Some Other Way by Margot Johnson

 Maybe what she wants is not what she needs

About the Book: Jayne Jones is not as plain as her mother makes her feel. Her life is full as surrogate aunt to her birth daughter, given up in open adoption five years ago, and as leader of the Adopt-a-Dog service. 

More than anything, Jayne wants to expand the overcrowded dog shelter on a coveted piece of adjacent land.  When Dr. Evan Scott, her high school crush, returns to his hometown to enlarge the local medical clinic on the very same property, he complicates everything. 

Now her formidable opponent, Evan is ready to forget past hurts and embrace a fresh start with the cute girl—now attractive woman—he remembers. But should Jayne bare her heart to the good-looking newcomer? And will her open secret change his mind?

Our Review: This sweet romance, while showing to great advantage the ‘gifts’ gained by living in a small prairie town, also reveals in heart breaking detail the long-term effects of the choice two women made to give their child a better life.

Based on a scale of 1-5, Some Other Way merits a 3.

Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews

Love, Legacy and Little Green Aliens, an over 40 beach town romantic comedy

 About the Book:  According to the Anagnos family curse, second son Xander is doomed to failure. After he inherits his Uncle Gus’s business in Trappers Cove, Washington, Xander jumps at the chance to prove his worth—to himself as well as his less than approving family members. Of course, he plans to remake Gus’ schlocky, alien-themed souvenir shop into something trendier and more upmarket. Who wouldn't want that?

          Hannah Leone, reporter for the Trappers Cove Beacon, is hell-bent on protecting Souvenir Planet, the beloved TC icon that draws thousands of tourists to their quirky beach town each year. But the Beacon is struggling to survive, and there’s no way Hannah can let an inconvenient crush on Xander stand between her and the biggest story to hit Trappers Cove in ages.    

          Caught in a battle of wills and sizzling desire, Xander and Hannah discover the bizarre depths of Uncle Gus’s obsession with aliens. When disaster strikes, they’ll need Xander’s skills for innovation and Hannah’s social connections to save Souvenir Planet.

But if these hard-headed foes don’t lay down their arms, the town they love will end up paying a heavy price. 

 Our Review: Once again, author Sadira Stone treats her fans back to the quirky denizens—er, citizens—of Trappers Cove and enjoy several good laughs along the way. Uncle Gus has passed on to that great celestial celebration in the sky when the story opens, but he must have been a pip in his heyday. Proof positive comes in the presence of his two best pals, also fanatics about aliens, Colonel Blowhard and Professor Yappy. With nicknames like that you gotta pick this one up because it’s an absolute hoot. And the romance between two deserving characters ain’t bad either.

Based on a scale of 1-5, Love, Legacy and Little Green Aliens merits a 6.

Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews

Let No Clan Put Asunder by Judith Sterling

 “It is no small thing to marry into the Donnachaidh clan, and there was nowhere to hide from it’s past.”

 About the Book: Once again, shy bookworm Gwyneth Camm discovers herself out of place while still inside the Salem, Massachusetts home inherited from her Great Aunt Ethel. Following the prompts left by Ethel, Gwen finds herself sucked into a gothic romance, inhabiting the body of its heroine.

This time, she’s a young, soon-to-be bride in 1970 on her way to Northern Maine, to a clifftop castle that harbors family secrets, Scottish legacies, hidden malice and maybe a vampire. Only by learning the truth will Gwyn return to her own life, where another puzzle still awaits.  

 Our Review: As with Book 1 in the Gothic Gwyn Mysteries [Trip the Light Phantasmic], author Judith Sterling uses her exceptional talent for in-depth historical research to settle the reader into the decade of the post-Vietnam 70’s with its iconic entertainment venues, clothing choices and hairstyle options. The author then flavors a detailed plotline with complicated family dynamics mired in long-held secrets, animosities and resentments. Until the missing groom is found and centuries old curses are crushed, Gwyn won’t be able to return home.

 On a scale of 1-5, Let No Clan Put Asunder deserves a 4.

 Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews

 

 

 

 

Soundings in the Dark by Brian Anderson

 About the Book: Minneapolis PI Lyle Dahms is drawn into the investigation of the murder of an old high school buddy. Suspicion has fallen on the dead man’s son, a star athlete and scholar who, virtually overnight, turned into a rebellious skinhead whose hate-filled diatribes spare no one, least of all his privileged, liberal father. Hired by the widow to help protect her son, Dahms soon discovers a host of others with motives to kill his old friend. But before he can close in on the truth, his investigation is hampered by the arrival of the dead man’s former girlfriend, now an embittered hooker. Claiming to know who killed his friend, she refuses to tell Dahms for fear she will be the next victim. When she bolts, she abandons her three-year-old daughter to his care, leaving Dahms—and the series’ cast of quirky returning characters—charged with keeping the little girl safe, finding her mother, and solving the murder before the killer can strike again.

 Our Review: Writing in a style reminiscent of Robert B. Parker’s Spenser PI, author Brian Anderson brings PI Lyle Dahms back for another adventure in this intriguing series. Littered with a cast of unique, quirky characters the pages turn quickly. If sharp, biting humor is your thing, this is the one for you. And this time--the star of the show this time is a 3-year-old every reader will recognize from someone in their own sphere. Ava is bright, charming and intrepid. The scenes between here and Dahms will break your heart.  

 Based on a scale of 1-5, Soundings in the Dark merits a 7.

 Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews

Dark Justice by Susan Vaughan

 Which is deadlier—the deaths he can’t forget or the danger she can’t remember?

About the Book: US Marshal Jack Thorne joined the DARK antiterrorism task force for one reason—to exact revenge on the smuggler responsible for the tragedy that continues to haunt him. While on vacation in Italy, Sophie Rinaldi overhears her host plotting to sell weapons-grade uranium to terrorists. She flees, but the man attempts to run her down with his car. She ends up in the hospital with the last crucial weeks erased from her mind—and still a target for murder. To determine what she knows, whether as an accomplice or a witness, Jack must keep her safe.

If she regains her memory, what she knows could destroy them both…

 

Our Review: In the concluding novel of the DARK Files series, the author delivers the epitome of tortured heroes to the reader. Dedicated to his job and as well as his crusade for revenge for the child he lost at the hands of a terrorist, Jack keeps his anger and pain buried beneath a hard shell while protecting a woman who could be another innocent victim of the same terrorist—or in on his latest scheme to traumatize the world.

Amnesia, a common trope used by novelists, often runs the same old-same old line—not with Dark Justice. Vaughan shows in minute detail the slow return of Sophie’s memory and how it impacts the outcome of the story. The adventure begins in Venice, offering the reader an in-depth description of the canals and thoroughfares, then takes the reader into the Italian countryside with an off-the-track view of rural life in a country most of us will never visit. As always, author Vaughan writes what she knows, and this one is a real treat.

 

Based on a scale of 1-5, Dark Justice merits a 7.

 

Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Authors

Dark Vision by Susan Vaughan

 Undercover…on the run…he’ll risk everything for her.

About the Book: Shrapnel damage to one eye has sidelined DARK Officer Matt Leoni, so he jumps at the chance for an undercover assignment at the US embassy of a small Mediterranean country. He’ll be working with Nadia Parker, a documentary filmmaker who believes he betrayed her on the past mission that sent her father to a federal prison.

When rebels set off an explosion, embassy security believe they are the bombers. Matt pulls Nadia to safety and they flee into the D.C. streets. Unable to rely on DARK, Matt is determined to protect Nadia, clear her name, and find answers.

As the two of them work together, trust grows and leads to passion, but both harbor secrets that could tear them apart. A bold plan to foil the traitor’s assassination plot could place Nadia in the crosshairs, and time is running out.

 

Our Review: As we’ve come to expect from this series, author Vaughan places the reader in and around Washington DC with two disparate characters on the run from any number of bad guys while trying to right several wrongs rooted in the past. Secrets for both Nadia and Matt—as do unforgotten passions and unresolved misunderstandings. This one’s a beauty.

 

Based on a scale of 1-5, Dark Vision merits a 6.

 

Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews

Dark Rules by Susan Vaughan

 Which is more dangerous, the undercover op or the heat between them?

About the Book:

Danger, secrets and lies…

Undercover government officer Simon Byrne must stop an arms dealer’s sale of uranium that could trigger world conflict. The mission goes sideways after the woman he once failed to protect is assigned as his tech officer. He vows to keep her safe, but she’s in his head—and heart—and no matter what he can’t get her out.

By-the-book tech expert Janna Harris has more secrets than most government agencies combined. A treason investigation into her late husband’s activities will expose many of those secrets and cost her the only man who has the ability to heal her battered soul. Emotions collide with danger as the powder-keg deadline ticks down on their mission—and their survival.

 

Our Review: Another of author Susan Vaughan’s talents shine bright in this book, this time as she has created two unique and individualized characters. Simon, the street savvy, smart mouth agent, is pitted against one of the few women he’s never been able to get out of his head: uptight, nerdy technician Janna Harris. As the layers hiding her many secrets are peeled back, his world is rocked to its very core, and he suddenly is fighting for more that just his life. He’s fighting for his heart.

          And that’s only one of Vaughan’s many talents.

 

On a scale of 1-5, Dark Rules deserves a 7.5.

Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews

Dark Cover by Susan Vaughan

 A traitor’s brother, an undercover fiancée—and a terrorist’s deadline…

About the Book:

Nick Markos has inherited the burden and shame of his brother’s dealings with terrorists, who demand he return the millions he skimmed. Hoping to uncover a plotted attack, the Feds install DARK Officer Vanessa Wade undercover as Nick’s glamorous fiancée.

Despite her expertise, Vanessa has grown to dislike undercover work. Under orders to make sure the sexy and tortured tycoon is no traitor, she soon realizes that instead he’s determined to regain his family honor—and his own. She tells herself to stay detached, but this man’s kisses make her emotions spin out of control. As they work together amid gala social events and terror threats, Nick and Vanessa cannot deny their mutual attraction, but her deception makes Vanessa feel as false as the rock on her finger.

Is their relationship only a charade? One that could explode—along with a terrorist bomb?

 

Our Review: Susan Vaughan gives the ‘bad guy’ from the first book in her DARK Files series a brother who is targeted by the brother’s terrorist organization, demanding he return the millions stolen by the brother before his violent death. While not exactly mourning his sibling’s death, Nick is determined to preserve the Markos’ family honor as well redeeming his own. Tossing in a vibrant heroine in the form of Vanessa the Confessor Wade who is supposed to protect him only complicates his primary goal. This small, compact undercover agent might be able to protect his body but. . . who or what will protect his heart?

     Mistakes of the past, for both Vanessa and Nick, keep cropping up, turning this story into an edge of your seat read. Vaughan’s talent for writing action—and making it believable—is enviable.

 

Based on a scale of 1-5, Dark Cover merits a 7.

 

Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews

Dark Mission by Susan Vaughan

 Can they hold onto the heartbreak of the past when he’s protecting her from a killer 24/7?

 About the book:

After museum curator Laura Rossiter witnesses a murder, she runs for her life, finally landing in a Maine resort where she feels safe. Until bad-boy Cole Stratton rides his Harley back into her life…

Now a DARK officer, Cole has a mission—protect Laura, the golden girl he’s never forgotten, and flush out a killer. As the danger increases, so does the tension between the ex-lovers. Cole still believes she’s out of his league… and that she’s hiding secrets she intends never to reveal.

Together 24/7, they can’t deny the passion reigniting between them. But as the painful memories of their past assail them and a killer closes in, they must find a way to trust each other—before their future is extinguished forever.

 

Our Review: From the first, at the ‘reuniting’ of former lovers Laura and Cole, the action pops off the page. . . and keeps on coming. Using subtle understatement, author Vaughan lets the reader know the level of danger these two characters face in terms of basic survival. Plus, a cast of secondary characters flavor this edge-of-the-seat tale, enhancing the romance as well as the suspense. Vaughan has a enviable talent for dialogue—from the Down-East locals to law enforcement at all levels. This is a treat to read as well as enjoy.

 

Based on a scale of 1-5, Dark Mission merits a 6.

 

Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews

Crushed Promises by Linda Trout

 About the Book: Rebecca Walker loves searching for lost treasure in the local caves of her hometown of Rock Ledge Arkansas but put those plans on hold in order to fulfill her sister’s dying wish to perform on Broadway. Just as her star on the Big White Way begins to soar, she returns home after her father suffers a debilitating stroke. While there, she’s determined to fulfill her dad’s lifelong quest for hidden Confederate gold, rumored to be buried in nearby caves.

Former army ranger Roy Maddox blames the accident that took his fiancée’s life on her sister, Rebecca. Now she’s back, pretending to care about the father she left behind to pursue her dreams of fame and glory. Despite their differences, they’re drawn to each other. They must locate, then retrieve the gold before they are blind-sided by an outside force who appears intent on taking the treasure and destroying their lives in the process.

Our Review: Once again Linda Trout displays an enviable talent for developing romance in subtle though powerful ways, then as an extra added attraction, tosses in the characters’ passion for local caves where Confederate gold is rumored to be buried. The pacing of the budding romance, combined with the allure of buried treasure, and uncovering the identity of who is trying to foul the works and steal the treasure keeps the pages turning.  

Based on a scale of 1-5, Crushed Promises merits a 6.

Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews

Shattered Promises by Linda Trout

 …she was the first, the only woman he ever loved. Can he forgive her for rejecting him?...

 About the Book: 

While investigating a plane crash in rural Arkansas, FBI Agent Wade Malone is stunned to discover the only woman he’s ever loved is living close by. As a hardened criminal closes in, putting Miranda in the crosshairs, Wade is conflicted about how to protect her while keeping his well-guarded emotions from resurfacing.

Miranda Johnson loves the life she has carved out as an artist, but she never expected to see her former lover again. Can they move past the hurts they each inflicted on the other, or will the secret she has kept from him all these years cost them everything?

 Our Review: Once again author Linda Trout has proved her enviable talent for describing small town life, right down to dialogue unique to the rural Ozarks, then infusing it into story writing. Shattered Promises, book 2 in the award-winning Rock Ledge series, showcases Trout’s ability to make the suspense, and resulting intense emotions, jump right off the page. This one is a real page turner.

 On a scale of 1-5, Shattered Promises deserves a 7.

 Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews

Tangled Promises, Bk 1, the Rock Ledge Series

 About the Book: Melody Rose lost one man to guns and violence and won’t put herself through that again. At first, Sheriff Jake Bennett wants nothing to do with the taciturn café owner, but Melody intrigues him. When a stalker targets her, he’s determined to protect the woman he has fallen for. But can Melody overcome her greatest fear and save a man she never dreamed would claim her heart?

 Our Review: Author Trout’s ability to describe characters, the human kind as well as the setting of Rock Ledge, the small Ozark Mountain town, grabs the reader’s attention from page 1. Then, she keeps the action keeps coming. Best of all, what woman can resist a man who thinks of himself as a …sheriff in a nothing county, living in a nothing town—and pathetically grateful to be there…?

Tangled Promises is a gem of a story, sure to win the attention of those who appreciate well written romantic suspense. 

 On a scale of 1-5, Tangled Promises deserves a 6

 Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews

Out of Body by Kimberly Baer

 Astral travel is amazing…if you survive the trip.

 About the Book: Those weird dreams Abby Kendrick has been having? Turns out they aren’t dreams after all. They’re out-of-body experiences, like the ones her cousin Logan is having. At first Abby has fun with her new ability, using it to spy on her neighborhood crush and spook a mean girl. But when Logan gets in trouble on the astral plane, the game changes, and Abby must bend the rules of out-of-body travel as she journeys to a distant realm. Her mission is a perilous one, and success is not guaranteed. Can she save Logan and find her way home again? Or will the cousins be lost forever on the astral plane?

 Our Review:  This is fine example of how an author demonstrates growth and development in their writing; in particular in-depth character development, fluid styling, style, effortless pacing and the infusing a wide gamut of emotions. While we adored The Haunted Purse, Out of Body surpasses it in all dimensions. We congratulate the author and look forward to the sequel of this delightful story.  

 Based on a scale of 1-5, Out of Body merits a 7.

Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews

 

Stone of Love by Margaret Izard

 Against all odds, is true love strong enough to save a human soul?

About the Book:  After leaving her abusive ex, American scholar Brielle DeVolt embarks on a career-changing opportunity: the renovation of a chapel ruin of the clan MacDougall. The attractive, broad-shouldered laird, Colin MacDougall may leave her weak-kneed, but can she trust herself to love again?

When he first meets Brielle, the curvy beauty captivates Colin and he sees her as his dream soul mate. When he learns his hereditary duty is safeguarding magic Fae stones, all he wants is to protect her from the evil forces of the Fae.

Traveling to the past to assume his forefather’s identity and find a missing magic stone is challenging enough but when Brielle appears, Colin must fight an evil Fae to save the realms as well as choose between saving the stone or saving his love.

Our Review: Paying acute attention to the fine details from period clothing to specialty foods, architecture and clan structures, the author then skillfully weaves all those details into an epic tale, infusing it with love: of home, country, family and one man for one woman. Margaret Izard knows how to tell a story!

Based on a scale of 1-5, Stone of Love merits a 5.

Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews

Island Detour by Maria Imbalzano

 Some detours are worth the trouble…

 About the Book:  Falsely accused of wrongdoing at a Princeton Prep school, Sophie Kearns accepts a temporary teaching position at an environmental school in the Florida Keys to wait out her suspension. The time away is meant to be an anxiety-free escape, but her clashes with the hot but arrogant marine biology teacher, Max Heaton, are anything but tranquil.

     Max is determined to start an environmental research institute at the school, but he suspects the gorgeous new Lit teacher, who lacks even the most basic outdoor skills, is there to hinder that dream. Yet, something about her tames the demons from his past, and he can no longer ignore the fire she’s lit inside him.

 Our Review:  Known for her ability to write snappy, evocative dialogue as well as descriptions of settings that literally jump off the page, author Imbalzano does not disappoint with Island Detour. The classic trope of opposites attract starts singing the moment Sophie and Max first meet, then the heat just keeps on coming. Plus, the underlying subplot of professional subterfuge keeps the reader turning the pages. Well done!

 Based on a scale of 1-5. Island Detour merits a 7.

 Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews

Dead Girl by Kerrie Faye

 Her coffin will have to wait.

 About the Book: Dying has its perks...mostly. Bullied teen Ember O'Neill goes from the weird girl to the tyrant of her school when she is resurrected from a deadly prank. Now secretly supernatural, she dethrones the school drama queen and snags the hot new guy, but her reign is at risk when the Order, a heretical sect, sends an assassin to eliminate her. Ember must expose her powers, potentially losing all she has gained, in order to save herself and her friends as her killer closes in.

 Our Review: All of us have known the Mean Girls [and guys] in our world. Whether they infested high school, college/grad school, or the business worlds, they possessed that one quality that made us feel like nothing, less than. This why Dead Girl and its characters is relatable on a variety of levels—and makes you want to stand up and cheer. So get ready for the ride of your life as you watch Ember and her two best friends form a bond that leads them on an adventure worthy of All American heroes. For a first novel, author Faye has done a terrific job, and we wait for the next in her Dead Girl adventures. 

Based on a scale of 1-5, Dead Girl merits a 6.

Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews

 

Home to Solace Lake

 Sometimes going home is the hardest thing to do.

About the Book: 

After Jerry Fields buried his mother twenty-two years ago, he cut all ties to the small town in Minnesota where he grew up. He swore he’d never return. But when his biological father, a man who never acknowledged him, leaves Jerry his entire estate, curiosity has him returning to Minnewasta. Why did Earl Rogers will him everything he owned when during his lifetime he didn’t give Jerry a minute of his time?

Denise Rogers wants to save the business that her deceased husband loved so much. But when her father-in-law Earl leaves all his property to his illegitimate son, saving the business gets much more complicated. Denise is determined to buy the property from Jerry Fields to keep it from being demolished and turned into condos. She wants to continue to run the business as a marine repair shop, knowing it's what her husband would have wanted. But events throw her plans into disarray, and she has to give up on her dream. Until Jerry offers to work with her over the summer to help her buy the property.

Jerry can’t stomach the idea of putting his half-brother’s widow out of a job and a home, so he decides to stay in Minnewasta to help her. At the end of the summer, Denise will purchase the property from him, and they’ll go their separate ways. But as they work together, their feelings for each other deepen into love, and they uncover long-held secrets that force Jerry to question everything he thought he knew about his parents. Can Jerry overcome past hurts and fears for a chance at love?

 

Our Review: It takes an honorable person to admit their mistakes, make amends, then work to ensure those mistakes don’t happen again. Jerry Fields and Denise Rogers are two honorable, honest people. Once again, author Jana Richards brings a vividness and honesty to her characters and story lines. All of us have made mistakes—some by accident, some by design—then regretted it. This prequel to the Love at Solace Lake series shows once again Richards’ talents for creating the human picture, then making it a fun read. Well done!  

 

Based on a scale of 1-5, Home to Solace Lake merits a 6.

Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews

 

Christmas at Solace Lake by Jana Richards

 It’s Christmas time at Solace Lake Lodge, but a series of thefts threatens everyone’s holiday spirit.

 About the Book: An emergency compels Drew Barnes to return to his family business, the Solace Lake Lodge, an inn deep in the Minnesota woods. Certain desperation is the only reason the family would ever allow him to fill in as their bookkeeper. No one has believed in him since a mistake got him fired from his previous job. Soon after he arrives, Drew is disheartened to discover thefts and financial irregularities. The last thing he needs is to be thrust into another crime related crisis.

After an allegation of sexual harassment led to her being fired—then virtually unemployable in her chosen profession—the only job sous chef Celeste Bishop finds is with the Solace Lake Lodge. Grateful to the Barnes family for taking her on, she’s made a good life for herself and her nine-year-old daughter in the three years she’s worked, and lived, at the lodge.

Soon after meeting, a powerful attraction ignites between Drew and Celeste. He’s all in, but she resists her feelings. She’s leery of their age difference; plus, an interracial relationship didn’t work for her parents. As Christmas approaches, the thefts escalate. Drew must stop the thief and redeem himself in his family’s eyes—as well as his own. He must also convince Celeste they deserve the gift of a happily ever after this Christmas.

Our Review: Author Jana Richards continues to demonstrate an in-depth appreciation for social issues, then infusing them into the plot lines for the Solace Lake series. In Christmas at Solace Lake, she has tackled the limitations faced by those with physical disabilities, the intricacies of interracial relationships and cyber crimes—how they are perpetrated as well as how their effects on businesses both large and small. Richards weaves each of these issues effortlessly into the romance between two people who have suffered due to things beyond their control. Emotions keep this story moving as the reader follows the multi-layered and well drawn characters.

Based on a scale of 1-5, Christmas at Solace Lake, merits a 7.

Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews

Truth and Solace by Jana Richards

 The truth could destroy them. Or set them free.

 About the Book:  Maggie Lindquist left Solace Lake determined never to return. Circumstances have pulled her back and she’s helping to restore her family’s dilapidated fishing lodge. When she agreed to the plan. she didn’t expect to have to work side by side with the man who abandoned her ten years earlier. She didn’t expect to like him or want him ever again. But can she trust him as she once did?

Luke Carlsson rushes home to tend to his ailing mother. Her lengthy illness means he needs to stay, at least temporarily. And to stay, he needs to work. Solace Lake Lodge offers him a job and an opportunity to work with the woman he’s never stopped loving. But the restoration is unleashing secrets hidden for decades and no one is left unscathed. Especially not Maggie and Luke, whose love needs to be resilient enough to forgive, and strong enough to build a future together.

 Our Review: Secrets—past and present—which have cast a strong flavor throughout the Solace Lake series are finally revealed to all they have held captive. While the main point of endless family love and endurance always figure into this story, end of life issues also take a role and are handled with care and compassion. Jana Richards capacity for drawing out emotions is boundless.

 Based on a scale of 1-5, Truth and Solace earns a 7.

 Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews

Secrets and Solace

 No matter how deeply buried, secrets rise to the surface.

About the Book:  Scarlet Lindquist has agreed to help her sisters rebuild the dilapidated fishing lodge in Minnesota they inherited from their grandparents. While the lengthy restoration brings the three women closer, Scarlet’s support is only temporary. Her leave of absence from her job in Chicago is time limited and she has no intention of staying at Solace Lake Lodge. Frightening childhood memories are tempered by her fascination with the irritating construction contractor and his delightful daughter. If only she could trust her feelings for Cam. If only he would trust her.

The attraction Cameron Hainstock feels for Scarlet Linquist is , instantaneous. But he must avoid the beautiful marketing executive in order to focus his efforts on battling for custody of his only child. When the unimaginable happens, Cam faces the biggest challenge of his life and is reluctant to accept help.

If Cam and Scarlet don’t learn to trust, themselves and each other, they will end up going their separate ways.

Our Review: following the launch story in the Love at Solace Lake series, a construction manager and marketing genius build on the mysteries created by their pasts. Author Richards shows her gift for building suspense, based on the past and what waits around the corner. The characters are colorful and well-drawn in a logical and realistic manner. Above all, the lifelong effects of alcoholism and domestic violence—with a touch of possible infidelity—keep the pages turning. This is one honey of a story and sets a firm stage for more to come. Stay tuned! 

Based on a scale of 1-5, Secrets and Solace merits a 7.

Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews

Lies and Solace

 She can’t live with one more lie. He can’t tell the truth.

About the Book:  Harper Lindquist is convinced she’s found the answer to her financial prayers. Unless she pours cash into crumbling Solace Lake Lodge, she’ll lose her family’s legacy. Her would-be savior arrives in the middle of a Minnesota blizzard, and she’s determined to prove to her reluctant, and trapped, financier the lodge is a sound investment. But Harper isn’t completely honest with him. And she has no idea the lake is hiding secrets of its own.

Ethan James is a liar, but his money is very real. He isn’t convinced a broken-down inn is a smart investment opportunity. But the more he understands Harper’s dreams and desires, the more he wants to be the man to make them come true. The trauma in both their pasts means neither can fully trust the other. They must find the courage to love, to trust, and to accept, or yesterday’s sorrows will keep them apart.

Our Review: As with any story offered by the talented Jana Richards, all too human fears and frailties take a large role, offering readers a spot- on glimpse into the lives of the characters. With Lies and Solace, the long-lasting effects on adult children of alcoholics and those adults left alone as children due to domestic violence are clear and convincing—as well as heart wrenching. This is a series to be cherished.

Based on a scale of 1-5, Lies and Solace merits a 6.

Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews

 

The Gardener's Secret by Sheila Hansberger

 Loyalty to a stranger opens her to more danger than she’d ever imagined.

 About the Book: Believing she’ll get to report gritty news, Callie accepts a job at her hometown newspaper. Instead, she’s assigned the gardening column—a subject she knows nothing about. She begs advice from a tight-lipped neighbor when he admits he’s a retired gardener, even though his mannerisms and speech suggest he’s anything but. Not knowing the full truth doesn’t matter—she needs his help. The townsfolk think him strange and warn Callie to keep her distance, but she regards him and his family as friends. Learning their horrifying secret doesn’t deter her, even though loyalty will draw her into danger.

 Our Review: Debut author Sheila Hansberger displays an enviable talent for creating a subtle sense of danger with the secretive gardener next door. As well, her sense for the setting in a small southern town and all those attendant joys are spot on. This has been a joy to read. Cannot wait for her next adventure.

 Based on a scale of 1-5, The Gardener’s Secret merits a 6

 Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews

 

 

 

The Nightman's Odyssey by Tony-Paul de Vissage

 About The Book: In 1249 France, Damien La Croix has all he ever desired: loving parents, close friends, and the woman he’s loved since they childhood. An epidemic of plague takes all that away. Devastated the loss, he only wants to continue his existence, but it comes at a high cost. He is never again truly happy and eventually comes close to losing his soul.

Our Review: author de Vissage, known for his compelling story telling ability has created another vampire saga in the form of Damien La Croix, a man driven to live forever has never been satisfied with anyone or anything. Just when Le Chevalier du Morte believes he finally has everything he wants and needs, Fate—in a variety of form—intervenes and takes it all away. In the end, it takes an asteroid strike before Damien discovers the perfect woman—and a life they create together. Fans of de Vissage and vampire fiction will love this one.

On a scale of 1-5, The Nightman’s Odyssey deserves a 5.  

Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews