Uncaged Book Reviews

NOTE FROM THE EDITOR

Welcome to September/October issue of Uncaged Book Reviews. The official end of summer is here, and I hope everyone had a great summer as we speed into autumn.

The Raven Awards Facebook Party was a lot of fun, and you can find the winner list on page xx. Near the end of the party, Facebook decided that I had been “posting too often” and locked me out of the party. Thankfully, the last three authors to post jumped in and took over, so my thanks to Cerise DeLand, Sherry Ewing and Kathryn Le Veque. Because of the issues, I still have more signed books to give away, so I’ll be doing that for the next few weeks on the Uncaged Facebook page and socials. Be on the lookout for those.

Uncaged will be selling merch soon, and you will find the links on the website soon.This will include Uncaged themed items, Raven themes and some fun book and reading themes and will also include everything from shirts to coffee mugs. There will also be some horse-themed items available with a portion of those profits going to charity.

We will be continuing with the “Buy 2, Get 1” promotion we’ve been running for the forseeable future. The promotion will only be for Full Page Ads, so if you buy 2, you will get one free. No other advertising will be eligible. With the issues selling out advertising more frequently, this gives more opportunities for all in advertising in the magazine. It really does help from a marketing standpoint, to have an advertisment run three issues in a row to repeat in the readers mind. You don’t just see a commercial on TV one time and remember it, right? So we will continue to try and provide the best bang for your buck and get the most eyes we can on your work.

Enjoy the September/October issue of Uncaged Book Reviews and have a great autumn!

Issue 79 | September/October 2024

upcomingconventions

Uncaged will watch for any cancelations or modifications for the 2024 season. Please watch their websites for information as the dates get closer.

Romance Con

September 6-7, Milwaukee, WI

https://www.romance-con.com/

Bookery Con

September 5-7; Salt Lake City, Utah

https://bookerycon.com/

Printers Row Lit Fest

September 7- 8; Chicago, IL

https://printersrowlitfest.org/

Sleuthfest

September 26-29; St. Petersburg, FL https://sleuthfest.com/

Coastal Carolina Book Expo

October 5; Wilmington, NC https://www.facebook.com/coastal.carolina.book. expo/

The Las Vegas Book Festival

October 19; Las Vegas, NV

https://lasvegasbookfestival.com/

authors

feature

Margaret Izard

Mariah Thayer

Steffanie Costigan

Mariah thayer

Mariah Thayer is a mama, Army veteran, and traveler currently residing in the Pacific Northwest. When she isn’t getting lost on the top of a mountain or running around at the beach, she writes LGBTQIAinclusive, kink-positive, morally gray fantasy and romances that break your heart.

Her nomadic heart is represented in her writing of diverse, perfectly imperfect characters and complex worlds. Not every story has a happy ending, but each and every one will stay with you long after the last page is read.

Uncaged welcomes Mariah Thayer

Welcome to Uncaged! You co-write a series called Magic and Mayhem Motorcycle Club Romance – can you tell readers more about this series?

The series is called Blood Moon Riders MC: Magic and Mayhem Motorcycle Club Romance. It’s a paranormal MC romance series featuring witches at the heart of the club, and a woman at the helm.

This specific “season” of BMR MC is focused on the nomad chapter of Blood Moon, led by Nomad President Crow. This is a series of interconnected standalones, in that each book ends in an HEA for each relationship, but the series pursues a resolution to an overarching magical conflict. It is LGBTQIA and polyamory inclusive, and spicy.

I’ve been told it reads a lot like a cross between Supernatural and Sons of Anarchy. BMR MC doesn’t take itself too seriously, it’s fun—there’s grit and darkness, but a lot of humor as well. Each book expands on the lore of the universe and the complexity of the cast of characters.

We began writing this series after my cowriter faced a painful personal loss and I was myself feeling directionless and was considering backing away from writing entirely. The experience of co-writing with K.O. Newman was magical, and truly grounded me firmly back in the wonder of being an author and the book community. It’s led to so many wonderful friendships and connections as we expand the series and gain more readers.

You also have written some dark fantasy books on your own, including the first book in the Godhead Trilogy, Bune. Can you tell us more about this series?

Bune was the first book I ever published, and it’s one of my truest loves as an author—dark fantasy as a whole, that is. It took me about two years to write altogether, and I’m so proud of it. It’s also a book my relatives can talk about without getting embarrassed about the adult content, which is a nice bonus. I began writing Bune when I was in the Army, and finished it while I was completing my internship for my Master’s. It was an absolute dream come true.

Bune is the story of Sarah, an incredibly gifted woman living her quiet, humble life in the Pacific Northwest, whose world is shaken up by a shocking tragedy. In the wake of that unexpected loss, she finds herself hunting down the answers to the death of her friend, and becomes the target of the very same evil. At the same time, David, a man with huge moral conflicts, steps up to be her ally, and his clashing interests wind up complicating the situation further.

Each book in the trilogy deals with a different mystery to solve, with highly suspenseful elements, sharp twists, and hidden motives. Sarah and David are put through the ringer in their attempt to right a wrong that turns out to be deeper than their original conflict. Each book peels back another layer of the world they live in and their relationship with each other.

How do you use social media as an author?

I primarily share aspects of my life, such as travel and my coffee obsession, celebrate different personal milestones, and rave about the parts of the book community that I love: the people, the events. I used to take the time to make a lot of graphics and do giveaways, but I find these days I prefer to stay more personal.

I love to use social media to be social. I share others’ successes and hype them up, keep in touch with readers, models, photographers, friends. I have a whole life outside of writing that informs my books and how I show up in the world, and the benefit of indie publishing is that I get to share as much of myself as I feel comfortable with. It’s led to some truly beautiful friendships.

What behind-the-scenes tidbit in your life would probably surprise your readers the most?

Oh, gosh. I’m fairly open about most things, within reason. I had to outsource this one. My best friends and cowriters said some really lovely things that made me cry, which I won’t repeat—but I love you

guys. My parents offered up that I’m an excellent shot with a gun and that I have a love for classic muscle cars (my favorite is a ’69 Chevy Chevelle SS).

If you could spend time with any author, living or not, who would it be and why?

Neil Gaiman. 100%. His Sandman graphic novel series has long been an obsession of mine. The way he weaves love and tragedy together. I have always connected with his work and would love to know if the human being behind it has that same energy.

What are some things you like to do to relax when you aren’t writing or working?

That one’s easy—travel. I love to travel. If I’m not off on a road trip, even just a little weekend excursion once

a month, I get very cranky. Outside that, I play guitar, paint, hike, go to the beach, and hang out with my child.

A lot of authors like music or background noise when they write. Do you like to have music/white noise or do you prefer it to be quiet?

Quiet for sure. I have written in rooms surrounded by people, like cafes, for example, but I prefer total quiet. I’m very ADHD, and my neurospicy brain needs minimal distractions.

How would you describe yourself in one sentence or less?

A forever weirdo who’s just doing her best to be good to people and live a life that I can be proud of when it’s

all said and done.

What would you like to say to readers, and where can they follow you?

I close every newsletter this way and I want to say it now—thank you so much for coming on this ride with me. Being an author is something I have dreamed of since I was in first grade, and I am so, so grateful for each and every person who chooses to stand beside me as I make it a reality. I hope to see you at a future event and get to meet you in person someday so I can thank you.

Stay Connected

Enjoy an excerpt from Defiance

Defiance

Mariah Thayer Dark Fantasy

Returning from the dead should have been a blessing for wolf shifter Nikki Hayes. Instead, it’s meant a life isolated from her own kind, carving out a place for herself with the most unusual company. She didn’t think the loss of a pack meant much to her until the day she met her soulmate, Adam Sorenson.

Meeting Adam only causes Nikki more heartache. His pack’s immediate rejection creates a harsh divide between the lovers. When Adam is unable to resist the pull of their bond but unwilling to fight for their future, Nikki must make an impossible choice.

House Gabriel is being hunted, and Nikki must rise into her power in order to protect her found family. Will she allow her fated mate to deepen the wounds in her heart, or cut him out of her life forever? And can the soulmates forgive each other—and themselves—for the mistakes that led them astray, and find their way back home?

Excerpt

Chapter 1: Nostalgia Nikki

There was something about fall that dragged the ghosts out of me. Maybe it was the shorter, dimmer days, or the crisp air. Maybe it was the poignant memories of childhood birthdays in early October. Either way, it made my heart ache deliciously. I laughed harder in the cold seasons than I ever did in summer. I craved company in the autumn in a way I didn’t any other time. The loneliness was more acute, but I didn’t mind. The pangs drew out the beauty of the leaves and their new colors, the taste of hot drinks, and the feeling of bonfires at the nest with my family into something exquisite.

My wolf soul preferred it, too.

Raziel soaked up the nostalgia, allowing me to lead them around Fairview, California’s Autumn Harvest Street Fair, sampling goods and stacking up an impressive bill. Trying to choose where we’d eat later was proving to be a challenge. They balked at the thrift shops when I tried to duck inside to hunt for treasures, but I wasn’t sore about it.

We walked down Second Street past historic storefronts and through the crowd milling about in ex-

citement over the street fair. It was funny to watch humans part around us like water around a boulder, flowing and shifting subconsciously to avoid physical contact.

As a shifter, I didn’t ping a human’s instinctual radar. But Raziel unnerved folks no matter how hard they tried to tone it down. Even petite as Raziel was and with such delicate features, they were unsettling, and most earthbound creatures avoided them. Mortal spirits could sense a predator, even if their minds didn’t. Of course, Raziel’s red eyes and the way they drilled holes into anyone under their gaze probably didn’t help matters.

This suited us just fine. We enjoyed our bubble. I didn’t like talking to strangers, and Raziel didn’t like being touched by them.

I was riding the high of apple cider sweetness on my tongue and belly-laughs when that scent hit me. It mingled with human perfume and festival food and crisp leaves, but I could have picked it out anywhere once I’d tasted it. It lit up every corner of my soul. Raw and unfiltered chemistry.

Unthinking, I came to a standstill in the middle of the sidewalk, wanting to drag that scent deep into my lungs to hold onto it forever. I wanted to be covered in it. My legs became warm rubber, heat curling in my belly and creeping through my limbs.

I knew that smell, although I’d never experienced it before.

My gaze burned through the crowd around me as my head moved on a swivel, scanning. The growing knot of tension in my gut screamed urgency. Life or death. I had to identify the source. My shopping bag thudded on the concrete next to me as my hands began an uncontrollable trembling that swept through my entire body.

Where are you?

I took a deeper sniff and concentrated on the characteristics of the smell, the hairs on the back of my neck standing on end when it dawned on me what I was dealing with. WoIves. I hadn’t detected them in all the chaos, but it was unmistakable now. I’d known there was a pack living miles out of town, closer to the national park lands, but I’d never run into them before. It didn’t take long to spot them. The group lounging outside the biker bar among the parked motorcycles, six of them. I zeroed in on the one leaning next to a beautiful burgundy bike, arms folded across his chest and a smile fast fading from his lips.

The wind had shifted. His nostrils flared as he sucked in a massive breath.

He had scented me.

His back straightened, posture rigid. His head whipped around. Seeking as I had sought him. Even from that distance I could see his eyes were blazing as he hunted me. He tested the air, trying to recapture the chemical signature that had snared his attention.

His eyes found me. My body jolted in both shock and recognition. We stared.

Goosebumps broke out over my skin. My heart was pounding. I swallowed convulsively, made difficult by the sudden dryness of my mouth.

Then he was moving, eating up space between us, darting between bikes and people and vendor booths. His eyes fixed on me as if I were all that existed. He came straight into my arms, which had lifted on their own at his approach. His hands came up to cup my face.

My soul howled in joy. Soared in recognition. Soulmate. Mine.

His eyes were hugely dilated, and he leaned almost

imperceptibly forward as though he couldn’t help drawing closer.

I couldn’t look away. My chest hurt—was I breathing? Was he going to kiss me?

It certainly looked like it.

Soulmate.

Just knowing that broke the world wide open. I had been left to find my way in the world alone without a pack, without family—and I had been blessed with a soulmate. Everything that should have stood between me and this moment had fallen. I had triumphed.

He saw it too. There was a light in him that burned away the insidious spark of fear, a light that came from seeing me. Truly seeing me. He recognized me. He accepted me.

His eyes began to drift closed as he bent his head toward mine, and I pressed into him, eager.

“I’ve never seen a dead bitch up close. Damn.”

The strange voice came from over his shoulder.

Might as well have dumped a bucket of ice water on me.

Don’t miss these titles:

2024 Raven Award

The annual Raven Award was given out in July, on a live Facebook Event. Fun and chaos reigned supreme, and the celebration! Below you will see a list of the winners! Congratulations! A huge thank you to the authors that celebrate these awards, but also the 8 year anniversary of

Historical Regency

Winner

A Rendezvous with a Rake

Tammy Andresen

Runner-up

Portrait of a Duke

Alexa Aston

Fantasy

Winner

Winter Solstice in the Crystal Castle

Jennifer Ivy Walker

Runner-up

Tempting the Sheriff

Anna Lowe

Paranormal/Scifi

Historical Non-Regency

Winner

The Road to Avalon

Fil Reid

Runner-up

The Wolfe

Kathryn Le Veque

Winner

Rebirth of Ruby’s Ranch

Rhonda Frankhouser

Runner-up

Only in Darkness

Brenda Stanley

Award Winners

I wouldn’t have it any other way. Readers won prizes from authors and Uncaged, and the authors kept it fun with donated a signed book along with swag for the Grand Prize and other prizes and also for taking time to not only of Uncaged Book Reviews. I couldn’t do this without you.

Contemporary Winner

Bride Swap

Beth Carter

Runner-up

Beyond Circumstances

Gloria Joynt-Lang

Suspense/Thriller Winner

Third Man on the Left

Roni Hall

Cover

Winner

Rebirth of Ruby’s Ranch

Runner-up

Rorik

Mary Morgan

Uncaged Grand Prize

Awarded to an attending reader

Runner-up

Fatal Hunt

Michelle Godard-Richer

Rhonda Frankhouser

Margaret izard

Margaret Izard is a multi-award-winning author of historical fantasy and paranormal romance novels. She spent her early years through college and adulthood dedicated to dance, theater, and performing. Over the years, she developed a love for great storytelling in different mediums. She does not waste a good story, be it movement, the spoken, or the written word. She discovered historical romance novels in middle school, which combined her passion for romance, drama, and fantasy. She writes exciting plot lines, steamy love scenes and always falls for a strong male with a soft heart. She lives in Houston, Texas, with her husband and adult triplets and loves to hear from readers.

Uncaged welcomes Margaret Izard!

Welcome to Uncaged! Your series, Stones of Iona is a fantasy romance with two of the books from the series released, and a third one on the way. Can you tell readers more about this series?

Stones of Iona series is a seven-book series with three Christmas companion books, which also lead into another seven-book series featuring dragon shapeshifting brothers from my debut novel, Stone of Love, book 1 Stones of Iona Series.

Stones of Iona

The power of love binds all and will last forever.

Human emotion powers the magic stones. Apart, they are strong; together, they are all-powerful. In the wrong hands, the stones could destroy the world. Travel to parts of the world in the present and the past as we follow multiple characters on the quest to restore the Stones of Iona.

Fall in love over and over with the new series, Stones of Iona. For centuries, the Fae charged the MacDougall family with guarding the magic Fae stones. In one fateful moment, the monarchs of the family die in a horrible accident. In a panic, the Good Fae cast the handheld gems across space and time to protect them from the Evil Fae. The current generation of the MacDougalls must seek the lost stones and return them to the Chapel in the Woods at Dunstaffnage Castle in Scotland for safekeeping for all mankind.

When will the third book of this series release?

Stone of Lust, book 3, releases October 21st, with the first Christmas Companion book, Thistle in the Mistletoe, following November 4th. Stone of Hope, book 4 is in production now with a release date in 2025.

How do you use social media as an author?

Initially, I used it to tell people I wrote books with the intention of securing an agent or publisher.

FEATURE AUTHOR

These days, it’s to tell people about my books, writing life, upcoming releases, and giveaways.

What behind-the-scenes tidbit in your life would probably surprise your readers the most?

Outside of having triplets and a previous performing arts career, I’d say it’s my camping and outdoor experience. At an early age, I attended a summer camp for seven years in NE New Mexico for eight weeks each year, where I learned horseback riding, living off the land, archery, riflery, arts and crafts, and performing arts. In college, I returned as a counselor for one year teaching dance.

5) If you could spend time with any author, living or not, who would it be and why?

William Shakespeare! I grew up with his gravestone rubbing hanging in our bar. A copy now hangs in my bedroom. He has been an inspiration for many years.

In old English text it says… Good friend for Jesus sake forebear to dig the dust enclosed here. Bless be ye man who spares the stones and curst be he who moves my bones. Shakespeare’s mastery of language, character development, and storytelling is unparalleled. I would love to gain insight into his creative process and understand how he crafted enduring works that continue to resonate centuries later. I’d ask how he mastered conveying complex human emotions and themes through poetic language. Or about his plays that explore profound philosophical questions about human nature, morality, and existence. Something I’ve worked hard to incorporate into my writing voice. Beyond his work, understanding the man behind the genius. His thoughts, struggles, and motivations would provide a richer, more personal connection to the craft of writing and art of storytelling.

What are some things you like to do to relax when

you aren’t writing or working?

I enjoy cooking, traveling, movies/plays, and spending time with family and friends. When the weather is nice, you can find me floating around my pool, beating off

the southern Texas heat.

A lot of authors like music or background noise when they write. Do you like to have music/white noise or do you prefer it to be quiet?

a portable computer desk that rolled, and I sat in a chair between the Great Room and Kitchen, AKA Grand Central Station of my home. Having silence was next to impossible.

Since writing became more permanent, I remodeled the Game Room wet bar into a study/beverage nook. It’s my special space.

How would you describe yourself in one sentence or less?

Ambitiously creative with an open heart and kind soul.

What would you like to say to readers, and where can they follow you?

My tagline is: Where the realms collide, true love is found. My storytelling signature is a twist on the classics, which I merge into an emotional love story as I sprinkle magic. When combined, my stories provide the perfect escape.

If you haven’t explored my works, I invite you to my website, www.margaretizardauthor.com, to explore my epic love tales. While there, click on any fairy icon on any page, and the Fae will welcome you to their secret world where there is bonus material and insights I update regularly.

Mostly quiet. But when Texas hits those triple digits, a huge shop fan behind me shoots over the staircase, helping cool the house. When it runs, I can’t hear anything else. When I started writing, I had

Enjoy

an excerpt

from Fear of Lust

Stone of Lust Margaret Izard

Fantasy Romance Releases Oct. 21

3rd book in the Stones of Iona series

Excerpt

Stone of Lust

She placed her sword at his throat. “Yield?” The warriors gasped, then cheered for her.

Rannick’s eyebrows rose as Ainslie helped the youth to his feet and patted him on the back. Rannick rubbed his neck and looked over his warriors. He called upon another warrior. “Gunnar, come fight the She Warrior.”

A large older warrior moved from the crowd, a grin on his face. As Gunnar passed, Rannick patted his back and whispered something, but Ainslie couldn’t hear what was said. The warrior nodded as he moved toward her. No matter. She’d fight anyone.

Both took their ready stance, and Rannick signaled for them to begin.

They circled, weighing their opponent waiting on who would take the offensive first.

It was Gunnar, with a slice of his blade on her

shoulder. Ainslie blocked him well, but he stepped forward and slammed his shoulder into her knocking her down. Ainslie somersaulted backward to stand, her blade out and ready to defend the next block.

Gunnar glanced at Rannick, who nodded toward Ainslie.

They circled again, waiting to see who would advance. Ainslie led the next attack with an overhead slash. Gunnar blocked it, pushing her back. He was more substantial, but she was small, agile, and smart. They circled, and Ainslie went for his middle.

Gunnar blocked and spun, coming around overhead. She stopped it with her blade and allowed him to slide down hers knowing she could quickly push it aside with his forward momentum. When his sword came to the hand guard, she moved with all her might. He stumbled on a sidestep at the unexpected shift. As he flew past her, Ainslie whacked his rear with the side of her blade. The warriors laughed, and Gunnar came for her in an off-balance rage. She sidestepped and hit his rear end again.

Gunnar leveled his eyes on her and advanced with his blade. Side-to-side attacks came at her fast, backing her into the mainmast, trapping her, obviously trying to end the fight. Knowing sailing and the rigging, Ainslie reached up and grabbed the tack line holding the sail in place and swung herself onto the keelson box beneath the main mast. She landed surefooted and, in her follow-through, swung her sword connecting with Gunnar’s disarming him. His sword flew out of his hand and clattered against the hull. He stood staring at his empty hand, then tilted his head back and laughed loudly.

He bowed to Ainslie. “Ye are Freyja, the war goddess. Her spirit lives in ye. I have never seen a woman fight. A Valkyrie, and I’m honored to fight with ye.”

Gunnar strode to Rannick whose eyebrows remained raised. “She has earned her coin. She has won the con-

The surrounding warriors cheered as Ainslie stood over them, proud of her accomplishment. She’d battled and won against a trained, skilled Viking warrior. Her da would be so proud. Some warriors grumbled as they settled on the bets made, bringing her out of her musings. Ainslie jumped down and approached Rannick. She grinned at him and held out her hand. “Time to settle up.”

Rannick dropped a gold coin in it, then glanced behind her. “Disarm her. She is still our guest.” Her guard Ivor must be back. The sword pulled in her hand, and she let him take it. He wasn’t who she focused on. She stared at Rannick, her being so tall that they stood almost eye to eye. “I bested yer best. Admit it. A woman can fight.”

Rannick’s smile grew. “Oh, my sweet, he wasn’t my best. He was the one who wouldn’t hurt ye.”

Ainslie gripped the coin and raised an eyebrow. “I’ll take on yer best any day, anytime, and I’d still win.” She flipped the coin and caught it. “I’d even wager the gold coin on it.”

She flipped the coin again, and Rannick stepped toward her, catching the coin. They stood close as their breaths mingled. His sweet woodsy scent wafted over her, sandalwood and citrus. He glanced over her face and hair, then trailed to her chest.

His eyes returned to her eyes, and she raised an eyebrow as he spoke. “Warrior woman from another time or another land, my best would do ye harm. I have vowed never to harm a woman.”

Ainslie gazed back into his eyes. “That’s all right. Ye’d never get close enough with yer sword to harm me. But I may harm ye.”

Rannick stood there a moment, staring into her eyes. She glowered back with the glare of a challenge. She held out her hand for the coin. He took it in his, the

rough callouses brushing her skin, sending goose bumps up her arm. He placed her coin in her palm and closed his hands over hers, holding her hand in an embrace.

Without taking his eyes off her, he said, “Ivor, find a second guard. The She Warrior might need more than one.”

He winked at her, released her hand, and turned, moving away. Don’t miss these titles:

Steffanie costigan

Steffanie Costigan has always held a strong passion for writing despite her severe disability with dyslexia. She is currently living in Canada, Alberta, with her husband and three children.

Steffanie is a journalist and hopes to continue her passion for writing books and her dream of continuing as a journalist.

Steffanie studied creative writing and took her program in digital communications and media at Lethbridge College. She hopes her writing will resonate with people and inspire those that read her writings. This novel is her life’s work as she started writing this book at the young age of 12 years old and didn’t stop until publication.

Her passion for writing started at the young age of three years old; She has also written plays and had the opportunity to direct one of her written plays, “A Stoney Gaze,” in 2021. Steffanie met the love of her life Jarom Costigan in Adelaide, Australia. They soon married in March 2015. The love between the two protagonist characters within this novel was strongly inspired by Steffanie’s own experience meeting her husband. If it is something Steffanie believes in, it’s love at first sight, as that is the experience, she, and her husband both share with one another.

Uncaged welcomes Steffanie Costigan

Welcome to Uncaged! Your book, Land of the Dragon, released in November. Can you tell readers more about this book? Is this your debut novel?

At its core, Land of the Dragon explores themes of power, corruption, and the dangers of divisive leadership. There are parallels between the divisive tactics of historical figures like Hitler and the fictional character, it illustrates how leaders can manipulate societies into conflict.

What are you working on now that you can tell us about?

I’m currently finishing up a children’s book called “A Stony Gaze” hoping to have that out by August. A Stony Gaze is a book about Medusa with a twist and teaches kids the harm of mob mentality and group polarization. I do have other projects I’m working on as well such as Land of the Dragon 2.

How do you use social media as an author?

I think most authors use social media as a tool for marketing their works; for myself I use it for marketing but also like a little sneak peek into my work, my life as a mother, writer, and journalist.

What behind-the-scenes tidbit in your life would

probably surprise your readers the most?

I’m not sure, I think I get most people sharing their surprised that I am dyslexic. Because my work and just passion for writing and being dyslexic makes it difficult to read and write.

People have express they enjoy my writing, but they don’t realize what the rough copy looked like, or how much longer or more work it takes me to write than other writers. So, it just surprises people when they find out I’m dyslexic because it’s not as evident within my writing thanks to my rockstar editors.

If you could spend time with any author, living or not, who would it be and why?

Oh, that is a really hard one. I think I would like to meet John Ronald Reuel Tolkien. I know he served in World War I, it evident that Lord of the Rings has his experience woven throughout the novels.

What are some things you like to do to relax when you aren’t writing or working?

I like to paint or draw, mind you I don’t get much time with four kids. I also enjoy even if it’s just three minutes to listen to music. Cuddling up to my husband with a good book or watching a movie I find to be my relaxing time.

A lot of authors like music or background noise when they write. Do you like to have music/white noise or do you prefer it to be quiet?

There is no such thing as quiet in my house. I listen to music, if I am not listening to music while writing then I am researching ideas or exploring different words for my writing.

How would you describe yourself in one sentence or less?

Out of the box.

What would you like to say to readers, and where can they follow you?

A big part of my passion for writing is to impact my readers, if they come away with a new perspective or a lesson that impacted their life or, they can apply to their own life than I am over the moon.

Stay Connected

Enjoy an excerpt from Companion to the Count

Land of the Dragon Steffanie Costigan YA Fantasy

They had not even started to fight, yet I already could smell blood in the air…

I am a traitor, victim, fighter, survivor, sister, and daughter of a Nazi. I am Eleanor Kuhn. I will not be indoctrinated by Hitler. I fight for the truth my world has forgotten and ignored, but upon escaping the country. I stumbled into a whole new world, and I soon realized that war is everywhere you look.

With nothing but the clothes on my back and five siblings in tow, I wash up on the coast of a world I’d only glimpsed in books and the clouds of dreams: Land of the Dragon. But there’s something about this new world that rings with familiarity. Or perhaps someone . . .

Excerpt

As I approached Tara, my gaze forward, a group of children around our brothers’ ages were all standing next to a hazardous building that had been left in ruin, no doubt from a past air raid. The children continued to pick up pebbles of debris from the ruined building, throwing them into the open mouth of a corpse that was lying on its back in the mud next to a lamppost.

My heart sank as I stared in shock. A feeling of disgust swept over me in an instant. Again, my thoughts drifted back to Father. We never even got to see Father or have a funeral on his behalf. I could not help but to wonder if this dead man had a family.

“Hey!” I called out.

The children’s eyes shot up at me.

“What do you think you are doing? Have some respect for the dead!”

My eyes turned back to the corpse. A tight noose was wrapped around his neck. The matching cut rope of the noose still hung from the crossbar of the lamppost.

“Relax. You do not have to get your panties in a knot!” one of the boys mumbled.

“Excuse me, you little ganove!” I blurted out.

“This man was schwein. He tried to hide from being drafted as a Nazi soldier in this ruined building, so they hung him from that lamppost.”

“Good. That schwein got what was coming to him!” Tara agreed, walking out from behind me and stopping inches away from the corpse. “This is the deserved fate of anyone who is unwilling to serve our great country, our exceptional leader. Allo, allo. Heil Hitler!” Tara declared proudly.

I stood there in disbelief as the grim sight played out before me. Tara’s echoing words greatly unsettled my heart. Tara kicked the corpse’s face with as much

strength as she could.

“What are you doing?” I called out, horrified. The children giggled. As Tara kicked the corpse, maggots flew from his rotting eyes. I carefully approached Tara. Tears were rushing down her cheeks.

“If you were loyal to your country, you would not have left your family in ruin,” Tara murmured through her teeth. “You schwein! How could you?” Tara spat at the violated corpse.

Gently, I grabbed the back of Tara’s arm. “T— Ada, that is enough. Let’s go home.”

Tara stumbled past the corpse, wiping away her tears.

As we made our way through Hamburg, the streets were quiet and mostly empty, as it was getting closer to curfew. Puddles of water extended throughout the streets. I continued walking, looking down at the reflections of the crowded brick buildings that surrounded us. Most everyone was in their houses already.

The same dreadful feelings returned—the darkness, the pain, the sadness, and the hunger. They all built up inside me. Tara led the way. Even though Tara did not ever voice it, it was not hard to see she was taking Father’s death the hardest. From a young age, Tara had always been close to Father.

My train of thought was broken by an army truck full of young boys sitting in the back. It drove past and pulled up beside an old house nearby.

A young man said goodbye to his family. His mother wept as he walked to the truck. The pain on his face was overwhelming. A tear escaped his attempt at control. His lip quivered and his eyes squeezed shut as he jumped into the truck and drove away. I looked carefully at the boys, for

FEATURE AUTHOR

I knew I would not see some of those faces again. I wanted to memorize them, the people who would die for nothing, the young boys who would soon be forgotten. They were nothing but a blink in time.

I bit my lip, trying to hold my tears back. That boy looked about Thomas’s age. What if it had been him?

IDEAS TO SPARK CREATIVITY IN YOUR WRITING

Guest column by Ann Aubitz

Guest Column

IDEAS TO SPARK CREATIVITY IN YOUR WRITING

By Ann Aubitz

Creativity is the lifeblood of writing, infusing your work with originality and making it stand out. Whether you’re facing writer’s block or simply looking to reignite your creative spark, here are some strategies to help you tap into your creative potential:

1. Change Your Environment

Sometimes, a change of scenery can do wonders for your creativity. Try writing in a new location— whether it’s a different room, a café, a park, or even a library. The new surroundings can stimulate your mind and inspire fresh ideas.

2.

Read Widely and Diversely

Expose yourself to a variety of genres, authors, and styles. Reading widely can provide new perspectives, ideas, and techniques that can inspire your own writing. Don’t just stick to your favorite genres; venture into unfamiliar territory.

3. Free Writing

Set a timer for 10-15 minutes and write continuously without worrying about grammar, punctuation, or coherence. This stream-of-consciousness exercise can help you break through mental barriers and uncover hidden ideas.

4. Creative Prompts and Challenges

Use writing prompts and challenges to kick-start your imagination. These can range from specific scenarios, first lines, or even word lists. Websites, books, and writing groups often provide these prompts to spark your creativity.

5. Mind Mapping

Create a mind map to visually explore different aspects of your topic. Start with a central idea and branch out with related concepts, characters, and plot points. This can help you see connections and generate new ideas.

6.

Engage Your Senses

Incorporate sensory details into your writing. Describe what you see, hear, smell, taste, and feel. Engaging your senses can make your writing more vivid and immersive, and it can also trigger new ideas.

7. Collaborate and Share

Join a writing group or find a writing partner. Sharing your work with others can provide valuable feedback and fresh perspectives. Collaboration can also lead to brainstorming sessions that spark new ideas.

8. Set Aside Time for Play

Creativity thrives in a playful environment. Set aside time for activities that you enjoy, such as drawing, playing music, or engaging in other hobbies. These activities can relax your mind and open up new pathways for creativity.

9. Keep a Journal

Maintain a journal to record your thoughts, ideas, and observations. This can be a valuable resource for inspiration and can help you track your creative progress. Regular journaling can also help you develop a habit of writing daily.

10. Embrace Curiosity

Stay curious and open to new experiences. Ask questions, explore new topics, and seek out new knowledge. Curiosity can lead to unexpected discoveries that fuel your creativity.

By incorporating these strategies into your writing routine, you can spark your creativity and produce work that is fresh, original, and engaging. Remember, you can cultivate creativity as a skill with practice and persistence. But what if you are experiencing writer’s block…Writer’s block can frustrate and discourage, but there are strategies to overcome it. Here are some techniques to help you get past writer’s block:

Take a break: Sometimes, stepping away from your work can provide a fresh perspective. Engage in activities that relax or inspire you, such as going for a walk, listening to music, or reading a book. Allow your mind to rest and recharge.

Set realistic goals: Break down your writing tasks into manageable chunks. Set specific, achievable goals for each writing session. This can help ease the pressure and make the process feel more manageable.

Try freewriting or stream-of-consciousness writing: Write without worrying about grammar, structure, or coherence. Let your thoughts flow freely onto the page. This technique can help bypass the internal editor and allow new ideas to emerge.

Change your environment: Sometimes, a change of scenery can stimulate creativity. Write in a different location, such as a coffee shop, library, or park. Surround yourself with unfamiliar sights, sounds, and smells to stimulate your senses.

Experiment with different writing exercises: Engage in writing exercises or prompt to jump-start your creativity. Write a scene from a unique character’s perspective, explore unrelated topics, or try a new writing style. These exercises can help loosen up your creativity and break through blocks.

Seek inspiration from other sources: Read books, watch movies, or explore art forms outside of writing that inspire you. Engaging with different forms of creativity can spark new ideas and perspectives.

Eliminate distractions: Create an environment free from distractions. Turn off notifications on your phone, close unnecessary browser tabs, and find a quiet space where you can focus solely on your writing.

Break down the task into smaller steps: Sometimes, writer’s block can stem from feeling overwhelmed by the enormity of the writing task. Break it down into smaller, more achievable steps. Focus on one paragraph, a dialogue exchange, or a character’s backstory. By tackling smaller portions, you may find it easier to get back into the flow.

Write through the block: Don’t wait for the inspiration to strike. Sit down and write, even if you don’t feel motivated. Start with a simple task, such as describing a setting or writing a character’s physical appearance. Of-

ten, getting started is the hardest part, and momentum will build as you write.

Seek support and feedback: Share your work-inprogress with trusted friends, writing groups, or writing communities. Getting feedback and support from fellow writers can provide new insights and encouragement.

Remember, writer’s block is a common challenge, and it’s normal to experience it at times. Be patient with yourself and persevere through the process. With time and persistence, you can overcome writer’s block and continue making progress in your writing journey.

©Copyright 2024 Ann Aubitz for Uncaged Book Reviews www.uncagedbooks.com Published with Permission

Author and publisher Ann Aubitz has worked in the printing and publishing business for over thirty years. She has worked for some of the largest printers in the world and now works as a publisher for her own publishing company.

As a publisher, Ann wants to pull back the curtain on the publishing process. From manuscript, editing, design, printing, and marketing, publishing a book is a complex journey. But it doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. With the proper guidance, you can navigate the path successfully.

Bringing your book to life is an exciting process. As someone who has been through it many times, she is happy to share insights into transforming your manuscript into a published book. The journey involves dedication, but is rewarding. She looks forward to helping you achieve your book publishing dreams.

Sherri L.

Meg

Hafdahl

SherriL. dodd

Sherri was raised in southeast Texas. Walking barefoot most days and catching crawdads as they swan the creek beds, she had a love for all things free and natural. Her childhood ran rampant with talk of ghosts, demons, and back country folklore. This inspired her first short story for sale, about a poisonous flower that shot toxins onto children as they smelled it. Her classmate bought it for all the change in his pocket. It was not long after that her mother packed the two of them up and headed to the central coast of California. She has ping-ponged throughout the area ever since. Her first real step into writing was the non-fiction fitness book, Mom Looks Great – The Fitness Program for Moms published in 2005, and its accompanying blog. Now, transmuting the grief of her father’s passing, she has branched into Fiction, specifically a Paranormal Thriller with witchy flair! Her Murder, Tea & Crystals Trilogy released book one, Murder Under Redwood Moon, on 03-21-24.

life is changing in scary and unpredictable ways.

Welcome to Uncaged! You recently released Murder Under Redwood Moon, an occult suspense. Can you tell readers more about this book?

Murder Under Redwood Moon is book one of my Murder, Tea & Crystals Trilogy. This first story is set in the truly mystical Santa Cruz Redwoods in the small town of Boulder Creek, CA. It follows Arista Kelly, a twenty-three-year-old modern-day, Celtic-inspired, white witch living a care-free life with her pet, Royal, in a cottage owned by her quirky great aunt, who lives just down her street.

Arista’s journey in this trilogy begins with her being the upbeat optimist in an ever-growing darkness, represented in this first book by a serial killer praying on young women uncomfortably close to her circle of friends. While Arista pursues her long-time love interest, realizes her special oncoming abilities, and juggles the woes of her friends, she must also face the fact her

Overt violence and sexuality are left off page, so the work is more for a PG-13 audience … though it is not Young Adult. A bit edgier than your usual Witch Cozy, Murder Under Redwood Moon is an easy read, moves along quickly and has elements of paranormal, murder mystery, thriller, and witchcraft in a lighter sense. Reviews have been kind that the book gives the reader effective twists and keeps one engaged.

What are you working on next that you can tell us about?

Book two, Moonset on Desert Sands, will be released March 2025. And the final book of the trilogy, name to be determined, will be released late 2025.

Uncaged welcomes Sherri L. Dodd

How do you use social media as an author?

I first dabbled with Facebook in 2005 and quickly realized I did not like social media. I did not want to be rude and deny a follower, but neither did I want to share my business with them. So, I really dragged my feet on changing this mindset as I needed to bring awareness to my writing. Finally, I created an Instagram account—Solis Redhead. It is not as bad as I thought – ha!

What behind-the-scenes tidbit in your life would probably surprise your readers the most?

I have a dark sense of humor to where I laugh at inappropriate things, have a bit of a foul mouth, and read a lot of philosophy books. I am also the

wildlife wrangler of our home when my husband or our dogs come across unfamiliar or wayward critters. Most recently, I transported a juvenile rattlesnake into the far meadow.

If you could spend time with any author, living or not, who would it be and why?

Maybe Thich Nhat Hanh, because I know that the majority of time would have been spent in quiet contemplation and walking meditation in nature. I am not a big talker, and while I am better at listening, anyone I would like to research is best done through reading. To actually spend time under that narrow criterion, I’m thinking the peaceful essence of a silent Buddhist monk is best suited for my social ability and awkwardness. Though, I do type this somewhat light-heartedly, as my

closest friends know me as quite the chatterbox!

What are some things you like to do to relax when you aren’t writing or working?

I love hiking in the mountains or by a lake before the blazing sun gets too high. Or if I want to raise the intensity, I hit the exercise studio with a session of UJAM. I seldom if ever watch TV, choosing instead movies in the genres of Thriller, Paranormal (witches, vampires, ghosts, etc.), Crime, and some Fantasy/Sci-fi.

A lot of authors like music or background noise when they write. Do you like to have music/white noise, or do you prefer it to be quiet?

Music sweeps me away to relaxation or grates on my nerves during writing. Both, inconducive to an effective manuscript. I find utter silence just as intrusive. So, I like white noise—my ceiling fan or the gurgling of my fish tank, and even the intermittent singing of the birds outside my window. Together, these effects create a pleasant setting for creativity.

How would you describe yourself in one sentence or less?

Sherri is punctual, but pretty unpredictable in every other way.

What would you like to say to readers, and where can they follow you?

First, this Uncaged Ezine is a great read! So, thank you to Cyrene for her entertaining interviews and interest in Murder Under Redwood Moon.

Also, a million thanks to those who have supported the sales of my debut novel, Murder Under Redwood Moon, and to the readers who contributed to my dream of hitting #1 on Amazon in New Release and Best Seller in Occult Supernatural and Supernaturalism. I hope you find the remaining books of the Murder, Tea & Crystals Trilogy equally rewarding reads!

Stay Connected

sherridodd.com

Enjoy an excerpt from Murder Under Redwood Moon

Murder Under Redwood Moon

Sherri L. Dodd Occult Suspense

Murder Under Redwood Moon is the story of a very gifted young adult, Arista Kelly, and how she must use her gifts, with the help of her likeminded and quirky great aunt, to stop a notorious serial killer that is plaguing their mountain hamlet of Boulder Creek, California. Arista has settled quite nicely into an eclectic lifestyle, much like her former legal guardian, and still very present, Bethie. She enjoys the use of herbs and crystals to help her commune with the energy and nature around her. Usually quite satisfied with the mundane life high in the California Redwoods, that she shares with her beloved Siamese cat, Royal, life becomes unsettling when a new recurring vision as well as increased activity from the ghostly presence within her cottage invade her once-harmonious existence. But life in this mountain sanctuary takes on an even darker edge when the body of Michelle Holmes, Arista’s former classmate, is found in

a nearby river. With Michelle and other young women falling prey to a suspected serial killer, Arista realizes that the terror is getting closer to her and, quite possibly, is someone from her very own past.

Excerpt

Chapter 1 It Stings

The dim-lit room beckoned Ian from the far end of the hall. He felt claustrophobic, floating along with only the center of his view, sharp enough to proceed. The outer edges blurred to black.

As he neared, he felt a strong odor beginning to irritate his senses. He identified tobacco, cacao, sandalwood, and the resins of dragon’s blood from the southeast Asian tree that bleeds red sap. The scent was dark magic.

He entered the warm glow of the room and saw thirteen crimson and black candles dotting the space. Five of the largest dripped their wax in clumps over a distant altar. In front of it, his brother-inlaw, Fergus, busily worked on an object draped in black velvet. He tinkered with a glass vial before reaching for his ceremonial blade, then holding it upward, he chanted.

He drew nearer as Fergus lowered his athame and could smell the oil on the steel beginning to heat from the candle’s flame on the altar. Dread clutched him, and the pit of his gut drew to a knot. Now upon Fergus, he sensed the overbearing presence of his brother-in-law. He peered over his shoulder. It was a father’s worst nightmare. He watched as the blade sliced deliberately deep into his daughter’s stomach, releasing a gushing, deep red tide of her lifeblood.

An ear-piercing banshee scream, primal and agonizing, spiraled him out of his dream world. He awoke with a yell, jarring Keira, who lay asleep beside him.

“Oh, God! He’s doing blood magick on her!” He sprung out of bed and rushed down the hall

toward Arista’s room, Keira hurrying behind him while hastily fumbling with her robe sash.

“What Ian?! What is it?”

He burst into his seven-year-old daughter’s room.

“Arista!” Finding her safe, he bent down and stroked her cheek, but still distressed, he awoke her. “Riss. Honey, wake up.”

“Ian, calm down!” Keira reprimanded. “Please … what is it? What did you see?”

Arista sleepily opened her eyes. He had found it harder to awaken her these past couple of weeks.

“I’m so sorry to wake you up, Riss, but I’ve got to ask you some questions about Uncle Fergus.”

“Okay,” she said, squinting her eyes from the brightness of the hall light.

He flipped the switch on her small, yellow, sunflower-painted lamp, now bringing a spray of dimmed, warm lighting about the room.

After she tried, and failed once more to gain his attention, Keira sat at the foot of the bed and, with great concern, held on to Arista’s blanketed knee. “Riss, when you go to your uncle’s house after school, what do you do?”

Arista rubbed at her eyes.

“Does he hurt you?”

“No.”

“Has he ever talked about magick with you?”

“No.”

“What do you usually do over there?”

Arista looked scared and whimpered. “Why?”

“Honey, you’re not in trouble and I’m sorry that we are doing this so late, but it’s very, very important that you tell me the truth.”

“I am.” Her bottom lip began to quiver.

“Ian, you’re scaring her.” Keira laid down behind

Arista and draped her loving arm over her.

He softened his tone. “Riss, what do you do when you’re at uncle’s house?”

“We play board games and I fall asleep.”

“You fall asleep?”

“Yes, and play games.”

He looked at Keira. This unfolding story did not set well. He was thankful that he had acted on his gifted aunt’s recent phone call. She had alerted him to the alarming prod of her intuition and the danger that Arista faced. Now he could see that his decision to astral travel into his own dreamworld, a gift he had abandoned long ago, was correct.

“You go to sleep in the afternoon?” Keira said, asserting her first question. “You never do that here.”

“I always get sleepy during games.”

Ian’s anxiety grew. “Does he give you candies or drinks?”

“He gives me a cup of almond milk.”

The anger boiled inside of him.

“Okay.” He took a breath, trying to keep his cool, and not wanting to frighten her. “So, he’s never talked magick with you?”

“No.”

“Riss, I had a dream just a few minutes ago. I was in uncle’s house and went into his room at the end of the hallway. Do you know which room I mean?”

“Yes, but he doesn’t let me go in there.”

“You’ve never seen that room?”

“No, the door’s shut.”

Keira stroked Arista’s hair, as he feared the implications. Fergus had promised Keira he had changed back to the loving brother he once was. He was clean again, and not associating with criminals anymore.

“Riss, can I look at your tummy for just a minute?”

“Yes.”

He squatted to the floor as Arista lay down flat on her bed. Keira helped her daughter with her nightgown, pulling it up to her midriff to expose what he hoped was the flawless flesh of a child’s belly. But, as soon as the shadows of their fussing had cleared, he saw it, and clenched his jaw, holding back the rage.

“How did your tummy get hurt?” He pointed at a two-inch gauze bandage covering her abdomen. She looked down at the bandage. “I don’t know.”

“When did this happen?”

“At Uncle’s house.”

He flashed a hostile look over at Keira, who was welling up with tears.

“Do you mind if I take a quick peek?”

“Okay.”

But as he reached for it, Arista changed her mind. “No, Dad, don’t! It stings.”

Keira silently cried while stroking Arista’s hair. She wiped away her own tears that fell upon her daughter’s abdomen.

He took notice and knew the betrayal was too profound for her to bear.

“I promise to be gentle.”

Keira continued to comfort Arista as he peeled off the bandage. The sobering proof was immediate. While it was not the gaping fatal slice in his dream, an inch-long dotted scratch tainted his daughter’s precious flesh. It was still fresh, only days since Fergus had picked her up from school. Arista looked at the serrated scabbing, rimmed with reddened skin and her eyes widened with shock. “Oh, no!” She hyperventilated as the confession came forth. “When I woke up, he said I had an accident … but not show you or you would blame him and be mad.”

“Oh, please no.” Keira shook her head and lay back down behind Arista, pressing her cheek to her daughter’s head, trying to soothe her rising anxiety. “You’re safe now,” she said, squeezing Arista in a mother’s embrace.

“Like mom said, you’re safe now. We will never let him hurt you again.”

He tenderly ran his finger along the scratch. He could see faded markings from red ink, suggesting that it was to frame the cut. Still terrorized by what he had seen in his dream minutes earlier, he found solace that a true ceremonial draw had not yet occurred.

But his dreams always came to pass.

“Riss, this looks like it may have hurt. Do you remember what happened?”

“No.”

Hopefully, she truly had no recollection of the encounter.

“It looks like it had a design. Do you remember the design?”

“Not really.”

“Not really?” He looked into her eyes.

“No.”

Keira sat back up to look at the scratch. She squeezed Arista’s hand and placed her entire palm lovingly atop the wound, while desperately looking at him in desperation.

“Okay, well, I’m not mad at you, and this is not your fault. Thank you for telling me.”

Arista relax, but her look of shame remained.

“Remember! Not your fault. You hear me?”

She nodded and looked into his eyes.

“And please always tell me or your mom … or both of us … everything. Especially if you get hurt. Even if someone says that we’ll get mad. No matter who it is. ” How else could he make the point without coming across as angry with her?

Arista stayed silent, but finally after encouragement peeped out an agreement.

Disguising his coursing rage, he cupped his daughter’s cheek with his hand. “Mom’s going to give it true TLC, and put a better wrapping on it. We’ll take care of this. Okay?”

“Okay,” she whimpered.

He had mixed emotions from her trusting gaze. Of course, she could trust him, but he had failed her. He had not kept her safe from Fergus. He would never forgive himself that he let this offense befall her.

Keira hustled back from the medicine cabinet and held up bright pink medical tape, salve, and a forced smile. “Let’s put it in pink.”

Arista gave a half-hearted smile, and Keira lovingly redressed the wound.

Afterward, he apologized for the late-night distur-

SHERRI L. DODD

bance, and Keira gave the last goodnight kiss while they cozily tucked her back into bed.

But with the flip of Arista’s light switch, he knew he had a critical decision to make. As he and Keira walked back to their room, his conflicting thoughts overwhelmed him—violence, legalities, heartbreak, and regret.

A thick tension suffocated any of their small talk, and Keira plopped down on the bed in surrender. “I hate him. I’ll never … never trust him again!”

As she rubbed her crying eyes, he held his breath and paced, the fury percolating within him. What to do now?

He sat down at the edge of the mattress next to Keira and put his hand on her thigh. He simmered in the tension, the ticking of their hall clock pricking at his frayed nerves. It was not Keira’s fault. She did not know her once-beloved brother practiced the dark arts again, and especially not with Arista. Unable to find the right words, he looked at their wall photo of the beautiful Santa Cruz redwoods. It presented evergreen trees rising into the rich blue sky, a hint of serenity during this moment of fury. The framed photo had been a gift from his Aunt Bethie. It depicted the tranquil mountain region where she lived, and she had frequently encouraged them to come stay in her second small cottage down the street from her own.

“Boulder Creek,” he said, feeling the sober reality. “What?” Keira glanced up at the photo.

He looked at her, her expression a mixture of sadness and anger. However, the memory of Fergus lording over Arista on his altar swallowed his empathy. As did the harm that had befallen his innocent child, only days from her eighth birthday. He soured again. “Ian,” Keira whimpered.

He shook his head, trying to detach from the vision, but he could not. This dream carried the ultimate price if left unaddressed.

His chest heaved and he could no longer deny it.

“I’m going to f**king kill him.”

Our Savannah cat, Boo, loves to sit on my computer! He’s been doing it since he was a kitten, as seen in this picture. We have another cat named Georgie, but for some reason he doesn’t interrupt my work the way Boo does.

ELIZABETH & Eve

This is Eve, our seven-year-old rescue cat. She’s small, pretty and affectionate, but her defining characteristic is her iron-will. Eve does entirely as she pleases in life. If she wants to sit on a chair where someone else is sitting, well, she gets her way in the end. And if she

wants my attention when I’m trying to work, it’s my work that has to go on hold! Every time she walks into a room, she says ‘hello’ before issuing her instructions. She might want us to open a window so she can go outside, or she might want me to uncross my legs so she can curl up on my knee. We are her obedient servants!

MARIAH & Quinn

I am very lucky to have two pets, a two-year-old tabby cat named Toby, and one-year-old shepsky puppy named Quinn. I’d be lost without Toby’s sweetness, and Quinn never fails to lift me up with her gentle personality.

AUTHORS AND THEIR PETS

Pets and companions come in many shapes and sizes. From furry to feathered to hairy and scaley - there is a place for all of them. Authors have a special relationship with their pets - whether they remind them to get up and take a break or they inspire their writing. Meet the critters that share their love and devotion to Uncaged Feature Authors.

MEG & Muffin, Sunny & Imogen

MARGARET & Pets

Our pets find us. All our animals are rescues. Chicklet came to us over ten years ago via a crafty neighbor who waited till my triplets got off the elementary school bus, and she gave the dog to them. How could I say no? She is an elderly Jack Russel Terrier who spends most of her time in the Great Room in her bed. Daisy, the tortoiseshell cat, came from the Girl Scout leader and is around thirteen years old but acts younger. Buddy, a terrier blend, followed my son home from the mailbox around eight years ago and has been the life of the party.

KELLY & Chili & White Out

SHERRI & Royal & Wild Willy

Wallace

Royal – My lumbering Siamese with his kitten’s mew and the muse for my first book of the Murder, Tea & Crystals Trilogy—Murder Under Redwood Moon.

Wild Willy Wallace – My erratic, clumsy and highly obnoxious Snow Bengal, who is featured in book two of the Murder, Tea & Crystals Trilogy—Moonset on Desert Sands.

The cats said our dogs could not share the spotlight with them, this time.

Manny is the sweetest, gentlest dog I’ve ever had the honor to love. Like all the dachshunds I’ve had over the years, he’s smart, unwaveringly loyal, and (to add a pun) dogmatic about what he wants and when he wants it.

ARoger leslie, PH.D

s an author and speaker, Roger Leslie inspires people to live the life they dream. His prolific output of award-winning books attests to the power of taking inspiration to action. While living his own dream, he empowers both aspiring and established writers to reach their own success as their writing coach, editor, and publisher.

Uncaged welcomes Roger Leslie

Welcome back to Uncaged! Your newest book, No Stranger Christmas will release in June. Can you tell us more about this book?

My readers know that I write in numerous nonfiction and fiction genres. I love the challenge of trying something I’ve never written before. Not long ago, I felt inspired to write a Christmas novel. Like most people, I love the spirit of the holidays. The idea of adding a work to inspire readers while sharing the magic I feel during this special season delighted me. So, I dove right in and started writing. Ultimately, it became a story of family, creativity, art, self-worth, and first love.

What do you want readers to take away from this book?

We are all on a unique journey through this life. Only we can determine who we are, what we’re worth, and what we will contribute throughout our lifetime. As we struggle to figure out all those aspects of our lives, especially in our early teens, we will encounter people we resist. Those people, who at first may seem strange to us, are the magical mentors for whom we will for-

ever be grateful. They not only help us, but they also challenge us until we are no longer strangers—to them or to ourselves.

How do you use social media as an author?

I have a great publicist (Creative Edge) and marketing team (Abundantly Social) who keep me in the public eye. On social media platforms, I share interviews and reviews of my books, as well as personal stories that help me fulfill my mission to inspire and empower others.

What behind-the-scenes tidbit in your life would probably surprise your readers the most?

I am a film scholar who offers keynotes relating award-winning movies to any topic or group. In the past I’ve covered such diverse topics as Food in the Movies (Babette’s Feast is a favorite) for an exclusive “Knife and Fork Club”, Flowers in Film (think The Subject was Roses and Lilies of the Field) for a garden club, and Doctors in Drama (such as The Citadel and One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest). I have committed thousands of film facts to memory, the so Q and A’s after my presentations are espe-

cially fun and surprising.

If you could spend time with any author, living or not, who would it be and why?

I love to take virtual MasterClasses, so I feel I’ve already spent time with such authors as Margaret Atwood and Amy Tan. Among the authors whose writing inspires me and whose lives intrigue me, I would have enjoyed spending time with Isak Dinesen. In fact, I loved her so much that, when the publisher at Morgan Reynolds asked me to write a book for his World Authors Series, I wrote her biography. She created an eccentric public persona, but in private seemed deep, conflicted, and down-toearth. Especially inspiring: late in life, she suffered excruciating back pain. Yet she was so dedicated to continuing her art of storytelling that she used to lie flat on the floor and dictate stories to her secretary. That level of passion fascinates and inspires me.

What are some things you like to do to relax when you aren’t writing or working?

Like most writers, I love to read. For nonfiction, I gravitate mostly toward books that inspire or explore complex spiritual or emotional issues. For fiction, I alternate among several genres: contemporary families, historical fiction, and mystery. I love watching great movies, exercising, and assembling jigsaw puzzles.

A lot of authors like music or background noise when they write. Do you like to have music/white noise or do you prefer it to be quiet?

I like the quiet. In fact, before writing each session, I spend at least a half hour in silent meditation. My goal is always to clear all the ideas and demands running through my conscious mind to open the passageway to my creative subconscious. While I’m writing, I feel more like a stenographer than an author. When I’m fully in “the zone,” the ideas flood through me, moving my fingers along the keyboard until they don’t even feel like my own. It’s a heady, exhilarating experience.

How would you describe yourself in one sentence or less?

There may be people in this world as happy as I am, but there is no one happier.

What would you like to say to readers, and where can they follow you?

Listen to your still, small voice within. Trust it. It has all the answers you’ll ever need to lead a life of passion, promise, and fulfillment. My email subscribers can get a regular dose of inspiration. Find me and sign up at RogerLeslie.com.

Stay Connected

Enjoy an excerpt from

Stranger Christmas

No Stranger Christmas

Roger Leslie, Ph.D

LGBTQ-Family Fiction

Teased by his brothers.

Tricked by a school rival.

Tailed by a vengeful stranger.

Frankie’s Christmas Eve nativity puts him center stage. He’ll either come out on top . . . or six feet under.

While trying to save Christmas for his financially struggling family, 14-year- old Frankie Lincoln finds the courage to explore his artistry, stand up to gay discrimination, and pursue first love.

Excerpt

Frankie Lincoln longed for human touch. It seemed strange to feel so lonely already—he was only 14. But the heavy emptiness from no physical contact made him hunger for connection.

In school, Frankie’s brain stayed focused. Without much effort, he was currently the best student in 8th grade. But at home, Frankie’s thoughts wrestled with his emotions and lost. Memories that once made him happy now opened floodgates of insecurity.

One autumn, Mom kept Frankie home from first grade because of a throbbing earache. Instead of giving him aspirin and sending him to bed, she sat on the couch with him. She didn’t say anything. Frankie lay there listening to his pounding eardrum outpace the faint ticking clock nearby. To his great comfort, she rested her warm palm

on his shoulder. She didn’t squeeze it to reassure him or rub it to ease his discomfort. She just laid it there where it stayed until Frankie, feeling loved, fell asleep.

When he woke, he was alone, and his pillow was covered in dried blood. The pain and the ear pounding had stopped. He could clearly hear the clock ticking.

Frankie knew that memory should have been a happy one. His mother had touched his shoulder affectionately and his body was healing. But since that day, a feeling of emptiness darkened that memory. Could that really have been the last time his mother showed him physical affection?

Christmas of that year—it was 1967 and he was only six— Frankie got his favorite gift of all time, a Teddy Roosevelt Rough Rider doll that stood almost to his chest. While playing alone in the basement, he felt so lonely he hugged that doll. It only made him miss human touch more. Never getting hugs from Dad didn’t bother Frankie. Dad said men didn’t do that. Dad didn’t hug any of his boys. Come to think of it, Frankie never even saw his mom and dad embrace. Instead, the only physical contact Frankie experienced was temporarily painful. An unexpected punch to his shoulder, a surprising jab into his ribs—Gordy did that to both his little brothers.

In response, Mason roughhoused with Gordy. Frankie withdrew. A recent physical contact still flushed Frankie with embarrassment. Last summer Dad took Mason and him to see Peter Pan at The Bethem Drive-In. Having just turned 14, Frankie was too old for a kids’ movie. But by this time he’d decided to become a film director, so he was eager to watch—and study—any movie that came to town.

This major rerelease brought long lines of cars creeping toward the entrance. Actors dressed as Hook and Peter and Wendy and Tinkerbell greeted the carloads of people. Mason cowered in the seat

behind Dad. “Are they in the movie, Dad?”

Frankie answered for him. “These characters will be.” He wasn’t directing movies yet, but a cinema book he read from St. Francis school library taught him the terms storyboard and animation cel.

Mason didn’t understand. “But not them?”

“‘Course not, son. These are high school students wearing costumes.”

Mason crinkled his nose. “Can high school students be in movies?”

In American Cinematographer, Frankie read about a gangster musical being filmed with children playing every role. The idea accelerated Frankie’s dream of being a filmmaker.

“Yes, teenagers are sometimes in movies.” Dad opened the electric windows as Captain Hook approached.

“But not this one. We’re seeing a cartoon.”

Hook poked his head into the back seat and “arrr”ed at Mason. Frankie expected Mason to laugh. Instead, he froze. Seeing his poor little brother scared, Frankie put his arms around him. Mason jolted so hard to free himself he knocked heads with Hook. He was carrying his hat, but a thick matted wig cushioned the blow. Frankie wondered what felt so wrong in his touch that Mason would risk facing off with a hovering pirate than be touched by his brother.

“It’s okay, Mason,” the pirate lifted his eye patch. “I’m Gordy’s friend, Steve. You know me.” He turned both eyes on Frankie.

“Hey, Frankie.”

Usually, Gordy and his friends dismissed him. Steve wasbeing polite now because Gordy wasn’t here, but Dad was. Frankiedidn’t care. He liked this attention, especially from Gordy’s best- looking friend.

ROGER

LESLIE PH.D

To Frankie’s surprise, Steve extended his extra-long, cuffed sleeve to shake Frankie’s hand. Frankie’s heart leapt in anticipation of making physical contact. Frankie reached forward. With a booming laugh, Steve thrust a hook through the opening of his lace sleeve. Startled but amused, Mason giggled.

Frankie tried to hide his embarrassment by playing along. He shook hands with the hook. It was plastic.

Still grinning, Steve moved to Dad’s open window. “Hey, Mr. Lincoln.”

“Busy night,” Dad noted the long line of cars behind them.

“We’ll sell out soon. Instead of greeting those way behind you, some of us will have to turn them away.”

“As Hook, you are the bad guy. Guess you’ll get that job.”

“Lucky me.” He replaced his hat and headed to another car.

With a teasing grin, Mason formed a hook with his hand and extended it toward Frankie. Reflexively, Frankie reached to shake it.

Mason pulled away. Even his little brother laughed at him.

Kelly Florence

Kelly Florence teaches communication at Lake Superior College in Duluth, MN and is the creator of the Be a Better Communicator podcast. She received her BA in theatre from the University of MinnesotaDuluth and her MA in communicating arts from the University of Wisconsin-Superior. She has written, directed, produced, choreographed, and stage managed for dozens of productions in Minnesota including Carrie: The Musical through Rubber Chicken Theatre and Treasure Island for Wise Fool Theater. She is passionate about female representation in all media and particularly the horror genre. She is the co-author of The Science of Monsters, The Science of Women in Horror, The Science of Stephen King, The Science of Serial Killers, and The Science of Witchcraft with Meg Hafdahl. They co-host the Horror Rewind podcast and write and produce horror projects together. Kelly is repped by Stacey Kondla (Literary Agent) at The Rights Factory and Karmen Wells (TV/Film Agent) at The Rights Factory.

Meg Hafdahl

Author, screenwriter, producer, speaker, and podcaster, Meg Hafdahl is a fan and creator of horror. Her popular novel series starting with Her Dark Inheritance was published by indie press Inklings Publishing, as well as three collections of her short stories. Her work has been produced for audio performance by The Wicked Library and The Lift. She is the co-author of the Science of Horror book series including the Bram Stoker Award nominated The Science of Women in Horror. The most recent installment is the upcoming The Science of Alfred Hitchcock coming this October 2024. She is also the co-author of Travels of Terror: Strange and Spooky Spots Across America, releasing this August.

Welcome to Uncaged! Your newest book, Travels of Terror will release in September. Can you tell readers more about how this book came about?

We love to travel, and with our book events are finding ourselves in unique spots across the country. We naturally are drawn to spooky places like bookshops, speakeasies, historical cemeteries, etc. So it dawned on us that there are many readers like us who are seeking out the same sort of gothic places to visit.

What are you working on now that you can tell us about?

We’ve been pouring our hearts into our podcast and YouTube show Horror Rewind, as well as some TV projects we’ve been developing, as well as our Patreon exclusive show TV Rewind. Also, we have an exciting upcoming book tour this October.

How do you use social media as an author?

Connecting with other authors was vital in the beginning, to learn about who was out there with similar tones and styles. We love connecting with fellow horror lovers on social media, it’s a conversation we want to have, it’s fun and its a way to keep ourselves in the present moment and not stale!

What behind-the-scenes tidbit in your life would probably surprise your readers the most?

Probably that despite the fact that we are “horror girls” that we have other interests that are NOT in the typical horror purview. We are both big fans of cheesy rom-coms and sometimes we even wear bright colors!

If you could spend time with any author, living or not, who would it be and why?

After writing books on both Stephen King and Agatha Christie we grew new levels of respect for them, so we’d love to hang out with both and pick their brains! Both are (were) so prolific, they constantly wrote, that is something that inspires us, as they are

filled with stories to tell.

What are some things you like to do to relax when you aren’t writing or working?

We both are big movie fans. Kelly enjoys theater, standup-comedy, and live music. Meg is into yoga and an avid reader. We love being together, as well as with our husbands and our kids, who are all best friends!

A lot of authors like music or background noise when they write. Do you like to have music/white noise or do you prefer it to be quiet?

We both like it pretty quiet, though we do put on horror movies sometimes when we want some inspirational music or screams!

How would you describe yourself in one sentence or less?

Meg: A nerdy sassy lover of words.

Kelly: Gothic ghoul who loves what she does!

What would you like to say to readers, and where can they follow you?

Read what you like, never apologize! Find us on Spotify and YouTube Horror Rewind and we’re @HorrorRewind on Instagram

Enjoy an excerpt from No Stranger Christmas

Travels of Terror

Kelly Florence & Meg Hafdahl

Non-fiction/Tourist

Releases Sept. 10

Grab your flashlight, garlic, and ghost hunting equipment. We’re taking you on the ultimate road trip of the spookiest places around the U.S.

Horror lovers, lifelong best friends, and co-hosts of the Horror Rewind podcast, Kelly Florence and Meg Hafdahl, have traveled around the U.S. to bring you the most thrill-inducing spots for horror, history, and true crime. They’ve compiled a list of what to do, where to stay, where to eat and drink, and where to shop to make your vacation-planning a breeze.

They’ve also delved into the history and pop culture of each spot, revealing hidden gems, most notorious true crimes, women you should know, horror books and movies set in the state, and other strange facts about some of the scariest places around the nation.

Excerpt

In 2001 (before GPS), we took our first horror themed trip to Vancouver, British Columbia. Meg had moved away from the province six years earlier, so she was well aware of how robust the film industry had become in the area. Our reason for the expedition? To track down as many The X-Files sites as we could find. We had met because of our love for the sci-fi-horror TV series, and it only seemed natural to spend our first trip as besties hunting down the locations. With just a map (yup, a paper one) and the book X Marks the Spot: On Location With the X-Files by Louisa Gradnitzer and Todd Pittson, we

visited everything from a seedy bar seen in the episode “Never Again” to a cemetery where a peculiar body is exhumed in the “Pilot.”

While other tourists were enjoying the orcas at the Vancouver Aquarium and the lush greenery of Stanley Park, we were hanging around industrial buildings for a peek at where our favorite fictional FBI agents once stood. And the best part? We had found each other, two friends who cared about the same spooky things. We were both willing to tromp through a forest to feel as if at any moment a creature would claw at our ankles (cue The XFiles theme).

Our adventures have continued over the years to destinations for fun: Paris, France, which included a creepy tour of the catacombs, and on work trips like Charlotte, North Carolina, for a The Walking Dead convention to sell our books and wares. We’ve met the most interesting people who have given us tips and insight into the historical haunts and hidden gems they knew we would love.

In this book, you’ll meet our social media friends Stephanie Sousa and her daughter Kira Feliciano, who we met up with in Fall River, Massachusetts, a side trip on our quest to Salem. Being able to talk to locals of Fall River expanded on what we hoped to discover about the gothic finds in America. It puts into perspective that every city, burg, island, and corner of this country is home to darkness.

Both Kira and Stephanie recount growing up down the road from the Lizzie Borden house. As someone fixated on the Borden murders since Meg was young, it struck her how casual they are about their hometown ghoulish legend. Sure, Kira has gone there for a school trip, but she’s never spent a night in the bed and breakfast. Really, Fall River is more than Lizzie Borden to them, a lot more. It is where they had gone to school, gotten married, had children. Just like how Kelly lives near the Glensheen Mansion where famous mur-

ders occurred (read about it in our Duluth, Minnesota chapter) we all find ourselves in proximity to death. Which, sure, sounds really depressing, but is actually kind of cool when you think of all the fascinating history that comes before us. Sometimes this local history, like in Stephanie and Kira’s case, does involve ax murder.

Since our first gothic trip to Vancouver, we have devoted our careers to the complex genre that is horror, whether it be deconstructing female film tropes in our book The Science of Women in Horror (2020) or discovering what makes killers tick both in reallife and on-screen in The Science of Serial Killers (2021). We’re frightfully delighted to bring you our first travel book, sharing yet another creepy passion with those of you who walk on the dark side with us.

Read on and join us on our tour of America’s best horror spots!

Don’t miss these titles:

inspiration

Guest column by Zachary Hagen

Guest Column

Inspiration

by Zachary Hagen

Everyone always wants to know how creative people get their ideas, and the answers are as varied as there are ideas to be explored. Sometimes its stories that have already been told and are being repackaged, sometimes it’s a random grouping of words that becomes a title, and sometimes it’s a dream that woke you up with laughter or in a cold sweat. Whatever it is, inspiration is the sign an of an open mind willing to accept unearthly possibilities without a moment’s hesitation.

My series, Eternal Chronicles, was born of a love for fantasy stories, a deep abiding faith, and a struggle to tell the right kind of story that repre-

sented who I was on paper and not just a commercially packaged product. Art is meant to be beautiful and to send a certain message. Art is about saying something that direct words alone cannot. Whether it be novels, paintings, photos, movies, or pottery, art moves the human spirit like few things can because beauty and truth are transcendent.

So, then, I have a question for the journalists and curious people of the world, do you ask about what inspires us because you also hope to be inspired? Do you hope to sit in the same sacred circles in hopes that the divine will bless you with expres-

sion that needs to be put into a medium fit for human consumption? Or do you simply marvel at the origins of beauty and hope to understand it more purely?

Whatever the reason you wonder, thank you for asking. Inspiration is a swiftly moving bird that, if not captured, finds another place to roost leaving neither feather nor dropping behind. Which is why it’s best to keep a pen and paper or easy access to your phone’s notebook app handy. I have titles and ideas stored in my phone for at least ten more novels, and that means it will be quite a long time before I run out of things to do, but I do want to encourage those who think inspiration is just hovering around creatives like me. It isn’t. I get maybe one or two good book ideas every year, and the only reason I know about them after the moment is gone is because I always write down the ideas that I like. But I also want to encourage you that not everyone has to be creative in the same way. If everyone was a novelist, you wouldn’t have electricity in your house, and you wouldn’t be able to order something to your house on a computer and get it in two days or less. You probably would also not have indoor plumbing. Creativity and inspiration create utility, beauty, efficiency, and a host of other things that make life easier, better, and more enjoyable. Ask yourself, what have you added to the world or even just to your community? And if you are able to answer that question and name one or two things that you have genuinely added, then I might ask you, what inspired you to do that?

Let wonder guide you, and may every day be a chance to catch inspiration and embark on another voyage of creativity.

©Copyright 2024 Zachary Hagen for Uncaged Book Reviews www.uncagedbooks.com

Published with Permission

Zachary Hagen is a Minnesota based fantasy author and editor. He lives there with his wife, Claudia, and their dog, Flynn. When he isn’t busy writing his next book or working with an editing client, you can often find him walking around his neighborhood or hiking.

From a young age he was enthralled with the world of story. From the stories his parents read to him from his blue bedtime story books (if you know, you know) to the first two series that he read, The Chronicles of Narnia and A Series of Unfortunate Events, Zachary’s tastes continued to develop throughout his years of reading.

The influences for his first series, The Eternal Chronicles, include Christopher Paolini, J. R. R. Tolkien, C. S. Lewis, and others.

the difficulties with Sci-Fi

Guest column by James L. Hill

Guest Column

The Difficulties with Sci-Fi

By James L. Hill

The difficulties with science fiction; people think it is easy to write. Partly because it is one of the most popular genres, only eclipsed by romance. A lot of people think it is pure imagination. Anything one can dream up is great.

The truth is science fiction is quite difficult to write well. First, there are subgenres that adhere to their own rules. Along with the biological, chemical, and physical sciences that form the basis of the story, there is also a temporal component to consider.

Stories based in the past, present, or near future must be held close to the actual events and knowledge of the time. Asking readers to take a giant leap of faith into a technology heretofore unheard of is placing a tremendous burden on the writer. He will have to skillfully span the schism between the impossible and the probable.

I think of the story, The Fly. There are many reasons why that story should not work. At the time, there was limited knowledge of how DNA worked. Both in the original version with Vincent Price, and the remake with Jeff Goldblum, there are glaring problems. In the original, the man comes out of the teleporter with a fly’s head and arm. But he still had the brain of a human. Should he not have the brain of a fly also? In the remake, the man’s DNA is slowly taken over by the fly’s DNA.

In either version, the difference between the DNA of

the two species should have made the outcome immediately unviable. And we won’t even get into the technology behind the teleporter in that time of 1958. With all of its shortcomings, I loved the films. The original more than the remake.

Now, you may say, “wait a minute… Star Trek had transporters. That was only a few years later.”

And I would say, “true! But Star Trek is based hundreds of years in the future.” Writing science fiction based in the far future has its own drawbacks. Let’s concede that several centuries from now we have figured out how to deconstruct a physical object, convert it to an energy wave, transmit it to a receiver, and reconstruct it into its original form. Why would we need spaceships, or any other form of transportation? It would be simpler to place transponders throughout the galaxy and route people wherever they wanted to go. If you are thinking, “how do you get the transporter to the final destination?” You just keep transporting transponders to the farthest limits and send the next machine from there.

Which brings me to the difficulties of writing sci-fi for the distant future. Writers fail to realize human behavior will be greatly different as technology changes. Take the thinking of people from the Middle Ages to today. In 1066, anything that happened took months or years for the news and effects to be known. Armies fought on foot and horses with swords, shields, and spears. Thus, kingdoms and dynasties lasted for generations.

Today, news is instantaneous. The far side of the world is minutes away by rockets. Warriors are seldom face to face in battle. Governments rise and fall overnight. People don’t plan in terms of decades, but in days or a year.

Life is lived faster, and gratification must be immediate. Apply what is important to us now and try to imagine how our future selves would perceive it. Territory, food, energy, money, would any of it mean the same in a thousand years. Even predicting human behavior a few centuries from now is impossible. Yet that is the job of the science fiction writer.

©Copyright 2024 James L. Hill for Uncaged Book Reviews www.uncagedbooks.com Published with Permission

James

L Hill, a.k.a. J L Hill, is a native New Yorker from the South Bronx, Fort Apache, of the turbulent 60’s.

He earned a degree in computer programming,

his other love. A multi-genre author, his experiences seasoned his novels and the worlds he imagined.

James started RockHill Publishing LLC to publish his own work and give others access to the literary world.

The four-part adult urban crime series, The Killer Series, is complete. Killer With A Heart, Killer With Three Heads, Killer With Black Blood have all received five-star reviews. Killer With Ice Eyes, the final chapter of the boys from the Bronx, is available now.

He is currently working on a three-part historical fantasy Gemstone Series; The Emerald Lady is in publication to rave reviews. The Ruby Cradle and the third book, The Diamond Warrior, is coming soon.

Then there’s the psychological dystopian science fiction thriller, Pegasus: A Journey To New Eden for your reading pleasure.

feature authors

Anne Rollins

historical romance

Lynn Donovan

Elizabeth Heights

Anne Rollins

“Anne Rollins” is the pen name of children’s book author Teresa Traver. She wrote her first novel at the age of thirteen. She wrote it out by hand in a series of spiral-bound notebooks, and learned a valuable lesson: writing on a computer does not cramp your hand as much as using a pen!

Thirty years later, she now writes Regency romance and fantasy romance. As an #actuallyautistic author, her books tend to feature introverted, bookish, and neurodivergent characters.

She lives in Northern California with her family, her pets, and an enormous collection of books. She is equally a fan of Diana Wynne Jones, Jane Austen, and Patricia Wrede—authors whose writing influenced her Regency fantasy novels.

Her first novel, THE SOLITARY ROSE (2023, The Wild Rose Press), is an open door Regency romance with light fantasy elements. Her next novel, SECRETS AT SELWYN CASTLE, is a closed-door Christmas romance. As the first volume of her new Beau Monde Secrets series, it will be released by Dragonblade in August 2024. It may appeal to fans of Abigail Wilson, Mimi Matthews, or Kate Archer.

Uncaged welcomes Anne Rollins

Welcome to Uncaged! You have the first book in a new series releasing in August, called Secrets at Selwyn Castle. Can you tell readers more about the book and the series?

Secrets at Selwyn Castle started off as an attempt to write a Regency-era Christmas novella. The story grew longer as I drafted it, so the result is a short novel rather than a novella, but it still centers around a Christmas house party.

Beau Monde Secrets is a series of low-heat romances, either with kissing only or with any sexual content taking place behind a closed door. Each book in the series contains both a central romance plot and a mystery

subplot. I won’t reveal anything about the mysteries, but as far as the romance plots go, each couple has a connection to the house party from the first book. For example, book two is about one of the house guests at Selwyn Castle, named Arabella Canning, and a childhood friend of hers who urgently needs a wife.

How do you use social media as an author?

Although I started off on Twitter (and am still somewhat present there), I’m most active on Threads and Instagram these days. I use Instagram primarily for posting snippets from my works in progress, trope charts, and cover reveals. On Threads I post a lot of reading and writing-related content, plus random thoughts, interesting facts I learned through my

research, and occasional comments about parenting. Readers can also find announcements about forthcoming books on my website, although I only blog about once a month.

What behind-the-scenes tidbit in your life would probably surprise your readers the most?

Anne Rollins is my pen name, and the reason I use a pen name is because I’d already published a children’s book under my real name! I wanted to keep my romances separate from my writing for children, especially since some of my romances, unlike this series, are open-door.

If you could spend time with any author, living or not, who would it be and why?

I guess I’ll go for the great one herself, and say Jane Austen. She’d probably be a very witty conversationalist. The only problem would be that after our visit ended, I know she would make fun of me in her next letter to her sister, Cassandra!

What are some things you like to do to relax when you aren’t writing or working?

Mostly reading, especially historical romance, plus some fantasy romance and YA. I also like swimming. Summers get very hot in my part of California, so jumping in the pool provides a cool break.

A lot of authors like music or background noise when they write. Do you like to have music/white noise or do you prefer it to be quiet?

This actually varies a bit. I have ADHD and am autistic, which makes me very sensitive to sound. Too much noise keeps me from focusing. Most of the time I prefer quiet for my writing, but if my surroundings are noisy, I put on noise-canceling headphones and listen to rain or thunderstorm sounds. On rare occasions, I listen to music that matches what I’m writing. For example, I listened to a LOT of Christmas music while drafting and revising Secrets at Selwyn Castle. I like to think it helped me maintain the holiday vibes even in the middle of summer.

How would you describe yourself in one sentence or less?

I’m a bookish homebody who loves cake, cats, and cozy silences.

What would you like to say to readers, and where can they follow you?

As an English professor, I love books, and I love nineteenth-century history, literature, and culture. Writing historical romance is a great way to explore those interests outside of the classroom. I hope readers enjoy immersing themselves in a different era while they read one of my books.

Stay Connected

Enjoy an excerpt from: Secrets at Selwyn Castle

Secrets at Selwyn Castle

Anne Rollins Historical Regency

Richard Selwyn has a simple plan: throw a holiday house party to help his younger brother find a wife. Richard, having no desire to disturb his comfortable bachelor life, isn’t looking for his own match. But he didn’t expect a castle full of secrets, a jewel thief, and a kiss under the mistletoe that might very well change the course of his life.

Ivy Burnley was raised in luxury by her noble uncle and aunt, but her own parentage is so scandalous that she believes herself unfit to marry a gentleman. She arrives at Selwyn Castle intending only to help chaperone her debutante cousin during the house party. As Christmas draws nearer, winter walks, evening waltzes, and a handsome earl challenge Ivy’s resolution to stay single.

When an unknown thief steals one of Ivy’s most priceless possessions, she’ll need Richard’s help to move past the shame of her background and uncover all the secrets at Selwyn Castle.

Excerpt

CHAPTER ONE

Monday, December 18, 1815

“It’s smaller than I expected,” Ivy exclaimed when she finally caught her first glimpse of the castle. Selwyn Castle stood on a hill overlooking the river. The gravel drive leading to the castle passed over a diminutive arched stone bridge, meandered through the wooded valley surrounding the river, then climbed to the top of the hill. Because the trees obscured the road

ahead, Ivy did not get a good view of the castle until her uncle’s carriage reached the top of the hill.

She had imagined an enormous, imposing house, like Highclere Castle in Hampshire. Compared to Highclere, Selwyn Castle looked like a modest domicile. True, the front of the house boasted a high, square, crenellated tower, into which the front door led. Ivy guessed that the castle probably contained a Great Hall, a remnant of a distant past.

The rest of the house had obviously been built later. It was compact and lower than the tower— three stories high rather than four.

“It is still much larger than Rufford Manor,” her uncle pointed out. “And it is not the only estate belonging to the Earl of Inglewhite.”

Lord Rufford was a baron, but he owned only one estate, and much of his fortune was invested in trade— a thing the aristocracy frowned upon. He had married a girl from the merchant class, rather than the aristocracy, and there would always be people who looked down on Lady Rufford for her background.

Ivy’s own background was far more scandalous than her aunt’s, but no one outside the family knew the true story, and Ivy hoped to keep it that way. Lord and Lady Rufford had raised her from infancy and lavished both their affection and their worldly goods on her. The least she could do was keep from humiliating them by allowing anyone to learn the sordid tale.

“Do you think the earl’s younger brother will be there?” Rose asked. “Mr. Selwyn? I am looking forward to meeting him.”

Ivy turned her head toward her cousin and smiled, knowing perfectly well why Rose looked forward to meeting young Mr. Selwyn. They made friends in Bath last spring who knew Mr. Selwyn and sang his praises. Rose had begun building some rather foolish castles in the air about him, despite never having met him.

“I don’t know. He may be there. He may not. But I do know there will be plenty of young people. You have nothing to worry about.” Lady Rufford smiled benevolently at Rose. Then she turned her

eyes toward Ivy. “You too, my dear,” she said affectionately. “I hope you meet some young people to your liking.”

Ivy snorted. Unlike her debutante cousin, Ivy was not on the hunt for a husband. “I will be fiveand-twenty in less than a week,” she reminded her aunt. “I am a confirmed spinster.”

“Nonsense!” Lady Rufford shook her head briskly, setting her golden ringlets dancing. Her hair, much the same color as Rose’s, was only lightly touched by white. No one looking at her would guess she had a nineteen-year-old daughter. “You are a gem of a girl, and I know some gentleman will recognize that.”

“Thank you, Aunt Rufford.” Ivy smiled, not wanting to cause a quarrel. Her aunt and uncle refused to admit that Ivy would probably never marry. It was as if their affection blinded them to all the things that made her ineligible to be the wife of a gentleman. Ivy, on the other hand, had realized this before she even left the schoolroom. She accepted that her lot in life would be to comfort and support the rest of her family while trying to minimize the scandal of her birth. Since she did not share Rose’s matrimonial aspirations, Ivy did not look forward to this house party the way Rose did. Nor did she particularly care to spend three weeks away from home with strangers who might or might not make for congenial company. The house party appealed to her only in so far as it gave her a chance to explore a new part of the country. She had never been to Lancashire before. While her aunt and uncle had napped, Ivy stayed awake during most of the day’s journey in order to drink in the unfamiliar landscape.

The carriage pulled up in front of the grand entrance to the house, and a groom got down to help the ladies out. Before they could do more than look at the castle, the door opened, and a line of servants came out to receive them. At the center, in front of the door, stood a man whose dark hair had begun to silver at the temples. He stood only a little over average height for a man, but something about the set of his shoulders and

the expression on his face gave him a commanding presence.

“Ah, there’s Inglewhite,” Lord Rufford whispered. He led the way to the earl.

“Rufford! Well met!” Lord Inglewhite stepped forward to clasp Uncle Rufford’s hand. “My lady,” he added, looking at Aunt Rufford, “You don’t seem to have aged a bit since last I saw you.”

Aunt Rufford laughed. “Flatterer! A woman with a daughter of marrying age cannot pretend to be young anymore. Save your compliments for the young ladies of the party.”

Lord Inglewhite turned his head in the direction of the two younger women.

“May I present Miss Rufford and Miss Burnley?”

Lord Rufford said. “You have, of course, met my daughter, but not since she was a child, I think. Miss Burnley is her cousin and my ward.”

Rose curtseyed very prettily. Ivy followed not quite as gracefully. Her legs still felt half-asleep after hours of carriage travel. Former ward, Ivy thought, smiling to herself. Legally, Uncle Rufford had ceased to be her guardian when she turned twenty-one. But she knew that in his mind the relationship was a permanent one.

“Very pleased to meet you, ladies,” the earl said graciously. “But please, come in and warm yourselves by the fire. The day is cold.” The sharp wind gusting about the top of the hill underscored his words.

As they entered the castle, Ivy saw she had been right about the Great Hall. A small foyer led into a room with a high ceiling and an enormous fireplace that took up most of one wall. Settles and armchairs were drawn in front of the hearth, and the travelers hurried to the fire to warm up. Lord Rufford and Lord Inglewhite discussed the state of the roads and the chances of snow. Lady Rufford fussed over Rose, who caught cold easily. And Ivy, left alone for a moment, looked about the hall.

What she saw disappointed her. After her first glimpse of Selwyn Castle, she had expected medieval banners hanging on the walls, suits of armor, and other trappings of a distant past. Instead, the room had been modernized within the last century. It still boasted stone flagging rather than tiles on the floor, but it had been paneled with oak. Instead of rusty armor or fad-

ing tapestries, family portraits hung on the walls. Ivy approached one of the portraits, which showed a pair of boys standing outside with a pony. The pony caught her eye immediately. It was a round, jollylooking dappled gray, and the painter had captured a spark of mischief in its eyes. But who, she wondered, were the two boys? Both were dark haired and blue eyed, though the elder was lean and tall and the younger built on more stocky lines.

“You are interested in artwork, Miss Burnley?” While Ivy had been distracted by the painting, Lord Inglewhite had approached without her noticing. He stood behind her, a little to the left. She looked over her shoulder at him, startled. Because her uncle was a baron, she had met members of the aristocracy many times before, but conversing with an earl still made her nervous. Being only a little taller than Ivy, Lord Inglewhite did not loom over her, but there was nevertheless something imposing about his presence.

“It is not so much that I am interested in art as that I am interested in ponies,” she explained. “And then I wondered who the children were.” She liked children almost as well as ponies, but she did not want to admit that. Lord Inglewhite might think she was on the market for a husband and a family.

“Ah.” He smiled and pointed at the taller of the two boys. “That is my older brother, Robert. The previous Lord Inglewhite. And the younger boy is me, of course. This was taken before my younger brother was born, so I must have been no more than seven. The pony’s name was Ganymede.” His smile widened, showing a glimpse of straight teeth. “He was a stubborn little thing, but we loved him dearly.”

“I am sure you did.” Ivy smiled back. “I named my pony Merlin, but he was such a sweet, tame little gelding that I do not think he ever lived up to his magical name.” She thought nostalgically of the way Merlin would refuse to take fences, or to gallop, or indeed to move faster than a dignified trot, most of the time. “He is still alive, but has been put out to pasture.” His joints hurt too much for him to be ridden, even if there had been any young children in the family to ride him.

“Are you fond of riding, then?” Lord Inglewhite

asked her.

“Oh, yes,” she said at once. “I do not hunt, but I have a very sweet-tempered hack named Chanticleer. My cousin and I love to ride about the country together.” Though Rose did not like to ramble as far and wide as Ivy did, nor did she like to stay out in the sun for very long, lest she develop freckles. Ivy did not mind a few freckles.

“If the weather allows, I should show you the trail along the river,” he suggested. “The woods are still lovely, even with all the leaves fallen.”

“I would like that.” Ivy’s smile fell as she remembered, too late, that she had promised her aunt she would do her best to help chaperone Rose. “If my duties allow it. I am here mostly to chaperone my cousin, you know.”

Ivy glanced over her shoulder, looking for Rose. She found her cousin quickly, because Rose’s golden curls shone in the firelight as she talked to a young man with auburn hair—a color very close to Ivy’s own hair, in fact.

“Surely your aunt can look after her own daughter?” Lord Inglewhite sounded surprised by the arrangement.

Ivy turned her gaze back to him and shook her head. “My aunt’s health does not permit her to be as active as she likes. Since I am a spinster myself, I help chaperone my cousin.”

Aunt Rufford’s migraines often prevented her from accompanying Rose, particularly when Rose chose to walk, ride, or ramble outside. Bright sunlight sometimes triggered one of Aunt Rufford’s headaches. Over the last few years, Ivy had become used to stepping in and helping with her aunt’s duties. She hoped such assistance demonstrated her gratitude towards the relatives who had raised her.

To her surprise, Lord Inglewhite chuckled. “A spinster, are you? At your age? What are you, all of three-and-twenty?” A smile teased at the corners of his mouth, eliminating any possible offense. Ivy scowled at him. “You should never ask a lady her age, sir. But since you asked, I will be fiveand-twenty on Christmas Eve.” Not being particularly vain, she saw no reason to make a secret of

her age.

“My guess was close enough.” He shrugged his shoulders, a smile lingering at the corners of his eyes and mouth. “As I am already an old man of seven-and-thirty, you will forgive me for thinking you are still young, Miss Burnley.”

Ivy did not know what to say in response. She thought the earl wrong on two accounts. First, most gentlemen preferred younger brides, and women of the aristocracy tended to marry in their late teens or early twenties. Once a woman reached five-and-twenty, many people considered her an old maid. And Ivy did not expect to marry anyone, though her age was the least of her reasons. At the same time, she thought the earl wrong to call himself “old.” As with so many aspects of life, the standards for aging differed for men. A man of seven-and-thirty was still considered to be in the prime of his life, and many women would find Lord Inglewhite attractive, even with silvered hair. Maybe because of his silvered hair. But she could not tell Lord Inglewhite that. She did not want him to think she was trying to flirt with him. She was relieved when the housekeeper—an elderly woman dressed in black silk—approached and interrupted their conversation. “Ladies, may I show you to your rooms? You will want to dress for dinner soon.”

“We keep country hours here,” Lord Inglewhite explained to his guests. “We dine at six.”

“Then we had better hurry,” Lady Rufford agreed, and the new arrivals followed the housekeeper to their rooms.

Ivy had expected to share a room with Rose, as they often did when they traveled. But to her surprise, they were each given their own bedroom. Selwyn Castle must be bigger than it had looked at first glance if it had so many guest rooms.

“This house party is going to be so much fun!”

Rose squealed and clapped her hands with glee.

“Did you see that good-looking gentleman with auburn hair? That is Lord Francis Bracknell. He has the bluest eyes I have ever seen! He is the vic-

ar at St. John’s, in Ingleton. He says he will dine here often during the party, even though he is not staying at the castle.”

“He looked young to be a clergyman.” Ivy had not gotten a good look at him, but she thought him close to her own age. But he must be at least four-andtwenty if he were already in orders.

“Yes, this is his first living. We will get to hear him preach on Sunday!”

Privately, Ivy wondered if so young a cleric could possibly be a good preacher. No doubt he had been well educated, but had he even seen enough of life to have material for his sermons? She kept her doubts to herself, though. Rose already seemed disposed to admire Lord Francis.

They met the rest of the guests in the drawing room before dinner. Ivy quickly realized that the party was unbalanced: there were more unmarried men than unmarried women. The only girl of marrying age other than Rose was Arabella Canning, daughter of Sir Michael Canning. She was accompanied by her brother, Joshua, who looked like he might still be a university student.

The auburn-haired clergyman had a brother, too, though the two men did not much resemble each other. Lord Crowthorne was dark haired, dark eyed, and taller than Lord Francis. He seemed more reserved than his amiable younger brother, and there was a haughty cast to his expression. Ivy was not sure she liked him.

But she did like Lord Francis and Joshua Canning, both of whom sat next to her at dinner. Rose sat on the other side of Lord Francis and looked pleased with her position. Ivy half-expected to be ignored in favor of her younger cousin, but Lord Francis followed etiquette and divided his conversation evenly between his two partners.

Rather to her surprise, Ivy enjoyed her dinner table conversations. She often had difficulty conversing with strangers, but not this time. Lord Francis spoke to her of books and Christmas carols. Mr. Canning, who had visited Selwyn Castle before, talked about

ANNE ROLLINS

horses, curricles, and the best rides in the area. Both subjects interested her, and the dinner hours passed far more quickly than she would ever have imagined. In truth, Ivy had not expected to enjoy this house party very much. She was a creature of habit and would far rather have celebrated the holidays at Rufford Manor, as the family usually did. She liked being surrounded by familiar settings and familiar faces. She liked the aging vicar of St. Sebastian’s parish, even though he preached virtually the same Christmas sermon year after year. And she loved the holiday party Lord Rufford always held for his tenants. It gave her a rare chance to mingle socially with the daughters of local farmers.

At home, Ivy would know what to expect, because things had always been done the same way at Rufford Manor for as long as she could remember. She would know exactly how the goose would be seasoned, and what would be in the pudding. She could predict which songs the carolers were likely to sing when they visited the Manor. She even knew which ghost stories people were likely to tell around the hearth on Christmas Eve. All of those things, taken together, were a large part of what Christmas meant to her.

But she had no idea what to expect at Selwyn Castle. She did not know how the Selwyn family celebrated Christmas, how the cook stuffed the goose, or what songs the carolers in Lancashire might sing. She did not even know if carolers would call at the Castle. For all she knew, it might be too far from the village for people to make the trek. And she would far rather have celebrated the religious feast of Christmas at her own familiar parish. It would not be the same attending a strange church!

She went to bed that night with mixed feelings. On the one hand, she longed for her own room and her own familiar bed. Though this bed felt comfortable, it felt just strange enough to make it hard for her to sleep. On the other hand, Ivy could not deny that she’d had fun after dinner, when the guests played “Forfeits” to hilarious results. Perhaps the party would not be so bad after all.

Elizabeth heights

Elizabeth grew up in a rambling old farmhouse high on the Yorkshire moors, where a sense of history was never far away. She studied English at university, specialising in mythology and folklore and often bemoaning the lack of sword-wielding heroines. After graduating, she spent several years moving between northern France, southern Germany and London, where she worked in travel publishing and PR.

She now lives a stone’s throw from her childhood home, with her husband, children and a feisty black cat who enjoys interrupting her writing. She plots most of her novels while walking in the rugged Yorkshire countryside, finding endless inspiration in the rolling hills.

Uncaged welcomes Elizabeth Heights

Welcome to Uncaged! The first book in a new series will release on Oct. 1st, called Gambling with the Earl. Can you tell readers more about this book and the series?

Thank you so much! I’m very excited about the opportunity to speak to you about my new series of books, the Earls of the North.

The idea for Gambling with the Earl first came to me when we were on a family holiday in Northumberland a few years ago. It’s a beautifully rugged stretch of coastline, rich in history and largely unspoiled, making it easy to picture times gone-by. I was utterly entranced by the atmospheric ruins of Dunstanburgh Castle, perched high above Embleton Bay. Later in the week we drove across the causeway to Holy Island, and that’s when my imagination really began to spark. What if Dunstanburgh Castle had been built on Holy Island? How might the wild, untamed landscape imprint itself

on anyone who lived there? Thus, the idea for Rossfarne Castle – an imposing fortress which can only be reached along a narrow causeway at low tide –was born.

I’ve always enjoyed writing and reading about strong female characters. My heroine, Kitty, has faced much ill-fortune in her life so far, but she’s determined to fight to secure a bright future for her younger sister – whatever that takes. The theme of putting family first recurs in all three books in the Earls of the North series. It’s a powerful motivator which sees my characters stepping up to face all kinds of challenging situations head-on. When you have a strong heroine intent on her goals, and a powerful, privileged earl, accustomed to getting his way – surrounded by rugged and remote countryside – well, that’s when the magic happens.

Dunstanburgh Castle Ruins

How do you use social media as an author?

The best thing about social media is how it enables me to connect with readers. I love hearing about which tropes and genres people are enjoying, and in return I share extra information about the characters, scenes and settings in my books. Much of my inspiration comes from the sweeping moorland and ancient castle ruins dotted around the north of England – some of which I get to enjoy every day, and some of which are a short drive away. And anyone who follows me will also get regular updates on our rescue cat, Eve. She’s my writing buddy!

What behind-the-scenes tidbit in your life would probably surprise your readers the most?

From the bottom of my garden, you can see a dragon’s lair!

The Dragon of Wantley is more than just a local legend. It was recounted in a 17th century ballad and even made into a burlesque opera which was performed in London. The story tells of an enormous, terrifying dragon who lived on Wharncliffe Crags and regularly feasted upon local trees, buildings and people. The dragon was finally challenged by a brave knight, Moore of Moore Hall, who defeated his foe with a well-aimed kick in what proved to be the dragon’s one weak spot (his behind!)

More Hall is a real place, situated not far from us. A member of the More family was implicated in a plot against Queen Elizabeth I.

The dragon’s cave is high up on the gritstone crags which crown the steep hills on the opposite side of the valley to us. It’s difficult to get to without climbing ropes and nerves of steel, but when my children were small we regularly went dragon-hunting – on long walks through the ancient trees.

I would like to cheat and list several. But if I have to pick one, it has to be Jane Austen. I’m in awe of that fact that she completed the first draft of Pride & Prejudice when she was just 21 years old. And that most of her writing and editing was accomplished on a small table in the midst of a busy sitting room, surrounded by the hubbub of family life, knowing she could be interrupted at any moment.

I like to remind myself of this on the days when I’m juggling the demands of modern life, including teenage children, cooking and housework. At least I have a room of my own to write in – and noise-cancelling headphones.

For Jane Austen to write with such nuanced insight under those circumstances – and with quite limited life experience to draw upon – speaks of a wondrously sharp mind and uncanny skills of social observation. I would dearly love to share afternoon tea with her and just listen to what she has to say.

What are some things you like to do to relax when you aren’t writing or working?

If you could spend time with any author, living or not, who would it be and why?

I sing in a local choir and I love it! Singing is so good for your soul. Even after a difficult day, it’s impossible to feel down while you’re singing. I also enjoy long walks in the countryside. And when I can snatch enough time, I saddle up and go horse riding. I grew up with horses and my mum still keeps several on her farm, which is just up the road.

I like to bake, although I keep things studiously simple! And of course, there’s nothing better than curling up on the sofa with a good book. Those are the times I really treasure.

A lot of authors like music or background noise when they write. Do you like to have music/white noise or do you prefer it to be quiet?

I live in a house full of music! My husband plays the cornet, my eldest son plays the guitar, and my youngest son plays the piano and the flute. So peace can be in short supply around here. Honestly, I’m a bit of a pain when I’m writing. I need things to be quiet. But a couple of years ago I discovered noise cancelling headphones and this has been life-changing. I couldn’t get

by without them now.

How would you describe yourself in one sentence or less?

A multi-tasking mum who is stretched thin but still smiling!

What would you like to say to readers, and where can they follow you?

Most importantly, thank you for reading! I feel very lucky to be living my dream as a published author. It’s like waking up on Christmas morning every day – lots to do, but so exciting!

Stay Connected

Enjoy an excerpt from Gambling with the Earl

Gambline with the Earl Elizabeth Heights Renaissance Historical Romance Releases Oct. 1

1296 A.D. Kitty’s titled mother is dead. Her father - once a humble fisherman - has emptied the family coin chests seeking solace in the local alehouse and Kitty now works like a drudge in their crumbling home. All they have left is a handful of glittering gemstones - the Answick Jewels. Jewels which Kitty has set aside for her younger sister’s dowry.

When their feckless father loses the jewels in an ill-judged wager with the infamous Earl of Rossfarne, Kitty resolves to put things right. But the next morning, she learns that she too belongs to the Earl. Pushing her fears aside, she disguises herself as a servant and sets out for the castle, determined to recover the jewels and escape before her true identity is discovered. Guy has recently inherited his uncle’s title and estate - a wild, desolate castle reached only by a causeway at low tide. He was injured and robbed while serving the King in battle, and has come to Rossfarne to convalesce. Trusting no one since the theft of his hard-earned coin, he relishes the fearsome reputation reaped by the old Earl. But after months of isolation, his lonely heart quickens at the arrival of a new serving wench with an enigmatic smile and the grace of a high-born lady.

Her quest for the jewels soon brings Kitty into close contact with the battle-scarred knight, and she discovers that the Earl she once feared is actually a man of honour. But Kitty is living in his castle under false pretences, and as the attraction between them grows stronger, she must make an impossible decision. Should she confess the truth and face the shame of her father’s sordid wager? Or should she reclaim her sister’s fortune and flee?

Welcome to the Earls of the North; where the lands are wild and the Earls are in need of salvation! Each book in this series is a standalone story that can be enjoyed independently.

tives had gathered here twice a year to eat sweetmeats and try to convince the stubborn Lady Isabella to return home to Answick Castle. Back then, candlelight had sparkled in the looking glass, making everything appear bigger and brighter than it really was. Now the rug had been half-eaten by moths, and a thick layer of dust coated everything. There was no coin to spare for a fire in the grate of such a large room and so the door was usually kept closed. Only the tall, dark wood dresser remained unchanged. One cherished heirloom from her mother’s past.

With a steady hand, Kitty placed her candle on the dresser and surveyed the row of tiny drawers which nestled beneath the larger cabinet doors. Drawers for secret things, her mother had laughingly told her. If only her mother was here now, to see her prophecy brought to life.

“Are the jewels still there?” Rosalind whispered, twisting her long fingers together nervously. Her pale face was puckered with an anxious frown which Kitty longed to dispel.

“Patience, dear sister,” she admonished gently. The central drawer was smaller than the rest. You could be forgiven for not noticing it at all. Her mother had shown her how to apply just the right amount of pressure to the engraved cross on the front panel to pop it open. Kitty held her breath and steadied her trembling fingers. In another moment, they’d discover if their worst fears had been realised.

She pressed the cross, and the little drawer sprang out. She held the candle closer, struggling to make anything out in the darkness. From beyond the window came a distant shout and a roar of laughter. Rosalind flinched and drew her woollen shawl tighter over her slender shoulders.

CHAPTER ONE

Year of Our Lord 1296. A remote fishing village on the wild north-east coast of England.

Moonlight spilled through the open window, illuminating the shabby furnishings in the once beautiful parlour of Shoreston Manor. When Kitty was a child, her mother’s titled rela-

Kitty reached into the drawer and breathed a deep sigh of relief when her fingers encountered a familiar cloth bag. She traced the line of hard edges beneath the softness of the cloth, releasing a faint trace of her mother’s scent into the air. She closed her eyes and shook her head, dispelling the fancy. Mother had been dead for ten years now. Her fragrance had long since disappeared from Shoreston, along with the silver and the sweetmeats.

“They are still there,” she said, her pronouncement

echoing against the bare walls.

“Oh, thank goodness.” Rosalind clasped her hands with relief. “I knew Lizzie was wrong. Father would never be so reckless as to gamble away the last of our inheritance.” Her voice shook with the indignation of youth as she flicked back the neat braid of hair that had fallen over her shoulder.

Kitty shot her a look. Her little sister had seen fifteen summers. How could she still be so naïve? A shaft of moonlight fell on Rosalind’s upturned face. With her delicate features, fair hair and pearly skin, she was a younger, slighter version of their beautiful mother, whereas Kitty had inherited her long limbs, red hair and freckled complexion from her father’s side of the family. Years ago, the difference had bothered her. Now she had more important things to worry about.

“I’m not sure about that,” Kitty said carefully. “When Father goes to the tavern, the very devil comes upon him. There’s no telling what he might do.”

Rosalind tossed her silvery blonde head. “I know. But I don’t worry as much as you do, because I have you to worry for me.” Her unswerving loyalty made Kitty’s lips curl into a smile. Meanwhile, Rosalind stifled a yawn. “Can we go back to bed now?”

“Yes, we can,” Kitty said, closing the drawer and standing back from the dresser, disliking the way the shadows dipped and flickered around them. She wished there was some way she could secure the jewels further, but this was the best hiding place in the house, and it had served them well until now. Lizzie, one of just two remaining servants at Shoreston, was waiting for them in the hall. Her greying hair was neatly pinned under her cap, but her apron bore the stains of a long day’s work.

“Is all as it should be, miss?” she enquired, as soon as the two sisters appeared.

“All is well,” Kitty assured her, knowing how the older woman fretted. “But you did right to wake us, Lizzie, thank you.”

“I’m that glad.” The old woman put a hand on the simple cross-shaped pendant she always wore around her neck. “Alfred brought back some terrible tales from the tavern.” Her voice shook with a mix of nerves and almost feverish excitement. “He’s gone back there now to keep an eye on things.”

Rosalind stiffened and Kitty laid a comforting hand on her narrow shoulder. Kitty and Lizzie did everything they could to shield Rosalind from the hardships that had befallen Shoreston Manor. Rosalind had the choicest vegetables from their garden, along with the warmest woollens, but her bones still jutted outwards. Despite all Kitty’s hard work and efficient savings, there simply was no longer enough coin to go around. Especially when their father, Owain, was determined to gamble away everything he could get his hands on before drinking himself into a stupor every night.

“Hopefully Father will fall into a ditch and sleep off the worst of it before morning,” she said. The sentiment was harsh but deserved.

Lizzie met her eye over the flickering flame of the candle. “God willing, he will stay away tonight,” she said. “But you should know this. The menfolk of Rossfarne won’t let any harm befall the two of you. They remember your mother and the kindness she showed them when she first came here.”

Reassured, Rosalind yawned loudly, making the candlelight jump. Kitty’s own response was more complex. Her body was strong, her mind was sharp and she was still young at just twenty-two years of age. She didn’t want charity from the people of the town.

“Let’s go up.” She raised her candle to illuminate the bare wooden stairs. “Thank you again, Lizzie.” The servant bobbed into a small bow which made the corners of Kitty’s mouth twitch once again. On most days, Kitty could be found working side by side with Lizzie to scrub the floors, peel the home-grown vegetables and beat the fading rugs. She had long since abandoned the airs and graces associated with her birth. Yes, she was a blood relative of the Duke of Answick, but she was also the child of a fisherman. She had always fancied it was the lowly side of her lineage that showed the strongest.

This was why she had put away Mother’s jewels for Rosalind.

She stood back to allow her younger sister to go ahead of her up the stairs. Pretty Rosalind would not befall the same fate as she. Of that, Kitty was

determined. Her sister’s hands would stay soft and white. She would learn her lessons and make a suitable match when the time came. Mayhap not with anyone from the titled gentry, but Kitty hoped a local farmer or landowner might express an interest in the beautiful and ladylike Miss Rosalind Alden—helped, of course, with a dowry from Isabella’s jewels.

If things had been different, if Isabella had survived the difficult birth of a poor, ill-fated third child, Kitty would have hoped for more for herself. She had fond memories of a magical childhood spent riding horses and playing happily in the grounds of Shoreston. A singing tutor had come twice a week, and Kitty’s voice had been highly praised.

“A voice that could charm the birds from the trees,” her mother had teased. “A voice that will bring the suitors running.”

The very idea made Kitty snort with derision. There were certainly no suitors running to woo the oldest daughter of Owain the drunkard. No eligible young men breathing kisses over her work-roughened knuckles or whispering terms of endearment into her tousled hair as she kneaded the next day’s bread. Not that she cared. She had neither time nor yearning for love. The only thing that mattered was Rosalind.

A gust of air blew down the stairs and settled around Kitty’s neck and arms, making her shiver inside her chemise. She should have brought a shawl from their bedchamber. Shoreston Manor was crumbling, and although it was early summer, the nightly draughts streaming through the windows and roof retained the chilly sting of winter.

Tiredness clung to her bones, as she had been up at sunrise to help Lizzie feed the chickens. In a few hours it would be time to rise again, but until then she could enjoy some undisturbed rest. Her eyelids were already closing as they turned the corner into their shared bedchamber, and she started in surprise as a frantic hammering rose up from the floor below.

Rosalind gripped her arm, unsteadying the candle. “What’s this now?” Her face was tight with trepidation.

“I don’t know.” As calmly as she could, she loosened her sister’s viselike fingers and crossed the room.

“Who is it, Lizzie?”

Below she could see the older woman drawing back the bolts from the big front door. Alfred, their one remaining manservant, burst through before Lizzie had the door properly open.

“Where are they—Miss Katherine and Miss Rosalind? We don’t have long.”

“We’re up here.” Kitty took matters into her own hands, stepping onto the landing and peering over the worn, splintering banister.

“You must hide, Miss Katherine.” Alfred, a man who had worked hard all his life and was no longer young, ran a few steps up the stairs and then retreated back down. “Not up there. That’s the first place he’ll look. Lizzie, where can they hide?” he beseeched his fellow servant as he twisted his cap in his capable hands.

“In the pantry, behind the salt barrels,” Lizzie answered quickly, as if this was something she’d given previous thought to.

“Is that really necessary?” Kitty raised her eyebrows, reluctant to abandon the prospect of her warm bed.

“It’s worse than you could have ever dreamed.” Alfred dragged a hand through his wispy curls. Kitty opened her mouth to protest further, but he cut her off with a frantic shout after glancing back through the door.

“Quickly now. They’re coming.”

Rosalind appeared at her side and with one accord they joined hands and rushed down the stairs. Lizzie led them along the narrow servant’s passage and through the kitchen to a rickety door at the back. Behind this was a small, cold, stone-flagged room which housed their pickles, preserves and the big wooden barrels used for salting meat. As she ushered them into the claustrophobic space behind the barrels, Kitty heard the march of a dozen approaching footsteps and the low rumble of a carriage. She crouched down next to Rosalind and reached for her hand.

A door banged and Rosalind whimpered in fright, but Lizzie shushed her. “Not a word,” she urged. “Stay as still and as quiet as you can. Please God they won’t find you here.” She clasped her hands together in a familiar, pious entreaty.

“What do you think is happening?” Rosalind whis-

pered, as soon as the servant had retreated. Her breath was warm against Kitty’s shoulder. The darkness was absolute. Kitty imagined spiders scurrying around them, but this was no time for childish fears.

“I’ve no idea,” she said firmly, closing her mind to desperate imaginings. The sisters were so close their foreheads were touching. “But we’d better do as he asks. Alfred would never do anything to harm us.”

Rosalind silently nodded her agreement. Years earlier, Alfred had carried them on his back when their little legs had grown tired. He’d pulled them on a sledge made by his own hands and smiled at their gleeful screams when they coursed down the nearby hills covered in snow. He was as loyal and honourable as the day was long—and Kitty and Rosalind were just as devoted to him as he was to them. Just last year his arm had been cut by an axe, but with Kitty’s careful nursing, the old man had pulled through.

For a moment all was quiet, but both of them tensed as they heard their father’s unsteady voice booming through the downstairs rooms.

“Katherine, where are you?”

He was drunk, that much was obvious. His words slurred together. A door slammed shut with such force the whole house rattled.

“Katherine, come to me now.”

Her heart jumped in her chest. Why would father single her out? Rosalind was his favourite, the double of the wife he’d loved. Kitty, he treated little better than a servant. But why would he shout for either of them at such an hour?

Rosalind gripped her hand and Kitty leaned closer to her sister, reassuring her that she would not reply. Footsteps overhead announced their father had entered their bedchamber. They heard him curse when he found the room empty.

“Damnation, Katherine. Show yourself.”

He was angry now. An angry man who was accustomed to getting his way. A great clatter told them he had pulled over their woollen chest. Rosalind stifled a sob and Kitty wriggled until she could put an arm around her, hardly daring to breathe.

The footsteps retreated but sounds of smashing glass and splintering wood still reached them. Kitty put her

hands over Rosalind’s ears to protect her from it. Her father had returned from the tavern the worse for drink many times. Lately, his gambling habit had begun to spiral out of control, but thankfully they had little of value left for him to lose. Would he come to the kitchen? Whatever did he want with her?

Owain never usually ventured into the servant’s quarters. Despite his lowly birth, he held himself in too great esteem to trouble himself with the workings of the house that had been bought with coin grudgingly given by his wife’s family.

Kitty placed her forehead on her knees and breathed deeply, calming her thoughts. Her father had drunk too much ale, that was all. Most likely he wanted her to attend to a tear in his tunic or to prepare him a broth. They would sit here and wait for him to fall asleep. In the morning, all would be back to normal.

All she could hear was the frantic hammering of her own heart. The silence stretched for so long it was almost unbearable. Then came the unmistakable sound of the bolts in the front door sliding shut. Kitty couldn’t wait a second longer. She stood up, stretching her cramped limbs, and nudged open the pantry door. The kitchen was flooded with moonlight and both girls blinked until their eyes adjusted. Rosalind’s clean white chemise was smeared with dust. Kitty would have to scrub it in the morning.

“Has he gone?” Rosalind whispered, her voice high and shaking.

Kitty paused. The house felt peaceful once again. “I think so.”

She indicated for Rosalind to stay where she was and crept slowly forwards herself. They both jumped with fright as a looming male figure appeared in the kitchen doorway, but relaxed as Alfred spoke up.

“Come and see, both of you.” His voice was bone weary.

They followed the tall man and his flickering candle back down the passage and into the parlour, wincing at the cold of the floor. Kitty stopped abruptly when she saw the drawers of the dresser

standing open. The cabinet doors had been ripped from their hinges and flung across the room. Had father opened the small drawer and taken the jewels? Her body trembled with cold and worry, but Alfred was already ushering them towards the window.

“Stand here,” he insisted. “And don’t fret. Master or not, we won’t be letting Owain back in. Not tonight. Not ever.” He shook his head in disbelief.

“Everything has changed.”

Kitty looked at him searchingly, but Alfred refused to meet her eyes. He held back the heavy, mouldysmelling drapes, motioning for her to squash in beside Rosalind, before letting them fall and encasing them once again in darkness.

She frowned at the scene before her. Their usually quiet country lane was thronged with men holding lanterns and torches. The men were quiet, although their faces were set and determined. In the midst of them all stood a great, black carriage.

“The Earl of Rossfarne,” Rosalind yelped. “The carriage is his. Look at the coat of arms.”

“The Earl of Rossfarne is dead,” Kitty replied without thinking, shuddering a little at the memory of the evil man who had plagued their small village with his debauched, barbaric ways since before she was born. Tales from Rossfarne Castle could make the most hardened fisherman blanche.

“Miss Rosalind is right.” Alfred’s voice came from behind the drape. “The new Earl of Rossfarne has now taken up residence in the castle.”

“I didn’t even know he had any family,” Rosalind mused. “Still, I hope he’s a kinder man than his father was.”

Kitty frowned at her sister. Kindness didn’t come into it. The Earl of Rossfarne had been a danger to all right-thinking men and women. Especially women.

Protected as she was, it was important Rosalind was aware of such things. But Alfred spoke before Kitty could put these complicated thoughts into words.

“Not his father, his uncle,” he corrected her gently.

“The new earl is his nephew. And he has not yet demonstrated any kindness or leniency,” he added

with a break in his voice.

“What’s Father doing?” Rosalind interrupted. Kitty pressed forward until her breath clouded the glass. Owain was walking unsteadily up their front path towards the carriage. He staggered from side to side, but not one of the watching men extended a hand to help him. As he reached the carriage, the door swung silently open and Kitty flinched backwards as a shaft of moonlight fell upon the outline of a tall, muscular man. She caught sight of a chiselled jawline and gleaming dark eyes, before Owain held up a small cloth bag with shaking arms and all the blood drained out of her body.

“Mother’s jewels,” she whispered, the awful reality hitting her.

“Your mother’s jewels,” Alfred repeated steadily. “He lost them in a game of dice.”

“To the Earl of Rossfarne?” Kitty’s mouth was as dry as sand.

“That isn’t the worst of it,” Alfred mumbled, but Kitty wasn’t listening. What could be worse than the loss of their inheritance and Rosalind’s best chance of a future?

Owain handed over the cloth bag and anger unfurled in Kitty’s chest as the Earl slowly inspected its contents. What did a man as rich as he need with their mother’s precious jewels? He would most likely forget he had them by morning.

An unfamiliar voice, low and masculine, spoke from the carriage. “Is that all of them?” His words were clear despite the distance. It was a voice of authority, accustomed to giving commands. A voice which sent shivers down her spine.

“Every last one, my lord.” Owain ducked into a half bow and Kitty heard a great roaring sound in her ears, as if the sea was crashing upon the rocks in a mighty storm. Her vision blurred and she had to grip the drapes with white-knuckled fingers to stay upright. The next part of the conversation was lost to her, but she saw Owain hold his hands up as if in apology and the earl sniff contemptuously.

“By morning, I swear to it,” her father was saying when she tuned back in.

The earl motioned him away. “No matter.” The door swung closed and after a second, the carriage rolled

back down the lane.

“What did he mean?” Rosalind asked breathlessly. Kitty’s head was pounding so much she feared she might fall over. “We’ve lost the jewels,” she croaked. It was all she could think of.

“The men are forming a circle around Father.” Her sister wriggled free of the heavy drape, pulling it away from Kitty in the process, but there was no cause for secrecy now. “Alfred, what’s happening?” Rosalind persisted.

“Owain is being escorted out of Rossfarne.” Alfred folded his arms across his once muscular chest, shifting from one foot to another with uncharacteristic nerves. “If he goes peacefully, he won’t be harmed.”

Kitty watched dully as the crowd of men gathered behind her father, their lanterns bobbing in the darkness. Slowly but surely, they urged him forwards, away from his house and his daughters and anyone he could harm further. Not a word was spoken, not even by Owain. Maybe even he knew that this time he had gone too far?

“Father’s really going,” Rosalind said. Her voice was faint with disbelief and Kitty reached for her hand, unable to offer any other form of reassurance.

The glow of yellow light from the assembled lanterns grew dim and distant. The carriage had long disappeared out of sight and the events of the night felt unreal, like a bad dream. Like a cool glass of water might clear their heads and make it all go away. But Kitty knew this was a dream they would never wake up from.

Silence enveloped them. Rosalind stood as if frozen and Alfred waited, his head bowed respectfully. Kitty allowed her knees to buckle. She slid down the wall until she was sitting on the hard wooden floor. Coldness settled into her bones as the last of her hope drained away.

“Father’s really gone,” she confirmed, hardly caring of the fact. “And worst of all, so have the jewels.”

Anthony Rebuck

The Most Unusual Pet and Her Favorite Dream Childrens

What will one do to get what she wants? In the new picture book A Most Unusual Pet and Her Favorite Dream, author Anthony Rebuck shares a beautiful story of how a little joey will do anything and everything to get some of the best honey in the world. With vivid and colorful illustrations across the pages, this children’s fable will surely be a great reading companion for parents and children during their bonding time.

Young readers will meet Little Skippy, a baby kangaroo from Australia, who has a lot of friends and loves to play. But what she loves the most in this world is honey. She often wonders where she can find the best honey. A friend told her that the best honey in the world is made from Guatemala. At night, she dreams of going there and getting some of that honey. When she has finally saved enough money to travel, she is very happy and buys a ticket for her long trip to Guatemala. But upon arriving in Guatemala, she feels sad because all the honey had been sold out, bought by people from all over the world. What will Skippy do? Will she go back to Australia empty-handed or will she continue her journey to find the best honey? Readers will find out in the pages of this charming picture book.

A Doctor’s Torah Thoughts Sports and the Torah

Breathing Poison: Smoking, Pollution, and Fires

Readers can also check out his other books: A Doctor’s Torah Thoughts, where he recaptured some of the talks he gave at a Synagogue in Singapore; Sports and the Torah, where he combined stories from the Old Testament with his other main interest: sports; and Breathing Poison: Smoking, Pollution, and Fires, where he gives an eye-opener on the prevailing triple threat in the air to human health and well-being.

His books are available online and can be purchased at online bookstores and author’s website. anthonyrebuck.com

A Doctor’s Torah Thoughts

During the years in which we lived and worked in Singapore, it was the Rabbi’s practice to invite members of the congregation to say a few words during the meal at the end of the Sabbath. The Synagogue in Singapore is Sephardic, so having an Ashkenazi visitor such as myself who was willing to take part in the custom was quite a novelty for the congregation.

I am no Torah expert, but the combination of my British Commonwealth accent, enjoyment of story telling and tendency to lateral thinking, nudged me into becoming the regular speaker at the ‘third meal’ on Saturday afternoons.

I have tried in this little book, to recapture some of the talks I gave during my happy years with the community in Singapore.

A Doctor’s Torah Thoughts

Anthony Rebuck, a retired Professor of Medicine, combines

stories from the Old Testament with his other main interest, being a sports fan.

Breathing Poison: Smoking, Pollution and Fires

There is a triple threat in the air to human health and well-being. First, we are going to see an increase in tobacco-attributable deaths as more and more people smoke. Much of this mortality, as well as crippling chronic lung disease, can be prevented if smokers stop smoking.

Secondly, additional suffering, disability and premature death from lung disease can be prevented if pollution Asian pollution being the worst in the world - can be reduced.

And lastly, the coughing, wheezing and attacks of bronchitis caused by the uniquely Asian problem of the haze would be eliminated if the illegal practice of slash & burn is prohibited.

Dr. Anthony Rebuck was born in London, England. He is married with four children and eight grandchildren. He attended Sydney University Medical School, Australia and graduated with First Class Honors and awarded University Medal. He was appointed Professor of Medicine, University of Toronto, Canada and won as Best Teacher in Medical Faculty. He practised Respiratory Medicine at the Toronto Lung Clinic and retired from University and joined Pharmaceutical Industry in Philadelphia, in charge of clinical development of Respiratory and Diabetes medicines. He was posted to Singapore for many years directing clinical research in Asian countries. After retiring again, has been busy consulting on Clinical Research projects, writing and Masters Swimming.

BeatriceFairbankscayzer

Beatrice Fairbanks Cayzer comes from an illustrious family. Her two ancestors who came to Upper Virginia in 1620 helped found their community. She founded the Cayzer Museum for Children in England where she was the wife of Stanley Cayzer, a grandson of Sir Charles Cayzer, founder of shipping companies that evolved into Caledonia Investments, and nephew of Admiral Lord Jellicoe, the second Governor General of New Zealand. Then she turned into writing.

In Oxfordshire, she wrote The Princes and the Princesses of Wales. In Guernsey, she wrote The Royal World of Animals. Returning to the USA, she wrote nine Rick Harrow novels, winning Book of the Year Award from the Horseracing Writers’ Association. In 2016, she had a sell out with The Secret Diary of Mrs. John Quincy Adams and in 2018 had another sell out with New Tales of Palm Beach.

Kidnapped in Jerusalem

Beatrice Fairbanks Cayzer

Psycological Fiction

Dennis McLeary, sexually abused at age 6. At 18, he accepts sexual advances of a 14 year-old girl hoping to prove to himself that he is a normal man. Jailed for 17 years for having sex with the under-age girl, he is abused in prison by fellow inmates and the prison chaplain. Free at 35, he determines to better himself and hopes to have a normal marriage. Ensnared in a messy event, he escapes more prison time by becoming a waiter on a passenger-freighter. He gets leave from his ship to swim in Turkish waters, where he meets and falls in love with Myriam alMontee, a half-Turkish half-Saudi Arabian Muslim woman. Instant adora-tion is reciprocated. Myriam elopes with Dennis, they are married by his ship’s captain. Myriam does not tell Dennis that her fanatical father, who hopes to use her to found his dynasty, is known to behead any person showing fondness for her. When three women are beheaded at her father’s orders, she warns Den-

nis, he could be next.

They hide from her father in Alexandria and in Cairo, but are located by her fa-ther’s agents in Jerusalem. Kidnapped, Myriam is brought to her father in Saudi Arabia. He orders her locked in a cell-like room in a desert house where recently a cousin has starved to death. After three months, she get help and relieved by Alf, an Oil field worker. He tries to rape her. Dennis, agonizing for her, would travel any where including to a country where they would behead him in order to reach Myriam. They find each other near a famous oasis in time to stop Alf from raping Myriam. But fate holds more vicious challenges.

Reviews ~ ~ Ladybella ~

~

“After reading this manuscript, I can say that

I fell in love with Louisa Adams. She was a strong individual whose life story needed to be told. Louisa Adams made an impact. I couldn’t put the book down. A must read.”

I have never been to Morocco until reading this BOOK. What a wonderful trip it took me through. The mysterious possibilities that the characters of this story endure are nail-biting. This is truly a masterpiece that will enthrall all mystery and vampire fans. I highly recomend reading this masterpiece. I loved it.

~ ~ Samira Sowan ~ ~

“The author Beatrice succeeded to keep the reader thrilled to read every page in her book and to take us through the journey of the unique character of Louise and live the era of the 1700 and 1800.in such a fascinating way. I definitely enjoyed every page in this compelling story. A must read..” ~

~ ~ VIV ~ ~

“Reader observes as main personages meet the ups and downs that bruise those on the top level yet took to heart the enormous wrongs done to slaves in America and went into battle”

THE HARROW QUARTET takes the reader to many unusual places because the narrator Rick Harrow is a racehorse trainer, and a trainer has to bring his horses to the most likely tracks to win. The reader goes to Dubai, Russia’s St. Petersburg, romantic villages in Italy, tycoon homes and estates of the newly rich in Spain, and the wilds of Mexico’s most inaccesssble mountains as well as to its over-crowded and

dangerous capital city.The characters vary from a Chechen terrorist to Milan’s exquisite models, to the wild west drug lords of today’s Mexico.

~ ~ Anthony Roberts ~ ~

Inspiring story of a great lady.

~ ~ garbonzo ~ ~

Here is another installment from Beatrice Cayzer’s fabulous series featuring Happy and Rick Harrow. Travel with them as the traipse across the globe from one extravagant horse exhibition to the next, and finding trouble wherever they go. Cayzer’s prose is filled with vibrant imagery, plenty of action, and enough hanky-panky to make a sailor blush. These stories are great fun, and will have you coming back for more. Fans of any of the modern detective series found on BBC/PBS will feel right at home. Don’t be surprised if these adventures are turned into their own small-screen production. Enjoy!

~ ~ Cathryn Elwyn ~ ~

It’s not every day that jockeying, an estate in the British countryside, and a complication involving the president of Russia figure in one story, but best-selling author Beatrice Fairbanks Cayzer is nothing if unpredictable. Deaths, conspiracies, and . . . a threat to beloved Happy’s life? This has got to be BFC’s best yet.

~ ~ Brett Virgo ~ ~

I just finished reading this wonderful book. I was so hooked I could not put it down. I highly recomend this Murder Mystery. It will not disappoint. Each chapter draws you in, that you have to keep on reading. I am eager to see what BF Cayzer will come up with next.

~ ~ DEE ~ ~

Murder by Medicine is a deliciously delightful book that reminds everyone of how wonderful London can be, during the Season. The descriptive scenes take you there with intrigue and GLAMOUR! Horses, men and murder are an intoxicating read in the hands of B. F. Cayzer. Without a doubt, Murder by Medicine is one of the best books that I have read. It is a perfect gift for any stylish acquaintance or be wickedly selfish and keep it all to yourself!

~ ~ Cathy ~ ~

If you like murder mysteries, this is a great book to read. It brings you into the horse people who have their own ideas of life. It travels from Ethiopia to England with fast paced action. Do read.

Lynn donovan

Lynn Donovan is an author, playwright, and director who spends her days chasing her muses trying to get them to behave long enough to write their stories. The results are over 100 published books, 1 play, multi-author series, anthologies, and short stories.

Lynn enjoys reading and writing all kinds of fiction, paranormal, speculative, contemporary romance, and time travel. But you never know what her muses will come up with for a story, so you could see a novel under any given genre. All that can be said is to keep your eyes open because these muses are not sitting still for long!

Oops, there they go again…

Welcome to Uncaged! Your newest book will release on September 19th, called Liam’s New Bride, part of the Mountain Men and Mail-Order Brides series. Can you tell readers more about this book and the series?

Mountain Men & Mail-Order Brides Series

What happens when a mail-order bride shows up on the doorstep of a mountain man’s cabin? Who will suffer rejection? Who will gain redemption? These fated, possibly star-crossed lovers will soon find out!

Liam’s New Bride

In the majestic Colorado Rockies of 1875, where faith, courage, and unexpected friendship bloom amidst nature’s grand canvas.

Liam Fletcher, a former logger seeking solitude, has retreated to the mountains to heal from his troubled past. His quiet existence is disrupted when an unconscious stranger arrives at his cabin door during an unseason-

Abigail Steele, a young widow with unwavering spirit, has carved out an independent life in the unforgiving wilderness. But when nature’s fury leaves her fighting for survival, she finds herself dependent on the kindness of a stranger.

As Liam tends to Abigail’s recovery, these two lonely souls discover a connection that runs deeper than the mountain roots. Can they overcome their fear of hurt and learn to trust again? Will their budding friendship weather the storms of frontier life and personal doubts?

Set against the awe-inspiring backdrop of God’s creation, this heartwarming tale reminds us that with faith, hope, and a little bit of courage, even the most guarded hearts can find a place to call home. A clean, uplifting story of friendship, faith, and the healing power of love in the American West.

Uncaged welcomes Lynn Donovan

able blizzard.

You also are releasing a new holiday themed book, called A Home for Christmas in November. Can you tell us more about this book and the series it falls under?

Of course, the series is called Confederate Widows, Spinsters, and Proxy Brides.

Southern grace meets Western grit, and love becomes the greatest gift of all.

Join these Southern Belles on a Christmas journey to bridge the North and the South. Pasts fade and futures ignite amidst prairie snowflakes under western skies. Before each love story can unfold, the bride and groom are wed by proxy—having never met. Wounded souls find redemption in the bitter winter winds, and love’s embrace is the gift that warms their hearts. Find tales of hope, healing, and holiday joy as these Southern Belles, left alone by the war’s harsh realities, navigate cultural differences to forge new lives wed to their western, Yankee grooms. Will every heart discover the true spirit of Christmas and defy expectations? Fall in love right along with every star-crossed couple when you immerse yourself in each of these sweet holiday romances today!

A Home for Christmas

In the aftermath of the Civil War, Poppy Thackray’s world lies in tatters. Widowed and burdened by whispered scandals, she’s forced to leave behind the remnants of her life in Shreveport, Louisiana. Her destination? Snow-covered Chug Water, Wyoming, as a proxy bride to a stranger.

Jonathan Josh MacKenzie, a former Union soldier, finds himself at Swan Land & Cattle Company, drawn by promises of good pay and a fresh start. But to keep his position, he must take a wife he’s never met – just in time for Christmas.

As winter’s chill settles over the Wyoming plains, Poppy and Jonathan cautiously begin their life together. Can two hearts, scarred by war and loss, find warmth in each other’s company? When buried truths about Poppy’s late husband come to light, will it destroy their fragile bond or be the founda-

tion of something beautiful?

“A Home for Christmas” is a heartwarming tale of healing, honor, and the unexpected gift of love. Fans of clean, inspirational historical western romance will be captivated by this installment in the Confederate Widows, Spinsters, & Proxy Brides series. Join Poppy and Jonathan as they discover that sometimes, the greatest Christmas miracle is a second chance at happiness.

How do you use social media as an author?

I use social media to connect with my readers and new readers.I ask readers’ opinions and incorporate their ideas and suggestions into my stories. I announce new books or up-coming publications. It’s where I announce my book signing locations so readers can come find me

to put a face to a name, and get signed paperbacks.

What behind-the-scenes tidbit in your life would probably surprise your readers the most?

I am a wife, mother to 4 grown kids (my oldest son died from cancer), grandmother (GiGi) to 12 kiddos. I am guardian to my special needs sister, LeeAnn, who was born blind and deaf and mentally limited. She lives with me and my husband. To fill my empty nest, I have 5 mini dachshunds, 2 border collies, 15 chickens, and 3 ducks. I garden, crochet, and write books. I have published over 120 books on Amazon and have another dozen on the drawing board. I love to camp, and travel. My dream retirement would be to travel the united states in an RV and write while my husband drives me all over.

If you could spend time with any author, living or not, who would it be and why?

ONLY ONE? I think JK Rowling would be so cool to hang out with, us both having been single moms and writers, we would have a lot to talk about. And I LOVE the Harry Potter series!

BUT I’d also love to hang out with Steven King and his whole family! They are so creative! Emily Christie might be a hoot to visit with or have a proper tea with!

What are some things you like to do to relax when you aren’t writing or working?

I rest by binge-watch a Netflix, Disney+, or Amazon Prime series. We just finished “Port Protection.” So now, we’re looking for another series to watch. I love rom com movies, comedies, and some action. We recently watched one of the “Reacher” shows.

A lot of authors like music or background noise when they write. Do you like to have music/white noise or do you prefer it to be quiet?

I prefer silence. If I play anything, I use white noise recordings, or instrumentals, no voices singing words. I find that too distracting.

How would you describe yourself in one sentence or less?

I am a creative person who loves God, my family, writing, animals, and nature.

What would you like to say to readers, and where can they follow you?

My hope is to give a person a moment of entertainment and to escape whatever life might be throwing at them prior to sitting down to read a story I have written. I like to write the unexpected and hopefully keep you guessing until the very end. I want you to laugh, and cry and when you finish the book, I hope you feel a sense of missing the characters because

they had become a friend while you were reading about them.

Stay Connected

Enjoy an excerpt from Liam’s New Bride

Liam’s New Bride

Lynn Donovan Historical Western Romance Releases Sept. 19

In the untamed wilderness of 1875 Colorado, two souls scarred by their pasts find an unexpected connection.

Liam Fletcher, a former logger turned recluse, has built a solitary life in the mountains, fleeing the ghosts of his traumatic past. His self-imposed isolation is shattered when a snowstorm brings an unconscious stranger to his doorstep.

Abigail Steele, widowed and fiercely independent, has carved out a life for herself in the unforgiving Rockies. But when a freak August blizzard leaves her fighting for survival, she collapses at the threshold of the one place she thought she’d never need - another person’s home.

As Liam reluctantly nurses Abigail back to health, these two lone wolves must confront their

fears of human connection. Can they lower their guards and heal their wounded hearts? Or will the harsh realities of mountain life and their own dark pasts drive them apart?

Set against the breathtaking backdrop of the Colorado Rockies, this tale of survival, redemption, and unexpected love reminds us that even in the wildest places, the human heart can find a home.

Excerpt

Black Mountains, Colorado, 1875

Scrape! Thump!

Bobber lifted his head from his paws to stare at the door. A low growl rumbled in the back of his throat. Liam also lifted his head from the intricate task he had been focused on to look toward the noise outside. Tying a section of a feather onto a fishing hook to create the appearance of a bug had occupied his entire day. Originally, he had intended on a fishing trip at the nearby creek. Something about those clouds made him change his plans. He was right. An unexpected and extremely early snowstorm blew in with a vengeful force. He’d never seen a snowstorm like this in August. Switching to spending his time indoors tying flies seemed like a comparable consolation. “What is it, boy?” he said to his dog. He listened.

This storm was unusual, to say the least, but an animal scrounging around outside his cabin in the middle of it was even more unusual. What else could have made that noise?

He rose. His dog planted all four paws firmly on the floor and barked. Liam stepped to the window beside the door, and looked into the nothing-but-white just beyond the glass panes. This storm was unbelievably bad, just yesterday the temperatures were warm enough to go out in an undershirt and no coat. Not even the green Ponderosa Pines that stood a few feet from his cabin were visible.

Slowly, he pulled open the door, just a crack, in case a bewildered bear or a befuddled wolf had wondered to his cabin by mistake. Even animals could get lost

when these out-of-the-blue snowstorms hit as suddenly as this one had. Tilting his head and squinting his eyes against the blast of frigid wind that shoved through the slight opening, he looked at a dark form on the ground.

Liam gasped. It was a boy! Laying face down at his threshold.

“Oh God, no!” Liam squawked as he thoughtlessly, leapt into the knee deep snow. Wearing only his socks and a flannel shirt with denim britches, he shivered instantly. Leaning over the boy, he checked for life. “Hey! Fella! You alive?” He said to the too still form. “Buddy? Wake up.” He shook the boy’s shoulders. The body was not frozen solid, yet. Liam felt the boy’s flesh give slightly beneath his touch when he pressed his fingers into the boy’s neck, searching for a pulse. He was alive, barely. But for how long?

Liam scooped two hands full of the boy’s thin quilted coat and dragged him by the shoulders into his cabin. He was covered with snow that had fallen on him in the short time he had laid at Liam’s door, and that which blew in while he had his door open. He kicked the door shut and pulled until the body laid on the braided rug in front of the blazing stone hearth. Snow melted into the rug around the body as Liam brushed as much off as he could. The boy’s clothes were soaking wet for the same reason, thanks to the heat from the hearth.

He rubbed the boy’s arms and legs vigorously, trying to revive him. Rolling him over, he looked closely into the boy’s face. His eyes were frozen shut with clumps of ice from tears that sealed them closed. His lips were bluish-purple and his skin wasn’t much different from his lips. He looked fair and delicate. Young. Where had he come from? Boys who grew up out here in the Black Mountains were seasoned, tougher than what this adolescent appeared to be. Liam gently patted his cheek. “Hey! Come on. Wake up. You’re safe now.”

He put two more split logs into the fireplace, to warm up the cabin even more. And looked at the boy’s thin coat. What was he thinking, going out in a blizzard with such a light coat.

Or did this storm catch him by surprise? Liam tugged at the coat’s buttons. “We need to get

these wet clothes off of you.”

He looked in the trunk where he folded and stored his own clothes. They would be too big for this kid, but they’d be dry and warm. He lifted the lid and dug down to the bottom. He had some clothes he no longer wore from before he swung an ax for the Andersons Brothers Logging Company. They would come closer to fitting this boy than any of his recent garments.

Liam tried to be gentle as he pulled off the coat, and unbuttoned the red and black plaid flannel shirt. Rolling him from side to side, the way he’d seen Momma do when she cared for an elder in Grand Platte, Nebraska as they lay dying.

Momma couldn’t tolerate anyone leaving this world alone, and had become the person who sat with those who had no family, tending to their final needs before they passed. Momma was such a good soul.

A pang of guilt squeezed Liam’s heart. His momma didn’t deserve the cruel way she left this earth. Liam pursed his lips, hard, and focused on the task at hand— saving this boy from death. This poor fellow was soaked to the bone. His breath seemed shallow. He was holding on to life by a thread. If Liam didn’t get these wet clothes off and put dry clothes on him, he’d succumb to the frigid temperatures and never warm up enough to survive. Removing the damp flannel shirt, Liam pulled at the equally wet white undershirt, prepared to lift it over the boy’s head.

He stopped.

His fingers brushed against something soft, unexpected, delicate. He jerked back. Stunned as if his fingers had touched boiling hot water.

Puzzled, he gently peeked at what was under the undershirt to see the edge of a blue satin ribbon woven through a strip of delicate lace attached to the hem of what looked a lot like his momma’s and little sister’s small clothes.

His momma had hung them with their bloomers between Daddy’s and his shirts so the whole world couldn’t see their intimate apparel. Liam had seen them on occasion when he was keeping his little sister away from the wash-tub fire as Momma had

Liam stared at the delicate under thing, his movements frozen, as his mind struggled to comprehend what he was seeing. Why would this boy be wearing women’s underthings? Slowly he let his eyes wash over the boy’s torso. In an instant, the truth crashed over him like snow sliding from the roof on a warm day. This was not a boy! He scrambled back as if he had seen a venomous snake and sprang to his feet, staggering backward from the unconscious body. This was a girl!

Bobber licked her cheek. “Get back, Bobber!”

Liam shoved his dog back from her. Bobber sat with a huff, refusing to back off any more than where he now sat.

Liam looked again at her face. She was young, but full grown none the less. Jamming his fingers into his hair, his mind reeled. What should he do? He couldn’t undress a woman! But he had to get her out of the melted snow-drenched things before she died. In these unforgiving mountains, the lethal combination of wet and cold could claim a life faster than a bear, or a mountain lion, or hunger.

His heart hammered hard against his ribs. His mind spun in several directions. She was dying! He had to help her! He couldn’t undress a woman! Why was she dressed like a boy? Why had she come to his door?

Anger swelled in his gut. Why was this happening to him? Was this God’s way of punishing him for what happened to his family and the woman he was supposed to vow his life to protect?

No! None of that was the important issue! He shook his head. The real problem at hand was what should he do now? There wasn’t anybody to witness him taking her clothes off and putting his own clothes on her.

The wind pounded against the window panes, as if to urge him to hurry and help this woman to live. But… it was inappropriate. He shouldn’t see a woman naked until their wedding night, and there wasn’t going to be a wedding night. He shouldn’t have even seen what he saw. He’d

already gone too far. Momma would be appalled he had removed so many layers of her clothes already. No, Momma would have help her, no matter what it took to save her. He sucked in a deep gulp of air and held his breath. Diverting his eyes, he pulled off the wet chemise. She was most definitely a full-grown woman! He tried not to see, but it was inevitable when the under garment came completely off.

As quickly and respectfully as he could, Liam dressed her in his old undershirt, averting his eyes as he gently guided her limp arms through the sleeves. He then carefully buttoned his old flannel shirt on her. Keeping his movements efficient and purposeful, he removed her boots and set them by the fire to dry.

Next he pulled off her socks and gently eased down the wet britches. Wiping his sweat-moist brow, he swallowed. Under the cotton long handles, he could see yet another heart-stopping fact.

Saving her life became even more critical.

Carefully removing the snow saturated cotton long handles, he quickly did everything in reverse to get his old long handles on her, his old britches, and a pair of warm wool socks.

“Forgive me,” he sighed.

Not sure if he meant it for her or God, he rocked back on his heels.

As he suspected, the clothes were too large, but they were dry. The fire could do what it was intended and warm her now.

If anyone knew what he had just done, he would be forced to stand in front of a reverend and take his vows to love, honor, and respect, until death did they part. Would they live happily ever after?

He didn’t deserve to be happily married after what happened to Angela and his family.

“Uhh,” the boy… Liam shook his head to correct his thought. The woman… groaned. “Wh-where am I?” Liam staggered back. “You collapsed at my door. I brought you inside.”

Her eyes fluttered open, struggling with melting ice clinging to her lashes and stinging her eyes. She rubbed at them, wincing with the pain. “What happened?”

“How would I know?” Liam sounded like an idiot. He cleared his throat. “I don’t know, you just collapsed at my door and I dragged you inside. That’s all I know.”

The guilt of what he did know evident in his tone. He was never good at lying.

She struggled to sit up, yanking the bucket hat from her head. Lures hooked in the brim, clinked against his wood floor as her golden hair cascaded down around her shoulders. Liam rushed to her side. “Look, you needed to get out of those wet clothes. I was afraid you’d die even though I had this warm fire. So…” He looked down at the clothes he had put on her. She followed his line of vision and looked down, too. Her eyes widened. “These aren’t my clothes?”

“No, ma’am. They are some old things I had. They’re too big, but better than freezing to death in the wet things you were wearing.”

“You…” She swallowed. It looked as though it hurt. “You did this?”

Liam stiffened. “I had to get you out of those wet things.”

She squinted at him as if her eyes couldn’t quite focus on him. “Do I know you?”

“No, ma’am,” he said. “I’m Liam Fletcher. This is my cabin.”

She swallowed and winced. Touching her fingers to her throat, she struggled to clear it.

Liam yanked down a cup and filled it with coffee he had hung near the hearth to heat. “Here, drink this.”

She took the cup and sipped the content. Licking her lips, she blinked as her gaze seemed to focus better on him. “Where am I, exactly?”

“You’re in my cabin. I’m Liam Fletcher. This is the Black Mountains, not far from the town of Guffey.”

She stared at him quizzically. Did she not understand?

Tilting her head, she opened her mouth and darted her eyes to the window. “I live in the Black Mountains, not far from Guffey. How… how come I don’t know you?”

Liam shrugged. “I don’t go to town much.”

She made a sound that might have been a soft giggle.

“Yeah, neither do I.”

Bobber approached her. She turned as if seeing the dog for the first time. She smiled. “Oh, you have a dog?”

“Yes ma’am,” he swallowed, “and you’re with child.”

Don’t miss this title:

A Home for Christmas

Lynn Donovan

Historical Western Holiday Romance

Releases Nov. 6

In the aftermath of the Civil War, Poppy Thackray’s world lies in tatters. Widowed and burdened by whispered scandals, she’s forced to leave behind the remnants of her life in Shreveport, Louisiana. Her destination? Snowcovered Chug Water, Wyoming, as a proxy bride to a stranger.

Jonathan Josh MacKenzie, a former Union soldier, finds himself at Swan Land & Cattle Company, drawn by promises of good pay and a fresh start. But to keep his position, he must take a wife he’s never met – just in time for Christmas.

As winter’s chill settles over the Wyoming plains, Poppy and Jonathan cautiously begin their life together. Can two hearts, scarred by war and loss, find warmth in each other’s company? When buried truths about Poppy’s late husband come to light, will it destroy their fragile bond or be the foundation of something beautiful?

“A Home for Christmas” is a heartwarming tale of healing, honor, and the unexpected gift of love. Fans of clean, inspirational Historical Western Romance will be captivated by this installment in the Confederate Widows, Spinsters, & Proxy Brides series. Join Poppy and Jonathan as they discover that sometimes, the greatest Christmas miracle is a second chance at happiness.

The case of the missing ciabatta rolls

Guest column by Kim Lengling

Guest Column

The Case of The Missing Ciabatta Rolls

By Kim Lengling

It was one of those days. I was running late for work and hurriedly said goodbye to Dexter, my mischievous, newly adopted, and anxious dog. The first few days on his own, I would return home to find his dog food and water bowl overturned. So, I was not surprised to walk in and see the same scenario on this particular day, but one thing was different. A crime scene unfolded in the middle of the kitchen floor. Once full, a bag of Ciabatta rolls lay torn open with one roll left. Looking for Dexter, I spotted him in the corner of the dining room, head drooping in guilt and his eyes avoiding mine. It was a classic case of a bread heist with Dexter as the prime suspect.

“Dexter, what did you do?”

I knew it was my fault for leaving food on the counter, especially with a newly adopted dog. I couldn’t feel angry with him. Instead, I picked up the bag with the remaining roll and assured Dexter he was not in trouble. But I was mentally preparing myself to have a sick dog later in the evening.

Little did I know Dexter had not eaten the rolls but had hidden them throughout the house.

It became clear as I sat on the couch later that evening. Dexter had hopped up and was digging at one of the cushions. “Dexter, No. You’re going to ruin the cushion.” With persistence, he kept digging. Realizing something was in there, I put my hand between the cushions and, low and behold! A Ciabatta roll!

Amused, I couldn’t help but laugh. “You’ve hidden them? Okay, it looks like I am going on a Ciabatta Roll hunt. Do you want to show me where you’ve hidden the rest?” I asked, half expecting a response. Thinking a game was about to begin, Dexter looked at me with bright eyes and tail wagging, but no answer to my question was forthcoming.

With determination, I began the hunt. Staying in the living room, I checked the recliner—another roll, hidden under the seat cushion. I scoured the room, seeing something sticking out of the dirt in one of my potted plants. Yep! Another roll, half buried in the pot. And yet another roll was found beneath the dog bed. That is four of the five missing Ciabatta rolls accounted for.

After going through the house and being unable to find the last roll, I assumed he had eaten at least one.

I kept a close eye on him throughout the evening. He seemed fine, with no signs of a tummy ache. I decided to chalk this day up as a learning experience. I’m sure many pet owners have learned this lesson over time!

As the day ended, I went through my nighttime routine and crawled into bed. Trying to get comfortable, I felt something under my pillow. You guessed it. The final Ciabatta roll! All five are now accounted for. I couldn’t help but chuckle at the absurdity of the situation.

After a quick cleanup of crumbs, I crawled back into bed, thinking aloud, “It’s certainly going to be interesting living with this dog!”

As the days passed, I was cautious not to leave food on the counter. I had learned my lesson! Or had I?

Another day and another hurried morning. Returning home from work, I found an empty bread loaf pan in the middle of the kitchen floor. Once again, Dexter is sitting in a corner of the dining room, head hanging low.

“Dexter, what in the world! How did you reach that?”

An entire loaf of banana bread, which I had baked that morning, was missing. Shaking my head, I resigned myself to finding a mess and again began the hunt for hidden baked goods.

The search did not last long. Between the couch cushions, I found the loaf of banana bread. I was impressed— the loaf was intact, with hardly a mess to clean!

Have I learned my lesson about leaving bread products

on the counter? Will Dexter overcome his need to hide baked goods? Only time will tell. But one thing is certain: life with this dog will be an adventure!

©Copyright 2024 Kim Lengling for Uncaged Book Reviews www.uncagedbooks.com Published with Permission

Kim is a multi-published author, writer, podcast host of Let Fear Bounce, and TV show host of The Write Stuff, The Authors Voice with the Believe In Your Dreams TV Network.

In addition, she is an active speaker sharing her story of being a female veteran living with PTSD and spreading a message of Hope. She regularly speaks for local veteran and women’s organizations in her hometown area and across numerous global organizations.

She has been writing and speaking with empathy and emotion since 2004 showcasing her faith, nature, love of rescue animals, and advocacy for

veterans living with PTSD. She showcases her writing through her books, business, and website; www.kimlenglingauthor.com.

She is the lead author and coordinator of a collaborative 3-book anthology series titled When Grace Found Me. In addition, she is a published co-author in seven anthologies and numerous print and online global newspapers and magazines.

Kim sees each day as an opportunity to spread hope and encouragement, for, without hope, life would be a dark place.

“The world can be a dark place. So I choose to toss nuggets of hope out into the world like confetti; little sparks of light in the darkness.”

Uncaged Reviews

The Mountain Dark Kathryn Le Veque Medieval Romance

Will love win out over his sense of duty?

Kress de Rhydian is a man on a mission.

The second Executioner Knight is given a very important directive –William Marshal is determined to make a match between a Welsh princess and a great marcher lord. With King John having recently married his daughter to the last Prince of Gwynedd, the Marshal seeks to balance that power with a strategic marriage of his own.

Uncaged Review: In this book about the Executioner Knights, Kress along with Achilles and Alexander are tasked with taking Cadelyn, a pure Welsh princess to the Paladin, the de Shera stronghold to be wed to the Earl, Tatius. Mountain Dark is a Fortress in Wales, the match made to secure an alliance and to balance power in the region. But Cadelyn has been raised English, and has no knowledge of the Welsh people, only that she’s been protected by William Marshall her whole life. The Knights have been tasked with securing her protection until the marriage has been secured. What they didn’t count on, was the emotions she brings up with Kress.

This book has action, suspense, betrayal and dark secrets, and last but not least - love, all the ingredients for a Le Veque novel, and it will keep the reader flipping pages to find out what happens next. This book captivated me from the very beginning and held my attention throughout the book. If you like medieval romance, you can’t go wrong with this author. Amazing read. Reviewed by Cyrene

West of Jaws

Capes

Romantic Fantasy

Helisent West of Jaws is a powerful witch with a penchant for combative shouting and hoarding brandy. Then there’s Samson 714 Afador, an uptight (possibly brooding) wolf who’s in line to lead Velm as its Male Alpha one day. When the pair meet in a seedy tavern in a city named Luz, it’s clear they have little in common.

Uncaged Review: This book takes you on a journey to a magical land called Miera. Here there are the nymphs, wolves and witches. The world building is decent although it took me awhile to get a good handle on it. The wolves and witches were at war during the War Years, but there has been a truce of sorts, however shaky that may be. Helisent is a powerful witch who strikes a deal with Samson, a wolf prince, to find someone called Oko.

This book was very slow to start, although it was interesting. But the book didn’t grab hold of me until the last part of the book. This is not an action-packed book, but it is interesting. The author does a good job with the plot and the romance, but there are some triggers that the author warns before the first chapter. The glossary in the back was a great touch and helps with the understanding of a lot of the book and the characters. Does end on a cliffhanger.

Reviewed by Cyrene

Forever Her Marquess

Scarlott Scott Historical Regency

Lady Clementine Hammond may be polite society’s most notorious matchmaker, but she’s perfectly happy remaining unattached herself. A series of unfortunate missteps at a country house party, however, leaves her with no choice but to feign an engagement to the last man in all England she’d ever want to marry—the annoyingly handsome Marquess of Dorset.

Uncaged Review: This is a fun historical regency, with the setting a house party. Lady Clementine fancies herself a matchmaker, having successfully seen to several matches. One of those matches took a lady away from the Marquess of Dorset, Ambrose – who is looking for a lady with a nice sized dowry. But fate intervenes for these two, and the two sworn enemies will need to come to an agreement and along the way they will find they don’t hate each other as much as they thought…

Bees going up dresses, teetering on library ladders, picking locks…all the fun is here. Ambrose is a charming rake and Lady Clementine is a strong woman, and between the two, there are some steamy moments and fun moments as they work toward their HEA. An easy, fun read from this series. Reviewed by Cyrene

Trevor’s Redemption

Amber Daulton Romantic Suspense

The danger and lies are more than she can handle. Shea O’Bannon feels like a fifth wheel around her romantically paired-off friends, but there’s too much slime in the dating pool for her to bother with it. Then she sees her two-timing ex, Trevor Madero, serenading the mostly female crowd at a live-music bar. God knows trouble follows him around, but her desire for him rushes back in anyway. After he rescues her from a handsy drunk, temptation takes over.

Uncaged Review: This book starts us off with Shea meeting a slimy co-worker for drinks, and in the meantime, sees her ex cheating boyfriend on stage. After ditching the slimeball, he tries to take advantage of her outside the club, and her ex, Trevor, comes to the rescue. There is still a lot of attraction between Trevor and Shea, and a lot of secrets. Trevor is going to have to come clean, and it will be up to Shea and how much she will be able to deal with about Trevor’s life.

This is a nicely paced story, with a second chance romance. I think that Trevor could have been a stronger character but the story and plot really get moving after the halfway point. Even though this book is part of a series, I had no issues keeping up with it. Reviewed by Cyrene

Uncaged Reviews

Riptide Antonia Church Contemporary Romance

Nevada Noble has left behind a boring boyfriend and a suffocating family in the midwest to start a new life in Florida. Trading snow boots for sunglasses and socks for flip-flops, Neve instantly falls in love with the surf and the sand.

Uncaged Review: This book would rival any soap opera or reality housewives show. Nevada moves from boring Iowa to a rich seaside town in Florida. This town has a few core families that are always at each other’s throats, but they also have a lot of secrets. Think of the old show Dynasty meets Knot’s Landing meets The Young and the Restless. And if a family member is shamed, they are sent to live in Old Mat, the slum side of town.

A lot of secrets are revealed, but a lot of new questions leave the reader at the end. This is a good summer romance read, with all the twists and turns this town and its people take, it will keep you guessing where everything is going. Neve seems to be in a bit of a pickle at the end of this, and does leave on a bit of a cliffhanger.

Reviewed by Cyrene

Andrew Evans YA Fantasy

When a young couple take a coastal holiday to celebrate with their new baby, they hope to return home with happy memories. Now, it seems they may not return at all. For they have crossed the line into an alternate reality, one which has been taken over by a malevolent and totalitarian sorcerer.

Uncaged Review: This is an interesting book but is really tough to read. The grammatical errors are so frequent that it threw me out of the story and was a huge distraction. The short choppy sentences and paragraphs were sometimes repetitive, sometimes confusing, sometimes not even needed. The timeline and the world building need a lot of tightening, I’m a strong reader in the fantasy genre, and this book has a lot of potential. The storyline is the normal good vs. evil, but the idea is original and fresh, just needs a fresh set of eyes in a good editor and proofreader.

In this world Ruth and James and their young baby daughter, Ramona, take a vacation to a secluded area, unknown to them that it’s a gateway to another realm, or timeline. When they are on their way home, they are in an accident and James goes off to find help. That’s when all the strange things start happening. If you can get through the first part of the book, you’ll find a good story. Just needs a little help. Reviewed by Cyrene

Ramona in the Realms

Cruel Lessons

Randy Overbeck Mystery/Suspense

On a school camping trip, fifth graders experiment with a dangerous new hallucinogen and die in a horrific accident, their deaths shattering the quiet town. Assistant Superintendent Ken Parks, hoping to redeem a fatal mistake from his past, grasps the opportunity to conduct the district investigation of how students are getting the drugs. Almost before he begins, the cops make a stunning arrest. But Parks battles on, convinced the real pusher is still out there, poisoning more kids until he receives an anonymous threat: if he continues, those close to him will pay. Is Parks willing to risk those he loves for a chance at redemption?

Uncaged Review: This book starts out with the death of four middle grade students due to a hallucinogenic drug that comes in the form of a temporary tattoo on a sticker. Ken Parks is an assistant superintendent of the school district and is tasked to get to the bottom of the deaths to keep the school from taking a major hit.

This book is well written with many layers to this suspense and the author does a good job keeping the reader swaying one way, only to have that opinion thrown out later on with the unexpected plot twists. The story was a tad slow for me in spots but with enough suspects to keep me guessing, and at times I was way off in my guessing, which is unusual for me in a mystery. If you like good mysteries, this one will be worth a look. Reviewed by Cyrene

Starless

Kathryn Le Veque

Medieval Historical Romance

These Executioner Knights are in for a world of trouble…

Achilles de Dere is a stubborn knight prone to fighting - anywhere, anytime. If there is a punch to be thrown, it’s usually from Achilles. When he first met Susanna de Tiegh, the sparks flew – and not in a good way.

Uncaged Review: This book focuses on the third of the Unholy Trinity, Achilles along with the warrior woman we met in Mountain Dark, Susanna. Susanna is a warrior herself, trained at the prestigious Blackchurch and also an agent for William Marshal, and when they first met, there was a lot of animosity between them, even to the point of them physically fighting. But after Susanna is wounded in a skirmish, Achilles dotes on her and takes care of her…and we see the tides changing in how he feels about her. This is not a drawn out love affair, within the first ¼ of the book, they are together. But Achilles and Alexander leave Susanna with her brother Samuel at his keep to heal and promises to return for her. But Susanna learns the dire truth of what has happened in the time she’s been away, and it’s not good.

This book is full of action, a great romance for the ages, and the danger that threatens not only Achilles and Susanna, but Samuel and Alexander as well. The meaning of the title is perfect for this book and the epilogue wraps it up beautifully. Reviewed by Cyrene

Uncaged Reviews

The Holy Man’s Sinner

T.M. Smith

Paranormal Romance

IThe Sinner

Elisabeta is a vampire party girl. But when the revolvingdoor males, the dangerous craving for blood, and the indiscriminate sexual encounters no longer make her happy, she looks for something more in life. What she finds is surprising.

Uncaged Review: In modern day Scath, female partygirl vampire, Elisabeta, was tired of her life. Elisabeta used to enjoy dancing in bars from Covenkirk to Stake House. Nothing would bring her happiness. So Elisabeta portals herself to Strigodierna Shrine. While Elisabeta sits there contemplating her messy life, she meets Nelo, a vampire Cruor monk. Nelo’s answer to Elisabeta’s woebegone state is hard work. So even though Elisabeta attempts to seduce Nelo, he tasks her with taking care of orphans. Nelo isn’t immune to Elisabeta’s charm either and passionately hungers for her as well. As Elisabeta slowly heals from her self-destructive behavior, she becomes closer to Nelo, but their love is not something that should have even taken place, especially when there is something that wants to come between them.

I just absolutely adore these quick, hotter than hot, steamy paranormal romances! Okay, yes, there isn’t much to them because they are so short. At least there is a charming little tale told exceptionally well in there, despite it being a novella! These stories are quick, dirty and fast but still leave you feeling wonderfully naughty, but in a good way! Will you need to read the other books in the series to understand what is going on? There is enough background though to understand what is going on. Just do not expect a lot of characterizations. It still is a complete book that will leave you remarkably satisfied. I think there is a lot more to both Elisabeta and Nelo, but it really doesn’t say. Do I miss a longer story? No, not really, because this had everything I love! An exceptional little story told quite well with incredibly flawed characters and panty-melting sex that is a bit forbidden yet oh so satisfying. I look forward to any book, whether it be a novel or a novella by Ms. T.M. Smith! Reviewed by Roslynn Ernst

The Rapper’s Groupie

T.M. Smith

Paranormal Romance

The Rapper

D Monz is a rap icon on two realms—Earth and Scath. When threatening hate mail pours in, the Firebrands send aid.

The Groupie

Celie isn’t really a groupie. She’s a witch warrior who gets off on the wrong foot with the rapper when she’s sent to protect him.

Uncaged Review: In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, front-man rapper extraordinaire and animus demon, D Monz would play to screaming crowds that loved his music. As D Monz went backstage to relax. D Monz used to enjoy the panty tossing and females wanting to sleep with him. No more D Monz couldn’t care less and is pretty tired of all that. When Firebrand witch, Celie Myers, becomes D Monz’s bodyguard, she loves his music but is not really star-struck by his glamorous music persona. D Monz might be living a charmed life, yet someone also wants him dead. D Monz keeps getting threatening letters to end his life. D Monz isn’t the least bit scared, but others in the band and even Celie are worried about him. Despite being a demon, someone could really end up hurting him. Celie’s goal and plan is to protect D Monz without falling for him by sleeping with him or die trying.

Book four in the Bood Coven Series and, of course, I am fully invested in the series after reading the first three. Out of all of them, this one is another one I just really can’t resist! This book could even have been a full-length story without any problems because of the mystery and suspense elements, but it works well as a short story too. Maybe if it was turned into a movie, it would not only be totally watchable but engaging enough to extend it if needed. The book still isn’t lacking for a rapid adventure and some dirty, sexy shenanigans that definitely made me smile. D Monz is your typical musician yet still manages to have a heart and Celie, the tougher than nails witch, is still likable too. Ms. T.M. Smith just knows how to make an interesting tale that will definitely keep me reading her stories no matter what they may be! Reviewed by Roslynn Ernst

A Time of End

Kathryn Le Veque Medieval Romance

The Executioner Knights are back! Alexander de Sherrington seeks to marry a daughter of the great Christopher de Lohr (Rise of the Defender). But not if King John has anything to say about it!

Alexander de Sherrington, the man affectionately referred to as ‘Sherry’ by his friends, is off on the greatest adventure of his life… and his target is Lady Christin de Lohr.

Uncaged Review: Kathryn Le Veque is a master at medieval romance and even though you can read these books as standalones, I tend to read series in order because of my attachment to the characters. As I get to know the main characters in each book, I’m also getting to know some of the secondary characters that will get their own story and the ones from previous books that come back as a supporting cast. This is something that attracts me to a series and keeps me coming back for more. This book centers on Sherry, one of the executioner knights that likes to work alone but could be one of the deadliest of the group and Christin, the eldest daughter of Christopher de Lohr. Unknown to Christopher, his daughter has been an agent for William Marshal for 2 years, and she is known as The Ghost.

This is probably one of the funniest books I’ve read from this author and there were a couple times I laughed out loud and I actually stayed up way past normal, having to get to the end. Action, danger and a corrupt King round out this group, along with the returning characters and Alexander de Sherrington and Christin will have to battle their way to their HEA in more ways than one, and it’s a great time getting there. This book deserves more than 5 Stars. Reviewed by Cyrene

Memories Made at Midnight Collette Cameron Historical Regency

A perilous journey ignites passion between an artist and an heiress

Cassius Westbrook, the youngest twin son of a duke, has no desire to bask in the societal privileges his birth affords him. Choosing the arduous path of an artist in Brighton over the complications of love and marriage, he dedicates his enthusiasm to his artwork instead of romance.

Uncaged Review: A great read by Collette Cameron, who never ceases to entertain. I was attached to the characters almost at once, with Beatrice living under the rule of her awful Uncle, waiting on the time she can get her inheritance. But her Uncle is scheming, and hires Cassius to paint a miniature so he can find her a husband. Cassius sees how Beatrice is treated, and during one of their sessions, she confides in Cassius about her inheritance. Cassius’ family has ties to the solicitors that Beatrice’s family uses, so he asks his family to look into it. That’s when the book takes a dangerous turn, when Cassius tells Beatrice the truth about her inheritance and Uncle.

There is plenty of danger, and two people who vowed not to love, find that they can’t stop their hearts. All Beatrice wants is to take care of her pets, and Cassius vows not to love again after being dumped in the past. But through all the danger, they find that love won’t stop, and they will need to fight their way to a HEA. And the epilogue is a great touch. Reviewed by Cyrene

Uncaged Reviews

A Deal with a Duke Tammy

Andresen Historical Regency

He’s a surly duke. She’s a sensitive artist.

The two should never mix except he’s also...her brother’s best friend.

Which is the ONLY reason the Duke of Upton agrees

Uncaged Review: When we first meet these characters, they couldn’t be more opposite than they are. Rath is very unlikeable, and Anna is a creative artist, but very meek. When her brother wants Rath to take her out to his country estate, because of the danger of some mob-like people trying to get to the family because of their gaming hells, Anna and Rath are not happy about it.

What I really loved about this book, is we watch the transformation of not just Rath, but also of Anna. The anger and pain of Rath’s past will begin to lighten, and Anna will finally come into her own as we watch the love slowly blossom between these two. Anna shows Rath there is hope in the future and Rath shows Anna how to be braver and bolder. There is danger, romance and laughter along the way, and this easily sits high on my list of loved books from this author. Reviewed by Cyrene

Her Wicked Rogue

Scarlett Scott

Historical Regency

Archer Tierney has devoted his life to becoming one of the most powerful men in London. He’s cutthroat and merciless to anyone who crosses him and ruthless in his determination to always maintain the upper hand over friends and foes alike.

Uncaged Review: . I hadn’t read any other book in this series, and I didn’t have a problem with following along. I may have been better attached to Archer if I had, but I grew to like him well enough. As for Stasia, I thought she was a little too high-brow for Archer in the first part of the book. It took awhile for me to warm up to her and only after reading her sacrifices, but she never really got over her “stiffness” to me.. This is a very original storyline, and in this book, there is sizzling romance, danger, deception and secrecy. Stasia will sacrifice almost everything for her people, including an arranged marriage and risking her life to find her exiled brother.

During this book, I felt both characters grew and the reader can feel the love they had for each other. I did feel that the ending was a bit rushed, and it could have been a bit more fleshed out, but overall, this was a nice read. I’m very interested in the secondary characters, so I’ll be hunting down a couple more of this series.

Reviewed by Cyrene

Murder Under Redwood Moon

Sherri L. Dodd

Occult Mystery

At the age of eight, Arista Kelly was frantically swept up by her parents and whisked off to an isolated town in the California redwoods. Two days later, her parents were gone. Now at the age of twenty-three, she has settled quite nicely into an eclectic lifestyle, much like her great aunt, and guardian since childhood, Bethie.

Uncaged Review: This is good cozy mystery dealing with witches, both the witches that practice “no harm to others” and the ones that are practicing dark magic. Arista is living a quiet life working with her herbs and crystals, happy with being close to nature. As she starts having a recurring vision, things start to go a bit dangerous. When young women are turning up dead, Arista feels the danger may be coming after her.

This is a good suspense, and you will see Arista coming into her own in this book and she will learn the secrets about herself and her life as we go. The suspense is very twisted and hard to pin down if you’re like me and try to guess, and the blending of the mystery with the supernatural is well done. There is a nice glossary in the back to help with any of the witch lingo you may not get right away. A bit slow to start, but it does get moving when you get halfway in.

Reviewed by Cyrene

Big Demon Energy

Deborah Wilde Urban Fantasy

She’s just a demon, standing in front of a vampire, trying not to punch him.

Aviva Fleischer hides a dangerous secret. She’s carefully concealing her infernal heritage, a.k.a. Cherry Bomb. Maybe it’s weird naming her demon side and referring to her in the third person, but guys do the same with their junk, and unlike most of them, Avi isn’t deluded about Cherry’s prowess.

Uncaged Review: A great start to a new series and all the sarcastic snark and humor that is known from this author is back. Aviva is a half demon, half human operative for the supernatural investigators for the Bureau known as Maccabees. She’s level 2 and to get the promotion to Level 3, one of the highest she can go, she’ll need to work with a group that is tracking down a serial killer. On top of it all, she’ll have to work with the man that tore her heart in two, a Prime vampire named Ezra. In this world, vampires are known but policed differently. Aviva’s half demon side is a huge secret, as most people believe that the demons are pure evil. Keeping her demon (Cherry Bomb she’s been named) hidden is a protection she must use. Only 2 people know of her demon side, her mother who is the head of the Bureau and her ex, Ezra.

This is touted as an enemies-to-lovers book, but there isn’t much in the line of romance in this book but there is plenty of action and danger, and a good suspense running. The side characters are amazing, and I’m looking forward to book 2.

Reviewed by Cyrene

Uncaged Reviews

Demon

on Deck

Deborah Wilde Urban Fantasy

When Aviva lands a baffling murder investigation, she discovers that the key to solving the crime lies in the last place she expects—a deadly magic gaming hall aboard a freaking yacht. Because why solve a supernatural murder on nice solid ground?

Uncaged Review: The second book in this series has Ezra joining the team once again, but this time Darsh is the lead. Trying to find out what happened to Calista, who besides Ezra, is a Prime vampire (meaning they were born vampire, not turned) and not too many Primes exist, if any. Aviva finds herself on the wrong side of a master Demon, Delacroix, and to keep herself from being wiped out, she will have to do his bidding along with still maintaining her secret of being half demon.

There is still a lot of snark and sarcasm and the funny moments this author is known for.

There are some great action scenes and some moments where I thought Aviva and Ezra would come back together, but what I am really struggling with is how the author is keeping these two enemies for so long. They have a few good moments, but then it’s back to enemies. I’ll continue on with the next book because I’m invested in the characters at this point, but it will be up to book 3 to see if I’ll finish this series out.

Reviewed by Cyrene

Red Wolf’s Prize Regan Walker Medieval Romance

HE WOULD NOT BE DENIED

HIS PRIZE Sir Renaud de Pierrepont, the Norman knight known as the Red Wolf for the beast he slayed with his bare hands, hoped to gain lands with his sword. A year after the Conquest, King William rewards his favored knight with Talisand, the lands of an English thegn slain at Hastings, and orders him to wed Lady Serena, the heiress that goes with them.

Uncaged Review: Renaud aka the Red Wolf, is granted not only the lands of Talisand, but also Lady Serena, the daughter of the thegn who was killed in battle for him to wed. But Lady Serena only wants to escape from the Norman warriors who are going to take over her beloved home. Unfortunately she is caught and has to go in disguise as a servant to hide from her fate as a bride to this warrior.

This is so well written and the research has been outstanding that is a trademark of this author. I can’t tell you how many times I had to touch on a word for the Kindle library to give me the meaning. Serena is a fierce advocate for her people, and there is plenty of action and romance, so this enemies-to-lovers trope works well. I always appreciate the epilogue at the end, and I actually had to switch Kindles to keep reading (way past my bedtime mind you) as I drained the first one. The author also gives us a real history lesson in the back of the book about this time and how she worked her magic on this story.

Reviewed by Cyrene

Ember Paula Quinn Fantasy Romance

Millionaire Garion Gold is the last Drakkon alive on earth, but he doesn’t have to be. His blood holds the power to transform at will or alter any descendant of the ancients. He doesn’t have to live his life alone, hiding from those who seek his blood, secluded in a villa in the mountains of Norway. He can rule the sky with his kind, but the cost to humans is too high. So he remains a man, alone in the clouds, giving up flight and fire for a nobler purpose. He’s suspended in both worlds, belonging to neither, an outcast with a price on his head that has cost others their lives. Never again.

Uncaged Review: Helena watched her family be torched by a Gold Drakkon, and all her life she’s been training as part The Bane, the group of people wanting to kill the last remaining Drakkon, but the reasons are not as they seem. When Helena finally finds him, he’s nothing like she thought he would be and resisting him will be hard. When the truth comes out of what happened and why The Bane want the Gold Drakkon, Garion, is not as she’s been led to believe her whole life. Her brother Jacob and her will be in grave danger.

There was a lot of action, romance, murder and mystery in this book, and the book goes at a good pace. I did feel a little let down at the end, it seemed like a strange place to end the book. I felt it should have had one more chapter or an epilogue, but it sort of left me hanging. Not a cliffhanger by any means, but maybe I just wanted things tied up with a nice bow. This is a great read in the fantasy romance genre.

Reviewed by Cyrene

Werecats Emergent

Mark J. Nichols

Shifter Suspense

Afflicted, exploited, and deadly…

Teenaged Pawly discovers her secret werecat heritage after unexpectedly morphing one Halloween night. Desperate to find an outlet for her and her twin brother’s growing bloodlust before they go feral, Pawly’s blended human-werecat family begs a Chicago-area drug cartel for help.

Uncaged Review: This is a thriller that is more horror than most of the shifter type books out there. There is no romanticizing the shifters in this story, this is a complex thriller that actually runs on two different POVs. Pawly is a teenager dealing with the “Affliction” of turning into a werecat, part of the family curse. She first finds out about her heritage when a rival hockey team jumps them (her and her brother Tommy) on their way home one night and Pawly turns. In this book you will find suspense, mafia and international spies. There is a lot going on in the book, and there are a lot of characters to keep track of. I would have liked to see a few less, as a few times I had to reread passages as the POVs would flip.

All in all, this is a good thriller with a lot of action that is a good page turner and for those looking for more of the shifters in a darker setting, this may work. Reviewed by Cyrene

Uncaged Reviews

From Brick & Darkness

J.L. Sullivan

YA Fantasy

Bax always fantasized something remarkable would happen in his life. So when a decrepit man with glowing purple eyes offers him a ring intended for his estranged father, Bax accepts.

The ring speaks to Bax in a dream, tempting him with a vision of a powerful djinn. Desperate to make his fantasies a reality, Bax unleashes a creature called Ifrit, but soon learns this djinn isn’t what the ring led him to believe.

Uncaged Review: A great story with a great message. Bax is from a single parent home, his mother working a lot of hours to keep them going. A sophomore in school, Bax only has a couple of friends, his best friend Jason, and his neighbor Ashley. When coming home one evening, there is a creepy man sitting on the steps to his apartment building, who gives him a ring, telling him it’s for his long lost father, Greg. Bax takes the ring and the man disappears. Bax has always wanted a better life, for him and his mother, and for his father to be back in his life. But be careful what you wish for….when Bax rubs the gemstone on the top of the ring, he summons a djinn named Janni. Janni is a low level djinn, (or genie for those that don’t read heavily in the fantasy world) but can only do minor tricks. When Janni says there is a more powerful djinn nearby, Bax convinces his friends that a more powerful djinn can make their lives better. Little do they know, he’s a monster of a djinn.

This book has a good message to everyone, and it’s a little creepy for the really young, but older teens and adults will enjoy this one. Be happy with the life you have, and don’t go wishing for riches….Reviewed by Cyrene

You Made Me Love You Cerise DeLand

Historical Regency

When a young widow wishes to marry again, will the man she grows to love ask more than she can give?

Mrs. Tynley Wallingford yearns for a quiet, comforting marriage to a man whom she can respect. She’ll go to any lengths to find the best candidate who can respect her, in turn.

Uncaged Review: What a great story. Tynley is a widow and answers an ad in a paper that has a gentleman looking for a wife. She’s looking for a peaceful, easy gentleman to marry and she begins correspondence with Kendryck. Deciding to travel to his home in Wales on her own to meet him, not a safe thing to do for a woman who is alone. Kendryck has come home from being away for 15 years and wants to settle down with a wife. His stepmother and 2 half siblings are at residence in his home and are such spoiled people, they are almost unsavable. Tynley and Kendryck decide to take some time with her staying in his home to get to know each other, but there are a lot of obstacles to overcome.

In this story, we have a lot of suspense, family drama, romance, danger including a murder and a lot of challenges for the two to make it to their HEA. They start out as friends and they slowly find out how much each of them mean to each other. Tynley’s strength is just what Kendryck needs to become the man he wants to be and to shed his family’s past. I did not read the other books in this series, but because of this one, they are now on my radar. Reviewed by Cyrene

Amour in Avignon

Jennifer Ivy Walker

Contemporary Erotica

Adrift and lonely, Lily Greene travels to Provence to spend the summer with her aunt in the sunny south of France. In the vibrant city of Avignon, she meets Ludo and Auguste, two expert fencers who are also local actors performing in the upcoming Festival of Theater where they will present the classical tragedy, Cyrano de Bergerac.

Uncaged Review: This novella was a quick read for me, and what I like about this author when she writes anything, including an erotica, she includes a nice storyline with it that is still well researched. Many times with erotica, I’ve found the storyline to be lackluster and it’s only about the sex, but this book has a good story behind it that includes a bit of drama along with the hot romance.

Lily goes to France to stay with her Aunt after a divorce and meets both Auguste and Ludo who are actors and construction workers. Auguste is a handsome creep, but Lily has an almost instant connection with Ludo, who is the nephew of the man that her Aunt is seeing.

This story brings in the sights and backdrop well of Avignon, and it’s a short hot read for whenever you need a bit of romance but don’t want to commit to a full length. Nice writing, characters that are easy to like, and a nice HEA in the end. Reviewed by Cyrene

Kissed by a Scoundrel

Anna St. Claire

Historical Regency

Their paths were never meant to cross... until tragedy struck.

Marriage is the one thing he avoids…

Lord Sebastian Soren, known as Slice to his friends, earned his nickname on the battlefield during his illustrious military service

Uncaged Review: This book has Katie Latham paralyzed with fear after a robbery and the murder of her fiancé whom she witnesses and blames herself for and becomes a recluse in her family’s home, not entering the society functions. When she finally agrees to go to a ball, she sees an incident which triggers her PTSD, and Sebastian sees and comes to her aid. Sebastian is a friend of Katie’s brother and also a security professional and recognizes her trauma immediately. Sebastian helps Katie at the ball and is hired by her brother to find the robbers and killers that have never been caught and to provide security to Katie. Sebastian agrees and along with teaching Katie some self-defense and fencing, he begins to fall for the strong lady.

A good suspense, tragic loss, quite a bit of danger and a clean romance makes up for this book. I was completely invested within the first chapter and even though I hadn’t read the previous books in this series, I had no issues keeping up. This is a shorter read and one of my favorite characters is the Dowager Duchess. I can see a romance brewing in the background, and would not be surprised if it’s the next book in the series. Reviewed by Cyrene

Uncaged Reviews

One Wylde Knight Kathryn Le Veque

Medieval Romance

The bigger and badder they are, the harder they fall...

Dark, sultry, with a hint of fire in his blood from his Visigoth ancestors and a spark in his eye that betray his killer instincts, Thorington “Thor” de Reyne is the son of the Earl of Ashington and one of the greatest knights England has ever seen. His talent is unmatched, so much so that the king himself has demanded Thor’s service.

Uncaged Review: In 1271, the great King Henry, while talking to Gage De Reyne, demands to see his second son, Thorington, or Thor. Yet Gage has plans for his son, which doesn’t include him being a companion to Henry. Henry, of course, also had much bigger plans than Gage could ever bequeath to his son. Henry’s plan is for Thor to marry not only a great heiress but a countess to boot, Lady Caledonia de Wylde de Tosni. Caledonia is also a widow with three daughters, but when Henry tells Thor that Caledonia is at Gomorrah, she is being held there against her will. Thor’s task is to rescue her from that hellhole, marry her and come back to him. When Thor goes to save Caledonia, he keeps his shock hidden. Luckily, Thor manages to get her out of there. Thor is instantly attracted to Caledonia, so he marries her, but what he finds between Caledonia’s Uncle and others who want Caledonia for their own devious means, Thor might just end up losing everything, including his life.

What an amazing medieval historical romance that is definitely well worth reading! There might be a lot jam-packed into the story, but it sure isn’t lacking! Even the places, no matter how brutish, grand or even astonishing, they may seem, come alive. I don’t know about you, but I would like to visit Gomorrah even though it is supposed to be a bad place, but hey, if well-to-do ladies are watching men dance, it sounds like a historical Chippendales and well worth watching! Also, true historical aficionados might balk at the idea of women watching naked men dance too. Ms. Le Veque also just knows how to write a story that puts everyone in the heart of the tale, making it very easy to visualize and well imagined without any problems at all! Her characters, whether they be major or minor, even come alive with some funny quirks, but are also very human too. Thor is really a great hero, funny, smart and finally helps Caledonia heal from the misconception that she isn’t a burden to anyone. The only thing is that Thor is supposed to be forty, but the book cover of Thor doesn’t seem to fit. Still, the story is well worth the read and I am eager for more!….Reviewed by

Rosylnn Ernst

Captured by a Prince Emma Castle Billionaire Romance

A long lost princess…a forbidden love with a royal guard…a prince who will do anything to be with the woman he loves…Royals have the best secrets.

Virginia moved on from her royal life in Caledonia and all its painful memories a long time ago. Or at least she thought she did.

Uncaged Review: The High Prince of Caledonia, Darius Luca, has always enjoyed watching Princess Virginia Mayer his betrothed, especially now in a nightclub. In fact, Darius had always watched over her. Darius asks his friend, personal bodyguard and head of his elite guards, Dorin, to get her. Virginia’s own mother, Florin, had fled Caledonia, ignoring the betrothal to America. Dorin and Darius start dancing innocently with Virginia, caging her between himself and Dorin. When Virginia sees who she is dancing with, she is alarmed, and they take her away. Virginia is over-powered by both men though. Darius must convince Virginia to marry him before his father, the king, dies. Darius decides to persuade Virginia by seducing her, but Virginia hides a secret too, that she really loves both Darius and Dorin.

This is definitely a quick, short, steamy, romantic read. There isn’t much to this tale, so don’t expect much from it. There isn’t much character development either and the whole story seemed a bit rushed. The characters aren’t fully fleshed out either. There could have been more of the back-story and the history of the historical royal bloodlines needs more explanation, yet if you want something to read, and it will be over quickly, then this is the book for you. The sexy, intimate scene of Darius, Dorin and Virginia was satisfying though, but it felt as if that’s it. Also, if you don’t MMF then don’t read this book. So, it ends almost on a cliffhanger with more questions than answers. Hopefully, Ms. Emma Castle will write more about the story or about Darius, Dorin and Virginia because it doesn’t feel like a happily ever after to me. Even though this story is so fast, I do plan to read more stories, because just one doesn’t mean she’s a bad author. I just wanted more and possibly her other books might give me plenty to love. Reviewed by Roslynn Ernst

Catching Rose

Virginia Barlow Western Historical

Rose Tanner dreamed of a fairytale wedding her whole life. But when her prince leaves her at the altar, she wants to know why. Traveling to Texas for answers she finds more than she bargained for. Captured by a human trafficking ring, she fights for freedom. Risking her life to help the other women with her, she discovers there’s more to happy ever after than she thought.

Uncaged Review: We start out with Rose being stood up at the altar by Chase Calhan, a ranger. Rose makes the decision with Shanna’s help (her best friend whom we met in the first book of the series), to go to Houston to find him after Reese (Shanna’s husband and brother to Chase) gets a telegram and Rose reads it. This is a dangerous journey for a woman traveling on her own. When she makes it to Houston, she finds he has gone to San Antonio at the Rangers Headquarters. When she makes it there, all hell will break out.

There are a couple times that either Chase or Rose are in a lot of danger for their lives with Chase tracking a killer and exposing a human trafficking ring. There is a lot of suspense here, also spies, traitors and even romance. This book has it all, and it’s a fast-paced book that keeps the reader glued to the pages. There will be a fight to get to their HEA and I’m looking forward to the next in the series.Reviewed by Cyrene

The Beast of Blackthorne

Castle D.K. Quinn

Historical Regency

A beast of a duke…

When Miss Emma Drake travels to Northumberland to answer an ad for a companion, she learns very quickly that her new employer is as mysterious as he is powerful. A scarred duke, known as the Beast of Blackthorne, his intimidating presence leaves her quaking in her slippers.

Uncaged Review: Emma needs to get away from her Aunt and Uncle, whom plan to marry her off to the first man to come along. Emma finds an ad in a paper for a lady’s companion and she travels to Northunberland to apply for the position. She finds out that the Duke of Blackthorne’s mother is the lady she would be a companion to, but the duke himself is a powerful man, and with the rumors swirling around that he murdered his father in a fire – he’s very intimidating and stand offish. But Emma takes the job with no prospects or money and finds a different man than the rumors would have her believe.

This is a sweet, exciting adventure of finding love and independence in a time where women had few rights. Even though Nathaniel is a troubled man, he finds he looks forward to his time with Emma, even though he’s shunned people for ten years. This was an easy read and if you like a sweet, slow-burn romance, with a good cast of characters, this would be a nice choice.

Reviewed by Cyrene

Amy’s Bookshelf Reviews

Hard Workers

Kate Rigby

Short Stories/Erotica

Hard work and dedication should count for something, shouldn’t it?

Amy’s Review: Kate Rigby writes an intriguing short story with Hard Workers

In Hard Workers, the reader is introduced to Bobbles, or Bob. One of the hard workers. This is a very short read, but it packs a punch with details and storytelling. I am a big fan of Kate Rigby and read whatever this author writes. This author has a grand imagination, and talent for showing the story. The character Bobs is also the narrator, which gives the story an interesting perspective. So, it did take me a few times reading it to figure out what or who the characters actually were, and I’m not giving that away. Kate Rigby has a great imagination. I read it so many times, it’s only 7 kindle pages, but it is worth the read every single time. I found that all of the characters had their unique qualities, and that lent to the satisfying end of the story. And yes, the title definitely fits the story.

Rock Star Mom

Melina Druga

Rockstar Romance

The rock star’s wife is back and better than ever in Rock Star Mom.

When she decided to pursue a relationship with Nat, Cassie knew what she was getting herself into. His responsibilities as the frontman for Dramatic Sneezer keep him on the road for weeks, or even months, at a time.

Amy’s Review: Melina Druga writes another rockin’ tale with Rock Star Mom

In Rock Star Mom, the reader is reintroduced to Cassie, who fell in love with Nat, and had his child, Megan. Cassie knows the life of a rock star, but that doesn’t mean she’s living the dream, raising her daughter basically on her own. Rock Star Mom is part of The Rock Star’s Wife series, and this is volume four. I am a big fan of Melina Druga and read whatever this author writes. This author has a grand imagination, and talent for showing the story. Cassie has grown as a person and a woman, over the past few four books, and if you haven’t read the ones before this one, I recommend it. Cassie is an amazing character, and even though she is in love with Nat, that is not all she is about. Cassie has her own dreams, writing, and her wish may be granted with a prospective book deal. The story has twists and turns, and it is very unpredictable, and the reader can see the changes in Cassie, when Nat strolls into town, and how she acts, which is totally different when she’s being her mommy. In the books, you can feel and see the personalities of the characters. This story is a definite attention grabber, so much I couldn’t put it down. As a reader and fan of the series, I feel invested in reading this series to the end, and I know there will be more great books to read from Melina Druga. Whatever this author writes, I want to read.

Storm Stayed

Yvonne Rediger Cozy Mystery

Welcome back to Musgrave Landing. Accessible by ferry across the Samsum Narrows, this island village is home to some quirky characters and some even odder visitors. Sometimes the visitors bring misfortune with them and other times the villagers supply their own brand of trouble. Whether the people are locals or from away, apparently a few are capable of murder.

Amy’s Review:Yvonne Rediger writes a cozy mystery tale with Storm Stayed

In Storm Stayed, the reader is introduced to Musgrave Landing, a place only accessible by ferry across the Samsum Narrows. I haven’t read anything by this author before, and what a hidden gem. I enjoyed it so much that I have now followed the author and look for more books to read. Of course, this book hits all the notes of being a cozy mystery, but it also has a diverse and intriguing band of characters who are residents to this small island village. The story surrounds a murder, but also an author and a publishing house. It’s an interesting plot line with great characters, and the growth of the characters. Secrets, lies and murder is just the beginning, especially when the storm hits, and brings down its wrath on the residence of the island, leaving them trapped with a murderer, whoever that happens to be. This story is a grand suspenseful story. This story is a wondrous trail of words.

The Girl Who Wrote on Water

Evelyn Puerto YA/Fantasy

Sometimes a catastrophe isn’t the worst of your problems

As dust settles on the buried kingdom of Ymittos, Princess Derya faces a horrifying conclusion: her friend Princess Eliana has perished after failing to break an evil sorcerer’s curse. Which means the next obstacle in the plot to enslave the continent is Derya’s father — the Emperor of Cinar.

Amy’s Review: Evelyn Puerto writes a remarkable sequel with The Girl Who Wrote on Water

In The Girl Who Wrote on Water, the reader is introduced to Princess Derya, who is fearing that her friend, Princess Eliania is dead. The Girl Who Wrote on Water is part of the Royal Mages series, and this is volume two. I am a big fan of Evelyn Puerto and read whatever this author writes. This author has a grand imagination, and talent for showing the story. Evelyn is great at building a world of fantasy and magic, and bringing royalty to life. It’s on now, the race to find the scepter is a quest Derya needs to take, and win, before it falls into the wrong hands. Evelyn Puerto has a great imagination. The plot is action packed, filled with truths, lies, secrets and curses. This story is grand read, and the characters have multiple layers.

Amy’s Bookshelf Reviews

Hell Holes: The Complete Trilogy

Donald Firesmith Sci-Fi/Horror

When the invasion begins, it will come from below. Dive into the riveting world of Donald Firesmith’s multi-award-winning Hell Holes trilogy, where the line between science fiction and supernatural horror blurs in the unforgiving Alaskan wilderness.

Amy’s Review: Donald Firesmith shares three of his stories in a new perspective and perfection In Hell Holes, the Trilogy, the reader is reintroduced to the first three Hell Holes books, and its characters. This book brings What Lurks below, Demons on the Dalton, and to Hell and Back and its characters, back to the reader. I am a big fan of Donald Firesmith and read whatever this author writes. This author has a grand imagination, and talent for showing the story. I enjoyed the changes that the author made to the story, and the updates that only someone who read the stories before, could see. It’s in its perfection now. The story is complementary blend of horror, science fiction, and supernatural. The alien invasions, erupting through the holes that appear, and the demons that come from below brings us to some magnificent stories, and of course, the characters first-hand witnesses, surviving members. Bringing back Dr. Jack Oswald, Dr. Angela Melendez, and Aileen O’Shannon, who is one of my favorite characters. After reading this book, and refamiliarizing myself with the stories, and also changing some of my earlier opinions of the story. As you read more and more, you get the feelings of the characters, writing styles of the authors, and even changing your mind about previously read books. The characters had a lot of depth, and were very realistic, even the extremely old sorceress, Aileen. It’s survival of the smartest and best, as the hounds of hell (and other magnificently evil creatures) emerge! This author is not just a writer but a great storyteller. If you love a good demonic fighting, evil against more than just the good, but the strength of humanity, this book should be next on your list.

Passion Struck

John R. Miles Nonfiction/ Motivational

A powerful Blueprint for Transforming Your Life from Ordinary to Extraordinary

Imagine yourself waking up each day with a clear mission, free from self-doubt, and armed with the skills to lead

Amy’s Review: John R. Miles writes an interesting book about Passion and Purpose

Passion Struck is an impressive book. This is the first I have read from this author. I found that I could relate in some ways to this book, especially when I wake up in the morning, my first mission is to be grateful that I woke up, and the second is to get dressed and make my bed. In reading this book, I at first thought it was another one of those books that give you a road map and tell you to do something in order to make your life better. That’s not what this was, it’s not a cookie-cutter motivational book. The author found a way to make the book readable, and also offer assistance in how to look at your life. This book is not a cure for what ails you, but it can help you find your purpose, your motivation, and your passion, which can make you want to get out of bed in the morning. It is a grand book, that I read at the right time for me. I think that no matter when I read the book, it would’ve been the right time. This book lists out principles, and guides you, and the one thing I can see coming out of reading this book, is looking inside myself, and it is something I do a lot. This book captures the reader’s attention in chapter 1.

Me Power

LaNysha T. Adams, PhD Nonfiction/ Self Help

“Who do you want to be?”

We’ve all heard or asked this question before, yet few of us answer it because identity is not fixed, but ever-expanding as we move through life.

City Gone Askew

Matt Cost

Historical Mystery

Amy’s Review: LaNysha T. Adams writes an interesting book about self-empowerment in Me Power

Me Power is a very interesting book. This is the first book I have read from this author. We always hear the word empowerment, but many times that relies on others to make you feel empowered. Me Power, is pulling it out from inside yourself, self-discovery, and making yourself feel empowered, and having a purpose. The book is written in parts, and it is one of those books that you understand while reading it. You don’t need a PhD to read it. It’s something that when you finish reading, you go and buy the audiobook so you can listen to that as well. A side note on that, as I have reviewed that book as well, the author is the narrator, so you can feel more than just reading words on a page. This book, though, is more than just words on a page. I found it to be an eye opener. I don’t always feel empowered, but I try to make sure that there is a purpose in my life, usually more than one, but this book is something I really took to heart. It’s not the usual self-help, make me feel good about myself book. It gives you principles to follow, and a framework to tap into yourself. Your inner power and bring it out and acknowledge it. Some of the pages, you end up reading slower than others, so not to miss anything.

8 discovers that a priceless Aquila—an ancient eagle Roman standard carried into battle 2,000 years ago—was stolen from Karl Vogel when he was killed. This provides ties to a secret German organization known as the Batavi. But Vogel was also involved in the eugenics movement centered in Cold Spring Harbor on Long Island, as well as being involved with the Ku Klux Klan.

Amy’s Review: Matt Cost writes another Brooklyn 8 Ballo mystery tale with City Gone Askew

In City Gone Askew, the reader is brought back in time, once again, and this time to the 1920’s, the era of flappers, prohibition, and the atmosphere of the roaring 20s. We are also reintroduced to 8, and his diverse and intensely amazing friends and look forward to another great mystery. Insert client Theda, who hires them to prove her husband’s death was murder. I am a big fan of Matt Cost and read whatever this author writes. This author has a grand imagination, and talent for showing the story. Matt Cost brings the roaring 20s to life and creates this great world. This story has a wellwritten plot and is a wondrous trail of words. It’s a great story to follow and try to figure out what will happen next. This story is a definite attention grabber, so much I couldn’t put it down. This is an amazing story written by an amazing author, you can feel the chills and mystery behind the case, while also bringing in the deep, and layered characters that make up the story.

Amy’s Bookshelf Reviews

The Ten of Spades

Patricia Loofbourrow Crime/Mystery

Be careful what you wish for …

After eleven years trapped in the Spadros crime syndicate, 23-year-old private eye

Jacqueline Spadros is an independent woman, free to run her investigation business. But her problems are only beginning.

Amy’s Review: Patricia Loofbourrow writes a magnificent and mysterious tale with The Ten of Spades

In The Ten of Spades, the reader is reintroduced to Jacqueline Spadros aka Jacqui, who is a finally free independent woman, who runs her own investigation business. The Ten of Spades is part of the Red Dog Conspiracy series, and this is volume five. I am a big fan of Patricia Loofbourrow and love reading whatever this author writes. This author has a grand imagination, and talent for showing the story. I love how the Red Dog Conspiracy plays on a deck of card. I know there are more in the series, and I can’t wait to read the rest of the series. Patricia Loofbourrow has a great imagination. Jacqui is determined and tenacious and determined to get the job done no matter what. I love how it is written in Jacqui’s perspective, and her perspective is always interesting, especially as she shares whatever situation she is in. The author not only tells the story but shows it with words as well. This story is another attention grabber, so much I couldn’t put it down. A reader can get lost in the story as it’s thrilling and intriguing, all the way to the end. I just love, love, love this story, and its characters, especially Jacqui, who is definitely unforgettable.

Beautiful and Terrible Things

S.M. Stevens Contemporary

Romance

Charley Byrne isn’t really living. At age 29, she hunkers down in her apartment above the bookstore she manages, afraid of a 7-year curse. Then quirky activist Xander Wallace lures her out of social exile with the prospect of friendship and romance. Charley joins Xander’s circle of friends diverse in their heritage, race, gender and sexual orientation.

Amy’s Review: S.M. Stevens writes a beautiful contemporary tale with Beautiful and Terrible Things In Beautiful and Terrible Things, the reader is introduced to Charley, who likes things the way they are, and has almost become a recluse in her apartment above the book store where she works, more like manages. She hasn’t really lived in a really long time, and believes, strongly believes in a curse. I haven’t read anything by this author before, and what a hidden gem. I enjoyed it so much, that I have now followed the author and look for more books to read. Charley has built her own personal haven, and then in walks Xander, and her life is about to change, and she may just be resistant to change. The story is full of self-discovery, looking deep inside yourself, and knowing who you can and can’t trust. It’s a remarkable story that you want to read again, and again. Charley is stronger than she knows, and sometimes, doesn’t trust herself to make the right decision. This story is a definite attention grabber, so much I couldn’t put it down. A reader can get lost in the story. Some of the pages, you end up reading slower than others, so not to miss anything. You get a soulful look into Charley, and so does she.

The Ambassador’s Offer

Martina M. Woebcken 20th Century Historical

Vienna 1958. Brigitta receives an unexpected job offer from her superior at Vienna’s Department of the Interior to work for the Austrian Ambassador of Pakistan whose former secretary has disappeared under mysterious circumstances. She accepts on a whim, boards an airplane for the first time, and meets the fascinating Amira who promises to show her Karachi.

Amy’s Review: Martina M. Woebcken writes a grand debut novel with The Ambassador’s Offer

In The Ambassador’s Offer, the reader is brought back in time to 1958, Vienna. Where a young Britta, gets a wonderful job, she is looking forward to, as a secretary to the Austrian Ambassador of Pakistan. Little does she know, her predecessor ended up missing. She is enchanted by Amira, and Karachi. Britta may be young, but she is not so naïve. She works hard and realizes that there are things about her job that she finds disturbing and secretive. However, she is very tenacious, and wonders what to do next. This is a grand inviting story as it being the author’s first one. I am very impressed by her writing, and I am sure that she should keep on writing and telling more stories. She has a talent for writing a layered story with characters that have depth, and their own personalities. This is an embraceable story, making you want to read more from this author. Even if you’ve never been in Vienna, especially in the late 1950’s, you feel the culture, the environment, and the classy style that jumps off the pages.

Umaka Orr

Talia Haven

Sci fi/Short Stories

Umaka is confronted with changes in her life and even her father’s attempt to keep her safe is not enough.

Amy’s Review: Talia Haven writes a unique and short sci-fi tale with Umaka Orr

In Umaka Orr, the reader is introduced to Umaka Orr, who is going by another name. I am a big fan of Talia Haven’s and have been reading her short stories for years, probably back to when I first started writing reviews. This one is a little longer than some of her short stories, but it is a grand story. At first, me, as the reader, wasn’t sure exactly what was going on in the first few paragraphs, but with that, it made me want to read more. I wanted to know why Umaka tried to hide her identity. Talia Haven not only tells the story but shows it with words as well. The story is not just about what the characters see, but what and how they smell. Scent can show a liar immediately. She identifies other people or beings in the room with her, and that there is this sense of fear in this world. Talia Haven has built a great world, with interesting characters. She makes the reader wonder and want to read more, so we can find the answers. I must say, I found this to be one of her best short stories that I have read so far, and she has written many, in various genres. And I must say, the ending, I did not see that coming.

Amy’s Bookshelf Reviews

Straw Bag Tin Box

Cloth Suitcase

Jane Yuolen, Marjorie Lotfi Gill, Racquel

Elizabeth Artiga de Pas

Illustrator: Fotini Tikkou

Childrens

Three women, from three different continents and separated by generations, share stories of coming to the United States. Sarah’s great-great grandmother Manya fled the Cossacks in the Ukraine at the turn of the twentieth century. Grace’s mom escaped with her family during the Iranian revolution in 1979.

Amy’s Review: What a magnificent story in Straw-Bag Tin-Box Cloth-Suitcase Three Immigrant Voices

Straw-Bag Tin Box Cloth Suitcase Three Immigrant Voices is a magnificent story for children of all ages, and I recommend, if you’re an adult, you read it as well. What I liked about the story is that it stems from the author’s family stories. I also like that it proves that generational stories should always be told and shared. I haven’t read work from these authors before, and I enjoyed this story. The illustrations were remarkable and were perfect for the story, so kudos to the illustrator. This book would be perfect to read to a child or have the child read it back. There are three stories, and each one starts with their bag or suitcase. Sarah’s Nana takes out a straw bag. Grace’s Momma takes out a Tin Box, and Racquel remembers the a cheap, cloth suitcase. The three had something in common, and seeing their stories presented on one page, each page, sharing their experiences. From the beginning, even if you never experienced having to leave your home, your home country, you get a feeling for the characters, the people telling the story, and true story experiences.

Undeniable Trait

J. S. Marlo Medical Mystery

Hoping to start afresh, Dr. Zachary Auckerman moves to a northern Canadian town in desperate need of a doctor. Within days of his arrival, he stumbles onto suspicious deaths and illegal activities at the nursing home, and encounters a fascinating female plumber with a spunky personality and six fingers on her left hand..

Amy’s Review: J. S. Marlo writes an engaging medical mystery tale with Undeniable Trait

In Undeniable Trait, the reader is introduced to Dr Zachary Aukerman, who moves to a small town in Canada. I haven’t read anything by this author before, and what a hidden gem. I enjoyed it so much, that I have now followed the author and look for more books to read. This author has a grand imagination, and talent for showing the story. There is a lot that is going on in the town, and Zachary arrives just at the right moment, and finds some thing is awry and not what he expected. Then, insert Willow. Willow is a plumber who gets hurt, and needs treatment by Zachary. Something, about their initial meeting is almost like fate or karma, whatever they would call it. He stitches her hand, and she helps him with his pipes. J. S. Marlo brings these two characters to life, as they have great depth, and multiple layers, and their chemistry jumps right off the pages. Usually world building seems to fit fantasy or sci-fi stories, but anyone who writes, and creates the environment and setting, is essentially creating a world for their characters to live in. This story is a grand suspenseful story. A very unpredictable story, my favorite kind! Then, of course, there are the lies, and betrayals, just to hide a bunch of suspicious deaths, but the truth can be more damaging, than just wondering, and of course more dangerous, when Willow and Zachary start their own investigation. Both thrilling and intriguing, all the way to the end

Madcap Serenade

Dan Kopcow Romantic Comedy

Eli, a precocious 16-year-old social misfit living on Long Island in August 1979, cons his way into a professional boys’ choir’s Italian and Vatican tour so he can discover his missing father’s legacy. But when he meets his dream girl, Jane, and finds himself connected to an intricate murder plot involving a legendary drug, he must decide if singing for the Pope is worth losing his family and first love.

Amy’s Review: Dan Kopcow writes a grand romantic comedy with Madcap Serenade In Madcap Serenade, the reader is introduced to Eli, and the year 1979. I wish I wasn’t old enough to remember that era, but I do. And I was seven, so my experience is so different than that of Eli. He’s a very interesting young man, insightful, curious about everything, and totally socially awkward, at least to him. To others, he’s just another one that blends in the background as a misfit, or socially impaired person. I haven’t read anything by this author before, and what a hidden gem. I enjoyed it so much, that I have now followed the author and look for more books to read. I have just become a fan of Dan Kopcow. Eli in his own way is intelligent, and gets himself into the local boys’ choir, a professional Choir who will soon go to Italy and sing at the Vatican. Dan Kopcow created a remarkable world for Eli and setting the stage for a wondrous story. Eli intends to find out about his father, and his legacy, so he can find out who he is and who his father was, but then he finds something, someone unexpected. Jane. She has her own issues, and is also 16, American, and was sent to a convent. This is a fun romance, and it’s something many of us can’t remember, but the strange first love as a teenager, not realizing that there is so much more to life, than getting in trouble. I loved this story, and it is more than just teenagers running around Italy but engaging in more life than just each other’s. I really liked this story.

Mary Poser

Angel A Romance – Audiobook Narrated by: Heather Nichols

Cultures clash when Bollywood meets the Bible Belt in this award-winning multicultural journey of self-discovery.

Amy’s Review: Angel A tells a magnificent story in Mary Poser

In Mary Poser, the listener is introduced to Mary, the titular character. I first read the print version of this book 2017, and recently reread the story before listening to this remarkable audiobook. Angel A tells an intriguing story about a woman, Mary, a traditional Southern Belle, who falls for a Bollywood Director. The narration is remarkable, and the narrator definitely fits the story, with her southern accent, and she represents Mary very well. This book deserves both a read and a listen! When listening, you understand how Mary is, and very inclusive in her details, especially how she talks about every single part of her getting dressed, starting from being nude, and then discussing each piece of clothing, and that she was undressed in front of Charlie. Then, you learn Charlie is her dog. A magnificent story that kept this reader turning the hanging on every word. of the story. This was a definite attention grabber. Sometimes opposites attract, but when cultures attract and collide, something wonderful can happen. This book is a recipe for a wonderful story, and it’s a lot of fun. Mary is one of those characters that you have to get used to, but she’s a great one. She’s stubborn, opinionated, and just out right wonderful. This story gets rid of bias and brings together Mary and Simha. There can be that feeling of awkwardness which comes from any new relationship and entering uncharted territory. It’s what is unfamiliar that is most attractive. It’s a great story and that brings a lot of contrast. It’s full of humor and softness, and where it could use a more diverse set of characters, it was a story that brings something to your heart. It’s a wonderful story to listen to and try to figure out what will happen next.