REVIEW: Hello Again by Brenda Novak

Hello Again Book Cover Hello Again
The Evelyn Talbot Chronicles #2
Brenda Novak
Romantic Thriller
St. Martin's Press
October 3, 2017
E-ARC
384
NetGalley
October 13 - 22, 2017

SHE CAN MAKE SENSE OF A COMPLEX CRIMINAL MIND.
Evelyn Talbot, a psychiatrist at a maximum-security prison in Alaska, studies some of the world's worst serial killers. But she's about to meet her most elusive patient at Hanover House yet: Dr. Lyman Bishop, AKA the Zombie Maker given his fondness for performing ice-pick lobotomies on his victims. A brilliant cancer researcher, Bishop is either the most cunning psychopath Evelyn has ever encountered--or he is wrongly convicted.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A CRIMINAL CAN SEE INTO HER OWN?
When a new ice-pick fatality occurs, it seems Bishop really was wrongly convicted. Except...Evelyn has a personal connection to the victim and that suggests the killer may be someone from her own past: Jasper Moore, her high school boyfriend who tortured her and left her for dead when she was only sixteen. Jasper also murdered three of her friends--and was never caught. Is he trying to send a message with this copycat crime? The only thing Evelyn knows for sure is that if Jasper is on her trail, she might not be able to escape again . . .

My Review

I think Hello Again might be even better than the first book in the Evelyn Talbot series. Seriously, I thought the stakes were great in that book, but it had nothing on this one!

I think you could jump into this book without reading the previous, but I do recommend reading the first. Because it was amazing. And you’ll better understand the characters and their motives.

So in Hello Again, Evelyn and Amarok are still together, and things start out the same as the previous book, with Evelyn still not ready to fully commit. Their relationship does start to change though, but I won’t spoil how.

Meanwhile, Amarok has been watching for any signs that Jasper, the man who brutally tortured and left Evelyn for dead when she was 16, is still killing. When he thinks he might have found him, he sets off for the Southwest USA, leaving Evelyn alone in Alaska, dealing with her latest psychopath who has you questioning his innocence the whole time…

What’s really cool about this book is that we get a bigger peek into Jasper’s head, and let me tell you, he is a twisted mofo! (Just see the quote below!)

This is a page turner, just like the first book. I had a hard time putting it down. And just like the first book, each chapter starts with a quotation from a real serial killer, some more known than other, all equally crazed.

If you like romantic thrillers – or just thrillers in general – read this series!!!


Quotes

“Let’s talk about something else,” she said. “I can tell this is upsetting you.”
“I would upset anybody!” He snapped. “Which is why I worry about you, being constantly immersed in details of the worst of human behavior.”

He shoved a hand through his hair. “I hope this goes my way.”
“Or…”
“I’ll find out what it feels like to have my heart broken, something I’ve managed to avoid for thirty years.”

Some people—most of Alaska—loved San Diego. But he wasn’t overly impressed. He preferred Alaska.

Amarok seemed determined. He’d made a bold move, flying all the way to San Diego to approach Stanley and Maureen. One that required nerve. And one for which Jasper was determined to make him pay dearly.

Everything they had should belong to him someday and would have if only Evelyn had died in that shack like she was supposed to. She’d ruined his life—and deserved what she was going to get.

“There are too many people in the world. I actually perform a vital function. As far as I’m concerned, there needs to be more killers like me.”


My (Writing) Life

Wow, I’m literally the worst.

It’s been over a MONTH since I last posted! It’s been a crazy few weeks, so I’m going to use that as my excuse! ((wink))

So, what’s new? PEACE IN FLAMES WENT LIVE!!! You can snag your very own copy from Amazon HERE! If you’re in Kindle Unlimited you can save yourself the 99c and read for free. If you don’t know what the book is about I’ll give you the short explanation: High School + Boy Obsessed With Girl + Arson = Peace in Flames.

