Uncaged Book Reviews by Cyrene

ISSUE 76 | March/April 2024

contents

N O T E FEATUREauthors F R O M T H E 14 EDITOR

Kerry Chaput historical fiction

elcome to March/April edition of Uncaged Book Reviews. Only one more issue after this, and then the eligible books for the Raven Awards will be complete, and voting times will begin. We will have a Facebook party featuring authors and giveaways. More about that soon, but probably late August, early September. More informationw will be coming soon. There is a new promotion available and I’ve had people ask me about a cover spread, I’ve come up with a compromise. So check out the advertising page if this is something you might be interested in. Life in Motion is taking a break for this issue, and in it’s place, we are running a short story by D.K. Marie. Be sure to check it out! The Raven Awards will return in the summer of 2024. All books reviewed by Uncaged with a rating of at least 4 stars are automatically entered for the semi-final voting. We will celebrate with a large Facebook party with author takeovers and giveaways throughout the whole party with a Grand Prize at the end. More on that to come. We will be continuing with the “Buy 2, Get 1” promotion we’ve been running into 2024. 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 March/April issue of Uncaged Book Reviews and let’s keep hoping for an early spring!

X CYRENE

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Jennifer Seasons

Sandra Sookoo

Sydney Scott

Amber Daulton

100

Steve Stephenson K.M. Tedrick

historical romance

small town romance

romantic suspense

fantasy

116

128

Donna D. Conrad historical fiction

Elizabeth Teets

non-fiction movie history

Issue 76 | March/April 2024 3 Page Promos

2 Page Showcases

Shadows of the Future

It May Be True

24 48 56 62 76 98

Robert J. Rubinetti Robert L. Snider

The Eleventh Hour

Healing Verses

Man on a Mission

Alan M. McDaniels Sophie Serna Darryl L. Mincey

125 Truly Blessed

106 112

Judy Warrenton Glenn E. Richardson Ph.D. Michelle K. Copeland Tiana Tassinari Ben Selvaggio Harry Hutchins Paal Piir Carolyn Banks

Jonathan Miller

special short feature

Keith Mack After the Rain

guest columns 59 109

We Should Do Better Brent Olson

The Best Support for Writers is Other Writers! Diane Bator

authors and their pets 78

Uncaged’s Feature Authors introduce you to their devoted writing buddies, and the devotion goes both ways.

short story

Your Past 51 Forget D.K. Marie

Cover by Cyrene Wolf ©HOTNStock https://www. deviantart.com/hotnstock/gallery 4 Note from the Editor 7 Contributors|Partnerships 134 Uncaged Reviews 146 Amy’s Bookshelf Reviews

Uncaged on Threads Uncaged on Instagram

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Contributors | Partnerships

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

Southwest Florida Reading Festival March 2, 2024; Fort Myers, FL https://readfest.org/ Suffolk Mystery Authors Festival March 16, 2024; Suffolk, VA https://www.suffolkmysteryauthorsfestival.com/

New Orleans Book Festival March 14 – 16, 2024; New Orleans, LA https://bookfest.tulane.edu/

Palm Beach Book Festival March 15 - 17 2024; Boca Raton, FL https://www.palmbeachbookfestival.com/

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Rosemount Writers Festival March 17, 2024; Rosemount, MN https://www.rosemountwritersfestival.com/

San Antonio Book Festival April 13, 2024; San Antonio, TX https://sabookfestival.org/

feature authors

Kerry Chaput

historical

Jennifer Seasons

Sandra Sookoo

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Kerry

chaput

erry Chaput is a multiple award-winning historical fiction author. Born and raised in California, she now lives in the beautiful Pacific Northwest, where she can be found on hiking trails and in coffee shops.

Uncaged welcomes Kerry Chaput Welcome to Uncaged! Your new book will release in March, the third book in Defying the Crown trilogy, called Daughter of Snow and Secrets. Can you tell us more about this book and the series? Thank you for having me! The Defying the Crown trilogy is based on the true story of the French orphans who were paid by the King of France to help populate Canada. They traded their life of poverty for a world of power and money in the colony, where they held interviews with the settlers. The women chose their husbands, and received money once married and for each baby they had. Quite an amazing deal for young women with no prospects in France. My main character Isabelle must denounce her Protestant faith and proclaim herself a loyal Catholic for this opportunity, but the guilt of her impossible choice haunts her. She spends the rest of her life finding ways to save French Protestants who continue to be harassed, tortured, and exiled. By book three, Daughter of Snow and Secrets, Isabelle is deep in the Protestant resistance, and must stop the king’s vicious dragonnade program through any means necessary. Everything is on the line as her family gets tangled in her fight and Isabelle must come out of hiding when all of France

wants her dead. Although this is a trilogy, each book can be read as a standalone. You actually waited in life to become a writer after having a career. What was the deciding moment that convinced you to sit down and start writing? There were a few failed attempts over the years, but the moment I knew writing had to be a part of my life was watching my kids sleep. I felt this overwhelming sense that time was passing, with me having never done the thing I’ve always wanted to do. My father chose my career path in healthcare, and I followed along, not often stopping to ask why I couldn’t change my circumstances. I didn’t want my daughters to grow up ignoring their dreams, so what was I teaching them? I started using their nap times to write and I’ve never looked back. What is the most difficult scene for you to write? What is the easiest? The opening scene always holds so much pressure. I tend to use a placeholder as an opening, often discovering the right one later in the story. It’s usually the last thing I write in my rough draft. Conversely, I adore endings. I end up writing the ending before I Issue 76 | March/April 2024 | 15

FEATURE AUTHOR write the middle of the novel. It helps me find direction in the story when things get muddled halfway through. Do you read reviews? What do you take away from them? I rarely read reviews, but mostly because I know there will be everything imaginable in there. Some will love my work, some won’t, others will feel indifferent. I’m still in awe that I have books out there in the world for people to read and review! A musician once told me that art stirs emotions. A bad review means we did our job as artists. It only becomes really painful when they stop reviewing altogether. That stuck with me. What behind-the-scenes tidbit in your life would probably surprise your readers the most? Probably the speed at which I write. I don’t generally struggle with writer’s block as I write seven days a week. It takes me four months to draft an 80-90k word rough manuscript, and another six months to edit and revise. Two manuscripts a year is standard for me. Time management is one of my few superpowers. I get a bit of a high out of challenging myself. What’s your process in the beginning stages of planning a new novel? Messy. That’s the truth. I first consider the time and place I’m interested in exploring and set the hook as best I can. Once I decide on a character’s name, I sit with them for a while, and invite them to share their story. Through some free writing and daydreaming, my MC takes shape. Little scenes pop into my head, often before I understand what they mean. I don’t plot, and this has steered me wrong many times! Because of this, I don’t begin until I have a few key components of the character, like her wants and needs, her misbelief, and the main reason I’m burning to tell this story. 16 | UncagedBooks.com

KERRY CHAPUT What are some things you like to do to relax when you aren’t writing or working? Besides the obvious of curling up with a book and a coffee, I love to frequent my indie bookstore, coffee shops, and restaurants. I’ve always been a foodie which will probably never change. I live in the mountains of Oregon and outdoor life is everywhere. I love to kayak and standup paddleboard in the warmer months, and hike year-round. There’s something meditative in the repetitive footfall of a hiking trail. Do you prefer ebooks, audiobooks or physical books? Are you reading anything now? All of the above. I struggle with audiobooks, only because I’m very much not an audio learner. My mind wanders constantly. I will listen to an audiobook on a long car ride, or when reading a memoir spoken by the writer. My hardcover collection proves that I love a solid, heavy, bound book, but I read faster and a bit easier on an e-reader. I’m working my way through my favorite author’s collection: Ruta Sepetys. Out of the Easy was one of her earlier works, and I’m about to dive in. Once I finish, I will have read her entire catalogue. Highly recommend. What would you like to say to fans, and where can they follow you? Every day of my life, I feel so fortunate that I’m allowed to write and publish books. The only reason I’m able to do this is because of my readers. I write the stories I want to read, where badass women from history take center stage with plenty of action. I aim to provide historical fiction with adventure and suspense. Readers allow me to keep writing these stories and I’ll be forever grateful for each and every one. You can find me at www.kerrywrites.com. I’m active on Instagram and TikTok @kerrywrites.

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FEATURE AUTHOR

Stay Connected

kerrywrites.com Enjoy an excerpt from Daughter of Snow and Secrets Daughter of Snow and Secrets Kerry Chaput Historical Fiction Releases March 21 1681. Isabelle lives safely in Geneva but travels to the French countryside along secret Huguenot trails to rescue Protestants from the king’s vicious dragonnade program. She protects her family from the dangers of battling the Royal Army, but her wild daughter Elizabeth has other ideas. Eager to prove herself, Elizabeth attempts a solo rescue that goes horribly wrong. Isabelle comes out of hiding and travels to Paris while all of France wants her dead. On a dangerous mission to Versailles, old enemies threaten to tear her family apart. She must rely on surprising allies and the daughter she’s fought to protect to keep them alive and rescue every Protestant in France. Excerpt Charlotte leads the way as we climb the rocky 18 | UncagedBooks.com

mountain into France where the sun glows like gold and the rivers tumble like emeralds. Such beauty frames such wicked deeds. “You didn’t let Andre talk you out of this rescue,” Charlotte says. We stop to catch our breath and wait for the duke to scramble his way up to us. “He didn’t try to talk me out of it.” “I know he worries about you.” I stare at the bright blue sky. “Most women love to be safe and warm in their homes. They don’t need danger like I do.” Charlotte takes in a deep breath of clear mountain air. “There’s a reason Andre loved you the moment he met you. You both live on the edge of safety. He won’t admit it, but I think your danger is one of his favorite things about you.” I hold her hand and grasp tight. “You and Henri were perfect together.” She almost breaks her icy exterior but catches her tears by the tail. “He loved you so much, Isabelle. He knew you would fight long after he was gone.” A gust of wind brushes a chill along my neck. My heart thumps so hard it’s like it has feet. “I’ve seen so much pain but losing my best friend has left a hole in me I’m not sure I’ll ever repair.” “Interesting,” she says. “Losing him has focused me. I will die if I must, but I’ll bring him justice.” I want to tell her to think of her daughter, but I know she needs this fight. She’s absorbed Henri’s wants and desires. They’re part of her now. The duke crawls his way to the top of the rock, breath wheezing like steam from a copper kettle. Elizabeth and Andre follow, looking fresh and relaxed. “I’m fine,” the duke sputters. “Just need a moment.” Elizabeth raises her eyebrows at him. “Have you never walked before?” “Not this high.” Andre lifts him by the arm. “Come. We can rest in the field below.” Other than a few slips from the duke, we make our way without difficulty to the rolling terrain of Eastern France. We find an abandoned stone cottage and set up for the night. Andre stands guard, rifle in hand, at the opening where a door once hung.

KERRY CHAPUT “I don’t understand,” the duke asks me. “They’re all looking for you. Your hair marks you as the Red Fox and you’re walking right into dragoon occupied villages. Why?” “Tremblay, what would you do if you could never play another note on your violin or write another sonnet?” He ponders that question. “I would want it more.” I nod. Elizabeth rolls a pebble between her palms. “You are not prepared for this, Tremblay.” He rests the back of his hand on his hip, fingers curled out. “And how do you know that?” Elizabeth launches toward the duke as he shrieks. She slams her shoulder into his fleshy side and flattens him to the ground. He tries to roll but she grabs his hair in one hand and pulls his hand behind his back with the other. “I don’t want to hurt a woman,” he says into the dirt. She yanks his wrist farther up his spine between his shoulder blades. “That was your first mistake.” He grunts, and Elizabeth releases him. “Get up. You need to learn some things.” While Charlotte and Elizabeth work with the duke on basic fighting skills, I step up behind Andre and wrap my arms around his waist. My face finds a familiar comfort in his warm neck. “Beautiful night,” Andre says to the moonlit sky. I don’t respond, enjoying the feel of his golden hair tickling my cheek. “What’s your plan for the duke?” he asks. We turn to watch him swat and Charlotte as she kicks him in the knee. “Battle doesn’t appear to be his forte.” “I’ll force him to look at the people we rescue. He’ll watch the torture and I’ll read what his heart says. All the answers will be right there in his eyes.” Andre pulls my hands to his mouth for a soft kiss before tucking them under his chin. “His first trip is a test with the Red Fox as his commander.” “He will either prove useful or we’ll discard him.” He turns to face me, silver light gracing his cheek. “And you? How do we protect you?” I place my palm to his cheek. “You don’t.” “That drawing. The king has offered an award for your capture.”

Warm evenings in France bring me back to an earlier version of myself, where this place was my homeland, something I didn’t want to lose. That girl died a long time ago. “That reward means the king is afraid of me. That’s something I’ve wanted for years.” The duke groans for mercy. Charlotte and Elizabeth each grasp a fistful of his hair while twisting his limbs like an old oak branch. “Merde! How do two sprightly things have this much strength?” Andre glances at his predicament. “You aren’t looking deep enough,” he says with a smile. “They are sprightly in body, but monstrous in the soul.”

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Jennifer

seasons

ennifer Seasons started her career writing contemporary romances for Avon and is the author of several popular contemporary and Regency historical romances. Born in California, Jennifer has lived all over the west, and now resides in the mountains of Massachusetts with her husband and their children. A dog and several cats keep them company. A lover of autumn, cozy cardigans, and coffee, Jennifer can often be found writing her novels by hand in notebooks, bundled in said cardigan with a steaming mug of dark roast nearby. When she’s not writing, Jennifer enjoys running, riding horses, hiking with her family, gardening, yoga, and lounging in a comfy spot with a good book and a homemade chocolate chip cookie or two. Uncaged welcomes Jennifer Seasons Welcome to Uncaged! The first book in the series, The Castleburys called Mayfair Misfit and released on January fourth. Can you tell readers more about this book and the series? Thank you so much for having me! I’m so excited to share Mayfair Misfit—the book that is truly the story of my heart. To summarize the storyline quickly, it’s a tale about an aristocratic noblewoman tired of living within her prescribed societal box, who leads a double life as a mysterious tavern singer in Covent Garden until her father discovers her nightly disappearances and hires a cynical, world-weary commoner, expert in the art of finding and retrieving items of a delicate nature, to bring her home. Little does Damon know that Lady Carenza has no desire to ever lead a life of mediocrity dictated to her by her father and gives him quite the chase. It’s a Regency-set, steamy bodyguard game of cat and mouse where love ultimately wins. Mayfair Misfit is the first in the five-book series starring all the Castlebury siblings. A subplot involving a

group of murdering noblemen weaves throughout each story, starting in book one, and ultimately culminates in the last tale. I hope you enjoy the journey! What are you working on next that you can tell us about? It’s actually the last book in the Castlebury series, titled Bow Street Baron! It’s the story of the youngest son, Catamount Castlebury, captain of the Bow Street Runners, and family black sheep. After losing the woman he loved to ruthless killers, he’s dedicated his career at Bow Street to catching the madmen who call themselves The Revivalists. And when a Frenchwoman comes into the Runner’s headquarters looking and smelling just like his beloved Julie and begging for help to save her from the murderers, he can’t resist the gut feeling that maybe this woman is more than she seems. Could she truly be his Julie—just without any memory? He’ll stop at nothing to finally catch the killers and uncover the truth about the Frenchwoman named Juliette. Before it’s too late and he loses another Issue 76 | March/April 2024 | 27

FEATURE AUTHOR woman he loves. What is the most difficult scene for you to write? What is the easiest? Ha! Definitely the sex scenes. They’re always the most difficult for me to write, by far. It’s all choreography and connection and intimacy wrapped together in one pivotal scene. Everything changes after the sex. So, the feelings must tip, the internals of the characters have to shift, going from Before Sex to After Sex. It’s a nuanced, layered moment in their journeys, emotionally and physically. And I’m always worried about getting it just right. Is this too much? Too little? How am I showing the physical extension of trust, the exposure of raw vulnerability to another? How does smacking her ass mean he cares?? Heh. That sort of stuff. It’s a complicated cocktail to mix. Action scenes for me are always the easiest. Give me a fight scene, or something exploding down at the London Docks, and I am a very happy writer. How do you come up with names for your characters? Honestly, I hear a lot of names when I’m out and about and take notes of the interesting ones. A last name, a first name, just a random word my ear snagged on. Sometimes it’s as simple as a street sign that sparks an idea for me. Do you read reviews? What do you take away from them? I try not to read reviews very often because it can become this obsessive sort of thing if you let it. When I do read them, I go in understanding that I will never please everyone and that even the worst negative reviews have a kernel of validity in them. So, I try to take the constructive approach to see if and how those opinions could have merit regarding my writing. And if I can’t do that . . . I eat chocolate. Ha! 28 | UncagedBooks.com

What behind-the-scenes tidbit in your life would probably surprise your readers the most? I’m an avid horsewoman. Horses have been a part of my life since I was born, and they’re still an integral part. They ground me and comfort me and bring me so much joy. I grew up riding western, but my two young-

JENNIFER SEASONS est daughters ride English, so I’m learning to jump along with them. Equestrians are tough! What’s your process in the beginning stages of planning a new book? A lot of note scribbling! When the idea first comes to me, there’s an almost frantic burst of energy as thoughts stream one after the other, sparking off each other and building. I’ll fill pages and pages of notes and plot points and character quirks—whatever comes to mind. And I’ll go down rabbit holes of research. From there I’ll write the outline. Just a paragraph of scene points and intent, and a notation of which point of view I’m in for which chapter, or if it’s a dual POV chapter. I always refine the outline about ten chapters in once I know the characters and story better. But the beginning is all just creative alchemy at its finest. What are some things you like to do to relax when you aren’t writing or working?

Relaxing doesn’t happen for me very often as a busy writer, mom, and wife, but when it does, I love to sit with a cup of coffee and a good book or go for a walk in the woods. I’ll indulge in baking something decadently chocolate. Or I’ll paint and draw when my brain can no longer string together words. And the older I get, the more I enjoy sitting on my deck and watching the birds fly between the trees. Nerdy, I know. Do you prefer ebooks, audiobooks or physical books? Are you reading anything now? Nothing will ever beat the smell and feel of a physical book to me. I buy a shameless amount every month and savor burying my nose in between their pages. Yes, I do read them too. And no, my TBR pile isn’t getting any smaller. Somehow it just keeps growing no matter how much I try. I literally just finished Do Your Worst by Rosie Danan and loved it. Especially the backstory to the curse and its mystery and how well that was interwoven with the main love story. And up next for me is The Gentleman’s Gambit by Evie Dunmore. I’ll pretty much read anything by her. She’s brilliant. What would you like to say to fans, and where can they follow you? Thanks so much to everyone who has read my work! It’s hard to find time in today’s busy world to slow down and take the time to read. It’s practically an indulgence. So, thank you for choosing my story to curl up with. Each book of mine is an offer of loving thanks, a way to lift hope and love, and spread it from my heart to yours. You are the best and deserve all the goodness you discover between those pages. Happy reading!

Stay Connected

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Enjoy an excerpt from Mayfair Misfit Mayfair Misfit Jennifer Seasons Historical Romance A cold heart meets blazing passion . . . can it be love? Stifled by the rigid confines of Mayfair society, Lady Carenza Castlebury lives a secret life. One full of passion and color in the heart of London’s rookery, where she sings in a tavern as the infamous Masked Meadowlark. Coveted by many, claimed by none, Carenza refuses to conform to a life dictated to her by her controlling father, the powerful Earl of Castlebury. She will run away from his every attempt to quell her freedom, regardless of what her father believes—and regardless of any man he sends to bring her home. Or so she thinks, until she encounters the one man who stops her—and her heart—dead in her tracks. Commoner Damon Crowe has made a lucrative living digging through the secrets of the rich and titled. In the recovery business, Damon thinks nothing of assisting the Earl of Castlebury in retrieving his spoiled daughter from her covert nighttime escapades before her ruse is discovered. Damon sees only a hefty payout on an easy assignment. Truly, how big a problem can one nobleman’s bored and pampered daughter be? Turns out, she’s a rather large one. But when Carenza’s brazen nature puts her directly into the path of the Revivalists—a group of murdering noblemen rampaging London—Damon can 30 | UncagedBooks.com

no longer deny his feelings for the passionate hellion. Now he must use all his impressive tracking skills to find her . . . before it’s too late and he loses the only woman he has ever loved. Excerpt A hard knock rattled the door and Carenza marched to it, thinking it to be Nora, and silently yanked it open. “You have some explaining to do,” she snapped, anger marching up her spine until she noticed the figure standing there. Then it sparked and popped like hot oil in a frying pan. “You!” “That’s the second time today you’ve said that.” “That’s the second time today you’ve appeared where you’re unwanted. Why are you following me?” Carenza demanded, her cheeks flushing hot from the sudden memory of his strong embrace. “Who are you?” “So many questions.” The man responded, his roughedged voice resonating in the pit of her stomach, heating her there. “I’m afraid I must disappoint you with my lack of answers.” “Then I shall bid you good eve, sirrah.” Carenza latched onto the door and gave it a sound shove closed. “Damon Crowe.” A strong arm shot out between the rapidly shutting door and the frame, stopping its closure. “My name is Damon Crowe.” Carenza stopped forcing the door closed on his elbow and eased it back a smidge. “Well, that was decidedly easy. Mr. Damon Crowe, is it?” “Yes, my lady.” She froze. “Why did you just address me thus?” He took advantage of her shocked immobility and slipped under her arm and into the disorganized dressing room. “Because you are a lady, my lady.” “Did my father send you?” Instead of fear flooding her body as she had expected such a dreaded question to cause, fury bloomed, hot and unrestrained, infusing her limbs with crackling energy. “He sent you, didn’t he? Didn’t he?” Her hand whipped up and she poked her trespasser hard in the chest with a stiff, indignant finger. “Answer me true right this moment or I declare I will shout for West. He doesn’t take kindly to

JENNIFER SEASONS men harassing me.” “Does that often occur?” He looked down at her, his dark eyes penetrating. “Men harassing you?” “Once it too often, Mr. Crowe.” She poked him in his hard chest again, her fury catching fire. “By blazes, I’ll never understand how it is that you men believe us women were put here on this earth singularly for your entertainment instead of entirely for our own person. Our own choice. Our. Own. Experience.” She ground out between gritted teeth, punctuating each separated word with another livid poke of her finger into his torso. It mattered not that this man was a stranger. It mattered not that he was big and strong and so masculine a part of her wanted to pool into a puddle of feelings right there in the middle of her dressing room floor regardless of her higher intellect and objections to such sentiments of weakness. It also mattered not that he could harm her if he so chose and that she would be unconscious or dead before West even arrived at her door. All that mattered in that moment was the rage building inside her over the injustice all women suffered at the hands of society. And that for all that this man was a stranger, something about him felt trustworthy. Solid. Reliable. As if she could be honest with him, even if he appeared dark and dangerous. Even if he worked for her father. And that just made her all the madder. “The restrictions placed upon a woman’s life are a chokehold, a death sentence.” Carenza stabbed him with her finger once again, completely oblivious to the discomfort the joints of her digit would suffer later from such harsh treatment. “Something you awful man would know nothing about, being a man.” “Would you prefer me to be something else?” His deep voice reverberated in his chest—the one currently being assaulted by her furious appendage. “Something more suitable to your refined and delicate taste perhaps?” Though she heard the mocking note in his tone, Carenza ignored it. Too much momentum of emotion accumulated behind her rib cage, pushing against its barrier, seeking release. “I would prefer to be left alone to pursue the life of my choice on my own terms!” Oh,

her head and heart were in it now. “Without censure! Without judgment or consequence!” Each word spat from her lips earned another hard jab of her finger, although now Carenza was blind to the motion. Too many emotions, too much injustice. “Enough.” Mr. Crowe growled, pinning her hand flat to his chest and anchoring her close. “No more poking.” “Let go!” She cried, tears threatening her eyes and stinging her throat as she yanked against him to no avail. “Let go of me now!” He tipped his head to the side, his gorgeous tumble of midnight waves brushing against his broad shoulder as he assessed her quietly, thoroughly. “Or what?” His softspoken words surprised her, taunted and propelled her, held her as captive as her hand under his large, strong palm. “Or I will scream.” She immediately promised, the unfairness of life lodging like a smoldering cannonball in the center of her chest. She made the mistake of looking into his dark, intense eyes as she defiantly boasted, “I am quite loud.” The flicker of heat that sparked there shortened her breath, quickened her pulse, distracted her momentarily from her anger. “Try it, milady.” Mr. Crowe purred as his vowels reshaped, grew sharper with a baseborn accent previously imperceptible to her ears. His gaze dropped to her mouth. “Let me hear you scream.” His words slid over her body like fine silk, cooling one fire and lighting another more elusive one, barely touching yet setting her skin alight with sensation after rolling, delicious sensation. “Why,” she started breathlessly to say and stopped, swallowing back a jangle of excited nerves that standing so near him caused. “Why,” she began again, “must you say it in that manner?” “What manner is that?” He murmured, his gaze never leaving her lips. She licked them, suddenly keenly aware of their generous shape, the extra plumpness of her top lip. “It was . . . indecent.” A corner of his mouth turned up, humor and something else flashing in his dark eyes. “InIssue 76 | March/April 2024 | 31

FEATURE AUTHOR decent?” Carenza nodded. “Inappropriately suggestive, too.” Her brain struggled to maintain clarity as the strong, steady thump of his heartbeat under her palm lured her, called her own heart to match its rhythm. “Who are you?” She whispered, as she leaned even closer into him, as his scent filled her senses, loosened and heated her limbs. Made her pliant and longing for something she was somehow certain only he could provide. Her gaze fell to his lips, to the hard, sculpted lines of them that hinted at a deeply protected, deeply hidden vulnerability. A softness reserved and elusively rare. The paradox of it to his hard, tough visage captivated her. Her pulse skipped five fluttering beats as his mouth lowered over hers, heat flooding her belly, sinking lower. His breath brushed her lips, hot and inviting as he leaned even closer and whispered, his tone low and gutter-rough, full of promise, “I’m the bloke sent to bring you home, milady.”

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Sandra

sookoo

andra Sookoo is a USA Today bestselling author who firmly believes every person deserves acceptance and a happy ending. That is why her characters are not in the usual style and oftentimes struggle with things out of the norm. She’s written for publication since 2008. Most days you can find her creating scandal and mischief in the Regency-era, serendipity and happenstance in the Victorian era, or historical romantic suspense complete with mystery and intrigue. Reading is a lot like eating chocolates—you can’t just have one book. Give her the chance with one book and you’ll be hooked. When she’s not wearing out computer keyboards or mice, Sandra spends time with her real-life Prince Charming in Central Indiana where she also runs a gourmet cookie business and makes moments count with the man because the key to life is laughter. Inspired to storytelling by Walt Disney since the age of ten, when her soul gets bogged down and her imagination flags, a trip to Walt Disney World is in order. Nothing fills the well and fuels her dreams more than the land of eternal happy endings, hope and love stories.

Uncaged welcomes Sandra Sookoo Welcome to Uncaged! You have a new series starting called The Hasting Sisters, and the first book will release March 12. What can you tell readers about this book and the series? Hi! Thanks for including me in this issue! Yes, I’m getting ready to launch a brand-new series called the Hasting Sisters, and I’m super excited about it! All the heroines in this series are sisters (6 in all) and unfortunately, the family has fallen on difficult times. Taxes haven’t been paid on the country manor and the father’s health is declining. So, all the girls got together and decided to take paid positions as companions to help out. Whether they’re looking after young girls making their Come Outs, elderly widows, a governess, and anything in between, the Hasting sisters are quite determined. What’s more, they are older. I think the eldest daughter is in her thirties. The trouble with needing to be everything prim

and proper in these positions is the scandal they get into, largely at the hand of the heroes they’ll all come to meet. Isn’t that just like a man? You have published over 165 books. How did you get started in the historical genre? I started in the historical genre in 2012, four years after I became a published author. Previously, I’d written contemporary romantic comedy. But my first love has always been historical romance; it was all I read. Then one day I decided that I could write historical romances as well—or better—and the rest was history. In 2016 I added historical romantic suspense to my docket, and that’s really my happy place. There’s so much challenge and reward in writing historical romance.

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FEATURE AUTHOR What are you working on next that you can tell us about? When am I not working on something? LOL At the time of taking this interview, I’m finishing up An Intriguing Springtime Engagement (Mary and Bright #2) This is a Regency mystery series. After that I’ll be writing One Suitor Too Many (Singular Sensation #8) It’s a Regency romantic suspense series. And finally, by the time this interview goes live, I should be working on An Impossible Match (which is the third book in the Hasting Sisters series) Never a dull moment around these parts! What is the most difficult scene for you to write? What is the easiest? After 15 years of writing professionally, I still get tripped up by transitional chapters. That is to say a chapter that conveys the characters from one thing to another. And no, you can’t just say “they did this and now they’re doing this or thinking this”. A writer has to convey to readers the character’s process of thinking, feeling, going, etc. And sometimes, sexy times scenes are difficult, and since I’m not the kind of writer who puts in placeholders to come back later, I can’t move forward until the scene is written. As for easy scenes? Oddly enough, they’re fight scenes. One of my editors in the past always said I wrote the best fight scenes that were edgy and believable. Do you read reviews? What do you take away from them? Sometimes I read them; sometimes I don’t. If I allowed myself to get too invested in them, I’d go crazy. Not all readers will “get” all my books. However, if someone goes out of their way to be ugly about a book in a review and gives it a one-star (you know the ones “too much sex” “this author has no idea how to write”, etc) I do use those reviews as free promotion. I figure if they’re gonna be ugly, I’m going to use that. But by and large, most of my reader base is kind and lovely. Sometimes their reviews make me cry happy tears, and I absolutely love it when readers leave reviews saying my books helped them through 40 | UncagedBooks.com

SANDRA SOOKOO tough times in their lives. What behind-the-scenes tidbit in your life would probably surprise your readers the most? Hmm, that’s tough because I think I’m pretty boring LOL But sometimes I have my husband act out fight scenes with me so I can get the arm and leg and body positioning right when writing. OR I used to be a caterer in my past before I embarked on being a published author. OR I caretake a gaggle of geese here at home. I’ve named them. They come to their names. I feed them; they bring their babies to see me. A lot of people call me Snow White because I have an odd connection with all animals. What’s your process in the beginning stages of planning a new novel? I’m a big planner/outliner. Unless a story is under 5K, I outline it. I consider that my rough draft where I tell myself the story to see what works and what doesn’t. I refuse to wander around aimlessly in my writing. My schedule is far too busy to not know what I’m writing about. Also, I’m a linear writer so I don’t skip ahead, I don’t use placeholders. I write things in order, always. What are some things you like to do to relax when you aren’t writing or working? Not working? Bite your tongue LOL My husband is always on my case to take time off, and I have some time coming up for just that. But seriously, to relax I love visiting our local Indianapolis Zoo or going to museums in the downtown area. The art museum in particular is my jam. Always I’m a foodie, so my husband and I will go out to our favorite restaurants to celebrate various things. Also, many of my book releases are celebrated at the Cake Bake shop or Oliver Winery. Both, thankfully, are here in Central Indiana. Do you prefer ebooks, audiobooks or physical books? Are you reading anything now? Issue 76 | March/April 2024 | 41

FEATURE AUTHOR I’m a digital girl. There is no space in my house to contain all the books I own on my Kindle Paperwhite. Besides, books are notorious for collecting dust and encouraging mold, so with my allergies, it’s best not to do that. I do have a collection of signed books. And with my Kindle, I can carry a whole library with me according to mood. What am I reading? Each spring I re-read the Anne of Green Gables series. Yes, every year. Love them! What would you like to say to fans, and where can they follow you? To my fans and readers, thank you from the bottom of my heart for reading my books and loving them. Over the past several years, I’ve worked really hard to showcase that everyone, regardless of their challenges, is worthy of love and happy endings, as well as writing about romance for couples who are older and seasoned. I keep all of you in mind with every new book I write, and I hope you continue to enjoy my work!

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Enjoy an excerpt from The Devil’s Game The Devil’s Game Sandra Sookoo Historical Romance Releases March 12 He’s heat and sin. She’s ice and proper. Between them, a storm of passion is brewing. On the shelf Miss Amelia Hasting has no time for frivolity. Companion to a willful nineteen-yearold nouveau riche heiress seeking a match with a titled gentleman, Mia’s only task is steering her charge away from rogues and scoundrels, but when it’s her peace of mind that is threatened by an overly handsome and very wicked viscount, she must do something, and fast, to keep both herself and her charge out of his bed, even if she’s curiously tempted by him. Rakish Nicholas Devlin, Viscount Wycliffe, is suffering from ennui. Now that the war is over and there’s no need for his smuggling services, he requires a fortune, which means sacrificing himself to parson’s mousetrap with a young woman who has more bosom than brains. Despite his protests, when he meets a stubborn, companion indifferent to his charm, he forgets the heiress into order to knock Amelia from her icy pedestal and discover her fire. Though Mia’s protective of her charge, it’s obvious his attention has been on her all along. The more she fights the forbidden attraction, the more he teases. Knowing he’s met his match in all the ways that matter, forced proximity ensures Nicholas’ seduction attempts with the fascinating companion, thinking his insistent pursuit will wane once he beds her, yet that act only brings more complications for the enemies

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SANDRA SOOKOO to lovers. Passion grows, threatening to shatter them both, unless they accept the truth—they’re in love… …despite the scandal that will surely follow. Excerpt With a hurried prayer for patience, Mia pressed her lips together. “There is more to life than coin,” she reminded the girl. Millie was one of those young ladies who could have benefited largely from attending finishing school. She was a bit too raw, too exuberant for many of the English gentleman circulating through the room. To say nothing of her general lack of refinement, which might put some of them off, especially the bluer their blood. But the captain had been adamant his daughter was ready for society without all those extra fripperies, so here they were. “Of course, Miss Hasting. There are men!” Her brown eyes glittered with excitement. “I cannot wait to get started.” Dear lord. “While this is true, those very men want nothing more from you than to get their hands beneath your skirting or put you into a compromising position, so you’ll have to wed them.” Whether they were a good match or not. “Which is why I’m here. To keep you on a good path and steer you away from scoundrels.” A huff escaped Millie. “You are a killjoy, Miss Hasting.” The girl frowned at her as she raked her gaze up and down Mia’s person. “If you made an effort at your appearance, you wouldn’t be such a scare, for you do have pretty eyes and a lovely frame. I don’t see why a man wouldn’t take pity on you and ask to marry you.” Like father like daughter, apparently. Mia quelled the urge to point her gaze at the heavens. “Thank you for that compliment, but I’m not looking for romance at the moment. You are my first priority.” “Then encourage an affair.” The girl shrugged but there was blatant pity in her eyes. “Perhaps some of your dour starch would fade if you were bedded. I’m told it makes all the difference in a woman’s demeanor.”

She couldn’t help gawking at her charge. “That was out of turn, Millie.” Heat filled her cheeks all the same. “I am not dour. I am merely out of patience with you for trying to always evade me. And don’t deny it, for you’ve done so thrice since I arrived in London.” The girl didn’t even have the grace to appear embarrassed. “I can’t help that you keep me from having fun because you can’t fathom doing the same.” Oh, yes, Millie would be trouble. Perhaps it would be better to see her engaged, and sooner rather than later. “Your father hired me to keep you out of scandal. Like it or not, the both of us are stuck together.” And she had the feeling the girl would try to slip away at the first opportunity. I’ll just have to be more clever. Millie huffed. “I’m going to ask Papa to exchange you for a better companion.” “You can try, but he knows I’m your best hope of landing a kind, decent man who will take care of you for the rest of your life. You want that over becoming some man’s mistress, don’t you?” As she spoke, Mia constantly surveyed the inhabitants of the crowded drawing room. Captain Featheringham held court in one corner, no doubt boasting about his coffers and his eligible, innocent daughter. Truly, it was bad taste, but what could one expect from the nouveau riche? “No, I want a husband! I’m quite certain once eligible men come to know me, the one I choose won’t stray.” Good heavens. The girl certainly thought much of herself. “Then be smart and choose wisely. Don’t accept the first offer that comes your way.” Snatches of laughter filtered through the air. The earl and his countess were in the opposite corner of Millie’s father with their group of admirers. Everyone was chatting and laughing. The glitter of gems in the candlelight was exceptional; the gowns divine. Flutes of champagne and tumblers of brandy were plentiful, and footmen continuously circled with the alcohol on silver trays. So Issue 76 | March/April 2024 | 43

FEATURE AUTHOR many scents competed for her notice that her nose was soon confused. Then Millie’s fidgeting recalled her attention. “What if no one finds me alluring?” Concern threaded through the girl’s whisper. “I’m quite certain that won’t happen.” The dowry on her head practically ensured that. “But the key is to be yourself, to talk about the things that interest you while finding someone who might share some of those interests.” She patted Millie’s arm. “Above all, don’t put too much pressure on yourself. This is one event out of many over the course of the winter. You needn’t decide the remainder of your life tonight.” Unexpected gratitude filtered over the girl’s face. “Thank you for the advice. May I join Papa?” “Of course.” With the wave of her hand, Mia let Millie wander over to her father’s side; she’d have the attention she wanted there if discerning men could overlook the popinjay that was the captain. As she moved about the perimeter of the room, the attitude suddenly shifted. With a frown, she glanced at the door. Two striking men entered and were night and day differences from each other. Both stood slightly under six feet. Both wore expertly tailored evening clothing and starched cravats manipulated into intricate knots. The blond man had chosen a waistcoat in sapphire silk while the raven-haired man’s waistcoat was of dark red satin. While the blond man’s expression held a note of expectation, the black-haired man’s was a bit sardonic, as if he didn’t wish to be there but knew he wouldn’t leave alone. Who are these two? From her position near the wallflowers and other companions, Mia watched the dark-haired man fully enter the room. He moved as if the world had always altered itself to his whim. Slight silver glinted at his temples, yet he didn’t appear that aged. In fact, he walked with a confidence that spoke of the fact he knew all eyes were on him. Further, he knew exactly what each person wanted from him. Whispers around her said he was the Viscount Wycliffe, the man her sisters 44 | UncagedBooks.com

had warned her about, and in that moment, she could believe the rumors. He was scandal, heat, and sin, and he absolutely had to be kept away from Millie. Just seeing him prowl through the shifting crowds made her catch her breath for a few seconds. There was no doubt he had left devastated female hearts in his wake, and what was more, he was an expert at it. With a tiny shake of her head, Mia removed her gaze from the newcomer and looked for her charge. Where was the girl? The group around her father had disbursed. Rugs were being rolled back and furniture shuttled to the sides or put into the corridor in preparation for some light dancing. Finally, she spotted Millie, and knots tightened in her belly. The silly girl was being plied with compliments and no doubt empty promises by Lord Wycliffe. Drat, the man worked fast, but then, probably every man at the event knew Millie was an heiress, and her dowry alone would set them up for life. The captain had certainly seen to that. None of them would wish for someone else to steal the march on them. Let’s see if we can’t thin the crowd a bit, separate the fortune hunters from the genuinely interested. With a huff, Mia joined them, took hold of the girl’s arm, and reminded her she should be circulating through the room, completely ignoring the viscount. “There are plenty of men you haven’t been introduced to yet. It’s not fair that one should monopolize your time so soon.” “Oh, Miss Hasting, this is Lord Wycliffe. He’s a viscount, and he says he’s in the market for a wife. Isn’t that fortuitous since I need a husband?” Her eyes rounded, and already there was an awestruck look in her eye. She wasn’t as sophisticated as she wanted people to think if she was bowled over by meeting one viscount. Surely, she couldn’t be as stupid as that to think he was her soulmate after conversing with him for two minutes. “Not so fortuitous since you will find the same story on at least five other men’s lips tonight.” When she tried to steer the girl from him, Lord Wycliffe stepped into their path.

