Tuesday, December 9, 2014

Mini-Review: Hot Blooded Part 1

Hot Blooded: Part 1 (Dark Kings #4)

by Donna Grant 

Blurb:

As a race of shape shifting immortals who had been around since the dawn of time, these men of power and magic can shift into dragon form. For centuries they have ruled over all other creatures. When humans appeared, they protected them until they were betrayed and thousands of dragons were killed. But now a new evil is awakening…and the dragon warriors are being pulled into a war against their will. What they never expected was to find a love so powerful that it threatens to destroy everything they have ever known…
Themes: Dragons, Magick, Fae, Paranormal
Rating: 3.5 stars
Heat Rating: 
Review:

Returning to the land of magick, Dragons and Faeries, aka Scotland, Grant takes us through the changes that are coming to the Dragon kings, magick shapeshifting dragons that have hidden among us for millennia.  Their lives have been changing greatly over the last several years as more and more kings find their mates and old enemies return with a vengeance bringing along new enemies and even newer dilemmas.  This is the beginning of a four-part serial that revolves around the Dragon King Laith and Iona Campbell, the long estranged daughter of their closest neighbor and last in the line of protectors that the Kings have depended on for centuries.  While I have never been a fan of serials, and in fact only caved for this one author, I learned my lesson the last time and will better breakup my reviews.  So now for my opinions of the first part of four:

Laith is a sexy but commitment immune Dragon king, one who has his share of lovers but no interest in a mate or love.  When Iona is forced to return to deal with her father’s estate, Laith finds himself attracted to her with an alarming intensity.  Their first meeting is shocking for both of them, but as they slowly become friends that discover they have more in common than they thought.  Iona does not do relationships, ever.  Her mother is a serial bride and never really grew up, and the lies she told Iona all her life are beginning to come to light.  The budding friendship between Iona and those at Dreagan are important, but when she ventures past their wards and into the Dragonwood for the first time can Laith keep her safe or will her life end before they even have a chance to go further?

Laith is a decent character, though we haven’t learned a lot about his past of the true reasons he fears commitment yet, just glimpses and hints.  I think he will be a great match for Iona and he is certainly a brave and strong male.  Seeing how he reacts to the zings that Iona produces in his body and soul, we get a chance to wonder if Laith will be able to step up or continue to keep distance between them.  Iona is an odd duck to be sure.  While I have read many a story with women that didn’t believe in love for themselves for whatever reason, Iona takes it one step further--she doesn’t believe that love exists...period.  Surprisingly I CANNOT wait to see her eat her words when she falls head over heels for Laith.  She's also dealing with her feelings for her parents and coming to terms with the fact that maybe things were not as black and white and she always thought. I cannot wait to see what happens next, and am glad I don’t have to wait for the next part of the book, because it ends with a maddening cliffhanger and I would have died having to wait a week. 

*eARC provided by publisher (via netgalley) for the purpose of an honest and unbiased review.  No compensation was provided. 


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