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A grumpy lion shifter duke with secrets, a sassy human who knows nothing of the shifter world, and a fiery arrangement neither of them expected.
Cormac Donegan, Duke of Everard, is all too familiar with the perils of his shifter world, especially as a Dahlia, one of the dragon king’s elite spies. After a mission nearly costs him his life, Cormac is sidelined, healing and grieving his heavy losses. Then a different kind of trouble shows up on his doorstep, a human claiming to be his fiancé.
When Jason Reaves is nearly killed in a house fire, it becomes clear that someone is trying to murder him. With his already fragile health deteriorating, Jason’s only hope is to call in the debt a stranger owes his father– a favor that promises safety, protection… and marriage.
Jason’s escape leads him and his service dog, Mouse, to an impressive country estate. He’s expecting the older man who’d made the promise, not his ruggedly handsome son–who happens to be a Duke, as in rich and royal.
Will this Cinderfella find his happily ever after in the arms of a dashing–if somewhat irritable–duke? Or will Cormac’s secrets prove to be more dangerous than the shifters hunting him?
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This is book 2. And while there is a bit of a recap here and there, you really need to read book 1. Even though this book picks up partway through book 1. You’ll see. Trust me.
Book 1 left us with a dead prince and the King’s Dahlia’s trying to find out who is responsible. In this book we find out that the mine explosion and collapse also killed another Dahlia and left a third, Cormac, severely injured.
So Cormac is home still recovering when a human, Jason, shows up at his door with a letter the claims Cormac promised to marry him. In case of emergency. The emergency being that someone wants Jason dead. Well ok then.
Oh, and Jason has a medical condition that causes him to faint, so he has a service dog as well. No big whoop.
Jason is integrated into the house quickly. Cormac has a valet and a bodyguard (?) as well as a house keeper and they all seem to enjoy having him around. And not just because he is a human with a cute dog named Mouse. Cormac also begins to enjoy having him around.
This book differs from book 1 in that the first book really took the time to build this magical world for us. And it happened during The Season, so there were a lot of parties and balls and characters. This time it is off Season and while we do get some of the previous characters, the world they live in is already established for us. So now we mostly get to see Jason and Cormac get to know each other. Fall for each other. Jason’s personality begins to really shine once he is comfortable. Jason and Cormac really thrive together.
Yes, there is that little issue with someone, or someones, trying to kill Jason. Who and why? We still don’t know who, but the why has become more clear. And with that the Dahlias go back to work.
This book was just as fun as the first, just in a different way. I adored Jason (and Mouse!) and several things he did and said really cemented that for me. The way that Jason was tied into the continuing story of the mine collapse and murder were perfect, nothing forced at all.
So while he got one answer, a new couple and an awesome car chase, there is still one big answer waiting in book 3. Which I would like right now thankyouverymuch.
Fun, fun, fun. Great story, great romance, great characters.
4.5 pieces of eye candy