SANDRA SOOKOO “No need to scurry away so soon.” The timbre of his voice had shivers playing her spine, but it was the easy grin that had silly flutters moving through her lower belly. “We have only just met.” He wasted no time in scooping up Mia’s free hand and bringing the gloved fingers to his lips. “Good evening, Miss…?” There was nothing for it. She couldn’t ignore him at the moment. “Miss Hasting.” The sly fox grinned all the more as he kissed her middle knuckle, held her hand a fraction of a second too long before releasing her. “I’ll wager you’re the girl’s companion, hmm?” He winked. “You have the look of a watch dog about you. Or perhaps a dragon.” Millie giggled, as if that were the funniest joke she’d ever heard. “Miss Hasting is my companion! Papa said she’s to help me find a match.” Another giggle, this one more hysterical than the first. “And keep me away from bounders.” She sidled closer to the viscount. “Are you one of those, Lord Wycliffe?” “I can assure you I’m not, Miss Featheringham.” That easy grin was back in place, but Mia didn’t like it by half. A girl without experience in anything would be taken in by his charm. “If your dragon will grant me permission, perhaps you will save me a dance tonight?” “Oh, I would like that above all things!” Millie practically bounced in place, which only served to draw any male gazes in the vicinity to her full bosom on display from the inappropriate neckline of the gown. “Though I haven’t done much dancing outside the schoolroom. Does that matter?” “Not at all, my dear.” He took up one of Millie’s hands. “You are just so beautiful that I’m having a difficult time concentrating on anything else this evening.” Mia scoffed. Couldn’t the man do better than that? If he was supposed to be a grand seducer of women, that comment was rather pedestrian. “Then might I suggest a pot of strong coffee, Lord Wycliffe? Perhaps that will clear your brain.” She arched an eyebrow in challenge. “Meanwhile, Miss Featheringham has other people to talk with.” When a young man not much older than Millie drifted into their circle and stammered with a flushed face until he asked the girl to partner him in the country

reel that was setting up, three pairs of eyes rested on Mia. Wishing to make things difficult for the viscount, she nodded. “You may go, Millie, and mind your manners but above all, enjoy yourself.” An annoyed huff came from the viscount. The girl’s smile was wide as she laid her fingers upon the young man’s sleeve, and he led her to an open spot on the floor. “You deliberately thwarted me from talking to the chit or even asking her to dance.” Banked fury growled through the viscount’s voice. “It is what I’m being paid for.” Mia ignored the awareness that prickled along her skin. It was nothing but the emotions of the moment and would fade. “Perhaps we should move to a more private spot if you wish to continue this discussion.” “Agreed.” Though he narrowed his eyes, there was no mistaking the ire in those dark brown depths. As one, they moved to the side of the room out of the foot traffic and dancing. “You have no right to keep me away from the girl.” “No, I don’t, but I do have a responsibility toward her to protect her from men of your ilk.” Though they stood at a wall without the benefit of privacy, the crowds ensured they were jostled together. When his scent wafted to her nose, she was unexpectedly adrift on how delicious that was, like the air in winter just before the snow flew. Very crisp and clean with the veriest hint of mint. “Men of my ilk?” he asked in a deceptively low voice. “What do you know of me, Miss Hasting?” “I know enough that you are hunting an heiress and have no intentions of entering into a romance with Miss Featheringham.” “There is no crime in it.” “Perhaps not, but Millie deserves more from life than you, a man who will no doubt get her with child and then consign her to your country estate while you remain in Town, resuming your detestable life and forgetting you are wed.” As Issue 76 | March/April 2024 | 45

FEATURE AUTHOR hot anger rose in her chest, she crossed her arms beneath her breasts. It didn’t escape her notice that his gaze dropped briefly to her décolletage. She lowered her voice but gave no quarter. “So I will not allow you near my charge, and will do whatever it takes to keep you from defiling or even marrying her.” “Ah, there are the dragon’s claws,” he shot off in an equally low voice. Though annoyance still clung to him like a garment, his expression softened. “However, I’m not afraid of the chit’s companion. You are merely an obstacle to my goal.” The viscount took a step toward her, which compelled Mia to retreat until the wall at her back prevented further movement. “You can try, but I’m just as determined to keep you away.” Oh, he would be a challenge, but her sisters had tried her patience all her life, and he couldn’t be worse than them. “You are quite an interesting person, Miss Hasting.” The man shifted his focus, and his whole demeanor changed. Gone was the annoyance to be replaced with overt charm and a grin that would have most women ready to swoon. “Perhaps if you were a few years younger, I’d try my fortune in pursuing you to dance with me.” “Ah, so then you assume I’ll let down my guard if you ply me with flattery and flirting.” She tsked her tongue and gave her head a shake. “I’m made of sterner stuff, my lord.” “So I can see.” Slowly, oh so slowly, he raked his dark gaze up and down her body, and she swore she could feel that regard as if he’d physically caressed her. No one in the room seemed to pay them mind. “No longer young or with prospects, I’d imagine, but I wouldn’t mind having you in my bed, teaching you a few things. At least then you won’t die an innocent.” Such gall of the man! “You assume I have never been married, then.” 46 | UncagedBooks.com

“Have you?” When she didn’t answer, for he didn’t need to know anything about her, one of his black eyebrows—with a slight point at the arch—rose, and in that moment, he resembled the very devil. “I wonder if you’d scream when you hit release?” Despite the gooseflesh that raced over her skin, the man had gone too far! “You overstep, my lord.” Without thinking, she raised a hand and then quickly slapped his face. The sound of a kid glove hitting flesh was drowned out by the dance going on behind them, the buzz of conversation and laughter, as well as the vibrant notes coming from the pianoforte. “Oh, my dear Miss Hasting, I have only just started.” Shock etched through his expression as his eyes darkened to almost black as he held a hand to his reddening cheek. “You have won this round, but make no mistake, dragon. I know what I want, and your charge is an heiress with a king’s ransom for a dowry.” He leaned so close there was a hint of mint in the air as if he’d brushed his teeth before arriving at the rout. “I always get whatever—and whomever—I want.” Mia trembled where she stood, whether from his proximity or from reaction, she couldn’t say. “Everyone is disappointed at some point in their life, Lord Wycliffe. Perhaps your reckoning has come, and you should adjust your attitude accordingly.” Her hands shook so badly she fisted them in her skirting. “I bid you good evening, but it is time you went on your way.” “For now.” With a nod and a lingering glance at her, he executed a mocking half-bow from the waist, then he easily slipped from the room. Seconds later, the man he’d arrived with followed. Oh, dear heavens! It wasn’t often a man burrowed beneath her skin to make her heated and angry, but this one had, and she wouldn’t let it happen again. At least she had a purpose now, and that was to protect the flirting, far too impressionable and naïve Millie. The girl would not be the viscount’s latest conquest, and neither did she deserve a life sentence leg-shackled to the man without love. If he thinks he’s clever, I am more so, and he will not win.

Short Story Forget Your Past by D.K. Marie

SHORT STORY

Short Story – March/April 2024

Forget Your Past by D.K. Marie She woke slowly. Her crazy dreams made her groggy and confused. All night, they chased her, making her feel as if she’d been running backward, from the present to the past. Opening her eyes, she took in the unfamiliar bedroom. She was startled to feel a warm body pressed against her. The masculine arm resting on her waist was that of a stranger. Fear knocked out her breath. Who was he? As a matter of fact, who was she? She couldn’t recall her name, her history, nothing. She was a blank slate. Swallowing a scream, she carefully pushed off the man’s arm from her. He mumbled something, rolling onto his back. Peaking at him, she took in his messy black hair, sharp jaw, and wide, full mouth. Even asleep, she could tell he was handsome. However, none of that mattered because she had no freaking idea who he was or why he was in her bed. Was it her bed? Hell if she knew. He opened his eyes. They were a startling hazel, so light they were almost amber. “Are you okay,” he asked in a voice laced with sleep. She couldn’t answer, panic choked all her words. Plus, she didn’t have a clue at what to say. He obviously knew her. Maybe she could ask him what his name was, her’s too. “You look scared,” He said, reaching for her. She squeaked, clutching the blanket tighter. He laughed. “Don’t let that silly superstition get to you. Nothing bad will happen because we spent the night together.” 52 | UncagedBooks.com

Because I’m marrying this man today. What? Her heart hammered, and her mind racing. How could she know this when he’s a stranger? When she’s a stranger to herself. Yet, clear as day, she sees their wedding. It’s on someone’s property. There’s a lake, so calm it almost looks like glass. Behind is a massive forest, the trees beginning to change, their tips red, yellow, and orange. All day, rain threatens to fall but never does, and by the time the ceremony ends, the sun makes an appearance. Like a slide show, another scene appears in her mind’s eye. This time it is her honeymoon with the handsome stranger. Flying first-class to France, the two of them holding hands at the Louvre, feels her disappointment at the size of the Mona Lisa, but loving the exhilaration of the wind whipping through her hair as she takes in Paris from the Eiffel Tower. Then the image moves to their hours at the boutique hotel, exploring each other as thoroughly as they did the streets of France. Followed by, a month later, they learn she’s pregnant. The news is unexpected, and the ninemonths isn’t easy. She spends much of it on bed rest, and the baby comes early. However, she, a beautiful girl, will be healthy and happy. She gasped, “Am I on birth control?” The man’s brows pushed together. “Since I’ve known you.” His eye squint as he studies her face. “Babe, are you okay? We should have gone to the hospital when you passed out yesterday.” “I passed out?” He sat up straight, nodding slowly. “Yeah. Remember that woman came out of nowhere, grabbed your hand, muttered something about dwelling on the past, and you collapsed like a marionette with its strings cut.” “Um, why didn’t you take me to the hospital?” Whoever this man was, he didn’t seem to take care of his fiancé very well.

He laughed. It was deep and sexy. “Have you met yourself?” Apparently not. At least not recently. “You are the most stubborn woman I know,” he said. “You came around before my knees even hit the ground to check on you. You refused to go. Said we had to get our asses to the rehearsal dinner.” He shifted closer, and she couldn’t help flinching. Her attraction to him didn’t matter. She was naked, and this guy was a stranger. Granted, one she’d have three kids with, two girls and a boy. Her heart clenched. She’d also have to nurse him while he went through three rounds of chemo when a spot was found on his lungs. Seeing him fifteen years from now, weak and scared, brought tears to her eyes. “Ashley, honey, what is wrong?” He reached for her, but then seemed to think better of it and let his hands fall. “Tell me. Please.” “I don’t know who you are. Or me,” she whispered. He scratched his temple. “You mean, like philosophically?” “No. Literally.” “You have amnesia?” Skepticism was etched in his every word. She nodded. “I think so.” He glanced at his naked torso then to his lap cover by the comforter. She knew from waking with him pressed to her that he didn’t have on any bottoms either. He met her eyes, “This has to be awkward.” An unexpected giggle escaped her. “A little.” He twisted around, grabbing something from the other side of the bed. It was her clothes.

DK MARIE

Pointing behind her, he said, “That’s the bathroom. I’ll close my eyes until I hear the door close.” His lids fell shut. She wanted to hug him for his kindness. Instead, she jumped up from the bed, making a b-line for the bathroom. Once inside, she clutched her clothes, looking around, hoping to recognize something. Nope. Nothing. Not even the woman with reddish-brown hair and scared eyes staring back at her from the mirror was known. She tilted her head, fascinated to find that while who she was, remained a mystery, she could clearly see herself thirty years from now. Her curls that fell to her shoulder blades were gone, now cut to her cheeks and mixed with gray. She also had lovely laugh lines. There was a scar on her shoulder from a car accident. It was the other driver’s fault. They’d run a red light. Turning, she shook her head, wanting to dislodge the vision from her mind and figure out what the hell was happening in her present. Pulling on a wrinkled, knee-length nightgown, she called, “Is it okay for me to come out?” “I’m dressed,” he replied. Opening the door, she found him sitting on the edge of the bed in a pair of black sweat pants and a gray t-shirt. It pulled nicely across his broad chest. She blinked slowly. How could she have lustfueled thoughts about a stranger? Maybe because her body knew him. So did her future. Tired of thinking of him as just him, she asked, “What is your name?” “Noah.” “Nice name.” “Thanks.” They looked at each other and laughed at Issue 76 | March/April 2024 | 53

SHORT STORY

the absurdity of it all. When she caught her breath, she sat next to him. “Can I tell you something weird?”

“It’s our wedding night,” she laughed. “I don’t think you need someone who can see the future to tell you that.”

His brow rose. “Weirder than this.”

His smile faded. “But do we get married? I’m a stranger to you.”

“Yup.” He slapped his hands to his knees. “Hit me with it.” “My mind is a blank when it comes to yesterday, and everyday previously, but I know everything that happens after.” She described their wedding, down to the tiny details of her dress. When she finished talking, he studied her. An unsure smile tugged on his lips. “Are you messing with me?”

She studied his kind eyes, thought about how he’d treated her since waking, recalled their future, and there was no hesitation when she said, “Yes, we get married.” He jerked back, clearly surprised. “Really?” “Yes. I don’t know our past, but it is clear my future is with you.” © 2024 D.K. Marie Printed with Permission UncagedBooks.com

Confused and a little annoyed, she said, “No, why would you think such a thing?” “You tell me you have amnesia but you can describe your parents place and your wedding dress…” She sighed, closing her eyes and focusing on the night after the celebration. Opening them, she said, “You were going to surprise me. For our wedding night, you’d rented a cabin in the mountains.” Noah’s mouth fell open. “Did someone tell you…” She shook her head, adding. “There is a hot tub on the back porch. We sit in it, watching the sunrise. Before that we lay on a blanket under the stars.” Seeing the rest, her cheeks heated. “Wow, that’s a bright blush.” He leaned closer, and this time she didn’t move away. “What happened?” “We make love under the stars,” she whispered. He smirked. “So, I get lucky tonight?” 54 | UncagedBooks.com

DK Marie’s a voracious reader. Her number one love is romance and devours any and all of its genres, but also enjoys thrillers, horror, and non-fiction. Basically, if there are words on a page and a spectacular story, she’s diving in, heart and soul. dkmarie.com

we should do better Guest column by Brent Olson

Guest Column

We Should Do Better By Brent Olson

We should do better. It’s a little strange that at the age of 69, after several decades of making a living as a writer, it dawned on me just this week that there’s been a common theme to almost all my work. My syndicated column, Independently Speaking, has been running for nearly thirty years, and while it’s been given awards for editorial comment, humor, and journalism, a repeating theme is the desire to be better. A better husband, father, citizen...you name it. The cumulation is the best thing I’ve ever written. My alternative history Between the Helpless and the Darkness, began with the working title A Happy Ending for the World. As a journalist, I’ve filed stories from twenty countries, allowing me to see plenty of room for improvement, yet it took nearly twenty years to turn those experiences into a project. The book, for lack of a better word, is a stew of what makes me...me. I grew up on a farm on the western edge of Minnesota which marked the transition between the tall grass and short grass prairies of the Great Plains before the arrival of plow-bearing Europeans. I’ve had a number of Dakota friends in my life, who as individuals are just as wonderful and screwed up as any other example of humanity. But my admiration for their culture, particularly pre-contact with Europeans, led me to study the rich variety of Native cultures. Another ingredient is that most of my ancestors 60 | UncagedBooks.com

came from Norway, and I grew up reading about the exploits of the Vikings. The final ingredient of my stew was my lifelong fascination with history, politics and figuring out what works. Where did it all lead? Knowledgeable people are willing to say that our Constitution borrows quite a bit from the League of the Iroquois, a confederation of Native Americans in the northeast. A thousand years ago, Scandinavian culture gave a great deal of power and autonomy to women. And, to any serious reader it’s hard to dispute that most of the evils in the world result from the actions of men and in particular ambitious, greedy men. Many of the evils of colonialism come about not because of the clash of cultures, but because the clash is accompanied by a disparity in power. Dream of what could have, might have been, and badabing, bada-boom, there’s a book. Turns out you can fix the world; you just have to have a 1,000-year head start. Harald Hardreda was a real person whose biography would defy fiction. Carried off his first battlefield wounded, at age fourteen, he made his way through what is now Ukraine to the Byzantine Empire where he became a member of the emperor’s personal bodyguard. He accumulated vast wealth, returned to Norway, won the title of King of Norway and died in 1066 while invading England. What if he hadn’t died? What if he’d been carried off that battlefield wounded near unto death. With his army destroyed along with his dreams? With all ambition and greed burned from his soul but all his leadership skills

intact, what if he’d led his followers westward, following in the footsteps of other Scandinavian explorers until he set foot in what is now Nova Scotia? Lacking the advantages of guns and germs like later explorers, he would have needed to work together with the native inhabitants to forge a new vision, not a conquest but a collaboration, leading to something greater than the sum of its parts. It is, of course, a work of fiction, written to entertain, but also to make you think. We cannot change the past, but it’s within our power to learn the lessons of the past moving forward. We can do better. ©Copyright 2024 Brent Olson for Uncaged Book Reviews www.uncagedbooks.com Published with Permission

Brent Olson’s biggest, boldest, and best book yet is a stunning work of alternative history. Olson has achieved an entirely new script for the world by moving the path of one arrow one inch. Brent Olson, a journalist for a quarter of a century, has published seven books and filed thousands of articles from over twenty countries on six continents. Throughout this time, he couldn’t help but wonder, “Couldn’t we have done better?” Not fully content with his world, he decided to create a new one. brentolson.online Issue 76 | March/April 2024 | 61

feature authors

contemporary | suspense | fantasy

Sydney Scott

Amber Daulton

Steve Stephenson K.M. Tedrick

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Sydney

Scott

ydney Scott is an American romance writer whose books contain little drama and a happily ever after guarantee. Originally from Phoenix, Arizona, she now lives in Colorado where she spends a lot less time complaining about the heat and more time in front of the fire with a good read. She has previously worked in human resources and education where she taught high school English and Communication Studies. When she’s not writing stories about other people’s love lives, she can be found hiking, baking, drinking hot chocolate, or hanging out with her husband and two young daughters.

Uncaged welcomes Sydney Scott Welcome to Uncaged! You just released, Worth the Risk, the 2nd book in the Sun Valley series. Can you tell readers more about this small town romance and the series? Absolutely! Worth the Risk is about twenty-somethings Madi and Owen, two English teachers who met in college and have been best friends in the nine years since then. Recently, Madi has come to realize she wants to be with Owen romantically, but he is so adverse to change that he refuses to entertain the idea and she’s hesitant to risk their friendship for an unsure outcome. The story focuses on the changes their friendship goes through as both struggle to come to terms with their changing feelings towards one another. The Sun Valley series focuses on a group of high school teacher friends in a small, central California town and their love lives. The series has some great tropes like grumpy/sunshine, friends-to-lovers, and a second chance romance and is filled with lots of humor. You are originally from Arizona, but now live in

Colorado. What are some of your favorite things about Colorado? Do you miss Arizona at all? My favorite thing about Colorado has to be how gorgeous it is. Everywhere you go there are so many great views of the Rockies, lakes, or plains and the fact that there are actual visual cues to the seasons like leaves changing and snow is such an amazing switch from Arizona. Fall has always been my favorite time of year and now I get to enjoy seeing all the different colored leaves! I do miss Arizona, mostly because I have family there, but I also miss the desert sunsets because they are just about the best I’ve ever seen. Sonoran style Mexican food is something I also sorely miss here in Colorado and anyone who has read my first book knows how much I love that type of food based on just how much time I spend describing it in detail. I will say that the extreme heat is something I will never miss, especially since I love to wear jeans and sweaters. What is the most difficult scene for you to write? What is the easiest? Issue 76 | March/April 2024 | 67

FEATURE AUTHOR The most difficult scenes for me to write are actually ones that I connect to on a deeper level personally. Worth the Risk is probably one of the more personal books to me because some of the struggles Madi goes through are ones I have experienced myself. While that makes it easier to write in some ways, it also makes it more difficult because you have to relive some things from the past that may have been trying emotionally. It’s also always hard to put any of my characters through anything painful because I think of them as real people and hate to do that to them. The easiest scenes for me to write are probably ones that include a lot of dialogue between characters. I really enjoy getting into the banter between my characters and other people. Scenes with humor are so fun to write and anytime you’re enjoying yourself, the writing tends to flow easier. Any scenes that include a swoon-worthy moment for either of my main characters are also really fun to write. How do you come up with names for your characters? I have to have a mental image of what the character looks and acts like first and think about whether or not a name I might want to use really suits them. Background plays a part too, so I take heritage into account as well. Sometimes when I can’t seem to find a name that fits, I will literally go to a baby name website and scroll until I find one I like. Do you read reviews? What do you take away from them? I do read reviews and I try to take the good into my heart because having people enjoy my stories is a big part of why I write. Listening to any criticism and taking that into account as well is something I also do. Constructive criticism is invaluable to me since I’m always looking to improve my writing, but I try not to let too much of that affect me because it can be so easy to focus on the negative and that’s never good for anybody. 68 | UncagedBooks.com

What behind-the-scenes tidbit in your life would probably surprise your readers the most? I actually have a baking and pastry certificate from a program I completed while teaching and have a recipe published in a Taste of Home Cookbook. I also love superhero movies, particularly the Nolan Batman trilogy. What’s your process in the beginning stages of planning a new novel? Once I have an idea for a story, I put together a mood board of sorts for the main characters as well as the

setting (town, homes, office, etc). Then I answer a questionnaire from the perspective of each character before outlining the book. The idea stage of writing is a bit more fluid, but once I know what I want the story to be and what the characters are like, I’m very methodical and organized. That being said, there have been times when I’ve outlined an entire book

SYDNEY SCOTT and written half of it only to change the story midway and start all over again from the beginning, so I’m not always so restrictive in the process. It’s important for me to know when something just isn’t working and go back and fix it. What are some things you like to do to relax when you aren’t writing or working? I love to bake and making bread is kind of a long, slow process that I find can be very relaxing. If the weather is nice, I also love to get outdoors and go for walks in the many natural areas nearby as well as hike in the mountains. Reading is also an incredibly relaxing and enjoyable activity for me that helps to fill my creativity bucket as well. Do you prefer ebooks, audiobooks or physical books? Are you reading anything now? I love all three but prefer physical books when they are available. I’m a very tactile person, so being able to turn pages, feel the paper beneath my fingertips, and get that new book or library book smell is a big must for me. Ebooks are so convenient though, so I have been reading a lot more in that format lately and if the narrator is someone I like, I do enjoy a good audiobook. Right now I’m in the middle of reading If Only You by Chloe Liese. I love her Bergman Brothers series and how she focuses on neurodivergent characters.

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FEATURE AUTHOR What would you like to say to fans, and where can they follow you? I would say thank you so much for reading and giving my stories a chance to jump off the page for someone other than myself. I love writing and having anyone else read my books is such an incredible honor. Fans can follow me via my author website or Facebook profile, but I am primarily on Instagram so that would be the best place to get in touch with me and see what I’m up to.

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sydneyscottauthor.com Enjoy an excerpt from Worth the Risk Worth the Risk Sydney Scott Small Town Romance Madeline Belmont is a funny, sarcastic, and outspoken high school English teacher who is in love with her best friend of nine years. The only problem? He has no idea and doesn’t seem to feel the same way about his curvy, dynamic friend. Unwilling to risk their friendship, Madi decides to bury her feelings for the only man she’s ever had strong feelings for and try to find love elsewhere. Owen Graham loves his life as it is and doesn’t 70 | UncagedBooks.com

really want it to change. He too longs for a relationship, but he doesn’t seem to be able to connect with anyone other than his best friend Madi. When his friend starts dating more earnestly and their relationship changes, he has to confront his own buried feelings for Madi and decide if trying for the happily ever they both want is worth the risk. Excerpt Owen Graham has been my best friend since we were partnered up in English our freshman year at Berkley. While working on a poetry analysis, we discovered a mutual love of food, sitcoms, and the movie, The Princess Bride, and we’ve been inseparable ever since. He’s been such a wonderful friend and I feel so lucky to have him. Lately, though, I’ve been wondering if not taking our friendship to the next level has been a mistake. I’ve always loved him as a friend, but I realized that I’ve loved him as more than that for a long time. The feelings I shoved aside grew without me acknowledging it, and now that I have, I’m not sure what to do about it. As if conjuring him with merely with my thoughts, Owen comes striding in through my classroom door. Dressed in brown slacks and a light-blue button-down, he looks just as put together as he always does at work. His light-brown hair looks disheveled, and his bright, sky-blue eyes find mine as he comes over to my desk, leaning against it casually and crossing his arms over his chest. He’s gorgeous, and I don’t know how I made it through the last nine years without staring at him with hearts in my eyes the whole time. I haven’t declared my feelings for him yet and until I do, if I do, I don’t want to make things weird or awkward between us. “Are you ready for moving day next week, Madicake?” My smile falters a little and I try to hide it, but he sees through it quickly. Stupid man who knows me too well. He reaches over and grabs my hand, the warmth encompassing it spreading to the rest of my body. “Hey, what’s wrong?” I try not to concentrate on how nice my hand feels en-

SYDNEY SCOTT veloped by his and I blink away tears that are threatening. “Nothing, really, I promise. I’m very happy for Ames, I’m just going to miss her is all.” He frowns and his brow furrows, two small lines forming between his eyebrows. “I still don’t see why you don’t move into the same complex as me. Then we’d be closer and could hang out more often.” Yeah, because that’s what my heart needs. A nice, front-row seat to his dating life that currently does not include me. Hard pass. “As fun as that would be, I couldn’t pass up on the studio that opened up across the hall from our current place. Super easy move and less space to have to clean. It’s a win-win.” He pursues his lips, not convinced. “I guess.” “You’re still going to help us move, right?” Manual labor is not my jam, but I wouldn’t mind watching Owen lug boxes around in shorts and t-shirt. He scoffs. “As if there was ever any doubt. Besides, I distinctly remember donuts being on offer if we helped, right?” I can’t help but roll my eyes because this man lives for food. It’s basically his primary motivator for just about everything. “Yes, O. You and Noah will be properly fed and watered like the good little pack mules you are.” He clutches his heart in mock horror and leans back. “Pack mule? Mads, please. I’m a least a packhorse.” He flexes some impressive muscles and I try to avoid staring at him for too long lest I end up drooling on myself. Ignoring my attraction to him as best I can, I laugh at his goofiness, shoving him a little as I smile. “Thank you for cheering me up with your idiocy.” I stand up from my desk and start to gather my things. “Well, now that my grading is done, I’m going to head home.” He nods and looks around my empty classroom. “I should head out too.” I start to walk along with Owen

falling in step beside me. “So, I was thinking it could be fun to do a movie night tomorrow. You game?” “I don’t know, O. You aren’t exactly known for your great taste in movies. I’m not sure I can commit to a whole evening of cinematic torture.” He places a hand to his sternum. “Ouch. I thought you loved my last pick.” My mouth pulls into a smirk. “I loved spending time with you, but I could have skipped the movie. You’ll have to save the Westerns for when you get together with Noah.” He wraps an arm around my shoulder and we keep walking. We’ve touched so many times over the years, always friendly, never crossing a line, and I was good with that. It was nice to have someone to hold onto, but it’s different now because I don’t want friendly anymore. Now more than ever, I want to cross that line into something more. “I love spending time with you too, Mads. How about we go with a movie you choose?” I beam at him and try to get my runaway feelings under control. “Yay! I pick You’ve Got Mail.” He rolls his eyes but pulls me tighter. “I should have known you’d pick a rom-com,” he grumbles good-naturedly. I pinch his side, and he squeals a little. “You love them just as much as I do,” I insist. “Fine, fine. I love them too. But don’t tell Noah or he’ll give me crap about it,” he says as we get to my white SUV. I chuckle as he steps into my space, leaning in to give me a hug. As his strong arms wrap around me, I want to pretend this is more, but I need some kind of indication he might be open to that. There’s so much at risk here if he isn’t into me as more than what we already are, and as much as I want to take things further, I can’t lose my best friend. Missing the warmth of his body as soon as I step Issue 76 | March/April 2024 | 71

FEATURE AUTHOR out of the hug, I open my door but glance back at him one last time. “See you tomorrow at my place?” He smiles at me. “Yeah, that works. I’ll bring the pizza. Mushroom and black olive as usual?” I know for a fact he prefers pepperoni, but he always orders my favorite toppings when we get together. “You know me well, O.” He knows me better than anyone. He nods and smiles, a glint in his eye as he backs away slowly. “That I do. I’ll see you tomorrow, Madi-cake.” With a wave of my hand, I slip into the driver’s seat give another small wave as he pulls out of the lot. Maybe one day soon, if I can muster up some courage and declare my feelings, we’ll be heading home together. The thought of that future brings a smile to my face and it stays there the whole drive home.

Don’t miss this title:

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AMBER & Darby & Pepper

a skunk. It was like a frat house under there! We finally coaxed him into our yard with tasty treats. He’s all settled into our home now and nothing, and I mean nothing, shakes his calm demeaner. Our other two cats panic and hide when we turn on the dreaded vacuum beast, but Jasper just gives us a look like, “That’s all you got? After my time in the hood, you’ll have to up your game if you want me to react.” His only vice is catnip. When he gets into the high-grade stuff, he is a force to be reckoned with.

KERRY & Angus Pets are the best, and I’ve always been a cat lover. Even as I write this, my kitty Darby is on my lap and his sister Pepper is sleeping beside me. Cats have always seemed to gravitate to me like I’m a cat-magnet, and though my hubby gets a little jealous with how close I am to our fur-babies, he’s become a cat-person thanks to me (formerly a dog-person!). We adopted Darby as a stray when he was about 5 weeks old, and several months later, I found Pepper dodging cars in a parking lot. She was about 6 or 7 months old at the time. They’re both now 12 years old and spoiled rotten. I don’t want to imagine my life without them..

DONNA & Jasper Angus is our one-year-old golden retriever. He has the kindest soul and sweetest eyes. We are all obsessed with him, and he is always the hit of the hiking trail.

Jasper was abandoned when he was about a year old. He was living under a neighbor’s 4-plex with six raccoons, two opossum, and 78 | UncagedBooks.com

A U T H O RS A N D T H E I R P E TS 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.

STEVE & Jimmy & Molly

CYRENE & Artie

Artie is the oldest of the three dachshunds we inherited after my mom passed away in 2023. He’s 13 yrs old now, and has a lot more grey around his face than this picture. He is a dachshund that has back issues at the base of his neck that is common in his breed, so he’s not allowed on furniture or beds (he will kamakazee off -lol), he has his own comfy bed on the floor with a blanket so it stops his crazy acrobatic jumps and minimizes flair ups. Issue 76 | March/April 2024 | 79

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Amber

daulton

mber Daulton is the author of the romantic-suspense series Arresting Onyx and several standalone novellas. Her books are published through Daulton Publishing, The Wild Rose Press, and Books to Go Now, and are available in ebook, print on demand, audio, and foreign language formats.

She lives in North Carolina with her husband and demanding cats amberdaulton.com Uncaged welcomes Amber Daulton Welcome to Uncaged! Arresting Alan, book four in your Arresting Onyx series, will release on April 9th. Can you tell readers more about the book and the series? Can this series be read as standalones? Thank you so much for having me. An underground criminal organization known as Onyx has thrived in several cities and prisons across the American Southwest for decades. One of the largest Onyx sets, Capularia, controls the drug trade in Denver, Colorado, and no one messes with them without fear of retribution. The Arresting Onyx series spans four full-length novels and two novellas, which follows six stubborn alpha men, brothers by blood and friendship, and the fiery women who complete them as they navigate the dangerous pitfalls of Onyx. Arresting Alan is the final book in this romantic suspense series and can be read as a standalone, as all the books can, though reading from the beginning may provide deeper immersion into my fictional world.

What are you working on next that you can tell us about? Arresting Mason, the first book in my Arresting Onyx series, debuted in 2018, but I’ve been writing in this wonderfully complicated and detailed world for four years prior. With the publication of the final book, Arresting Alan, in April 2024, I’m finally bringing the series to a close. This has been ten years of my life. It’s always sad to say goodbye to beloved characters, but luckily for me and my readers, the Lozano Cartel spin-off will be here soon! One character from the original series is still in need of a happily ever after, but the story I planned for him didn’t fit well within the existing series guidelines. The only thing I could do was create a spin-off, and of course, more ideas spawned to flesh out a brand new series. Book one, Dark Hearts Aflame, should debut early 2025. What is the most difficult scene for you to write? What is the easiest? The most difficult scene in Arresting Alan to write was also the easiest. The climax where Alan, Issue 76 | March/April 2024 | 85

FEATURE AUTHOR Hannah, and his drug lord friend Bristol finally go head-to-head with their enemies was a blast to write. I’d been envisioning various versions of this scene for years, so the ideas kept flowing and moving me in so many directions when I was trying to write it. It was hard to narrow down exactly what I wanted to happen, but I had so much fun figuring things out. Do you read reviews? What do you take away from them? I do my best to read reviews with an open mind. It’s my job to tell the best story that I possibly can, but not everyone will like it. That’s okay. We’re all entitled to our opinions. When I receive constructive criticism or advice, I try to listen and do better next time. What behind-the-scenes tidbit in your life would probably surprise your readers the most? My husband, Gregory, is super supportive of me and my writing. He’s proclaimed himself the cook, so I could spend more time at my desk chugging out another manuscript. We share the household chores, but with him cooking most meals everyday, I have more time to do what I love best. What’s your process in the beginning stages of planning a new novel? I love plotting. So much! I usually write out my ideas on paper, scene by scene, and before I know it, I have dozens of pages of handwritten notes, Post-Its, and index cards. My outline process looks like a mess (see the photo), but it’s easy for me navigate. What are some things you like to do to relax when you aren’t writing or working? Binge-watching TV shows (Supernatural and Star Trek TNG are my favorites!), reading, gardening, hiking, and playing with my cats. Beyond writing, I also run Satin Rose Designs where I create premade and custom romance book covers for 86 | UncagedBooks.com

clients. Though this is technically working, I also find it relaxing, especially when I need to let my mind rest from too much writing. You can learn more and check out my gallery here: https://satinrosedesigns. amberdaulton.com. Do you prefer ebooks, audiobooks or physical books? Are you reading anything now? I usually read ebooks and print, but I don’t listen to audios much, though I want to change that. Unfortunately, I’m too busy to do any reading right now. With Arresting Alan releasing on April 9th as well as my time-travel romance books, Timeless Honor and Timeless Beginnings, re-releasing this summer, I’m swamped with projects.

What would you like to say to fans, and where can they follow you? I’m thrilled you’ve taken the time to read my interview. If you want to learn more about me or my books, please check out my website and feel free to join my newsletter (all new subscribers get a free ebook): https://amberdaulton.com/newsletter-signup/.

AMBER DAULTON

Enjoy an excerpt from Arresting Alan

Arresting Alan Amber Daulton Romantic Suspense Releases April 9

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A hacker, a federal agent, and a crime boss. The time has come to fight. Computer technician Alan Harding is no saint, but his squeaky-clean image is unshakable in the eyes of his family and especially his young son. After he agrees to assist a drug lord-turnedsnitch and hack into a criminal database, he’s faced with an impossible challenge—keeping his hands and heart away from his sexy as sin bodyguard, DEA Special Agent Hannah Adler. Hannah would rather go hand-to-hand with an assailant than go undercover as Alan’s girlfriend, but she’s determined to keep him safe and his illegal activities on the down-low. The handsome man and his adorable child, however, are more than she bargained for. Once their enemies learn the truth and retaliate by kidnapping Alan’ s son, they’ll have to race against the clock to save the boy and bring a dangerous empire to its knees. Excerpt Prologue Alan Harding pushed open the heavy steel door and entered the barroom. The stench of cigarette smoke slapped him in the face, and the blare of a ’70s classic rock song rang in his ears. Sneezing Issue 76 | March/April 2024 | 87

FEATURE AUTHOR hard, clearing his sinuses, he rubbed his warm cheeks and then scowled at the old neon-lit jukebox near the door. It was like he’d stepped back in time. Of all the joints in Denver, Colorado, he could step into, it just had to be one that didn’t obey the law—no smoking in public places. Hazy gray puffs of smoke streaked the air like noxious fog twisted through darkened alleys in horror movies. The jukebox masked the conversations flowing from the roughnecks at the bar on the left and from the pinched-faced patrons who hunched over their drinks and cigarettes at little round tables. On the right, an aging businessman in a wrinkled suit fondled his giggling date’s breasts over her dress in a semi-private booth as though Alan and the others weren’t there. Body heat bounded off the patrons and slicked Alan’s skin with sweat. He fluffed out his shirt and savored the cool air teasing the hair on his stomach. In the last booth at the back of the establishment sat Bristol Rieger, Alan’s reason for finding a lastminute babysitter for his son. The dark-haired man nursed a tumbler of alcohol, likely vodka, and stared hard at the glass in his hand. The light bulb in the multicolored glass shade that hung above the booth cast Bristol in dull shades of red, blue, and green. Tension radiated from the other man in waves so palpable that it drew Alan from the doorway and around the tables before he’d made the conscious decision to move his feet, which he’d half feared had rooted to the grimy floor in disgust. He stopped at the booth and waited for acknowledgment, but his friend white-knuckled the glass harder. Alan sighed and slid into the vinyl seat across from him. With his back now to the other patrons, he rolled his tight shoulders and curled his fingers into the fabric of his jeans to keep them from 88 | UncagedBooks.com

twitching. The ringing in his ears faded, the music less pounding in the back. “What’s going on? Why did you ask me to come here?” Alan peeked out from behind the partition wall that separated the booth from the adjacent one to make sure no one eavesdropped. Two rough-looking men at the bar glared at him like he’d spit in their drinks. He stiffened and scowled at Bristol. “You sounded weird on the phone. Everything all right?” No way was everything aces. Bristol normally didn’t frequent seedy drags as far as Alan knew, and that he was doing so now while wearing what had to be a fivefigure suit spoke volumes about how everything was not okay. “How long have we known each other, Alan?” Bristol asked, his voice deeper and rougher than usual. He swirled the clear liquid in his tumbler before draining it and setting the glass aside with a soft clank on the worn tabletop. “About nine years.” Alan blew out a breath and flattened his hands on his legs. They’d met in college on the first day of freshman orientation and roomed together until graduation. Though Bristol was a few years older than Alan, he started school late after an extended break gallivanting around Mexico on his daddy’s dime. College was long over, but they’d remained friends. A waitress dashed over and retrieved Bristol’s glass. “Another?” Bristol nodded without glancing up at the young woman. “Whiskey, please.” Alan pulled his wallet from his jeans back pocket.

AMBER DAULTON “No, sir. It’s on the house.” The woman offered a small smile and then hurried toward the bar, where those two men now stared at her. Frustration clenched Alan’s gut. From those strangers eye-fucking him to the waitress refusing his money, nothing made sense. He shoved his wallet back into the pocket. “Listen, Bris, I didn’t come all the way down here to watch you stew, so tell me what’s going on. I need to pick up Danny.” “Your son is about eighteen months now, right?” “He’ll be two soon, and he’s not used to me dropping him off at his uncle’s house late at night so I can meet you at a shitty bar.” Bristol snorted, still not looking up from the tabletop. “You didn’t have to come.” “Sure, and you didn’t have to call me, demanding I meet you now and refusing to do so tomorrow at a decent hour.” He let that last part hang to establish how ridiculous his friend was acting. “What’s up with your voice? Did you swallow gravel or something?” “Something.” Bristol leaned back in the bench seat as the waitress delivered their drinks and darted off. He finally met Alan’s gaze. They stared hard at each other, unblinking, until Bristol’s nostrils flared. “Have you heard of Onyx?” “Like the gemstone?”

“You know this how?” “I’m involved in it.” Silence spread between them. Alan burst out laughing. “Oh my God, man. That’s a good one.” His cheeks flamed hot as he laughed harder and slapped his hand on the table, rattling the glasses. He grabbed his drink and hauled back a healthy swallow. The smooth burn of liquid fire slid down his throat in waves of soothing bliss. Damn, that was top-shelf whiskey. He licked the flavor from his lips. “Like you would ever be mixed up with drugs and thugs. That stick up your ass is lodged in there pretty deep.” Bristol’s deadpan glare froze the next quip on Alan’s tongue. He straightened and set down the glass. “You can’t be serious.” “Onyx is run in a hierarchy, starting with the kingpin and ending with the lowest dealer on the street. Capularia is one of many subsets and controls the drug flow through Denver, Aurora, and the surrounding areas. The captain of Capularia recently passed on”—Bristol cleared his throat with a cough—“and I’ve assumed the mantle of leadership.” “All right. I’ll bite. How did this captain die?” “Heart attack.”

“Like the criminal organization that runs drugs in and out of the state.”

“Of course, and you just stepped into his place, easy as that,” Alan added, doubling up on the sarcasm while snapping his fingers.

Uneasiness swept through Alan. “I’ve heard about it from the evening news a few times.”

Bristol bobbed his head. Creases bracketed his mouth and eyes like craters.

“What the news stations and media outlets report is only half true, if that. Onyx has monopolized the manufacture and distribution of methamphetamine in all its forms for years. It’s the largest supplier of the drug in the southwest.” Bristol trailed his fingertip across the rim of his refreshed glass.

“Kudos for you.” Alan leaned back against the cushioned seat and crossed his arms over his chest. Not a speck of dirt dared to mar his friend’s black suit, and Alan suddenly wished he’d remembered to change out of his ketchup-stained shirt before leaving home. Why Danny got a kick out of Issue 76 | March/April 2024 | 89

FEATURE AUTHOR slapping his little hands in the condiments on his plate, which splattered on Alan, he’d never know. “If what you say is true, why tell me? Why now?”

continued. “Your suspicions were correct. Mason has joined a gang, an Onyx set that’s based in the facility where he’s incarcerated. My contact confirmed it.”

“I wasn’t in the right position to tell you before. Now, as captain, it’s my prerogative to whom I involve in my private affairs. Everything we talk about must remain between us. If you go to the police, I will not be able to protect you from the fallout.”

Everything inside Alan stilled. What kind of fuckedup game was Bristol playing? He’d never known the man to be cruel or play practical jokes, but this was messed up on so many levels. He swallowed hard and chose his words carefully. “You expect me to believe you, a self-proclaimed playboy with too much money and time on his hands, actually knows some criminal who claims my brother is a gangbanger?”

“No, I don’t believe it.” Alan shook his head, amusement gone. “Now, if you’d said your brother was involved in something crazy and illegal, I would believe that in a heartbeat.” “He is, but he serves a different set.” Bristol’s matter-of-fact tone set Alan’s teeth on edge. “Forget it. I know you better than anyone. Why are you telling me this bullshit? The joke has gone on long enough.” “No joke, and you do know me well. You know Bristol, the man you’ve been friends with since college. You don’t know Thorn. I’ve kept my alter ego, so to speak, firmly away from you until now.” Alan fisted his hands under the table. “What changed?” “You.” Bristol cast his gaze across the bar before locking gazes with Alan. “A few weeks ago, you mentioned that your brother might’ve joined a prison gang and wouldn’t make parole. You promised me you’d do anything to help him break free.” “I remember that. I was also drunk and needing to vent.”

“Yes.” “I should take you at your word, that easy?” “Ideally. When your brother is up for parole in a few years, the Scorpion—my boss and the general of the largest set in the state—will pull a few strings and get him released despite whatever recent marks are on his record. Whether Mason resigns before then is up to him, but the general will cast him out of the organization once he leaves prison. This is happening for you, Alan. To repay the Scorpion’s favor, you will work for me until further notice.” “Work for you?” Alan parroted. What else could he say? This was fucking nonsense. Would a camera crew pop out from a backroom and yell “Gotcha!” and then laugh in his face? He stared off toward the darkened hallway at the rear of the bar, half expecting bright lights and flashing cameras. Pain throbbed behind his eyes. He rubbed his temples and pinched his eyes closed until the pain subsided to a dull ache. “Alan, I’m sorry,” Bristol added, his voice softer. He spread his hands on the table. “If I had my

After visiting the prison and seeing his younger brother’s black eye and split bottom lip, Alan had met up with Bristol at a bar and got shit-faced.

way, I wouldn’t ask anything from you, but I don’t have the pull to help your brother make parole. I had to enlist the Scorpion’s aid, and that always comes at a price. From what I was told, Mason is thriving in the organization. He won’t make parole when the time comes and will serve his full sentence.”

“Anyway, I did some checking,” Bristol

“Fifteen years.” Alan scrubbed his face. Was Bristol

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AMBER DAULTON telling him the truth? The man had no reason to lie, but all this was coming out of left field. “Prove it to me. Prove you aren’t pulling my chain.” “Come with me.” He stood so fast from the booth that the glasses rattled.

“Do you believe me now?” A shiver crawled up Alan’s spine. He peered over his shoulder at his friend, if he could even call him that anymore. “What do you want from me?”

Alan drained his whiskey, needing the liquid courage, and followed Bristol toward the hall. The fine hair on the back of Alan’s neck prickled. He cut his gaze to the bar, where the same two men glared at him again. His temper snapped. “Is there a problem?” he lashed out at them.

“Your cooperation. For the time being, I need you to outfit my headquarters with updated computer systems. I won’t call on your services often, but when I do, I will require your undivided attention.”

The strangers stood from their stools.

“You can’t afford to do that.”

“Ortiz, Ribic. Wait here.” Bristol raised his hand toward the men before he strode down the hall.

Bristol’s unsaid words were clear. Alan had a son. Bristol—or those who worked for him—would see to it that Alan obeyed. He shuddered and hung his head, clutching the railing harder. His stomach clenched as though Bristol had ripped through his skin and sinew to fist it. If he’d known about the man’s double life, he would’ve broken ties with him long ago. He would never put Danny at risk, but how could he have known that bitching to his so-called friend about his idiot brother would lead to this? Bristol’s betrayal cut deep. He loved the man as though he was his flesh-and-blood brother, but here he was, dragging Alan into the seedy world of drug running. Every fiber in his being demanded he go to the cops, but no fucking way would he serve Danny up as collateral. God only knew the extent Bristol or his thugs would go to if Alan spoke out of turn. What choice did he have but to toe the line?

Alan hurried after him. “You know those assholes?” “They’re lieutenants on my council. Keep your distance from them.” At the far end of the dimly lit hall, a man in a leather jacket guarded a thick-plated metal door that shamed every fire escape exit Alan had ever seen. The guard entered a code on the mounted keypad. After a green LED light flashed on the pad and a beep echoed, he opened the door and stepped aside. Piercing white lights shone through the doorway, startling Alan. He blinked hard. Bristol walked in without preamble.

“If I refuse?”

Half tempted to chalk this night up to a crazy dream, Alan crossed the threshold for the metal platform of the second-story landing. Knees weakening, he gripped the cold metal guardrail and gained his balance. The door clicked shut behind him.

“I have so many questions,” he whispered, his voice paper thin.

Down below, half a dozen thugs strapped with AK47s watched several dead-eyed women sort, weigh, and bag chunks of ice before storing the drugs in large plastic tubs.

With one last look at the scene below, Alan steadied his resolve. Whatever happened, happened. He’d deal with it, but his life would never be the same.

“I’ll answer as best as I can.” Bristol rested his hand on Alan’s shoulder. “Let’s go.”

Issue 76 | March/April 2024 | 91

Keith

Mack

am ninety years old and retired for the past twenty years. I’m married with five children, ten grandchildren and twelve great-grandchildren. We lost one son when he was 28 which inspired me to write my first book “Cast the First Stone.”

I am a physician and practiced Ob-gyn and Anesthesiology for forty-three years. We spent eight years in the army overseas, and have lived in multiple locations in the United States. After retiring we joined a Christian ministry where I played piano and traveled the US for four years. Uncaged welcomes Keith Mack youtube.com/@thekeithmackproject www.KeithMackbooks.com 96 | UncagedBooks.com

Welcome to Uncaged! You’ve released, Cast the First Stone last year. Can you tell readers more about this book?

I first published the book in 2003, and updated it and republished it in 2023. I decided with this publication to place my son’s picture on the cover. What do you want readers to take away from your story? That there can be happiness after tragedy. Life is an adventure particularly when you put your trust in God. What is the most difficult part of the story for you to write? What is the easiest? The chapter where my son lost everything to drugs and started a major spiral down. What behind-the-scenes tidbit in your life would probably surprise your readers the most? I’m 91 years old and published my book of poetry when I was 89. I wrote my first poem at age 86. Old age doesn’t mean you can’t still set new goals. What are some things you like to do to relax when you aren’t writing or working? I love doing yard work and landscaping. Travel. I play piano and still play publicly for various churches. Do you prefer ebooks, audiobooks or physical books? Are you reading anything now? I prefer physical books. I like religious reading and history books. I am reading a religious book now. What would you like to say to readers, and where can they follow you? Don’t let life get you down. Check out my YouTube channel. “ Keith Mack Project “

Enjoy an excerpt from After the Rain After the Rain Keith Mack Poetry I finished my first poem at age 86. Since then, I have completed over 100 poems. A poet I will never be, however, a writer of poems I can claim. Excerpt BREATH Breathing is an example of the Mindless behavior of man, A process done without thinking Or exercising conscious command In the beginning God created earth With a simple verbal command, Then sculptured man from dust, By a Stroke of the master’s hand In his own image God made man From dust of newly created land. An image of beauty, yet without life Unable to reason or understand Soon God’s creation was complete When He made the image whole By breathing breath into the nostrils, Man became a thriving living soul But the process of breathing is More than simply exchanging air, It’s God’s life-giving presence With man each moment to share The gift of breath given man Shows a love beyond compare, And with each breath that’s taken A physical part of God we share Issue 76 | March/April 2024 | 97

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S K

Steve Stephenson & K.M. Tedrick

teve Stephenson has a BA in History and a Masters degree in Library Science. He and his co-writer have published five epic fantasy books set in the world of Muiria. M (Kathryn) Tedrick is a writer and ghostwriter in the fantasy, science fiction, adventure, Christian, and young adult genres with one book that was made into a movie, and over sixteen books that have been published.

Uncaged Welcomes Steve Stephenson & KM Tedrick Welcome to Uncaged! You have a new book coming out called Death of a Goddess. Can you tell us more about the book? Is this book part of a series? Stephenson/Tedrick - This book is the culmination of a five-book series. The first book War of the Staffs eventually turned into a trilogy which continued to grow. Since you both write as a duo, how is the writing split up? Is one of you stronger in some areas that the other is not?

Stephenson- I write most of the scenes and K.M. Tedrick molds them into the format of the book. We then get together and work over the text. K.M. is the better technical writer while I’m more free-flowing. Tedrick- We each have our strengths. Usually, Steve starts the book, then I take over adding to it. The book usually ends up 50/50. What is the most difficult scene for you to write? What is the easiest? Stephenson- I find that any action packed adventurous portion of a book is much easier to write but struggle with romantic elements. Issue 76 | March/April 2024 | 101

FEATURE AUTHOR Do you read reviews? What do you take away from them? Stephenson- I don’t particularly read the reviews they tend to get my blood pressure up. Early in my career, I did pick up some good advice from reviewers. My writing has greatly improved from book one War of the Staffs through to Death of a Goddess. Tedrick- Sometimes. What behind-the-scenes tidbit in your life would probably surprise your readers the most? Stephenson- That would have to be my stint as the investigator for the Humane SPCA in my home state of South Carolina. During that time I became the only expert on dog fighting in the state. I was the first official to use the State Laws to get jail time for such a heinous crime. What’s your process in the beginning stages of planning a new novel? Stephenson- It might be weird but when I start a book I don’t work out long plot lines or outlines. I start with the idea in my head and begin typing. I go from one chapter to another and somehow it works. Tedrick- For my part, I just write and it comes to me, even with new chapters and material that I generate. What are some things you like to do to relax when you aren’t writing or working? Stephenson - I relax by researching and collecting books. My two favorite books I own are a medieval manuscript concerning St. Augustine and a booklet in German (I have no idea what the title is) that was owned, with notations, and signed by J.R.R. Tolkien. Those are my two favorite and unusual items in my book collection. 102 | UncagedBooks.com

Tedrick- Reading, doing 1000-piece puzzles, and video games. Do you prefer ebooks, audiobooks or physical books? Are you reading anything now? Stephenson - I prefer a good old hardback book. Right now I’m reading The Fall of Numenor edited by Brian Sibley. Tedrick- I prefer ebooks. It’s so much easier to read and store them on my computer and tablet.

S STEPHENSON & KM TEDRICK

Enjoy an excerpt from The Forever Game

Death of a Goddess Steve Stephenson & KM Tedrick Fantasy Releases In its continuous battle between good and evil, the planet Muiria faces unprecedented challenges. Even after defeating the Wraith Lords of Zeiglon and then vanquishing Taza, a vampire warlock, there is still no rest for the defenders of good. Now two new threats arise. First, the sorceress Cyra, a goddess of evil and the new champion of the malicious Adois’, and second, a black dragon, the most powerful and evil of all dragon kind.

What would you like to say to fans, and where can they follow you? I write these books to give the reader a little escapism and fun. You can follow me on Facebook at “Steve Stephenson: War of the Staffs series”

Stay Connected

Prince Tarquin and his wife, Princess Ress have been awaiting the birth of their first child, but Tarquin becomes impatient when he is unable to be of much help against these new threats. He and his dwarvan friend, Botreg, decide to team up with their former comrade in arms, Hority, the Clorian monk who has fought so many battles with them. As they arrive at the Clorian compound, they discover that the dwarves are under attack and many monks are already dead after the theft of an ancient map they possessed showing the location of an unspeakably dangerous treasure. The prince contacts the wizard Celedant and his bonded dragon, Azimuth. Soon the three of them, along with Eldahir, his wife Morganna, Hority, and important members of the Wood Elves all join forces once more to track down Issue 76 | March/April 2024 | 103

FEATURE AUTHOR the murdering thieves and discover the true relevance of the stolen map. Meanwhile, Cyra has mercilessly attacked a warlock guild in Trudoc, commandeering it, and has become the new leader of their city. Finding clues to the map’s location, she sends twenty white behemoth orcs and a powerful warlock after Celedant before he and his band can retrieve the map. Her minions have two missions: first, find where the map leads and take its treasure; then kill Celedant and his company. What Cyra does not know is that the treasure belongs to an ancient black dragon whose evil is a perfect match to her own. The race is on. Who will get to the treasure first? Will Azimuth survive the battle with his ancient foe, the black dragon? Will Tarquin make it home in time for the birth of his child? Will the ancient gods have to go to battle against Adois at the Clorian Compound? Finally, Adaman, Adois’s twin but a force for good, has reached his limit for his sister’s evil treachery. He arrives and an epic battle of good versus evil commences on a scale that no one on the planet Muiria could ever have predicted. Excerpt Cyra was a young sorceress aged beyond her years by too much dark magic. Once a beautiful woman, she now looked old and haggard. Meanwhile, Talchic had hid his real identity, Melgor, to avoid being killed by his companion after he had upset his superior by causing a ruckus while trying to escape from her lair. Then he lost his right arm in a battle with four magic users. Having never been seen by the sorceress Cyra, he had gone to her, seeking an ally to further his plans to reach the city of Dormin. Talchic was still a powerful warlock, but the loss of his dominant arm presented a challenge, especially when it came to physical combat. 104 | UncagedBooks.com

Long after the dwarvan stronghold of Zigar Shan had fallen to an orc army, a millennium earlier, Talchic’s ultimate goal had been to kill the undead vampire warlock, Taza, the wielder of the Staff of Adois. This was a staff of pure evil that had been made under the direction of the vile goddess, Adois, to counter her brother’s Staff of Adaman, itself created to restore the planet, Muiria, to a place of pure good. The Staff of Adaman would rid the world of evil influences, Adois’ brother hoped. Jealousy had been Adois’ main driving force for creating her evil staff, but she also wanted to gain more power in the struggle of the gods. Never had a set of twins as she and her brother had been such extreme opposites. Cyra and Talchic had escaped Dragon Isle together before the final battle had ended when Cyra cast a powerful teleportation spell that took them to the mainland. They now stood there in the windswept northlands empty of all but the hardiest of creatures. Both were breathing heavily from the confrontation on Dragon Isle and, for the moment, were at a loss for words. Cyra straightened her stiff back and her spine cracked. “It seems we need a new start, Talchic,” she said with a sigh. “We will need to stay hidden from everyone for I was marked by the entity that guards the Dragon’s Tear in Edain with a death sentence, should that entity ever find me again.” Talchic knew the Tear had been constructed by the original dragons that had migrated to Muiria through the Void to protect Edain, a wizard’s homeland in the islands. Cyra continued, her voice shaky and her body trembling. “I fear the entity will come after me…or send wizards. We must go into hiding until I am forgotten. We will have to take a sabbatical from magic for the time being to throw off the wizards.” Talchic nodded. He dared not disagree or he would be left to die by himself in this accursed wasteland. “Yes, my lady. We must start anew. But where? We will be hunted in both the East and the South.” She smiled at him. “You are correct. But there is a city I am familiar with to the west. I have friends I can call on for

S STEPHENSON & KM TEDRICK help, and I will be able to place myself in the upper echelons of the city’s power structure. But for now, I’m afraid we must stay here before I dare use another powerful teleportation spell and alert the wizards of Dragon Isle of our whereabouts.” Talchic was not happy with that decision. The last thing he wanted to do was to remain in these cursed lands. He had things he wanted to accomplish. But what choice did he have? For now, he was dependent upon Cyra’s protection.

Don’t miss these titles:

Issue 76 | March/April 2024 | 105

the best support for writers is other writers! Guest column by Diane Bator

Guest Column

The Best Support for Writers is Other Writers! by Diane Bator

I recently went through a bad breakup – with my traditional publisher of 10 years and 15 books. January 8, I sent my letter of intent to leave when my contract ended at the end of April 2024. Within 12 hours, I was persona non grata and my life as a writer had suddenly taken a huge pivot. The good part was, I’d been planning my next path for months and kind of hoped that was how things would go. After working on a whole new book to publish, I was in the editing phase and learning the art of book covers as well as selfpublishing. One thing I cannot strongly recommend enough to other writers is to make friends with other writers. This isn’t a competition. We’re all in this leaky boat together because we love to write and craft new worlds that have never existed. I would not have gotten to where I am at this moment if it weren’t for some great friends who did the self-publication route long before I did. They’ve been a tremendous help and a few of us began to meet once a month just to discuss our journeys and the obstacles we face along the way. It’s a great way to remain grounded and not get down when something doesn’t work out. In the past, writing has been more of a solitary passion. Something we do in the quiet of an office, the corner of a coffee shop, or wherever we can find a little quiet time. The internet has allowed writers from all over the world to share in Write Ins and Writing Groups with people you may not have met before. People who have had far different experiences with the craft than we may have had. Currently, I belong to two groups: 110 | UncagedBooks.com

one that is Canada wide and the other a small group with members in Canada, the U.S., and Mexico! As I sit back and prepare my calendar and try to keep myself from becoming overwhelmed at the prospect of relaunching 15 books plus a couple new ones, I am grateful for the writing friends around me who are there to encourage and help share my work with their lists of fans and friends. This is what true support in the community is. Because of the connections I’ve made, I was able to recruit Beta readers with ease. Editors become easier to find, as well. Best of all, most writers are eager to share what works for them and what doesn’t. Yes, it’s hard to see someone else succeed where you didn’t, but there’s also a satisfaction in knowing that you helped them, and they are more than happy to help you in return. So, how do I plan to make my literary comeback? Currently, I’m working on finishing edits and cover for my newest book, Written in Stone. Next comes the task of uploading it to publishing platforms. I’ve chosen not to go the KDP route and publish wide as I was before. Hopefully, with better success than I had with the publisher! If all goes well, I want to bring out all of the first books in my series in 2024, second books in 2025, and so on. It’ll be a big process and means having my books offline for longer than I’d hoped. Fingers crossed, it will be a plan that also keeps my name and my books in front of readers for the next few years. In the meantime, I’m getting by with a little help from my friends! ©Copyright 2024 Diane Bator for Uncaged Book Reviews www.uncagedbooks.com Published with Permission

Diane Bator is an Indie Author out of Southern Alberta, Canada who has three grown kids, two cuddly cats, and a lot of patience! She’s the author of five mystery series, soon to be republished, and dabbles in fantasy and romance books, which will come out one day soon. She loves to read and promote other authors with her Escape With a Writer blog. She’s also represented by Creative Edge Publicity. You can find her at https://www.dianebator.ca/

Issue 76 | March/April 2024 | 111

feature authors

historical fiction| non-fiction

Donna D. Conrad

Elizabeth Teets

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Donna D. I

conrad

am an award-winning author, journalist, activist, and teacher. My core values revolve around the concept of individual empowerment and giving voice to women who have been marginalized through historical novels. I teach the craft of writing at the annual Pacific Northwest Writer’s conference and online for The Creative Academy. My memoir, “House of the Moon: Surviving the Sixties,” has a five-star rating on Amazon.

Uncaged welcomes Donna D. Conrad Welcome to Uncaged! Your new book will release in April, called The Last Magdalene. Can you tell readers more about this book and the series? The main focus in all my writing is to give voice to women who have been marginalized throughout history. No one exemplifies this better than Miriam (Mary) the Magdalene. The Magdalene Chronicles is a fourbook series based on extensive historical and archaeological research. These ancient facts paint a picture of life in Judea that is quite different from what we generally accept, and bring an authenticity to this series and the story it tells. My series gives Miriam a chance to show us who she is, to speak about her fears and desires, to recount both her dreams of how she wishes to live and the harsh reality of her life. Despite the many attempts to tarnish her name and her historical significance, Miriam proves herself to be a woman of passion and learning who actively participates in events that change the course of western civilization. The Last Magdalene is the first novel in the series. It explores young Miriam’s upbringing in the temple of Asherah in Jerusalem, her journey from a child to a

fully ordained priestess, her intelligence, her fiery temper (which doesn’t always serve her), and her understanding of love as the binding element in the world. My hope is that readers gain a sense of the grandeur of Miriam’s early life, the hardships of being forced into exile as a young woman, and the courage it takes for her to endure the destruction of Goddess worship in Judea and to witness the execution of the man she loves at the hands of Rome. The following three books explore Miriam’s life in Alexandria and later in southern Gaul, where she becomes a great teacher, healer, and wise woman who embodies wisdom and the power of unconditional love. You also wrote a biography of your teenage years, House of the Moon: Surviving the Sixties. Can you tell us more about what inspired this book? I was a teenager during the Sixties in a rather unconventional situation. My father was an undercover narcotics agent for the State of California. My sister’s boyfriend dealt drugs to the bands that came through Los Angeles, which provided the opportunity to meet Jim Morrison and Jimi Hendrix. I felt Issue 76 | March/April 2024 | 117

FEATURE AUTHOR that a memoir about my teenage years could shed a light on the decade that changed the world. The popular view of the Sixties is wrapped up in the saying “sex, drugs, and rock ‘n roll.” The raw reality of daily life was overshadowed by that hype. I wanted to set the record straight, to show what it was really like to come of age in those times, to show the gulf that existed between the relatively small group of young people who believed they could change the world, and the mindset of rest of the country. The music, the sexual revolution, the Vietnam war protests, and the end of the draft, were undreamed of before the Sixties, and anathema to the government and to our parents. I was a young woman in a time when women were not valued by society; when women could not get a driver’s license without their husband’s consent, let alone buy a house, or have a credit card in their own names. This was the true story I wanted to tell. The Sixties represent many things to many people. To me it was a time when having the courage to stand up for personal, civil, and sexual rights was essential. The temerity of my generation resulted in tremendous change that is still realized today. What is the most difficult scene for you to write? What is the easiest? The most difficult scene for me to write is the one that breaks my character’s heart, the one that destroys their hopes and dreams. As an author, I have to go to those places, feel what the character feels, and bring that to the page. I have two mentors to thank for helping me to reach those dark places and bring them to life. Jack Whyte was there for me throughout the writing of The Last Magdalene. He urged me to be true to myself and my characters, to not hold back, to write honestly, and mean what I write. The second is Donald Maass, who kept urging me to dig deeper. One time, in frustration, I asked him, “What do you want me to do?” Don answered, “Break my heart.” The easiest scenes for me are the sensual ones where my characters experience the joys of interaction, the joys of all that life has to offer. 118 | UncagedBooks.com

DONNA CONRAD Do you read reviews? What do you take away from them? I do read reviews. I feel that if a reader has taken the time to offer their opinion, I should read what they have to say. Of course, I smile and feel good about myself when a reviewer loves my books and understands the themes and intentions of the story. On the other hand, I must admit that I’m not quite so happy if they pan the book. But if that happens, I read the review carefully and try to figure out what the reviewer didn’t like, or what they didn’t understand, and if there is something I can do in my next book to make my themes more understandable. What behind-the-scenes tidbit in your life would probably surprise your readers the most? I’ve been trained in forensic accounting. While we don’t wear rubber gloves when we investigate fraud and embezzlement, we do end up in some pretty tricky situations. I’ve found my training in forensic accounting to be a fabulous asset in my writing career. The ability to set aside distractions, to determine what is factual, and to fashion defendable arguments for or against an individual’s complicity, are all skills used in determining fraud. I use the same skillset when determining causes behind peoples actions in history, and in determining what details are important to include in my novels. My skills in documenting evidence in fraud cases also leads me to collect extensive reference notes to back up my historical claims, some of which make it into my “Author’s Afterword” at the end of each novel. What’s your process in the beginning stages of planning a new novel? I need to be fascinated by a historical character, her role in shaping history, and how and why she has been marginalized. Once she gets my attention, I go into research mode to find out everything I can about her life, and the times in which she lived. Once I understand her place in history, then the fun starts. As a fiction writer, I create the world around the protagonist, create the other characters and their interactions. Then, I turn them all loose and see Issue 76 | March/April 2024 | 119

FEATURE AUTHOR where they take the story of their lives. There does come a time when everyone needs to settle down and stick to the known history, stick to dates and times and customs. But that all comes later in the process and involves timelines and historical references. Not nearly as much fun as the beginning stages. What are some things you like to do to relax when you aren’t writing or working? I love to spend time with my husband and friends.

books about post- Ptolemaic Alexandria for research on the second book in The Magdalene Chronicles, The Lost and the Holy. For fun I’m currently listening to book three of Sarah J. Maas’ series that began with The Court of Thornes and Roses. The physical books I’m reading include Someday I’ll Find You, by C.C. Humphreys, Jacqueline in Paris, by Ann Mah, and Mirrors & Smoke, by Adrienne Stevenson, all three happen to be historical novels. What would you like to say to fans, and where can they follow you? I hope that fans will find Miriam of Bethany an engaging, courageous woman who deserves respect for her courage and strength, and that they find in her a woman who is a bastion of love and acceptance. I hope new readers will sign up for my website: www. donnaconrad.com for a chance to win a signed, limited edition hardbound copy of The Last Magdalene and get a special code that will unlock the “lost chapters” from House of the Moon: Surviving the Sixties. Also, I’m always open to email exchanges with writers and reader alike.

S t ay C onnec t ed

Strolling along the Oregon coast or driving the back roads in my Miata MX-5, are high on my list of ways to decompress. I also enjoy watching DVDs at home. I’ve seen the director cuts of The Lord of the Rings movies, and the entire Downton Abbey series, more times than I care to admit. Do you prefer ebooks, audiobooks or physical books? Are you reading anything now? I prefer physical books and audiobooks to eBooks. I spend so much time in front of a computer writing, I almost can’t bring myself to look at a tablet or computer to read. I usually read or listen to several books at a time. I’m currently reading several non-fiction 120 | UncagedBooks.com

DONNA CONRAD

Enjoy an excerpt from: The Last Magdalene The Last Magdalene Donna D. Conrad Historical Fiction Releases April 9 The Last Magdalene does for the New Testament what The Red Tent did for the Old Testament. The temple of Asherah has existed in Jerusalem for hundreds of years, disguised as a benevolent society for widows and orphans. Within the sheltering walls, priestesses are taught to honor the goddess through rites of passion passed from mother to daughter and from priestess to priestess. Into this world, Miriam of Bethany, is born. Miriam longs to become The Magdalene, High Priestess of Asherah, as her mother and grandmother before her, but learns she is to marry an obscure rabbi from Galilee, Yeshua bar Yosef. Determined to control her own life, she runs away and is brutally attacked in the streets of Jerusalem. Broken in body and spirit, she resigns herself to her fate. Yeshua, hailed as the Messiah, teaches love and acceptance, and places Miriam in the forefront of his followers. Together they find the courage to face the hostility of the priests and the brutality of Roman occupation. But Rome is a power unlike any the world has known, and Rome deals harshly with those who oppose its rule. The Last Magdalene is an exquisite story of passion and love, and the lasting power of one woman’s voice which refuses to be silenced. Excerpt

Chapter 23 Rapture and Ruin No one wore veils that day. We walked proudly through the gates, a spectacle in the face of the burning sun and lingering pilgrims. They parted as we advanced, not knowing whether to cast stones or wave palm fronds—for the worship of the Goddess runs deep within the hearts of my people, though they strive to deny their devotion even to themselves. Lucius headed the eunuchs who carried their mistress to the pool. His back appeared as straight as ever, though his hair, oiled and curled into flowing ringlets, showed wide streaks of grey. They set Salome’s litter on a platform that had been constructed earlier, and a crowd began to form on the far side of the pool. The sun crested in the sky, its light reflected on the waters where they bubbled forth from a fount. I watched the tiny flickering lights dance in the air before falling back amongst the myriad of droplets that formed the silver pool. The crowd hushed for a moment, then burst into a frenzy of shouting, and I beheld a throng of men approaching. They sang a song of hosanna, a song of adoration, as they marched toward the pool. I needed no one to tell me the name of the man leading the procession; larger and broader in shoulder than most Israelites, his hair flaming so red it made mine seem a smoldering ember, his voice ringing above the roar of the crowd. It could be none other than Judah the Sicarii, so named by Rome for the curved dagger his kind carried. That he was a member of the secret order of assassins, and a powerful warrior second only to Barabbas, meant he was a man wanted by Rome. But no Roman came forth to claim him. Like a great juggernaut, Judah cleared a path before him with the aid of a massive staff, curved like those used by shepherds in Galilee—and I Issue 76 | March/April 2024 | 121

FEATURE AUTHOR wondered who would prove to be the sheep, and who the Master? In his wake came other men, desert-hardened men who followed Judah as if he were the king. I squared my shoulders and raised my chin. The men appeared more like rabble the closer they came. I felt my regard for Yeshua fall further yet. The younger priestesses rose on their toes, trying to catch a glimpse of the rabbi who had come to heal their Magdalene, for Yeshua could not be seen through the throng that surrounded him. Judah strode forward and bellowed, “Where is the Lady who has called on the Master for healing?” I held my tongue, even though I wanted to call out, “The one on the litter, you fool.” Jacobi stepped forward. A tall, willowy woman, she came barely to the warrior’s shoulder. “Here.” She stepped aside, her arm gracefully sweeping toward Salome. Judah squinted in the glare of the pool and stepped forward only to find Lucius blocking his path. For a moment the two stood eye-to-eye—one black as night, the other the fiery presence of the sun itself. It was Judah who stood down. He turned to the crowd and began shoving them to either side with his staff, shouting “Make way for the Master! Clear a path for the Master!” His bombast caused me to laugh ungraciously. Jacobi shot a silencing glance my way. I took control of myself and searched the crowd for the proclaimed “Master.” Yeshua emerged from their midst. He was unlike his followers in every way—slender and dark and silent. He seemed to glide across the rough paving, his eyes focused on Salome as if none other existed, only she for whom he had come. The crowd quieted as Yeshua went to Salome’s 122 | UncagedBooks.com

side, and in the silence his voice could be heard, low but commanding. “Come, Mother, rise and walk again in the light of day, for you have suffered much for your children, Israel.” He held out his hand to Salome, but she did not rise. My heart sank at the truth of my conviction—Salome would die, and I would be bound to a man, not a king. Yeshua knelt at the side of the litter and bowed his head. The sun glistened silver off his ebony hair while he silently prayed. When he raised his head, his eyes shone with a light not of this world. He stretched forth his hands and touched Salome. I felt his presence as if he stood by my side. Everything around me appeared sacred—each person, each stone, each droplet of water that flowed together to make the pool at whose side Yeshua now stood. I found myself stepping back until I bumped into a young priestess who bowed low and averted her eyes. I touched her on the head in blessing and felt a surge of love flow through my hand. “I command you to rise!” Yeshua’s voice boomed forth with such power several priestesses fell to their knees. He held out his hand once more. And Salome rose. She dragged her legs slowly across the silk and let them drop from the side of the litter and sat upright. It seemed the water halted its bubbling; the birds stopped their singing. And in the midst of silence the Magdalene haltingly spoke. “You called me forth from the prison of my flesh in no name but your own. Yet it is by the grace of Asherah I have risen, for you are Her true Son.” Yeshua took her hand and answered, “My right to heal comes from my Father, Adonai.” The multitude erupted in trilling and shouting. The swell of joyous people threatened to overturn Salome’s litter. Lucius joined Judah in tossing people aside like so many sacks of wheat. The other eu-

DONNA CONRAD nuchs took the opportunity to help their mistress lie back against the cushions, then hurried her litter to the safety of the temple grounds. I found myself pushed along by the disorderly retreat of priestesses. My eyes found Yeshua’s as he too was jostled by the crowd. In his eyes shone a depth of love I had never beheld. And I longed to touch him, as did every man, woman, and child who witnessed the miracle. My betrothed held me in his gaze as the multitude surged between us. And then he vanished, swallowed by the multitude that cried his name. Naomi pulled me backwards through the temple gates as they slammed closed on the Pool of Siloam. I stood staring blankly at the barred gates, the noise of the crowd growing shriller. And in that moment, I realized Yeshua was more than just a man. And I knew that I would become his bride—and in his arms find both rapture and ruin.

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Elizabeth E

teets

lizabeth Teets is an Oregon born writer, comedian, screenwriter, and fashionista. Her work has appeared in Los Angeles Times, New York Times, Repeller, Catapult, Reductress, and more. She lives in Los Angeles where she is waiting for her group chat to respond.

Uncaged welcomes Elizabeth Teets

That I could still go for the twelve children.

Welcome to Uncaged! You released a book called, “Isn’t She Great: Writers on Women Led Comedies from 9 to 5 Booksmart. What inspired you to write about this movie history?

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

The book is inspired by my film series of the same name. https://hollywoodtheatre.org/programs/series/ isnt-she-great/ From showing the films I knew that so many people had a story in relation they wanted to tell. I just collected them. You’ve written for a lot of different publications including The New York Times and Catapult. Did you always want to be a writer? No, I would much rather be poaching clams off the Oregon coast and lying in bed while my eccentric billionaire husband pays all my bills. When I was a kid I wanted to be a painter with twelve children. What behind-the-scenes tidbit in your life would probably surprise your readers the most?

Stalk my crush on the internet or around the country, complain about the coffee in LA, be brave enough to wear cheap silk even though it always wrinkles, and eat too much at El Coyote. Do you prefer ebooks, audiobooks or physical books? Are you reading anything now? Ebooks hurt my eyes. On audiobook I’m listening to The Male Gazed On Hunks, Heartthrobs, and What Pop Culture Taught Me About (Desiring) Men by Manuel Betancourt. The physical books in my bed right now are John Waters Crackpot and Ruth Madievsky’s All Night Pharmacy. What would you like to say to readers, and where can they follow you? I truly hope they enjoy the book, I feel very blessed to get to collect so many women’s stories. Issue 76 | March/April 2024 | 129

FEATURE AUTHOR

Stay Co n n e c te d

Isn’t She Great is for anyone who loves movies and feels the glamour in pink. Cult cinema and film criticism will never be the same. Excerpts

elizabethteets.com Enjoy excerpts from Isn’t She Great Isn’t She Great Elizabeth Teets Non-fiction, Movie History A love letter to womenled comedies. Based on Elizabeth Teets’s program series called “Isn’t She Great” at the Hollywood Theater, this anthology is a collection of the most beloved female-centric comedies and the audiences who adore them. From 9 to 5 to Romy and Michelle to the iconic Elle Woods, the essays in this collection build on our devotion to these films and continue the conversation around funny women and how these characters have shaped so many talented writers. As Elizabeth Teets reminds us, there is a specific power in a funny woman. A woman who dares to laugh at the world and at herself. These movies made us strong and smart and sexy (and bend and snap a lot). At the end of the day, we remind ourselves when the world only tries to let us have a little, a little money, a little confidence, a little joy to go out and get the whole enchilada. 130 | UncagedBooks.com

“You Must Always Have Faith in Yourself - Legally Blonde, and My Mommy, and Me” Legally Blonde was the first movie I saw my mother truly love. This was not to say she didn’t love other movies - there were many she did. Growing up, my mother had a small collection of VHS tapes she loved that she would let me watch regularly. But none of them compared for how much she seemed to love Legally Blonde. Despite her very refined palette for cinema, I don’t think she ever considered film an interest of hers. And although she may not have realized it, my mother had curated in our living room a sophisticated collection of the finest 90s and early aughts cult classics. We had copies of Mermaids, She’s All That, A Very Brady Sequel, and Tommy Boy. But Legally Blonde, oh she loved that movie. At ten years old, I took notice of how Reese Witherspoon as Elle Woods, Legally Blonde’s perky sorority girl, made my mother laugh. I love anything that makes my mother laugh. After seeing my mother latch onto a piece of candy pink cinema filled with outfits, I too became obsessed with the film. As a future comedian, I paid attention to anything that made my favorite person laugh. I also love Legally Blonde - it is undoubtedly my favorite movie. I know every line, every outfit, and every major decision I have ever made in my life has been while driving in my 2006 Kia Optima while listening to the absolute banger of a soundtrack. Elle Woods is the best character within modern cinema. She is layered, complicated, fabulously styled, unable to be bamboozled and full of grit. I was lucky enough to grow up with my own Elle Woods, my mom..

ELIZABETH TEETS …At my mother’s beginning, or at least the beginning as it concerns me, her daughter who watched her every move, she was a single mom who had me at nineteen. This meant as a child I got to see her early twenties, her own Elle Woods years. Although she was never a member of a sorority with a tiny dog, I can’t imagine people talked to her that differently. Aren’t all stereotypes we put onto women pretty much the same? “The Whole Enchilada”

It is a movie they rarely let women make. Each actress plays a truly unique and fleshed out character, none of them have love interests that are relevant to the main plot, and no one dies or goes to prison or falls in love with someone they originally thought was an asshole. For once women are allowed to go on a journey and this time we can also bring our friends. The movie addresses sexual harassment, the unpaid extra roles women play in the workforce, and the glass ceiling in ways even movies made today shy away from.

It [Isn’t She Great film series cohosted with Anthony Hudson] has been the project I have been most proud of in my time as an artist. Not only for the opportunity I have been able to give the performers (for many it is the first time they have performed for a sold out theater), but for the connections I have made with the audience. By showing my favorite films, I have been able to connect with them in a new way; I hear the audience howl at a joke I have heard so many times I no longer recognize it and get to laugh again. I often see that the struggles and challenges the women face in the film are the exact same struggles and challenges of the audience. By seeing Elle Woods or Andy Sachs overcome, it feels like we too can carry on, maybe all we just need is to dress a little better and hold our heads up a little higher. Or maybe like Bridget Jones, we are already perfect exactly as we are. In 2018, prior to the start of my own series I went to the Hollywood Theatre to watch a sold out screening of 9 to 5, the 80s workplace comedy starring Lily Tomlin, Jane Fonda, and Dolly Parton. In the iconic film, exhausted by their toxic work culture, the women form a plan to get back at their sexist, egotistical, lying, hypocritical bigot of a boss. Naturally, their original plan goes horribly wrong, and a comedic adventure ensues. Throughout the wacky eighties hijinks, together with their skills, cunningness, gingham blazers, and the power of female friendship, they are able to get back at their boss and make a more pleasant and equitable workplace. And live in corporate capitalism happily ever after. Issue 76 | March/April 2024 | 131

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Uncaged Reviews Archangel’s Enigma Nalini Singh Paranormal Romance Naasir is the most feral of the powerful group of vampires and angels known as the Seven, his loyalty pledged to the Archangel Raphael. When rumors surface of a plot to murder the former Archangel of Persia, now lost in the Sleep of the Ancients, Naasir is dispatched to find him. For only he possesses the tracking skills required - those more common to predatory animals than to man.

Uncaged Review: It’s been awhile since I’ve ventured into the Guild Hunter series by Nalini Singh, and this book is book 8 in the series. Although this book is a must read in this series, the main focus is on Naasir and Andromeda. Naasir is other, not quite human, not quite vampire. Wild, loyal and dangerous. But what Naasir has is honor and loyalty, to his family, and the Seven of Raphael is his family. You will find out the secrets of Naasir, but I’m not divulging them. Andromeda is a scholar, been studying in the Refuge, when they learn that the dangerous archangel monster Lijuan is planning an act so horrifying that Naasir is directed by Raphael to take Andromeda and try to find the sleeping ancient, Alexander. A lot will go wrong on this quest, even before they get off of the Refuge territory. And Andromeda holds her own secrets… This is great addition to the series, and it’s a nonstop read. I’ve always liked Naasir in the books previous, but now I fell in love with him. Andromeda is a fierce warrior under the scholar exterior, but she shines in both roles. A fitting book that has earned a “keeper” status on my shelves. Reviewed by Cyrene

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The Firebrand T.M. Smith Paranormal Romance Rein, a Vampire mixed breed, plunged into the abyss of bludfrenzy. With icy resolve, he crawled out to become a Firebrand. He doesn’t make rash decisions. Until…

Uncaged Review: In 452 A.D. six witches and six warlocks created the Karmic Schism. The realms of Scath, Darque and Earth were kept separate from each other. Mortals and Aeternals would not mix nor did they know anything about each other either. Fast forward to present day Seattle Washington as Braelyn was taking a short cut by cutting through an alley she spies Rein, a Scion Firebrand who is a mixed breed of vampire, warlock and incubus; becomes confused from jumping from realm to realm attempting to fight off the Kalli. Rein attempts to stun Braelyn but it has no effect on her. Rein has no choice to take Braelyn back to his realm. As Braelyn gets to know Rein she can’t help the strong attraction she has for him. Rein can’t figure out why he couldn’t stun Braelyn but as her mysterious past is revealed, Rein must unravel who she truly is without falling for her too. What a truly exciting paranormal romance blending witches, warlocks, incubus, elves, vampires and shape-shifters together seamlessly! The world building is fantastically created and easily imagined! Yes, there might be some realm jumping that at first is a bit confusing, does manage to even out as the tale progresses. The story flows wonderfully with nonstop action and a breath-taking romance between two very strong protagonists that I couldn’t help but love and the cover is just beautiful! Braelyn might be a bit of a paradoxical enigma for some reason is easily relatable and likable. While Rein also is conundrum himself yet despite his mixed sensibilities is hard not to fall for too. The rest of the cast of magical characters are truly a delight as well! Ms. T.M. Smith has written a mesmerizing first book to definitely catch not only my interest but I will enjoy her world that much more the more I read! I eagerly anticipate the next book in the series. Reviewed by Roslynn Ernst

The Demon’s Fire T.M. Smith Paranormal Romance

The Daughter of Ice Luis Facao de Magalhaes Epic Fantasy

He’s not her type at all…

In the icy frontier towns of northern Elessia, the aging knight Eregar longs for one final adventure, one last chance to test himself against sword and sorcery. He may yet regret

He’s a barbarian. Despite his sexy smile and hot body, nothing can smooth the brutish man’s ragged edges. Besides, demons need a daily dose of sex to live. Skyler Maxwell has no intention of becoming his food source.

Uncaged Review: In present day Chicago Illinois, Chief Officer Skylar Maxwell was standing on the platform of Chicago Fullerton Station. The next moment Skylar was no longer on the platform and in the path of an oncoming train. Luckily, Skylar was pushed back onto the platform by somebody but still suffered a nasty fall. While on Scath soldier animus demon, Kole, is assigned to take Skylar back to Scath and babysit and also being her personal tour guide. Kole isn’t happy about the job but unwillingly takes Skylar back to Scath as ordered. As Kole breaks through Skylar’s prissy demanding nature, he can’t help but fall for her even though it is forbidden for demons and high-ranking officials to mix. Still love between Skylar and Kole could forge their two races or end up destroying them both. The second installment of the blood coven series that is almost as good as the first! We are brought back to the three realms of Scath, Darque and Earth with another couple Kole and Skylar who are about as opposite as ice is to fire yet manage to find some common ground. The tale is still as riveting as the first book and can even be read as a stand-alone even though you will want to read the first book anyhow to learn the background of the other characters. There is enough background without getting lost too. I loved the first book so of course it wasn’t any stretch to include reading this book too. The flow of this story is much better than the first and there isn’t a whole lot of realms jumping either. Kole is not an easy hero to like but is better than Skylar who it took forever to warm up too until she started to have feelings for Kole. Will I read the next book in the series most definitely! Reviewed by Roslynn Ernst

his wish.

Uncaged Review: This is a nicely done epic fantasy, that has terrific world building and characters that are well developed. This tells the journey of an older knight and some mercenaries that journey together to find and defeat the Ice Queen to remove a curse. This is a fantasy in some of the most traditional sense of sword and sorcery books, and those enjoy that trope will find a good fantasy book in this one. There is a lot of action/ fight scenes that are well thought out. This book ran a bit slow for me, but I did enjoy it. Good vs. evil is a bit predictable, but the author does a good job making me want to find out what happens to the group and keep me reading. I appreciated the epilogue and can see that the author has plenty of material to continue on in this world of Elessia. Reviewed by Cyrene

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Uncaged Reviews Ghost Moon Kathryn Knight Ghost Romance When Lark Cavanaugh’s life in New York City falls apart, she’s left reeling from a staggering betrayal. She escapes to Cape Cod, where a distant relative has left her an old house with a tragic past. Rumors of a haunting presence plague the abandoned home, but Lark doesn’t believe in ghosts…until she has no choice.

Uncaged Review: After she gets burned by her finance, Lark retreats to a home she inherited from an aunt she barely knew in a small town on Cape Cod. The rumors are the house is haunted and Lark begins seeing the evidence of that when she arrives with her cat Preston. When Preston gets sick, she finds a vet to take him to in the middle of the night, not knowing the vet is her neighbor, Jesse. Strange things like pictures falling off walls, and sounds coming from the house, but it starts getting dangerous when Lark starts sleepwalking near the river that runs in the wooded area between her and Jesse’s house. Lark and Jesse become closer, and Lark feels that she needs to find out the mystery of the haunting in the home. But the truth will be a dangerous road, but one that Lark believes needs to be solved to set the soul free. This is a good ghost mystery, one that kept me reading. The mystery, danger and love that grows between Jesse and Lark are all well balanced within the book. Everything becomes clear in the end and it’s a fun time getting there. Reviewed by Cyrene

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A Donnybrook Affair Robert E. Kearns Crime Noir/Private Detective Lemuel Plant is a hard-up private investigator working out of a shabby downtown office. He’s ready to quit, and is determined that his next case will be his last. Plant is visited by the beautiful Florence Joiner, who wants to collect evidence against her husband, who she alleges is having an affair with his secretary.

Uncaged Review: This book is set in a time before computers and cellphones, before technology took over. It reminded me a lot of the old movies like Dial M for Murder or Out of the Past. I’m not a heavy reader in the crime/mystery genres, but this book was a great page turner. It was a bit fun to go back to the old days when people had to literally run down their leads on a case instead of doing research behind a desk on a computer. Lem is a private investigator hired by a socialite who wants to prove her husband is cheating on her so she can divorce him and get a nice payday out of it. Lem decides to take the case, because he wants to just retire out of his dingy office. But there are a lot of twists and turns to this one, and one was a major surprise to me. For private detective fans, this is a good read with a good cast of characters. Lem is such a great character, I hope he pops up in another book down the road. Reviewed by Cyrene

Earl of My Dreams Sylvie Sinclair Historical Regency

Courting Fire Tamara Hughes Historical Romance

All Miss Sophie Everett wants is to see her beloved cousin happily married to the man she loves, and she’ll do whatever it takes to make it happen. When a prime opportunity for matchmaking presents itself in the form of a country house party, she contrives to spend the week sowing the seeds of romance...until a fellow guest arrives with ideas of his own. Soon Sophie finds herself butting heads with the most stubborn man she’s ever known. A man who once owned her heart...

A stubborn suffragist … Boston suffragist, Mattie Duncan is a willful, independent woman whose heart has always belonged to Jack Taylor, a local firefighter. Challenging nineteenth-century conventions, she finds a way to join Jack’s fire station. Not only can she make a difference saving lives, she can spend time with Jack, who is tasked with training her.

Uncaged Review: This is a strong debut novel from this author, with great characters that had not only a great romance, but also a friendship with three women that is heartwarming, and it will be fun to read their stories in the future. Sophie and James have known each other since children. With Sophie having had a crush on James when they were young. But Sophie is all about helping her cousin Olivia find her match, and is not much interested in marriage herself. But both James and Sophie have secrets, and James’ past threatens his future. They will need to find a way past it all to find their HEA.

Uncaged Review: Set during the time of the suffrage protests and the Great Boston Fire, Mattie has always loved Jack. But Jack has always held her at arm’s length. When Mattie decides to join the fire department to be near Jack, he is assigned to train her – mostly to get her to give up the notion of being a firefighter. There were very few women that were firefighters, but Mattie’s decision to be a firefighter changed after she trained hard and was able to help save a young boy’s life. Jack lost his brother Sam in a fire, and he believed he would betray his brother’s memory by courting Mattie, whom his brother loved.

Great pacing, funny and witty at times, this is a very strong first novel. The sharp wit of Sophie will keep James on his toes, and when they agree to a decision to help James find a wife, to keep him from courting Olivia, Sophie will have to keep her heart on a short leash. Some spicy romance sprinkled in, and this is a great way to spend a cold winter day. Reviewed by Cyrene

There are a lot of layers to this story, and a mystery, danger and coverups. Jack and Mattie begin investigating the death of Sam and discover a lot more than they ever could have known. Even though the background is the Suffrage movement and the Great Boston Fire, this is a book about Jack and Mattie and their families. The romance is slow building, and the characters are likable. A good read with a nice backdrop. Reviewed by Cyrene

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Uncaged Reviews Playing with Fire Flora McGowan Cozy Mystery In a prequel to ‘Material Witness’ and ‘Thirteen in the Medina,’ It’s the summer before she met Keith and Carrie’s holiday plans have been thrown into disarray by the political climate. She ends up taking a trip to Sicily where she meets octogenarian Millie and a local Sicilian, Enzo.

Uncaged Review: Cozy mystery lovers may like this book, but it was a bit slow moving for me. A long drawn out explanations and scenery and it was a bit of a sleeper until Carrie met Enzo. But is Enzo a good guy or the person stealing antiquities? This takes place over a tour of Sicily, and there are a lot of long paragraphs that were a bit too long. A lot of this could have been cut from the book, and I felt it was filler. The mystery does get better as you go along, and the ending is satisfying. Cozy mystery readers or even readers of the Carrie and Keith Mystery series will more than likely enjoy this one but for me it read too much like a travelogue. Reviewed by Cyrene

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A Dream of Shadows Peter Eliott Dark Dystopian Fantasy

go.

A Dream of Shadows is a highoctane, intense fantasy that takes place over 48 hours in a city known as Hell’s Labyrinth. Full of stunning twists and fast-paced action, Peter Eliott’s genre mashup of post-apocalyptic dystopia and romantic thriller will grip readers tight and never let

Uncaged Review: In this dystopian world, the metropolis known as Hell’s Labyrinth is run by Underworld bosses. Shadow Bidders are the criminals that take on bids for a living. Each Shadow Bidder has their own distinct skills, ranging from actress to lockpicker to assassins. Vazeer the Lash is a master smuggler, a type of pirate in this desolate city. Deciding to take on one last “sketch” (job) that pays overly well should set him up to retire. Unfortunately, it’s the most dangerous he’s ever embarked on. Along with five other Shadow Bidders, they plan to take out The Raving Blade, the cruelest power broker in the city. This book was a very slow start, although if you make it to the 50% mark, the book takes off. There are so many twists and turns in this book, one minute you will be believing one thing, and the next that idea is stripped from your mind. This book is written well, I just wish it would have taken off a bit faster. This is an intensely dark book, and once it gets moving, you won’t put it down for long. Reviewed by Cyrene

Thinly Veiled Eliza Modiste Contemporary Romance The past haunts her, the present beguiles her…and the future is ready to bring her full circle. Claire Branson just moved across state lines into Salem, Virginia, and she wants her life to go right for once, please and thank you. Having freshly escaped from a criminal past and the ex-boyfriend associated with it, she needs routine. Monotony, A happiness that could feel...simple.

Uncaged Review: This was a fun book, and even though I liked Luke and Claire and the friends to lover trope here, I was really more interested in the secondary characters, especially Liam. Claire needs to escape her past so she moves to Virginia with her friend Zoey. In the meantime, she gets a job at a bar where she meets Luke. Thinking he’s gay, she feels pretty safe hanging out with him. They all live in the same building, Luke, Liam, Zoey and Claire. But Claire’s past will come back to haunt her, so they devise a plan to fix it once and for all. I would have rated this a bit higher, but when the main characters main pastime is getting drunk, it’s hard to relate to them as normally functioning human beings. There is a lot of humor, and one thing I liked was how they all become a family, it’s the family you choose, not the one you are born into that counts here. Reviewed by Cyrene

Scorched Paula Quinn Romantic Fantasy Marcus is a Drakkon as ancient as the stars, stronger than a mountain, and the last of his kind. Men now rule the earth. The time of the Drakkon is over thanks to the legendary Phoenix Amber and the Council of Elders who use its power to transform Drakkon into humans. When the Council discovers he may be hiding a treasure worth more than any dragon horde, they will stop at nothing to have it and transform him against his will.

Uncaged Review: There isn’t much about this book that I didn’t love. Humor, action, spice, romance – this one has a bit of everything. Sam is a historical romance writer who buys a run down castle in England to start fresh after a disastrous relationship. When a “man” falls from the sky and through the roof of her stables, her life will never be the same. Enter Marcus, a Drakkon that has been transformed back to a man from his true dragon form by a man with a stone that is capable of doing two transformations on a body. But learning about how humans live is going to be quite a daunting task for Marcus, and hilarity ensues. I love how arrogant Marcus is without even knowing he is. After centuries of being a dragon, Marcus is learning the ways of being a human, and he’s not really liking it. Until he meets Sam. When he realizes that she is his life mate, then his eagerness to return to the Drakkon he was is not as appealing. If you love romantic fantasy, this is a good choice. This reads a lot like a historical when revisiting Marcus’ past memories, and Sam is a woman who stands up to him well. I’m looking forward to moving on with the series. Reviewed by Cyrene

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Uncaged Reviews The Wolfe Kathryn Le Veque Medieval Romance 1231 A.D. - After a nasty skirmish along the England/ Scotland border at Bog Wood, a badly wounded knight has crawled off to die. As women from the Clan Scott fan out across the battlefield to collect the spoils of war, one woman breaks off from the pack. She is sickened by the tradition of stealing valuables off the dead and runs off to hide. Uncaged Review: This is an epic tale of William de Wolfe, aka The Wolfe, well known for being one of the best and most feared knights during his time. This story is long, and as a fast reader – it still took me three days to finish. Before I go much further, this is a five star book, although I did have some issues, but it wasn’t enough to pull a star from the rating. The main story is about Jordan and William, even though there are multiple smaller stories running throughout the background. Jordan is traded off from her father to Earl de Longley, an older English border lord in order for peace. William and his knights are to retrieve Jordan and take her back to Northwood Castle. Jordan swears to do her duty, but in the process of returning to Northwood, she charms the knights and Willam. The romance is not a long drawn out affair, it is realized early enough on, but there are many dangers, battles and traitors along the way. Two of my small grievances within the book are first of Jordan, who is supposed to be a smart, educated woman, and is constantly getting into trouble of her own doing. The other thing was that there is not one romance here, there are several, but I felt cheated that I never got to witness the romances in the background except for a bit for Kieran. I fell in love with these Knights, and wanted more. This book is long, about 800 pages and one of the authors first medieval romances she wrote, although it was years before it was published. Kathryn Le Veque builds these worlds like no other I’ve read, and transports you back into medieval times along with the characters. Reviewed by Cyrene

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Knight of Darkness Sherry Ewing Medieval Romance Sometimes finding love can become our biggest weakness… Wymar Norwood understands responsibility. His two brothers have been in his care since his parent’s death. With his title and lands stripped from him by the usurper Stephen, he aligns himself with the Empress Matilda, the rightful Queen of England. Uncaged Review: . Wymar Norwood had pretty much lost everything, his land his title and his parents from King Stephen. Wymar’s only way of getting everything back and being restored to honor is being a mercenary and by joining forces with Empress Matilda. Wymar is wellknown to everyone from the allies to the enemies as the “Knight of Darkness.” While at a tavern the night before the battle, Wymar notices a young lad known as Lord Elric Bartone who is getting pushed around by Lord Sperling Ratcliff. Wymar attempts to stop the bullying especially when he hears that Sperling‘s only reason for being mean to Elric is because he is the brother of his supposed betrothed. Lord Elric is in truth Lady Ceridwen Ward who must hide her identity in order to support Matilda. Wymar and Ceridwen must find a way to not only stop King Stephen his supporters and Sperling who poses a threat to them both, their burgeoning love and everyone they hold dear. This is truly an epic sweeping written medieval romance that is well-worth the read! The graphic descriptions of fighting are well researched and easily imagined putting you in the heat of the battle. The action definitely left me breathless and with the stunning display of visuals left me absolutely shocked! I had no problem visualizing the strong animosity between two very real adversaries but even the characters whether they be major or minor seem so vividly realistic! Ms. Sherry Ewing has really done her homework and the research shows. Wymar is enigmatically terrifying yet underneath it all is also a tremendously gracious hero that is charming fodder for the perfect book boyfriend hero! Ceridwen the English warrior maiden who I kind of pictured as the English Mulan is much more three dimensional and despite her tough nature also still is feminine and easily relatable too. I am excited for this new series and definitely can’t wait to read more when it gets written that is! Reviewed by Roslynn Ernst

Kiss of Crimson Lara Adrian Paranormal Romance He comes to her more dead than alive, a towering black-clad stranger riddled with bullets and rapidly losing blood. As she struggles to save him, veterinarian Tess Culver is unaware that the man calling himself Dante is no man at all, but one of the Breed, vampire warriors engaged in a desperate battle. In a single erotically charged moment Tess is plunged into his world—a shifting, shadowed place where bands of Rogue vampires stalk the night, cutting a swath of terror.

Uncaged Review: The warriors are up against a new drug, called Crimson that is turning normal Breed vampires into Rogues with no hope of a cure. When Dante is hurt badly, he comes upon a vet clinic, and the vet, Tess, finds him. Tess saves his life, by him taking blood and erasing her memory of the encounter, but not before he sees the Breedmate mark on her finger. Dante has just bonded himself to a Breedmate, without her even knowing what it all means. Chase Sterling, who works as a special agent, comes to the warriors compound from Darkhaven, asking for help to find missing Darkhaven youth vampires. He’s paired with Dante, with resistance from Dante. There is a lot of action, romance and suspense filling the pages of this book that never slows down. The Breed warriors live together in a compound, some with their mates, and protect the city and the humans from the Rogues, who are vicious killing machines. Both Dante and Tess will have their lives in danger. If you’ve read the Black Dagger Brotherhood series, this is on the same order. There are some similarities in that each series has a group of warriors that protect. But it’s also true to several other series running, like Feehan, Kenyon and D.B. Reynolds. This is a recommended read if the paranormal series are a favorite.Reviewed by Cyrene

Andy and the Extroverts Jessica K. Foster Contemporary Young Adult Seventeen-year-old bookish Andy has no friends. When her over-involved mother has the audacity to ship her off to summer leadership camp, she’s thrust into an introvert’s nightmare. Everyone is a Communicator with a capital C, icebreaker activities are scheduled into every waking moment, and horror of all horrors: there’s no coffee.

Uncaged Review: Poor very introverted Andy. Sent off unwillingly to a leadership camp by her mother, and in Andy’s mind, it’s a fate worse than death. All Andy wants to do is read her smutty historical romances on summer break and she’s thrust into activities with a bunch of over-achieving teens in the camp from hell. But Andy will find her way – even without coffee. This book has some fun moments and a few over the top counselors, and Andy may even make a couple friends along the way. A lot of young people will be able to relate to Andy, and even some of the ones around her. There are some hilarious moments and also some sad moments, but it’s a nicely paced book with a good cast of supporting characters that truly make the book. There is even a camp romance or two, and let’s not forget the dreaded circles. A nice debut novel. Reviewed by Cyrene

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Uncaged Reviews The Axe Linda Griffin Suspense Short

Security Force of Two Tena Stetler Paranormal Romance

Sweethearts Eric Leidheldt and Desiree Chauveau are spending a weekend at his uncle’s cabin when they encounter two strangers cutting wood. Eric is knocked unconscious, and Desi is viciously attacked.

Miacoh Zane, a Special Forces veteran, returns to Aspen Ridge, Colorado a small town nestled in the Rocky Mountains, to settle his beloved grandmother’s estate. But the town holds painful memories and mystical family secrets he wants to leave behind for good.

Uncaged Review: This book is short, and it starts out with a bang. Eric and Desiree are planning a weekend at a cabin, and as they are walking up to the road where the cabin is, 2 men get out of a truck, and one hits Eric over the side of the head with an axe and knocks him out. The next thing you see, is Desiree freeing him from the trunk of his car, the men nowhere to be seen, but Desiree is half naked and covered in blood. The two men are found dead in the cabin and Desiree is arrested for murder. She’s in major denial to Eric and won’t admit to anything, including rape. When they get a lawyer, some of the pieces will fall together. This is a very short read, and it was enough to keep the tension high, and wanting to see how it ended kept me interested. Personally, I did guess most of the outcome, but there are a couple good twists in this one. Good thriller – and perfect for an hour or two. Reviewed by Cyrene

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Uncaged Review: After a long stint as an undercover cyber hacker with the government, Candle is ready for the quiet life back in Colorado where she grew up and her parents still live. She also runs into Micoah, a man she had a crush on as a kid. Now Micoah is done being in the miliary and is back in town to settle his grandmother’s estate and with no plans on staying. Things go awry when the new Chief of police is murdered, and Candle’s father, Hunter is called back to duty as Chief he just retired from to help solve the case. Once thing leads to another and Candle and Micoah are sucked into the investigation. This book goes along nicely, but they seem to be eating a lot, and I think Candle had a ribeye steak twice in one day. And Candle is constantly “licking her lips,” and turning around and scratching the puppy in the vehicle when the pup is in the car. Even though I loved Terra being included in the story, it seemed like a bit overkill with some of the interactions. Some of that could have been removed. Other than that, I liked all the characters, and all the supporting characters and I hope that the author continues in this series. Reviewed by Cyrene

Rorik Mary Morgan Historical Fantasy The Dark Seducer is known throughout Scotland as a man who charms many women into his bed. Pleasure is his motto as he obtains information for his king. Yet Rorik MacNeil harbors one secret buried beneath his heart of steel. An unfulfilled conquest plagues both man and his inner wolf, and Rorik would rather suffer death’s sharp blade than confront his greatest fear.

Uncaged Review: We first met Rorik in Magmar’s story, the first book of the series, he was intriguing to me. Now Rorik, who is known as The Dark Seducer, since he seduces women to get information for the king, will find the love of a woman means more to him than life itself. Ragna is a Seer and has visions of Rorik dying and travels across the seas to Scotland to deliver her warning. Rorik and Ragna have a past, where Rorik seemed to have hurt a younger Ragna. But when Rorik almost dies, and Ragna is chosen by Rorik’s wolf, he begins to understand. What I love about this series, is that the wolf is always there – and never forgotten as part of the man. The wolves of Clan Sutherland are loyal and fierce, and they love as fully as they are feared. Magmar and Elspeth are back, and this book has danger, love and humor. If you love medieval times and a bit of magic tied into it, this is a good choice. Looking forward to Steinar’s book next. Reviewed by Cyrene

Gearteeth Timothy Black Steampunk Scifi On the brink of humanity’s extinction, Nikola Tesla and a mysterious order of scientists known as the Tellurians revealed a bold plan to save a world ravaged by a disease that turned sane men into ravenous werewolves: the uninfected would abandon the Earth’s surface by rising up in floating salvation cities, iron and steel metropolises that carried tens of thousands of refugees above the savage apocalypse.

Uncaged Review: Taking place in 1910, this story is an alternative history and relies heavy on steampunk elements. The earth is consumed by beasts, a werewolf that will destroy all in its path. By the time the humans figure out that it can’t be stopped, they devise a way to take to the air, having cities that are lifted away from the destruction. But not all is as it seems and as you get through the book, you’ll find answers popping up that may surprise the reader. This story is mostly Elijah’s story, and how he navigates his life and his descent after being infected and the secrets he discovers. This book was very slow to start, and if the reader doesn’t give up too soon, they will find an intricate world that is well thought out. Some of the cons for this book is the cities themselves. I never could picture in my mind how they actually flew. They were powered by lightning and had flying train cars harnessing the electricity and bringing it back to the cities – a terrifying and dangerous job. But the cities were falling apart after 20 years of being afloat. This book is not a fast mover, it’s a tad slow, but still interesting. It would have been a better read if I had better explanations on a lot of the mechanisms in the book. Reviewed by Cyrene

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Uncaged Reviews

Ages.

The Dragon Ring Fil Reid Time Travel Romance

The Bear’s Heart Fil Reid Time Travel Romance

Gwen goes to scatter her Arthurian scholar father’s ashes on Glastonbury Tor, and in the ruined church tower, she picks up a gold ring embossed with a dragon emblem. This snatches her back 1500 years into the dangerous world of the Dark

Twenty-first-century Gwen, now a Dark Age queen, is cursed with the dubious knowledge of a future she dreads. She’s newly surrounded by once-murky history and still-confusing legends.

Uncaged Review: This retelling blends legend of old with a new look. And in many ways, I hope it doesn’t follow the strict legends as this series goes on, because I really love Arthur in this series. In the old legends, Guinevere falls in love with Sir Lancelot and betrays Arthur, but I hope this retelling bypasses that. Gwen goes to scatter her father’s ashes and is sucked into a time loop, and thrust in the fifth century, a time of King Arthur and Merlin. Merlin has watched her since she was a small girl, and knows she is the key to the prophecy of King Arthur. For most of the book, Gwen wants to get back to her own time period, but as she starts to fall in love with Arthur, she questions her reluctance to leave and her place, whether it’s in the modern world or the ancient one. The book leaves on a slight cliffhanger, but there are 6 books in the series, and they are all out now, so readers can continue on. Thankfully, Gwen’s father was a scholar of the ancient Authurian, and she knows enough to get by with Merlin’s help. When she finally gets a chance to go back, will she? Great pacing, great cast list and a book that carries a lot of legend with it, with some creative re-telling by this author. Great recommendation for historical lovers and the 2nd book is on my Kindle. Reviewed by Cyrene

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Uncaged Review: The second book in this series stands the test of a sequel. In most of this story, Gwen is pregnant, and the battles rage on with Arthur being the Drux. A lot of betrayals, and battles, and losses. The author does this re-telling of King Arthur and Guinevere well, with descriptions that take you into the lives of medieval Britain. Gwen is settling in nicely and the love between Arthur and her is unmistakable. She still dreads the legendary battle in Camlann that Arthur is destined to die as the other battles that she read about are coming true. Her goal is to save Arthur and rewrite the history books. This sequel may even top the first book and the author takes you through the trenches, the good, bad and ugly of the times. Highly recommended series, I doubt I can read another re-telling of this story that would match the masterful way Fil Reid has written this one. Reviewed by Cyrene

The Sword Fil Reid Time Travel Romance Merlin’s sword in the stone has stood for three years in the forum at Viroconium. Can Gwen get Arthur there to draw it and set him on the road to becoming the king of legend?

Uncaged Review: The first half of this book which is the third in the series, consists of a year long campaign that keeps Arthur and Gwen away from Din Cadan and their son. Vivid imagery and battles make up the Dark Ages of Britain during King Arthur’s reign. The timeline of history remains, although the author has taken her own retelling of this King in a much more romanticized direction. The reader is immersed in the story but there is always danger right around every corner. The evil sister of Arthur is Morgana, and she’s taken a smitten Merlin away with her deception. So Arthur goes to his vile brother’s fortress and a decision is made to fight. We learn more about Morgana, and her cruel ways, and now the sword, that’s been in the stone for three years will finally come into play. Was Arthur the one meant to pull it out and be the High King?

Warrior Queen Fil Reid Time Travel Romance It’s been almost three years since Gwen, a 21st century librarian, fell back through time to become King Arthur’s Queen Guinevere. Arthur’s drawn the legendary sword from the stone and beaten his jealous brother. The only thing left to do is prove to his fellow kings that he’s worthy of the title High King of all Britain. Not an easy task.

Uncaged Review: Arthur has been named High King. This time out, as Arthur is away on a campaign, messengers come and request help. Gwen leads a party north to find Arthur, only to find he’s not where they had hoped. This is the 4th book out of 6 in this series, and this time out, there will be a lot of danger, and some heartbreaking moments. I had to actually set the book down and walk away to deal with the emotions I was feeling in one spot of the book. The author does not hold back the brutality in this world, it wouldn’t feel as real if she had. Gwen proves herself a true warrior queen in this book and believes it’s her destiny. This ends with a couple of surprising alliances as we head to book 5. The author has truly brought the myth and the legend that is King Arthur and these times to life. Reviewed by Cyrene

This is a non-stop action-packed story, with even further development of the friendships Gwen is forming. A 21st Century woman becoming the Queen she was meant to be. This is the first series in a long time that I’ve been drawn to read in order. Thankfully they are all out now. Reviewed by Cyrene

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Amy’s Bookshelf Reviews The Raven’s Crux Julie Boglisch YA/Paranormal, Mystery Ever since their mother’s disappearance, Aiden and Noah, 13-year-old twins, have been moving from place to place with their detective father, Roger Raven. While Aiden is not too happy about it, Noah sees it as an opportunity to meet new friends. That is, until they arrive in the town of Herisdell for their father’s work, a seeming ghost town Amy’s Review: Julie Boglisch writes a young adult paranormal tale with The Raven’s Crux In The Raven’s Crux, the reader is introduced to the Raven Family. Aiden and Noah are twins, and since they lost their mother, their father, Roger, moves them from place to place. Roger is a detective, and only knows that his wife disappeared. Each place they stay, isn’t for long, until they hit what seems to be an abandoned, ghost town, where it always rains. 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 applaud authors who write for children and young adult, without writing down to them, as if they had to dummy down the story to meet the reading level. I’ve seen authors do that, and call it children’s or young adult. Julie Boglisch writes very well, and I think this story can be enjoyed by young adults and not-so-young adults. She sets the tone for the mysteries of the Town, and shows how Aiden and Noah are more like their father than they want to be, especially when they are intrigued and set out to solve the primary mystery, where are all the residents. The story is both creepy and intriguing.

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BECOMING CLARK ROCKEFELLER Frank C. Girardot Jr. True Crime/Murder BECOMING CLARK ROCKEFELLER: Murder, Love, Deception, and the Conman Behind It All delves into the life of a young immigrant entangled in a multi-generational murder investigation ensnaring some of the wealthiest Americans. . Amy’s Review: Frank C. Girardot Jr writes a detailed and intriguing, yet disturbing account of Clark Rockefeller.

Frank C. Girardot Jr. writes about the more-than-just an imposter, Clark Rockefeller. I am a fan of true crime stories. This is the first book written by this author that I’ve read. The story of Christian Gerhartsreiter, aka Christopher Kenneth Gerhart, aka Christopher Chichester, aka Christopher C. Crowe, aka Christopher Mountbatten and aka Charles Chip Smith. Christian Gerhartsreiter wasn’t just a con-man who married a wealthy woman, and pretended he was one of the aristocratic Rockefellers, but lived off her money to maintain his high society profile. They had a child together, and when they divorced, he kidnapped their child, and the trail to finding background information on Clark Rockefeller led to dead ends. A couple disappeared. All trails that led to Rockefeller also faded as the mystery remained a mystery. This book was written very well. It was detailed and terrifying, and makes you wonder how this man could be so many different people, and yet, also keep his real persona a secret, but this was also the era of the 1980s and 1990s, a time much different from where we are now. People wrote handwritten letters, talked on telephones (yes, the ones with a cord), and no one was walking around tracking where others were. The technology and lifestyles were different then. The story starts in 1994, in San Marino California, where the Parada family just wanted to have a new pool put in, but they and their contractor, Joe Perez were shocked with what was unearthed. At first the box appeared, and then once lifted, there was a garbage bag, which at first was assumed to be dog bones, but it was much more. A human skull. That was just the beginning of the end for Christian Gerhartsreiter. It’s an amazing story that proves once again that reality is much worse and stranger than fiction.

Analyzing the Prescotts Dawn Reno Langley LGBTQ Family Fiction The heart-wrenching tale of a family in crisis and the therapist who makes the tough decision to save herself.

Amy’s Review: Dawn Reno Langley writes a compelling tale with Analyzing the Prescotts Analyzing the Prescotts is one of those hidden gems, that when you get your hands on it, you can’t put it down. I haven’t read anything by this author before, and I’m glad I got the chance to read it. I enjoyed it so much, that I have now followed the author and look for more books to read. The reader is introduced to not just the Prescotts, but also their therapist, Dr. Barnes. The story is told by the individual family members, and in their own voice, and how they relate within their family. It’s a very emotional and tensionbuilding family drama and dynamic. The family has to deal with a father who leaves them and becomes his true self, a woman. There is a lot of passion, and emotions that go along with the various family members and how they relate to themselves, their family and their views on what was going on with their father. It’s an amazing and read that you just want to finish in one sitting. There is more drama that lends to the story, and it not only affects the Prescotts as a family and individual, but also Dr. Barnes as well. Analyzing the Prescotts is a very unpredictable story, my favorite kind! This story was embraceable and such an emotional rollercoaster with twists that you don’t see coming. Brilliant writing! I have fast become a big fan of Dawn Reno Langley and hope to read more of her work.

Osaka Games Yurie Kiri Scifi/Japanese Virtual video games, the kind where human game characters wear special video glasses uplinked to satellites that allow a game player on the other side of the world to see and hear the action while the game character is following the player’s commands, monitored by a Game Master who keeps everyone safe, to pick up bits of game magic. Amy’s Review: Yurie Kiri writes a thrilling virtual reality tale with Osaka Games. If you thought the Tokyo Games were dangerous, wait until you read Osaka Games. What a grand sequel to Tokyo Games. Just when the players thought they were safe, especially when they now have a Game Master looking out for them, the VR becomes real again. A real nightmare. The VR game allows people to see other players and their actions across the globe, and now, someone is using it for his own amusement and power. I read the book before this one, so I get the idea of the games, and then how dangerous it can be, especially when you don’t know who is watching you, while you’re watching someone else. What is real and what is virtual. I recommend reading Tokyo Games first, then of course, this one. This is definitely one of those absolutely chilling stories, with murder and mayhem at the hands of a rogue player. It is full of action, and a lot of twists and turns, that keep you on the edge of your seat, and also if you’re into VR, maybe wondering if you dare play a game. Yurie Kiri is a magnificent author, and is a master at writing edge-of-your-seat stories, savoring every word as to not miss anything.

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Amy’s Bookshelf Reviews Jericho Caine, The Hangman, Vampire Slayer Dee Rose fantasy/ supernatural Jericho Caine, the vampire slayer is trying to get over the death of his fellow Death Brother, the demon hunter, Father Tom Padilla.

Amy’s Review: Dee Rose writes a chilling vampiric tale with Jericho Caine, The Hangman, Vampire Slayer: Love, Lust, and Blood

In Jericho Caine, The Hangman, Vampire Slayer: Love, Lust, and Blood the reader is introduced to Jericho Caine, a vampire slayer, still reeling from the death of his friend, demon hunter, Father Tom. Vampires have their various clans around the world, and now, the European clan, intends to expand and spread their blood thirsty clans to the US. But that’s not all, a pack of werewolves are also looking to emerge triumphant, with the help of a vampire slayer since they are in constant disarray with the vampires. It’s a world where things that go bump in the night are real, and the blood lust vampires want to take down the slayers, especially Jericho, in order to take on the world, and create the ultimate clan. If you love vampire books, this is one that is very well written, and gives you chills as you read it. Supernatural fear, check! Vampires trying to rule the world, check. Vampires who act like teenagers, definitely not. I mention that because I have read plenty of vampiric and supernatural books, and some were kind of cheesy and juvenile. This story brings the fear and terror of vampires turning everyone in the world, or just taking lives for their blood to life. You never know what is going to happen and where they are going to show up. Jericho is a remarkable character, with grand flaws and weaknesses, but also fearfully fearless, and no matter what is in his head and clouding his mind, he is still the vampire slayer.

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Starlight, Shadows and Tears Susan Greenberg Feltman Speculative/Drama Manny Stewart is a happy man in this year 2366. He has survived a childhood with his cruel and abusive father, ...

Amy’s Review: Susan Greenberg Feltman writes a dra-

matic futuristic tale with Starlight, Shadows and Tears

In Starlight, Shadows and Tears, the reader is brought to the year 2364, New York City or now The Colony, such as it is. I first recommend reading the prologue as that paints a small picture of the City, and how it got to be where it is now (the future). I am a big fan of Susan Greenberg Feltman and read whatever this author writes. This author has a grand imagination, and talent for showing the story. This is the second book in the Starlight and Ashes trilogy, where the first book, Never See the Sun Again, was a remarkable story, and I recommend reading that first. I even went back and read it before reading this book. The reader is introduced to Detective Manny Stewart and his pregnant wife, Naztazya aka Naz. And one thing that the author makes a point of telling the reader is that they live in what is referred to as the Stewart Mansion, formerly Rockefeller Center. Their family, including Naz’s brother, and their children. Life is something that they are finally happy with, or at least comfortable and it seemed like for everyone it took so long for them to find it, find something. When tragedy hits their family, even though it is more common than not in this time, it takes its toll on the family, and Manny. This is a very powerful read, and even though it is the future, it brings out the humanity in people, and their struggle for survival, and the everyday things, like spending time with your family, and escaping to work, because it’s more peaceful than at home. And then, BOOM, another tragedy that is more emotional and heart wrenching. When an author can emote such emotion, and almost bring a reader to tears, then they have written and showed a remarkable story! Especially, when the line that stands out in my mine, is a child asks his father, ‘when will she be finished being dead?’ That’s what this author has done! A reader can get lost in the story. Both thrilling and intriguing, all the way to the end. A definite attention grabber, so much I couldn’t put it down.

Gamble of Hearts Virginia Barlow Historical/Romance The Duke of Ravencroft exacts revenge for his nephew’s death and gains a ward. Irresistibly drawn to the villain’s sister, he must play and gamble with their hearts or lose everything.

Amy’s Review: Virginia Barlow writes a historical romantic tale with Gamble of Hearts

In Gamble of Hearts, the reader is introduced to London, 1812. It’s a dark place, especially for Lady Amora. 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. Amora’s brother, Nathan, is as dark as they come, and what is interesting, he never tries to hide his true intensions and his true colors. What you see by his actions, is what you get. With Dukes and Ladies, and the aristocratic world, there is not a pleasant view into any of which people may admire or follow in a succession of what is true and what isn’t. Nathan is an avid gambler, and not always a winner. When Duke comes in to collect Nathan’s debt, Nathan offers something in return, his sister. There is this tension because Lady Amora is now the property of the Duke, but it may not be all bad, but it is definitely not all good. Would there be a connection without Nathan’s gambling between Amora and Alexander? This book has a lot of suspense, and the meeting between Amora and Alexander was not an ideal meeting, and she discovers a lot of disturbing things about her brother, such as him using her multiple times as collateral. The story is endearing and heartbreaking. The author weaves a tangled web of story and captures the reader. I found Nathan one of those antagonists that you just can’t like, but Amora does her best to deal with what he has done and her own situation. This author is a great storyteller. The reader just embarks on a superb journey. Amora is a formidable character, stronger than she realizes, even after her brother’s betrayal, and her new connection to Alexander.

BattleFront TC Marti science fantasy/war A Civil War Has Erupted, But A Nuclear World War is Brewing I thought we only needed to deal with the Nation of Bastille… …Yet I was wrong. Bastille labeled our uprising as something more sinister than we could ever imagine Amy’s Review: TC Marti writes an actionpacked sci-fi tale with BattleFront

BattleFront is part of the Chronicles of Rondure series, and this is volume two. In BattleFront, the reader is brought right into the middle of the Civil War, and there is fear of an inevitable world war. Mina is a selfdescribed sister, girlfriend, best friend, and of course, a Smoke Master. She is a very strong woman, and tells her story with grace and strength, and tenacity. She is in the middle of a war, and trying to gain information from others she is caring for. She can teleport, as well as her companions, Amiya and Asuka. She knows the world; she knows what is happening in the world, and she knows people, a commodity that seems to have limited allies, and a lot of enemies trying to take over the world. I am a big fan of TC Marti and read whatever this author writes. This author has a grand imagination, and talent for showing the story, which gives the Mina telling the story, it gives a very interesting perspective. There are a lot of magic and fantastical powers within the characters, and that gives them the tools they need to survive. A definite attention grabber, so much I couldn’t put it down. Some parts are harrowing, and others make you read the page a lot slower to not miss anything, as they can just disappear in a puff of smoke. Yes, it’s the end of the world as we know it, and as the characters know it. Some things are the same, but totally different.

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Amy’s Bookshelf Reviews Behind Her Smile Beverly Golden Cuevas Nonfiction/Biography/ Memoir Being raised just above the poverty line in Parkersburg, WVA, Janie didn’t have big aspirations and dreams for her life. Yet moving to Columbus, Ohio changed everything about her including her name.

Amy’s Review: Beverly Golden Cuevas writes an intriguing memoir about her being a Stewardess in Behind Her Smile: The Adventures of a Tall Girl from WVA and Her Life as a Stewardess

Behind Her Smile: The Adventures of a Tall Girl from WVA and Her Life as a Stewardess is a very interesting book. This is the first I have read from this author. The author shares her about her life, and she is very frank and honest with her life’s experiences. When people think of stewardesses or now called flight attendants, they may think their life is so glamourous and that they get to travel the world. In some cases, traveling the world may seem glamourous, but many times they go from one plane to another, while also having to live their lives, like everyone else does. Beverly shares her life, and looking at the life it was and how it is now in the airline industry, it can be heart wrenching. Everything changed over the years, and especially after 911, and the industry was more adept at changing after that, more security and more rules, stricter rules. I like how she discussed her experiences, she shares photos and she talks about how they had to dress in the past compared to the rules now, always being meticulous in deportment. What an inspirational title. This read is more than just words on a page. Thank you, Beverly for sharing.

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In Darkness: The Alien L. Diane Wolfe Paranormal Souls shrouded in darkness… Abducted from her research station, Liz’s life is flung into chaos. Sold into servanthood for her knowledge of planetary mining to a race called the Stren, she discovers her problems go far deeper. Amy’s Review: L. Diane Wolfe writes an out of this world, paranormal tale with In Darkness: The Alien

In In Darkness: The Alien, the reader is introduced to Liz, whose life just had a major (and I do mean major) change. Liz is kidnapped, and then sold into slavery because of her expertise in planet mining. In Darkness: The Alien is part of the In Darkness series, and this is volume four. I am a big fan of L. Diane Wolfe and this series. Each story is of its own story, and very interesting, as well as very well written and the story is described so well, that you can see it in your mind, even if your images are a bit different from the author’s imagination. Liz seems like a very strong character, and she is doing whatever she can to not just survive, but her capture is determined to get rid of her emotions, so he can marry her without chaos. Krist is Liz’s capture and future spouse, and does not see a need for emotions, as they get in the way, and are useless. Liz is caught in this web of alien race, called the Stren, and wants to do whatever she can to show them that emotions are not useless, and very powerful. As always, the author’s use of paranormal and humanity are sensational and I found that so far, this is my favorite story of the series. I hope there are more to come, even if there aren’t in this series, I want to read more by L. Diane Wolfe. The story is a wondrous trail of words, that brings the worlds that the author creates to life. The reader can almost understand the Stren’s point of view on emotions, as if you never had something, you may not know what you are missing. This story is literally out of this world, and brings a string of emotions and their purpose, on the story and the reader.

Foxholes Travis Tougaw Mystery/Thriller

Please Write: A Novel in Letters J. Wynn Rousuck Humor/Pets Fiction

Suspicious deaths and political ambition collide in Foxholes. Follow Vince Marcotte and Hadley Collins as they join forces to solve a pair of murders before they become the next victims.

Amy’s Review: Travis Tougaw writes a thrilling tale with Foxholes

In Foxholes the reader is introduced to Vince Marcotte, a veteran who is looking forward to retirement from the service, and have a quiet life. I haven’t read anything by this author before, and what a hidden gem. I also applaud this author for this grand debut book. You ususally see these kinds of storylines on TV or the movies, but this story is unique and can also be quite cinematic. Secrets from the past are haunting Vince, and they become especially intense when someone he used to know, someone he was in Afghanistan with, decides to live a political career and run for Senater. Vince knows Nick is now who he pretends to be and is convinced he got away with murder. Insert private detective Hadley Collins, who Vince hires and becomes close with as they work together. It’s an incredible story to follow, and has those twists and turns, and even though Vince is convinced of Nick’s guilt, will he be able to prove it, or is it even true? You’ll have to read this yourself to find out. Travis Tougaw has a great imagination. Hadley is an amateur detective, but is determined and tenacious, and promised to get the job done no matter what. This is a very compelling and fantastic story. It’s also very unpredictable, and doesn’t fit into a cookie-cutter stereotype.

Baltimore.

An epistolary novel with a twist, Please Write chronicles the correspondence between Vivienne, the alter ego of a recently widowed Cleveland artist, and Zippy, a mixed-breed terrier rescued off the streets of

Amy’s Review: J. Wynn Rousuck writes an epistolary tale with Please Write: A Novel in Letters

In Please Write: A Novel in Letters, the reader is introduced to Zippy and Winslow, as well as their humans, Vivienne and Pamela. Creative and poignant letters, between dogs and their humans, and how their relationships grow with the letters. Life is hard enough for Vivienne and Pamela, but they have their companions. It’s one of those emotional stories told through letters, about the heartbreak of grief and loss, and how things can get better, when you aren’t alone. Zippy is a rescue who does the rescuing of his human. I really could relate to this story, my son and his husband have a Cock-a-poo named Hyper, and he is my grand-fur baby, and he makes me feel good when he comes over, or just when my son sends his photos to me, and sometimes I even talk to him on the phone. If you want unconditional love, a pet, especially one who knows you better than you know yourself, can make you feel better, and give you all the love that you need. I really loved reading this story, and actually went back and read it again. I’m sure I’ll do it again, as well. The letters create such an embraceable story. I recommend this book to read and also share with someone you love, especially if it’s a furbaby. What an incredibly inspirational read!

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Amy’s Bookshelf Reviews The Slave’s Diary Kenneth R. McClelland African-American Historical Fiction While on his first hunt with his father, Kimbo is kidnapped from the jungles of Africa to become a slave in 19th century America

Amy’s Review: Kenneth R. McClelland writes a dramatic historical tale with The Slave’s Diary In The Slave’s Diary, the reader is introduced to 19th Century America, and Kimbo, who is hunting with his father in Africa, is kidnapped, and sold. It’s a very well written story, that tugs at your heart, because you know things like this actually happened, and sometimes, still happen now. This is not a new concept, but it’s a concept that should just disappear for good. Kimbo’s journey is one of awe and amazement, and yet horrifying and terrorizing, as he is sold from master to master. He tries to escapes, and then keeps getting pulled back into a life that is torturous. It’s a remarkable story and is unpredictable, as you pray for Kimbo’s release and freedom, and also any companion that he meets. His story is one from fiction, but historical, yes, based on reality, of course. I really enjoyed reading this story, as it had so many different layers, and the reader never knows what’s going to happen next, and sometimes what does happen is gut-wrenching, and other times, triumphant. It’s an emotionally charged story, and some parts are slower than others, but in my opinion, the pace is right for what is going on in the story.

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The Price of Safety Michael C. Bland science fiction/thriller By 2047, no crime in America goes unsolved. No wrongdoing goes unseen. When Dray Quintero learns his nineteen-year-old daughter Raven committed a heinous act, he covers it up to save her life. Amy’s Review: Michael C. Bland writes a science fiction thriller tale with The Price of Safety In The Price of Safety, the reader is introduced to the Quintero family, specifically Dray. Raven Quintero, his daughter, does something so terrible that Dray does his best to cover it up. He is definitely not against the law or law enforcement, and always looked up to those who enforced laws, but now, he has to protect the one he loves. 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. The Price of Safety is part of the Price of trilogy, and this is volume one. Michael C. Bland has a great imagination. Dray is determined and tenacious, and determined to get the job done no matter what. Raven has her own agenda, and still wants to do her own thing, even if it’s going against her father, and the world as a whole. This story is grand and suspenseful. Breaking it down, it’s a father wanting to protect his child at any cost, but that also means going against his own beliefs and creations. It’s a gripping and incredible storyline.

The Time Patriot: Hail Mary Pass Kim Megahee SciFi/Time Travel A Hail Mary Pass - that’s what the President of the United States called it. What are the chances Marc McKnight’s time travel team can convince George Washington to leave his home and travel with them to the year 2037? Amy’s Review: Kim Megahee writes a unique time traveling tale with The Time Patriot: Hail Mary Pass In The Time Patriot: Hail Mary Pass, the reader is introduced to Marc McKnight, and his time traveling team. The current year is 2037, and though it seems so far away, it’s not really. But in this iteration, the reader also meets, George Washington. A President, the first one, but even though it was not in his plans to be President, he was a remarkable General, especially in the Revolutionary war, and led his men to victory after several battles that were won and lost. 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. The Time Patriot: Hail Mary Pass is part of The Time Patriot series, and this is episode one. I am now a fan of Kim Megahee and want to read whatever this author writes. This author has a grand imagination, and talent for showing the story. I like how the books are listed as episodes rather than volumes. A reader can get lost in the story. This story is a timeless tale. A very unpredictable story, my favorite kind! Imagine meeting George Washington.

Some blue, a little spur Kris Falcon Poetry/Contemporary

I am to depart.”

The poems in Kris Falcon’s some blue, a little spur function like a map of dark watercolors, where the speaker is building a way through a space-time collage. “You say there is nothing there. I see a lake…// I see how

Amy’s Review: Kris Falcon writes a majestic painting with her words This collection of poetry by Kris Falcon is a remarkable work of words. The words almost float across the pages, engrossing the reader. You can almost feel you’re entering her imagination and the world that she creates with her glorious poetic prose. I enjoyed reading this collection, and entering the mind of this prolific poet. Such a wonderful read. My favorite was Five in Tranquility which starts with I did open. I daydreamed. I liked this so much, I read many of the poems twice. Kris Falcon has a way with expression and her words. She is one amazing poet, a modern day classic, if you ask me. Another one of my favorites was Turn to Nature. This collection has a grandly written selection of poetry by Kris Falcon, and if you like poetry as much as I do, you’ll enjoy reading this book, repeatedly, even marking some pages to read again and again. I look forward to reading more by this poet.

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