Vanilla with a Twist by Peggy Jaeger


Vanilla with a Twist by Peggy Jaeger
One Scoop or Two
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Genre: Romance, Contemporary
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Tandy Blakemore spends her days running her New England ice cream parlor, single-parenting her teenage son, and trying to keep her head above financial water. No easy feat when the shop’s machinery is aging and her son is thinking about college. Tandy hasn’t had a day off in a decade and wonders if she’ll ever be able to live a worry-free life.

Engineer Deacon Withers is on an enforced vacation in the tiny seaside town of Beacher’s Cove. Overworked, stressed, and lonely, he walks into Tandy’s shop for a midday ice cream cone and gets embroiled in helping her fix a broken piece of equipment.
Can the budding friendship that follows lead to something everlasting?

What could be sweeter than possibly falling in love while serving up cold, sugary treats?
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I couldn’t stop giggling at the dialogue. Tandy and Deacon both had distinctive speech patterns that not only made it a breeze to identify who they were but also interacted with each other beautifully. Both of them were excellent at saying exactly what was on their minds even if it wasn’t always necessarily what would be the most diplomatic response. No, this isn’t to say that they were thoughtless or anything like that They simply knew what they wanted and weren’t afraid to express their wishes straightforwardly and without any pretense.

The chemistry between Deacon and Tandy was fantastic. I had a wonderful time figuring out just how much they had in common, especially since they seemed to be polar opposites at first glance due to where they lived and what sort of work they each did. The more I realized how many similarities they shared and how nicely they complemented each other, the more I wanted them to end up together. They truly did seem to be a great match.

While this was a minor criticism in the scheme of things, it would have been nice to have more foreshadowing, especially when it came to Deacon’s long term plans for his life. There were a couple of plot twists regarding this topic that could have been developed a bit more clearly. I wondered if something like them might happen, but it would have been helpful to have a gentle nudge in that direction before the plot picked up speed.

Speaking as someone who used to work in an ice cream shop, I loved the descriptions of what that sort of job is like. Ms. Jaeger captured the hectic but also unpredictable pace of it perfectly. Those rare quiet nights in that business can’t be predicted ahead of time anymore than one could know in advance that a crucial piece of equipment was about to break down at the worst possible time. The only thing better than reading about the ups and downs of that business was getting a reminder of what it’s like to run around all afternoon and evening making milkshakes, sundaes, and more. By the end of the night, anyone who works in a place like that will be smeared in just about every kind of ice cream they sell. It’s sort of funny! While all of this was a small part of the plot, it really spoke to me.

This is part of the One Scoop or Two series. It can be read as a standalone work.

Anyone who is in the mood for something lighthearted should give Vanilla with a Twist a shot.

Snowed In with A Mountain Man by Marin Black


Snowed In with A Mountain Man by Marin Black
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Genre: Contemporary, Erotic Romance
Rating: 3.5 stars
Reviewed by Fern

Snowed in at her family’s Smoky Mountains cabin, Brie Wright is roughing it alone. Tired of playing by the rules, she’s determined to step over the line at the next opportunity. Her chance comes in the form of a mountain man in a tractor. And not just any mountain man, but Dean Carlisle, who stole her heart so many years ago. What else can she do, other than greet him in nothing but fur boots and hope he’ll take her for a ride?

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Fun and seriously sexy this “snowed in” style of story was a delightful, quick read. The fact Brie and Dean knew each other from childhood vacations in their families cabins helped keep the near insta-lust that flared between them within the realms of possibility. But readers looking for a deep, complex and slow-burn style of romance won’t find that here. I can understand the author’s desire to keep the pace moving fast since this is a very short story, but a part of me would have liked a bit more time spent on the emotional connection between Brie and Dean, not just their chemistry and physical attraction.

I found Brie to be a completely relatable character, with worries and insecurities and her failed engagement was far enough back in her past to make her determination to move on totally understandable. Readers who are happy to disconnect their brains and roll with the sexy shenanigans should find this explicit and steamy romance to be a bundle of fun. While most of the story revolves around Brie and Dean reconnecting on a physical level, I was pleased that toward the end of the story they talked a little bit, though a part of me would have liked a bit more depth and connection to this part of the story.

With a delicious Happy For Now style of ending and enough steam between Brie and Dean to melt the snow surrounding them, this is a lovely reunion style of snowed-in short story. Readers looking for a quick, explicit and intense story should find this suits their needs and is a lovely fast read.

Tangled Promises by Linda Trout


Tangled Promises by Linda Trout
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Genre: Contemporary, Romance, Suspense/Mystery/Thriller
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Snowdrop

Widow Melody Rose has already lost one man whose job involved guns and violence. She swore she’d never put herself through that again.

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This was an enjoyable story. Full of interesting characters. Characters you can picture.

Romance is not really one of my favorite genres. But this story kept my interest from start to finish. I think there are two basic reasons. One is that it isn’t just a romance. It has some suspense which makes it seem to have more depth. 2ndly, it’s well-written. It reads amazingly fast.

Don’t get me wrong. This is your handsome man, sad woman trying to make it on her own, book. But there’s a lot more to it than that. Parts that make you really and truly wonder how things will work out and parts written strongly enough that you’ll want things to work out your way.

Linda Trout also has several other books published. All have good reviews.

The Blueberry Swirl Waltz by Maria Imbalzano


The Blueberry Swirl Waltz by Maria Imbalzano
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Genre: Historical
Length: Short story (118 pages)
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Fern

After a family crisis, Katie Hathaway must return home to help out in the family’s ice cream shop. She leaves behind her dream job of teaching ballroom dance to spend her summer scooping ice cream and mixing milkshakes.

Chaz Hollander, Katie’s high school crush, has also returned to town to work in his family’s business. After Katie treats him to a blueberry swirl sundae, he invites her to the town’s upcoming dance. The only problem is he has two left feet.

When Katie starts giving Chaz dance lessons, their chemistry ignites, and the postponement of her dream doesn’t seem as ominous. But financial woes and a suspicious business deal cast a shadow on their budding relationship.

Katie was ecstatic when all her hard work paid off and she was given a job at the dance studio. Excited to share the news with her family, she rushes home only to find out that her mother has broken her arm and Katie is needed to help run their ice cream shop during their busiest month – and so she needs to put her own dreams and ambitions on hold for a while longer. When she finds her old high school crush, Chaz has moved back home also, Katie is pleased but cautious when they reconnect.

I enjoyed the older style of this story. While the plotline was fairly simple and straight forward Katie’s character was interesting and I found myself quite drawn to her and the hard decision she made to help her family. There is a very strong cast of secondary characters that I felt really helped boost the story – with Katie’s mother and two sisters, as well as the hunky Chaz. The romance was slow and quite sweet with just a few steamy kisses – as I feel anyone should expect from a romance story set back in the 1950s. I enjoyed the small-town feel of the whole story, how the community knew each other and gossip spread around like wild-fire.

The scenes of Katie teaching Chaz to dance was sweet and really helped sell me on how well the two characters meshed together. It also helped show me – without any sexual intimacy – how they had chemistry and how the attraction wasn’t just one-sided on Katie’s behalf. I felt the author did an amazing job of showing (not telling) the romance and this really helped me love the story more. I also liked how there were multiple aspects to the plot – Katie helping out her mother and sisters and the drama with the ice cream shop was an excellent counterpart I felt to the romance blossoming between Katie and Chaz.

A strong and character-centric story, this was a great read and one I can easily recommend. With vibrant characters, a few good, strong plotlines and a lovely slow moving romance this story is one I feel sure will appeal to many readers.

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Rainbow Sprinkles by D.V. Stone


Rainbow Sprinkles by D.V. Stone
One Scoop or Two
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Paranormal, Contemporary
Length: Short Story (80 pages)
Heat Level: Sweet
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Retired and widowed Gloriana Jones is forging on with the plans she and her late husband dreamed of—bringing joy and happiness, one ice cream cone at a time, to Lake Unami. But bad weather is drowning her dream.
A trip to Upstate NY is bittersweet for Nathan James. He is excited to see his first granddaughter but without his wife he’s lonely. When his car breaks down, he heads to the only light he can see, an ice cream shop.
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What could be better than ice cream and love?

I loved the fact that Gloriana had a full, happy life before she met Nathan. She had a strong network of friends and a job that brought her a great deal of joy. This is something I always adore seeing in the romance genre, especially for characters who have painful experiences in their backstories. Knowing that she’d already rebuilt her life after a tragedy only made me more curious to see how she’d react to the idea of falling in love again.

As great as the chemistry was between Gloriana and Nathan, I was startled by how quickly their relationship moved. Both of them seemed to be cautious and sensible adults, so it came as a shock to me to see how they reacted to their first date. I would be wary of anyone who tried to get so lovey-dovey with me that fast. While I totally understand that everyone has their own comfort levels when it comes to developing intimacy with a potential new partner, it sure would have been helpful to have more character development here so I could see if this was a pattern for them or if it was something they’d normally never do.

Just like with Stracciatella Gelato: Melting Time, this tale existed happily in the grey area between the fantasy and romance genres. I once again appreciated the fact that it had such a light touch. That was the perfect way to speak to a wide variety of readers and let everyone decide for themselves who or what might have gently nudged these characters into crossing paths.

This is part of the One Scoop or Two series. It is a standalone work.

Rainbow Sprinkles was a sweet treat that I’d recommend to anyone who is in the mood for something lighthearted.

The Rising Place by David Armstrong


The Rising Place by David Armstrong
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Genre: Historical, Suspense/Mystery
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Lavender

If you found a box of letters written during World War II-would you read them? And what if you did and discovered an amazing story about unrequited love, betrayal, and murder in a small southern town? A young lawyer meets Emily Hodge, a 75-year-old spinster shunned by her hometown society, and can’t understand why she lives such a solitary and seemingly forgotten life. But the letters she leaves for him reveal how her choices caused her to be ostracized-but definitely not forgotten by those who loved her.

Told in the form of letters read decades after the main events, the story unfolds with a sense of mystery. Why would the woman, Emily, who wrote these letters be so isolated in her old age? A lawyer reads them to try to understand.
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The letters take us back to the WWII era, in the South. With little details, the writer paints a good picture of that world and its troubles. The protagonist falls for a man, Harry, who is one quarter African-American. He is called to duty, flying a plane in the war, and she stays behind, pregnant. Society ostracizes this unmarried woman.

Readers will be moved by what Emily, her friends, and the African-American community experience. Emily’s best friend, Wilma, is African-American, and the ignoramuses of their town give Emily grief for this as well.

Things escalate, and an innocent man is murdered. Emily wants to get involved, but her family warns her of the grave danger involved in doing so. However, Emily is driven to stand up for injustice and goes to a meeting with the oppressed people of her town. Things get worse from that point, and Emily must deal with the aftermath.

The main and the secondary characters play their important role in bringing to life a tragic story in its given setting. It is a realistic accounting of a time and place, filled with powerful feelings while inspiring similar feelings in readers with its important message.

Braking Hard by Gloria Joynt-Lang


Braking Hard by Gloria Joynt-Lang
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Rating 4 Stars
Reviewed by Alstroemeria

Gage O’Neill is an all-around nice guy and an Adonis in coveralls. With a thriving automotive business, a gorgeous girlfriend, and his ADHD under control, life is pretty incredible. But when he loses a loved one, Gage’s perfect world unravels. Prone to bad choices, he’s desperate to quell his rash behavior. Thankfully, hiring a curvy mechanic is the one impulsive decision he’s gotten right.

