Reviewed by Sue Eaton
TITLE: The Dragon’s Devoted Defender
SERIES: Brinnswick: Tales from Gauhala #4
AUTHOR: Michele Notaro
PUBLISHER: Self Published
LENGTH: 419 pages
RELEASE DATE: March 17, 2026
BLURB:
I need a plan to stop checking out my bodyguard—you know, my dad’s best friend.
Step One: Stop staring at his tush. Uhhhh… don’t really want to.
Step Two: Find someone else to obsess over. Well, that’s not gonna happen.
Step Three: Try not to jump him. My dad’ll kill him if I don’t keep my hands to myself.
Roman is driving me nutso. He’s always with me, no matter where I go, no matter what I’m doing, no matter what. He’s. Always. There. Not that I actually want him to go away… then all I’d do is wonder where he is.
We’re doing our best to complete our missions and keep the people of Gauhala safe, but things are getting complicated and Roman is so distracting. My eyes—and my body—always move toward him. Sigh. And he’s so delicious-looking, I just really, really want to lick him.
If I’m not mistaken, I’m pretty sure I’ve seen him checking me out too.
This is definitely a recipe for disaster.
REVIEW:
Michele Notaro’s The Dragon’s Devoted Defender is, at its heart, a relationship novel wrapped in paranormal fantasy. Yes, there are dragons, magic, and danger but the emotional core is Roman and Oakley, two men whose connection is shaped as much by their pasts as by the people who surround them.
The romance between Roman and Oakley doesn’t ignite so much as unfold. Roman is steady, grounded, and quietly protective, the kind of man who doesn’t push, even when every instinct in him wants to shield Oakley from the world. Oakley, meanwhile, is all sharp edges and soft vulnerability, a young man who has learned to survive by expecting nothing good to last.
Their dynamic works because Roman never treats Oakley as fragile. Instead, he treats him as worthy of care, of safety, of being listened to. Oakley’s slow shift from flinching at kindness to leaning into it is one of the most satisfying emotional arcs.
Oakley’s childhood was stolen the moment his mother abducted him and delivered him into the hands of a clan that saw him not as a boy, but as something to control and break. The years he spent under their cruelty shaped the wary, skittish young man. He becomes someone who learned early that safety was an illusion and affection came with a price. When he finally escapes and reconnects with his father, it isn’t just a reunion; it’s the first time Oakley is allowed to exist without fear. And woven through all of this is Roman, who never stopped looking for him. Roman spent years chasing rumours, following dead ends, and refusing to give up on the boy he’d promised to protect. That relentless devotion becomes the quiet backbone of their relationship, a reminder that even when Oakley believed he was forgotten, someone was out there fighting to bring him home. Oakley’s trauma has left him with deep-rooted fears of abandonment, of being a burden, of being unworthy.
Roman, meanwhile, is built from loyalty, steadiness and a kind of quiet emotional competence that Oakley has never experienced. He gives Oakley space to choose, to speak, to set the pace. That respect is what allows Oakley to trust him. Oakley doesn’t need someone to rescue him; he needs someone who believes he can rescue himself. Roman gets that instinctively.
Roman’s friendship with Oakley’s dad adds emotional weight to the relationship. Roman cared about Oakley long before romance was even a possibility. This history gives their relationship a foundation that feels lived-in and authentic. It also means Roman’s protectiveness isn’t possessive, it’s honouring a promise, a memory, and a bond.
Oakley communicates through small gestures, leaning in, accepting help, letting himself be held. Roman communicates through actions, showing up, staying close, offering comfort without pressure. Oakley learns to speak up because Roman listens. Roman learns to open up because Oakley notices the things he doesn’t say.
Roman doesn’t love Oakley because he promised Oakley’s Dad, his best friend, he’d look after him. Oakley doesn’t love Roman because Roman is the first person to treat him kindly. Their relationship works because it’s built on choice, not circumstance.
One of the reasons their relationship thrives is because they’re surrounded by people who want them to thrive. This isn’t a romance where the couple battles the world alone. Their friends and family actively nurtures their connection. It’s a relationship grown in fertile soil.
In the end, The Dragon’s Devoted Defender is a story about two men who learn that strength isn’t about standing alone, it’s about choosing the right person to stand with. Roman and Oakley work because they balance each other so naturally. Roman brings unwavering loyalty and a steady, grounding presence, while Oakley brings resilience, emotional honesty, and a capacity for love that’s more powerful for having survived so much darkness. Together, they create a partnership built on trust, patience, and the quiet certainty that they’re better side by side than they ever were apart. Their journey isn’t just about healing old wounds; it’s about building a future where both finally feel safe, seen, and deeply, deliberately loved.
RATING: 
BUY LINKS:
