Dawson Reed is recently out of prison and Sadie Harris is imprisoned on every side by her vindictive, cruel ex-husband. Both constantly under scrutiny in Silver Springs, the small southern California town they call home, they have a lot in common. Still, being a housekeeper for Dawson Reed is not Sadie’s first choice.

The century-old farmhouse looked haunted…

Sadie Harris wasn’t particularly superstitious, but knowing two people had been murdered in an upstairs bedroom of this isolated white clapboard home didn’t make her eager to work here. She parked outside the gate and sat in her car, engine off, angling her head to see through the passenger window.

Sadie doesn’t have a lot of choice though. She and her five year-old son Jayden are “squeezed into a tiny one-bedroom guesthouse,” struggling to make ends meet, while her ex-husband Sly plays mind-games, and more, on her.

He was trying to keep her destitute so she’d have to come back if she wanted to be able to feed and clothe their child—and eat herself.

Sadie is incurably honest. As much as she relishes—with some trepidation—the notion of making some serious money so she can sue her ex-husband for full time custody of her son, she feels she needs to be honest with Dawson, especially after he tells her Sly was out to the farm to warn him off hiring Sadie. You have to admire her: she feels cornered and helpless but she still does the right thing when Dawson begs her to stay and talk about the job.

Because she was unable to hold her tears in check, they rolled down her cheeks, mingling with the rain. “You can’t hire me now,” she said. “You have no idea what he’ll do. He’ll make your life so miserable you’ll wish you were still in jail.”

He wiped the rain from his face. “That’s a chance I’m willing to take.”

“Why?”

“I need you.”

He doesn’t need her to cook and clean, although that will free him up to work his land, he needs to look after his mentally handicapped sister Angela. Angela won’t be released from the institution where she’s living unless there’s a safe environment for her to come home to. Something else Sadie and Dawson have in common—a willingness to go above and beyond for the people they love.

Dawson and Sadie rub along pretty well until the night he stays over at her tiny apartment (platonically, he came over to check up on her since she told him earlier she was being stalked by Sly). They share a bottle of wine and some simmering unrequited sexual tension. Brenda Novak switches back and forth between what they’re each thinking.

He found his gaze drifting back to her legs. For all he knew, she was wearing a pair of shorts under that old, soft-looking T-shirt. But he wasn’t picturing shorts. He kept picturing a pair of lacy white panties—and imagining what her thighs would feel like if he ran his fingers up under the hem of that shirt…

And awkward silence fell.

Dawson knows that Sadie caught his “preoccupation with her bare legs” but interestingly, it doesn’t seem to matter. He apologizes for staring and says he ought to be on his way but “her eyebrows came together in a look of despair. “Already?” Sadie tells him there’s nothing wrong with looking and they talk it through. Dawson says he would never put her “in a compromising situation.”

While Sadie tries to fall asleep, she wonders if that would be such a bad thing.

What’d just happened?

Sadie’s heart thumped against her chest as she crawled into bed with Jayden. Dawson had never given her the impression he found her attractive; she’d assumed he didn’t. She’d notice certain things about him, of course—like his perfect backside, since the fit of his jeans made that obvious, how the corded muscles of his arms and shoulders rippled as he worked, or the way his lips moved when he talked or smiled.

Sit back and enjoy the journey: Dawson Reed and Sadie Harris are both long overdue for a happy ending. Dawson was wrongly imprisoned, he’s fighting for his reputation, fighting to take care of his sister, and hopefully to find who really killed his adoptive parents. Love is a bonus. Sadie married her police-man boyfriend when she was barely out of high school—she didn’t know he’d turn into an abusive bully who would hurt her and her little boy. Survival is all she knows. But love comes a’knocking to these two strong, wounded people and it’s a joy see their happiness. Not One But You is a seriously satisfying book.

No One But You

Brenda Novak



NO ONE BUT YOU is the second book in the Silver Springs series by Brenda Novak. Silver Springs s a small town in Southern California.

NO ONE BUT YOU is the story of Sadie and Dawson. Sadie left her husband one year ago and is raising their son pretty much on her own. Her husband Sly, is a police officer in Silver Springs and is making her life a living hell. He will do anything to get her to come back to him, but Sadie isn’t having any of it. Sly is a controlling and harasses Sadie over and over again. How much more can she take? She lives in a tiny guest cottage with second hand furniture and tries to get by on her small salary she makes as a waitress at the local diner. Soon she finds out about a job out on a remote farm. She needs to make more money! Someone needs a caretaker for their sister. Here she meets Dawson.

Dawson just got out of prison after a year. He was accused of murdering his adoptive parents, but after a year of trials, he was acquitted. Now he is back on the family artichoke farm trying to get it ready for his disabled sister to move back home. He did not kill his parents, but no one in town believes him. They all look at him like they know he got away with murder. That is until he meets Sadie. NO ONE BUT YOU is all about Sadie and Dawson trying to put their lives back together. Sadie accepts the job from Dawson and they work on putting the farm back together. Vandals did a lot of damage while he was away. Sly is not happy with this arrangement and let’s them both know about it. Once Sadie and Dawson get to know each other, their story really takes off. Sly begins to harass both of them and the things he does are unbelievable as a police officer!

The suspense and twists and turns in NO ONE BUT YOU will have you staying up late to finish! While it is the second book in the series, you don’t have to read the first one to enjoy this one. It works quite well as a stand alone. The pace of the story is perfect, not too fast and not too slow. I really think I liked this book better than the first one and I loved that one. Just the right amount of mystery, suspense, and romance to keep me hooked on each and every page. I can’t wait to continue with this series.

Another emotional journey into Brenda Novak's latest fictional town, Silver Springs! Two disinheartened souls feel alone in the world as they fight the uphill battle to reclaim their lives. One through divorce and moving on from abuse and another through trying to pick up the pieces after he's finally free from prison and home again .. but without the family he loved dearly. The characters are well defined with turmoil fueling their actions for much of the book. I am enjoying Silver Springs very much and look forward to the my next visit!

Sadie Harris' divorce is almost complete and she just wants to move forward with her life with her young son. She isn't looking for much ... just a job that will allow her to keep their head above water and will sustain her full custody claim if he ex goes through with his threat to sue for custody. Her shifts at the diner just aren't enough to make ends meet anymore. She is leery of answering the help wanted ad .. but what else can she do? She needs the money that this job will give her!
Dawson Reed is back home in Silver Springs and trying to pick up the smashed pieces of his so-called life. Yes, he finally got justice and was acquitted in his adoptive parents murders .. but the town still believes he did it, and are very clear in how unwelcome he is. He needs help ... he has to get a caregiver in place so he can bring his dependent sister home again. When Sadie answers his ad and he sees her work ethic first-hand, he realizes he lucked into a great employee. He just hopes the things working against them will ease up so she'll want to stay to do the job!

As Sadie comes to know Dawson, she realizes he's a really kind man .. and she doesn't believe for a second that he butchered his parents .. but believe it and proving it are two totally different things. No matter how many people she tells that he's a good man, no one is going to believe it until they find who really did commit the murders. And how can they concentrate on doing that when Sadie's ex keeps piling more trouble on their backs?

Novak continues the trend of taking some truly difficult characters, in this case a former prisoner (accused of a double murder) and an abused woman, and having them find themselves and each other.
Dawson Reed just wants to fix up his adoptive parents (the double murder) farm and live his life so that he can win custody of his sister.
Sadie Harris just wants to make enough money to feed and house herself and her son so that she can win custody from her sadistic husband. The husband who seems like a nice guy to everyone else. The guy who is a cop... Oh.
This poor book suffered in part because I read the beginning of Until you Loved Me at the end of this story, realized I had the ARC and read it right after this. It is such an awesome story with characters I connected with so much more easily than these two. I also got a little overwhelmed with everything that was happening. I don't think that regular Novak readers will be disappointed, I just don't think you should read these two in quick succession.

Three Stars
This book comes out May 30
Follows Finding Our Forever
Followed by Until You

Most of Ms. Novak's small town romances are never cutesy or lighthearted or feel good, in the beginning. And even if they were, real life moments will spill in making it a little bit more three dimensional. Sometimes it feels the secondary characters are too over the top, too evil or even just annoying. But she never writes anything but stories that make you react and feel. No One But You is one of those stories. Sadie and Dawson's characters feel very hopeless, like everything is stacked against them. The romance is more stark and raw because of the situation but it's also a story about redemption, hope and the power of the human spirit. No One But You will definitely make a mark on the reader.

And the hits just keep coming! This is another fabulous story in the Silver Springs series and it features Sadie Harris and Dawson Reed. Their attraction seemed like it grew over a period of time but in reality it was only about a week or so. The one person that didn't like Sadie working for Dawson was her soon to be ex-husband, Sly, a police officer in Silver Springs. In everybody's eyes, except Sadie and a few others, Dawson was a murderer, even though he was found innocent by court of law. I can't imagine what he went through losing his parents and spending over a year in jail awaiting trial for their murder, being found innocent but still guilty in the eyes of most of the people in town. TRAGIC!

This is a crazy good story and I can't wait for the next one.

Brenda Novak has set her bar pretty high with “This Heart Of Mine”, which happens to be my super top favorite story of hers…and will remain so forever. Having said that she has introduced us to the Silver Spring series and The New Horizons Boys Ranch in the first book of the series, “Finding Our Forever”, another emotional and engrossing series, and the second book in the series, “No One But You”, will take you on another ride of forgiveness and love, with Dawson Reed and Sadie Harris at the center of this heartwarming love story.

Having being acquitted of murdering his foster parents, all Dawson Reed wants is to build his farm, bring his special needs sister back home and live a quite life, away from the judgmental eyes of the Silver Springs townsfolk. Easier said than done, when he hires Sadie Harris to be a caretaker and housekeeper for her sister.

Trying to finalize her divorce with her abusive cop husband, Sadie Harris needs is a decent job to get keep custody of her son, and be independent and build a steady life with her son. Accepting a job as Dawson’s housekeeper has the town gossiping and her abusive ex becoming dangerous and evil.

It started a bit slow for me, but once the story got into the thick of things, the plot moved with great strides. Another wonderful story by Brenda Novak, of two people who find love amidst danger and gossip, who care for each other and courageous enough to defy threats and go to any lengths to keep each other out of harm’s way. This story questions our morals and opinions about life changing incidents, about giving people second chances, of being influenced by power and judgments, and of forgiveness and love.

And when Elijah, Gavin and Aiyana make an appearance, which is just the sweetest icing on the cake!

Menacing, romantic and engaging!

This is a suspenseful story that highlights the harassment and stigma that surrounds those accused of committing a crime and reminds us just how dangerous the abuse of power can truly be.

The writing is clear and precise. The characters are tenacious, resilient and strong. And the plot is a captivating mix of emotion, drama, violence, injustice, obsession, trust, manipulation, jealousy, corruption, and murder.

Overall this is a quick, easy, enjoyable read with a unique storyline, interesting characters, exceptional tension, and a nice wrapped-up ending.

Thank you to Harlequin Books and Goodreads Giveaways for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.

Can two people, down on their luck, find acceptance and even love when most of the world seems to be against them?

Sadie Harris, estranged from her husband (soon-to-be ex) and mother to a five-year-old boy is struggling to make ends meet. She just can’t seem to get ahead and her son’s father is trying to delay divorce by any means possible. He’s a bad guy and also a police officer who has the loyalty of his coworkers. No one seems to have a good opinion of Sadie because of what he’s told them. So it doesn’t help matters for her when she accepts a job being a caregiver to the sister of the local pariah, Dawson Reed. He was recently found not guilty of murdering his adoptive parents. He’s still guilty in the eyes of most of the townspeople and the local authorities.

Sadie and Dawson will have to contend with Sadie’s ex and others as they try to live normal lives. Brenda Novak’s novel was a quick and compelling read. Filled with interesting, odd, and a couple of abhorrent characters, the novel’s pages flew by and came to a satisfying conclusion. No One But You is second in the Silver Springs series but it can definitely stand alone. Recommended to fans of Brenda Novak and contemporary romance.

No One But You had all the romance, the suspense and the strong characters I've come to know and love when I pick up a Novak novel. I especially enjoyed that Dawson and Sadie stayed loyal to their hearts, even when things got tough, and their lives might have gotten more difficult for it.

Brenda Novak is one of my favorite writers. Her work is amazing. Each book has a unique story that grabs my heart. This latest novel, No One But You, is part of a new series. Inside, readers will find that it houses many themes. Ranging from marital problems to domestic violence. Plus, a character has been arrested for a crime he didn't commit. As readers dig further they'll find demons everywhere. A town so ready to torture an innocent man, another man who is violent to his wife, and a mother trying to survive...

No One But You pulls at the heart. Sent me on an epic emotional journey. One that I won't ever forget. The charcaters were believable. As for the plot, it was a bit slow in the begging then sped up as the action took over. Dangerous, intriguing, and a bit sad. Brenda Novak creates another opportunity for readers to explore real world issues in a fictional setting. Brilliant and well-told. I recommend this new novel to all.

Brenda Novak’s No One But You is the second in the Silver Springs series. We return to this small California town to find Sadie trying to make a better life for her and her little son as she goes through a messy divorce from an overbearing, intensely jealous man who happens to be on the town’s police force. We are also introduced to Dawson who is returning to his home after being found innocent in the deaths of his adoptive parents. He is finding his return very hard since many in this small town still consider him to be a murderer. Dawson needs someone to take care of his mentally challenged sister while he works on his farm, so he offers employment to Sadie. Of course the jealous ex makes life so difficult for both Sadie and Dawson as not only their work relationship grows, but also a sweet friendship.
This was not your typical love story. It was very dark and terrifying with the abusive ex. However, it was extremely endearing to see how two people with so much going against them believed that good had to overcome evil. I really enjoyed this book, and was glad to see some of the characters from the first story, although I believe you can read this as a stand-alone. But don’t…this is turning out to be a great series!
Thanks to Negalley for an advanced copy.

This second entry in the new Silver Springs series contains a lot of angst, with both heroine and hero leading complicated and problem-filled lives, but Brenda Novak handles the story-telling and character development with compassion and care. Sadie and Dawson come together and help each other resolve terrible issues in their respective pasts, finding passion and love along the way. An intense story that leads to conflicts resolved and a happy ending, this can absolutely be read as a stand-alone title.

Fun quick mystery romance read. Loved Dawson and how dedicated he was to his sister., fighting for her. Ready to read the next story about the characters in Silver Springs.

Dawson Reed was accused of murdering his adoptive parents. Guilty until proven innocent has been his experience. He is back home and trying to make his house livable for himself and his sister which has proven problematic considering the vandalism done in his absence.

Sadie has mostly escaped from her ex-husband. They share custody of her son and she doesn't have enough resources to move away. Her Ex makes life even more difficult by using his leverage to deny her employment, but Dawson cannot be intimidated by anyone in this town.

It costs nothing to be a decent human being. So much time, energy, and money are wasted on unfounded hatred. The magic of this story is that they don't have to change to be together. They see each other for the goodness already there. Together, Dawson and Sadie will face whatever comes head-on.

Brenda Novak tells a compelling story of corruption and evil. A single mother with a powerful husband is sometimes forgotten and often unable to prevail. This story is a good example of this situation. Any Novak fan or just a fan of romantic suspense will enjoy this book.

Determination becomes obsession and then it becomes all that matters. - Jeremy Irvine

Dawson Reed has just been acquitted of murdering his adoptive parents - with a hatchet. He has spent a year in prison and most people in Silver Springs, California still think he is guilty of the crime.

He comes back to the artichoke farm that his parents owned and now that he owns to restart his life. He wants to get the house cleaned up (there was a lot of vandalism over the past year) and get it ready to bring his mentally disabled sister home to live.

