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Uncaged Review: The Targeted Pawn by Sally Brandle

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

The Targeted Pawn
Sally Brandle
Romantic Suspense

Threats forced her to flee Seattle. Honor binds him to Montana. A second chance at love tethers them together.

Elon Hardy’s romance skills are rusty after a loveless marriage ends, but upon meeting hunky rancher, Rane Calderon, sparks blaze hotter than her welding torch. To support her collegiate sons, she’s determined to acquiesce to the bullheaded, female-phobic boss until her divorce finalizes from her deceitful husband.

A woman Rane trusted ruined his life, and at forty, he won’t be fooled again. Blisteringly mad he’s hired a female bearing a man’s name, he fights attraction for the curvy, determined brunette while thwarting efforts to build a private prison atop his Blackfeet ancestors’ burial ground.

Can Elon and Rane realize love doesn’t have a “best used before date”? If you enjoy smoldering romance, mercenary villains, and rescued animals, you’ll love escaping again to Emma Springs, Montana.

Uncaged Review: This is the third book in the Love Thrives in Emma Springs series, and this is my favorite so far. One thing in common with these books, is that I feel like I’ve been to Montana myself (I have not) because of the beautiful way this author describes the area. In this book, Elon is a divorced woman with an evil ex-husband and kids in college. To keep paying for those hefty college tuitions, she takes a job in Emma Springs as a welder. But when the sparks fly when she meets her boss – Rane, (and not from the welding), they will each have baggage to get through to find their way to each other.

This is a great suspense, full of Blackfoot history, a clean romance and villians you will truly despise. Toss in some rescue animals and I’m all in. This is a series I plan to reread back-to-back when I get some free reading time. Reviewed by Cyrene

5 Stars

Uncaged Review – Highland Legend by Kathryn Le Veque

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

Highland Legend
Kathryn Le Veque
Medieval Romance
Releases July 27

Victory. Honor. Redemption.

Magnus Stewart, aka “The Eagle” is the bastard son of a duke, and his royal blood has never been anything but a curse. Among the mystique and riches of the legendary fight club Ludus Caledonia, Magnus battles his way to the top.

Lady Diantha de Mora in desperation seeks his help. When Magnus reluctantly comes to her aid, his fate is changed forever in one night. With enemies at every turn, it’ll take muscle and a miracle for them to make it to the Highlands alive. There Magnus can reclaim his destiny, as Diantha reclaims his heart.

Uncaged Review: Magnus is an elite fighter in a legendary fight club, making his way up the ranks after being held a hostage for years as revenge on his father. As the bastard son of a duke, Magnus has been led to believe his father wanted nothing to do with him, and he makes a name for himself.

Diantha, also a hostage of betrayal against her father from the same place, sees Magnus and remembers him. Escaping long enough to find Magnus and beg for his help to get back home to her family. Although, Diantha will not accept any help, she wants to earn her way. Magnus goes against anything he’s ever done before and hires her to take care of his cottage.

This story has many layers, romance, suspense, brutal fights and engrossing characters. How the relationship develops between an experienced alpha male and a very smart but naïve Diantha, and the way all the layers will peel away keep the reader flipping pages. I had not read the first two books in this series, but was never lost or felt like I missed anything. Great addition to this author’s catalog. This author just doesn’t miss. Reviewed by Cyrene

5 Stars

Uncaged Review: Magnar by Mary Morgan

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

Magnar
Mary Morgan
Historical Fantasy

Known as the Barbarian, Magnar MacAlpin is a fierce ruler for those under his command. As leader of the Wolves of Clan Sutherland, his loyalty and obedience lies with Scotland. However, the king’s last demand is not something Magnar will tolerate.

After Elspeth Gunn’s brother the Chieftain of Castle Steinn is murdered, she flees with her nephew, and finds safety amongst a band of men who are rumored to be part wolf. When the king forces her to wed a heathen Northman, she fears losing her heart and soul not only to the man, but the beast as well.

In order to restore peace to a shattered clan, Magnar and Elspeth travel a treacherous path that challenges their beliefs. When evil seeks to destroy ancient traditions, will Magnar be compelled to restrain his wolf or allow him free to protect those he loves?

Uncaged Review: Ms. Morgan continues her exceptional writing with this brand new series. I have to admit, I wasn’t really on “team Magnar” in the beginning of this. Or even in the middle. I liked Elspeth from the beginning, but I would have liked to see more conflict in her feelings for Magnar, maybe taking longer to admit to her feelings. By the halfway point, I began to like this couple more and more and how Elspeth challenged Magnar.

If you like action, steamy romance and characters you won’t forget, this is a good book to start. If you’ve never read this author before, she may become one of your favorites. She creates a world that you can imagine as you read, and this book is no different. This is one of those books that grabs a hold of you and before you know it, you are nearing the end, wanting more. Reviewed by Cyrene

5 Stars

Uncaged Review: The Crimson Legacies by De Graff and Glidewell

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

The Crimson Legacies
De Graff & Glidewell
YA Fantasy

On the eve of the blood moon, Eden will fall.

When the King and Queen don’t believe the plea for help from a young boy, Princess Sabina is forced to take action on her own. Venturing into the wastelands, she discovers a vast army unnaturally approaching the fortress.

Lead by the Pale Rider, the wicked creatures of death advance upon the Kingdom of Eden.

Seeing through the eyes of a dying seer, Edwin Frasier is forced to accept his bloodline. The son of the Alpha ranked member in the Royal Guard, he must find a way to work with his blood aversions. It is up to him to save Princess Sabina once Eden has fallen.

Uncaged Review: I liked the start of this series, it’s got a good premise and the prophecy that is told could put an end to their world. Edwin, is a wolf shifter who has controlled his shifting tendencies – and also blood makes him ill. He will need to come to terms with being a shifter and helping Princess Sabina.

This book had some really really good moments, there was also some moments that were a bit drawn out, but that seems to be a tightrope that authors have to walk in the beginning of a series, enough information to keep understanding, or too much/too little. My biggest issue with this book is the cliffhanger. I don’t appreciate cliffhangers, I don’t mind continuation of the series, but wrapping up a book itself and carrying over a main arc is fine, but not when it’s cut off in a bad spot. Other than that, this is a young adult that has a very encouraging beginning. Reviewed by Cyrene

4 Stars

Uncaged Review: I, Angel by JC Andrijeski

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

I, Angel
JC Andrijeski
Fantasy Romance

Some angels don’t get harps. We hunt demons.

I never asked to be an angel. Truthfully, being an angel kinda sucks.

This gig didn’t come with an instruction manual. No one told me about the mess of powers I’d inherit, with no idea how to control. Or that I’d black out when I fly, waking up naked in random places. Or that I could only sleep in windowless rooms.

Or that every time I pick up a weapon, there’s a good chance someone dies.

Oh, and I can’t drink alcohol anymore, since I randomly start fires.

Pretty hard to maintain a social life, given that––much less date.

But I, Dags Jourdain, do good. Sort of. I mean, I try.

When I’m not hunting demons, I work as a P.I. in Hollywood, California.

One night, I get in a demon fight in an alley, and accidentally save the life of a movie star, and everything changes. Meanwhile, someone opened a hell portal under the Hollywood sign, a dead guy left me his dog, and a homicide detective who hates me from high school is trying to decide if I’m a serial killer.

Did I mention being an angel kinda sucks?

Uncaged Review: This is a good start to a series, but it was a bit confusing until the end, where it started to come together, but there was still just as many questions in my mind at the end, as there were in the beginning, just different ones. The world building still needs some attention but I think the author deliberately left us readers in the dark and learned along with Dags. This book does some nice twisting and turning and will throw you off a bit when it doesn’t end up exactly how you think it will. There is a beginning of a romance with Dags and Phoenix, apparently they are fated to be together, but I’ll let the readers find out more about that themselves.

This is a good urban fantasy, and it’s a refreshing change from the vampire/shifter worlds. I did like the way that the characters were introduced and how that came together and adding Steve McQueen was a nice touch, definitely moving on to book two.

4 Stars

Uncaged Review: The Debutante and the Duke by Collette Cameron

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

The Debutante and the Duke
Collette Cameron
Victorian Historical Romance

All she wants is her freedom. All he wants is her…

Rayne Wellbrook shouldn’t be living in a luxurious London manor. She shouldn’t be the step-niece to a powerful duke, either. And she most certainly shouldn’t be sneaking into the neighbor’s gardens—even if the house is unoccupied. Or so she thinks until a rakishly handsome Scot startles her one morning. Though she’s wary of men and even leerier of nobles, this man with his too-long hair and piercing blue-green eyes sends her heart to frolicking. When he insists on an introduction, Rayne flees but can’t get the enigmatic new neighbor out of her thoughts.��

Fletcher McQuinton, Duke of Kincade, is only in London long enough to put the finishing touches on his new business ventures, and then he intends to head straight back to Scotland. His meddling English mother has other plans, however—namely finding him an appropriate blue-blooded wife to become the next duchess. Fletcher has vowed to never take an English aristocrat as a wife, but when he comes upon a delightfully intriguing woman climbing his garden wall, he begins to reconsider his reluctance.

Uncaged Review: The characters of Rayne and Fletcher are opposites, her – a young lady from society, and him, a duke who is half English and half Scottish and has vowed to return to Scotland once his business in England is complete, but when he sees a young lady climbing over the fence in the garden to the home he is renting, many plans start to go amiss.

This author always has a fun way of introducing characters to each other. This was a nice quick read that is fun to watch the romance. This is a sweet romance and although it had a few holes here and there, this author is always consistent for me to be a nice read. One thing I can say, is normally I love epilogues, but this one, not as much as usual – I think it had too large of a time jump for me, but overall, I can count on this author’s works to brighten my day.
Reviewed by Cyrene

4 Stars

Uncaged Review: Wolf’s Bane by Aimee Easterling

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

Wolf’s Bane
Aimee Easterling
Fantasy

Secrets are my specialty.

I’m Mai Fairchild — fox shifter, sister’s keeper, and bane of the local werewolf pack. In a world where different is dangerous, my sister and I must pretend to be human at all costs. Too bad I just lost the job that lets me live under the radar while putting food on my sister’s plate.

Enter an enticing werewolf who offers enough cash to upgrade our diets from ramen noodles to salami if I join him on a magical hunt. But can I afford to accept the opportunity when the risk of working closely with every fox shifter’s sworn enemy is so great?

Uncaged Review: This series has a lot of potential to get better and better, it didn’t all come together in this book, but I’m on board for the next ones in the series. The world building is a bit lack luster, and I didn’t get a good feeling of this world, it’s almost as if you are tossed into the world and just supposed to instinctively know how everything works. Things seem to come together slowly, but there are several things that are never really answered, but may be in the future books.

This is not a romance but it seems to be heading in that direction. Although I like Mai, I’m not sure I like her sister as well, even though she’s just a kid. But one thing I didn’t understand is why that the fox shifters have such a volatile nature and are sworn enemies to the wolf shifters. This is an action packed book, that doesn’t slow down much and the characters are easy to like. I haven’t fallen in love with the characters yet, but that may happen as the series progresses. Reviewed by Cyrene

4 Stars

Uncaged Review: Come Here, Kitten by Emilia Rose

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

Come Here, Kitten
Emilia Rose
Shifter Romance

A feared beast searching for an ancient relic. A woman determined to destroy him to prove herself. When their fates collide, more than fur will fly.

ARES
Warmonger Alpha Ares promises to kill anyone who has the Malavite Stone—a crystal packed with ungodly powers and healing properties. From slaughtering packs to building himself an empire, he will stop at nothing to find it.
That is until he meets Aurora.

AURORA
Aurora thinks she knows exactly how to destroy such an arrogant alpha: with a good night and some ale spiked with wolfsbane.
But she has three little secrets that could threaten her entire existence…
– She knows where the Malavite Stone is.
– A pack of bloodthirsty rogues are trying to kill her.
– And she’s falling for the man she once feared.

Can Aurora fend off the rogues alone? What will Ares do when he finds out Aurora’s secrets? Will their relationship survive their fate?

Uncaged Review: Sometimes a good steamy shifter book is what it takes to get out of the doldrums. And this book does a great job of it. Aurora is an alpha female that was destined to lead the pack but cannot shift because of a past injury, and now is thought of as weak to the pack. When her mother offers her up to Ares for pack protection, Aurora feels betrayal and stubbornly defies Ares. This book offers great characters and good world building, with action, loss, romance and mystery.

I enjoyed the book, and I loved the author brought in a cat, Ruffles as a great addition to the story and this book could have rated much higher for me except it ended on a cliffhanger. And it cut off in a strange place. I liked the steamy romance between Ares and Aurora, but their story continues – they have not hit their HEA, yet. Not a standalone.

4 Stars

Uncaged Review – The Forest by Michaelbrent Collings

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

The Forest
Michaelbrent Collings
Occult Suspense

Three kids went in.
Now, twenty years later, the two survivors are going back…

For Tricia and Alex, the idea is simple: find and rescue their friend, Sam, from his insane mother.

But when they enter the forest, they discover that their idea is anything but simple. Because this forest isn’t like any other.

Twenty years later, Tricia and Alex remember nothing of what happened that day they lost their friend. They know only that three kids went in, but only two came out.

To encounter fear itself.

The forest, as Alex and Tricia will discover, is a place where madness reigns. A place where a simple path becomes an ordeal. A place where the past comes to life, and the future is anything but certain.

Because the dead don’t stay dead… in The Forest.

Uncaged Review: If you are easily frightened (I’m not), then I wouldn’t recommend reading this at night right before you go to sleep. Even though I’m not easily scared, this book made me jump a few times, this would be a great film – it has all the trappings of a good thriller like Bird Box or A Quiet Place. A long time ago, 3 friends went into the forest, but only 2 came out. Sam never returned and now, twenty years later, Alex and Tricia are determined to go back and find Sam. They have no memories of what happened all those years ago, and it will be an uphill battle for them to come out of this in one piece and with their mind intact.

This is one of those books that I will come back to and read again. There is so much going on, and there were parts that I hurried through to see what would happen, and I’m sure I missed things. There was a bit of being a bit over muddled, but it’s worth a read, and maybe even a second read.

4 Stars

Uncaged Review: The Contest by Nora Katzir

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

The Contest
Nora Katzir
Women Sleuths/Mystery

Rachel’s husband is a cheater, and her friends have the perfect solution: kill John without getting caught.
They were referring to a hypothetical contest, of course. It wouldn’t necessarily solve Rachel’s problem, but it might ease her pain.
Entries to the contest, start pouring in from friends, customers at their favorite eatery and complete strangers.
When John dies in a suspicious car accident, the police investigate the wife, the mistress, and a rival for yet another lover.
One of the three is arrested for the crime, but did the police get it wrong?

Uncaged Review: I’m not a huge mystery reader, but this book is a light-hearted mystery that was fun to read. Rachel’s husband is caught cheating on her, and to cheer herself up, her and her friends start a contest on the most creative way to kill John. The contest grows rapidly and soon they are swamped with entries. And then John dies in a car accident. Whoops.

The friendship between the women is a refreshing touch, and the mystery was fun and I didn’t guess this one as I usually do with murder mysteries. The contest idea was unique, and it kept me reading to see if the contest “caused the death of John” or if it was truly an accident. A fun mystery with some light-hearted moments.

4 Stars

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