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