Thursday, September 30, 2021

Unexpected by Jana Richards

At their lowest point, with no relief in sight, two desperate people find the solution to their problems in a most unexpected way.  

          Hard working, devoted parent, Ben Grayson sees the only solution to protecting his children is to go on the run. Until he meets next door neighbor Jamie Garven who might be the answer to his prayers in a most unexpected manner.

           Almost from the start, Jamie’s calm demeanor settles Ben, giving him a sense of comfort and safety. His two little girls mend the ache in Jamie’s heart, showing her a new opportunity to fulfill her greatest wish. Together they might be able to solve the other’s dilemmas—if only . . .

 Our Review:  Unexpected, Book 3 in the Masonville Series is the kind of novel every fan of the romance genre hopes to find: relatable, multi-layered characters with strong goals, motivation and conflict and antagonists worth their weight in page-turning gold for creating tension and erecting roadblocks to our two deserving leads. As the saying goes, ‘just when things look good, throw a monkey wrench in the works’. Author Jana Richards has followed that advice to the max. Rarely have we found such an excellent example of good writing, great characters and a longed-for HEA. Well done!

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

            Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews

 

 

 

 

Monday, September 27, 2021

Twisted Lies by C.B. Clark

            Can she overcome her traumatic past and open her heart to love?

      Maggie O’Flynn’s parents disappeared when she was twelve. Abandoned and alone, with few answers to what happened, she was sent to live with a maiden aunt who did the best she could. Now, years later, with difficulties trusting others and at risk for losing her job, Maggie senses someone is watching her. A letter from an attorney only heightens her sense of terror. What the attorney drops in her lap will change her life forever.  

      Russ Crawford, heir to the fortune of his adopted father, Angus, explodes after he learns the mysterious Maggie O’Flynn will inherit his father’s estate. Who is she? And why would his father—whom Russ adored—leave the bulk of his estate to this interloper?

      Sparks fly on their first accidental meeting. The second time doesn’t go as well. The two are confronted by a mystery of monumental proportions—right down to what happened to Maggie’s parents, and what led to Angus’ secret surveillance of Maggie for more than twenty years. Working together, the two risk everything to find the answers. In the process they discover each other.

 Our Review:  For long-time fans of C.B. Clark’s edge of the seat novels of suspense and mystery, Twisted Lies is a treat. With a talent for blending lush descriptions of the picturesque Western Canada with well-drawn, multi-layered characters, Clark does not disappoint. The subtle inclusion of the daily struggles and temptations associated with alcohol abuse is informative without beating the reader over the head. Plus, the ending was not at all expected—and very satisfying.

 On a scale of 1-5, Twisted Lies deserves a 6.

 Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews

 

 

 

 

Tuesday, September 21, 2021

Cherry Red by Darlene Fredette

      Up and coming entrepreneur Carly Redd has a lousy history with men. In fact, she’d rather devote her life improving her new business than spend her precious time off with a man who will only end up leaving her.

     Firefighter Noah “Blaise” Harding comes from a strong, loving family whose bonds rewrote the book for lasting marriage. He’d looking for the forever type of woman—and is prepared to wait a lifetime for her.

     They meet under unusual circumstances—she’s creating interesting titled beverages that combine her passion for ice cream with “adult” additives. In walk a group of hot looking firemen whom she has reason to believe are part of the “adult” entertainment for the event. She’s not about to think twice about a man who removes his clothes for pay—and lets him know immediately. Noah on the other hand is struck deaf, dumb and blind at the first meeting, and is willing to do anything and everything to win over the energetic Carly.  

 Our Review:  Again, author Darlene Fredette treats the reader to a fast and fun example of interesting, relatable characters with crisp, snappy dialogue. Toss in the charm of historic Halifax, Nova Scotia and a host of diverse and colorful secondary characters. Fans of Darlene as well as the One Scoop or Two Series out of the Wild Rose Press are in for a treat.

 On a scale of 1-5, Cherry Red deserves a 6.

 Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews

 

 

Thursday, September 16, 2021

Killing Dreams by Donnette Smith

 . . . A serial killer is on the prowl and psychic Jenna Langley is an ‘eye’ witness to each death. The one man she dares turn to is homicide detective Cole Rainwater. But the last time she saw him was when their teenage love affair ended in tragedy. Cole would give everything to forget he ever knew Jenna. Until she strolls back into his life after ten years and rapidly becomes the center of a horrific set of murders which have rocked the small town he calls home. With a maniac on the loose, and innocent lives at stake, Jenn must decide if helping Cole bring a killer to justice is worth exposing the secret she’s kept all these years. . .

       Imagine being seventeen, madly in love, only to learn the boy you love is the son of a serial killer. Of course you want to support your love; unfortunately your parents have other ideas…

Now, ten years later, independent, successful businesswoman Jenna Langley ends up the town she was forced to leave ten years ago. After she starts having vivid dreams which involve the horrifying death of a woman, she goes to the police. Only the hotshot detective assigned to talk to her doesn’t believe her. Worse, she was the girl he once loved beyond all others; the one who deserted him at the lowest point in his life; the one he never forgot. And she’s got a pip of an unbelievable story to tell.

 Our Review:  Conflict—the main concept of all good fiction. In Killing Dreams, Donnette Smith uses the conflict between Cole and Jenna, both internal and external, to keep readers on the edge of their seats, turning the pages. Enhancing the conflict is snappy dialogue, wise-cracking secondary characters and a steamy setting. Who could ask for more?

 On a scale of 1-5, Killing Dreams deserves a 6.

Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews

Monday, September 13, 2021

In From the Cold

        Recently, we had the privilege to meet Luke Foster from Susan Payne’s An Unexpected Wife. Luke, a hard-working Nebraska rancher with a slew of younger brothers to ride herd on, rescues the town librarian Lorelei from desperate straits and thereby forges a deep and everlasting future for himself, the woman he comes to love, and starting a new branch of the Foster family tree.

One of those ‘branches’ was Luke’s younger brother Matthew who, after one look at Lorelei, knew he needed make a life for himself—and that Nebraska was not the place to do it. Hence, we found Matthew traveling to Alaska in the historical romance, In From the Cold, written by Susan Payne, and released by the Wild Rose Press.

 Our Review:  While detailing Matthew’s trials and tribulations while in carving out a space for himself in rough and rugged Sitka, Payne once again shows off her enviable skill for research. While enjoying a simple, basic romance, the readers learns volumes on customs and culture of Native Alaskan peoples as well as those of Mother Russia. As always this is more than a simple romance; it is filled with adventure and imagination and is sure to please any number of readers.

 On a scale of 1-5, In From the Cold deserves a 4.

      Kat Henry Doran, Two Wild Women Reviews