Novak, Brenda S. 1964-

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Novak, Brenda S. 1964-

PERSONAL:

Born May 15, 1964, in Vernal, UT; daughter of Grant and LaVar Anderson; married Ted Novak (an entrepreneur), September 8, 1984; children: five, including Ashley, Megan, Alexa, Trey. Ethnicity: "White." Education: Attended Brigham Young University, 1982-84.

ADDRESSES:

Home—Sacramento, CA 95611. E-mail—[email protected].

CAREER:

Novelist. Formerly worked as a mortgage company loan officer. Founder of a charitable auction benefiting people with diabetes.

MEMBER:

Romance Writers of America.

WRITINGS:

ROMANCE NOVELS

Of Noble Birth, HarperCollins (New York, NY), 1999.

Expectations, Harlequin (New York, NY), 2000.

Snow Baby, Harlequin (New York, NY), 2000.

Baby Business, Harlequin (New York, NY), 2000.

Dear Maggie, Harlequin (New York, NY), 2001.

We Saw Mummy Kissing Santa Claus, 2001.

Shooting the Moon, 2002.

Taking the Heat, Harlequin (New York, NY), 2003.

A Husband of Her Own, Harlequin (New York, NY), 2003.

Sanctuary, Harlequin (New York, NY), 2003.

A Home of Her Own, Harlequin (New York, NY), 2004.

Mother, Please!, Harlequin (New York, NY), 2004.

Snow Angels, Harlequin (New York, NY), 2004.

A Family of Her Own, Harlequin (New York, NY), 2004.

Cold Feet, Harlequin (New York, NY), 2004.

Every Waking Moment, Harlequin (New York, NY), 2005.

Stranger in Town, Harlequin (New York, NY), 2005.

Big Girls Don't Cry, Harlequin (New York, NY), 2005.

Once upon a Christmas, Harlequin (New York, NY), 2006.

The Other Woman, Harlequin (New York, NY), 2006.

Coulda Been a Cowboy, Harlequin (New York, NY), 2007.

"STILLWATER TRILOGY"

Dead Silence, Mira Books (Ontario, Canada), 2006.

Dead Giveaway, Mira Books (Don Mills, Ontario, Canada), 2007.

Dead Right, Mira Books (Don Mills, Ontario, Canada), 2007.

"LAST STAND TRILOGY"

Trust Me, Mira Books (Don Mills, Ontario, Canada), 2008.

Stop Me, Mira Books (Don Mills, Ontario, Canada), 2008.

Watch Me, Mira Books (Don Mills, Ontario, Canada), 2008.

SIDELIGHTS:

Contemporary romance writer Brenda S. Novak captivates readers with books like Taking the Heat, Snow Baby, and A Husband of Her Own. Since selling her first book, Of Noble Birth, to HarperCollins publishers in 1998, Novak has gone on to produce many more for Harlequin, along with hosting workshops for other like-minded writers at the Romance Writers of America's national convention.

Novak is often complimented for her appealing characters and energetic story lines. Her first novel, Of Noble Birth, presents "a fast-moving Regency tale of intrigue and deception," according to a reviewer in Publishers Weekly. Considering that the story includes a malformed male romantic lead in high-born Nathaniel Kent, pirate crews, and incestuous yearnings, the reviewer cautioned that "some readers may be troubled by Nathaniel's deformity" and a "strained and hectic" plot. Nonetheless, the Publishers Weekly contributor complimented Novak on her "energetic prose and appealing characters," both of which "more than compensate" for any failings in her fiction debut.

A blizzard causes a car accident that forces Chantel Miller and Dillon Broderick off the road and into each other's arms—for warmth to escape the encroaching cold at first, but then romance flickers—in Novak's 2000 outing, Snow Baby. The plot thickens when the two discover links between them that prevent their relationship from developing, or so they at first believe, in a book that Library Journal contributor Kristen Ramsdell dubbed a romance with a "sophisticated touch" thanks to Novak's "well-defined characters, realistic problems, and intense interpersonal relationships." Sanctuary, another of Novak's Harlequin romances, finds pregnant Hope Tanner hoping to escape her restrictive polygamist community by withdrawing to a New Mexico ranch; ten years later she returns to New Mexico with her pregnant younger sister, confronts her past, and also reconnects with an old flame.

In Novak's 2003 romance, Taking the Heat, Randall Tucker escapes to the Arizona desert after being wrongly convicted of his wife's murder, in hopes of ultimately proving his innocence. Kristin Ramsdell in Library Journal complimented the book's "vividly and realistically detailed prison scenes combined with the classic fugitive plot," although in Publishers Weekly the reviewer was more cautionary. The novel's "appeal is badly weakened by inconsistent character motivation and an abrupt, all-too-convenient resolution," main- tained the critic, who nonetheless praised the book for being "richly dramatic" and cited its "stark setting" as a welcome contrast to the "lush" backdrops that have come to be traditional romantic-novel fare.

Every Waking Moment was published in 2005 and features some autobiographical elements. One of Novak's sons was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes, and the novel features protagonist Emma Wright, a woman with a diabetic five-year-old son. After years in an abusive relationship with Manuel, her wealthy boyfriend, Emma grabs her son and 2,000 dollars, departing from the mansion in California where she and Manuel live together. While Emma is attempting to escape from her boyfriend, Manuel uses his less-than-savory connections to track her down. Emma soon meets Preston Holman at a motel, and the next day, when her car is stolen at a Wal-Mart in Nevada, Emma turns to Preston for help. Preston is grieving for his failed marriage and for the loss of his young son, who recently died. Thus, Preston at first wants nothing to do with Emma and her son. Preston comes around in the end, falling in love with Emma. Reviewers found much of value in the book. For instance, a Publishers Weekly critic felt that the author "knows how to relate a suspenseful tale," adding that Emma's "almost palpable fear fuels this gripping tale." Similarly, Booklist contributor John Charles stated that "strongly defined characters, sizzling sexual tension, and a tautly constructed plot steeped in danger blend brilliantly."

From 2006 to 2007, Novak released her "Stillwater Trilogy." The series includes Dead Silence, Dead Giveaway, and Dead Right. In Dead Silence, assistant district attorney Grace Montgomery returns to her hometown of Stillwater. Eighteen years before, Grace's stepfather disappeared, and the town is still talking about it. In the meantime, Grace's career begins to fall apart, and she must once again come into contact with Kennedy Archer, the unrequited love interest from her childhood. Kennedy, who is running for mayor, is now a single dad following the death of his wife. Reviewers applauded the story. Romantic Times Online critic Catherine Witmer, for example, stated that "Novak keeps the reader guessing about what actually happened until the bitter end." Charles, writing again in Booklist, found that "Novak expertly mixes her usual superior characterization with a chilling sense of evil."

In the trilogy's second installment, Allie McCormick, a cold-case investigator from Chicago, travels to Stillwater to investigate the disappearance of Reverend Lee Barker (Grace's stepfather) nineteen years before. Everyone in town suspects that Lee's stepson, Clay Montgomery (Grace's brother) is responsible, so Allie begins questioning him, despite being attracted to him. Allie, who is recently divorced, finds that the more she uncovers, the more she begins to realize that neither Lee nor Clay are who they appear to be. Romantic Times Online critic Witmer stated that the book is "a sharp-edged, well-plotted story that showcases Novak's superb storytelling skill," adding that the novel is "impressive." Suspense Romance Writers contributor Tracy found that the book "is crafted with great care, giving readers a surprise in each chapter," and concluded that "Dead Giveaway is a fantastic suspense [novel] that will keep you turning pages until the very end."

In Dead Right Lee's car has been found in a quarry, along with evidence in the trunk that proves someone had a motive to kill him. Again, the question of Lee's true character is a factor. His biological daughter, Madeleine, reappears and hires a detective, Hunter Solozano, to help her find out what happened and to clear her stepbrother's name. More and more unsettling clues are uncovered, but someone who does not want the truth to come out begins to target Madeleine and Hunter. Indeed, Madeleine's life is at stake as the mysterious criminal, or criminals, attempt to stop her investigation. Romantic Times Online critic Witmer stated that the book "is arguably the strongest of the three" in the trilogy, especially "in terms of conflict and plotting." Charles, writing again in Booklist, found that the novel is a "thrilling conclusion" to the trilogy and a "superbly crafted tale of romance and suspense." A Publishers Weekly critic stated that the story's "strong characters bring the escalating suspense to life, and the mystery is skillfully played out."

Novak released her second trilogy, the "Last Stand Trilogy," in 2008. The books in the trilogy are Trust Me, Stop Me, and Watch Me. In Trust Me, protagonist Skye Kellerman escapes a would-be rapist in her own home. The attempted rapist, Oliver Burke, is a dentist with a wife and children, so few believe Skye's story about him breaking into her home. During the trial, Oliver chalks everything up to a misunderstanding. Nevertheless, he is convicted of attempted rape based on Skye's testimony against him, albeit with a short sentence. As the book opens, Oliver is about to be released from jail, and Skye is fearful of retribution from him for her testimony. The only person who truly believes that Skye is in danger is detective David Willis. All three of the books in the series are about women who have survived violent crimes and how each woman copes with her ordeal. The female protagonists are strong characters who try to make a positive impact in the wake of having been wronged. In an interview posted online at Fog City Divas, Novak stated that the protagonists in this series have "decided to fight back by trying to help others who are falling through the cracks in the system, and they take on all kinds of unusual and difficult cases." Novak further noted that after finishing the first two installments, she "really love[s] how the stories turned out."

BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SOURCES:

PERIODICALS

Booklist, March 1, 2005, John Charles, review of Stranger in Town, p. 1149; May 15, 2005, John Charles, review of Every Waking Moment, p. 1641; May 15, 2006, John Charles, review of The Other Woman, p. 30; July 1, 2006, John Charles, review of Dead Silence, p. 41; November 1, 2006, John Charles, review of Once upon a Christmas, p. 34; August 1, 2007, John Charles, review of Dead Right, p. 51.

Library Journal, August, 2000, Kristin Ramsdell, review of Snow Baby, p. 81; February 15, 2003, Kristin Ramsdell, review of Taking the Heat, p. 123; April 15, 2005, "Romance," p. 68; April 15, 2006, Kristin Ramsdell, review of The Other Woman, p. 63.

Publishers Weekly, October 11, 1999, review of Of Noble Birth, p. 73; January 27, 2003, review of Taking the Heat, p. 243; June 6, 2005, review of Every Waking Moment, p. 46; July 9, 2007, review of Dead Right, p. 37.