A NEW WHISKEY CREEK NOVEL

DISCOVERING YOU
A Whiskey Creek Novel
Brenda Novak
MIRA
ISBN:  978-0-7783-1880-4
June 2016
Contemporary Romance

This latest in the Whiskey Creek series tells India and Rod’s story.  India is a widow whose physician husband was shot by an ex-boyfriend who is getting out of jail.  She moves to the new community with her little girl, Cassia, to get a fresh start.  She is struggling with her in-laws, who have never approved of her and threaten to sue for custody.

Rod is her next door neighbor, a mechanic with a bad boy reputation, handsome, and wickedly attracted to India.  They meet under unusual circumstances and Rod quickly realizes that this lady comes with baggage.  He jumps in, however, to help her out and in the process they begin to explore their mutual attraction.

I had mixed feelings about this book.  I thought that India was a little too uncertain about herself and at one point I thought she was using Rod for protection and some sexual gratification.  She did odd things like sleep on his back porch and go into his home when he was not there.  The author wanted to portray her as vulnerable but she looked a little off.  There was no doubt about her commitment to her daughter but the reality was, she was picking a partner similar to her ex-boyfriend.  I was a little startled when Rod engaged in substance abuse to get closer to the ex.  I can’t remember ever reading this in a romance book before!

With all this, the book is well written and gets us in touch with these diverse characters.  I just thought the plot was a little uneven and some of the behavior of the main characters was a little unexpected!

Reviewed by Jeri Neal
Rating:  3