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Uncaged Review – A Fallacious Seduction by Virginia Barlow

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

A Fallacious Seduction
Virginia Barlow
Western Historical

A sassy heroine and an alpha lawman clash in an epic tale of mistaken identity by the author of The Wicked Sister!
When the train US Marshal Reese Calhan is riding on explodes, he is one of two survivors. Trouble is, the other survivor is the woman who betrayed him years ago. A woman he thought was dead. This time he will not fall prey to her wiles. He’ll see the vixen jailed for her crimes if it kills him.
Recovering from a recent jilting and now a train explosion, Shanna Johnston has no idea why the handsome stranger insists he knows her and calls her by another woman’s name. His heated looks and knowing kisses spark a fire in her she cannot ignore–even as her own mysterious past is closing in.
Will the two put their differences aside long enough to fall in love?

Uncaged Review: One of the best western historical books I’ve read in a while, and I realize I’m late to the party, but this is a good western with suspense, danger and spicy romance. This book starts out with a literal bang, when a train explodes from a bomb. Only 2 survivors, Reese and Shanna, who Reese swears is a woman named Jenna that betrayed him years ago, and he is not letting her get away this time. Meanwhile, Shanna has no idea who Reese is, or anything he’s talking about.

I guessed a couple different ways this could go, and it was a good read getting through all the pitfalls these two will go through. Shanna is a strong, smart woman with a heart of gold, and while this confuses Reese, he can’t help how he feels about her, but convinces himself it’s all an act.

Great story, good characters, a good ending and I always like when we have an epilogue. If you like western romances, you can’t go wrong with this one. Reviewed by Cyrene

5 Stars

Uncaged Review – Forever Her Duke by Scarlett Scott

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

Forever Her Duke
Scarlett Scott
Historical Regency

Vivi, the Duchess of Bradford, loved her husband from the day they first met. She was an unabashed hoyden. He was the heir to a dukedom and her older brother’s best friend. She vowed to marry him, but she never could have imagined just how dreadfully that youthful promise would go awry, shattering her hope for a future.

Having spent the past year in England while the duke has been abroad, she has thrown herself into a cause that won’t lead to more sorrow. She’s content with her growing circle of friends in the Lady’s Suffrage Society and is doing her utmost to banish the Duke of Bradford from her heart and mind for good.

Until she discovers she has an unexpected guest at her country house party, and it’s the husband who left her. Not only is he back, but Court is far more sinfully handsome than she remembered, and he wants the one thing she isn’t prepared to give—her complete and utter surrender.

Uncaged Review: This is a shorter read, one I finished in a couple hours. A beautiful second chance story of two people torn apart from guilt, and brought back together with love. After a year of a self-imposed exile after his wedding to Vivi, Court returns to his ancestral home and to Vivi, to find her angry and cold toward him and a two week house party that Vivi has planned. But Court is determined to win over his wife and the two will need to find a way to move beyond the past to look to the future.

This is a shorter book, and I would have loved to see more interaction between the two of them with them finding their way back to each other, and I think the author could have really elaborated a bit more, especially during the house party. This is a fun, spicy romance and I have to say, I even laughed a couple times at Court’s musings. And that swan….
Reviewed by Cyrene

4 Stars

Uncaged Review – Demon’s Mark by Ella Summers

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

Demon’s Mark
Ella Summers
Fantasy

The schemes of deities are always multi-course affairs.

Three years ago, gods and demons united against a common enemy. Now a terrible, ancient secret threatens to tear that alliance apart.

Leda Pandora, the Angel of Chaos, has a complicated family. Her father’s a god, her mother’s a demon, and her daughter is destined to one day become the savior of the universe . . . if Leda can keep her safe long enough to grow up.

Unfortunately, the universe might need saving a little sooner than expected.

Whole worlds are going dark, deities are dying, and both gods and demons are each blaming the other for it. Every day, the threads of peace grow weaker. The countdown to war is ticking, and if Leda can’t uncover the real culprit in time, the alliance won’t be the only thing in tatters—the whole universe will burn in the aftermath.

Uncaged Review: The eleventh book in this series hits the ground running and hardly slows down. As we are nearing the end to this series, Leda and Nero are thrust into a battle that no one knows who is starting it, the demons and gods blaming each other. It will up to Leda to find the answers to save the truce between the two factions and still protecting their daughter Sierra and along the way and find out who is stealing all the immortal artifacts.

There was a good suspense storyline running in this one, and it’s a tangled affair when everything comes to light. I would liked to have seen more Leda and Nero time, but I really enjoyed Leda with her father, Faris. My only gripe was that Nero seemed more on the sidelines this time. This is a fantastic series for anyone who loves the fantasy genre. A series that I could easily read again. Reviewed by Cyrene


5 Stars

Uncaged Review – The Wallflower’s Midnight Waltz by Collette Cameron

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

The Wallflower’s Midnight Waltz
Collette Cameron
Historical Regency

A masquerade ball sets the stage for an American wallflower’s revenge against an English noble, only to be complicated by unexpected love…

American Eva Westbrook has had enough of English aristocrats looking down their snooty noses at her. Among these elite nobles is her neighbor, Peter Hartigan, a notorious rake she believes played a part in her cousin’s humiliation a few years ago. Disguised as a mysterious masked woman and seeking reprisal, Eva sneaks into a masquerade ball that Peter is hosting.

As Eva spends more time with Peter, she realizes he may not be the heartless blackguard she thought he was. She becomes torn between her duty to avenge the past pain and suffering of her dear cousin and the unexpected feelings for the very man who’d caused it.

As they dance the midnight waltz, Eva and Peter engage in a dangerous game of deception and desire. Eva struggles to maintain her facade while battling her growing attraction to Peter. Meanwhile, Peter is captivated by the enigmatic woman in his arms and is determined to uncover her true identity.

With her blossoming feelings conflicting with a quest for vengeance, will Eva decide to follow through with her vendetta or let go of the past and take a chance on a future with Peter?

Uncaged Review: A very sweet novella, that only takes a couple of hours to read. Peter Hartigan has returned after a devastating injury leaves him without a big chunk of his memories. Told he humiliated Althea Westbrook, the nearby neighbors, Peter is afraid but determined to give his apologies to the family, even not knowing what he did. So he holds a masquerade party and gives an invite to a servant at the Westbrook’s home…not knowing the servant he handed it to was not a servant at all.

Eva Westbrook is an American cousin visiting on an extended stay. She knows how badly Althea was hurt, and vows to go to the masquerade to humiliate Peter like he did to her cousin. But when she gets there, she finds he may not be the cad everyone made him out to be, and finds the attraction between them undeniable…

Will it work out for the two? And what really happened that night with Althea? This is nice fun read and although very short, and I’m not normally a fan of instant love type tropes, it actually works pretty nicely here. Reviewed by Cyrene

4 Stars

Uncaged Review – Dead Girl by Kerrie Faye

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

Dead Girl
Kerrie Faye
YA Fantasy

Dying has its perks…mostly. Bullied teen, Ember O’Neill goes from the weird girl to the tyrant of her school when she is resurrected from a deadly prank. Now secretly supernatural, she dethrones the school drama queen and snags the hot new guy, but her reign is at risk when the Order, a heretical sect, sends an assassin to eliminate her.
Ember must expose her powers, potentially losing all she has gained, in order to save herself and her friends as her killer closes in.

Uncaged Review: I really enjoyed this supernatural suspense book. Meet high schooler Ember and she isn’t like normal girl’s her age. What follows is the story of Ember and how she gets caught up on life, trying to be a normal girl. This book was really enjoyable and had me trying to guess at what was going to happen next. The only thing I didn’t like was the ending. This ended with some loose ends still not tied up. I’m keen to see what happens next? Or if there going to be a book two
Reviewed by Jen

4 Stars

Uncaged Review – The Lady of the Mirrored Lake by Jennifer Ivy Walker

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

The Lady of the Mirrored Lake
Jennifer Ivy Walker
Fantasy

Hunted by the Black Widow Queen, Issylte–a healer with the verdant magic of the forest–must flee Avalon with the two finest knights in the Celtic realm, both wrongly accused of treason. The trio travels to Bretagne, where Issylte heals a critically injured wolf and obtains fiercely loyal, shapeshifting allies.

In mystical Brocéliande, Issylte becomes a warrior priestess of the Tribe of Dana and otherworldly mate of the Blue Knight of Cornwall, discovering with Tristan a passion that transcends all bounds. When she becomes the Lady of the Mirrored Lake, sworn to defend the sacred waters of the Goddess, Issylte must undertake a perilous quest to discover what priceless object lies hidden in its murky depths.

As a nascent evil emerges in a fetid cave, Issylte and Tristan must face a diabolical trio that threatens their lives, their love, and their kingdoms.

Enchanted. Enflamed. Entwined. Can their passion and power prevail?

Uncaged Review: The author sets herself apart in the fantasy field. Everything is so well researched and the book flows from one scene to another. In the second book of the trilogy, Issylte, Tristan and Lancelot are preparing for war, bringing in allies and putting together an army for the war against the Black Widow Queen who killed Issylte’s father and has Tristan’s father under enchantment. Issylte learns to defend herself, and makes some strong alliances – and is gifted not only becoming the Lady of the Mirrored Lake by the Tribe of Dana, but also alliances with the mermaid warriors, bear clan and the wolves. Hiding out at Lancelot’s kingdom, they train and prepare for the war.

This is such a well written book, and the romance between Tristan and Issylte finally comes to fruition and where the author came up with some of the names for many characters is truly mind boggling. There were many characters to keep track of, but it wouldn’t have been the story it is without the supporting cast. The final book brings us to the grand finale, and I’m looking forward to it. Reviewed by Cyrene

5 Stars

Uncaged Review – Secrets of a Highlander’s Heart by Julie Johnstone

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

Secrets of a Highlander’s Heart
Julie Johnstone
Medieval Romance

Will the truth of the past destroy the hope of their future?

How far will he go for vengeance?

Brus Stone remembers nothing of his life before he was rescued at the age of five summers and brought to live as part of the Northern Watch. Having been told his mother abandoned him, he’s about as willing to give his trust to a woman as he is to hand his sword to his enemy during battle. So when he’s tasked with accompanying a group of highlanders through the treacherous lands he helps patrol and he encounters a bonny lass who proves to be as brave as any warrior he’s ever met, he’s surprised by his pull to the lass and more than wary because of it. He steels himself against lowering his guard, but her open nature bemuses him, and her caring heart entices him. Each time he touches her he finds himself further drawn to the warmth she exudes and the possibility that believing in her will not result in betrayal. But a shocking revelation about his past obliterates everything he holds true and leaves him with a choice—give unwavering faith to the daughter of the enemy he didn’t know he had or raise his guard once more and secure the ultimate revenge.

How much will she lose for love?

Grace MacDonald is starting to wonder whether she’ll ever meet a man who sees her as an equal and not simply a potential wife to do as he bids. To complicate matters, her father wishes her to wed her childhood friend and fortify an important alliance between their clans. Though she wants to please her beloved father, her friend does not stir her heart or her desire, so she’s reluctant to accept his offer of marriage. When the party she’s travelling with is attacked and a Scottish warrior rescues her, she’s immediately drawn to the powerfully compelling man. Not only does he display a gentle caring side, but he also listens to what she says and seems to value her opinions. His every look, touch, and kiss ignite her in the way she’s been waiting for all her life. But Brus will not completely let her in. He has erected a barrier between them, and the harder she tries to breach it, the more withdrawn he becomes. She’s determined to prove to him that he can count on her, so they can grasp the glorious love she’s sure awaits them. Yet when a devastating secret comes to light, she must decide whether her loyalty remains with the father she’s always trusted or whether it belongs with the man she’s certain is her destiny.

Uncaged Review: This is a nice start to a new series, and this one focuses on Ross and Grace, and the many secrets that have been kept from both of them. When Grace and her sister want to get to her father, she sways her friend from a clan her father wants an alliance with to take her, but they are attacked on the journey and Errol is injured. Ross and Conal from the Northern Watch save them, and are tasked with taking the women to their father safely. But there are a lot of secrets, and some could destroy the love that Ross and Grace are findng in each other.

There was a good deal of action, and watching the love build throughout the book was a good touch and the book keeps a decent pace. This story will keep you reading until the last page and I’m looking forward to the series continuing. Reviewed by Cyrene

4 Stars

Uncaged Review – Dance Me a Dark-Haired Beauty by Tessa McFionn

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

Dance Me a Dark-Haired Beauty
Tessa McFionn
Fantasy Romance

Two fae walk into a bar…and that’s just when the trouble begins.

Welcome to the Big Easy, where the good times roll…and where the real and surreal collide. For more than two centuries, rare human/fae hybrid Camille Delacroix has remained safe. Her unique birthright as a skin dancer gives her the ability to change nearly everything about herself, allowing her to hide in plain sight. Yet on one fateful night, not one but two unexpected visitors hailing from her mother’s magical realm threaten to unravel her peaceful existence.

On one hand is Zacarias, Grand Enforcer of the High Court of the Fae. Dark, dangerous and cruelly seductive, he appears with quite the ultimatum: discover the source of the mysterious plague killing the Deathless Ones or be revealed to the world as something other than human. And then there’s Rhys, who manages to be sex-crazed and innocent simultaneously. That is, when he’s not causing mayhem on nearly a catastrophic level wherever he goes. He’s been sent to aid her in her quest, but she’s not so sure just how much help his naïve bumbling will do.

Things are getting complicated. Folks on both sides of the mystical veil are dropping dead and Camille is running out of time. Caught between two sexy fae and self-preservation. What’s a girl to do?

Uncaged Review: A very original story of a girl who is half skin dancer and half human. She can change her whole appearance and hold it, not like an illusion the fae use. Two different fae come searching for Camille, because unknown to her, the fae world knows about her and have for some time. This time they need her help to find a cure for a terrible disease that is killing the fae. Two fae are sent to help her, Rhys is a Knight and guardian, with the ability to heal. He is also the bumbling one in the human world, but very likable. Zacarias is the Grand Enforcer for the High Court and Queen, and he’s as formal and stiff as he is beautiful. To get them out of her life, she decides to help them, but when it’s over, will she want them out of her life?

Great storytelling and the part of this book that really sewed it up for me was the last quarter of the book. The book jumps into high gear and it’s impossible to put down after the 75% mark. This started a tad slow for me and it took me a bit to get used to Cam’s speech with all the New Orleans drawl, but this is a solid start to a new series. My only question is, when is book two? Reviewed by Cyrene

4.5 Stars

Uncaged Review – Lord Ashley’s Beautiful Alibi by Cerise DeLand

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

Lord Ashley’s Beautiful Alibi
Cerise DeLand
Historical Regency

He pretended he was her lover. She became his alibi…and his only love.

Augustine Bolton lives amid the social whirl and treachery of the stylish court of Josephine and Napoleon Bonaparte. When Gus’s dearest friend, Amber, disappears, Gus must find her before the deputy chief of police finds Amber and carts her off to his bed—or to la Force.

But Gus’s means are few and her own duties as an agent in Amber’s network mean she is also suspect. Gus needs help.

Kane Whittington is just the man for the job.

He has worked for London merchant-cum-spymaster Scarlett Hawthorne for years and welcomes Scarlett’s call to build a large espionage network in Europe. His first task is to find the missing head of Scarlett’s espionage network.

Uncaged Review: Kane is an agent who is sent out to France to find a missing person in a link to the spy network or to build a new network, the missing person also happens to be Augustine Bolton’s friend. Kane meets Augustine again – another fellow spy in the missing person’s network, and they end up posing as an engaged couple. But of course that will lead to more…

This book has a good mystery, danger and romance, everything a good historical should have. The characters are well flushed out and this is a good original story and a great start to this series. This is engaging and entertaining read that doesn’t slow down and will keep the reader turning the pages. Reviewed by Cyrene

4 Stars

Uncaged Review – Catawba Falls by W.F. Ranew

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

Catawba Falls
W.F. Ranew
Hard-Boiled Mystery

Does a killer roam the Western North Carolina mountains?

Red Farlow travels to Camp Ridgemont for Boys for a reunion with his summer camp friends. On arrival, he discovers two camp counselors have been found in the woods, hacked to death. Red’s investigation soon widens with more mysterious deaths, one of them a close friend.

Far-right extremist Troy Unsworthy knows the hills and hollows after a lifetime of growing up in these mountains. Red soon learns all the victims are connected to Unsworthy in the years leading up to a deadly auto accident which put him in prison.

When he learns Unsworthy was released just before the counselors’ deaths, Red goes into the mountains. His trek requires sure-footedness over rocky terrain and old-growth forest as he explores caves with endless tunnels, shafts, and deep-water pools searching for his suspect.

But, did Unsworthy really murder these people, or should Red turn his attention to other suspects?

Red treads a treacherous path on his quest to find the killer and bring him to justice.

Uncaged Review: This book started out a bit slow, and it threw me in a couple places throughout. First we are slapped right into a gruesome murder of some camp counselors that our main protagonist Red, finds during a trip into a summer camp for a reunion with some friends. Then the book backtracks a bit without a segway into his events leading up to the search. But this is a good mystery, but there are a lot of murders to this tale, and Red will have to trek through the forest to hunt down the suspect.

I had not read any of the previous books, but does well as a standalone. I would have liked to know more about Red and his background before going into this one, and I’m sure that’s probably in previous books, but it’s not necessary to read those first. The author does a great job describing the detail of the surrounding area and this book does a good job keeping the reader in suspense the whole way through. Reviewed by Cyrene


4 Stars

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