Tuesday, November 19, 2024
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Uncaged Review – Desert Blood by Anna Lowe

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

Desert Blood
Anna Lowe
Paranormal/Shifter Romance

She’s on the run…into the arms of forbidden love.
Heather Luth knows nothing about the paranormal world until one awful night changes everything. Now she’s on the run — straight into the arms of forbidden love. Her mind knows better than to fall for a werewolf’s sunny smile and mesmerizing voice, but her heart — and destiny — have other ideas.

On the surface, Cody Hawthorne is warm, witty, and fun, but beneath his carefree facade, Heather sees a real man struggling to break free. Day by day, Heather and Cody grow closer and closer, unable to resist their simmering passion — while day by day, a serial murderer closes in on his prey. Duty fights desire; fear wrestles trust as the human world clashes with the paranormal in a tale of forbidden love.

Uncaged Review: This is the 2nd book in this series, and I think I liked it even better than the first one. Anna Lowe is an author that I can count on consistently for a good read. This book is a quicker read and even though it’s forbidden for Cody to fall in love with a human, resisting Heather is not going to happen for him. But the danger ramps up when a serial killer is on the loose and now seems to be targeting Heather.

Great read, and I’m looking forward to the next one. Get out the tissue boxes for a couple great moments that will steal your heart.
Reviewed by Cyrene

4 1/2 Stars

Uncaged Review – Beyond Dead by Jordaina Sydney Robinson

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

Beyond Dead
Jordaina Sydney Robinson
Paranormal Cozy Mystery

Dead, snarky heroine? Check. 

Dead, sarcastic BFF? Check. 

Murdered ghost stuffed in a locker? Check.

Death is not what Bridget Sway expected. Not at all.

The afterlife is a mess of bureaucracy littered with nonsensical rules. It’s a fashion disaster for a uniform and a job that doesn’t pay. It’s a heinous communal living situation with housemates who have no concept of privacy or personal space. And it’s a handsome parole officer who is a stickler for those nonsensical rules that no one has bothered to explain.

As if all of that wasn’t bad enough, someone has stuffed a dead ghost in her locker … and the afterlife police are ready to pin the murder on her.

Uncaged Review: This book is off the wall, and not like anything I’ve read before. It took me awhile to really get into the book, it seemed a bit slow in the beginning, but it really does pick up speed and will have you laughing out loud as Bridget tries to solve a mystery that they are trying to pin on her – different ghosts are ending up dead dead in her locker – so she’s breaking all kinds of rules and her guardian Oz has his hands full keeping her out of trouble. But Bridget and her fun sidekick and dead BFF, Sabrina have a mystery to solve and to clear Bridget’s name and it turns into a lot of fun getting there and watching Bridget navigate her new life as a dead person. And you can kill a ghost so that they are dead dead. Who knew? Reviewed by Cyrene

4 1/2 Stars

Uncaged Review – Charming Marjani by Rebecca Rivard

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

Charming Marjani
Rebecca Rivard
Paranormal/Shifter Romance

He’s rich, sexy–and part-fae. But she’s a shifter assassin on a mission. She can’t let herself be charmed…

Marjani is the strong, silent second-in-command to her alpha brother. She’s seen too much death, lived through too much darkness. Now her cat threatens to take over, leaving her a cougar in a human body. But before it does, she undertakes one last mission to Iceland.

Fane Morningstar holds a prestigious position as one of the ice fae king’s envoys. But the fae never let him forget he’s not a pureblood. Then he meets Marjani and everything he thought he wanted gets turned on its head. He’d sell his soul for a night with her.

Unfortunately, he just might have to…

Uncaged Review: One of my favorite shifter books this year so far. This is a series book, and this book is the 5th book in the series, and I had no trouble getting used to this world that the author built considering I hadn’t read any of the other books in the series.

The pack believes that the pack alpha’s sister, Marjani is close to going feral and that her cat is beginning to dominate. But Adric believes his sister can make it back from the darkness, and when a message comes from that Corban from a different pack wants to challenge Adric in Iceland, Marjani goes instead, as his second. When she meets Fane, a half fae, the whole plan changes and Jani and Fane won’t be able to deny the attraction. So many feels this book delivers, from anger, to sadness and pity, to laughter and fun. And I may have needed a tissue at the end. Reviewed by Cyrene

5 Stars

Uncaged Review – Witch’s Reign by Shannon Mayer

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

Witch’s Reign
Shannon Mayer
Urban Fantasy

They think her an underdog against impossible odds…
And she will fight tooth and nail to prove them wrong.

The first in the plot twisting, heart pounding, magic riddled, USA Today bestselling Desert Cursed series.

The Witch’s Reign…a land of eternal, unnatural winter ruled by the Ice Witch. In turn she is guarded by three supernatural creatures who wander her lands hunting for unwary souls, killing any who cross their paths.

To get to the Witch’s Reign, you first must pass through the Dragon’s Ground. Full of dragons, who for the record, do not like trespassers.

This is where I am headed, though my mentor has forbidden me.

My best friend was sent with a team into the Witch’s Reign to recover a powerful jewel that belongs to our mentor, and they are long overdue to come back.

That leaves me, Zamira “Reckless” Wilson to go after my friend. Forbidden or not.

Somehow, I get saddled with a human male tagging along for the ride. A human that is as weak and useless as my own shifting abilities.

Throw in a sentient magical weapon that tries to kill me every time I touch it, and a small dragon that has a penchant for Shakespearean insults, and you’ve got my journey in a nutshell.

May the sands of the desert swallow me whole because this is going to be a damn bumpy ride.

Uncaged Review: This is a really good start to a series, with some twists and turns that you won’t see coming with Zamira – or with Maks, her human partner she’s been saddled with. Nothing is as it seems, so be ready for a lot of one liners that will keep you smiling, and enough action to keep you furiously tapping the next page on your Kindle to see what happens next. And after the dragons come into the storyline, you wonder if it’s going to be another lie that is piled on top of Zam.

I’m not going to blow smoke and tell everyone that I loved the book. I liked it and think it’s a good start, but I’m not head over heels in love with the series….yet. But I’ve always liked Mayer’s writing style in the past, so I’m willing to give myself time and let the series brew a bit longer and see where it takes me. Reviewed by Cyrene

4 Stars

Uncaged Review – Beneath Deception by A.L. Long

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

Beneath Deception
A.L. Long
Romantic Suspense

Everyone has a story and for Xavier London, he preferred to keep his hidden. As ruthless as he was, he still had morals and those morals included betraying the one man who saved his life. He never thought that meeting one woman could change everything. 

Tessa Sands never knew the truth about her life, nor did she ever question it. The only life she knew was the one she was taught, disciplined by the man who raised and groomed her to be only his. But, when another man entered her life, she slowly begins to discover that she had been deceived from the start.

Can she find true love or will his secrets get in the way?

Their love for each other will be tested. Only they can determine if love will win. 

Uncaged Review: In this book, we have the ultimate playboy Xavier – whom I didn’t really like at all. The way he treated women was stereo-typical bad boy, love ‘em and leave ‘em, lucky if he remembers their name. He somewhat redeems himself in this book after he meets Tessa, who is being brutalized and abused by a powerful man who is also Xavier’s “boss.”

There was a lot of twists and turns, and the chemistry between Xavier and Tessa was the glue that held this together. There was a bit of a disconnect for me with the book, as there seemed to be too many things that weren’t explained, or left me with even more questions. There were also some lost opportunities with the abuse of Tessa that wasn’t all that realistic. But at the end of the book, I did enjoy the story and would definitely recommend this book to romantic suspense lovers. Reviewed by Cyrene

4 Stars

Uncaged Review – The Lost and the Chosen by Ivy Asher

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

The Lost and the Chosen
Ivy Asher
Paranormal Romance

My name is Vinna, and I’ve been keeping a lot of secrets.

You would too if you’d experienced some of the weird shit I have: red-eyed monsters chasing me, markings on my body appearing out of nowhere, a strange power that crackles colorfully over my skin from time to time, and don’t get me started on the weapons I can conjure up almost out of nowhere.

Lucky for me, I have yet to meet someone whose ass I couldn’t kick, inside the ring or out. I put that to the test when I run headfirst into a fight that brings all my secrets, and reality as I know it, crashing down around me.

Now, I’m looking for answers and trying to piece together what the hell is going on. Paranormal is my new way of life. It’s not going to be easy, and I’m not exactly welcome.

That is, until I meet the boys, and trust me, they are anything but boyish.

I’m up against elders who think I’m too powerful, a family who views me as a threat, and something lurking in the shadows that’s been coming for me my whole life.

There’s not a chance in hell I’m going down without a fight. I’m not lost anymore, and I’m about to show this world exactly what I can do.

Uncaged Review: This book is touted as a reverse harem, so I was wondering what I was getting myself into, but I was pleasantly surprised. The series could be leading up to being a “more sexy” series, but it’s not overwhelming at all – but you can start to see the build up in this book with the Chosen.

I was hooked. From Vinna to the boys, it’s a good supporting cast – and each character definitely has their own voice – so it’s hard to decide which you like better. The action is non-stop, it does end at a minor cliffhanger – nothing heartwrenching, but there are already three books out in the series. The world building is excellent. The mystery of Vinna and the answers are surprising – specially the reveal at the end – but also left a lot of questions which I look forward to reading. Reviewed by Cyrene

5 Stars

Uncaged Review – Oracle by Carissa Andrews

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

Oracle
Carissa Andrews
Fantasy

Even the most powerful psychic in the world has her blind spots. 

For the past two-thousand and some odd years, Diana Hawthorne has always been able to see the past, present, and future with near perfect accuracy. Her only blind spot has been herself. The first twenty years of her existence is a complete blank and she doesn’t know why. 

Then she met Blake Wilson. 

Not only is he another blind spot—he’s also a Private Investigator hired to disprove her abilities in order to protect some missing girls they were both tasked with finding. With her psychic gifts on the fritz whenever Blake’s around, everything Diana’s fighting for starts to unravel. 

And worst of all, it’s leading her to the one thing she’s always wanted: the key to her past. 

Can Diana get over her deficiencies and show Blake how gifted she really is? Or will she let the callings of her ancient past cloud her judgment and derail her mission?  

Either way, lives hang in the balance. 

Uncaged Review: This book grabbed a hold of me right away – it’s original, suspenseful and fun. Diana is immortal and can see the past, present and future. She has never met a person that she couldn’t “read” until a private investigator comes along looking for her help. For some reason, Diana finds Blake as her blind spot. This book clicks along well, and the supporting cast is just as fun, the characters all interact very well with some great laugh out loud moments. The author does a great job bringing unique voices to each character.

When Diana and Blake try to break up a child trafficking ring which will lead them to Italy – and Diana and Blake may find out more than they ever thought. The only part that I thought was too perfect was the ending and how everything snapped into place so easily. But it’s easy to root for these characters and I’m looking forward to the next book. Reviewed by Cyrene

4.5 Stars

Uncaged Review – Wylde by S.C. Mitchell

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

Wylde
S.C. Mitchell
SciFi

Forced to undergo experimental procedures that grafted wolf DNA into his own and then given super healing powers, Jonathan Wylde wants nothing to do with civilization, preferring instead to run with his wolf pack. A reluctant member of the Xi Force super team, he keeps to himself unless his talents are needed.

Dove Locklear returns home after spending exciting and adventurous weeks with the Xi Force super team, and reconnecting with her childhood friend, John Wylde. But danger lurks in her father’s genetics lab. An agent of Red Guard, with nefarious plans, whisks her away at gunpoint to a secret Russian facility.

When his closest friend, Dove Locklear, is kidnapped, Wylde needs to learn to work with his team if he wants to save her. He knows where they took her, and the danger she’s in. He’ll do whatever it takes to rescue to her, even if that means confronting the man who created him: his father.

Uncaged Review: Third book in the XI Force series but can be read as a standalone. I was hoping this character got his own book. As I found him interesting before when he was briefly mentioned in a previous book. Without spoiling a lot of the story, Wylde is half human with wolf DNA who also has superpowers. Just like a comic or superhero movie. Minding his own business and trying to live his life off the grid. He gets caught up in a whole lot of trouble when some old friends turn up. I really like the author’s use of comics and such in this book and the mention of the superheroes. I’m hoping this won’t be the end of this series or I will be very sad. Reviewed by Jennifer

5 Stars

Uncaged Review – Ginger Storm by J.P. Rice

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

Ginger Storm
J.P. Rice
Urban Fantasy

A monster lurks inside me. I can barely control the beast.

I was born without innate magical ability. One fateful day, the Morrigan showed me how to steal pure and black magic through blood rituals. Now that I’m filled with deadly magic, I struggle to deal with the darkness.

My powers also make me a prime target for jealous Gods and the stupid magic councils.

But when an enchanted relic that has haunted me for most of my life goes missing in my old stomping grounds, I shove fear aside and return to the city where everyone wants me dead.

To find Lugh’s Spear, I’ll need to team up with former enemies and figure out which one of my allies is lying to me.

With several powerful enemies closing in on me, I could leave town and take the easy way out.

Unfortunately for them, I never take the easy way out. I plan to find Lugh’s Spear and return it to the Celtic Gods.

One big problem. My black magic blood can turn me into a violent maniac at the drop of a hat. If I can control my inner darkness, I know I can solve the mystery.

Uncaged Review: This is a good urban fantasy, but it took me awhile to get really invested in it. I didn’t connect with Junipher right away – but she’s a strong lead and this is a beginning to a series that I believe will get better and better. There is a lot going on, so you need to stay alert. What I thought was pretty cool is that all the pantheons are represented in this series. Celtic, Greek and Norse Gods are in attendance. Although I’m not a huge fan of first person narratives, the author does a pretty good job with this one, and I never felt I was missing a whole lot.

I think this is a book that readers need to push past the beginning and keep going, it does pick up speed and become a good page turner.
Reviewed by Cyrene

4 Stars

Uncaged Review – Playing Jasper by Ginger Ring

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

Playing Jasper
Ginger Ring
Mafia Romance

I love to play the game.

Love them and leave them.

Then I met my match, Jackie Smith, and everything changed.

She’s a reporter, and I’m a made man. It’s a disaster waiting to happen. It doesn’t matter that she could shatter my life and all I’ve worked for…I want her.

Underneath her sweet, caring exterior, she’s hiding pain from her past, and yearning for revenge. I can leverage this to my advantage. I can demand her loyalty, her unconditional love.

It’s the same game, with a bit of a twist.

The only problem is…she might be playing me.

Uncaged Review: This is a book I was truly looking forward to reading, especially after meeting Jasper in Destroying Dominic. Jasper is a smooth ladies man, love ‘em and leave ‘em kind of guy. But don’t be fooled by his great looks – he’s just as dangerous as the rest of them, maybe even more so. Enter Jackie, an ex-reporter looking to find the people that killed her parents, so as you read, you never know if she’s just setting up the family – at times you think she is – or if the family is using her. Nothing goes on in Roman’s town that he doesn’t know about, I learned that fast in these books, so I doubt Jackie is as secretive as she thinks or as innocent.

But Jasper is smitten, and the book is romantic and dangerous at the same time. There several twists that happen that I didn’t expect – and the mafia part of the book is back and deadly, even more so than in the last book.
How do you reconcile loving characters that part of a mob? Even though it’s dangerous, these guys and ladies have hearts of gold, and nothing is safer than being in the “family.”

And as I personally live very close to the city in which this book is based in, there have always been talks and rumors about the mafia in this area. So even though this is fiction, it’s not out of the scope of realism for the real world. The author also integrates real life places, such as a historic winery that is close by. A highly recommended series. Reviewed by Cyrene

5 Stars

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