Hot Diggity Spacedogs by Icy Snow Blackstone

                Sometimes, life is completely unfair.

About the Book: Spoiled teenager Jenny Halpen's parents were against her going on a cruise, but her doting uncle didn't see it that way. He thought it a fine graduation gift for his favorite—and only--niece.

Unfortunately, before Jenny has a chance to enjoy the voyage, the Cassandra collides with a meteor shower, and her escape pod is separated from the others.

Landing on an uninhabited world might not be so bad if Jenny's pod-mates were human, but they're not. They're poodles...all three of them...and not just your garden-variety poodles, either. They're the telepathic royal family of Canaris, and they're of the opinion that Jenny is now their servant, existing only to protect and serve them.

Robinson Crusoe had it easy!

 Our Review: This energetic Young Adult Space Fantasy, sub-titled A Teen’s Guide to Being Spacewrecked, shows off the coming of age of a spoiled teenager, throwing one obstacle after another in her path to survival, and showing how she grows and matures into a responsible young adult. The dialogue is inventive and snappy; the three dogs play their roles to a tee. Young readers are sure to enjoy this one. 

 Based on a scale of 1-5, Hot Diggity Spacedogs merits a 4.

 Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews

Light Weaver by Lusine Torossian

 Some legends refuse to stay buried. Some choices demand everything.

 About the Book: A relic thief with an agenda. A hidden prince with a vendetta. A kingdom lost to the undead. When eighteen-year-old relic thief Satya steals an ancient resurrection artifact from the Golden King, she uncovers his dark secret: he's a puppet to a soul-harvesting sorcerer who is building an undead army—one that includes her fallen family.

       Her escape through the treacherous Sophene Highlands leads her to Rei, an enemy warrior whose haunted history is intricately woven with her tragic past. As forbidden love blossoms amidst a divine war, Satya discovers that the legendary relic holds dual powers. Now she faces an impossible choice: resurrect her family by sacrificing her soul—or save the kingdom and lose them forever.
       Caught between gods and demons, love and duty, Satya must decide what price she's willing to pay for the dead.

Our Review: While creating Light Weaver, author Torossian  used her knowledge of family lore based on Armenian mythology, fairytales and folklore and turned it into a miracle. This fascinating coming-of-age fantasy-adventure is written in clear, fluid prose and follows a young woman who, due to events beyond her control, is compelled to save her family. On her journey, she overcomes personal and cultural trauma and discovers the spirit of her female ancestors. This is a wonderful example for young readers, with a lead character to emulate. This one’s a charmer.

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

   Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews

 

 

 

 

Demon Amulet by Margo Carey

 Murder and a cursed amulet bring a hotel concierge to a surprising discovery: another Watcher Clan, her soulmate, and a Templar gift that not only erases her comfortable life—but promises to destroy any hope of love.

About the Book: Twenty-eight-year-old Lia Ferguson never expected a wedding to turn deadly, but when magic kills one guest and critically injures another, the celebration morphs into a crime scene. Using skills inherited from her Templar ancestors, Lia saves the injured man, then contacts her Clan.

     Together, Clan members capture the killer and confiscate a stolen amulet with contains deadly magical powers. Trouble follows when an angry, violent warlock tracks his stolen property, while Aiden, the handsome but suspicious brother-in-law of the murder victim, confronts Lia.

     Amid the escalating tension, Lia’s mistrust of Aiden proves as strong as her undeniable attraction. As their connection deepens, so does the peril they face. They must stop the warlock before he unleashes a demonic force into the world.

Our Review: Demon Amulet follows the adventures of the Watcher Clan, in an action-packed tale, fed by non-stop action and populated with diverse characters whose motives might not be exactly what first presents. What’s at the heart of this story is the concept of clan: all for one/one for all. No matter what—no matter who.

Based on a scale of 1-5, Demon Amulet merits a 5.

Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews

Her Best Man by Jana Richards

 In keeping with our ongoing Books IN A Series program, today we offer: Her Best Man, Book 1 in the Left At The Altar series: 

What they’re saying about the Left At The Altar series:

·       “…a fun story that will make you laugh out loud…”

·       “…a gifted writer…fall in love with her characters…”

·       “…fun, fast-paced, romantic…thoroughly enjoyed…”

 Our Review: this fun story—Jana Reynolds at her best—opens with a drama queen mother-in-law, wielding a spike-heeled shoe, going after a reluctant groom in front of the minister, a church filled with guests and God. And it only gets better.

‘Abandoned’ bride, Sarah, and stalwart best man, Will, try to cope with the disaster of a ruined wedding by taking advantage of the non-refundable cruise tickets and enjoy the Caribbean over the Christmas holiday. While coping with a host of diverse and witty cruise-goers, the faux ‘newlyweds’ learn volumes about themselves, life, and most important—love for ever after.  

 Based on a scale of 1-5, Her Best Man merits a 7.

 Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews

 

 

 

 

I Have A Story by Colleen L. Donnelly

Heroes aren’t heroes because they are clever or brave, but because they love someone or something deeply.

 About the Book: Jim Turner writes crime but doesn’t live it. He respects his grandfather’s tales of heroes but doesn’t believe them. When his failing grandfather sends him to a remote peninsula to write the end of his own heroic love story, Jim adds an interview with a war criminal to his agenda to maintain his edge.

          Chastity Higgins, the daughter of a local pastor, is an anomaly, a misfit in pre-WWII culture as well as in Jim’s life. Her spritely charm and endearing features turn his world upside down, especially after she reveals his grandfather’s peninsula will be the site of her upcoming wedding.

          Do good journalists flee when their war criminal-interviewee is murdered? Do heroes write fiancés out of another’s story in order to fit themselves in? “The End” become the hardest words for Jim to write.

 Our Review: I Have a Story is more than a novel of intrigue involving spies and traitors from the pre-WWII era. It is also a love story—between a man and a woman, but also the love of a man for his grandfather, surprising for its intensity as well as endurance. Following the words of his beloved grandfather “…the most daring conquests involve the heart. There is no battle, no story, until there is heart…”, the protagonist Jim learns valuable lessons about life, death and the world order. This is an intriguing, compelling read, written by a talented, inventive author.

Based on a scale of 1-5, I Have a Story merits a 7.

Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews

 

  

Sweet Summer Surprise

 She came to the beach to find herself—and found him.

About the Book: Previously published as Gelato Surprise, this age-gap beach town romance booms with steam and features Danielle who after her cheating ex lures their kids away for a vacation-palooza with his new squeeze, is left with a non-refundable beach rental in Trappers Cove.

Glum and lonely, she settles in to lick her wounds—and some sinfully delicious gelato. Enter Matteo, the ice-cream vendor’s hunky nephew. Mamma mia! The gorgeous younger man is charming, seductive, and utterly undeterred by their age difference. Maybe a no-strings fling is just what she needs.

What starts as a steamy summer escape soon flares into something neither of them expected. Their chemistry sparks hotter than the Fourth of July, and for the first time in forever, Danielle feels truly seen and cherished. But a divorced mom with real-life responsibilities can’t afford to live in fantasyland, and Matteo’s future is in this perfect beach town. The clock is ticking. Matteo has two weeks to convince her their summer love is the start of a happily ever after.

Our Review: Anyone, no matter their age or circumstance will easily relate to this charmer of a story—and we were—all over again. This ‘enhanced’ update of the earlier Trappers Cove story has it all: a woman feeling betrayed—again—who decides to finally do something for herself. And what a time it becomes. No one does romance like Sadira Stone and it’s a joy to rediscover this fun series. Trappers Cove has it all!

Based on a scale of 1-5, Sweet Summer Surprise merits a 6.

Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Authors

 

Survivors by Toni V. Sweeney

When the chips are down. . . look to family

 About the Book: Rob Chambers and his half-brother, Josh Edenfield, have succeeded in destroying the portal that links Land’s End Island to the dimension of the Other Gods. Expecting to die in the process, both are surprised when they discover they’ve survived and are now stranded in a hostile dimension where the laws of physics don’t apply and the ocean and sky blend in an eye-blinding scarlet.

     There’s a chance of escape if they can find another portal back to Earth. All the brothers have to do is find it while avoiding the giant tentacles in the ocean and the amorphous creatures roaming the sky.

 Our Review: Faced with very real dangers, this is a story of two siblings learning to depend on each other—and therefore themselves—to survive, then return to those who love them most. Toni V. Sweeney at her best.

 Based on a scale of 1-5, Survivors merits a 5.

 Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews