Dead Right by Brenda Novak

Book description:

The people of Stillwater, Mississippi, are asking questions about murder. Again.

Twenty years ago, Madeline Barker’s father disappeared. Despite what everyone else thinks, she’s convinced her stepfamily had nothing to do with it. But the discovery of his car proves he didn’t just drive away. Worse, the police find something in his 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 don’t like it. Even if her family doesn’t like it. But when PI Hunter Solozano begins to uncover some shocking evidence, someone in Stillwater is determined to put a stop to Madeline’s search for the truth. And that means putting a stop to her. Permanently.

This is the 3rd and final installment of Novak's Stillwater, MS trilogy. So don't start with this one.

When her father's car is found after 20 years, it's the first real sign that he met with foul play. For Madeline Barker, it means that he didn't abandon her. This is a big deal to Maddy because her own mother comitted suicide when she was 10 (or maybe 11). It also makes Maddy even more determined (if that's even possible) to find out what happened to her father. The general belief around Stillwater is that her stepfamily, the Montgomery's, killed Reverend Barker and are hiding his body somewhere at the farm where Maddy grew up. Maddy has always scoffed at these beliefs and has done whatever she can to defend the family she loves.

Though she can scarcely afford it, Maddy hires a P.I. from California to investigate. After much browbeating, Hunter Solozano arrives and is on the case. Maddy is chagrined when she realizes that she's hired a California beach bum to investigate her father's disappearance. Not to mention the attraction she feels for a man that is four years younger than her. It makes for a very uncomfortable few days. Maddy soon realizes that there is much more to Hunter than meets the eye and if anyone can find the truth, it's Hunter.

Of course as I was reading this I already knew who killed the good Reverend and why. No, I didn't figure it out on my own. It was explained in the 1st book. See, Maddy's daddy wasn't a man of the cloth. He was a vile, disgusting, hideous excuse for a human being. Not not to mention a pedophile. While the Montgomery's (Irene, stepmom-Clay, stepbrother-Grace, stepsister) knew exactly what kind of man Barker was, they have always kept the truth from Maddy. They didn't do it for any other reason that the fact that they were trying to protect her.

Novak kind of danced around the rape of Grace by the Reverend in the 1st book, but was very graphic in this last book. A suitcase is found in the back of the Reverend's car, which contains a dildo, three pairs of girls panties, and a camera. A part of me can understand Maddy's absolute denial that those are her father's things. The girl grew up believing her father was a saint. All her life people protected her from her father's true character. At the same time, her naivety was a little annoying. Sure, the suitcase could be the murderers. It could be something that he was given by a parishoner. But after little things start coming to light about her father, she's still in total denial. Borderline TSTL. Not enough to ruin the book, but enough to be noticeable.

Anyway, Barker's partner in crime is still alive and getting nervous about the extra attention the case is receiving. So what does he do? Like the brainbox he is, he starts sending Maddy gifts. He breaks into her house. He calls her. Then he decides to kidnap her. His reasoning? Barker used his daughter, but refused to let him use Maddy. Pay back is a bitch. Even if the person is dead.

I really thought this was a suitable ending for Stillwater. Obviously Hunter helped Maddy resolve her abandonment issues. We also got glimpses into Clay and Allie's marriage (book 2), which was "awww" inducing. I did feel bad for Irene, who was only trying to protect her children. She married Reverend Barker thinking she had found sanctuary for her and her children. Instead she took them straight into a nightmare.

Novak does a terrific job of cultivating the relationships between the characters. It really came through the pages how the Montgomery's were determined to protect Madeline. The ending was a good one, if a bit rushed.

If you haven't read this series, run out right now and buy it.

4 out of 5 stars.

Coulda Been a Cowboy by Brenda Novak

From the back cover:

Grandpa Garnier used to say: Love is like a bucking bronco. It takes guts and determination to hang on, but it’s worth the ride.

If only Grandpa was around now to help Tyson Garnier out of this mess. The famous pro football player is suddenly saddled with a very public scandal--and an illegitimate child. Tyson needs a good nanny now if he’s going to salvage his career. And plain, no-nonsense Dakota Brown is the ideal candidate.

Dakota doesn’t care for football–or for a man who doesn’t seem to want his own son. But she needs this job and that precious little baby needs her.

Dakota isn’t Tyson’s kind of woman. But the more he sees of her—and the more he sees of his son—the harder he wants to hang on.

One of my guilty pleasures is reading Harlequin's. They're just good. Well, most of them are. When I want to read a love story that is just a love story, I read a Harlequin.

This is the latest installment in Brenda Novak's Dundee, Idaho series. I did not start reading this series because I live in Idaho. No, seriously I didn't. I wouldn't recommend reading this book if you haven't read the preceeding books.

Tyson Garnier is a jerk of a football player. He doesn't pretend to be what he's not. He wants to live his carefree bachelor life and has no qualms about admiting it. So when an old girlfriend turns up and says that he has a nine month old son, Tyson is dismayed. Actually, dismayed is too milded of a word for what Tyson feels. He would have had no problem paying child support and not seeing his son. Ever. I had a hard time with that at first, but then I felt a teeny tiny bit of respect that he could admit that. He hired a private investigator to follow Rachelle (his baby's momma) around and what he learned prompted him to pay her a million dollars for custody of a baby he didn't want.

Enter Dakota. Tyson knows that he will never feel attracted to her. She's frumy and overweight. She also doesn't seem to be impressed with his fame, which is a point in her favor. When he hires Dakota as his son, Braden's nanny, Ty knows he made the best decision for both him and Braden. It's actually pretty funny about how Ty intially feels about Braden. While it's obvious to the reader that Braden just wants his daddy, Ty feels like this nine month old baby is out to get him.

Dakota has her own problems. Almost her whole life, she has had to take care of her father. Dakota knows that it is soley her fault that her dad is as he is. When she was 10 years old, he risked his life to save hers. So she knows she'll never be able to leave him. Unfortunatley he gets increasingly violent and drunk. The Police Chief of Dundee has had it with Dakota's dad. Because her dad only seems to be that violatle when Dakota is around, he tells Dakota that he will not press charges against her father (for various things) if she moves out. As you can imagine, Ty is thrilled to hear this because he just got a live-in caretaker for Braden.

Dakota falls more in love with Braden every day. She soon realizes that she is starting to feel something for Ty, too. She doesn't want him to know it, though. She starts working out and Ty immediately notices. I guess she had to lose weight for him to notice her as a woman. Because Ty knows that he will never settle down and he also knows that Dakota will want to settle down, he starts planning on a way to marry Dakota off. What ensues is actually pretty humorous.

You also have Braden's mom who has realized that the money train has stopped and decides that she wants Braden back. So she starts making all these absurd accusations that don't seem so absurd when they end up on the front page. Ty is soon in jeporady of not only losing his sponsers, but also his whole football career. He also realizes that not only will he fight to keep Braden, but he will fight to keep Dakota, too. Aw.

I love this series. There is just a real small town feel that Novak really gets across well. One thing that bugged me was how Dakota was driving Ty's Ferarri with Braden in the front seat. First, it's just ridiculous to think of a carseat in a Ferarri. Second, carseats don't go in the front seat. Ever. So that's my mom tip of the day. LOL

4 out of 5 stars