Come Home to Me. Brenda Novak

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      Home is where her heart is

      When Presley Christensen returns to Whiskey Creek with her little boy after two years away, she has completely changed her life. She’s made peace with her past and overcome the negative behavior that resulted from her difficult childhood. Now she’s back in the small town that was the closest thing to “home” she ever knew—the town where she can be with the sister who’s her only family.

      There’s just one catch. Aaron Amos still lives in Whiskey Creek, at least until he moves to Reno to open a branch of the Amos brothers’ auto body shop. And no matter how hard she’s tried, Presley hasn’t been able to get over him. Seeing him again makes the longing so much worse. But she hopes she can get through the next few months, because she can’t fall back into his arms…or his bed. She’s come too far to backslide now. And there’s a secret she’s been guarding—a secret she’ll do anything to protect.

      PRAISE FOR THE WHISKEY CREEK NOVELS OF

      NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR BRENDA NOVAK

      “[The characters’] heartwarming romance develops slowly and sweetly. The sex is fantastic, but the best part is how Simon and Gail tease and laugh as they grow closer.”

      —Publishers Weekly on When Lightning Strikes

      “Novak delivers a lively, sparkling series debut…romantic gold by a superior novelist.”

      —RT Book Reviews on When Lightning Strikes

      “It’s steamy, it’s poignant, it’s perfectly paced—it’s When Lightning Strikes and you don’t want to miss it!”

      —USATODAY.com’s Happy Ever After blog

      “In this sensitive, passionate, and heartbreakingly poignant second installment of her Whiskey Creek series, Novak masterfully explores what happens when a woman whose entire life has been consumed by playing a variety of roles casts off her suffocating masks and, with the support of an unexpected lover, embraces who she was, is and can be.”

      —RT Book Reviews on When Snow Falls (2012 Reviewers’ Choice Winner and Nominee for Book of the Year)

      “With a great supporting cast of characters Novak fans have come to know quite well, When Summer Comes is a magical addition to the already heartwarming Whiskey Creek series.”

      —Fresh Fiction

      “[Home to Whiskey Creek is an] engrossing, character-rich story that takes a hard look at responsibility, loyalty and the results of telling (or concealing) the truth.”

      —Library Journal

      “Rate [Home to Whiskey Creek] A+ for story and writing…. The book scores as a winner on many levels.”

      —Yahoo! Voices (Mary Beth Magee)

      “Affecting, painful, sometimes funny, but ultimately satisfying, this engrossing tale of love and forgiveness takes on real problems and gives its characters the strength and compassion to come through with flying colors. Real people—with all their virtues and vices—live in Whiskey Creek, and Ted and Sophia will be two more you’ll be glad to have met.”

      —Library Journal on Take Me Home for Christmas (Starred Review)

      Come Home to Me

      Brenda Novak

       www.mirabooks.co.uk

      To my father.

      Although I lost you when I was barely twenty,

      your love has carried me through.

      Dear Reader,

      I’ve heard from so many of you requesting a story about another one of Whiskey Creek’s “Fearsome Five”—the five hell-raising brothers who are “bad boys” on the outside but have tender hearts underneath. So I’m excited to present you with Aaron’s story. (He’s the brother of Dylan from When Snow Falls, which won RT Book Reviews magazine’s Best Contemporary Romance Novel of 2012).

      I love making my characters earn their happily-ever-afters, and these two characters—Aaron and Presley—do just that. Although they both have troubled pasts, they dig deep to overcome their problems and build something with their lives, and it was enjoyable for me to watch them realize just how much in love with each other they are. Another Amos brother falls to the right woman! Yay!

      I’ve really enjoyed writing stories set in this fictional town. Since this is my sixth Whiskey Creek book (not including the prequel novella), the town is feeling very much like home to me. I hope it’s feeling as comfortable and familiar to you—and that you’ll look forward to returning to Gold Country for Eve’s story in The Heart of Christmas, which will be coming up next.

      I love to hear from my readers. You can write me at P.O. Box 3781, Citrus Heights, CA 95611, or contact me via my website at www.brendanovak.com, where you will also be able to enter my monthly draws, learn more about this series and the other books I’ve written, or sign up to participate in my annual online auction for diabetes research. Together with my generous supporters, I have raised more than $2 million for this cause so far, and I’m hoping to keep pushing forward until we have a cure for my son, as well as all the other people who suffer from this terrible disease.

      All the best,

      Brenda Novak

      WHISKEY CREEK Cast of Characters

      Major Characters

      Aaron Amos: Second-oldest Amos brother (one of the “Fearsome Five”); works with Dylan and brothers at their auto-body shop. Had a relationship with Presley Christensen.

      Cheyenne Christensen: Helps Eve Harmon run Little Mary’s B & B (formerly the Gold Nugget). Married to Dylan Amos, who owns Amos Auto Body.

      Sophia DeBussi: Jilted Ted Dixon years ago to marry investment guru Skip DeBussi—later revealed as a fraud. Mother of Alexa. Reconnected with Ted and now engaged to him.

      Gail DeMarco: Owns a public relations firm in L.A. Married to movie star Simon O’Neal.

      Ted Dixon: Bestselling thriller writer.

      Eve Harmon: Manages Little Mary’s B & B, which is owned by her family.

      Kyle Houseman: Owns a solar panel business. Formerly married to Noelle Arnold.

      Baxter North: Stockbroker in San Francisco.

      Presley Christensen: Former “bad girl” who left town two years ago and has just returned. Mother of Wyatt.

      Noah Rackham: Professional cyclist. Owns Crank It Up bike shop. Married to Adelaide Davies, chef and manager of Just Like Mom’s restaurant, owned by her grandmother.

      Riley Stinson: Contractor.

      Callie Vanetta: Photographer. Married to Levi McCloud/Pendleton, veteran of Afghanistan.

      Other Recurring Characters

      The Amos Brothers: Dylan, Aaron, Rodney, Grady and Mack.

      Olivia Arnold: Kyle Houseman’s true love but married to Brandon Lucero, Kyle’s stepbrother.

      Joe DeMarco: Gail DeMarco’s older brother. Owns the Whiskey Creek Gas-n-Go.

      Phoenix Fuller: In prison. Mother of Jacob Stinson, who is being raised by his father, Riley.

      Contents

       Chapter 1

       Chapter 2

       Chapter 3

       Chapter