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Uncaged Review – The Bourban Bastard by D.K. Marie

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

The Bourban Bastard
D.K. Marie
Billionaire Romance

Some men are made to ruin everything they touch. He’s spent his whole life proving them right. Until her.

Thorne Blackstone

She was supposed to be one night. No names. No strings. No looking back. Yet I can’t forget her. And the next day when I learn she and my blackmailing half-sister are moving into my home for three months — yeah, I’m screwed. Looks like even on his way to hell, my father found one last way to make my life a living one.

Keeping my distance should be easy. It isn’t. Not when she can break me open and build me back up with a single look. And when I make a choice that could obliterate her career, I don’t just risk my shot at redemption, but the only person who ever made me believe I deserved one.

Ivy West

I know exactly who Thorne Blackstone is. I’ve spent my whole life making smart choices. He isn’t one. But I see who he’s fighting to become. And I’m terrified that by the time he gets there, there’ll be nothing left of me.

In a family built on bourbon, secrets, and sins, can he change before he destroys the only woman who’s ever made him want to try?

Uncaged Review: Thorne Blackstone comes back for his father’s funeral. A funeral that turns up many family secrets and a half sister. Something Thorne didn’t see coming This book had me hooked from the first page I wanted to unearth all of Thorne Blackstone secrets and see what made him tick. Thorne is a character that has you rolling your eyes at the page but that’s all part of his charm. Grumpy but so very strong willed I need more of this author’s books in my life. This book can be read as a standalone or as part of the series. Will I be reading more of these books, heck yes! I think everyone should have a little bit of Thorne Blackstone in their lives Reviewed by Jen
3 Stars

Uncaged Review – Blood & Guilt by Jade Christy

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

Blood & Guilt
Jade Christy
Paranormal Romance

SOME VAMPIRES CRAVE BLOOD. HE CRAVES ABSOLUTION.

A guilt-ridden vampire hiding in a Montenegro crypt must choose between the darkness of his shame and the dangerous light of a fearless woman who refuses to let him disappear.

He feeds from a priest and hides in a crypt.
She lost everything — but refuses to lose herself.

In the mountains of Montenegro, Luka has spent fifty years punishing himself for a single, catastrophic mistake. He believes he is beyond redemption.

Then Claire, an American tourist sheltering from a storm while hiking, walks into his chapel, and sees him.

Their connection is slow, intimate, and dangerously real.

But the chapel is going to be sold & demolished, so his carefully constructed penance begins to crack. His sanctuary will fall and he will burn in the sun, or he must decide to leave. Will Claire help him? Can she? There are complicated dangers awaiting him… A mysterious vampire king offers a tantalizing but suspicious promise of absolution. Powerful immortals do not offer gifts without strings — and the price of redemption may cost Luka everything he is only just beginning to want.

Uncaged Review: This is the first book of the Vampire of Montenegro series, where one night Luka Iliev is changed into a vampire and accidentally kills his betrothed. Luka is so upset by this that he takes refuge in a chapel. Where the local priest, Father Petar, shelters, protects and even feeds him. Fifty years go by and Luka still stays in the chapel, but Claire Holloway, an American tourist, is caught in a storm and takes shelter in the chapel. Claire meets the mysterious Luka, and can’t help but be entranced by him. As Claire gets to know him, she can’t help but like him. Luka also feels the same about her. Claire doesn’t know Luka’s biggest secret, though that he is a vampire and desires Claire for more than just her company, he also desires her blood.

This is the start of a brand new Romantasy series by Ms. Jade Christy which I just love her many different vampire stories! The tale flows beautifully even with a few formatting issues which hardly do seem noticeable. The cover is really beautifully done too. I really like the strong independent heroine Claire Holloway. Yes, she’s a bit bossy and pushy, yet I found her easy to associate with. While Luka’s massive guilt complex and self-suffering did get on my nerves. Yes, he’s a vampire but who, what he is or what he has done, is not his fault. I kept wanting to shake him and tell him to get over it and move on. Yes, he made a mistake, but he has done enough atoning for it. I found it really hard to believe that, with everything that he was feeling, he could even feel love. As the story moved along, it did get significantly better and I do look forward to the next book!
Reviewed by Roslynn Ernst

4 Stars

Uncaged Review – Hidden Desires by S.E. Law

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

Hidden Desires
S.E. Law
Military Romance

I lead a naughty secret life … and my dad’s best friend found out!


Eliza:

When Jack Landry strides into my parents’ yard, I’m done for. He’s older. Dominant. Arresting. My dad’s best friend is a retired Air Force hero with a broad chest and piercing blue eyes that seem to see right through my “good girl” act.

He sees me in my garden. He sees me in my tiniest bikini by the pool. He sees me offering him a drink while my dad is just twenty feet away. But Jack doesn’t realize that the innocent young woman he sees during the day has a much darker side once the sun goes down.


Jack:

I spent twenty years in the military, but nothing prepared me for Eliza Shaw. She’s goddamn tempting with her saucy smile and those lush curves, but I have to keep my hands off my best friend’s daughter.

Except I know her secret. She says she’s a hardworking paralegal, but I’ve seen her on my laptop screen. Performing for an audience of men under the name BunnySnowGirl. I’ve been paying for private sessions just to watch her, but now that I’m back in town, I’m done being a spectator because it’s time for this curvy blonde to perform for an audience of one!


Sparks fly and secrets unravel in this high-heat, age-gap romance. When Eliza finally lets Jack in on her hidden life, the veteran is more than game to play—and he’s bringing his own brand of discipline to the table.

Uncaged Review: Eliza Shaw has a secret. The perennial good girl paralegal who lives with her parents and can do no wrong does “camming” on the side. Eliza does have fun doing it and if anyone knows about that the perfect persona that she portrays in real life would ruin her reputation. Of course, that all goes out the window when Eliza sees Jack Landry, her dad’s best friend, who is an ex-military officer who oozes honor without any faults. Eliza can’t help herself and wants Jack for herself, so she plans to seduce him. Jack is helpless against her charms and falls for her, but knows if Eliza’s dad finds out he will lose everything and if Jack discovers Eliza’s double life, what will he do? Can Eliza continue all her secrets, or will it ultimately destroy her?

I really enjoyed and liked this book better than the other one about secret sex communes. Yes, this is in the same series, but the age gap and secret identity contemporary romance is a bit more of what I enjoy reading. Also, the story might have a lot of explicit sex scenes, but the relationship between Eliza and Jack did have a chance to grow first, so they weren’t immediately jumping into bed either. I did think as many times as they were intimate it was a little shocking that Eliza never got pregnant, which might have helped ease her parents into the relationship though. I really did like Eliza’s “double” life and how she managed to keep the secrecy of it for so long. I really wanted more of Jack’s time in the military and what he did after he retired with his time too. Still, this was an intriguing story. I eagerly look forward to reading more and I am anticipating the next one!
Reviewed by Roslynn Ernst

4.5 Stars

Uncaged Review – Night of the Crescent Moon by M. Flagg

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

Night of the Crescent Moon
M. Flagg
Paranormal Romance

Martine, a good witch and ER nurse must enlist Lukas, a mystical warrior she had pushed away years ago, to save her patient who is under the spell of a dark witch from the Second Realm. Simply seeing each other again has them both questioning their feelings, but Martine refuses to open her heart. When she asks him to return to a realm where he was once held captive, he agrees. With the help of an arrogant vampire and his mystically enhanced father, Lukas faces unexpected danger. To bring the dark witch into the human realm, he must trust others in the Second Realm. When the hidden portal closes and Martine’s patient is safe, Lukas is ready to tell her how he feels. In this heart-warming romance, they will open their hearts to love – all because of what happened on a night of the crescent moon.

Uncaged Review: After a night out at a nightclub. Chris finds himself in the clutches of a dark witch and under a spell a spell that if done right could see the dark witch with child. This night of passion between them sees Chris in the hospital and it’s up to nurse Martine to discover exactly what happened to Chris and why? This is the fourth book in the series but can be read as a standalone book. The author gives the reader some insight into the mystery of what happened before perfectly enough for someone to get to grips with the overall story. Martine is a very interesting character she’s also very witty and smart, pulling the reader into the story even more I found the story fast paced, hooking me from the first page. This book kind of had me wishing I had read them in order though. Reviewed by Jen
3 Stars

Uncaged Review – Ruthless Liege by L.A. McGinnis

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

Ruthless Liege
L.A. McGinnis
Paranormal Romance

Aisling was supposed to belong to Rowan Forge forever.
A vampire king’s fated mate—bound by blood and a love strong enough to never break.

But seven years ago, she fled, condemning herself to exile to save Rowan from execution.

Now she’s back, trapped in an arranged marriage, and Rowan’s fury burns hotter than their mate bond ever did. He will never forgive Ash for her betrayal—even as their attraction threatens to consume them both.

But the Council’s Elder watches Ash from the shadows, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. Darrow and Finn have sworn to protect her, but when her deepest, darkest secret is finally revealed—the reason she abandoned them seven years ago—the truth threatens to shatter them apart.

Because some secrets don’t just break hearts.

They destroy worlds.

Uncaged Review: In the second book of this series, Ash is getting stronger, but to help train her powers, she makes a deal with an Elder, Nicolai – who is brutal in his training ways. As they learn more about her powers and how they work, she is still on the outs with her mate, Rowan. Finn and Darrow help with feeling of loss she has because the mate bond was never finalized, but Nicolai warns both Rowan and Ash separately, that he’ll kill either Ash or one of the three men if she completes the bond. In exchange for the training, she must help Nicolai find the soul jars, but as they search, Ash discovers there is more to what Nicolai is searching for than just those.

I have liked Nicolai from the start. The author writes the anti-hero in such a way that the reader ends up rooting for them instead of hating them. With Zachariah trying to get new allies to his side so he can overthrow the new ruler of Rowan, he doesn’t count on Ash becoming increasingly powerful and having a deadly Elder on her side, but Zachriah isn’t the worst thing out there.

This series is another four book series and with everything ramping up, I’ve already got the third book on my Kindle. This is a reverse harem book with plenty of sex scenes, but it doesn’t take away from the story, but you can either skip over them or take a cold shower, however you like to deal with them, but don’t miss the story itself even it that’s not your cup of tea.
Reviewed by Cyrene

5 Stars

Uncaged Review – Queen of Mist and Madness by Lisette Marshall

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

Queen of Mist and Madness
Lisette Marshall
Fantasy Romance

“Fae wars don’t end in surrender.”

Emelin has finally found the bindings, the key to her victory. But to use them, she needs one last piece of the puzzle … and the only person who can give her that information is a stubbornly silent Thysandra.

And an uncooperative captive is the least of Em’s problems.

As the Mother prepares to strike, the magical world continues to squabble. Something ominous is plaguing Creon. And Em’s own newfound powers come with a dark side she did not expect, forcing her to decide just how much she’s willing to sacrifice for the fate of the world.

To find allies and gather the forces they need, Em and Creon have no choice but to face the shadows of their pasts. But when disastrous secrets are revealed and the Mother finally deals her devastating blow … will they still have a future?

Uncaged Review: For the final installment of this series, I jumped right in after the ending of the last book, because it’s something I was waiting for throughout the whole series. With Emelin training her new powers, and now the epic facedown with Mother, and to end this war for once and for all. Creon and Emelin’s relationship is no longer a secret and everyone will come to terms with that and with Creon himself after they all start learning the truth of what he’s done. The epic and well told battle will leave the reader flipping pages fast. The ending of this story is a good one, and well satisfying. And if you haven’t had enough of Creon and Em, the author wrote a free three chapter epilogue that you can download on her site.

This series is a great fantasy romance series with danger, romance, suspense and the enemies-to-lovers trope here works well. I’m glad that the full series was out before I started reading, as after book two, I read this series straight through, lost some sleep and regret nothing. Reviewed by Cyrene

5 Stars

Uncaged Review – Ruin of Sea and Souls by Lisette Marshall

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

Ruins of Sea and Souls
Lisette Marshall
Fantasy Romance

“You fell in love with a fae executioner. Did you truly think that would end well?”

With war looming, Emelin’s plan is simple: break the Mother’s bindings while her more diplomacy-minded friends persuade the rest of the world to join their rebellion. Unfortunately, their would-be allies are far too concerned about Em’s exact connection to the feared and hated Silent Death.

They might risk their lives for the world’s only unbound mage, but they’ll never fight for a fae prince’s puppet.

Forced to hide the explosive secret of their love, Em and Creon journey to the plague-cursed continent to learn more about the bindings. But as they face dragons, ruins, and murderous forests in search of the vanished gods, distrust between Creon and their travel companions brings tensions to a boiling point.

And if their love may cost them the victory against the Mother … how will Em ever choose between her heart and her duty?

Uncaged Review: Emelin and the gang need to travel to the continent looking for the god Zera to find a way to break the
bindings. They must travel to a continent that was destroyed by war, and the only way for them to go is by taking the demons to keep the toxic atmosphere safe for their travels. During their search, Emelin finds the goddess, and spends time with her, not knowing how much time has passed for her friends. We see plenty of growth with Emelin and she is beginning to come into her own and her time with Zera nutures the power.

We see that the rest of the group is slowly starting to trust Creon more and more, and more revelations will be brought out. The world building is top notch and all the characters are not perfect, but they are perfect for this story. The ending is explosive, and you will be left hurrying to grab the next book.
Reviewed by Cyrene

5 Stars

Uncaged Review – Lord of Gold and Glory by Lisette Marshall

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

Lord of Gold and Glory
Lisette Marshall
Fantasy Romance

“There’s no taming a fae like the Silent Death …”

Emelin has escaped the Crimson Court and saved Creon from the Mother’s chains. But her newfound allies bring dangers of their own. Thrown into a world of old feuds and thorny grudges, she needs all her ingenuity to keep the Silent Death safe from his friends-turned-enemies.

And the political games of the Alliance are the easy part …

Haunted by shadows of his past and magic he never wanted to wield, Creon is slowly losing control of his powers. The only solution may be found outside the buried halls of the Alliance’s stronghold – back within reach of the Mother and her armies hunting for him.

Soon Emelin can no longer hide from the war looming over the archipelago. And when her quest for Creon’s safety reveals glimpses of her own mysterious origins, she has no choice but to claim her place on the battlefield … or lose the male she loves forever.

Uncaged Review: The 2nd book takes off after the first one ends, and a lot more will be revealed in Emelin’s parentage and Creon’s past. They go to the Golden Court to save Creon, and find a whole lot more answers then they anticipated. Emelin is growing and learning more and more about her powers and about the Mother and what happened to her real parents. Creon is gaining some ground on being trusted by others, but he still has a long road ahead of him.

This has become a favorite series of mine, and now Emelin is looking for a way to break all the bindings, especially with Creon’s voice. I really enjoyed the addition of the little pixies. The supporting cast are all perfect foil for the story and the spicy scenes don’t overwhelm the story. This is a four book series, and I’ve already begun book three, and I am pretty sure I’ll finish the series very quickly.
Reviewed by Cyrene

5 Stars

Uncaged Review – Falcon of the Faroe Islands by Jennifer Ivy Walker

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

Falcon of the Faroe Islands
Jennifer Ivy Walker
Medieval Fantasy Romance

Haldor Falk, fierce warrior and powerful vitki blessed by the Goddess Freyja with the extraordinary ability to transform into a falcon, has been charged with forging Skjöld, grandson of King Harald Bluetooth, into a rugged warlord in the wild north of Norway.

With his acolyte’s training now complete, Haldor intends to return to the Viking stronghold of Normandy. But when a vision reveals an imminent attack on a dwarf guarding a hidden treasure trove in a secret cave, Haldor and Skjöld gain Dwarven-forged weapons and an unexpected, invaluable ally.

Úlvhild, a völva of formidable seiðr magic and Haldor’s lover of nearly twenty winters, foresees that the Dökkálfar Dark Elves will strike to prevent the fulfillment of a prophecy. When the Norns unveil the terrible price of her fate, Úlvhild must confront a crimson-eyed witch to save her beloved Falcon and ensure that the prophesied Son of the Dragon fulfills his destined path.

Uncaged Review: This book is the conclusion to
the Valiant Vikings trilogy and it’s a fitting ending to
this series. To be honest, I never really wanted this
book to end, I was immersed within the first couple
chapters. The mythology, lore and fantasy woven
into this story so seamlessly and it takes you right
into the story, something that is very well known
from this author.

This book revolves around Haldor, who can transfer
into a falcon and helps to train warriors for Normandy.
The prophecy of Skjold (son of the Dragon of
Denmark) is foretold, but the price will be high for
the prophecy to come true. But will the destiny that
Haldor’s love, Ulvhild , which she has seen, come
to pass? Will Skjord be able to fulfill his prophecy?
Characters from previous books are here, and this is
quite the ending. I’m sad that the trilogy is over, but
if you haven’t picked up this author’s works yet, this
trilogy is a great introduction to this gifted author.
Reviewed by Cyrene

5 Stars

Uncaged Review – Obliteration by Kathryn Le Veque

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

Obliteration
Kathryn Le Veque
Medieval Romance

It’s another epic Guard of Six novel when one of the Six finds himself with an explosive inheritance that threatens to ruin his reputation as a noble knight.

An inheritance that involves… wine, women, and song??

Sir Jareth de Leybourne is the moral compass of the legendary Guard of Six—a noble knight known for honor, logic, and restraint. But when his wealthy uncle dies, Jareth inherits far more than land and coin. He inherits a scandal that could destroy everything he stands for.

Summoned to the bustling medieval city of Bristol, Jareth discovers his uncle’s fortune was built on a discreet but wildly profitable enterprise: Aphrodite’s Feast, an elegant brothel and gambling hell quietly tolerated for its philanthropy. The business funds churches, education, and charity—but its existence threatens Jareth’s reputation as one of England’s most honorable knights.

Running Aphrodite’s Feast is Lady Desdra le Daire, a brilliant, sharp-tongued woman burdened by secrets of her own. Neither a courtesan nor a criminal, Desdra is a spinster by choice, using her education to manage the operation that saved her life. From the moment she and Jareth meet, sparks fly—clashing ideals, forbidden attraction, and undeniable chemistry.

As Jareth struggles to reconcile duty, honor, and inheritance, a deadly truth emerges: his uncle had a powerful enemy who now wants Jareth dead. Worse still, Desdra is caught in the middle—and the man threatening her life is her own father.
To save Desdra and protect his honor, Jareth must confront betrayal, corruption, and a love that could cost him everything.

Uncaged Review: Sir Jareth de Leybourne is ethically
just and faultless to the core. When he receives an
inheritance from his uncle who has died. Jareth always
thought that he wouldn’t get anything because he was
the second son. When Jareth tells King Henry about the
inheritance, Henry demands that he go and take several
of the knights to go with him too. When Jareth arrives,
he is stunned because his uncle owns not only castles,
a school and lastly, a brothel. Which the proper uptight
Jareth definitely doesn’t agree with the brothel. When
Jareth meets Desdra, the owner of the brothel, Aphrodite’s
Feast, he immediately judges her. So, a struggle
between the exemplary Jareth and the nuanced Desdra
go head-to-head in a combat that could cost them both?
When a bigger threat comes to claim Jareth’s inherit-
ance, can both Dedra and Jareth find a way to put their
differences aside to fight for what is right and also true
love?

It’s amazing how Ms. Kathryn Le Veque stories are not
cookie cutter and are just so different. I was disappointed
that this novel had more quick deaths in it. I wanted
to see more of those characters, including the villain
living a bit longer. Just to be killed by a knight would
have been nice. I think I really wanted some epic battles
which Ms. Le Veque writes really fantastic fight scenes,
so I kind of missed that. Yes, I wanted some of the
minor character stories even though they are not central
to the book, but they have suddenly become important
to me. Still, the book doesn’t lose steam despite me
craving more, which is altogether excellent! Jareth, the
morally consummate knight, has a true dilemma on his
hands. So, the struggles that he faced were just a delight
to read. While Desdra is just a great heroine! Smart,
feisty and witty, I also couldn’t help but fall for her too.
Do I look forward to another book about the six? Of
course, I do but am glad to have read this one!
Reviewed by Roslynn Ernst

4.5 Stars

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