A century-old dragon shifter finds his greatest treasure. The human meant to be his forever.
Axel has a good life. He’s made a home with a family of gay or bi paranormal brothers. He owns several successful businesses and loves his massive property and big house. He never expected a visit to the family owned BDSM club would result in him meeting his most precious treasure yet.
Bryce is an older, overweight, boring accountant who’s trying to find himself as a little. He’s never had a Daddy and knows he’s unlikely to. He’s too old. Too chubby. Too boring. Meeting Axel in the playroom of a BDSM club makes Bryce yearn for everything that he will never have.
Axel and Bryce might be perfect for each other, but they realize quickly that Axel’s secrets and Bryce’s self-doubt must be overcome before they can reach their Happily Ever After.
Treasure is the first book in Athena Steller’s new paranormal, Daddy kink, MM/ MMM, romance series: Unlocked Mates.
This book contains MM sexual content (men having sex with each other), Age Play, Daddy/ little relationship, pacifiers and stuffies. This book is an exploration of a relationship between two (Male) consensual adults who are looking for love and acceptance. All characters are over the age of consent. No cheating ever. Low angst.
Each book in the Unlocked Mates series will feature a new couple and the characters from previous and future books will appear in every book. It is highly recommended to read the books in series order for best enjoyment.
Axel is a dragon shifter and Bryce is an older human "little" who is discovering the paranormal world. Being the fated mate of a dragon shifter kind of throws Bryce for a loop, but he manages to finally take it all in stride. The group of paranormal folks that compose the family group are unique and interesting. We don't get to learn a lot about them, but there was enough to stir the "curiosity vats". I really liked both the main characters.... Bryce who thought that he was too old and too "chubby" to be a "little" and Axel, the sweet "Daddy" who showed him how much he could be wanted and loved. The rest of the characters added to the story beautifully. I've got book #2, but I want to thank my reading friend, Christina T, for this little "Treasure".
I was looking forward to Axel’s daddy side but it wasn’t that much of show. I want more daddy of him. On the other hand, Bruce was a cute and kind little and I love his way of expressing himself as a little.
I do think that depth is the major issue - i found lots of books that focus on kinks like these are lacking of depth - but my current mood truly do not care about that. If you’re expecting depth, lower your expectations.
I have some problem with the side characters as well. I feel like they are all sharing some kind of connection, but I don’t know where it come from. It was a hard time connecting with all of them. For the first book in a series, I feel like the introduction to the side characters were a little excessive.
This has lots of cute scenes, made me giggle couple times especially with Bryce and his cute puppy eyes hahah 🤭💗
I have mixed feelings. It started interesting with a dragon shifter as Daddy and a slightly overweighted human (little one) as his fated mate. Sounds odd but worked. Needed some editing though. But my main issue was, that I thought my kindl missed some pages because who the hell starts a (long awaited) sex scene and ends the chapter abruptly without any sex???? I mean WHAT??? Why? Can’t she write sex scenes or what’s the matter??? The blurb says MM, sexual content blabla and all I got was a short blow job? I am slightly frustrated because it started well enough. A lot of things remained unexplained what I will hope be discovered in the next. And what about the mating? The end was way too abrupt. I will have a look at the second in this series and if it lacks the same points, will stop it. I am really like reeeeaaally frustrated … so much fucking potential due to shifter/ daddy/ little kink plot and then this? Man I can’t…
I have so many mixed emotions about Treasure. I loved Axel and Bryce. I loved all of the found family. I ADORED the concept of Axel’s dragon hoard being people so much. It is so unique. I really liked how Axel was patient with Bryce. And Bryce was an adorable little. Nathan was such a cute little as well. But. But. BUT.
We have this build up over 60% of the book for Axel and Bryce to fully be together finally. And then it happens OFF PAGE? Whhhyyy?! I don’t understand. The last 10% of this book is jam packed with events and information and then it cuts off abruptly. We don’t get to see the mating bite. We don’t get to see Axel reveal his dragon to Bryce. We don’t get to find out what happened to Drake. Again, whhhyyy??
I adore Steller books and I’ve never been let down. And this book was what got them back in the writing groove. I’m all for it, seriously. And I’ll read the next installment because I am crazy about Nathan. I just wish this had felt like a more complete book for Axel and Bryce. I know the full story continues throughout the series, but Axel and Bryce feel unfinished to me.
My friend told me how adorable this story was, and she wasn’t wrong. It was cute enough to keep reading to the end, despite one BIG issue and one that’s more of a pet peeve.
The VERY BIG issue is the editing (or lack of). It was cringe-inducing to see the many typos, including names, scattered throughout the story, as well as other grammar errors.
The pet peeve was fading to black for the first full intimate scene. There’s not a lot else going on in this story, so why cut out a major milestone like that?
Still, if you like age play, possessive mates, found family, and secret shifters, this might be the book for you.
Athena Steller has returned to writing MM, and she comes back this time with a paranormal Daddy/little story. Fated mates, dragon shifting, mating bonds - all of the great things about paranormal worlds are included here along with the sweetness of some instalove.
This book struggled with some editing (though cleaned up from her previous work), but I enjoyed the pacing and how the characters came to be together. Axel and Bryce were sweet together, and I loved how patient Axel was despite wanting to dive into the deep end as quickly as possible. Bryce was supposedly 42, however he acts much younger than that even when he is in “big space”. Not that he is incapable of maturity, but I do wish some his time in big space had more markers of his age just to make that a bit more clear. I commend the attempt at trying to subvert a trope, with him being much older than a typical MC in this type of romance, but I don’t know if Steller’s writing style can necessarily expand on that concept well.
My favorite part was the found family aspect and the other shifters and paranormals. I really can’t wait to read Nate’s story with his two mates, and that he gets the comfort he deserves. Not to mention the curious other story with the vampire and the puppy-play mate he found. There’s definitely a lot to explore, but nothing too high stakes in this world. Low-angst and sweet, just like I wanted.
One of the biggest disappointments is this felt like it ended on a HFN, with an opening for a sequel. That’s because we never actually got to see Axel shift, the mating bond between the two done, or even penetrative sex (it went FTB instead). This was not really high steam, which surprised me for some reason. That part is fine, but the fact the parts that make shifter books exciting - mating bites, the shifting and surprise - didn’t get shown at all, did drive down my rating for this book. I hope this changes in the next one.
A centuries old Dragon shifter daddy with lots of wealth, and an insecure account boy with a heart full of doubts and love. Their journey was predictable, but it was filled with lots of heartwarming moments and self empowerment. A quick, cute and steamy read ! . My Rating : 3/5 🌟🌟🌟 . . Book 82 - March 2022 / Kindle Tags : MM Paranormal, Daddy/Boy, Oversize MC
Ok here are a few of the reasons why such a middle of the road rating from me.
1. The editing mistakes kept throwing me off in this story. Misspelled words or even wrong names used in certain instances.
2. Bryce seemed to be constantly in little mode. Barely ever in adult mode. Which seemed unrealistic to me.
3. He has a best friend that has literally spent his life being his personal crutch in many ways with no complaints. That just seems really unhealthy mentally for both of them.
4. The times Bryce was somewhat mature in his thinking or actions felt uncharacteristic. He wasn't any other time. Why now? This is out of left field shit to me.
There was potential here but it fell short for me somehow. I will still read the next book because I do like this author.
I stopped reading in the middle of another book to start this one. I loved it from just the blurb back when it said blurb coming soon. I know I know but something told me this was going to be amazing and it was. I loved the MC and how it took such trust to keep moving forward rather than crawling back to what was safe. I cannot wait for the next 2 the development of the other characters felt spot on not too much that it overtook this story but enough that you know who they are and what their purpose is for this book and the next. No rabbit holes but a small cliff hanger I can accept with my HEA achieved.
I was so hoping I'd like this one. Ddlb is not my usual thing, and I try to step out of my box occasionally. I think this would have worked for me if Bryce had acted like an adult when he wasn't little, but to me, I could hardly tell the difference in his behavior or thinking. It was very strange especially since he was 42. I liked the two of them together when he was a little, but when he was supposed to be an adult, it didn't work.
I was excited to read this, was loving it and didn’t want to put it down because I couldn’t wait to see what happened. The only thing is nothing really happened, it was good, characters getting to know each other.. then nothing. It ended abruptly, was caught if guard by the fact it just ended. Had to double check😅. I would have liked more little time, and more time after Bryce found out about the shifters. The sex scence would end before the good parts..And would have loved to see the mating… they talked about they were gunna mate. But never discussed or went I do detail on what that entailed. Overall disappointed, started out great I loved Bryce and all the characters.. but feel it was missing a lot.
"Treasure" by Athena Steller marks a compelling entry into the realm of paranormal romance, infusing the narrative with elements of Daddy kink and MM/MMM relationships. Set against the backdrop of a world where paranormal beings coexist with humans, the novel introduces readers to Axel, a century-old dragon shifter who has settled into a comfortable life surrounded by a family of gay or bi paranormal brothers. Axel's tranquil existence is upended when he stumbles upon Bryce, a human exploring his identity as a little, in the playroom of his family-owned BDSM club.
The novel excels in its portrayal of Axel and Bryce's relationship, navigating the complexities of Daddy/little dynamics with sensitivity and insight. Axel, despite his supernatural strength and ancient wisdom, is depicted as a nurturing and protective figure, eager to provide Bryce with the love and acceptance he craves. Bryce, on the other hand, is characterized by his insecurities—his age, his physique, and his perceived dullness—which have led him to believe that he is unworthy of love, especially from someone as formidable as Axel.
Steller's narrative is a delicate exploration of the themes of self-acceptance and the transformative power of love. The author tackles the challenges faced by Axel and Bryce with a gentle hand, allowing their relationship to develop organically as they navigate the hurdles of Axel's secretive nature and Bryce's self-doubt. The inclusion of age play, complete with pacifiers and stuffies, is handled with care, presenting these aspects of their dynamic as expressions of comfort and security rather than mere fetishization.
What sets "Treasure" apart in the crowded field of paranormal romance is its heartfelt representation of non-traditional relationships. Steller champions the idea that love, in all its forms, deserves to be celebrated and that everyone, regardless of their differences, is deserving of finding their "most precious treasure." The sexual content, while explicit, is portrayed with an emphasis on consent, communication, and mutual respect, aligning with the book's overall message of acceptance and love.
As the inaugural book in the Unlocked Mates series, "Treasure" does an admirable job of laying the groundwork for future installments. The promise of recurring characters and interconnected stories adds depth to the universe Steller has created, enticing readers to invest in the series long-term.
In conclusion, "Treasure" is a bold and tender addition to the genre of paranormal romance, offering readers a story that is as thought-provoking as it is heartwarming. With its unique blend of fantasy, romance, and explorations of kink dynamics, the novel is a testament to the idea that love can unlock the most tightly guarded hearts. For fans of MM romance seeking a narrative that champions diversity and unconditional acceptance, "Treasure" is a must-read.
Oh my, there was absolutely no proofreading completed before this book was sent out into the world. When I tell you A LOT of words were missing, typed incorrectly, or the sentences were choppy - I’m not exaggerating. Bryce was called Bryan once, and Levi was called Levin multiple times. It was quite distracting trying to decipher some of the sentences.
Despite that, I read every bit of this because it was adorable. Axel (the dragon shifter) and Bryce (the human) meet at a BDSM club one night. Bryce is a bit insecure and is feeling very shy and afraid about being there, but his best friend Shawn promises he won’t leave his side; and it will be an enjoyable night. Bryce is a human just living his mundane life, but his best friend, Shawn, is a shifter. Shawn’s “family” of shifters happen to be there that night and Axel is among them. Axel, who is a dragon, and considered ‘Alpha’ of their group. Axel’s dragon instantly notes that Bryce is their mate. From there, Axel weasels his way into Bryce’s life and gets Bryce to feel more confident day by day. Bryce doesn’t learn he’s in a house full of paranormals until things go wrong one night at the club. The one thing Bryce has learned though, is he loves these people no matter what. So he’ll just have to be a part of their family now too.
I did enjoy the ‘paranormal’ dynamic of this, and how they all created found family. They make up an interesting set of shifters, vampires and such. Each of them adding something different to the table. I also really enjoyed how comfortable they all were with each other, and how there was never shaming. Bryce is a little, Axel is a Daddy. Bryce has a freedom to regress as much and as often as he needs to. If he was to walk around in a onesie, sucking his thumb, and holding a sippy cup - he is completely safe and happy to do so. The house is full of Uncle Doms and they’re all willing to look out for the subs and littles. Taking as much care as to feed them snacks, bring them toys, or just watch over them. It’s precious.
Despite the many distractions with the writing, I absolutely loved these characters. I will continue on with the next book and only hope the writing gets better as it goes.
Okay, this is some nice fluffy fated mates daddy/little entertainment. Axel is a dragon who has formed a found-family of various paranormal people he considers his hoard. At a BDSM club he sees Bryce who is the best friend of one of his family. Bryce is overweight and older (40's) and nervous about being little in public but his friend watches over him, however Axel knows right away Bryce is his mate and of course paranormals are secrets and Bryce is human, he's also got zero self-esteem and can't believe a hot daddy like Axel could want him.
You get to know a lot of the family who all live together in some kind of fantasy house where they all have suites (Spelling mansion size I think) and there is another little and I have to admit Bryce's enthusiasm for all things paranormal and especially dragon was cute and this was very much a feel-good story with next to know drama/angst.
The reason I didn't rate it higher, despite grabbing the second one right away, was it was riddled with errors. I can let a lot go but when I notice it's pretty obvious. Da instead of day. Tine instead of time. Bryce turned into Bryan. Levi was Levin. Just silly mistakes that should have been caught by someone in my opinion.
But if you are in the mood for some paranormal fluff with a side of littles, it was fun.
Dragon shifter Axel has made a home with a family of gay/bisexual paranormal brothers. He owns several successful businesses and has a massive property and a big house where they all live in large apartments. He never expected that a visit to a family-owned BDSM club would result in his meeting his most precious treasure yet. Human Bryce is older, overweight and a boring accountant who is trying to find himself as a little. He has never had a Daddy and knows that it is not likely as all the little ones are smaller and younger. Meeting Axel in a BDSM club makes Byrce yearn for everything he will never have. Axel and Bryce might be perfect for each other, but they realize quickly that Axel’s secrets and Bryce’s self-doubt must be overcome before they can reach their Happily Ever After.
This was a sweet story and showed that there is hope for everyone. I loved that Axel was so caring and understanding and willing to prove to Bryce that he was good enough and just perfect for him. There were a lot of discussions around feelings and emotions and it was all sensitively done. I loved the way that the family were all supportive and helped them both to navigate their new relationship. Easy to read, feel and understand. This was an MM story with mature content and a BDSM-like DDLB dynamic.
It was a bit of a rocky start for me with how Bryce just was able to let go instantly and settle into little space in the middle of being scared and crying with strangers. Especially after how all the other guys he’s dated before treated him that doesn’t strike me as something that wouldn’t necessarily happen. I would think it would make him more reserved. If he couldn’t trust people, he was actually dating with that side of himself I find it a bit of a stretch that he would with strangers, even though he knew they were in to the scene. With the way, he’s so unsure and down himself based on how he was treated in past relationships, and with his parents abandoning him as a child I would’ve expected him to hide it a bit more. That said once it got going, I was able to get into it.
I found axel’s character exactly what I expected from a paranormal viewpoint. He was protective and sweet and all about making sure his mate was happy and safe . I love the family aspect of this series, I cannot say that enough. The fact that his dragons hoard is people that he makes his family is awesome. Love, that people are starting to lean away from the dragon horde, always being gold, gems, and other treasures like that.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
I wasn’t entirely sure how to rate this book so I’m going with 3 ⭐️⭐️⭐️ The setup for the world has a decent foundation to build from as the series progresses. We meet everyone in the “family”, we establish that said family is made up of multiple types of paranormal creatures, and we learn about the kinks out main characters have (sort of) and that others in the family are Doms and subs too.
What we don’t get is depth to these characters. We get vague generalities when it comes to their kink preferences, very little background information, steam that happens off the page, and most of the story focuses on Bryce being little. We don’t get much focus at all on these two building their relationship. The ending is very underwhelming when it refers to Bryce and Axel. We do get a small preview of what we’ll see in the next book though.
I truly hope we get more relationship, more background, and more on page steam in future books. I like bj’s as much as the next person, but if that’s all we’re getting that’s going to get old quick.
Likes: No consent issues Nice world building Axel works hard to help his mate overcome his past history of abandonment and abuse HEA
Dislikes: Explicit sex scenes are not really my thing, but the ones in the book don’t introduce pain during sex and they don’t glorify rape.
Best book in this genre that I’ve read so far. I do find it somewhat strange that both MF and MM romance books have much nicer romantic male leads when paranormal is part of the sub-genre. It’s almost like human male romance clichés are so socially ingrained that authors have to cast non-humans in the male-romance-partner role(s) in order to write a romance where the male lead(s) behave with integrity and actually respect the person they are trying to date. I am super glad I found this option, it’s much better than the last few books I read.
I do recommend this story with the caveat that readers may need to skim over the explicit sex scenes if, like me, that’s not their thing.
The story and MMC were great but its a huge pet peeve Nd hate of mine when the author details spicy scenes but then when it comes time for the big bang it fades to black. When it happened I honestly thought I had skipped a page and missed something. But no. One second I'm reading a spicy bj then right before they do the deed for the very first time it cut to the next morning. It is extremely irritating and makes no sense. If you want a clean book okay but don't get dirty one second then deny readers the next.
