His Christmas Muse by J. J. Ransom

 After online dating goes sideways, a southern girl meets a fellow who's obviously all wrong for her, but a little dog brings them together.

About the Book: Sylvie is a lonely southern girl looking for love online. She finds herself on a dating site, and the fun is supposed to begin. Pete is divorced and just fine being alone. He accidentally meets Sylvie after she’s stood up by a blind date. When they bump into each other again, he is smitten. She unlocks Pete’s writer’s block, so he plots to keep Sylvie in his orbit. He’s wrong for her, Sylvie is certain, even though she doesn’t know who he really is. A rescue dog named Riley keeps bringing them together. Silvie discovers the magic of Christmas in Virginia where love lights up her holiday.

     His Christmas Muse explores how we misjudge others, tell ourselves lies, and heal from past wounds.

Our Review: This sweet, contemporary holiday romance will light up those dark nights, perhaps in front of a warm fire and the adult beverage of your choice. A standout quality of this story is the snappy dialogue—particularly after Pete arrives on screen—and makes this a good read.

Based on a scale of 1-5, His Christmas Muse merits a 3.5.

Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews

 

 

Love & the Divorce Lawyer

About the Book: Four years ago, divorce attorney Josie Jensen came close to death at the hands of a client—leaving her permanently disabled. Now, something calls her back to the courtroom—and it’s another woman in jeopardy from her abusive husband. It’s just this one, she vows. Until the next, then the next. When threats, at first minor and annoying, become increasingly more scary and start to inconvenience Josie’s daily life she starts to wonder. Something is up—but who? —and why?

 Our Review: Reminiscent of the classic movies featuring the snappy banter of Tracy and Hepburn, along with the push-pull conflict at personal and professional levels. Flavor all that with Jewish traditions and customs and the reader can’t help but smile. Josie has the guts and grit of ten women while her antagonist—opposing attorney Richard Diamond—brings a certain mysterious sexiness to every scene. That smile broadens as we wonder what will come next in this fun series. A winner all around.

 On a scale of 1-5, Love & the Divorce Lawyer merits a 7.

 Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews

 

 

 

  

What Happened to the Boy?

About The Book: An intense fire destroys the palatial home of a prominent attorney and his wife. After their bodies are removed from the burning house, Sam Nagy is pronounced dead at the scene; his wife, Alyssa, succumbs on the way to the hospital. The causes of death are due to bullet wounds—not the fire.

But what happened to their little boy?

Thin Lizzy, a homeless woman, who secretly resides at the public library each night, knows about the boy, but she’s not telling anyone anything.

 Our Review: One cannot help but root for this small child who has his parents taken so brutally—his situation is described in gut wrenching detail by the author. At the same time, the real hero of this story is Thin Lizzy, a strong, independent woman who lives by her wits and grit. Watching Lizzy, an avowed misanthrope, heal in both heart and soul due to helping this little boy reflects the joy and spirit of the season, instilling hope and joy for all involved.

 On a scale of 1-5, What Happened to the Boy? merits a 6.

 Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews

 

 

 

 

Periphery by AA Dasilva

…After a young widow falls for a mysteriously familiar stranger, she’s targeted by an agency intent on exploiting the ability gained after an earlier near-death experience. When offered a chance to reconnect with her late husband, things get complicated…and dangerous…

About the Book:  Four years ago, Charlotte barely survived an accident that killed her husband. Resuscitated a savant, she has struggled to find meaning in her survival. After she meets Simon, a mysteriously familiar stranger, they are drawn to each other with an undeniable magnetism. But Simon is contracted to a black-ops agency.

With the agency on her heels, and Simon claiming her heart, Charlotte’s past and future collide when she’s offered a chance to reconnect with her late husband. As secrets are revealed, motives uncovered, and alliances are formed, Charlotte must choose…between the fate of the world and the fate of her heart.

