Accidental Bond , the first book in the Damned Mercenaries by Mika Nix, is a sequel to the fated mates dragon shifter series, Drake Security.
I enjoyed that series very much, featuring the Drake family of dragons as they found their fated mates.
One of the main characters here is related to that family,
Mika Nix is the combined name of authors of MM romance, K.M. Neuhold and Mia Monroe, takes a different approach with this series than that of an established close knit family of ancient dragons.
Here itās a boss mercenary demon who has obtained a group of mixed paranormal beings to work for him. They, by contracts obtained by āconsent ā , ill conceived bargains, or some other means, now are basically āownedā by the demon, and are forced into his bidding. He calls them his Pets.
So yes, this immediately has elements that will not sit well with me. When I saw how this series was going, it was close to a DNF, but I did see it through. And thereās some nice things here.
Mac, the irresponsible Dragon has appeared in the Drake Security series, where he had to be rescued from some very dangerous situations due to his lack of control and overall behavior. Here, heās finally getting some good development and growth.
Too late but heās on a journey to find his mate. And in one of the better aspects of the story, we find out what and the history behind Macās dragon hoard.
Each of the āPetsā will have a story and find a mate. Thatās clear.
But thereās just enough here that are elements in my auto DNF lists, that Iām stopping.
Glossing over being tricked into basically a forever servant clause. No. Sentient beings called pets. No. And while the authors have written demon Drax as some sort of cinnamon roll happy bunny, the other Pets/group members clearly have issues here with their roles.
So Iām noping right out. Others will find it interesting and charming. Check it out.
Iāve made a lot of mistakes in my life, but accidentally becoming a mercenary for a demon might be the biggest one yetā¦
My inner dragon has always been more like a devil on my shoulder, talking me into making bad decisions and creating chaos. I have a hoard full of demon artifacts, each one likely to cost me my life if the owners ever come after me.
I thought accidentally becoming a mercenary was the worst mistake I would make in a single dayā¦ until I inadvertently mated myself to a demon. Itās not my fault his mating ring was so pretty!
Itāll be fineā¦ all I have to do is fulfill my contract, not do anything else to make things worse, and avoid falling for the surprisingly sweet, himbo demon who thinks Iām his mate. Should be easyā¦ right?
Burned is a fitting way to end the Drake Security series, with Lordās story and his tortured enemies to lovers, fated mates romance.
Lordās been that character with the older brother syndrome. Stolid, serious, constantly in control and ever watchful over the family business as well as all over the family, including his brothers, their mates, and younger clutchings.
So it makes sense that his story is the very antithesis of his life and nature. Itās dramatic, compulsive, and absolutely terrifying, the opposite of how heās been living and taught.
Mika Nix , aka authors K.M. Neuhold and Mia Monroe, mirrored his impulsive acts toward a specific target, his fated mate who happens to be his worst enemy, a dragon hunter. Thatās a fatally wounded Alrick Havaror, a young Viking from a notorious dragon hunter family.
Lord and Alrick have matching angst filled emotions towards each other as they fight their own battles with the bond and their backgrounds. I really enjoyed this element of the story. They were well suited and their journey was full of chemistry and communication.
While we are very familiar with the Drake family and their mates, Alrickās history and family background could have used more development, especially given that ending. Considering the foul deeds his father, older brother, grandfather etc have committed, that end wasnāt exactly satisfying, even with the overlaying factor of kinship.
New wonderful characters included Viggo (middle brother of Alrickās), and Xanthis, a powerful Scottish dragon mage who promptly flirts with Dahlia. And while the authors let us know what happened with the two women, Viggo, who had an important role and his own journey here, oddly vanished from the story. After being told he was from now on a permanent member of the Drake family. SMH
If they say he went home with good old dad and brother. No. That doesnāt track as both authors had him say he wanted to remember the events and what they had done and everything that had occurred. So no.
Big narrative hole here and missing character.
So Burned ends up a good story but not a great one. I enjoyed the couple but thereās quite a few stumbles narratively speaking that keeps this shy of 5 stars. Still a lovely series and one Iām recommending.
Of all the creatures I could have accidentally mate bonded with, did it have to be a dragon slayer?
I never let my dragon take control. Never. Distraught after the death of a friend, I made a mistakeā¦
Finding a beautiful, broken viking on the verge of death in the middle of a forest, all of my instincts screamed at me to save him. My dragon wouldnāt have it any other way. For two-thousand years Iāve saved my mating fire, waiting for fate to bring me true, binding love. But with this stranger only a breath away from the afterlife, I didnāt have a choice.
I canāt really be mated to a dragon slayer, can I? There has to be a way to break this bond before his brothers come looking for him or mine realize what Iāve done.
The only problem is, the more time I spend with the captivating, big hearted man, the more I think that fate might have had a hand in things after allā¦
Is he feeling it too, or am I about to get burned?
Drake Security, the fated mates series about a family of dragons finding their bonded mates, is now on the fourth brother.
Co-written by K.M. Neuhold and Mia Monroe as Mika Nix, book four follows Valentino Drake, the one brother we know as busy being in touch with his love life instead of the brothersā business. It takes a younger brotherās wrong doing and throughly bad decision making to bring Valentino back into the fold and help find his own unique mate.
First off, I loved the storyline of Valentino and Montrose, the demon. Montrose is a fantastic character, probably my favorite next to Lake . Heās intriguing, powerful enough to hold his own with his dragon, and dramatic enough to make any scene that involves him a little richer. Put them together and they are a great combination of riches. Dragon and demon.
Unfortunately there is an element that I found almost as irritating as I loved the romance part of the book. I feel that the authors probably have future plans for him but honestly thereās so much to character of Mac, the younger brother, that just gives me a narrative headache. As the authors created him, and as his part plays out in the book, Mac came perilously close to making me stop reading. Yes, his actions and that they spring from a certain problematic aspect of his personality are the ignition point of the story. I feel if it had only been that one factor, that one theft, it wouldāve been, maybe, woven into his youthful status better. However, itās his continued forbidden thievery that causes so much pain and danger to him and those around him. Without the Drake brothers, even at the end, having Mac feel any deeper remorse for his actions and crimes. Maybe the last one because he was so far in trouble. But all the rest? Not really.
Itās send him back home, and a new threat is here. What happened to ending this one? Because parts of Macās story felt unfinished.
So yes to the romance of Valentino and Montrose. They were great and could have used some of the narrative space assigned to the more irritating Mac. No, to the younger brother and his storyline who actually wanted to make me put down the book because of his personality, behavior, and lack of finality to his story.
Iām wondering if the next is the series finale for Drake Security. Sounds like Lordās story. Iāll definitely be there for it. This was a fifty/fifty book for me.
I know I should keep my hands off of Montrose. But the one thing dragons and demons have in common is how much we love to play with fire.
My youngest brother has always had a knack for getting himself into trouble, but this time heās stolen from the wrong demon and it might just be the last mistake he ever makes.
I have no reason to trust Montrose, but my dragon does anyway. There’s something about the vibrant, sassy incubus that calls to me, no matter how hard I try to resist.
Saving my brother’s scales should be top priority, but this inferno between Montrose and I just keeps heating up.
If fate put him in my path, can I trust that we’ll make it to the other side of this disaster together? There’s only one way to find outā¦
This series just got immeasurably better. Wild Fire, the third in this series about a clutch of dragonshifter brothers finding their fated mates, is my favorite to date.
Itās not that I find the authors, K.M. Neuhold and Mia Monroe, have just written two really fascinating characters, itās that I donāt remember reading anything that resembles them in another book before. And thatās even more compelling here.
A dragon whoās uncaring about assembling his own hoard , and thrives in the cities and masses away from the smothering isolation of his brothers. And a wolfshifter who has a compulsion to amass a hoard , who needs his space away from his pack, whoās more interested in his own world than his packās. A yin looking for their yang.
This switch in characteristics is unexpected and so narratively rewarding.
It makes for a sensational journey or hunt when both Arson Drake and Draydon start on their remarkable continental quest for art treasures and find themselves falling into a surprising relationship with each other. One that carries definite overtones of Romeo and Juliet, as dragons and wolves are enemies up to this stage.
The two person perspective works so well as Arson and Draydon fight the attraction that pulls them together from country to country, their inner beasts empowering their decisions as well. The authors writing as Nix have given the reader two powerfully defined beings that are unique and unable to stay apart. And are trying to explain to themselves why, and if it even matters anymore.
Anything outside of that narratively has to come across as being less interesting because of how rich and powerful these two are.
The elements with the vampires are necessary for being the tool to bring the Montagues and Capulets together, I mean , dragons and wolves , but it comes across as just that. A narrative tool.
Could have been anything, unless itās going to be included in another story.
Which is set up here by bringing in a new character and younger brother from another āclutchā whoās in trouble.
Interesting but thereās still a couple of unmatched brothers from the original group needing mates. Guess Lord and Tino will have to wait.
Anyway, Wild Fire (Drake Security #3) by Mika Nix is a sure fire winner. Fabulous characters, marvelously plotted romance, and twisted personality traits I really appreciated.
It helps to read the series in order to understand the characters, the events, and the relationships. Lake especially. Heās so over the top divine!
Heās my nemesis, my rival, and the man I canāt get out of my head. We may be star-crossed but thereās enough heat between us to start a wildfire.
Iāve never been one to follow the rules, but sleeping with a wolf shifter might be over the line, even for me. So, why canāt I get him out of my head? Or his scent out of my nose. Even on the other side of the world, I swear I can still smell him.
Everyone has a hobby, mine just happens to be stealing from the rich and powerful to give back to the rightful owners. A native art exhibit in Sydney is the last place I expected to see Draydon again. I canāt shake the feeling that heās here for the same reason I amā¦ and here I thought larceny couldnāt get any more fun.
Iām a dragon without a proper hoard and heās too jaded to even trust his own pack. But weāve already lit a fire thatās getting out of hand.
Stealing Draydonās heart might be my most impossible heist yet.
Itās that cover! Couldnāt resist. So while I wasnāt really buying into some of the themes the authors (K.M. Neuhold and Mia Monroe are Mika Nix) created in book one, I went on and picked up the second novel in the series, Smoulder.
Turns out, itās missing most but not all of the elements I had issues with and I found this entertaining and a fast, enjoyable read.
For starters, this dragon brotherās character is one that I really found interesting and more nuanced. Whereas Nico was all hot headed , action without thought, Hemingway is almost his opposite. A collector of antiquities, gems, and, most importantly, books, Hemingway is a thoughtful and layered personality.
Dempsey Ryan, Drake Securityās newest client and Hemingwayās future mate here is a terrific character in his own right. In his early forties and a collector of rare and unusual items, especially books and jewels, his personality and interests are crafted by the authors to mesh well with Hemingwayās so their chemistry and instant attraction to each other makes sense on multiple levels.
The readers just like them together and we just get it. The strongest part of this story is the romantic relationship, with Hemingwayās attitude towards and attempts at wooing Dempsey.
The mystery that has Dempsey needing protection is probably the weakest part of the narrative. It builds backwards, filling in facts just when the reader is asking questions about where that aspect of the story came about. It feels hurriedly filled in instead of part of a plot. And the ending was anticlimactic for all the events and drama building up to it. While it was a nice surprise and added a new powerful character to the group, it wasnāt the ending that fit the storyline that lead up to it.
Smoulder finishes with a wedding, a new start for a couple I throughly loved, and a hint as to whoās going to be next in line for their mate and novel.
As much as I enjoyed this Iāll be heading into the next episode to see how it all goes down.
I was hired to protect him, but will our smoldering attraction ignite into love?
When my hot headed brother found his fated mate, a deep, aching desire opened up inside of me for my own. Everyone knows dragons are covetous, jealousā¦ possessive. I am all of these things, but never more so than when I set my eyes on Dempsey for the first time.
Beautiful. Awkward. Sweet. Shy. Perfect. My dragon wants to wrap himself around him the moment he bumps into me outside of his antique shop. Dempsey, however, is not as keen on that idea as my inner beast is.
He hired Drake Security for protection, and he needs it even more than he realized. Unfortunately, we specialize in brute strength and burning sh*t to the ground, and the problem Dempsey has is way out of our league.
Is he my fated mate or am I just so desperate for one that Iām falling for him too fast? Either way, Iāll move heaven and hell to protect him, even if the forces that are after him are unlike anything Iāve dealt with before.
Iāve spent thousands of years hoarding books and storing their words close to my heart. Will the love stories that live inside my soul be enough to woo him? Is it too much to hope that fate has chosen him for me?
**** Smolder is book 2 in the Drake Security series and has a reluctant fated mate, dragon shifters, book swooning, ancient mysteries, and magic. Each book can be read on its own, but is so much better if read in order. The series is all dragons, NO MPREG.
Review note: This review contains several spoilers so please be aware prior to reading.
Mika Nix is the combined name of authors K.M. Neuhold and Mia Monroe who have co-written this series about dragon shifter brothers and their path to HEA with their fated mates.
Nico is one of a group of dragon shifter brothers who own and operate Drake Security. They live together in a complex/compound of single mansions and alternate taking on different clients as they are approved.
The latest is the son of wealthy businessman Lake Forrester II, Lake Forrester III. Heās a victim of a short term relationship gone very wrong, and now heās got a stalker.
Nico been hired to protect Lake and stop the stalker.
Iām a fan of dragons and the authors so wanted to see what they had in store for us readers with the new series.
I found some interesting stuff, some problematic issues small and large, characters that I liked, and a overall good thread that was entertaining.
First the positives .
I liked the idea of brothers banded by clutches. That while they have other siblings, the stretch of years between clutches renders each group more relatives than close family.
The family is distinct, with each brother having a different personality. They have chosen names and their dragon names, which are supposed to be hard to pronounce but just end up being French which I found hysterical.
The romance is a found soulmate one so itās a relationship that is quickly established and sweetly sexy if one sided dominant. I had some issues with the dynamics and relationship that begin with the character of Lake.
It has a HEA that will make most readers happy and itās a swift read in the genre that gives you a new series to look forward to.
For myself there are some things that the story lacks or I had issues with. They include:
š·The paranormal/human world history needs some work but I get the impression it will be addressed with each brother. This includes a lack of cultural context and knowledge here of dragon culture or history that lets soulmates fall into a almost mythological category but still be able to call ādadā up for soulmate bonding details.
š·Dragon Bigotry. I was really surprised at this. Paranormal bigotry between two species, right down to ugly stereotypes and name calling. While I think the authors are setting up a dramatic narrative for a Romeo/Julian situation here, it leaves a bad taste for me. Especially when the authors chose to use a well known werewolf mating technique (knotting) as a dragonās while making the werewolf/wolf shifter the lesser/ill-regarded species. itās explained itās only about territory and history but while making remarks about how they all āstink, are rank,..ā. Humans too are not regarded highly. But itās not as though the dragons exist within a isolated world. They live and do business within a human society.
So they come off as judgmental and prejudiced.
š·A dragon that talks human when In dragon form. That bothers the wildlife biologist in me. Yes Iām aware dragons arenāt real but if a author is going to treat them as though they are (spaces big enough for them to transform etc) then narratively do so in other ways too. Perhaps have them speak telepathically , not like a human. Because what about a dragonās bone structure, mouth and jaw shape makes that feel realistic or believable. Nothing. A telepathic form of communication has a far higher probability than than a dragon palette thatās able to throw flames and speak French.
šµIssues that earns a huge narrative side eye:
š·A big issue. Lakeās personality. He can seem like a giggly rich young man or an intelligent emotionally neglected one whoās absorbed just enough business sense from his family to make him a believable, layered figure. It varies honestly.
šØ Spoiler alert šØ
But heās extremely likable which makes the events towards the end disturbing. Heās abducted, there is an attempted sexual assault thatās extremely real, followed by a death. The expected narrative response to this would be emotional trauma and some kind of needed recovery. Does that happen? No. Itās fluffed off, like a bad minute, and itās onto some hot sex.
Thereās so many things that are deeply wrong about this treatment but it starts with the fact that if authors use SA as a story element then give it the serious consideration it is due. To say nothing of being abducted and physically assaulted.
It all happens, then a watery eye, a giggle, and Iām fine. Letās have sex. If as authors you needed Lake to be in danger, then surely another way could have been used that wouldnāt have made SA such a superficial element.
š·And finally , that whole disposal of the body nonsense at the end — last spoileršØ
What possible difference does it make if you remove a heart if you are going to burn the body and the scene of the crime to the ground so no one special āscentsā are left. Might as well leave it in. Itās so nonsensical.
Yes got the heart out. Signature move. Now everyone who see it will know it is us. Well done. Now toss it back on the fire with the lot . Burn it all up. Ashes ashes, thatās all that is left. So glad you went to the trouble of digging out the heart thatās ashes now along with everything else. SMH.
The more I got into the storyline the more puzzled and irritated I was. Elements didnāt add up, aspects of the story were just not necessary or given the depth of exposition required, or the tale just swung fluffy and fantasy wise. Oh look, weāre flying.
It was almost as though the authors couldnāt decide whether to go serious, funny, romantic, sweet, mystical, murderous, and kept swinging between them instead of melding them.
They are setting up the āQuietā shy Hemingway brother for the next book. Itās called Smoulder. Oh no.
Iām sure Iāll go there if only out of curiosity.
Protecting him is my job. Finding out heās my fated mate wasnāt part of the assignment.
Lake Forrester III entered my life like a wrecking ball. Drake Security, my firm with my brothers, was hired to protect him from a stalker ex, but what Lake doesnāt know is that heās not dealing with your average unhinged human. The unhinged wolf shifter he unknowingly dated will stop at nothing to get Lake in his clutches.
Just another day in the life of a dragon body guard.
The one thing I never expected was for Lake to be my fated mate. To say my protective instincts are on overdrive is an understatement. Iāll move mountains to keep him safe and delight in tearing the wolf apart with my bare hands if he gets too close to my mate. If it unleashes all out war with the wolf packs, so be it. I never claimed to be the level headed one.
In the meantime, my only focus is Lake and his safety. If anyone hurts him, itāll be the last thing they do. My dragon will make sure of it.
Hot Head is book one in the exciting new series, Drake Security. It features a dragon bodyguard with anger issues, a fabulous human with more money than friends, an ex on the loose, and fated mate goodness. Dive into Hot Head and feel the burn.
**Drake Security features dragon shifters with NO MPREG**
Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words 