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Uncaged Review – Rorik by Mary Morgan

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

Rorik
Mary Morgan
Historical Fantasy

The Dark Seducer is known throughout Scotland as a man who charms many women into his bed. Pleasure is his motto as he obtains information for his king. Yet Rorik MacNeil harbors one secret buried beneath his heart of steel. An unfulfilled conquest plagues both man and his inner wolf, and Rorik would rather suffer death’s sharp blade than confront his greatest fear.

As the Seer for the Orkneyjar Isles, Ragna Maddadsson confronts an unknown destiny when she travels across the North Sea to Scotland. In her quest to deliver a message from a powerful vision, she fears the warrior will not listen. If Rorik ignores her warning, Ragna must find a way to forestall his impending death. If unsuccessful, she risks having her heart cleaved in two.

To unravel their true fates, Rorik and Ragna must trust in the power of the wolf.

Uncaged Review: We first met Rorik in Magmar’s story, the first book of the series, he was intriguing to me. Now Rorik, who is known as The Dark Seducer, since he seduces women to get information for the king, will find the love of a woman means more to him than life itself. Ragna is a Seer and has visions of Rorik dying and travels across the seas to Scotland to deliver her warning. Rorik and Ragna have a past, where Rorik seemed to have hurt a younger Ragna. But when Rorik almost dies, and Ragna is chosen by Rorik’s wolf, he begins to understand.

What I love about this series, is that the wolf is always there – and never forgotten as part of the man. The wolves of Clan Sutherland are loyal and fierce, and they love as fully as they are feared. Magmar and Elspeth are back, and this book has danger, love and humor. If you love medieval times and a bit of magic tied into it, this is a good choice. Looking forward to Steinar’s book next. Reviewed by Cyrene

5 Stars

Uncaged Review – Security Force of Two by Tena Stetler

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

Security Force of Two
Tena Stetler
Paranormal Romance

Miacoh Zane, a Special Forces veteran, returns to Aspen Ridge, Colorado a small town nestled in the Rocky Mountains, to settle his beloved grandmother’s estate. But the town holds painful memories and mystical family secrets he wants to leave behind for good.
Candle Bearclaw, is a gifted computer analyst/programmer with psychic talents she buried when recruited out of college by the CIA. After fifteen years, she abruptly resigns her position and returns to her sleepy hometown to discover her childhood crush has also returned and a violent crime has been committed.
Due to their covert operations experience, Candle and Miacoh are thrown together to assist Homeland Security, FBI, and her father, the former chief of police, with a murder investigation. As they search for the perpetrators, their secrets risk being revealed as the investigation takes an unusual twist that could blow the case wide open.

Uncaged Review: After a long stint as an undercover cyber hacker with the government, Candle is ready for the quiet life back in Colorado where she grew up and her parents still live. She also runs into Micoah, a man she had a crush on as a kid. Now Micoah is done being in the miliary and is back in town to settle his grandmother’s estate and with no plans on staying. Things go awry when the new Chief of police is murdered, and Candle’s father, Hunter is called back to duty as Chief he just retired from to help solve the case. Once thing leads to another and Candle and Micoah are sucked into the investigation.

This book goes along nicely, but they seem to be eating a lot, and I think Candle had a ribeye steak twice in one day. And Candle is constantly “licking her lips,” and turning around and scratching the puppy in the vehicle when the pup is in the car. Even though I loved Terra being included in the story, it seemed like a bit overkill with some of the interactions. Some of that could have been removed. Other than that, I liked all the characters, and all the supporting characters and I hope that the author continues in this series.
Reviewed by Cyrene

4 Stars

Uncaged Review – The Axe by Linda Griffin

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

The Axe
Linda Griffin
Suspense Short

Sweethearts Eric Leidheldt and Desiree Chauveau are spending a weekend at his uncle’s cabin when they encounter two strangers cutting wood. Eric is knocked unconscious, and Desi is viciously attacked. The following day two police officers come to their apartment to arrest Desi. Her assailants are dead, murdered with an axe, and her fingerprints are on it. She confesses—but is she really guilty? Eric is determined to stand by her, but the physical and emotional effects of the attack severely challenge their relationship.

Uncaged Review: This book is short, and it starts out with a bang. Eric and Desiree are planning a weekend at a cabin, and as they are walking up to the road where the cabin is, 2 men get out of a truck, and one hits Eric over the side of the head with an axe and knocks him out. The next thing you see, is Desiree freeing him from the trunk of his car, the men nowhere to be seen, but Desiree is half naked and covered in blood. The two men are found dead in the cabin and Desiree is arrested for murder. She’s in major denial to Eric and won’t admit to anything, including rape. When they get a lawyer, some of the pieces will fall together.

This is a very short read, and it was enough to keep the tension high, and wanting to see how it ended kept me interested. Personally, I did guess most of the outcome, but there are a couple good twists in this one. Good thriller – and perfect for an hour or two. Reviewed by Cyrene

4 Stars

Uncaged Review – Andy and the Extroverts by Jessica K. Foster

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

Andy and the Extroverts
Jessica K. Foster
Contemporary Young Adult

Seventeen-year-old bookish Andy has no friends. When her over-involved mother has the audacity to ship her off to summer leadership camp, she’s thrust into an introvert’s nightmare. Everyone is a Communicator with a capital C, icebreaker activities are scheduled into every waking moment, and horror of all horrors: there’s no coffee. Even the girls who take her under their wing are the kind of self-assured people Andy could never dream of becoming.

Then she meets Lucas—hot, attentive, and everything Andy reads about in her books. Though the girls in her cottage try to warn her about him, she’s swept into the first romance of her life. But when she discovers her friends may be right, she’ll have to find her inner confidence to save her summer and become the leader she was always meant to be.

Uncaged Review: Poor very introverted Andy. Sent off unwillingly to a leadership camp by her mother, and in Andy’s mind, it’s a fate worse than death. All Andy wants to do is read her smutty historical romances on summer break and she’s thrust into activities with a bunch of over-achieving teens in the camp from hell. But Andy will find her way – even without coffee. This book has some fun moments and a few over the top counselors, and Andy may even make a couple friends along the way.

A lot of young people will be able to relate to Andy, and even some of the ones around her. There are some hilarious moments and also some sad moments, but it’s a nicely paced book with a good cast of supporting characters that truly make the book. There is even a camp romance or two, and let’s not forget the dreaded circles. A nice debut novel. Reviewed by Cyrene

4 Stars

Uncaged Review – Knight of Darkness by Sherry Ewing

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

Knight of Darkness
Sherry Ewing
Medieval Romance

Sometimes finding love can become our biggest weakness…

Wymar Norwood understands responsibility. His two brothers have been in his care since his parent’s death. With his title and lands stripped from him by the usurper Stephen, he aligns himself with the Empress Matilda, the rightful Queen of England. If he can win her favor and become her champion knight, he prays all will be returned to him.

Lady Ceridwen Ward of Norwich is out to prove not only to herself but the Empress that she is more than capable of protecting those she loves. She hides herself in the guise of a knight and follows along with her men to Lincoln to raise her sword for the Empress’s cause. But life can become complicated, especially after your identity is revealed.

But Wymar and Ceridwen have a common enemy who is bent on revenge. They will need to search their souls and overcome grief in order for their love to survive life’s greatest test.

Uncaged Review: . Wymar Norwood had pretty much lost everything, his land his title and his parents from King Stephen. Wymar’s only way of getting everything back and being restored to honor is being a mercenary and by joining forces with Empress Matilda. Wymar is well-known to everyone from the allies to the enemies as the “Knight of Darkness.” While at a tavern the night before the battle, Wymar notices a young lad known as Lord Elric Bartone who is getting pushed around by Lord Sperling Ratcliff. Wymar attempts to stop the bullying especially when he hears that Sperling‘s only reason for being mean to Elric is because he is the brother of his supposed betrothed. Lord Elric is in truth Lady Ceridwen Ward who must hide her identity in order to support Matilda. Wymar and Ceridwen must find a way to not only stop King Stephen his supporters and Sperling who poses a threat to them both, their burgeoning love and everyone they hold dear.

