Reporter Dayna Dalton’s reputation has been ruined since birth. The daughter of wild child, Becky Dalton, is expected to follow her mother’s footsteps; never given a chance to prove she’s different. Dayna’s been in love with Clay Finnes since she was a teenager. Her unrequited love for Sheriff Finnes leaves her empty. He’s happily married and unavailable. Instead, Dayna finds herself stuck in the … the revolving door of bad relationships. But this is Bulwark, Georgia, a town where strange things are always happening. Dayna is doomed to this loveless life until she can find someone who will appreciate the depth of her character. Can she overcome her fears and look beyond her own perceptions to accept a greater love?
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Small towns can be wonderful places to live. With their low-stress way of life, rural living offers simple pleasures enjoyed by neighbors who know all about each other.
Not a good thing if you’re Dayna Dalton and live in Bulwark, Georgia.
A full college scholarship years ago offered Dayna a brief respite but before her life could begin, the young journalist had to return to care for a sick mother—the mother whose loose morals and even looser tongue gave Dayna the white-trash reputation she was born into.
She hasn’t helped herself any working her way through Bulwark’s male population. Spurred on by alcohol, Dayna is running from a lifetime of unrequited love for Clay Finnes, now Bulwark’s sheriff.
But Dayna is also running toward something, she just doesn’t know what… or who.
Clay is no longer the center of Dayna’s world after she’s saved from a wolf attack by a caped stranger with red eyes. Red perpendicular eyes.
Dayna Dalton has always known strange things happen in Bulwark, but she’s about to find out how strange things can get.
This read is the ninth and last story of the Bulwark, Georgia paranormal anthology. Though I have read none of the earlier books, I don’t feel as though I was in the dark about Bulwark or its residents. The story flowed freely keeping me in the moment and feeling Dayna’s frustration, desperation, and self-hate.
I knew something was off about Mrs. Sweetpea (That name!), Dayna’s current neighbor… and former babysitter, but whoa! Pretty sure I was surprised as Dayna.
I liked Dayna. She had mountains of issues and didn’t always make good decisions, but she never lied to herself or played victim. A lesser woman would descend into a dead-end life never raising her head to see around her. But not Dayna. She’s haunted by the two things she wants most—a life with Clay and her mother’s approval and knows she will never have either. When she, at last, finds out the reason why, if gives her the clarity she’s longed for, but will it give her the courage to challenge the unknown?
As I said before, I didn’t feel like I was missing information from the earlier stories, but The Devil and Dayna Dalton has made me want to read them and I’ve downloaded them. Even if future readers don’t, this is one read that shouldn’t be missed because the devil IS in the details.
Enjoy!
*I received a free copy of this book which I voluntarily chose to write an honest review for.
What a quick fun read this was. New to the author I had no clue what to expect as I started reading about the life of Dayna Dalton. As the daughter of what is pretty much the local whore she is expected to behave a certain way though she refuses to do so. Instead she does her best to make her life better even if she does feel like something is missing. Then something weird happens and bam she finds out secrets about the world she never knew with the man she was made to be with. Makes for fun story that is over before you know it. I really liked it so I give it 4/5 stars.
WOW, The Devil and Dayna Dalton by Brit Lunden is the best of the Bulwark Anthology…so far.
Dayna Dalton is a small town reporter in love with someone she can never have. She is considered white trash, just like her mother. She is relegated to writing fluff stories for the paper but dreams of that big story that has some meat on its bones.
I love when she ripped off the T shirt….LOL And that was at 10%, so I am really looking forward to reading on.
Don’t tell her not to do something, because that only makes her more determined to do it.
Hmmm…who is that caped man?
Mrs Sweetpea, well I have a weird feeling about her.
There are strange happening in this small town, but no one is sharing the secrets. It’s all hush hush, so when Dayna hears someone calling her, luring her into the woods, she follows. Now…that can’t be bad, can it?
I love Dayna Dalton. I feel she has been treated unfairly and now that some of my questions are answered everything starts to come together and I can see some happiness on the horizon.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of The Devil and Dayna Dalton by Brit Lunden.
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I read and liked a few of the previous books in the Bulwark series and I enjoyed this one too.
Dayna was labeled white trash and promiscuous as long as she could remember. Her mother’s reputation shadowed her whole life. I couldn’t help but hope for something good in her life despite her being her own worst enemy. I do tend to cheer for the underdog.
When strange things start happening in the small town, Dayna’s life becomes much more complicated. Buried secrets come to light and she meets a special someone who might change everything.
While the story was over before I was ready, it sure kept me glued to the pages. I had a really good time.
Thank you to #Booktrib and Tina Meyers (Loves To Read – FB page) for this book.
At only 128 pages it was a short one day read for me. At first the title wasn’t consistent with the book. I thought the book was going to be about a newsreporter and the bad mother she had and her inconsistent love life and her love for the sheriff she went to school with. I was wrong. It ended up to be sort of a dark fantasy with a cloak, and the devil, and Hades etc. It was confusing at the end for me and I still don’t get it but that might just be me.
Dayna tried all her life to prove she wasn’t like her mother. She wasn’t wild and undependable. She was a good reporter and a responsible person. Her one “fault” was her love for Clay. He was married and never led her on. In this town, strange things happened. Dayna was going to find out why.
If you are looking for an original book, this is it. Ms. Lunden’s writing is great! She made sure to keep the reader off balance while defining the characters with style. You’ll be glad you got this book. I love that the odd things happen to a select few. It’s not something everyone experiences. She doesn’t give a reason for why this happens. You never know quite when it will happen.
I didn’t find any issues.
I gave this one 4 cheers out of 5 because the pacing needed to be a bit faster. copy of book provided by author and I voluntarily reviewed it.
The Devil and Dayna Dalton is the ninth installment and Brit Lunden’s contribution to the Bulwark Anthology. Readers are brought back to Bulwark, Georgia, a town wrapped in mystery and separated from the rest of civilization. The town has a lot of strange happenings in it.
I really enjoyed The Devil and Dayna Dalton. The story of Dayna Dalton and Clay Finnes was intriguing and entertaining. I liked the opposites attract of the tale and wondered throughout if they will be able to fight to be together. It was quite the adventure to be taken back to Bulwark. The book was romantic, magical, mysterious and suspenseful. There are a few scenes that was a little spooky and creepy that made me think a little bit.
I had the pleasure of listening to the audio version of The Devil and Dayna Dalton. Cathy McGowan is a great job bringing this story to life. Her performance was perfect and entertaining. I believe she narrated it just the way the author was meant to be read. It is only a couple of hours long and I had no problem to continuously until I finished to the end in one day.
I am giving The Devil and Dayna Dalton four and a half stars. I would love to read more of the Bulwark Anthology, as well as, other books by Brit Lunden in the future and see where else she her imagination will take her readers. I recommend it for readers who enjoy paranormal romance.
I received this book from the publisher. This review is 100% my own honest opinion.
Thank you Iread and the author for a complimentary copy. I voluntarily reviewed this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
The Devil And Dayna Dalton
A Bulwark Anthology, Book 9
By: Brit Lunden
REVIEW
“Hell is empty, and all the devils are here.”
William Shakespeare
Once more to Bulwark, Georgia, and this time, In The Devil And Dayna Dalton, the story centers around Dayna Dalton, the reporter first seen in Bulwark.
“She had a built-in reputation, care of her mama. Didn’t matter if she was free with herself or not; she was Becky Dalton’s white- trash daughter, and that was enough for the town.”
I at once liked Dayna and felt so sorry for her because I know how judgmental small towns are. How can she change the perception? Sadly, she can’t. Dayna’s biggest flaw is her lifelong obsession with Sheriff Clay Finnes. He, however, has only ever wanted to be friends, ignoring her advances.
“Every man she dated had to measure to his impossible standards. She was invariably disappointed, as no man could compete with Clay Finnes.”
Dayna is so lost, lonely and discouraged. Her job is unsatisfying because she would rather report things that matter instead of small town gossip. She spends her time chasing someone and something that doesn’t exist. Clay will never be her true love.
“I just want to know what it’s like to be loved unconditionally no matter what I do.”
Fortunately, Dayna lives in Bulwark where anything can happen. Her dream of love might come true, just not in the way she thinks. One day, she encounters a man, the Devil, in the woods who claims to love and want her. Later, Dayna thinks maybe she dreamed the whole thing, but that doesn’t explain the mysterious cloak now in her possession. Her strange neighbor also says some odd things leading Dayna to believe all of it is real. As this bizarre situation unfolds, Dayna considers her life and her future.
“She ran after relationships she knew could never develop. This was torture. This was hell. Dayna realized she had dedicated her entire life to wanting the impossible.”
Dayna must decide to continue down this path, this job, this life, in this town, or believe in the Devil. She can be his forever. It is Dayna’s decision alone. In Bulwark, you never know what might happen. This story is my favorite so far! It is unique in every way. Dayna is an amazing character, flawed, fierce but easy to love. I like the sinister fairy tale vibe and the gothic atmosphere. The story is fun to read, and I think it should be on everyone’s tbr! Now, if you’ll excuse me,…
“I have a date with the Devil.”
Fast-paced and packed with twists and turns.
I haven’t read anything by Brit Lunden, so this was a first for me. I wasn’t sure what I was getting into when I picked up the book, but that’s a good thing. I like being surprised. This book was certainly surprising.
The writing is crisp and the story moved fast. There were times it almost moved too fast, but it’s a short story, so there isn’t much time to linger. I liked that it kept me guessing as to who the caped man might be. There were a few twists I didn’t see coming, that’s for sure.
A bit more on the editing front would’ve made this a four star read for me. But it’s such a fun and fast read that most readers will enjoy it.
If you’re interested in a paranormal story that’s a little off the beaten path, then this might be the one for you.