Review: Heat (Dark Kings #12)

Heat (Dark Kings #12)

by Donna Grant

Blurb:

Nikolai is a dragon shapeshifter who knows well the meaning of loss. Orphaned and raised to be a Dragon King, he never accepts defeat. Now, Nikolai prefers his solitude . . .until a beautiful, irresistible woman calls upon him for help—and Nikola’s whole word goes up in flames.

Ever since MI5 agent Esther woke to discover her mind taken over with magic, she feels like stranger to herself. She looks to a notorious dragon, one who has the power to help her find her memory. But as she and Nikolai come closer to discovering what really happened to her, a dangerous passion ignites between them. Can this lone Dragon King help the woman he’s grown to love to uncover the truth about her past—or will a deep and fiery danger tear them both apart?

Themes: Paranormal, Dragon-Shifters

Rating: 4.25 stars

Heat Rating:  

Review:

The longer this series runs the more interesting it gets and the more the characters continue to amaze me.  If you are a longtime reader of Ms. Grant’s work you know what I mean when I say, I cannot follow who is the villain anymore! I love reading all Donna’s work, but I admit I am kinda partial to these seriously sexy sort-of Scottish guys that can turn into huge fire breathing dragons.  While this series began with a clear direction and made readers think they knew right away who the bad guys were as the story has continued and evolved over the years, there have been revelations and spin-off series that are closely related and lead readers into different directions.  Nikolai and Esther’s story was a major turning point in the series I think and I am looking forward to seeing where the overall storyline takes us in the end.  Nikolai is determined to help Esther uncover the memories that were stolen from her by a mage working against the Kings and, while he lusts after her intensely, he doesn’t believe he is the type of dragon to take a mate.  Esther is willing to take help from anyone to try to get back to her true self, but the delicious Nikolai certainly seems the best option.  He pulls her like no other and there is no denying that she would love to be able to spend nights in his arms while they work to find a way to recover her lost time.  Sadly they soon find themselves in deeper than either ever imagined they could be, not just in their relationship but also in the danger that stalks them. Nikolai was a very interesting male, his special power making him all the more coveted among the dragons and even more crucial to winning against their enemies and protecting mankind. His alpha personality doesn’t keep him from being seriously sweet to Esther though and showing her every moment how important she is to him, and not just as an ally to the Kings.  I loved seeing him transform from the sensual and calm artist to the dangerous and deadly warrior in the blink of an eye when anyone dared to threaten his woman. Even when her world begins to fall apart around her he is there to give her everything she needs.  My favorite of his traits though was his devotion to his friends, even Ulrik, and his determination to prove that while his friend has done some shady things over the millennia he is still the same essentially good man.  Esther was just the type of woman I love to read about, soft on the inside and squishy when it comes to her man, but a seriously kickass woman on the outside who is not afraid to do whatever is needed to get the job done. Her strength and resiliency made her one of the best heroines of the series and I felt she was perfectly matched to the calm but deadly Nikolai.  I felt the passion between Nikolai and Esther from the very beginning, but it was always tempered with the emotions that they were already beginning to feel for one another.  Overall this was one of my favorite stories in the last few of the series and I can say for sure there were some MAJOR leaps in the overall storyline that lead me to think we are going to have some resolutions to a few questions soon.  Of course we still have no more hints on who Rhi’s dragon King is, but I keep hoping for a subtle hint.  For any reader that loves some action and a paranormal bent on their romance you can never go wrong with a Donna Grant novel and Heat lives up to that standard, no question.  Keep the magic coming, Donna!

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