Backup Offer by Liz Crowe

 Backup Offer, Book 9 in the Stewart Realty series, written by Liz Crowe, a July 2021 release by Buoni Amici Press, LLC’

      After Blair Freitag ended things with Brandis Gordon, she was determined to get away--and stay away from him for good. She put family, friends, and the life she knew in Michigan in her rearview mirror and started over. As owner and head chef of her own place in Louisville, Kentucky, she stays busy, turning “Blair’s Kitchen” into the darling of the local restaurant scene. She’s managed to avoid Michigan for almost a decade, but when her best friend needs her help, she drops everything and heads home.

Brandis Gordon has spent the last ten years coming to terms with addiction, personal tragedy, and the loss of the woman he loved. He’s now the third generation to run his family’s construction business, and he’s managed to reconstruct tattered relationships with his family and friends. He’s got everything he needs—except a for one thing.

When the contractor Blair paid to build an expansion on her restaurant takes off, not before making sure her place is trashed to Hell and back. She only hesitates a moment before calling Brandis for help. After he rushes to her side to evaluate the crisis, it doesn’t take long for the temptation of close proximity to give way—with serious consequences.

 Our Review:  It isn’t often that we find an author who portrays addiction and its long-term effects both for the user and those in his/her immediate circle in a clear, coherent manner. Liz Crowe has done an excellent job of showing how events which are in the distant past continue to effect people well into their adult lives. Brandis Gordon has made a truly remarkable recovery in all aspects of his life—and  works the steps each day in many ways. Blair Freitag? Not so much. Yes, she’s worked hard to create a strong professional presence but her personal life remains in tatters still after ten long years. Friends and family urge her to get over herself, but for someone who knows the other side of addiction and the damage it wreaked, it’s not that easy. Recovery and repair must be shown on a daily, continuous basis—and Liz Crowe has done a masterful job with two wounded people coming to grips with the past while forging a future.  

 On a scale of 1—5, Backup Offer deserves a 4.

 Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews

The Inventor's Heart by Kara O'Neal

           Alex Davis, “The Genius of Pike's Run” returns from Yale after five years, and anxious to show off his invention that might revolutionize electricity. He also can't wait to see Julia Forrester, best friend and best love. From the first day home, she avoids him like the plague. He doesn't understand and tries everything he can think of to spend time with her—to no avail.

Composer Julia Forrester has loved Alex Davis since their school days. While he acted as confidante and champion for her as she struggled with her studies, she helped him with his inventions. She'd thought he'd loved her, but when he went off to college—and rarely wrote—her heart broke. Now that Alex is back, she is determined to move on with her life and the symphony she’s written. Past hopes and dreams will not overtake her again—despite the steps Alex takes to win his best friend and first and only love back.

Our Review: It’s always a treat to read a story from Kara O’Neal’s heart-warming, family-oriented Pike’s Run series. Her talent for drawing vivid descriptions of people, places and things draws the reader in immediately. And as always, she reaches deep down to tackle human issues and emotions with a realism and common sense. With The Inventor’s Heart, we meet an intrepid heroine who suffers with dyslexia but doesn’t let that keep her back from her music and her life. As well, this reader anyway, learned more about the mysteries of electricity. A twofer. Who could ask for more?

On a scale of 1-5, The Inventor’s Heart deserves a 5.

Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews

 

Sworn to Fly by Maria Imbalzano

  Sparks fly, but will they ignite?

 Sworn to Fly, Book 3 in the Sworn Sisters series of contemporary romances, current release out of the Wild Rose Press and written by Maria Imbalzano.

        Alyssa Beckman, hard-charging ER nurse, has made a few mistakes in her life—and regrets every one of them. Determined to carve a new course for her life, she books herself for a week of healing, yoga and introspection at a resort in the picturesque Pocono Mountains. Within minutes of signing in, she’s ready to take two aspirin—then head for the hills.

High fashion photographer Gabe Sutton, equally hard-charging, is also at a crossroads and doesn’t quite understand why. He knows something’s got to change, and soon, but what? And how?

After these two totally different people meet on a remote hiking trail, as they say in the romance game: it was all over but the shouting.

 Our Review: Reading Sworn to Fly is a breath of fresh air. Two completely opposite and most deserving of happiness people meet by accident, synch instantly, then learn to fight their way to a future filled with trust and love and genuine liking. Imbalzano is a writer to contend with. Well done!!

On a scale of 1-5, Sworn to Fly deserves a 6.

           Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews

 

 

 

 

Death by Sample Size by Susie Black

 Everyone wanted Bunny Frank dead…but who actually killed her?

The last thing swimwear sales exec Holly Schlivnik expected was to discover was a corpse trussed up like a Thanksgiving turkey with a bikini stuffed down her throat. After Holly’s colleague is arrested for the murder, the wise-cracking and irreverent amateur sleuth jumps into action to find the real killer. 

Our Review: In the opinion of swimwear executive Holly Schlivnik, when it comes to describing a person or situation, why use five words when ten work better? She has a million of them—opinions that is—and doesn’t hesitate to share them with the extensive cast of characters in author Black’s cozy mystery set in Los Angeles’ world of wholesale swimwear. Death by Sample Size is a fun ride through the streets of LA, taking the reader on a trip to find a cold-blooded killer.

 On a scale of 1-5, Death by Sample Size deserves a 3.5.

Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews

Promises to Keep by Katherine Grey

                Sometimes a leap of faith can cost you everything…

         An empath who feels only the negative emotions of others, Ava Tiernan has lived a life of self-imposed isolation. Circumstances force her to put her trust in Vincent Everett and Echo Company, a special ops unit consisting of soldiers with unusual abilities.

After a mission goes sideways, leaving one of his men seriously injured, Everett’s one goal is to learn who set up his team. When he discovers Ava is the reason his team was ambushed and has been kidnapped by a rogue government agent, he risks everything to save her.

Now he has one chance to make things right for his team, one chance to keep Ava safe, and one last chance to prove he’ll never let her down.

 Our Review: 

From the fetid jungles of Colombia to an isolated cabin in rural Maryland, author Grey uses her talent for describing setting as well as creating snappy dialogue with enviable ease. Ava is a woman who isolates to protect herself. Vince is a man who puts himself out there to protect others. Their choice is limited to living lives of loneliness or embracing the future and forging a world of love and promise. Well done!

 On a scale of 1-5, Promises to Keep deserves a 5.

Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews

Under the Apple Blossoms by Darlene Fredette

                  Under The Apple Blossoms, a Redford Falls Story, Book 3

Written by Darlene Fredette

Released by the Wild Rose Press

Teenagers on the verge of eloping, Tyler Kringle and Maripier Nadeau were torn apart by a long-time family feud which led to unspeakable tragedy. Separated by well-meaning family members, the two have harbored deep feelings for more than a decade—until an accident compels Maripier to return to the town that helped split them apart. As each strives to resolve the past, they cannot forget the love that binds their future.

Our Review:

 Author Fredette has conceived a simple story populated with likeable and honest characters with logical and realistic goals, compelling motivation, facing insurmountable conflict. The formula may seem simple, however to carry it off with effortless ease is a task she is clearly up to. Well done!!

On a scale of 1-5, Under the Apple Blossoms deserves a 5

Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews

Sundae My Love

Former lovers, Samantha Murray and Zack Hunter, come head to head when his plans to restore a family enterprise come into direct competition with her family’s ice cream parlor. Convinced the two will never repair the deep chasm separating them, a committee of family ghosts intervene, bringing Sam and Zack back together and solve their differences.

Sundae My Love, a short contemporary romance, is a current release out of the Wild Rose Press for the One Scoop or Two series.

Our Review: a fun and quick read, perfect for a trip to the beach—or a stay at a beach house. Our only wish is that it wasn’t longer.

On a scale of 1-5, Sundae My Love deserves a 5.

Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews