Reviewed by Sadonna
TITLE: The Guardian Dragon’s Unexpected Mate
SERIES: Oro Escondido
AUTHOR: Minerva Howe
PUBLISHER: Turtlehat Creatives
LENGTH: 244 pages
RELEASE DATE: October 29, 2024
BLURB:
Dragon guardian Jake takes his job and his duty to his adopted son very seriously. So when Samuel shows up, claiming to have just as much right to his son as he does, since both of their sisters were his parents, Jake doesn’t react well to the news.
Samuel comes from a dragon wing that’s conservative and rather hidebound, and all he wants is to do what he’s been ordered to do. Get his sister’s child and go home. But then he has to fight a bad-tempered jerk to even see Grant, who is the best toddler ever, and to spend time with him.
As winter rages around them, Jake and Samuel finally start to thaw, and Jake sees that Samuel doesn’t want to come between him and his son, not really. Which is when he becomes Samuel champion. Can they find enough common ground to make them into the family they both so desperately need?
This is a dragon shifter mpreg romance.
REVIEW:
Jake is a new guardian dragon of his win and he’s also a new father to his adopted son Grant. He’s struggling a bit with all of his responsibilities. He also feels like he’s a bit of an outsider in his own wing and in his role.
Samuel is from a conservative wing and he’s told by his parents he must go to get his recently sister’s baby from her new home. First, that’s how he finds out that his sister is dead which is not great. Secondly he doesn’t really travel or know the area. He’s a librarian who does research!
When Sam gets to Oro Escondido, he meets some nice people/dragons who recommend a place to stay and get food, etc. He’s not used to snow and when a blizzard occurs, he’s not sure what to do. He’s got his orders – which he won’t be able to fulfill immediately because of the weather. He then meets Lars who offers for Sam to stay with him and so he does. It’s at Lars home that Sam meets Jake and Grant for the first time. Let’s say it doesn’t go well.
Jake is suspicious of outsiders and he’s none too keen on meeting a unknown dragon at Lars place. Then when he finds out that Sam is Grant’s uncle and has come for Grant, well he kind of loses it. Sam leaves in a hurry! Jake is in a little bit of hot water with folks for his behavior. He’s been a bit surly and grumpy lately. He hasn’t asked for help and he definitely needs some support.
When they meet again on neutral ground Grant is adorable and Sam can’t help but fall in love with the baby. But what are they going to do about sharing the raising on Grant? There are rules and protocols they need to follow. But maybe it doesn’t have to be so complicated after all if they can find a way to work together to make a home from Grant.
Well this was a really cute story. I love Sam from the get-go. Jake was a tougher nut to crack for sure. The more time they spend together the more they realize that they really could have something good together 🙂 They can solve all their problems if they just admit their feelings and move. I loved how Jake really wanted to make things right for Samuel. The babies are cute, the dragons are both fierce and gentle and overall this is a fun story. I love Lars! Recommended.
RATING: 
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