When dragon shifter Dima goes to a fire on the job, he has no idea what he's about to find. The house is full of young men who have been kidnapped and held against their will, and he and his fellow firefighters and his cop buddies vow to get to the bottom of it. Especially since Dima is pretty sure one of them, Kam, is his mate.
All Kam wanted was a fresh start when he came to California from Las Vegas. He thought he was finding work as a model, but things soon went very bad. So when Dima sweeps in and rescues him, he can't believe he's safe. Dima calls to him in so many ways, but danger still looms over them. Can Dima keep Kam safe, and bring him into the dragon family without his brothers objecting?
This is a non-mpreg dragon shifter alpha omega romance with knotting.
Minerva Howe is the kinky alter ego of author Julia Talbot. Julia lives in the great Southwest, where there is hot and cold running rodeo, cowboys, and everything from meat and potatoes to the best Tex-Mex. A full time author, Julia has been published by Samhain as well as other publishing houses. She believes that everyone deserves a happy ending, so she writes about love without limits, where boys love boys, girls love girls, and boys and girls get together to get wild, especially when her crazy paranormal characters are involved.
3/5. Highlights may contain spoilers. Read at your own risk.
Content Warnings for book: House fire, human trafficking
Kink: Sex toys, knotting
Dragon of Fire by Minerva Howe introduces us to Dima, a dragon triplet, and the man he rescues from a building fire, Kameron. This is a sweet size-difference romance with a himbo firefighter and his mate.
As for the relationship between Kam and Dima, it was really sweet. Dima was protective and kind, helping Kam every step of the way through recovering from his situation and trauma without being overbearing and recognizing the need for boundaries. It's only when Kam wants to initiate for them to go further do they, and that is where we eventually discover some interesting secrets about Kam. I did struggle with the lack of tension I felt between them, but I think that had to do with the writing style, which I'll touch on later.
I liked the building relationships between the two other triplets and Kam, and how they all came to be a sweet family on the property they live on. I am definitely intrigued by who their mates will be considering their different personalities, and if it will be some of the other men saved from that property fire.
One thing that felt slow for me was the plot itself: We had the big action in the beginning, revelations of what was going on, and then towards the end we get another revelation and brewing for a longer plot line. I do want to see the way that ends up and for what reasons, especially if humans aren't supposed to know about paranormal beings, but the story itself dragged because those were only the two major plot points happening. The rest was domestic fluff, but it was hard to connect to it.
I didn't understand why this was omegaverse - it was hardly brought up, and mpreg isn't possible, so why not just make knotting/slick a shifter or dragon thing? I think the actual words "alpha" and "omega" were both only used once, and usually I liked those elements of what those mean to be explored in the universe if they occur.
Why this is only three stars for me is I struggled with the writing style, and editing issues. Writing style was, it felt very stiff and hard to connect to. Sometimes internal dialogue repeated actual dialogue, or was sort of used as a joke mechanism that didn't flow right. I didn't really feel connected to the characters or their hurts at all, though I realize this is rather low-angst in the scheme of things. The sex scenes absolutely suffered because of this though, I ended up skimming them.
Editing wise, and I don't know if the published version will fix it: at least three times was there a sudden switch from 1st person POV to 3rd person. I am assuming the author accidentally wrote in the wrong POV and the editor didn't catch it. However it really pulled me out of the story because of how noticeable it was.
Overall, this is a short fluffy read if you like omegaverse with no mpreg, dragons, and hurt/comfort.
I knew I was gonna love this, since I have loved every book I have read by this author so far! The three dragon triplets are great and can't wait for the remaining two to get their happy endings as well! A fun and sexy read!
The overall plot was good. I liked the premise and the way the characters are set. I also liked the characters, it will be an enjoyable series to follow. I get the feeling, however, that this series is part of an extended universe. There's little explanation of how the world is set and how the magical characters live and fit in it, as well as their powers and limitations. You kind of are left guessing, though it's definitely a "we're hiding from the humans" kind of world. It's not as confusing as if it were a sequel series, but it does leave things to be clarified. Heaven knows where it all starts though, as the extended universe idea isn't as clear as if it were a set sequel.
Dragon of Fire is the first novella in a paranormal series where shifters, werewolves, and other paranormal entities are known to exist. It’s a short and sexy read, with just the beginning of the sex trafficking storyline revealed. Dima is gone for Kam virtually on sight, but his slow-ish approach allows Kam to weather his trauma while experiencing a captivating first love. It was interesting that Kam didn’t know his own true nature until he and Dima had connected. Their bond grows quickly, as fated mates’ romances are wont to do. The induction of Kam’s powers are a nice twist to the romance, as if he just needed the right spark to light his magical fire.
This is the first book in Minerva Howe's Dragon Triplets book and I found it a good start to the series. Dima and Kam fit each other well and their romance was easy to follow. The story had a nice flow to it and I liked the plot and characters. The only issue that I had was that the dialogue at time felt very juvenile. Other than that it was a good start to the series and I'm looking forward to the next two books.
Dragon of Fire is a good start to this new shifter series. The story itself starts off quite dark with kidnap victims being discovered at a house fire but it turns out for the best for Kam when his rescuer turns out to be his mate. Dima and Kam fit together perfectly, Dima's protective instincts roaring to the front, literally in some cases, along with his caring ones as he looks to help Kam recover and move on from the ordeal. As they grow closer their bond quickly forms with emotional and physical connections strengthening. It's lovely reading Kam as he grows in confidence and he's helped there by Dima's brothers as well, Aleks and Nik. I'm looking forward to their stories and who they end up with after meeting them here. It's not all plain sailing with something cropping up but their bond comes to the rescue as well as Kam standing up for himself. A wonderful read from a great author. It's a short and sweet romance with a harder hitting element that brings an emotional element to things. I'm also totally in love with total dog test these guys have going on, all with their own personalities. I received an ARC and am happily giving a review.
Dragon of Fire is the first in the Dragon Triplet series by author Minerva Howe. This story is told in dual POV. I think this POV really fits this storyline well.
Dima: works as a firefighter. A fitting job for a dragon shifter. He also is a great cook. I liked him. He is kind, protective, and really strong personality.
Kameron: he has been rescued by Dima and the other firefighters. He was trapped and forced to do porn. He has a dog as his only friend.
I liked Kameron he is stronger than he knows. He is also sweet and kind. He has a few surprises too that I didn’t see coming.
Overall, this is a great start to this series. I loved this story and cannot wait for more in the future.
This was a simple story. The drama wasn’t super jarring and the plot didn’t make you feel like you were on the edge of your seat. Everything simultaneously happened so quickly and not quickly enough. I’m not to sure what the actual story was. Everything about it was just okay. The dialogue was stiff and read as kind of clunky. I wish there was more world building and character development.
Going to DNF for now at 33%. This wasn’t a bad book per se, but the writing just felt very weird. I can’t exactly pinpoint what about it was off, but it almost felt very stilted and didn’t sound like natural conversation. The premise seems good, but I just cannot get into the writing style.
I really enjoyed reading this sweet, charming, fantastic, fast paced, keep-you-on-the-edge-of-your-seat, smoldering, and totally awesome start to an amazing new series.
This was okay. I'm a bit disappointed with a couple of things, but all in all, it was a cute, quick and steamy read. This is my first Minerva Howe read, but I don't think it will be my last! Although "Dragon of Fire" wasn't my favourite, far from it, I'm actually curious to read more of this author's backlist. Omegaverse has quickly become one of my obsessions.
Anyway, Kam and Dima were pretty cute, even though some bits of their relationship left me feeling a bit underwhelmed: unfortunately, I'll never be the biggest fan of insta-love, but all in all, I did like them, individually and together. Weirdly, I kept thinking Mpreg would have made their relationship better? LOL, last year me would have been shocked.
My favourite part of the book, by far, were the dogs and Dima's brothers: all dogs, fictional or real, are literal angels and Aleks and Nik were pretty fantastic. The banter was also top-notch and I adored the found family vibes going on. I'm actually not sure if this book is part of a bigger, omegaverse, shifter/magical world, but the world-building was a bit too jumpled and confusing for my liking (plus, I'm still not sure if I'm a fan of dragon shifters?), but hopefully my questions (about the world-building and all the different species, plus the kidnapping plot) will be answered in the second book, because I'll definitely be reading that!
Thank you GRR for the ARC. I received it in exchange for an honest review.
A very slow-paced 1st book in this Dragon Triplets series. Chapter 1 really held my interest when the alarm sounded of a building fire and eventual rescue of the multiple victims. Dangerous elements facing any fire fighter was very revealing and very true to life. Dima was such a sweetheart and not at all portrayed as an arrogant alpha. His suspicions about his attraction to Kameron aka/Kam and Kam's hidden side was dealt with wonderfully. I look forward to the future stories of brothers Aleks and Nik. There was added knowledge of "others" working at the fire house that added to the theme's flavor. Granted Kam's other side was uncovered. Not much was written about the threats presented to Kam and the other rescued boys .There could have been more written about the villains and their intentions; in other words, more could have been revealed and/or expanded on. Hopefully, this ingredient that seemed missing will be in future books of this series. Maybe the future stories will devote more time to this aspect. This ARC review is my honest opinion.
What an adorable book. Dima the dragon finds his mate in Kam. I loved these two together.
Dragon shifter Dima rescues Kam from a house fire. Turns out, Dima was held there against his will, along with several other men. While there is an element of darkness in this book, it never felt overly dark or angsty. I appreciated that. There was still an element of lightness and happiness between Dima and Kam. And while Howe most definitely addressed Kam’s PTSD and the affects of his kidnapping, it wasn’t heavy handed at all.
We also meet Aleks and Nick, Dima’s brothers. I am interested in them finding their mates and look forward to their stories. There was a lovely family chemistry between the triplets that was only enhanced by Kam’s addition to the pack.
This was a quick and mostly light read that I very much enjoyed.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Gay Romance Reviews and this is my honest opinion.
Mmmmm. Dragons. 🔥🔥 I am a sucker for stories about dragons for some reason. Minerva Howe hasn’t disappointed me yet with one either. Dima is a dragon who also happens to be a firefighter. His most recent callout involves a B&B that turns out to house something even more sinister than a fire. People are tricking and trapping people into trafficking from this house. Kam was just trying to start over in a new place and found himself being held in that nightmare. When Dima rescues him, something just draws the two together like magnets. This book is all kinds of hot and steamy. And let’s not forget the other two brothers or the adorable doggos!!! I. Love. The. Dogs! This story is a good one and is worth the quick read that it is!
This was a very quick read. Dima, who is a dragon shifter, responds to a fire where he not only finds a house full of men that were being held against their will, but also his mate. Kam thought he was responding to a real job, but boy was he wrong. What I loved is Dima was a sweet Alpha. Kam was also a sweetheart & I liked the fact that what he went through was not swept under the rug & magically healed. I thought that the bad guys could have been fleshed out more, maybe in future books. I loved Dima's brothers & can't wait for them to find their mates as well.
I rec'd a copy of the book from Gay Romance Reviews in exchange for an honest review.
Dima is a triplet, a firefighter and a dragon shifter who loves to cook. He is a nurturer and he cares. When his station is called to a fire near the end of his shift they find a burning building that seems odd, boarded up, but seems to contain people. When he searches he finds that there are young men being kept hostage and abused in what looks like a trafficking situation. One of the rescued Kam calls to him and he wants to take care of and help Kam. Some of the fire fighters agree to take them in so they won't have to go to a shelter. Dima volunteers to shelter Kam and his dog Ducky. He senses that there is something special about him. Dima takes Kam home to the building he owns with his brothers, Aleks and Nik and their dogs. There Kam has a chance to heal, is offered a home and finds his mate in Dima and family with the brothers and the dogs. Kam also discovers his dragon. What started out for Kam as a really rotten thing to go through being held against his will and robbed of his belonging brought him to his mate, family like he has never had a better sense of his whole self. His presence is also good for the triplets. Great start to the series. I read this in one night. I am all in! I received an ARC from GRR for an honest review.
Dragon shifter Dima enjoys his job as a fire fighter. One job though turns out to be so much more than expected. The house on fire turns out to contain a group of young men who have been kidnapped, some are even restrained. One of those young men is Kam who Dima is sure is his mate. Kam had come to California looking for a fresh start with a modeling job which turns into something very bad. Dima and his coworkers as well as the police vow to get to the bottom of this dangerous situation.
The men at the scene were incredible, volunteering to take the men home rather than having them placed in shelters. Dima took Kam home where he lives with his two brothers. Kam was quite traumatized and had problems accepting he was safe. As a result, he suffered from nightmares. Dima was amazing, patient and loving with him. It turns out that Kam is such a sweet guy, that every one enjoys his presence in the house. Dima’s brothers, though triplets, are all different in interests and livelihoods. It was fantastic to see how Kam fit it. The dogs really add a lot to the story. What’s that? You will have to read the story to find out. It will be pleasure.
This is another book where I liked the premise but the writing just didn't work for me. A lot of the sentences were oddly structured, sometimes seeming like the paragraphs around them were so heavily edited that they didn't make sense in the context anymore. I think the POV changed between first and third a few times too.
The way information was shared didn't work for me either. The experience was a bit like being plopped into the middle of a series. And despite being told from first person POV, certain truths about the characters are kept from readers in a way that didn't feel very natural, making the "reveal" pretty unsatisfying.
It wasn't bad and the story was quite short, so I don't want to rate it too low despite not having a good time. The dogs deserve a full star because they were adorable little goofballs.
