Painted Dreams by Darlene Deluca

After artist Katlyn Andrews is hit hard by a devastating career setback, she has to decide if following advice from up-and-coming television star Nick Summers will lead to success and fulfillment—or send her back to square one with an embarrassing thud.

About Painted Dreams:

 Katlyn Andrews is a talented artist on her way to fulfilling a dream—her own show at a New York City gallery. Focused on her career, she left her hometown for the bright lights of the Big Apple. When she’s drawn back to Denver to check on her beloved grandmother, she finds a surprise—Nick Summers, a woodworker bidding on a job at her parents’ upscale home. His gorgeous smile and easy-going manner charm her immediately. Too bad he lives in Colorado.

Nick adores the mountains of Colorado, but NYC is on his radar. He’s auditioning to be a guest host on a home-builders network there. Since that’s a long shot, he’s still pounding the pavement closer to home to secure jobs like the high-end Andrews project. Meeting his client’s intriguing daughter has his thoughts going in other directions. Too bad she lives in New York.

Distance does not dim their attraction. Unfortunately, it turns out dreams can be shattered. While Nick’s career is on an upward trajectory, Kat’s unexpectedly takes a big hit. Devastated, she struggles to find a path forward.

Our Review: This intriguing story which offers the reader a behind the scenes peak into the intricacies of woodworking as well as the many styles of fine art, also showcases a hero we’d all want for ourselves, our daughters or our granddaughters. Then there’s Nana Kitty, a grandmother we wish we’d had, or would strive to become. Author Deluca’s attention to the details surrounding fractured family dynamics captured our attention from page 1, then kept us turning the pages to attain a most satisfying conclusion. Thank you!

 Based on a scale of 1-5, Painted Dreams merits a 7.

 Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews

 

 

 

  

Ghosted by Lori Matsourani

      A haunted inn, a first crush, and a second chance for love with “help” from the resident ghost…

About the Book: When her fiancé’s infidelity prompts Bethany Hendren to map out a new path forward, her plans are disrupted by an unexpected encounter with Nick Dorsey, who convinces her to help search for the remains of a troubled eighteenth-century ghost. Nick is the handsome summer boyfriend who ghosted her years ago, and now he wants to rekindle their relationship.

Despite her reluctance to trust him, Bethany discovers he’s still the funny, caring person who captured her heart as a teen, but giving him a second chance is risky—it could lead to love and happiness or result in another devastating heartache.

Although Bethany wants a happily ever after with Nick, does she have the courage to trust him with her future?

 

Our Review: Going beyond the solving of a centuries old mystery and resolution of lost love and betrayal, Ghosted offers glimpses into pre-Revolutionary War activities on Maryland’s eastern shore as well as favorite dishes peculiar to the locale and rich descriptions of the setting. It is also more than the typical vengeful ghost seeking the truth behind his death and betrayal by his best friend. As author Matsourani infuses the speech patterns and customs/mores unique to the period—both living and dead lead characters learn important life lessons while uncovering the truth of the past. Warning: the final confrontation between the grieving ghost and [current] deceitful fiancé is not to be missed.

 

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

 

Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews

 

 Running away is the only life Cheyenne knows. Archer can’t let another woman leave him. A chance meeting sets off their libidos. . . but before their romance takes root, an abuser starts exacting revenge.

About the Book: He’s a successful real estate attorney, relationship-shy and focused on creating his niche as the owner of a small firm. His distrust of others keeps him from forming intimate relationships. She’s a newcomer to town, currently working as a building inspector for the city, hoping to elude her abusive father by changing cities, names, and appearance as needed. Flings for sexual kicks suit her just fine because close relationships are not safe. It’s best to leave no trace, endanger no one else, and share as little personal information as possible.

          Until someone from her past tracks her down—with the intent of  silencing her for good.

Our Review: Packed with non-stop action and incredible suspense, this fast-paced story features two anti-heroes who, often unlikeable and occasionally irascible, are persons whom you know without a doubt are the ones you want at your back for anything, anywhere.     

Based on a scale of 1-5, Lucky Genes merits a 6.

 Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews

 

A Long Way From Eden by Jana Richards

 An abused woman, running from her past. A man, sick of secrets and lies. To set themselves free, they must take a huge leap of faith.  

 About the Book: Two single parents of college age children, find themselves, finally, able to take deep breaths and pat themselves on the back for raising two terrific kids, watching them making their way to establishing lives of their own. Until the unimaginable happens and all that each have overcome comes back to bite them where it hurts the most. How each learns to cope, adapt, and survive is a study in every parent’s fear.

 Our Review: This is a story about things that could happen to those of us of ‘a certain age’. We’ve been there and done that—and we’ll be damned if we’ll sit by and allow similar things to happen to our kids just as they’re getting a start on building their futures. Meg Evans and Zane Martin, each in their own way, survived some of the worst things that can happen to anyone. They’ve overcome the unimaginable and finally are seeing the light. Until their precious children do something stupid, something careless—and it all comes back in brilliant technicolor, flashing lights, and blaring sirens.

          This is a story that will make any reader sit back, take a deep breath, and wonder ‘how would I handle this?’ or maybe ‘what would I do if I were Meg or Zane?’   

 Based on a scale of 1-5, A Long Way From Eden merits a 7.

 Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews

 

 

 

 

The Bleed Through Effect by AA Dasilva

 Amidst a complex web of love, betrayal, and the quest for power, morality is tested, and two soulmates must face the consequences of choices they make across multiple lives.

About the Book: Charlotte and Simon are ready to move on with their lives after dismantling the black-ops agency known as Quantym. But Charlotte begins suffering from nightmares and disturbing visions, and she fears events on the Periphery—her parallel life—are impacting her via the bleed-through effect.

In a dual timeline between the main reality and the Periphery, Charlotte and Simon must confront the blurred lines between strength and weakness, love and loyalty, and their past and future.

As they struggle to regain control over their lives, a catastrophic secret is revealed, a vengeful lover on a quest for power closes in, and Charlotte must figure out a way forward...even when the past refuses to let go.

Our Review: If non-stop action, dystopian theories and super evil bad guys make the top three spots on your To Be Read list, anything by AA Dasilva are the ones for you. In book 2 of her Periphery Series, she takes things to a higher level as Charlie and Simon work to solve the problems created by Mitch and Jared Cardoza, masterminds of Quantym and world domination in general.

If you are into letting your imagination run wild, if you don’t mind a little—to—a—lot of violence, this is the one for you.

 Based on a scale of 1-5, The Bleed Through Effect merits a 6.

Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Authors

 

 

 

 

Out of the Crash by Susan Poole

 About the Book: After a fatal hit-and-run devastates their close-knit community, author Caroline Beasley and high school senior Ethan Shawver find themselves at a crossroads as their lives intertwine in unexpected ways. Both are left reeling as they try to make sense of the tragedy that has irrevocably changed their families forever. Caroline struggles with the dark implications of her son's role in the crash, feeling the weight of guilt and despair. Meanwhile, Ethan grapples with the sudden loss of his mother and stumbles upon a disturbing secret that threatens to upend everything he believes. As they each search for truth and healing, they must confront their deepest fears and regrets to find a way forward.

Our Review: The three major themes in this novel are ones which could happen to any of us—male or female, middle-aged or young adults just starting their lives. Each is frightening in their own right and often too horrendous to consider the ‘what would I do if. . .’ situation.

Caroline and Ethan find themselves shoved into the unthinkable, with little to no support, then battle their paths toward surviving the unthinkable.

This is a powerful novel written by a powerful author.

 Based on a scale of 1-5, Out of The Crash merits an 8.

 Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews

 

 

 

 

Tempered Journey by Pamela S. Thibodeaux

 A second chance at love comes when it’s least expected, but most needed  

 About the Book: Nurse Pat Greene and widowed cowboy Craig Harris, each at a crossroad in their lives, are looking for signs directing them to the next path to take. Romance? Could they? Better yet—should they? What will their loved ones think? Better—what won’t they think? This is a story of second chances and finding the strength to move on after profound loss.

Our Review: For inspiration, faith, and/or strength in the face of adversity, the incomparable Pamela Thibodeaux and her stories are the answer hands down. Her characters are memorable, well drawn and individual right down to their speech patterns. Pat and Craig are able to admit they are at a crossroads for the next step in their lives—yet they do not back down, do not doubt themselves when it matters most. A testament to them are the lifelong friendships they’ve each maintained as well as loving, supportive family.

 Based on a scale of 1-5, Tempered Journey merits a 6.

  Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews