When Lightning Strikes
4 HEARTS
From Goodreads
Simon O'Neal's causing trouble again. And it's up to Gail DeMarco to stop him.
Gail DeMarco left Whiskey Creek, California, to make a name for herself in Los Angeles. Her PR firm has accumulated a roster of A-list clients, including the biggest box office hit of all—sexy and unpredictable Simon O'Neal. But Simon, who's just been through a turbulent divorce, is so busy self-destructing he won't listen to anything she says. She drops him from her list—and he retaliates by taking the rest of her clients with him.
Desperate to save her company, Gail has to humble herself by making a deal with Simon. The one thing he wants is custody of his son, but that's going to require a whole new image. He needs to marry some squeaky-clean girl who'll drag him off to some small, obscure place like Whiskey Creek….
Gail's the only one he can trust. She agrees to become his wife—reluctantly. But she isn't reluctant because he's too hard to like. It's because he's too hard not to love!
When Lightning Strikes is the first book in the Whiskey Creek series by Brenda Novak and what a first book it is. I couldn't read this book fast enough.
Gail DeMarco has made a mess of her life. As the owner of a PR firm she deals with all kinds of egotistical, self entitled rich celebrities. It's never been a problem for her to navigate this world until Simon O'Neal came into her life.
Set on a path of self destruction Simon is heading for meltdown right in front of the world. As one of the hottest actors out right now the public is happy to be witness to anything and everything Simon O'Neal. Gail refuses to be a part of this and not only drops Simon as her client, but makes a public statement about Simon and his behavior. Now, she's scrambling to save her business. Everyone is quickly leaving her for other PR companies for fear of losing future acting jobs if associated with her. If only she could've kept her mouth shut, but that wasn't to be. She's always been attracted to Simon, but couldn't stand by and watch him destroy himself.
Simon's life is imploding and he's not helping things at all. He wants to get a grip on it all if for no other reason than to get his son back, but it seems too impossible. Now, things are even worse. A rumor is cycling that he's assaulted Gail and it could be the nail in the coffin of his custody case. Of course, Gail is willing to speak up that this isn't true, but it very well could be too late for anyone to think it was anything, but the truth.
Presented with the solution of marrying Gail, the very woman he was supposed to have harmed, and showing the world that he has settled down and changed could be what he needs to get his son back and gain back control of his life. The couple just has to hold on for 2 years, long enough for the judge and the public to believe the marriage is real, then they can go their separate ways. Gail's clients will come back on the recommendation of Simon and Simon can get his son back. They've always rubbed each other the wrong way, but it's only a couple of years, how hard can it be?
This book was awesome! Simon was so hot in a misunderstood, tortured way. I loved how Gail was so strong and no nonsense, yet aware enough to see past Simon's bad boy act and helped to save him from himself. I loved how both characters dealt with Gail's friends and family. The way they treated Simon annoyed me at times, but I get it. He didn't have a good reputation and they loved Gail and didn't want to see her hurt. Off to read to book 2.
Hotness Rating
4 out of 5
