Title: Trust Me
Author: Brenda Novak
First published May 27, 2008
435 pages, Paperback
ISBN: 9780778324126 (ISBN10: 0778324125)
Rating: 4.07
Overview
Years ago, Skye Kellerman was a victim of a vicious attack that changed her life forever. But she refused to let the trauma define her and started The Last Stand with two fellow survivors to help others like them.
However, her past comes back to haunt her when her attacker, Dr. Oliver Burke, is released from prison. Sacramento detective David Willis is convinced that Burke is guilty of multiple crimes, including two unsolved murders, and poses a grave threat to Skye.
With Burke’s promise to finish what he started, Skye must fight back with all her might, and David is determined to stop the predator before he can harm anyone else. Will they be able to protect Skye and bring Burke to justice?
Trust me, the stakes are high in this thrilling novel by Brenda Novak.
About the Author
Brenda Novak’s journey as a bestselling author began with a harrowing experience. She discovered that her day-care provider was drugging her kids with cough syrup and Tylenol to get them to sleep while she was away.
This made her realize that she needed a profession that would allow her to work from home. Despite having no creative skills, Brenda took up writing as a full-time occupation.
Brenda had always been good at math and science, which is why she majored in business in college. She left her academic scholarship at Brigham Young University to start a family.
She worked in commercial real estate and became a loan officer before finally deciding to become a novelist. It took her five years to teach herself the craft and complete her first book.
Brenda’s advice to aspiring writers is to read extensively.
Brenda’s first book was a success, and she has since become a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author. She writes two to three novels a year in different genres.
Brenda and her husband, Ted, live in Sacramento and have five children. They are now empty nesters and spend their free time babysitting their grandchildren.
Apart from writing and spending time with her family, Brenda is passionate about raising money for diabetes research. Her youngest son, Thad, has diabetes, and Brenda has raised almost $2.6 million to help him and others with the condition.
She also loves to travel, watch sports, and ride her bike. In fact, she bikes an incredible 20 miles every day!
Editoral Review
Brenda Novak’s Trust Me is a thrilling romantic suspense novel that keeps the reader on the edge of their seat from start to finish. First published in May 2008, it is a captivating addition to Novak’s extensive bibliography.
Novak is a New York Times bestselling author, and her experience and expertise in the genre does not disappoint. Set in the small town of Whiskey Creek, California, Trust Me follows the story of Maisey Lazarow, a young photographer who has recently returned home after a messy divorce.
Maisey is tasked with documenting the town’s history, but her work becomes much more personal when she uncovers a family secret that puts her life in danger. Along the way, she meets Dylan Brodie, a private investigator who is also searching for answers about his own family’s past.
Novak’s writing style is engaging and descriptive, transporting the reader into the heart of the story. Her attention to detail is exemplary, and the plot is well-structured with enough twists and turns to keep the reader guessing until the very end.
The characters are brilliantly developed, each with their own unique traits and motivations. Novak’s pacing is impeccable, and she masterfully balances the romance and suspense elements of the novel, seamlessly weaving them together.
Trust Me is not just a captivating read, it also tackles serious issues such as domestic violence, PTSD, and the struggles of small-town life. Novak handles these topics with sensitivity and realism, creating a meaningful and relatable experience for the reader.
However, the novel does have some shortcomings. Novak’s use of cliched tropes such as the small-town setting and the tough yet vulnerable protagonist can be predictable at times.
The plot can also feel formulaic, and readers might feel that they have seen similar stories play out before. Despite these flaws, Trust Me is a wonderfully crafted novel that is sure to captivate fans of the romantic suspense genre.
It is both accessible and thought-provoking, with well-drawn characters and a thrilling plot. The novel is comparable to works by authors such as Nora Roberts or Sandra Brown, but Novak brings her own unique style and vision to the genre.
In conclusion, Trust Me is a must-read for fans of the romantic suspense genre. It is a well-crafted and thrilling novel that offers both entertainment and insight into important social issues.
While it may not break any new ground, the novel is a shining example of Novak’s expertise and talent as an author. It receives a solid rating of 4 stars out of 5.
