Friday, January 17, 2025
Home Blog Page 3

Uncaged Feature Author – C.S. Kjar

By
Cyrene Olson
-
0

Uncaged welcomes C.S. Kjar

Welcome to Uncaged! Your latest book is Walkers on the Run: Oldsters Love Adventure. Can you tell us more about this book?

Walkers on the Run follows Leona Walker who is determined to uncover who broke into her home in Red Creek, South Dakota, and stole her most cherished belongings. With the help of her older sister Betty and their walker-toting neighbor Clarence, Leona sets off on a mission to recover her late husband’s wedding ring. Her search quickly spirals into a dangerous game, landing Leona in more trouble than she bargained for, including the possibility of facing murder charges. As her relentless pursuit puts her friends, her, and others at risk, Leona must decide if holding on to the past is worth endangering the present. Filled with humor, heart, and suspense, Walkers on the Run is the spirited first installment in the Oldsters Love Adventure cozy mystery series.

Other books in the series, Walkers on Water and Walkers on Thin Ice, will be released on a future date.

You also have a series called Daughters of Time, with three books out now. Are you planning on writing more in this mystery series?

This series came into being during a workshop I attended where our table plotted Book 1, the story of the three daughters of Father Time who don’t like each other and haven’t been in the same place for 15 years. Since the characters wouldn’t leave my head so I had to write it with the permission of my tablemates. I wrote three books with the characters and released them in the contemporary fantasy/mystery series: The Secrets of the Clock (solving the mystery of the magic clock), The Secrets of the Cottage (finding the ghost of a pirate’s long-lost love), and The Secrets of the Storm (Mother Nature is mad at Father Time and vows to destroy the cottage). All three are about sister relationships and how to maintain them with husbands, children, and holiday characters involved.

My readers are begging for a prequel to the series to describe the black wedding and its showdown that initially tore the sisters’ relationships apart. I’ve written it, but it’s not ready for release. Some of the side characters in the book and sequel have very interesting stories to explore, so there’s a possibility of more books about the daughters of Father Time and Mrs. Hagg.

How do you use social media as an author?

Most of my readers are middle-aged to older women who spend time on Facebook and Instagram, so my focus is mostly on those two platforms. I spent years on Facebook with friends, so it was easy to expand it to my books. It provides a great place to see and get acquainted with other authors and readers and discover book signing opportunities. I’ve boosted posts and run ads on Facebook with fair success in book sales. This year, I opened an Instagram account to which my assistant posts my memes and information for me. I’ve enjoyed interacting with other writers, editors, and readers on that platform, so much so I wish I’d joined earlier. I recently set up a Pinterest account for my books and am still working on getting it going. So far, TikTok is not on my list because I’m still waiting to see if it’s going to be banned in the U.S. or stay in place. I’m on X but have had no success with being on there as a writer.

Read the rest of the interview in the issue below

C.S. Kjar is an award-winning author living in the West, where bison, deer, and antelope play. She writes wholesome stories set in small towns, where ordinary people are faced with tough choices that ultimately make them stronger. Her books of sweet romance, cozy mystery, and women’s fiction offer lighthearted fun with touches of humor and wisdom. Pronounced “care,” her last name reflects her care and passion for creating good books for readers to enjoy and as a reminder that in life, as in her books, caring for one another makes all the difference. cskjar.com

Enjoy an excerpt from Walkers on the Run


Walkers on the Run
C.S. Kjar
Cozy Mystery

How did she get herself into this mess?

Elderly Leona Walker is determined to uncover who burglarized her home in Red Creek, South Dakota, and absconded with her treasured belongings. She enlists the help of her older sister Betty and their squeaky-walker-toting neighbor Clarence. Their investigative escapades land them in hot water at every corner, and Leona might even face murder charges. Her relentless quest to retrieve her late husband’s wedding ring raises questions: Is she endangering herself and her companions? Does the end justify the risks? And is her sister Betty genuinely eccentric, or is it all an act? Dive into the humorous and spirited Book 1 of the ‘Oldsters Love Adventure’ cozy mystery series for the revelations.

