Forever Kind of Love

 Two wounded souls—an artist and a musician—find love amidst personal struggles.

About the Book:

Devastated by her husband’s arrest for investment fraud, New York photographer Willow Barton flees to her Ohio hometown of Cedar Hill, determined to rebuild her life. But when she’s drawn to her best friend’s brother, Zachary Hayes, a charming country music star, she struggles to resist the chemistry between them, despite seeing him as a player. Adjusting to small-town life proves harder than she expected, and the whispers surrounding her husband’s scandal only intensify her desire to keep her guard up.

As they work together to renovate a garage apartment and her darkroom, hidden desires ignite, but Willow is still dealing with the financial and personal fallout of her marriage. Zach, juggling his rising career and complicated past, finds himself wanting a steadiness he never expected. He knows Willow is the kind of woman who needs commitment, yet he can’t deny the pull he feels toward her.

But when Zach’s ex-girlfriend resurfaces, Willow doubts his intentions, forcing her to confront difficult decisions about trust, forgiveness, and love. With her future hanging in the balance, Willow must decide whether to protect her heart or risk everything for a chance at something real.

 Our Review: In this sweet, second chance at love romance, two people come together with all the baggage of the past, and once they find the one, they strive to overcome past hurts and doubts in order to move on. Another theme looks at the effects of dementia and its effect, not only on the patient, but on family and caregivers. The love and care shown by all the characters is subtle but touching.

Based on a scale of 1-5, Forever Kind of Love merits a 4.

Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews

Ruff Justice by Tara Choate

A woman searches for that desperately needed balance between a demanding job and a personal life.

About Ruff Justice: Irene Lisner was not expecting a request to mediate her sister’s marriage. Or to drop her own list of cases to help a coworker. Or a new dog to come into her life. Or a date. A talented principal and a rigid business manager have squared off over accusations of false enrollment, improper purchasing, and state curriculum violations. As Irene investigates the charges, she finds hidden agendas and ulterior motives that make her wonder if she can restore justice to the hardworking school. And, of course, her irrepressible best friend has something to say on everything, especially the new dog.

Our Review: It isn’t often when we find a character we can admire, someone who works each day at a demanding job while balancing the demands from extended family members, and coping with a chronic, potentially debilitating illness. On top of all that, she’s just lost her much loved canine partner and must decide if she can manage a new dog—or give up an important part of herself.

This is a touching story on so many levels—watching Irene help the less fortunate protect and preserve their basic rights to an education, while supporting a family in crisis, and just maybe finding a new human partner to compete with the canine.

Based on a scale of 1-5. Ruff Justice merits a 7.

Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews.

The Cowboy's Last Chance

               8 seconds is the span of time for a bull rider to win or lose, live, or sometimes die.

About The Cowboy’s Last Chance: When Vivian Blackburn sets out to shoot pictures at a rodeo, she's not looking for a cowboy—but after meeting bull rider Calhoun Kelly, she's found one. They have an instant attraction and are compatible in every way but one—he has a strong Christian faith while she lost hers after losing both parents to extreme violence.

When Vivian begins to experience dreams that warn of upcoming danger, she doesn't know what to think. Calhoun decides to hang up his spurs at the end of the season but before he does, he and Vivian are married—and he rides his last rodeo. After he's critically injured, his life hangs in the balance. Will Vivian find her faith and pray? It's a close call but time will tell.

Our Review: This touching love story describes two people who have suffered deep loss, each choosing to deal with it in their own ways. Chance is a man of deep religious faith, while Vivian gave up on religion after losing her parents to inexplainable violence. Regardless of a very basic difference, they are, quite frankly, madly in love. That emotion jumps off the pages and into the heart. Their journey is as vivid as the setting of the rodeo culture—a secondary character for sure—as well as the beautiful Southwest Missouri countryside. The resolution of the basic conflict is gut wrenching in its telling—and not to be missed.

Based on a scale of 1-5, The Cowboy’s Last Chance merits a 6.

Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews

Bootleg Broadway

              For a look at events and results following the ratification of the 18^th Amendment [aka Prohibition], we offer Bootleg Broadway, written by Diana Rubino and published by the Wild Rose Press.

About Bootleg Broadway: a story of debauchery and a little romance. Booze, music, sex, murder, Prohibition…New York… what a time to be alive!

Our Review: Told from the point of view of the main character, musician and raconteur Billy McGlory, this fictionalized version of life during Prohibition is based on research and discussions with many who lived during that tumultuous time, Author Diana Rubino offers a close-up and personal view of everyday life during Prohibition, those who learned to cope, who went along to get along. This is a vividly painted story, filled with outrageously named and multi-colorful characters, ringing of truths only insiders would know. They should. They lived it.

Based on a scale of 1-5, Bootleg Broadway merits a 5.

Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews

 

Twisted Fates by SD Porter

 Twisted Fates, written by SD Porter and published by the Wild Rose Press, brings a compelling conclusion to the Haunting of Pinedale High series.

 About Twisted Fates: The ghosts of the Pinedale High girls’ volleyball team have been trapped on campus for decades. When Ben Danvers arrives on campus, grieving the death of his twin sister, Beth, the past and present collide. Beth, now a ghost herself, vows to help the trapped players get their justice and recruits her brother’s help. During their investigation, the twins discover that even though it’s been more than forty years since the tragedy, the danger is still very much alive.

 Our Review: This one has it all: well-drawn, interesting characters, both human and ghostly; compelling goals, motivation and conflict, coming from a variety of sources; and emotion. Gut wrenching, from the heart, appealing to all age groups, emotion. A large box of tissues is called for, particularly during the last pages. This is one beautiful story. Our congratulations go out to all who are responsible for bringing this excellent story to fruition.

 

Based on a scale of 1-5, Twisted Fates merits a 9.

 

 Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews

 

 

 

 

Tetons By Morning

               A cowboy and a librarian discover love the second time around isn’t always roses.

About the Book: After a whirlwind summer romance, Casey Girard marries ex-rodeo champ Chance McCord and settles at the North Star, his family’s Wyoming ranch. Certain their love will last forever, she secretly harbors fear he will return to the rodeo circuit.

 Chance never wanted the responsibility of running the ranch. When circumstances force him into that role, he must protect the North Star Legacy, as well as keep his promises to Casey. Loving and protecting her and his stepson are what matter most in his life.

When their tragic pasts come back to haunt them, their love is tested to the limit. How will a summer romance survive the depths of winter?

Our Review: As in book one of the North Star Legacy series, the author shows a talent for creating a setting which is so vivid and colorful, the descriptions jump off the page. Equally compelling are the two lead characters, Casey and Chance, so needy and deserving of the love and respect, which they rarely receive from those who should be giving it instead of tearing them down at every turn, keep the reader rooting till the last satisfying pages. Another winner from talented author Lucy Kubash. 

 

Based on a scale of 1-5, Tetons by Morning merits a 6.

 

Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews

The End of Promise by Rita A. Popp

           The murder of an arrogant young professor puts an amateur detective to the test.

About the Book:

Paul Kiefer enjoys a promising career at New Mexico University—until a murderer cancels his plans to fast track to full professor. Shocked at the sight of her colleague’s dead body, department head Eleanor Jarviss turns for comfort and aid to her daughter Bethany.

When, as the Jarviss Family Foundation’s grants manager, Bethany goes to campus to award a student scholarship, she gets drawn into the murder investigation. With her mother’s help, and the support of her cowboy boyfriend, Nathan, she compiles a list of suspects stunned but not saddened by the scheming doc’s demise.

It’s academic that one of them is the killer.

Our Review: written in a crisp, clear writing style, this one will be a joy for cozy mystery fans. The suspects are varied and cleverly portrayed—showing the machinations of higher education can be rich and fulfilling at its best, ugly at its worst. This one takes the concept of ‘publish or perish’ to new and interesting lengths. And it’s a beauty.

Based on a scale of 1-5, The End of Promise merits a 7.

Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews