Brenda Novak

Sanctuary by Brenda Novak is a powerful, well-crafted romance that weaves together themes of love, redemption, and the dark side of polygamy. The story centers on Hope, a determined and resilient heroine, and Parker, a man with a secret so devastating it could shatter their growing connection. The way Novak reconciles the deep rift between them is nothing short of remarkable.

From the beginning, Parker’s behavior is both intriguing and frustrating. He’s clearly drawn to Hope, but his show more hostility and avoidance leave her—and the reader—questioning his true feelings and his past. The mystery surrounding the little girl Hope gave up for adoption only deepens the tension and emotional stakes.

The story also delves into the sinister side of polygamy, depicting it as a tool for abuse and control, much like the news stories we’ve all heard about the worst cases. The villain in this book is chillingly evil, and Novak doesn’t shy away from showing the harm such manipulative figures can cause in the name of faith. It’s a stark contrast to the more sanitized portrayals of polygamy seen in pop culture, making the story feel raw and authentic.

What truly shines is the strength of the characters. Hope and her sister Faith are admirable for their resilience and refusal to let their painful past define them. They embody hope and determination, seeking love and family despite their struggles. Even Parker and Lydia, who wrestle with guilt over their past choices, are deeply human and relatable.

The unique plot, emotional depth, and brisk pacing make Sanctuary a true page-turner. It’s a romance with heart, substance, and a compelling storyline that feels both fresh and grounded in real-life struggles. For readers who love a love story with layers of complexity and suspense, this one is a must-read. Thank you NetGalley for the ALC. show less

Very good book about two people who are trying to put their lives back together. Sadie is in the midst of a difficult divorce from her controlling and abusive husband. Her job as a waitress isn't enough to make ends meet and desperation has her accepting a job working for Dawson. Dawson has spent a year in prison as he stood trial for the murder of his parents. He's been acquitted, but the people of Silver Springs still believe that he is guilty. He is trying to get the farm and house fixed show more up so that he can bring his disabled sister back home. Sadie is the only one who has agreed to work for him.

I loved the development of the relationship between Sadie and Dawson. Sadie is understandably nervous about her job. The justice system says that Dawson is innocent, but it's difficult not to be influenced by the constant negativity of the people around her. I loved that Dawson is patient and understanding of her fears. It doesn't take long for Sadie's heart to convince her that Dawson is innocent. They quickly move from employer/employee to friends, and then more. I ached for Sadie, whose soon-to-be-ex doesn't want to let her go and does everything he can to sabotage her efforts at independence. I loved the way that Dawson stood behind her and gave her the support she needed to fight back. I also hurt for Dawson, who had never truly had a chance to mourn the loss of his parents. He buries his pain in his determination to bring the farm back to life and bring his sister home. I loved Sadie's faith in him and how she stands up for him against his detractors. I especially loved the scene with Sadie and the social worker who came to investigate for Dawson's sister's release. Neither Sadie nor Dawson had started out wanting or expecting any kind of relationship. Sadie is reluctant to trust her judgment after what she has been through with Sly and now believes that love is just a fairytale. Dawson is just too busy with fixing the farm to have time, plus he believes that his trashed reputation will prevent any woman from wanting him. I loved watching them grow closer as they spent time together. It was especially sweet to see Dawson with Sadie's son, Jayden. It was clear that Dawson would be a terrific father. I liked that they didn't fight their growing attraction too hard. Giving in opened their hearts to the possibility of a future for them. I liked the epilogue and how it brought Dawson and the town back together.

The book had two suspense storylines - Dawson's search for his parents' true murderer, and the problems that Sadie was having with Sly. I liked Dawson's determination to prove his innocence and his persistence in pursuing each lead that he got. It really seemed like finding a needle in a haystack until one particular connection was discovered. The problems with Sly were much more intense. He is an abusive, controlling man, who enjoys the power trip of being a police officer. From the beginning, he uses intimidation to prevent Sadie from getting the jobs that would enable her to earn more money. When that doesn't work on Dawson, he steps up his attempts to drive Sadie back to him. His actions escalate, becoming more and more dangerous to both Sadie and Dawson. It was frustrating to see the way that he had the support of his fellow officers, who not only refused to see what he was doing but also participated in some of the intimidation. I loved the support that Dawson gave Sadie and seeing the steps she went through to solve the problem. The final confrontation was intense with a surprise twist to its resolution. show less

This book sucks you right in. A model, returned from a career in New York. An estranged family with a controlling father and a brother who won’t believe a word she says about what happened the night their mother disappeared. A best friend who married her ex right after she left town… and who may or may not be on her side. A cop who married a girl to do the right thing, rather than the one girl he’d always loved. This has all the makings of a really juicy soap opera, and you just show more can’t stop turning the pages.

But as Sloane digs deeper into the twisted history of what happened the night her mother disappeared, she starts receiving more threats. Her father controls everything in their small Texas town. Micah, her ex, now a police officer, wants to help. But the situation is complicated by the fact that Paige, his ex-wife in a nasty divorce and Sloane’s (maybe) best friend shows up at every turn, sure wanting Micah back and convinced he still has feelings for Sloane. (She may not be entirely wrong.) This was a complete page-turner!

Please excuse typos/name misspellings. Entered on screen reader. show less

This is a wonderful romance that deals with some really tough issues. When she was a sophomore in high school Addy attended a graduation party that ended horrifically for her. Addy left Whiskey Creek after graduation, never intending to come back. But her grandmother needs her help, so here she is, wanting nothing so much as to avoid the boys who raped her. Two days after arriving in town she is kidnapped and dumped into the very mine where the attack occurred. She's rescued by Noah, her show more high school crush, and brother to one of her attackers. Noah would like to get to know her better, but she wants nothing to do with him.

I really liked Addy. She had the courage to come back to Whiskey Creek to help her grandmother in spite of the horrible memories. She admits to herself that she would have loved to have gone to the police at the time, but because she feels responsible for the death of one of the boys she let it go. Being kidnapped and having her life and that of her grandmother threatened just reinforces that decision. She doesn't expect to be rescued by Noah, her high school crush and brother to the dead attacker. The last thing she wants is to get involved with him, but she discovers that her crush is still alive and kicking. She tries very hard to keep him at a distance, but he isn't cooperating. She feels that getting close to him is impossible with her secrets between them. And she can't tell him the truth without destroying his memories of his twin and tearing his family apart. I really wasn't sure how their relationship was going to work out. Addy was so conflicted because she really came to love Noah. She started out not expecting anything from him because of his reputation as a player, that he'd give up on her quickly. His kindness and care for her starts to break down her barriers, but she still can't tell him the truth. She feels she has to deny the love she feels for him in order to protect him and others. When the truth finally comes out I loved the courage she showed in facing everyone with what really happened.

Noah is a man with a reputation as a womanizer. He certainly has enjoyed the ladies, but lately he's started to feel like there should be more to his life. Seeing some of his friends find love and settle down makes him wonder if there could be someone out there for him. When he rescues Addy he discovers that there is something about her that really draws him. He has vague memories of her from high school, and he would really like to get to know her better. He is surprised when she doesn't want anything to do with him and wonders if he unknowingly hurt her all those years ago. He isn't going to give up on her though, and keeps trying. I really did like his perseverance. He's never been able to commit to anyone before and he finally realizes that it was because he'd never found someone who reached his heart. I also liked the way that he listened to his feeling that there was more going on with her abduction than she was admitting to anyone and was determined to protect her. When the truth came out he was stunned by what he learned and had to decide just who he was going to believe.

There was also a continuation of the story involving Noah's best friend Baxter. This too was dealt with in a very realistic manner. This is something that has been building for awhile and when it all came to a head both of them were left reeling. I really liked the way that Noah stood up for his friend. I look forward to seeing more of Baxter in the future.

I have to say that once again Police Chief Stacy has really pissed me off. His narrow focus on one person as a suspect in Addy's kidnapping was so wrong, especially with Addy's insistence that he had the wrong man. His actions later in the book are even worse. I really hope that one of these days soon he gets what is coming to him. I loved the way it was Dylan Amos, one of the people the chief hates the most, who finds a crucial piece of evidence. show less