Reserved Yearnings, Laurel Ridge #6

 Will a secret uncovered end a relationship before it even begins?

 About the Book: When William Stuart's decade-old secret is pulled out of the depths of Whippoorwill Lake, he worries that his friends will never trust him again. That worry eases after he falls in love at first sight with the enigmatic motorcycle riding photojournalist Charli Davidson—but something isn’t right.

         Charli has harbored her own secret her entire life. She's attracted to William but fears he'll discard her once the truth is revealed. Her head tells her to run, but her heart tells her to stay. For the first time in her life, she's willing to risk her heart. These two deserving people must rise above long-held lies or their new love will be ruined forever.

 Our Review: Reserved Yearnings is an excellent example of short romantic fiction at its very best: well-drawn characters with understandable goals, compelling conflict and a realistic resolution. Additionally, author Diana Stout brings fans of the Laurel Ridge series one step closer to resolving the mystery of the resurrected VW Beetle. Well done on all accounts! 

 On a scale of 1-5, Reserved Yearnings merits a 7.

 Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews

 

Tangled Passions, Book 5, Laurel Ridge

. . . They both hate liars and yet both are being deceived. Will the truth tear them apart or bring them together?

About the Book: When Georgia State Senator Jefferson Jackson first meets Madison Butler, he's immediately smitten. But getting involved with a lobbyist could be trouble, and the last thing he wants is a scandal while in office. Besides, after suffering betrayal during his last serious relationship, Jeff’s sworn off all but the most casual of dating.

Madison Butler isn't about to let Jefferson Jackson deter her from meeting with him and pitching her company’s product. At stake is her job, one she can ill afford to lose. Then he tells her she's been lied to by her employer—and almost dares her to ‘check it out’.

When the two meet again, can he trust she isn't involved with anyone else, despite what he's seen and heard? Can he finally put a past filled with lies behind him so he can find love once again?

Our Review: It is always a pleasure to read something by the talented Diana Stout and Tangled Passions is one of her best. Tying the past and present lives of the colorful characters with the charming Southern town where most were raised—and have returned to—is a pure delight. The conflict between Jefferson and Madison is clear and obvious from the first page—as is the immediate and intense mutual attraction. Humor abounds as does the deep emotion underlying all the characters in this series. Do not miss Tangled Passions—it’s a beauty.

 On a scale of 1-5, Tangled Passions merits a 6.

 Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews 

Buried Hearts, Book 4, Laurel Ridge

 

After an archeologist, who reads the dead from what they leave behind, meets a psychic balloonist talks to the dead, the attraction is instant and intense. But can two vastly different people meet in the middle, shed their walled-up exteriors, and expose hidden longings and buried hearts?

About the Book:  When archeologist Clint Anderson meets balloonist Gabby King, he is immediately smitten. Unexpected emotions flare after the straight-laced, hyper-organized Clint finds Gabby’s footloose, fancy-free lifestyle . . . interesting.

          By circumstance, Gabby becomes involved with Clint’s current restoration project—a VW beetle that's been underwater for a decade and was recently fished out of a local lake. After she finds an expensive bracelet hidden under the floor mat, they uncover another part of a mystery behind the recovered Bug which leads to even more questions in the community and those directly involved with the car.

As the two get better acquainted, emotional walls crumble and once buried hearts are exposed. Can two eccentrics handle a discovery of unexpected love and allow those walls to finally fall?

Our Review: No one who’s followed the Laurel Ridge series would pass up a chance to spend more time with the unique folks who inhabit this small mountain town. And [we readily admit] along the way, discovering new clues to the mystery behind the classic VW bug that was hauled out of Whippoorwill Lake adds frosting to the delicious cake. Walls start coming down for the two seriously different Clint and Gabby, ranking up there with the conflicts that came before. Well written with snappy, realistic dialogue, the times may change but honest emotions stay the same. No one writes them better than Diana Stout.

 Based on a scale of 1-5, Buried Hearts deserves a 6.

 Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews

Arrested Pleasures, a Laurel Ridge novella, #3

 Can a bad boy womanizer win the heart of a woman who'd rather see him in handcuffs?

About the Book: Cutter Logan has been in love with Annie Martin since they were kids, but after one disastrous high school date, she relegated him to the friends-only zone.

Cutter has a reputation for taking little in this life seriously. As the area game warden, Annie has worked hard to build a career. The last thing she needs is a jokester like Cutter tarnishing that career.

 Our Review: Arrested Pleasures is a too-short, very fun read. The dialogue and snappy, leading to more than one laugh-out-loud moments. The characters are diverse and well written. Plus, the story behind the discovery of a 1969 VW beetle at the bottom of the local lake keeps on movin’.   

 On a scale of 1-5, Arrested Pleasures deserves a 7.

 Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews

Burning Desire, a Laurel Ridge novella, #2

 What happens when a man and woman are attracted to each other, but he's a non-committer and she's a non-dater?'

About the Book:  Once a bubbly teenager, as a high school senior Eddie (Edwina) Taylor withdrew, spurning everyone in order to keep a horrible secret that could destroy her. Now a decade later, when firefighter Aaron Rhett Sinclair Renoux—a man who hates liars—investigates a fire in her grandmother's farmhouse, she's guarded, fearing he has the potential to blow up her world completely.

Our Review: In book 2 of this fun series, author Stout adds a few more intriguing characters to the quirky population of Laurel Ridge. It comes as a real treat to revisit this rural Georgia town with Burning Desire. As always Stout’s ability to create compelling characters who remain true to their values and goals are a pleasure to meet and come to admire. Burning Desire is a winner all the way around!

 On a scale of 1-5, Burning Desire deserves a 6.

 Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews

 

 

 

  

Shattered Dreams, Book 1, the Laurel Ridge series

      Welcome to Laurel Ridge, a small-town community, where a 1969 Volkswagen Beetle is fished out of Lake Whippoorwill and creates a storyline thread involving 7 romances, 7 couples, and 7 conflicts all within the span of 15 days. Classmates, best friends, residents, and strangers walk in and out of all seven stories beginning with book #1, Shattered Dreams.

        About the Shattered Dreams: High school sweethearts, Mason and Shelley, meet 12 years later and the sparks still fly on Mason’s side of things—but Shelley won't cooperate. Soon, both are shocked to learn the truth behind their breakup and who was responsible. Is it too late to rekindle the love once shared or will their dreams be shattered forever?

Our Review: who can resist a story of two lonely, deserving people who lost their love long ago, perhaps due to misinformation, or tales told out of school, or interfering [but hopefully well-meaning] parents? Author Stout created Laurel Ridge, the perfect setting for this charming series, then populated it with a crew of unique, very special characters. As the story progresses, interest grows to learn the mystery behind the ’69 bug pulled from the nearby lake.

And, we admit, because our very first car was a ’69 bug, we can’t wait to see how it came to be consigned to a watery grave and why.

 Based on a scale of 1-5, Shattered Dreams merits a 5.

 Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews

 

A Sour Note by Jill Piscitello

When murder provides a welcome distraction…

About the Book:  After living out of state for the past ten years, event planner Maeve Cleary reluctantly returns to Hampton, NH, a charming beach community where she was raised. Living in her childhood home an iron-willed mother, Maeve struggles to rebuild her dismal financial situation while recovering from the destruction of her engagement to a nationally recognized news correspondent. Confronted by best friends, nosy neighbors, and unwelcomed relatives—who all seem to know what’s best for her—the discovery of a corpse outside her mother’s music school provides Maeve with not only a distraction but a reason to get out of bed and keep moving.

Our Review:  Who, after suffering brutal disappointment, doesn’t want only to hide in the same and wallow in their grief? Who hasn’t been forced to rely on the kindness of others while recuperating from devastating blows to their ego? And who hasn’t suffered the well-meaning, unwelcomed advice and guidance with a smile and grace? Meet Maeve Cleary—a young woman every cozy mystery lover will recognize, then root for. Adding to this mix is a charming beach locale with cleverly named businesses, owned and operated by a host of unique, interesting characters, any one of whom had good reason to murder the thoroughly unlikeable victim. Author Piscitello hits every high note with this delightful story—we look forward to the next Music Box Mystery.    

 Based on a scale of 1-5, A Sour Note merits a 7.

 Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews

  

Choices Meant For Gods

 When their god needed a protector, she chose yes.

 About the Book: Not even the gods noticed when Amanda Chariss was born with the mark of The Protector. Now she and her wizard guardian hide from a mad sorcerer in a household full of false hope and whispered secrets. The same god who watches over the family school sheltering Chariss will soon reveal her role in an impending war.

When a wizard’s ward sets aside a lifetime of running and fear to accept the responsibilities of guarding an arrogant deity, can she face the trials in the prophecies they uncover? Will Nigel Taiman of her latest refuge dare to use his dragon heritage to bind her to his estate or to help her in her duty?

 Our Review:  Many words come to mind when trying to describe Sandy Lender’s ability to create a world filled with suspense, danger and redemption: unique, multi-layered characters, led and protected by a driven young woman with more guts and courage than any ten people, who inhabit a magical world filled with fear and danger, jealousy and revenge. We are in awe.

 On a scale of 1-5, Choices Meant for Gods merits a 7.

 Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews

The Vampire's Retribution by M. Flagg

 About the Book: Dreams are often hidden desires… even if they are terrifying. Michael Malone, a mystically enhanced vampire, destroys three immortal sorcerers and takes on their vengeful army of hell-beasts in an unprecedented battle. Poisoned and captured, his body is exsanguinated and left to rot in a cell beneath the city. Guided by the heavenly entity known as Helena, he spins a fantasy full of deep love and devotion to the one woman he treasures and his mystically-human, very troubled son. Helena focuses Michael’s fading mind through emotional twists and unexpected turns, through passionate highs and very realistic lows.

 Our Review: This novel, with its complicated plotline and multi-layerd characters is seasoned throughout with the author’s talent for lush descriptive phrasing as well as intense emotion. Fans of vampire fiction will love this one.

 On a scale of 1-5, The Vampire’s Retribution merits a 4.

 Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews

 

 

The Twenty-One Year Contract

 Coming of age in 1960s London.  

 About The Book: orphaned as a young teenager, Kathleen Gray struggles to find her own way in the world, including learning more about her birth mother. But the laws governing release of information on adoption are strict. Kathleen, now Kate, learns to make a family of her heart—and eventually finds what she’s been looking for all along.  

 Our Review: The Twenty-One Year Contract is more than a coming of age during the turbulent 1960s. It is more than traveling the road of sex, drugs and rock & roll. It is a story of a hard fought battle for self-reliance, self-awareness and friendship.

 On a scale of 1-5, The Twenty-One Year Contract deserves a 4.

 Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews

 

 

 

 

Venus Rising by Tammy D. Walker

Mystery on the high seas.

 About the Book: While hosting an author event aboard The Cullinan Diamond, a luxury British ocean liner as it travels from London to New York City, librarian Amy Morrison  unravels the mystery of a sixty-year old painting, a memoir by the artist the publisher won't allow anyone to read, and the whereabouts of the artist after she goes missing. 

 Our Review: The setting of a luxury ocean liner where passengers expect all the amenities due them for their wealth and status is a perfect background for this charming cozy mystery. After a somewhat slow start, the pace picks up and the heroine, Amy Morrison, begins finding her spirit and gumption, things take off. Fans of cozy mysteries should love this one.

 On a scale of 1-5, Venus Rising merits a 3.5.

 Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews