When Summer Comes (Whiskey Creek, 3) Mass Market Paperback – January 29, 2013

Books arrived in great condition

I received a complimentary copy of this book as a part of a book tour in exchange for a fair and honest review. I rated this 5/5 and a recommended read.Would you take a chance on finding love if you know you only have six months to live? That's the question Brenda Novak asks and answers in When Summer Comes, the third book in her Whiskey Creek series set in California gold country. Well developed characters, good dialogue and plenty of emotional angst kept me turning the pages on Ms. Novak's tale of two damaged people who find each other at the lowest point in their lives. While When Summer Comes is a part of a series, and is the third book to boot, I was able to read and enjoy this contemporary romance all on its own.Photographer Callie Vanetta has loving parents, a successful business and a handful of great friends. Feeling tired and run down, Callie never expected to discover she had liver disease. Told without a transplant, which didn't look hopeful, she would only have six months to live, Callie moves out of town and moves into her deceased grandparents home. Knowing she will only live through the summer, Callie wants to live on her own terms and remember the good days from her childhood. She never thought she'd end up falling in love with a drifter she gives temporary shelter.Former soldier, and current vagrant, Levi McCloud is running away from his life. Riding his motorcycle across the country gives him the freedom and space to outrun his demons. Finding himself the victim of a vicious dog attack, and needing temporary shelter, Levi never counted on meeting the woman who would not only change his life but give him a reason to live.The scenes between Callie and Levi are really well written; they both have deep, dark secrets and are suffering from both physical and emotional pain. While Callie had a great childhood, and was content with her life, she's depressed and a little angry about her illness and impending death. While she's accepted it to a point, she's aware of the pain her passing will lead to in both her parents and friend's lives and worries they'll want to take over what little time she has left if she tells them about her illness. Meanwhile Levi's childhood has left him with many emotional scars which he's carried into adulthood and never addressed. His inability to trust others makes it difficult for him to accept any kind of favor, so he insists on helping Callie around the ranch. Neither one was looking for love - but they found it in each other. Ms. Novak does a really good job developing these characters, addressing their emotional issues and gives us just the right amount of smexy scenes, a romance reader craves.The secondary characters in this story, from Callie's friends to the town sheriff - who doesn't like vagrants and kinda has a thing for Callie, all play an important part in Callie's life and in her future. Ms. Novak even gives us two villains, who happen to be outsiders temporarily living in the area, which remind us that even in small, almost perfect towns, violence and evil make the occasional visit. Ms. Novak even gives the small town of Whiskey Creek it's own personality, it's a character all on it's own.Will Callie and Levi's love survive both her future and his past? You'll have to read When Summer Comes to find out. It's the perfect light romance for a summer day. On a side note, this is the first romance I've read written by Ms. Novak and I can't wait to go back and read the first two books in this series.

4-1/2 starsThis was yet another book sitting in my TBR pile forever I was reluctant to start. But once I saw how well Ms. Novak wrote both previous books in this series, I was eager to pick it up. I've been so impressed with this series and Ms. Novak in particular. These could easily be cheesy and trite stories surrounding a small town full of clichés, but never once felt that way. Even when previous couples show up on the scene, things aren't overly sweet. We see that lives are still as complicated and messy as before "happily ever after" as it is after.In the 3rd book, we finally get to know Callie just a bit more. She receives devastating news that her liver is failing and needs a transplant. Instead of telling her family and close group of friends, she retreats. She doesn't want to deal with other's emotions when she hasn't figured out her own. Also, she wants to live life to the fullest. She leaves her downtown apartment to live on her grandparent's old farm. One night at the farm, a stranger comes knocking in the middle of the night seeking help. Levi McCloud wants to trade a few nights' shelter for work. He needs a place to stay until he can fix his motorcycle; she needs help fixing up the farm to sell. It's only supposed to be temporary--Callie is dying and Levi is only staying a few days.Again, Ms. Novak took a storyline I wasn't particularly enthused about and blew me out of the water. I became so engrossed in this story, just like the ones before. I want more!Callie, Levi, and all were all fully fleshed out and believable. Lives of the main characters and friends are messy, complicated, and real. I get so tired of the sugary, super-sweetness that other authors infuse in their small town books. None of that is here.The development of Callie and Levi's relationship was interesting to watch. They both have their secrets, their past, their current lives and it was amazing to watch it all come together. These two felt like real people with real problems, real fears, and real hearts. I was cheering to them.This story had several POVs presented, which could be confusing at times, but rounded out the story and the group of friends.As a side note: it was interesting to see the details of exactly WHAT happened to Kyle's marriage after the `I do's' in WHEN WE TOUCH. We all knew Noelle was a complete harpy, but OH MY! And that's another thing; we learn bits and pieces about other characters here and there. There aren't huge info dumps. Lives of characters continue to grow, change, progress, and evolve. I love that! It adds to the authenticity of this series.Again, another hit by Ms. Novak.Verdict:Would I read this story again? YesWould I recommend this story? YesWould I recommend this series? YesWhiskey Creek When We Touch (A Whiskey Creek novella) (Novella) When Lightning Strikes When Snow Falls WHEN SUMMER COMESHOME TO WISKEY CREEK

This is the third full length novel in the Whiskey Creek series, and this time it's Callie's turn. I loved this story. It was just so heart breaking lay sad and lovely at the same time.A stranger arrives on her door step in the middle of the night after he had been victim to a dog attack. Callie wants to care for him and offers him old and lodgings in exchange for doing some work on her house. She is suffering with liver failure and knows this summer be her last if she doesn't get a transplant. Levi McLoud has problems of his own, ex Army and haunted by the loss of his only love.This is a beautiful story that, although predictable in many ways, is gripping and I really wanted it to work out for Callie and Levi. Once I started this book I couldn't put it down... always the sign of a great read!

Brenda Novak really knows how to put just the right emotion in a book. I loved it.Callie is a very warm hearted individual, cautious when a stranger lands on her door hurt, she brings him in and looks after him even as he refuses an ambulance or police assistance. Gravely ill herself, she puts the needs of this stranger above her own.Callie is hiding her condition as she does not want people to feel sorry for her as she needs a liver transplant by the end of summer. Having Levi around helps her out as there are things she cannot do and he ends up being added security for her.Levi has been a vagrant for two years after coming home from war and an argument with his father. He is also on the run. Levi is a fighter and doesn't want to owe anyone, he is also honest and sweet. He looks after Callie one night when she is ill, but she still hides her condition with him and her family until she has no choice.I really felt the emotions of both Callie and Levi, and was refreshing to have the man as the younger of the two. Although her friends are wonderful I'm glad that Baxter was there for her and gave her warnings.

Excellent emotion packed story. Mild heat. Well written. Just a few typos. Recommended.

I love all the Whiskey Creek series!!

Awesome read I loved this book and continued to read the series.