Tuesday, September 29, 2026
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Uncaged Review – A Hellish Highlander by Hildie McQueen

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

A Hellish Highlander
Hildie McQueen
Scottish Historical Romance

When a warrior’s fiercest battle is between his heart and his oath!

Book three in the Clan Ross series is now available. Read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited.

Warrior Kieran Ross, the youngest son of Laird Ross, is intent on finding his father’s killer and exacting revenge, even if it means losing his own life. While tracking his enemy, an unexpected encounter with a familiar face could ruin all his plans.

When village girl Gisela Munro happens upon the same handsome man who insulted her, she is forced to ask for his help. Little does she know; the simple action will wreak havoc on both of their lives.

The day Gisela disappears, Kieran once again faces the anguish of losing someone he loves.

Uncaged Review: In the third installment of the Clan Ross series, warrior Kieran Ross has seen a most horrible thing: his father is mortally wounded and holds him while trying in vain to save him from dying. Kieran from then on vowed vengeance on Ethan McLeod for killing his father. When Kieran spies Gisela Munro, the mysterious soap seller that he met once before. Kieran is still enchanted by Gisela but doesn’t want to marry anyone until he fulfills his promise to avenge his father. Gisela might be the sister of the Clan Munro, but chaffs at living there in the keep and enjoys her simple cottage much more. Also, Gisela can avoid her cousin, who also wants her hand in marriage. When Gisela uncovers a plot to trap Kieran into marriage, she decides to help prevent it by claiming to be his betrothed. As Kieran gets to know Gisela, though the idea of wedding her becomes less abhorrent, now he must convince her to be his wife.

I was eager to see where this story would go because the other books about Kieran were not very assuring. Kieran seemed the least likely to even find anyone because of what he had suffered or whether he would find anyone to even like him. Still, Ms. Hildie McQueen knows how to spin a wonderful tale of revenge to love. Most books I have read about this theme aren’t done very well and focus solely on the reprisal, but luckily, this novel goes easily from that and moves to several romances that are happening despite the turmoil that all the characters must face. The story moves effortlessly, and it doesn’t get caught up in problems that arise. I enjoyed everything that was going on and am happy that there are more stories in the series and, of course, will read more! Reviewed by Roslynn Ernst

4 Stars

Uncaged Review – The Laird of Blackloch by Amy Rose Bennett

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

The Laird of Blackloch
Amy Rose Bennett
Scottish Historical Romance

Revenge might be sweet, but love is far sweeter…

Following the Battle of Culloden, Alexander MacIvor returns to his ancestral home, Blackloch Castle, only to find the Earl of Tay, the chief of a rival clan, has laid waste to everything he holds dear. Alex seems doomed to live the life of a fugitive Jacobite…until a stroke of luck allows him to escape the Highlands and begin again. Years later, styling himself as a wealthy Englishman, Alex reclaims his forfeited estate, becoming the new Laird of Blackloch. But it’s not nearly enough to quell his thirst for vengeance. Hell-bent on destroying Lord Tay, he single-mindedly sets about driving his nemesis to bankruptcy. When Alex learns Tay intends to wed the English heiress, Miss Sarah Lambert, he devises a devious plan: kidnap Sarah and ransom her to hasten Tay’s ruin.

Abducted and whisked away into the wild Highlands by a wicked rogue she knows only as Alexander Black, Sarah Lambert refuses to be a pawn in the man’s diabolical schemes. Even though she discovers her fiancé, Lord Tay, is faithless and not the man she thought he was, she determines that somehow, some way, she will regain her freedom. If only she could unlock the secrets of her darkly handsome, enigmatic captor…

Living in such close quarters, Alex and the spirited Sarah soon find that even the best laid plans can go awry when passion flares and perhaps even love sparks. When the shadows of the past begin to gather, will this Jacobite rogue and English rose find their way forward together…or will the threatening darkness destroy them both?

Uncaged Review: Jacobite Baron and Laird of Rannoch, Alexander “Alex” Evan MacIvor, witnessed the Earl of Tay, Malcom Campbell, kill his family and torch Blackloch Castle, his beloved home. Alexander decided from then on to retaliate against Malcolm. Eleven years later Alex, now known as Alexande Price, while at a ball, spies Malcolm’s beauteous betrothed, Miss Sarah Lambert. Alex shows Sarah how despicable Malcolm really is by proving how unfaithful he is to her and, lastly, ends up kidnapping her too. Alex takes Sarah to a ruined tower, promising to never hurt her, but if Malcolm gives him the ransom money, then he will let her go. Alex never anticipates how smart Sarah is and that she will do anything to escape him. Of course, Alex never expected to fall for Sarah either and love might just ruin his plan of revenge on Malcolm, or it might kill him too.

It is hard to write a love story when the main character is driven by vengeance. So, everything the main protagonist does seems out of spite or to hurt the heroine. Sure, Alexander isn’t a totally bad guy and does have some caring aspects, but it’s just hard to see him showing some compassion and feeling towards Sarah. Occasionally, the story did drag a little bit, especially how angry Sarah got with Alex, but luckily it did move past that. There are quite a few tropes in the book, yet I didn’t find them overwhelming either. I did wish Malcolm, with everything that he did to Alex, would be killed horribly or maybe suffer more, but maybe since Alex was bent on retribution. Well, so was I because I wanted that for Alex too. I still enjoyed the story and did like Ms. Amy Bennett’s story-telling and would happily read another from her. Reviewed by Rosylnn Ernst

4 Stars

Uncaged Review – The Hunt for Mr. October by Tabetha Waite

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

The Hunt for Mr. October
Tabetha Waite
Historical Romance

It had been the moment Elwood Tyburne, the Earl of Belmont, was dreading for months. Ever since that Brazen Belle and her dastardly, Rake Review had started wreaking havoc upon all of his friends and acquaintances—some of which were wrongly accused—he had been in a state of panic. While Elwood would admit that he was a scoundrel, he didn’t care to have the finger of justice pointing directly at him, turning him into some kind of twisted man of prominence, where he couldn’t walk down the street without being heckled. He despised the attention, especially when he hadn’t done anything—lately. In truth, he’d been doing his best to lay low. He hadn’t gone to his favorite gaming hells for weeks, and he had gone so far as to dare to give up his favorite mistress. Unfortunately, it didn’t seem that the intrigue was going to die down anytime soon, and it appeared he was about to have additional trouble in one tenacious lady…

Meliah Newton is on the search for the elusive Earl of Belmont. She has a dream to become a respected journalist, just like the Brazen Belle. She’s convinced that if she could prove that Lord Belmont is a complete ne’er-do-well, she would finally get the recognition she has been longing to obtain. To her dismay, the man seems to be more of a challenge than she expected, but she has never been the sort to give up easily, and she perseveres, finally cornering the rat in his hole. What she hadn’t expected from all this was her flaming attraction to him, nor the way her body melts under his expert touch. She knows he’s only trying to seduce her away from him, but it’s only drawing her closer.

Uncaged Review: What a truly fun and fanciful tale! In this story, Elwood Tyburne, Earl of Belmont was not happy. The gossip rag “The Rake Review” has declared him an un-marriageable rake that must be avoided. Elwood was in truth that, but he didn’t want to be declared as one. So, Elwood’s only way not to be judged so harshly by the ton is to hide away from London in his father’s hunting box. Unfortunately, Miss Meliah Newton, the weaver’s daughter and aspiring writer, laughed at his escape costume and wanted to know if the outlandish stories of his behavior are true? Elwood will give Meliah exactly what she wants as long as she goes with him to the hunting box. As Meliah stays with Elwood, she finds out his true nature and falls for him, but knows in her heart that they can never be together. Of course, when Elwood finds out who Meliah really is, will he still want to be with her anyway?

This novella was just utterly delightful! Okay, the improbability of the classes between these characters was not likely, but if you could get past that and suspend some belief, then this could totally happen. Besides the truly excellent writing, the plot twists and the wonderful characters are really what makes me believe anything can happen, even a rags-to-riches story that will just make me laugh and smile. Sure, the book is part of a series, but Ms. Tabetha Waite pulled me into the novel, and I was sad to see it end. Elwood might have been a rake, but I didn’t mind and if rakes were this ultimately nice, then they could be as rakish as they want. Meliah was also a charming, feisty heroine that I would love to be friends with as well. I can’t wait to read another tale from Ms. Waite and eagerly look forward to more of her stories too! Reviewed by Roslynn Ernst

4.5 Stars

Uncaged Review – Mistletoe, Mocha & Murder by A.N. Sage

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

Mistletoe, Mocha & Murder
A.N. Sage
Cozy Mystery

‘Tis the season…for a murder most foul.

When local witch, Piper Addison, gets invited by her vampire boyfriend to an art opening in the big city weeks before the holidays, she jumps at the chance to go. A night of art and festive fun is exactly what Piper needs. That, and to get away from her mother who is on a mission to throw the biggest Christmas party their small town has ever seen.

It is all candy canes and jolly until a dead body shows up and a priceless work of art gets stolen. Even worse, Piper can’t go back home until the killer is found and mother dearest is single-handedly running Piper’s cafe into the ground.

Talk about a yuletide disaster!

Can our witch entrust the help of her ghost familiar to help solve the murder before her entire life implodes? Or will this be a holiday she will sorely remember forever?

Uncaged Review: Piper and her vampire boyfriend, Joe, attend an art gallery in the city only to find that the artist himself is murdered. And with them being at the opening, they aren’t allowed to leave the city until the murder is solved, and with Piper’s mother not doing well running Piper’s café, Piper works on solving the murder to speed up the process.

This is a fun book, I had not read any of the other books in this series, and was able to keep up pretty well all considering there are 6 books before this one. There is some paranormal elements, that Piper is a witch and her familiar is a ghost, along with a pet raccoon – Harry. Although the magic in this book is minimal, it’s a fun short read that has a couple surprises in the end. Reviewed by Cyrene

4 Stars

Uncaged Review – Absolution by Kathryn Le Veque

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

Absolution
Kathryn Le Veque
Medieval Romance

Sir Torran de Serreaux is the leader of Henry III’s personal guard. Known as the Guard of Six, they are an elite group made up of knights from the finest and oldest families in England. They have a reputation for being powerful, fearless, and dedicated.

They are also mortal men with demons and Torran has more demons than most.

It has been three years since the fall of Simon de Montfort and, still, there are lingering de Montfort supporters in England that are being systematically rooted out and subdued. At a particularly nasty battle at Kennington Castle, Torran and the royal army manage to raze the castle and kill all but two members of the oppositionist’s family – a lovely young woman and her excitable younger brother.

Torran is introduced to Lady Andia St. Albans.

The family of St. Albans were great supporters of de Montfort. Torran takes Andia and her brother to London as prisoners. Henry, as punishment to the St. Alban’s family, orders the siblings thrown in the vault. Torran, who is fighting a great attraction to Andia, has other ideas.

Keeping them at his family’s London townhome.

Torran keeps them as his personal prisoners because the truth is that there’s something about Andia that intrigues him. She’s reserved, but very intelligent, but he is coming to suspect that Andia is hiding something. He can’t help but feel she’s harboring secrets, much as he is, and has he tries to figure him out, she is trying to figure him out as well. But all of the suspicion in the world can’t dampen the sparks that fly between them.

Passion that roars like a wildfire.

In the complex political world of England’s politics, Torran and Andia are major players. When the truth of Andia’s involvement in her family’s support of Simon de Montfort is revealed, Torran must make a choice. Can he forgive a woman he’s fallen in love with?

Or is he the one who must seek absolution?

Uncaged Review: The start of a new series, Guard of Six, Sir Torran de Serreaux, the premier knight of King Henry III, the King of England and known as the Guard of Six, was untouchable. Torran had a deadly sword known as absolution which would silence people forever. Torran believed that he was indestructible and that nothing or no one could shake him. Death didn’t bother him because he had killed enough times. Torran’s faithful friends and companions were also part of the Six and were just like Torran. When Torran storms the keep of Lady Andia St Albans, daughter of the Earl of Ashford and her troublesome brother, Aeron, he can’t help but be amazed by her strength and beauty. Andia and Aeron are entrusted to Torran for safe-keeping. Pretty soon, Torran has slowly fallen for Andia and, despite her being his prisoner, she has fallen for him too, but when King Henry demands Andia, can Torran let her go without a fight?

What a fantastic medieval romance that you can’t help but get caught up in! The richly detailed tale moves quickly with lots of action and intensity, so that it isn’t hard to imagine all of it. Ms. Kathryn Le Veque lovingly writes these characters, as if they are real people. Pulling you into the story so it becomes a part of you. Sure, you see some old familiar characters from her other books who happen to enrich the story, making it seem believable. It’s nice to see these immovable, lethal knights have a soft spot for women and children. Especially Torran, because he was going to be a priest but fell from grace, but he is still redeemable in not only the King’s eyes but Andia’s too. There isn’t much sex and the one described is a little humorous because Torran is supposed to be good at all things and isn’t the greatest at it. I did get irritated with Aeron and Andia’s uncle, but his death was pretty quick. Luckily, Aeron does get better as the story moves along, and I do hope he gets a book soon. I do eagerly look forward to the next in the series though, and while I wait I will just read this one again! Reviewed by Rosylnn Ernst

5 Stars

Uncaged Review – Nephilim the Awakening by Elizabeth Blackthorne

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

Nephilim the Awakening
Elizabeth Blackthorne
Urban Fantasy Romance

When I told my ex to go to hell, how was I supposed to know that’s where he’d come from?

Now he’s back in my life, and the heat between us is as consuming as ever. He’s a fallen angel, an agent for an organisation that apparently keeps the peace between Heaven and Hell, who’s been assigned to find my missing mother. Turns out she was a witch and someone has taken her.

Oh and that hot surfer guy I went home with last night? He’s my ex’s partner and a wolf shifter who seems to enjoy making my ex jealous. I’m totally up for that too.

Add in a sexy Russian nerd who’s sustenance comes in red liquid form and his dark demon boyfriend who seems intent on drawing me into their dark embrace and things are getting complicated. And steamy.

This new world has my head spinning, and it seems I’m not quite as human as I thought. But as to what I am exactly… that’s the million-dollar question. There are some theories that could land my soul in the eternal hot seat just for being me and as lines blur between the good guys and the bad guys, figuring out who to trust becomes a game of supernatural roulette.

Will the men in my bed and in my heart betray me once they find out what I am? Or will our love release a darkness on the world that could bring the wrath of Heaven and Hell down upon us?

Uncaged Review: When I first started reading this book, I wondered what I had gotten myself into. Our main character Faith, is not the badass the author wants her to be, at least not when you start out. She seems like she’s overly strong-willed and it’s a little bit of a put off. But once you dig deeper into the book, you find out why she’s the way she is, even if some of her reactions are a bit overdone. This is a twisted, dark fantasy romance that is setting up to be a reverse harem, and there is some MM and MMF action in this book. There is also some mentions of rape and torture for those that may trigger.

This turns into a very good story, with characters that are all very different and we see the growth of Faith as she finds out about the supernatural world and herself. This is not good vs. evil in the traditional sense, as some demons are not bad in this book, but the bad ones are truly despicable. As Faith navigates her new life, we will see how the twists and turns will get answered. This is a four book series and all are out now. Reviewed by Cyrene

4 Stars

Uncaged Review – How to Tame a Dissolute Prince by Scarlett Scott

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

How to Tame a Dissolute Prince
Scarlett Scott
Historical Regency

Nando, the handsome, ne’er-do-well Prince of Varros, has grown bored with his aimless life of pleasure-seeking and debauchery. An unexpected end to his ennui arrives in the form of a maddeningly proper English spinster who challenges him with her glacial reserve. Nando can’t get enough of the icy, disapproving Miss Brett, and the more she rebuffs him, the more determined he becomes to make her his.

Renowned for her ability to turn any sow’s ear into a silk purse, Miss Eleanora Brett has taken dozens of young ladies under her wing, granting them the town bronze they need to gain the acceptance of the ton. After she’s hired to help ease the societal entrée of hoyden royal princesses, Eleanora’s mettle is tested not just by the twins and their convention flouting ways, but by the wicked rake who insists upon being forever underfoot.

Prince Nando is vexing, infuriating, scandalous, and far too tempting. She wants him gone. He wants her in his bed. She’d sooner push him out a window than surrender, regardless of his undeniable skills at seduction. But when danger strikes, Eleanora and Nando suddenly find themselves spending a great deal of time alone together. And before long, it’s not just the rakish prince’s life that’s at risk. It’s his heart as well…

Heat level: Scorching hot! Don’t say you weren’t warned. Nando’s reputation precedes him.

Uncaged Review: Ever since I had read the first book in this series with Maxim and Tansy, I really wanted to read this book about Nando, King Maxim’s brother and one that has a life of only pleasures and owning up to his “rake status.” And Nando is just as incorrigible here as ever, and still a lot of fun. Then he finds he can’t get around his attraction for Eleanora Brett, the lady who has taken Princess Anastasia’s younger sisters as her charges to get them ready for the London season, a task that is a challenge with these wild girls.

There is danger, to both Nando and Eleanora, suspense, humor with a lot of wit and very steamy scenes. There was some questions that never really got answered, although I’m pretty sure the author will have them in another book down the road. The epilogue was a nice touch and it was nice to see Nando meeting his match in the ever proper Miss Brett. Reviewed by Cyrene

4.5 Stars

Uncaged Review – Taming the White Wolf by N.J. Walters

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

Taming the White Wolf
N.J. Walters
Paranormal Romance/Shifters

Destined to be alone…only to discover he’s not—in this intensely sexy new Lone Wolf Legacy series from New York Times bestselling author N.J. Walters

There’s only supposed to be one lone wolf. When other shifters see me coming, see my white fur and pale eyes, they know things are about to get real. Because my job—my fate—is to take out the wolves who go rogue.

Only now something has changed.

For the first time ever, there are three of us: one white, one gray, one black. And if that’s not ominous enough, my senses have pulled me to New York City…for a human.

There’s something almost supernatural about the connection between me and Zoe Galvani. It’s not just the crackle of heat, the blood pounding through my veins—or even that her eyes are the strange, pale hue of my own.

It’s that she makes my wolf come alive. It’s unlike anything I’ve ever felt. Almost like magic.

Which is when I learn that someone’s out to hunt me. That I’m their prey.

…and Zoe is the bait.

Uncaged Review: This book engaged me quickly, and even though I’ve read a lot of shifter romances, this one was a step above a lot of them. This had intrigue, danger, action and hot romance. There are three lone wolves, tasked with the job of taking out rogue shifters and being loners. This story revolves around the white wolf, Devlin. When he meets Zoe, and like him, she has the same white eyes together with a white streak in her black hair and his wolf recognizes her immediately. But someone is using Zoe to trap Devlin, and it’s going to be a bloodbath before it’s all said and done. Devlon finds it impossible not to protect her, the need is in his soul. When they find a powerful mage is working with wolves to take him down, he’ll need all of his strength to keep himself and Zoe alive.

Excellent first book, and this book doesn’t slow down much and it had all the elements that I really like in a book and I’ve already got the second book on my Kindle. This is my first author discovery from BlueSky and I’m sure there will be plenty more.
Reviewed by Cyrene

5 Stars

Uncaged Review – The Christmas Box by Toni Blake

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

The Christmas Box
Toni Blake
Holiday Romance

She loves Christmas!
Opening a Christmas shop in her hometown of Winterberry, Kentucky is a dream come true for Lexi Hargrove. Lexi is no stranger to loss, but her holly, jolly approach to life has sustained her. She couldn’t have imagined the first person to walk through the door of the Christmas Box would be Travis Hutchins, her long lost high school crush who stood her up for a date a dozen years ago. He’s looking for coffee, not Christmas – and makes it clear he’s a holiday hater. But why does he still have to be so hot? And when did he become so Grinchy?

He hates Christmas!
Travis never planned to come back to Winterberry, but his estranged father is dying. He just wants to keep a low profile, do his duty, then head back to his life in Chicago. Things he never expected: running into Lexi Hargrove, and an endless explosion of all things Christmas directly in eyesight of where he’s staying. When did she get so pretty? And why does he keep going back?

Can one wish upon a Christmas star change everything?
Lexi isn’t sure why she’s wishing for Hottie McScrooge across the street to find the joy of Christmas, but soon a whole array of Christmas wishes begin to change both their lives. Can those wishes keep Lexi’s shop open even when the situation looks bleak? Can they help Travis make peace with his dad before it’s too late? And can Lexi and Travis look past all their fears and differences to fall in love?

Uncaged Review: Everyone needs to choose a few holiday books during the season, and this one was a real stand out for me. A second-chance small town romance, a self-named Grinch in Travis, and Lexi, the woman who wants nothing but for people to have the Christmas spirit all year round, and opens a shop in her small town called The Christmas Box trying to keep her family legacy alive of owning a business in the town. Travis, a very angsty, and only in town as his father is in a nursing home with a terminal illness, so he’s there to do his duty and leave back to Chicago where he fled to right after high school from a bad home life.

But the magic of Christmas puts Lexi and Travis in each other’s paths, and soon each will be finding out that the magic of Christmas is real in their small town. This book has all the feels, some heart wrenching, some endearing moments and a town that stays together, even during the rough patches. And a huge shout out to Marley, who also found her place in the world. Not often do I finish a story in a day, but this one pulled me in within the first chapter.
Reviewed by Cyrene

5 Stars

Uncaged Review – Laird of Lies by Willa Blair

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

Laird of Lies
Willa Blair
Medieval Romance

Mariota MacKay believes both her virtue and her life are in jeopardy from one of her clan’s guards. Though she repels his advances, she knows one day he’ll succeed, and because her father cannot accept that his heir is truly at risk, she sees no way to save herself but to run.

Lost in the Highland forest, she crosses paths with a hunting party led by Stellan Sutherland. When the handsome stranger offers her the sanctuary she’s denied at home, his kindness deepens her immediate attraction to him. Too late to keep her newfound feelings from gaining strength, she discovers he’s a man she cannot have—the first-born twin and heir to his own clan. She is torn between choosing the man she falls in love with, and the heritage she has fought for years to earn.

Stellan’s desire for the brave beauty from a neighboring clan clashes with his honor and duty. Mariota is the woman he wants by his side, but she is also the heir who will one day rule MacKay. He cannot ask her to give up her destiny and do what he will not—renounce his birthright as Laird Sutherland. Does the answer lie with his twin? Or will the dangers mounting around them, including the vengeful clansman hunting her, destroy any hope of a future together—or any future at all?

Both heirs to their clans, their love is doomed from the start, or is it?


Uncaged Review: At Clan MacKay, Mariota is the only heir to the Laird, but one of the clan guards is a twisted cruel man named Alber, who is out to hurt her in more ways than one and her father won’t seem to help protect his daughter. After the third time Alber tries to molest her, she finally escapes and runs into the Sutherland clan who are out hunting. Taking her back to their keep to protect her, she finds a much different setting in this clan over her own. She meets the heirs to Sutherland in Stellan and Anders, twin brothers. Stellan stirs her blood, but he is first born, so he is out of her reach.

There are some major twists and turns in this as all will be revealed about Mariota’s clan. There is danger, romance, intrigue and a lot of obstacles to get to their HEA. And let’s not forget about Valkyrie, and I look forward to the next book in the series that will focus on Anders. Even though I haven’t read any other books in this series, I had no problems keeping up with this one.
Reviewed by Cyrene

4.5 Stars

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