Fever (Dark Kings #16)
by Donna Grant
Blurb:
His
kiss was fire and passion. She shivered, wondering how he knew just how to
touch her, to send her spiraling into an abyss of pleasure…
For
centuries, the Dragon Kings have lived among mortals, forsaking their true
selves. But for Kelton, hiding in the realm of shadows—and existing only in the
world of dreams—is no longer an option. A human woman claims to know that he,
like other dark warriors of his kind, is real. That the legends about these
powerful, seductive men with hearts ablaze are true. And that, with just one
embrace, Kelton could destroy her…or love her until the end of time.
Bernadette
Davies is an anthropologist who knows better than to fall into the arms of a
Dragon King. But how can she resist Kelton when he’s so willing to share his
secrets and bear his soul? He hasn’t met a beautiful, trustworthy woman like
Bernadette in…forever. But once they give into their mutual desire, their
worlds will never be the same. Soon Bernadette must face her dilemma: Should
she expose the truth about Kelton in the name of science? Or join him in his
battle with the dark forces—in the name of love?
Themes: Dragon Shifters, Fae, Paranormal
Rating: 4.75 stars
Heat Rating: 
Review:
The long-awaited battle has arrived, and we
will finally find out just who will fight and what side all of the power
players will end up on…and the ultimate question of who will come out of it
intact. I have been looking forward to this story for a long time, not only for
the sake of another Dragon King finding love with his mate, but because we knew
that it was truly time that Rhi come out her shell and take control of her
destiny. We have watched her evolve and change into the powerhouse she has
become, and we always knew it was her destiny to make a great change in the
world and this is her time. That being said this story really did revolve
around the love between Kelton and Bernadette, despite both of them resisting
the pull between them from the very beginning. Donna Grant has the ability to
take readers on an amazing journey through the supernatural world of shifter
and Fae while still keeping the most fundamental of truths at the heart of her
story, Love conquers all. I was a bit surprised at the ending and am dying to
see where she will be taking the series now that so much has changed and, of
course, we are all still dying to know the secret she has kept from the very
beginning of the introduction of this series—the name of the King that stole
Rhi’s heart. If you are looking for
drama, danger, magic, and heart you won’t be steered wrong with Fever and you
will instantly be enchanted by Bernadette and her King’s love and devotion.
Bernadette
is an anthropologist who has devoted her career to understanding the cultures
around her and when she discovers the existence of not only the Fae but also
Dragons in the world, she is determined to bring that to the public, despite
the naysayers and obvious dangers. When
she finally finds the courage to make a public announcement, she knows she will
be approached, but she is not prepared for the sexy dragon-shifter that enters
her life. Kelton has been sent as a representative of the Kings to find out
just what evidence Bernadette has, but he never expected to not only like the
lass but to feel an instant connection to her. After speaking with him, Bernadette
is determined to find the truth and knows the only way is to go directly to the
source, despite the danger of traveling to Dreagan, and when she shows up on
their doorstep, she knows her life will change forever. Kelton never imagined she would show up at
Dreagan, but once she is in their home, he’s not really sure he wants to let
her go. Soon they find themselves
embroiled in a drama orchestrated by their enemy that puts Bernadette right on
the front lines and only Kelton can keep her safe, but together they have to
decide if they are willing to risk everything, including their hearts in order
to defeat their greatest enemy and bring peace to the Kings.
I
really loved getting to know Kelton and Bernadette and seeing them falling in
love despite all the obstacles in their way and their own personal resistance
to their fate. Kelton was one of the few
Kings that was happy about the spell that kept them from falling in love for millennia
and he is determined that he does not find a mate now, despite his draw to her
from the beginning. His heart is
obviously in the right place as he befriends Bernadette and tries to keep her
safe from their enemies, but once their relationship becomes deeper his denial
and resistance made me angry and want to punch him a few times. I understand
the fear he was dealing with, but dang I want him to man—errr, Dragon up – and
take his mate and keep her truly safe. Bernadette on the other hand was a woman
after my heart. While she was an unwitting
pawn of an evil bitch to be sure for a good bit of the story, once she learned
of her role, she came out of that pretty quick and found her spine. She was a
smart lady to be sure, but she leads with her heart from the very beginning and
when she starts to doubt her source of information, she doesn’t hesitate to
jump into the deep end to try to find the truth. She is the perfect match for Kelton’s
stubbornness too and there is no doubt they were made for one another, and as
they get deeper and deeper into their battle for their lives their connection
shows Bernadette the fighter she truly is as she fights for both of their lives
and a chance at a future together.
Fever
is definitely a culmination of a long-time arc that so many of us have been
dying for, an ultimate battle, and the ending of an era, but there are still so
many battles left to fight and I cannot wait for more in this series. Kelton and Bernadette’s love story takes us
on a journey through the challenges of deciphering truth from lies and finding
a way to embrace the love and trust that is offered at face value and the deep connections that can develop in a heartbeat. Kelton is a sexy beast of a Dragon
King, even when he is being an ass and fighting his instincts and heart. He stands for his friends and the world,
working with the other Kings to keep the world safe from danger, but his main goal
is to keep Bernadette safe, despite denying she is his mate. Bernadette never imagined she would fall for a
Dragon King, but once she meets Kelton there is no denying that he is the man
for her. I loved seeing her come to her
womanly power and prove to herself that she is a match for Kelton in every way
including her stubbornness and the power of her love. Together they set the world on fire from the
beginning even though they both pretend that their fling can have no future. I am dying to see what comes next and find
out where Donna takes this amazing story of love and magic. The Dragon Kings and the other players in
their world just keep getting more and more interesting and I honestly never
know what might happen next. I will say
that if Ms. Grant doesn’t tell us soon who Rhi’s King is, I just might lose it,
but I think most of us long-time fans feel the same way and truly believe that
she secretly enjoys torturing us with that secret a little too much. Another masterpiece of magic, mayhem, and
love and I am so thrilled to have had to the chance to read and enjoy Fever.
*eARC provided by author for the
purpose of an honest and unbiased review.
No compensation was provided.
