Trust Me (The Last Stand Trilogy, Book 1) [Mass Market Paperback]

Brenda Novak (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 2008

Four years ago...
Skye Kellerman was attacked in her own bed. She managed to fend off her knife-wielding assailant, but the trauma changed everything about her life. As a result of that night, she joined two friends--also survivors--in starting The Last Stand, an organization to help victims of crime.
But now...
Her would-be rapist is getting out of prison. Skye knows that Dr. Oliver Burke hasn t forgotten that her testimony cost him his reputation--and his freedom.
Sacramento detective David Willis, who investigated her case, believes Burke is a clear and present danger--and guilty of at least two unsolved murders.
And now Burke is free to terrorize Skye again. Unless David can stop him. Unless Skye can fight back. Because Oliver Burke has every intention of finishing what he started. And that s a promise. Trust me.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The inaugural Skye Kellerman novel from Novak (Dead Right, etc.) generates genuine thrills. Attacked four years ago at home by rapist and murderer Oliver Burke, Skye defended herself and put him behind bars. Inspired by her own struggle, Skye began the Last Stand—an organization focused on helping survivors and teaching self-defense. She is also wrestling with an attraction to the detective from her case, David Willis. When Burke cuts a deal, the fiend is out on the street, eager for revenge on Skye—who has been the focus of his continued obsession. Novak changes the pace by focusing on the families—of the victim, of Willis, of Burke—showing different sides of protective love. Skye's fellow members of the Last Stand get short shrift, but readers will look forward to books in the series devoted to each woman. (June)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 448 pages
• Publisher: Mira Books; Regular Print/Single Titl edition (June 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0778324125
• ISBN-13: 978-0778324126
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 4.1 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (38 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #813,544 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Brenda Novak Bio

It was a shocking experience that jump-started Brenda Novak's career as a bestselling author--she caught her day-care provider drugging her children with cough syrup to get them to sleep all day. That was when Brenda decided she needed to quit her job as a loan officer and help make a living from home.

"When I first got the idea to become a novelist, it took me five years to teach myself the craft and finish my first book," Brenda says. But she sold that book, and the rest is history. Her novels have made the New York Times, USA Today and Borders/Waldenbooks bestseller lists and won many awards, including two Rita nominations, the Book Buyer's Best, the Book Seller's Best and the National Reader's Choice Award.

Brenda and her husband, Ted, live in Sacramento and are proud parents of five children--three girls and two boys. When she's not spending time with her family or writing, Brenda is usually working on her annual fund-raiser for diabetes research--an online auction held on her Web site (www.brendanovak.com) every May. Brenda has raised over $1 million to date.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Trust Me-A Joyfully Recommended Title!!!, May 27, 2008

By 

M. Nix - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Trust Me (The Last Stand Trilogy, Book 1) (Mass Market Paperback)

Four years ago, Skye Kellerman was viciously attacked in her own home by a rapist with a knife. She narrowly escaped and testified to put her attacker behind bars for what she hoped was a very long time. However, the attack brought Detective David Willis into her life. Skye has loved David almost since she met him, although the most they have shared was conversation and one stolen kiss. David is a man torn between the responsibility he feels toward his son and his sick ex-wife (who never lets him forget she's sick) and the love he has for Skye. But when Oliver Burke, the man who attacked Skye, is awarded early release from prison, David is determined to do whatever it takes to keep Skye safe. Because in Oliver's twisted mind, Skye is to blame for all that has happened to him and he's determined that she has to pay. Can David keep Skye safe?

Once again Brenda Novak has proven that she knows how to write romantic suspense! Trust Me is a wide open ride that starts on the first page and doesn't slow down until the ending. The emotional angst of a man torn between the responsibility he feels for his ex-wife and son and the woman who he is filled with love and his need to protect her keeps the reader totally immersed in Skye and David's lives. Trust Me is the prefect beginning to what appears to be another must have series by Brenda Novak. I can't Joyfully Recommended Trust Me highly enough!


Melissa
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars No one can send chills down my spine as Brenda Novak can!, May 30, 2008

By 

Detra Fitch (USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Trust Me (The Last Stand Trilogy, Book 1) (Mass Market Paperback)

Four years ago Skye Kellerman was attacked with a knife in her own bed by Dr. Oliver Burke, a dentist. He was sentenced to serve eight-to-ten years. Sacramento Detective David Willis handled the case. David believed the good dentist was also responsible for several other deaths in the area, but no hard evidence had been found. Due to that horrible night, Skye, along with her two friends Jasmine and Sheridan, started The Last Stand (TLS), a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping victims of violent crime. TLS and the trio of ladies get a lot of publicity. This is good for the organization and for letting the public become aware that TLS exists and will help. However, it also means a lot of people hate the trio, especially the abusers of the victims TLS helps. Burke's entire extended family believes him innocent of Skye's charges; since Skye and TLS are often in the papers or on television, their anger simmers.

Now, in one week, Burke will be released on parole and he has not forgotten Skye. She cost him his dental practice, his reputation, and his freedom. In hope of keeping Burke behind bars, Skye and David search for evidence that Burke had been involved in prior rapes and murders. However, the search will take longer than a week; and during that week, someone has begun stalking Skye. The mind games and attacks could not be perpetrated by Burke, since he is still in prison, yet it could easily be someone acting in Burke's name. Once he is free, Burke will begin his crimes anew, beginning with Skye.

**** There is more going on than I mention in my synopsis. This story has a couple of sub-plots continuously running, which gives much depth to Skye and David's blooming romance. There are several secondary characters as well. Jasmine and Sheridan, Skye's friends and co-founders of TLS, are survivors of violent crimes. Readers get a little back ground on Jas and Sher, which not only blends into this story and makes it more believable, but also gives readers an idea of what their stories will entail. You will not have long to wait either. Jasmine's story is titled "STOP ME" and comes out in July 2008. Sheridan's story is titled "WATCH ME" and is will be released in August 2008. Three titles in as many months. Excellent!

The author did an outstanding job in showing how Burke's conviction affected his family, especially his wife, Jane. I could easily understand Jane's belief of Burke's innocence, her devastation at how neighbors and friends treated her once Burke was imprisoned, how her life drastically changed forever, and her confusion about Burke finally being released from prison. No one can send chills down my spine as Brenda Novak can! ****

Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Novak just gets better and better, May 28, 2008

By 

Janet (Colorado) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Trust Me (The Last Stand Trilogy, Book 1) (Mass Market Paperback)

Really 4 1/2 stars.
I absolutely could NOT put this book down. It took off running from the first page and held me till the very end. Wonderful characters, intelligent and complex relationships, very high suspense. I really felt for David, trying to be honorable and do the right thing while falling more and more for Skye. Skye was a strong yet vulnerable heroine who stood up for herself and didn't chase after David, but tried to do the right thing also. Great characters.
Spoiler alert:
The reason I didn't give it 5 stars - I wanted a bigger romance payoff at the end. The big romantic climatic scene occurred over the phone. Also, I wanted David to be at her side at the end when she needed him most, not him in the car driving, but arriving too late for an emotional romantic scene. But that's me. In a romantic suspense novel I like a good balance between the romance and the action/suspense, but if it has to tip one way or another I prefer it to lean more towards romance. Trust Me had great balance, but just slightly less romantic payoff for my tastes.

Overall, I loved this book and highly recommend it. I can't wait to read Jasmine's story next. She was my favorite secondary character.