Hanover House

Please see blog

Brenda Novak has done a marvelous job with this introduction to her new series Hanover House Chronicles. The Hanover House plot is masterfully woven to give the reader just enough information to invest them into the life of Evelyn, while creating the satisfaction of an entire novel in this novella format. One of the reasons I am so fond of Brenda Novak as an author, is that she is able to easily and effectively tell tales in numerous genres. Once again, with Hanover House, she has proven her ability to captivate the reader with her outstanding story telling. I am anxiously awaiting the next installment of this series!!!

Thank you to the publisher who provided an advanced copy of this novella via NetGalley

Evelyn Talbot has spent her life trying to find out what makes a psychopath and how to better understand them. She was tortured and almost killed by her high school boyfriend, Jasper, and is dealing with that as best she can. Jasper has never been captured and Evelyn lives in fear of him each day of her life and of course when this story picks up 20 years after the high school incident Jasper has truly come back.

Evelyn's managed to obtain funding for a facility in Alaska to house some of the top criminals to begin a study on the nature of these killers which will be known as the Hanover House. When the facility in Alaska is vandalized during construction she travels there to oversee the damage and hire security. Evelyn begins a friendship with Amarok, the local state trooper. For the first time in a long time she let's herself begin trusting a man and feeling some sort of attraction.

I absolutely loved this book. Wonderful writing and a truly intense story with Jasper and the beginning of a beautiful relationship with Amarok. Evelyn is someone you can't help but truly feel for when she tells about her life and absolutely admire her for what she is doing even though it has to be hard on her. Amarok is a true gentlemen that really seems to start caring for Evelyn and helping her start to heal. Their relationship is truly touching in what is otherwise an intense book.

A definite page turner and would recommend to anyone looking for a good thriller. My only complaint I can think of after finishing this book is it will be such a long wait until Whiteout, the next in the Hanover House series, comes out in September 2016.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Brenda Novak did an excellent job of capturing my interest in the story from the very beginning. I loved the details she gave to her characters, developing them so thoroughly. I can't wait for the series to begin!

Wow! This book is fascinating! If you like Criminal Minds (I LOVE IT) this book will be right up your alley. Evelyn was attacked as a teen and has made it her life's mission to understand psychopathy. The questions she wants answers to are fascinating so that alone would have kept me reading. However, once you get into the story of Hanover House, you are so caught up in the mystery, tension, and fear you can't even focus on her research questions. This book is one I read in one sitting because I could not put it down. I am really interested in the rest of the series and seeing where the author with go with it all!

This is the first time I've read Brenda Novak, it won't be the last! I became familiar with Ms. Novak because of her charity work, but I never picked up a book. I own a few anthologies she has edited or contributed to, but I just haven't gotten to them. That changes tonight! Hanover House is a true thriller. My heart is still pounding in my chest after finishing. This is a prequel novella to a series coming in 2016, the first book is called Whiteout. This story is written and crafted beautifully. I really like the main characters and am very interested in the "villains".

Evelyn Talbot is a psychiatrist studying psychopaths. A near death experience with a killer, her high school boyfriend, has led her on this journey. She us opening a high security prison for serial killers in Alaska called Hanover House. It seems like a good vehicle for a series. A new prisoner study with each book.

I have read other books by Ms. Novak, and can tell you this one is different. I like her stories, and I liked this one too, but I must confess it gave me chills at times. The creepy Jasper made me stop and look around a few times, as I felt someone was watching. And if I ever get hit from behind on a dark street I will never get out of the car either. Looking forward to the next book in the series, and more, more, more on Amoark. Yummy. Would recommend this book highly.

I would like to thank Net Galley for supplying me with a copy of this book in return for a honest review. After receiving a couple of recommendations from friends I was looking forward to reading this novel by Brenda Novak. This novella is the prelude to a new series by this author and accomplishes the goal of enticing readers to want to know more about the characters. It is an entertaining read in its own way but I am sure I will personally enjoy the series more as I prefer longer novels that allow the author to develop characters and pace the storyline. That said I was a little surprised how much action and suspense was crammed into this novella. A very good read and an excellent introduction to the series.

Intense intro to the Hanover House Chronicles! This is suspense at its best! It starts out like a category 5 hurricane and never lets up to the last page.

Get ready for a wild ride, people!

Loved the prequel ! Didn't want it to end!!! Absolutely a page turner with so much suspense! Loved Evelyn my heart broke for her. Can't wait for this series I will be watching for it! I would give this book more stars if I could...highly recommend.

Oh yes this a another great hit for brenda novak this has some romance and a lot of suspense I highly highly recommend this book loved the story can not wait for the next one in the series.

This is a prequel to get readers acquainted with the characters of the new series that the author is going to be rolling out in 2016. Let me just tell ya I am excited and can't wait to start reading it.

A psychiatrist, Evelyn Talbot, has finally got all the channels approved and they are going to set her up with a maximum security prison that only holds the most serious offenders in order that she can work with him and see what causes them to do the bad things that they do.

She is also still traumatized by a violent rape and torture done to her by her boyfriend for three days when she was 16 years old and then left for dead. He has still not been caught and she is still on his mind.

This is going to be a creepy series with a lot of action and I know it will be one of those where I will be yelling at her to "run" or something like that.

I can't wait for this series to start and recommend this prequel for you to understand my excitement. Thanks to the publisher and Net Galley for allowing me to read and review this e-galley in exchange for an honest review.

Evelyn wants to understand the inner workings of the minds of the country's most sadistic and brutal murderers. What sets them apart mentally from the average person? What makes them love the violence and terror? What causes them to strike? These are the questions that Evelyn has fought and worked towards answering. Her entire career has been centered on solving this mystery, and it is for this reason that Hanover House is being built. Hanover House, located in the outskirts of Alaska far away from the majority of the country's population, is to become the new home for some of the nation's most deranged serial killers. Hand picked by Evelyn and her team, these hardened criminals will be relocated to this newly designed prison and research facility so that they can be studied- truly studied.

However, it isn't just a sick curiosity that spurs Evelyn into such a heartless world full of more questions than answers. In fact, it's something far more personal. Because Evelyn is so much more than meets the eye. To coworkers, associates, and the world that sees her lobbying for this goal on TV she is a strong and determined woman. However, twenty years ago when she was just a teenager Evelyn was attacked, tortured for days, and then left for dead by her boyfriend. It's this vicious past that has made Evelyn who she is today, strengths and weaknesses alike. The fact that her attacker was never caught, well, that's just added fuel to her fire- and to her nightmares.

Will she find the answers she looking for in Hanover House? Will she find a way to overcome the emotional scars she tries to bury down deep within her where no one else can see? As the first in a proposed series, Hanover House is filled with just enough excitement to wet reader appetites without giving away too much.

Novak is a wonderfully talented author who has a marvelous way with written words. Whether she is writing a dramatic thriller or a sweet down home country style romantic mystery, Novak is a force to be reckoned with. Hanover House is no different. Readers will delight in the character and story development, and if they are anything like me they will be eager to see where she takes us in the next installments of this thrilling story.

4.5 stars out of 5!

Thank you to the author, the publisher, and to NetGalley for this review opportunity.

Psychopaths are very scary. People who look normal, even nice and empathetic and who tell you just what you want to hear but who feel nothing and would probably enjoy murdering you. After surviving one at 16, Evelyn Talbot is obsessed with them. She is working hard to open Hanover House, a new facility where she can study them. Not all psychopaths are murderers, but Dr. Talbot is especially interested in the most ruthless ones. Dr. Talbot is strong and smart. She is not a damsel in distress, and that is why I liked her. She is on her toes, doesn't fall for easy tricks and fights back when she's in danger. The psychopath who pursues her because she's the one that got away, is horrible and disgusting, but no one would know it. That is why I wanted to know more about them. I was a little disappointed when I found out that this is just a prequel to a new series, and that I will have to wait until Whiteout comes out to see Hanover House functioning in earnest. The prequel also focuses on Amarok, a handsome police officer who doesn't want Hanover House in his backyard, but can't help but falling for Evelyn. If you like romance mixed in with your thriller, you will enjoy this book.

I am completely intrigued by this new series featuring Dr. Evelyn Talbot, and I can't wait to read more! This was a great set up for the new series, and I loved meeting the characters.

Evelyn survived a horrific event as a teenager when her trusted boyfriend killed her best friends and left her for dead. Now a respected psychiatrist who studies the psychopathic mind, she is realizing her professional dream of having a facility in which to study the worst of these. Not everyone in Hilltop, Alaska is happy with the idea of having serial killers living in the area. State Trooper, Sergeant Amarok, is one of these, but he and Evelyn become friends regardless of his stance. Even before the facility opens, trouble begins with some vandalism. Before long, Evelyn and Sergeant Amarok are questioning whether this is local residents who are disgruntled, or someone much more sinister.

The characters for this new series are great, and the prequel storyline was engrossing. I am very excited for the first full length book. I think the setting of the Alaskan facility is perfect for creating a great atmosphere for the series. Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing a copy of this ARC in return for an honest review.

This is the first in a new series planned by the author, so there's some open ends left for the next book. But that's what keeps it interesting! Our character is Evelyn Talbot, a psychiatrist that has a personal reason behind studying psychopaths. She was kidnapped as a teenager, by her boyfriend and survived the ordeal. The boyfriend disappeared after that, and you feel throughout the book that he's lurking between the pages! Evelyn decided to open a medical facility to study the monsters of the human race, and calls it Hanoveer House. The facility is not welcomed by the local community and Evelyn has to deal with the problems, as well as the permanent threat of her boyfriend. The book really takes you to some dark places, and leaves you wanting for more! Thanks to netgalley for the opportunity!!!

This is a bit of a change for Brenda Novak, but she knows how to work it. I agree with her that the minds and inner workings of psychopathic personalities are a very interesting subject and certainly one that is fun to explore.

I liked the dynamic between the two main characters in this book. The tension between them was the perfect mix of sensuality and frustration. Evelyn is a strong character that I see being able to carry a series like this well, without the reader losing interest in her. The memories of her past and the violent things she has suffered through give her a strength that a lot of female characters lack.

Overall, I was really impressed with this and am looking forward to the release of the first novel "Whiteout," coming in 2016.

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher and provided through Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

Hanover House is the prequel to the newest series by multitalented author Brenda Novak. This outstanding story involves psychiatrist Evelyn Talbot and her study of psychopaths. Evelyn has convinced people that there is a need to find out why psychopaths are the way they are, and she is driven by her own painful past. When Evelyn was young her boyfriend murdered her friends in front of her, and then when he was finished he raped and tortured her then slicing her throat leaving her to die. The boyfriend was never caught, but he has never been far from Evelyn’s thoughts and that is why the creation of Hanover House has consumed her. Hanover House is a research facility that is being built near Anchorage Alaska where Evelyn is transferring a number of psychopaths to in order to study them individually. The small town nearby is not very welcoming of the new facility, especially state trooper Amarok. Amarok is torn between the jobs that the facility will provide and keeping his community safe from the evil violence contained within its walls. One evening the half way completed facility is vandalized and Amarok must contact Evelyn, so she can return to Alaska to inspect the property. It is during this visit that Amarok see that there is more to Evelyn then her hunger for knowledge, and he begins to have feelings. Just when Evelyn begins to feel that she can relax and enjoy her new relationship her past comes slamming at her full force. I anticipate the next installment in the Hanover House series due to the suspenseful tale the Ms. Novak has woven in this amazing tale. I was given this this book to read by the author for an fair and honest review.

I do not normally read novella's unless they are from a favorite author. I really liked this authors whiskey creek series so I thought I would give it a whirl. This little book did not disappoint. While most novella's leave you hanging or try to cram to much information in a short time this one did not. Brenda Novak knew exactly how much information to put into the book before overloading your brain. I cannot wait to start the new series now, there was even a teaser for the first book at the end of this book.

Evelyn the psychiatrist is opening a new "jail" to study psychopaths. As a teenager she was attacked by such a psychopath of course he was her boyfriend at the time and she thought she was in love. The things this poor woman had to endure then to turn it into something worth studying is amazing. She is such a heroine and I love it. She is mildly week but she doesn't let these crazy people tear her down ( btw how did Brenda Novak research this?? She didn't go visit any of these characters did she??). They are putting Hanover House in Alaska... that's where the hunky Amarok steps in...

Amarok is the state trooper for the area they are placing Hanover House and he is not pleased that all these psycho people are moving into his town. Of course the jail itself is outside of town. When Evelyn comes back to town they sort of bump heads but you can tell there is chemistry. Evelyn just doesn't know what to do about it since she never has relationships due to that evil man in her past. When Amarok asks her to let her guard down and meet the people of town things take a turn in their relationship.

I am super excited to start this series and see where Brenda Novak takes it.

A fantastic introduction to a new series.

The romance between Evelyn and Amarok was realistic and well written. Evelyn has issues because of her past and has reservations about beginning a relationship with Amarok. She is also insecure because of the age difference between them. Evelyn is a few years older but Amorak doesn't let these obstacles deter him. The fact that someone wants her dead is a bigger problem.

The suspense in the story kept me glued until I had the book finished.
I can't wait to read the rest of the series.

I love Brenda Novak and this new series does not disappoint. When psychiatrist Evelyn Talbot was a teenager her boyfriend killed her best friends and when she discovered what he had done he abducted and tried to kill her. That event has shaped her life and is the driving force behind her research into killers. Now she has secured funding to establish a prison in Alaska against the opposition of the community. As she tries to finalize the construction of her new facility and choose which convicted prisoners to transfer to Alaska she begins to experience the fear that has always been with her that her abductor has returned and is just waiting to harm her again. Is this just her fear resurfacing or is he still alive. There had never been a body so she is not sure she believes he is truly dead. I cannot wait for the next story in this series.

Hanover House is the prequel to Brenda Novak's new series/duet. I feel ashamed to admit it, but my main focus was on the romance side of the story. I just really liked the relationship between Evelyn and Amarok. I loved how Amarok was not pushing Evelyn, not even a little for something she wasn't ready for and wasn't able to give. He understood her and he was very comforting.

Evelyn is quite strong. She went through so many things and her determination to go into the psychopathic mind is made her seem in my mind as someone who will be able to go through everything life throws at them. Things aren't easy on her in Hilltop. I am looking forward to seeing the results of her research in the next books, even though the results will be fictional.

Jasper is the villain of the story and I don't think that his plotline will end in the first book. Some parts of this story were told from his point of view and that only proved how sick he is. I wonder what he is going to do next. He is quite resourceful. Hugo is quite interesting for a phycho killer and I would love to dive into his mind.

In the next book, I am hopping that we will see the Hanover House open its gates. It will be very interesting to see how things will go.

I realized that I prefer to read books by Breda Novak that don't have romance as their main genre. My relationship with her Whiskey Creek series is rocky at best, but I loved this book (main genre Suspense) and her latest release, The secret sister. It's too bad that the next book won't be released until the September of 2016.

I love this author already so I was thrilled to read the novella to kick off the Hanover house series. I literally read this in one hour it was that fast paced and a page turner for me! As a psychology student I am drawn to any fiction based upon the human mind and this sounds like a stunning start to a wonderful series. It's romantic suspense at its best. I cannot wait for more to come!

Great prequel! I can't wait to read the series!

WOW! This prequel to the new series by Brenda Novak is an amazing read. It features Psychiatrist, Dr Evelyn Talbot and State Trooper Sergeant Amarock . Evelyn has dedicated her life to solving the mysteries of the psychopathic mind after being kidnapped, tortured and left for dead by her psycho boyfriend when she was 16. She is the driving force behind a new facility in Hilltop, Alaska where the worst of the worst killers will reside. Sergeant Amarock and Evelyn have a connection but she is too scared to become involved with him even after she is attacked again...A brilliant taster and looking forward to Whiteout #1 out autumn 2016.

From the very start of Hanover House, I was in awe of Evelyn! Instead of hiding and not confronting her fears after she was brutally attacked by her boyfriend when she was only sixteen, she went on to become a psychiatrist to try to find out what exactly it is that makes some people psychopaths. And she wanted to further her research to see if there was any possibility at all to try to find psychopaths before they did too much harm to those around them. The way she went about it was to get funding for a high security prison, where she would transfer serial killers who showed no remorse for their crimes, so that she could study them. When she was finally able to build her prison outside Anchorage, the local population wasn't exactly happy with her. But she was determined to find out why Jasper had become the way he was, why he had killed her three best friends before he attacked her and made her stay in a living hell until he slit her throat and left her for death.

Evelyn definitely has some baggage, but she won't let that stop her from making sure Hanover House will open, even if the one law enforcement officer in Hilltop, Amorak, was not happy about the new prison being built in his village, either. And plenty was gong out both in Hilltop and in Boston, where Evelyn was tying up loose ends, selling her condo and getting ready to move. Jasper being on the lose, but without anyone knowing his whereabouts made Evelyn on edge, and with very good reason! The psychological thriller aspect of Hanover House was so well done! Especially because some of it was narrated showing Jasper, and his inner thoughts as well. This prequel definitely whetted my appetite, and I'm sad I'll have to wait almost a full year before the full novel in this series will be released.

Written in third person point of view, past tense, the narrator mostly followed Evelyn and her thoughts and feelings, with some extremely chilling insights to Jasper as well. Well written, with characters I want to get to know much better, Hanover House has a lot of promise!

This a prequel to her book Whiteout. It gives you a look at the characters before Hanover House opens. Dr. Evelyn Talbott is the one behind HH. She was held hostage at sixteen, by her boyfriend Jasper, for three days. He'd killed her three best friends and slit her throat and left her for dead. He was never caught. Now she studies psychopaths and that is what HH is. When she is kidnapped by him again but is able to get away. But Jasper is still out there. She has a hot state trooper that what's to help her with her intimacy issues.
I cannot wait for WHITEOUT!!! This short story will have you looking around corners and jumping at little noises.

A perfect book for a spooky fall, Hanover House sets up a new series with psychiatrist Evelyn Talbot as the main character. When she was sixteen, her boyfriend murdered three of her friends and nearly succeeded in slitting her throat as well. Since then, she's studied serial murderers, trying to figure out what makes them tick. Her baby is a project called Hanover House, a prison being built in a small Alaskan town, not far from Fairbanks.
But the locals aren't exactly excited to have a bunch of sociopaths shipped up from the Lower 48. In fact, someone's been messing around in her building, writing nasty words on the wall and tearing down some of the construction.
Local law enforcement, Sergeant Benjamin Murphy, colloquially known as Sergeant Amarok, calls the good doctor to come up and see the damage.
Because this is such a short story, I don't want to give too much away. This is the start of a nice departure from a more heavily romance book to a bit more suspense for Novak. Her books have never been "comfort reading" for me so this fits in nicely to my perception. I just hope that Jasper (the ex who escaped from prison almost as soon as he was put in) is either sidelined for awhile , becomes more a background noise, or is dealt with quickly. He had way too much action and if that continues, it will get old fast.
WARNING: I didn't read the description carefully. This book is a prequel. It is short.

This novella is an introduction to a new series featuring Psychiatrist Evelyn and her Alaskan policeman. The tension built nicely through out the book and I look forward to the full series.

The characters were well described and the action extremely well done. I like the romance between them as well. Setting the series in Alaska is a bold move and I can't wait to read more about this beautiful state.

Hanover House is the start to a new series by one of my very favorite authors, Brenda Novak, but this series is going to be very different from others books I have read of hers. This is the start of a suspense series and this first book, a novella, creeped me out. I have found the older I get, the less I like really creepy books, so I had to force myself to keep reading it. And it was very suspenseful, but also really intriguing and the beginning of what sounds like a great series. I think there will be enough romance for me to really enjoy it without being too scared! At least I hope so. Thanks to Netgalley and Ms. Novak for letting me read this ARC for an honest review

Evelyn Talbot is a hard working psychiatrist determined to find the mystery within the psychopaths' mind. After her horrific experience as a teenager, which led her to this quest, she establishes a medical center, remote Alaska, devoted to this cause.

This is a wonderful read. It has a little bit of everything, intrigue, danger, romance and an outstanding setting. Evelyn and Amorok are great together. With his protective nature and her damaged psyche, it makes the reader gasp in places, especially when Evelyn finds herself in peril once again.

I read this in one sitting on an airplane and it was a perfect read for the trip. I was able to only focus on the book and turn off everything around me. It kept me enamoured through the whole flight.

I received this novel from Netgalley for an honest review.

En bref, ce fut un plaisir de découvrir la plume de l'auteur en VO et de voir surtout que j'arrivais à suivre. Les personnages sont vraiment très sympathiques, le monde mis en place intriguant et je suis d'ores et déjà curieuse de découvrir la suite des aventures d'Evelyn et Amarok, je sens que je suis tombée amoureuse d'eux !

This is a prequel to Brenda Novak's new series that starts next year featuring Hanover House. I have always been fascinated with criminal psychology and I almost majored in it in college (sometimes I wish I would went for it), so when I seen this new series I couldn't wait to get a little taste of it.

That is what you get with this novella. We get to see a little of why Evelyn is so obsessed with psychopaths and how it lead to her wanting to open Hanover House. She is so messed up because of what happened when she was a teen. We also get to see the psychopath that has been after Evelyn since they were teens. I didn't find it to be to creepy but then I don't get creeped out much by books, but others might find some of it pretty creepy. :)

There is a bit of a budding romance between Amarok, the State Trooper assigned to Hilltop and Evelyn. The interesting part is he doesn't really want Hanover House to be there and Evelyn sort of views him as being to young for her. Amarok is so sweet to Evelyn though allowing her to make any moves and to make sure she feels comfortable with him, because she really is very timid around men.

Overall, I think it does a great job of setting things up for Whiteout which is the first book in the series coming in 2016. If you a fan of romantic suspense or Brenda Novak then you might enjoy this novella.

Goes live on my blog tomorrow (Sept. 4th) at http://booksmoviesreviewsohmy.com

Hanover House is a prequel to a suspense story by this Author.

Evelyn Talbott is opening a new medical facility to study serial killers.
When she was a teenager her 3 friends where killed and she was tortured and left for dead by her boyfriend.
Twenty years on she has tried to get on with her life and put it all behind her but her relationships with men have been ruined and her boyfriend who did this to her was never caught.
She meet Amorak the local policeman and a spark ignites between them but can it go any further.Before the Clinic is open there is some trouble is it the locals that don't want the Clinic there or has her ex boyfriend found her?
A great book will defiantly be looking out for the other books to come.

Thank you Netgalley and the Author for a chance to read this book

Hanover House draws you in from the opening pages and never lets up its grip until the very last word. This novel is the fascinating setup story or prequel to the Hanover House Chronicles series which becomes available in 2016.

Evelyn Talbot is interviewing one of the last inmates she is deciding on for incarceration at the new prison/mental health facility in Hilltop, Alaska. Hanover House has been her life’s work dream come true, not that she hasn’t worked her butt off to get it funded and placed for years. It’s location or possible location has changed many times since no one wants nothing but a prison full of psychopath serial killers in their backyard. The Alaska location became official when there were not enough people in the small town to protest it successfully.

This particular inmate had caught her off guard and bodyslammed her at their first meeting. Determined to show no fear, Evelyn is meeting with him again for one last time. This meeting is more for her benefit than Hugo’s. She will never again allow any man or anyone to get the upper hand over her. No one will frighten her to that point again.

The small town of Hilltop isn’t much in the Alaskan wilderness. Beyond Anchorage, its biggest claim to fame so far is good hunting and fishing. Soon that will change. The residents are extremely leery of Hanover House and there has been vandalism at the construction site. On Evelyn’s fast trip to Alaska she is dealing with the damage, getting a guard set up and struggling with a newfound attraction to Sergeant Amarok of the Alaskan State Troopers – and basically the only lawman in Hilltop. After a night of drinks at the local bar – to show the locals that she is approachable Evelyn is thinking how attractive Amarok really is. A completely foreign concept to her.

Since her attack 15 years ago, Evelyn has had no relationships. No dating. No kissing. And certainly no to anything beyond that as well. Her attacker was her high school boyfriend, Jasper. When he turned into a killer and tortured her for days only leaving her when he thought she was dead – that was the last time she trusted a man enough to let them close. Sergeant Amarok has different ideas.

What no one knows is that Jasper is alive and tracking Evelyn again. He plans to finish what he left undone.

Hanover House is an intense, emotional thriller. With a serial killer on her tail, Evelyn is in danger once again. Yes, there is a set up of a possible romance, remember that Evelyn has been traumatized and has major trust issues with men. So romance is gonna go slow. In order to understand her drive for this new facility, Hanover House, we need to understand what Evelyn went through in the past and currently. And finally we needed to realize exactly just how crazy sick Jasper is and understand that he will stop at nothing to get to Evelyn. It’s as simple as him or her.

So there is a lot of setup here, but it is contained in a very chilling, intense and engaging story. I would not hesitate to recommend Hanover House to any mystery, thriller or even romance reader. This is a novel and eventual series that really captures the reader. I’m looking forward to the release of the first novel sometime in September 2016 at this point.

*I received an e-ARC of Hanover House from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. That does not change what I think of this novel.*

Evelyn Talbot was dating a boy in high school who she thought was going to be her future, the boy she would marry and have children with. The boy turned about to be a kidnapper and murderer, a special kind of psychopath.

Jasper, the murdering kidnapper, has been helped by his parents to evade capture for 20 years. He has even had extensive facial reconstructive surgery to avoid looking anything like himself. He is now living under an assumed name with a wife and step-children who have no clue as to his proclivities for young women.

Evelyn has spent the 20 years since she escaped Jasper’s clutches alone, frightened of any intimacy between herself and a man. She has very few friends and her only real social interaction has been spending time with inmates deemed psychopaths. She interviews them and ranks their psychopathy in order to determine who is just funked up enough to be a good fit for her study. She is opening a facility in the outpost of Alaska in order to study the reasons that these animals are the way they are and how they can be treated.

In Alaska Evelyn meets Amarok, the sheriff who is none too happy for her presence in his town. Amarok doesn’t want to like her but he can’t seem to help himself. There is a pull that keeps him coming back to her, even after she tells him she is broken.

Jasper soon finds Evelyn, thanks to her many appearances in the news and media and sets out to finish the job he started.

This is an amazing book with a story that is different and so interesting. The subject matter is dark, but hopeful. The heroine is broken and uptight, but redeemable and needy. I can’t wait for the next book in the series!!

I received this ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

When she was just a teenager, Evelyn Talbot was tortured and left for dead by her then boyfriend, Jasper Moore. He also murdered three of her friends. Now Evelyn is a psychiatrist who specializes in studying the psyche of serial killers and psychopaths.

Though beautiful and very smart, she has never been able to completely recover from her traumatic ordeal. She is now thirty-six years old, and has not had a meaningful relationship with a man since then. Her conflicting emotions and grisly memories preclude her from having either an emotional or sexual relationship. She is married to her work. Her only companion is her cat, Sigmund.

To that end, she has been instrumental in founding a new psychiatric facility. The new facility, “Hanover House” is to be located in remote Alaska due to the fact that the lower forty-eight states want to stash their most fearsome criminals as far away from them as possible.

When Evelyn is notified that Hanover House, which is under construction, was vandalized, she flies to Alaska to assess the damage. There she meets with Alaskan State Trooper, Sergeant Amarok. Though he is a few years younger than Evelyn, he is drawn to her beauty, her brain, and her well disguised vulnerability. She in turn is overwhelmingly attracted to the strong and handsome policeman. Though it is an attraction that she is unable to act upon due to her emotional scars.

Having alluded the authorities for twenty years, Jasper Moore is still killing young women. He now goes by the name of Andy Smith. When Jasper, aka Andy, enters Evelyn’s world for a second time, her justifiable paranoia is proven sound. When Evelyn’s life is endangered, Amarok acknowledges his feelings for Evelyn, but is aware that little will ever come of them…. or will they… ?

I guess you’ll just have to read “Whiteout“, the first book in the Hanover House series.

This novella was a very fast read due to the short length, fast-pace, and the dynamic writing. Readers who enjoy a little entertaining escapism and all fans of romantic suspense will love this series prequel, of that I am sure.

OMG! Had me from the first word! Gripping, intense, edge of your seat suspense, and of course a little romance tossed in. I couldn't put it down. Brenda has me wanting more. I can't wait to read more! The in depth detail of these criminals and what they do is staggering. The fact that Brenda can bring both sides of the story into a cohesive, complete story is wonderful. You ache for the victim and you despise the criminals and psychopaths. You are cheering for the good guy and you hope for the best. I highly recommend this introduction story! It will make you want more!

Loved it! This is my first time reading Brenda Novak and I really enjoyed this prequel to a new series. Dr Evelyn Talbot is opening a facility in a remote Alaska town to study what makes a serial killer a serial killer. Evelyn escaped a serial killer attack as a teenager and is obsessed with finding answers about these monsters who walk amongst us. Meanwhile her attacker is back, she is attracted to the hottie sheriff in town, and her family wants her to do something less dangerous. Lots of great characters in this book, along with some very interesting psychopathic clients Evelyn is studying. Looking forward to the next book, Whiteout in September 2016. Thanks ,Net galley for letting me read this book.

After seeing her three girlfriends killed, then being held hostage by that psychopath, Evelyn Talbot decides to devote her adult life to trying to understand why they do the horrible things they do. Now a Psychiatrist, Evelyn has received the funding necessary to build an institution devoted completely to trying to unravel the psychopathic mind. Her Hanover House is being located outside Hilltop, Alaska and Evelyn is making the final preparations to leave Boston and take up her position as head of Hanover House. Unfortunately for her, the person who terrorized her years ago has found her again.

The author describes this prequel as a long novella and at almost 200 pages I can certainly agree with that. Readers will have a full understanding of what came before the beginning of WHITEOUT, the first full length novel in this series which will be released in September 2016, with a second due out in September 2017. This novella zeros in on an area of psychiatry which I am very curious about and since the author has obviously done a lot of research to craft not only her characters but also the facility to house them, it will be interesting to watch how she handles the subject.

There is a sneak peek at the first chapter of WHITEOUT in this novella along with the first chapter of THE SECRET SISTER.

I received an e-ARC of this novel through NetGalley.

This book is the prequel to Brenda Novak series coming out next year. I have to say it grabs you from the beginning. Evelyn Talbot is a psychiatrist who studies psychopathic killers. She was driven to this field by surviving a killer herself when she was 16 years old. I found Evelyn to a be dynamic character. She is so complex with trying to cope with her fears of relationships, but yet have the strength to work in this deadly field. She meets a gorgeous Alaskan State Trooper, Amarok, and struggles with her feelings for him all the while unknowingly being stalked. The suspense was riveting in that I couldn't put it down you just didn't know what was going to happen. I did receive an ARC from Netgalley for a fair and honest review.

Hanover House (Kick-off to the Hanover House Chronicles) by Brenda Novak is just what the name implies. It is the introduction to a new series by Brenda Novak. If you had the opportunity to purchase the Anthology Sweet Dreams then you have this story already.

This introduction allows the reader to meet Dr. Evelyn Talbot, explaining her work and why she wants to have psycho serial killers housed in one Alaskan prison. There is also state trooper, Amarok who has reservations about the prison but likes Evelyn. Then there are various town people and family members introduced as the story progresses.

Still it is the opening scene that sets the tone of fear and horror for this story. This is where you meet Evelyn’s former psycho ex-boyfriend who killed her friends and kept her hostage at age sixteen. Now it is twenty years later and he is still on the loose. Definitely read with the lights on. I would think this story is perfect for fans of psychological thrillers.

The publisher through Net Galley provided a copy.

Very good book

Exciting prequel to a new psychological thriller series by Brenda Novak! Truly enjoyable and I can't wait until the first full length novel comes out. I loved reading about Dr. Evelyn Talbot and her quest to understand the psychotic minds of serial killers. She had suffered through a horrible ordeal as a teenager and was able to pull through and become a successful psychologist who is set to open a special prison in the wilds of Alaska to study psychopaths. With the person who nearly killed her when she was a teenager still on the loose, Evelyn lives half a life and hasn't been able to get close to other men. But when handsome Alaskan State Trooper, Sergeant Amarok, comes on the scene things begin to shift. Danger lurks in every corner and the stakes are getting high. I can't wait to see what happens in the next book! This novella does a great job of whetting your appetite and leaves you anxious for more. Definitely recommend.

This was a amazing book. It catches you from the very beginning and does not turn loose

Fascinating and creepy story!

I absolutely love Brenda Novak and I have read every single book she has ever published. I devour her love stories and I get goose bumps from her romantic scenes. I am always completely enchanted and flustered by the passionate couples she writes about on a regular basis. So I honestly cannot believe that I had forgotten how well Brenda Novak writes romantic suspense novels - more so how she creates the most creepy and frightening bad guys.

Hanover House was unnerving and intense. Holy suspenseful novella. No seriously. HOLY FREAKING CRAP!! It was such a thrilling storyline. I absolutely loved that it started with a bang and just kept going - the author never let me catch my breath. Every minute of this plot kept me reading and on the edge of my seat.

Psychiatrist Evelyn Talbot survived her high school boyfriends attempt on her life and since then, she has dedicated her life to understanding why or how someone becomes a psychopath. Her career puts her dead smack in the middle of some of the most despicable characters and it's kind of terrifying. But Evelyn is this fierce beast and I admired her tenacity to understand them almost immediately. Her stubbornness is what got her facility, Hanover House built and what will help her find answers.

The entire town of Hilltop, Alaska is against her building a prison in their town but no one more than Alaskan State Trooper, Sergeant Amarok. Except as much as he doesn't like the idea of the prison, he seems to like Evelyn that much more. Their romance is in the initial stages in the novella but I believe that readers will be completely captivated by their connection and craving more from this duo.

If this novella is anything to go by, the Hanover House Chronicles are going to be a powerful set of books. I am freaking terrified by the monster that she created in Jasper as well as the other inmates and I cannot wait to see where this series goes once Hanover House is officially open. It's my opinion that Brenda has started another must read series (but just remember to do it with the lights on and the door locked).

