there to hurt his family, there'll be hell to pay. Yet, if the feelings the lovely teacher awakes in his guarded heart are any indication, Cora's appearance might be just what they were all waiting for.