Eden Sampario is destitute as a result of a confrontation turned violent with her former employer. When Gage mistakenly offers her a job, she readily accepts. But soon she wonders if she made the right decision. Resisting her sexy boss proves more challenging than an engine rebuild. Her only other option? Give in to temptation and risk not only her career but also her heart.

Welcome to Big C’s automotive shop, a place where more than cars overheat.

It’s time to pump the brakes on what is generally thought of as the “traditional romance novel.” Braking Hard tackles not only the very harsh reality of a woman in a stereotypically male job field, but it also takes on the vulnerability of real life and fills the story with beautiful truth.
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Gage O’Neill is the perfect man. Considerate, passionate and undeniably sexy. It is no surprise that he quickly wins over our heroine Eden Sampario by being the first more than decent guy she has had the pleasure to meet. Eden faces her fair share of troubles being a talented mechanic, while also being drop-dead gorgeous.

The story starts off in a slow-burn fashion, accounting for realism and making the story very relatable to an audience that does not get to live in the perfect fantasy land. Gage and Eden have real trauma and it was refreshing to read these characters as they continued to work on themselves while their relationship blossomed.

Although the readers are not given an immediate shot of romantic relationship bliss, when it arrives it is served on a platter piping hot! And the plot only intensifies from there…

Learning about all of the deeper sides to each character, really helps the sensual scenes build. Not only do they give in to their lust, but trust is what finally opens them to the possibilities of so much more than just friendship and work.

The story is well-rounded, facing life, love, and finding out that you don’t always have to go it alone, especially when it seems impossible to have others around.

Gloria Joynt-Lang made true love into a reality, and not just something we read in the fairytales. She lets us know that real love will work with you no matter where you are at, and that love will be found sometimes in the place where you least expect it.

Guilty Knowledge by Linda Griffin


Guilty Knowledge by Linda Griffin
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Genre: Contemporary, Suspense/Mystery
Length: Full Length (211 pages)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Review by: Poinsettia

Detective Jesse Aaron has no leads in the murder of Rosa Logan when pretty blonde Sariah Brennan claims to have seen the killer—in a vision. Unfortunately the man she identifies is dead—or is he?

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How much does Jesse really know about Sariah?

Jesse’s life changed the moment Sariah walked into the police department. She claims to have seen the killer in a vision. It would be easy to dismiss her as claims as crazy, and Camille, Jesse’s partner, is ready to do just that. However, Sariah knows details about the crime that weren’t released to the public. Did she have a vision, or is she somehow involved in the crime?

Sariah is a tough character to figure out. She manages to be both innocent and mysterious. Like Jesse, I wanted to believe her claims of having seen the killer in a vision, but something about her just didn’t seem right. Jesse tries to keep his relationship with Sariah professional, but something about her draws him in. Before he knows it, he’s falling in love with her. Their awkward flirty banter was cute at first, but her lack of honesty made natural interactions between them almost impossible. Consequently, it was hard for me to relax and enjoy their relationship. It just felt uncomfortable after a while. I shared Jesse’s frustration with Sariah’s secrecy. As I read, I continued to hope that Sariah would open up to Jesse before it was too late.

Ms. Griffin kept me guessing as I read. I was never quite sure how involved Sariah was in the mystery until everything about her past was finally revealed. My heart broke for Jesse when he realized how little he really knew about Sariah. Despite this issue, I am pleased to say I have a lot of hope for Jesse and Sariah. By the end of the book, Sariah is in a much better place. In the future, I believe she will be more open with Jesse. They have been given a second chance and I believe they will use it wisely.

I enjoyed reading Guilty Knowledge. The mystery is interesting, and Jesse and Sariah’s happy ending makes their bumpy beginning worth it. I recommend it to fans of romantic suspense looking for a quick read.

Stracciatella Gelato: Melting Time by Marilyn Baron


Stracciatella Gelato: Melting Time by Marilyn Baron
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Paranormal, Contemporary
Length: Short Story (42 pages)
Heat Level: Sensual
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Kate Buckthorn, a sixty-something woman in a predictable marriage, takes a day trip to Florence, Italy, to relive the months she spent there as a college art history student. After visiting all the familiar sights, she returns to her favorite gelato shop where she tosses some coins into the plastic cup of a Roma looking for change. And change is what she gets, literally. After enjoying her triple-scoop gelato, she leaves the shop, magically transformed into her twenty-three-year-old self.

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Second chances don’t come along every day.

Kate was such a likeable protagonist. She’d spent her entire life making responsible choices that gave her the highest chances of success. Her emotional stability and commitment to always doing the right thing only made her decisions in Florence more intriguing. Seeing a side of her personality that no one had caught a glimpse of in over forty years made me eager to find out how her adventures would end. There’s something so special about getting to know a protagonist this well, especially when they have good reasons for keeping certain parts of themselves tucked away somewhere private for so long.

The magical realism in the plot was handled beautifully. This was one of those stories that was perfectly poised in the intersection between the romance and fantasy genres. I couldn’t begin to pick only one of them to best describe it, so it only made sense that both of them mixed together into something that can’t be easily classified. Anyone who generally reads only one of these genres but is curious to try the other one should definitely consider starting here.

I loved the ending. Not only did it suit Kate’s personality perfectly, it left plenty of room for readers to come up with their own theories about the portions of the storyline that weren’t tied up neatly by the final scene. There were so many different ways to interpret it that I was delighted by the thought that I could pick the one that I thought best fit what we learned about the main character and the magical things she’d experienced during her trip.

Stracciatella Gelato: Melting Time was a whimsical tale that made me smile.

The Summer of Guinevere by John V. Madormo


The Summer of Guinevere by John V. Madormo
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press, Inc
Genre: Historical
Length: Full length (244 pages)
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Ginger

Paulie Passero, underachiever, high school junior, wants the courage to talk to a girl. A road trip from Chicago to rural Pennsylvania doesn’t interest him until his father emphasizes the need for a second driver. Why must they go? Paulie’s dying grandmother disowned her son twenty years ago, and fences must be mended. Unprepared for Smalltown USA, Paulie is bored at first but notices a girl in the back of a passing pickup and is immediately enamored.

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Paulie yearns to help this troubled girl escape the clutches of an abusive father, but will his interference only cause her more harm?

What sixteen year old is thinking about 1968 world events? Not Paulie Passero.

When I first started reading this book my thoughts were, oh no a sixteen-year-old boy that’s girl crazy, I’m not sure if this is the book for me,  a forty-six-year-old female. I am so glad that I continued reading. This book is so much more than a sixteen year old being crazy over every cute girl he sees. This book is about family …dysfunctional, abnormal, broken families. Paulie has only heard about his dad’s side of the family and, this summer, he’s about to take a road trip from Chicago to Pennsylvania with a dad who he’s not that close with.

I thoroughly enjoyed the author’s writing. I looked forward to each chapter to see what Paulie was getting into. Following Paulie’s point of view through out the book was well written from a teen’s point of view. Though the topics of the book are a variety of deep subject matter, Paulie’s personality adds in a taste of humor. I think the storyline is unique and very well told. I felt that the author gave a lot in making the story so full of lively characters and events. I enjoyed seeing Paulie’s growth. He stared out as an unpopular kids with one friend, and mediocre grades. Now he is being faced with meeting a family he doesn’t know, in a small town where everyone knows everybody. The first day he lay eyes on Guinevere Thompson, a girl who has three mean and bullying brothers and a evil father.

As the story advances I was proud of Paulie at the end. He went from a guy who didn’t have a voice around girls to standing up to bullies, taking chances on being punished by his dad for not listening. Paulie matured into a teenager with courage and heart. Though the book is told by a teen and about a teen, the story evokes subject matter that may not be suitable for teens. The subject matter, though hard to digest I think is what set the book apart from other teen love stories. I would like to read more about Paulie as he adjusted to his return home. You’ll miss a great experience if you don’t read this book.