Definitely Hanover House out now and add the first book Whiteout to your to be read list.

Wow! This is going to be another great series by Brenda Novak.
As usual you have you suspense and your romance all tied together in this prequel. I'm super excited to start the next book to see what happens in Hanover House as well as what becomes of Evelyn and Amarok.

I can't wait to start the series! Very interesting subject matter!

I've read a number of books by Brenda Novak so I was excited to see this kick-off to a new series. Hanover House begins the story of Evelyn Talbot as she starts her new study of psychopaths at a brand new prison/facility in a small town in Alaska. Left for dead as a teenager by the boyfriend she thought she loved, Evelyn has spent her life trying to come to grips with the event and learn just why psychopaths are the way they are. Despite tremendous pressure from family, friends, and the community, she pushes forward. Sparks fly when the local lawman puts aside his misgivings and makes it his mission to protect her. This novella was a great set up to a new series. I was so disappointed when I got to the end because I wanted to keep going and know more! I was recommend this to anyone who enjoys mysteries with a little romance and a lot of twists.

Hanover House is an extensive suspense novella, prequel to a new series. A bit of a tasty teaser!

It introduces psychiatrist Evelyn Talbot who has spent her life studying murderous psychopaths. Her quest to find the answer as to why they act as they do followed a near death horrendous attack she endured as a teenager. Her attacker was her high school boyfriend Jasper who murdered her friends and turned his anger on her. He then disappeared and has not been seen these last 20 years.

Evelyn is establishing a new research facility in Alaska in which America's nastiest twisted psychopaths shall be incarcerated. The residents of the remote town of Hilltop are naturally against the building of this prison and the evil which shall be within it once opened. One opponent is the disarming Alaskan state trooper Sergeant Amarok. However once Evelyn arrives in Hilltop he may not be changing his mind on the facility, but he certainly does warm to Evelyn.

Meantime Jasper is still at large with a new identity. He could be anywhere..

It is a great blend of psychological thriller, suspense and romance. I knew it was a novella when I started reading however I was still disappointed it ended when it did! It grabs your attention from the start and is 'insistent' on you reading the first book.

4 Stars

- Received ebook from St. Martin's Press for honest review thank you

Brenda Novak has done it again. She created an amazing new series. This one sure keeps you on your toes with the great suspense she has added on top of everything else you love about Brendas books. Can't believe I have to wait almost a year for her next book in this series. But it will be worth the wait

A masterpiece! Hanover House will blow readers away. Ms. Novak is a gifted writer who knows how to captivate her audience. Evelyn Talbot has suffered physically and emotionally from horrific events when she was a teenager, yet she is an amazing protagonist. This psychological thriller is not for the faint of heart. I couldn't stop reading until the last page was turned. The chills up my spine stayed with me long after. This is a must read! I can't believe we have to wait an entire year for the next book. I need more now!

Great book. I didn't want it to end. Now another 12 months till the next one. Serial killers galore. The author has really done some prep work on this book. Gives you that chill where you look over your shoulder to check no one is there. Phychiatrist and local cop, a great mix. They work well together, but will he be able to protect her from all the bad things. She has had a horrific attack in the past, another serious attack in the present and she still wants to open Hanover House and study there seriously derranged individuals. Seriously great book.

This is a prequel? It didn't feel like one. The prequels I am used to are shorter and definitely more, well, boring is the right word. But, this one? No, not at all. But let's review this story from the beginning.

As a soon-to-be-psychologist myself, I found the fact that the heroine Evelyn Talbot is a psychiatrist very interesting and tempting for me to pick up this story. And, I'm very glad I did. And, not just because I finished the book on 10/10, the international day for Mental Health. Coincidence? I think not.

Unlike most prequels, this one didn't only assure that we would get some background information about the main heroes. There was actually action and passion and romance. What started as seemingly slow-pacing, soon became so interesting. We were given so much insight to the heroine's personality, the reasons why she acts the way she does, why she chose this particular profession - one I've always been very interested to -, why she is who she is. Halfway through the story I felt as if I personally knew Evelyn, something that made me appreciate it even more.

And, the romance, oh, the romance. If we considered how many pages it took for it to bloom, we could assume it was fast. And, usually I don't like it when it happens too fast. But, with these heroes it didn't feel fast at all. No, the way the author described everything, made me feel like I wanted it even sooner to happen. I found myself being so moved by the conversations between the two characters, and so anxious for them to meet again when they were apart, that I couldn't believe it myself.

As for the side characters, they were described, too. I felt like I completely understood they way they behaved, even if I didn't like it sometimes.

I must say that I am a bit curious. If this was just a prequel, and it felt like a whole story, and not just an introduction to one, how is the first book going to go? Now, I just can't wait for its release. But a year later? Why will it take so long? I guess I'll have to explore more books from the author while I wait. Thankfully she has written many.

Originally posted on Book-o-Craze: http://book-o-craze.blogspot.gr/2015/10/review-hanover-house-hanover-house-05.html

Also posted on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/2391281-caterina

And, on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/book0craze?ref=hl

Brenda Novak never fails to please and this book will thrill and satisfy even the most discriminating of readers.

waiting for the next book in this series, really enjoyed this title

I really enjoyed Hanover House. This story draws you in from the beginning and keeps your attention to the last page. I felt connected to the characters rather quickly and found myself routing for Evelyn to be able to heal and get closer to Amorak. He is someone who I feel will be there for her through thick and thin. I'm excited to continue the story of Hanover House in the next book!

This book had me on the edge of my seat. Hanover House is going to be a study prison of some of the most heinous killers, it will be used to study and try to make changes in the system. This has been the dream of Dr. Evelyn Talbot after her friends were brutally murdered and her throat was slit by her boyfriend.

The Hanover House is not well received by the residences of the town it is being built even by the State Trooper who is sworn to protect the town. I am looking forward to this series as it has already drawn me in. Now to wait...impatiently.

This is a prequel to Whiteout. Psychiatrist Evelyn Talbot was attacked by her boyfriend as a teenager after he killed her 3 best friends. He slit her throat and left her for dead but she managed to survive the attack. She trying to set up a prison in Alaska called Hanover House where she can further her studies into the minds of psychopaths. However she is having some troubles with the locals not wanting it to open there. Between vandalism and her past Evelyn doesn't want or need anything else in her life but State Trooper Amarok is about to change that. This gives a great back story into the characters before Whiteout is released. It ill draw you in and leave you wanting more. I can't wait until Whiteout is release to read more.

The summary is what drew me in, and I was not disappointed. I was really invested into this story. I mean psychopaths! WHAT? It was intriguing, and suspenseful and I was invested in this novella. It definitely makes you excited for the book!

Even though this was very short it drew me in. It was scary but something about scary makes people want to read on and see where Evelyn's chosen profession takes her. Even though Evelyn has experienced a horrific attack on her life it makes her want to seek the how and why, where most people would hide in a shell she forges ahead.

I received this copy from netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I really liked this prequel to The Hanover House series. I love the relationship between Evelyn and Amarok....he is so sweet! I can't wait to read about the many psychopaths that arrive at Hanover House!

" She had to do it , couldn't do anything else, not after what happened when she was only sixteen. She'd found her best girlfriends brutally murdered-all three of them! She'd almost been killed by the same boy. After three days of torture Jasper slit her throat and left her for dead..."
Evelyn

Welcome to "Hanover House," a medical center in Alaska. Built by the government after being rallied for by Dr. Evelyn Talbot. Evelyn is on a quest to find out what makes people become the worst parts of society. The kind of people who kidnap, torture and abuse and murder others are the ones she's planning on studying. These were the very things that happened to her as a teenager.

Not everyone in Hilltop, Alaska is happy that she's trying to find out why the minds of serial killers work the way they do. Not even her own family is supportive of this endeavor. Evelyn has a friend in Alaska State Trooper Sgt. Amarok ,but even he is concerned for her. Perhaps on a personal level as he realizes what motivates her work. He'd like more if she's willing but there is an awful lot of issues at hand.

Her team will be studying about 200 subjects in this new facility when it opens. One of her subjects, Hugo Evanski, a man who has been imprisoned for 15 murders, warns her that all it will take is one mistake for all hell to break loose.

The killer who attacked her and left her for dead, Jasper Moore. is still on the run. Even though it's been twenty years he's still out there. His own parents helped him to disappear. Evelyn wonders if he will show up again one day to finish what he started. Meanwhile we learn about what has become of Jasper and the life he's currently leading. He's not forgot about Evelyn though.

Evelyn is wrapping up loose ends before moving to Alaska and her new home there. Not without danger and her worst nightmares revisited before she can even leave town. Evelyn is also thinking about a possible relationship with Sgt. Amarok but her past holds her back. Can they ever be more than friends? Will Jasper find a way to finish what he started so many years ago? Can she get the towns people to warm up to her? She'll try but she's got her work cut out for her as someone has already vandalized the new facility.

