WHISPERS ON THE WIND
by
DANA WAYNE
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Publisher: Book Lift Off
Date of Publication: March 7, 2018
Publisher: Book Lift Off
Date of Publication: March 7, 2018
Number of Pages: 277
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You didn’t stop him. He killed her.
Dire warnings from a voice only he can hear makes Sheriff Cooper Delaney doubt his sanity. When a body is found matching one from a recent nightmare, he believes he’s gone off the deep end. The dead do not talk to the living. Or do they? One body becomes two. Are there more?
Heart broken by betrayal, Dr. Samantha Fowler finds herself starting over at thirty-three. When she meets the local sheriff, the attraction is instant and fierce, threatening to crumble the defensive walls around her heart. Once burned, twice shy, she vows to stay far away from him for the duration of her stay at the quaint B & B they share. But when she finds one body, then another, avoiding the handsome Texan is impossible.
He’s not done.
Quarry in site, he watches and waits. “I am the master. I cannot be stopped.”
The clock is ticking…
PRAISE FOR WHISPERS ON THE WIND:
“Smooth pace and lovable characters drew me in almost instantly.”
“If you love romantic suspense, you are in for a treat!”
“Masterpiece! Dana’s ability to paint a picture with words is incredible.”
“Hard to stop reading once I started.”
“It has been a long time since I enjoyed a book as much as I did this one.”
CLICK TO PURCHASE
Clueless Gent’s Rating
Dana Wayne’s Whispers On The Wind will leave you satisfied, but ready for more. If you’ve ever lived in, passed through or wondered about life in a small Texas town, this is the book for you. This story captures some of the unique dynamics of small town life in Texas. It’s no wonder how I’m drawn to Texas stories written by Texans!
In this single story, Dana Wayne managed to combine some very original elements. We have two spirits/ghosts that only the two protagonists can hear, a Bed-and-Breakfast with its own set of familial relationships, a number of recent murders, and a suspect pool that seems pretty large for such a small town.
In addition to the storyline, which I happen to think is pretty original, Wayne also intertwines a fair amount of humor throughout. In a story like this, humor helps to make an interesting read a fun read!
The Protagonists of Whispers on the Wind
Our two protagonists, Doctor Samantha “Sam” Fowler and Sheriff Cooper “Coop” Delaney, seem to have only two things in common: neither wants another relationship, and they both stay in the same B&B. Otherwise, they’re complete opposites.
I know what you’re thinking. Opposites attract – right? That may be true, but they also clash! There’s plenty of clashing and bashing afoot as Coop races to solve the recent murders and keep Sam from becoming a victim.
The evolving relationship between Coop and Sam makes for a lighthearted and humorous subplot, which balances nicely with the grisly business of murder investigation. Coop is the most eligible bachelor in this small town, and Sam is the new fox. It was quite fun to watch Sam try and fight off the local romeos, while Coop tries to put the kibosh on the local rumor mill.
Coop and Sam each hear a voice – a whisper on the wind – but not the same voice. However, each voice makes the hair on the back of their necks stand at attention. I thought their ability to hear the voices added an extra layer of color to their relationship. It also heightened my enjoyment of the story.
I also want to give a shout out to Jack, Sam’s canine companion. He is utterly protective of Sam, and he takes this job very seriously. However, much to Sam’s chagrin, Jack quickly decides that Coop is one of the rare good guys.
Technically Speaking
There were a few SPAG errors in the book, but not so many that I need to take issue with them. They certainly did not take anything away from the story.
The pacing was pretty good. As you can imagine, the character arcs in a story like this are huge. However, I thought the arcs applied to several lesser characters were pretty imaginative. That’s a good thing.
The author switches to the killer’s POV several times throughout the story, but the identify of the killer remains unknown until the ramp to the climax. Dana Wayne drops another little bombshell just before we get into the climax. I won’t tell you what it is, but it made my heart go, “Awe…”
Overall, I really enjoyed this story. If you’re a guy reading this review, and you think this may be one of those “chick-flick” books, remember this: really good men read really good stories! This is one of them!
I highly recommend Whispers On The Wind to anyone in need of a good story!
I received a free copy of this book from Lone Star Book Blog Tours in exchange for my honest review.
Who Reads Romance? And Why?
GUEST POST
by Dana Wayne
“You write/read trashy romance novels?”
That question is usually accompanied by a shocked expression, a raised brow and/or a gasp. Why? Because the romance novel has been burdened with a less than stellar literary reputation since 18th century. Its readers often characterized as a bored housewife, spinster, etc. I’ve heard it referred to as fluff, not real writing (formula), and of course, nothing more than a lot of sex, with no substance, plot, etc. Some critics go so far as to sermonize they foster unrealistic expectations by presenting a world where fragile women wander around in a daze waiting for Mr. Wonderful Right to carry them away, while Mr. Real Man gets passed up in the process.
Excuse me, but I say hogwash.
I agree there are books today that fall into this category. However, Shades of Grey notwithstanding, the majority of todays’ popular novels feature strong, independent women for whom finding Mr. Right isn’t the goal, it’s an unexpected surprise. If there is a formula it’s this: two people facing challenges discover their once-in-a-lifetime love, securing a happily ever after.
It’s a misconception to say that those who enjoy romance novels lack romance in their own lives. I like this excerpt from one of Maya Rodale’s blogs for the Huffington Post: “What is enough romance anyway? What if we have candles but no wine? What if there are flowers but someone forgets the chocolate? What if there is no man? Can it still be romance? And if someone doesn’t have enough romance and supplements with a romance novel, what’s wrong with that? And if someone doesn’t have a relationship that looks like the ones she reads about – where she is cherished, pleasured and respected – and gets to thinking about making some changes, is that so bad?”
Today’s authors are doing something right because the romance industry is booming to the tune of over one billion dollars in sales a year. Romance Writers of America tracks trends and compiled a survey last year of approximately 2000 readers. You can click this link to see the full report here RWA Report.
I was surprised to learn the majority of the readership now is between the ages of 25 and 34. In 2016, the average was 30-54. Women still make up 82% of the market with men moving up two notches to 18%. Half of those surveyed read romantic suspense, followed by erotica and historical and 35% buy a romance novel more than once a month.
We live in a hectic, stress-filled world. Reading, particularly a romance novel, takes us away for a while, allows us to forget our own problems, takes us away to another time or place, and makes us FEEL the author’s words. We close the book with a satisfied sigh and want to repeat the experience.
And we know that, no matter what happens, no matter how bleak things are, in the end, love will prevail.
There will always be a happily ever after. We need that underlying message of hope and encouragement. The good guys will win. The heroine will find her hero, proving once again it is possible to overcome any obstacle in your way, achieve success, and find happiness.
Dana Wayne is an award-winning author and 6th generation Texan (or 7th depending on which relative you ask). She resides in East Texas with her husband (and biggest fan) along with a Calico cat named Katie, three children and four grandchildren. She routinely speaks to books clubs, services organizations, writers’ groups, and other organizations on writing and publishing.
“I grew up listening to my father read passages from the stack of paperback westerns beside his chair. I was fascinated at how someone could paint a picture with words so vivid, I could see it in my mind. That’s when I knew that one day I would be a writer. Life has a way of delaying dreams and that happened to me. It wasn’t until I retired in late 2013 that I was able to devote as much time to writing as I wanted. My first book was published in 2016, and I have since published two more with several more in the mill. My stories do have some heat to them, but I believe romance is more about emotion than sex, and the journey is more important than the destination.”
She is a member of Romance Writers of American, Texas Association of Authors and Writers League of Texas as well as several local writers’ groups.
GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY!
FIRST PRIZE: Signed Copy of Whispers on the Wind
+ Floral Fan + $10 Amazon Gift Card
TWO RUNNERS-UP: eBook Copies of Whispers on the Wind
(Open Internationally)
September 4-13, 2018
VISIT THE OTHER GREAT BLOGS ON THE TOUR:
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9/4/18
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Guest Post
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9/5/18
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Review
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9/6/18
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Excerpt
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9/6/18
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BONUS Review
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9/7/18
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Guest Post
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9/8/18
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Review
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9/9/18
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Scrapbook Page & Bonus Review
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9/10/18
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Guest Post
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9/11/18
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Review
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9/12/18
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Author Interview
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9/13/18
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Review
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5 thoughts on “Whispers on the Wind”
I #amreading this, and now, I #amwaiting for the bombshell! Great review!
Thanks so much for hosting me today and for this super review! I appreciate it very much!
Thank YOU, @danawayne423, for giving us such an entertaining and fun read! I totally enjoyed your story!
🙂 🙂
FYI….winners were emailed yesterday. Per the rules, they have 48 hours to claim their prize. If you registered, please check your email – including junk folder as it could have gone there – so you don’t miss out!