Discovering You (Whiskey Creek)

What a disappointment! From the first chapter on.......there was NO character development and reason for two people to have a relationship.....The main character was immature and shallow and the plot (?) most predictable....Brenda Novak needs to take more time between novels so that the reader can care about the characters and plot.

I have like almost all of the Whiskey Creek stories, but this book was a disappointment. I did not like the main character, the heroine. The relationship between India and Rod seemed fake. There was not enough development in the relationship. And I found the relationship with Natalie and Mac uncomfortable. This is not the worst book in the series but it's close to it. I was hoping for so much more then this.

Brenda Novak's books are always the perfect antidote to any reading funk I might find myself in. Her writing kicks me back into gear and gets me back to devouring pages and stories again. I feel like I've been teased with the Amos brothers all these years. Having read two of the brothers' stories, I've gotten a peek at them here and there, but now I feel like I'm really getting to see them. Discovering You has made them the center of attention, and Rod and India's story was a great way to do it. I love how complex Novak has made Rod. We first see him fresh from a fight, walking down the street, looking very tough and intimidating. However, it doesn't take long for his sweet side to become obvious as well. I find it impossible to not find him completely irresistible. He even cuts India's grass without being asked! A man after my own heart. India is very complex too. She has not had it easy either, but she is still a wonderful person. It's no wonder it doesn't take long for Rod to take a liking to her. Like all good books, accompanying the good parts are the creepy, scary, dramatic parts. Rod and India are very familiar with trouble, and they see plenty of drama in this book. Their battles with their own personal demons and feelings was just as exciting as the conflict with the murderous villain. Now I just need to deal with being teased with Natasha and Mack. I received this book in exchange for an honest review.

***.5 "Discovering You" (A Whiskey Creek novel) by Brenda Novak

The premise of this novel is catching from the very beginning. India Sommers comes upon a man who is bleeding and clearly injured. While she wrestles within herself whether she should just drive by and stay out of the drama that clearly will unfold, another part of her knows she might be the last person to come along to help for awhile. Reluctantly, she stops, and only then does she realize the injured person is her neighbor, Rodney Amos. This was the start of a friendship, of the two being confidants for the other, a sexual relationship which turns into a lovingly one, and eventually a committed relationship. (I was provided with an advanced readers copy for a fair and honest review.)

But all that comes in time. Time in which India has to face her past as her past has suddenly sprung up more quickly than she expected. Rod is there helping her, first to her reluctance then to her willingness and appreciation. While that part of the novel seemed to drag a little, it was engaging and interesting and ended in the best way possible.

While the characters were well written to a degree, there were also gaps in being able to truly get to know them or relate to them. To some degree with India and Rod, but more so in the secondary plot line of Natasha and Mack and also all the brothers. There was so much back and forth and repetition in the backstory part of the novel (Natasha and Mack), that the reader just want to say, "get it over and done with already." There was little in their characters that the reader could relate to between them as characters or within their storyline. In many respects, I felt like the novel would have been stronger without this backstory.

While I enjoyed the novel and India and Rod as characters and the main plot, I felt like this novel lacked much depth in all areas. It often felt like the author skimmed over certain parts that felt as if they were potentially more important or should have played a bigger role if Ms Novak had let them. In addition, I felt like there was a fair amount of repetitive dialogue and/or behavior throughout.

"Discovering You," is an enjoyable, interesting, and relatively engaging novel. I would recommend it as a good beach or rainy day read.

Fun, romantic story about a woman, her past and her future.

I received the book from the Goodreads First Reads Program.

liked the book

This is a great series. Brenda knows how to make her characters come to life. There is plenty of romance and intrigue in this book. Can't wait to read the next one.

love it

Loved the story.

Always buy this author no matter what the reviews say.