Sunset Ledge by Darlene Deluca

 Can a seasoned traveler from the city thaw the numb heart of a reclusive Texas widower?

About the Book: Jack Armstrong lives like a recluse on his Texas ranch. In the difficult years after his wife’s death, he goes through the motions of life and wants to be left alone.

          Caroline Tate, a widowed ecology professor, arrives at the ranch for a much-needed break and to take nature photos for her sabbatical project. But relaxing is a challenge when she finds herself at odds with the curmudgeonly cowboy who owns the place.

Jack generally steers clear of the guests, but this time, it’s not so easy. Vivacious Caroline doesn’t fade into the background. This city gal comes with pearls around her neck, a big red flower on her floppy hat, and way too many questions. Her self-assured, adventurous spirit gets under Jack’s skin, and she soon stirs feelings long dormant inside him.

 Our Review: Author Deluca has entertained us with her talents for creating interesting characters in previous books. This time, she has surpassed her story telling ability. Sunset Ledge is sweet, contemporary story featuring older characters who speak their own truth—and it’s a winner all the way around. The goals of both are clear; their motivation is logical and compelling, and the conflict hits all the right buttons—wrapped up in one neat package. Newby authors can learn much from this experienced and most talented writer.

 Based on a scale of 1-5, Sunset Ledge merits an 8.

 Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Authors

 

Framed for Murder

 About The Book: After a life-changing injury, Mel O’Rourke trades in her badge for bed sheets, running a B&B in the quirky mountain town of Pine Cove. Her peaceful life is interrupted when an old frenemy, the notorious and charismatic cat burglar, Poppy Phillips, shows up on Mel’s doorstep, claiming she’s been framed for murder. While she’s broken plenty of laws, Mel knows Poppy would never kill anyone. Good thing Mel’s a better detective than she is a cook as she’s out to prove Poppy’s innocence. 

 Our Review: Author White is known for infusing fun, snappy dialogue into her work and with Framed for Murder, she does not disappoint her readers. The many secondary characters are unique and individualized right down to their choices in clothing and dialogue. Adding to the fun is the back-and-forth attraction between Mel, the B&B owner and the local hunky- baker with the beefcake sheriff’s deputy kept us guessing till the quite unexpected ending. Well done!

 On a scale of 1-5, Framed for Murder deserves a 5.

 Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews

 

 

 

 

Flowers of Tartarus by Michele Leech

 How about a deal?

About the Book: When her client is found dead of an overdose of a new and dangerous drug, PI Lily Nehme tracks the drug back to Tartarus, a popular nightclub run by Sebastian Galani. Under the guise of their new bartender, Lily infiltrates the club to find the dealer responsible. But as she spends time with the employees of Tartarus, Lily starts to fall for their lifestyle...and the reclusive owner. Her mission becomes secondary as she finds that there's more to Sebastian than meets the eye—and that he just might be the dealer she's looking for.

Our Review: In her earlier work of suspense, Prosecution’s Protection, author Leech displayed a unique talent for using setting, snappy dialogue and compelling character background to add to the dark suspense and smoking hot sexual attraction between the characters. She has surpassed that effort with Flowers of Tartarus. As the pages turn—and they do with lightning speed—the reader roots for both Lily and Sebastian to uncover the source of the deadly drugs while resolving their conflicts and end up in each other’s arms, right where they belong! 

 Based on a scale of 1-5, Flowers of Tartarus merits a 7.

 Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews

Stone of Fear by Margaret Izard

 She’d give everything to keep his love. He’d chase her through time to save her soul.

About the Book:  Marie Murray, a spunky expert on spiritual buildings, jumps at the opportunity to renovate the chapel mosaic floor at Dunstaffnage Castle, where she falls hard for the dashing John MacArthur. From their first kiss, sparks fly.

     Believing her religious renovation creates magic, a fanatical priest kidnaps Marie. Obsessed with obtaining a powerful magic Stone of Iona, he drags her to 15th-century Scotland.

     With his love kidnapped, John must tackle his hereditary duty and locate a magic Fae stone while chasing his love across time. Her memories of their passion keep her sane. Fueled by his will to find her, John must get to Marie in time to save her soul.

Our Review: In Stone of Fear, author Izard shows her skill in building suspense. The action never stops in this page-turner of a paranormal romance. As well her talent for ‘showing’—as opposed to telling—a fanatic, what drives them to cause their behaviors, is remarkable. Fans of time travels will glom onto this one and put it on their Keeper Shelves.

Based on a scale of 1-5, Stone of Fear merits a 5.

Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews

She Danced Anyway

 Elizabeth wants to work and dance in 1920s New York City. Will she avoid the trap of marriage and live the independent life she dreams of?

 About The Book: No one thinks Elizabeth Alter can manage independent living, and even she questions a future of eating only toast. She watches friends test society’s boundaries, desperate for similar courage to push back.

She loves dancing but the city’s harridans and preachers want promiscuous dancing, wild jazz, and skimpy dresses ended and send the police often.

In 1920s New York City, while working at the public library, Elizabeth befriends co-worker James, to whom she introduces the delight of dancing. James imagines a traditional future, while she dreams of dancing and living on her own.

After a violent altercation with her mother, Elizabeth flees to her grandmother. There, she meets George, a piano player, and embarks on a tumultuous flirtation. Caught in the crosshairs of society’s narrow expectations, will Elizabeth chase her dreams—or will her own heart conspire against her?

 

Our Review: For any author that first book is a momentous undertaking. Describing life in a previous century, showing the mores and customs of the day, then including the dreams of a forward-thinking young woman and how she goes about achieving those dreams makes it a bigger challenge. Elizabeth Alter could have been my grandmothers, my great aunts, or their peers. It’s important we do not forget what strides those women made so that we have options available to us and our daughters and granddaughters in the present. We see big things in store for J. J. Ranson.

On a scale of 1-5, She Danced Anyway deserves a 4.

Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews