**I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**
The Protector by Abigail Owenon December 7, 2020
Genres: Fiction, Romance, Paranormal, Shifters, Fantasy
Pages: 400
Format: eBook
Source: ARC
Goodreads
The cousin of the High King, Lyndi Chandali has lived with the constant threat of being pawned off as a political prize. A rare, female-born dragon like Lyndi can’t truly mate—not in the way it counts. Which is why she's kept her distance from a certain sinfully delicious Beta. Instead, she's built a life for herself giving orphaned dragons in the Americas a home.
As Beta of his team of enforcers, Levi Rowtag is a fighter first, last, and always. His job is to protect—his team, the shifters in his territory, and the stubborn woman hell-bent on fighting with him at every turn. He knows from the moment they first meet what she’ll never accept—they are destined to be mated.
But with the kings at war, the enemy is now coming for Lyndi. Worse, he’s coming for her orphans, too. He’ll have no choice but to defy his king and go rogue if he has any hope of protecting them all...and finally claiming his mate.
Each book in the Fire's Edge series is STANDALONE:* The Mate (prequel)* The Boss* The Rookie* The Enforcer* The Protector
Admittedly, I’ve spent most of my reading of this world build over with the kings and phoenix extravaganza in the Inferno Rising series but I’ve enjoyed the American colonies/enforcers as well. I admit, Levi and Lyndi’s story didn’t grip me like some of the other dragon shifter books that Owen has penned but it was still thoroughly enjoyable. Less political intrigue, plenty of action, and all the steam I’ve come to expect and adore, The Protector is a solid dragon shifter romance. I love how Owen is shaping and changing the world as we go from couple to couple. There are so many directions she can take this and I LOVE it!
After two centuries of pining each other fiercely, hating that attraction and lashing out (looking at you, Lyndi) all that tension finally snaps the tenuous hold on our dear shifters. This felt incredibly fast-paced book! Lyndi and Levi have already flirted around their lines in the sand so we miss a lot of the relationship build up but we still get to enjoy that snap of reserve and giving in to all the lust and feels. I loved that Levi set some of his alpha tendencies to the side and trusted Lyndi as a skilled member of the team. That respect is like catnip for me! I just want to roll around in all that gallant hero goodness.
I do wish I was more enamored with this story but it feels like that issue is more on myself as a reader rather than issues with the story. Overall, it was a solid addition to the series and I’m looking forward to Rune’s book!
I highly recommend for fans of paranormal romance that love the unrequited/pining, enemies-to-lovers (kinda) tropes. While it can be read as a standalone, I do think you would be doing yourself a favor reading the first three books first and maybe a bit of the Inferno Rising series as well.
**I voluntarily read and reviewed a review copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
