Hello, Again by Brenda Novak

Title: Hello, Again
Author: Brenda Novak
Series: #2 in the Evelyn Talbot Chronicles
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Publisher: St. Martin's Press (October 3rd 2017)
Source: Library Find
Rating: ☕☕☕☕

Synopsis: 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 Thoughts: Just when you thought no one could be more evil and creepy than Evelyn's psycho stalker, Brenda Novak gives us The Zombie Maker and I love her for it!!!!

The Good: I have to admit I was completely ignoring all adulting responsibilities while reading this book. I couldn't help it. This book sucked me in and wouldn't let me go until I knew Evelyn was going to be OK. I'd hate to use the tired cliché  "I couldn't put it down" because then I'd have to punch a baby, so I'm just going to imply my ability to release this book from my non-baby punching hand may have been hindered by the awesomeness of said book.

What I mean to say is this book is chock full of suspense. Between Evelyn's career at Hanover house, the psycho inmates, the psycho outmates (I may have just made up that word but just go with me on it, mmmkay?), I just was one nail-biting session from needing new fingertips. Thank goodness there was a nice blend of romance and other things to balance this book out. Seriously, where would I find new fingertips anyway? Bed, Bath, and BodyParts?

Speaking of romance, in the first book and novella I was getting annoyed with her hang-up with the age difference between her and Amarok. I'm glad it wasn't as prevalent in this book. Their romance is progressing at a slower pace than other books Novak has written but based on the Evelyn's established history it feels organic and not forced. 2 big thumbs up for not being a big sloppy thrown together insta-love couple.

The Bad: As much as I enjoyed this book I was really hoping this would be the end of Jasper. Not so much. His part in Evelyn's life and these books are still dangling. Can you say cliffhanger? (albeit a little one) I really wish there was some closure on this story arc.

In a Nutshell: Even with the minor cliffhanger I gave this book a solid 4 stars and I'm really looking forward to the next book coming out sometime in 2018.

Hanover House by Brenda Novak

Title: Hanover House
Author: Brenda Novak
Series: #.5 in the Evelyn Talbot Chronicles
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Publisher: Brenda Novak, Inc. (September 1, 2015)
Source: NetGalley
Rating: ☕☕☕☕

Synopsis: Welcome to Hanover House….

Psychiatrist Evelyn Talbot has dedicated her life to solving the mysteries of the antisocial mind. Why do psychopaths act as they do? How do they come to be? Why don’t they feel any remorse for the suffering they cause? And are there better ways of spotting and stopping them?

After having been kidnapped, tortured and left for dead when she was just a teenager—by her high school boyfriend—she’s determined to understand how someone she trusted so much could turn on her. So she’s established a revolutionary new medical health center in the remote town of Hilltop, Alaska, where she studies the worst of the worst.

But not everyone in Hilltop is excited to have Hanover House and its many serial killers in the area. Alaskan State Trooper, Sergeant Amarok, is one of them. And yet he can’t help feeling bad about what Evelyn has been through. He’s even attracted to her. Which is partly why he worries.

He knows what could happen if only one little thing goes wrong...

My Thoughts: What a great introduction to Evelyn Talbot and her passion for Hanover House!

The Good: This is more of a novella rather than a full length book but it felt full and complete. I really liked this glimpse into Evelyn Talbot's life leading up to the finishing touches on Hanover House which will be a psychiatric facility for sociopaths in a small Alaskan town. The town folks are not too keen on the idea of this facility coming to their town but couldn't stop the development. Evelyn is a complex character molded by her past as a victim/survivor of a killer who was never caught. She now studies psychopaths and her "baby" Hanover House will help her goals of finding reason behind why killers do what they do. There is a small amount of romance within the story which should develop more during the course of the series. I liked that the romance is taking time (especially based on her past). The suspense was great as well and I can't wait to find out what happens next.  

The Bad: Even though the length of the story felt as if it were enough I couldn't help but want more. This is just my own opinion though and others may not feel the same. I also thought Amarok's character could have been fleshed out more but this should resolve itself in upcoming books.

In a Nutshell: An excellent beginning to the series and I'll definitely move on to the next book!