The Protector - Abigail Owen

The Protector by Abigail Owen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I was torn between wanting to make this one last, to savour every little bit and just wanting to greedily read it and find out what was going to happen. You may notice that with the date of starting and finishing being the same, which one of these two won. Unfortunately, when it comes to the Fire's Edge series and the associated Inferno Rising series, I just can't help myself.
Not only are these gripping reads, but I was particularly looking forward to Lyndi's story. It's been obvious in previous books that she has some pretty serious heat and unresolved passion with Levi. Being a female born dragon, she isn't valued as a member of society. She is sterile and as such will never have a mate, the way that the male dragons dream of. Still, the connection and draw she feels towards Levi simply can't be ignored. They've spent the last two hundred years sniping at one another and trying not to get too close, but now, when it looks as though Levi might have to leave, they can resist one another no longer.
I loved this story, it was all that I had hoped for and featured some things that I had hoped that it might. This is part of a series, I have read them all, but I'm still fairly confident to say that it would work as a standalone. That said, these books are so good, that I really think that you should go back and read them all if you haven't already. You won't regret it.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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The Blood King - Abigail Owen

The Blood King by Abigail Owen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I first found Abigail Owen when I read The Boss a
nd fell in love with the world, the characters and the storyline. I've since read quite a few of her other books, but I have to admit these dragon shifter books are my favourite. The Inferno Rising is a different series, but they all take place in the same world, are connected and in some cases have characters that cross over.
The blood king deals with new Blue Dragon king Ladon Ormarr. He needs to solidify his position and mating a Phoenix would be the perfect way to do that. When he meets Skylar, it doesn't hurt that the chemistry between them is just about off the scale and he wants her in ways that he hadn't expected.
Skylar and Ladon are a great match. Although he is a strong male character, he has far more understanding of how they can work as a team. It takes them a little while to find their rhythm with one another, but once they get there, they work well.
I love these stories and this world. There's clearly another two stories to come in the Inferno Rising series. We're given a glimpse of the next at the end of this book. I think I could make a good guess as to who will appear in the forth too. I can't wait to read them and would recommend this series to anyone who enjoys dragon shifter romances.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.


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The Enforcer - Abigail Owen

The Enforcer by Abigail Owen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I love the Fire's Edge and Inferno Rising series from Abigail Owen. This is the third book in the Fire's Edge series and it builds into what we have already seen and there is a cross over with the first Inferno Rising series (which seems to take place at roughly the same time as this one and there are some cross over events). This book does work as a stand-alone, but really you should read the other books first, just because they are so good.
The Enforcer is Drake, he's never found his mate and now he's slowly dying, even though the degeneration shouldn't have started to take place for another couple of hundred years. Not wanting to endanger his 'family' the Huracán team of dragon enforcers, he leaves them, becoming a rogue dragon. There he meets Camilla, a woman that he had saved previously, not realising that she was a dragon mate.
I loved the romance between Cami and Drake. She not only gives as good as she gets but quite often has the upper hand where Drake is concerned. He's a grumpy old sod and really needs someone who is able to push him out of his comfort zone and challenge him. Of course, being his mate there is a happily ever after here, but they both need to work for it and really find out that they are 'the one' for each other.
I can't wait for more in this series and in Inferno Rising. I think I know who were are going to read about next in both series. I just hope that I haven't got too long to wait until I can.
received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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Awaken the Dragon - A.C. Arthur

Awaken the Dragon by A.C. Arthur
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I have to admit that I'm quite partial to a dragon shifter novel. Awaken the Dragon is the first in a series, I assume that the other books in the series will involve the other dragons shifters that we met in this one. Theo is the leader of a group of dragons who have left their realm and are living on earth. He has been here for two hundred years and in that time he has repressed the dragon side of his nature, choosing instead to live as a man and run his security business. When he meets Shola he finally finds someone who might be worth risking everything for and allow him to finally become himself once again.
There is a lot going on here and being the first in the series there's a lot to explain. A lot of time isn't spent on world-building, but we still manage to get most of the gist of the world in which they live as the story unfolds. I think that future books in the series might be able to build on this and so will be in a stronger position, as we become more accustomed to the setting.
The romance between Theo and Shola moves quite quickly once they fully acknowledge their blossoming feelings. For me, it didn't quite work as well as it might. The chemistry between them just wasn't quite sparking properly and so things felt a little rushed. I also felt that Shola's character was kept in shadow a little too much, particularly at the beginning of the book, which didn't really help with the growing romance. I still enjoyed the book, but if I'd just brought into the chemistry a little more or there had been a little bit more of a build-up between them it would have been even better. I'd be certainly keen to read more in the series, especially as I suspect that this might be one of those that improve with each book.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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The Rogue King - Abigail Owen

The Rogue King by Abigail Owen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I love Abigail Owen's books and I particularly enjoy her Dragon Shifter romances. This one is slightly unusual as it is the start of the series, but it is linked to her other series Fire's Edge. These two series are linked although this one is set among the main clans that make up the dragon world, while the other series concentrates on a group of enforcers who live in the US.
In the other books, it has been explained that those who live outside of the rule and protection of their clans, usually because they have lost parents, are shunned and tend not to live long. Brand is one such rogue and despite the fact that the life of a rogue is a dangerous one, he has become something to be feared. He is sent by his friend and King of the blue dragons, to help to rescue and deliver to him a phoenix. It soon becomes clear that Brand and Kasia are destined to be much more to one another.
Brand is your usual silent and brooding type, who tries to keep people at a distance, while Kasia is a stubborn and determined woman, who tries to break through his defences and isn't at all convinced by his constant attempts to protect her. This is the type of paring that often comes up in books such as this, but it was done well and the characters were very likeable, I really enjoyed their pairing and story.
There is clearly much to come in both this series and the companion Fire's Edge series. I for one, can't wait to read more.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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Drakon's Knight - N.J. Walters

Drakon's Knight by N.J. Walters
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is the seventh book in a series, something that I wasn't actually aware of when I started reading it. I don't think that really mattered though, as I didn't feel that there was anything missing or that I didn't understand as the story progressed.
In some ways, this is a bit of an unusual story. It is a tale of enemies to lovers but is perhaps a little different as in this case, the hero and heroine don't slowly discover that they feel for one another, but it's quite sudden and then they have to deal with the consequences of that. Karina loses her memory after being in a car accident, both of what lead to the accident and who she is. Jericho had intended to kill her, as she is the leader of a group who kill drakons. The moment that he first sees her, he realises that she is, in fact, his mate and he can't possibly do anything but take her with him.
Not only do Karina and Jericho have to come to terms with their feelings for one another, but Karina has to discover who she really is. Not only, who she has been in recent years, but who she really is and why she may have acted in a certain way.
This was an interesting story and for me, a new and interesting take on the idea of Dragon Shifters. I did struggle a little with Karina as a character, possibly because she had so much to deal with in quite a short space of time. I haven't read previous books in the series to have come across her character before, but I do wonder if she was all that was suggested in this book, how easy that transition would sit with readers who had read about her in previous books.
Overall I enjoyed this story and may well look into others in the series.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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The Rookie - Abigail Owen

The Rookie by Abigail Owen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I've been waiting for the chance to read this book since I read the first in the series last year. It didn't disappoint. This time we have the story of one of the younger members of the group, Aiden. While the first book dealt with the leader Finn, Aiden is at the other end of the scale. Part of the same clan as Finn and his brother Fallon, Aiden is also an outsider. His parents were killed some years before and as orphans are often mistrusted, Aiden is doing everything to ensure that he can become part of the team and hold a position of trust. Although he has been drawn to Sera since first meeting her, he knows that as she is a human, they have no future and he can't afford the distraction.
It was clear in the first book that Sera and Aiden had some kind of connection, but I wasn't sure how that was going to play out, especially as Sera already has a young son. Fortunately, Abigail Owen is a particularly good storyteller and I was hooked from the first chapter.
I've read a few of Owen's other books since reading the first in this series. Something I particularly like about her books is that the series' tend to have a story arc that develops over the course of the series, as well as the main story in each book. That's certainly the case here. I think that I was left with even more questions than I started with, I can't wait for the next book to find out more.
As well as the usual elements that you expect from a paranormal romance book, the Rookie also offers much more. With not everyone getting the happily ever after that they dream of and how they deal (or not) with that. One particular part of the story in this regard was quite emotional to read. It also has a few 'bad guys' that are far from entirely 'bad' and have reasons if not justification for being the way that they are.
I really enjoyed this book, I just hope that I won't have to wait for too long for book three...
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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Outside the Veil Boxed Set - T.J. Shaw

Outside the Veil Boxed Set by T.J. Shaw
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

First of all, I feel a little mean not giving this more than a four-star score, I was in two minds whether to give it five or four, but decided to go with four. There was a lot I loved about these books, but I suspect that there's room for even more in future instalments of this series, so I decided to go with four.
I had intended to read the three parts of this boxed set separately, possibly reading something in between each one. This time, that just didn't happen. With each part, I couldn't put it down and was dying to know what was going to happen in the next. I was warned that the first two books would finish on cliffhangers, but I still didn't expect to be so caught up in the story.
Both Jaxon and Amari were fascinating and I loved how they were together. Finding out how they managed to navigate their way through the problems that faced them and their finding a way for Amari to become who she should be. I also really liked the other members of their cardre and I hope that we see more of them in future books. This is the start of a series I believe and there is certainly scope for plenty more storylines. Amari's sister Lizbet has got her own issues to face in the near future, as well as dealing with the shadowy villain of the piece. I suspect that we have only seen a small amount of this person so far, their motives or what they are ultimately trying to do hasn't really become clear as yet.
The setting of this book means that there is a fair amount of world-building to be done. This doesn't get in the way of the story or the action and our understanding grows as the plot develops so that you almost don't notice it, but certainly know far more about the world in which they live by the end of the books.
There is romance here and I loved the interaction between Jaxon and Amari as they at first find themselves drawn to one another and then as their relationship and love begins to grow and develop.
If you are thinking of giving Outside the Veil a go, then I would suggest going straight for the boxed set. You probably won't be able to put it down so you might as well get all three to begin with. Highly recommended.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.


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Grigori - Lauren Smith

Release Date: October 3, 2017

 

Synopsis

He’s one of the last of a powerful but vanishing bloodline … Grigori Barinov is the eldest in an ancient line of dragon shifters and the guardian of his family’s lands and fortune. Sworn to protect their history and magic, he won’t rest until he neutralizes any threat to their existence. When he discovers an ancient manuscript that exposes his family and their dragon lineage has fallen into a mortal woman’s hands, he knows he must get the book back by any means necessary. If that means seducing a nosy American woman with an intoxicating scent, he is more than willing to carry her off to his palatial home deep in the heart of Russia. She’s the one woman who could expose him to the world… Madelyn Haynes has never fit in. As an adopted child she grew up in a loving home but never felt as though she belonged. Plagued by mysterious dreams she’s had of a silver scaled beast ever since she was a little girl, she is convinced dragons are real. While in Russia working on her PhD in mythology in order to escape the ridicule from fellow professors, she unexpectedly crosses paths with the sexy and dominating Grigori, and after just one night with the man whose eyes seem to burn, she starts to change inside. Isolated in the Russian wilderness Grigori calls home, Madelyn can’t help but fall under his sensual spell, yet something deep inside her calls out that she can’t trust him. She has to show the world dragons are real to salvage academic reputation, even if it means costing her the heart of the dragon she’s falling in love with.

My Review

As I'm sure you'll already know (or at least if you've read my blog before you will) I'm a bit of a fan of Lauren Smith's books. Grigori is the first in a new series, Brothers of Ash and Fire. I have to admit that supernatural romances, aren't usually my genre of choice, but for an author I like, then I'm happy to give them a go. I actually really enjoyed Grigori, despite it being something different to the books that I usually go for.

One of the things that I really liked about this story, was that although Grigori himself is very strong and dominating, (he is a dragon after all) the female lead in this book is no wilting violet. In fact, it soon becomes clear that not only is she drawn to him in some inexplicable way, but there's more to her past and herself than first meets the eye.

I really enjoyed the first book in this new series and I'm looking forward to reading about Grigori's brothers and their stories. Lauren Smith has created a great world and characters and I'm looking forward to enjoying another story with them.

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Giveaway

$20 Amazon Gift Card

 

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About the Author

USA TODAY Bestselling author LAUREN SMITH is an Oklahoma attorney by day, who pens adventurous and edgy romance stories by the light of her smart phone flashlight app. She knew she was destined to be a romance writer when she attempted to re-write the entire Titanic movie just to save Jack from drowning. Connecting with readers by writing emotionally moving, realistic and sexy romances no matter what time period is her passion. She’s won multiple awards in several romance subgenres including: New England Reader’s Choice Awards, Greater Detroit BookSeller’s Best Awards, Amazon.com Breakthrough Novel Award Quarter-Finalist and a Semi-Finalist for the Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley Award.

 

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