• When Lightning Strikes

  • Whiskey Creek, Book 1
  • By: Brenda Novak
  • Narrated by: Amy Rubinate
  • Length: 10 hrs and 29 mins
  • 4.2 out of 5 stars (723 ratings)

Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.
When Lightning Strikes  By  cover art

When Lightning Strikes

By: Brenda Novak
Narrated by: Amy Rubinate
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $25.00

Buy for $25.00

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

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!

©2012 Brenda Novak (P)2012 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

What listeners say about When Lightning Strikes

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    339
  • 4 Stars
    253
  • 3 Stars
    96
  • 2 Stars
    22
  • 1 Stars
    13
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    333
  • 4 Stars
    197
  • 3 Stars
    90
  • 2 Stars
    17
  • 1 Stars
    13
Story
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    316
  • 4 Stars
    207
  • 3 Stars
    102
  • 2 Stars
    21
  • 1 Stars
    9

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Very Interesting

I did enjoy the book, and I was thinking of getting the whole series, which I Might still do, but I got this book at a discount price and it was well worth it. it will keep you interested until the end..

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great Book


I loved this book. I love these characters. They have to deal with a lot because they both live in the public eye. They are so different and that's what I think I like about them being a couple.
I didn't want to stop this book once I started it. I had to know what happened next. I was emotionally involved with this book.
I think the narrator did a great job!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Very enjoyable!

What made the experience of listening to When Lightning Strikes the most enjoyable?

The characters were well developed. The narrator gave a great performance.

What other book might you compare When Lightning Strikes to and why?

Not sure.

Have you listened to any of Amy Rubinate’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No, but I have ordered another book where she is the narrator.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I did not have an extreme reaction to the book but I can say that enjoyed it.

Any additional comments?

Highly recommended!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

good story well written

I enjoyed this book and how well written it is. Tears, laughter and a happy ending..

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars
  • CF
  • 10-01-12

Very enjoyable...

...I purchased on a whim and it was a worth the listen. I'll definately be keeping an eye out for other Brenda Novak contributions.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Just didn't feel it

Would you try another book from Brenda Novak and/or Amy Rubinate?

I'm not sure I would try either. I found the story very long and slow which I suppose some people say is more believable but I found just boring to listen to. Simon plays a self-destructive actor who has a problem turning his own life around. Enter Gail. She is a no- nonsense woman who wants to resurrect her PR business and definitely not fall in love with Simon. Overall both of these characters had their own inner turmoil to get over and obsess about...which they did repetitively. The story was good with some believable side characters. Lastly I didn't find any of the romance very...romantic. To me I found that Simon liked Gail because she helped him lead a more simple lifestyle compared to his old one in Hollywood; other than that nothing else about her really stood out as a reason he loved her.
That said, I listened to the whole thing and found myself curious as to where it would all go. Therefore I'm saying read it but don't expect fireworks.

Would you recommend When Lightning Strikes to your friends? Why or why not?

Don't think so.

What three words best describe Amy Rubinate’s voice?

I think she had a slight lisp...got a little distracted from the story trying to listen to her say words beginning with the letter 's' such as 'said'. Other than that she had good voices for the different characters and I think she did a good interpretation of Gail and Simon.

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

This book has the potential to be made into a movie but hollywood would definitely alter into something more watchable and fast paced.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great read

Great story and an easy read. Highly recommend. Can’t wait for the next book in the series

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Good

This book was very interesting, this is the first book from this author that I have listened to and I’m interested in hearing the next one and series 

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A great start for a novel

I am greatly impressed by this start to a series.i know that Novak's works can be read and listened out of order and still deliver a cohesive story. I know this is a work of fiction but it really opens up my perception to the PR industry and media that goes into what makes a great story.

Thus story in my opinion was an easy listen with the exception of the slightly more intimate to be enjoyed in private seen(there is only one)

While the narrators voice can be a little harsh at times in terms of tone on the ears. It does not hurt the feel of the character. It actually makes this character feel quote believable as a real person.

This book steps away the typical Novak that I enjoyed in 2010-2011 with the last stand unit but it works. Does Novak still do the charity stuff at the beginning of each book still I know it might be against brilliance audio as publicist to mention it in the audio books but if love to see that mentioned in some way. It truthfully is an excellent and noble cause

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

LOVED

I thought this would be cliche but I was pleasantly surprised. I simply love the way Brenda Novak writes!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!