Don’t ever doubt yourselves or waste of second of your life. It’s too short and you’re too special…
On
her journey Evie encounters many people, places and things to help her not
waste a second of her life. She learns she is too special.
Friday, March 28, 2025
Stone of Doubt by Margaret Izard
Monday, March 24, 2025
Chosen, by Toni V. Sweeney
Lifelong enemies vie for the love of a
woman who is the key to unlocking the door to the Dark World. . .
Lifelong enemies, the physician and
the master of Land’s End Island, become rivals for Lisa Chambers’ body as well
as her love—for she and her unborn child are the key to opening the door to the
Dark World.
Our Review: The reader is immediately drawn into this fast-paced
paranormal thriller. As Lisa struggles to recover not only from her multiple
injuries but her memory of events surrounding the accident that caused her
husband’s death, something else, something vivid and evil lurks in the
background. Discovering the who—but more important the why keeps
the pages turning.
Based on a scale of 1-5, Chosen merits a 5.
Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews
Friday, March 21, 2025
Scandalous in Huntington Beach by Melody DeBlois
Sparks fly when a feminist and a politician inherit a rundown B&B . . . and a baby.
About the Book: California senate hopeful Bennett Browning knows nothing about babies. When his former girlfriend dies and leaves him with the daughter he knew nothing about, he’s left scrambling until he meets Emma Kuan, his daughter’s aunt, who volunteers to be the baby’s nanny.
Emma is used to
keeping secrets. She and her sister always hid their tragic past, but she’s
stunned to learn her sister hid the baby even from her. After meeting the
infant who steals her heart, she’ll do anything to be with her, even living
with a stranger.
Worried about a
potential scandal, Bennett and Emma juggle jobs and living arrangements with
parenting. Then a doctor delivers bad news about the baby—forcing them to make
drastic changes in their priorities.
Our Review: The author paints a complex, vivid picture of two people from diverse backgrounds who come together in order to save an orphaned infant from the foster care system. Over the course of raising that child, a new relationship is born. Just as it begins to thrive, the ultimate blow hits—forcing them to reexamine the direction of their lives. On the surface, this is a heart breaker. Underneath it all is the long-lasting effects of abuse, neglect, substance abuse and mental illness on those who survived—and those who did not.
On a scale of 1-5, Scandalous in Huntington Beach merits a 4.
Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews
Monday, March 17, 2025
This Wicked City by Michael Walsh
About the Book: Crime and corruption are rising in Ocean Park, a tired factory town in northern Massachusetts. The police and fire departments are no help—they're staging a work slowdown to protest a pay freeze caused by city budget cuts.
Police Detective Matt Conley is disgusted with the dereliction
of duty, and when tasked with solving the murder of a young Haitian immigrant,
he infuriates the force by teaming with the victim's friend Emmanuel to find
the killer. They encounter an enterprising family of Voudou worshipers, a
ruthless real estate magnate, and a clever, love-struck arsonist in their
search for justice.
Our Review: In this fast-paced
contemporary whodunit, the author paints a vivid picture of a city in crisis,
struggling to reclaim its former identity. Among the chaos are law enforcement
and fire fighters, some who have lost their way along with their city—while others
who stand for what is right, working overtime to do the right thing. Fans of
police procedurals will love This Wicked City while waiting for the next
in this fascinating series.
Based on a scale of 1-5, This
Wicked City merits a 5.
Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women
Reviews
Friday, March 14, 2025
Return to Victoria Island by Karen Andover
Trust is Everything.
About the Book: When hardworking accountant Ava Morrison is passed over for her dream promotion, she is disappointed. But when her employer gives her two weeks to sign a high-value client or be fired, she is devastated. Then she is reminded of the annual boat show on Victoria Island, a picturesque vacation haven off Florida’s northeast coast and realizes it would be a good place to recruit wealthy businesspeople.
Because someone is stealing from
property developer Jack Rutledge, he needs the help of a discreet accountant.
He asks Ava to audit his company books; in return he will introduce her to
potential clients. Soon, things turn dangerous. As the partnership becomes more
personal, it could add up to love—or prove to be a fatal miscalculation.
Our Review: In the first pages
of this short romantic suspense, heroine Ava describes her situation as “an
out-of-control roller coaster”, thus setting the pace. To the credit of the
author, the hits just keep on coming. Drawn in from page one where the jist of
the story is spelled out in a clear, concise manner, the pages will keep on turning,
first to identify who is stealing from handsome, enigmatic Jack, second to
learn who is threatening Ava, and third the why of it all. Author Andover has
created a beauty of a story. We wonder what she’ll do with the next in this series.
Based on a scale of 1-5, Return to Victoria Island merits a 6.
Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women
Reviews
Wednesday, March 12, 2025
The Bangers Tavern Romances by Sadira Stone
Come to Bangers Tavern, where everybody knows your name—and helps promote romance when it’s least expected.
About the Books:
Christmas
Rekindled features
two Scrooges who collide under the mistletoe, only to discover their kisses
are too hot to handle. Home for the holidays, Charlie resumes her old job at
Bangers and locks horns with the hunky, hostile bartender. But when greedy
developers threaten their bar, River and Charlie must team up to save it.
Delicious Heat shows off Cupid’s lousy timing. Bangers’ chef Diego falls hard for frazzled nurse Anna who is pregnant with her ex’s child. How can he convince her—and interfering families on both sides—that he’s in it for keeps?
Over the last few years, we greatly
enjoyed coming to know the individual characters in this series. Having them
under one cover keeps them all together—and a prime spot on our Keeper Shelf.
Monday, March 10, 2025
Prickly Poppy by Kara O'Neal
About the Book: Hazel Rutherford hires Kit Kirby, a saloon owner and hell raiser whom all the women—except Hazel—swoon over, to escort her back to Brownwood, Texas to protect her while she rescues her young cousin from a manipulative villain. He calls her prudish. She calls him irresponsible. He calls her prickly. She calls him a conceited hell trap.
There
is no way she’ll make it to Brownwood with her sanity intact. But when Kit
changes the game by kissing her, she’ll be lucky if she gets through this
ordeal still owning her heart.
Friday, March 7, 2025
Evil Alice and the Borzoi by DK Coutant
About the Book: The paradise of Hawaii’s Big Island is shaken after the body of a young woman is found on a university research vessel during a class outing in Hilo Bay. Psychology professor Cleo Cooper is devastated to learn one of her favorite students knew the girl and is under suspicion for the murder. Danger lurks both on land and the sea for Cleo as she and her friends search for the killer.
In between paddling, swimming and
arguing with her significant other, Cleo discovers all is not what it seems on
the Big Island—and she must unravel the truth before she becomes the next
victim.
Monday, March 3, 2025
The Wrath of Monsters
Allison Lee and her friends must save the world without becoming the monsters they battle.
About the Book: Allison hoped her life would be free of torment after
escaping the faeries. No sooner than she and her friends return home, the
government imprisons Bria and Haji on an isolated military base where
scientists experiment on them. Allison’s plan to rescue them backfires after
she reveals Bria’s location to the faeries who then mount a raid to capture the
faery child. With Bria’s blood, they will be able to create more enthralled
super magicians to wage war against humanity.
The attack on the
military base is just the beginning. After an electromagnetic pulse knocks out the
power for the entire west coast of the United States, it becomes clear more
powerful foes than the faeries are invading Earth. Allison and her friends, who
know well the dangers involved, have their work cut out for them in order to
save the world they know.
Our Review: Faithful fans of the Allison Lee Chronicles will take this
latest edition to the series and tuck it on their Books to be Treasured shelf.
Despite a somewhat stilted beginning, newcomers to this series will be taken by
Allison for her spirit, guts and devotion to her friends, as well as her
determination to do the right thing. The action is non-stop; the dialogue is
crisp and clear; the price to be paid is enormous. Do Not Miss this one.
Based on a scale of 1-5, The Wrath of
Monsters merits a 5.
Sunday, March 2, 2025
The Birthright of Ezekiel Wilson
About the Book: At twenty-one, Ezekiel Wilson is a man, grown up after hightailing it to Texas at the age of fifteen. He’s a valuable ranch hand, is prone to fisticuffs and brawling, although he doesn’t drink hard liquor. He has a fondness for saloon girls—until he meets a feisty Irish girl, Katie O’Neill, the sister of a cowboy he hires during a cattle drive. Katie is a healer, and although she lives with her aunt, who keeps a boarding house in Laredo, she soon comes to the ranch.
Before
Zeke is able to properly court her, he suffers serious injuries and must be
nursed back to health. Youngest of the five Wilson brothers, Ezekiel longs to
become a family man, although he misses his mother and brother back in
Kentucky. When the Wilsons become owners of the Double Deuce Ranch, Zeke
realizes his family and the love they share are his birthright. With Katie at
his side, he decides he can face anything.
Our
Review: There
are many fine points to be found inside this book; the author’s sense of
family—of the blood or of the heart—is likely the strongest point of all. The
love and respect forged by the Wilson men for their women and each other speaks
volumes for author Sontheimer Murphy’s ability to tell a compelling story.
Based
on a scale of 1-5, The Birthright of Ezekial Wilson merits a 5.
Kat
Henry Doran, Wild
Women Reviews
Friday, February 28, 2025
The Spirit of Vanderlaan by Susan Harris Howell
Was it coincidence that brought them together – or a ghost with a purpose?
About the Book: After Samantha Hayes and her students uncover a death on campus, they must draw on everything from science to seances to learn what happened before Samantha gets fired for dabbling in the paranormal.
Our Review: Set on a college campus, with all the underlying themes of political machinations, angst about grad school and GRE’s, plus the presence—or maybe not—of a mysterious spirit, this story hits all the high notes. The Spirit of Vanderlaan features a well-drawn, intriguing cast of characters whose goals, motivation and conflict are clear from page one. If you are one who dreams with fondness over the ‘days of yore’, you’ll love this one for the revered college professor who draws students in like a magnet. On the other hand, if returning to your college days would happen only if someone held a gun to your head, you’ll still love it. The antagonist is particularly well drawn for subtlety and underlying evil. Well done!
Based on a scale of 1-5, The Spirit of Vanderlaan merits a 6.
Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews
Friday, February 21, 2025
Johnny Talon and the Goddess of Love and War
The things a gumshoe does to pay the rent.
The closer he gets to finding
the soul of Eve's wife, the more Talon's life may be on the line as he learns
that there is more to his client than an angry woman. When his investigation
leads him into hell, Talon has an epiphany: if he's going to free Eve's wife,
he has to uncover her true identity.
Monday, February 17, 2025
Slow Train to Nowhere: Rosalee
“I do not want to go meekly to my fate”—Rosalee Thompson
About the Book:
Adopted as a tiny girl straight off the orphan train, Rosalee Thompson has
always been pampered by her wealthy parents. Now a young woman, she chafes at
the restrictive bonds of the ribbons and ruffles, chosen for her by an
over-protective mother. When the choices made for her include a prospective
husband, she becomes a runaway bride.
Matthew Speedwell has a
past he’d rather keep hidden and ideas for a future he’s not sure he can
achieve. The last thing he expects is to be made part of a reluctant bride’s
snowy escape. He believes he’s not good enough for Rosalee, but his heart has
ideas of its own. As, so it seems, does Miss Rosalee.
Our Review: And so
concludes this compelling American Historical series. After disembarking the
Orphan Train, four of the five orphans suffered untold abuse and neglect while Rosalee
was pampered, petted and above all—wanted. Desperately as it turns out. Rosalee
knows that; she reminds herself of the facts every day of her life. Imagine her
guilt and self-derision each time she encountered one of “the others” in the
small town of Clabbers Mills.
To find herself, in truth to
save herself, she does the only thing she feels possible—she runs. Straight
into Matthew Speedwell who, in his own way, shows her things she never felt
possible. Along with the new new chances come risks—ones which Rosalee learns
to face on her own.
Based on a scale of 1-5, Slow Train to Nowhere: Rosalee merits
a 7.
Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews
Saturday, February 15, 2025
The Rain Lily by Kara O'Neal
If she fails to fight back, all she ever could want will be lost forever.
Keaton
is a something of a mystery to all. A bachelor who is successful, chivalrous,
he keeps the ladies guessing. And Adeline is falling for him. She cannot fall
for him. She cannot stay in Houston, surrounded at every turn by her
past mistakes.
But
there are more dangers lurking—beyond the fear of losing her heart. Adeline
must learn to fight back—or everything she would ever want could be lost
forever.
Monday, February 10, 2025
Bad Guy by Ana Diamond
The line between good and bad is dangerously blurred after an FBI informant is tasked with infiltrating a dangerous Mafia crew. But when the mob boss turns out to be a woman, he’s forced to question who the real bad guy is.
About the Book: Luke Daniels has done his fair share of bad things. But when
the FBI offers
him a deal in exchange for infiltrating the local
Mafia’s infamous Costa Crew, Luke has no choice
but to accept the challenge.
Beautiful, smart and tough,
Sophia Costa wants out of the Crew. Appointed boss by her brother after he’s sent to
prison, she
wants no part in the murder, deceit and secrecy typical of Mafia life. Just as things heat
up between Luke and Sophia, a mysterious hitman targets
Sophia,
and Luke’s handler starts to wonder if Luke is up for the task.
As the lovers face the possibility of losing everything in order to be
together, and the lines between loyalty and betrayal blur.
Our Review: With its fast pace and crisp dialogue, Bad Guy is the next must read for devotees of mob-themed fiction. The characters jump off the page with their logical and relatable goals and conflicts. An added plus is when the lines between who is truly good and who is truly bad keep the reader’s attention until the very end. Putting the roses on this particular cake is the snazzy cover art. Well done all the way around!
Based on a scale of 1-5, Bad Guy merits a 6.
Friday, February 7, 2025
Found Among the Stars
Will
finding out about their pasts bring two people together—or tear an entire world
apart?
About the Book: Even in outer space there are dictators. Eiko, a crystal hunter for the Masaaki people, escapes marriage to a man she reviles. Forced to flee, she mourns the loss of her fiancé Hopper who disappeared thirteen years ago.
Hopper's
life is torn apart when he is kidnapped. His mind and body abused--leaving him
with no memory of the past. Now, as captain of the ship Amaya, he finds
information about the woman who haunts his dreams.
Trapped
and injured, Eiko is startled to find Hopper is not dead. His attempt to save
her is derailed when some of the same forces who put his kidnapping into place
abduct Eiko. Can Hopper, with Amaya, his living ship, their friends and the
Blessed Three bring down a dictatorship or die taking a stand for honor, and
right?
Our Review: There is no limit to the cast of characters, both primary and secondary, in this energetic and inventive story. Eiko, a woman of values and honor, will let nothing stop her from discovering the true fate of her beloved Hopper. Akino, aka Hopper, brutally injured and without much of his memory, is haunted by an unknown woman named Eiko. Regardless, he is a captain of high renown, with skills and intuition which place him above his peers. That his crew, both human and sentient, demonstrate their devotion Hopper every day in every way, speaks volumes for his character. Fans of this genre will take Found Among the Stars and keep it in their hearts.
Based on a scale of 1-5, Found Among the Stars merits a 4.
Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews
Monday, February 3, 2025
Slow Train to Nowhere: Milo by Laura Strickland
What must he surrender in exchange for love?
About the Book: Milo Digsby
remembers life before he rode the orphan train to Clabber Mills, Indiana,
including the farm back in England where his father worked so hard. He’s always
done his best to get along, but now as a grown man he’s being asked to give up
the one thing he won’t: his name.
Jessica Downing is the new
schoolteacher in Clabber Mills, though she prefers her ancestral vocation of
fortuneteller and witch. Milo stirs her instincts and her desire. But before
she can belong to him, this man so often denied his liberty must have the
chance to choose his future, even if it doesn’t include the gift of her heart.
Our Review: While all of the
books in this marvelous series are clear examples of what is known as “character
arcs”, Slow Train to Nowhere: Milo is clearly the strongest to date. Having
buried all of his emotions under a flannel shirt, Milo ‘Digger’ Digsby makes a
life for himself—dismal as it is—even when his dreams are thwarted at every
turn. The hubris demonstrated by the citizens of Clabbers Mills knows no
bounds, each day inventing new reasons to drive Milo, and other survivors of
the Orphan Train, from their tight-knit puritanical community, simply
because they can.
Readers would be wise to remember this
important adage: If we forget the past, we are doomed to repeat it.
Monday, January 27, 2025
Fatal Stand by Michelle Godard-Richer
Will they finally put an end to his sadistic reign of terror?
On the day of their daughter’s birth, Jessica and Jon learn David is
alive and plans to come after them again. Running with a newborn daughter and a
nine-year-old son isn’t an option. Instead, they fortify their homestead with a
sophisticated security system and prepare to make a final stand.
Despite being surrounded by allies, Jessica struggles to care for her
newborn under the strain of their living situation. Alone in the night, she
sees and hears things the cameras don’t capture. She questions her sanity but
refuses to break, determined to protect her family from the monster of her
nightmares—David.
David can’t forgive Jessica, and he can’t move on. Instead, time fuels
his obsessive need for revenge. With a new identity and a surgically altered
face, they’ll never see him coming.
Our Review: The author is adept at keeping the action at a non-stop pace. As well, the sharp, well written suspense keeps the reader glued to the page. The characters, everyday people with whom readers will quickly identify, keep the emotional quotient at warp speed. Fans of psychological thrillers will love Fatal Stand. It’s a winner.
Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women
Reviews
Monday, January 20, 2025
Slow Train to Nowhere: Jenny
To find her happiness, first she must believe.
About Slow Train to Nowhere: Jenny
Jenny Withers has never asked for much. Following a
tragic childhood in England, she arrived in America only to be sent west on the
orphan train and passed from one caregiver to another. Now grown and widowed,
she might build a fulfilling future, but only if she finds the courage to stand
up for her true desires.
Robert MacKenna hopes what Jenny desires is him. A man
with a broken past and a restless spirit, he has trouble settling at anything.
He’s never met a woman like Jenny, and he’ll move heaven and earth to be with
her. But his toughest task may be convincing her he can provide the love for
which she’s always yearned.
Our Review: Several
things stand out with any story written by Laura Strickland. Among them is the attention
to historical fact, particularly the fine details of customs and mores, as well
as phrases commonly used, which took us, unwillingly, back to our youth. As
with all the Slow Train stories, it is Strickland’s ability to show
emotions of the lead and secondary characters which elevates her skill as a
writer above others in this genre.
Based on a scale of 1-5, Slow
Train to Nowhere: Jenny merits a 7.
Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews
Saturday, January 18, 2025
Miss Green Eyes
A salute to those who are good at small talk. . . and those who are masters at avoiding it.
Ewan
Judge, while capable, smart and frustratingly handsome, has needled and teased
Annalee through the years but somehow, she must learn to get along with him, annoyingly,
the best cowboy in Texas. So, she accepts the challenge and finds herself in
the midst of more than one enemy.
Miss Green Eyes portends a terrific Wildflowers of Texas series and
we cannot wait for the next edition.
Monday, January 13, 2025
Stone of Hope by Margaret Izard
Only through hope can one find true love.
About the Book: In an unexpected twist of fate, USAF officer Dominic DeVolt looks into the Eye of Ra and is shown the beauty of Egyptologist Moira White. While trying to save his niece and nephew from evil Fae powers, he’s sucked into the past and dumped in the middle of Moira’s dig near the ruins of Tanis.
Moira
fears the attractive man who literally fell at her feet in the middle of her dig,
with two teenagers in tow, might be partnering with her arch-nemesis. That is
until the bold Special Ops pilot distracts her with a kiss. His duty as an uncle
tugs her heart, but is he only after her precious artifacts?
After
working together to survive, Dom will fight any number of mystic forces to be
with her—and Moira will do anything for his love.
Our Review: It
is always a treat to read one of Margaret Izard’s stories because we are
assured we’ll learn valuable history lessons of a country or culture. In Stone
of Hope it’s ancient and present Egypt—and what a history it is. In the
late 1930s, looting of ancient tombs has gone international as well as lethal. Because
of the times, women are considered less than, mainly due to rigid gender roles.
Once Dom shows Moira a different kind of consideration all bets are off
and she evolves from a shy, science nerd into a graceful, desirable woman. This
is an adventure to enjoy and cherish.
Based on a scale
of 1-5, Stone of Hope merits a 7.
Kat Henry Doran,
Wild Women Reviews
Saturday, January 11, 2025
No Good Deed by C. D. Bennett
No Good Deed…goes unpunished.
Kiya James’ relocation to idyllic Riverton Colorado is
disrupted when she discovers a critically wounded man lying in a field near her
home. Little did she know that her selfless act to save the man’s life would
thrust her into a world of corruption, greed, and danger. As the only witness
to the initial attack, and shaken by an attempt on her own life, Kiya is
offered refuge with the victim’s family. Together, they struggle to uncover the
circumstances that would trigger an unknown assailant to unleash a string of
deadly attacks in an otherwise quiet rural ranching community.
Jake McCleary’s world could have been destroyed with a
single bullet if it hadn’t been for the quick actions of a stranger. Now, in a
desperate attempt to protect her, and his entire family, Jake must fight to
defend his home, livelihood, and the woman who was rapidly capturing his heart,
against the vicious actions of a criminal that will stop at absolutely nothing
to get what he wants. But will they find the answers they need in time, or will
they lose everything to the conceit of a madman?
And will the bond between his wounded brother and the woman that saved him prove to be too big of an obstacle for Jake to overcome in the pursuit for Kiya’s love?
Our Review: A simple morning ride on horseback sets off a series of events spiced with intrigue, danger, and newfound love. No Good Deed is a story of family, that of the heart as well as by blood. It is also the story of a loner who discovers the roots she’s always longed for—because of one selfless act. Suspense and action are non-stop, lending the reader to believe—make that hope—that this is the beginning of an intriguing series featuring the McClearys and their extended ‘family’. Do not miss this one. It’s a beauty.
Wednesday, January 8, 2025
Jury Duty is Murder by Kate Damon
Four former jurors, once at odds, reluctantly join forces to track down a serial killer. They answered the call of duty. Now, someone wants them dead.
Harold Ashman’s house is almost
destroyed by a careless driver. Exotic dancer CeeCee Laine discovers her
boyfriend has been two-timing her—and she no longer has a job. Actor Alex Manning
watches his career—stalled by the prolonged trial—go down the tubes and
72-year-old, Helen Ryder learns her family is plotting to have her declared incompetent.
Things only get worse when other
jurors start dropping like flies. Convinced there’s a killer on the loose, the
feuding foursome must find him before he does them in—or before they save him the trouble and murder each
other.
Monday, January 6, 2025
Slow Train to Nowhere: Sean
Five children from the orphan train. Can the eldest protect the rest?
About Slow Train to Nowhere: Sean
When Sean Hussey returns
to the town where he lived as a boy, it’s with revenge on his mind. He’s made a
success of himself out west and intends to get even with the farmer under whose
thumb he once suffered. He’ll show mercy only to the others who shared his fate
in days gone by, especially sweet Jenny whose memory he still cherishes.
Sarah Rupert hasn’t had
it easy growing up as a girl from the orphan train, and as a survivor of
shocking abuse. Since the death of her husband, she’s had to support her young
son by dubious means. When Sean Hussey comes back into her life it’s a miracle,
because he’s the boy she always wanted for her own. Trouble is, Sean just may
be in love with another woman.
Our Review:
For those of us who earned our spurs under the rigors of human service
advocacy, this heart-rending tale begins with a chilling flashback: “ . . .
[the five children] all shared one thing: the shocked wide-eyed stare of a calf
being led to slaughter. . .”
Slow Train to Nowhere: Sean is
not a story for the faint-hearted. It is, however, a roadmap for the present
day because things never change—only the perpetrators—be them The Service for
Unwanted Children to the human traffickers of Southern Florida, the warlords of
East Africa who ‘employ’ child soldiers’ for their own means, or the oligarchs
of the modern Soviet Union. No matter the century or continent, victims of
brutality all carry that same wide-eyed stare. We see them every day whether we
recognize them or not.
Laura
Strickland’s courage for showcasing what happened in the past will affect
victim-survivors in their later years is sensitive and proverbial. Sean’s story
is remarkable for his resilience; Sarah in her own way is even more
resilient—for she refuses to give up. One finds themselves rooting for these
two, as well as the other orphans, to the very last page.
Based on a scale of 1-5, Slow Train to Nowhere:
Sean merits a 6.
Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews