As seen in the July issue of Uncaged Book Reviews.

Uncaged: Can you tell the readers more about Love on the Line?

Love on the Line was only going to be about 7K words, but as I got into it, more developed, and it became about 28K! With social media exploding, I wanted to revert back a bit, when people got to know one another through conversation – not by liking every selfie posted! My heroine has a bad break-up, so her friend sets up a profile online through a site where people contact one another based on common interests, and just talk. She’s reluctant to say the least, but after hearing the alluring voice of the hero, well… it turns into so much more!

Uncaged: What do you have coming up next that you can tell us about?

I’m working on developing three different series – one of which the first story is already out (“Unexpected Adventures” from Evernight Publishing). I have lofty goals! New Adventures series is about 4 siblings finding paths they never thought to encounter. My Cover Model series is just that – about cover models, their lives, and their loves. And then there’s my small-town romance series developing, with fun and sexy characters, and a bit of suspense.
Uncaged: Your books are often in related genres, contemporary, suspense, erotic – but there is always romance. What inspired you to start writing?

I have always loved reading, and fell in love with romance through Nora Roberts’s books. I thought, I want to do that – write romance and give readers joy. Simple, maybe cheesy, but true. I love an escape, or a way of looking at something I never thought about before. Writing allows me to explore paths I might not otherwise experience, so it’s also an adventure for me!

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

I’ve read many reviews, and thankfully most have been good, but there’s always that one that makes your heart plummet… and I know there will be more. Not everyone will connect with my writing, and that’s okay, but I wish people would take this to heart – “If you don’t have anything nice to say, then don’t say anything at all.” That being said, critique is good, as it helps you evolve (hopefully), but a bad review, or one that just makes no sense definitely hurts. So, I’ll just continue to write what I enjoy, continue to learn, and hopefully gain loyal readers.

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

That the reader was able to vividly picture my story in their mind, as if they were a part of the scene. I love that, and that’s the goal!

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

My favorite part of being an author is the creation – working a story that makes my own breath catch, or makes me laugh. If I can do that, hopefully the reader will as well. My least favorite part is selling myself – promotion. Don’t get me wrong, I love to talk, and I could talk about myself and my writing all day long! But I don’t want to be a salesperson, just wanting readers to buy my stories. I want them to get to know me and truly want to enjoy my work. Promotion is necessary, but difficult, and I’m still finding that balance of being bold, so people come to know of me, but not being pushy or inauthentic.

Uncaged: What do you like to do when you aren’t writing? Where is one of your favorite places on Earth?

When I’m not writing, I’m either reading, working my day job as a dental hygienist, or trying to make the most of my time with my hubby of twenty-eight years! My favorite place on Earth… as I’ve mostly travelled in the U. S. (and to Honduras while in the Army) my first thought would be any beach. But I also love the mountains, taking a drive where few go. So, I guess I don’t really have a favorite, but I’d like to discover one! Hubby and I dream of travelling to Scotland and Fiji!

Uncaged: What can you tell us that is very unique about you?

I’m not sure I can adequately answer this one, as I just think of myself as “me”. When I thought I had no direction in life, I joined the Army, which still shocks a lot of people when they hear that. There I met amazing friends, and my husband. Over our years together, we’ve moved 11 times, put ourselves through college as adults, raised two wonderful sons, and simply want to enjoy life.

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

I’d like to say, thanks for taking the time to read this, and my work. I may never reach the status of Nora Roberts (as she’s pretty much the measuring rod for romance), but we all need something to strive for! 😉 I love engaging with readers and writers, and supporting others, so please, feel free to engage! I can be found on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Amazon, Goodreads, YouTube, Bookbub, or contact me through my website.

[symple_box color=”black” fade_in=”false” float=”center” text_align=”left” width=””]Wife, mother, former U. S. Army, and dental hygienist, I can now add published author to the list. I’m slowly transitioning out of hygiene, hoping to make writing a full-time endeavor. After writing for many years, my publishing dreams came true in August of 2017 with the release of my debut contemporary romance, “Keyed Up”. To date, I have eight stories released, and many more are in the works.

I write in a variety of romance subgenres: contemporary, comedy, and erotic, with stories containing suspense and small-town romance being developed. I’m constantly learning, loving the journey and all the amazing people I’m meeting. A voracious reader myself, I enjoy all romance from contemporary to erotic to paranormal to suspenseful.

I strive to write stories I can be proud of and enjoyed by many; ones that are not only sexy and fun, but thoughtful as well. I love engaging, so find me on the many social media platforms.

I grew up on the East Coast and now reside on the West Coast, having lived in FL, GA, SC, MA, ID, and WA. Hubby and I hope to fill our passports with stamps from Scotland and Fiji, to name a few destinations. In the meantime, we’ll enjoy the beauty of the Pacific Northwest.[/symple_box]

laurambairdauthor.com

Love on the Line
Laura M. Baird
Contemporary Romance

AJ finds it hard to trust another man’s intentions after being duped and dumped, so the last thing she wants is another in her life. But her friend has other ideas and sets her up with the perfect guy—through a chat-only service.

Hesitant at first, AJ is lured in by the deep, sexy voice and fun banter that easily becomes a nightly habit. As their bond grows and she begins to fall hard for him, they make plans to meet face-to-face.

With love on the line, will AJ decide to forgive him when he confesses to being part of the set-up?

Excerpt

Jen reappeared holding AJ’s phone. “Okay, so, maybe finding a guy can be easier said than done, and I’ll tell ya how.”
AJ eyed her friend skeptically and asked how.
“So, there’s this online site called Flirt Chat, where people register to just talk to others based on similarities. You know, you program in all this information about yourself and then you seek out others who have the same qualities, interests, whatever.”
“Okay,” AJ said hesitantly. “And you’re telling me this, because…?”
“Well, because I registered you there, and I picked out a guy for you to talk to, and I’ve just alerted him you’re going to give him a call.” Jen began hitting the screen on AJ’s phone, obviously punching in numbers to contact this guy.
AJ sprang to her feet. “Oh, you did not! No way, Jen. What the hell?”
Before she knew what was happening, Jen handed her the phone, kissed her cheek, grabbed Kayli’s hand, and hauled her out the door, laughter ringing out.
“Shit!”
****
“Hello,” said the husky voice. “This is Mathias.” His few words were clear, succinct, and surprisingly soothing. Still, AJ remained quiet, locked up, unsure if she could even do this. She was on the verge of disconnecting the call when Mathias broke the silence.
“Would you like to tell me your name?”
Oh yes, definitely a voice made for phone sex. Okay, she hadn’t called for phone sex. She wasn’t even the one who called. But did people even do that anymore? Call for phone sex? Mathias’s sexy
timbre certainly made her think of that, giving her goose bumps and making her short hairs stand on end.
Thanks a lot, Jen, AJ thought, remembering her laughter as she quickly explained her scheme. Real mature for thirty-something. Oh God, and here she sat with her phone to her ear, listening to this undeniably alluring voice, wishing she had just hung up the damn phone the minute the first word had been uttered.
“…and apparently you do, too.”
I do too, what?
“Hello?”
Crickets.
“If you’ve changed your mind, that’s understandable. No harm. I’ll just say good-bye, and—”
“AJ,” she blurted. He sounded so down. Disappointed. She felt bad.
Oh my God, what is wrong with me? I don’t even know him, and here I am feeling sorry for him because I’m the one who won’t speak to a stranger?
She slapped her forehead as she closed her eyes and grimaced.
“Hi, AJ.”
She swore she could hear the smile in his voice when he said her name. She was so weak.
“So do you really like hiking and kayaking?”
“Yes,” came her simple reply.
“And you enjoy beer more than wine. And you prefer college football over NFL?”
“Yes, and of course.” So her friend really had listed true facts.
“And even though you love to indulge in pizza, burgers, and ice cream, you still manage to keep your figure in tip-top shape as an ice girl for the Idaho Steelheads.”
“W-what!” AJ sputtered.
Mathias’s light laughter echoed in her ear. “Gotcha. Just seeing if you were paying attention.”
“The Steelheads don’t even have ice girls.”
“You are correct. Think they have puck bunnies though? Amelia Jane.”
AJ sucked in a quick breath. “You knew my name all along.”
Mathis cleared his throat. “Yes. I got an alert you were going to call. I just wanted to break the ice, so to speak. Make you comfortable.”
Jen put my full name in the profile? What else did she put in there? Should I know what’s in his? Gah!
“So, I take it you like hiking and kayaking, too?” AJ asked.
“No. I like indulging in pizza and burgers and ice cream while also keeping my figure in shape as an ice girl.”
AJ couldn’t help the burst of laughter that escaped her.
Mathias followed suit, laughing as well. “I like your laugh, Amelia Jane. And your name. Do you always go by AJ?”
“Thank you, and yes, AJ’s always been easy.”
“Okay, but I hope you won’t mind if I tend to say your full name. It’s a beautiful name.”
“Thank you.”
“And to answer your question honestly, yes, I do enjoy hiking and kayaking. I also mountain bike, no street cycling. I’ve done some rock climbing and BASE jumping.”
“Wow. Really adventurous.”
A chuckle preceded his words of “I suppose.” “I really enjoy being outside, losing myself in nature. And our area provides a lot of opportunity for that.”
“Do you live in Boise?”
There was silence for a moment before he spoke again. “You did read my profile, right?”
“Um, no. I know nothing about you.”
“But you called me, based on our matching profiles and similar interests. Right?”
“No again,” she stated. “I had no idea what was going on when one of my friends just handed me the phone as she suddenly decided she needed to be elsewhere. She told me about this Flirt Chat, and how it worked, but I didn’t know she’d actually registered me until it all came spilling out in a rush.”
“Right before rushing out the door.”
“Precisely.” She hesitated before continuing. “Um, I’m sorry?”
“Why are you sorry? It wasn’t your doing. Your friend must really be desperate for you to find someone.”
“You have no idea.” AJ sighed. As much as she loved Jen, this act was pushing the envelope between caring about her and being intrusive.
“Are you upset with her?”
“I don’t know yet. I know she cares, but this … this was…”
“Pushing it?”
AJ laughed. “Exactly. Very uncanny how you say just the right things.”
“Well, I try.”
His attitude came across as relaxed, nice, and truth be told, AJ didn’t mind talking to him at all. He was witty, and she could truly listen to his voice all day long. Possibly into the night. Her face heated at the thought. Thank goodness they weren’t video-chatting, because how awkward would that be? Anonymity was safer.
“So, AJ, would you like to keep talking? Because truthfully, I’m enjoying this.”
She hesitated a moment before confessing. “I was thinking the same thing.”
“Excellent! So, what would you like to know? Since you know nothing about me and I know everything about you.”
“Oh, is that so? And what exactly is everything you know about me?”
“Well, besides what I already said… And I’m still fantasizing about you being an ice girl.” He chuckled. “I know you’re thirty-two and passionate about your career in advertising. You want to visit all twenty-three World Heritage Sites in the United States, five of which you already have. And that’s just for starters.”
“Again, wow! I guess my friend was pretty thorough. Tell me,
are there any pictures on the profile?”
“No. It’s an informational site only. They want to promote relationships based on commonalities, rather than superficial trappings like appearances.”
Wow. Okay.
“But people could lie about their likes and dislikes, just like they could post false photos on any other site, right?” She could feel her brow wrinkling.
“True. I think some people may detail what they think they’d like, trying to switch it up or attract someone they might want to get to know.”
“But then how do you know you’re getting the real person? How can you start off any sort of relationship with lies?” She knew her past with Brad was making her skeptical, but that kind of mistrust you just couldn’t put aside. His actions had really taken a toll on her.
“With some, they certainly could be lies. With others, they may be the opportunity to explore new possibilities.”
“But they’re being deceitful. How can you trust that?” Her voice rose and she knew she was getting defensive, but she couldn’t help it. “What does a person have to gain by lying?”
Oh, she knew all right. She knew selfish behavior was just that—all about the self-serving asshole who liked to feel superior, who liked control, who didn’t want anyone else to appear better than them! Who…
“Well, I know we really don’t know one another yet, but you’ll hear only the truth from me. So, if you still want to give this a try, I’m game.”
“This took an awkward turn, huh? Bet you didn’t bargain for this seriousness.” A strangled laugh escaped her.
“I’m not sure what I bargained for, honestly, but I can certainly understand your caution. I took a chance on something new and different, and here we are.”
“And here we are. So why did you think you needed this? What’s wrong with you that you can’t meet people another way?” As soon as the words were out of her mouth, she cringed and wanted to immediately take them back. “I am so, so sorry! That’s not exactly what I meant to say. I—”
“It’s okay.” He chuckled. “You’re wondering if I’m some creeper, trolling for women. Or maybe someone who’s not six three, two-ten, with six-pack abs and a killer smile, but pretending to be.”
AJ noisily gulped, imagining the man he just described. That vision, combined with his hypnotic voice was enough to cause her belly to flutter and moisture to gather in certain unmentionable places on her body.
“Um, okay.” She was at a loss to say anything intelligible.
“So, would you like to know about me?”
“You tell me what you’d like me to know. Is that okay?”
“Absolutely. I’m thirty-five, Boise born and raised, and a diehard Broncos fan. That’d be Boise State as well as Denver. I’ve visited ten of the World Heritage Sites here in the States, two in India, and would love to visit many, many more.”
“So far, so good. What else?”
“Okay.” He chuckled.
There was certainly plenty of laughter and gaiety between them, and she wanted that to continue. It sure beat the pathetic sobfests she was prone to lately.
“Well, I’m a software engineer who spends a considerable amount of time alone. Not that I’m antisocial, I just prefer solo adventures more often than not. And besides, when all your friends are already hooked up and trying like crazy to get you hooked up, there’s only so much one can take. As you can attest to.”
“Amen to that!”
“So what do you think so far?”
“About you, or this experience?”
“Yes.”
AJ was hesitant, not wanting to jinx the fun they were having, yet not knowing how far she wanted to encourage this. “I think, so far, it’s been pleasant?”
“Well don’t hold back, by all means, regale me with your praises.”
Again, AJ couldn’t hold back the laughter, and it felt liberating. “Well, as far as talking on the phone to a total stranger goes, it’s been enlightening. And fun. Aaannd, I’d like to continue.”
“All right. So would I. Your profile says you’re a Boise native as well. Did you attend Boise State for your degree?”
“Yes, I got my B.F.A. in graphic design then went on to do advertising.”
“And you’ve never been out of the country but have your passport ready to go.”
“Yes again. I want to hike Machu Picchu and swim the Great Barrier Reef. And see the great Pyramids and tour a castle. Or twelve.” She tried but failed to stifle a giggle. When she’d talk about her dreams of travel and adventure with Brad, he’d scoff and ask why. Everything she’d ever need was in the United States, he’d say. That should have been a clue to their incompatibility.
“Um, how about you? Besides India, what other out-of-country adventures have you been on? Oh, and do you prefer Mathias or Matt?”
“Mathias. I had the opportunity to go to Dubai on business, and while there, I BASE jumped off the Princess Tower. And since I was in the vicinity, I ventured over to see the Taj Mahal and the Chitwan National Park in Nepal.”
“That’s so amazing! Wow, that’s really something to brag about.”
“I’m pretty fortunate with my job and lifestyle. So why haven’t you fulfilled any of your out-of-country dream trips?”
“Oh, well, I … you know, I’ve been busy building my career.” And letting a manipulator basically run my life for two years while I was oblivious to his true nature. Let it go, AJ! What’s done is done!
“And are you where you want to be?”
