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Uncaged Review – Marked by Ash by Cadence Connor

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

Marked by Ash
Cadence Connor
Romantic Fantasy

A princess destined for a loveless marriage. A disgraced royal soldier. A dangerous journey they must risk together.

All Cord wants is to complete this final punishment so his position in the royal army can be reinstated. An impossible task when the princess he’s escorting is determined to undermine his every move. His mission changes when magic wielders ambush them in the forest, dumping him and the princess in the middle of dangerous enemy territory.

Both blame the other for their current predicament, yet they must find a way to work together to survive strange beasts, ruthless cutthroats, and mysterious wielders determined to hunt them down. As they venture further into enemy lands, it becomes clear that Cord is not the only one keeping deadly secrets and they must learn to trust each other to survive. Their enemies are relentless but so is his resolve to clear his name, no matter the deadly cost.

Marked by Ash is the first book in the Ruin of Ash fantasy series, perfect for lovers of fast-paced romantasy with a twist.

Uncaged Review: In this story, we jump from reading about two different scenarios and 2 sets of characters. There are two different factions in this world that are at war, Velotians and Muratians. Isla is a Velotian princess being escorted to a marriage that will bring an strong alliance to her kingdom. A marriage she has no say in. A soldier is assigned to her to be her guard, a disgraced guard given trying to get his honor back. The second part of the story is about Mira in the Muratian mines, digging for firestone, a mineral that helps block the powers of the wielders.

It took me forever to get into this book. The book did do better at the halfway point, and really picked up at the end, but it was the mind-blowing ending that saved the whole thing. This was a twist I never saw coming, and even though I thought these two different scenarios would merge at some point, I never expected what happened. So many answers, but so many new questions. Unfortunately, the next book doesn’t come out for a year, so the minor cliffhanger will not get answered for a while. Reviewed by Cyrene


4 Stars

Uncaged Review – House of Fire and Magic by Sherrilyn Kenyon

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

House of Fire and Magic
Sherrilyn Kenyon
Fantasy

TAKE BACK YOUR KINGDOM

Unicorns and Dragons never mix. For centuries, they’ve been bitter enemies and their kingdoms at war. But desperate times call for desperate measures. Tanis’s beloved older brother and heir to their throne has been slain by a human who continues to flaunt her brother’s death.

To restore her family’s honor, she’s willing to make a deal with a Unicorn shapeshifter so that she can infiltrate the human kingdom and recapture what was so cruelly taken.

But Dash Coeur de Noir isn’t just any Unicorn, as the High King he’s the most hated and feared of his breed and he’s on his own mission when the Dragon, Tanis, crosses his path– to reclaim his sister’s horn that was brutally taken. In the wrong hands, that horn could destroy the fragile peace that has kept the Thirteen Kingdoms from destroying each other.

In a world built on magic, blood, and betrayal no one can trust anyone. With a bounty on their heads and assassins and enemies out to claim them both, they must somehow learn to trust each other or watch their kingdoms burn.

Uncaged Review: Sherrilyn Kenyon has built a new world in this start of a series that has me pretty excited. I’ve read a lot of the Dark-Hunters and some of the League and Nick series, but this one is completely different from what she’s done before. Tanis (a princess dragon) has vowed revenge on the ones that cut off her brother’s head, even though she’s going against the rest of the family. She sets a trap and catches a unicorn in a net, hoping he’ll transform her with his powers to a human, so she can track and get her brother’s head back for a proper burial. Unknown to her, she catches the High King, Dash, one of the most powerful unicorns in existence and known for his cruelty. Dash is on his own mission to find the killer of his sister – who also stole her horn – a rare horn that could actually kill him. Making a bargain with him is a price she’s willing to pay.

There are so many layers to this story, with intrigue, all types of magical beings, and plenty of action and romance. After the halfway point, I had a hard time putting this one down. Dash and Tanis will find a forbidden love, and will have to navigate that and get past both of their tortured pasts to find their way. The secondary characters are fantastic and I can’t wait to read more in this world.
Reviewed by Cyrene

5 Stars

Uncaged Review – The Girl Who Belonged to the Sea by Katherine Quinn

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

The Girl Who Belonged to the Sea
Katherine Quinn
Fantasy

One woman chosen by the God of the Sea. A king hellbent on saving his mysterious island home. And a forbidden romance that could destroy them all.

Forced to marry the wealthy Count Casbian by her power-hungry father, Margrete turns to the gods, praying for a life free from the men who wish to rule her. Across the sea, a ruthless immortal answers…

Planning to use Margrete to reclaim a powerful relic stolen from his people, Bash, a devilishly handsome king, kidnaps Margrete on the day of her nuptials. Bringing her to his home, the mystical island of Azantian, it isn’t long before a devastating secret is revealed—one that ties Margrete to the gods themselves.

Drawn to the spirited woman he’s sworn to hate, Bash cannot stay away from Margrete and the passion she ignites within him. When the lines begin to blur, Margrete must make a choice between a fiery love, and saving the realm from the dangerous magic awakening inside of her soul.

Uncaged Review: This a great start to a fantasy series, and even though it was a tad slow in spots, the world building is top notch. Margrete has lived all her life under an abusive father, who only wants power and riches, so to make a new wealthy ally, he arranges a marriage for her to Count Caspian, who will become an ally to her father. But on the wedding day, they are attacked by sea pirates, and Margrete is taken hostage and taken to a land called Azantian, which is only believed to be in existence from fables. Bash, the King of Azantian, plans to use Margrete as a bargaining chip to gain back a relic that was taken from the island by Margrete’s father.

There are a lot of twists and turns, betrayal, and a enemies to lovers trope working here. Margrete is much more than we believe, and we will see her mature from a stubborn, intelligent girl to a strong woman in her own right as she finds out the truth about her father, the Count and Bash and the island of Azantian. This is a well written story that kept me invested throughout and the full trilogy is out now and I plan on moving forward. Reviewed by Cyrene

4.5 Stars

Uncaged Review – True Colors by Ozgur K. Sahin

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

True Colors
Ozgur K. Sahin
Historical Sea Stories

After thwarting a Spanish invasion, privateer Captain Roy Toppings finds himself face to face with the object of his misguided vendetta. However, details revealed in the aftermath of the battle and subsequent raids on weakened Spanish colonies shed new light on the circumstances of the death of Roy’s beloved sister: someone is attacking French shipping as part of a conspiracy’s larger design, and Constance may have been a casualty of their secrecy. Unexpected allies emerge as Roy, Coya, and Ajuban uncover more of this syndicate’s operations, even the destruction of Coya’s home. Navigating between profit, self-interest, and justice, all must re-examine their purpose and decide if the truth is too high a price to pay for revenge.

Uncaged Review: Captain Roy Toppings makes a bold decision to temporarily split his loyal, devoted crew into two groups, a bold decision by far yet all for more treasure. Ajuban is appointed acting ship captain by Roy himself to direct La Mongosta while Roy takes hold and is master of “The Constance.” Roy also has another secret venture not told to anyone but a loyal few, to find the murderer of his beloved sister, Constance, who his ship is named after too. Roy almost becomes crazed and directs all his misguided attention to his most hated brother-in-law and his sister’s late husband, Pablo Francisco. As Roy hunts down and finally finds the man, his vengeance holds no bounds, and he ends up killing him instead. Roy realizes that his shipmates are at odds and the split between his faithful sailors puts him even more on opposing sides, possibly putting everyone on both ships in danger of losing their very lives.

This is truly a very intriguing historical sea-faring story that definitely grabs you from the get-go! The tale is wonderfully told and the attention to detail is quite masterful! As you get more in-depth into the book you can almost smell the sea, the graphic description of ships and even see the vivid depictions of not just places, but the characters, which are beautifully written! In truth, most of the time these nautical ventures bore me, but amazingly so, not this book! I might have read the first book a while ago, but I was still able to remember it. Unfortunately, to really understand the characters’ machinations and if you are demanding to read a series in order, then it might help to read the first book. Still, the book magically transports you to picturesque places that would be well worth the visit! Mr. Ozgur Sahin definitely pens a fantastically penned novel that is well researched and lovingly crafted, so that it would seem that he might have even spent some time on a vessel himself and if he hasn’t, then this is very well-done! Reviewed by Roslynn Ernst

4.5 Stars

Uncaged Review – The Swordsman by Kathryn Le Veque

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

The Swordsman
Kathryn Le Veque
Medieval Romance

It’s another exciting Blackchurch Guild adventure!

This time, master of the sword Sinclair “Sin” de Reyne has his moment to shine.

They call him The Swordsman…

Part of the powerful de Reyne family, Sin is a black sheep. A man with a mysterious past and a family he doesn’t speak of, he is one of the elite trainers at the Blackchurch Guild, the premier knight training school in England. They call Sin “The Swordsman” because of his skill with a blade, but that skill is about to be put to the test.

So is his heart.

Elisiana Maria Isabella Fernandez y de Verra is a young lady with a problem. Hailing from a very strict family with a Spanish father and a Norman mother, her entire life has been planned for her, including an impending betrothal that will strengthen family ties. Unable to live a life in chains any longer, Elisiana makes the bold move of running away from home to start a new life. That new life brings her straight into Sin’s path.

No one knows much about the new serving wench at the favored tavern of the Blackchurch trainers, but they do know she’s very pretty. Having just returned from a lengthy battle assignment north of Paris, Sin is returning to his training position when he meets the young woman with dark hair and flashing, pale eyes. She has spirit and they manage to strike up a friendship. But friendship turns to something and just as Sin is starting to feel something for her, all hell breaks loose – Elisiana’s brother locates her and the truth of her identity comes out.

Elisiana is not only of noble blood, but she’s also promised to another man.

Now, the Swordsman must make a choice – return to Blackchurch and forget the fiery lass? Or will the man with the mysterious past finally reveal his true self and fight for what he wants?

Who he wants.

Join Sin, Elisiana, the Blackchurch knights, and two factions of pirates as the battle for Elisiana’s freedom begins. It’s a wild ride through tradition, piracy, blood, battle, and the power of love in this epic Historical Romance adventure.

Numquam dedite. Never surrender.

That’s Blackchurch’s motto. For the love of Elisiana, it becomes Sin’s battle cry.

Uncaged Review: Elisiana “Lisi” de Verra loves her family and spending time with them until her father arranged a betrothal for her. When Lisi met her betrothed, Adolph, she was appalled at his lascivious behavior and decided she must run away. Lisi ends up in Exebridge at a questionable seedy tavern, The Black Cock. Sinclair “Sin” de Reyne, an elite warrior knight, originally from Blackchurch Guild, is back from his travels and, being a hired swordsman for a friend’s brother, meets Lisi there at the tavern. Sin is astounded by her beauty and intelligence even though another trainer also wants her. Just as Sin is getting to know Lisi and starts to feel affection for her, Lisi is taken by her brother and brought home. Sin will do anything to get Lisi back, even make a deadly deal with pirates, who just might kill him instead. All to not only win Lisi’s heart but make her his wife.

This is a magnificently told historical medieval romance which is just a wonderful tale to read! The story just pulls you in from the get-go from one adventure to another, never letting up until the very end! This is an exceptionally satisfying book, with sensational writing, stunning visuals and intriguing characters that you just can’t help but fall for them! Even if this is part of a series, you don’t have to read any of them in order, but just might want to just to understand all the characters. Sinclair is the complete package and just a wondrous hero! When describing a warrior, he’s handsome, brave, loyal, a perfect depiction of a knight and this is what we all want in a hero. While Elisiana is also a brave spitfire of a lady, truly a heroine after my own heart! This is why Ms. Le Veque is an impressive storyteller and is aptly named the Queen of Medieval Romance, which just completely fits her too! Reviewed by Roslynn Ernst

5 Stars

Uncaged Review – Wicked Heat by J. Kenner

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

Wicked Heat
J. Kenner
Contemporary Romance

From the moment he’d seen her at the home of his billionaire father, former race car driver and bad boy Ashton Stone craved Bree Bernstein, his half-siblings’ stunning nanny. He couldn’t have her though—not when his life was so entwined with secrets and scandal.

Then he’d seen her at the airport bar and instead of walking away, he’d bought her a drink. Then another. And when a storm grounded their flights, he’d made a mistake and tried to take her to bed. That’s when she’d bolted.

For years, Bree has hidden the truth of those nightmarish days when she’d been held captive, forced into despicable acts that, once rescued, she’d believed were in the past. Until the tapes.

Now, she’s being blackmailed, and if those tapes go public, it won’t be just her life that’s in tatters, but that of an innocent child caught in the crossfire.

Desperate, she goes to the only man who can help her pay the blackmailer and keep the secret—Ashton Stone. Now, her future is in his hands—but the price he demands is one she’s not certain she can pay—Her.

Uncaged Review: From the moment I opened this book, I couldn’t put it down. This story is heartbreaking, romantic, suspenseful and with two perfectly, imperfect characters. As Bree’s nightmares continue and become worse when she is blackmailed with tapes of a time she was held captive, drugged and the horrible acts done to her, and now finding out they were taped and a young child could be ruined if the tapes get out. Shutting herself off from relationships, Bree runs from her attraction to Ash, but Ash doesn’t give up easily. When she finally confides in Ash about her kidnapping and the blackmail, Ash steps in to help. With seemingly unsurmountable odds, Ash and Bree grow close, but will Bree run again?

A great story, well flushed out characters and a great suspenseful plot with a few twists I didn’t see coming. I had not read any of the books in this series before, and had no issues keeping up with this one but has definitely put this author on my radar. Reviewed by Cyrene

5 Stars

Uncaged Review – The Beast of Blackthorne Castle by D.K. Quinn

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

The Beast of Blackthorne Castle
D.K. Quinn
Historical Regency

A beast of a duke…

When Miss Emma Drake travels to Northumberland to answer an ad for a companion, she learns very quickly that her new employer is as mysterious as he is powerful. A scarred duke, known as the Beast of Blackthorne, his intimidating presence leaves her quaking in her slippers.

The rumours about him might frighten most ladies away but she’s as desperate as she is determined to find her future. Besides, she’s no family to go back to and no money to even book passage if there were. She is well and truly trapped with the beast.

But the longer she stays, the more she sees the man underneath the scars, and she begins to wonder. What is true and what is just rumor? And is there a heart under his rough exterior and difficult past that might just beat for her?

Uncaged Review: Emma needs to get away from her Aunt and Uncle, whom plan to marry her off to the first man to come along. Emma finds an ad in a paper for a lady’s companion and she travels to Northunberland to apply for the position. She finds out that the Duke of Blackthorne’s mother is the lady she would be a companion to, but the duke himself is a powerful man, and with the rumors swirling around that he murdered his father in a fire – he’s very intimidating and stand offish. But Emma takes the job with no prospects or money and finds a different man than the rumors would have her believe.

This is a sweet, exciting adventure of finding love and independence in a time where women had few rights. Even though Nathaniel is a troubled man, he finds he looks forward to his time with Emma, even though he’s shunned people for ten years. This was an easy read and if you like a sweet, slow-burn romance, with a good cast of characters, this would be a nice choice.
Reviewed by Cyrene

4.5 Stars

Uncaged Review – Catching Rose by Virginia Barlow

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

Catching Rose
Virginia Barlow
Western Historical

Rose Tanner dreamed of a fairytale wedding her whole life. But when her prince leaves her at the altar, she wants to know why. Traveling to Texas for answers she finds more than she bargained for. Captured by a human trafficking ring, she fights for freedom. Risking her life to help the other women with her, she discovers there’s more to happy ever after than she thought.
Texas Ranger Chase Calhan wants one thing, to capture El Diablo’s men so he can marry Rose. When they get to her first, he races against time to catch Rose before it’s too late.

Uncaged Review: We start out with Rose being stood up at the altar by Chase Calhan, a ranger. Rose makes the decision with Shanna’s help (her best friend whom we met in the first book of the series), to go to Houston to find him after Reese (Shanna’s husband and brother to Chase) gets a telegram and Rose reads it. This is a dangerous journey for a woman traveling on her own. When she makes it to Houston, she finds he has gone to San Antonio at the Rangers Headquarters. When she makes it there, all hell will break out.

There are a couple times that either Chase or Rose are in a lot of danger for their lives with Chase tracking a killer and exposing a human trafficking ring. There is a lot of suspense here, also spies, traitors and even romance. This book has it all, and it’s a fast-paced book that keeps the reader glued to the pages. There will be a fight to get to their HEA and I’m looking forward to the next in the series.Reviewed by Cyrene

5 Stars

Uncaged Review – One Wylde Knight by Kathryn Le Veque

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

One Wylde Knight
Kathryn Le Veque
Medieval Romance

The bigger and badder they are, the harder they fall…

Dark, sultry, with a hint of fire in his blood from his Visigoth ancestors and a spark in his eye that betray his killer instincts, Thorington “Thor” de Reyne is the son of the Earl of Ashington and one of the greatest knights England has ever seen. His talent is unmatched, so much so that the king himself has demanded Thor’s service.

But he has to fight Thor’s own father to get him.

Much in demand, Thor has an ego that is fed by the warlords and kings who are fighting over him. But he has own plans and that includes getting rich, rich enough so that he won’t have to serve at the whim of a king or an earl.

And the king knows it.

In a strategic move, the king offers a marriage to Thor, to the richest heiress in England if not the entire world. Lady Caledonia de Wylde is a woman with more money than the king himself and quite possibly more land than any other landholder in England. Not only was she an heiress in her own right, but she married – and was widowed by – a man with roots that went back before the Norman conquest. She’s younger than Thor, and and brings three daughters with her, but Thor doesn’t care. He’ll get the money he wants and the power he very much craves.

But what he didn’t expect was to fall in love with her.

And that’s where the tides change.

Lady Caledonia has an enemy, one so dark and devious that he’ll do anything to gain her money, her lands, and her very life if he can. Unbeknownst to Thor, he finds himself marrying into an explosive situation where he could very well be the spark that ignites the blaze. Now, he has a wife and an empire to protect, but it’s not Thor who ultimately does the protecting.

It’s Caledonia.

Hold on for a wylde and passionate ride through Medieval England, where ambition surrenders to lust and the most powerful thing in the world, as Thor and Caledonia discover, is love.

It can save, it can kill… or it can be the ultimate sacrifice.

Uncaged Review: In 1271, the great King Henry, while talking to Gage De Reyne, demands to see his second son, Thorington, or Thor. Yet Gage has plans for his son, which doesn’t include him being a companion to Henry. Henry, of course, also had much bigger plans than Gage could ever bequeath to his son. Henry’s plan is for Thor to marry not only a great heiress but a countess to boot, Lady Caledonia de Wylde de Tosni. Caledonia is also a widow with three daughters, but when Henry tells Thor that Caledonia is at Gomorrah, she is being held there against her will. Thor’s task is to rescue her from that hellhole, marry her and come back to him. When Thor goes to save Caledonia, he keeps his shock hidden. Luckily, Thor manages to get her out of there. Thor is instantly attracted to Caledonia, so he marries her, but what he finds between Caledonia’s Uncle and others who want Caledonia for their own devious means, Thor might just end up losing everything, including his life.

What an amazing medieval historical romance that is definitely well worth reading! There might be a lot jam-packed into the story, but it sure isn’t lacking! Even the places, no matter how brutish, grand or even astonishing, they may seem, come alive. I don’t know about you, but I would like to visit Gomorrah even though it is supposed to be a bad place, but hey, if well-to-do ladies are watching men dance, it sounds like a historical Chippendales and well worth watching! Also, true historical aficionados might balk at the idea of women watching naked men dance too. Ms. Le Veque also just knows how to write a story that puts everyone in the heart of the tale, making it very easy to visualize and well imagined without any problems at all! Her characters, whether they be major or minor, even come alive with some funny quirks, but are also very human too. Thor is really a great hero, funny, smart and finally helps Caledonia heal from the misconception that she isn’t a burden to anyone. The only thing is that Thor is supposed to be forty, but the book cover of Thor doesn’t seem to fit. Still, the story is well worth the read and I am eager for more!….Reviewed by Rosylnn Ernst

4.5 Stars

Uncaged Review – Kissed by a Scoundrel by Anna St. Claire

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

Kissed by a Scoundrel
Anna St. Claire
Historical Regency

Their paths were never meant to cross… until tragedy struck.

Marriage is the one thing he avoids…
Lord Sebastian Soren, known as Slice to his friends, earned his nickname on the battlefield during his illustrious military service. Now a successful security expert, Sebastian is content traveling the world and indulging in carefree liaisons with charming widows. As the second son of a duke, he sees no need for the parson’s mousetrap called marriage. But when he agrees to protect his friend’s sister during her London Season, his life takes an unexpected turn.

Marriage is the one dream she lost…
Katie Latham has spent the past year mourning the tragic death of her fiancé during a robbery. Overwhelmed by guilt and grief, Katie becomes a recluse, fearful of the outside world. When her family finally persuades her to re-enter Society, she realizes she must conquer her fears. Who better to teach her self-defense than the man known as Slice?
From the moment their eyes meet across a glittering ballroom, Katie and Sebastian are drawn to each other. As danger threatens to destroy everything they hold dear, they discover the true depths of their feelings.

Uncaged Review: This book has Katie Latham paralyzed with fear after a robbery and the murder of her fiancé whom she witnesses and blames herself for and becomes a recluse in her family’s home, not entering the society functions. When she finally agrees to go to a ball, she sees an incident which triggers her PTSD, and Sebastian sees and comes to her aid. Sebastian is a friend of Katie’s brother and also a security professional and recognizes her trauma immediately. Sebastian helps Katie at the ball and is hired by her brother to find the robbers and killers that have never been caught and to provide security to Katie. Sebastian agrees and along with teaching Katie some self-defense and fencing, he begins to fall for the strong lady.

A good suspense, tragic loss, quite a bit of danger and a clean romance makes up for this book. I was completely invested within the first chapter and even though I hadn’t read the previous books in this series, I had no issues keeping up. This is a shorter read and one of my favorite characters is the Dowager Duchess. I can see a romance brewing in the background, and would not be surprised if it’s the next book in the series. Reviewed by Cyrene

4.5 Stars

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