Inside

Overall Rating: 4.95 // Action: 3 / Emotion: 5 / Romance: 4 / Sensuous: 2 / Suspense: 5 // Laughter: 0 / Teary: 1

Some books just reach deep into your heart and grab hold of your senses and will not let go. *Inside*, the first book in 'The Bulletproof Series', by Brenda Novak is one of those books. ♥ Loved ♥ this book! So many things were right about this book. The unique story line. The strong emotional pull. The insight into the psyche of the characters. The amazingly incredible build up of so much nail-biting suspense. The unbelievable, undeniable romance. This book is an un-put-down-able read . . . and worth every minute of it.

The interpersonal dynamics that Novak created between all these characters was so well-written and so show more well-developed that they all felt real. These characters could walk from the pages of the book they were so believable.

This book is so powerfully intense. Novak was phenomenal as she kept the reader so deeply involved in the emotional relationship growing between Virgil and Peyton while at the same time slowly building the suspense level to such proportions that it was literally impossible to sit still and keep reading. Novak has marvelously moved the characters around on her chess board with such well-written dialogue and inspiring such a richly stirring connection to them that it is impossible to imagine how she is going to say "checkmate" at the end of the book and save Virgil from death for the requisite happily ever after ending.

*Inside*, Brenda Novak's first book in 'The Bulletproof Series', is a must read for Romantic Suspense Fans. See Wolf Bear Does Books (http://goo.gl/pBFgl) for a more in-depth, detailed, review of *Inside* (contains a few spoilers). show less

I really enjoyed this romantic suspense. I have a particular fondness for ex-con books. I enjoyed how he was multifaceted. He was basically a good man who had made some bad choices but who was trying to go straight. I liked his vulnerability. The story was full of tense situations and the plot made sense. I dropped this from 5 stars because for me the ending was a bit weak. It ended while the hero and heroine were apart with someone else saving the heroine. I always feel like the two main characters should solve the problem/dilemma together. Having the hero laying in a hospital bed while his BFF saves the heroine kind of makes him seem a bit lame.. Not that I didn't love Virgil, I just didn't like the way the author chose to resolve the show more danger at the end. The epilogue was okay but could have been stronger if it were about the hero and the heroine instead of about the hero's sister and his BFF. So it lost a point but I really did enjoy it. I had to sit on my hands to keep myself from reading ahead and spoiling it for myself. show less

This started out really good ..... 4 star potential. But then all the characters got really stupid or slimy or infuriating. I expected it from the murdering gang bangers. But from everyone else, it got on my nerves. I did like Laurel and I'm interested to read her story next. I hope it doesn't fizzle out at the end like this one.

Inside is the first in the Bulletproof trilogy by Brenda Novak. Virgil Skinner has just spent fourteen years inside the prison system for a crime he didn't commit. Virgil may not have committed the crime he was charged with, murder, but he hasn't come out of the system an innocent man. Virgil joined a gang for protection while inside and cannot freely leave. Once you're in a gang you're in for life . . . or until death. It's bad enough he has the gang issue hanging over his head, but while inside he protected himself from deadly violence with deadly violence. As a result of these actions he has been "asked" to assist the California Department of Corrections in deterring another gang in the worst prison in the state, Pelican Bay, for a show more chance at a truly clean slate.

Enter Peyton Adams, the Chief Deputy Warden at Pelican Bay. She is adamantly opposed to Virgil going undercover. She feels that it isn't possible to protect him from possible gang-related violence and she doesn't trust him. In a few short days Peyton learns that there is much more to Virgil than meets the eye and she begins to admire and respect him. Virgil only wants to protect his family, his sister and her kids, from possible gang retaliation and maybe get a fresh start in life.

Gangs, prisons and undercover work apparently don't mix, at least not in a small town. It isn't possible to keep a secret, especially in a small town where everyone knows everyone else. What ensues is a rush to beat the clock and get the information that CDC wants while protecting Virgil and ensuring he gets what he wants. Throw in some not-so-honest correctional officials, a gang on the hunt for retaliation against Virgil, a family on the run and the suspense gets knocked up a few notches. Inside starts this series off with a bang and makes for a great weekend read. show less

This review is also published at http://thebookaholiccat.com

Inside is the first book of the new trilogy The Bulletproof by Brenda Novak.

Virgil Skinner has had a very tough life. He has served fourteen years in prison for a crime he didn’t committed. During those years he did what was necessary to survive in a prison, like joining a dangerous gang called The Crew. Now that he has been acquitted of all counts he wants to live a normal and quiet life, but being a member The Crew is a lifetime commitment, the only way to leave the gang is death. He knows as soon as the gangs realizes he has deserted, the gang will go for the persons he loves the most, his sister Laurel and her two little kids.
The government knows this as well and offers show more him a solution; they need him to infiltrate another dangerous gang in prison called Pelican Bay. In exchange for his help with this matter his sister and kids will be place under the witness protection program and will receive new identities. He is willing to do anything to protect them and accepts the offer knowing the risk is so high it may cost him his life.
Peyton Adams has been working as Chief Deputy Warden in Pelican Bay for the last six months. She considers the operation the California Department of Corrections is planning to do in her jail a very high-risk operation with low probabilities of success. She feels is will be almost impossible for her to offer protection to Virgil as an undercover agent and she knows if any member of Hell’s Fury suspects anything about Virgil he will be kill immediately.
Meeting Virgil a couple of days before he is supposed to enter jail didn’t help her at all. Now she knows his story and why he has accepted this crazy offer. Payton thinks he has suffer enough and he shouldn’t be put in that position. To complicate things even more, Virgil is not just what his tough appearance shows, in the short time she discovers he is much more, he intrigues her and makes her want him as she has never wanted before. And now he will be in her jail as a snitch and he will be her responsibility.

Virgil is a tortured hero. He has been in jail for a homicide he didn’t commit since he was eighteen. For his last fourteen years his life has been lived like a life in a jungle, where just the strongest survives. He is used to be looking back to see where the next attack will come from and tenderness and caring are things he has forbidden himself to experience. He may have been an innocent man when he entered jail, but he is not so innocent anymore. He is an ex-con and feels he doesn’t deserve anything good. Despite all this he has a good heart and is disposed to do anything in his power to protect the people he loves.

Peyton is an idealist. She had a difficult childhood with events that forged her in the woman she has become. She is dedicated to her work and wants to make a mark in society. She believes in the goodness of people and tries to give always the benefit of the doubt before making a final opinion of a person.

There is a palpable attraction between Virgil and Payton since the beginning. The relationship was well developed with all the complications of this difficult situation. Virgil and Peyton are very different but they complement each other perfectly making the romance in this book a believable one.

The secondary characters are so well written that you cannot do anything but love some and wish them the best and hate others and wish they would disappear at least six feet under.

We just get some glimpses of Virgil’s sister Laurel’s story, for what we learned her life has been a hard and sad one, but even though she has had that kind of life Laurel has always been there for Virgil. Mrs. Novak next book in this trilogy will be Laurel’s book, is called In Seconds and will be available August 30th 2011. I can’t wait to read it.

The world pictured in Inside is a very tough world, is the one of prisons, gangs, corruption, violence and painful realities.
This book is packed with action, suspense and intrigues. Mrs. Novak will have you biting your nails while devouring this book page by page.

There were some couple of open ends I thought needed a resolution. I don’t know if Mrs. Novak left them like that in purpose, and is planning of retaking them in the next installment. I hope that is the case.

Inside was my first book by Brenda Novak and I can guarantee you it won’t be my last. I really liked this book and enjoyed her writing style. I’m planning to read In Seconds as soon as it’s available. show less

This book was really good, my only real complaint is that it was moving along, moving along and than WHAM happy ending... out of freaking NOwhere. I was like 'wait a minute, wait a minute, What?!?!' there was like no closure, no detail as to how the happy ending even came about. I feel like we skipped at least 5 chapters, probably more!

I knew the moment I read Brenda's opening note in the book to the readers that she based this book on the TV show Prison Break and what she would have done differently with the romance that was in the show I knew this was going to be a great book.. There is sooo much goin on in the book you are never bored. I dont even know where to start with all the plot points in this book.. So all I will say is if your a fan then read this book.. If your not give this first book in the Bulletproof series a try, you'll be hooked..