Dragon Mine is a rich and alluring tale, drawing us into the contemporary world of Crescents, the part human descendants of Dragon and Deuce Magick gods. Kirin is mesmerizing, in human or dragon form, and the long lost love of his life, Elle, practitioner of Deuce Magcik, is equally compelling. They are thrown together by chance when both their fathers mysteriously disappear. Sparks fly, between them, and in their battles with a shadow demon who won’t stay dead.

The pace is action fast, perfectly interspersed with romantic tension and driven by a suspenseful, multi-layered plot. Jamie Rush has a flare for turning her original mythos into a vital and seamlessly real story world. The Dragon as a live tattoo, rippling and stretching its wings across Kirin’s torso is both believable and utterly captivating. It’s hard not to hold your breath when he Catalyzes into the magnificent red and white scaled, fire breathing dragon. His passions and loyalty mix with Elle’s to make this novella a paranormal romance lover’s dream. I can’t wait to read more. Next up is Dragon Rising! ( )

Disclosure time. This review was requested from NetGalley but is being done after I requested to feature the author post for Authors After Dark 2013. She couldn't commit but requested a review and I agreed. Although this may seem like it would cause me to be falsely positive about this novella, I hasten to add that it wouldn’t. I’d have done the review anyway and talk Ms Rush that I wasn’t doing it as a spotlight. There is no point in lying; you always get found out. Sorted? Good.

This is the first in a new series all about dragon shifters and I liked the new slant it brought to the mythology of this genre. In this one the dragons are present all the time but, when the Dragon is in human form, it exists as a tattoo on the skin. When a dragon mates, he mates for life and that has what has happened with Kirin. He mated with Elle but allowed her to break up with him when the truth about an affair between his Father and her Mother came out. Since then, he has moved away, denied his dragon and been a bit of a miserable bugger to be honest. Then daddy-dearest goes missing in mysterious circumstances so he has to return to his home and face the woman he loves because chances are her dad has something to do with the whole mess. Bit of a mess right?

I liked the premise and it definitely intrigued me enough to get the next in the series. A whole series about Dragons? Sign me up. The characters in this one were well written and the plot flowed smoothly. Kellen was a fantastic Alpha dragon, who was man enough to admit to his feelings, and Elle was a kick-ass heroine who accepted that she couldn’t fight her feelings. It was a star-crossed lover’s tale that I really enjoyed and the previous relationship angle totally hooked me in. The sex scenes were incredibly hot and, due to the previous relationship angle, I bought into their chemistry which made reading them even better. I appreciated the lack of the insta-mate plot and the fact that both man and dragon had picked Elle as their one-and-only gave me a case of the warm and fuzzies J

I have to admit though, I did get a little confused as to what was going on at certain points with the mystery plot. There was a whole lot going on and it was only a 120 page novella. It was a very brief whistle-stop introduction into this world and, although I had my issues with it because I struggled to keep up, it was overall a very good promising to a series that I will undoubtedly continue. It was also incredibly funny with pop-culture references that had me chuckling all the way to work. Would I recommend it? Yes, I really would.

Overall, I requested this book for a Spotlight post but I have added the next two books to my sleeves on GR because of it. I have found a fresh, funny and sexy series set in a fascinating world full of hunky dragon shifters. I am very much looking forward to the next in the series. ( )

(This is a section of a full review that was originally posted on SnarkyMomReads, covering both "Dragon Mine" and "Dragon Rising".)

This is a TWO-FER! Yep, two novellas in one review, because they share a story arc. Now, before you panic - NO, you do not have to read both of them at the same time (unless you have OCD tendencies like me - then yes, schedule time for both back-to-back). While the story arc is referred to in both novellas, the action & romance focuses on two separate couples - and each couple has their own book. If you want the answer to the mystery right away, be ready to read both right away. If you are more interested in the romance, they are both easily read as stand-alone stories.

"Dragon Mine" and "Dragon Rising" are novellas in the HIDDEN series, where Jaime Rush has created a world of "Hiddens" (dragons, gods, wizards & angels) that is both imaginative and addictive. It is a contemporary novel where the paranormal are actually "hidden" to "Mundanes" (humans - that'd be you & me), and is so well crafted it makes you really wonder about some of the things that go bump in the night. (Was that really a microburst storm that passed through last night... or a tulpa fight?)

The Hidden novellas feature a mystery about Elle's Mom, Tara - did someone cause her disappearance? As the number of missing Hiddens adds up, who, or what, is behind it all?

Dragon Mine (A Hidden Novella) is the 99 page story of Elle and Kirin ($1.99). Elle is a mage and Kirin is a dragon shifter, who were first loves but broke up because Elle's father didn't approve of her dating a dragon - especially when Kirin's father is the one accused of killing Elle's mother. Upon his return to town, Kirin runs into Elle and they are immediately thrown into a life & death situation that means they must put aside their disappointments in each other and rely on the love they still have for each other. We also get an introduction to some of the gods that originally created the Hiddens, and can see how their machinations affect their progeny. (There is a bet... and the loser has to spend a full day in a human daycare with the screaming kids.) There is a HEA here... and while the story arc is continued in "Dragon Rising", you aren't left with an angry "WTF??!!!!?" reaction when you get to the book's end. Yes, you'll be curious about the mystery, but at least your questions are answered about the relationship with Elle & Kirin.

Bottom line? Nice length of novella reads and really great introduction to the Hidden world. Jaime Rush's writing is sexy and smooth - and I'm really looking forward to the next 3 books! THUMBS UP!! ( )

Wasn't that impressed with this book. It definitely needed a glossary to explain some of the terms and there were a ton of terms within the first chapter. It never explained what a Deuce was and yet three of the characters were Deduces. I'm guessing they were some type of witches. The two main characters, Elle and Kirin, had previously been lovers so that fast relationship was completely believable. I just would've liked more back story or more explanation on the world that this takes place in. I'll try reading the next in the series just because too much was left hanging in this book and that's a huge pet peeved of mine. I understand your trying to build a series, but at least give me a little closure. ( )

DRAGON MINE by Jamie Rush is an exciting Contemporary Paranormal Romantic Suspense. #0.5 in "The Hidden" series. A novella packed full of secrets,dragons,demons,angels danger,and romance. It also has magick,passion and did I mention passion. A quick,sexy read! A great story of love and sacrifice with a secret or two."Dragon Mine" leads into the new and upcoming series "The Hidden" and what a beginning. An awesome by this author and one not to be missed. Received for an honest review from the publisher.

RATING: 4.5

HEAT RATING: MILD

REVIEWED BY: AprilR, Review courtesy of My Book Addiction and More ( )