This is truly an epic sweeping written medieval romance that is well-worth the read! The graphic descriptions of fighting are well researched and easily imagined putting you in the heat of the battle. The action definitely left me breathless and with the stunning display of visuals left me absolutely shocked! I had no problem visualizing the strong animosity between two very real adversaries but even the characters whether they be major or minor seem so vividly realistic! Ms. Sherry Ewing has really done her homework and the research shows. Wymar is enigmatically terrifying yet underneath it all is also a tremendously gracious hero that is charming fodder for the perfect book boyfriend hero! Ceridwen the English warrior maiden who I kind of pictured as the English Mulan is much more three dimensional and despite her tough nature also still is feminine and easily relatable too. I am excited for this new series and definitely can’t wait to read more when it gets written that is! Reviewed by Roslynn Ernst

5 Stars

Uncaged Review – The Wolfe by Kathryn Le Veque

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

The Wolfe
Kathryn Le Veque
Medieval Romance

Read the Epic novel that started it all….

1231 A.D. – After a nasty skirmish along the England/Scotland border at Bog Wood, a badly wounded knight has crawled off to die. As women from the Clan Scott fan out across the battlefield to collect the spoils of war, one woman breaks off from the pack. She is sickened by the tradition of stealing valuables off the dead and runs off to hide. In her hiding place, however, lingers the badly wounded knight. The young woman is frightened at first but she tends the knight and saves his life. Little does the Lady Jordan Scott know that she has just saved the life of the dreaded English knight known to her people as The Wolfe….

Several months later, peace is proposed along the border. An English groom is offered to a Scots bride. The Lady Jordan Scott is that bride and her groom is the aged and powerful Earl of Teviot, John de Longley. When Lord de Longley sends his mighty and hated army to collect his new bride, the captain of the army personally retrieves Lady Jordan. When Jordan looks upon the fearsome English knight, she realizes there is something oddly familiar about his voice. When the man finally reveals himself, she sees that it is none other than the man whose life she saved, Sir William de Wolfe.

William has never forgotten about his Scots angel. As he escorts her back to Northwood Castle to wed his liege, each passing minute sees him fall more hopelessly in love with her. Jordan comes to know the man beyond The Wolfe of legend, and so the love story begins.

Join William and Jordan in a tale of true and utter devotion, of a love that bleeds beyond the boundaries of Scots and English, and where loyalty, friendship, and family bind them all together in this uncertain and political world. These are the dark days of dark times, but in the midst of a treacherous world of secrets and hatred, William and Jordan share a love that is only dreamt of.

Uncaged Review: This is an epic tale of William de Wolfe, aka The Wolfe, well known for being one of the best and most feared knights during his time. This story is long, and as a fast reader – it still took me three days to finish. Before I go much further, this is a five star book, although I did have some issues, but it wasn’t enough to pull a star from the rating. The main story is about Jordan and William, even though there are multiple smaller stories running throughout the background. Jordan is traded off from her father to Earl de Longley, an older English border lord in order for peace. William and his knights are to retrieve Jordan and take her back to Northwood Castle. Jordan swears to do her duty, but in the process of returning to Northwood, she charms the knights and Willam.

The romance is not a long drawn out affair, it is realized early enough on, but there are many dangers, battles and traitors along the way. Two of my small grievances within the book are first of Jordan, who is supposed to be a smart, educated woman, and is constantly getting into trouble of her own doing. The other thing was that there is not one romance here, there are several, but I felt cheated that I never got to witness the romances in the background except for a bit for Kieran. I fell in love with these Knights, and wanted more.

This book is long, about 800 pages and one of the authors first medieval romances she wrote, although it was years before it was published. Kathryn Le Veque builds these worlds like no other I’ve read, and transports you back into medieval times along with the characters. Reviewed by Cyrene

5 Stars

Uncaged Review – Scorched by Paula Quinn

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

Scorched
Paula Quinn
Romantic Fantasy

Marcus is a Drakkon as ancient as the stars, stronger than a mountain, and the last of his kind. Men now rule the earth. The time of the Drakkon is over thanks to the legendary Phoenix Amber and the Council of Elders who use its power to transform Drakkon into humans. When the Council discovers he may be hiding a treasure worth more than any dragon horde, they will stop at nothing to have it and transform him against his will.

Being human is worse than anything Marcus could have imagined. His brilliant cerulean scales are gone, replaced with paltry skin he is sure could not even stop a bird if one flew into him. But worse than imprisonment in a male body are the awakenings of unfamiliar human desires that are nothing like the animal urges that were so easily satisfied as a Drakkon— emotions like loneliness that make him seek out companionship with a woman who, unfortunately for him, happens to be a sweetly-scented virgin.

Samantha Montgomery isn’t about to go to bed with a man who believes he used to be a reptile, especially one whose smoldering smiles make her think of being consumed alive by fire, and loving it. A romance writer and product of the New York State foster care system, Sam just wants some normalcy in her life. She’ll never get it with Marcus. Should it matter that his wickedly passionate touch tempts her to yield all, even if all he wants is her virtue? He is everything she doesn’t want in a man. Fear of commitment is one thing, not loving anyone or anything for ten centuries is another. But he won’t leave her castle. He’s arrogant, proud, and a bit delusional as to his abilities, but despite all his infuriating ways, including reading her mind and ceaselessly trying to convince her that the knights she writes about were useless beings clad in metal, he works his way into her life by fixing what’s broken; from the stone wall outside her battle-beaten castle to the wall around her heart.

When Marcus discovers the treasure that prompted his transformation, he must make a choice. Give up his human heart and save the Drakkon race, or surrender his heart to love and remain a man forever.

Uncaged Review: There isn’t much about this book that I didn’t love. Humor, action, spice, romance – this one has a bit of everything. Sam is a historical romance writer who buys a run down castle in England to start fresh after a disastrous relationship. When a “man” falls from the sky and through the roof of her stables, her life will never be the same. Enter Marcus, a Drakkon that has been transformed back to a man from his true dragon form by a man with a stone that is capable of doing two transformations on a body. But learning about how humans live is going to be quite a daunting task for Marcus, and hilarity ensues.
I love how arrogant Marcus is without even knowing he is. After centuries of being a dragon, Marcus is learning the ways of being a human, and he’s not really liking it. Until he meets Sam. When he realizes that she is his life mate, then his eagerness to return to the Drakkon he was is not as appealing.

If you love romantic fantasy, this is a good choice. This reads a lot like a historical when revisiting Marcus’ past memories, and Sam is a woman who stands up to him well. I’m looking forward to moving on with the series. Reviewed by Cyrene

5 Stars

Uncaged Review – Thinly Veiled by Eliza Modiste

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

Thinly Veiled
Eliza Modiste
Contemporary Romance/Suspense

The past haunts her, the present beguiles her…and the future is ready to bring her full circle.


Claire Branson just moved across state lines into Salem, Virginia, and she wants her life to go right for once, please and thank you. Having freshly escaped from a criminal past and the ex-boyfriend associated with it, she needs routine. Monotony. A happiness that could feel…simple.

Luke Turner is simple – sexy, sarcastically sweet, and, above all, radiating innocence. He could be her simplicity, there’s no doubt about that. But with Claire’s past festering under the gauze of her quick runaway, could he keep his innocence?

And, more importantly, will they get out of everything alive?

Uncaged Review: This was a fun book, and even though I liked Luke and Claire and the friends to lover trope here, I was really more interested in the secondary characters, especially Liam. Claire needs to escape her past so she moves to Virginia with her friend Zoey. In the meantime, she gets a job at a bar where she meets Luke. Thinking he’s gay, she feels pretty safe hanging out with him. They all live in the same building, Luke, Liam, Zoey and Claire. But Claire’s past will come back to haunt her, so they devise a plan to fix it once and for all.

I would have rated this a bit higher, but when the main characters main pastime is getting drunk, it’s hard to relate to them as normally functioning human beings. There is a lot of humor, and one thing I liked was how they all become a family, it’s the family you choose, not the one you are born into that counts here.
Reviewed by Cyrene

4 Stars

Uncaged Review – A Dream of Shadows by Peter Eliott

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

A Dream of Shadows
Peter Eliott
Dark Dystopian Fantasy

Vazeer the Lash has spent his entire adulthood on the verge of peril while operating as a criminal in the violent metropolis of Hell’s Labyrinth. Vazeer, intelligent and poised, longs to leave the life of smuggling that betrays his cultured personality.

His chance comes when he is commissioned to overthrow The Raving Blade, one of the most notorious and cruel power brokers in Hell’s Labyrinth. Vazeer joins a rogue’s gallery of accomplished Shadow Bidders, each a master of distinct and nefarious skills. Among them are an ex-pirate, whose enormous size and skill with weapons make him a veritable one-man army, a brilliant actress who finds herself playing a key role in a criminal world where she doesn’t belong, and a calm, mysterious assassin who draws events ever forward towards a series of increasingly dire consequences.

Vazeer has 48 hours of mortal danger and sadistic enemies standing between him and freedom… but good and evil are not as straightforward as they seem.

Uncaged Review: In this dystopian world, the metropolis known as Hell’s Labyrinth is run by Underworld bosses. Shadow Bidders are the criminals that take on bids for a living. Each Shadow Bidder has their own distinct skills, ranging from actress to lockpicker to assassins. Vazeer the Lash is a master smuggler, a type of pirate in this desolate city. Deciding to take on one last “sketch” (job) that pays overly well should set him up to retire. Unfortunately, it’s the most dangerous he’s ever embarked on. Along with five other Shadow Bidders, they plan to take out The Raving Blade, the cruelest power broker in the city.

This book was a very slow start, although if you make it to the 50% mark, the book takes off. There are so many twists and turns in this book, one minute you will be believing one thing, and the next that idea is stripped from your mind. This book is written well, I just wish it would have taken off a bit faster. This is an intensely dark book, and once it gets moving, you won’t put it down for long. Reviewed by Cyrene

4 Stars

Uncaged Review – Courting Fire by Tamara Hughes

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

Courting Fire
Tamara Hughes
Historical Romance

A stubborn suffragist …
Boston suffragist, Mattie Duncan is a willful, independent woman whose heart has always belonged to Jack Taylor, a local firefighter. Challenging nineteenth-century conventions, she finds a way to join Jack’s fire station. Not only can she make a difference saving lives, she can spend time with Jack, who is tasked with training her.

The firefighter who resists her …
Jack has always been attracted to Mattie, but he doesn’t see a future with her. In Jack’s mind, she will always be tied to his late brother, who had loved her desperately. To make matters worse, Jack is also still racked with guilt over not being able to prevent his brother’s death.

And the murder mystery that will bring them together …
Mattie overhears a conversation suggesting his brother was murdered. As Jack and Mattie work together to uncover the truth, their passions ignite. But even if Jack’s guilt is absolved, can he overcome the sense of betrayal toward his brother that’s keeping them apart?

Uncaged Review: Set during the time of the suffrage protests and the Great Boston Fire, Mattie has always loved Jack. But Jack has always held her at arm’s length. When Mattie decides to join the fire department to be near Jack, he is assigned to train her – mostly to get her to give up the notion of being a firefighter. There were very few women that were firefighters, but Mattie’s decision to be a firefighter changed after she trained hard and was able to help save a young boy’s life. Jack lost his brother Sam in a fire, and he believed he would betray his brother’s memory by courting Mattie, whom his brother loved.

There are a lot of layers to this story, and a mystery, danger and coverups. Jack and Mattie begin investigating the death of Sam and discover a lot more than they ever could have known. Even though the background is the Suffrage movement and the Great Boston Fire, this is a book about Jack and Mattie and their families. The romance is slow building, and the characters are likable. A good read with a nice backdrop. Reviewed by Cyrene

4 Stars

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