Dawson posts an ad for a housekeeper/caretaker and Sadie Harris immediately answers it. She's trying to get out of an emotionally abusive marriage and needs more money to raise her five year-old son, Jayden. But her soon-to-be ex-husband, Sly, who is also a police officer, doesn't want to let her go.

This is an excellent story by author Novak. I've enjoyed books of hers in the past and this is probably my favorite out of all of them.

In-depth characters, an exciting, scary storyline about the fine line between love and obsession, and spicy romantic details makes this a book I'll be recommending to many of my friends and family - along with the readers of my reviews, of course.

I received this book from MIRA Books through Net Galley in exchange for my unbiased review.

What a wonderful and gripping tale Ms. Novak has penned in this second story of her Silver Springs series, which grabbed my attention from the very beginning and didn't let go until I was at the end quicker than I expected. The way this story started had me concerned for the heroine, because she could have been putting her life at risk by meeting Dawson. Since everyone in their small town believed he was guilty of the crime he'd been charged with and no one seems to think any different, even though he was acquitted of the crime. Will Sadie be able to help him prove everyone wrong? Will the person that committed the heinous crime be brought to justice?

As for the dialogue, it was compelling due to the main characters back stories and together with the challenges these two face made this story a real page turner. Sadie's soon-to-be ex-husband is causing trouble for her and doesn't know when to give up. Will she ever finally be free of him? Certainly, Sadie gives him enough reason to finally give up on her by the way she stands up to him and begins to fight back with her words. I found her strength and courage admirable, because no woman should be afraid of the man they once loved. I also liked the heroine's determination to stand up for Dawson, because he was a good man that didn't deserve to have everyone against him when it was palpable how much he loved his adoptive family, which is proven by all he's doing to get his sister back.

While Dawson, he's been through so much and I could understand why he feels the way he does about law enforcement. No way could he trust any police after what they did to him. Also, I liked that he was willing to let Sadie and her son into his life, and how protective he was of them. Her soon-to-be ex-husband was a real piece of work, and I was glad that he didn't allow the man to intimidate him. That he was willing to help Sadie fight back and stuck by her through thick and thin, no matter how dangerous things became for him.

Overall, this was a really good read that kept me entertained from start to finish with its dialogue and wonderful array of characters, except the majority of the police force because it's palpable the boys in blue stick together. Why couldn't they realize how much of a danger Sadie's soon-to-be ex posed to her life after every wrong move he made towards her? The way this story ended had me concerned for the main characters. How far was Sly willing to go to make sure the main characters paid because of all he believes they've done to him? However, it was the epilogue that wrapped this story up perfectly, because of what the townspeople did for Dawson. Certainly, he deserves the acceptance of the townspeople after what they learn about the person responsible for committing the crime he was acquitted for. I would recommend No One But You by Brenda Novak, if you enjoy the second chance romance trope, the sexy protector trope or books by authors Lori Wilde, Bella Andre or Marie Force.

I loved this story about Sadie and Dawson. Sadie is struggling to make ends meet after a nasty split with her police officer husband. Dawson is back in Silver Springs after spending a year in prison for the murders of his parents, a crime he didn't commit. Sadie takes a job helping Dawson get his home in order. As the two spend time together, they begin to develop feelings for one another. Dawson is at point in his life where a relationship would be difficult, and Sadie is facing backlash from her ex over custody issues unless she severs ties with Dawson.

Sadie and Dawson were wonderful characters, and theirs was a touching romance. The storyline was interesting, and I enjoyed the Silver Springs setting.

I would like like to Thank Netgalley, Brenda Novak, and Harlequin (US & Canada) for giving me a chance to read this book.

OMG If I could give 10 stars I would! I loved this book!! During a time where it was super hard for me to even THINK about reading I forced myself to start this book an OMG I couldn't put it down!! It not only touched a little bit about wrongful conviction (the hero of the story) but a woman trying her best to live in a town with her mentally/emotionally abusive soon to be ex spouse. an that really touched home for me. It showed how courageous the woman could be an gave me hope that I could do it to.

Thank you SO SO much Ms Novak you are the best!