Title: Dance to a Wylder Beat
Author: Marilyn Barr
Genre: Historical Western Paranormal Romance
Book Blurb:
He wasn’t comfortable in his skin before she crawled under it. Now he burns…
Nartan Sagebrush's name may mean "to dance" in Arapaho, but he dances in secret. Forced to abandon his Shamanic apprenticeship, he is overwhelmed with homesteader life, and even his spirit guides are at their wit's end. Nartan takes fate into his own hands. Instead of divine intervention, a wife will help with his responsibilities and in assimilating into the Wylder community.
Olive Muegge answers Nartan's "wife wanted" advertisement. Wildly independent she has secretly dreamed of a family to call her own. The secret she carries inside makes her an outcast and her wild ways don't fit the quiet wife Nartan thinks he desires.
Despite their differences, they are drawn to each other but a mistake may drive them apart. Will Nartan embrace his Shamanic past to save them both or will he choose to rid himself of Olive forever?
My Review:
A shaman dances in secret, a woman looking for a place to call home…can they bare their tattered souls which are moving to the same rhythm? Answering an ad for a wife, Olive Muegge travels many miles to Wylder. Sure, she’s brazen, speaks her own mind, and can’t cook to save her life, but she’s got an indomitable spirit and yearns for a family to call her own. Nartan Sagebrush is a quiet, thoughtful man, in other words, the complete opposite of Olive. But as these two get to know each other, they discover they might be more alike than different. Olive harbors a deep secret, though. When Nartan is face-to-face with the real Olive, will he turn tail and run, or will he protect her with his dying breath?
Dance to a Wylder Beat is a historical western paranormal romance that took me completely by surprise. From the first page, I connected with Olive. She’s such a spunky heroine who definitely speaks her mind. Sometimes it gets her into sticky situations, yet I found her honesty refreshing. The chemistry between Olive and Nartan is a classic ‘opposites attract’ trope but there are a few twists Marilyn Barr throws in to make it unique. The plot moves at a gentle pace with I found added a layer of mystique to the story. The reader experiences things at the same time as the characters without too much foreshadowing. The native mythology/elements were so well done, I found myself spellbound. Intricate descriptive narration that is not only historically accurate but believable makes this an incredible reading experience. Marilyn Barr is a gifted weaver of stories and Dance to a Wylder Beat is her best book yet. If you like historical western romance, you’ll love Dance to a Wylder Beat. If you’re a fan of historical romance, pick up this gem of a story. If you love shifter romances, you won’t want to miss Dance to a Wylder Beat. Highly recommend!
My Rating: 5+ stars
Buy it Now:
B & N – https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/dance-to-a-wylder-beat-marilyn-barr/1139505169?ean=2940162572831
Giveaway:
I’m one of the authors participating in the Summer in the Sun Book Giveaway and you can win an e-copy of Round of Applause.
Runs July 1 - 31 and is open internationally for many prizes.
Winners will be drawn on August 2, 2021.
Author Biography:
Marilyn Barr currently resides in the wilds of Kentucky with her husband, son, and rescue cats. She has a diverse background containing experiences as a child prodigy turned medical school reject, published microbiologist, special education/inclusion science teacher, homeschool mother of a savant, certified spiritual/energy healer, and advocate for the autistic community. This puts her in the position to bring tales containing heroes who are regular people with different ability levels and body types, in a light where they are powerful, lovable, and appreciated.
When engaging with the real world, she is collecting characters, empty coffee cups, and unused homeschool curricula. She is a sucker (haha) for cheesy horror movies, Italian food, punk music, black cats, bad puns, and all things witchy.
Social Media Links:
Reviewed by: Mrs. N