Excerpt:

Chapter 3

Leona and the others sidled into the ruined living room. Betty let out a cry of despair. Prissy squirmed free of Betty’s embrace and shot out the open door.

Leona had trouble keeping her emotions under control and trying not to choke on bleach fumes. This place didn’t feel like her home anymore. The serenity it once provided lay shredded and broken like all the contents.

After taking stock of the damage in the living room and kitchen, Leona crept down the hallway, peering into Betty’s bedroom and the bath along the way. Betty’s normally spotless room had been ransacked. Her clothes were scattered everywhere, and the drawers of her wooden chest were thrown on the bed. Betty stood in the doorway, too stunned to enter farther. Clarence remained with her as Irene and George followed Leona down the hallway to her own bedroom.

With Irene’s hand on her shoulder, Leona swung her bedroom door open. Her heart nearly quit beating, her body trembled, and her throat constricted. The bureau drawers had been emptied onto the bed and flung aside. She saw the edge of her jewelry box underneath clothes and unmentionables. She clawed through the pile, hoping she might find her most precious pieces left behind.

Jerking upright, she covered her mouth to keep the cry of anguish from escaping. All her jewelry was gone. The pearl necklace Joe gave her for their fortieth anniversary. The diamond bracelet for their forty-fifth anniversary only three years ago. But what hurt the most was the two things Leona most wanted to be there were gone. Her late mother’s ruby necklace and Joe’s wedding ring. She let out a distraught howl and began to cry. “Oh, my word! No!” she cried as she pawed through the clutter and mess on her bed.

“What is it, dear?” Irene pushed Leona’s hair away from her face.

“They’re gone!” Leona covered her face with her hands. “My most treasured possessions are gone!” She picked up one of her blouses off the bed and sobbed into it. Unwilling to believe it, she wiped her eyes and shuffled through the pile again, sorting clothes from underclothes as she went. She dropped to the floor and felt the carpet along the bedside and under the bed while George and Irene urged her to tell them what she was looking for.

Read the rest of the excerpt in the issue below:

Uncaged Review – Christmas Belles Box Set by Cerise DeLand

By
Cyrene Olson
-
0

Christmas Belles
Cerise Deland
Historical Regency
Box Set

The Countess of Marsden requests the pleasure of your company at her home on the North Steyne in Brighton, December 21 to December 28, 1815.

She welcomes you to dining, dancing, charades, cards and match-making for her nieces and guests.

Even, dear me, herself!

Card-sharps, smugglers, lecherous lords are not invited. But many forlorn ladies in search of lost beaux are in attendance. One Shakespeare-quoting butler is shocked at his lady-love’s attendance. Sadly, a certain older gentleman whom the Countess adores has sent his regrets.

Yet she hopes he will appear!

Uncaged Review: Six novellas, all in one and all about a Christmas party. Each story will focus on how six couples find their way to a HEA during this weeklong party. Aunt Gertrude has invited the eligible bachelors in hoping to marry off her three young nieces. But they aren’t the only ones finding love at this party.

This is a lot of fun, and I think the first one, The Earl’s Wagered Bride was still my favorite, but they all were a lot of fun to read. You can’t go wrong with this set and the epilogues were wonderful. There is steam in these stories, some more than others, but each of the story is a complete story and even though they don’t continue into each other, which I actually would have liked better, but it’s understandable when you need to fit 6 love stories into a week party. Great fun, and it’s a nice holiday Reviewed by Cyrene

5 Stars

Uncaged Review – Ushers by Joe Hill

By
Cyrene Olson
-
0

Ushers
Joe Hill
Occult Short

A young man who has improbably escaped death twice reveals his secret in a spine-tingling short story by New York Times bestselling author Joe Hill.

Martin Lorensen is a twenty-three-year-old counselor for disturbed teenagers. He’s bright, compassionate, attractive, and outgoing. He’s also—and this is the most interesting thing—not dead. Martin has improbably survived not one but two deadly disasters that claimed dozens of lives. The kid is riding one hell of a lucky streak. Two federal agents think there is something darker at play. Now that they’ve arranged to interview Martin, they want answers. Martin is ready to share everything he knows. One thing is for certain: when it comes to escaping death, luck doesn’t figure into it at all.

Uncaged Review: Martin is 23 yrs old and being questioned by 2 detectives, Duvall and Hall about a train derailment that killed several people, and a school shooting in the past, thinking he might be part of the bigger picture. I can’t tell you much, because this book is very short, but the author hooked me within the first 2 pages, and in a short amount of time, I had a good sense of who Martin was, and one of the detectives. This is a short book, but it still packs quite a punch. Reviewed by Cyrene

4 Stars

Uncaged Review – Tangled Up with the Highlander by Julie Johnstone

By
Cyrene Olson
-
0

Tangled Up with the Highlander
Julie Johnstone
Scottish Historical

He thought he would never love again… Then he fell for the lass he must give up to save his clan.

Desperate to keep his children and clan from starving, Laird Alasdair MacLachlan joins the ranks of mercenaries searching for the missing lass of a powerful clan. The mission seems simple—find the lass, return her to her family, and claim the hefty reward. But when fate throws bow and arrow wielding Sorcha MacGregor in his path, he’s about to discover how complicated one mule-headed, beguiling beauty can make things. For a man who has lost and loved and has no interest in doing either ever again, he’s confounded by the desire the opinionated woman awakens in him, and he’s shocked to discover his heart might not be permanently frozen after all. But his duty to his family and clan must come before all else, and that means sticking to the plan. Or is that just an excuse to avoid burying his painful past and taking a risk on a new future? One thing is certain—if he doesn’t figure it out soon, Sorcha will be lost to him forever.


Life has taught Sorcha MacGregor that only a harebrained fool would wish to wed and become a man’s chattel to control. So when she’s kidnapped by a Highlander who intends to deliver her like a trussed pig to a family she’s never known, she instantly decides he’s a selfish barbarian like all other men. Her opinion becomes harder to maintain, though, when the devilishly handsome warrior risks his life for hers. Still, she has no intention of lowering her well-placed guard and making herself vulnerable. But with each act of kindness Alasdair shows her, every moving interaction between him and his children, and the simmering way he looks at her, not to mention the toe-curling kisses, she comes to see the gentle, brokenhearted man behind the hardened exterior, and she does the one thing she swore she’d never do: falls in love. When the time comes for Alasdair to make the ultimate sacrifice for her, for love, will he prove he’s really the man of her dreams or just a fantasy that is too good to be true?

Uncaged Review: This is the second book in this series, and I think I liked it better than the first. This time around we are introduced to Sorcha, (or really Margaret Stewart) who has had a very abused life with her adoptive father, especially after her mother dies. She decides to enter an archery contest, to win coin for her sister and her to get out from under the horrible living conditions. Laird Alasdair will enter the same contest to win coin for his clan, and when he finds Sorcha and believes her to be the sister that Laird Ross Stewart (whom we met in the first book) and worth a mighty reward. He decides to tell her the truth of who she is and take her with him back to his lands until they can take her to her brother. Supposedly, she’s been betrothed to a man since she was wee.
But the more time Alasdair spends with her, the less he wants to let her go. And Sorcha will begin to see that all men are not the dishonorable men she’s always believed.

This book has danger, romance and a second chance for love for Alasdair. As the two get to know each other and respect each other, will Sorcha really be torn away from his home and the two children from his first wife who died in childbirth? I enjoyed the two of these characters and the children were fun. It was also great to see Ross again, and even though his involvement came late in the book, it was worth the read to get there. There isn’t much better of a read than the Highlanders, and the author does them justice. Even though I guessed pretty quickly what was going to happen in this book from very early on, it was a very enjoyable read. I hope in the next book, that they find their brother Graeme. Reviewed by Cyrene

5 Stars

Uncaged Review – Harrison Hyde and the Runaway Bride by Maggie Shayne

By
Cyrene Olson
-
0

Harrison Hyde and the Runaway Bride
Maggie Shayne
Contemporary Romance

Maria Michelle Brand Monroe
She’s a newly licensed vet, and will take over her mom’s clinic in their dusty, Southwest Texas town. She’s getting married, too. Her perfectly planned-out life is finally underway!

Then, on the morning of her wedding, she learns something about her groom that hits her plans like a freight train.

Harrison Hyde
He’s a scientist whose life’s work is done… and he has no idea what comes next. His solitary drive across Southwest Texas to a demonstration of his ultra-efficient solar tile will give him time to think about what he wants.

Whatever it is, it’ll be back east, where his family is, where he’d grown up, and where his mother is buried. A year ago, he’d promised his dying mom he would keep the family together. And it isn’t going well.

Uncaged Review: This book starts out fast, with our two main characters meeting by Maria plowing into Harrison and grabbing his keys, with a torn up wedding dress on. As Harrison rides with this runaway bride, he sees she’s not as broken up about as she should be. There were a lot of characters to keep up with and it was a fun time to watch two people from completely different backgrounds have so much more in common then they would think. Harrison is a scientist and on his way to a meeting in New Mexico for his latest invention, and Maria is from a large family, well known in the state, with the land, money and name.

It’s been a while since I read a Maggie Shayne novel, and this one had danger, many twists, some easy romance and a group of people that were easy to like. As a person that used to live in Texas, a couple of things stood out as a stretch, (bluebonnets don’t bloom in June – they are a spring wildflower), but even though the author took a few liberties, it was still a fun read.
Reviewed by Cyrene

4.5 Stars

Uncaged Review – A Hardened Warrior by Hildie McQueen

By
Cyrene Olson
-
0

A Hardened Warrior
Hildie McQueen
Scottish Historical

Tristan Ross had a long recovery from devastating injuries. Through it all, visions of a beautiful woman trailed him. When he finally sees her again, it’s under the worst of circumstances.

In Merida McLeod’s opinion, the only thing worse than being at war with Clan Ross is the possibility of marrying one of them. Although attracted to Tristan Ross, marriage to him means a future away from her family and everything she’s ever known.

Uncaged Review: This second book is Tristan Ross’s story. Tristan wakes up severely injured and near death in a humble cottage. When Tristan hears a woman’s voice telling him to drink, he wonders who the mysterious lady is, who cares for him so tenderly. The person turns out to be Merida MacLeod, and she realizes that she must return Tristan to his clan. So, despite the danger, Merida risks everything to returning Tristan. When Tristan is called to, Mackenzie keep to negotiating peace with Clan McLeod. Laird Mackenzie suggested to further peace between Ross and McLeod that Tristan and Merida get married. Both Tristan and Merida are hesitant and attempt to avoid marriage. As Tristan and Merida get to know each other, a grudging respect and a deep affection for one another forms. When Tristan must protect Merida against not only his own family but his own clan, will their love save them anyway?

Ms. Hildie McQueen has done it again, writing another enticing historical Highlander enemy to a lover romance that is simply unputdownable! What makes it enjoyable is it isn’t necessary to read the first in the series either, since this book can stand alone, but you might want to read it to understand the family dynamics and everything that is going on. Plus, there are some confusing things that are explained in the other story and make much better sense in this book. Also, Ethan, the man that started the whole feud between the two clans, is alive in this story and causing more trouble when, at the end of the first book, something does happen to him, so of course, the timeline does seem a bit mixed up. There are many side plot romances going on, but this doesn’t disrupt the ongoing flow of the story or take away from the main characters. Tristan the hardened warrior is at first difficult to like, but you eventually warm up to him. While Merida, the feisty, beauteous healer, is just a joy to read. Do I look forward to the next book? Well, of course, I do!
Reviewed by Roslynn Ernst

4 Stars

Uncaged Review – Silver Hills Christmas Miracle by Ava Gray

By
Cyrene Olson
-
0

Silver Hills Christmas Miracle
Ava Gray
Contemporary Romance

She’s the Mayor’s daughter.
And I’m about to give her more than just protection!

I’m an ex-soldier with a job to do.
Romance was never part of the mission.
Until that snowy Silver Hills night,
When I fell for her rebellious spirit and hidden fire.
It was supposed to be strictly professional,
Now every day is a struggle to keep my hands off her.
She’s as irresistible as ever but keeping secrets.
I sense she’s hiding something big.

Looks like this Christmas, we’re both in for a miracle!

Uncaged Review: Set in a small town, Kitty is the mayor’s daughter and is protesting against a huge highway expansion that will cut down the forests and ruin the business for the people in the town, but the mayor won’t listen and Kitty will go to some hard length’s to help the protesters. Rook, is an ex-military man who is hired by the mayor to be Kitty’s bodyguard. The attraction between Kitty and Rook is undeniable, and it doesn’t take that for them to realize it. This is a good hot romance with danger with a few good twists. The small town setting is full of characters that add a nice dimension.

Set near Christmas and a Christmas Yuletide party this is a good read, although I thought a bit of it dragged on a bit too long, but I would definitely read another by this author. Reviewed by Cyrene

4 Stars

Uncaged Review – Knight of Havoc by Sherry Ewing

By
Cyrene Olson
-
0

Knight of Havoc
Sherry Ewing
Medieval Romance

One lone knight. One strongminded maiden. When duty wars with love at first sight, which will win?

Long ago, Reynard Norwood loved deeply, but the lady died, and he vowed never to love again. On a mission for the Empress Matilda, he finds a lady worthy of love. She is barely surviving. How can he leave her? But how can he break his vow to the dead? Torn between loyalty to a ghost and following his heart, he must still make certain that the living lady is safe and secure.

The life of Lady Elysande Thorburn of Blackmore has been in turmoil since King Stephen and his men laid siege to her home. With few resources, she must care for an ailing grandfather and meet her responsibilities to those loyal to the household. Her options for survival are running out. One of Empress Matilda’s knights arrives at her weakest moment. He’s determined she must leave with him, but she’s just as determined to stay.

Nothing about their relationship is simple, least of all the attraction each has for the other. As havoc and conflicting demands surround them, is love even possible?

Uncaged Review: This book is the third installment of the series. Sir Reynard Norwood’s main goal is to serve the Empress Matilda because his one true love, Lady Joanna, is dead. Still, on the days and nights when there is nothing to do, Reynard’s feelings of despair drive him to dwell on her. When Reynard comes upon Blackmore and the beauteous Lady Elysande Thorburn, she attempts to be the best host despite not having anything to eat herself. Reynard knows Elysande doesn’t have much, and his plan is to take her to the Empress because maybe she might be able to help her. Of course, convincing Elysande to accompany him isn’t going to be an easy feat either. Finally, Reynard is able to talk Elysande into going, but the journey is fraught with danger. Reynard has even fallen for Elysande, but the Empress decides to make it into a tournament. Reynard realizes that even though this is supposed to be a game, he is playing to win Elysande’s hand or die trying.

This historical romance book is definitely a roller coaster of action and adventure from beginning to end! It’s amazing that each successive story is filled with so much that it really is a complete page turner and very hard to put down. Sure, at times I was screaming in frustration because I thought the tale should have just ended after both the hero and heroine finally get together, but, no, there are more plot twists and turns that kept me on the edge of my seat in wide-eyed anticipation. Reynard almost seems to heal at an extremely fast rate too. While Elysande’s attachment to him is alarmingly quick. It does work and carries the book along wonderfully! I think for me those unexpected curves caused a tiny bit of dragging, yet it kept my attention throughout and the villain was just awful, but isn’t that the point? I think it was more my issue than anything else. I do look forward to Richard’s story next and hope the rest of the knights, including Constantine, get a novel too. Reviewed by Roslynn Ernst

4 Stars

Uncaged Review – How to Love a Dangerous Rogue by Scarlett Scott

By
Cyrene Olson
-
0

How to Love a Dangerous Rogue
Scarlett Scott
Gilded Age Historical

Lady Tansy Francis has been a loyal lady-in-waiting for most of her life. In the eyes of the ton, she has come to London for the formal betrothal announcement of the princess who is like a sister to her. But secretly, Tansy has become caught up in the plans for a revolution in her homeland. She finds herself with no choice but to join forces with the last person she should ever trust, a coldhearted man who is feared by many: the king to whom the princess is about to announce her betrothal.

King Maximilian of Varros has a reputation that precedes him as a brutal, callous ruler who has stopped at nothing to claim his throne. After many long years of war, he has forged peace in his kingdom. But that peace is being threatened, and he’ll burn everything and everyone to the ground to save it. Only a few obstacles are standing in his path, and one of them happens to be a fearless lady-in-waiting he can’t stop wanting.

Tansy’s allegiance is to the princess, but King Maximilian has no qualms about seizing whatever he desires, consequences be damned. With the fires of revolution lit and chaos swirling around them, their passion is forbidden and yet impossible to resist. Trapped between old loyalties and new longings, Tansy has to make the most difficult choice of all—risk her heart for a dangerous rogue…or watch as he marries her best friend.

Uncaged Review: Princess Anastasia is betrothed to a King of Varros, a match her horrible uncle has made for an alliance with the country and is sent to London to meet up with her match, taking her lady-in-waiting, Tansy, with her. But the uncle is crude, and has exiled the true heir to the throne, the princess’s brother, who has not been found, so Princess Anastasia sneaks out through a window, and is working to find her brother to overthrow her uncle from the throne. During this time, King Maximilian tries to visit with the Princess, but only is able to see Tansy, who is covering for the princess. Feelings develop between the two in the times they spend together, even though Tansy knows he’s betrothed to the princess.

A lot of hot romance, intrique, action and danger, and forbidden passion is within the pages of this story. I was intrigued from the start and even though Max is a bit too alpha at times, I still loved all the characters, especially Nando, who is the subject of book 2 of this series and already on my kindle. Reviewed by Cyrene

4.5 Stars

Uncaged Review – The Rest Falls Away by Colleen Gleason

By
Cyrene Olson
-
0

The Rest Falls Away
Colleen Gleason
Historical Paranormal

Beneath the glitter of dazzling 19th century London Society lurks a bloodthirsty evil…
Just as Lady Victoria Gardella is preparing for her debut into London Society, she learns the shocking and impossible truth about her family legacy: she is one of the very few who has the power–and responsibility–to hunt and slay the evil vampires that infest the city.

With infinite questions (where will she hide her stake? how will she know a vampire when she encounters one? how will she sneak out at night?), Victoria agrees to shoulder the responsibility and carry the stake–despite the societal restrictions and expectations of her as a female.

But as she moves between the crush of ballrooms and dangerous moonlit streets, juggling the expectations of her mother and the requirements of her obligations, Victoria’s heart is torn between London’s most eligible bachelor, the Marquess of Rockley, and her dark, dangerous duty.

And when she comes face-to-face with the most powerful vampire in history, Victoria must ultimately make a choice between duty and love.

Uncaged Review: The author has deftly combined the historical London society with the paranormal world of vampires and the people that hunt them. In this book, the vampires are not romanticized, they are truly creatures that kill and are unknown to most of society. There are a few people that are either born into, or become Venators, the ones that are gifted with special abilities, such as strength, speed and being able to find the vampires. Victoria was born a Venator, as a legacy of her family. Even though she’s making her debut in Society, she is trained and learns to be a Venator from her aged aunt and another Venator, named Max – who although was not born into the legacy, earned his way to being a Venator. Along the way, Victoria is courted by a Marquess, and even though she’s warned about being in a marriage when the spouse cannot know about her activities is not a good idea, she falls in love with Phillip, and believes she can do both.

This has a lot of intrigue, and action along with a bit of heartbreak and angst – and Victoria will come to realize her worth and her strengths. Being part of the vampire slayer world and part of Society will have it’s advantages and disadvantages, and eventually, Victoria will need to choose. A very good start to a nice original historical.
Reviewed by Cyrene

4 Stars

1234...127Page 3 of 127

© 2016 - 2024 Uncaged Book Reviews, All Rights Reserved