Fated to be Monsters

 Anca was born to hunt, but not all monsters are beasts.

 About Fated to be Monsters: The Hunting Households are failing. While the people starve, the callous Queen Astasia reigns in luxury. Anca Sulia’s only chance to usurp the cycle of tyranny arrives with an unthinkable task: hunt a rampaging beast at the side of Eugen Furloc, a feared former hunter. She discovers that Eugen despises the queen and the hunters, like Anca, who exiled him. Yet, as the hunt falters, their mutual distrust and hate turns to desire. 

          But Eugen has more secrets than Anca can imagine. With their prey close, and the fate of their land in the balance, she must choose between what duty  demands and what her heart craves.

 Our Review: From the very first page of this unique romantasy novel, the characters’ goals, motivation and conflict are portrayed in a clear, devastating manner. As well, the young, spoiled brat of a queen stands as the antagonist in brilliant detail—as vile and vicious as the prey Anca and Eugen hunt. This is not your average love story—it’s better. 

 Based on a scale of 1-5, Fated to be Monsters merits a 7.

Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews

Love, Art, and Other Obstacles by Sadira Stone

 Who needs family?

Come to Book Nirvana for a red-hot love triangle that forces two young artists to redefine success, family, and freedom.

 

About Love, Art, and Other Obstacles:

On the cusp of launching her graphic arts career, Margo DuPont is all about freedom—no fences, no limits, and no more bigoted, fire-and-brimstone-preaching family weighing her down. Between college, working at Book Nirvana, and an upcoming high-stakes art competition, she barely has time for a part-time girlfriend, much less a flirtation with a cocky, ginger-bearded ceramic artist who makes her question her “no strings” rule.

To Elmer Byrne, family is everything—and he’s found his family of the heart among the eclectic art scene of Eugene, Oregon. But something is missing...until Margot DuPont, a rival for an art grant they both desperately need to keep their fledgling careers survive enters his life. The prickly little sprite lights him up body and soul, but she fears he’s out to clip her wings.

 

Our Review: Author Sadira Stone has a firm grip on the concept of family—biological and of the heart—delivering it, loud and clear, to this unique novel of love, challenges, and choices. It’s fun, funny and spicy—but not to be missed.

 

On a scale of 1-5, Love, Art, and Other Obstacles merits a 6.

 

Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews

 

Spawn by Toni V. Sweeney

 About the Book:

     Two-year-old Robbie Chambers has a problem. Since he was born, creatures no one else can see have appeared to him. They speak in a secret language, and lately what they say is disturbing, especially the entity calling itself Robbie's father.
      Robbie isn't aware of how he was conceived to bring imprisoned beings from another dimension into this world. He doesn't understand of the love triangle existing between his mother, Dr. Daniel Walker and Drexl von Dorff, nor of how his mother has left their Georgia home in an attempt to save him from his heritage.
       Lisa Chambers believes she's at last found happiness with Daniel Walker, and protection for her son. Robbie loves his mom and his new stepdad but "Daddy" says Dr. Daniel Walker is dangerous. He has to die.
       Is Mommy going to become a widow for the second time?

 Our Review:

          The imagination of author Toni V. Sweeney knows no bounds. This is a story that will keep you on the edge of your seat, waiting to see what happens next to Lisa and Dan and her child. Not for the faint-hearted, this is a crisp, clear and devastating read.

 Based on a scale of 1-5, Spawn merits a 4.

 Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews

Paint the Sky by Kim Turner

 The promise of love is where two hearts collide...

 About the Book: Pardoned for crimes he never committed, Leaning Bear has grown weary of the injustices thrust upon himself and his people. On encountering the new teacher for the reservation, he quickly discovers she is ill-equipped to survive in the West. But when he happens upon her painting at a nearby stream, he realizes there is more to her than he first thought. It doesn't take long before he recognizes she is his heart song—though loving a white woman comes with great risk to them both.

          Alli Crockett arrives in the small town of Lame Dear to teach the children of the Northern Cheyenne Reservation. There, she finds things harder than she imagined: a home that is little more than a ramshackle cabin inhabited by wildlife, a tribal Chief who isn't happy with her, and the locals who harass everyone in town have taken notice. While she expected difficulties, she never imagined falling for the quiet medicine man.

          But when she becomes the brunt of local gossip, there is only one choice to make...the one that will break her heart.

 Our Review: Of the many positive things that can be said about this Western historical romance, the author’s descriptions of setting—be it the small rural town to the primal forests to the Cheyenne lodgings—put the reader right there in the middle of it all. The characters, from the two compelling leads to the snarly town bullies are layered with their past experiences and overall goals. Less is best is a wise rule for all writers to follow; author Turner has mastered that rule beautifully. Leaning Bear is a true hero for any generation; Allison is brave, intrepid and inventive. The bullies are particularly hair raising. Well done!

 Based on a scale of 1-5, Paint the Sky merits a 6.

 Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews

 

Silent Creek by Jean M. Grant

 When life takes your identity, you make a new one.

About the Book: Walking off the grid in search of safety from the ex who stole her life, Josie Sawyer is dumped into the deep end. Her late uncle’s mountain homestead comes with responsibility for his elderly friend, and Josie’s finances are quickly strained by a medical emergency and the aging property’s mounting repairs.

She needs help—and money—fast.

Determined to put his criminal past behind him, Everett O’Reagan has vowed to build a better life for himself and his daughter. So, he jumps at the chance to work for Josie as the homestead’s live-in handyman. But between trying to dodge the nosy local sheriff and appease a hard nose caseworker, his new reputation is on shaky ground.

A cautious bond forms between Josie and her new tenants, and the friendship leaves her hoping she might repair her sense of human connection. But when suspicious activity on her property points to a dangerous trespasser, a dark discovery shatters Josie’s blooming trust. Maybe a secure life with a new family was just a fool’s hope in Silent Creek…

 Our Review: Much can—and should be—said about this mystery suspense offering from author Jean Grant. The first is each page, every paragraph is a jewel in itself. This is not a novel where pages can be glossed over and still get the drift of the story. Clues and hints to who is causing such angst are right there for devotees of this genre.

          The second is each character, from the crusty Boomers who still have a lot of life left, to the angelic, energetic and inventive five-year old who will steal readers’ hearts. If action packed suspense, multi-layered characters, and a how-to on living off the grid are your cup of tea, Jean Grant and Silent Creek is the book for you.

 Based on a scale of 1-5, Silent Creek merits a 7.

 Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews

 

 

 

 

Origins Progeny

 To heal the future, one must confront the past:

After an estranged explorer returns home to help her ailing mother, she’s confronted by powerful forces who demand a high personal cost for any hope of a cure.

About the Book: Alina DeHerte thought she had escaped Alpheios, the genetically engineered city on planet Eamine. After rescuing her son from its corrupt rulers, she built a fresh life with a new fiancé in a remote sanctuary. But when word of her mother’s grave illness reaches her, Alina's fragile peace shatters.

Returning to Alpheios means she must navigate rising threats in an unpredictable city. In pursuit of dominance, the city’s power brokers are jeopardizing their citizens’ lives. Alina must ally with a man she has long avoided—a Guardian officer who fathered her son. Both have a shared stake in the city’s uncertain future.

If Alina wants her mother to survive, she must unravel the city’s secrets and grapple with her conflicted past. Deep winter is upon them, and Alpheios is on the brink of explosive change.

Our Review: Fans of sci-fi adventures with a bit of the dystopian thrown in for flavor, will glom onto book 2 in the Children of Alpheios series. Multi-layered characters are not what they first appear and show their underlying motives as the story progresses—keeping the pages turning. Issues familiar to past as well as current generations are the same in author Fedorak’s future world: complicated family relationships, inbred loyalties—healthy or not—political ambitions and rivalries, greed and ego systems are all there. At times heart wrenching, always complicated, this is one compelling read.

 Based on a scale of 1-5, Origins Progeny merits a 6.

 Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews

Runaway Love Story by Sadira Stone

 Wrong time, wrong place, perfect guy.

 About the Book: A heartbreaking distress cry interrupts Laurel Jepsen’s search for a new art gallery job, leaving her stuck in Eugene, Oregon to rescue the great aunt who in the past, rescued Laurel too many times to count.

Running into adorable Coach Dalton ignites a sweet flirtation that quickly turns spicy. He’s wise, funny, and is going through the same heartbreak: losing a loved one to dementia. But he wants lasting love, and Laurel is only passing through. No matter how much she craves him, she can’t let him derail her dreams. 

Our Review: Revised from an earlier previous release, with new chapters added and enhanced, this spicy, funny and heart-wrenching story of true love and second chances showcases the author’s talent at creating real, honest characters with real, honest flaws as well as strengths. Long-standing family dramas abound, but through love they are at last—if not solved are brought out into the open and confronted. This is a fun, exciting series and very well done.

 Based on a scale of 1-5, Runaway Love Story merits a solid 7.

 Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews