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Katherine Bay Romance #2
Shadow Dance: Book One - The Mulleins of Katherine Bay
When single mother Jenna Mullein attempts to unravel the truth behind her mother's dying words— "Promise me, Jenna, promise you won't sell him the land" —she quickly discovers there are far too many people in Katherine Bay with a vested interest in muddying the truth.
Her persistent questions and determination sees her thrown into desperate danger.
When one woman ends up dead and Jenna and her infant toddlers are assaulted, property developer Gabriel Callahan steps in to help her.
Can Jenna trust Gabe with her secrets...the loner whos looks at her through eyes hiding secrets of his own?
Jenna's secrets could see her lose custody of her adored babies.
Does Gabe really want her or the family he could create with her adorable twins?
Her persistent questions and determination sees her thrown into desperate danger.
When one woman ends up dead and Jenna and her infant toddlers are assaulted, property developer Gabriel Callahan steps in to help her.
Can Jenna trust Gabe with her secrets...the loner whos looks at her through eyes hiding secrets of his own?
Jenna's secrets could see her lose custody of her adored babies.
Does Gabe really want her or the family he could create with her adorable twins?
273 pages, ebook
First published July 21, 2012
236 people are currently reading
260 people want to read
About the author
Shirley Wine
30 books47 followersAfter a lifetime of living in rural New Zealand this has provided a rich base for my stories.
I have always written and for many years freelanced for metroploitan and regional newspapers.
I write romance because I love delving into human relationships. It is these relationships in all their diversity that make the human race so fascinating.
I've been asked why Romance and my answer is always: I write romance because to me first and last, family matters.
Visit my author blog https://shirleywine.com
I have always written and for many years freelanced for metroploitan and regional newspapers.
I write romance because I love delving into human relationships. It is these relationships in all their diversity that make the human race so fascinating.
I've been asked why Romance and my answer is always: I write romance because to me first and last, family matters.
Visit my author blog https://shirleywine.com
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
Want to read
July 29, 2020🎁 FREE on Amazon today (7/29/2020)! 🎁
August 16, 2017
Meh...
This was an OK story but seemed to go on forever, it was too long winded and the story was made more complicated than it needed to be, the 'secrets' Gabe and Jenna were afraid to tell each other were'nt as bad as you are led to believe so when they are finally revealed it just falls flat. If this book was a bit shorter and some of the dull filler bits taken out it would improve the story a little bit , also the romance between Gabe and Jenna just didn't ring true for me, I wasn't feeling it. Overall, this was disappointing and could've been better.
This was an OK story but seemed to go on forever, it was too long winded and the story was made more complicated than it needed to be, the 'secrets' Gabe and Jenna were afraid to tell each other were'nt as bad as you are led to believe so when they are finally revealed it just falls flat. If this book was a bit shorter and some of the dull filler bits taken out it would improve the story a little bit , also the romance between Gabe and Jenna just didn't ring true for me, I wasn't feeling it. Overall, this was disappointing and could've been better.
September 13, 2017
I could not put this book down
This book was chucked with twist and turns that kept me interested to the last word. I will follow this author s work. She writes a good story without pages and pages of explicit sex. I do think there was a little to much on the sex and I hope she realizes her story telling is so special she doesn't need to sell it with gaudy blow by blow s of sex. I suggest this book to anyone interested in a good story sweet love that builds to the last page
This book was chucked with twist and turns that kept me interested to the last word. I will follow this author s work. She writes a good story without pages and pages of explicit sex. I do think there was a little to much on the sex and I hope she realizes her story telling is so special she doesn't need to sell it with gaudy blow by blow s of sex. I suggest this book to anyone interested in a good story sweet love that builds to the last page
July 20, 2020
From Difficult to Dangerous
The reader is introduced to Jenna Mullein as she holds a shotgun on a stranger, Gabe Callahan. With multiple reasons to be cautious, Jenna expects the man to leave now that she’s given him directions to the farm he seeks.
Layer upon layer, Ms. Wine reveals exactly how deep the problems go for Jenna. Will she accept the help Gabe offers? One secret leads to another in this romantic suspense set in New Zealand.
The reader is introduced to Jenna Mullein as she holds a shotgun on a stranger, Gabe Callahan. With multiple reasons to be cautious, Jenna expects the man to leave now that she’s given him directions to the farm he seeks.
Layer upon layer, Ms. Wine reveals exactly how deep the problems go for Jenna. Will she accept the help Gabe offers? One secret leads to another in this romantic suspense set in New Zealand.
June 25, 2017
Total package!
Romance and adventure all in one book.
Jenna and Gabes story is a must read. To learn to trust and love again after being deceived and almost broken, these two learn valuable lessons. And, discover they have more in common than they thought.
Romance and adventure all in one book.
Jenna and Gabes story is a must read. To learn to trust and love again after being deceived and almost broken, these two learn valuable lessons. And, discover they have more in common than they thought.
July 2, 2017
Great Story!
The story was great! The extra and confusing words tossed in throughout the book most especially at intense moments brought this from five down to three stars… I truly wish those things had been corrected, if they had been this would be a truly great book!
The story was great! The extra and confusing words tossed in throughout the book most especially at intense moments brought this from five down to three stars… I truly wish those things had been corrected, if they had been this would be a truly great book!
September 29, 2017
Safe in strangers arms
Great book easy to read. Love the twist that went with the story. Would love to see a sequel to this book to see how the resort turns out. Very well written . Love the landscape .
Great book easy to read. Love the twist that went with the story. Would love to see a sequel to this book to see how the resort turns out. Very well written . Love the landscape .
November 19, 2021
Great story
This story has a lot of danger,suspense and sacrifice,and a little romance thrown in keeps you turning the pages to see what happens next hats off to this author looking forward to reading more books from her
This story has a lot of danger,suspense and sacrifice,and a little romance thrown in keeps you turning the pages to see what happens next hats off to this author looking forward to reading more books from her
January 31, 2018
That s is a Good Book. I couldn't put it down. Will read more of her books. The ending was Good , too
August 30, 2018
Excellent read, author is very talented and characters believable. Definitely recommend.
December 3, 2018
Loved this book with hooking story line and superb descriptive narrating style. A fine and gripping read with captivating plot. Enjoyed and loved this complete. A sure shot this one is. Thank you.
January 29, 2019
Enjoyable
I enjoyed the New Zealand setting, story and characters. It had a good mystery, not too many details, which made for a quick read overall. I'd read more.
I enjoyed the New Zealand setting, story and characters. It had a good mystery, not too many details, which made for a quick read overall. I'd read more.
August 7, 2020
Safe in a strangers arms
Great reading of murders breed and money and finding true love and a family with a stranger who comes to town
Great reading of murders breed and money and finding true love and a family with a stranger who comes to town
July 8, 2021
Great book
Loved this book , so many twists it kept you hooked from beginning to the end a most enjoyable read
Loved this book , so many twists it kept you hooked from beginning to the end a most enjoyable read
December 2, 2023
Great love story
Besides being a good love story this was also somewhat of a mystery thriller. Gabe and Jenna couldn't be more opposites yet they fell for each other. Great read!
Besides being a good love story this was also somewhat of a mystery thriller. Gabe and Jenna couldn't be more opposites yet they fell for each other. Great read!
September 12, 2013
Okay. The things I liked about this book:
The suspense plot was okay. Lot’s of twists and turns, and exactly who all the bad guys are and what all nefarious things they are up to is not immediately obvious. Enough suspense to make me finish the book even though I skim read the last 2/3 of it because of the reasons given below.
The locale was nice. The landscape and the patois gave the story a nice feel—particularly for American readers.
The things I didn’t like about this book:
The writing!
1. The style.
This book was written in mostly simple declarative sentences which made it read more like a smart phone manual than a novel. Exacerbating this effect, the sentences were often short, the dialogue sometimes staccato. Whole issues describing periods of people’s lives or discussions of important issues might be covered in a dozen sentences or less. An example of this style:
“Would you show me what you intend?”
“Planning sabotage?”
“No! How can you think it?” Surely he knew her better than that by now?
“Then why the change of heart?”
Jenna scuffed a sandaled toe in the pile of sawdust then glanced up at him. “On the surface, Katherine Bay looks idyllic.”
“Appearances can be deceptive.”
A bitter laugh escaped Jenna. “Deceptive! The whole place is rotten, from the police to the landowners.”
Gabe squeezed her hand. “It’s an old district.”
2. The characters.
This book reminded me of an old “B” movie, complete with overacting and high melodrama. Yes, good novels must pack an emotional punch but both of these characters are drama queens. They would go from shaking with fear, to yelling with anger and clenched fists, to reddening and bending their heads in embarrassment, to burning with lust for each other’s body parts, to hugging a child close with love---all within a couple of pages. And they were like that throughout the book.
And they were always going off half-cocked. After asking for driving directions from the h on her front porch, the H turns to go after she reenters her house. Then he hears a child’s cry inside So he rushes into her house, a complete stranger’s house, to make sure she is not abusing her children. This man, who seems to know everything there is to know about children (although we never understand why or how), believes that if a young child cries, it is being abused and he must run into save it? Say what?
Jenna is always going off onto tirades and fits of anger then becoming embarrassed; he does this some as well but he is equally likely to become curt and withdraw because he feels so worthless. And he, who has avoided getting involved with any woman for years, is ready to marry the h within a couple of days of meeting her.
Miscellaneous other silliness that defies credulity.
An example, they rescue a dog from a poor child who has to get rid of him. The mongrel, however, mysteriously responds perfectly to every dog command the H gives. Not just things like “heel” and “down” even the command, “Guard.” And why exactly does Gabe even Expect this dog to know these commands which he relies on in even life and death situations? I mean, I have taken dogs to several levels of obedience training and we were never even introduced the “guard” command. This dog could put a police dog to shame.
The suspense plot was okay. Lot’s of twists and turns, and exactly who all the bad guys are and what all nefarious things they are up to is not immediately obvious. Enough suspense to make me finish the book even though I skim read the last 2/3 of it because of the reasons given below.
The locale was nice. The landscape and the patois gave the story a nice feel—particularly for American readers.
The things I didn’t like about this book:
The writing!
1. The style.
This book was written in mostly simple declarative sentences which made it read more like a smart phone manual than a novel. Exacerbating this effect, the sentences were often short, the dialogue sometimes staccato. Whole issues describing periods of people’s lives or discussions of important issues might be covered in a dozen sentences or less. An example of this style:
“Would you show me what you intend?”
“Planning sabotage?”
“No! How can you think it?” Surely he knew her better than that by now?
“Then why the change of heart?”
Jenna scuffed a sandaled toe in the pile of sawdust then glanced up at him. “On the surface, Katherine Bay looks idyllic.”
“Appearances can be deceptive.”
A bitter laugh escaped Jenna. “Deceptive! The whole place is rotten, from the police to the landowners.”
Gabe squeezed her hand. “It’s an old district.”
2. The characters.
This book reminded me of an old “B” movie, complete with overacting and high melodrama. Yes, good novels must pack an emotional punch but both of these characters are drama queens. They would go from shaking with fear, to yelling with anger and clenched fists, to reddening and bending their heads in embarrassment, to burning with lust for each other’s body parts, to hugging a child close with love---all within a couple of pages. And they were like that throughout the book.
And they were always going off half-cocked. After asking for driving directions from the h on her front porch, the H turns to go after she reenters her house. Then he hears a child’s cry inside So he rushes into her house, a complete stranger’s house, to make sure she is not abusing her children. This man, who seems to know everything there is to know about children (although we never understand why or how), believes that if a young child cries, it is being abused and he must run into save it? Say what?
Jenna is always going off onto tirades and fits of anger then becoming embarrassed; he does this some as well but he is equally likely to become curt and withdraw because he feels so worthless. And he, who has avoided getting involved with any woman for years, is ready to marry the h within a couple of days of meeting her.
Miscellaneous other silliness that defies credulity.
An example, they rescue a dog from a poor child who has to get rid of him. The mongrel, however, mysteriously responds perfectly to every dog command the H gives. Not just things like “heel” and “down” even the command, “Guard.” And why exactly does Gabe even Expect this dog to know these commands which he relies on in even life and death situations? I mean, I have taken dogs to several levels of obedience training and we were never even introduced the “guard” command. This dog could put a police dog to shame.
November 14, 2012
This has got to be one of the hardest reviews that I've written. After finishing this book, I honestly think with a good editor this could be a 5 star. The characters are well written, as is the crime however the time line didn't flow right and a couple of times I almost decided to set it aside, unfinished. But I liked the characters too much to be able to walk away and never know how their story ended and am so glad that I did stay with it. I enjoyed getting to "see" a part of the world that I've never seen before and to hear some of their unique slang. And the twins?! Oh, how I loved seeing Gabe trying to feed them both alone! As the mother of twins I loved reading that experience written true to life!
I would like to acknowledge that I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review.
I would like to acknowledge that I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Want to read
June 13, 2014Free 06-13-14 (Romantic Suspense)
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March 1, 2015
What starts as a rollicking good romance quickly grows into an engrossing mystery/suspense!
Read full review in the 2015 February issue of InD’tale Magazine.
Read full review in the 2015 February issue of InD’tale Magazine.
Want to read
February 15, 2016230pgs, romantic suspense, her mother told her to promise not to sell the land, on her death bed, which puts her in danger. A loner steps in to help, but can she trust him. does he really want her and her twins as a family.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews