Revenge Hit by B Davis Kroon

       The first victim? Most likely, that one’s personal.  

About The Book: A brilliant, but oddball, football fanatic watches as a player dies on the gridiron—thanks to an official’s screwup—only to have the agony of his childhood take over his mind. Weeks later, a part of him is killing football officials. Sports website mogul and college football commentator Ben Leit finds himself dragged into a road trip across Route 66 in search of the anesthetic killer.

Our Review: Our first comment on Revenge Hit: do not start reading this late on a Sunday night because you’ll never make it to work on time the next day. It’s that good. Our second comment is a nod to author Davis Kroon’s talent for creating setting. In the first scene, in the middle of a brilliant Fall day, the reader finds themselves dead center of a playing field, arms open in anticipation of a perfect spiral pass landing neat as a pin in their hands.

The third, and definitely most important, is the detailed and compelling descent into one man’s frustration, advancing to rage, ending in total madness, making for an exceptional read.

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

Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews

 

 

 

 

Half Truths Under a Broken Moon

      Will going home again bring added pain—or profound joy?

About the Book: After a decade away from her hometown of Alton, Minnesota, Luna Anderson is reticent to return but she has no choice. The woman who raised her is dying of cancer. While working through her grief over the loss, Luna encounters her birth mother—another of the reasons she stayed away for so long—alive and well and thriving. To complicate matters, after seeing Brad, her childhood friend, the same confusing feelings Luna once had for him resurface.

So do the panic attacks she’s not suffered since fleeing Alton. Is Brad the trigger? Or is it the loss of the only woman who nurtured her? Then, perhaps the cause lies with the emotionally charged relationship she has with her mother.

Luna owes it to her recently deceased grandma to stay in Alton and care for the man who stood as the only father figure she’s ever known. It might be time to stop running and finally confront everything she has tried to move on from—which means figuring out the cause of the panic attacks and whether she is ready to risk falling in love again.

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Our Review:  this is a compelling and complex tale of family systems and the wrath wreaked on the innocent, leading to lifelong pain and uncertainty. In order to survive, Luna escaped, but only by developing multiple protective layers. It is therefore a pure joy to watch author Wenner peel them away like the skin of an onion. As each layer is shed, the reader sees light and clarity enter Luna’s damaged spirit. This is a journey into one woman’s self-actualization, as well as a joyous and happily ever after. Well done!

 

Based on a scale of 1-5, Half Truths Under a Broken Moon merits a 7.

 

Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews

Accidental Allies by Karina Bartow

 After a six-year absence can she go back to the career she loves?

 About the Book: Accidental Allies follows detective Minka Avery as she returns to the Orlando P.D. after a six-year hiatus. The decision to bring her back following such a lengthy absence wasn’t popular with some of the top brass, but when the courthouse is bombed, the investigation puts the entire department under the microscope. As the case takes several twists and turns, Minka proves her time away from ‘detecting’ hasn’t diminished her skills at all.  

 Our Review: The depth of research performed by author Bartow shows clear in this fast-paced police procedural based in sunny Orlando. It is the loyalty which flavors the varied personal relationships that bring a shine to this tale. While Minka owes her job to her immediate superior Gus Channing, it is her loyalty to him that not only saves his job but also solves the crimes underlying the mystery. Add to that mix a loving spouse and delightful child, as well as her charming rogue of a brother which makes this story so special.

 Based on a scale of 1-5, Accidental Allies merits a 6.

 Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Authors

Rag Lady, a Holly Swimsuit novel

 About The Book: Take a step back in time to see how apparel magnate Holly Schlivnik got her start in the rag business.  

 Our Review: As a precursor to the Holly Swimsuit Series, Rag Lady takes fans of this popular series back to the early days when Holly, a recent college graduate and budding writer, gets her start in the business that eventually takes her to the Apparel Mart in California. The history is fascinating with added flavors of Jewish traditions. And we cannot ignore the influence of Nana. Beautifully written, this character stands out as a testament to tough, loving grandmothers everywhere. Well done!  

On a scale of 1-5, Rag Lady deserves a 4.

Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews

 

 

 

 

Flame & Shadow by AK Nevermore

 About the Book: Envy, a half fae-half daemon, is looking at her death which will occur in less than thirty days. In her short life, she has not had many opportunities or been offered many chances so has lived on her wits and guile. Out of the blue, she is offered the option to survive—but in her view it comes at a high price. Along this journey, she encounters difficult people and situations—but in the end, survives. As to how well she survives is her decision.

Our Review:  This is not an easy story for the casual reader to get through. That said, devotees of the sci-fi/paranormal/urban fantasy genres will adore it. Because of her less than sterling upbringing, Envy has developed a kick-ass, nothing bothers me attitude—but early on it becomes clear this is a cover for a young person looking to belong, unconsciously begging for unconditional positive regard. Afterall, isn’t that what we all need? What we all deserve? Under it all, Flame & Shadow is a morality tale, teaching us to look under the surface which might be hiding someone in desperate need.

 On a scale of 1-5, Flame & Shadow merits a 4.

 Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews

 

 

Sedona by Kerry Fryar Freeman

 About the Book: When a spunky Southern editor from Atlanta discovers her grandmother has cancer, she gives up city life to fulfill a promise to the only family she has left. The promise is Sedona, an Arizona town which draws people from around the world who seek magic and healing. Though Cal isn’t much for hocus pocus, there is no limit to what she will do for the woman who raised her after her parents died.

To make ends meet, she lands a job with the local touring company whose owner is good to look at but secretive about himself and the business. Cal senses something darker behind the bright lights of the tour company. Her suspicion is fed after her former editor solicits her to write an investigative piece on the touring company and its owner. As Cal digs, she unearths secrets that put her and those she’s come to love in grave danger.

 Our Review: Author Kerry Fryar Freeman has written a compelling mystery flavored with a cast of unique, quirky characters, influenced with the magic of crystals and healing. The mystery comes to a most satisfying—and surprising—conclusion. Well done!

 Based on a scale of 1-5, Sedona merits a 5.

Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews

 

Forgive the Beast by M. Garnet

 USMC Sergeant Margaret Bloom learns early that to say no to a colonel,  or a lieutenant—or a shape shifter—only leads to trouble. Deep trouble.

 

About the Book: After scientist Margaret, Mags, Bloom joins the US Space Marine Corp. she gets to work with a brilliant professor who helps her develop a weapon that fires with the order from the mind, not the trigger finger. Therefore, she is shocked when she is sent from Earth to a faraway destination in space as part of a military unit delegated to examine a deserted ship built by aliens.

    No argument she presents convinces any of her superiors that she is not meant for fieldwork. Worse, one of the men assigned to board the deserted ship is from the planet Veld.

Veld and Earth have forged a co-operative pact to combat a greedy enemy call Trios. For Mags, the problems that arise from dealing with the men on her military team are nothing when it comes to working with the shapeshifting man from Veld. As a scientist, she has a deep bias against such a man or beast. As a woman, things are entirely different.

Our Review: Fans of both science fiction and military thrillers will appreciate author Garnet’s meticulous attention to the crisp lingo and patois common among stories involving the military. As well, her gifted imagination for creating all the gadgets and toys used by the characters to survive a brutal attack while seeking a successful mission is right out of the best of sci-fi fiction.

 Based on a scale of 1-5, Forgive the Beast merits a 4.5.

 Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews

The Taken by Donnette Smith

It’s the wedding of a lifetime—until a dead girl shows up.

 About The Book: All Jenna Langley wants is the chance to marry the man of her dreams. But when the spirit of a dead girl, one only Jenna can see, appears at the wedding, it’s clear a recent brush with death has caused a heightening of Jenna’s psychic abilities. The groom, police detective Cole Rainwater, vows to do whatever is necessary to get to the bottom of his wife’s disturbing visions. Before he can launch an investigation, Jenna is abducted—and what began as a meticulously planned romantic honeymoon turns into a nightmare.

 Our Review: In this third book of the Spirit Walker series, it is a delight to see a satisfying conclusion of two strong character arcs. With Jenna and Cole, author Donnette Smith has built upon well established, compelling lead characters, then thrown them into the deep end of the dehumanizing world of human trafficking. For mystery fans, there are plenty of red herrings to keep the pages turning in order identify the real bad guys. Flavored with a boatload of dry humor and steamy sex, this is an effortless conclusion to a terrific series.

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

 Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews

 

 

 

  

Christmas at Solace Lake by Jana Richards

 It’s Christmas time at Solace Lake Lodge, but a series of thefts threatens everyone’s holiday spirit.

 About the Book: An emergency compels Drew Barnes to return to his family business, the Solace Lake Lodge, an inn deep in the Minnesota woods. Certain desperation is the only reason the family would ever allow him to fill in as their bookkeeper. No one has believed in him since a mistake got him fired from his previous job. Soon after he arrives, Drew is disheartened to discover thefts and financial irregularities. The last thing he needs is to be thrust into another crime related crisis.

After an allegation of sexual harassment led to her being fired—then virtually unemployable in her chosen profession—the only job sous chef Celeste Bishop finds is with the Solace Lake Lodge. Grateful to the Barnes family for taking her on, she’s made a good life for herself and her nine-year-old daughter in the three years she’s worked, and lived, at the lodge.

Soon after meeting, a powerful attraction ignites between Drew and Celeste. He’s all in, but she resists her feelings. She’s leery of their age difference; plus, an interracial relationship didn’t work for her parents. As Christmas approaches, the thefts escalate. Drew must stop the thief and redeem himself in his family’s eyes—as well as his own. He must also convince Celeste they deserve the gift of a happily ever after this Christmas.

 Our Review: Author Jana Richards demonstrates an in-depth appreciation for social issues by infusing them into the plot lines of her Solace Lake stories. In Christmas at Solace Lake, she has tackled the limitations faced by those with physical disabilities, the intricacies of interracial relationships and cyber crimes—how they are perpetrated as well as how their effects on businesses both large and small. Richards weaves each of these issues effortlessly into the romance between two people who have suffered due to things beyond their control. Emotions keep this story moving; the characters are multi-layered and very well drawn.

Based on a scale of 1-5, Christmas at Solace Lake, merits a 7.

Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews