Caged by Lorelei James Series: Mastered #4
Genres: Contemporary, Fiction, Romance
Published by Penguin Publication Date: July 14th 2015
Pages: 480
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In the searing fourth novel in the Mastered Series, following Unraveled, only one woman can set a hardened fighter free from his past.… In order to survive a life of tragedy, Deacon McConnell embraced his roughest edges and learned to fight on the streets. Then a life-changing jujitsu seminar led by Sensei Ronin Black led Deacon to become a professional fighter. With his muscular physique and his body covered in tattoos and scars, the MMA fighter defines mean, both on and off the mat. But everything changes when innocent Molly Calloway signs up for his kickboxing class. Molly is Deacon’s opposite in every way: She’s kind, sweet, thoughtful, and educated. After a heated argument between them turns into a passionate encounter, Deacon realizes Molly is eager to experience more, and she looks to him to take her to the darker edge of lust.... The last thing either of them expects is how deeply their lives will be thrown upside down by the passion they find together.
Caged is the 4th book in the Mastered Series and I have throughly enjoyed the entire series. Lorelei James is a master of the alpha male and exceptionally strong female leads as well. Deacon and Molly do not disappoint. I have enjoyed these two since we were first introduced in Bound (Mastered #1). Deacon is an instructor at Black Arts and a MMA fighter. Molly is a well educated, thoughtful, sweet person who was attacked and signed up for kickboxing to fight back against the fear that was choking her. Deacon is tough on her when they met in Bound but it is just what Molly needs to face her fears.
When we start Caged, the entire Black Arts crew has changed and evolved over the 4 books. Deacon is no longer teacher kickboxing. Molly has battled through her fears from the attack, is in fantastic shape, and the heat between her and Deacon has been slowburning for awhile. Deacon even goes so far as to ask her out but stands her up. Molly says she is through with Deacon but she can’t get him out of her mind. Deacon has never explained why he stood her up and he can’t get Molly out of his mind either.
Molly and Deacon constantly bicker and go back and forth. They both are damaged from their pasts. Their back stories make this book fly by. I loved seeing Deacon’s sweet side especially since he is alpha to the core. The way he takes care of Molly and encourages and builds her up is beautiful. Every girl wants a guy who is capable of taking care of them both emotionally and physically. The true surprise was the unraveling of Deacon’s past. I honestly didn’t expect some of the plot twists in his story and I loved reading it.
If you haven’t read the other books in this series, I would recommend picking those up first. You can read this as a stand alone but you need to meet all the characters from the other books first. This is an easy world to get caught up in. Lorelei James is a master at world building and I thoroughly enjoyed all the Mastered Series.
