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Uncaged Review: The Mocking Man by Leslie Georgeson

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

The Mocking Man
Leslie Georgeson
Romantic Suspense

Deception.

Not a word I would have associated with myself fifteen years ago. Back then I was innocent and carefree, a teenage boy with big dreams.

Then my best friend Rafe was kidnapped, and my world fell apart. I foolishly thought I could save him.

I was wrong.

Now my entire life is a web of deceit. My every breath tainted by lies. I don’t like what I’ve become. But it’s essential for my very survival.

My job now is to stay in the shadows and keep Rafe’s sister Isabella safe. She can’t even know I’m here.

Then danger lurks closer. Somehow, I must protect her while keeping my secret.

But I get so caught up in my own twisted game that I eventually make a terrible mistake.

Now she’s a part of the pact. And I can’t let her go.

But what kind of life can I give her if I can never be anything more than the mocking man?

Uncaged Review: For a romantic suspense, this
is a good one and even though most suspense/
thriller/crime novels include some of the same
formulas, this one mixes it up a bit. Alex and
Rafe are best friends, and when Rafe gets kidnapped
by a drug cartel, Alex will do his best to
try and save him and protect his sister, Isabella.
There are a lot of twists and turns to this book,
and the book kept me interested, but I wasn’t
overly attached to the book once I set it down.

Some books will have me carrying them around
and reading every chance I get, and this one did
not do that, but I do think it’s a well written plot
with suspense, friendship and loyalty, romance,
lies, deceit and a bit of steam. Reviewed by
Cyrene

4 Stars

Uncaged Review: Genesis by T. Sae-Low

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

Genesis
T. Sae-Low
YA/Fantasy Myth

As rumors swirl across the war torn lands of Eos of a possible Candidate—the long prophesied savior of peace— young Raden Nite finds himself unexpectedly chosen to discover the truth to these rumors. Raden’s top-secret mission will send him and his closest friends on a heart-pounding adventure through the mysterious Voras Mountains, the impenetrable fortress of Sargatum, and deep into strange new lands where dangerous enemies await.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the Disputed Lands, Prince Aric sits third in line to the crown of Vicedonia. Seeking to escape the overwhelming shadow of his elder brother, and to prove to his father, the king, that he is indeed a worthy successor, Aric embarks on a path into the darkest corners of Eos. On his journey, he will encounter the sinister magic of the Dark Forest, the epic battlegrounds of Lake Raphia, and discover the harsh realities of what it truly means to be king.

In the first book of the Prophecy Rock Series, fates will collide in this epic tale of action, loyalty, and love, where the ultimate meaning of true sacrifice will be discovered.

Uncaged Review: I like the premise of this book
and the author does a great job describing the lands
and the two distinct dynasties. I would caution
readers, that this is marketed as a Young Adult, and
I would keep that to older teens as the battles are
brutal and may be a bit much for younger teens.

The pace is pretty slow although it does kick in
around the halfway point, but it also takes awhile
for this world to really sit well with the reader, it
doesn’t fully realize itself easily. I think the main
issue I had with this one is that there were so many
things going on without explanation too soon, that
it caused a disconnect with the reader. All in all, I
enjoyed the book and it’s a solid fantasy.
Reviewed by Cyrene

4 Stars


Uncaged Review: MacGuffin by Roy C. Booth and John F. Mollard

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

MacGuffin
Booth & Mollard
Suspense/Noir

THRILLING HOLLYWOOD NOIR WITH A HORRIFIC WEB OF INTRIGUE & SUSPENSE (ARTISAN BOOK REVIEWS)

HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA, AUGUST 2005.

Rich MacGuffin, an aspiring actor with a talent for acting but a distinct lack of tinsel town looks, struggles to find work that will lead him on the road to stardom.

When a series of murders takes place by an elusive serial killer nicknamed THE HOLLYWOOD SPECTRE, and one of those victims is the star in a movie in the process of being shot, MacGuffin comes up with a unique idea that will land him the starring role.

Finally, MacGuffin gets his chance to show his acting ability, and he shines. But the killer is still on the prowl and seeking revenge against those from his past. MacGuffin unwittingly becomes involved with the LAPD and FBI as they hunt the killer and the bodies stack up.

Uncaged Review: This book starts out pretty fast,
and also with almost too much going on to the point
of wondering how all this will come together and
play out. But the authors do a great job bringing all
the frayed ends of this noir crime story together. At
times I even laughed out loud. This is a very twisted
thriller that most crime readers will really enjoy. This
is definitely a plot driven storyline and I would have
liked to see these characters flushed out a bit more, as
they felt a bit off in their reactions.

The pacing is great, and it kept me entertained, and
those that know me and my reading preferences know
that if a suspense novel keeps me turning pages, it’s
worth a look. Reviewed by Cyrene

4 Stars

Uncaged Review: Chasing Arlo by Ginger Ring

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

Chasing Arlo
Ginger Ring
Romantic Suspense/Crime

A mafia princess doesn’t belong with a lowly soldier.

At least, that is what Arlo thinks.

He’s used to women only wanting steamy one-night stands and nothing more. Not until, to his surprise, he’s pursued by none other than the mafia princess herself.

Layla makes it her mission in life to tease and flirt with Arlo endlessly. It’s been a cat and mouse game ever since they met.

But if she only knew the truth. If she knew all the things he has done for her family, it would both amaze and horrify her.

With Arlo, however, it’s all or nothing, so when a bombing from the Russian mob occurs and a possible threat from inside the family looms, he steps up to keep Layla safe.

With everything unraveling around her, Layla quickly realizes chasing Arlo and more importantly, keeping him might be the only thing that saves her life..

Uncaged Review: The final book in this main series
is a great way to wrap this one up and a worthy addition.
Arlo is head of security for the family, and when
a bomb takes out a boat, Arlo will step up to keep
Layla safe. This family has always been strong and
close knit, and it plays out well here. Many twists and
turns will keep you guessing to the ending.

Although I’m sad that this book is wrapping up this
main series, the epilogue in the back of the book was
such a great touch and I “may have” needed a tissue
or two. I am hoping that we can talk the author into
something on the kids in the future, but for now, this
is a great final book, and it’s a series to remember and
re-read in the future. Reviewed by Cyrene

5 Stars

Uncaged Review: Whispers by Shayne Silvers

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

Whispers
Shayne Silvers
Urban Fantasy

The Vatican is broken… And Callie’s hearing Whispers in the dark corners of her mind…

One of the Vatican’s most infamous Shepherds has been murdered, and Callie’s friends are the prime suspects. To prove them innocent, Roland and Callie must risk their very souls…

Because Callie can’t reveal that she’s hearing strange Whispers when she uses her magic, or that she’s harboring an Angel’s Grace. And if the Shepherds discover the hellish bargain Roland made, the streets of Rome will flow with blood as brother turns against brother.

And with the Antipope pressuring the Vatican for change, and Nate Temple arriving unannounced to demand an audience with the Shepherds, things couldn’t get any more chaotic.

Until Callie learns of an ancient order of traitors hiding in the Vatican, and they’ll do anything to bring it down—brick by brick.

The only way to find the traitor, keep her secrets, and save those she loves is to raise her blade against these Holy warriors of God, shattering the Vatican itself.

And the Whispers in her head find all of this so terribly…amusing.

Uncaged Review: This series is fast becoming
a mainstay in the Templeverse for me. And what
continually sweetens the deal for me is the crossovers
with Nate Temple, I like that the author
keeps these separate, but together, as I learn more
about Callie and Nate in both. I still like this as a
romantic pairing, but I don’t know that will be the
goal.
There is a lot going on in this book, a Shepherd
who was Roland’s mentor, has been murdered in
Vatican City, and two young werewolf girls that
Roland and Callie rescued are the main suspects
and Roland and Callie will have to find a way to
prove their innocence. Roland will pay a steep
price. We still don’t know what the Whispers are
that Callie hears, but she’s learning to go with her
gut.
Nate Temple shows up for a short interlude, and
things turn even more chaotic when he leaves.
With an Antipope and other top ranking Shepherds
controlling and watching their every move,
This book sets a great pace, and it’s hard to put
down once you begin. Especially when you get to
the halfway point. Highly recommended series.
Reviewed by Cyrene

5 Stars


Uncaged Review: Torn by Vengeance by Sally Brandle

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

Torn by Vengeance
Sally Brandle
Romantic Suspense

Corrin Patten is solidly on a path to make partner in a prestigious Seattle law firm when an ominous threat from her past turns deadly. She can handle circumstances necessitating a temporary move to the backwater town of Emma Springs, but its charming physician is another matter, as she’s issued a permanent moratorium on men.

Dr. Kyle Werner revels in trust from patients he regularly treats in a community he’s never wished to leave. Yet Emma Springs lacks one thing, a woman to share his perfectly bucolic life. He’s read about pheromone attraction, but never experienced desire until meeting Corrin. They make an unbeatable team, but convincing her that his interest is sincere while they dissect layers of deceit requires the precision of a surgeon’s scalpel. Can they defeat the wealthy stalker bent on mistaken revenge against Corrin and destruction of the peaceful Montana setting?

Uncaged Review: I love how this author takes us to Emma Springs. The way this town and area are described makes me feel like I’ve actually been there and the author is bringing up memories – that is truly a gift. This is the 2nd book in this series, and it’s a solid suspense. Corrin is staying in Emma Springs after she receives threats on her life in Seattle as a lawyer, at least until the threat is over. But she didn’t count on meeting Kyle, a country doctor. This sort of reminded me of the movie Doc Hollywood in reverse, where Michael J. Fox’s character was stranded in a small town and worked as the town doctor for a short time. But even though Corrin is hiding, the danger finds her anyway.

This is a nice suspenseful and clean romance that brews nicely and it’s nice to watch the attraction grow between the two with the twists along the way. These are books that I may go back and reread all in a row, and even though they are one series – you can easily read them as standalones.
Reviewed by Cyrene

4 Stars

Uncaged Review: War Hammer by Shayne Silvers

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

War Hammer
Shayne Silvers
Urban Fantasy

Two old dudes want to kill me. Oh, and one of them is my ancestor…

And after centuries of practice, they’re pretty good at the whole murder thing. But at least they want to kill each other just as badly.

Now, I’ve taken down a Greek Goddess, worn a Horseman’s Mask, and I ride a homicidal unicorn who hates rainbows with a passion. Some might say sending two senior citizens to a permanent retirement home should be a breeze.

It ain’t.

Because that’s not my biggest concern. One of my friends is in danger, or possibly dying, and I need to get her back before her fiancé kills me. But finding her introduces me to new worlds of pain. The biggest of these being my own past—which has been a blatant lie—and a parting gift from my parents—which might have just been the coin toss for the Apocalypse Olympics.

I’m beginning to realize that none of the old Gods, Legends, or Monsters have been idle the last few centuries. They’ve been waiting, picking sides, and scheming schemes.

Of course, maybe one of those two old dudes will punch my ticket and save me the headache. A wizard can Hope, right? Because either way, I’m about to have a very bad series of days…

Uncaged Review: The stage is set to return to the Land of Fae, to save Ashley and Pan. But to go back there, is risky, many people are wanting Nate’s head. But many new secrets are revealed that are shocking and even more questions are haunting both Nate and the reader. Some of the characters will come into their own in this one. This book is action packed and not as heavy as the last book, it continues to progress and stay fresh and exciting. I really hope Nate gets some down time soon, he needs to sleep for about a week straight.

I like that Callie came back briefly, which is (hopefully) setting the base for a relationship with Nate in the future. She’s a thousand times better choice for Nate than Indie was. This series also has a couple of different spin-offs now, and it’s a universe that keeps on giving. Reviewed by Cyrene

5 Stars

Uncaged Review: Woke by Peggy Jaeger

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

Woke
Peggy Jaeger
Contemporary Romance

Waking up each day is a gift….

On her 21st birthday, someone slipped a potent drug combination into socialite Aurora Brightwell’s champagne putting her in a coma for the next ten years. It’s been a long road back, and it’s time to reclaim the life she lost and find out exactly what happened on that fateful night.

Financier Kincade Enright has his own reason for helping Aurora discover who poisoned her, but for the time being he’s keeping that – and his true identity – to himself. What he can’t keep hidden though, are his growing feelings for the one-time paparazzi darling and party-girl.

When this prince of finance joins forces with the former sleeping beauty, nothing can stop them from finding the answers they seek…or prevent the powerful emotions developing between them as they search for the truth.

Uncaged Review: When it comes to contemporary romance, it normally takes something pretty special for me to go all in. But this author has a way of accomplishing that and this story is suspenseful, honest and enchanting, all in one. Taken as a modern day Sleeping Beauty, this book hit most of the spots for me. A charming story that I could easily put back on my to-be-read-again shelf. We meet Aurora on the night of her 21st birthday, a rich socialite that is continually in the society pages and in the rag newspapers about her party life, until her party is upended with her being drugged and sent into a 10 year coma. The book then picks up 15 years later, when Aurora has worked hard to get her life back after 10 years in a coma. Slowly the pieces of her life, and the night she almost died comes together, and the author does it an unhurried and organic way that will keep you up late reading.

There is one typo that repeats quite often, about retired detective Nick Ramon, which spells his last name “Roman” a few times, but it’s easy to discard. Along with a nice mystery, there is a wonderful love story and also a story of loyal friends. Easily recommended. Reviewed by Cyrene

5 Stars

Uncaged Review: Psi-Wars Anthology

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

Psi-Wars
Various
Scifi/Horror Anthology

From Atlantis to the Third Reich and beyond, these thirteen original cerebral tales of science fiction and horror explore the evils that abound when humanity wields extraordinary minds as weapons, whether to wage war or prevent it. Steeped in psychic savagery, telekinetic combat, and extrasensory espionage, PSI-WARS imagines corrupt governments and daring operatives, gods and soldiers and hackers and spies. The authors don’t flinch when they peer around the darkest, most violent corners of the human psyche. Will you?

Uncaged Review: This anthology was an unexpected read for me. I’ve read a lot of scifi in my reading life, but I’ve never been huge on anthologies, but this is a good one. This bases around wars, and the psychic abilities, some steeped into true historical times. From the first story of Simon helping the Nazis to beat the Americans in WWII with his voice, and the horror of not being able to stop. A standout for me is THE VISIONS OF PERRY GODWIN by Dean Wyant – where Perry has visions of people’s deaths, but it becomes a very useful talent during the WWII.

There is not a bad story in the bunch of these 13 short stories. I had picked it up planning on reading a couple of the stories at a time, and ended up finishing the whole book. A well done anthology that is a worthy read. Reviewed by Cyrene

4 1/2 Stars

Uncaged Review: Midnight Temptation by Shari Nichols

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

Midnight Temptation
Shari Nichols
Paranormal Romance

When tarot card reader Gillian Howe hosts a supernatural speed dating event, she’s hopeful to discover her chance at love.

Making the perfect match is her passion. Too bad she can’t find one for herself.

A chance encounter with a wealthy vampire soon finds her plunged into a secret society of trancing, blood bonds, and human escort rings. She’ll need help to survive, but the vampire detective is the last person she wants…even if he is scorching hot.

Garrett Mulroney has dealt with his share of the supernatural. His sire tried to force him into a life of debauchery, but he chose to uphold the law.

The fact that the one woman he can’t seem to get out of his lust-filled dreams is at the center of his investigation doesn’t bode well. It’s a good thing she hates his guts, because it helps douse his growing desire for her and focus on the case.

But when Gillian’s cousin is kidnapped into the Du Sang Brotherhood, she becomes the prime witness.

Now they’re forced to put their differences aside and go undercover by pretending to be a couple. The more time they spend together, the more Garrett wants her in his life—and in his bed.

Will they be able to develop the love and trust needed to take down the Brotherhood or become its next victim?

Uncaged Review: The featured characters in the 2nd book of the series, we met in book one. Alex and Willow are engaged, and we do see them pop up in this book, but they do not take any major roles in this book. This time, Gillian hosts a supernatural speed dating event with her cousin Brooke, and an event partner in Kurt Lawrence, a vampire with many high connections. When invited up to the penthouse afterward for an exclusive party – they find a human trafficking ring and Brooke is kidnapped. Garrett, a vampire on the police force has to keep Gillian safe, since she’s been targeted. And that’s not going to be easy, since Garrett and Gillian have had their issues in the past.

This is a good book, with plenty of action, danger and romance. If you take the supernatural out of this, is plays out like a good episode of Law and Order. Heat level is higher. I think my only issue with it is toward the end with Garrett, but it’s not a huge deal. Looking forward to the next book.
Reviewed by Cyrene

4 1/2 Stars
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