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Uncaged Review – Forced to Love by A.M. Costello

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

Forced to Love
A.M. Costello
Fantasy Romance

Destined to reign since infancy, the revelation of an ancient law forces Princess Quigalla to make a choice: marry before coronation or hand over her title to a neighboring kingdom. 

Faced with the prospect of a war with her uncle, who wants the crown for his son, she plans a secret mission. 

Will her need for independence be her downfall, or will the arrogant Sir Felix Quon be able to save her from danger?

Uncaged Review: Princess Quigalla, the daughter of Queen Quenessa, is the heir to the throne of Qualla. In the first chapter, King Ronan, Quigalla’s father is ruling the country. The princess is out practicing her archery when a badger threatens Pauline, one of the young servants of the castle. To save Pauline, Quigalla ends up getting bit on her leg, necessitating a trip to the healer, delaying the start of the council meeting she was to attend.
The country of Vulster is ruled by her mother’s brother, Venus. His son Vaylor is the heir apparent. The backstory is that Venus wanted to rule Quigalla but the rules said the female was to rule the country. He moves away and makes his own kingdom which he rules with fear and terror. He is planning on invading Qualla, still wanting the throne there.
Once everyone but Quigalla agree to discover it the Lord of Vulster is planning to attack before doing something about the, King Ronan brings up what he calls a delicate subject. Quigalla must marry before her coronation or a distant male relation will be chosen for the throne. Her coronation is in two months on her eighteenth birthday.
Of course, Quigalla, who doesn’t believe she needs anyone to help her, denies she is going to marry until Breasal, a counsil member says it’s the law and she must marry. She appeals to her father who says he isn’t going to change the law. As she listens to them saying she needs to marry in two months, Quigalla becomes angry and tunes them out while thinking nasty thoughts of all the council members.
Because her father is set on her marrying, Quigalla decides to defeat the kingdom’s enemy, Vulster and Lord Venus. She would go to Queen Andrea, her grandmother, and enter Vulster from there.
The next morning, her hall if filled with those wanting to marry her. She escapes by the window of her room. She falls when her injured right leg spasms, falling into the arms of a man who is concerned but yet amused at catching her. Enter Sir Felix Quon who is there to help her find a bow suited to her.
This sets the stage for the rest of the book. Felix is assigned as her guard as she goes to her grandmother’s castle and then into Vulster. As one disaster after another happens, she discovers her cousin, Vaylor, is on her side and willing to help her.
I’ll not give away any more of the story, but the story is how Quigalla learns that no person is an island and everyone needs help. It was a fun tale to read and one I recommend as long as you can keep all the Qu’s and V’s separate.
I give it 4 stars. Reviewed by Barbara

4 Stars

Uncaged Review – When the Vow Breaks by Michelle Libby

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

When the Vow Breaks
Michelle Libby
Romantic Suspense

Good cop or bad cop? Colin Rourke takes protecting and serving seriously. When he is notified that he’s being sued for millions in the death of a known drug dealer, he is confident he will be cleared. 

His new wife, Regan Rourke, craves security and stability after spending her teen years in the foster care system. She is blindsided by the knowledge that everything they’ve worked for could be taken away. 

Drastic action must be taken. 

A quickie divorce to strip Colin of all he owns is the only option. Can Regan help clear her husband’s name so they can be reunited, or will Colin’s career and their marriage vanish? 

Uncaged Review: Regan and Colin are engaging characters. It opens with Colin, a police officer, being accused of murdering a petty criminal, Rodrigo Ramirez, by throwing him off a bridge with a video as the evidence. There wasn’t enough to charge him for murder, so the family brought a civil suit against him for their beloved’s death.

Ragan, who is married to Colin and is madly in love with him, grew up in foster homes with nothing to her name. She doesn’t want to lose everything they worked for if the lawsuit goes against them. Her solution is for them to get a divorce prior to the trial so she can hold all their assets in safety until Colin is cleared.
What happens is that everything falls apart. They are jealous of the people they go out with to make the divorce look real which creates problems between them and Colin’s best friend, Jack. Even though they have difficulty staying away from each other, they manage to keep their attraction and love hidden until the party where Regan shows up with Jack and Colin with a new blond bimbo recruit. Colin decks Jack and they all leave in disgrace.

There is a person who is following Regan and he is scaring her. This is after a note was slid under the door to her house. She lets Colin know about the stalker and the note after her adopted brother Brian hires a private security man named Dirk to watch over her.
Things become more of a muddle when Regan discovers Brian is the attorney for the Ramirez family who is suing Colin. She makes the mistake of telling Brian about Colin’s use of excessive force over the six years while an officer. He uses that against Colin in the trial which angers Regan.

Things get more complicated, but I’ll let you read the book to the reasonably predicable ending. It was a good read with interesting characters. For a romantic suspense, it was a fun read and worth the time if you are wanting to be entertained without a lot of thinking involved.

I would give it four stars. The story was well written, predictable but fun. Reviewed by Barbara

4 Stars

Uncaged Book Reviews, July 2019 Now Available

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

Uncaged Review – Mann in the Crossfire by R. Weir

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

Mann in the Crossfire
R. Weir
Suspense/Crime

Is this the end for PI Jarvis Mann?
A surprising murder of an associate
Sends Jarvis on a trip to San Diego to investigate
A trail of clues direct him to a gang member who wants him eliminated
While a local detective agency is hot on his tail with nefarious plans of their own
Battered and beaten, Jarvis battles to forge on, tracking the evidence
Directing him to a dangerous discovery that he may not be able to fight his way out of
Desperate for backup, with nowhere else to turn
He enlists lethal foes to render essential aid
Will these illicit associations spell the end of his career and possibly his life…
For Jarvis is truly a Mann in the Crossfire.

Uncaged Review: This book can be read as standalone book or as part of the series. It does mention some characters from the previous books. But you should still be able to follow the story and enjoy it without reading the others as I did. Jarvis is back on a case again when he unexpectedly meets up with some old friends. Some of them not so pleasant. I enjoyed reading this. It’s very action packed with a lot of twists and turns. Some I didn’t see coming. Reviewed by Jennifer

4 Stars

Uncaged Review – Fool’s Gold by Cari Davis

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

Fool’s Gold
Cari Davis
Historical Western Romance

Penniless and estranged from her wealthy family in New Orleans, Widow Doña Melissa Bertrand de Cabrillo must barter her way from California to Louisiana in order to save her niece, even if it means posing as the wife of a perfect stranger.

Gold miner and banker Sebastian Henderson needs to find a wife soon . . . or at least a woman willing to play the role. Doña Melissa provides the perfect solution, but sharing a cabin with the tempting southern belle proves more challenging than their bargain—and more dangerous—after a passenger aboard their steamship is murdered. Melissa is convinced the death is connected to her family’s events in New Orleans.

Thrown together by necessity, united by love, Melissa and Sebastian must unravel a murderous scheme threatening to tear them apart.

Uncaged Review: Doña Melissa Bertrand de Cabrillo must leave the safety of California and return to her family home in New Orleans, Louisiana to check on the welfare of her beloved niece. Except now she is a widow, and penniless, and with no way to secure passage. Enter Sebastian…whom she thinks is the perfect answer to her problem, even if she doesn’t particularly like gold miners. Sebastian Henderson has money, digs for gold for fun and owns a bank with his brother. Right now, he needs to escort a young lady in his care from California to Boston. Per social custom, she needs a female chaperone, so he needs a wife, or someone willing to act as on while on the voyage. Enter Melissa…whom he thinks is the perfect Southern Belle solution to his need.

This is a unique and action-packed story with a growing cast of characters that add to the excitement. Passengers are murdered on the steamship, and Melissa is convinced it’s somehow related to the poisonings that killed members of her family. Her estranged Bertrand family owns those steamships and Melissa is also concerned she is leading Sebastian right into the heart of the danger awaiting them in New Orleans. As the tensions and number of victims grow, so does the mutual attraction between Melissa and Sebastian and their “pretend” marriage.

This story could have been deepened if the author had included more details about steamship travel during this era, since so much of the book took place aboard the steamship. Melissa’s internal and external conflicts were clear, and sometimes painfully so, as she worked her way through them. Sebastian’s internal conflicts were a bit murkier, though he is the quintessential hero and the type of man every woman dreams of sailing with. Reviewed by Ryan Jo

4 Stars

Uncaged Review – Dark Stranger by I.T. Lucas

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

Dark Stranger
I.T. Lucas
Paranormal Romance

When Syssi’s paranormal foresight lands her a job at Dr. Amanda Dokani’s neuroscience lab, it fails to predict the thrilling yet terrifying turn her life will take. Syssi has no clue that her boss is an immortal who’ll drag her into a secret, millennia-old battle over humanity’s future. Nor does she realize that the professor’s imposing brother is the mysterious stranger who’s been starring in her dreams.
Since the dawn of human civilization, two warring factions of near-immortals – the descendants of the gods of old – have been secretly shaping its destiny. Leading the clandestine battle from his luxurious L.A. high-rise, Kian is surrounded by his clan, yet alone. Descending from a single goddess, clan members are forbidden to each other. And as the only other immortals are their hated enemies, Kian and his kin have been long resigned to a lonely existence of fleeting trysts with human partners. That is, until his sister–a neuroscience professor and a leading researcher of paranormal abilities–makes a game-changing discovery.

Uncaged Review: What a great beginning to this series. At already 26 books strong, and 27 already on pre-order, this is a series that a reader could easily lose themselves in. The world building and back story are quite amazing – and the originality is refreshing and this is not a story arc that has been written over and over in this genre. Although Syssi and Kian’s story continues into the next book, this is a true page-turner of a book. You won’t want to put it down long and getting to the next book will be a priority for many. Reviewed by Cyrene

5 Stars

Uncaged Review – Taken by Graeme by Jennifer Siddoway

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

Taken by Graeme
Jennifer Siddoway
Historical Medieval Romance

Love is the last thing Elspeth MacDougall expects to find when a fierce pirate captain sweeps her from her home straight to the high seas, demanding she ply her skills as ship surgeon to work off her father’s gambling debt. She’s determined to survive the three month arrangement, but dangers abound and there’s more to this vagabond group of raiders than it seems. As sea battles and intrigues mount, she finds a place among the crew. But can her healing skills save her own heart when her bond with the captain intensifies and passion flares, harder to fight than the crashing waves.

Captain Graeme MacNeil never intended to bring a woman on board his ship–they always cause trouble. Yet Elspeth serves a need he can’t deny. If only she didn’t possess an inner blaze that sparks a fire in him as well. His attraction to the bonnie surgeon only grows stronger when they return to his homeland in the Barra, but lurking in the shadows is an old rival, waiting for the chance to strike.

As they learn to trust each other, hearts are won, but one question still remains: what will happen once her father’s debt is paid? Will Elspeth return to her family, or choose a life with Graeme on the open sea?

Uncaged Review: The last book I read from this author was her Earthwalker’s Trilogy, a dark fantasy – paranormal series, so I already knew the author’s writing style, or I thought I did. This is a complete departure from that genre, a medieval historical romance with pirates. And the author does not disappoint in this genre, and I almost like it better than the dark fantasy series.
When Elspeth’s father gambles away money he doesn’t have, and the pirates come to collect, Elspeth offers herself as a substitute, to go with the pirates and work as a surgeon to pay off her father’s debts, so her younger brothers will be safe. Taking care of her father for the years after her mother has died, has given Elspeth a skill of healing, and the pirate captain, Graeme, takes her up on the offer. As Elspeth truly works her magic and becomes a part of the crew, she knows she has found her calling. But falling for the captain was not in her plans…
A good story, with danger, suspense and enough high seas action to satisfy my pirate loving heart, this is a romance that proves to me that this author has truly found her lane. I look forward to reading more of this series and more. Reviewed by Cyrene

5 Stars

Uncaged Review – A Rose for a Rogue by Collette Cameron

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

A Rose for a Rogue
Collette Cameron
Historical Regency

What’s a future duke to do when the most unsuitable woman possible captures his heart?

Eden had tried to avoid even a hint of scandal her whole life.

Plowing headlong into the Marquis of Sterling and dropping eggs on his boots wasn’t the most foolish thing Eden Haverden had ever done. Imprudently agreeing to take the charming rogue home when his horse went lame wasn’t either. But reluctantly accepting Chester’s invitation to stay the night at his familial estate after she nearly drowned? Yes, that assuredly was a rash decision and invited utter ruin. So why doesn’t she listen to her common sense?

The DeCourcy sins have haunted Chester his entire life.

Determined to create a new legacy for the tainted duchy, Manchester’s every action and decision are governed by diligence and discipline. A man of reason and purpose, he should not be distracted by the wholly unsuitable Eden Haverden. Not only is she the illegitimate offspring of his father’s arch enemy, she’s also the sister of the man who’d killed his brother. Why then, can’t he resist the powerful connection between them?

Can Chester convince Eden to put aside their families’ feud and trust him with her heart and love?

Uncaged Review: Eden is such a refreshing character, from her first meeting with the Marquis, to her assortment of pets – including a horse that wears a straw hat and a pet squirrel named Acorn, the reader can’t help being charmed by her and it’s no wonder Chester can’t keep his mind off of her.

Ms. Cameron does a wonderful job with this story and sets a good pace, keeping it fresh and interesting with characters that are well thought out and likeable, and the epilogue was a delight. Reviewed by Cyrene

4.5 Stars

2019 Raven Awards

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

It’s almost that time of year. Uncaged will be hosting the Raven Awards for 2019. This year, the awards will be handled differently. In August, Uncaged will announce the winners LIVE in a Facebook Event. Updates for this event will be coming soon.

Voting will begin for the semi-finals in July. The top 5 in each category will move on to the finals. There will be more categories this year to accommodate all the genres that were read by Uncaged this year.

Winners will not only receive a custom badge this year, but they will also receive space in the magazine. Winners will receive a FREE 2-page book Showcase valued at $40, and the Runner-ups will receive a 1-page Sneak Peek, valued at $20. The winners will have up to a year to redeem their gifts.

Please be aware, to be eligible for the Raven Awards, books had to have been reviewed by Uncaged and received a 4 Star review or better. The only exception to that rule is the cover voting where the rating does not apply.

So be ready to gather your armies for voting, as the Raven Awards will begin to rev up. A quick preview of the all new Raven Award badge will be coming soon……

Uncaged Review – The Deserted Heart by Mary Lancaster

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

The Deserted Heart
Mary Lancaster
Historical Victorian

Unmarriageable? Or simply unusual?

There can only be one reason for the proud Duke of Alvan’s proposed visit to Audley Park. He means to offer for Lord Overton’s beautiful daughter, Thomasina, thus saving the family’s waning fortune. In the midst of the hectic preparations for his arrival, Overton’s least marriageable daughter Charlotte remembers to collect her young brothers from school for the holidays.

When fog forces them to spend the night at the Hart Inn, they are astonished to find the house deserted, save for one other enigmatic traveler who deals most capably with armed intruders. Drawn to their unconventional new friend, Charlotte enlists his help to solve the mystery.

Amidst the upheaval of the duke’s visit, to say nothing of the chaos caused by Charlotte’s unmanageable pet terrier, the Hart becomes the focus of nefarious doings, kidnappings, and romantic entanglements. For Charlotte is unwise enough to fall hopelessly in love with her sister’s intended husband, and the duke hides too many secrets of his own.

Will they find their happily ever after with each other?

Uncaged Review: The start of the Unmarriageable Series is a good intro this series. When the Duke of Alvan comes to visit Lord Overton’s family, it’s with the belief that he will ask for Thomasina’s hand. Being wealthy, marrying off the oldest daughter would solve a lot ot the family’s financial problems. But the Duke wasn’t counting on meeting Charlotte, the daughter that was sickly as a child, and not considered to be of great beauty – so not thought of in the family as a “marriageable” daughter. Always having the hand me downs, Charlotte never is upset about her lot in life and never resents it. But when her feelings begin to develop for the Duke, she must not allow that to happen, as it’s her sister that is supposed to marry him.

Fun with some mystery and fun thrown in – this is a nice romance, although it took a little too long to develop and the romantic ending was a bit lackluster. But the closeness of Charlotte’s family was satisfying. Reviewed by Cyrene

4 Stars

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