3* stars doesn't mean I didn't enjoy it, it was a fun light read. A dragon firefighter is there the night some young men are rescued from a human trafficking house and when they need places for them to stay, he takes home the one guy with his dog. Dima lives with his brothers in a big warehouse area where they have dogs. It doesn't take Dima long to realize that Kam is his mate and it turns out . It's insta-lovey fated mates and I sort of a hurt/comfort/rescue. It doesn't take long for his skeptical brothers to accept Kam and there is still bad guys out to get him. You have to let some stuff go, like the police sending home crime victims with essentially strangers, but it was a nice bit of braincandy to pass the time.
Dima is one of triplet dragon shifters. He works as a firefighter because of his special affinity with fire and he wants to help people. One day his station is called out to fire in residence that rented out rooms. When they enter the building, the only people they see are young men in bad shape chained to their beds. In the back of the house he finds a young man locked into his room with his dog Ducky. Dima rescues the man and finds out that the men were tricked into thinking they were hired for a modeling or acting job, they were drugged and forced to make porn. Kam was the newest victim but he refused to eat or drink anything so he didn't get drugged. The more Dima is around Kam, the more his mating instinct is aroused. He is ready to do everything he can to protect Kam.
I really enjoyed this book. Dima and his family are unique and the dogs are scene stealers.
Fantastic series start! Dima, answers a fire call and finds something hotter than a fire. He finds a group of young men, one, Kam who seems to be his mate. The young men were lured, kidnapped and held against their will. The firefighters rescue and care for the men. Kam, is traumatized. He came to CA, expecting a different new start in his life. He suffers from PTSD and fears for his safety. His greatest concern during the rescue, is his dog Ducky. The author, succeeds in digging into our heart and ripping us open. Kam's fear and grief is a heavy weight. Can Dima and his brothers, Nik and Aleks help Kam to heal? Is Kam safe from the traffickers? Can Dima protect Kam and help him find his balance and peace? Good story. The triplets, are delightful. Good flow, solid support structure. Nicely done. I received an ARC and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Dima is the firefighter on call to a house fire when he discovers young men locked up unable to escape. Luckily, he and his fellow firefighters are able to safely rescue everyone, including Kam, to whom Dima feels a connection. When he finds that Kam has no safe space to heal and regroup, he offers space in the refurbished factory building Dima shares with his brothers. As you can imagine, this whirlwind beginning leaves both men, particularly Kam, a bit unbalanced. Add in learning that dragons exist, as well as mates, and there is a lot going on for poor Kam. Dima is there for him every step of the way in the most lovely ways. Don't worry about the short page count, this book was tightly plotted and I never felt that any one event was shortchanged. All in all, I really enjoyed this first entry in the Dragon Triplets series.
Dima is a fireman and a dragon shifter. When he is called to a house fire he finds people being held captive and along with the rest of the team, mount a rescue. One of the men he rescues, Kam, calls to him and he can’t help but feel that he is destined to be his mate.
I struggled with this one. There were a few instances where the sentences weren’t quite formed right and didn’t fully make sense to me. I also struggled with Kam being traumatised one minute and the next all in on a relationship with Dima. I did enjoy the concept of the books and the way that Dima was super protective of Kam and determined to endure his safety. A good book on the whole just not one for me I don’t think.
Dima never imagined that he would find someone like Kam while he was on the job. A look and a touch is all it takes, and Dima know that there is something special about Kam. Saving is what Dima does and he is certain that he needs to help Kam, but will Kam accept his help after what he has been through?
Kam and Dima’s story is a sweet one. The two are good together. It was nice to see Dima help Kam find the confidence in himself and figure out who he truly is. Alongside their romance we also get to meet Dima’s brothers. Each one has a strong personality and shines on his own, it will be interesting to see how this series progresses. This book moves at fast pace that includes an interesting plot and characters.
What a sweet, low angst, slow burn story. World building and character development are very important to me when reading any story. I loved how Minerva took the time to incorporate so many real world issues into this dragon shifter world. I mean a firefighter that's a dragon, it just seemed so appropriate to me. She did a great job fleshing out not only the main characters, but the side characters as well. Setting the stage for future books in this series. Although this was a bit of a slow burn, I thought it was just what this story needed. I really loved the build up to Dima and Kam getting together, in spite of all the outside interference. I highly recommend this book and I'm looking forward to the next book in this series
Dima's latest fire job included finding half a dozen young men chained to beds. Dima, along with the cops and a couple of other firefighters, vowed to understand why all these guys were being held against their will. Dima is drawn to Kam and agrees to take him home and help him settle into a new life. Kam was trying to get a fresh start; when he moved to California, he was under the impression that he was renting a room while he found work as a model.
Dima and Kam were sweet together. Dima did everything he could to make Kam feel safe and cared for. Kam took all the changes around him in stride and didn't leave anything that made him feel helpless. I loved Dima's brothers and can't wait to see them get their happy endings.