Encounter Darkness as a Bride

 The moment he was named Taietor, his soul began to die.

 About The Book: Against the orders of the Domnitor, the prince or absolute ruler, Marek Strigoi wreaks revenge the killers of his entire family and ends up in exile for the next several hundred years. Cezar Strigoi, Marek’s cousin and close ally, is named his replacement as Taietor, or assassin. For the next two centuries Cezar reluctantly carries out the Prince’s dictates to murder those who commit the crime of loving the wrong person. Cezar is tired, physically and emotionally—until Elle enters his life and suddenly life takes on new meaning. Will he do what is mandated or what is right?

 Our Review: At last. We’ve had glimpses of the reluctant Cezar who after stumbling into the job of Taietor, went on to be feared by all as he carried out the dictates of the increasingly irrational Prince. With Encounter Darkness as a Bride we are treated to an in-depth look into Cezar’s heart, mind and emotions. As an added treat, we begin to see this phenomenal series approach a logical and realistic conclusion for all the characters.

On a scale of 1-5, Encounter Darkness as a Bride deserves a 6.

Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews

 

 

Rewrites of the Heart by Terry Newman

 Her characters leap right off the page—literally.

 About The Book: JJ Spritely, workaholic romance author gets the surprise of her life when the characters in her latest book show up in her office one morning—and start interfering in her life. After the work-in-progress lovers discover they cannot find their way back home, the fun begins. In an accidental meeting with the local hottie professor in this Northern Ohio college town, Spritely kicks him to the curb after he shows himself to be an elitist, pompous ass with a less than supportive opinion for anyone who writes what he considers ‘trash’. Not to be ignored, the two characters invent any number of zany ways to throw these two people together—much to the potential ‘real’ lovers’ determination to avoid the no-fly zone.

 Our Review: With crisp, succinct dialogue running through this novel, author Newman caught our attention on page one and kept us turning the pages. The scary part is: what would you do if the characters who exist only in your mind, and likely your heart, show up in your living room and cannot or will not leave? Then, to make matters worse, they start interfering in your life—creating a unique and thought-provoking situation.

 On a scale of 1-5, Rewrites of the Heart deserves a 4.5.

 Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews

 

 

 

 

Steam Tinker by Laura Strickland

 He can repair anything…except her heart  

 About The Book: Lionel Pike, a self-taught repairman, is known throughout the city of Buffalo as a wizard for restoring what most have simply kicked to the curb—both human and automatons. He’s a loner, and likes it that way, until the lovely Sofia Gregory enters his shop and asks the impossible. Or so he believes. Soon she offers the impossible, something he must fight to keep—along with his heart and his life.

 Our Review: The Buffalo Steampunk Adventures have long been a favorite of ours for a number of reasons. Author Strickland’s uncanny ability to create period dialogue, including accents and colloquialisms which go along with the Victorian period of the Niagara Frontier in Western New York. Another strength of this series are the cleverly worded analogies of automaton rights to those current struggles for human rights throughout our nation and the world. This is a beautiful study of those who care versus those who use simply for their own gain. Brava!

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

 Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews

 

 

 

 

The Last Lord Standing by Diana Lloyd

 Eeny, meeny, miny, marriage…

 About The Book: Always the rogue and never the gentleman, Kerrigan Northam doesn’t worry about anything beyond his own pleasures. But lately, his noble friends have been considering marriage—specifically, the charms and generous fortune of the refreshingly pert Lady Olivia Liberty Chalford. Now they want Kerr to keep her from considering any other eligible suitors…by courting her himself!

Libby is averse to the very idea of marriage. Why be auctioned off when she has a far more enticing—if scandalously modern—plan for her future? So when she’s rescued by a wickedly dashing gentleman who claims to be something of a scoundrel, Libby thinks she’s found the perfect partner in crime.

It’s the perfect ruse. Libby gets a secret accomplice and Kerr’s in the uniquely coveted position of being able to kiss the comely, spirited Libby as thoroughly—and as often—as possible. But, as their courting charade continues, Kerr’s gone from wondering how long until she discovers his secret…to how long until he’s madly in love with her.

 Our Review: A clever plotline, combined with well-drawn characters and snappy dialogue makes this a thoroughly delightful read. It has everything a devotee of historical romance looks for in excellent fiction. Do not miss.

 On a scale of 1-5, The Last Lord Standing merits a 6.

 Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews

 

 

 

 

Strigoi 6: A Hardy Pastime by Tony-Paul de Vissage

 Is it love in the air—or something else?

 About the Book: With the twins, Ladd and Andrew, hip-deep in wedding plans, newlyweds Dan and Ana contemplating the adoption of a newborn Mischa, and Xandi, the adopted sister, in the throes of new love, all seems in control—except for that lingering uncertainty of knowing whether the clan is finally free from the vendetta carried out by Mircea Ravagiu. Just as Marek and Maggie Vanater, a descendant of his first love Lily-Magda, decide to advance their relationship, Diana, the sister thought to be long-dead, appears with a child in tow. Is she want she presents to be—or something more sinister? One never knows with the Second Species who are governed by centuries old rules and regulations which continue to wreak havoc with the lives of all involved with the Strigoi clan and its members.

Our Review: With Strigoi 6, A Hardy Pastime, the author focuses on emotions and motives of the characters. The reader never questions the characters’ actions because de Vissage is always there with short clear explanations of past history. The pace continues to be fast and the action non-stop. As it moves toward a satisfying conclusion, we are left to wonder what will happen to finally force Marek’s decision to declare himself Intamplare, return to Carpathius and challenge the current Prince Cyprian, then establish himself as Domnitor and invoke new laws governing relations between Adventurieri and Deomi. Stay tuned.

On a scale of 1-5, Strigoi: A Hardy Pastime deserves a 6.

Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews

Passion in the Cards by Sadira Stone

 Headstrong, homebody farmer plus freedom-loving hippie chick equals the worst match ever, but their blazing chemistry is unstoppable.

 About the Book: Jesse Del Toro struggles to keep his organic farm afloat—hard enough without the delicious, dangerous distraction of Gemma’s return to Trappers Cove. The bewitching vagabond will never settle down in the quirky little beach town he calls home. But once ignited, their fiery attraction sets them on a collision course that could wreck him. 

          Nursing a wounded heart, Gemma Moore hopes a spell in her Aunt Zora’s metaphysical shop will soothe her stormy emotions. But from the moment Jesse walks in, calm is a lost cause. The hunky farmer is frustrating, stubborn, and oh so tempting. One hot night reveals his hidden side—sweet, sensual, and determined to make her his.

          When a harmless secret backfires, Gemma discovers just how deeply she’s wounded the beautiful bull man, and how desperately she wants to keep him.    

 Our Review: Among her many talents, author Stone shows readers and writers how to create two interesting and layered characters with everyday, relatable goals, motivation, and conflict, bringing all of it together in a novella length romance. Add in the steam and she’s delivered another winner. Number Two in this series—due out in June 2023—looks to be a winner as well.

 On a scale of 1-5, Passion in the Cards merits a 5.

 Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews

 

The Light at Corriveau Crossing

 Returning home can break…or make a man.

 About The Book: For Levi Turner, home is a four-letter word. Returning after thirteen years, he’ll stay only long enough for his father to recover from surgery. Carissa Michaud, who loves everything about the unincorporated patch of forest where she grew up, can’t imagine living anywhere else.

This is a story of the deep woods, about a man who must come to terms with his family, his past, and one nosy, opinionated neighbor determined to show him the light.

Our Review: With lush descriptive phrasing of the people and the land of Maine’s north woods, and a complex history between the main characters, this is one formidable book. Add in snappy, crisp dialogue and you cannot—nor do you want to—put this book down. If it is any judge, the next book in this series should be a beauty.

On a scale of 1-5, The Light at Corriveau Crossing merits an 8.

Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews

 

 

 

 

A Deadly Combo by Karen A. Phillips

 Trailer festivals can be killers—in more ways than one.

 About The Book: Rocky Nelson, newly retired and anxious to start her new life, reluctantly agrees to attend a trailerfest at a local winery in hopes of healing the rift between herself and her twin sister. After awhile, peeking into vintage travel trailers starts to wear thin—then the guy who renovated her sister’s trailer ends up dead—and her sister ends up high on the cops’ list of suspects. Rocky slips into amateur investigator mode, not just to save her sister but perhaps heal herself.

 Our Review: A Deadly Combo takes the reader on a ride filled with snappy dialogue, quirky characters and unexpected turns on a road that leads toward family healing and personal redemption.

 On a scale of 1-5, A Deadly Combo merits a 4.

 Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews

 

 

 

 

Unfashionable Diva by Mia Augustine

 A night to remember...or not.

 About the Book:

     Naturally, after Gina Bové woke up in bed next to a strange man, she freaked out. She can’t remember a thing from the night before, has no idea who the man next to her is, or how she ended up in this precarious position.
     Anthony Locatelli spends the next decade wondering what happened to the horribly attired woman he’d saved from a seriously dangerous situation ten years earlier. But after his father threatens Anthony’s livelihood, he turns to a specialized matchmaking service for assistance and learns exactly what happened to his mystery bedmate.

Our Review: There is something about a person who does the right thing because it’s the only way he/she knows. We call that person a hero—and Anthony Locatelli fits the description from page one of Unfashionable Diva. As well, there is something about a person who refuses to bemoan things beyond their control—and go on to thrive. Gina Bove is that person. The reader is better for having met them, then watching each find their way back to each other. Well done.

 Based on a scale of 1-5, Unfashionable Diva merits a 7.5

 Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews