The king of the gridiron is about to get sacked by a beauty queen with a grudge as big as Texas. Cash King rolls into Ryder, Texas looking for a little TLC and an ego boost from the townspeople who call him their favorite son. But that ain’t happening. Which is just the cherry on top of the crap sundae that is his life.
His football career is hanging by a thread.
His mom isn’t speaking to him.
His hometown is out for his blood.
And Tiger Lyons, the girl he did wrong in high school, is in charge of the renovations of his new home… and living in his pool house.
How’s the league’s premier quarterback supposed to rehab his battered body and regain his starting position, when the woman who still owns a piece of his heart—and now hates his ever-loving guts—in his face 24/7?
Uncaged Review: I should know better than to read a Jami Albright book right before bedtime. What it does, is keep me up way too late reading, and this book was no exception. As a matter of fact, I read this in one sitting, not because it’s short or because I should have, but I got so engrossed in the story that I kept going until I finished it, and it was the wee hours of the morning when I finally did. It was a great time, and I don’t regret a thing.
This book is full of the fun, snarky writing that is a hallmark of this author and an engrossing storyline. I’ve read some reviews saying it’s a second chance romance, but it’s not, not really. It’s more of an enemy to lover thing, because they never got to dating in high school. So being tossed back together twelve years after that fateful Homecoming Dance, the sparks are flying and you will be rooting for these two from the start. Cash really needs to quit being a jerk at times, and Tiger needs to knock that chip off her shoulder but give them time, they’ll get there. Fun times. Reviewed by Cyrene
It’s uncomfortable between a rock and a hard place.
When the NYTF reports that a golem, a large rock creature, is terrorizing parts of the city and destroying hubs of power, Ezra calls on Montague & Strong to investigate and stop the creature.
Their first reaction is to refuse.
Except there’s one problem.
No one refuses Ezra, a personification of Death, without grave consequences.
Now, Monty and Simon, together with Ursula of the DAMNED, must uncover how the golem was created and who would use it to destroy hubs of power, without being crushed in the process.
What they uncover, will have them face a power beyond their abilities and make choices with dire consequences.
Consequences they may not be ready for…yet.
Uncaged Review: The 10th book in the series, and it comes out swinging. I’ve missed reading in this series and the series is still as strong as ever. This time they have to take care of a mage that wants all the power and has created a golem to help him get to the magical hubs of power. Some fun parts are always in this series, and this one is no exception, with some supernatural wannabes in Bangers and Mash, Simon is at his best. The snark, the action and laugh out loud moments are all here, tucked within a great storyline.
If you are looking for a good urban fantasy series, I can’t recommend this one enough. It’s another series that would do well on film or series, but the casting would need to be perfect. We learn even more about Simon and Monty, and we can’t ever forget Peaches, and he may have finally eaten too much meat in this one. Reviewed by Cyrene
Welcome to Uncaged! Your latest release, The Dog, is part of a MC Series. Can you tell us more about the series and this book?
Thank you for having me. The Gypsy Bastards MC is a series of stand-alone, but interconnected novels. The series revolves around several club members and how the navigate life, love, and living the outlaw lifestyle.
The Dog is the story of Bodhi and Kaiya. Bodhi is a single father to three adopted sons. He is a war vet with a strong moral compass. Even though he may be part of an outlaw club, he still has a firm sense of wrong and right. Bodhi saved Kaiya many years ago from a bad situation and has since then formed a strong bond with her.
Kaiya is a broken and damaged soul. She has survived situations that would kill most people and has slowly started to put the pieces of her life back together. It is a long and arduous journey with many opportunities to fall apart right in front of her eyes. The Dog is a story of hardship, faith, trust, love, and fear. Both Kaiya and Bodhi must learn to trust and love again.
The Dog contains many dark themes that are not suited to younger readers and may trigger sensitive readers.
You also have a wolf shifter series out called The Katu Wolves. Is this a complete series or are you planning on more in the future?
Currently I have two novels available in this series and I am editing the third. The Wrong mate will be the third installment in the Katu Wolves series. It will follow Max and Raine along their journey to find love and happiness.
At the moment I don’t have any other novels planned for this series, but anything could happen in the future.
What is the most difficult scene for you to write? What is the easiest?
For me, the easiest scenes to write are usually the conflict scenes and the physically affectionate scenes. These types of scenes tend to flow from me and require little to no planning.
The hardest scenes to write are usually closer toward the end of the novel. I often struggle to find the right way to end my novels that leave me feeling content. Sometimes I rewrite the endings up to five times before I am even near satisfied and there is still a chance I might change it during editing.
Please read the rest of the interview in the issue below
Born and raised in South Africa, I now live in the Northern Cape in a small mining community by the name of Kathu. At 35 years old I have been with my husband for 15 years, although we have only been married for 8. Together we have a beautiful 15-year-old daughter.
For years I wanted to follow my passion for writing but always doubted myself. After finding my publisher and releasing my first novel I was able to build up my confidence and move forward with my fledgling career.
The Gypsy Bastards MC is a family, and they continue to expand…
Bodhi “Mad Dog” Black falls for Kaiya Walsh the moment he sees her. Bruised, beaten, and broken, she’s still the most beautiful woman he’s ever seen.
Kaiya comes from a violent past, and getting over it may not be possible. Moving forward is hard, and no matter how much her mind, body, and soul have healed, she simply doesn’t feel worthy.
When she starts to spread her wings, Mad Dog takes a chance and tries to get close to her, but he doesn’t think she’s ready for everything he wants. And he wants it all.
Navigating Kaiya’s harrowing past is one thing, but more obstacles pop up as well. Will they survive to get a happily ever after when the dust settles?
Excerpt
My entire first week, I didn’t see any of the guys. I missed Sparrow because he only works mornings. But the other guys, I have no idea how I was able to avoid them. But that all just changed a moment ago, when the entire club walked in. Thank God for small miracles, because they aren’t seated in my section. Continuing with my duties, I purposefully avoid the area they are seated and act like I didn’t see them enter. It’s hard to keep my gaze off them, but I’m able to do it.
“Dn, those are some fine-a men.” Charlie sighs dreamily when I approach the bar.
“Yup,” I reply distractedly.
“And that Mad Dogs is staring a hole right through you.” She gestures with her head.
“S**t,” I mutter, still not looking their way.
“I’m assuming as your new BFF there are some details you haven’t shared with me yet.”
I lift my gaze swiftly, only to find Charlie smiling down at me. “Don’t worry. We will get to that part someday soon, but now, you might want to brace yourself.”
She grabs my order ticket and heads down the bar to fill my order. I know Bohdi is behind me before he speaks. His presence is something I can physically feel wash over me. His smell hits me next. His natural musk, some cologne that he wears, and the underlying smell of engine oil. A smell they all carry no matter what.
“Kaiya,” he growls in my ear before standing beside me. “You’re looking beautiful as always.” My gaze travels up the length of his body. Black boots, thick, jean-covered thighs, and a plain black t-shirt. His chin is covered in scruff, his eyes bright as he watches me with a smirk on his face.
“Bohdi,” I breathe. His presence has my stomach fluttering, my pulse spiking, and arousal coursing through me. I haven’t felt any form of arousal toward a man since I can remember. But Bohdi makes me feel all kinds of things I never thought were possible.
Read the rest of the excerpt in the issue of Uncaged Book Reviews below
She just wants to catch a killer, but he wants to capture her heart.
A killer vampire is on the loose, and the vampire king wants my help tracking him down. I don’t blame him. It’s my job as a bounty hunter to chase criminals, and I’m good at it, much to the dismay of his vampire subjects.
Teaming up with the enemy is the last thing I’d normally do, but when Killian claims I’m his girlfriend in order to save me from his evil master, I have no choice but to repay the favor.
What I don’t count on is how persistent the sexy ruler will be in his efforts to win my heart, nor how hard he’ll be to resist when he tries to change the rules on our fake relationship.
Will I be able to keep from crossing the line with him so I can catch the murderer before it’s too late? Or will my heart become another vampire casualty?
Can the vampire king light a fire in the bounty hunter’s heart?
