Caught Up in Capricorn

 Caught Up in Capricorn, by Sadira Stone, part of the Zodiac Encounters Anthology.

 About the Book: When a confident, control-freak Capricorn is forced to partner with a prickly, seductive Scorpio, their business and their hearts will never be the same.

     After his head brewer quits, brew pub owner Ryan must learn to get along with snarky, sexy brewer Lilo, whose weird, niche beers are the last thing Salty Dog Brewery needs.

     Working side by side ignites long-simmering desire, but a high-stakes beer competition triggers a fierce battle of wills. Can their love and the brewery survive?

Our Review:

Caught Up in Capricorn, part of the Zodiac Encounters Anthology, showcases Sadira Stone talent for creating a short and steamy contemporary romance set in a quirky beach town in the Pacific Northwest of Trappers Cove. Ryan Lee, struggling to keep his brewery afloat after his head brewer retires, is reluctant to put snarky, sexy Lilo Eisinger in charge of his beloved business. They’ve known each other since grade school—but can they function together as adults without coming to blows? It takes a wise man to step in and teach a few valuable lessons on trust and taking risks.

        This fun, spicy romance is sure to warm your heart.

 On a scale of 1-5, Caught Up in Capricorn deserves a 5.

 Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews

 

Trevor by S. Hilbre Thomson

            About the Book:

Unable to escape the tragedies of his past, Matt Stone heads North, leaving behind the memory of his dead wife and son. His journey takes a turn when he comes across young Trevor Reed, his late son's doppelgänger. Blinded by the resemblance, and already unable to cope with what he’s already lost, Matt becomes obsessed with Trevor and begins stalking him.

Concerned about her son’s continued reports of ‘the Badman’ watching him, Trevor's parents enlist the help of the local authorities to keep him safe. Despite the involvement of local and national law enforcement and eventually, an enthusiastic reporter, Trevor disappears. The ensuing investigation results in a chase starting in the suburbs of Boston to an island on a New Hampshire lake.

Will their efforts to find Matt and Trevor be enough? Or will they be too late?

Our Review: In this powerful story of tragedy and loss, debut author, S. Hilbre Thomson, demonstrates the effects of viscous crime on one man and the perfect storm created by a system-wide failure to adequately address the issues of the varied aftereffects suffered by survivors. Thomson has done an exceptional job of creating a sympathetic antagonist, leaving the reader to ask how and why something so horrendous could happen to one person who then simply falls through the cracks.

Based on a scale of 1-5, Trevor deserves a 4.

Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews

The Man Across the Alley by Emilie Barage

 ABOUT THE BOOK:  After breaking up with her long-time boyfriend, Holly Harrison finds the perfect distraction for heartache by reading stories about true crime on her favorite blog: Murder For Your Thoughts. But when a number of young women from her neighborhood go missing, Holly is determined to help anyway she can. Distraction number two arrives in the form of the yummy new neighbor, who sports tight buns and terrific shoulders.

Luke Morris is finally all moved into his new apartment—and should focus on unpacking—not the hot next-door neighbor Holly. While getting to know her, he witnesses something suspicious in the building across the alley. Working together, he and Holly decide to get to the bottom of things.

Who would believe that crime solving could lead to some seriously steamy nights?  

Our Review: Set in one of Chicago’s unique neighborhoods, The Man Across the Alley is a fun, cozy mystery featuring two twenty-somethings who decide the man across the alley has something to do with the disappearance of several women from the neighborhood. Proving their theories turns dangerous for both. First time author Barage shows a remarkable talent for creating creepazoid bad guys who practically jump off the page. We look forward to the next story in her Murder For Your Thoughts series.

On a scale of 1-5, The Man Across the Alley deserves a 4.

Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews

 

 

 

 

The Wylder Rose by Jane Lewis

 The Wylder Rose, a Historical Western Romance, is a current release by The Wild Rose Press.

About The Book: To escape an abusive lover, Rose O'Brien flees Cheyenne, Wyoming but is waylaid in Wylder, Wyoming after her buggy crashes in the middle of an early Spring snowstorm. Callum MacPhilip, a handsome Scots rancher, rescues her, then nurses her back to life. The attraction is immediate, intense and mutual but . . . given what she’s already survived—as well as the threats from the man who is hot on her trail—Rose is more than reluctant to trust any man. Not to be denied what his heart is telling him, Callum vows to protect Rose, then convince her to take a chance on love.

Our Review: On the surface, The Wylder Rose is the usual damsel in distress story line. Underneath it is a detailed examination of domestic violence and its long-term effects on victims. Since relationship violence is as old as recorded time, the feelings and actions were the same then as they are in the 21^st century—though they wear fancy titles such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Author Lewis has brilliantly shown the cycle of violence and mind-numbing fear and long-term helplessness it instills in its victims.  

On a scale of 1-5, The Wylder Rose deserves a 5.

Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews

All bets are on with Win Place Show

 About the Book: Going back as far as grade school, Lucy Granger and Nate Hawthorne were best of friends. But somewhere along the way, a series of bonehead misunderstandings, which neither will discuss, tore them apart. So great is the rift that Lucy swears she’ll never move back home to Kentucky. Well, maybe a short visit for Derby Week, but that doesn’t count. Everyone in Lexington considers Lucy and Nate, scion of the local whiskey distributor, to be The Golden Couple. If they’d only sit down, in the same room, together, without the influence of alcohol and egos, to discuss their ‘issues’. As Lucy’s mother is fond of saying, “All these years, Nate’s been waiting for you to get over yourself. . . so come home and be his wife.”

Our Review: With Win Place Show, Author Liz Crowe has created two flawed characters who, instead of putting on their big boy—and girl—undies and start acting like adults, take the easy way out, letting copious amounts of alcohol and sex do their talking. Despite these aberrant behaviors, we couldn’t help rooting for Lucy and Nate. Deep down they deserve each other and their own happy ever after. Luckily, Crowe also created a delightfully brash southern belle mother and a whip smart wise-cracking brother who rise to the occasion and to straighten these two out. Everyone is better for it.

 Based on a scale of 1-5, Win Place Show deserves a 5.

Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews

 

 

The Texas Cowboy by Linda Nightingale

 About The Book: When Ashton Colter was twelve, his mother divorced his cattle baron father, then whisked him away to her native England. Sixteen years later, after his beloved father dies, Ash inherits the Marathon Ranch. Running a 1,000-acre spread famous for the best cattle in Texas is the biggest challenge he’s ever faced…until he meets ranch hand Trish Owens who has her own agenda for the ranch. The attraction is immediate, intense and mutual.  

Trish is a loner, and more than a bit lonely. As the "English Cowboy" readies himself to take over the ranch, her job—as well as her beloved Quarter horses—are threatened. She’s sure he’ll import his thoroughbreds from England. Worst of all is the sizzling chemistry between them because Ash awakens feelings she’d thought long dead.

 Our Review: In The Texas Cowboy we are treated to two likeable, deserving heroes who, time after time, put the needs of others—human and equine—ahead of their own. The tension and fear associated with an acute medical emergency with one of the horses jumps off the page. Neither Ash nor Trish are perfect, but they don’t run from their faults. Instead they own up to them and work to become better individuals. Well done, Ms. Nightingale!  

 On a scale of 1-5, The Texas Cowboy deserves a 5.

 Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews

Casino Queen by Cara Bertoia

 About Casino Queen: Caroline Fleming, alone, heartbroken, and in debt lands in glamorous Palm Springs, California where Native-run casinos have just opened. There, she lands a job at the Palm Oasis Casino where she is mentored by the charismatic tribal chairman, John Tovar.

Embracing the casino culture, Caroline works her way up to the

position of manager at the Night Hawk Casino in the High Desert town of Joshua Tree. There, she is responsible for managing multicultural team members, satisfying the demands of often unique guests, and growing revenue while rooting out corruption. In the process of rediscovering her inner strength, Caroline learns you have to gamble like your life depends on it. Because it often does. 

Our Review: Author Bertoia brings a familiarity with casino life, showing a unique talent for creating diverse, fascinating characters who will not soon leave the reader’s mind. Casino Queen is a non-stop adventure, telling the tale of a woman who, like the mythical phoenix, rises out of the ashes of despair and loss to recreate a life stronger and better than before.

Based on a scale of 1-5, Casino Queen deserves a 6

Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews