Along the Trail by Kaci Curtis

 

        A perilous journey – An untamed spirit.

 

Wild Women Authors focus is on Along the Trail, a rose length YA western, written by Kaci Curtis, and a current release by The Wild Rose Press.

About the Book: In 1847, Winnie and her family are traveling west to start a new life in the Oregon territory. While many in their wagon train fret over river crossings, disease, and encounters with Native tribes, she relishes the unexpected freedom of life on the trail.

Threatened by storms, wild animals, and outlaws, Winnie must rely on the bonds she’s made and all she’s learned in order for them to make it to Oregon alive. She also must decide if she is ready to risk forming an attachment to Hal, the cowhand who has a knack for showing up just when help is needed, or whether she will emulate Mae, the free-spirited daughter of their trail guide.

Our Review: With acute attention to historic detail for setting, customs and practices, the author brings the trials and tribulations of the wagon trains of that era. Faithful fans of historical fiction will glom onto this one and put it on their Keeper Shelf.

 

Based on a scale of 1-5, Along the Trail merits a 4.

 

Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews

The Tomato Jam Murder

 It’s burro-racing season, but there’s murder on the mountain. Can Roxy  find the killer in time to save her friend from a corrupt cop?

 About the Book: It’s burro racing season in the Rockies, and Roxy Constantine is all for it. Now if she can come up with a good recipe for tomato jam, her summer will be complete. But when Roxy finds a body on the burro racecourse, she’s suddenly plunged into a murder investigation.

And when her innocent friend is accused of killing her ex, Roxy must challenge a corrupt police chief who wants to shut her up. Now she needs to find the real killer and save a neighboring town from a plot to ruin its mountain magic.

 Our Review: As an avid reader, with few exceptions, of all genres of fiction, these past 60+ years, we always appreciate a fast-paced story that keeps the pages turning, as well teaching us something new and interesting. In the case of The Tomato Jam Murder [#6 in the Luscious Delights cozy mystery series], we discovered the intricacies of burro racing, the infinite varieties of jellies and jams, as well as the ins and outs of the catering business. As a plus, the author’s spot on descriptions of the art of selling handmade goods at local farmers’ markets and, sad but true, how to cope with members of local law enforcement when they behave in a less than professional manner.

 On a scale of 1-5, The Tomato Jam Murder merits a 7.

 Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews

The Hannah Document

 Wild Women Authors recently took a look at The Hannah Document and discovered: A brilliant scholar, ancient libraries in danger due to war, suppressed women’s religious history, a renegade monastery and a global picture of misogyny dating back to before women knew what it was called—and why it was the order of things.

About the Book: A doggedly determined Sofia Papandréou pursues long ignored evidence of women in leadership in early Christianity in the dusty corners of libraries worldwide—or worse—actively hidden away in order to deny women their heritage and their power.

Hot on the trail of the lost letters of Deacon Olympias, an important leader in Fourth-Century Constantinople, Sofia stumbles onto two parchments that even she finds incredible. Her quest to authenticate the documents involves her in a perilous journey that leads to theft, murder, unexpected allies, and attempted murder as her discoveries threaten to transform the revealed history of Christianity.  

Our Review: Sophia Papandréou is infinitely more than a dogged and determined young woman. She is brave, resourceful, imaginative and driven to uncover the truth. Worthy of respect, she is everything any woman—or man—hopes their daughters and granddaughters will strive to become. This is a book for the Keeper Shelf. It’s that good.

Based on a scale of 1-5, The Hannah Document merits a 7.

Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews

 

 

 

 

His Sweet Obsession by Twilla Kay Lamm

 Zigzagging through a treacherous maze of compelling questions with unpredictable answers, truths embedded within lies, people hiding behind masks, and in the end, discovering a true and lasting love.

About the Book: Following the Civil War, Captain Ethan Reed is recruited to find the truth behind the Lincoln Conspiracy. The facts are not as they appear. John Wilkes Booth pulled the trigger, but did someone else point the gun? Ethan’s job is to answer this question and see justice served, no matter the personal cost. Tormented with no answers about the death of her fiancé, Doctor Sabrina Clay seeks the truth—was it suicide or murder? If there is an answer, she must find it. 

     On a hot day in Fort Hex, Kansas, Sabrina’s and Ethan’s lives intersect. They’re soon entangled in a web of deceit as attraction simmers. They each risk a second chance at love while discovering the truth.

Our Review: Author Lamm may be new to the publishing world but she already demonstrates the skills to engage fans of historical romance by the first pages. Infusing details pertinent to the plot—such as continued questions surrounding the Lincoln assassination, Reconstruction, everyday life in the Indian Territories and, of particular interest to us as a retired medical provider, accepted medical practices of the day. The attention to the fine details of what is today’s accepted practices such as blood transfusions, Cesarean Section deliveries, and post-partum care are spot on and very interesting.

          For historical romance fans, Twilla Lamm is the one to look for.

 Based on a scale of 1-5, His Sweet Obsession merits a 6.

 Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews

Seeing Things by Jana Richards

 In order to find a missing child, an embattled librarian must learn to trust her visions—and her heart.

 About the Book: As she is ‘seeing’ the actual abduction of a small boy, librarian Leah McKenna knows she must expose herself to trauma on several levels in order to save this child. She hates the visions and wishes for them to go away forever. David Logan, the boy’s uncle, doesn’t believe in much—particularly psychic phenomenon. In fact, he convinces himself she knows who took the child and plans to stick close in order to discover the boy’s whereabouts.

As the two search for Jeremy, they uncover truths about themselves, their torturous pasts, and the way they truly feel about each other. Leah must convince David that the visions, as well as her feelings for him, are real. All this while time runs out in their search for this missing six year old.

Our Review: In a break from her usual small town romances where strong families are at the core of everything, inventive author Jana Reynolds treats her fans with a new talent for writing edge of your seat suspense. In this case, a child abduction—fed by long standing greed and nourished by long standing family secrets—is filled with understated, profound grief and misunderstanding.

 Based on a scale of 1-5, Seeing Things merits a 6.

 Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stone of Faith by Margaret Izard

              The heart’s most extraordinary battle is the one fought for love.

About the Book:

A cursed pirate captain and an enslaved siren defy a power-hungry madman—and fate itself—to claim a love that spans centuries as they strive to save the human and Fae realms from which they come.

Haunted by a family legacy that threads magic through the ages, Captain Ewan MacDougall and his ghostly crew sail between worlds, freeing enslaved peoples. While a worthy goal, Ewan longs for what eludes him—true love. After he crosses paths with a legendary siren of the sea who is bound to a cruel, power-hungry madman, he knows he has found the woman who is destined to claim his heart.

Forced to use her voice to lure ships into the clutches of evil, the spark in Ewan MacDougall’s eye awakens hope in Lorelei’s soul—and the chance to protect her Fae family. Yet, the wicked monster who is holding her captive will stop at nothing to kill the human who touches and loves her as no one has done before.

Before they can claim a life together, Ewan and Lorelei must break the chains of dark magic and find the Stone of Faith before they become two more victims.

Our Review: Author Margaret Izard, a master at time travel romance as well as historical fiction, has done herself proud with this latest addition to the Stones of Iona series. Ewan is a true hero, brave and intrepid but with a whippy sense of humor. His honesty and courage draws loyalty in others like a magnet—and when he spies Lorelei for the first time, all bets are off. The setting, as always, is breathtaking as is the particular attention to details of the past as well as the present. Well done!

 Based on a scale of 1-5, Stone of Faith merits a 7.

Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews