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Uncaged Review – Hope’s Prelude by L.G. O’Connor

By
Cyrene Olson
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Hope’s Prelude 
L.G. O’Connor
Fantasy

While dealing with visions of her death, Dr. Sandra Wilson races against the clock to develop a genetic vaccine that will, in the future, save the life of the one who will lead the final battle between angels and demons.

Enter the world of the Angelorum and meet the Nephilim Rogue who has been dogging Simon, and get a view into the genetics project that started it all as destinies entwine to deliver us one step closer to battle. There are no coincidences…

Uncaged Review: Angels, demons and science – all mixed together. This book was actually written after two others in the series, but it looks like it is better read first, as it gives some key information about some characters and the fight between good and evil. Make sure you are awake, and not a bit sleepy when you read, or you may miss an important detail, there is not a lot of fat in this book. The book chapters jump between Sandra, a Nephilim and scientist on the Angel side trying to find a way to save Cara, a woman who has no idea she’s a Nephilim and can turn the tide in the battle, and the Nephilim Samuel, who was captured and raised on the Demon side, and not knowing who he truly was until he was older.
Suspense, mystery and the age-old struggle between ultimate good and ultimate evil. What could be better? Reviewed by Cyrene

4 Stars

Uncaged Review – Suspended by Sarah Noffke

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

Suspended
Sarah Noffke
SciFi/Time Travel

A circus that is spellbinding, mesmerizing and deadly.

When a stranger joins the cast of Vagabond Circus–a circus that is run by Dream Travelers and features real magic–mysterious events start happening. The once orderly grounds of the circus become riddled with hidden threats. And the ringmaster realizes not only are his circus and its magic at risk, but also his very life….

Uncaged Review: Not being much of a fan of the circus I wasn’t sure what to expect from this book. I can honestly say I was blown away and I so very much wanted to be a part of the vagabond circus. To be in the crowd experiencing the magic of the show. Watching the ringmaster introduce the star’s Zuma and Finley. And witness their talents for myself. The story features around the members of the vagabond circus and what happens when a new kid wants to join the show.

This was a great read it ends on a cliffhanger but at an exciting bit. I need to get book two to see what becomes of the Vagabond Circus. Reviewed by Jennifer

5 Stars

Uncaged Review: Hidden in the Vines by Gemma Brocato

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

Hidden in the Vines
Gemma Brocato
Contemporary Romance

Growing up in the supersized shadow of a famous mother led Jules Capelli to retreat far from the glamorous lifestyle. She owns and runs Team Vino, a team-building operation based in a working vineyard. In the midst of a seminar, her high-profile, high-maintenance mother insists Jules shelter her among the vines after recent plastic surgery. Keeping the woman hidden will require a monumental effort, especially with two reporters from an entertainment magazine in the attendance….

Uncaged Review: Two entertainment reporters, who have come to blows in their office, is sent off by the boss to get some team training at Team Vino, a vineyard in northern California as a condition to keep their employment. Jules, who owns the vineyard, is the daughter of a famous actress, who imposes on her daughter by asking to stay at a cabin on the property while she recovers from plastic surgery – to keep it under wraps. Unfortunately, that cabin is viewable, at a distance, from several areas at the vineyard. Keeping her mother hidden from the reporters at the team building week, will not be easy – specially when Jules finds herself falling for one of the reporters.

This is a solid read, and I actually laughed during the Sauvignon Stomp – reminding me of an episode of I Love Lucy. Hilarity ensues and it was a highlight in the book. The only downside for me, was the ending. It ended very abruptly and rushed – and I would like to have seen that brought out a bit more.
Reviewed by Cyrene

4 Stars

Uncaged Review: 14 Needles, An Unsettling Collection by Aaron Deck

By
Cyrene Olson
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14 Needles, An Unsettling
Collection
Aaron Deck
Horror Shorts

Based on fourteen tattoos, this collection of short horror stories will take you on a speculative journey inspired by each piece of art. Imaginative, strange and sometimes funny, the stories in this collection will take you to a military encampment in Afghanistan, through a trinket shop in California, into the secret, gruesome war being waged in the back alleys of civilization. Each tale strikes a different tone, from the horrific to the thrilling.

Uncaged Review: I wasn’t sure what to expect from this book. Being a genre which I love everything about. I eat live and breathe horror. I felt myself not wanting to start this book straight away in case I was disappointed. As there’s only a handful of new horror writers out there which can actually fit this role. I was pleased that Aaron Deck is one of these writers. This book should be on an up and coming horrors best books to read list. Every page just screams good storytelling at this point in the review I normally say which story’s where my favorite. This time I can’t do this as I loved them all. The author even tells us how he came up with the idea to write this book which in its own way is very cool. I can only hope good things for this fresh horror writer and that Uncaged Books gets chance to read more of his work. In the meantime time prepare to be entertained in all things horror. Reviewed by Jennifer

5 Stars
Violence, sex, language warnings

Uncaged Review – Born of Faerie by WB McKay

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

Born of Faerie
WB McKay
Urban Fantasy

Sophie Morrigan knows she needs to set the tone for her new life. Being drowned by a dragon certainly sets a tone.

A newly minted agent for the Faerie Affairs Bureau, Sophie is excited to retrieve her first magical object. Unfortunately, her boss ruins it by assigning her a partner she doesn’t need. When her first day sends her limping home with water in her lungs, she has to consider that she might be in over her head.

Can Sophie quash her loner tendencies and learn to work with an annoying selkie partner? Or will she wind up another piece of junk in a dragon’s hoard?

Uncaged Review: A good start to an urban fantasy series, this short book packs a wallop and is a great introduction into the Stolen Magic series and about Sophie’s first case as a full-fledged agent of the Faerie Affairs Bureau, who retrieves dangerous magical objects. In her first case, she has to go up against a water dragon to retrieve a magical chalice, and it’s not going to be easy.

I enjoyed the start of this one, as the fae in this book are also something more. Some are shifters of different types, and with different powers, so it’s interesting to see where it leads. This book is an exclusive book you can get free by signing up for the author’s newsletter and it’s definitely worth a look. Reviewed by Cyrene

4 1/2 Stars

Uncaged Review – Storm Shift by Calinda B.

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

Storm Shift
Calinda B.
Paranormal/Horror

Your power–it’s in the blood.

Those were the words her grandfather said to her from wherever the dead reside. Now it’s up to her to find out what that really means.

Grief.

Her grandparents were found dead in the lake. Boating accident? Not likely. Newly elected town manager Chia Petit is determined to find out who murdered her beloved granddad and grandma.

Justice.

Her new position requires her to see to the needs of the people, including the shifters, of Charming, Alaska. When a shifter turns up dead, shot by a mysterious hunter, her determination to find the murderer grows.

Love.

There are not too many men to choose from in Charming, Alaska. Can the sexy, insane bounty hunter who wants revenge for the death of his niece, winnow his way into her heart?

Too many mysteries and not enough time to solve them.

Chia’s got her hands full as she tries to set things right in the prequel to the Charming Shifter Mysteries, Storm Shift.

Uncaged Review: This is a fun jump into the paranormal genre, with interesting and likeable characters. Chia’s grandparents are found dead, she’s been elected town manager and a shifter has been shot, all in the space of a day or two – in Charming, Alaska. With two bounty hunters in the area, Chia needs to figure out who’s the good guy vs. the bad guy. This is a fun, action-packed ride, and while some of the shifter world is out to a select group of the population, not everyone knows and the ones that do are still trying to make sense of it. To keep it under wraps, Chia sets out to find the one that shot the shifter, and she gets a whole lot more than she bargained for.

One of my favorite interactions is between Chia and D’Raynged – a proper and stuffy vampire, and with her husky shifter best friend, Cecil. As for the love interest, I’m still on the fence with Hung, and even though Chia is a smart, resourceful woman, she’s not a typical bad-ass hunter. But her high school doe eyes at Hung does grate on your nerves at times. Although this book wraps up one part of the storyline, there are still questions left over, and I’m looking forward to reading more. Reviewed by Cyrene

4 1/2 Stars

Uncaged Review: Revenants, Season 1, Episode 1 by Williams and Harlow

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

Revenants, Season 1, Episode 1
Williams & Harlow
SciFi/Dystopian

When the zombies arrived twenty-five years ago, the world didn’t end. People adapted and learned to live with them. There are two varieties of zombies. Gerries wander around slowly and aimlessly. Renals are always at an eleven. The only thing that they want is to eat and they always sprint towards that goal.

But now a new variety has surfaced: Revenants. These are zombies that retain their memories and personalities from when they were living….

Uncaged Review: Another zombie book with a twist this time the zombies are called Gerries. People learn to live with them unless there is a fast zombie, called a renal then they are dangerous and will always catch their meat. We also meet Elliot, a Revenant who is a zombie that doesn’t kill humans. We also meet a few other strange characters. This book is set up nicely for a sequel and it was a funny read, with some witty comments. I really can’t wait to get back to Elliot and the gang. Reviewed by Jennifer

4 Stars

Uncaged Review – Dawn of the Infected by Eileen Cruz Coleman

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

Dawn of the Infected
Eileen Cruz Coleman
Horror

Never Surrender. Not Now. Not Ever.

For twenty-three-year-old start-up tech company CEO Selena Martinez, it was just another uneventful early morning bus commute from her cottage in rural Southern Maryland to her office in Washington, D.C. But when her bus is suddenly attacked by a horde of crazed savages, Selena becomes immersed in a world of terror and confusion, where she must learn to survive on her own using smarts and skills she never dreamed she possessed….

Uncaged Review: A whole different take on a post-apocalyptic world, and this one has the zombies, but the war is about the witches and vampires wanting to snuff out the humans, with only the half angel, half vampire hybrids trying to protect the powerful half fae, half humans that are the key to winning. I think this was a good prequel to a new series, and I’d be one to enjoy reading. Selena is one of these fae hybrids, and has no idea who she is, but the hybrid who is assigned to protect her is Daniel, who saves her after her commuter bus is attacked one morning. With witch’s, infected and vampires all part of what is called The New Order and trying to kill off the fae hybrids and humans, Daniel gets Selena to a safe place. What they really need, is the pure angels to come out of hiding and help them to win the war.

There is a lot of information in a short amount of time, and this is a very fast paced novella. I hope the author continues this series, I enjoyed the originality in a sea of zombie novels. Reviewed by Cyrene

4 Stars

Uncaged Review – Esther, An Easter Bride by Hildie McQueen

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

Esther, An Easter Bride
Hildie McQueen
Historical Romance/Victorian

Unrealistic expectations can lead two people down a trail to despair.

After the untimely death of her husband, Esther Wilmington must choose between pauper’s life as a poor widow in Philadelphia or a marriage of convenience to her late husband’s son. However, she is presented with a third option she couldn’t have imagined: moving west as a mail order bride.

Elias Jones likes the idea of a wife but quickly discovers how complicated it is to share his home, his bed, and his life with someone. Perhaps he was hasty in marrying. But he soon realizes he cannot imagine a life without his new bride.

Uncaged Review: Another great installment in this series of mail-order brides. This one is a bit different than the others, with Esther who is a widow, and her husband didn’t leave her enough to live on, so she answers an ad to go west and marry a rancher. The author gives you a great sense of the characters and the backdrop within a novella length, and you can easily picture it in your mind as you read along.

I really enjoy this series, and it’s an easy afternoon read. Reviewed by Cyrene

4 1/2 Stars

Uncaged Review: Beside Still Waters by Ryan Jo Summers

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

Beside Still Waters
Ryan Jo Summers
Contemporary Romance

Top Journalist and corporate climber McKayla Buchanan is sent to a remote California mountain camp for inner-city, at-risk teens. Accustomed to political and high-society assignments, she is suddenly a fish out of water. At Camp In As Much, she meets eight hostile and distrustful teens, assorted volunteers, rescued horses—and Clay.

Uncaged Review: A journalist for a newspaper spends a few weeks at a local camp for foster kids and injured horses. This is a lovely story even though it has some sensitive issues containing neglected kids and injured horses. It is beautifully written and is very much a romance story. This book and storyline really opened my eyes. I think this is an easy read which is quite easy to get caught up with. Reviewed by Jennifer

4 Stars

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