The Duke is Wicked Tracy Sumner Historical Fantasy
He’s harboring a fiery secret….
The Duke of Ashcroft is determined to keep the League of Lords under wraps. After all, the group’s supernatural gifts brought the mystical misfits together and nobody is going to tear them apart. Intelligent and wily, Sebastian knows better than to trust anyone–especially an impulsive and intrusive American woman.
She’s looking for answers…
Competitive and confident, Delaney Temple is hellbent on uncovering the truth about the League. She’ll stop at nothing to unearth the secrets they’re burying. But when Sebastian is in trouble and Delaney comes to his rescue, their contempt turns to a burning desire. Suddenly, with their passion ignited, they can no longer deny their attraction.
A wicked duke. A troublesome beauty. And the forbidden desire they can’t deny.
Uncaged Review: This is a really different and fun read. I like when authors take a genre and put a twist on it so it actually ends up in another totally different category. In this series, there is a touch of supernatural involved with the League of Lords. This book is centered on Sebastian and Delaney. Although I didn’t have a huge issue with reading this book without reading the first two in the series, I think I would have had a better story and a better understanding by reading the first two before this one.
Sebastien is a Firestarter, and keeping his, and his fellow mates in the League secret is a must. Along comes an American woman Delaney, who is determined to find out the truth. Sparks fly, literally between her and Sebastien, and soon they won’t be able to deny their attraction.
This is a well written romp, and a book with the message that you can be loved and accepted for who you are. And getting these two together, is a good read. Reviewed by Cyrene
“I stood in the middle of the room, unmoving – I barely breathed. My life had just become surreal, impossible, and one enormous lie. I needed to go, to run somewhere, anywhere to beat back the reality that was rapidly closing in around me. The image of him was burned into my retina, flashing over and over again like a warning. He was trapped somewhere between human and decidedly not, and I realized that was my new reality. I was too.”
After the death of her parents, Ruby awakens from a lifetime of shadows and finds herself alone, thrust into a world of lies, deceit, betrayal and the supernatural. As her quest for truth continues to come up short, she realizes that maybe some questions really are best left unanswered. When her true identity is finally unveiled, she is forced to choose between two of the mysterious men who continually seem to crop up in her life. She chooses poorly. Now abandoned, Ruby must learn to call on the darkness within to survive, or spend a hellish eternity imprisoned because of it.
Uncaged Review: This is a good action packed urban fantasy and it’s a non-stop action throughout. I liked the original concept of this supernatural world and shifters, but it’s got some confusing moments that the author skimmed over just figuring the reader would catch up, which I did, eventually. But since the author skimmed over some major plot points, I kept thinking I missed something, but going back, I realized it was the book, not me. But it all comes together eventually. I’m not sure I liked the main character of Ruby, she’s very immature for most of the book, there were times I wanted to shake her, but I liked the concept and the book well enough to continue on with the series. Some of the fight scenes are semi-gory, but the scenes were not all detailed, just the aftermath. Readers will have to decide for themselves and have a good ability to “read between the lines.”
I think the series has a ton of potential, so I’ll be continuing on. Reviewed by Cyrene
Welcome to Uncaged! In your book, The Big Power of Tiny Connections, you talk about how even the smallest connections can have a big impact on your life. What do you hope for readers to take away from reading this book?
I want to remind you, or anyone reading my book, that everyone we meet has the power to change our lives and in turn, we have the power to change theirs. I’m talking about the guy standing in line next to you, grabbing a coffee at your local coffee house, or the women sitting next to you at the theatre Knowing that, would you want to connect with them in some way? Talk to them? Interact in some small way to see what awesomeness you can spark? I hope so. Because my book is packed with really fun stories as well as data that supports my belief that we’re wired for connection and it’s the most powerful thing we can do for our health and wellbeing.
Are you planning on other books in the future?
Absolutely. There are several ideas I’ve been thinking about but I’m not ready to share them just yet, so by all means stay tuned.
What behind-the-scenes tidbit in your life would probably surprise your readers the most?
After I finished a total re-write of the book and while I was working with my developmental editor —I went through a horrible breakup. My relationship with my fiancé exploded and I had to shelve the book for about 8 months while I moved and got my head on straight. I knew publishing the book was very important to me and my healing, so to some degree getting the book through all the rounds of copy editing and proofreading was part of my healing process.
What was the motivation behind this book?
You want the truth? Ha! I love this question. I would say that initially the motivation was to make my mom proud. She’d bugged me my whole life to write a book and I thought maybe after she passed away in 2015, that I would lose the drive to do it. But I didn’t. So during covid, working with Authors Who Lead, a writing initiative fun by some amazing and empathetic humans, I really honed in on my unique personality traits. I focused on what made me—me? My passion for connecting with the world around me really stood out as my superpower.
As the book took shape, my motivations evolved from being less selfish and more altruistic. Pretty soon I realized that I truly wanted to help others get more out of their lives by inspiring them to see their interactions with the world in a new light, and to inspire them to take more risks when it came to connecting with anyone and everyone around. If my mom were still alive she’d be super proud of this accomplishment and I look forward to toasting with her on the other side, sometime in the future.
Please read the rest of the interview in the issue below
By the time Jen Nash was 18, she’d already moved ten times, landing in different cities in Canada before moving to Malaysia, Hong Kong, Japan, Australia, and the United States. All this globe-trotting gave Jen a sense of urgency when it came to making friends and connections.
Over the past twenty years, Jen has had the privilege of co-founding a digital agency that went from 1.1M in revenue to over 15M in three years. Building a multi-million-dollar real estate portfolio and working as a writer and strategist for some of the biggest Fortune 50 companies in the world. In 2017 she became the CEO of a cryptocurrency start-up before transitioning into coaching full-time.
In 2022, leveraging her understanding of how powerfully important small connections can be, Jen wrote the book: The Big Power of Tiny Connections—How Small Interactions Spark Awesome Outcomes. Today she calls herself a Connector in Chief and Executive Coach. She is currently focused on supporting high-net-worth female clients embrace their abundance for maximum impact and running powerful corporate trainings for companies focused on improving presentation skills, human connection, culture, and employee retention rates.
“This book explains how even the smallest connections have the power to change your life forever. It’s not only a must-read — it’s a fun read.”—Allison Graham, Keynote Speaker & Author of Take Back Your Weekends
Using hilarious true-life stories alongside snippets of insightful research, Jen Nash underscores how powerfully connection supports our happiness, health, and well-being, while also sharing practical ways you can find and make connections on a daily basis—almost anywhere. Whether you want to go to more parties, get a better job, make more money, or get laid more—reading this book can give you practical strategies for doing it all. A happier, more successful, and more fulfilling life is within your reach and The Big Power of Tiny Connections will show you the way.
Excerpt
CHAPTER TWO:
“I Don’t Need More Friends” and Other Lies We Tell Ourselves
Most humans are not always up for talking to new people. We tell ourselves that “we don’t need more friends or connections” in order to avoid having potentially awkward encounters with that little-known human species, humanis-strangis. However, as discussed in the last chapter, positive psychology makes a strong case that social relationships are the single most important predictor of people’s well-being, and that people—with their powerful need to belong to social groups—cannot feel their best or be at their healthiest without having awesome, connective, and meaningful social relationships1. When people have more conversations, they report increased feelings of happiness. Happy people tend to engage others more, so the cycle continues! It’s not just when you’re talking to friends or family, either—it turns out that chatting up a stranger is also good for your health2.
What’s Really Holding Us Back?
Behavior change doesn’t happen because a study says it should. We need to get to the root of our discomfort and tackle our fears one by one. Our concerns run much deeper than “I don’t need more friends.” Most of us have totally logical concerns when it comes to mingling with the unknown. The top fears most of us experience when even contemplating talking to humanis-strangis revolve around our fear that:
• we won’t know how to start a conversation • we won’t enjoy talking to the stranger • we won’t like the stranger • we’ll run out of things to say • they won’t like us, and they’ll run out of things to say
We humans worry a lot that the other person won’t like us, instead of worrying whether we will like them. I hope the following intel24 will allay some of your fears:
FEAR #1:
I Stress About All Aspects of Talking to Strangers
If you’re worried about talking to strangers, it’s time to take a deep breath and push through it. That’s easier said than done, but maybe it would help to know that most conversations with strangers go way better than either person expects. You’ll feel more engaged than you expected, like them more than you expected, and neither of you will likely be bored or run out of things to say! People who don’t stress about talking to strangers have less anxiety, less shyness, and tend to feel better about themselves in regard to their friends. So, I think we should all get on that train.
TAKE AWAY: BE CURIOUS & COMPLIMENTARY
You want to ignore the knot you get in your chest when talking to strangers—but it’s hard. The most hopeful way forward may be to accept that practice is required to overcome your discomfort. This is one of those instances in life, where you need to shut your eyes and jump in—with a curious and complimentary mindset. Get curious about their life, their stories, their past and present. Do so in an encouraging manner, and you’ll both enjoy the chat.
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
