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Bulletproof #2
In Seconds
They're back...
Laurel Hodges has changed her identity twice. She's been on the run for the past four years, trying to outdistance the gang members who blame her for the death of one of their own. She's finally found peace and stability in the small town of Pineview, Montana. But just when Laurel thinks she and her children are safe...the nightmare starts all over again.
The Crew, a ruthless prison gang with ties to Laurel's brother, will never forget and they'll never forgive. And now that they've finally tracked her down, they'll stop at nothing.
Sheriff Myles King, who happens to live next door with his thirteen-year-old daughter, appoints himself Laurel's personal guardian. His growing attraction to her could change his life � Myles is beginning to picture marriage and family. But it could also end his life. If he can't save her, everything he's built, everything he wants, could be destroyed. In seconds...
Laurel Hodges has changed her identity twice. She's been on the run for the past four years, trying to outdistance the gang members who blame her for the death of one of their own. She's finally found peace and stability in the small town of Pineview, Montana. But just when Laurel thinks she and her children are safe...the nightmare starts all over again.
The Crew, a ruthless prison gang with ties to Laurel's brother, will never forget and they'll never forgive. And now that they've finally tracked her down, they'll stop at nothing.
Sheriff Myles King, who happens to live next door with his thirteen-year-old daughter, appoints himself Laurel's personal guardian. His growing attraction to her could change his life � Myles is beginning to picture marriage and family. But it could also end his life. If he can't save her, everything he's built, everything he wants, could be destroyed. In seconds...
440 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published August 30, 2011
205 people are currently reading
1300 people want to read
About the author
Brenda Novak
225Ìýbooks6,824ÌýfollowersIt was a shocking experience that jump-started Brenda Novak’s bestselling author career.
“I caught my day-care provider drugging my children with cough syrup and Tylenol to get them to sleep while I was away,� Brenda says. “It was then that I decided that I needed to do something from home.�
However, writing was the last profession she expected to undertake. In fact, Brenda swears she didn’t have a creative bone in her body. In school, math and science were her best subjects, and when it came time to pick a major in college, she chose business.
Abandoning her academic scholarship to Brigham Young University at the age of 20 in order to get married and start a family, Brenda dabbled in commercial real estate, then became a loan officer.
“When I first got the idea to become a novelist, it took me five years to teach myself the craft and finish my first book,� Brenda admits. “I learned how to write by reading what others have written. The best advice for any would-be author: read, read, read�.�
Brenda sold her first book, and the rest is history. Now a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, she continues to publish two or three novels a year, in a variety of genres.
Brenda and her husband, Ted, live in Sacramento and are the proud parents of five children—three girls and two boys. Now that they are empty-nesters, she spends her free time babysitting her two grandchildren.
When she’s not with her family or writing, Brenda is usually raising money for diabetes research. To date, she's raised almost $2.6 million. Her youngest son, Thad, has diabetes, and Brenda is determined to help him and others like him. She also enjoys traveling, watching sporting events and biking--she rides an amazing 20 miles every day!
“I caught my day-care provider drugging my children with cough syrup and Tylenol to get them to sleep while I was away,� Brenda says. “It was then that I decided that I needed to do something from home.�
However, writing was the last profession she expected to undertake. In fact, Brenda swears she didn’t have a creative bone in her body. In school, math and science were her best subjects, and when it came time to pick a major in college, she chose business.
Abandoning her academic scholarship to Brigham Young University at the age of 20 in order to get married and start a family, Brenda dabbled in commercial real estate, then became a loan officer.
“When I first got the idea to become a novelist, it took me five years to teach myself the craft and finish my first book,� Brenda admits. “I learned how to write by reading what others have written. The best advice for any would-be author: read, read, read�.�
Brenda sold her first book, and the rest is history. Now a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, she continues to publish two or three novels a year, in a variety of genres.
Brenda and her husband, Ted, live in Sacramento and are the proud parents of five children—three girls and two boys. Now that they are empty-nesters, she spends her free time babysitting her two grandchildren.
When she’s not with her family or writing, Brenda is usually raising money for diabetes research. To date, she's raised almost $2.6 million. Her youngest son, Thad, has diabetes, and Brenda is determined to help him and others like him. She also enjoys traveling, watching sporting events and biking--she rides an amazing 20 miles every day!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 145 reviews
January 8, 2015
A bit of background
The story resumes four years after the attack on Laurel and her children. She's left the witness protection program, changed her name to Vivian Stewart and is now living alone with her children in Pineview, Montana, still hiding from The Crew. She's fallen in love with the community though still keeping most people at arms length, even her next door neighbor, Myles King, the county sheriff. But when someone from the town is brutally murdered, Laurel/Vivian's instincts tell her she should be worried.
What works
The action is fairly subtle in the beginning as Myles and his team start to methodically work the case. But always in the background are the other points of view from the killers, Laurel and her brother Virgil. The tension slowly rises until you can no longer put the book down (around the halfway mark). Myles and Vivian's relationship advances in the midst of all this but is definitely secondary to the suspense. Still a good romance.
The bottom line
I found the development of all the secondary, related stories well executed as they converged seamlessly at the end. It was a stunning climax that kept me up in the wee hours reading. The Crew...still scary and formidable. If you're wondering what happened to Rex (Pretty Boy) McReady, you'll just have to read and find out for yourself. I really enjoyed the story as I'm always more about the suspense.
The story resumes four years after the attack on Laurel and her children. She's left the witness protection program, changed her name to Vivian Stewart and is now living alone with her children in Pineview, Montana, still hiding from The Crew. She's fallen in love with the community though still keeping most people at arms length, even her next door neighbor, Myles King, the county sheriff. But when someone from the town is brutally murdered, Laurel/Vivian's instincts tell her she should be worried.
What works
The action is fairly subtle in the beginning as Myles and his team start to methodically work the case. But always in the background are the other points of view from the killers, Laurel and her brother Virgil. The tension slowly rises until you can no longer put the book down (around the halfway mark). Myles and Vivian's relationship advances in the midst of all this but is definitely secondary to the suspense. Still a good romance.
The bottom line
I found the development of all the secondary, related stories well executed as they converged seamlessly at the end. It was a stunning climax that kept me up in the wee hours reading. The Crew...still scary and formidable. If you're wondering what happened to Rex (Pretty Boy) McReady, you'll just have to read and find out for yourself. I really enjoyed the story as I'm always more about the suspense.
June 14, 2011
Posted at
Grade: B
I’m going to start this review by issuing the following statement:
“I thought that Pretty Boy was going to end up with Laurel.�
Twas not the case. When I first saw this title available on NetGalley, I was so excited. I was all “YES! Laurel and Pretty Boy!� Imagine my surprise when I saw the names listed as Myles and Vivian. O.o. I figured, eh- they HAD entered WITSEC, so perhaps these are their new names. But they weren’t, and after I got over the initial shock and slight disappointment, I enjoyed this novel. So for fans of Brenda Novak’s Bulletproof Series, know going in that Laurel and Pretty Boy each get their own books (at least that’s the way it seems at the end of this novel)
Laurel Hodges is on the run from THE CREW, a notorious gang with MAFIA-esc reach. Forced to leave Witness Protection after being found in Washington, Virgil, Peyton, Rex and Laurel all split up in order to protect each other. Laurel now goes by Vivian Stewart, living in a small town where nothing ever happens. She is now starting to rebuild her life for her and her children–Mia and Jake; she started her own purse business. Things are looking good. She even has a hot neighbor she harbors secret fantasies over. Too bad he is the Sheriff. She has no love for the police, especially when her and Virgil suspect some police are on The Crew’s payroll.
Myles is the Sheriff, has a 13 year old daughter, and is a widower. His late wife passed away three years ago, and he carries such loneliness and an ache he can’t seem to fill no matter how much work he throws into his life. He mostly feels like life is passing him by and his passion is gone. Until the sexy brunette moves in next door. He has secret longing for Vivian, whom he has asked out a few times, and been turned down. He can’t understand why she won’t date him, The chemistry between them is not imagined. Is it?
When a real estate agent is brutally murdered, Sheriff Myles goes looking for the truth, and comes back with bitter pills to swallow. Can he go through losing another woman, when he is finally ready to move on and let someone else in his life? Can Vivian trust Myles with her secrets, her passion and her life?
I enjoy Brenda Novaks writing voice. She has a captivating style that mesmerizes you into reading long in to the night. Before I knew it, it was 1am, and I my eye lids were so heavy I wanted to stop, but I also wanted to know what was going to happen next!
The Villain is from the first book, and If you haven’t read INSIDE yet, you probably should before starting this novel. I think this could be a stand alone, but the back-story makes this suspense even better. INK is a remorseless psychopath. Brenda really paints his picture quite vividly. It’s one of the things I admire about her as an author. She doesn’t shy away from death and destruction. If you are going to write a suspense thriller, you can’t gloss over the devious and killings.
We get to see Virgil and Peyton, who now have a son, and a baby on the way.
We get to see Rex aka Pretty Boy, and learn what happened between him and Laurel.
For the most part I liked this book, but a few things bothered me. One is where Virgil schleps off into danger–alone. I understood his motivations, but I didn’t agree with his decision to leave a very pregnant Peyton.
A few things were a little unbelievable, but I’ll let you decide that on your own.
Overall, I was satisfied with the romance between Myles and Laurel. These are two scarred, and emotionally closed off people, who are trying to find there way back to life. I like that they weren’t professing there love for each other immediately after they got together. I liked that they both had to try and work out how they felt, and whether they were ready to get involved. It felt realistic, and that touch of realistic romance is what makes Brenda Novak a good Romantic Suspense author. Her characters are believable–with believable flaws, and realistic portrayals. They both had children, and they had to take them into consideration as well.
If you are a fan of Suspense thrillers, with a touch of romance, then you will certainly enjoy this novel.
Grade: B
I’m going to start this review by issuing the following statement:
“I thought that Pretty Boy was going to end up with Laurel.�
Twas not the case. When I first saw this title available on NetGalley, I was so excited. I was all “YES! Laurel and Pretty Boy!� Imagine my surprise when I saw the names listed as Myles and Vivian. O.o. I figured, eh- they HAD entered WITSEC, so perhaps these are their new names. But they weren’t, and after I got over the initial shock and slight disappointment, I enjoyed this novel. So for fans of Brenda Novak’s Bulletproof Series, know going in that Laurel and Pretty Boy each get their own books (at least that’s the way it seems at the end of this novel)
Laurel Hodges is on the run from THE CREW, a notorious gang with MAFIA-esc reach. Forced to leave Witness Protection after being found in Washington, Virgil, Peyton, Rex and Laurel all split up in order to protect each other. Laurel now goes by Vivian Stewart, living in a small town where nothing ever happens. She is now starting to rebuild her life for her and her children–Mia and Jake; she started her own purse business. Things are looking good. She even has a hot neighbor she harbors secret fantasies over. Too bad he is the Sheriff. She has no love for the police, especially when her and Virgil suspect some police are on The Crew’s payroll.
Myles is the Sheriff, has a 13 year old daughter, and is a widower. His late wife passed away three years ago, and he carries such loneliness and an ache he can’t seem to fill no matter how much work he throws into his life. He mostly feels like life is passing him by and his passion is gone. Until the sexy brunette moves in next door. He has secret longing for Vivian, whom he has asked out a few times, and been turned down. He can’t understand why she won’t date him, The chemistry between them is not imagined. Is it?
When a real estate agent is brutally murdered, Sheriff Myles goes looking for the truth, and comes back with bitter pills to swallow. Can he go through losing another woman, when he is finally ready to move on and let someone else in his life? Can Vivian trust Myles with her secrets, her passion and her life?
I enjoy Brenda Novaks writing voice. She has a captivating style that mesmerizes you into reading long in to the night. Before I knew it, it was 1am, and I my eye lids were so heavy I wanted to stop, but I also wanted to know what was going to happen next!
The Villain is from the first book, and If you haven’t read INSIDE yet, you probably should before starting this novel. I think this could be a stand alone, but the back-story makes this suspense even better. INK is a remorseless psychopath. Brenda really paints his picture quite vividly. It’s one of the things I admire about her as an author. She doesn’t shy away from death and destruction. If you are going to write a suspense thriller, you can’t gloss over the devious and killings.
We get to see Virgil and Peyton, who now have a son, and a baby on the way.
We get to see Rex aka Pretty Boy, and learn what happened between him and Laurel.
For the most part I liked this book, but a few things bothered me. One is where Virgil schleps off into danger–alone. I understood his motivations, but I didn’t agree with his decision to leave a very pregnant Peyton.
A few things were a little unbelievable, but I’ll let you decide that on your own.
Overall, I was satisfied with the romance between Myles and Laurel. These are two scarred, and emotionally closed off people, who are trying to find there way back to life. I like that they weren’t professing there love for each other immediately after they got together. I liked that they both had to try and work out how they felt, and whether they were ready to get involved. It felt realistic, and that touch of realistic romance is what makes Brenda Novak a good Romantic Suspense author. Her characters are believable–with believable flaws, and realistic portrayals. They both had children, and they had to take them into consideration as well.
If you are a fan of Suspense thrillers, with a touch of romance, then you will certainly enjoy this novel.
July 9, 2021
This book is a good follow-up to In Side, the first book which features Vivian's brother Virgil. It completes the siblings story and gives them both happy endings. Recommended for romantic suspense and Brenda Novak fans.
August 27, 2011
This is a Quickie Review. For the full review, please visit .
Expected Release Date: August 30, 2011
Publisher: Harlequin
Imprint: Mira
Author’s Website:
My Source for This Book: Netgalley
Part of a Series: Yes, Book 2, Bulletproof series
Series Best Read In Order: Works well as a standalone, but read Inside first anyway.
Steam Level: Steamy
Laurel Hodges has been on the run for the past four years. Having been hunted by members of a ruthless street gang, The Crew, in order to exact revenge on her brother, Virgil, she entered the Federal Witness Protection Program (WITSEC), hoping that they would be able to protect her and her two young children. When a corrupt official leaked her location, she was attacked and barely escaped with her life. Abandoning WITSEC, she has once again changed her identity and moved her family to the small, idyllic town of Pineview, Montana.
Always careful to never reveal too much about her past, or to leave trails that could lead The Crew to her or her brother, she now exists as Vivian Stewart, and has finally begun to rebuild a life for herself and her two children.
Sherrif Myles King, Vivan's handsome and widowed next door neighbor, has been strongly hinting that he wants to date her, yet Vivian is still too wary about becoming involved when she knows that she and her children may have to pick up and leave at any moment.
Just as she gives in to her longing for companionship, however, her past comes roaring back into her life when a gruesome murder shocks the small community.
Knowing that she cannot risk putting Myles in danger, she attempts to distance herself from him, but Myles refuses to stand back and let something amazing slip through his fingers. When The Crew brings the fight to their front door, Myles and Vivian team up to make their final stand.
As much as I enjoyed , the first novel in this series (which also ), I think I may have actually enjoyed this one even more. Despite my intense disappointment that Vivian/Laurel didn't end up with Rex as her hero, I quickly fell in love with Myles and realized that Rex never would've made an ideal mate for her. I was also thrilled with the way Rex's situation was handled, and that he wasn't made out to be a bad man. I'd fallen in love with him myself over the course of the first novel, and sincerely hope that he will feature heavily in the next novel, , due out in October.
Ms. Novak has an incredible skill for allowing you inside of her character's minds and motivations, and never makes things purely black and white. All of her characters, even ones who seem that they should read as though they had no depth, are painted in a wide array of shades of gray, making you care about people that you normally wouldn't think twice about, and rooting for characters that by all rights you should absolutely hate.
The love scenes were fairly tame in terms of detail, but the emotion behind them helped to create a very strong sense of eroticism, and most importantly, you could feel the romance behind every action, even when the characters themselves were resisting it.
The suspense was incredible, with several surprising twists, including some revelations about various characters that have played a part throughout the series thus far.
Overall, I simply could not put it down. The suspense, the action, and the romance all sucked me in from the very beginning and would not let me go until the very last page.
Don't forget to as well! If you purchase this book before September 7th, send her the receipt and she will send you a free autographed copy of Inside, the first book in the series! This is an incredible opportunity, because as I mentioned, while this book might work well as a standalone, I do suggest you read Inside first not only because the main characters of the first book play such a large part in this one, but also because it was such an amazing book to begin with.
Even better, however, is the fact that the Kindle version is only $4.10 at the time that this review is being published, and both digital and print formats (with the exception of used copies) are included in this promotion! So, you can get the kindle format of this book AND an autographed print copy of the first book for an insanely low price, so long as you snag In Seconds before September 7th, 2011.
With both of these novels ranking very high up on my favorites list this year, this is an opportunity that you should not let pass you by.
Recommended for fans of abused heroines on the run, of small town law enforcement taking on big-city criminals, and of allowing yourself to love again despite all the obstacles life tries to throw at you. 5/5 Stars
Expected Release Date: August 30, 2011
Publisher: Harlequin
Imprint: Mira
Author’s Website:
My Source for This Book: Netgalley
Part of a Series: Yes, Book 2, Bulletproof series
Series Best Read In Order: Works well as a standalone, but read Inside first anyway.
Steam Level: Steamy
Laurel Hodges has been on the run for the past four years. Having been hunted by members of a ruthless street gang, The Crew, in order to exact revenge on her brother, Virgil, she entered the Federal Witness Protection Program (WITSEC), hoping that they would be able to protect her and her two young children. When a corrupt official leaked her location, she was attacked and barely escaped with her life. Abandoning WITSEC, she has once again changed her identity and moved her family to the small, idyllic town of Pineview, Montana.
Always careful to never reveal too much about her past, or to leave trails that could lead The Crew to her or her brother, she now exists as Vivian Stewart, and has finally begun to rebuild a life for herself and her two children.
Sherrif Myles King, Vivan's handsome and widowed next door neighbor, has been strongly hinting that he wants to date her, yet Vivian is still too wary about becoming involved when she knows that she and her children may have to pick up and leave at any moment.
Just as she gives in to her longing for companionship, however, her past comes roaring back into her life when a gruesome murder shocks the small community.
Knowing that she cannot risk putting Myles in danger, she attempts to distance herself from him, but Myles refuses to stand back and let something amazing slip through his fingers. When The Crew brings the fight to their front door, Myles and Vivian team up to make their final stand.
As much as I enjoyed , the first novel in this series (which also ), I think I may have actually enjoyed this one even more. Despite my intense disappointment that Vivian/Laurel didn't end up with Rex as her hero, I quickly fell in love with Myles and realized that Rex never would've made an ideal mate for her. I was also thrilled with the way Rex's situation was handled, and that he wasn't made out to be a bad man. I'd fallen in love with him myself over the course of the first novel, and sincerely hope that he will feature heavily in the next novel, , due out in October.
Ms. Novak has an incredible skill for allowing you inside of her character's minds and motivations, and never makes things purely black and white. All of her characters, even ones who seem that they should read as though they had no depth, are painted in a wide array of shades of gray, making you care about people that you normally wouldn't think twice about, and rooting for characters that by all rights you should absolutely hate.
The love scenes were fairly tame in terms of detail, but the emotion behind them helped to create a very strong sense of eroticism, and most importantly, you could feel the romance behind every action, even when the characters themselves were resisting it.
The suspense was incredible, with several surprising twists, including some revelations about various characters that have played a part throughout the series thus far.
Overall, I simply could not put it down. The suspense, the action, and the romance all sucked me in from the very beginning and would not let me go until the very last page.
Don't forget to as well! If you purchase this book before September 7th, send her the receipt and she will send you a free autographed copy of Inside, the first book in the series! This is an incredible opportunity, because as I mentioned, while this book might work well as a standalone, I do suggest you read Inside first not only because the main characters of the first book play such a large part in this one, but also because it was such an amazing book to begin with.
Even better, however, is the fact that the Kindle version is only $4.10 at the time that this review is being published, and both digital and print formats (with the exception of used copies) are included in this promotion! So, you can get the kindle format of this book AND an autographed print copy of the first book for an insanely low price, so long as you snag In Seconds before September 7th, 2011.
With both of these novels ranking very high up on my favorites list this year, this is an opportunity that you should not let pass you by.
Recommended for fans of abused heroines on the run, of small town law enforcement taking on big-city criminals, and of allowing yourself to love again despite all the obstacles life tries to throw at you. 5/5 Stars
October 10, 2011
I wasn't sure I was up for another book spent running away from crazy gangbangers, but Brenda Novak proved me wrong. Part small town romance, part woman-in-peril story, IN SECONDS tells the story of Laurel Hodges, who has hidden herself and her children in a tiny Montana town in an effort to escape the aforementioned gangbangers. She's changed her name, changed her looks and until now has managed to steer clear of the bad guys. But thanks to a phone call made in a moment of weakness, the bad guys now know her location and are on their way to find her. Of course the story unfolds much more slowly than that. And we get to watch as Laurel and her hunky neighbor, Sheriff Myles King, dance around one another and fall in love despite themselves. I loved the way Novak used the small town setting to heighten the suspense, so much so that Pineview was almost another character. IN SECONDS is the kind of story that makes you constantly fear for the worst, and if it were a movie I'd have been covering my eyes half the time. Starting the third one, IN CLOSE right now.
March 6, 2025
Laurel, que ahora se llama Vivian, vive con miedo de que la encuentren los que la persiguen desde hace cuatro años. Escondida en el programa de protección de testigos está cansada de cambiar de nombre y de mudarse continuamente. Ahora ha encontrado un lugar en el que se siente a gusto y que está empezando a sentir como su hogar. Pero un asesinato despierta todas sus alarmas y sospecha que la han encontrado.
Una historia con tensión en intriga en la que vamos viendo el acecho de los asesinos a Vivian y su familia. Vemos la investigación del sheriff, y desde el primer momento hasta el último, esta historia te mantiene alerta y atrapada.
Una historia con tensión en intriga en la que vamos viendo el acecho de los asesinos a Vivian y su familia. Vemos la investigación del sheriff, y desde el primer momento hasta el último, esta historia te mantiene alerta y atrapada.
August 25, 2011
Review posted:
If you haven’t read book 1 in this series, INSIDE, I would highly recommend reading it prior to this story. It picks up a gang storyline that ran through Virgil’s book and all the loose ends that we were left with conclude in this, his sister Laurel’s story. We rejoin the characters 4 years after Virgil and his gang ties threatened not only his life, but that of his sister's and her kids. At the end of Inside, it looks like Laurel and Rex, Virgil’s best friend and former cellmate and gang member, would be Laurel’s HEA. I was surprised to start reading this book to find that a brand new guy is in Laurel’s life, her next door neighbor Myles - which I had no problems with, Myles is a very likable character. A widower and father to a teenage girl, Myles is the sheriff in town and has been fighting his attraction to Laurel (or Vivian as she goes by in Pineview) for some time. His wife died 3 years ago, and Laurel is starting to reawaken feelings in him that have been absent since his wife’s death. Laurel has been living a very quiet life in Pineview for awhile now, doing her best to stay off the radar of The Crew, and especially one member, Ink, who she knows would like nothing more than to get revenge for an altercation that happened 4 years ago.
Laurel struggles constantly with the need to lie to her new friends, to the people she and her kids have grown close to in their new hometown. But, that doesn’t stop her from calling her mom every now and then, and that one small connection puts Ink back on her path. The story follows the POV of Laurel, Myles, Ink, Virgil and Rex throughout and the suspense is a slow build up. The last 30% of the book is packed with action, and I wish the first part would have had that same intensity.
The romance between Laurel and Myles was pretty non-existent. They get together for just one night, that was her rule, early on and there just wasn’t much chemistry coming across on the page. I didn’t doubt that they were attracted to each other, but that was primarily from just being told that they were not actually seeing it happen on page and I was just left wanting so much more to develop between them. That one night was the only romantic scene between them until almost the end of the book. For such a suspenseful story filled with a gang member who would kill, just because he felt like it, I really needed a strong romance to balance it all out and it was lacking between Laurel and Myles.
I was pleasantly surprised to read Virgil’s POV during the story. I hadn’t expected him to come back and play as big a role as he did, but we get caught up on his and Peyton’s life, and he takes matters into his own hands as he travels to LA to end The Crew once and for all. While Virgil is planning his attack, Rex is fighting his own demons, detoxing himself for 2 weeks alone in a motel room. He’s still suffering the effects of withdrawals through most of the book, but he’s the ultimate friend and even though we find out why his relationship with Laurel didn’t work out, he loves both her and Virgil like family and proves again that he’ll do anything for them.
Ultimately, this book was just ok for me. It’s classified on Netgalley and Amazon.com as contemporary romance/romantic suspense, and this just doesn’t fit. It’s a straight mystery/thriller with a very, very small romantic plot. I had such high expectations, having loved book 1 which had a wonderful balance of story and romance and this book just came up short. The plot was slow moving until the very end and the romance just wasn’t there. While I recommend book 1 in the Bulletproof Series, book 2 was a miss for me and I'm not sure if I'll be picking up the next book due out later this year.
If you haven’t read book 1 in this series, INSIDE, I would highly recommend reading it prior to this story. It picks up a gang storyline that ran through Virgil’s book and all the loose ends that we were left with conclude in this, his sister Laurel’s story. We rejoin the characters 4 years after Virgil and his gang ties threatened not only his life, but that of his sister's and her kids. At the end of Inside, it looks like Laurel and Rex, Virgil’s best friend and former cellmate and gang member, would be Laurel’s HEA. I was surprised to start reading this book to find that a brand new guy is in Laurel’s life, her next door neighbor Myles - which I had no problems with, Myles is a very likable character. A widower and father to a teenage girl, Myles is the sheriff in town and has been fighting his attraction to Laurel (or Vivian as she goes by in Pineview) for some time. His wife died 3 years ago, and Laurel is starting to reawaken feelings in him that have been absent since his wife’s death. Laurel has been living a very quiet life in Pineview for awhile now, doing her best to stay off the radar of The Crew, and especially one member, Ink, who she knows would like nothing more than to get revenge for an altercation that happened 4 years ago.
Laurel struggles constantly with the need to lie to her new friends, to the people she and her kids have grown close to in their new hometown. But, that doesn’t stop her from calling her mom every now and then, and that one small connection puts Ink back on her path. The story follows the POV of Laurel, Myles, Ink, Virgil and Rex throughout and the suspense is a slow build up. The last 30% of the book is packed with action, and I wish the first part would have had that same intensity.
The romance between Laurel and Myles was pretty non-existent. They get together for just one night, that was her rule, early on and there just wasn’t much chemistry coming across on the page. I didn’t doubt that they were attracted to each other, but that was primarily from just being told that they were not actually seeing it happen on page and I was just left wanting so much more to develop between them. That one night was the only romantic scene between them until almost the end of the book. For such a suspenseful story filled with a gang member who would kill, just because he felt like it, I really needed a strong romance to balance it all out and it was lacking between Laurel and Myles.
I was pleasantly surprised to read Virgil’s POV during the story. I hadn’t expected him to come back and play as big a role as he did, but we get caught up on his and Peyton’s life, and he takes matters into his own hands as he travels to LA to end The Crew once and for all. While Virgil is planning his attack, Rex is fighting his own demons, detoxing himself for 2 weeks alone in a motel room. He’s still suffering the effects of withdrawals through most of the book, but he’s the ultimate friend and even though we find out why his relationship with Laurel didn’t work out, he loves both her and Virgil like family and proves again that he’ll do anything for them.
Ultimately, this book was just ok for me. It’s classified on Netgalley and Amazon.com as contemporary romance/romantic suspense, and this just doesn’t fit. It’s a straight mystery/thriller with a very, very small romantic plot. I had such high expectations, having loved book 1 which had a wonderful balance of story and romance and this book just came up short. The plot was slow moving until the very end and the romance just wasn’t there. While I recommend book 1 in the Bulletproof Series, book 2 was a miss for me and I'm not sure if I'll be picking up the next book due out later this year.
July 9, 2011
I am a fan of Brenda Novak's books, and this goes on the list as one of my favorites by her. Novak's Bulletproof series deals with prison gangs and their retribution when members try to leave the fold. When I picked up the first book, I wasn't sure that the subject matter was going to make for a romantic suspense novel that I would enjoy, but the author has done a great job with making these books interesting and the characters sympathetic.
Vivian Stewart is living with her two children in a small town where no one knows her past as Laurel Hodge. She is in hiding from a prison gang that is after her due to her brothers defection, and she left the Witness Protection Program and went out on her own when gang members discovered her location and came after her. After all of her hardships, she has finally built a comfortable life for herself and her children. Her next door neighbor is the local sheriff, and while she finds him attractive, she knows to get friendly with him would mean nothing but trouble for both of them. Vivian doesn't want to bring trouble to anyone else's door.
Sheriff Myles King admires Vivian and has tried to get to know her. She has rebuffed all of his overtures. When two members of the prison gang track Vivian and begin a murdering spree while tring to locate her, Myles is determined to protect her at any cost. Vivian has to come to terms with Myles feelings for her and her attraction to him and to trust him to protect her from the gang members.
In Seconds was a very good book. I enjoyed seeing the relationship develop between the two main characters. The storyline was riveting and held my attention. I am looking forward to the next book in the series.
Vivian Stewart is living with her two children in a small town where no one knows her past as Laurel Hodge. She is in hiding from a prison gang that is after her due to her brothers defection, and she left the Witness Protection Program and went out on her own when gang members discovered her location and came after her. After all of her hardships, she has finally built a comfortable life for herself and her children. Her next door neighbor is the local sheriff, and while she finds him attractive, she knows to get friendly with him would mean nothing but trouble for both of them. Vivian doesn't want to bring trouble to anyone else's door.
Sheriff Myles King admires Vivian and has tried to get to know her. She has rebuffed all of his overtures. When two members of the prison gang track Vivian and begin a murdering spree while tring to locate her, Myles is determined to protect her at any cost. Vivian has to come to terms with Myles feelings for her and her attraction to him and to trust him to protect her from the gang members.
In Seconds was a very good book. I enjoyed seeing the relationship develop between the two main characters. The storyline was riveting and held my attention. I am looking forward to the next book in the series.
October 26, 2011
More Suspense Than Romance
Four years ago, Laurel Hodges' brother was exonerated and released from prison after serving fourteen years hard time for a crime he did not commit. The relief and hope she'd harbored for a future with the brother she loved didn't last beyond the first attempt on her life. The Crew saw to that. A vicious gang with a long reach, her brother Virgil had joined them out of necessity when he was in prison. They weren't exactly amenable to his leaving it when he got out. They've been trying to kill him, her, and her two children ever since.
When the last attempt by The Crew forced her to separate from her brother and his new family two years ago, she started over yet again, this time as Vivian Stewart. She selected the town of Pineview, Montana because of its low crime rate, seclusion, and small town nature.
For two years she's lead that small town life and felt safe. Her handsome neighbor Myles King is the sheriff of Pineview, and has asked her out several times, but she's always declined. She can'd afford to get too close to anyone, be too honest with anyone, especially the single father and cop next door. That is the sentence that she serves now, and will have to serve for as long as The Crew keeps her and her loved ones in its sights.
It is a sentence she's mostly resigned herself to in order to keep her children safe, to stay alive. And when she hears of the murder of a man from town, Laurel fears that it is a sentence that has - unfortunately - been commuted. The Crew has a long, long reach. And they might have reached out and caught her once more.
~*~
I hate to say this, but I had some trouble with this second book in the Bulletproof series. I enjoyed the characters of the first one quite a lot, especially Virgil, and had been looking forward to his sister's book, but I ended up feeling a little disconcerted by the four year time span between books, and had a hard time reconciling the budding relationship between Rex, aka Pretty Boy, and Laurel that closed out the last book with the apparently painful breakup of the long-term relationship they had before she came to Pineview. That made it difficult to downshift and accept Myles as the romantic lead in this one. Maybe it also had a hand in the difficulty I had warming up to Laurel, too. I'm not sure.
I know I wasn't crazy about her. I think she was believable and realistic as a character, but she didn't strike me as being all that bright, and I had significant trouble with several of her life decisions. I still have to give Novak credit, though. She writes realistic and believable characters, even though one of them frustrated the heck out of me. Just because I didn't favor one of them doesn't mean they aren't well written.
In Laurel's case, it was an issue of too many conflicting had-it-beens, those moments where you put yourself in the characters place and think, had it been you, would you have said/done/acted the same as he/she did. In most cases with Laurel, the answer wasn't just no, it was an emphatic hell no. It started early - I would never have chosen a small town (where everyone knows your secrets and if they don't, they dig or shun until they do) with no cell phone tower (a disposable cell would've made things so much easier) to try to hide - and it persisted throughout the book.
Novak writes solid suspense imbued with an increasingly intense sense of impending doom. There's no argument there. I thoroughly enjoyed those threads in this book. I just wasn't totally sold on the premise for the suspense threads, and had some problems completely buying into a disabled thug like Ink being in a position to escape jail, whether or not he had help. Despite the plausibility of the premise, the execution was spot on - completely chilling in parts, actually - and I found myself really enjoying both the ever increasing tension and the way Myles handled himself as he was investigating and as he got closer to Laurel.
I was pretty confused about something, though, and wondered if I missed some part of the story. Rex fills in Myles about what's really going on just before he heads back to New York, and Myles is concerned about how to tell Laurel he knows. Next he sees Laurel, though, there's no confrontation about it and she treats Myles like he's always known the truth. I'm still not sure if that was an accidental plot contradiction or if I just missed something somewhere.
Regardless of the issues I had, I enjoyed the suspense and the characters of the story. My biggest problem, actually, and the largest reason this book wasn't as appealing to me as the first, was the lack of satisfying development in the romance arc. There was acknowledged attraction on both sides relatively early, but beyond a single night of lust satisfaction, there was next to no evolution of a romance between Laurel and Myles until I was over 70% into the book. And that was just too late to give either the romance arc or the characters enough time to be satisfactorily developed alongside the suspense.
I have to admit, I was heartened by the fact that the third book returns to Pineview and delves into a case surrounding Laurel's best friend. Not only am I hoping to see more of Laurel and Myles to get some sense of resolution and completion to their HEA, as well as see how they merge their families, but it'll be nice to get away from The Crew and their threats. That thread was starting to feel very worn by the end of this book.
I can't help but hope, though, that we haven't seen the last of Rex. He's been a favored character of mine since he dropped into the first book and my heart broke a little for him in this one. He's a bit of a dark and tortured soul, and I keep hoping he'll find the peace and love he deserves. It just seems he's got a lot of demons yet to vanquish before that happens. I hope Novak lets us see him gets his own HEA at some point.
Disclosure: An ARC of this book was provided to me by Mira Books publisher Harlequin via NetGalley. This rating, review, and all included thoughts and comments are my own.
~*~*~*~
Reviewed for .
Four years ago, Laurel Hodges' brother was exonerated and released from prison after serving fourteen years hard time for a crime he did not commit. The relief and hope she'd harbored for a future with the brother she loved didn't last beyond the first attempt on her life. The Crew saw to that. A vicious gang with a long reach, her brother Virgil had joined them out of necessity when he was in prison. They weren't exactly amenable to his leaving it when he got out. They've been trying to kill him, her, and her two children ever since.
When the last attempt by The Crew forced her to separate from her brother and his new family two years ago, she started over yet again, this time as Vivian Stewart. She selected the town of Pineview, Montana because of its low crime rate, seclusion, and small town nature.
For two years she's lead that small town life and felt safe. Her handsome neighbor Myles King is the sheriff of Pineview, and has asked her out several times, but she's always declined. She can'd afford to get too close to anyone, be too honest with anyone, especially the single father and cop next door. That is the sentence that she serves now, and will have to serve for as long as The Crew keeps her and her loved ones in its sights.
It is a sentence she's mostly resigned herself to in order to keep her children safe, to stay alive. And when she hears of the murder of a man from town, Laurel fears that it is a sentence that has - unfortunately - been commuted. The Crew has a long, long reach. And they might have reached out and caught her once more.
~*~
I hate to say this, but I had some trouble with this second book in the Bulletproof series. I enjoyed the characters of the first one quite a lot, especially Virgil, and had been looking forward to his sister's book, but I ended up feeling a little disconcerted by the four year time span between books, and had a hard time reconciling the budding relationship between Rex, aka Pretty Boy, and Laurel that closed out the last book with the apparently painful breakup of the long-term relationship they had before she came to Pineview. That made it difficult to downshift and accept Myles as the romantic lead in this one. Maybe it also had a hand in the difficulty I had warming up to Laurel, too. I'm not sure.
I know I wasn't crazy about her. I think she was believable and realistic as a character, but she didn't strike me as being all that bright, and I had significant trouble with several of her life decisions. I still have to give Novak credit, though. She writes realistic and believable characters, even though one of them frustrated the heck out of me. Just because I didn't favor one of them doesn't mean they aren't well written.
In Laurel's case, it was an issue of too many conflicting had-it-beens, those moments where you put yourself in the characters place and think, had it been you, would you have said/done/acted the same as he/she did. In most cases with Laurel, the answer wasn't just no, it was an emphatic hell no. It started early - I would never have chosen a small town (where everyone knows your secrets and if they don't, they dig or shun until they do) with no cell phone tower (a disposable cell would've made things so much easier) to try to hide - and it persisted throughout the book.
Novak writes solid suspense imbued with an increasingly intense sense of impending doom. There's no argument there. I thoroughly enjoyed those threads in this book. I just wasn't totally sold on the premise for the suspense threads, and had some problems completely buying into a disabled thug like Ink being in a position to escape jail, whether or not he had help. Despite the plausibility of the premise, the execution was spot on - completely chilling in parts, actually - and I found myself really enjoying both the ever increasing tension and the way Myles handled himself as he was investigating and as he got closer to Laurel.
I was pretty confused about something, though, and wondered if I missed some part of the story. Rex fills in Myles about what's really going on just before he heads back to New York, and Myles is concerned about how to tell Laurel he knows. Next he sees Laurel, though, there's no confrontation about it and she treats Myles like he's always known the truth. I'm still not sure if that was an accidental plot contradiction or if I just missed something somewhere.
Regardless of the issues I had, I enjoyed the suspense and the characters of the story. My biggest problem, actually, and the largest reason this book wasn't as appealing to me as the first, was the lack of satisfying development in the romance arc. There was acknowledged attraction on both sides relatively early, but beyond a single night of lust satisfaction, there was next to no evolution of a romance between Laurel and Myles until I was over 70% into the book. And that was just too late to give either the romance arc or the characters enough time to be satisfactorily developed alongside the suspense.
I have to admit, I was heartened by the fact that the third book returns to Pineview and delves into a case surrounding Laurel's best friend. Not only am I hoping to see more of Laurel and Myles to get some sense of resolution and completion to their HEA, as well as see how they merge their families, but it'll be nice to get away from The Crew and their threats. That thread was starting to feel very worn by the end of this book.
I can't help but hope, though, that we haven't seen the last of Rex. He's been a favored character of mine since he dropped into the first book and my heart broke a little for him in this one. He's a bit of a dark and tortured soul, and I keep hoping he'll find the peace and love he deserves. It just seems he's got a lot of demons yet to vanquish before that happens. I hope Novak lets us see him gets his own HEA at some point.
Disclosure: An ARC of this book was provided to me by Mira Books publisher Harlequin via NetGalley. This rating, review, and all included thoughts and comments are my own.
~*~*~*~
Reviewed for .
June 11, 2023
Another great read from the talented brenda Novak!!! I literally couldn’t put it down!!!
September 14, 2024
Great follow-up to Inside, the first in the series. I had a hard time putting the book down.
August 26, 2011
Review originally posted here:
Publisher: Mira
Publish Date: August 30th
How I got this book: NetGalley
I loved the first Bulletproof book by Novak and when I saw the 2nd come up on NetGalley, I knew I would have to read this book. There was so much story left to tell between Laurel, Pretty Boy, Virgil and Peyton. And while I was a little disappointed that Pretty Boy and Laurel did not end up together, I really liked this story!
We pick up a few years later in the story, and Laurel has moved to small town Montana where she is finally getting the pieces of her life back together. She has her own business, a house, good friends and a sexy sheriff as the next door neighbor. She hopes that everything with The Crew is done and over, but when a local is murdered, Laurel fears for the worst.
Myles only knows his sexy next door neighbor as Vivian, but he wants to know so much more about her. He has been asking her out for months, but she always says no. When trouble comes to town, Vivian starts acting weird and Myles sticks closer to her side than ever before. As The Crew closes in on Laurel and her kids, she will do just about anything to protect them, even so far as to be willing to take them on before they can take her out.
The timeline was initially a little confusing to me, as was the name change of Vivian from Laurel. It took me a little to get back into the flow of the story, but once I did� Holy. Cow. I love that Novak’s writing is so explosive and sexy and the suspense is scary and real. I absolutely love it. The moments with Ink were frightening and could be a case-study for narcissistic sociopaths. There is nothing glossed over or sugar coated there, and as twisted as it was, I loved it. I loved that Novak pushed the boundaries and at times had me cursing my nook.
Like I said before, I was so disappointed that Laurel and Pretty Boy didn’t end up together. I liked them together, I thought they would be good together. In the first couple chapters I was still rooting for them, but it quickly became apparent to me that they were better apart, and watching their friendship grow was pretty great, especially the moments when Pretty Boy would get jealous over Myles.
I really liked Myles overall. I thought he was a great alpha hero who also had such a capacity for emotion as well. From the very beginning the reader is aware of how tender and loving he was to his first wife who died of cancer. There was never a doubt in my mind that he could love with all his heart, and how strong of a character that made him. Every reaction to Laurel was perfect and real.
The alternate plot lines with Virgil and Peyton were at times frustrating. I was upset with the way that Virgil handled things with The Crew. Him running off all half-cocked by himself while his pregnant wife sat at home just didn’t feel in character for him. It was a little weird to read. But, thankfully it worked at solving all their problems. I also hope that we get to see some kind of resolution to the story with Pretty Boy. I felt as if we were left hanging a little on his story.
All in all, I was very happy with In Seconds. The characters were real and full of emotion, the suspense was in full force and I was kept on the edge of my seat. Although there were a few rough patches for me, I can’t wait to read the next one in the series.
I give In Seconds a B+
Publisher: Mira
Publish Date: August 30th
How I got this book: NetGalley
I loved the first Bulletproof book by Novak and when I saw the 2nd come up on NetGalley, I knew I would have to read this book. There was so much story left to tell between Laurel, Pretty Boy, Virgil and Peyton. And while I was a little disappointed that Pretty Boy and Laurel did not end up together, I really liked this story!
We pick up a few years later in the story, and Laurel has moved to small town Montana where she is finally getting the pieces of her life back together. She has her own business, a house, good friends and a sexy sheriff as the next door neighbor. She hopes that everything with The Crew is done and over, but when a local is murdered, Laurel fears for the worst.
Myles only knows his sexy next door neighbor as Vivian, but he wants to know so much more about her. He has been asking her out for months, but she always says no. When trouble comes to town, Vivian starts acting weird and Myles sticks closer to her side than ever before. As The Crew closes in on Laurel and her kids, she will do just about anything to protect them, even so far as to be willing to take them on before they can take her out.
The timeline was initially a little confusing to me, as was the name change of Vivian from Laurel. It took me a little to get back into the flow of the story, but once I did� Holy. Cow. I love that Novak’s writing is so explosive and sexy and the suspense is scary and real. I absolutely love it. The moments with Ink were frightening and could be a case-study for narcissistic sociopaths. There is nothing glossed over or sugar coated there, and as twisted as it was, I loved it. I loved that Novak pushed the boundaries and at times had me cursing my nook.
Like I said before, I was so disappointed that Laurel and Pretty Boy didn’t end up together. I liked them together, I thought they would be good together. In the first couple chapters I was still rooting for them, but it quickly became apparent to me that they were better apart, and watching their friendship grow was pretty great, especially the moments when Pretty Boy would get jealous over Myles.
I really liked Myles overall. I thought he was a great alpha hero who also had such a capacity for emotion as well. From the very beginning the reader is aware of how tender and loving he was to his first wife who died of cancer. There was never a doubt in my mind that he could love with all his heart, and how strong of a character that made him. Every reaction to Laurel was perfect and real.
The alternate plot lines with Virgil and Peyton were at times frustrating. I was upset with the way that Virgil handled things with The Crew. Him running off all half-cocked by himself while his pregnant wife sat at home just didn’t feel in character for him. It was a little weird to read. But, thankfully it worked at solving all their problems. I also hope that we get to see some kind of resolution to the story with Pretty Boy. I felt as if we were left hanging a little on his story.
All in all, I was very happy with In Seconds. The characters were real and full of emotion, the suspense was in full force and I was kept on the edge of my seat. Although there were a few rough patches for me, I can’t wait to read the next one in the series.
I give In Seconds a B+
December 24, 2015
Review copy provided via NetGalley
Why I Read this Book: After reading , the first book in this trilogy, I’ve been dying to read the rest of the books.
What I Liked: The characters in this book were extremely well-developed. I am completely terrified of Ink; he literally scares the shit out of me. He’s not just a ‘regular� criminal or gang member; this guy is ruthless and past of the point of being delusional. What he plots to do is terrifying and unnerving. The author’s ability to paint a vivid, yet disturbing, portrait of a villain is haunting. The author doesn’t sugar coat anything; she puts it out there and I think for a romantic suspense read, it gives the story validity (and gave me the creeps).
Vivian’s feelings towards Myles were completely understandable and I liked the direction the author took with their relationship. Vivian didn’t want to put Myles, or his teenage daughter, in harm’s way. This meant trying not to jump into a relationship with him no matter how much she was attracted to him.
I love how In Seconds ended. The suspense was nail-biting up until the very end. The outcome was exactly what I was looking for in terms of closure.
It was so easy for me to relate to Peyton’s character,Virgil’s wife and a secondary character in this book. It was ironic really. She’s pregnant with gestational diabetes and just weeks away from her due date. That was totally me when I read this book. It just made the fear and suspense that much more nerve wrecking for me as a reader.
What I Didn’t Like: Not sure that I entirely agree with Virgil's decision to handle a particular situation all on his own, especially since it forced him to leave his very pregnant wife at home alone. Yeah, it was something that had to be done but I just don’t like that he went in it alone and with Peyton so close to her due date.
This next bit I’m going to mention isn’t really a ‘don’t like� for this particular book but it’s something that’s concerning for me so I’m going to mention it here. Before reading the book blurb for In Seconds, I had thought that Laurel’s character was going to end up with Rex. After reading the book blurb for this book, it’s clear that there’s a new character thrown into the mix who’s meant for Laurel. After reading the book blurb for the next (and final book in this trilogy), In Close, I’m not sure we’ll even get closure for Rex’s character. He’s a pretty big supporting character and I’d like to see him get a HEA of his own. Guess I’ll find out when I read In Close.
Overall Impression: This is a great romantic suspense series. If you’re a fan of the romantic suspense genre, you’ll enjoy In Seconds' balanced blend of romance and suspense. In Seconds was a gripping read, even with its disturbing parts, and I can’t wait for the next book, In Close.
Why I Read this Book: After reading , the first book in this trilogy, I’ve been dying to read the rest of the books.
What I Liked: The characters in this book were extremely well-developed. I am completely terrified of Ink; he literally scares the shit out of me. He’s not just a ‘regular� criminal or gang member; this guy is ruthless and past of the point of being delusional. What he plots to do is terrifying and unnerving. The author’s ability to paint a vivid, yet disturbing, portrait of a villain is haunting. The author doesn’t sugar coat anything; she puts it out there and I think for a romantic suspense read, it gives the story validity (and gave me the creeps).
Vivian’s feelings towards Myles were completely understandable and I liked the direction the author took with their relationship. Vivian didn’t want to put Myles, or his teenage daughter, in harm’s way. This meant trying not to jump into a relationship with him no matter how much she was attracted to him.
I love how In Seconds ended. The suspense was nail-biting up until the very end. The outcome was exactly what I was looking for in terms of closure.
It was so easy for me to relate to Peyton’s character,Virgil’s wife and a secondary character in this book. It was ironic really. She’s pregnant with gestational diabetes and just weeks away from her due date. That was totally me when I read this book. It just made the fear and suspense that much more nerve wrecking for me as a reader.
What I Didn’t Like: Not sure that I entirely agree with Virgil's decision to handle a particular situation all on his own, especially since it forced him to leave his very pregnant wife at home alone. Yeah, it was something that had to be done but I just don’t like that he went in it alone and with Peyton so close to her due date.
This next bit I’m going to mention isn’t really a ‘don’t like� for this particular book but it’s something that’s concerning for me so I’m going to mention it here. Before reading the book blurb for In Seconds, I had thought that Laurel’s character was going to end up with Rex. After reading the book blurb for this book, it’s clear that there’s a new character thrown into the mix who’s meant for Laurel. After reading the book blurb for the next (and final book in this trilogy), In Close, I’m not sure we’ll even get closure for Rex’s character. He’s a pretty big supporting character and I’d like to see him get a HEA of his own. Guess I’ll find out when I read In Close.
Overall Impression: This is a great romantic suspense series. If you’re a fan of the romantic suspense genre, you’ll enjoy In Seconds' balanced blend of romance and suspense. In Seconds was a gripping read, even with its disturbing parts, and I can’t wait for the next book, In Close.
September 1, 2011
(More like 3.5 feathers!)
In Seconds
(Bulletproof # 2)
by Brenda Novak
Romantic Suspense
In all honesty, I was hoping for a romance between Laurel and Pretty Boy aka Rex McCready because of the build-up in INSIDE, the first book in the Bulletproof series. So when I started reading IN SECONDS and soon found out that this was not the case, I was a little sad about that. But nevertheless, Brenda Novak pulls this one off with ease!
Laurel Hodges, the heroine of this novel, was one of my favourite characters from INSIDE. Now she is on the run from The Crew, a deadly gang with serious connections. When Peyton, Virgil, Rex and Laurel are forced to leave the Witness Protection Program after being found, they all split up and take on different names in order to save each other’s lives. Now living as a brunette named Vivian Stewart in Pineview, Montana , Vivien lives her life constantly looking over her shoulder with her children, Jake and Mia.
Myles is Vivian’s hero and although it took me awhile to warm up to him, I did eventually. I think the reason for this is because Laurel/Vivian has experienced so much already, that I’m a little protective of her. I wanted to make sure she got her happily ever after, because she certainly deserves it. Myles had a lot of overcome for me to approve of him. And in the end, I did end up liking him a lot. Myles is a widower so he and Vivian really found comfort in each other’s presence. With Pat’s murder investigation going on, fear is lingering across their neighbourhood.
What I liked about this book was the fact that Ms. Novak keeps it real. She doesn’t try to sugarcoat anything. If there is a murder, then she writes the scene in an eerie, chilling manner which does great things for a romantic suspense thriller.
I only wished there was more scenes with Myles and Vivian together, showcasing their slow progression in trusting each other. For Vivian, trusting someone with the truth is a life or death situation. I wanted to read more of Vivian’s vulnerability. Or, maybe I just wanted more Myles and Vivian. Maybe both!
Novak crafts another solid instalment in the Bulletproof series! I loved the updates on Peyton and Virgil as well. I am completely enamoured by Virgil. He’s got some serious guts. If you’re interesting in a realistic romantic suspense with complex characters, then this series is the one for you. You won’t be disappointed.
*ARC provided by Netgalley
October 20, 2012
I received this one from netgalley a long time ago, and never got around to reading it (it's the second in a series, and I had to wait to get the first in the series from the library..).
This author writes a really great romantic suspense. She just seems to get the balance between the romance and the rest of the plot just right, and knows how to involve other characters, without diminishing from the story between the two main characters.
This one follows on from , and you do really need to read that one first, or the plot will seem rather odd, and characters will pop up out of nowhere. This author doesn't waste word count on rehashing plots, which I personally prefer, but which might leave readers stranded if they read this one cold.
This one, like the first, also manages to capture that vital ingredient in the romantic suspense - you know the hero and heroine are going to get their HEA, but you still end up getting sucked in the plot, and the story introduces enough uncertainty that you aren't quite sure that everything will be completely OK before you get to the end.
I guess for me, this one wasn't as good as . The plot centered around prison gangs was so incredibly strong that I did figure that it would be a tough one to follow, and this one followed a more usual revenge type plot. Also, although we got to know the heroine really well (and we knew her fairly well from ), we really didn't get to know enough about the hero. We learned about his wife dying and his desire to move on, but beyond that, he felt rather like a blank slate, and could have done with more color and texture.
So, this is a good story, and is well-writte, but not as good as the first book. 3 stars. I liked it.
This author writes a really great romantic suspense. She just seems to get the balance between the romance and the rest of the plot just right, and knows how to involve other characters, without diminishing from the story between the two main characters.
This one follows on from , and you do really need to read that one first, or the plot will seem rather odd, and characters will pop up out of nowhere. This author doesn't waste word count on rehashing plots, which I personally prefer, but which might leave readers stranded if they read this one cold.
This one, like the first, also manages to capture that vital ingredient in the romantic suspense - you know the hero and heroine are going to get their HEA, but you still end up getting sucked in the plot, and the story introduces enough uncertainty that you aren't quite sure that everything will be completely OK before you get to the end.
I guess for me, this one wasn't as good as . The plot centered around prison gangs was so incredibly strong that I did figure that it would be a tough one to follow, and this one followed a more usual revenge type plot. Also, although we got to know the heroine really well (and we knew her fairly well from ), we really didn't get to know enough about the hero. We learned about his wife dying and his desire to move on, but beyond that, he felt rather like a blank slate, and could have done with more color and texture.
So, this is a good story, and is well-writte, but not as good as the first book. 3 stars. I liked it.
November 21, 2011
A fast-paced romantic suspense that keeps you turning page after page til the end. In Seconds is the second book in the Bulletproof series. The first book was . Although, I think they can be read as stand-alones, I recommend that you read them in order. Vivian Stewart aka Laurel Hodges has settled comfortably in Pineview, Montana, with her two children. But when a murder is committed, she wonders if The Crew has somehow found her. She lives next door to Myles King, the sheriff of Pineview and his daughter. The characters were likable and the story was gripping. I recommend to anyone who loves a good romantic suspense.
July 17, 2011
This book was a real surprise. It was a tight and fought with tension the whole way through. The threat level is kept high the whole way through and delivers a first class suspense story. Nothing was wasted in this story, the characters were well developed and interesting and the plot was simple but truly effective. This culminates in a real page turner that will stay with you for a very long time.
January 21, 2015
Loved this one even better than the first! Intense suspense from cover to cover with just enough romance to have me pulling for Laurel & Myles. A Must Read!
July 21, 2021
I liked this book however not as much as the first book, Inside. I was surprised that Laurel was no longer with her brother or Rex since they were still worried about the Crew. I understand coming out of the Witness Protection Program because there was a leak but for Laurel to be out there by herself and so far from Virgil and Rex didn't seem right.
I really wanted Laurel and Rex to end up together so that was a disappointment although I did like Myles.
It was odd that Ink was in a minimum security prison with his criminal history and was able to escape so easily. I also felt that the number of innocent people who were murdered was a bit much.
I don't understand why the third book in this series in not Rex's story. I read somewhere that he shows up in another book in another series however it would have been nice to have his story finish in this series because he is a part of Virgil and Laurel. Claire was not part of this series from the beginning nor did I feel she was a strong character in this book to warrant her the third book. Needless to say, I won't be reading the third book.
I really wanted Laurel and Rex to end up together so that was a disappointment although I did like Myles.
It was odd that Ink was in a minimum security prison with his criminal history and was able to escape so easily. I also felt that the number of innocent people who were murdered was a bit much.
I don't understand why the third book in this series in not Rex's story. I read somewhere that he shows up in another book in another series however it would have been nice to have his story finish in this series because he is a part of Virgil and Laurel. Claire was not part of this series from the beginning nor did I feel she was a strong character in this book to warrant her the third book. Needless to say, I won't be reading the third book.
August 30, 2011
In seconds is book two in the Bulletproof series by Brenda Novak.
Let me start this review by telling you that I don’t recommend reading this book as a stand –alone but more as a continuation of book one, Inside.
In seconds take place couple of years later after events in Inside. Laurel, Virgil, Payton and Rex have left WitSec after The Crew discovered their whereabouts in Washington. They took the hard decision of disperse to make it harder for the gang members to find them.
Virgil and Peyton move to New York, where they live with their little boy and Payton is pregnant expecting their second child. Laurel has adopted the identity of Vivian Steward and has move to the small town of Pineview, Montana with her kids Mia and Jake. And Rex is moving around finding a place to settle after his breakup with Laurel.
Laurel/Vivian chose to live in Pineview because of its low criminal rate. She has lived happily for over two years in the little town where nothing happens; she just bought a house and has established her own business designing and selling purses. Laurel/Vivian also has a very interesting and sexy neighbor, Sheriff Myles King and even though she feels attracted to him she has declined all his invitations to go out.
Laurel/Vivian thinks The Crew has forgotten all about her, but when a member of the community is brutally assassinated all her fears come back to haunt her.
Sheriff Myles King is a widower with a thirteen-year-old daughter. Since the dead of his wife three years ago he hasn’t been interested in any woman until Laurel/Vivian moves next door. This mysterious woman attracts him, but all his intents to know her better have been rejected.
Myles is investigating the murder, the first in many years in Pineview. He also notices a difference in Laurel/Vivian’s behavior lately; she seems nervous and a little bit over the edge. He knows she is hiding something, he wants to know her secrets to be able to help her; he wants to be there for her if she allows him. Laurel/Vivian knows this but after everything that had happened to her is very difficult to trust a person and even more a policeman. Also people tent to get hurt when they are close to her and the last thing she wants is to get Myles involve with her troubles. But when she learns Ink, one of her most feared gang members has escaped from jail and is coming for her, her situation turns dire, she doesn’t want to run anymore, she has built a life for her and her kids, because of this she is determined this time to stay and fight. She knows she would needs to give Myles an opportunity if she wants a chance to survive.
I loved Inside, even though it left many things open and unresolved and when I learned In Seconds was coming out I knew I have to read it. I wanted to see Rex and Laurel’s story, I wanted them to have their HEA. To be honest I was a little bit disappointed on the beginning of In Seconds when I learned Laurel’s HEA was with somebody else and not Rex, but after some pages I understood they weren’t good for each other even though there was love. They are better friends than lovers and my kudos to Mrs. Novak for taking this decision and making it clear to us.
Laurel is still the determined, strong and caring woman from Inside. She has done the best possible with her situation and is doing better everyday.
I loved that she doesn’t blame Virgil for anything that has happened, I loved their brother/sister relationship and even through the distance you can feel their love and respect for each other.
Myles was a surprising character, I can say he grew up on me. As I said before I wanted Rex to be with Laurel, but after getting to know Myles better I realized he was the kind of man perfect for Laurel and most important her kids. He is a stable, caring, loving man and also a devoted father. At the end their relationship feel right and real, they are doing things right, without rushing and taking one step at a time.
I loved that we see some of Virgil and Peyton’s life, they have been a family for couple of years now, with one son and another baby on the way. They have a booming business and in general they are doing great. I didn’t like something Virgil does at the end. I can imagine his feelings of impotency in the situation but his solution felt too desperate and irrational considering his wife was almost ready to give birth. I almost couldn’t believe he was doing what he did.
Rex, oh Rex, here is where my heart starts to bleed. I love him and seeing him how he is in this book it really broke my heart. He really loves Laurel and wants what is best for her, even though that is not being with him, he knows he is not good for her. He is a great friend and even though his situation he is a very strong man. I really hope Mrs. Novak gives him the HEA he so much deserves.
Ink is still the same sociopath from Inside, maybe a little bit worse after what happened to him. I really admire Mrs. Novak for making me feel on a trip in the mind of a sociopath every time I was reading Ink’s point of view, even though the feeling was not the best ever *shudders*.
In Seconds is a very fast paced book, packed with action, suspense and very emotional moments. The characters are well developed and the writing is spotless. All in all In Seconds is a great follow up and another great book by Brenda Novak.
If you like romantic suspense this book is for you, but as I said before I don’t recommend to read In Seconds as a stand alone, it should be read after Inside (another great book).
The next book of this series In Close will be available on October 25, 2011. It’s the book of Laurel’s friend Claire and I’m sure planning to read it.
Let me start this review by telling you that I don’t recommend reading this book as a stand –alone but more as a continuation of book one, Inside.
In seconds take place couple of years later after events in Inside. Laurel, Virgil, Payton and Rex have left WitSec after The Crew discovered their whereabouts in Washington. They took the hard decision of disperse to make it harder for the gang members to find them.
Virgil and Peyton move to New York, where they live with their little boy and Payton is pregnant expecting their second child. Laurel has adopted the identity of Vivian Steward and has move to the small town of Pineview, Montana with her kids Mia and Jake. And Rex is moving around finding a place to settle after his breakup with Laurel.
Laurel/Vivian chose to live in Pineview because of its low criminal rate. She has lived happily for over two years in the little town where nothing happens; she just bought a house and has established her own business designing and selling purses. Laurel/Vivian also has a very interesting and sexy neighbor, Sheriff Myles King and even though she feels attracted to him she has declined all his invitations to go out.
Laurel/Vivian thinks The Crew has forgotten all about her, but when a member of the community is brutally assassinated all her fears come back to haunt her.
Sheriff Myles King is a widower with a thirteen-year-old daughter. Since the dead of his wife three years ago he hasn’t been interested in any woman until Laurel/Vivian moves next door. This mysterious woman attracts him, but all his intents to know her better have been rejected.
Myles is investigating the murder, the first in many years in Pineview. He also notices a difference in Laurel/Vivian’s behavior lately; she seems nervous and a little bit over the edge. He knows she is hiding something, he wants to know her secrets to be able to help her; he wants to be there for her if she allows him. Laurel/Vivian knows this but after everything that had happened to her is very difficult to trust a person and even more a policeman. Also people tent to get hurt when they are close to her and the last thing she wants is to get Myles involve with her troubles. But when she learns Ink, one of her most feared gang members has escaped from jail and is coming for her, her situation turns dire, she doesn’t want to run anymore, she has built a life for her and her kids, because of this she is determined this time to stay and fight. She knows she would needs to give Myles an opportunity if she wants a chance to survive.
I loved Inside, even though it left many things open and unresolved and when I learned In Seconds was coming out I knew I have to read it. I wanted to see Rex and Laurel’s story, I wanted them to have their HEA. To be honest I was a little bit disappointed on the beginning of In Seconds when I learned Laurel’s HEA was with somebody else and not Rex, but after some pages I understood they weren’t good for each other even though there was love. They are better friends than lovers and my kudos to Mrs. Novak for taking this decision and making it clear to us.
Laurel is still the determined, strong and caring woman from Inside. She has done the best possible with her situation and is doing better everyday.
I loved that she doesn’t blame Virgil for anything that has happened, I loved their brother/sister relationship and even through the distance you can feel their love and respect for each other.
Myles was a surprising character, I can say he grew up on me. As I said before I wanted Rex to be with Laurel, but after getting to know Myles better I realized he was the kind of man perfect for Laurel and most important her kids. He is a stable, caring, loving man and also a devoted father. At the end their relationship feel right and real, they are doing things right, without rushing and taking one step at a time.
I loved that we see some of Virgil and Peyton’s life, they have been a family for couple of years now, with one son and another baby on the way. They have a booming business and in general they are doing great. I didn’t like something Virgil does at the end. I can imagine his feelings of impotency in the situation but his solution felt too desperate and irrational considering his wife was almost ready to give birth. I almost couldn’t believe he was doing what he did.
Rex, oh Rex, here is where my heart starts to bleed. I love him and seeing him how he is in this book it really broke my heart. He really loves Laurel and wants what is best for her, even though that is not being with him, he knows he is not good for her. He is a great friend and even though his situation he is a very strong man. I really hope Mrs. Novak gives him the HEA he so much deserves.
Ink is still the same sociopath from Inside, maybe a little bit worse after what happened to him. I really admire Mrs. Novak for making me feel on a trip in the mind of a sociopath every time I was reading Ink’s point of view, even though the feeling was not the best ever *shudders*.
In Seconds is a very fast paced book, packed with action, suspense and very emotional moments. The characters are well developed and the writing is spotless. All in all In Seconds is a great follow up and another great book by Brenda Novak.
If you like romantic suspense this book is for you, but as I said before I don’t recommend to read In Seconds as a stand alone, it should be read after Inside (another great book).
The next book of this series In Close will be available on October 25, 2011. It’s the book of Laurel’s friend Claire and I’m sure planning to read it.
July 7, 2019
Vivian and her 2 children have settled in Montana 4 years after leaving Witness Protection and changing her identity. She is lonely but wants to stay and build a life. But The Crew (gang) has other ideas. Ink, a remorseless killer is after her and her brother, Virgil, for revenge. Sheriff Myles King lives next door and wants to start a relationship but Vivian is afraid to confide until Ink shows up and Rex, her ex-boyfriend recovering drug addict appears. Viewpoint shifts through many of the characters including the villains. Some unnecessary graphic violence. Action is tense but the romance is so-so.
September 9, 2020
In Seconds (Bulletproof #2) was a great read by Brenda Novak. Laurel has had to change her identity twice. She has spent the last four years on the run from gang members who blame her for one of their death’s. She has ended up in a small town where she thought her family was safe. That’s until one of the gang members escapes prison to find her. Her next door neighbor is the Sheriff Myles King. He doesn’t know all of her past but acts as Laurel’s guardian. They are both attracted to each other although Laurel tries to distance herself. I really enjoyed Laurel and Myles story and can’t wait to read more by Brenda Novak.
August 10, 2017
Continuing this saga, we now find Virgil married to Peyton and having a baby. But the drama starts when thinking his family is safe because they split up after getting out of WitSec Virgil's sister Laurel finds out some members of the Crew (the gang Virgil was involved with in prison) is now after her first and then the rest of the family.
Laurel will not run and hide any more so she decides to stand up and fight these crazy members of the gang and be rid of them for good. Action filled, suspense, romance and nerve-racking Novak has done it again with a great page-turner!
Laurel will not run and hide any more so she decides to stand up and fight these crazy members of the gang and be rid of them for good. Action filled, suspense, romance and nerve-racking Novak has done it again with a great page-turner!
July 7, 2018
Book #2 in the Bulletproof series. This is an intense, intriguing, and page turning book. I enjoyed the characters and the story line. Laurel is literally running for her life and that of her children. A gang member with revenge in his mind and payback is after her. A neighbor, who just happens to be a Sheriff, with an interest in the single reclusive mom,and trying to keep his town safe. This is a good read.
May 11, 2020
This is book two in the bulletproof trilogy and Laurel/Vivian’s story. She has relocated once again to keep her children and herself safe from the prison gang, The Crew - but just when she thinks she is safe in the small town of Pineview, Montana a gruesome murder occurs. Luckily she lives next door to the sheriff who also has the hots for her! But Laurel doesn’t want to become involved with him but can’t seem to fight her attraction for him either. Read on to get the deets.....
February 24, 2019
I was disappointed to learn that this book wasn’t following Peyton and Virgil like I had thought, but was quickly engrossed even so. The storyline was similar, still involving The Crew and a love story, but not quite as involved as Peyton and Virgil’s story was. I think the ending was still rushed compared to the other parts of the book, but overall it was a great read.
April 13, 2023
Mesmerizing book
This book captured my attention from the first page. It was suspenseful and romantic. The characters were well developed. I wanted to keep reading to discover what happened next. The only fault I could find was the amount of graphic language used in the story.
It is a great read for adult readers who enjoy suspense.
This book captured my attention from the first page. It was suspenseful and romantic. The characters were well developed. I wanted to keep reading to discover what happened next. The only fault I could find was the amount of graphic language used in the story.
It is a great read for adult readers who enjoy suspense.
April 24, 2024
Wow! I think this is my favorite one of the series so far. There was plenty of suspense to keep me on my toes. Myles and Laurel may be my two favorite characters now. Laurel has had to change her name and go into hiding. When a prison gang has a target on your back, sometimes there is nowhere to run. I highly recommend this series!
May 14, 2017
For some reason, I couldn't get too involved with the characters.
Many things were left unsaid, and the relationship between the two main characters did not feel real or close.
A good story, but it did not take me in completely.
Many things were left unsaid, and the relationship between the two main characters did not feel real or close.
A good story, but it did not take me in completely.
March 1, 2018
What a thrilling nightmare! The character has been in the witness protection system, but it failed her and she’s hiding out on her own with her 2 children, changing her identity and trying to begin her life in a new locale only to be found . It was hard to put this book down for sure.
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