Friday, September 30, 2016

Uncaged Book Reviews, Issue 3 October 2016

Welcome to Issue 3, October 2016 edition of Uncaged Book Reviews! 

Enjoy Featured Artists, Myra Nour, Andy Peloquin, Alexis Duran, Savanna Kougar, Bronwyn Heeley, Sharon L. Higa, and Susan Hanniford Crowley! Also Fang-Freakin-Tastic welcomes Elizabeth Raven, Eli Constant and Claire C. Riley!

We also have a special feature, Keith Rommel talks to Uncaged about his experiences with his book, The Cursed Man going to film!

Fang-Freakin-Tastic takes us on a Para Investigation with author Elizabeth Raven!

Plenty of reviews, so enjoy!


Thursday, September 29, 2016

October Reviews from Uncaged are Posted

All reviews that will be in Uncaged Book Reviews, Issue 3, October 2016 edition, are now posted to Amazon and Goodreads. Some reviews are shortened in those areas, but you will find the full length of the review in the magazine itself.

Get ready for a new issue, coming soon!

Wednesday, September 28, 2016

Uncaged Review - Some Girls Bite by Chloe Neill

As seen in Issue 2 of Uncaged Book Reviews. See the issue link below to check out the full issue. 

And be sure to tune in, for the October issue of Uncaged Book Reviews! Coming within 2 days - special features, and tons of reviews!

Some Girls Bite
Chloe Neill
Paranormal Romance/Urban Fantasy

Blurb: They killed me. They healed me. They changed me.

Sure, the life of a graduate student wasn’t exactly glamorous, but I was doing fine until Chicago’s vampires announced their existence to the world. When a rogue vampire attacked me, I was lucky he only got a sip. Another bloodsucker scared him off and decided the best way to save my life was to make me the walking undead.

Now I’ve traded sweating over my thesis for learning to fit in at a Hyde Park mansion full of vamps loyal to Ethan “Lord o’ the Manor” Sullivan. Of course, as a tall, green-eyed,
four-hundred-year-old vampire, he has centuries’ worth of charm, but unfortunately he expects my gratitude—and servitude. Right…

But someone’s out to get me. Is it the rogue vampire who bit me? A vamp from a rival House? An angry mob bearing torches? 

My initiation into Chicago’s nightlife may be the first skirmish in a war—and there will be blood.


Uncaged Review: This novel, the first in The Chicagoland Vampire series is what started my love affair with Chloe Neill and these books. This series is already 12 books strong, and the 13th due in the Spring ‘17, will be the last one that will feature Merit and Ethan. I’ve read up to book 10, and it’s one of those series you’ll put on your auto-buy list.

In Chicago, the Vampires are among the public, and they live in one of two ways, they belong to a “House,” like a sorority, with a Master Vampire and a main ruling court in Europe, or they live rogue, i.e. - outside the houses. There are also a lot of other supernaturals around including shifters, nymphs and faes, but only the vampires are “out” to the world. 

One of our main characters, Merit, is attacked on night on her way home from the university, and Ethan, who is the Master of Cadogan House, stops the attack and the only way to save her life is to turn her. This doesn’t go over well with Merit, and all kinds of chaos ensues. I really can’t get into the whole series, in limited amount of space, but this series has great characters, both main and secondary, action, a slow-brewing romance, heartache and more. It’s a series that doesn’t have a slow spot, all the books are as good, or better. So hard to keep a series fresh, but Chloe Neill pulls it off, and I’m going to truly miss this series when it ends. But it will always be on my “to-be-read-again-and-again” pile. 

5 Stars


Sunday, September 25, 2016

Uncaged Review - Infernal Magic by C.N. Crawford

As seen in Issue 2 of Uncaged Book Reviews. To see the full magazine, see the link below.


Infernal Magic
C.N. Crawford
Urban Fantasy

Blurb: She’s forgotten her past. Too bad her past won’t return the favor.

Ursula can’t remember a single thing from before three years ago, so she has to keep her life simple. All she wants is to earn enough money for rent--and maybe a bit left over for a new pair of boots.

But on her eighteenth birthday, all hell breaks loose... quite literally... when a hellhound shifter shows up in her kitchen. Kester’s lethally gorgeous, and he’s come with a terrifying message: Ursula owes her soul to a demon.

No one seems to care that she doesn’t remember striking that deal.

Thrust in the middle of a demonic war, Ursula fights her way across New York--and through the fae realm to survive. Along the way, she must reclaim her magical knowledge and her long-forgotten skills with the blade if she wants to escape eternal damnation.


Uncaged Review: A lot of action, this is a non-stop, excellent start of a new series. Fresh and original, with characters you can cheer on.
Ursula has no memory of her life before the age of 15, and when she turns 18, she loses her job, almost about to be evicted, and she comes face to face with Kester, a gorgeous hellhound who collects souls for the goddess Emerazel, whom she obviously struck a deal with, before her memory loss. Now if she wants her soul back, she’ll have to become a hellhound herself, and due her duty. But messing up her first assignment could send her straight to the goddess’ inferno for eternity. 

Lot of action, and the showdown and the fight between light and dark, the fight is violent and and well written. I’m definitely looking forward to more works by this author duo. Although this one doesn’t have any romance to speak of, there were definitely sparks between Ursula and Kester, which I hope is explored in the next book. 
Reviewed by Cyrene

4 1/2 Stars


Friday, September 23, 2016

Interview with Katherine McIntyre

As seen in Issue 2 of Uncaged Book Reviews. To read an excerpt from Scrying for Summer and reviews of the series thus far, please see the issue, link below.


I had the pleasure of working with Katherine, at BTS Book Reviews where she had a column each issue. Her columns were favorites of mine, and I’m very happy and honored she wanted to be a part of Uncaged.

Thank you Katherine for the feature. 

1) When did you come to the realization that you wanted to be an author? 

You know when you’re in second grade or so and in school you’re asked what you want to be when you grow up? Most kids are like, fireman! Magical space unicorn! Unholy devourer of worlds! (Okay, maybe not that last one…) For me, I wanted to be a writer and an artist. While the artist thing tapered away over the years, it allowed the writing side to shine all the brighter. I created thousands of worlds as a kid, plotted thousands of stories, and the older I grow, the more stories brew within me, begging to be unleashed. 

2) Who are some of your favorite authors now, and what genres do you tend to read the most?

My most recent favorite are queens of paranormal romance, JR Ward and Nalini Singh. I got sucked into the Black Dagger Brotherhood and the Psy-Changeling series respectively, and I’ve been bingeing on them. Another favorite that I will always, always read is Ilona Andrews. I started reading the author duo with the Kate Daniels series, however, I really enjoy everything they write. The style just jives with me. As for the genres I read, while I occasionally pop out to try something different, my favorites are urban fantasy and paranormal romance. Probably unsurprising, since those are my favorite genres to write. 

3) How long does it take you to write a full book? Do you write full time or part time?

I write part time, and with how fast I tend to write, I’m kind of terrified to wonder what my output would be if I wrote full time! Depending on how much I’m jiving with a story, it takes me a month to six months to write a 60-90,000 word novel. For 60k ones, it tends to be one to two months. Editing takes a little longer depending on the book, but I can keep a pretty steady pace with writing. 

4) This series, The Philadelphia Coven, is already amazing, two books in. It’s fast becoming a “must read series” for me. You’ve done a superb job of with background, environment, and character development and still keep it from being tedious. Is this a series that you plan to continue with? Please say yes.  

I have definite plans to continue the series—my goal is four books. I’m currently working on Rising for Autumn, the next book, which features Alanna Carrington, head witch of the Philadelphia Coven, and Samuel Karim, djinn and ex-Order crony as the leads! While the first book was action packed and the second book sizzled, so far this one has been the darkest one!

5) What are we going to be looking forward to in the future from you?

Rising for Autumn! However, for those that follow my steampunk Take to the Skies series, I recently released A Tale of Two Airships, the sequel to An Airship Named Desire! It’s akin to Firefly; a loud-mouthed, ragtag group of sky pirates with hearts of gold and a penchant for finding danger. 

6) I about jumped up and down for joy, when I found that Scrying for Summer featured Jev. One of my favorite characters from Hunting for Spring. And though I didn’t like Liam much in the first book, I knew there was a lot more to his character, I’m glad you brought it out and he becomes a hero in his own right. What brought about this wonderful world?

I’m actually from Philadelphia area, though I live in the suburbs, so I’m quite familiar with the city. One of my favorite aspects of urban fantasy is combining the surreal with the real, and I’ve seen the glitz, the historical spots, and the seedy underbelly of the city, which is enough to inspire thoughts of magic and fae! As for the story inspiration, I actually use Celtic fairytales for inspiration. Connla and the Fairy Maiden was the inspiration for Hunting for Spring, and for Scrying for Summer the Gruagach tale!

7) What would you like to say to fans, and where can they follow you?

I would like to say a huge thank you to fans! Kind words and encouragement have been what fueled me past rejections, publisher closures, negative reviews, sales slumps and the countless other hurdles that an author faces on a regular basis. It warms my heart to be able to share the excitement for the worlds and characters I created. For those who’d like to chat, I constantly update my Facebook page (www.facebook.com/kmcintyreauthor) with favorite lines from what I’m currently working on, and I update my author page (www.katherine-mcintyre.com) with my weekly word count as well as where projects are in the works! Don’t hesitate to reach out, even if you just want to chat!

Scrying for Summer
Katherine McIntyre
Paranormal Romance/Urban Fantasy

Blurb: Yeah, all right, Jev said she was looking for adventure, but she meant the garden variety, like stomping out nasty fae in the city as an enforcer of the Philly Coven. She didn’t mean handsome-as-sin Liam O'Reilly showing with word that the worst organization of fae they'd ever dealt with was on the rise again. She definitely didn’t mean anything to do with Liam O’Reilly--traitor, asshole, and the absolute last person she wanted to work with.








A modern day Renaissance-woman, Katherine McIntyre has learned soapmaking, beer brewing, tea blending, and most recently roasting coffee. Most of which make sure she’s hydrated and bathed while she spends the rest of her time writing. With a desire to travel and more imagination than she knows what to do with, all the stories jumping around in her head led to the logical route of jotting them down on paper. She writes novels with snarky women, ragtag crews, and guys with bad attitudes. High chances for a passionate speech thrown into the mix.




Thursday, September 22, 2016

Uncaged Review - Shadow Born by Jasmine Walt & Rebecca Hamilton

As seen in Issue 2 of Uncaged Book Reviews. To see the full issue, see the link below.


Shadow Born
Jasmine Walt & Rebecca 
Hamilton
Paranormal/Urban Fantasy
New Adults OK

Blurb: Chicago Police Detective Brooke Chandler is keeping a secret... and if she’s not careful, it could get her killed. 
Brooke is no stranger to the supernatural. In Chicago, vampires are just as prevalent as drug lords, and infinitely more bloodthirsty. So when her partner and fiancé dies in a mysterious fire while chasing down a lead in Salem, she suspects something dark and otherworldly is at play.
Blessed with the ability to see into the past by touching inanimate objects, Brooke transfers to the Salem PD, hoping her talent will help her get to the bottom of things. Between dodging assassination attempts and being stonewalled at every turn, the going is tough. Add in a mysterious fae club owner with secrets of his own and a personal grudge against her, and it becomes nearly impossible.
If Brooke wants to play in the supernatural sandbox, she’s going to have to roll up her sleeves and get dirty. But how many people will have to die for Brooke to discover the truth about her fiance? And is she even ready to know?


Uncaged Review: I actually picked this book up as it was on my “wanting to read” pile for awhile. This is promising new series in the land of Urban Fantasy. I liked the lore of the supernatural world that the authors present, and the characters are complex.

Brooke is a Detective with the Chicago PD, and transfers (temporary) out to Salem, Mass. to help uncover the truth about her fiance’s murder. Already knowing about vampires in Chicago, she soon learns there are many other supernaturals, and even Brooke herself has powers that put her in the supernatural group.

As she starts her investigation, she meets with a powerful fae, Maddock. The two team together to solve a case of missing supernaturals, and in return, Maddock will help her find out more about her fiance Tom’s death.

This is a very rocky relationship, but it’s not really romantic, at least not in the first book. The attraction the two feel for each other smolders under the surface, but I would not consider this a romance, at least not yet.

I think this has a lot of potential to be a great new series. Suspenseful, and full of action, it may easily find it’s place in the convoluted Paranormal genre. It’s listed on Amazon as New Adult, Fantasy, SciFi - but it sits firmly in the Urban Fantasy/Paranormal world to me. Reviewed by Cyrene

4 Stars

Tuesday, September 20, 2016

Uncaged Review: The Sanctuary by Sandra Lea Rice

As seen in Issue 2 of Uncaged Book Reviews. To see the rest of the issue, please click the link below.


The Sanctuary
Sandra Lea Rice
Historical England/Romance

Blurb: A woman set on revenge: 
Clairece Griffin is summoned to the Metropolitan Museum in New York to authenticate a relic reputedly having belonged to Mary, Queen of Scots. While there, the valuable, gem-encrusted treasure is stolen and her husband killed. When Clairece learns of the relic’s resurfacing in England, she travels to London under the pretext of visiting relatives. In her determination to bring those responsible to justice, she becomes the target of a crazed killer, equally determined to stop her. 

A man seeking absolution: 
Consumed by guilt at the tragic death of his mother, Anthony Wade, the Earl of Harding, strives to provide a safe haven, The Sanctuary, for those he has pledged to protect. Working privately for Scotland Yard as a means to rebuild his once-failing estate, Anthony, a renowned antiquarian, is summoned when word of a priceless missing heirloom reaches Her Royal Majesty, Queen Victoria. 

A promise: 
Having vowed to help a friend, Anthony soon discovers the woman he is charged to protect—Clairece Griffin—is none other than the mysterious woman with whom he’d spent a few unforgettable, intimate hours. When the quest to find the missing relic becomes a race to save Clairece’s life, they turn to the safety of The Sanctuary. As the attempts on her life increase, a three-hundred-year-old mystery is revealed, one that could destroy them both.



Uncaged Review: It isn’t very often a book comes along and steals your time away from you, as soon as you put it down, you’re wanting to pick it back up and keep reading. This book did that for me. 

There is suspense, with a couple of twists you wouldn’t expect, romance, witty banter, and very believable characters. Both the main characters have a past, and even though they are together early in the book, the author doesn’t keep it all sunshine and roses. With Clairece snooping around for the relic, a deranged killer is trying to kill her. Anthony feels he must protect her at all costs, and is very dominating, which doesn’t go over all that well with the head-strong, stubborn Clairece. But to overcome the obstacles and stay together, will not be an easy task.

There isn’t much I didn’t like about this book. Well written, with characters that are easy to love and are not perfect by any means. Highly recommended. Reviewed by Cyrene

5 Stars


Sunday, September 18, 2016

Interview with Zoe Forward

As seen in Issue 2 of Uncaged Book Reviews. To see an excerpt from "Playing the Witch's Game" and to see Uncaged Reviews, please see the issue, link below.


Zoe Forward’s books are so easy to get lost in. The writing is superb, and she can easily hang with the best-sellers. I am thrilled to have her be a part of Uncaged.

Thank you so much for the feature!

1) When did you come to the realization that you wanted to be an author? 

There are those who know they want to write from the minute they start reading books. Not me. My dream was to be a veterinarian, and I did that. But I always used writing as a way to make people laugh. Loved it. About eight years ago I sat down and wrote my first book, Dawn of a Dark Knight. It didn’t happen overnight. It required sweat, tears, dreaded criticism and a baby arrival in the year it took to produce the story. Writing, I discovered, was an illuminating experience…and addictive.

2) Who are some of your favorite authors now, and what genres do you tend to read the most?

I’ve got a few authors on my auto-buy list. I read so many types of books from nonfiction to most genres of romance, especially paranormal/urban fantasy, contemporary and NA.  Some fav go-to’s include J.R. Ward, Christine Feehan, Rick Gualtieri, Sandra Brown, and Rebecca Yarros.

3) How long does it take you to write a full book? Do you write full time or part time?

During the day I’m a veterinarian and a mom (now of two). At home I you’ll find half my day is spent trying to figure out why little ones prefer to run around without pants and working to find a matching pair of socks (I’ve got a repeat offender sock-eating dog who works against me). So, I write when I can. A full book might take a few months, depending on free time, deadlines and other projects.

4) When I read one of your books, I’m learning that the book is going to be a huge part of my time until I finish it, without getting much else done, I get so drawn into them. I’ve read His Witch to Keep, and Dawn of a Dark Knight, and I still have Forgotten in Darkness ready to go. I love how readers are pulled right in to the story – well developed characters and storyline. The Scimitar Magi series reminds me a lot of J.R. Ward’s Black Dagger Brotherhood, with the warrior magi and how they fight and live together. Will we see more from both these series? 

That’s…awesome! Thanks. There are more in the Keepers of the Veil series with the plan of 7 (one for each witch). The Scimitar Magi series is a bit unclear at the moment. 

5) Where is your favorite place to write? What are some of your favorite ways to relax?

I’ll write wherever and whenever I can, whether it’s shut in a closet, waiting for my son to finish karate or baseball, or very late at night when the house is quiet. 

For relaxation I’ll veg to a good Sci Fi movie or some of our fav TV series like The Flash or Deadliest Catch or VEEP. It’s an eclectic mix. Or I’ll grab a book. There’s a lot on my TBR right now.

6) What are you working on now and what else do you have plans for in the near future? Any new releases coming soon you can tell us about?

The next in the Keepers of the Veil series has THE END written. I don’t have an exact release date yet. So, it’s on to book five in this series. Also, there’s a new line of contemporary romance in the pipeline.

7) What would you like to say to fans, and where can they follow you?

Thank you so much to all of you guys who love the Keepers of the Veil series. You guys rock!


Zoe Forward is a hopeless romantic who can’t decide between paranormal and contemporary romance. So, she writes both. When she’s not typing at her laptop, she’s tying on a karate belt for her son or cleaning up the newest pet mess from the menagerie that occupies her house. She’s a small animal veterinarian caring for a wide range of furry creatures, although there has been the occasional hermit crab.
She’s madly in love with her globe trotting conservation ecologist husband who plans to save all the big cats on the planet, and happiest when he returns to their home base.





Saturday, September 17, 2016

Uncaged Review - Shelter Me by Stephanie Tyler

As seen in Issue 2 of Uncaged Book Reviews. To read the entire issue, see the links below.


Shelter Me
Stephanie Tyler
Contemporary Romance/Suspense

Blurb: There are ghosts in my past—ghosts I can’t recognize. 

My painting heals me, but Lucas Caine has made me come alive. My past could take both those things away forever. What started out as an undeniable need to create was quickly turning into danger as my longing for memories fed the rough canvases I filled. 
Falling for Lucas will force me to revisit my lost memories—and possibly lose myself, my art, and him in the process. 
And now he has me skating the thin edge between desire and fear as I use a past I don’t remember to leverage a future I’m not sure I want. 


Uncaged Review: This has been one of the most enjoyable reads I have completed in the past year. While the story follows an artist, she makes it very easy to relate to her with the things that the main character goes through. The secondary characters you are introduced to are easy for me to compare to my own friends in my life. Stephanie has done one of the hardest things an author needs to do and that is pull you into her world. The story is suspenseful enough that it had managed to get my heart pounding in a few sections of the book. The mystery behind the main character’s past made me tense and worried for her as if I had known her myself. The entire read of the first book in the series has managed to keep me enthralled with the story and wanting more. The sex scenes weren’t as detailed as I have seen, but they certainly brought the blush to my face! It was an easy and enjoyable read that I recommend to anyone who loves suspense romance novels. Reviewed by Michael

4 Stars


Wednesday, September 14, 2016

Uncaged Review - Bittersweet Tavern by S. Copperstone

As seen in Issue 2 of Uncaged Book Reviews. To read all the reviews, please see the issue - links below.


Bittersweet Tavern
S. Copperstone
Historical/American Revolution

Blurb: Jerusha, a widowed barmaid in the upper Massachusetts Colony, was feisty and could handle herself, but she was also a bit of a klutz. This was not necessarily a bad thing when she stumbled into the arms of a mysterious ship captain, hardened by the early battles of the American Revolution. Yet, beneath that gruff exterior, she thought she detected something more in the sea-dog. Something…almost familiar.


Uncaged Review: This book takes place at the start of the American Revolution in 1775. The book focuses on Jerusha and her family that live in Fallmouth, Mass. and a boy she knew as a child, Daniel. Fast forward, and Jerusha is a widow - having lost her husband to the British,, and Daniel is the captain of his own ship. But Jerusha hasn’t figured out if Daniel is a Patriot or working for the British, or if he’s a privateer. She returns to Fallmouth to help her family with the business of The Bittersweet Tavern. Seeing Daniel come into the tavern for food and drink, feelings for him resurface, and she sets out to find out all she can. 

I did enjoy the writing and the descriptive places, but the romance between Jerusha and Daniel was almost negligible and unsatisfying for me. The ending was pretty abrupt and even though it wasn’t a cliffhanger, it only gave hints at their future. The author meant to have us see Jerusha as stubborn and fierce in her loyalty, but a lot of times she just seemed pushy, selfish and impulsive. Even with these issues, the story was a pleasant read thanks to the author’s terrific setting and storyline. Reviewed by Cyrene

3 1/2 Stars


Monday, September 12, 2016

Interview with Bernard Lee DeLeo

As seen in Issue 2 of Uncaged Book Reviews. To read an excerpt from Blood Lust, and to read the Uncaged Reviews, please see the issue, link below.


I had the priviledge to read the first book in the Demon series a few months ago. And when I say priviledge, that’s how it feels to read the works of Bernard DeLeo’s. His storytelling is second to none, from his crime-solving to the characters he builds. Uncaged is honored to have him here.

First off, thank you so much for taking the time for the interview!

1) When did you come to the realization that you wanted to be an author? 

One of the first classes I attended in college after my enlistment in the Navy was a creative writing class. Our first assignment was to write a short story. I wrote the story from a dog’s point of view. During the class critique session another student said, ‘you can’t write a story from a dog’s point of view’. The professor replied, ‘he just did’. I was hooked.

2) Who are some of your favorite authors now, and what genres do you tend to read the most?

Tom Clancy, Stephen King, Dean Koontz, and Janet Evanovitch are some of my favorite authors. Although horror and action/adventure novels make up most of my reading list, I love the Stephanie Plum series because of the characters and humor. Romance is another key ingredient in what I read.

3) How long does it take you to write a full book? Do you write full time or part time?

I write full time, but I also own a one-man auto shop in Oakland, CA. My writing goal is two thousand words a day no matter how long it takes. I write on and off from 5 am to 10 pm. I very seldom miss my word goal. Since my novel length is between 90,000 and 130,000 words, depending on the series I’m writing, it takes about two and a half months for me to write and edit a novel.

4) I loved the book Demon, as it was a very fresh, original idea on the paranormal, young adult world. And now, in Blood Lust, you bring in a Dhampir to work with officials. I chuckled at the references to The Vampire Diaries and even the more obscure, Moonlight. Have you actually watched these shows? How much research did you do in the vampire world for this novel? 

I admit to watching all things vampire from the time I was a kid up through the present. If the characters have chemistry, I’m all in as far as being a fan goes. I have used variations of vampires in a few of my novels, including ‘Layla’, ‘Lancelot’, and of course ‘Blood Lust’. I can’t really claim my fascination with vampires to be research. I have immersed myself in the various vampire legends from childhood. Adding humor in ‘Blood Lust’ made the novel irresistible for me to write.

5) Where is your favorite place to write? What are some of your favorite ways to relax?

I write wherever I happen to be: on an airplane, train, deck chair, my auto shop backroom desk, and the most comfortable would have to be my tilt back couch seat with laptop. When I’m fully engaged in a scene, it doesn’t matter where I am. I’m always relaxed when I write. I might laugh out loud, pump my fist, or grit my teeth in concentration, but writing is always a relaxing escape for me.

6) I loved the humor and the very charismatic duo of Jed and Erin, is Blood Lust a one timer, or is this the start of a fun new series?

I believe I will revisit my Blood Lust duo of Jed and Erin at some point in the future if for no other reason than the enticement of humor, romance, and Jed’s Dhampir powers. The scenes like this one where Erin interrogates Jed about what he fed on make it difficult to resist a sequel because they’re so much fun for me to write:

“I agree. I’m off in another hour. I’ll change into civvies and we can check the lab for any sign of him. What did you feed on?”

“A doe.”

Erin made her usual disgusted face. “You fed on Bambi’s mother? That is sick.”

“Yeah, and I did it in front of Bambi and his sister. I think I saw Thumper and Flower gawking at me too while I did the deed.”

Uncaged follow-up - I laughed at this scene, along with many others. The chemistry between the characters was perfect.

7) What would you like to say to fans, and where can they follow you?

I’m a story teller. I don’t write while trying to be Earnest Hemingway, or Shakespeare. When I get an idea with characters and plot I can’t resist, I write the story to please myself. If my writing keeps appealing to readers, I love sharing the stories with them, but I write for me. Editing is a humbling and crucial endeavor no author can avoid. If a writer doesn’t love what he or she writes, the editing will drive the writer into a coma of either avoidance or blockage.

Uncaged follow-up - It’s appealing, trust me!




Born and raised in Warren, Ohio, I write adventure fiction in many genres. I have thirty-two of my novels offered for Amazon Kindle in the Unlimited Program. I have four continuing series offerings - Hard Case 1-7, Cold Blooded 1-6, Rick Cantelli, P.I. 1-4, and the New Adult paranormal series Demon 1-4, all with RJ Parker Publishing Inc. Recent releases are the paranormal novel Blood Lust, Cold Blooded VI: Red Horizon, Hard Case VII: Red Waves, Rick Cantelli, P.I. IV: Shades of Death, and Demon IV: Darkness Rules. I served aboard the USS Ranger (CVA61) from 1969 until November of 1972. I earned an AA degree in Auto Technology from Chabot College in Hayward, CA, and a BA degree in English from Cal State Hayward. My hobbies are basketball, backpacking, and scuba diving. My favorite dive spot is Point Lobos near Pacific Grove, CA.



Saturday, September 10, 2016

Uncaged Review: The Mercenary and the Shifters by CD Hersh

As seen in Issue 2 of Uncaged Book Reviews, link below.



The Mercenary and the Shifters
CD Hersh
Paranormal Romance

Blurb:
When mercenary soldier Michael Corritore answers a desperate call from an ex-military buddy, he finds himself in the middle of a double kidnapping, caught in an ancient war between two shape shifter factions, and ensnared between two female shape shifters after the same thing ... him.

Shape shifter Fiona Kayler will do anything to keep the shipping company her father left her, including getting in bed with the enemy. But when she believes the man trying to steal her company is involved with kidnapping her nephew, she must choose between family, fortune, and love. The problem is ... she wants all three.


Uncaged Review: The shifter/paranormal part of this story is very unique, and more of a background characteristic than most shifter novels. Starting this series at this book, being the fourth book into the series, may have put me at a slight disadvantage, as it really took me awhile to understand what the shifter Society was and how everything worked. 

Fiona owns a shipping company on a port near Cleveland that was part of her family, and now her responsibility since her parents were dead. The rogue shifter ruled company of OmniWorld, is buying up and forcing many smaller companies out of business. Now they want Fiona’s, and her childhood friend, Kyle’s company also. So to clear her name and company of charges and to try and get OmniWorld off her back, she agrees to set up and spy on the Kyle’s company, but with Kyle’s help, her plan is to double cross them and take them down herself. In the meantime, someone is out to kill her, and she ends up hiring a security team to bodyguard her and to secure her home and office. What she didn’t plan on was Mike. Mike knows of shifters, as one of his good friend’s is one, but he doesn’t approve. And he doesn’t know Fiona is one either, at least not at first. Fiona finds herself in over her head, and will need to rely on her brother and the rest of the shifter family.

This book has a lot of suspense, action and romance, and some fun witty moments as well. There is nothing too gory and the one sex scene is not over the top. I like how the romance between Fiona and Mike brewed slowly. At the end, you knew there was room for more of this story to continue, but it did not leave on a cliffhanger and tied up the storyline that went on in this one nicely. Reviewed by Cyrene

4 Stars


Thursday, September 8, 2016

Interview with Victoria Vane

As seen in Issue 2 of Uncaged Book Reviews. To read an excerpt from Saddle Up and the Uncaged review, please see the issue, links below.


Being a horse owner and lover my whole life, reading western contemporaries comes naturally for me. Victoria Vane easily satisfies that genre for me, and it’s a pleasure to have a fellow horse lover in Uncaged, even though she’s up against deadlines, she took the time, and I’m grateful.

Thank you Vicki for the feature.

1) When did you come to the realization that you wanted to be an author?

It happened totally by fluke! I was riding up a mountain on horseback the summer of 2008 when I told a friend about this crazy story that wouldn’t get out of my head. She told me I should write it. So I did! I finished my debut novel (THE HIGHEST STAKES) 14 months later and was shocked to get an offer from two publishers six weeks after that. It was published in April of 2010 and I’ve been writing ever since- to date I’ve published two historical fictions novels as Emery Lee and over twenty romance novels and novellas as Victoria Vane.

2) Who are some of your favorite authors now, and what genres do you tend to read the most?

I have always loved the classics and still enjoy re-reading them. I also enjoy contemporary western romance but have too many favorites to list! 

3) How long does it take you to write a full book? Do you write full time or part time? 

A full length novel usually takes me 3-4 months. I have been writing full time for over five years.

4) Are there any books/authors that you’ve read, that have influenced you as an author?

Since I have been writing, it’s almost impossible for me to read a book without subconsciously critiquing it, so I would have to say that everything I read  influences me – both positively and negatively. 

5) Where is your favorite place to write? What are some of your favorite ways to relax? 

I’m a very quirky writer. I can’t write on a laptop. I can’t write in public places and I have to play music while I write. Every story has its own play list. I love Pandora radio!

6) I’ve read Saddle Up, and I’ve been a horse owner most of my life, and westerns, involving horses and cowboys – are always a safe bet for me. With Saddle Up, within a few pages, I am all in. This book is not only a romance, but it also brings up the cause of the fate of the wild mustangs, and I love that you brought that into the book with this story. Is this a cause that is near and dear to you, and did you have to do a lot of research on mustangs for the book?

I am a true research geek with everything I write, but SADDLE UP is indeed near and dear to my heart as I have been a horse owner most of my life and once rescued a horse that was a failed BLM adoption. My personal experience allowed me to really dig deeply into the mustang dilemma. I hope readers will be both entertained and enlightened by the story.

7) What are you working on now and what else do you have plans for in the near future? 

I had a great deal of turmoil in my personal life this past year that put me on a hiatus for a while but I am now “back in the saddle.” I have a holiday themed contemporary western releasing in October (A COWBOY’S MIDNIGHT KISS) and am presently working on two new historical romances IVAR THE RED, and THE BASTARD OF BRITTANY as part of Kathryn LeVeque’s De Wolf Pack Kindle world. After that, I will also be contributing a sexy contemporary western to Sable Hunter’s Hell Yeah Kindle world in February. 

8) What would you like to say to fans, and where can they follow you?

If you enjoy smart and sexy stories, I’m your girl! I am very active on Facebook (Victoria Vane or Author Victoria Vane where I also frequently post pictures of the historical costumes that I make (and sell). I guess that’s a story for another day! 



Victoria Vane is a number one best selling author of contemporary romance (SLOW HAND) and award-winning author of historical romance, whose collective works encompass wild comedic romps to emotionally compelling erotic romance. Victoria’s books have received over twenty awards and nominations to include the 2014 RONE Award for Treacherous Temptations and Library Journal Best E-Book Romance for The Devil DeVere series. 







Wednesday, September 7, 2016

Uncaged Review of Born Yesterday by Tatter Jack

As it appears in Issue 2 of Uncaged Book Reviews, links below.




Born Yesterday
Tatter Jack
Fantasy Romance

Blurb:
Look. 
No, not here—down there. 
See her? The woman behind the rock? The one with a Glock 43 in her hand? That’s Schae Summers, fantasy author. She only came to Scotland to do some book research. Not to be chased over the heather by a wolf. Because everybody knows there aren’t any wolves in Scotland, right? 
Well right now Schae’s wishing someone had told the one behind her. 
But being chased is one thing—even if it’s by a wolf. Being chaste? That’s something else entirely. Especially where men with storm grey eyes are concerned. Men like Darek Banakar—who just might be more dangerous than any wolf. 
So here she is. Schae Summers. She’s smart, and she’s hip. She wasn’t born yesterday - but she’s going to be.


Uncaged Review: It’s hard to group this book into a single category, as it actually spans a few, but I’m putting into fantasy, although it can have some romance and contemporary mixed in. 

I took a couple days before typing out my review on this one, so I could let it brew for a bit. Schae is a best-selling author, whose nightmares she has on a nightly basis, are part of what she writes about, and partly what keeps her sane. Her publicist tells her to take some time off, and she decides to take a working vacation in Scotland. She meets Darek, whom she’s drawn to. And on top of that, as long as Darek is close by, she doesn’t have the nightmares. This is not an erotic, but it does have some language in a couple places that also takes a bit away from the impact of the romantic elements. Using the language so frequently used in erotica doesn’t really do anything for the story. But they are not that often used here, and it’s easy to overlook them.

Now it took me awhile to actually get really involved with the story, as it’s written in the not-often-used second person narrative, and honestly, it doesn’t read all that well for a lot of people. I did get used to it, but I wouldn’t want to read a lot of books in this style, as it’s very distracting from the storyline. With that said, there was some great twists to this story, and the end just gobsmacked me. It was a bit confusing for quite awhile, and then toward the last half of the book, things started clicking into place, but I would never have guessed the ending, which is good thing. Reviewed by Cyrene

4 Stars


Tuesday, September 6, 2016

Uncaged Review of Scared Witchless by Amy Boyles

As is appears in Uncaged Book Reviews, Issue 2. Link below.


Scared Witchless
Amy Boyles
Supernatural Suspense

Blurb: 

A witch. A murder. A wedding dress?

Dylan Apel is having one heck of a summer. She knows her hand-made clothing is special, but magical? Discovering that she's a witch is bad enough, but when Dylan realizes there are folks who’ll kill to possess her witchy powers— that’s enough to make a girl want to hide out in the back of her boutique. Only problem is, Queen Witch is in town, itchin’ to make sure Dylan learns to cast spells, and this witch won’t take no for an answer. 

Dylan must learn fast—someone just killed her best client with a poisoned gown meant for Dylan. Was it the tall, mysterious hottie in black, who's suddenly everywhere she goes? After all, the first thing Roman Bane says is he doesn't like witches. Is he here to save her, or kill her? 

Dylan is barely getting a handle on her new powers when she finds herself surrounded by witches bossing her this way and that, local police nosing about, and wary clients—death by clothing is not good for business. And the solstice is coming … a time when witch powers are at their peak. Can Dylan survive the chaos long enough to figure out her new life? 




Uncaged Review (Reviewed by Michael):  This was by far one of the best witch books I’ve read in a long time. The main character was relatable and easy to get attached to. Each chapter had a few places that made me laugh out loud at some of the stuff the girls got into. There were a few spots where there was a few word misplacements that took me out of the scene, but they were few and far between. I would recommend this to any of my friends. Some of the things Amy Boyles did well is that she managed to snag me in the first two chapters with the relatable sisters, each one with their own strengths and weaknesses that she frequently returns to. Each character she introduces throughout the book is memorable. Amy does a fantastic job at setting the scene and keeping you in her world. This being book one in the series, it has done the job to ensure that I will certainly pick up the next book to find out what happens next.

4 Stars



Monday, September 5, 2016

Uncaged Review - Highland Resurrection by BJ Scott

As seen in Issue 2 of Uncaged Book Reviews:


Highland Resurrection
BJ Scott
Historical Romance/Highlander

Blurb: Gravely injured during the massacre at Berwick on Tweed and with no memory of his past, Brother Lazarus was raised by monks until called upon by the Catholic Church to take up arms and protect pilgrims traveling to the Holy Land. As a member of the ill-fated Knights Templar, he is haunted by the horror of battle and the atrocities he witnessed at the hands of the French King, Philip the Fair, in his attempt to destroy the once-sacred order. Aided by a disgruntled French guard, he escaped on the night before his execution and flees to Scotland, but remains a fugitive. King Philip is convinced he also absconded with religious artifacts and a valuable treasure.
Despite his attempt to remain sequestered with the monks who raised him, Lazarus visits Berwick, convinced it holds the key to his identity and past. While there, he prevents a lass from being raped—a Good Samaritan act that has him questioning his vows of celibacy and puts him and anyone around him in danger.
Sheena MacClaran, wrongly accused of being a whore, harbors secrets of her own, but finds herself drawn to the mysterious monk who tends to her injuries and befriends her wee brother. Has she finally found a man she can trust and love, or will demons from his past and a king’s wrath catch up with them and tear them apart forever?

Uncaged Review:

This is a nicely paced Highlander historical. Sheena, wrongly accused as a woman who lifts her skirts for money, is attacked on her way home from the markets. Brother Lazarus, who was raised by monks, sees the attack and comes to Sheena’s aid. Leaving her in the hands of a friend to get her home, he can’t stop the guilty feelings he has for not seeing her home herself. So he sets out to find her, and when he finds her, she’s very sick with an infection from the wound on her arm. Finding she is the caretaker of her younger brother, Brother Lazarus remains with her and her brother until she is well enough again. 
  But Brother Lazarus has secrets – and doesn’t know who he really is, and Sheena has secrets of her own. Unraveling the story around both of them, the author does a nice job interweaving the characters, with a bit of mystery, danger and action within the romance. Once you get to the halfway point, the book is hard to put down. Even though this is a series book, and this was not the first book in the series, I had no problems catching on, and can easily be read as a standalone. 


4 1/2 stars

To see more reviews from Uncaged and Amy's Bookshelf Reviews, see the issue below:





Sunday, September 4, 2016

Interview with Linda Rae Sande

As it appears in Issue 2 of Uncaged Book Reviews. To read a excerpt from The Epiphany of an Explorer, and to read Uncaged reviews of 3 of Linda's books, please see the issue, with links below!


I was so excited that Linda Rae Sande agreed to a feature for Uncaged. My love of historicals is always satisfied with one of her books. 

First off, thank you so much for taking the time for the interview!

Thank you, Cyrene, for having me. And congratulations on your new publication!

1) When did you come to the realization that you wanted to be an author? 

I’ve been a writer for years, usually because my jobs as a technical writer have required the skill, but I was a reader first. I love books! I love how I can escape this reality just by opening a book and reading.  

There were a few books along the way, though, that made me think I could do a better job. I mentioned it to a distance relative, and she basically double-dog-dared me to do it. About the same time, I was doing genealogical research and discovered information about ancestors who lived in England. Imagining their stories drove me to write novels set in the Regency era.


2) Who are some of your favorite authors now, and what genres do you tend to read the most?

This is going to seem rather odd, but I grew up reading science fiction, and Isaac Asimov was my favorite author with Arthur C. Clarke a close second. Asimov’s “Foundation” series is amazing. In the historical romance genre, Mary Balogh, Eloisa James, and Madeline Hunter are my favorites. I tend to read Regencies the most of all fiction these days.

3) How long does it take you to write a full book? Do you write full time or part time?

Most of my books are ~100k words. They can take from two to four months to plot and write depending on how many book conventions might interrupt the writing process.  Since I’m doing six of those this year, I will release three books.

Although I have a “day job”, I am a full-time writer in that I make my living at it and spend at least forty hours a week on the business of being an author.

4) Your books are always fun to read with fresh and original takes on the historical genre. What inspired you to write in the genre?

Thanks, Cyrene! I do try to explore tropes that aren’t too overused in historical fiction, but I know there are a few favorites I’ve used more than once in my books. 

About twenty years ago, I started helping my mother with genealogical research. At the time, I was more interested in discovering the names and dates than I was in learning what was happening to those people. How and where they lived was so important! Those that lived during the Regency era (in Sussex) were the most interesting to learn about, and soon I was hooked.

5) Where is your favorite place to write? What are some of your favorite ways to relax?

If I’m home all day and don’t plan to leave the house, I like wearing pajamas and writing in my office. I do my best writing at night, though, usually at a downtown bar or cantina. And it’s not because Hemingway said to write drunk and edit sober! I just find I can immerse myself in the story and write the best dialogue when I’m away from distractions at home. The local wait staff know me and don’t interrupt me (very often).  I can usually write an entire chapter in one sitting over dinner and a drink.

6) I have now read three books in The Brothers of the Aristocracy series, and I loved that they all tied in with each other, but could easily be read as standalones. Are we going to see more of the Aristocracy characters? 

I have completed four Aristocracy series so far (Daughters, Sons, Sisters and Brothers) as well as an epic novel, The Promise of a Gentleman (The Cousins of the Aristocracy). All thirteen of the books employ the same background characters, and all can be read as standalone novels. I try to tie them together more by theme than by any continuous thread as I’m not a fan of  “to be continued” stories.

I’m working on my fourteenth, The Gossip of an Earl, and those familiar characters all play roles in the story of how gossip affects the aristocracy.

7) In The Epiphany of an Explorer, you brought in a bit of mythology, which is always fun to read about. How much did you have to research for this part of the book?

Far more than I thought when I started! Although I remember reading Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey back in high school, I certainly didn’t remember all the details. And even having seen the latest movies featuring characters from mythology, I was at a loss when it came to deciding whom to choose to feature for this story. I started by concentrating on learning everything I could about the islands of Delos and Mykonos and just worked from there with the mythology.

I was in Nashville for “A Weekend with the Authors” when I was half-done writing the book. I took a tour of their replica of the Parthenon so I could get pictures of Athena and Nike. I had taken a tour of in the past, and it really helped when it came time to describing the pediments of the Parthenon for a scene in my first book, The Kiss of a Viscount.

8) What are you working on now and what else do you have plans for in the near future? 

The Gossip of an Earl is the first in the next series. It’s scheduled for an October release. After that, there will be another entry in the Cousins series, The Pride of a Gentleman. I promise it won’t be as long as the first. It picks up a year after The Promise of a Gentleman left off in 1802. Although none of the main characters are aristocrats themselves, they’re related to them either directly or by marriage. I love the characters, especially the younger Milton Grandby, Earl of Torrington, and his cousin Gregory. They make up the half-generation that comes before those featured in my other books.


9) What would you like to say to fans, and where can they follow you?

I love my readers! And I love that they live all over the world!  It’s fun to hear from them, especially when they want to know when a particular character is going to get “their story”. I probably wouldn’t have done Harry Tennison’s tale (The Epiphany of an Explorer) as early as I did (he wasn’t scheduled until next year), but he was in demand as an unlikely hero. 

Fans can sign up for my newsletter on my website, www.lindaraesande.com, follow me on my Amazon Author Page, http://amazon.com/author/lindaraesande, or follow me on 




A self-described nerd and lover of science, Linda Rae spent many years as a published technical writer specializing in 3D graphics workstations, software and 3D animation (her movie credits include SHREK and SHREK 2). An interest in genealogy led to years of research on the Regency era and a desire to write fiction based in that time.

Now running the front office of a busy print shop, she’s developed an appreciation for pretty papers and color printing. She can frequently be found at the local cinema enjoying the latest movie. Although she no longer has any tropical fish, she’s a fan of the San Jose Sharks. She makes her home in Cody, Wyoming.