Our Review: From page one of debut author AA Dasilva’s Periphery, the reader knows they are in for a treat—if treachery, danger and an undercurrent of evil is their choice in reading enjoyment. Well drawn, intriguing characters abound; a vague sense of ‘something is off’ keeps the pages turning in order to learn the source of Charlotte’s discomfort. This is an excellent example of clever plotting and in-depth experience with the dark side of man’s nature.

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

Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews

Raven Spirit by Pam Binder

 A high school junior is accused of murder. His alibi is a beautiful ghost—and a couple of birds.

 About The Book: In the sleepy town of Pinedale, NC, seventeen-year-old Nate Collier, a self-proclaimed rebel, is accused of hanging his best friend from the goal post. His alibi is Fiona, a ghost who haunts Pinedale High, and a couple ravens named Edgar and Allan who rescue him from an evil ghost. His explanations about ghosts and ravens go up in smoke against authorities who are convinced the killer is more of a flesh and blood variety.

          But nothing is as it seems. The ghost Nate considered a friend turns against him. At the same time, he recognizes his attraction toward someone he believed to be only a friend is more than that. Before he can tell RuthAnn how he feels, he must join forces with past school enemies to defeat the evil ghost before it takes possession of its next victim—who could be Nate himself.

 Our Review: It is always a joy to meet well-written characters, ones with a heart, a mind, and a spirit to match. And when a touch of snark flavors the picture—enough to bring a smile to our lips—all the better. Such is with the characters in this book. Ghost or ‘living’ they leap off the page and grab the heart. Pam Binder offers YA fans an excellent addition to what looks to be a fun series by a group of authors from the Wild Rose Press.

 On a scale of 1-5, Raven Spirit deserves a 7.

 Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews

 

 

 

 

Ghost Therapy by Mark Rosendorf

 About The Book: Pinedale Central High School is rumored to be haunted. For fifteen-year-old Sam Anderson, his haunting comes from the bullying he suffers on a daily basis inside the school’s walls. Then Sam meets Jessica, a former Pinedale student who died over a century ago. She convinces Sam to stand up to his bully. Unfortunately, the confrontation ends in tragedy.

Now, Sam is one of the ghosts no one can see or hear—until he meets Mr. Copeland, former military operative and current guidance counselor at the school. The two form a bond created out of Mr. Copeland’s determination to help Same find his way to the afterlife. Their efforts have consequences—some good, others less so—and one which could put the lives of everyone in the school at risk.

 Our Review: Author Rosendorf puts his experience from working with challenged students to good use with this story of a disadvantaged, troubled young man with little to go on and nowhere to turn. Until he dies at the hands of a bully and eventually meets up with someone who has his number. And suddenly this young man sees the light—no pun intended. This is a story of hope and redemption, clarity and change.

On a scale of 1-5, Ghost Therapy merits a 5.

Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews

 

 

 

 

Thistle in the Mistletoe by Margaret Izard

 Forced into a marriage neither sought, they must find common ground—or die for the trying.

About The Book: Mary, only daughter of the laird of Comyn, is forced to wed the laird of the MacDougall clan, or her father and the new laird will die. Theirs has been a long-standing feud which the king seeks to stop by demanding a merger—as well as an infant within a year’s time.

Mary knows what it is to be unwanted, unloved and under-valued—mostly because of her gender—so living among the MacDougalls’ hatred and loathing is nothing new. Roderick MacDougall, however, has only known love and devotion from his immediate family and members of his extended clan. When Mary is threatened at every turn, to the point of near death, he must put aside what he thinks he knows and open his eyes to the truth.

These two stubborn people have much to learn how to forge a future under the most bitter of circumstances. Or heads will roll—literally.

Our Review: Author Izard, known for extensive research into her topic does not disappoint her legion of fans with this story. The characters are well developed, demonstrating multiple layers and individual traits. The history of customs, fashion, food abound and offer flavor to this beauty. Fans of historical romance, particularly set in medieval Scotland, will love this one.

On a scale of 1-5, Thistle in the Mistletoe deserves a 6.

Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews