Rescuing Samantha

 …while rescuing others a woman finds herself…

 Rescuing Samantha, contemporary women’s fiction,  written by Heidi M. Thomas, released by SunCatcher Publications.

           Upon learning the family homestead is available for lease, twenty-something Samantha Moser packs up everything, including a rescued Thoroughbred mare and contractor fiancé to head for Eastern Montana and a new start on life. Her goal: leave the past where it belongs; start new in the one place that’s never been far from her mind and heart.  

Things don’t progress as smoothly as hoped. The homestead is worse than derelict and takes everything in Sam’s bag of tricks to make livable. Unfortunately, after his first Montana winter the contractor fiancé throws in the wrench and heads back to Arizona, leaving Sam on her own with no money and few prospects for income.

Instead of giving up, Sam relies time and again on family lore about her grandmother and her mother. Trusting others is difficult, but she perseveres despite repeated rejections. Then, when things seem at the lowest possible point rescues of the two and four-legged variety enter her life. Relying on strength and grit and determination, Sam and her new friends survive—and do it in style.

      There is a common saying among ‘rescue’ devotees in our society: “who saved who?” A very apt description for this remarkable story of those who refuse to give up.

 On a scale of 1-5, Rescuing Samantha deserves a 5.

     Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews

An Unprivate War

     The strength of family, like the strength of an army, is in its loyalty to each other… Mario Puzo

The above is proven, several times over, in T.S, Snow’s An Unprivate War, Book 5 in the Star Smuggler series.

         The peace of Felida is broken when various colonies of the Federation are viciously attacked by Severan warriors, leading to damage “not seen since Pearl Harbor”. At first, Sinbad she’en Singh and his progeny elect to stay out of the fray. After all, for centuries Felidans were considered ‘less thans’ by the noble Federation.

          Until the Severans attack Felida and the losses are deep and dear. Sinbad, and his family, to a man—including one lone woman—enlist in combat and for the ensuing years Singh Shipping proves invaluable in service to the Federation.

          After peace is negotiated, the Singh pride find themselves fighting a different kind of war—just as painful, just as heavy. It is often heartbreaking as well as heartwarming how Snow has brought the many characters of this saga to a warm, deserving happiness.

 On a scale of 1-5, An Unprivate War deserves a 5.

 Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews

Three Sisters

      In Three Sisters, a Western historical novella by Susan Payne and recently released by the Wild Rose Press, three very different women, all sisters, search for the family denied them only to encounter three different men willing to make them a home.

      Beatrice O’Malley and her younger twin sisters make an exhaustive search for their long-lost brother. Their goal: to reunite their fractured family at long last. One lesson, learned early in their rather unique upbringing, was to involvement with law enforcement of any variety. Fate intervenes, throwing the women amusing roadblocks in the form of two marshals and one Pinterton agent who offer the women help, support and love. Accepting that support and love proves to be a  challenge almost as difficult as their original quest.

 On a scale of 1-5, Three Sisters deserves a 4.

 Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews

 

 

 

 

Releasing the Catch

      Women. Crab fishing. The Bering Sea. Some men don’t think they belong                                    together. One woman wants to prove them wrong.

            Jeny Heckman’s contemporary women’s fiction novel,  Releasing the Catch, introduces Faith Pearson, a woman unlike any other, born into then raised on the Bering Sea with her outspoken father and his crew. Not the usual picture book life a child but it worked for Faith and her widowed fisherman father, ably abetted by his crew boss, Mack Carter. Through grit and determination Faith learns the workings of a crab boat from the bilges to the decks, earning respect of militant, superstitious males and their counterparts.

 Our Review: there are many strong points to this amazing story, the most obvious being author Heckman’s extensive research about the detailed workings of and the cultural mores and values of the crab fishing industry. Her hard work shows loud and clear and we are better for it. Her characters are multi-layered, intriguing and conflicted, displaying a strong work ethic each day of their lives. This too shows loud and clear—and we are better for it.

 On a scale of 1-5, Releasing the Catch deserves a 5.

 Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews

Broken Toys

                     Between a rock and a harder place

In Broken Toys, debut author Glenda Thompson introduces Texas Ranger Noah Morgan, a young man who finally has his life together—a great job and the girl of his dreams. When he least expects it, a routine investigation uncovers a band of human traffickers blasting Noah with a vengeance and threatens the new life he’s worked so hard to create.

Our Review:  when we weren’t laughing out loud, we were weeping for this brave young man who yanked himself out of a life of abuse and fraud, turned that life around and made something of himself—only to have that past rise up out of the ashes and threaten to expose him. Author Thompson has many talents, one of which is creating well-drawn, layered characters—complete with warts—who tug at the heart strings and make you want to cheer out loud. Another talent is the ability to write snappy, realistic dialogue and complicated family systems.

On a scale of 1-5, Broken Toys deserves an 8.

Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews

 

 

 

 

Tangled in Tinsel

 Sugar plum fairies eat your heart out…

 In N. Jade Gray’s Tangled in Tinsel, Madison Reynolds returns to her hometown in rural Colorado to help her sister manage the last weeks of a difficult pregnancy—not fantasize about Ryder Sanders, the one who got away. But how does a logical, centered loan officer forget about her high school crush turned local architect when she bumps into him—literally and figuratively—at every turn?

 Will these two deserving people need a gentle push from a couple of Santa’s elves, aided and abetted by an endearing four-year-old to battle the machinations of a determined former paramour who gives new definition to mean girls.

 Our Review:  There are many strengths to this delightful holiday story. At the top of the list is author Gray’s talent for world building. The town of Cedar Bend is a place to come home to, especially during a holiday synonymous with hearth, home and family. From the local fire department’s Ugly Sweatshirt Dinner to the annual tree lighting ceremony and local craft show which is spiked with booths filled with the aromas of warm gingerbread cookies, tree ornaments in the shape of local wildlife and brilliant light shows. Reading this book is like coming home again and we thank N. Jade Gray for the gift.

 On a scale of 1-5, Tangled in Tinsel deserves a 4.

                          Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews

 

Wylder Hearts

 Kim Turner’s Wylder Hearts, the latest release in the Wylder West series by the Wild Rose Press, offers a classic tale of two people torn between what their hearts wants and what duty expects.  

Rancher Caleb Holt raises horses for sale—but only to those who’ll treat the animals with respect. Buyers who fail to heed Caleb’s advice learn quickly, often painfully, to mend their ways.  

While witnessing Caleb dole out advice, struggling seamstress and single mother Laurel Adams comes face to face—literally and figuratively—with an honorable man.   

In the middle of Wylder County, Wyoming Territory and encouraged by the colorful populace we met in other Wylder stories, Caleb and Laurel fall in love. At long last, he finds the love he’s been waiting for. In Caleb, Laurel discovers a man vastly different from the wastrel who wed, then abandoned her and their infant son on an elusive hunt for gold. 

Shortly before the nuptials, Laurel’s husband reappears, demanding his rights as a husband and father. What is a woman of the late 1800s, with few legal remedies at her disposal and limited means of support for herself and her beloved child to do? Should a man, raised to be true to his moral code and values, stand by and watch a woman he’s come to love take off for the Dakotas, taking the child he’s come to view as his own, with some slick-suited fortune hunter?

    The answer is one worth turning the pages!

 On a scale of 1-5, Wylder Hearts deserves a 5.

                   Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews

A Walk on the Wylder Side

           Outspoken, rebellious Cissy Arkwright was sent west from her Chicago home to work at a boarding house in Wylder, Wyoming. The last thing she expects is friendship with the handsome new boarder, a man with an air of danger and the power to make her smile.

          Buck Standish is on the run from his past. He'd like to put aside the life of a gun-for-hire, especially once he meets Cissy. But experience tells him the past has a way of catching up, pistols in hand. He's lost his heart to Cissy—should he protect her by hitting the trail again? Or stay in Wylder and fight for their future?

 Laura Strickland’s A Walk on the Wylder Side, book two in the Wylder West series released by the Wild Rose Press, introduces two new characters to Wylder, Wyoming: Cecelia “Cissy” Arkwright, newest in a long line of slave laborers at the Culpepper Boarding House and Buck Standish, a man trying desperately to leave the violence behind and forge a new life.

 Our Review: 

The attraction between Cissy and Buck is immediate and intense, compelling the reader to turn the pages to find which roadblock author Strickland will erect on the path toward true love for these two deserving young people. The secondary characters, colorful and unique in their own way, show this series has been well planned, designed to keep readers returning to see what and who will come on the scene of this small western town. Well done, Ms. Strickland!

On a scale of 1-5, A Walk on the Wylder Side deserves a 6.

Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews

 

 

 

 

Regency Christmas Kisses

 Regency Christmas Kisses: a collection of five short romances by Kathy L Wheeler and Amanda McCabe.   

 Caution: for those expecting a story set in the notoriously stodgy, rule ridden Regency Era,  Regency Christmas Kisses is not the anthology for you.

 Of varying lengths, each story is riddled with laughter, snappy dialogue, well-drawn characters who possess logical and realistic goals, motivation and conflict. After reading all, we now know well-written stories of this genre are out there waiting to be found. For that, we thank authors McCabe and Wheeler.   

 A short synopsis:

·       Snowbound Christmas by Amanda McCabe, features Helen, dowager Lady Fallon, and famous artist Charles St. George. As star-crossed lovers, their too-young romance ended badly. Years later, a sudden Christmas snowstorm offers them a chance to find their way back together, discovering the things they most wanted are right there for the taking.

·       Lady Felicity’s Feud With Christmas by Kathy L Wheeler, offers Lady Felicity Moore who hates everything to do with the Yuletide season—and with good reason. Noah Taylor, Earl of Nexum, in his own unique way shows Felicity how to make new Christmas memories, to wipe away the bad things and look forward to a future. . . with him.

·       A Partridge in a Pear Tree by Amanda McCabe gives new meaning to the old English carol, The Twelve Days of Christmas when a scavenger hunt forces Allison Gordon and William Bradford, aided by their energetic siblings, to use their wits and imaginations when filling the needs of the hunt. In the end, they resolve their feelings, find a suitable home as well as a fortune, and most important: love everlasting.

·       Five Gold Rings by Kathy L Wheeler teaches Bartholomew Dixon, future Earl of Hartley, there’s more to life than endless parties and useless wagers with the leaping lords of Boodles in the form of Philipa Swann, one of her father’s seven marriageable swans.

·       Nine Ladies Dancing by Amanda McCabe is a sweet and simple showcase for opposites who attract—in the most interesting and inventive ways: The vicar and a firecracker, so different yet so alike in wanting the same things. The bookish duke and the organization wizard who disdain parties and social gatherings of most types, yet when in each other’s company find scores of things to discuss and put to use for the welfare of others.

 On a scale of 1-5, Regency Christmas Kisses deserves a 6.

 Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews