Margaritas, Mayhem & Murder

 Her ex-stepmother may be a piece of work…but is she a killer?

 About The Book: Miami travel agent Andi Anna Jones loved her father with all her heart, her stepmother…not so much. With few skills for drawing the line when it comes to the flamboyant wingnut Ruby Jones, Andi rushes to the rescue after Ruby is charged with homicide while on a Mexican cruise. Enter a cast of characters including, but not limited to, three besties who’d just as soon stick a knife in your back as blink, a rambling gambling fast-talking man who disguises himself as an attorney, and the hunkiest of cops this side of Cancun. It’s up to Andi Anna to save the day,  keep the looney tunes stepmother out of prison, and not get herself killed in the process.

 Our Review: In Margaritas, Mayhem and Murder, author Mary Cunningham has created the first in an adventure series featuring ace Miami travel agent, Andi Anna Jones. Unable to pay attention to the common sense button inside her head or the warnings of those in the know, she barges ahead in an effort to solve the murder, keep the unworthy stepmother out of jail, and often puts herself and others at risk for serious physical injury. For all that, I should not have liked this book—yet it’s filled with snappy dialogue, a variety of well-drawn whacko characters, and terrific descriptions of the cruise ship industry and tourist havens of Las Vegas and the Mexican Caribbean.

 On a scale of 1-5, Margaritas, Mayhem and Murder deserves a 4.

 Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews

 

 

 

 

Jazz House by D. V. Stone

 One woman’s choices. One man’s impact.

 About the Book: After escaping a brutal husband and the minions comprising his vast criminal enterprise, jazz singer/chanteuse Jordan Vasilakis spends months on the run. Too frightened to seek haven with her family for fear of putting them in danger, she sets out on a lonely, isolated course. Surviving on wits and guts, she is ready to run at the first hint of danger. After landing in the small Northeast Pennsylvania community of Slate Quarry, she emerges from the shadows by taking a job as the featured singer at Jazz House, a retro family-run showplace. Finally feeling marginally safe, Jordan opens her mind to possibilities of normal. Enter police officer Michael Machau who, while falling instantly for the beautiful “Madeline” senses something isn’t right. She’s frightened, lonely, and in need of someone unafraid to take a chance and give Jordan the life she deserves.  

 Our Review: Employing multiple and diverse characters, complex plotting and snappy dialogue, in Jazz House author D. V. Stone has created an edge-of-your-seat thriller featuring domestic abuse, international corruption, and down-home family relations. This one’s a winner.

 On a scale of 1-5, Jazz House deserves a 5.

 Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews

Derailed Hearts by Darlene Fredette

 Two lonely survivors of life altering tragedy discover reasons to trust—and love—again.

 About the Book: ER physician Ethan Marley decides to give his small daughter a chance at a new life with a large, loving family and, hopefully, recovery from horrendous trauma. While on a cross-country train trip from Alberta on the west coast of Canada to Redford Falls, Nova Scotia, he and his daughter Avery meet Jenn Martini, a talented fashion designer, herself a victim of recent physical trauma. As the days pass both adults new hope and reasons to try love and trust again.

 Our Review:  Ethan Marley is a hero any woman would want to take home and nurture. The delightful Avery is in serious need of consistent and patient nurturing. Jenn deserves a partner to appreciates her for her skills, talents as well as her true value. This is a heart-breaking as well as heart-warming story, well written with compelling goals, motivation and conflict, snappy dialogue and well-drawn, multilayered characters.

In short: this is that one story all romance writers wish they’d written.

 On a scale of 1-5, Derailed Hearts deserves an 8.

 Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews

 

 

 

 

Forging Forgiveness

 Forging Forgiveness, a contemporary romantic suspense, written by C. B. Clark.

 About the Book: When small-town college instructor Candace Cooper discovers bloody, bare footprints in the snow while running in a state park deep in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, it brings back the horrific nightmare of her past.

Detective Aiden Farrell is determined to redeem himself in his new position in Colorado, even if that means ignoring his growing feelings for the beautiful professor he meets during an investigation. His fear that the footprints she saw are connected to a recent spate of missing teens intensifies when Candace is assaulted on campus.

Aiden and Candace join forces, but as they start unraveling the truth, they get closer to each other—and to a killer who'll stop at nothing to achieve his nefarious goal. 

Caught between duty and love, Aiden fights in a race against time to save the woman he loves.

 Our Review: With complex and intricate plotting, author Clark takes the reader on a wild ride through the glorious Colorado Rockies. While the suspense and mystery is clearly evident, this is also a story of redemption and forgiveness of self. As well, the plight of the families and loved ones of the ‘missing’ is always there, raising our awareness of the many forms of evil in this world.

 On a scale of 1-5, Forging Forgiveness deserves a 5.

 Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews

Wrong Line, Right Connection

 A switch gone wrong turns into love gone right.

 About The Book: It is the turbulent 1960’s when women are expected to go along to get along–in the workplace as well as in marriage—but Mabel Banks has had enough of the abuse and neglect doled out by her husband. She makes the difficult and—for those times—the often unacceptable decision to leave the marriage and start over. It’s not easy but she perseveres with the aid of dear friends, family and her faithful dog. Enter businessman Roy Stentz whose voice sends Mable over the edge as she strives to connect his call to the right location. After a series of misconnections, success is achieved but mortification abounds. Roy does not give up, and neither does Mabel, as he shows her the value of her spirit and drive and courage.  

 Our Review: Writing in the voice of a woman with a brain, something not often accepted in the swinging sixties, author Bartow brings readers into the mind and heart of a courageous, intrepid woman, Mabel Banks—and we are better for it.

 On a scale of 1-5, Wrong Line, Right Connection deserves a 5.

 Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews

 

 

 

 

A Very Modern Marriage by Rachel Brimble

 About the Book: 

He needs a wife...
Manchester industrialist William Rose was a poor lad from the slums who pulled himself up by his bootstraps, but in order to achieve his greatest ambitions he must become the epitome of Victorian respectability: a family man.

She has a plan...
But the only woman who's caught his eye is sophisticated beauty Octavia Marshall, one of the notorious ladies of Carson Street. Though she was once born to great wealth and privilege, she's hardly respectable, but she's determined to invest her hard-earned fortune in Mr Rose's mills and forge a new life as an entirely proper businesswoman.

They strike a deal that promises them both what they desire the most, but William's a fool if he thinks Octavia will be a conventional married woman, and she's very much mistaken if she thinks the lives they once led won't follow them wherever they go.

Our Review: In this historical take on Pretty Woman, multi-published and vastly talented author Rachel Brimble brings sensitivity and in-depth research to the plight of homeless women and children in 19^th century England and the routes they were forced to take in order to survive. Octavia, brave and self-directed, will let no one and nothing stand in her way. If that means living alone and lonely, so be it. In his own way, William is the of the same mind. How lucky for them they came together and flourished. This is a joy to read!

 Based on a scale of 1-5, A Very Modern Marriage earns a 7.

 Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Authors

From Brick & Darkness by J. L. Sullivan

 The most powerful wishes aren’t said with words.

About the Book: Teenager Bax Allen always fantasized something remarkable would happen in his life. So when decrepit man with glowing purple eyes offers him a ring intended for his estranged father, Bax accepts. This simple action sets off a series of events, including the appearance of two djinns, one helpful, the other not so much. With everyone he loves in danger, Bax and his band of loyal friends scramble to solve the puzzle that will banish both spirits forever.

Our Review: One of author Sullivan’s strengths—and they are legion—is his ability to infuse all those things adolescents experience, putting the reader into the mindset of the typical teenager without wishing for a lexicon of ‘teenspeak’. Emotions run the gamut of genuine humor and loyalty to others, a boy’s sensitivity to the everyday struggles of his single mother, and absolute bone crunching fear when faced with life threatening danger. This one’s a winner!

Based on a scale of 1-5, From Brick & Darkness earns a 6.

Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews