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Uncaged Review – Shift of Heart by S.E. Babin

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

Shift of Heart
S.E. Babin
Paranormal Fantasy

In-hiding hedgewitch florist by day. Powerful demigoddess by blood. Shapeshifting immortal by accident.

After a terrible divorce left her blindsided, all Evie Quinn wants is a relaxing girls’ trip to Scotland, not a fight for her life with a Chimera shifter—an ancient, secretive enemy with the power to shapeshift into anything with a pulse.

Surviving the attack is a plus, but her goddess mother drops a bomb on her: Living will change everything.

And…it does.

Now she’s hiding out in a small town running a popular flower shop, doing her best to resist the urge to gnaw on raw meat every chance she gets, and badly pretending she’s the same ol’ lovable hedgewitch she always was.

Except, spoiler alert: She’s not.

When a foraging trip reveals a dying shifter in the woods, Evie breaks all the rules to heal him and vanishes before he wakes up. Cue immediate panic when that dangerously attractive shifter walks into her shop a few weeks later, and she finds out he’s the Alpha of every single shifter in the state.

Eep.

Fortunately, he’s only looking for a florist, not Evie. Not yet. But divine magic brews in the skies, and the wild gods are on the prowl, searching for the source of a long forgotten ancient magic they sense stirring once again.

As Evie’s secrets claw their way to the surface, she realizes she may have to team up with the one man who can save her life.

If he doesn’t destroy it first.

Uncaged Review: This is a great start to a series and
one that is very original for me, and I read heavily in
this genre, and this book was a nice surprise. Evie is
part witch with fae bloodlines from her goddess mother
and was attacked and turned into a shapeshifter on top
of it all. She hides out in a small town in a floral shop,
catering to events and using her magic with plants to
create a thriving business. When she meets a dangerous
alpha shifter – everything will change and Evie will be
in danger in more ways than one.

This is a very addictive book, and I hardly put it down.
There isn’t any romance per se in this one, but it will set
up for that eventually. Great dialog, lots of snark and
sarcasm and a great supporting cast, this is a great start
to a series and I already have book two on my kindle.
Reviewed by Cyrene

4.5 Stars

Uncaged Review – Nightworld Academy: Origins by L.J. Swallow

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

Nightworld Academy: Origins
L.J. Swallow
Paranormal Romance
Free on author’s website

I saw the future and saved someone’s life. Mine changed forever.

My once fleeting visions recently sharpened into clear, haunting glimpses of the future. When I saw trouble coming for a classmate, I decided to step in and change events to save his life. As a result, another student ended up in the hospital, and my parents were forced to find a new school to help with my ‘issues’.

The moment I walk into the mysterious academy isolated on the Yorkshire Moors, everything I understand about my life begins to change.

My new friends seem normal—Jamie, serious and studious, his presence both a comfort and a mystery. Then there’s Ash, whose easy charm and protective nature make my heart race in a way I can’t explain. But among them lurks Andrei, the brooding figure whose mere glance sends shivers down my spine, hinting at secrets darker than I can imagine.

I swear the people and this place are more than they appear, but my friends hold their secrets tight. It’s clear that I’m not just a regular student sent to the academy for help with my ‘issues’, and I’m determined to uncover the truth about why I’m here.

But as I try to uncover their secrets, I’m troubled by whispers of a hidden danger known as the Dominion. And the deeper I delve into the academy and students, the more I realize that the future I need to change might be one of my new friends.

Uncaged Review: This is a free book on the author’s
website to introduce the reader to the Nightworld
Academy series. Here Maeve is sent to a
school after her “visions” get more and more progressive,
so instead of sending her to a psych ward,
her parents accept a “gift of tuition” from Maeve’s
aunt to attend this academy. Maeve is a witch, but
hasn’t a clue who or what she is, and on top of it all,
she’s a rare witch with the gift of future-sight. The
academy arranges a couple of students to protect her
until they are ready to tell her who she really is.

I like reading prequels, as it gives me an idea if the
series will interest me enough to commit to a full novel,
and this one teeters on the fence a bit, but I feel like I
have enough information that I will go ahead with the
series. You don’t get a good sense of the characters too
much yet, but I’m sure that will change in the coming
books. This is a multi-point-of-view book, with each
chapter changing, but they are marked.
Reviewed by Cyrene

4 Stars

Uncaged Review – House of Ice and Shadows by Sherrilyn Kenyon

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

House of Ice and Shadows
Sherrilyn Kenyon
Fantasy Romance

TAKE BACK YOUR KINGDOM

Gisela Bloodthorn is trained to kill. She has spent her life enslaved as an assassin in the court of the Centaurs, where only the strongest survive.

Now, the Centaur queen has a final assignment for her: protect the Oath Keeper who holds the contract that will keep their enemy at bay and kill the queen’s enemies and Gisela will go free.