In other news I’m making my way through the FINAL draft of SUMMER OF PEACE, my New Adult Romance (stand alone) follow up to PEACE IN FLAMES. I’ve had so many drafts of this book it’s not even funny. Something was always missing or a little off, but I think I’m finally almost there and happy with the end result!

Once I finish this draft and send it off to my editor, I’m going to re-read the 16k words I have written for my full length YA romance Something I’m Good At and get back to work on that story. I think you guys are going to love these characters. My hero, Kane, is absolutely hilarious.

As for my LIFE, we’re painfully short staffed at my hotel job which means everything is a thousand times more stressful. I’ve been working every weekend, usually around 30 hours in those three days, and then spending all my “free” time working on my publishing job and trying to find time to write. I’m pretty sure I still have a husband and two kids, I just rarely see them! Actually, The Husband and I had a date night last Thursday which was much needed, but sent me even further behind with my at home work. Ugh.

As of yesterday I accepted a NEW JOB ((HAPPY DANCE)) for a local company. Minimal customer interaction. Four hours per day. Five days per week. Much better money than I’m making at my hotel job. So… I cut back my hours at the hotel and I’m hoping I’ll be able to find a better work/life balance with this new position.

I’ll try not to stay away for so long next time. I’m not reading as much as I’d like to, since I’m really focusing on writing more, but I’ve got a back log of reviews to get posted. Like this one I’m posting today. That I read in last few months of 2017….

So, go grab yourself a copy of PEACE IN FLAMES, leave a review whether you loved it, hated it, or just thought it was meh, and I’ll see ya next time!

22 thoughts on “REVIEW: Hello Again by Brenda Novak

    • There’s a reason my writing is so slow going!
      I’m always falling behind in one place or another.
      I hope my new job works out too! I’m excited and nervous to start!

    • Busy is my middle name!

      I hate how fascinated I am by serial killers!
      Definitely start with the first book, Her Darkest Nightmare.
      The author was also giving away the prequel, Hanover House, through her newsletter. Not sure if she still is, but it’s worth looking into! I haven’t read it yet, but it’s on my list!

  1. Hello cover, this one looks really good. I know what’s it like to have a busy schedule and still try to be productive. I’m working two jobs and I just signed up for two other side business gigs in addition to managing my blog. Good luck with you writing and work.

    • You might be busier than I am!
      Good luck to you!
      Yes, this is a MUST READ series in my mind!
      Thanks for the luck, I need it!

    • Thank you! Great books are easy to write great reviews of!
      I hope you do check out PEACE IN FLAMES and fall in love. <3
      I'm even more excited for SUMMER OF PEACE, these characters are so much fun to write about.

  2. Great review, I heard amazing raving reviews about this series, and I absolutely love romance, thrillers. And this one really looks and sounds absolutely fantastic and right up my alley. Thank you so much for sharing your awesome post.

    • You’ll have to let me know how you like it if you read the series!
      It took me a chapter or two to get into the first book, but then I was HOOKED.

  3. I can’t believe how much you’ve accomplished with such a busy schedule. Go you! I’m definitely going to be getting Peace in Flames! It looks so good!
    Hello Again seems like a book right up my alley. I like the quotes from the serial killer at the beginning of each chapter. Wonderful review!

    • If I could learn better time management skills and how to avoid distractions I’d be much more accomplished, but thank you!

      I hope you love Peace in Flames. I just finished my latest round of edits on the second book, Summer of Peace, and I’m SO thrilled with it. I love it more thank Peace in Flames!

      Hello Again and this whole series comes HIGHLY recommended from me! I’ll probably pick up a paperback copy at some point, since all I have is the ebook.

    • Thank you!
      Sleep? This is why I need to become a vampire from the Twilight universe. They don’t sleep AND live forever! I could read and write SO many books if I had forever…

    • This one is definitely a little dark at times, but I love thrillers!

      I’m so happy you loved Peace in Flames! I’m sending Summer of Peace (JoJo’s story) to my editor today and should have it ready for reviewers in a couple weeks. I didn’t think it was possible, but I think I love that one even more!

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