Also the cover of this book is horrible. So bad in fact I nearly didn't even pick it up to read. I know they say don't judge a book by a cover but its the first thing a reader sees. It gives a vibe for the story and this one made me feel like the story would be poorly written and childish. Thankfully it wasn't but the cover needs a major update.
I actually stumbled across this series by accident, but I'm really glad that I did. I've read other books by this author and enjoyed them and this one was no exception. Axel is a dragon shifter and Bryce is an older human Little. Discovering the world of paranormals and being the fated mate of a dragon shifter throws Bryce for a loop, but he actually takes it all in stride. The group of paranormals that comprise the family group are quite interesting, and even though we don't get to learn a lot about them, there was just enough to peak my curiosity. It's not a long book, and I kind of wished that the ending was a little more detailed, but I'm interested in reading the other books in the series and will hopefully find out more details. An enjoyable read!
Treasure is just down right adorable. There’s only some mild action but the rest of this book is sweet, cuddly, adorable and with plenty of aww moments. Axel and Bryce are the perfect couple to start this series off. I’m looking forward to reading the rest. Athena Stellar did an excellent job in being sensitive to Bryce’s low self esteem and made his partner see him through the eyes of a gentleman and a lover. Also Bryce’s best friend Shawn is as sweet as Axel when it comes to his friend. He puts himself aside to focus on his friend. I’m truly in love with all of the people who live in the house. These guys, even through their own trauma, care for each other and people who are around them. Athena focuses on family throughout the book. Absolutely wonderful! This book deserves 5 stars ⭐️. I’d give it more if it were possible. 💜
I really liked the basis of this book. I enjoyed the found family and the two MCs. However the fade to black and leaving off the mating and actually getting to see the shifting really left this feeling unfinished. I already know the next book has different MCs so unless the author is going to write a second book for these two it's just left a bad taste in my mouth and makes me not want to read anything else by this author. Also this book really needs to be edited, there are countless typos, miss spellings, wrong tenses and even more then once where the wrong name is used for different characters. Or suddenly a character that wasn't there, suddenly was there.
I’ve like other books by the author and usually I really enjoy them. It was ok. Not the worst book I’ve ever read but not the best by far. It felt jumbled to me and hard to follow. I don’t feel like we got anywhere with this book. For the length of the book I did expect more. In my opinion it could have been edited down to create a more fluid story, instead of introducing more mated pairs. There was no mating bite and maybe that’ll be introduced in a scene later but it solidifies them as a couple. The whole reason for the fated mates troupe.
Also, book covers tend to be telling and it’s a pet peeve of mine when it doesn’t add up. A dragon or a wolf would’ve made more sense.
This was very cute and romance wise much slower then I expected. There was an insta attraction and probably more feelings from Axel, since he knows Bryce is his fated mate, but there is no „I love you“ after just a day. There is not even the fast moving together so yeah definitely slower then I am used to of the author.
However I did like this being slower. Axel and Bryce were super cute and adore the whole found family aspect of the story. I do wish though, that we would have gotten more. For example I would have liked to witness Bryce seeing Axel shift for the first time.
I also like that the next two books are interwoven with this one and I am already super curious about the other two books.
This is a very different take on the normal paranormal romance. Axel a dragon shifter has formed a family of his own made up of gay or bi daddy’s and Littles. This first cute book is the story of Axel and his fated mate Bryce. Bryce has no idea that Axel is a dragon and due to his lack of self esteem he doesn’t believe Axel could even see him as a boyfriend. He was in town to visit his best friend Shawn when Axel discovered he was his fated mate. Not being from their world and being human, Axel was trying to ease him into sharing their secret. However, when an expected shift occurs while in the play room in the club, Axel has to come clean and explain to Bryce their secret. It’s a lot for Bryce to take in. This book is worth the read.
This was a fun read! Axel is wonderful. He's strong and protective and kind. Bryce is great, too. He's self conscious and has been treated badly in the past, but he's so sweet. i love how Axel immediately notices Bryce, thinks he's attractive, then does everything in his power to make sure Bryce knows that despite his insecurities. I think the speedy aspect of their falling in love was fun and it made sense given they are fated mates. The family, Axel's hoarde, is so fun, too. And the daddy/little element was unique and delightful. I was hooked from the jump and I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
Notes: 1.5/5 spice levels, daddy/little, shifter, shifter/human, dragon, found family, self conscious mc, fated mates, protective mc