Carlin is an Alpha Wolf Fighter, one of only three in the top spots at the Souterrain - an underground fighting club, run by the Elite to punish shifters who have gone outside of the laws. He's happy enough, only has to fight exhibition matches, has his own apartment space, food and sex on tap - yep, life is good.
So when Martin offers him the chance to fight for his freedom, Carlin turns it down. It's no fun being a lone wolf and Carlin is quite happy where he is. Then Lucas catches his eye. A handsome man, a stunning fighter, moving up through the ranks fast. Lucas might not have the killer attitude that most men at the Souterrain have, but he's got the moves. Carlin has no problems insisting the man is brought to his apartment - sex is never a bad idea. But when he catches Lucas's scent and realizes the man is his fated mate, suddenly getting him to bed is the least of his problems.
Lucas wants to be free, and for the first time in a long time, so does Carlin. Unfortunately, there is more to Lucas than meets the eye. Martin certainly has no intention of letting him go, and if he has to have Carlin killed to keep Lucas at the Souterrain, then the man has no problems with that either. Suddenly, the deal Carlin makes with Martin goes horribly wrong, and Carlin and Lucas realize that the price for freedom might be Carlin's life - and even then, Lucas will not be free.
Warnings: M/M sex, HEA, some violence (they are in a fight club after all). A growly Alpha who lets his emotions get the best of him, and a hybrid shifter with a wicked imagination.
Lisa Oliver had been writing non-fiction books for years when visions of half dressed, buff men started invading her dreams. Unable to resist the lure of her stories, Lisa decided to switch to fiction books, and now stories about her men clamor to get out from under her fingertips. When Lisa is not writing, she is usually reading with a cup of tea always at hand. Her grown children and grandchildren sometimes try and pry her away from the computer and have found that the best way to do it, is to promise her chocolate. Lisa will do anything for chocolate. Lisa loves to hear from her readers and other writers. You can friend her on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/lisaoliverauthor), or email her directly at yoursintuitively@gmail.com. If you want to chat with her on Skype, then email for contact details.
I love it in a shifter book when they claim each other as mates without all the fighting their attraction to each other.
Carlin was the hot alpha wolf who once he scented Lucas knew without a doubt he was his mate.
Luca was a shifter who could shift into anything he wanted but identified more with his wolf spirit.
There are some seriously hot scenes between these two but there is also a few fight scenes in this book. There is also the evil guy Martin who makes them fight for their freedom.
I loved the protectiveness Carlin had of Lucas and the same Lucas had for Carlin. I can not wait to read the rest of the books in this series!
So all together loved this book!
I would definitely recommend this book!
I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Inked Rainbow Reads.
More like 2.5 stars for me, I really wanted to like/love this because Lisa Oliver is one of my favorite shifter authors but can't fake it or let others readers think I loved it. After I finished I was having a hard time pin pointing what it was that didn't work for me what I came up with was: between Carlin and Lucas the only thing that kept them together was being true mates. There wasn't any build-up or struggle much between the two, just lets get in each others space and mate, I just didn't feel much connection with the two. There wasn't any background on Carlin and very little background information with Lucas. (I just felt like I didn't know either one well as a person) The story was about a corrupt prison for shifters and based on the series title I thought the ending was going to be a lot different for many shifters. The only thing I was really impressed by was the multiple variety of shifts that Lucas did!! If another book comes out in this series I won't be reading anymore. :(
To be honest, I only picked up this book/audio because it was a quick way to get one more letter for the Spell challenge. Now I've to admit that I've liked the book unexpectedly at the end. At least enough to be curious as to how the life of the MCs will evolve, especially with regard to Lucas's biological parents.
So the question is, whether and when will there be the sequel?
Original review on Molly Lolly Four and a half stars! This story was so good. I enjoyed every minute of the book. From the moment I started reading I had to find out if Carlin and Lucas made it out and what else was going on. Carlin is an Alpha shifter, yet he’s still able to maintain a clear head and see reason. Most of the time anyway. He’s also amazingly humble and I can’t help but enjoy seeing him and Lucas grow to love each other. Lucas is a slight enigma and I can’t wait to find out more of his story. He treats Carlin with respect when he deserves it, yet won’t take his shit when Carlin is acting like an idiot. Brian wasn’t what he appeared at first but he grew on me by the end of the story. I hated Martin from his first smug appearance and I hope like heck he gets what he deserves at some point. But there’s also a tiny hint thrown out that makes me wonder if there’s more to Martin than mets the eye as well. This is a wonderful first story in a series that sets up a society that is slightly broken and ruled by the corrupt and wicked. There’s clearly more going on than you originally think, yet you’re left to wonder some things by the end of the book that makes you want to read book two right away. I cannot wait for it to come out because I will read it as soon as it does!
I really really liked this book. I have to admit I'm a cover whore and this one wasn't a great one so I wasn't so sure going in... but WOW I was impressed. There is such a great plot and chemistry and suspense throughout the whole book!
The two men are so great together in they way they get along, but also how they fight like normal couples would over things and resolve things. It was very refreshing to see.
The resolution is partial in this story, but enough for me to say it was a HFN. I can't wait until we find out more about the Mason's and the Elite and where things go from here!!
Great story by an author I hadn't read before but I will definitely be looking out for more from them in the future.
I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Inked Rainbow Reads.
Lisa Oliver is one of my favorite authors, so when I heard about this book written with her son I couldn't wait to read it. It was different than her usual work it was edgier, darker, but outstanding none the less. I really liked the idea of persecuted shifters building towards a revolt, with underground secret cells aiding escapees. The mc's and mated couple Carlin & Lucas are both dominant and strong fighters within this world of cage fighters. There are secrets and mysteries, and unexpected friends as well as betrayals, also a romance that has some bumps to get over. Great story. I am very impatiently awaiting the next book.
Carlin and Lucas are true mates who quickly bond together in an attempt to escape the hell on earth that is their prison. I loved their dynamic and interaction and while instalovey, it worked (and did their chemistry ever work). The interplay between the men, the shifting alphaness (not a word, I know) and the storyline (like a sexy Shifter Hunger Games Harry Potter), add up to an exciting new series. Can't wait for the next one.
There were parts of this I really liked; the gladiator-like bodies, winner hierarchy, fight descriptions and overall setting reminded me of Spartacus (and we know how much I loved that)...only, you know, with shifters. What's not to love?
But then there would be reference to something completely current/modern and I'd be thrown out of that mind-set. Sure, it was one of my own making since I'm guessing it is meant to be some sort of modern AU or something...but GAWD it would have been better as a historical-type piece (or at least without reference to current Pop Culture). All the good stuff was there and the set up ready for just such a book (I was even picturing Agron & Nasir by their physical descriptions)...until someone mentioned Puff the Magic Dragon, Smaug, and "anal sex 101" (a college course designation).
This is an awful unjust world but it's interesting. It's like a distopia paranormal world set in a regular modern human world. That's something a little different.
This isn't my thing, though. Too much fighting.
I like Brian a lot.
"[They] kill women and children?" said with horror. So it's okay to kill men? Are women that innocuous that they're not a threat? Are men's lives so devalued in comparison? I hate that crap.
What a great shifter story. The story of Carlin and Lucas is such a great mating tale. Caged fighting is not really my thing, but the authors of this story did a great job enticing the reader and the narration by Derrick McClain added so much to the story. I know that this is book one in a series but there are a ton of unanswered questions and I am anxious to see what happens next...thoroughly enjoyed listening to this story...
Enjoyed the introduction of this couple. Many times a shifter couple is tested by circumstances and these men will surprise you. Cannot wait to see who Brian mates with and how they will fight against their own governmental tyranny
Loved Lucas and Brian's characters funny and very smart . With a few tricks up their sleeves they went for freedom outside that crazy place. The Alpha strong as a bull was able to help his mate to win.
This turned out to not be nearly as dark as I was expecting. In this world, the shifters are run by a royal family, who overrule the Elite, or basically their police force. When shifters are picked up for various infractions, no matter what that may be, they are either placed in brothels or the Souterrain, or underground fighting ring. The Souterrain is basically a prison where the inmates have to fight, usually to the death. As the audience is human, the shifters are given drugs to prevent their shifts during fights. The top three fighters are the Alphas who enjoy better accommodations, food, etc. and are kept segregated from the lower fighters, though they may call upon any of them at any time for their pleasure, etc.
Carlin is one of the Alphas who takes a shine to Lucas, a fighter quickly rising up in the ranks. At their first actual meeting, they discover they are true mates. Carlin then petitions the Elite to fight for his freedom, something that has already been offered to him in the past. Once gained, he intends to take Lucas with him, as the shifter laws permit.
Unfortunately, there are other things at play here, and so Carlin is granted his wish but must do so over the course of three fights.
This story started out kind of iffy for me in that it seemed a little cheesy once the mating took place. These two hardened fighters got mushy lovey dovey in the span of a few minutes, so much so that I almost gave up. But, I stuck with it, and as things got a little trickier and a few twists were revealed, my interest peaked back up. It continued to pick up speed from there, and things were much more exciting and interesting by the end. There are still a few unanswered questions, but I really enjoyed how this story evolved. It ended up being a nice set up for the rest of the story and what’s to come and I’m looking forward to seeing how it all plays out in the next installment.
Audiobook Review: I really loved this very unique shifter story. But be warned, although it has a satisfying HEA, it is not a finished story; as there are many question left open. Nevertheless, I think it is a story worth listening to. In this AU, there is a ruling shifter royal family that hasn't been heard from for years. In their place they have left the "Elite" in charge to keep the shifters in line and make sure their existence is kept from the humans. The Elite seems pretty corrupt and have formed an underground MMA fight to the death circuit with shifters that have been "arrested" for violating shifter law. This is a pretty dark element of the story as the fighters lives are really sad, as some of them know they will eventually be killed for really minor infractions.
Carlin is one of three top alphas that has survived all his fights. Lucas is a shifter rising in the ranks who dreams of being free from this torture; as he hates killing his opponents. The fighters realize they are mates and plan for Carlin to fight for the right for both of them to be free. However, there are forces at work that Lucas and Carlin don't know about that are conspiring to keep Lucas away from Calin and never plan to let him go; as he is unique among shifters. And we are off . . .
I thought the world building in this story was really good, but since this is just the first story, not complete. It seems there is still a lot more to tell, such as where the heck is the royal family? Do they know what is happening in the shifter world? Who are Lucas' parents? I also really liked the pop culture references in the story, that was fun.
Derrick McClain's performance is fantastic. He really nailed both fighters (and a variety of supporting characters) and brought their story to life. Since this is told from both POVs, that was critical. I hope he continues with the next book which I look forward to. Highly recommended.
Shifter romances tend to get a lot of flak from experienced readers, but personally, even after all these years, I still like them quite a lot. Although I prefer them serious, like Hidden Wolves series, for instance.
This book is the other kind, filled to a brim with alphas, growling, "mine", mates and mating heats. Books like that are often ridiculous, and Uncaged is no exception. The world here doesn't make much sense. I mean, there's one family that rules the whole big world of different shifters who exist parallel to humans, and no one has ever seen them, and nobody seemingly knows how to contact them, but somehow they still manage to "rule with an iron fist". And then there's a group of shifters called The Elite, appointed by this ruling family to carry out their will, police and what-not, but apparently, they didn't find any better things to do than to run brothels and underground fighting rings, with their leader keeping close tabs on fighters and being an announcer during the fights. Uh-huh.
It's better if you don't think about plot too closely. So it all boils down to sex and romance, and authors' writing skills, and this book fell flat for me in that department. I found the writing mediocre even if you overlook typos and faulty punctuation. Not awful, but not really evocative either. Moreover, for the main characters - Carlin, the alfa fighter, and Lucas, the promising up-and-comer, - it's love/lust at a first sniff, and I'm really not a fan of those. Still, bonus points for not so cliched sexual dynamics and trying to do something with the plot.
Carlin and Lucas are both victims of an administration that wants total control of it’s subjects. Carlin has a bit more freedom, but ultimately he’s just as limited as Lucas when it comes down to it.
When Lucas and he figure out they’re true mates they both suddenly have something worth fighting for and against.
Though this is a much darker shifter story (perhaps that’s the influence of Lisa Oliver’s son as writing partner) it still has that very romantic element along with the wonderful world-building.
I loved that Lucas has the ability to shift into more than just a wolf – that’s a unique twist that makes me excited to see what else happens in this series!
I recommend this book and the author highly!
Audio
Derrick McClain does a great job with this narration. He has wonderful timing and a good sense for the emotion. He makes it clear which person is speaking but doesn’t go OTT with different voices or accents. It was easy to listen to and a nice way to enjoy this story. I really liked Carlin’s voice – nice a growly!
4.5 of 5 stars for both the story and the narration
Uncaged (Shifter's uprising book 1) by Lisa & Thomas Oliver 4.5 stars M/M Romance, mystery? Triggers: Human trafficking, forced violence I was given this book for an honest review by Inked Rainbow Reads.
I really enjoyed this story about Lucas and Carlin. It hot hot scenes, their chemistry was both alpha and broody and submissive and caring, all wrapped in to one. I really enjoyed the secondary character, Brian too.
This was a story about finding the one you are destined to be with and never letting that connection go, despite obstacles and people trying to break you apart.
While I wished that we were given a little more on Carlin's background, I liked how mysterious Lucas' background was, even to him. I thought that it helped make the story much more believable.
Overall, this was a steamy first story and I can't wait to watch the mystery unravel.
This was a pretty awesome read and frustrating at the same time. I loved both Lucas and his alpha mate Carlin. The story was wonderfully written and very imaginative, especially the fact that Lucas can shift into any animal that he chooses. I was hoping that someone would kill Martin since he was a wicked, greedy, and sick individual. Ugh. I did enjoy how both Lucas and Carlin were tough strong fighters yet with each other they were able to express their love so adorably. :) I really just wanted them to be free because the world they lived in was basically a prison where shifters fought to the death or worked in brothels run by a group called the elite, so that part was aggravating to me. Some parts of this I liked a lot and with other parts I was holding my breath, but it's still an action packed book full of danger and of course passion.
This was interesting. Full of potential. A lot of questions left unanswered. I'm interested enough to continue on. The characters are well developed. The world is intriguing, but left with more questions than answers. It was nice that the whole MATE issue, didn't drag on with denial, or doubts. I liked the whole royalty bastard angle...but don't really understand the why of it yet. I need to read the next one.
~~~~~~~ Re-read I remember this one pretty well, considering how long it's been, and how bad my memory is. Beside the previous review reaction I also have WHY isn't there another book!
Good start to a new series. The editing could have a bit better. This also leaves LOTS hanging. I am anxious to read the next.
The story line seems to flow well. The personalities of the characters are well developed and interesting. The details by the author are enough to get a good image of what is happening without overwhelming the story.
All is well in the end but the middle part was......awful! It was like someone woke up one morning and decided to be mean. I can't believe that he was trying to throw people in there for stupid things like stealing a loaf of bread. And Lisa, tell your son I gave the book 5 stars. You both deserved it.
Erotic MM romance between 2 wolf shapeshifters forced into an underground cage fighting life. When they mate and the dominant alpha wolf claims his right to fight for his freedom, the illegal Elite tries everything to rig his death and capture his mate. Interesting world but too much of story is sex. Not my cup of tea.
This was a book I could not put down. The storyline is fascinating and action packed. Well-written with a blend of romance, action, drama and a touch of humor. I am so looking forward to the next book in this series.
This was a great start to the series...I totally loved both MC's..I like how they had to learn to become mates and the relationship was believable....the plot was good as well..I totally am invested in this series....can't wait for book 2