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Uncaged Review – Fire Maidens: Paris by Anna Lowe

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

Fire Maidens: Paris
Anna Lowe
Paranormal Romance

Paris! City of dreams — or shifter nightmares?

Natalie Brewer has come to Paris to live out a dream, not a nightmare. Then a vampire attack exposes her to a whole new side to the City of Lights — and to her own heritage. Before she knows it, she’s swept into a world she never imagined, with gargoyles, werewolves, and dragons who claim she’s descended from a legendary shifter queen. Now her life is in danger, and it’s impossible to know who to trust, other than the mysterious stranger who risks his life for her again and again.

After a decade in the Foreign Legion, all dragon shifter Tristan Chevalier wants is to settle into a civilian life and a new job. His mission: to prove himself to the Guardians of Paris and to protect the city. But all that is threatened when an innocent woman stumbles into his life — and into his heart. Being appointed her bodyguard is a blessing and a curse, because Natalie is absolutely, positively off-limits despite the smoldering desire they both feel. Worse, every shifter in Paris has set their sights on her, from bloodthirsty vampires to power-hungry dragons and jealous rivals. For Tristan, it’s the test of a lifetime, and the outcome will affect the fortunes of an entire city.

Uncaged Review: This new series from Anna Lowe, takes place in the same world as the Aloha Shifters – but we are traveling to the City of Light in this book, and we are treated to the budding relationship of Tristan and Natalie. Natalie has come to Paris after a bad break-up – the city of her dreams. When she is rescued from a vampire attack by Tristan, who works as a guardian to the city from rogue vampires, she learns that a supernatural world really exists, and the dreams she’s had of Paris and dragons, may not just be dreams…

The world building is spot on, and the characters are well thought out. Humor, sexy and suspenseful with the right amount of action to keep this book a page-turner.

Beware, this is a book that will help you make a bad decision about the amount of sleep you will get as you won’t want to put it down until you finish. And I’m thrilled that Liam is getting his book next. Reviewed by Cyrene

5 Stars

Uncaged Review – Images by Lauri Broadbent

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

Images
Lauri Broadbent
Psychological Thriller/Suspense

When Professor Michael Peterson learns he has a terminal brain tumor and is faced with no other viable options, he promises complete confidentially to undergo an experimental and highly secretive operation in brain cell grafting.

While recuperating, he begins to have flashes of fragmented images that have no connection to his life. He soon realizes he is an unwilling participant in a murder plan initiated by his donor.

Drawn into a maze of deceit and danger, Michael must choose between keeping his word to the person who saved his life or making an attempt to save the life of a complete stranger.

Uncaged Review: For a debut novel, this author has done a great job. This story seems a bit disjointed when you begin as it’s told in different points of view, but the author brings it all together seamlessly. When Michael is diagnosed with a brain tumor that will likely kill him, he undergoes an experimental operation, receiving a brain cell graft, and the donor is planning a murder. When Michael starts getting flashes of what the man has planned, he’s conflicted about what to do.

The book keeps you turning the pages and the twist and turns that the book takes will keep the reader glued to the end. Nice job. Reviewed by Cyrene

4 Stars

Feature Author – Randy Overbeck

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

Uncaged: Can you tell us about your latest release, Blood on the Chesapeake?

After being dumped by his fiancé, Darrell Henshaw, a young teacher and coach, decides to find new pastures and lands a job on the Chesapeake Bay. He cannot believe his good fortune as Wilshire, a quiet, scenic and charming resort town on the Eastern Shore offers him his dream job—teaching high school history and coaching football and basketball—and a second chance at love. Except no one told him that a student was murdered at the school and that the kid’s ghost haunts the hallways. You see, Darrell sees ghosts, though he’s not happy about it. His first encounter with the spirit world did not go well and he has the OCD scars to prove it. But, after he’s hounded by the terrifying ghost, he decides to look into the murder, aided by his new love, Erin Caveny. Together, they follow a trail that leads back to the civil rights movement, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and even the Klu Klux Klan. Then, after two locals who try to help are murdered and Erin’s life is threatened, Darrell is forced to decide if he’s willing to risk his life—and the life of the woman he loves—to expose the killers of a young man he never knew.

Uncaged: You participate in a lot of in person events, and the latest one, the Things that go Bump in the Night presentation, can you tell us what is involved with these events?

I’ve already shared my program, “Things That Go Bump in the Night” with more than twenty clubs, organizations, chapters and book clubs across the Midwest and the East—with twenty more booked in the next several months. In the 20-25 minute presentation, I discuss some of the research about ghosts and the spirit world I did for Blood on the Chesapeake, including intriguing reports on real ghosts, some common beliefs and misconceptions about “the spirit world” and even some controversial photos and a video of actual ghost hauntings. Usually, I extend an offer or the club has heard about the program and reaches out. and it serves as a nice introduction for my new novel. Audiences have responded extremely well, already inviting me to return next year when the second book in the series launches. Groups who are interested in reserving a date for this popular program should email me at [email protected] or submit a request through my author website www.authorrandyoverbeck.com/upcomingevents.

To read more of this interview, please see the October 2019 issue of Uncaged Book Reviews below.

Dr. Randy Overbeck is a veteran educator who has served children for more than three decades as a teacher and school leader, winning national recognition for his work. Over that time, he has performed many of the roles depicted in his fiction, with responsibilities ranging from coach and yearbook advisor to principal and superintendent. An accomplished writer, he has been published in academia, the popular press and, more recently, in better bookstores. His first novel, Leave No Child Behind, won the 2011 Silver Award for Thriller of the Year from ReadersFavorite.com. His second novel, Blood on the Chesapeake, a ghost story/mystery released this year by the Wild Rose Press, has earned 5 STAR REVIEWS from RaeadersFavorite.com, Long and Short Reviews and Literary Titan. It also garnered a national Award, the GOLD AWARD from Literary Titan. Blood is the first in a new series called the “Haunted Shores Mysteries.” Dr. Overbeck is a member of the Mystery Writers of America and an active member of the literary community. Dr. Overbeck has also been a much soughtafter speaker, with speaking experiences ranging from a keynote speaker at a national conference to sharing engaging programs with more than 150 clubs and organizations across the country. He’s currently sharing his newest presentation, “Things That Go Bump in the Night” with clubs and organizations across the Midwest. authorrandyoverbeck.com

Blood on the Chesapeake
Randy Overbeck
Paranormal Suspense

Wilshire, Maryland seems like the perfect shore town on the Chesapeake Bay—quiet, scenic, charming—and promises Darrell Henshaw a new start in life and a second chance at love. That is, until he learns the town hides an ugly secret. A thirty-year-old murder in the high school. And a frightening ghost stalking his new office. Burned by an earlier encounter with the spirit world—with the OCD scars to prove it—he does NOT want to get involved. But when the desperate ghost hounds him, Darrell concedes. Assisted by his new love, he follows a trail that leads to the civil rights movement, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and even the Klu Klux Klan. Then, when two locals who try to help are murdered, Darrell is forced to decide if he’s willing to risk his life—and the life of the woman he loves—to expose the killers of a young man he never knew.

Blood on the Chesapeake is a cold case murder mystery wrapped in a ghost story served with a side of romance, all set in one of the most beautiful locations in the U.S.

Excerpt

Who was this ghost? Why was he appearing to him? What was Darrell supposed to do? He was relieved he wasn’t going crazy. Their research in Annapolis had confirmed what Darrell had seen, but raised as many questions as they answered. The next day, Monday, his students had been so demanding, he hadn’t had much time to ponder his situation. Now that classes were finished and football practice over, the questions nagged at him again and wouldn’t let up.

Preoccupied, he headed down the hall and didn’t notice the noise at first.

Ther-rupp. Ther-rupp. Squeech. Ther-rupp

It seemed to be coming from down the hallway and he headed that way. Darrell thought he was alone in the old building, almost. He could hear Jesse, up somewhere on the second floor, his tenor voice crooning some oldie and his footsteps echoing through the stairwell. At least, he hoped it was Jesse. He peered up the empty stairs. “Jesse? You up there?” he hollered. No answer. Darrell figured the custodian was busy, his earphones on, and couldn’t hear him or the noise. Probably.

But this clatter was coming from down the hall, on this floor.

Ther-rupp. Ther-rupp. Squeech. Ther-rupp

It was well past seven and, with the sun dipping low, the central corridor ahead of him was draped in shadow and bathed in the musty smells of pencil lead and discarded paper. He had sent the last of his players home thirty minutes ago and, though exhausted, had taken time to shower and dress. We only needed to stop by his classroom to pick up his manual and, when he stepped through the outside door, he heard it.

Ther-rupp. Ther-rupp. Squeech. Ther-rupp.

Darrell’s paranoia erupted, amplified by the accounts of ghost appearances they discovered the day before. As he made his way down the hallway, the noise grew louder. He arrived at his classroom, halfway down the stretch, and confirmed the sound wasn’t emanating from there, at least. It was coming from farther down the hall. He blew out a breath.

Ther-rupp. Ther-rupp. Squeech. Ther-rupp.

He remembered why he’d come. He unlocked and opened his classroom door. He scooped up the American Government manual off his desk, then headed back out the door. Back in the hall, as he turned the key in the old lock, he felt it. A rush of cold air flooded him. He shivered. He swiveled his head, his gaze sweeping up and down the corridor, searching the shadows for…what?

Someone was watching him.

To read the rest of the excerpt, see the Uncaged Book Reviews issue below.

Feature Author – Kerry Blaisdell

By
Cyrene Olson
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Uncaged: Can you tell readers more about The Dead Series? What inspired you to write this story?

This series is one of those things where an author gets an idea for a series that seems pretty good, and then upon execution, it morphs into something wildly different. In this case, the idea was about a woman who winds up working as the gatekeeper to the Angel of Death (check!), and each book would be a different “adventure,” tracking down his lost artifacts (not check!). Well, sort of. As I started writing, the characters and plot just sort of took over, and a whole mess of stuff I wasn’t expecting evolved into book one, which changed book two’s plan, etc. But it’s all way better than my original idea, so it’s all good. LOL!

Uncaged: How many books are you planning for the series, or is it open-ended?

The first idea mentioned above was supposed to be an open-ended series. After I actually wrote book one, I re-envisioned it as a three-book series, which quickly became four when I started writing the second book. Now, who knows? I have a four-book arc planned (and the last two books are already contracted with my publisher), but I’ve noticed that what I think will happen with this series rarely does, so like my readers, I’m just going to have to wait and see what happens. 🙂

Read the rest of this interview in the October issue of Uncaged Book Reviews – Link below.

Kerry Blaisdell is the awardwinning author of The Dead Series, including DEBRIEFING THE DEAD—2019 HOLT Medallion Literary Contest double winner for Best Paranormal & Best First Book, Romance Writers of America RITA® Award finalist, and Royal Palm Literary Award finalist— and its sequel, WAKING THE DEAD, which InD’tale Magazine recommends for “fans of television shows like ‘Constantine’ or ‘Supernatural.’” She also writes Romantic Suspense and Historical Mystery. She has a Bachelor of Arts from UC Berkeley in Comparative Literature (French/ Medieval English), and a Master’s in Teaching English and Advanced Mathematics from the University of Portland. Kerry lives in the gorgeous Pacific Northwest with her husband, two (mostly) adult “kids,” assorted cats and dogs, and more hot pepper plants than anyone could reasonably consume. kerryblaisdell.com

Waking the Dead
Kerry Blaisdell
Paranormal Romance

Hyacinth always assumed dying would simplify her life. But when her new boss, Archangel Michael, sends her on her first official mission—to retrieve a powerful rock from a collector in Germany—things go downhill fast. For one thing, the Dead keep popping up, expecting her to guide them to the Afterlife. For another, her part-demon nephew Geordi’s powers are starting to leak out, at age seven. What if Michael finds out about him? Worse, what if Satan does?

Then there’s her love life-after-death. Rooming with a dead French cop no one else can see is complicated enough. But when Jason, Geordi’s lying Dioguardi Demon cousin, resurrects himself—so to speak—all Hell breaks loose. Literally. Can Hyacinth get Michael’s rock back before Satan steals its powers and breaks free of his prison? Or will her single-minded pursuit put those she loves—and the rest of the world— in the path of Satan’s fury?

Excerpt

“The only truly dead are those who have been forgotten.” ~Jewish saying

I’m pretty sure my landlady’s alive, but you never know. At least, I don’t. My name’s Hyacinth Finch, and a couple of months ago, I died and was brought back to life— sort of—by Saint Michael the Archangel, who’s now my boss. Also sort of. It’s complicated. Basically, if you met me on the street, you’d think I was one hundred percent alive, no strings attached. But if I met you? Thanks to the “side effects” of rebirth, I wouldn’t know if you were alive, dead, or somewhere in-between, unless you told me.

Then there’s this whole thing where my former neighbor, Jason Jones, turned out to be related to my nephew, Geordi Dioguardi, and they both might have demon blood in them.

Well, Jason does for sure; it’s Geordi we won’t know about until puberty. And he doesn’t know I’m the Walking Undead, or that he’s being babysat by a dead cop he can’t see, named Eric Guilliot. See? Complicated.

Anyway, since my landlady wanted money—cold hard cash she could spend at the market—it’s a safe bet she’s a breather. She blocked the stairwell leading up to the Zürich flat I share with Geordi and Eric, looking like a six-foot tall, Swiss-German metal door in her gray sweater, matching slacks, and sensible black shoes. Her hair was gray too, but her eyes were a watery blue. Not a hint of black, thank God, so at least she wasn’t a demon. Probably.

I suppressed a shiver and shifted the heavy paper grocery bag in my arms, putting on my best Trustworthy Tenant smile. “Frau Blauch. So lovely to see you today.”

Her frown deepened, and she pointed a finger at my nose. “Rent. You pay now.”

She’d appeared from her basement apartment just in time to prevent me from getting under cover of the small overhang above the stoop. The chill late-October drizzle that had fretted all day wasn’t much more than a mist now, but it was enough to dampen my bangs and drip cool rivulets into my eyes. I blinked them away, wishing again that Jason hadn’t ditched us. For one thing, he’s even taller than Frau Blauch. For another, he can charm the pants off just about anyone. Me included.

I suppressed a shiver of a different sort and said to Frau Blauch, “I’m happy to pay you. But you said I could have an extra week to sort out my finances.” “Ja,” she said agreeably. “Rent. Due now.”

The bag started to slip, the weight of peanut butter, milk, and fresh veggies pulling on my aching arms as I hiked it back up. The thing is, she was right. The rent was past due, and deal or not, I don’t renege on my responsibilities. I bend the truth now and then, and my past is shadier than you might expect—okay, I’m a former graverobber and sometime dealer in goods of, er, questionable origin—but I’m an honest thief. Think George-Clooney-charming, not He-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named-evil.

To make matters worse, Michael was due to pop in any day now, demanding I start my new job. He’s a busy guy, leading all those souls to their Final Destination, while also fighting off Satan’s minions. Since, like the kid in the movie, I see dead people, we struck a deal. If I “pre-sort” some of the Dead for him, I get time to find a good foster family for Geordi. But once he’s settled, I’m off to whichever

After Life is reserved for semi-reformed grave-robbing liars.

To read the rest of this excerpt, please see the issue below.

Uncaged Review – Dragon Blood by Linsey Hall

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

Dragon Blood
Linsey Hall
Urban Fantasy

A Race Against Time

There’s no rest for the wicked. Or for demon slayers. I’m both, so things have been busy. The sort of busy where I spend all my time trying not to get killed or discovered for what I really am—a Dragon Blood with the deadly power to create new magic.

When a mysterious bomb goes off in my town and my closest friends are turned to stone, it becomes a race against the clock to stop the demon who is still at large. Every six hours, another bomb takes out more people.

My only chance at catching the demon and reversing the spell is to team up with the too-sexy bounty hunter, Declan O’Shea. It’s nearly impossible to resist him, but I must. We’re natural born enemies, and if he discovers what I am, life as I know it would be over.

Uncaged Review: The second book in this series is even faster paced than the first. Since the author got us through the world building and the characters, it is full steam ahead in book two. And it’s quite a ride, feeling like you hitting the top of the roller coaster before you are plunged downward. This time they need to stop a powerful demon that is almost impossible to take down, and Aeri will take almost fatal chances to save her town and her friends. Her trust in Declan is improving and so is their relationship – that is until the end where the author slams the brakes and brings everything to a grinding halt, conveniently creating tension with the love interest that will only take this series over the top.


Other than that, the ride was a good one, and the author does a great job of pulling a reader in, although if you have read Hall’s work before, she follows a similar formula in most of her books. But I love the originality of this world she’s built, and the characters, especially the strong women, and will finish off this series of four books with my hands in the air and screaming as I ride this coaster to the end. Reviewed by Cyrene

5 Stars

Uncaged Review – Raider of Her Heart by N. Jade Gray

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

Raider of Her Heart
N. Jade Gray
Time Travel Historical

Cavalry scout Judson Stone needs to warn Lawrence, Kansas, of the impending threat of Quantrill and his raiders. Shot and left for dead, he awakes in a strange new time and place. Guilt riddles him over his failed mission as the days pass and he struggles to find a way back to his own time –and overcome growing feelings for a woman who doesn’t trust him.

Sadie Winters has her hands full juggling a full-time job, a start-up business, and the chore of keeping tabs on her mischievous grandfather. She doesn’t need the further complication of caring for the stranger Gramps brought home. Little by little, the mystery surrounding Judson is revealed, and she throws herself into helping him find his way back to his own time. But how can she send him back, knowing she’s fallen in love?

Uncaged Review: Judson Stone is a cavalry scout down to his bones. His current orders are to ride to Lawrence, Kansas to warn the mayor of impending arrival of Quantrill and his raiders. Quantrill’s scouts find him first, shoot him and leave him for dead. Next thing he knows, he’s in a completely new—and strange—time and place. And at the mercy of a lovely woman named Sadie.
Sadie Winters is busy. She works full time, runs a farm with mini horses she’s training for therapy work, and keeps an eye on Walt, her trouble-finding but loveable grandpa. Now she has a mysterious man, who Gramps volunteered to watch over, staying on at the farm. Something tells her not to trust Judson Stone.
Fans of Kansas history will certainly enjoy the realistic historical elements. What Judson deems as a failed mission provides a strong historical backdrop. Gramps is certainly colorful, if not downright delightful. The slow burn romance between Sadie and Judson is nice. The instant way Gramps accepted Judson’s story and took him under his wing is trite. There are several stock, or easy, avenues that could have been better developed and not so easily swept away. They could have better added to the plotline. However, once the romance is solidified and Judson’s time-traveling mystery is revealed, the story takes a new, refreshing turn. It all leads to a satisfying ending. Reviewed by Ryan Jo

4 Stars

Uncaged Book Reviews – November 2019

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

Uncaged Review – Ravenwood Academy: Wolf Moon by Lena Mae Hill

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

Ravenwood Academy: Wolf Moon
Lena Mae Hill
YA/Shifter

All Timberlyn wants is to get out of her small town, where she’s branded a freak just because she happens to wear all black and draw gruesome monsters in her notebooks.

When a letter arrives saying she’s been accepted to the mysterious Ravenwood Academy for the Exceptionally Gifted, she jumps at the chance. Never mind that she’s not sure what she’s supposedly gifted at, or the fact that she doesn’t remember actually applying there.

When she arrives, the school seems like a dream full of beautiful people ready to befriend her. There’s only one problem with Ravenwood: it’s run by Alarick Wolf and his brothers, three surly, thuggish, insanely gorgeous guys. Timberlyn’s new friends give strict instructions to stay far away from them.

Unfortunately, she’s not good at taking orders.

When girls at the school begin disappearing, Timberlyn refuses to maintain the status quo. She’s sure Alarick and the Wolf boys are up to something, and if she has to, she’ll take them down herself.

That is, if they don’t take her down first.

Uncaged Review: Timberlyn gets a mysterious acceptance into a school for gifted people. Being an outcast and never fitting in, she jumps at the chance, giving her a great way to start over in a new school and spend time with her grandmother who lives close. This book lays the groundwork, and does the world building, so it’s a tad slow at times as you start out, but the book definitely picks up speed. When girls start disappearing, Timberlyn can’t stop herself from trying to find out why.

I really grew to like these characters – and the book had a few surprises of its own that you get toward the end of the book, even though I think I left off with more questions, a few things were answered at the end. I may have rated this higher but for the horrible cliff hanger – and it’s a doozy. But will I read the next one? Yep, call me masochistic. Reviewed by Cyrene

4 Stars

Feature Author – Kacey Mark

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

Uncaged welcomes Kacey Mark

Uncaged: Can you tell us more about your book, Prom Night in Purgatory?

It’s a ghost story of a different kind, based on a historical amusement park, long lost to the elements. The Grand Saltair was the Coney Island of the West—but what if it didn’t go to its watery grave so easily? What if it’s still down there, luring new victims into its depths every night?

Uncaged: What are you working on now that you can tell us about?

I’m nearly finished with a paranormal romance set in the Himalayas. Witch doctors can be such fickle creatures…

Uncaged: Past or present, which authors would you love to sit and have lunch with and why?

Gena Showalter for sure. Her world building skills leave me spellbound!

To read more from this interview – see the October issue of Uncaged Book Reviews below.

Kacey Mark was born, raised, and currently resides along the Wasatch Front of northern Utah. She’s been a paranormal story weaver since her early teen years and continues her drive to explore all things spiritual and exciting.

She loves tactile writing, big voices, and surprising plot twists. Winner of the Utah Golden Pen for her Dark Muse series. She is a former member of the Utah chapter RWA. Her work is published through The Wild Rose Press.

Prom Night in Purgatory
Kacey Mark
Paranormal/Ghost

As a conduit to the afterlife, Baila Grey holds the record for most risks taken in a lifetime. And with her inability to land a single live boyfriend, she’s ready to shoot that record sky high. Conjuring the ghost of Asher Landin, might be the best option for a finale.

Asher lives for his job—not that you could really call it living, he’s dead.

As a Collector, his gateway to the ever-changing world above only swings one way, and the morsels of life he gathers, his defense against insanity. Until he meets Baila and finds a new meaning to sanity. Asher needs to prove his ability to control not only the realm of purgatory, but his increasing urge to chase Baila around like a lunatic.

Asher and Baila can’t deny the feelings they have for each other but can the living and the dead find a happy ever after together?

To read an excerpt from Prom Night in Purgatory, please see the issue below.

Uncaged Review – Gabriel’s Redemption by Joel Crofoot

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

Gabriel’s Redemption
Joel Crofoot
Fantasy Romance

Gabriel has buried himself in work to prevent the demons from ever winning another battle, but when his brother invites Anachel to their home, avoidance of his memories and emotions is no longer an option.

Anachel has waited for Gabriel to come back to her since he suffered a great loss during WWII, but she can wait no longer. Is he ready for a reunion, or will she lose him forever?

The demons are still on the hunt for the first angel/demon hybrid, but what happens when they find it?

Uncaged Review: As the sixth book in a series, where I hadn’t read the first five; the author does a great job making sure the reader can pick up this book and not be lost. It may have enhanced my reading of this book to have the back story on the other five, but I don’t think it would have changed my views, I never felt lost.

Gabriel seems to be one of the most broken of the Angels, and carrying the most guilt. The one thing that the author does that is a stretch for me, even in a fantasy, is make the WWII bombing be the fault of demons instead of humans. That said, Gabriel feels the burden of guilt because he couldn’t stop it in time because he rescued another Angel, his love, Anachel. Him getting past the guilt and starting to believe in himself is the basis of this story.

This story has plenty of action, a small helping of romance and great characters with a shot of suspense. Probably would be worth it to start at book one in the series. Reviewed by Cyrene

4 Stars

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