Reviewed by Sadonna
TITLE: The Ruby Dragon’s Unconventional Mate
SERIES: Oro Escondido
AUTHOR: Minerva Howe
PUBLISHER: Turtlehat Creatives
LENGTH: 249 pages
RELEASE DATE: July 22, 2025
BLURB:
Dragon shifter Lars is used to hiding who he truly is in order to be a guardian for his dragon community. He’s gotten good at it and, while he’s happy to see his friends and family mating up, he does feel lonely. A lot. But when an old flame returns and is far from the charming, fun dragon he remembers, Lars decides maybe it’s better to go it alone.
When Bryant came to Oro Escondido the first time, he had the opportunity to flirt with Lars. To woo him. Now his brother is critically injured, his trust in dragon tradition is shattered, and he just doesn’t have the time to make nice. But he quickly realizes Lars is the one for him, and that he has to reverse Lars’s bad opinion of him.
Can Lars and Bryant push and pull their way to a new relationship, even through family troubles, outside danger, and their own stubbornness?
This is a MPREG romance with dragons, danger, and a bit of snark.
REVIEW:
Lars is a Guardian with his Dragon Wing (community). His brother Logan is the alpha of their community. Lars is an omega, but he’s kept that secret. He was having a flirtation/relationship with another dragon, Bryant. But Bryant’s twin brother was injured and he had to leave quickly.
Fast forward. Bryant and his recovering brother Lachlan need to get someplace where they can rest and recover and what better place than with Logan’s wing as new Guardians.
Uh oh. This puts him back in contact with the one he left behind, Lars. The guy he stopped communicating with and then just shows up. Lars is MAD! He’s mad at Bryant. He’s mad at Logan. He’s mad at the situation.
Bryant then proceeds to make things worse. Whatever he says, he manages to make it sound the worst and most insulting to Lars. Lars tries to rise above it, but Bryant just keeps stepping his foot right in it. Only when there is a mini-crisis do Lars and Bryant start working together. But there are still hurt feelings.
It takes them a while, but the really have to get past what had already happened in the past. They need to agree that they have to get better at communication. With help and support from their family and friends, they finally start making some forward progress. Things aren’t perfect, but they are looking brigther 😉
I liked Lars a lot and was kind of ticked off at Bryant at the beginning. He was NOT good at putting himself into someone else’s shoes and even his apologies were lukewarm at best. His brother Lachlan tries to get through to him but that’s only partly successful. Then when the chips are down, Bryant realizes he doesn’t want to lose Lars and they both have to start being honest. But in a gentle way. Along the way of course there are many babies. That part is mostly fun – even if the kids are sometimes a trip! Bottom line is that these guys have to rebuild trust and try to forge a new relationship. It’s about honesty and second chances. Recommended.
RATING: 
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