My God, his voice is something, she thought. The kind you read about, if you’re one to read romance novels, which she totally was, and how a voice like his was described as a panty-dropper. She had to fan herself from the heat suddenly overtaking her entire body.
Sheesh!
“AJ, you there?”
“Oh, yep, still here.” What was the question? Oh, yes, am I where I want to be? “My career’s been going great. Hit a bit of a road bump recently, but you know, that happens.”
“Anything you care to elaborate on? Anything I can do to help?”
“Unlikely. I’m sorry, I guess I’m not ready to discuss that right now.” Because it’s much more than just my career that’s hit a road bump.
“Please stop apologizing. I understand. I mean, how much do you really know someone after only ten minutes of chatting?”
“Precisely.” Although I feel like I could say things to you I never could to Brad. How interesting. AJ cleared her throat. “So, any plans for your Labor Day weekend coming up?”
“Yeah, I thought I’d go check out the hot air balloons at the Spirit of Boise Balloon Classic, then head down to the 10 Barrel Brewing Company for the beer wars.”
“Really?” She, too, had thought of checking out the balloon classic, and since she loved beer…
“What about you? Any plans?”
How much do I tell him? What if he wants to meet up? Could I?
“AJ? Do you always have a habit of going off into your own little world from time to time?”
She knew he was teasing by the laughter that followed. “Is that your way of asking if I’m an airhead?”
“I would never!” he feigned outrage, causing her to giggle.
Giggles, really? Get a grip!
“Well, if you must know—”
“And I must,” he smoothly interjected.
“I was also thinking of going to the balloon classic.”
“And since you prefer beer to wine…”
“Oh my God, are you a mind reader?”
Mathias chuckled. “No. Just following logical thinking. The engineer in me.” He paused, and before she could say anything more, he asked, “Amelia Jane, I’m going to take a leap and ask if you think it’s too soon to plan to meet one another on Saturday?”
She remained silent as she let the whisper of her name from him float through the air. She couldn’t even stammer a response. Her mind suddenly flooded with yeses and nos, with pros and cons, with a host of scenarios playing out in her head.
“We could continue to talk with one another, get to know more about each other little by little every day leading up to Saturday. Because what I’ve heard so far has me wanting to know more.”
“Really?” she squeaked out, surprised he seemed to feel the same way she did. And surprised at herself for feeling this way so quickly. “You want to spend your Sunday evening talking to a stranger?”
“Yes. Really.”
AJ grinned from ear to ear, ridiculously pleased and nervously hopeful. “Okay.”
“Okay.”
“So, now what?”
“Now, we get to know more about each other. So how long before you get over this road bump?”
“Wow, right to it. Um, I’m not sure. My agency has been great, but I seem to be lacking my drive.”
“And you need a confidence booster. Or you’re reevaluating whether to stay in the profession. Or you’re recovering from a pulled hammy while doing the splits during practice out on the ice.”
More laughter. “What is it with you and this ice girl fantasy?”
“Well, they’re terrific dancers in tremendous shape. They’re usually gorgeous and wear those sexy little outfits. What’s not to like?”
“So it’s all about appearances, is it?” she asked teasingly.
“Absolutely,” he returned, his sarcasm evident. “Isn’t that what we’ve learned from social media these days?”
“So you’ll be thrilled when I tell you I look just like Miley Cyrus. Because that’s the look I’ve been going for these days. She’s all the rage, don’cha know, what with being such a marvelous judge on TV and all. Not to mention her eye-fetching attire and sassy attitude.”
“Then you’ll be happy to hear I like sassy. And I look exactly like Chris Hemsworth. And even though Miley preferred Liam, let’s just say maturity has its advantages.”
“And let me just say I actually prefer older guys, and due to my diligence at staying in shape, twerking on the ice is a sight to behold.”
Matthew’s deep laughter washed over AJ, infusing her with joy and comfort. It’d been much too long since she felt this at ease, and with a complete stranger no less.
“Oh, AJ, you are a joy.”
“I know, right?”

Uncaged Review

A nice romance – a short and sexy read easily read in a couple hours. I loved the banter between AJ and her friends, and when her friend Jen, sets her up on a phone dating site, AJ relents and begins having nightly talk sessions with Mathias.

When AJ finds out that Mathias was in on the set up with her friend Jen, will she be able to overcome what she sees as a betrayal?

Both AJ and Mathias have trust issues from being burned in past relationships, but AJ’s has been a bit over kill. I think she responds to certain aspects more like a high schooler than an adult woman, but she does finally get to where she needs to go, and the reader will want to shake some sense in to her at times, and other times will want to hug her. There is some hot and steamy sex, and you may want to sit in front of a fan, but this was a fun read and introduced an author to me that I hadn’t read before – and I definitely plan to read more from her. Reviewed by Cyrene

4 Stars

As seen in the July issue of Uncaged Book Reviews

Uncaged: You released In Fair Brighton in February, can you tell readers more about your Star-crossed Mafia series?

In Fair Brighton was inspired by Romeo and Juliet, though my main characters do not meet the same tragic end. They feel a deep connection to one another the moment they meet, neither of them knowing that they are the children of two of the most powerful Russian mob families in Brooklyn. Readers will need to take a bumpy ride before my couple gets their happily ever after. The rest of the series will build off of the first book, continuing with the Star-Crossed theme and rival mob families and the next books will have to deal with a circumstance from the first book.

Uncaged: What do you have coming up next that you can tell us about?

Right now, I am working book 6 in The Beyond The Veil series I co-write with my awesome writing partners, Maia Dylan and Sarah Marsh. I am also working on book 3 in my Pack Warrior series, titled Beta Wars which picks up after the pack wars in book 1. More on that to come soon. I am hoping to get to book 2 in my Star-Crossed Mafia series shortly after those projects are done. Book 2, titled, Of These Two Foes, is already outlined and ready to be written. I can’t wait to share Nikita and Rose’s story with my readers. They may be two of the most stubborn characters I’ve ever written.

Uncaged: What are the advantages of joining your Street Team group on Facebook?

So as I mentioned, I have two amazing writing partners I co-write a series with. We also run our street team together. Our members get a sneak peek into what the three of us working on, we run monthly contests exclusive to the group, and we have a blast in there with random topics and games, and tons of yummy eye candy. We even have a theme song. Be warned: shenanigans often ensue. 😉

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

I try not to, but sometimes it’s hard to resist. The main thing I always take away is being grateful that someone took the time to read my book, whether they liked it or not.

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

My boyfriend thanks you. 😉

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

The writing part is my favorite. I get to do what I have wanted to do since I was a kid. Turning my ideas into full-fledged stories is beyond amazing. The negative part is pretty much what we’ve all been experiencing lately in the book world. The fact that there are those who can’t play well with others and want to take advantage of the system is an ugly thing to witness.

Uncaged: What do you like to do when you aren’t writing? Where is one of your favorite places on Earth?

I love spending time with my daughter either binging on something cool or family game night. We recently just got back from Florida where she got to go to Disney for the first time, and though I’ve been before a few times, getting to experience this with her was by far my favorite time. And you can throw Disney and Universal up there as some of my favorite places. And then this past October I went to Australia for a book signing in Brisbane and totally fell in love with the country. I’m a tv, music, and bookaholic, I love to travel, and hoping to one day be able to travel at least twice a year.

Uncaged: What can you tell us that is very unique about you?

I used to do gymnastics when I was younger and can still twirl a ribbon like nobody’s business. I am also a natural speed reader and was reading at college level in elementary school.

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

My readers are the absolute best! I thank you for taking the time to read my work. They can follow me here: Twitter: https://twitter.com/elenakincaid1
FB Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/elenakincaidthree

[symple_box color=”black” fade_in=”false” float=”center” text_align=”left” width=””]Elena Kincaid is an award-winning and Amazon best-selling author. She writes Paranormal and Contemporary Romances with alpha males who stop at nothing to protect their women, heroines who are anything but damsels in distress, and stories where the only love worth fighting for is the forever kind of love.

She was born in Ukraine and raised in New York, where she currently lives with her daughter. Her desk is constantly cluttered with journals, sticky notes, and torn-out pieces of paper full of ideas. When not working, Elena loves to spend time with her family, travel the globe, curl up with a good book, and catch up on her soaps.[/symple_box]

elenakincaid.com

In Fair Brighton
Elena Kincaid
Mafia Romance

Sasha Palmer, a travel writer, never stays in one place long enough to find even the possibility of love. The baggage of her family keeps her closed off from everyone, but one day, love finds her in the form of strong arms, wrapping around her, and pulling her to safety from oncoming traffic. One look at Rome, and she’s a goner.

Roman “Rome” Valentin is a killer … and a good one at that. He leads a life he detests, full of self-loathing until the day he meets Sasha. She barrels into his life and steals the heart he didn’t know he still had … and then she vanishes.

Their two families have been at war for decades. Will a chance meeting and a passionate growing love end the bitter feud or spark a battle that may destroy them all?

Excerpt

Verona, Italy
The heavens were about to open up and pour. Sasha downed the last of her cappuccino and then threw down money for the bill. Her hotel was only five blocks away. “I can make it,” she mumbled.
She was wrong. One block’s worth of a light drizzle, turned into a torrential downpour. Leave it to me to visit Verona during one of the wettest months of the year and not think to carry an umbrella. By the end of the second block, she was completely soaked through from her head all the way to her damn, adorable, Gucci, four-inch heels, which prevented her from making a run for it. Instead, she slowed down her gait and embraced the soak.
Another block later, with the rain easing only slightly, Sasha found herself standing stock-still, while in the middle of crossing the street, after a loud boom resonated somewhere around her. Was that a gunshot? Frantically, she looked around her for the source, but when finally, realizing that she needed to get out of the street, it was a moment too late. A car was headed straight toward her, brakes screeching, and as if trapped in a slow-motion movie, her brain had time to process that she would not get out of the way fast enough.
Strong arms wrapped around her, jerking her backward, landing both her and her savior with their asses on the pavement. Those same strong arms lifted her and nudged her forward.
“Over here,” the man said loudly to compete with the sound of the heavy rain falling. They ended up in a narrow alcove, the front of a little antique shop which was currently closed. “Are you all right?”
She looked up at the tall, brunet male, stunned by the color of his greenish-gray eyes, and nodded as droplets of water rolled down his face. Her heart still beat frantically, leaving her breathless and unable to speak just yet. When she finally managed to catch her breath, she said, “I heard … I thought I heard a gunshot.”
His face turned serious, concern written on his handsomely rugged face, his well-defined jaw tense. “No, sweetness. Just a Vespa backfiring. With so much going on in the world, I don’t blame you for thinking that.”
Sasha inhaled deeply and then noisily exhaled, slowly feeling her heart rate return to normal. “Thank you for saving me.” She managed to give the stranger a shaky smile.
His answering smile nearly took her breath away. A small gap in between his front teeth was even more endearing on his otherwise perfectly straight pearly-whites.
“What’s your name, sweetness?” he asked her.
“Sasha.”
“Well, Sasha.” He took her hand in his. “I’m very glad to have been in the right place at the right time.” He brought her hand to his lips. “I shudder to think what could have happened.
He released her hand, making her feel bereft of his touch.
“You didn’t tell me your name.”
He smiled again. “I’m Rome.”
She couldn’t help the giggle that escaped her. “All you need is an O at then of your name, and then you’re definitely in the right city.” She knew her joke was lame, but it got him to smile again.
His eyes sparkled. “Too bad your name isn’t Juliet.”
Oh my!
They stood staring at one another for some time after that, neither of them seemingly able to look away. For her, maybe it was sharing a life and death moment with this stranger, or the fact that her body had never had this intense of a reaction to someone she had just met, or ever for that matter. True, he was stunningly beautiful to look at, with his gorgeous face, and well-built, lean muscular body, but it was more than that. She felt an undeniable pull to him.
When the rain all but stopped, she realized she couldn’t simply walk away from this man and never see him again. “Can I buy you dinner?” she asked. She could feel her cheeks burning. She’d never asked a man out before. “To say thank you, I mean.”
“No, you may not,” he said with a smirk.
Disappointed and embarrassed, she was about to make her quick getaway, when he added, “My mother taught me from a young age that a gentleman never allows his date to pay for dinner.”
Date?
“Will you please allow me to take you to dinner tonight?” His smile faltered, as if he was suddenly unsure of what her answer would be, despite the fact that she had asked him first.
Meanwhile, she nodded her head, perhaps a bit too enthusiastically, like some love-stricken teenager. When he gifted her with another heart-stopping smile, she figured making a fool of herself was worth it.

Uncaged Review

This is a good intro into a series, even though it’s a short read, the author manages to pack quite a bit into the pages. Two mafia families at war for a long time over the deaths of loved ones – and when two people fall in love from these families, will they be able to make it work?

I think the love story was too quick, and there wasn’t as much tension in the relationship as there could have been, but there was a bit of danger that you would expect from a mafia romance, and the author did a nice job with the story. I guess what I really wanted was for it to be longer, so I could get a better feel for Sasha and Rome, and the backstory. I wanted to keep reading in this world, and that’s a good thing and I’m looking forward to the next book. Reviewed by Cyrene

4 Stars