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Uncaged Review – Marked by Moonlight by Anna Lowe

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

Marked by Moonlight
Anna Lowe
Fantasy Romance

Dragons rage, vampires thirst, and thieves covet a lost masterpiece as one woman battles for her heart’s desire.
Mina’s world is unraveling thread by magical thread. Her enigmatic dragon shifter lover has vanished. Her vampire houseguest is one bad night away from disaster. And her overprotective wolf-shifter friend — local cop, full-time temptation — is coming closer to uncovering secrets she can’t afford to reveal.

Just when she thinks she can’t handle another complication, her godfather offers her a tempting distraction: a trip to London, all expenses paid. All she has to do is help appraise a long-lost masterpiece. Simple…except the painting doesn’t just attract art collectors. Dangerous rivals, ruthless power players, and her lover’s sworn enemies all have their eyes on the prize — and on Mina.

As danger closes in, Mina and Marius are torn between duty and desire. Can they protect a priceless painting and outwit their enemies while finding a way back to happily ever after? Or will the shadowy shifter underworld tear them apart forever?

Uncaged Review: This book wraps up Mina and Marius’ story and that arc for the series and it’s filled with danger, action, suspense, humor and romance. When the guys came back from a mission, Marius wasn’t with them, and they are tight-lipped to Mina and won’t tell her what’s going on. So Mina treks off to London to visit Gordon, her Godfather and the men’s boss. When she finds Marius, it’s not as it seems….

Lives are in danger, and more than one person is out to get both Marius and Mina, and the new mission actually includes Mina when they go help a woman sell a priceless painting. But this deal could either go up in smoke, or up in dead bodies. All the shifters are here, and Henrik the vampire – who I still think gets a bad rap most of the time. Mina will find her strength, Marius will find his destiny and the supporting cast keeps the humor going, even with the dangerous mission. This author has a great way of pairing unlikely anti-heroes together that just fit so well together and this series is no different and it’s easy to fall in love with all of them. All I can ask the author, is to write faster. Reviewed by Cyrene

5 Stars

Uncaged Review – Wolfehound by Kathryn Le Veque

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

Wolfehound
Kathryn Le Veque
Medieval Romance

The Mother of All Secrets is blown wide open in this epic Medieval Romance set in the lush, family-driven world of de Wolfe Pack.

Secret identities, age-gap romance, and alpha males abound!

Twenty years ago, during the reign of Edward I, the last Welsh prince was sentenced to death. All that remained of his family was his six-month-old daughter with dual royal bloodlines, who was arrested and sent to live at Sempringham Priory. She was to become a nun, never to procreate, because prophesy dictated that should she ever marry and rise to power, she would bring about the collapse of England.

Gwenllian was the infant’s name.

But she never made it to the priory.

The English knight who took charge of her as an infant was a friend of Gwenllian’s father. William de Wolfe, Earl of Warenton, promised Llywelyn the Last that he would see his daughter safety hidden from the English king. No one knew of this but a select few, but many years later, a deathbed confession thrust the secret out into the open.

Now, the king’s men are looking for the infant once known as the Princess of Ghosts and Dragons, only she’s not an infant any longer. She’s a beautiful young woman from a fine Northern English family who has no idea of her true identity. Cambria de Royans, as she’s known, is about to marry Liam Herringthorpe, one of the knights who helped spirit her to safety. The pair are madly in love and looking forward to a life together. But Liam is also part of the de Wolfe family, the most powerful in Northern England, and when they realize Gwenllian’s secret is out, that puts the King of England on a directly collision course for the House of de Wolfe.

Uncaged Review: Carlton de Royans had a duty. In his arms he carried a Welsh infant, Gwenllian of Wales, who was bound for Sempringham Priory. Before going to Sempringham, though, he decided to stop at his home of Folkingham Castle just to get the baby out of the rain. Of course, as soon as his wife saw the baby, he just couldn’t do it. So, another plan has been formed that Carlton and his wife would raise the baby, whose name is now Cambria de Royans, as an Englishwoman and would even be betrothed to a worthy English knight. Many years later, Cambria is all grown up and ready to get married to her one true love, Liam Herringthorpe, but the secrets surrounding Cambria and who she truly is put her in mortal danger. It’s a race against time to protect Cambria and out of the king and archbishop’s clutches.

Can I just say that I totally love any story by Ms. Kathryn Le Veque, no matter what it is! The tale harkens back to some of Ms. Le Veque’s older stories. The intrigue, the deception, the vengeance, a sigh-worthy romance and just fantastic story-telling that keeps you enthralled until the very end that you don’t want the story to end and when it does you just want to be a part of it. The story moves seamlessly, bringing some of Ms. Le Veque’s past heroes in other books along too, but is it necessary to read the others not really, but you just might want to just to read about their legends too. This book might be all fiction, but Gwenllian of Wales really, truly existed but maybe if Gwenllian had a different fate, then you can totally see this happening. Gwenllian, or rather, Cambria, is an amazing heroine and has a soft spot for dogs who don’t love that? While Liam is just a perfect book boyfriend that I couldn’t help but fall for him too. I even hope that Tyrus the villain will find love, especially when Jordan binds him to them. Even with her being elderly, you don’t want to mess with her. I do look forward to more of Ms. Le Veque’s stories, no matter what they are! Reviewed by Roslynn Ernst

5 stars

Uncaged Review – The Divine Draft by S.A. Rodgers

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

The Divine Draft
S.A. Rodgers
Romantic Fantasy

“To be chosen by a god is not an honor, it is an erasure.” —Enmity Self-Guided, Head-1.

Daughter of the only rebellion, Waverly Mavros is sharp, daring, and unafraid to question the world around her, even when doing so carries risk. From an early age, she was taught that divine intervention is the root of all evil and that any mortal affiliated with it surrenders their soul in the process.

When Waverly is selected in the Divine Draft as a vessel for a goddess, her carefully controlled world collapses. She is thrust into the ranks of the empire’s divine militia, where failure is fatal, and power comes at a devastating cost—her old life for one she never wanted. Her new duty demands loyalty, but the goddess within demands everything.

Brutal combat training tests her limits, mythical trials challenge both her mind and body, but her General may be her greatest danger. He is the empire’s perfect soldier, the last person she should trust, yet the only man who meets her darkness without flinching. Survival now means more than completing the trials or surrendering to the goddess within, but resisting a forbidden desire that could destroy them both.

Can she prove herself worthy of her goddess’s power, or will the edge of duty and desire be the one line she cannot survive crossing?

Uncaged Review: Waverly Mavros knew where her life was going to lead. She was engaged to her fiancé Chris and couldn’t escape that. Even when someone from another sector tried to have Waverly escape with her. Waverly watched the young woman die and did feel bad, but when Waverly was chosen for the draft, she is given a choice to take one thing with her. Waverly chooses the ring that Chris has given to her. As Waverly is pushed to fight continuously, she meets General Beau Zervas, whom she also despises. Waverly realizes, though, with each successive fight, that she can also never return home or to Chris. By the time she becomes a force to be reckoned with, she has also fallen for Zervas and he is with her, or has he? Waverly is in a battle that will cost her everything, including her very life and everyone she holds dear too.

This book with the beautifully done cover is what drew me in. The story is wonderfully drawn out, and the world building is amazingly inventive! Ms. S.A. Rodgers really built up the suspense and tension that kept me on the edge of my seat and guessing what was going to happen. The book does have a lot that at first seem a bit much, but after you get deep into it, then it becomes hard to put down, and you realize how truly complex the characters and the story truly is. So definitely an intriguing tale that will immerse you but can be a bit confusing too. Waverly seems a bit naïve and doesn’t listen, but as she is thrust into the militarian lifestyle, she grows up and learns to adapt to it. Waverly was pretty easy to relate to too. While Zervas wasn’t a great guy to like and made me wonder what Waverly saw in him, he did kind of grow on me. I even got the bonus book just to read Zervas point of view and I do look forward to the next in the series!
Reviewed by Roslynn Ernst

4 Stars

Uncaged Review – Rising Reign by Tessa Hale

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

Rising Reign
Tessa Hale
Paranormal Romance

Love means sacrifice. And that’s what I’ve done: given everything to keep those I care about safe.
Now, I’m back where it all began, trapped with the architect of my nightmares. And this time, I know he won’t stop until he breaks me.
But my wolves won’t stop either. They’ll do anything to bring me home and end the one who has me in his sights.
Only there are more monsters and enemies than we ever could’ve imagined, and when new secrets are revealed, it will take everything we have to defeat them…

Uncaged Review: The final book in the trilogy pulls out all the stops. Wren has to escape from her father’s hell, and even when she gets away, the full weight of the dark mages and her father’s army will come down on her and her mates. The final battle is action packed, and Wren will finally come into her own. And believe it or not, Ender became the one that ranked high on my favorites list, and I never thought he’d get there. Also we finally meet Rhys, the contact of Ender’s that has been mysterious in the past, turns out he’s a vampire, but I won’t spoil anything, but he quickly became a favorite too.

This trilogy wraps up nicely, and even though it answered a lot of questions, it also sparked some new ones with Rhys. His story comes next, but since this author has a penchant for cliffhangers, I won’t read it until it’s finished. There was humor, action, suspense and love and this series is a great series to get lost in for a few days and it definitely is a reverse harem, so there is also some hot scenes, although they did not overpower the storyline. There’s a fine line between too much smut and not enough, but this trilogy balances it quite well. Recommended for the paranormal fans. Reviewed by Cyrene

5 Stars

Uncaged Review – The Blood Collector by Jade Christy

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

The Blood Collector
Jade Christy
Occult Magic

She thought the glass was just beautiful. She had no idea it was a cursed weapon.

Aria Holt is days away from the launch of her life. Her luxury perfume line is exquisite, her branding is perfect, and the rare antique glass bottles she sourced from France is unlike anything the industry has ever seen. But when strange, menacing figures begin appearing in the shadows outside her Brooklyn studio — and one of her buyers turns feral at the mere scent of her collection — Aria realizes she hasn’t just stumbled onto a business opportunity. She’s stumbled onto something dangerous, and very much alive.

Enter Gabriel de Clermont. Centuries old, devastatingly guarded, and furious that the cursed glass he spent decades concealing has resurfaced in the hands of an unsuspecting human.

Gabriel knows exactly what’s coming for Aria — and exactly how brutal it will be. He pulls her into the hidden world beneath New York City, into a fortified safe house watched over by Loki, a shifter cat with amber eyes and an uncanny instinct for danger.

Gabriel promises Aria protection. What he doesn’t promise is that the glass will behave, that the vampires hunting her will stop, or that the electric tension building between them won’t ignite into something neither of them can outrun.

Because the glass has its own agenda. The vampire syndicate that once wielded it is closing in. And Gabriel de Clermont, who has survived wars and centuries and the worst of human nature, is discovering something far more terrifying than any enemy he’s ever faced — the desperate, bone-deep need to keep one mortal woman breathing. He would burn the entire world to ash to protect her. The only question is whether he can.

Uncaged Review: Perfumer Aria Holt has designed her first scent and, with her best friend Wyatt, she knows it’s going to be well-loved. Aria has to find the perfect bottles to put the perfume in, and when a longtime friend and her professor send her some unique bottles, Aria can’t turn them down, especially when she receives a full bottle with a ruby stopper. This bottle mysteriously calls to her, and it is Aria’s favorite. When someone named G.D.C. or Gabriel de Clermont, buys Aria’s perfume in the bottle, she does question it because he wants to buy it at midnight. She is also excited. As Aria’s perfume business takes off, she realizes that she is in danger and another vampire wants her too. Can Aria trust Gabriel enough to give up her perfume or will her perfume end up calling all vampires to her instead?

I am enjoying all of Ms. Jade Christy’s vampire romances and, of course, I had to read this newest one too. Luckily, all of her vampire love stories are different and well worth the read! The hero in this story is Gabriel de Clermont, sexy, hot and totally devoted to Aria. Both of them are similar in that they love perfume and the attraction might have been instant, yet it really works. Ms. Christy’s books have just gotten better with successive stories that she writes, and all the characters seem similar yet can still hold their own. They are, especially this one quick read, but Gabriel might be another dreamy guy that is scary but someone I can’t help but fall for and have added him to my book boyfriend list. There is also Loki, who I like too. Maybe Aria should go for them both. I do plan to read the next one because I am curious to see what will happen, and it does end in a cliffhanger too. Reviewed by Roslynn Ernst

4.5 Stars

Uncaged Review – Enchanted by the Lyon by Sherry Ewing

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

Enchanted by the Lyon
Sherry Ewing
Historical Romance

She’s fallen in love and wants marriage, something he’s unwilling to give.

Lucius Ford, Earl of Blackthorn is content in his bachelor lifestyle, though the only lady to catch his attention this Season is looking for marriage. This lady of the Wicked Widow’s Club intrigues him.

Mrs. Cassandra Vaughn was widowed at a young age. After years of hardship, she seeks more than a superficial relationship. But the man who has enchanted her only wants her in his bed.

Who will change whose mind is still in question when Lucius loses a bet at the Lyon’s Den. To pay his debt, he must right a wrong done to none other than Cassandra Vaughn. Amidst societal expectations and personal histories, their lives entangle, challenging their beliefs about love and relationships.

When past enemies endanger her life, Lucius will risk everything to protect her.

Uncaged Review: Lucius Ford, Earl of Blackthorn sees Mrs. Cassandra “Cassie” Vaughn leaving a townhouse after spending time with his mistress. He is surprised but also realizes he enjoys talking with her. Cassie goes to Mrs. Dove-Lyon owner of the Lyon Den’s gambling hall but also a matchmaker. Cassie secretly loves Lucius and knows that turning from a bachelor rogue to a husband is not going to be easy. Mrs. Dove-Lyon decides to help Cassie but tells her that she must give up her town home, stop associating with loose women and help others. Of course, convincing Lucius to give up his bachelorhood and mistresses to view Cassie as a viable wife might be impossible. When Lucius crosses Mrs. Dove-Lyon, he will risk his way of life and lose his heart despite him saying that he will be someone’s husband.

After reading this one by Ms. Sherry Ewing, I am going to read a lot more of these Lyon Den books because they are not only wonderful stories but most of the authors, I enjoy reading have written a lot of tales about them. Plus, there are many minor characters that I feel as if I am missing their stories too. I do so enjoy Ms. Ewing’s stories because I like what I am reading, but her novels always manage to capture my attention no matter what they are about. I will not only be entertained, but I will also get lost in the story too. Both Lucius and Cassandra have pretty shady pasts, which would have been nice to read a little more into that, but it was enough to figure out that neither character wanted to delve into that as much. I wanted Lucius to fight Cassie’s enemies too, because their demise was just so quick. I do hope Ms. Ewing will write more in this world because I surely will read it!
Reviewed by Roslynn Ernst

4.5 Stars

Uncaged Review – Lady Elizabeth’s Winter Stranger by Anna Campbell

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

Lady Elizabeth’s Winter Stranger
Anna Campbell
Historical Romance

A father’s ultimatum…

On Christmas Day, Lady Elizabeth Tierney is aghast when her father tells her he’s found her a bridegroom. She’ll meet her suitor, Viscount Fairchild, at tonight’s festivities, and Elizabeth had better charm him – or else!

A daughter’s defiance.

The spirited beauty has danced her way through four seasons and sees no reason why her life needs to change. At least until she falls in love with one of her admirers – and that shows no sign of happening. In a fit of temper, Elizabeth escapes to Hyde Park where she stumbles upon an intriguing gentleman who steals her heart.

Lady Elizabeth’s choice?

Which suitor will win her hand? Or has fate got another trick up its sleeve for Lady Elizabeth and her winter stranger?

Uncaged Review: When Lady Elizabeth Tiernay comes home to London after a house party, she spies a letter from her father issuing her an ultimatum to marry Viscount Fairchild, Stanton Morley-Bridges or go to Aunt Agatha with her incontinent pugs to Caithness, Scotland. Elizabeth is so angry that, in order to clear her head, she goes to Hyde Park to get rid of some of the anger she feels. As Elizabeth is stomping around, obviously upset at being pushed into a marriage with a stranger, who should appear but a handsome visitor known only as “Tom” promising not to harm her but to keep her company. As Elizabeth gets to know Tom, she realizes how wonderful he turns out to be, even sharing some very heated kisses. When Elizabeth must come back to reality and go home, she wonders if she will ever see Tom again?

What I truly think is a marvelous story is that the book is just a novella, but you don’t even realize it because you get so caught up in the tale, but even when it ends you feel completely satisfied. That is what this little story did for me. It made me smile, put me in the Christmas spirit and made me hum yuletide music while partaking of roasted chestnuts and warm cocoa. The well-written story sparkled with lovely characters, even a precocious child and a cute dog. What more could you ask for? Elizabeth seemed a bit of a shrew until Tom, a handsome stranger, sparked adventure and mystery, making him just a perfect guest to remember what Christmas is all about. Will I read more? Of course, I will and look forward to another seasonal romance or any other by Ms. Anna Campbell! Reviewed by Roslynn Ernst

4.5 Stars

Uncaged Review – Falling Hard by Samara Jones

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

Falling Hard
Samara Jones
Romantic Comedy

Here is the thing about best friends: they are not supposed to get engaged. Especially not when you have spent years swearing you are totally, absolutely, one hundred percent not in love with them.

Olivia Fox is fine. She is more than fine. She is the confident, competent heiress to a fashion empire with a job she loves and girlfriends who moonlight as her therapists, investigators, and occasional partners in crime. She is not, I repeat not, spiraling just because Luke Forrester, her ride-or-die since childhood, suddenly decided to propose to someone who is… not her.
Except maybe she is spiraling. Just a little. Because Luke wants her to be his best man. Which basically means standing by while he marries the wrong woman. And Olivia? She is not built for that.
So now she is juggling two impossible tasks: processing the feelings she has buried for years, and plotting the kind of wedding sabotage that would make one friend proud while sending the other two into panic mode. All while smiling sweetly and pretending she is supportive.
Totally doable. Right?
The countdown to “I do” is on, and Olivia is about to discover that falling in love with your best friend is messy, inconvenient, and possibly the funniest disaster of her life.

Uncaged Review: While Olivia Fox is pleasuring Zac, her best friend, Luke Forrester calls her. Olivia answers the phone and Luke tells her that he proposed to his girlfriend Solenne. Olivia can’t believe Luke has the gall to do that. Luke is supposed to ask her to marry him, not someone else. Olivia’s goal is to plan the wedding but also must sabotage the wedding without losing Luke in the process. Will Olivia be able to do it or will Luke end up married to the wrong girl?

I enjoy romcoms and this book is perfect fodder for a romcom. Yes, it reminded me of My Best Friend’s Wedding and did channel that, but the hero and heroine end up together, which my romantic heart did like. This book is big on the miscommunication trope and even warns readers that if you don’t like it to stay away from reading it. Now this trope isn’t one of my favorites because I end up either hating the characters at the end of it or yelling at their stupidity, but I figured the cover was beautiful, and I had the warning, so I knew what I was getting into. Olivia, the woman whore was just ungrateful and I really hated her. I couldn’t stand the way she treated Luke and kept hoping he would end up with someone else. The only thing that kept me reading was Olivia’s friends and, of course, Luke. In fact, I kind of felt sorry for him and was hoping he would stay with Solenne because she treated him very well. It is a good short read and, over all over not a badly written story. Reviewed by Roslynn Ernst

4 Stars

Uncaged Review – Scandalous Desires on a Summer Morning by Stacy Reid

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

Scandalous Desires on a Summer Morning
Stacy Reid
Historical Romance

Sebastian, Viscount Ranford, never meant to entangle himself with a woman like Maryann Winton—penniless, proud, and burdened with responsibilities that should not be his concern. Yet when she is forced to live beneath his protection, resisting her becomes a daily torment. Her presence unsettles him in ways no society beauty ever has.

Maryann knows exactly what she is: a woman clinging to dignity, with no fortune, no title, and no place in his world. Dreaming of more is a luxury she cannot afford—especially not with a man so far above her reach.
But in the hush of twilight, when desire speaks louder than reason, even the most carefully built walls can begin to crack…

Uncaged Review: This is the second book in the Seasons of Love series and Miss Maryann Whiton goes to the Countess of Hardwick. The countess is an old friend of her mother’s and Maryann also has nowhere else to go. Maryann brings along her three other sisters. Unfortunately, the countess receives her other two sisters graciously and puts Maryann and her youngest sister kicks them out in the streets. Maryann leaves with her sister but will do everything she can to ensure that nothing will happen to her. When Sebastian, Viscount Radford, sees Maryann, he saves her, offering her not only a place to stay but a job. Sebastian promises to view Maryann as family, promising never to desire or seduce her. However, as Sebastian gets to know Maryann, he slowly falls for her, and she falls for him too. Sebastian stops viewing Maryann as family even though his mother would never agree to them being together.

I just love Ms. Stacy Reid’s romances, and I had been missing her stories for quite a while. Well, when this book came out, of course, I was eager to read it! Ms. Reid always knows how to write an engaging story with wonderful characters that you can’t help but fall for that it’s easy to get pulled into the book yourself. This might be the second in the series and a novella. The beauty of this tale is you don’t have to read the first one to understand what is going on. Also, the story feels complete. Even though you want to stay in her world, it’s enough of a story to keep you happy. Of course, I will go back and read the first one because I am now hooked and want to see what happens in the first book. Maryann is your perfect feisty heroine who withstands everything and cares so deeply for her family that I just adore her! While Sebastian, the wedding shy Viscount, made me smile because he treated Maryann so superbly that I couldn’t help but fall for him that I have added him to my ever-growing list of book boyfriends. That will I read more? Of course, I will! Reviewed by Roslynn Ernst

4.5 Stars

Uncaged Review – Gilded in Sin by Tamara Gill

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

Gilded in Sin
Tamara Gill
Historical Romance

A wager born of pride. A passion neither can resist.

Lady Isabella Ravensmere has no patience for rakes—or their reckless games. Yet the infuriatingly charming Marquess of Whitmore manages to unsettle her with every stolen glance and sinful smile. He was supposed to be her enemy. Instead, he’s become her obsession.

Lord Hartley Whitmore never meant to fall. What began as a foolish bet soon becomes the one thing he cannot walk away from. But when truth and desire collide, their rivalry threatens to ruin them both.

In a world ruled by scandal, one kiss may destroy them—or bind them forever.

Uncaged Review: This is the fifth book in the Heiress series and Lady Isabella Ravensmere knows that this is her third and final season. Isabella is quite tired of all the noblemen trying unsuccessfully to win her heart and hand in marriage, including Lord Hartley Whitmore. Isabella knows that Whitmore plays around with others’ feelings and goes from woman to woman. Whitmore is never truly serious about anyone. Isabella is smart and won’t fall for Whitmore’s charming ways or will she? When Whitmore enters into a bet to win the heart and hand of Isabella, lines are crossed. Pretty soon, Whitmore realizes that he truly does care for Isabella. Still, can Whitmore prove to Isabella that he does love her or when the bet is exposed will she leave him because he broke her heart?

I totally loved and enjoyed reading this book! Of course, my favorite thus far in the series is the third one because of the forbidden aspect of an almost priest/lord falling for a lady. This one is still pretty enticing, especially because of a rakish lord falling in love and changing his ways, all because of and in the name of love. In the other books, Lord Whitmore also wasn’t portrayed very admirably, so it’s wonderful to see the turnaround in him. Sure, Whitmore, at times, wasn’t a totally upstanding guy. He always tried to do right by Isabella. While Isabella might have been a bit sarcastic and treats Whitmore poorly at times, she still manages to be lovable. The verbal barbs and bantering are what kept me really entertained and even though I knew they were going to end up together, I wonder what would break them finally to fall in love. That’s what I relish the most; the reciprocity, plus the interactions of the characters and I look forward to more!
Reviewed by Roslynn Ernst

4 Stars

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