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    In Seconds
    In Seconds
    In Seconds
    Audiobook12 hours

    In Seconds

    Written by Brenda Novak

    Narrated by Angela Dawe

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    About this audiobook

    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...

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherBrilliance Audio
    Release dateAug 30, 2011
    ISBN9781455841813
    Author

    Brenda Novak

    New York Times bestselling author Brenda Novak has written over 60 novels. An eight-time Rita nominee, she's won The National Reader's Choice, The Bookseller's Best and other awards. She runs Brenda Novak for the Cure, a charity that has raised more than $2.5 million for diabetes research (her youngest son has this disease). She considers herself lucky to be a mother of five and married to the love of her life. www.brendanovak.com

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    Reviews for In Seconds

    4/5

    47 ratings7 reviews

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    • 5/5
      So in love with this series! I can’t put them down! The twists and the characters are amazing! I always enjoyed when there is a bit of romance in a crime story!
    • 3/5
      Vivian Stewart is living a quiet life in small-town Montana, raising her two children and running her purse design business. But Vivian Stewart has a past, under her real name of Laurel Hodges, her friends and acquaintances don't suspect. Her uncle murdered her stepfather, at her mother's instigation, her brother Virgil spent fourteen years in prison for the crime before being cleared, and joined a prison gang, The Crew, in order to survive. When he quit the gang after getting out, the gang decided to punish him and those he cared about. He has to die, but his sister and her kids, as well as his wife and son, have to die first, so that he'll know about it and suffer.

      They've been in hiding under false names ever since. But now one of the craziest, most dangerous members of The Crew, who goes by the nickname Ink, has tracked Vivian/Laurel to Montana.
      Vivian has been resisting getting too close to anyone, and especially has resisted her attraction to widowed neighbor and local Sheriff Myles King. But as the evidence accumulates, starting with the apparently senseless murder of a well-liked local realtor, that The Crew is closing in on her again, Vivian realizes she's more attached to these people and this place than she had realized, and decides to stay and fight. Ink and a new recruit, L.J., stalk Vivian, while Vivian makes plans to protect herself and her children, and Sheriff King investigates the murder of realtor Pat Steuben. Vivian's former boyfriend Rex, another ex-Crew member, turns up, her brother Virgil gets involved long-distance from New York, and their mother is murdered in L.A.

      Whenever you think the plot has gotten as complicated as it can, Novak ratchets it up a little more. It's exciting, but parts of it fall flat. Some of Vivian's decisions just don't make any sense. The romantic tension amongst Myles, Vivian, and Rex just doesn't feel quite real. And late in the book, Virgil, whose wife is about to give birth any minute, leaves New York to take a risk that's just beyond belief. It's a page turner, and entertaining, but ultimately not very satisfying. A decent read if you don't expect too much of it.

      I received a free electronic galley of this book from the publisher via NetGalley.
    • 4/5
      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.
    • 4/5
      Always a fan of Brenda Novak. I will always recommend this author.

      Love being able to continue a story with characters across several novels.

      Laurel has had to change her identity twice but finally starts to settle down in a small town. Unexpectedly, her past comes to haunt her.

    • 4/5
      in seconds by Brenda NovakThis book follows Laurel and her new identity in another state, far from where Virgil and Payton now live and work in NY. They are ready for the next baby to be born when things come up and they learn the gang is after them again and/or his sister.Laurel and her two kids live in Wyoming and she has started a handbag business that is thriving. She fits in with the residents of the town and the local sheriff lives just next door. She's noticed his body on numerous occasions as he has noticed hers.Keeping up to date with them and their lives the gang comes and tracks them down. Virgil leaves NY to track down the gang to be over and done with them once and for all, in hopes he gets there in time so his sister won't have to go through any more hiding.The gang has contacted their mother as well for information.
    • 4/5
      4 STARSThis is the second book I have read about in this town. This one comes first and In Close after. I read them backwards. I was kept in suspense except for information about a few things about Clair in her story. So yes I will read more of Brenda novels in the future.Vivian (Laurel) for the last couple of years lives in Pineview, Montana with her two kids. Vivian has had a rough life but she is in a good place now. Vivian keeps her past and tries not to get involved with anyone. So she won't have to lie or if trouble comes get them involved. Myles King the sheriff lives next door and as asked her out a few times but she keeps saying no.Myles has a teenage daughter. His wife died 3 years ago from cancer. Many women have tried to get his attention but he has not wanted anyone except his neighbor but he wants to go slow their but not as slow as she wants.Then their is a murder at a cabin in the area and no one is found to have a reason to kill him. Vivian is afraid that the gang who wants her dead has found her again. She was part of witness protection for a couple of years, but when they were found again and marshall killed they went off on their own. Vivian tries to get information out of sheriff by asking him to fix her fridge that she sabatoged and got wine out too.Vivian drank to much and asked the sheriff for a one night stand and never again.Myles can't get her to except dinner or anyother date turns her down because she had too much to drink. Then another times tries to see her bluff, but than an old boyfriend of Vivian comes to visit and tells her she needs to run again.Lots of actions, murders and falling in love. I want Rex to have a story of his own. You want to route for the good guys and hope bad guys are stopped for good.
    • 3/5
      In Seconds by Brenda Novak continues with the ongoing saga of Virgil Skinner and his family. The action takes place four years later and Virgil is now married to Peyton. The feared gang retaliation and threats continue and as a result Virgil, Peyton and Virgil's sister Laurel, have been forced to move several times. Virgil and Peyton are now residing in upstate New York. Laurel has relocated to Montana with her two children. She is now known as Vivian and trying to rebuild her life. Although neither Virgil nor Laurel is a part of the Witness Protection (or WitSec) program, they both knew that you don't maintain contact with family members. Laurel resides in an area without cell phone coverage and she hasn't been able to sever ties with her mother. As in Inside, the good (and possibly) bad thing about living in a small town is that everyone knows everyone. Laurel, a.k.a. Vivian, fears that her identity has been blown when a local real estate agent is murdered for no reason. It turns out her fears are not baseless. Laurel knows that there isn't much her brother can do, especially since Peyton is in the last trimester of a difficult pregnancy and they have a toddler at home. She also isn't willing to trust her neighbor, Sheriff Myles King to protect her and her children. Just when she thinks that things can't get any worse she finds out that her mom has been murdered by the gang and they definitely know where she is living. What follows is a game of cat-and-mouse, not only for Laurel and Myles but also for Virgil and the new leader of the gang. Will they be able to protect their families in time? In Seconds provides plenty of suspense and some light romance and makes for a quick but satisfying read. Look for In Seconds to be released this August.