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Uncaged Review – The Thirteenth Knight by Tricia Andersen

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

The Thirteenth Knight
Tricia Andersen
YA Fantasy

Will becoming a knight bring Miranda back to Thatcher – or will dark magic and the King himself keep them apart?

Life is simple in the village when Thatcher and Miranda realize that their lifelong friendship has turned to love. Their world is turned upside down when Miranda’s true identity is revealed – she is the niece of the kingdom and the next heir to the throne. She is swept away to the palace giving Thatcher the only solution available to him. He will become one of the King’s knights and therefore worthy of Miranda’s hand. 
When dark magic strikes the kingdom, it is Thatcher’s bravery that saves the King and the kingdom. Yet being a knight is not enough nobility to marry the woman he loves. When the source of the dark magic captures the palace and vows to make Miranda his bride, both Miranda and Thatcher work to overthrow him. Will it be enough to bring them together – or will dark magic and the King himself keep them apart?

Uncaged Review: A fast paced, shorter novella that easily pulls you into the story. Miranda is raised in a village, with the simple life along with Thatcher – a farmer’s son. Together they grow up, and in time, fall in love. When it’s revealed that Miranda is not just a villager’s daughter, but in fact royalty, she is swept back to the castle by her Uncle, the King – who will find her a suitable husband. Thatcher vows to find her by becoming a Knight. But the castle is taken over by dark magic and only time will tell if they can break the spell to save the kingdom and Miranda.

A story of love, betrayal and secrets – this is a quick read and entertaining. I would have rather seen a bit more meat to the book, as I never really connected with Miranda or Thatcher, there really wasn’t much time to do it, and I never got a sense of what they looked like in my mind. On the plus side, there is very little fat in the book, and it kept its pace well.  Reviewed by Cyrene

4 Stars

Uncaged Review – My Beauty for Your Ashes by Traci Wooden-Carlisle with Excerpt

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

My Beauty for Your Ashes
Traci Wooden-Carlisle
Christian/Romance

My Beauty For Your Ashes is the first book, of a Christian-fiction series, that leads you through the lives of four people striving towards different marks with unexpected connections.
Though they hail from backgrounds that are worlds apart, it only takes one fateful accident to rearrange their priorities and set them on roads that intersect, forcing them to acknowledge the relationships they can’t do without. 
Elder Paige Morganson has worked hard to overcome the anger, hate, and abuse of her past; Mason Jenson is a self-made man who has been able to create his own fortune and build a home life with his wife and child void of God’s help…so he thinks,; Elder Brandon Tatum’s, new in town, has prided himself on not making a move until he’s heard God; Victoria Branchett has ruthlessly survived the death of her only daughter by fierce determination, but is the strength she has relied on enough to see her through a failing marriage and an ailing grandchild? 
This novel merges colorful characters facing one untimely circumstance after another, and mixes in a serious spin on how one views God, both inside and outside of His will. Of course, this is just the beginning. More people emerge from behind the scenes; some to help and others, to hurt. With everything happening simultaneously, one would almost question if God is able to truly fix and heal everything, and the readers will see just how far each person’s faith (or lack thereof) will carry them. As they sift through the debris of past dreams and hopes left by the wayside, they are offered a lifeline and given an opportunity to receive God’s Beauty for their ashes.

Excerpt

“I never expected it to go on this long between the two of you. I thought for sure Mason would give in first, what with Vivian and I working on him. Who knew he was even more stubborn than you?” There was a sigh, like Rachael had finally gotten something heavy off of her chest.
“You know, most women marry men that remind them of their fathers. I messed around and married one just like my mom.”
Victoria knew the comment was meant to lighten the air. Rachael did that often to help discharge the tension in the atmosphere, but it stung nonetheless.
“Rachael, I love you. I am proud of the strong, resourceful, and loving woman you have become. I am sorry too because I have missed you, but let’s not talk about Mason. We have so much more we can speak on.”
Rachael conceded, not wanting to continue distressing her mother, but she did have one last thing to say. “I need you to hear me out, no matter how hard it is for you. Regardless of how you feel about Mason, please don’t take it out on Vivian. She loves you and she needs her grandmother in her life. When I go, she is going to need you even more. I need an affirmative answer from you. On this, I will not waiver.”
“Baby please, don’t talk like this. I don’t like it one bit.” In fact, it was scaring the hell out of her.
“Mom, I want an answer,” Rachael went on, as if she hadn’t heard anything her mom said.
Victoria couldn’t catch her breath; it felt like she had been punched in the stomach. She worked hard to regain her composure. In what seemed like a haze she heard her daughter call her name, this time insistently.
“Victoria, Mom, I need an answer.”
“Yes. Honey, yes. I will always be there for her.”
“Wonderful. Thank you, Mom. Thank you. So, Dad’s coming back out tomorrow. Will you come with him?”
“Oh yes, honey. Are you sure you want me to come?”
“Yes.”
They spoke for a little longer, and when Victoria heard Rachael yawn for the eighth time she told her she would see her the next day and talked her into hanging up the phone.
With a knot in her stomach she packed quickly, rescheduled some meetings that were set for the next day, wrote out specific instructions three times, and on the fourth attempt gave up and decided to just call an emergency meeting with the immediate staff.
By six the next morning, she was ready and waiting at the private airport with Richard, watching as a sudden and violent rainstorm delayed her flight. It rained consistently for four hours, not letting up until just before the afternoon. Seeing her agitation grow, her husband whispered in her ear just as they were leaving the small terminal, beginning to board the aircraft.
“Well, at least you won’t have to water the roses when you get back.”
She turned to him with a quick retort ready on her lips but was defused by the smile on his.
“Oh, you almost got it that time. Thank you for trying though.” She touched her hand to the side of his cheek, a form of endearment.
Once they arrived at the hospital, all thoughts of her hopeful reunion faded when they exited the elevator and came face to face with a sobbing Vivian. Richard bent down and tried fruitlessly to console the child. Victoria raced passed them to her daughter’s room where the doctor was talking to Mason over her daughter’s body, now covered by a sheet. She was too late. Her legs threatened to give away beneath her so she sat down in the chair just inside of the door. The sound of the chair scraping the floor caught Mason’s attention. He came towards her, arms reaching for her with the purpose to comfort.
The slap resounded through the room. Victoria watched as Mason’s head snapped to the side. When he straightened she came at him again, catching him across the other side of the face and throwing him off balance. Reaching out to stable himself, he caught hold of the bed Rachael’s body was laying on, pulling the sheet as he stumbled back.
Victoria would have hit Mason again, but the sight of Rachael’s body momentarily paralyzed her. She watched as Mason righted himself again, and all she could think of was causing him as much harm as he had caused her daughter. Her daughter was dead. Her daughter was dead, and he killed her. He killed her with his inability to listen to anyone due to his selfish pride. “Rachael is dead” kept ringing in her ears until the volume drowned out every other thought or sound.
She stood there, staring at the arm that had been uncovered. It was unfair. It was so damn unfair. The anger built up in her, quickly turning to rage.
She charged at Mason with a sound coming from her, foreign to her ears. All she wanted to do was cause him bodily harm. She hit him with all of her force once, then twice. Why wasn’t he defending himself or hunching to protect himself like the coward he was? He wasn’t fit to even be in the same room as her daughter’s body.
She couldn’t control it anymore. She hit him a third and fourth time before he went to one knee, and the doctor that had been standing in shock on the other side of the of the bed grabbed her from behind, holding her arms to her sides. She cried out in frustration, using whatever part of her that was free to reach Mason.
She kicked at him, catching him in the shoulder once and the chest on the next try, but neither one of those blows was satisfying. They felt superficial, like she was slightly off target. She struggled to kick him in the face but was pulled out of reach by the interfering doctor. She screamed and cried out again, the anger and frustration causing tears to spill from her eyes.
“No!” she screamed. “He killed her. That man killed my daughter! Don’t let him get away. He has to pay. He has to!”
Two nurses came in to assist the doctor in holding her away from Mason. Then Richard was in front of her, holding her face in his hands so that he was the only thing in her line of sight.
“Victoria!” He shouted, shaking her almost violently.
He came into focus. His hair tossed, eyes red and wet. The energy drained from her body. She didn’t think she could hold herself up any longer.
“Richard,” she whispered as if she were afraid to hear what she was about to say. “Our baby’s gone.” She felt his hands tighten on her face, but it wasn’t enough to keep him in focus. She sought the peace of the dark she was slipping into.

Uncaged Review

I was pleasantly surprised by this book. I’m not a religious person in the least, and don’t doubt that this book is religious, it’s VERY religious, but it’s also more than that. Healing, forgiveness, love and hope are center stage and are what most people strive for in their life, whether religion plays a role or it doesn’t. In this setting, the promise and love of God will grace the lives of each character in unique ways.

This is a nicely written and engaging book, but there are quite a few characters to keep track of, and the author jumps from chapter to chapter between them, so at times, I had to pause and let my brain play catch up from a couple chapters ago, for example, just as I was really engaging with the story, the story shifts to a different set of characters in the next chapter. It’s also a longer book by today’s standards, and some of it was a bit drawn out. All in all, this is a well written book, and even the non-religious readers can find something to relate to. This is a book that definitely ticks all the boxes in its genre. Reviewed by Cyrene

4 1/2 Stars

Uncaged Review – Enchanting the Duke of Demoon by Jenn Langston

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

Enchanting the Duke of Demoon
Jenn Langston
Historical Regency

Miss Carolyn Ashford wants one thing from marriage: love. After spending one informative season in London, she discovers the rarity of the emotion. Resigning herself to a life of spinsterhood, she leans on her brother’s charity. When she stumbles upon a secret garden on the Duke of Demoon’s property, she sets to restore it. As the garden comes to life, so does her spirit, as though she’s finally found her place.

Edmund Marsham, Duke of Demoon, for over a decade hasn’t shown his scarred face—the only outward sign of surviving a devastating fire in his youth—to anyone outside of Moonlight Castle. Seeking sanctuary from his callous mother, he rides off to his grandmother’s secret garden. Once there, he is surprised to find a young woman has brought life back into the neglected place. Although he keeps his identity from her, they form an unexpected friendship. Before long, Edmund begins to want impossible things. Things he knows he can’t have.

Carolyn knows her time with Edmund is limited considering he has no desire for a wife or child. With another man vying for her attention, she knows with him she will have everything that Edmund denies her. She attempts to distance herself from Edmund, but her traitorous body has other plans. Will her heart survive a temporary romance with Edmund, and will those memories be enough to satisfy a lifetime without him?

Uncaged Review: If the rumors are to be believed about Edmund that he has indeed caught his father’s temper and is mad then I pity any unfortunate soul to cross his path. After a brief conversation with a stranger at one of his gardens, Edmund finds himself intrigued with the beautiful woman. Carolyn has caught his eye in a perfect story of love, tragedy, and betrayal. This conclusion to the Touched by Fire series which can also be read as a standalone novel. I really enjoyed this book and I’m sad that the series is finished now. That being said I’m now a fan of this author and can’t wait to see what she comes out with next. Reviewed by Jennifer

5 Stars

Uncaged Review – Magic Born by Dyan Chick

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

Magic Born
Dyan Chick
Urban Fantasy

Morgan Drake has spent her entire life in the shadows. A rampaging dragon is about to change all of that forever.

Morgan Drake wants as little to do with the magical community as possible. That’s why she gave up her official Mage roots to work for a Vampire crime lord. She has to make a living though, so she helps her boss uncover valuable magical objects. If she had any other skills, she’d leave the magical community forever and live in the human world, but her fate seems to be straddling both sides.

When an escaped dragon rampages through town, her vampire boss and mentor, Jimmy, is murdered in the chaos that follows. And worse, security footage sets Morgan up to take the fall. Now, she’s going to have to find a way to clear her name and find out the truth. In Realms Gate, the magical city hidden from the human world, the truth has a way of getting people killed, though.

Time’s running out because if she doesn’t clear her name before the Hunters get to her, she’ll lose more than her freedom, she’ll lose her magic as well. And the police from both Realms Gate and the Human world are on her tail. With her only allies being a brand-new vampire and a very old dragon shifter that she just met, the odds are stacked against her. Even if she figures out the truth, the trick will be to survive, and the only sure thing is that nothing will ever be the same. To have any chance at all, she’ll have to come to terms with her past, magic and all.

Uncaged Review: Magic Born is a fast paced urban fantasy that hits the ground running – I was yanked into the story within a few pages and the story never let up. Morgan is a mage, who travels between the magical realm and the human one, smuggling magical objects to sell for a living. Her main boss, and mentor, is a powerful crime lord and centuries old vampire – Jimmy. When Morgan brings him a cursed statue she found at an estate sale, she is well rewarded – and since it’s her birthday, Jimmy tells her to go out on the town on him, and show around his newest employee, and young vamp, Alec.
Things take a turn while Morgan and Alec are at the club, a dragon is loose and burning the city. When she finds out that Jimmy is dead, and she’s set up, she has 48 hours to clear her name.
There are plenty of twists and turns and betrayals – and the author keeps you second guessing yourself and the characters on every other page. The banter, the characters and the action sequences are well paced and keeps the reader engaged. I read this in one sitting, and am looking forward to book two that is coming out in April. Even though this tied up the story arc that was running, it did leave you hanging a bit on others at the end.
Reviewed by Cyrene

4 1/2 Stars

Author Interview with Jami Albright

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

As seen in the March issue of Uncaged Book Reviews.

Uncaged:Your first book, Running from a Rock Star was your debut, and the follow-up, Running with a Sweet Talker is a bit darker – but just as much fun as the first one. Can you tell readers more about the Brides on the Run series? Is there a set amount of books planned for the series?

The books in the Brides on the Run series tell stories of brides who find themselves in crazy situations whether by their own doing or someone else’s and how they attempt to get out of those situations. They always get worse before they get better.

I have at least one more book planned, which I’m writing right now, Running to a Cowboy.

Uncaged: You have a wicked, sarcastic sense of humor in your writing, is that part of your own personality shining through? You are also a comedian, do you do stand-up at all?

Yes, that is my sense of humor, for better or worse. LOL
I actually did do stand-up for several years. I loved it, but it can be nerve wracking. I think it’s the prospect of crashing and burning that makes nailing it so much fun.

Uncaged: You found Uncaged through reviews, do you still read all your reviews? What do you take away from reviews?

I do. As a new author, it’s been great to see what resonates with readers and what doesn’t. I’m fortunate that I don’t have a lot of terrible reviews, but I can honestly say that I’ve learned something from each one of them.

I’m not gonna lie and say that the bad ones don’t sting, because they do. But it’s all part of being an author. Especially when you write comedy because it’s so subjective. What one person thinks is funny someone else thinks is immature and stupid. Thanks to my friend, Julia Kent who also writes funny, I was prepared for that.

Uncaged: Can you tell us what you have coming up next?

I’m working on Running to a Cowboy, the third book in the Brides on the Run series. It’s about country music singer, Beau Callen and Charlie K, a Miley Cyrus/Hannah Montana character who’s fallen from grace.

Uncaged: What is one of the nicest things someone has said to you about your books?

The first romantic comedy book I ever read was Nobody’s Baby but Mine by Susan Elizabeth Phillips. It was a very sad time in my life, and when I read her book I laughed like I hadn’t in years and I remember thinking that I wanted to be able to do that for someone else. So, when someone tells me that reading my books made them laugh in a way they hadn’t laughed in a long time. Or that they were have a horrible day and my books made them feel better. Nothing’s better than that.

Uncaged: What is your favorite parts about being an author? What have you found to be the least favorite?

I love creating characters and taking them on the journey to love. All my characters have issues, so when I get to give them a HEA that makes my whole day.

I don’t like having to look for stock images for my covers. LOL! It makes my head hurt, and all the man chest start to run together.

Uncaged: What do you like to do when you aren’t writing?

I know this sounds cliché, but I like to read. I was a reader before I was a writer, and I miss having time to curl up with a good book.

I also love going to the movies by myself.

Uncaged: What is the hardest part of a book to write? What is the easiest? From start to finish, how long does it take to finish a complete book?

Revisions are hard for me. I want my books to be the best they can be, so when I get to revisions I put a lot of pressure on myself, which usually results in at least one snotty cry.

First drafts are easiest for me because I get to just tell the story. I don’t have to worry if it’s written perfectly. It’s me telling a story.

I’m still working on my process, but right now it takes me five or six months to finish. (See the answer to the first part of this question.)

Uncaged: What would you like to say to fans, and where can they follow you?

I can never thank fans enough for taking a chance on me. Because of them I get to do this amazing thing and I’m eternally grateful.

[symple_box color=”black” fade_in=”false” float=”center” text_align=”left” width=””]Jami Albright is a born and raised Texas girl and is the multiple award-winning author of The Brides on the Run series–a fun, sexy, snarky, laugh-out-loud good time. If you don’t snort with laughter, then she hasn’t done her job. She is also a wife, mother, and an actress/comedian. She used to think she could sing until someone paid her to stop. She took their money and kept on singing. Jami loves her family, all things Outlander, and puppies make her stupid happy. She can be found on Sundays during football season watching her beloved Houston Texans and trying not to let them break her heart. Jami loves to hear from readers. You can reach her at [email protected][/symple_box]

jamialbright.com

Uncaged Review – Earl of Wainthorpe by Collette Cameron

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

Earl of Wainthorpe
Collette Cameron
Historical Regency

Could you ever love the unrepentant rake who won you in a wager?

He didn’t gamble on losing his heart when he won her at the gaming tables.
Pierce, the Earl of Wainthorpe has finally thwarted his worst enemy. Except he can’t revel in his victory after winning his foe’s ward in a winner-takes-all wager. If Pierce refuses to assume Bianca Salisbury’s guardianship, the fiery-haired beauty with a matching temper may very well find herself sold to the highest bidder.

The shameful secret she guards makes it impossible to love a rogue.
Desperate to escape her blackguard cousin, Bianca Salisbury ventures to London to find a husband or employment. Instead, she’s bartered to a notorious rakehell. She either risks being compromised and accepts The Earl of Wainthorpe’s protection, or flees him and her guardian. But without money and a place to go, she fears she’ll face the same tragic fate as her mother.

Caution: This romance features a sexy, irredeemable scoundrel determined to thumb his nose at the haut ton, a saucy country miss unafraid to speak her mind but terrified of even a hint of scandal, a unlikely aristocratic matchmaker, a trio of busybody sisters you’ll adore, and a very pregnant calico that is convinced humans are only around for her convenience.

Uncaged Review: So we open this story right at a card table and a very tense stand-off with Pierce and Lord Fairfax, the latter gambling his home and his cousin’s guardianship in the game. Fairfax’s cousin, Bianca, is mortified that he’s gambling her away, along with the home.

I’m always look forward to reading and reviewing one of Ms. Cameron’s books, I’m always assured she will deliver a wonderful escape that will hold me captive for at least a full afternoon, and this book did not disappoint. This time around, I fell for Pierce within a few pages, and his sisters are a hoot. It took me a tad longer to warm up to Bianca, but when she finally got over her stubborn attitude, she was easy to like and her strength and determination to keep her reputation in tact was admirable, even if it was misdirected at times. The attraction between the two of them simmers under the surface and is fun to watch develop. An entertaining read from start to finish. Reviewed by Cyrene

4 1/2 Stars

Uncaged Review – Running with a Sweet Talker by Jami Albright with Excerpt

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

Running with a Sweet Talker
Jami Albright
Contemporary Romance/Humor

She’s a take-no-prisoners fireball. He’s a sweet-talking charmer. It could be love…if they don’t kill each other first.
Hotshot lawyer Luanne Price may not believe in happily ever after, but she’d do just about anything to earn her absentee father’s love. So when he waltzes back into her life with a plan for her to marry his business associate, she foolishly agrees. But on the wedding day, things go south. Fast. Luanne’s desperate to get away, even if that means hitching a cross-country ride with the infuriating Jack Avery.

Jack needs to get Luanne out of his system. He’ll watch her tie the knot and forget about her. Once she’s married to another man, then she’ll be off-limits forever. Solid plan. Until he spots her army-crawling through the bushes to escape the Wedding of the Season.

He knows he should let someone else deal with the runaway bride. But if there’s one thing Jack has never been able to do, it’s resist Luanne. Will their romance rev up on the open road, or will Jack and Luanne crash and burn?

Excerpt

Jack Avery stared at the scene before him while sucking on a cherry lollipop his godson Aiden had given him. His third-floor window gave him the perfect vantage point to observe the bride sprinting a serpentine pattern across the lawn of the wedding venue. Luanne Price was beautiful, brilliant, and surprisingly agile in a banana-cream-pie dress as she leaped over a fallen log in her path.

“What are you up to, tough girl?”

Not his business.

She’d already caused him enough distraction. Why he found a woman who gave him so much shit attractive, he’d never know. But something about her smart mouth lit him up like a Roman candle. This woman intrigued him. He couldn’t remember the last time that had happened. Lately, the beautiful and docile women he dated had begun to bore him to death. They paled in comparison to the feisty pixie who had just scurried behind the flower-covered altar. “What the hell?”

Why did her every move fascinate him?

Stupid, Jack.

He was ten kinds of crazy to even contemplate getting involved with her for any reason. Thankfully, in a little more than an hour she’d be someone else’s problem.
That was the reason he was here today. To see Luanne tie the knot. It would be tough to watch, but then it would be real, and she’d be off limits. He didn’t fool around with married women. Ever. His mama would come back from the grave and slap him into next week if he ever did.
He leaned closer to the window of the suite and watched as she hiked up her dress and ran out of sight to avoid a couple of waiters. The glimpse of tan leg she gifted him with ignited images of all the things he’d never get to do with her. Another man would have that privilege.
Jealousy tore at his insides. The irrational urge to beat his chest and bellow mine concerned him. Luanne wasn’t his. She barely gave him the time of day. And when they did converse, she bloodied him with her words. In spite of that, he fantasized about arguments with her that ended with the two of them sweaty and naked. It was damned inconvenient…and dangerous, considering he’d probably end up dead after such an encounter.
But what a way to go.
Gavin Bain sauntered into the room. “Hey, man. Where’s my kid?”
Jack’s friend was his number one client and the hottest thing in music right now. He looked every bit the badass rock star, even in a thousand-dollar suit and tie.
Jack pulled the sucker from his mouth with a pop. “He’s out siphoning gas from cars in the parking lot.”
“Good. The boy needs to learn life skills.”
Gavin wasn’t fooling him for a second. He may seem casual about his toddler son, but nothing could be farther from the truth. That three-year-old, and Scarlett, Gavin’s wife, were his whole world. “He went down for a nap about thirty minutes ago.”
Another flash of white caught Jack’s eye as Luanne threw herself against the trunk of a huge oak tree. She quickly poked her head out and then jerked it back like a CIA operative on a recon mission.
Seriously, what was she doing?
The answer came in a brain-scorching lightning strike.
“Hot damn, she’s running,” he mumbled.
“Jack?”
“Huh? What?” He couldn’t tear his gaze from the runaway bride. Especially when she dropped to the ground and belly-crawled through the flower bushes.
“I said I can stay with Aiden until the sitter gets here if you have something else to do.” Gavin’s brow wrinkled. “What’s so interesting out there?”
“Yeah. Great. Gotta go.” He grabbed his suit jacket from the back of the sofa and barreled for the door.
Gavin chuckled. “Okay. Don’t let me stop you.”
He wouldn’t.
He was on a mission
He had a bride to catch.

***

The prick of twigs poking into Luanne Price’s arms as she shimmied on her belly through the azalea bushes was only a slight annoyance. What were a few scrapes compared to the gaping wound in her heart? She needed to put that away and concentrate on escape. A few more precious inches and she’d be at the parking lot and home free. Army-crawling through the shrubbery wasn’t how she’d pictured leaving her wedding, but desperate times and all.

The thought of dear old Dad and his devil’s deal with her fiancé spurred her forward. If she could get to her car, she could run and not look back. Thank goodness she had put a hide-a-key under the back bumper, just in case. Ironic that fleeing her own wedding would be her just in case.
Her manicured fingers clawed the soil as she pulled herself along the ground. A tiny twinge of guilt dogged her. This dress looked like a cake topper and wasn’t her style at all, but it had cost five thousand dollars, and she was ruining it in her escape. But guilt evaporated when she saw a break in the bushes. One last surge and she’d be free.
Once clear of the greenery, she inspected the damage to the dress. Surprisingly, it wasn’t too much the worse for wear. She quickly forgot about her dress when the sound of the wedding quartet warming up reached her ears. Damn! It was time to move.
She crouched low and used the other cars as cover as she duckwalked to her little red Corvette. But her elation at seeing her baby was short-lived when she noticed it was blocked in on all four sides. How would she get out of here? Walking wasn’t an option if for no other reason than Jimmy Choo did not make walking shoes. The rhinestone-encrusted beauties she wore were made to be admired, not for functionality.
She peeked over the hood of her car to make sure she hadn’t been discovered. With every beat of her heart, her blood pressure ticked up another notch. At this rate, she’d be leaving here in an ambulance.

Calm the hell down, Luanne.

Whistling and the masculine tap, tap, tap of shoes on asphalt caught her attention, and she dropped out of sight. Her butt hit the hard, warm pavement with a thud. The July Texas sun beat down on her bare shoulder as she huddled as close to the front tire of her car as possible. She prayed whoever it was would walk by without noticing her.
The whistling and tapping stopped. “Luanne Price, fancy meeting you here.”
She cursed the escape gods. Of all the people to see her in this humiliating state, Jack Avery was the absolute worse. Well, he wouldn’t rattle her. No matter how fine he looked in that black suit and gold tie that set off his whiskey eyes. Damn him and his McDreamy good looks.

She smoothed her short hair from her sweaty face. “Hello, Jack.”

“Car trouble?” He pushed back the sides of his jacket and slid his hands into the front pockets of his pants.

“I noticed one of my tires was low when I got out of the car earlier. It’s been buggin’ me all morning, so I came to check on it.” She made a show of inspecting the tire. What the hell was she supposed to be looking for? The only thing she knew about cars was how to turn them on and how to drive fast.

He leaned a hip against the driver’s door. “Yeah, I can see how that would consume your thoughts. Why let a pesky thing like a wedding get in the way of good car maintenance?”

“Exactly.” His accessing stare unnerved her. She went back to inspecting the tire and tried to ignore him. “Well, it was good to see you, Jack.”

Take the hint, Jack-ass, and go away.

He didn’t.

Paper crinkled and a red lollipop appeared in front of her face. “Want one?”
She pushed his hand aside. “No, thank you.”
“Aiden gave me these damn things, and I can’t stop eating them.”
Against her will and better judgment, she followed the motion of his tongue as he licked the sucker.
“They’re nothing but pure sugar.”
Lick.
“Probably all kinds of bad for you.
Lick.
“But I’m addicted.”
Lick.
“I seem to be having trouble with impulse control lately.” He winked. “Know what I mean?”
“Um…no.” Sweat beaded on her upper lip. She wiped it away with the back of her hand. “Tire looks fine. I guess I better get back inside, the wedding starts in a bit.” She gave him her best pageant smile.
“Yeah.” He turned his face to the sun. “Beautiful day for a wedding.”
He wouldn’t take the hint and leave. Or maybe he was calling her bluff. Well, two could play that game. “Yes, it is.”
He straightened and buttoned his jacket. “May I escort you back inside?”
“No. I’m going to sit a bit longer and enjoy the sunshine.” She waved him off with a flick of her hand. “You go on ahead and have a good time.” She smashed down the skirt of her dress that poofed around her face. The thing had enough volume to float a boat.
“The sun is nice. I think I’ll stay and enjoy it with you.” He turned, rested his butt on the car and crossed his arms over his chest.
Why wouldn’t he leave? She ventured a look in his direction and couldn’t help but appreciate the sight. The sexy dimple in his chin had probably been the undoing of many women—that and the devil’s glint in his mischievous expression. As much as it chapped her behind, she was no exception. She tried and failed to settle the butterflies whipping around in her stomach, but it was no use.
Since the day she’d met his arrogant ass, she’d done everything she knew to get beyond her unhealthy attraction to him. He was the exact kind of man who could break her, and she didn’t touch those men with a ten-foot pole.
As if her thoughts drew his gaze, their eyes locked. Her body ignored the siren going off in her head. Every part of her that should be ignoring him saluted and reported for duty.
“You have a little something there.” He pointed toward her head.
Her hand flew to her hair, and she patted her head. “Where?”
“Here.” His fingers gently pulled a sprig of grass from behind her ear. A tremor ran down her neck when he lightly brushed her earlobe with his fingers.
“Thanks,” she breathed.
A sly smirk appeared on his face. “No problem.”
Jerk. He knew he got to her, and it rankled. “I want to look my best for Doug.” She gave him a tight-lipped smirk.
“Uh-huh. Then you might want to wipe that smudge of tire grease from your upper lip.” He waggled his finger in her face.
She slapped it away and wiped her mouth. “Go away, Jack.”
“I think I’ll stay for the fireworks.” He popped the lollipop back into his mouth.
“Fireworks? There aren’t going to be any fireworks.” Not that her father hadn’t tried.
He grinned around the sucker. “Oh, I think there will be when everyone figures out the bride’s bolted.”
“I’m not running.” She so totally was.
“Please. I know a runner when I see one.” He surveyed the area around them. “It doesn’t look like you’re going to get very far, Thumbelina.”
She hated it when he called her that. He only did it to annoy her. That was Jack in a nutshell—annoying. He could make the Pope cuss. “Don’t you worry about me, Jack Avery. I can take care of myself.”
“I was going to offer you a ride, but I guess you don’t need my help.” He rapped his knuckles on the top of the car. “No need to hang around if there isn’t going to be a wedding. I’ve got places to go and people to see.”
“And women to objectify.” Petty, she knew, but still satisfying.
His laughter filled the air. “See ya later, trouble.” He sauntered away, jingling his keys.
Panic at seeing his retreating back knotted her muscles. She needed help, but not from him. If she’d learned anything from her father, it was that nothing was free. The last thing she wanted was to be indebted to Jack.
Shouts from the house slammed into her like a missile. Her heart rate, which had ironically stabilized in Jack’s presence, hit the stratosphere. Doug and her father were yelling her name.
Strike that. The last thing she wanted was to marry Doug Divan. Decision made. “Wait.”
Jack pivoted to face her, still playing with his keys. The shit-eating grin he wore made surrender a bitter pill to swallow. But she gulped it down, along with her pride. There’d be plenty of time to get both back at his expense…later…when she was a hundred miles away. “I could use a ride.”
He sauntered back to her. “Well now, Luanne. I don’t know if I’m inclined to help you anymore. You were pretty mean to me.” He had the nerve to pout.
She hated him.
But she also needed him.
With will she didn’t know she possessed, she unclenched her teeth and beamed at him. “I’m sorry I was mean, Jack. Could you please get me the hell out of here?”
He offered her his hand. “On one condition.”
“What’s that?”
“Tell me why you’re running.”

Uncaged Review

A couple months ago, I read the first book in this series, Running from a Rock Star – and was thrilled when Jami Albright released this second one. In the first one, we met Gavin the rock star and Scarlett and so much fun ensued – I was hoping the second book lived up to the hype of the first. And I was not disappointed. This time around, we meet Scarlett’s best friend – Luanne, a slam dunk lawyer, and Jack, Gavin’s manager. Even though the two of them know each other, Luanne has never wanted anything to do with Jack – thinking he’s just a player and not her type. But when Jack spies Luanne running and crawling through bushes, in her wedding gown – he can’t help himself, he’s off to be the knight in shining armor, uninvited of course.

Hilarity ensues as Jack and Luanne go on a road trip, Luanne for trying to escape her father and Jack, to find out answers when his whole life has been a lie. Don’t get me wrong, there are serious issues going on, and the author handles it beautifully, but injects enough humor to keep the reader smiling and cheering this couple on. It is a worthy sequel and it can stand on its own without reading the first book, but these books are worth reading together – as you do run into Gavin and Scarlett again. Highly recommended. Reviewed by Cyrene

5 Stars

Uncaged Review – The Unlikeable Demon Hunter: Crave by Deborah Wilde

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

The Unlikeable Demon Hunter: Crave
Deborah Wilde
Urban Fantasy

What doesn’t kill you …

seriously messes with your love life.

Nava is happily settling into her new relationship and life is all giddy joy and stolen kisses.

Except when it’s assassins. Talk about a mood killer.

She and Rohan are tracking the unlikely partnership between the Brotherhood and a witch who can bind demons, but every new piece of the puzzle is leaving them with more questions than answers.

And someone doesn’t appreciate them getting close to the truth.

Go figure.

On top of that, a demon known only as Candyman has unleashed a drug that’s harming users in extremely disturbing ways.

Nava vows to take this demon down. But will life as she knows it survive this mission, or will this be the one time she should have looked before she leapt?

Happily-ever-after? Barring death, she’s got a real shot at it. 

Uncaged Review: The Nava Katz series has easily become one of my favorites. This is an urban fantasy series that has it all, great dialog, characters that you learn more and more about with each book and action sequences that keep you on the edge of your seat.

Anytime I finish one book, I’m impatiently awaiting the next installment. It’s almost gotten to the point of being redundant in the praise I give this series, and Crave is no exception.
Nava and Rohan have their hands full in this edition, trying to find a witch that is binding demons and a new drug on the streets. But they will also run into old enemies along the way, just to up the ante. Nava and Rohan have some nice downtime moments too, to let you catch your breath, but this time, it could tear them apart.

Witty, snarky, sarcastic Nava is in perfect form, and Rohan is the best foil for her. The author proves that you can keep characters together throughout the whole book, and for the book to still hit it out of the park, unlike so many authors that break the characters up consistently, and still hold the tension. Highly recommended urban fantasy. Reviewed by Cyrene

5 Stars

Author Interview with Bonnie Gill

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

As seen in the March issue of Uncaged Book Reviews.

Uncaged: Is Tempting the Light, the first book in the L.A.M.P.S. Series, your debut novel? Can you tell readers more about the series?

Tempting the Light is my first published novel. I wanted to write something very different from the paranormal books that are available. My L.A.M.P.S. series is about hunky secret agents who find true love while hunting dangerous Cryptids. My stories include romance, suspense, mystery, and plenty of laughs.

Uncaged: How many books are you planning for this series and what inspired you to write in the Paranormal/Urban Fantasy genre?

Right now, I have two books published and am finishing up the third. I have plenty more ideas for future books.
My first book came about by an urban legend television show on the Jersey Devil. I knew I wanted my main character to be cursed, but needed to figure out how. So after brainstorming, I came up with a genie that pops out of a tampon box. There’s also a scene that was inspired by the movie Tommy Boy. I try to surprise my readers and venture out of the box.
Reading is a way to escape from reality and paranormal is a great way to do it. There is so much drama going on in the world today, and I want to provide a way for readers to kick back and enjoy stories that will make them laugh.

Uncaged: Are you planning on attending any conventions or in-person signings this year?

I usually attend the Coastal Magic convention but couldn’t make it this year. I’m hoping to find some other conventions that are open.

Uncaged: Do you read your reviews? What do you take away from them?

I do read reviews. I’m always looking for a way to improve my writing and stories.

Uncaged: Can you tell us what you have coming up next?

I’m finishing up my third book in the L.A.M.P.S. series, titled Light Untamed. I’ll be sending it to my editor soon. I’m super excited about this book because it’s about two characters who seem to be everyone’s favorites. Pepper is a vegan and an animal rescuer, and Ottar is an Australian hunter who thinks Pepper placed a spell on him.
I’m also revising an urban fantasy that I wrote a few years ago. I hope to have it out this year sometime.

Uncaged: What is one of the nicest things someone has said to you about your books?

I think people who have said they couldn’t put my book down is one of the greatest compliments an author could receive. I’ve also had people say they laughed out loud during parts of my books. I feel overjoyed that I could entertain them with my stories. I’m honored and humbled that they spent their free time reading something that I wrote.

Uncaged: What is your favorite parts about being an author? What have you found to be the least favorite?

My favorite part is when all the puzzle pieces of the story click in place. I write by the seat of my pants and sometimes I have no idea why I’m writing certain scenes. I think my subconscious takes over. Then while I’m writing the last quarter of the story the pieces start fitting together. I’m amazed sometimes at how the story works out. I usually have the ending all figured out before I start, but getting there is the hard part. I’ve tried plotting and it took me double the time to write the story.
My least favorite part is marketing. I’m working on it though.

Uncaged: What do you like to do when you aren’t writing?

I have four dogs, and three of them are special needs. They take up a lot of my time. Two of them are puppymill breeder rescues. I’ve been working on rehabilitating them mentally and physically. It’s been a labor of love. Even playing with a toy is a great milestone for them. It seems like someone always needs to go to the vet or the groomers. As I’m writing this, the one without special needs is barking at me because she wants attention.
I also like to ride the motorcycle with my boyfriend. We usually ride to forest preserves or try to find winding country roads. It’s peaceful and there’s nothing like feeling the sun on your face and wind in your hair.

Uncaged: What is the hardest part of a book to write? What is the easiest? From start to finish, how long does it take to finish a complete book?

The hardest part is adding the emotions to my characters. I’m a closed off person, and don’t like to let my emotions out. So usually I write my first draft and then go back and add the emotions in. I think a lot of it has to do with the fact that I don’t really know my characters until I’m finished with the story.
The easiest part is starting the book. I have an idea about the characters and situations before I begin.
It takes me about six to eight months to finish a book. I’m getting faster though.

Uncaged: What would you like to say to fans, and where can they follow you?

Thank you for reading my stories. You can follow me on Facebook, Twitter, or email me at [email protected].

[symple_box color=”black” fade_in=”false” float=”center” text_align=”left” width=””]Bonnie Gill grew up in the suburbs right outside Chicago. As a child she loved making up ghost stories at night to scare her sisters and friends. She writes paranormal romance and urban fantasy with a twist of humor. When she isn’t writing you can find her on a haunted tour, volunteering at pet rescues, or digging around in her fairy garden waiting for fairies to show. She lives in Northern Illinois with her four rescue dogs and her ever patient boyfriend who laughs at all her goofy jokes. She loves to hear from her readers.[/symple_box]

Bonniegill.com

Uncaged Review – Living with the Torture Killer by Skye Andrews

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

Living with the Torture Killer
Skye Andrews
Crime/Serial Killer

For twenty years Terry Walker killed his victims using various torture methods. Once night Phillipa McDonald was kidnapped and kept as a prisoner of this sadistic serial killer. This is a look at her side of the story.
Book 2 of I am Terry Walker series

Uncaged Review: This short story follows the book, I Am Terry Walker – which is a book about a serial killer and how he finds and tortures his victims. Saying I liked that book is a stretch, because it was a no-holds barred, no-holding-anything-back including all the gory details, but it was well written and earned the 5 Stars I gave it, although it won’t be for everyone. To be fair, readers should take that book on before reading this one, as this is a count of the woman that Terry kidnapped and who lived and loved the killer for over 18 years.

Like the previous book, it’s still in a diary-type format, detailing the time Phillipa spends with Terry – knowing he is killing, but believing at first he will kill her if she leaves, but later believing she is helping him not kill as often later on. This book is not as bloody, and it’s much easier to handle, but it also lacks some true emotional ties between the character and the reader. At first I symphathized with Phillipa’s kidnapping, but later on I felt a bit detached even though it was clearly a case of Stockholm Syndrome to the extreme. Seeing how someone goes from one kind of fear to another was believable and worth a look, but reading the first one would be the best bet.
Reviewed by Cyrene

4 Stars

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