Reviews are important to every author. I appreciate every single review a reader has taken time to leave for me. Here are the reviews I've gotten from Publishers Weekly/Booklife. I'm so very proud of these.
Protection
Publishers Weekly
Rettstatt offers a unique twist on romantic suspense, as both the hero and heroine have secrets that endanger them and their relationship. In rural Washington State, Shannon Chase miscalculates a hairpin turn and drives into a tree. Jake Garbar leaves his nearby cabin and helps Shannon and her infant to safety, letting them stay in his home until Shannon can get back on her feet again. While the attraction between them is unmistakable, Shannon is reluctant to get involved with another man, since she’s fleeing a disastrous relationship. And Jake has been a paranoid recluse ever since he experienced a drastic life-changing event. As Jake and Shannon’s pasts are slowly and creatively revealed, they must learn to trust each other. Rettstatt provides the complete package: romance, suspense, and magnetic characters. (BookLife)
Ladies in Waiting
Long and Short Reviews:
Five women, each strangers with
their life out of alignment, come together on the Jersey shore expecting eight
days of respite, which might put their lives back on track. What each woman did
not expect was to find new friends.
It’s one thing to be young and
vibrant and know your dreams are ahead, but it’s quite another when you’re 50+
and realize you’ve been so busy holding life together for others, your own
dreams have slipped away.
When Julia, Markie, Andi, Liv,
and Cee Cee first meet, they find themselves stranded together on the front
porch steps of Siochain – the women’s retreat whose name means peace. It’s easy
to see these women are vastly different, and their personalities clash or
cradle each other almost immediately.
Upon their arrival, Bree, the
director of the retreat, is nowhere to be found. With the day’s heat bearing
down, and menopausal Andi already complaining of heat flashes, Markie decides
to search for a hidden key. “It’s not breaking in if you have a key,” she
assures them. Once inside, they find out that Bree has been called away on a
family emergency, and with each women desperate to get something from the
“Reinventing Yourself After 50!” retreat, they decide to stay. During the week,
the strengths and weaknesses of each woman come into play. We learn about their
life struggle, as well as the secret each woman carries with her.
Romance is not a key element in
this story, although love makes its own powerful point. So much so, in fact,
that the reader may find themselves redefining their own understanding of it.
I found myself totally immersed
in the lives of these five women. Their journey felt personal, as if they had
shared their secrets with only me.
The character development in this
book was superb! Only a masterful writer could create the individual backstory
behind each of these characters. Readers, especially those who are 50+, may
feel as though they’ve been on a women’s retreat themselves after finishing
this wonderful novel.
Rescued
Publishers Weekly
Rettstatt’s subtle contemporary will appeal to animal lovers everywhere. Alex Ramsey, first abandoned by her mother and then jilted by her fiancĂ©, decides that animals are much more trustworthy than people. She splits her time between running a no-kill animal shelter and working for her Uncle Jack at his restaurant in Cade’s Point, Miss. When chef Evan Whiting moves to town after the twin failures of his marriage and his New York restaurant, he decides to start his life over. Though Alex and Evan are initially at odds, their sparks of anger evolve into mutual attraction. But Evan’s ex-wife unexpectedly comes to visit, and Alex doesn’t open up easily. Sweet but not syrupy with plenty of charming side characters, this fast-paced read will appeal to those who favor mildly sexy smalltown romance. (BookLife)
The Real Thing
Publishers Weekly
Rettstatt’s short, smart
contemporary keeps readers engaged with a candid look at what happens when
simmering anger reaches a boil. Jane and Mitch Devereaux have a perfect
marriage. He’s an advertising executive. She’s a successful romance novelist.
They’ve spent 20-odd years raising two great kids and supporting each other’s
careers. But lately sex has become a problem. It’s not that it’s gotten
rote—quite the opposite. Jane has been pushing Mitch to be more and more
sexually creative so she can turn their bedroom antics into scenes for her
novels. Finally, he gets fed up with a love life that’s devolved into a series
of literary research projects. Rather than hashing things out with Jane, Mitch
stalks out the door, gets his own apartment, and then can’t quite figure out
what comes next. Mitch’s wounded ego and Jane’s total bafflement at his actions
are completely believable, thanks to Rettstatt’s skill at crafting characters
that readers will care about and cheer for. There are no villains here, only
two well-meaning spouses trying their very best to be true to themselves and
keep their flame burning. (BookLife)
