Sunday, August 8, 2010

Review and Giveaway: White Heat by Brenda Novak




From the author's website:
White Heat is the first book in Brenda Novak’s new Department 6 Hired Guns trilogy.

Nate Ferrentino and Rachel Jessop are operatives for Department 6, a private security company, and they’re going undercover to expose a new and dangerous cult.

This group has taken up residence in the Arizona desert, in a ghost town called Paradise. Members worship at the feet—and in the bed--of its charismatic leader, Ethan Wycliff. On his orders, they tried to stone a woman to death. And they’re implicated in the disappearance of a teenage girl.

To expose the Church of the Covenant, with its arcane rituals and debauched practices, Nate and Rachel must pretend to be married. That’s the only way they can get in—but being Nate’s “wife” is the last thing Rachel wants. She and Nate have a one-night history that’s just an embarrassment to her now. But they don’t have a choice. Wycliff has to be stopped.


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My thoughts:
The storyline of White Heat caught and kept my attention: Private investigators infiltrating a religous cult (the "Covenanteers") to find missing women and bring the cult down if indeed there are shenanigans afoot (and you just know there are!). The investigators who are playing husband/wife, Nate and Rachel, have a weird history both apart and together. I'm not sure how to go into it without spoilers but here goes:

Rachel's father was a religious zealot/cult leader and she left when she was 17. She eventually would up woking for Deartment 6 after a stint in the police force. Nate had a previous relationship that went badly at the end and therefore refuses to get emotionally close to another woman. Approximately six months before the events in this story, Rachel "surprised" Nate by being naked in his bed when he got home from work; their differing reactions the next day have left both Rachel and Nate embarassed and distant. Because of this, they're both uncomfortable about posing as husband and wife in the deserted town the Covenenteers call home.

The Covenenteers were all I knew they'd be: Crazy leader, subjugation of women, bizarre sexual practices, weapon stockpiling, "blind" followers. Ethan, the cult's leader, was so good as a bad guy...and he was a bad guy, no matter how he tried to spin it. His assistant, Bart was equally creepy. I followed the cult storyline to the end, watching it play out to the final showown. (The only weird thing was that the author stressed that Bart was impotent, which I thought was weird in a cult that centered around sexual practices as rituals.)

The Rachel/Nate storyline was not as strong. It was hot and cold and for me didn't make a lot of sense - Rachel and Nate were attracted to each other but because of their previous "incident" didn't act on it. Except that when Nate did try to act on it, I kept thinking why now? I didn't see where it was imperitave to their investigation. Rachel's actions in response to his romantic attempts were not consistent, in my opinion. By the end of the story I think their actions were a bit more believable, but it was a strange journey to get there.

This was my first read by Brenda Novak and therefore I wasn't sure what to expect. Although I had a few little niggles about this book, overall I enjoyed it and am looking forward to the next two books in the series: Body Heat (September 2010) and Killer Heat (October 2010).


WHITE HEAT Book Trailer:






My Rating:


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And now for the giveaway:
One lucky commenter will win a White Heat prize pack including:
~Tote bag~
~3D viewer bookmark~
~White Heat lip gloss – made especially for the book!~
~A copy of White Heat~



To enter, leave a comment telling me you'd like to win this prize pack. This giveaway is open to U.S. and Canadian addresses and is sponsored by MIRA Books. Contest ends Saturday, August 21. Please check back to see if you've won.

Also from the author's website: If you'd like a pair of Brenda Novak 3D glasses (which double as a bookmark), send a self-addressed stamped envelope to: Brenda Novak P.O. Box 3781 Citrus Heights, CA 95611

About Brenda Novak:
New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author Brenda Novak has three novels coming out this summer - WHITE HEAT, BODY HEAT & KILLER HEAT. She also runs an annual on-line auction for diabetes research every May at www.brendanovak.com. To date, she’s raised over $1,072,000. Brenda considers herself lucky to be a mother of five and married to the love of her life.






This book was provided to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

31 comments:

  1. I've been hearing alot about this one, count me in! tWarner419@aol.com

    ReplyDelete
  2. Not entering, but I'll mention it Friday!

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  3. Hi Patti,

    I love Brenda's books so please enter me, thanks!

    Thanks for the great giveaway!

    ReplyDelete
  4. I haven't read anything by her...and even if the book isn't awesome tote bags and lip gloss ARE!! count me in!

    autumn.crochet @ gmail. com

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  5. I love Brenda's books! Cannot wait to read this series.

    Please enter me

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  6. Freaky cults are just so so, well yes freaky! Nice review, and good that the book was ok in the end even if some things bothered you

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  7. Please count me in. What a great prize pack.
    I follow.

    lizz0915 at aol dot com

    ReplyDelete
  8. I would love to win this prize pack and see if I like her book.
    sasluvbooks(at)yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  9. Great review! I'd like to read this--it sounds like it has some adventure in it!

    meredithfl at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  10. These books sound like they are going to be awesome reads!! I can't wait. Please enter me for this one.

    I follow on gfc


    mlawson17 at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  11. Sounds great. I would love to be included. Thanks for the chance!!

    bacchus76 at myself dot com

    ReplyDelete
  12. Count me in for the prize pack. People have been saying a lot of good things about White Heat and I am eager to check it out.

    lenikaye@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  13. Sounds like a great book. Thanks!

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  14. I'd love to win this pack. The book sounds great and everything else is icing on the cake :).

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  15. sounds like a good book please enter me


    mamat2730(at)charter(dot)net

    ReplyDelete
  16. I would love to win this because I have heard such great things about this book!
    Thanks for the awesome giveaway!
    bangersis(at)msn(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  17. I would love to win this contest she is a great author and reading is such a great escape for me from my MS
    k.vallee@comcast.net

    ReplyDelete
  18. Not entering ;) I've seen Brenda Novak's books and always wondered if she is an author I should pick up.

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  19. Count me in! This is a great giveaway package.

    kzupancic[at]yahoo[dot]com

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  20. This sounds like a great giveaway. I'd like to enter. Thanks!

    amongstories@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  21. I'd love to win the prize pack. White Heart sounds great!

    texas_gal45@hotmail.com

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  22. Hey Patti!
    Commenting to let you know I would like to win this prize pack (like everyone else, lol)! I see a lot of Brenda Novak praise all over, and after watching that trailer, I've got to investigate =)

    Best wishes to all <3

    HRJ Rita
    email: historicalromancejunkie(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  23. I would like to win the prize pack and the book sounds great. Thanks for the giveaway!

    myra0502@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  24. Hi Patti, thanks for the contest. I love Brenda please enter me into the contest
    dhaupt3@gmail.com
    Thanks
    Deb

    ReplyDelete
  25. Ooo... Sounds like a god read. I'd like to enter.

    ReplyDelete
  26. I love Brenda's books. Please enter me to win.

    ReplyDelete
  27. I've never read her books, but I am always seeking new authors. I read about 4 books per week.......enter me please!

    ReplyDelete
  28. I haven't read any of her books but I would love to give it a try.

    Thanks!
    beckerjo(at)verizon(dot)net

    ReplyDelete
  29. I would love to win this..thx:)

    foxchick0323@live.com

    ReplyDelete
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