Uncaged Review: This is one of those books that took me by surprise. From the beginning chapters, I enjoyed Moe and Zvi, and this is a very original story packed with action, suspense, danger and romance. When Killian arrives on the scene, it ratchets up even more, and I was hooked. Witches, vampires and shifters make up this supernatural world (so far). In this outing, a killer vampire is under dark magic to kill, and to find and eliminate him, Zvi and Moe will need to work with the Vampire King, Killian and his group along with shifters. But the romance between Killian and Zvi is spot on, and as much as Zvi resists, Killian never gives in. There is a good deal of mystery, and much of it will be explained toward the back end of the book.
I enjoyed the pace, the characters and the suspense.The epilogues were a nice touch and I’m looking forward to more in this series. Reviewed by Cyrene
If I thought year one at Fallen University was rough, year two may prove hellish…
What do you do when your entire magical academy is banished to the underworld?
No, seriously. If you have any ideas, I would love to hear them.
Because we’ve been cut off from humanity and the rest of the Custodians, and the admins seem completely lost, unsure of what to do or how to get us back to earth.
And to make matters worse, some students seem to be reacting very… badly to being in the underworld.
But the rumor that just breathing the atmosphere down here for too long will turn you evil is just a myth, right?
Right?
Uncaged Review: For year two, the whole school is sent to the underworld, and no one knows how to bring it back to Earth, and the wards on the school are not going to hold forever. On top of that, there are students that aren’t doing so well being in the underworld. When it’s discovered that some power stones can help take the school back to Earth, but they are outside in the underworld, Piper and the guys leave to find them, without permission. She will need to have her guys completely on board, trusting each other as never before…
There is some great action, the suspenseful part of this story arc continues on, and this book rarely slows down. Don’t go into thinking it’s a new adult university storyline that is drenching the market right now, this is a full on reverse harem with some hard hitting sex scenes. The action and monsters are well thought out and described well enough to picture them in your mind as you read along. There is a cliffhanger at the end, but book three is out so it doesn’t really matter on this one. Reviewed by Cyrene
Welcome to Uncaged! Your latest book, Empire of Air and Shadow released recently. Can you tell more about the book and the series?
Thanks so much for having me at Uncaged! Empire of Air and Shadow, released in the summer of 2021, is the first in a YA speculative duology. Set in an alternate world, the story follows two girls struggling to survive. I just typed “The End” for book two, titled An Oath of Blood and Secrets. After revisions, I’ll send that book off to an editor. I hope to release it in May.
What is the most difficult scene for you to write? What is the easiest?
This story especially had been in my head for several years, so the characters kept developing and acting out scenes until finally I had to start writing. I generally have no trouble with first drafts. Revisions can be fairly painful.
Do you have a favorite character you’ve written? Has there been a character that’s been hard to write about?
That’s like trying to choose a favorite child! I am finding the characters of Empire of Air and Shadow challenging but their journey is so gratifying. I like to round out every character with positive and negative traits to make them relatable, and the two main characters of this story have to deal with extremely difficult situations, some pulled from real life. For instance, wives in Papua New Guinea are often beaten or maimed by disapproving husbands, so Mina’s mother is a healer who treats such women.
How do you come up with the title to your books?
With great difficulty. Honestly, titles are often the last thing I write because they have to hint at the genre and encapsulate the story. Only one story started with the title, which simply popped into my head one morning: Death Is A Bitch.
What behind-the-scenes tidbit in your life would probably surprise your readers the most?
I’m very private, but nothing too shocking. I’ve loved to write since I turned double digits. I wrote romance as Cate Masters for several years. I do tend to get grumpy if I can’t fit in writing time. Stories demand to be let out of my head.
Read the rest of the interview in the issue below.
Award-winning author C.A. Masterson loves stories of any genre. Multi-published in contemporary to historical, fantasy/dark fantasy to paranormal/speculative, she sometimes mashes genres. Visit her at http://paintingfirewithwords.blogspot.com or look for her romance stories as Cate Masters at http://catemasters.blogspot.com and in strange nooks and far-flung corners of the web.
Atop the Kabellak Mountain, in The Blessed Heights, Tayari Thorne trains to become a Favored One, a title of distinction bearing no freedom. A man would choose her, keep her, provide for her—until he tired of her. Home was one privilege she would not know. Below in The Dregs, in the shadow of the mountain, Amina Emezi readies for the day when she can escape her parents’ home, and escape the Dregs, dependent on no one else. Home would be the place of her choosing. Neither realizes the fragility of her existence. Neither could guess how their lives would intersect, and change course unalterably on the same day.
Excerpt
When Tayari Thorne stepped out of her family home for the final time, Kabellak Mountain trembled beneath her feet.
The thunder in the mountain echoed the thunder in her heart. She couldn’t tell if she was causing the mountain to shudder, or its rumblings were shaking her to the bone. She only knew her world was shattering.
Her body’s every sinew braced for the crack she was certain would follow. The goddess who ruled Kabellak would split the ground beneath her feet and swallow her hard, swallow her whole, swallow her endlessly. She made her footsteps as light as she could to pass without notice of the goddess, but the guards’ heavy march gave them all away.
Since the announcement days earlier, Da could barely look Tayari in the eye. Grief stiffened his face. He made excuses to move as far from Mama as he could inside their small cavern.
Mama spoke of The Preparatory Quarters in breathless awe, hand to her chest as she beamed at Tayari. Such good fortune, she said, that a spot had unexpectedly opened up just as Tayari had passed twelve summers. Such an honor, she said, for Tayari to be chosen. At Da’s glance, Mama went back to her sewing with a defiant little smile. When Tayari argued she’d rather they had chosen someone else, Da repeated that it was an honor. Who, she asked, would teach her what she needed to know? Tell her stories of the Time Before? Tuck her blanket around her?
This morning the Guide appeared at their domed entry, and Tayari saw something else in Da’s face. Fear. As if he, too, had thought of Tayari’s leaving as a distant possibility, but payment had come due on their promise. A hard truth.
The woman in a silken dress of grey fog made no greeting, didn’t introduce herself, but Da recognized her.
“You’re the Guide.” He spoke as if he hadn’t quite believed she’d appear.
“It’s time.” That’s all the woman had said, her face a mask of steely indifference though her gaze swept over Tayari, but lingered on her long, unruly hair.
One glimpse of the two guards who flanked her, both identical in expressionless demeanor, and Da’s fear became contagious to Tayari. She trembled as the pair looked past her as if she were invisible.
She threw herself into her father’s arms, whimpers blocking his murmured urges to be happy. He held her away from him and nodded, but locked behind his grim smile was a well of sorrow so deep, if he loosed his tears, she would drown.
The Guide repeated with greater urgency, “It’s time.”
In a world of darkness where royal vampires are in charge, I spend my days working as a knight in the city formerly known as London. Instead of a lance and a horse, I rely on my trusty axe, Babe, and ride the occasional dragon. Every day new threats emerge that require a dash of magic and a dollop of attitude.
Good thing I have both.
Naturally danger comes with the territory. What no one knows is just how dangerous it is for me. If our vampire overlords discover what I am, they’ll execute me on the spot—no questions asked—which is why I avoid them at all costs.
Until now.
If only this one didn’t have a lethal reputation, a princely pedigree, and a quest that leads to more questions than answers. The heat between us doesn’t help matters.
Unfortunately I can’t refuse a royal command, so I’m stuck until the job is complete.
And even if the job doesn’t kill me, the truth just might.
Uncaged Review: This is the first book in a 4 book series and it’s a fast paced urban fantasy with a lot of suspense and action. In this world, 10 super volcanoes went off at the same time, shrouding the planet in 24 hr darkness. The vampires have taken over the world and employ magic users to keep fake daylight up to keep plants and animals alive, because losing the human race would end their food chain. There are a lot of different supernaturals living around, and we meet some of them in the first book. The book is set in the city of Brittania, which used to be London in the old world. A Knight, named London works for a group of Knights that take care of rogue supernaturals that are threatening humans.
London is a smart, sassy, kick butt heroine and I was drawn to her almost immediately. When she’s hired by the royal vampire family to find their daughter and a missing power stone, she’ll have to work with Callan, the vampire prince. Sparks will fly.
This is a clean, action packed start to the series, and a good suspense woven in. This book has a great pace, and it was over before I knew it. I’ve already downloaded book 2. Reviewed by Cyrene
Hayden Crowe fronts an all-girls band down in Austin, Texas. Between tending bar so her sister can stay in school and dealing with the fallout after their addict father skipped town, she hasn’t exactly had time to join the social media freak out over the recent outing of vampires and werewolves. Her world comes crashing down the night she’s attacked in an alley after a gig and bitten by a feral werewolf. Unable to return home for fear of hurting her sister, and with a message scrawled across her arm warning HOSPITALS NOT SAFE, Hayden is left with just one option…Him.Ethan Caldwell doesn’t do relationships. Adopted son of the pack Alpha, he lives a solitary life as a barista and artist. Things three years ago with Hayden Crowe… went too far. By pack law, she couldn’t be told what he was. Ending it was for her own protection. But when Hayden shows up on his doorstep, newly changed and in danger, Ethan defies his father’s orders to stay away. Someone in the paranormal community is hunting her, and hell if he’s going to fail her again. Dark is part of the Blood Moon, Texas Shifters series. Sizzling hot romance with an ongoing urban fantasy story arc and a guaranteed HEA in each book.
Uncaged Review: This is decent start to a new series. Hayden, a front to a band, is bitten by a feral werewolf and is beginning to feel the pain of the wolf inside her, but has no idea where to go. The only person she thinks she can go to, is her ex, Ethan. Ethan ended their relationship because he was a born wolf, and he couldn’t tell his secrets to a human. In this book, the supernaturals have been outed to the public to a lot of hysteria, but when she shows up at Ethan’s, he will go against his father, the alpha, to help Hayden.
There is some good suspense, and good romance and the story moves quickly. The author makes the transition from human to wolf in a very realistic way, with realistic emotions and pain. This is a complete story, but is part of a series that will feature other characters and has a story arc that will continue on. Reviewed by Cyrene
Nate Temple has an appointment in Hell. One he can’t reschedule…
After recent events, Nate took some much-deserved time off for a little rest and relaxation. But when he finally returns home to attend what should have been a celebration of love, he finds insidious fear infecting the streets of St. Louis.
Paranoia. Chaos. Anarchy. It seems every supernatural family in town is sick and tired of Nate and wants to put him in his place. The worst part…all his friends seem to agree.
With everyone else fighting to prevent war between the families, Nate takes two of his scariest friends on a walk down that famous path paved with good intentions—to those eternal pits of despair—so he can finally demand some real answers from his parents.
He definitely never thought his actions could make Hell any worse than it already was…
Uncaged Review: I’m not sure how Mr. Silvers keeps upping his game on these books, but I think this is one of my favorites so far, the ninth book into the series. This time, there is someone passing along discontent within the wolves, dragons and vampires. And they all want Nate to stand back from it all. Along with all the problems he’s facing with a potential war coming between shifters, Nate needs to go to Hell to question his parents. But making it out of Hell is going to be a lot harder than getting in…
This book has a great suspense surrounding it, and answers some questions that have been lingering for a few books now. Most of the supporting cast are here in top form, and Cassie from Kansas City (Feathers and Fire spin-off series) remains throughout the book. I’m even more hooked on the Nate Temple series than ever before. This series should be picked up for a show, as long as they do it justice. Reviewed by Cyrene
Stacy Macken has one goal in mind: saving her renowned history center from greedy creditors. Losing it would be a catastrophe—one she doesn’t know how she’ll avoid. Until Aaron Fielding arrives. To all human eyes, he is just like any man, but he reminds Stacy of one of the fae. He certainly enchants her like a fae lover would. But Stacy suspects there is more to this sexy fellow, with his tales of the Tuatha dé Danann, and magical warriors from Celtic legend who protect humanity from a wicked enemy seeking their destruction. Does his appearance mean the end of the world imminent?
Can she, a studious woman more intent on history books with no training in or love of war, possibly have anything to offer when a long-prophesied druidic battle explodes around her?
Uncaged Review: This was a very slow start for me, and I didn’t feel really engaged with the characters or even the story until a bit past the halfway point. It turns into a decent fantasy and suspense, but some of the dream sequences throws me off, since these are part of Stacy’s past lives. One of my gripes is almost every time that Aaron is around Stacy, we get the inner voices from both of them of how much they are attracted to each other, but won’t act on it. The romance is a bit repetitive and boring between the two, I never felt the urgency as a reader.
The pros of the book is that the book does get moving well and this has a lot of different things going on at the same time. The mythology and the fae are a great touch and it was an enjoyable read. Reviewed by Cyrene