But when Gisela discovers her first Outlaw known as Xaydin, Gisela learns that the Outlaws aren’t what they seem. Nor are they easily slain.

Xaydin isn’t just a bastard half-troll, he’s an assassin who has dedicated his life to ridding the Thirteen Kingdoms of the Oath Keepers, especially the one who holds the contract Gisela has been sworn to protect.

But trust doesn’t come easy to either of them. If they can’t find common ground and fight their real enemy, both of them will lose everything and everyone they care for.

Uncaged Review: In the second book in this series,
we meet Gisela, who is actually an assassin for the
Centaur court and her mother – the Queen Meara,
even though that bit of tidbit has been kept secret
from her people, maybe because of her “complete”
parentage. The Queen offers Gisela her freedom for
one final mission, to protect the apaswere who has
the contract between her and Dash – the Unicorn
King, as others have been sent to kill him to null the
contract. The one sent to kill him is Xaydin, a Prince
troll. Both of them will have to overcome their distrust
of everyone to go on a journey together to find
the apaswere.

This is truly Gisela’s and Xaydin’s story, but along
the way we meet a fantastic supporting cast, and the
banter is fun between Xaydin and his two siblings.
Gisela will learn what family should have been.
And yes, we will see Dash in this book, the main
character from book one.

This book has a lot of everything. Danger, suspense,
romance, spice, battle scenes and a whole
slew of mythical beings from Mermaids to Trolls,
to Unicorns and Shifters and Dragons and Centaurs,
this book has a lot going on, but it all fits together
so nicely. This book will not end on a cliffhanger,
but the world remains, and I’m sure we will see all
our characters turn up in future installments.
Reviewed by Cyrene

5 Stars

Uncaged Review – The Prodigal by H.R. Boldwood

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

The Prodigal
H.R. Boldwood
Urban Fantasy

Murder. Mayhem. Zombies. Just another day in my hometown.

Welcome to my world—I’m Allie Nighthawk, a flat-broke zombie hunter with more attitude than cash. When I roll back into Cincinnati, I’m hoping for a fresh start. Instead, I land knee-deep in not one but two murders, a mess of mayhem, and more zombies than you can shake a machete at.

The good guys? They might not be so good. And the blast from my past? Yeah, he’s back—and not exactly bringing flowers.

Now I’ve got to juggle the walking dead, the maybe-not-so-living, and the very real chance I won’t get out unscathed. But hey, it’s all in a day’s work when you’re me: the Corpse Whisperer.

Uncaged Review: This is a new to me author and the
first in a series called Corpse Whisperer, and what it
means by that, is that Allie has the gift to be able to
bring back corpses to life, to try to get information from
them and to keep them from being permanently zombies,
they have to be put back down quickly. But there
are a lot of zombies running around in the shadows.
When Allie moves back to her hometown of Cincinnati,
she is teamed with a partner she never wanted, but
he turns out to be an old school detective that wins her
over. When they start investigating some murders, a lot
of shit will hit the fan, and Harry and Allie will be knee
deep in all of it. It’s a good start to a series, I love the
wise cracking Allie, and Harry was a good foil for her.

There wasn’t an over amount of gore considering
they are whacking zombies often, but the humor fits
in well, and the secondary cast are good additions.
I also liked Headbutt and Kulu, but I’m not spilling
here. There wasn’t a huge cliffhanger here, but it
does set up nicely for the next book.
Reviewed by Cyrene

4 Stars

Uncaged Review – The Crimson Princess by Zoey Voss

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

The Crimson Princess
Zoey Voss
Romantic Fantasy

For the rulers of Ravengale, there is only us and them…until the rule of law becomes the path to destruction.

Princess Satima of Ravengale was born to obey her father’s rule, to sit on the sidelines while others fight, and to never question the ancient laws that bind her throne. But when the Book of Life reveals a destiny she cannot ignore, Satima must abandon her crown and cross into the human realm—a world of shadows, monsters, and forbidden magic.

What she doesn’t expect is him.

Toren is the vampire king her father calls an enemy—beautiful, brutal, and bound by secrets darker than the night itself. When their paths collide, desire ignites like wildfire, and Satima is torn between loyalty to her realm and the dangerous pull of the one man she should never want. But in a world where vampires, druids, and monsters collide, love may be the most dangerous weapon of all.

One choice could save humanity.
One kiss could destroy it.

Uncaged Review: Princess Satima of Ravengale promised to obey her father and be a good girl until the unfortunate happens while she was fighting in the human world. Satima, grieving and upset, goes back to Ravengale but realizes that not everything is as it should be.
Even her father’s conditioning is not something she can no longer follow. When Satima meets her supposed enemy that she has been conditioned to hate, the Vampire King, Toren is not what she expects nor can she resist him. Satima attempts to please her father, even going along with his plans, but her heart will not listen either. Satima and Toren fall hard for each other but their love could not only destroy them but their world too.

I was pretty eager to read this story of forbidden supposed enemies into a lovers’ tale filled with non-stop action and a beautiful love story. The cover was striking and the world building was nicely done so that it was easy to see all the worlds in your head. The characters
were fully drawn out and the pacing was wonderfully executed, which made you care for the characters but also feel sadness or joy for what is happening to all of them. Satima, the heroine, goes through a lot and her father seems not to care, but she has a strength about her
that makes her easy to associate with too. While Toren the vampire king might seem untouchable, he does fall hard for Satima, which is also kind of sweet. Sure, Satima is even pretty angsty, which I can’t help but love. Even though Toren does some pretty questionable things, you still end up liking him anyhow. The only bad thing is the book ends on a cliffhanger, so it does leave you wondering what will happen and will Satima give in to Toren despite everything? Do I look forward to the next book? Yes, of course I do!
Reviewed by Roslynn Ernst

4.5 Stars

Uncaged Review – A Lady’s Rogue to Ruin by Sofie Darling

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

A Lady’s Rogue to Ruin
Sofie Darling
Historical Romance

An East End upstart with an aristocrat’s blood and a rogue’s instincts… An ambitious lady who wants more than her gilded world can offer… A rainy afternoon in a circulating library that sets everything in motion… A Lady’s Rogue to Ruin is sweeping Regency historical romance with class-crossing heat, a daring bargain, and two worlds colliding in the best possible way.

She found him in a library.
She proposed a bargain.
He became everything she bargained for.

Blaze Jagger is many things — East End upstart, bastard son of an aristocrat, wealthy rogue of all trades. While seeking shelter from the rain in a circulating library, he discovers a whole new world. And a woman who just might be the ruin of him.

Lady Viveca Calthorp is ambitious and successful — and she wants more. More experience, more of life beyond what her station allows, more of Blaze Jagger. When she proposes that he show her his world, she ends up with far more than she bargained for.

It doesn’t take long for their adventures to turn into a stolen night of pleasure. Neither could predict how hot the spark between them would burn — or how helpless they would be to its pull. What started as a fling is refusing to stay one.

Uncaged Review: When Blaze Jagger walked into Sirens Circulating Library, Lady Viveca Calthrop couldn’t help but notice him. Viveca knew that there was something about Blaze, not just his wealth, but why did he want a library card, when he had other things to indulge in besides the pastime of reading? When Viveca figures out Blaze’s secret that he can’t read, she decides to help him. As long as Blaze can show her the world outside the ton. Pretty soon, Blaze shows her so much more and Viveca falls immediately for him. Blaze attempts to
stop the lessons but also realizes he is in too deep and does care for Viveca. Is their love doomed from the start or can Viveca convince Blaze to risk all for their feelings?

I really don’t know why it took me so long to read this book, when the book is that awesome! As soon as I got past my reticence and hesitation in continuing on with this story, I couldn’t help but love it! I regret all my previous feelings of not finishing it sooner, yet it did give me time to really savor the story too! Lady Viveca Calthorp is a lady after my own heart! She’s smart, witty and isn’t scared of anything! Even with Blaze being a self-made gentleman, she is pretty observant to realize that he can’t read but doesn’t look down on him because of
it. Both Viveca and Blaze are both charming, lovely, and it’s hard not to fall for them both. Ms. Sofie Darling writes a pretty intriguing tale filled with two very different people, yet they feel for each other and are able to bridge the gap between themselves
and their love is just so heartwarmingly sweet. Do I want more? I can’t wait to read the others in the series and I will definitely be reading more! Reviewed by Roslynn Ernst

4.5 Stars


Eric’s World by Emmanuel Michael

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

Eric’s World
Emmanuel Michael
Psychological Thriller

He’s not just battling his demons—he’s building a sanctuary for them.By day, Edwin Roberts is a quiet I.T. specialist trying to hold his life together.By night, he’s Eric Reeves—a seductive, manipulative genius with a vision darker than anyone can imagine.When Edwin begins therapy under the guidance of the brilliant Dr. Simone Hayes, a psychological war ignites. But this isn’t just any session. As Eric takes control, he spins a fabricated tale of trauma so convincing it nearly cracks Simone’s professional composure. And that’s only the beginning.What follows is a masterclass in psychological manipulation, erotic tension, and emotional warfare—where every word is a weapon and every silence is a setup.As Eric’s influence spreads, relationships unravel, secrets explode, and reality bends. Tianna Caldwell, Edwin’s fiancée, begins to sense the emotional detachment… unaware that she’s being pulled into a mind game she can’t escape. Meanwhile, Dr. Simone teeters between obsession and diagnosis—until she too becomes a piece on Eric’s chessboard.What happens when the patient becomes the predator? And how far will Eric go to build his world?Eric’s World is a dark, urban psychological thriller laced with erotic power struggles, morally gray characters, and mind-bending twists. This debut novel by Emmanuel Michael will leave you questioning every truth, craving the next move, and wondering:Are you in control… or are you just part of his plan?

Uncaged Review: Edwin Roberts works in IT by day by night he’s a completely different person. There’s darkness is his world where he can come and go as he pleases. I found this book haunting Eric’s world is so dark and complex you feel like you are a part of his world almost spying on him. This book is different to anything I’ve ever read. Eric plays a fine art in the lines of deception. A psychological read that plays mind game’s with you. A must read for any fan of this type of genre. I would definitely recommend reading this book. I wouldn’t say Edwin is a likeable character, his moral choices leave a lot to be questioned. He does keep you turning the page though. Reviewed by Jen

4.5 Stars

Uncaged Review – Chance Meeting by Christine Columbus

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

Chance Meeting
Christine Columbus
Contemporary Romance

Melody is fostering her niece while her sister, Captain Opal Erickson, is deployed to Kuwait. A chance meeting at work with Clayton, a construction manager, awakens feelings of the love and romance. Everything is perfect until Opal reveals a family truth and swears Melody to secrecy.
To honor her sisterly pledge, Mel attempts to reject any advances from Clayton, until he guesses the truth. Torn between loyalty to Opal and love for Clayton, she pours herself into work, making a mess of everything. When the dust settles, Mel is left wondering if she’ll be able to put the pieces of her life back together.

Uncaged Review: At work Melody bumps into Clayton a construction worker who’s doing some work for her he presents her with some baseball tickets. But there’s a catch she doesn’t want to fall for him. A interesting take on this book is the fact it centred around baseball that was something fresh to see for a change. Overall I enjoyed reading this! With its positive writing style for a age gap romance. I kind of saw the major plot twist coming. But It was still a decent read tho. I would definitely read more by this author in the future. I also loved how the author didn’t go into much details of the romance between the couple it was left very much to the imagination Reviewed by Jen

3 Stars

Uncaged Review – The Brother of Wrath by Wendy Walla

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

The Brother of Wrath
Wendy Vella
Historical Romance

A lady bound by a promise. A marquess scarred by his past, and the revenge that binds them together.

Lord Jamieson Stafford was everything society expected—aloof, controlled, and dangerously charming. But beneath the marquess’s calm exterior lies a man haunted by rage and guilt. He chases danger to silence his demons—until one reckless night nearly costs a woman her life.

Lady Alice Smythe is no ordinary victim. Fierce and unyielding, she’s sworn to avenge her brother’s death. When she discovers Lord Stafford is hunting the same man, their uneasy alliance ignites into something neither expected.
He’s the last man she should trust.

She’s the one woman who refuses to fear him.

And as vengeance blurs into passion, both must decide what’s worth saving—their honor, their hearts… or each other.

Uncaged Review: Lady Alice has a plan. Revenge for her brother’s death. Enlisting the help of Jamie the marquees of Stafford they plot a way to achieve this. This is the third book in the Blackwood Brotherhood series but can be read as a standalone book. Lady Alice goes back into society thinking she can gain some insight into her brother’s death. Can Jamie help Alice find the answers to the questions she has surrounding her brother’s death.

This book will have you holding on to the edge of your seat. Even holding on to you’re breath at some points. I felt like Jamie and Alice were wrote as such likeable characters completely human but also flawed and so very strong willed. Reviewed by Jen

4 Stars

Uncaged Review – The Male Luna by Vanna Bay

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

The Male Luna
Vanna Bay
Shifter Romance

Normal was the goal. Fate brought fur and a punchline.

Brayden’s life is a chaotic mess with the appearance of a broodingly possessive Alpha Damien and one ridiculously inconvenient mate bond later. Lukewarm coffee is out and ancient pack laws are in. Brayden is having none of it, determined to resist this unwanted destiny with a full-scale sarcastic rebellion against this supernatural nonsense.

Prepare for a darkly funny rom-com that gleefully claws its way out of the werewolf genre box. While Damien’s possessiveness howls ‘fated mate’, Brayden’s inner monologue is a laugh-out-loud revolt against any predetermined bond.

His wit is sharp. His mate’s teeth are sharper. Who bleeds first in this untamed romance?

Uncaged Review: This was meant to be a fresh start for Brayden and family. A fresh start in Rocky falls. Well that was the plan anyway a altercation at the grocery store has Brayden second guessing If they even belong in Rocky falls. No matter how hard he tries he can’t get away from a certain person.

I found this book enjoyable and loved the pent up energy between the two male leads. Brayden was a likeable character and I was keen to go on this journey of him finding himself in this book.
Reviewed by Jen

3 Stars

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