Double Dipped

 About the Book: Accepting second best is good for her career but first-grade teacher Retta Curt delays signing up for the disappointment. Given two weeks to reconsider the contract renewal, she retreats to her grandmother’s cottage on Moon Lake, the last place Retta felt content. But the cottage is a derelict; her cousins are distant; her childhood beau is bitter and stand-offish; and Sweet Picks, the family ice cream stand, is in danger of folding. A surly newcomer has bought, then neglected properties until nothing remains of the idyllic lakeside community Retta remembers.

        When vandals target Sweet Picks, Retta’s dreams to recapture her happy childhood collapse, and the return to Moon Lake becomes a decision worse than accepting the teaching contract. Can she save the family business and rediscover happiness, or is Retta destined for a second-best future?

 Our Review: Double Dipped is a sweet treat for a summer read at the beach or a chilly evening at the lake. Author Terry Korth Fischer knows how to build emotions and hopes, then play on them till you are rooting for more than one of the quirky characters who populate this small lake community. And the ending is not what we expected—and well deserved.

Based on a scale of 1-5, Double Dipped deserves a 6.

Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews

Strong Enough, Book 4, The Masonville Series

       Love can make you strong enough, if you let it.

About the Book:

Charlotte Saunders has a full life—a rewarding career as a nurse, meaningful volunteer work at a dog shelter, family and friends and pets she adores. But no matter how hard she tries, she can’t forget the horrible event that’s haunted her for the last ten years.

A survivor of child sexual abuse, Damon Greyson now helps others who have suffered trauma. His experience and intuition alerts him to trouble in Charlotte’s past, and he wants to help her, if only she’ll let him.

As they work together to help veterans suffering from PTSD and neglected dogs needing loving homes, their feelings for each other deepen. But when the trauma from Charlotte’s past roars back to life, both are forced to confront their painful histories or die trying.  

Our Review:

          Just when we thought this author couldn’t get any better, she comes back with a gem like Strong Enough. Richards’ ability to weave issues of long-term effects of PTSD, acquaintance rape, child sexual abuse, and alcoholism into a story that features lasting family ties, enduring friendship and boundless love is enviable. This one’s a beauty—and we are better for it. 

Based on a scale of 1-5, Strong Enough deserves a 7.

Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews

 

 

 

 

A Glimpse of Music by Sydney Winward

About the Book:

Joel Harrington has been in love with the same woman for as long as he could remember. But he had to watch her court his best friend, and then marry his king. Now that she’s once more unattached, he refuses to let her slip through his fingers for a third time.     

Darkness torments Nyana Everdon’s memories, and even after her cruel husband is killed, he still haunts her from the grave. When her past refuses to leave her alone, it puts not only her, but her daughters in danger. She has no choice but to lean on the man she has called a friend for the past eight years, a friend whose charms she tries hard to resist.

But along with the growing threat to her family, she keeps an even more dangerous secret—a secret that could change her life forever.

Our Review: Having previously read a few of author Winward’s novels, we expected detailed descriptions of setting, well-drawn and multi-layered characters, intense emotions and conflict so well written the reader wonders if resolution will ever be accomplished. A Glimpse of Music is a delight to behold. Sydney Winward never fails to amaze us with her imagination and courage to ‘push the envelope’. Well done!

Based on a scale of 1-5, A Glimpse of Music earns a 7.

Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Authors 

Home Waters by Elizabeth Devlin

 About the Book: An invasive toxic algae threatens to decimate the entire Narragansett Bay and its surrounding shoreline. Reclusive oceanographer Becket Fallon is trying to stop the toxic algae threat while simultaneously dealing with an urgent family crisis. He needs help from a non-profit expert Lainey Carmichael who comes at a price. She’ll help get the funding critical to stop Black Tide, but only if he lets her and 3-year-old twins stay with him for the summer. The same twin granddaughters he’s felt duty-bound to avoid.

        Home Waters explores the conflicting demands of work to save the bay’s future and a family who needs Becket now.

Our Review: It is rare when we find a book, then read it “cover to cover” in one sitting. Learning something new, no matter the topic, is always a treat—and something we look for to classify it a terrific read. We found that with Home Waters. The concept of a toxic algae, and Black Tide is no different, threatening our home waters is frightening. Author Devlin made this issue easy to understand, then root for Becket and his crew to solve the problem. At the same time, the escalating custody battle over two delightful little girls kept us going. The kids, along with their intrepid Aunt Lainey are forces to behold. And we are better for it.

Based on a scale of 1-5, Home Waters deserves an 8.

Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews

Dragons Walk Among Us

 About the Book:  Shutterbug Allison Lee is trying to survive high school while suffering the popular girl's abuse. Her life is often abysmal, but at least her green hair is savage. Her talent for photography is recognized by the school paper and the judges of a photo contest.

While visiting her friend Joe, a homeless vet, Allison's life irrevocably changes after an attack leaves her blind. All her dreams as a photojournalist are dashed as she realizes she'll never see again. Despair sets in until she is offered an experimental procedure to restore her vision. But there are side effects, or are they hallucinations? She now sees dragons accompanying some of the people she meets. Can she trust her eyes, or has the procedure affected her more than she can see?

Our Review: This remarkable story is perfect for those who have ever suffered abuse simply because they’re different in some way, either by appearance or abilities—or for those who understand the helplessness and despair of watching the young person they love suffer, knowing there is little they can do to make things better. 

 On a scale of 1-5, Dragons Walk Among Us merits a 7.

 Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews

The Student in Classroom 6 by Patricia McAlexander

 About the Book:

Although a faculty member has been killed on campus and the murderer is still at large, English instructor Katherine Holiday never suspects the criminal might be one of her students. In fact, there’s a man in her adult evening class she wishes she could know better.

Seeing no need for a college degree, Tyler McHenry, a partner in his father’s successful tree service, writes fiction for his own pleasure. No one at the University needs to know his personal reasons for enrolling in a first-year composition course. Still, he finds himself fascinated by the pretty teacher, who believes his writing should be published.

  Our Review:

        Set against the University of Georgia’s lush Athens campus, this story keeps the reader on the edge of their seats, waiting for the next victim to succumb to the mystery killer—as well as the big reveal of the identity of the murderer. Author McAlexander skillfully weaves a budding off-limits romance between instructor and adult student while at the same time offering an insider’s view of college level English coursework. It’s always a bonus when we learn new things from the books we read, this one is exceptional in several areas. Well done!

 On a scale of 1-5, The Student in Classroom 6 deserves a 6.

 Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews

Katie's Gamble by Kara O'Neal

 About the Book:

Katie McCord bears much weight on her shoulders–single-handedly running her family’s business, McCord’s Confectionery, and caring for her three younger siblings. And her little shop is in trouble, which forces her to seek help from her brother, Johnny McCord, a notorious gambler living in New Orleans, or lose everything.

Rowdy Denton might be a gambler working for Johnny McCord, but one look at Katie’s sweet innocence tugs at the ache and guilt in his heart. For his peace of mind, he’s determined to get her out of the opulent hotel and brothel kept by her brother and back to the little town in Texas where she belongs—far away from Rowdy.

When Johnny refuses to sell his share to Katie, he sends Rowdy to her hometown to cause her further trouble. But, instead, Rowdy finds himself working as her hired hand and helping her keep everything together.

Katie knows Rowdy has another purpose for being in Echols. He works for her brother, after all, and is a gambler himself. So, why is he helping her? When she discovers the answer to her question, she races back to New Orleans, prepared to make the biggest gamble of her life.

 Our Review: In her entrancing writing style, Kara O’Neal again has thrust the reader into each scene of this delightful story, using detailed descriptions of settings, unique characters and rich dialogue of the era and geographical location. Kara O’Neal simply cannot be topped for excellence in creating emotion-wracked situations. Gamblers and Gunslingers looks like another winner!

 Based on a scale of 1-5, Katie’s Gamble deserves a 7.

 Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews

A Full Bodied Love by Amber Cross

 Smooth and mellow meets spunky and sweet

 About the Book: Lisa Kirkpatrick is stubborn, but she's not stupid. If this guy needs a date to evade an unwanted admirer, who is she to object? It's not as if handsome men are lining up to ask her out. Sure, they know there's a woman in the wheelchair, but it would never occur to them that there's a woman in the wheelchair. He notices. This solid, fun, straight-shooting guy ticks off every box on her ideal man list. But why do they call him Slick? ​

        Roger Plankey thought his life was full until he walked into the town clerk's office and laid eyes on the woman behind the counter. A spunky, independent woman with a dash of humor and just enough sass to keep him on his toes. She fills that unknown void in his life like she was made for him. But is there such a thing as too perfect?

 Our Review: this is not your average romance between two people of a certain age. From page one, Roger and Lisa are headed for an adventure but then the layers begin to peel off, exposing differences which might be too monumental to handle. This heart warmer of a story makes you believe in the goodness of others and the ability to look inside at the true essence of oneself, and change.

 On a scale of 1-5, A Full Bodied Love deserves a 6.

 Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews.