Thursday, April 25, 2024
Home Blog Page 56

Uncaged Review – Tombyards & Butterflies by Orlando A. Sanchez

By
Cyrene Olson
-
0

Tombyards & Butterflies
Orlando A. Sanchez
Urban Fantasy

A Missing Ferryman. An Undead Dilemma. An Immortal Detective.

An emissary from the Dark Council has just materialized in the office of the Montague & Strong Detective Agency, and makes Simon Strong an offer he can’t refuse. Charon is missing. The legendary ferryman responsible for transporting sorcerer souls across the river Styx hasn’t been seen in days. And with each passing hour, those unable to cross the river are left to walk among the living, tilting the world further out of balance.

Meet Simon Strong, an immortal, who is also the best private detective in New York City. Together with his surly partner-Tristan Montague, a mage of indeterminate age, they must find the Ferryman and get him back to work before another Supernatural War ravages the earth, destroys humanity, and Simon’s local coffee shop.

Time is running out. His landlord wants the rent and Karma with a capital K is paying him a visit, and she can be a real…

Join the Montague & Strong Detective Agency and help them locate Charon, so he can restore balance to the universe, put the dead sorcerers to rest, and maybe solve the age old conundrum-coffee or tea?

Uncaged Review: A voice in the urban fantasy genre that I am so happy to read. This book will shoot you out of the gate at full throttle and it’s a fun ride. Simon Strong is an immortal detective and his partner, Tristan Montague is a high level mage. With a mix of Norse and Greek mythology, this book never lets up and when you hit the 50% mark, be prepared to read until the end.

Strong action sequences, smart writing and a lot of humor make this a must read for urban fantasy lovers. How can you resist a vampire allergic to blood, or a Hellhound called Peaches? Even though Simon is immortal (cursed into it) – he definitely tries to avoid testing his immortality but with his mouth getting him into trouble and him running headlong into trouble, that is almost unavoidable.

This is a fun, well written urban fantasy, and I can’t wait to learn more about the characters in the books to come. Reviewed by Cyrene

5 Stars

Uncaged Review – The Haunting of Dylan Klaypool by James Alan Ross

By
Cyrene Olson
-
0

The Haunting of Dylan Klaypool
James Alan Ross
Horror

To hear the truth, she must listen to the silence.

Dylan Klaypool’s dark history has her searching for answers that can only be found down a single path: paranormal investigation. Battling demons from her past, the high school junior’s obsession with proving the existence of ghosts has become the only consistent aspect of her troubled life. Now living with her estranged grandmother in a new town and attending a new school, Dylan’s focus has not wavered. And the boarded up, abandoned house she discovered on Cemetery Road might hold the key that can unlock the secrets that have long haunted her. 

Uncaged Review: A new adult book with elements of paranormal activity. I really enjoyed reading about Dylan and her activity into the paranormal world. Even with this only being the first book in this adventure. I am already a fan of the kooky Dylan. I also liked the side story in this book. Really hoping there’s more to come in this series. Highly recommended by me. Reviewed by Jennifer

4 Stars

Uncaged Review – Destroying Dominic by Ginger Ring

By
Cyrene Olson
-
0

Destroying Dominic
Ginger Ring
Contemporary Mafia Romance

Dominic

I don’t dance.

I don’t date.

I don’t fall in love.

But there’s one woman who does intrigue me—Stephanie Barclay, the best friend of my boss’s wife. The same boss who wants Stephanie dead.

What’s the use? I make people disappear for the mob. What self-respecting woman would want to spend her life with a cleaner? That ship sailed a long time ago. Besides, relationships make you weak. But what if she is already a target? 

Stephanie

I plan weddings.

I make people’s dreams come true. 

I write stories about the love of a lifetime, but where’s my happily-ever-after and white dress?

My past is a nightmare, a death sentence for anyone who discovers it. No one would be able to see beyond my background—except Dominic Scarlatti, the man who just a couple months ago killed and buried a monster for me. 

He may be a nightmare to others, but I’m determined to make him my hero. Even if it kills me.

Uncaged Review: I’ve read the other books in this series, and I was thrilled to learn that Dominic was going to get his story this time out. The mystery and background on what/who made Dominic, the cleaner for the mob, who he is, is all revealed. And we learn about Stephanie – a lady hiding from her past, and working for, and best friend to Madison. All out favorites are back, especially Roman and Madison.

I only have two minor complaints on this. There was a lot of Dom and Stephanie dancing around each other – I think that was a bit overdone, I felt like locking the two of them in a small room and leaving them there so they had to actually talk to each other instead of over thinking everything. Secondly, although I liked the outcome, the ending was a little too pristine for a mafia group.

Even if you’ve never tried a mafia romance, this author is well worth a look. With a strong supporting cast and even a new player to the scene, Jasper (are we going to get more on him please?)– this series will draw you in and you will be completely engaged. Romance, danger and mystery are all strung together nicely in this story. And it was nice to see that Roman has not gone soft and Madison can still keep him in line. Reviewed by Cyrene

4 1/2 Stars

Uncaged Review – Seductive Surrender by Collette Cameron

By
Cyrene Olson
-
0

Seductive Surrender
Collette Cameron
Historical Highlands

Dalliances, flirtations, liaisons? Aye. But marriage? Nae. Spies dinna wed. 

Betrothed four times.
Gwendolyn McClintock has resolutely slammed the door on romance and marriage.Intent on beginning a new life, she sells her beloved familial home in America and totes her orphaned niece and nephew to Scotland’s Highlands. But the grand adventure she promised becomes a tangled muddle when her coach accidentally runs down a powerful laird’s much-too-attractive, far-too-brawny brother.

A covert agent.
A confirmed, carefree rogue, Dugall Ferguson comes perilously close to being trampled beneath horses’ hooves. And the remorseful, deliciously tempting woman responsible for nearly killing him isn’t even aware of the peril awaiting her at her new home. Gwendolyn desperately needs protection, and though he’s on the cusp of realizing his life-long dream, Dugall rashly offers to aid the fiery lass. 

Their futures collide.
Forced together in order to oust a would-be killer, irresistible passion erupts between Gwendolyn and Dugall. Dare she trust her traitorous heart one last time, especially to a known rake? How can he choose between his love for Gwendolyn and his desire to be a spy? 

Uncaged Review: As with all of Ms. Cameron’s books in this series, you can easily read this as a standalone, although there are some reoccurring characters showing up from earlier books, and you definitely won’t be disappointed in this series.
This time out, Gwendolyn moves her family to Scotland after finding out her young nephew is the heir to a Lairdship. With yet a fourth broken engagement, Gwendolyn is happy to get out of America and away from the humiliation. Being the guardian of both her nephew and niece, she sells their plantation in America and sets out to her new destination in Scotland.
Dugall is an honorable hero, and Gwendolyn is a strong and feisty woman who is a good match. And it was great to see Ewan and Yvette McTavish again. I’m a huge fan of catching up with past characters as much as I am for meeting new heroes.
This book has a couple good twists that I didn’t see coming, and even though I expected one thing, Ms. Cameron threw me a curve ball and it was fun and unexpected. This author never fails to entertain me, and I always look forward to reading her books. This is a great series, not to be missed. Reviewed by Cyrene

4 1/2 Stars

Enter Anna Markland’s A Very Merry Medieval Booksmas Contest

By
Cyrene Olson
-
0

Still a couple days to get in on this great giveaway!

Winner will receive:
Prize: A Kindle Paperwhite and 3 Holiday Box Set ebooks!

ENTER HERE

Good luck!!

Uncaged Review – A Charlie Browne Christmas by Laurie Baxter

By
Cyrene Olson
-
0

A Charlie Browne Christmas
Laurie Baxter
Contemporary Romance/Holiday

Ming loves Christmas and the movies and today she’s treating herself to a little of both. Too bad the blockhead who broke her heart in high school just showed up. SHORT STORY.

Uncaged Review: This is a cute and humorous short story – and I won’t get into any specifics, but it is actually a perfect length that doesn’t rush the story, nor does it drag out. There is some cute plays on the title within the book, and for a nice short interlude, it’s worth the fun and proves that sometimes we carry the past into our futures for all the wrong reasons. Reviewed by Cyrene

4 Stars

Uncaged Review – Holiday Heart by T.M. Cromer

By
Cyrene Olson
-
0

Holiday Heart
T.M. Cromer
Contemporary Romance/Holiday

Fiona “Fee” McIntyre gets more than she bargained for when she moves to the small town of Stonebrooke to open her bookstore. With a world-famous author as her new smoking-hot landlord, an ex-boyfriend who wishes to rekindle their love, and a stalker out to ruin her every relationship, her life is in upheaval.

Dylan McAdams is a recluse by nature. All he wants is to write his stories and avoid the world in general—and maybe seduce his sexy new tenant. But when the feisty Fee seeks to draw him into the drama enfolding her life, Dylan can’t seem to turn away.

Now Fee and Dylan face a new threat from an unexpected source. Can their love survive the onslaught, or will they fall victim to the danger threatening to destroy them?

Holiday Heart is book three in the Stonebrooke Holidays Novella Set.

Uncaged Review: A nice relaxing read, easy to read in one sitting. It’s not an overly holiday stuffed romance, but it does give the reader a nice plot, with a bit of danger and mystery. Fee and her brother Killian move to a small town to open a bookstore with an inheritance she got from her late grandfather, and when she finds out her landlord is the famous author Dylan McAdams the fun truly begins.

This author keeps you smiling and outright laughing at times and the story is set on a nice pace. Even though it’s a shorter novella length, nothing felt hurried or left out. There was enough mystery to keep me turning the pages, and the romance between Dylan and Fee is spot on. A nice holiday romance that hits a nice spot this season.
Reviewed by Cyrene

4 1/2 Stars

Uncaged Review – A Must for Christmas by Deborah Garland

By
Cyrene Olson
-
0

A Must for Christmas
Deborah Garland
Contemporary Romance/Holiday

It was supposed to be perfect…

Faith Mallory finally has it all. She married her childhood sweetheart, the only man she ever loved and in a month she and Greg will be blessed with two sons to carry on the Mallory family name. Life was supposed to be perfect. Except, it isn’t. Faith is keeping secrets, some that will threaten their happy-ever-after.

Greg envisioned a married lifestyle for his family that includes Faith giving up her career and all she’s worked hard to achieve. Her long, stressful hours makes Greg fear she’s put her health as well as his sons’ wellbeing at risk. With tensions running high, the strain on Faith cause early labor and complications. 

Fear holds Greg in its grip as he waits for word from the doctors. Now everything is at risk. A potential medical disaster and revealed secrets will jeopardize his and Faith’s relationship. 

They will need a Christmas miracle for their little family to survive the holiday season.

Uncaged Review: A couple days before Christmas Eve, Faith goes into early labor. With complications of having twins, they rush her into the hospital and surgery. With added complications, Greg is surrounded by family as Faith battles for her life, as does one of the twin boys.

This is a gem of a book – and even though it’s novella length, it packs the right amount of emotion, background and good feeling for this moment in their lives. Even though this novella is part of the Darling Cove series, I had no issues being able to read this as a standalone. The author does an outstanding job in keeping a new reader up to date.

Nice read to snuggle up with on cold day this holiday season. Reviewed by Cyrene

4 1/2 Stars

Uncaged Review – A Regency Yuletide by Becky Lower

By
Cyrene Olson
-
0

A Regency Yuletide
Becky Lower
Historical Regency/Holiday

After a disappointing season in London, Sophie Davenport returns home without a marriage proposal. No sooner does she settle back into her country life than she learns her uncle has arranged for her to marry the local vicar’s son, a respectable and utterly forgettable man. He’s returning home immediately after the Christmas holiday and they will wed. She sets about making this last Christmas with just she and her mother memorable. 

Jeremy Wyatt hatches a plan to help his friend Thomas and his love, Emma, escape to Gretna Green and marry before her father comes after them. What he’s really doing is avoiding heading to his parents’ home, where he is the son who is always making the wrong choices. But their carriage becomes hopelessly mired in the mud from the incessant rains so Jeremy sets off to find shelter for them at the first house he comes to. 

Sophie welcomes the wet and weary travelers, and her mother agrees to house them temporarily until they can free the carriage. Sophie forms a bond not only with Emma, but with Jeremy. However despite the sparks they ignite in each other, they have to maintain their separate paths. 

But love and mistletoe have a way of upsetting even the best-laid plans. 

Uncaged Review: A very charming regency with enough of a story to pull me right in and read from start to finish in one setting. Even though it’s novella length, it’s still a very nice addition to anyone’s holiday reading fare. Even though Jeremy is footloose and free, he hatches a plan to get his best friend Thomas and his lady, Emma spirited off to get married, as Emma’s father is trying to marry her off to an undesirable older man. After their carriage gets stuck in heavy ruts from rains, they find shelter in a cottage with a lady and her daughter Sophie. Jeremy is struck by the simple beauty and intelligence of Sophie, and with a meddling mother afoot, they get more alone time than is really proper.

The author did a wonderful job, drawing you into the story with enough description to set you inside the parlor, instead of looking through a window. The romance is quick, but it works. This is a nice feel good story perfect for the season and historical romance lovers. Reviewed by Cyrene

4 Stars

Uncaged Review – Blending In by R.J. Blain

By
Cyrene Olson
-
0

Blending In
R.J. Blain
Urban Fantasy/Holiday

Thanks to a jealous divine, whenever Chase Butler comes anywhere near Miriah, she turns into a chameleon. While her hopes of having a happily ever with Mr. Right are dashed, she’s determined to have the next best thing: a perfect Christmas.

Finding a puppy for her son, dodging the unwanted attention of her divine fling of an ex, and keeping on top of a holiday charity drive for local pet shelters sure is complicated when prone to transforming into a twelve-inch lizard with a severe allergy to snowbanks.

Since blending in has gotten her nowhere fast, she’s going to have to pull out all the stops to get what she wants, even if it lands her on Santa’s naughty list.

Warning: This holiday story contains excessive humor, action, excitement, adventure, magic, romance, and bodies. Proceed with caution.

Uncaged Review: This is such a fun book, and the originality is off the charts. I found myself laughing out loud at the banter between characters and even the thoughts of Miriah. Miriah is set on two things, keeping her job and having a perfect Christmas for her son, Caleb. When her boss loans her out to Chase Butler to help unravel a money skimming operation against Chase’s company, Miriah is 1) resigned to being a chameleon for the duration because of her attraction to Chase, and 2) is then targeted by someone wanting to get rid of her.

This can easily be read as a standalone, but you are definitely going to want to go back and read the rest of this series. This book has just about everything you could want in a holiday read. Suspense, romance (the clean kind), danger, fantastic secondary characters and a whole lot of humor. Just wait until Christmas Eve and Midnight Mass with Miriah’s parents. Pass the chicken. Reviewed by Cyrene

5 Stars

1...555657...116Page 56 of 116

© 2016 - 2024 Uncaged Book Reviews, All Rights Reserved