Linsey Lanier
Sally Kilpatrick
Sia Huff
Romily Bernard
Darcy Crowder
Marilyn Baron
Tami Brothers
Sandra Elzie
Carol Burnside
Debbie Kaufman
Maxine Davis
Tammy Schubert
Susan Carlisle
Pam Asberry
Lindy Chaffin StartWhite Heat by Brenda Novak
White Heat
by Brenda Novak
MIRA Books
ISBN-10: 0778327957
White Heat kicks off a new romantic suspense series by Brenda Novak featuring the operatives of Department 6, a private security company that specializes in dangerous, high-risk assignments. This book features Rachel Jessop and Nate Ferrentino, two people who are less than thrilled to be on their way to Paradise, a ghost town in the Arizona desert. They’ve been on eggshells around each other since the awkward and unhappy morning after their one and only night together several months earlier and now they’ll be going undercover as husband and wife to infiltrate a religious cult that appears to have taken a turn into dangerous territory. A woman has escaped from the cult’s compound, claiming that the members of the Church of the Covenant attempted to stone her to death and now a local teenage girl is missing and her mother is certain her disappearance is at the hands of the church.
Ethan Wycliff is one scary dude. The charismatic founder of the Church of the Covenant is well-spoken and handsome, drawing and binding people to him with ease. Unfortunately, his charm hides a much darker side that includes drugs, countless depravities and even murder. This is the man Nate and Rachel must bring down and he proves more than a worthy adversary. Novak has created a villain that is the worst kind of cult leader and I admit, he brought more than a few chills to my spine, especially when his plans for Rachel are brought to light. I think what makes him so scary is his realism. This is a man that could live next door, be my child’s college roommate, be the murderer about whom people say, “He was such a nice man.”
White Heat is a gripping, edge-of-the-seat story with intriguing characters and truly evil villains. The desert setting is perfect, giving the reader the same feeling of dread and isolation that Rachel feels when she purposely puts herself at the mercy of Wycliff, cutting herself off from Nate and outside help. The love story builds slowly and realistically, gaining in intensity and culminating in a classic life and death race against time.
This is a book that I had a hard time putting down. In fact, it kept me awake late into the night until I finally turned the final page. The story grabbed me from the beginning and still has me thinking about it long after the final page was turned. Brenda Novak really is a master of her craft.
I can’t wait to read more Department 6 books. Luckily, I won’t have to wait long! The next book, Body Heat will be released August 31st, to be followed by Killer Heat on September 28th.
PJ Ausdenmore
Tags: Brenda Novak, Mira books, The Romance Dish, White Heat
About the author
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The Romance Dish | http://www.theromancedish.com/ The ladies of the Petit Fours and Hot Tamales blog welcomes our friends at the Romance Dish blog as they share some of their reviews with us. If you’d like to read more from this fabulous group, check out their site at http://www.theromancedish.com/ as they dish about books, romance and the ups and downs of everyday life.
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August 21st, 2010 at 3:32 pm
This sounds like a “must read.” I’ll have to get this one and put it on top of my to be read books.
August 21st, 2010 at 8:14 pm
I’m scared just reading this review! White Heat sounds like a terrific book.
August 21st, 2010 at 9:55 pm
Hey PJ! I can’t wait to read this book. It is sitting on my shelf waiting for enough time to read it straight through (I was advised this was one you couldn’t put down once you started…grin…).
Thanks for wetting my appetite. I’ll have to make it more of a priority now!!!
Tami
August 22nd, 2010 at 2:26 pm
Thanks for reviewing a book I had already decided to get at the first opportunity.
Sandy
August 22nd, 2010 at 5:55 pm
Brenda novak is not only a wonderful writer but a great person also.