It is a well written prequel to introduce us to the upcoming "Hanover House Chronicles" series. This will be released in 2016 with the book "Whiteout." A first chapter to "Whiteout" was also included. This promises to be an exciting story full of suspense. I look forward to this series! I started this book last night and read until I couldn't. Then immediately picked it back up this morning to finish it. Definitely a page turner with the promise of so much more to come. When you're not scared you'll be loving the characters of Evelyn and Benjamin Murphy, aka Sgt. Amarok.

"I believe in my work," Evelyn added. " Knowledge is power....."

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the A.R.C.

The premise for the book and series is fascinating. A woman who was raped and left for dead by her serial killer boyfriend in her teens decides she is not going to let him win. She becomes a psychiatrist whose specialty is analyzing psychopaths and serial killers.
She becomes an expert in her field and convinces the government to fund a prison where these people can be contained and studied. When a small town in Alaska is chosen as the site. the townspeople are less than enamoured with it. She runs into local resentment and vandalism before she has a chance to win over the citizens.
She is assisted in this endeavor by the local State Police officer who wants to be the one who can help her trust again and have a healthy relationship with him.
That part is moving along fairly well. Unfortunately, her rapist/boyfriend/serial killer, who has never been caught and has continued to hone his hobby, decides he wants a return engagement with her.
Lots of suspense, romance and a cliffhanger ending. I liked the characters. They came across as real and she was an interesting combination of victim and heroine.
It is the first part of a new series. If this is any indication, it should be good.

Hanover House is the tantalizing introduction into a forthcoming new series by Brenda Novak. I say tantalizing because this short novella only whets your appetite and gives you a hint of what will be coming in the series itself. I have always been interested in psychopaths and what makes them tick so quickly requested this book because of the story line. Dr. Evelyn Talbot is opening a new institute in Alaska to study psychopaths and the new subjects are the worst examples of psychopathy available. Evelyn has a personal reason for wanting to dissect the psychopathic mind. She was violently raped, tortured and left for dead when she was a teenager by someone she completely trusted. Her past has left her afraid and emotionally scarred but determined to use her experience to help others. What she doesn't know is that she is being stalked in order to finish what happened long ago.
Brenda Novak has stated she researched psychopathology and I am expecting it to show in the novels to come. As it is, there was only a hint of it here and there is more focus on Evelyn and her struggle to over come her fears. If this had been a stand a lone novel, I might have been a bit disappointed in the romantic side being embellished over the psychopathic but I can see that she is setting the stage for character development and I expect we will see more hardcore psychopathology as the series continues. Judging from this first introductory novella, I think the series is going to be fantastic. I am definitely looking forward to the first book in the series!
I received a copy of this book from the publishers (thank you!) via Netgalley for free in exchange for an honest review.

Hanover House is EXACTLY what I was in the mood to read, and the cover played a big part in piquing my interest. I love the black and white photo and striking red text. The structure itself, presumably Hanover House, is just creepy enough to intimidate without being too obvious. While the building resembles the manner in which haunted houses are portrayed, the reality of what--or who--will be housed there is much scarier than anything supernatural might be.

Dr. Evelyn Talbot has worked tirelessly to create a facility in which to not only incarcerate, but also study, psychopaths who have committed especially heinous crimes. Thus, this 40,000-word prequel sets the stage for future installments by contextualizing the doctor’s interest in psychopaths, establishing her relationship with a few of Hilltop’s townspeople, and giving readers a glimpse into what dangers might accompany her endeavor. In doing so, author Brenda Novak lays sufficient groundwork for suspense in addition to a potential romance: the perfect blend for satiating my reader’s sensibility.

I, for one, can’t wait for the release of Whiteout in 2016, as the prequel has me interested, invested, and impatient for more. Hanover House has successfully hooked another reader.

This prequel did exactly what a prequel should do...which is to get me really excited to read this new series! I seriously cannot think of another series prequel that does its job any better than this one does. This is a relatively short piece but it really doesn't feel short because the story is so big. I honestly can't believe how must story was packed into only 200 pages or so. This is a very entertaining read.

Brenda Novak is known as a romance writer. I have read and enjoyed her work before so when I saw her name on the cover of this book, I assumed that it would be a romance. There is some romance in the story but it is so much more. The romance in this story lives up to Brenda Novak's standards but the suspense in the story really steals the show in my opinion.

Evelyn is a psychiatrist in the process of opening a facility in Hilltop, Alaska that will house some of the most dangerous criminals in the United States. She was the victim of a psychopath when she was a teenager and has devoted her life to understanding the psychopathic mind. As an expert in her field, she is finding the perfect group of criminals to study at her facility often putting herself at risk in the process.

I found that I really liked the characters in this story and have my finger crossed that they will remain the focus as the series progresses. Evelyn has been though more than most people can even imagine. The fact that she is able to handle herself so well in difficult situations really speaks to the strength of her character. She is a fighter and she is tough but she is also willing to take advice when it is the smart thing to do. Amarok was nearly perfect. He may be a little too perfect but I suspect that we may see a flaw or two at some point in the series. He is good at his job, has perfect timing, and has to be the most patient man in Alaska or really anywhere.

The pacing of this story was perfect. The romance and the suspense really balanced out quite nicely and I had a hard time setting the book aside. I did enjoy the suspense aspect of the story a bit more than the romance. I kept asking myself as I read this story Why didn't anyone tell me that this story was about a stalker? The voice of the stalker in this story was fantastic.

I would highly recommend this story to others. I think that fans of romantic suspense will really enjoy this one. I cannot wait to get my hands on the first full length book in the series when it is released next year.

I received a copy of this book from Brenda Novak via NetGalley for the purpose of providing an honest review.

This review has been posted in the following locations:

My blog: http://carolesrandomlife.blogspot.com/2015/10/review-hanover-house-by-brenda-novak.html

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1421454675?book_show_action=false

I have also posted this review on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, and Library Thing.

Exciting prequel to a new series. Going to be hard to wait until next year for the first book in the series to be published.

Hanover House is the kickoff to Barbara Novak's new series about Dr. Evelyn Talbot, a psychiatrist who is hell bent on understanding the mind of the psychopath. After being kidnapped, tortured, and left for dead by her high school boyfriend, Evelyn dives into psychiatry with a vengeance and her career with culminate with the creation of Hanover House, a specialized facility in the wilds of Alaska where she will bring in some of the most dangerous psychopaths in the country. Unfortunately, not everyone is pleased about Hanover House coming to Hilltop, including the good looking Alaskan state trooper who is tasked with helping Evelyn secure Hanover House.

Woven into the story of Hanover House is Evelyn's kidnapper, Jasper Moore, who has drastically altered his appearance and spent the last twenty years searching for Evelyn so he can finish what he started when they were in high school.

I am not generally a fan of short stories but as the kickoff to a series, this story is perfection. It is equal parts horror, suspense, and romance in appropriate measure. Novak's writing is clean and crisp, the characters well-formed and enjoyable. Evelyn Talbot is the victim who refuses to see herself as such, yet carries such a burden that it is difficult to separate her trauma from the rest of her self. The reader cannot help but identify with Evelyn and root for her to not only survive Jasper's return, but also succeed in her plan for Hanover House.

I'm very much looking forward to the first book in this series and highly recommend Hanover House.

This kickoff to a new series grabs the reader and won't let go until the last page in the final novel. Novak has created a strong heroine determined to understand serial killers, even if it means putting her own life at risk.

Looking for a fast paced, breathtaking thriller? Then you need to read Hanover House. This novella is a superb introduction into this new series by Brenda Novak,

This novella centers around Evelyn Talbot who is not only a survivor of a serial killer, but is opening a level 4 maximum security facility to study the minds of the psychopath.

I received this copy of Hanover House by Brenda Novak from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

The prequel to the Hanover House Chronicles. I really enjoyed this book. The study of serial killers is such a fascinating subject. And Hanover House is going to be dedicated to the research of serial killers. In this book, Hanover House is still being built, but is almost ready for occupancy. Evelyn is working hard to make her dream a reality, but she also has to contend with being stalked by the serial killer who abducted and almost killed her when she was a teen. Wow, she has a lot on her plate. Evelyn is likable, and very resourceful. I also enjoyed her budding relationship with Amarok, the State Trooper she meets at Hanover House.

I am really looking forward to reading the next installment in the series.

I received a free ARC from NetGalley

Loved the kick-off to the Hanover House Chronicles. I am looking forward to the next book in this series. Suspense at it's best.

This book grabbed me and didn't want to let go! It was a suspense filled prequel novella for a new series called the Hanover House Chronicles. I cannot wait to read the next book in the series!

It's a fast paced story that you won't want to put down. It is set in Alaska where Dr.Evelyn is building a prison, Hanover House, to study criminal behavior and psychopaths after she went through a horrific incident as a teenager. Lots of tension in this exciting thriller; I chewed of a finger nail without realizing I was doing it! Yet the author manages to give us a bit of a budding romance which was sweet with the Sheriff.

I highly recommend this week written book! You will read this and be hooked and anxiously await the next in the series... just like me!

The book, Hanover House was creepy. Down right creepy. Psychiatrist Evelyn Talbot has finally reached her dream after years of studying and work, a facility for the worst of the worst psychopaths. This has been her life’s work because a psychopath abused her as a teenager. She wants to understand - Why do psychopaths do what they do and do not feel the same emotions?

This is the first introduction to the characters and concept within the following books. The facility is located in Alaska in a very remote area. Alaskan State Trooper, Sergeant Amarok is against this being built in his area, but he knows his job. The problem is he realizes that he wants to protect Evelyn and he has some really strong feeling for her, but she believes she is too damaged to ever have a relationship with a man again. And there is the psychopath who is stalking her. Hold on to your seat and make sure the door is locked.

I really enjoyed this book! I am really looking forward to the rest of the series. I do love crime dramas and serial killers and this book is right up my street. I love that the author has been able to do research on what makes serial killers and violent criminals tick and has been able to discuss it through the characters in the book. Genuinely looking forward to more from Brenda Novak in this series. I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

HANOVER HOUSE is very different from the books by Brenda Novak that I have read but looks to be a "nail biting, on the edge of the seat" series. Dr. Evelyn Talbot was raped, tortured and left for dead by her high school boyfriend, Jasper Moore, twenty years ago when they were sixteen. The experience left her marred for relationships with those of the opposite sex. Actually, she won't let anyone get too close to her and she has devoted her life to the study of psychopaths. Hanover House is a program that she has developed for the study of psychopaths that she and her team of doctors have hand picked of prisoners already in the prison system in all of the states and the facility will be in Hilltop, Alaska, the only place that will allow it in their town. Interviewing the prisoners considered for the program can be a scary experience and indeed she was attacked during one of the interviews. On top of this, Jasper Moore was never arrested and is still on the loose. Evelyn is always looking over her shoulder. Jasper has changed his looks and is still looking to get to Evelyn. HANOVER HOUSE ends on a cliff hanger and so the next book, WHITEOUT is a must read!

This is my first Brenda Novak read and I have to say, well done. An edge of your seat story line, a hot hero, a damaged but determined heroine and an unrepentant villain make Hanover House a must read.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 Stars.

This series has some major potential. I was a bit skeptical about reading this one because I am not a huge romance fan and I know that Brenda Novak is known for her romance novels. I'm so glad I gave this one a chance and I hate that the next book doesn't come out for nearly a year!

Evelyn Talbot was kidnapped and tortured when she was a teenager. She is now a successful psychiatrist who is determined to find out the workings of the mind of a psychopath. Only then can she help potential victims and stop these predators before the damage is done. Evelyn is planning to open the Hanover House in Alaska where she will study the worse psychopaths in the prison system.

This novella grabs the reader immediately. I think that the romance aspect with Amarok moved along a little too quickly considering Evelyn's history, but it's hard to drag things out in a novella so I'll let that pass. I am excited to read about Hanover House. It promises to be suspenseful and exciting. I just hope this is still on my mind a year from now! Highly Recommended.

I am normally a romance girl! That is just my favorite genre and it's actually how I discovered this author. That being said, I love her romance stories so I wanted to try something different. I LOVED Hanover House and I am so excited for this series!!!

I absolutely loved this book. Did not want to put it down after I picked it up. Even ignored my college homework to read any chance I got. I love thriller type books and have been a fan of Brenda Novak when she writes that kind of book. While reading this, I really wanted to learn more about what happened to Evelyn when she was sixteen. I kept wanting the story to go back even further and tell it from that time period. Hopefully there will be like a prequel to the prequel. I was disappointed that she trusted Amarok as easily as she did. I would have liked a little more standoffish. I like how she is trying to figure out why people do the evil things they do. It had me very intrigued. I can not wait for the first book of the series. Just from what little glimpse that was given, this is going to be awesome.

I kept seeing this advertised on Facebook and was intrigued by the cover since I'm a big fan of mystery/thriller books. Thrilled that I was able to get a copy for review, I dove into it. I finished this book in two sittings, it was a very interesting and easy read. That doesn't mean it wasn't an emotional roller coaster, though. I finished this book at midnight and wasn't sure I would be able to sleep since my heart was still being fast from the excitement.

The characters were believable and the protagonists were definitely likable. You really feel for Evelyn and the problems she faces in her everyday life because of what happened to her as a teenager. You find yourself urging her to open up and let herself experience life. The antagonist is well developed also, and generates a strong feeling of hatred. The author did a very good job rounding out and describing her characters. I'm looking forward to reading more and seeing how they are developed further.

​Hanover House is the prequel to a new suspense series from Brenda Novak. I found Hanover House to be a perfect read. Just the right amount of romance mixed with suspense and bone chilling fright for our heroine, with areas where I couldn't turn the pages fast enough to discover what was happening next. I was given a copy to review and am looking forward to Whiteout, the next book in the series.

I thought this story was very compelling. It is a great prequel and teaser to the upcoming series. Evelyn is a psychiatrist that studies the worst criminals; those that kill for joy and seem to feel no remorse. As a teenager, her best friends were killed brutally by her boyfriend and then he attacked her. Since her escape, she has made it her mission to understand why the most normal seeming individuals become horrible killers. She is assembling the killers she studies in Alaska at "Hanover House." Another point of view in the book comes from her attacker, Jasper, who still roams free. He had left the country, had plastic surgery, and has returned to find Evelyn. The other viewpoint is from the Alaskan police officer who is against the house being built in Alaska, but he becomes Evelyn's protector. The chemistry between Evelyn and Sergeant Amarok is great. I love his willingness to be patient with her situation. Also, seeing the psychopath's thoughts as he's tracking her provided so much depth to the story. I think this really sets up what will come in the future novels. You'll be on the edge of your seat and begging for more at the end. I had a little bit of a hangover at the end from the excitement. I can't wait for future installments. I received a copy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

“Hanover House” is a digital prequel to a new suspense series by Brenda Novak. At 234 pages it is described as a novella to set the scene for the rest of the Hanover House chronicles. As a teen Evelyn was terrorised by her High School sweetheart Jasper. After Prom night he killed her friends and left her for dead after days of torture in a wooden shack that had been their “place”. The physical injuries were horrendous but it was the psychological effects that have had a lasting effect on her. Despite an extensive search by police Jasper was never found and Evelyn suspected that he was still alive. Just waiting for the opportunity to get to her. As a result Evelyn has made it her life’s work to uncover what makes a psychopath tick. She is a renowned expect in her field trying to work out why they do what they do, attempting to isolate whether nature or nurture have anything to contribute to the birth of an antisocial maniac. After much wrangling Evelyn has got government support to set up a secure psychiatric prison where she can assemble these characters in one location and analyse their psyche and behaviour. Serial killers and anti-social monsters who have managed to blend into society until their crimes have been revealed. Hanover House is given the go ahead and a location is found in the sleepy town of Hilltop, Alaska. Hilltop is a fairly isolated community about an hour from Fairbanks and it’s fair to say that not all the locals are particularly keen on the unit opening. Even the local State Trooper has been quite open about his opposition. This book is large scene-setting for the main event. “Whiteout” will be the first main book in the series and is currently pencilled in for a September 2016 release. The series shows a lot of promise. Evelyn is an interesting character. A tough cookie who has been through an awful lot and is still looking over her shoulder. This novella sets her up as a character and introduces us to her family and the local people of Hilltop. Her attraction to the much younger State Trooper, Amarok, is an interesting diversion and of course there is still the threat of Jasper. Still out there, unwilling to let Evelyn go.

Dr. Evelyn Talbot is a very passionate psychiatrist. She wants to help the victims of psychotics. She wants to know why these men do the things they do. Can she find a link in their minds and start to stop these horrible crimes from even happening?

In high school, Evelyn's best friends were murdered, she was kidnapped and tortured for days. Their murderer, her kidnapper, was her boyfriend, he thought he killed her and left her to die. But she escaped, and so did he. He got away with everything he did, never to be found by police.

Now, 20 years later, Evelyn, still haunted by her past, is scared to get close to anybody. She has never dated, never even really formed any friendships, she is scared to get close to anyone again, fearing something else bad may happen. So she has no issue moving to a remote Alaskan town. She has finally convinced the government to build a high security new facility where some of the country's worst psychopaths will be transferred to, for her to lead a small group of other phychiatrists to study deeper into their minds.

This new facility is located in a very small, remote town in Alaska. There is one cop in the entire town, a State Trooper named Amarok. Amarok is not happy about Hanover House being built in his town and hasn't exactly kept it a secret. But now he is seeing a different side to Evelyn and may just be developing feelings for her. Likewise, Evelyn is feeling things she has never felt in her life, and never thought she would, when around Amarok. Just as things begin to look up for Evelyn, something horrible comes back from her past to haunt her.

WOW! This book was phenomenal!! I absolutely loved everything about it! I truly felt so many different things throughout this book. I can not wait for the first book in this series to come out! I will be very impatiently waiting !

Oh. Man. This is good. Really good. Evelyn Talbot has just become one of my favorite heroines. She is strong, smart, educated, beautiful and terribly damaged from her unbelievable ordeal as a teenager. And she's a survivor who is determined to continue to survive. But she's pretty convinced that she can never have a healthy sexual relationship...never...ever.

That was before she met Amorok, the sigh worthy Alaskan State Trooper assigned to Hilltop. He has made it plain that he doesn't want Hanover House in his town, but he doesn't feel the same way about the beautiful Evelyn Talbot. When vandals damage the as yet unfinished Hanover House, Evelyn comes to town to check the damage. The first thing she does is call local law enforcement to meet her. It is evident from the beginning that Evelyn is just as attracted to Amorok as he is to her. But....she just can't. Just can't. Then begins the most gentle and sincere seduction. Amorok, which means Wolf, is determined. Evelyn is the only woman he has been seriously attracted to in years. He will do anything, take any amount of time, to get past her issues. It's beautiful.

But there is so much more going on in this book. It's much more than a romance. Ms. Novak writes Evelyn's motivations with so much passion and clarity that there is no doubt that, in spite of the obstacles, Evelyn will prevail and see her dream fulfilled. Hanover House will happen. But there are many more obstacles than Evelyn knows about. She's about to be in a deep well of hurt from the incident in her past. And, possibly, more in her future.

This book is a novella introduction to her new series. Don't let that stop you. This is a long novella. It's wonderfully written, plotted and constructed. A satisfying read that made me anticipate the release of the first full-length novel in the series, Whiteout, which will be available in September of 2016, without making me crazy about a cliffhanger. Ahem...I'm also looking forward to Amorok's continued seduction of Evelyn. So, my recommendation is to go ahead and get this book, and....

Enjoy!

Really enjoyed this book and it set the scene very well for the next one in the series. Very strong lead characters and fast moving storyline, would definitely recommend it.

Great suspense novella. Evelyn Talbot was the victim of a violent psychopath as a teenager. Now as a psychiatrist she studies incarcerated serial killers. It's a dangerous job, she and her new facility are unwanted by the townspeople, and her past follows her. But she finds her first love interest that might help her finally have a normal relationship. This is a great start to a new series. I can't wait to be creeped out by the next book!

Hanover House is a prequel novella to the Hanover House Chroniclest. The first book in the series is [book:Her Darkest Nightmare|26134206], which is currently expected to be published in September 2016.

I thought this was a great lead-in to the series. I couldn't put it down most of the time. The thriller aspect was excellent and I loved the romantic interest. Actually, I basically liked all of the characters. They felt real. Even the bad guys.

The only issue I had with the book was the insta-lust aspect. You have a woman that has not had a romantic interest in 20 years and when she meets this man she is overwhelmed by her attraction to him. Somehow, one of the parties decides on day one that they need to make the 'relationship' work. It was just too fast to be believable. The thoughts may have been there, but the conversation about making it work on day one felt very unrealistic. I think if the book was a bit longer, the relationship could have built a little slower and felt more natural. After that initial awkwardness of the new relationship, I felt that it was better.

Overall, great novella. I am looking forward to reading the rest of the series.

This is the first Brenda Novak novel I have read and I really enjoyed this novella as a prelude to what appears to be a series of books based around Hanover House.

Hanover House is a purpose built high-security prison housing psychopaths handpicked by Dr Evelyn Talbot to study in greater detail as she tries to 'get into their minds' to find out how they tick.

This is a personal crusade and stems from her being attacked and left for dead by her boyfriend Jasper at 17. He is a serial kille who was never caught and as such is at large and Evelyn has never been able to drop her guard in the intervening years as she believes it is just a matter of time before he resurfaces.

Brenda Novak manages to keep the tension well throughout the book as she weaves Evelyn's story with updates on her attacker's current life and his reinvention.

There was some romance as Evelyn and the local state trooper became friends and discovered there was a mutual attraction. Some thriller readers may have found this a little distracting but I thought it explored how a victim can be affected in later years and was not a negative for me.

As I expecting for a novella, it ended too soon and the developments felt a little rushed. However having been treated to an excerpt from the next book 'Whiteout' I sense that Brenda will be revisiting several aspects touched on and I look forward to delving deeper into the characters psyches and for the 'cat and mouse' game between Evelyn and Jasper to re-emerge and continue to be an underlying theme until he is caught.
Well done Brenda Novak!

I really enjoyed this prequel to the start of the series, I can't wait for the first full book the series. I love the premise of the book, anyone who is a fan of Criminal Minds should read this book.

Wow! This book kept me reading from start to finish. Can't wait for the next one in the series!

Psychiatrist Evelyn Talbot is an expert in the field of psychopaths, but not only because of her studies -- she's lived through it herself. Raped and tortured by a boyfriend when she was just sixteen, she pushes through all her fears and insecurities and becomes a psychiatrist working with the country's worst psychopaths, despite the constant fear that they never did find that boyfriend. Now, as she works to open Hanover House, a medical health centre for these criminals, she must fight against both these fears and the hostility from the townspeople who aren't fond of having such an institution near them.

I could resume this novella, the start to this series, with three words: sign me up!

I am very, very excited to read more of this story -- it leaves you starving for more in one of the best cliffhangers I've read this year. It's the perfect teaser for what is sure to become a bestselling thriller series. From the plot to the dialogue, Novak has written a thriller that will keep you captivated from beginning to end.

I particularly have to say that the characters are all very strong. Evelyn is someone we can both sympathize with and then root for, while Sergeant Amarok is the perfect bad boy/gentleman for her. They are sure to make a dynamic team! Meanwhile, Novak writes her villains so well that I sometimes had to put the book down to remind myself that I was just reading a novel. I do have to admit that this book made me double-check the locks on my door before bed.

I would highly recommend this book to any adult who wants a good teaser into an upcoming series that's sure to be a hit! I'd like to thank Brenda Novak, as well as Netgalley, for the free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Synopsis:
"Psychiatrist Evelyn Talbot has dedicated her life to solving the mysteries of the psychopathic 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…"

First this is the prequel or a short novella in preparation for "Her Darkest Nightmare" or "Whiteout" depending on where you look.
I have a degree in psychology so these books are the best for me! I'm fascinated by why people do what they do. I'm also fascinated by the serial killer's mind and why they do what they do. This combines those for me. This book was just great! I can't wait for the next installment. Evelyn in a "heroine" that you can really believe in. She seems like a real person and will put on her brave face but has those fears in her mind. This book has the makings of an excellent love story! I can't wait for more!!

Praise Brenda Novak!
I’m so glad this prequel came along and I had the chance to read it. This is such a great story that I can’t wait to read the first book. Psychopaths are an enigma for Dr. Evelyn Talbot since she was a victim of a horrendous attack by her boyfriend Jasper at sixteen. After killing her best friends and torturing her for three straight days, Jasper cuts her throat and burns the cottage he is being hiding leaving her for dead. Jasper was never found. But Evelyn can’t understand why a normal person can do such things, so she makes it her life’s work to research the behavior of this people that to her understanding aren’t crazy, but lack the essential feeling of remorse. For her study, she is granted a facility in Alaska to harbor 200 of the worst serial killers and psychopath in jail. Her new institution will be Hanover House, a place where there is not scape.

This was my first book by Brenda Novak, it certainly won't be my last. Gripping read from start to finish. Thank you!

Great prequel!

Brenda Novak is always one of my go to authors but she keep stepping into new territory all the time. Love her books and this one is no exception!

Absolutely LOVED this book. I read it in one day and can't wait to read the next one. I was a bit worried about reading this as it was a prequel but was so engrossed from the start that I could not put it down. I'm glad the author picked a good place to end rather than leave me hanging on for Whiteout, although I can't wait to read it I don't feel disappointed at reading Hanover House.