Showing posts with label Dreamspun Beyond. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dreamspun Beyond. Show all posts

Review: The Dragon CEO's Assistant (Golden Kingdom #2) by Jenn Burke

The heart remembers.

When Aidan Bishop staggers out of the woods, naked and suffering from amnesia, he needs to relearn who he is and where he fits in the world.

His boss, nearly five-hundred-year-old dragon Nassim, head of a successful tech company, hurries to claim his wayward assistant and guide him back into the life he disappeared from. As they get to know each other again, Aidan wonders if their relationship went deeper than employer and employee. But Nassim isn’t telling, and Aidan has a secret of his own… even if he doesn’t know it yet.








I’m typically all for an amnesia trope and this one grabbed me pretty easily. Take note that with most amnesia storylines, the reveal and resolution are a bit long in coming which might frustrate some.


So yes, as per the blurb, Aidan basically finds himself naked and afraid, not knowing who he is or where he’s at. When he’s quickly found by his employer Nassim, it’s evident that they’re closer than just simply an employee/employer dynamic, but no one is willing to say much. Hence, Aidan starts on a journey of self discovery that lends more questions than answers and a growing inexplicable pull towards Nassim. Why is that? I think you already know the answer...


This book is loosely tied to the Gryphon King’s Consort, and I have to say that what I enjoyed most about book one was the complex world building and hierarchy, where here it was a bit lacking. I wanted more of the interesting world where the mythos lived. I wanted more about the dragons and their fascinating political and turf issues. I simply wanted these two things more cohesively connected and intertwined. Nassim’s history and his background was interesting and unique (just like King Luca’s) and the potential for expanding on that was missing. However, I appreciated Nassim and Aidan’s personal fears and struggles while the central mystery behind Aidan’s lost memories is slowly revealed.


Overall, I think that if you liked the first book, or love anything with dragons, plus enjoy the concept of the mate bond with some UST and smexy, then this will be a reliable DSP Beyond win. If Burke chooses to write additional stories in this world, hopefully she’ll bring more of the fantastical creatures and their elaborate cultures which is where this series shines the most and will keep me coming back for more!



Blog Tour: The Dragon CEO's Assistant (Golden Kingdom #2) by Jenn Burke


The Dragon CEO's Assistant is out now! Celebrate the release with author Jenn Burke & Dreamspinner Press! Find out more about this Dreamspun Beyond paranormal romance and read an exclusive excerpt today!


Flying with Dragons
By Jenn Burke


This excerpt is what happens when you engage a friend to help you win your beloved back. Aidan asked Jasper for help with wooing Nassim, and Jasper subsequently got Nassim’s brother, Fazl, involved. And that led to…well, read on. 


---


AIDAN awoke to a message indicator on his phone. His heart jumped. Maybe Rye had finally gotten back to him. Maybe he’d be able to get answers about his past. Maybe he’d be able to lay Nassim’s suspicions to rest.


Disappointment crashed through him as he realized he’d received a text message, not a Facebook one.


This is Fazl Kader, Nassim’s brother. I’m sending a car for you at 2 p.m. at Tuninas. Be ready.


Vague much? Aidan frowned as he typed out a reply. Be ready for what?


For the car.


“Great. Very helpful.” He tossed the phone onto the bed.


By the time 1:00 p.m. rolled around, Aidan was a bundle of nerves. It didn’t help that Nassim was MIA.
He’d disappeared just before noon with no notice, and an email arrived shortly after to let Aidan know he’d be out for the rest of the afternoon but should return by five to give him a ride back to the apartment.


So whatever Fazl had planned didn’t include Nassim, and that made Aidan want to bite his nails to
the quick. Was this some sort of draconic retaliation for the truths Aidan hadn’t shared with Nassim? Did they even care that Aidan didn’t know the truth himself?


The buzz of his phone at 1:58 made Aidan jump.


“The car’s here,” Jasper said.


Stay or go?


“Aidan?”


He huffed a breath. “I’ll be right there.”


He expected to find a somber town car at the curb. What he got was a stretch Hummer in bright pearl
white. From what he knew of Fazl, it fit the dragon to a T. Another surprise was the fact that Fazl himself was already in the back seat when the female driver opened the door. Aidan hesitated.


Fazl scowled. “Oh merry gods, I’m not going to eat you. Get in.” He waved at Aidan to enter.


Wondering if this was a mistake despite Fazl’s assurance, Aidan climbed inside. “I thought you were
sending a car for me.”


“I did. I just happened to be in it too.” Fazl turned his attention to the driver. “As we discussed, Nesrin.
I’ll put the privacy screen up now.”


“Yes sir.”


A black screen rose between the driver and the passenger area. Aidan wondered if it was soundproof. Probably. Would the driver stop the car if he screamed?


You’re being ridiculous.


“Where are we going?”


“To the family estate.”


Oh shit. “Am I on… on trial, or something?”


“What? No. Where would you get an idea like that?”


Aidan crossed his arms. “I don’t know, maybe the vague texts and mysterious plans?”


Fazl groaned. “I was aiming for anticipation, not fear.”


“You failed.”


“So I see. My apologies. No need to worry, Aidan. This should be an enjoyable afternoon.”


“Should be?”


Fazl squinted. “You’re not afraid of heights, are you?”


WHEN the Hummer pulled up to the family estate and Aidan got out, the first thing he saw was a pair of
black dragons twining through the air. They were high enough that he couldn’t make out any details, but there was no denying the beauty of the sight. One was slightly smaller than the other, but they were both as dark as a storm cloud, except when the sun hit them. Then the iridescence of their scales became obvious. Rainbows slid across their hides in a dazzling, enthralling display.


“Beautiful,” Aidan whispered.


Fazl came around the rear of the Hummer to join Aidan. “That’s Nassim and Inas.”


“How can you tell?”


“I know my family, no matter what form they’re in.” He nudged Aidan’s shoulder with his own. “Come
inside, where we can talk without you being distracted.”


“Huh?” Aidan blinked at Fazl.


“Exactly,” Fazl chuckled. He led Aidan away from the Hummer with a gentle hand on his elbow, and
Aidan didn’t protest.


Inas’s study was much the same as Aidan remembered it. It had an unused air about it, which made
sense since Inas was still confined to her dragon form. It would be months yet before she’d be able to reclaim her human space. Fazl released Aidan’s arm and moved around to the other side of the large wooden desk, where he rummaged through the drawers with intent. Finally he straightened with a triumphant look, holding a….


Aidan frowned. “Is that a measuring tape?”


“Yep.” Fazl came back around the desk and tugged Aidan’s arms from his sides. “Hold them out, like—
yeah, that’s it. Stay still.”


“What are you doing?”


“Measuring you.”


Aidan rolled his eyes. “I can see that. Why?”


“I need to make sure we’ve got a flight harness in your size.”


“A—what?”


“Flight harness. You want to go flying with Nassim, don’t you?”


“I didn’t even know it was an option.”


“It is.”


“You know he isn’t, uh.” Aidan cleared his throat. “He’s not happy with me right now.”


“I love my brother,” Fazl said as he wrapped the tape around Aidan’s chest. “He’s a good, strong, loyal,
caring, wonderful dragon. But he’s an idiot.” He straightened. “We’ve gear and a harness that will fit you.”


“Great.” Wait—flying. In the air. On a dragon. “Uh, hold on just a second. How safe is this?”


“Eh.” Fazl tilted his head back and forth. “We don’t do it all that often, but it’s safe enough.” He waggled his brows. “You ready to piss off Nassim?”


“I thought the whole idea of this was… I don’t know, bonding or something.”


“Oh, it is. But first we’re going to poke the dragon a bit.”


Aidan watched Fazl for a moment, but his grin never wavered. “Why do I get the feeling that whatever
happens, you’re going to enjoy the hell out of it?”


“Because I will.” Fazl clapped his back. “C’mon, let’s get you suited up.”


The Dragon CEO's Assistant by Jenn Burke
Series: Golden Kingdom #2
Release Date: October 29, 2019
Subgenre: LGBTQ+ Paranormal Romance




Synopsis for The Dragon CEO's Assistant:
The heart remembers.


When Aidan Bishop staggers out of the woods, naked and suffering from amnesia, he needs to relearn who he is and where he fits in the world.


His boss, nearly five-hundred-year-old dragon Nassim, head of a successful tech company, hurries to claim his wayward assistant and guide him back into the life he disappeared from. As they get to know each other again, Aidan wonders if their relationship went deeper than employer and employee. But Nassim isn’t telling, and Aidan has a secret of his own… even if he doesn’t know it yet.



Order here:

Dreamspinner Press
Amazon US
Kobo
B&N
Apple Books

Author Bio:



Jenn Burke has loved out-of-this-world romance since she first read about heroes and heroines kicking butt and falling in love as a preteen. Now that she’s an author, she couldn’t be happier to bring adventure, romance, and sexy times to her readers.

Jenn is the author of a number of paranormal and science fiction romance titles, including the critically acclaimed Chaos Station science fiction romance series (authored with Kelly Jensen) from Carina Press.

She’s been called a pocket-sized and puntastic Canadian on social media, and she’ll happily own that label. Jenn lives just outside of Ottawa, Ontario, with her husband and two kids, plus two dogs named after video game characters…because her geekiness knows no bounds.


Author links:


Win an amazing prize package for the "The Dragon CEO's Assistant" release!

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Release Blitz + Giveaway: The Dragon CEO's Assistant (Golden Kingdom #2) by Jenn Burke


Celebrate the release of The Dragon CEO's Assistant with author Jenn Burke and A Novel Take PR! The Dreamspun Beyond paranormal romance is out from Dreamspinner Press today! Learn more and enter in the giveaway!


The Dragon CEO's Assistant by Jenn Burke

Series: Golden Kingdom #2
Release Date: October 29, 2019
Subgenre: LGBTQ+ Paranormal Romance

Order here:
Dreamspinner Press: https://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/books/the-dragon-ceos-assistant-by-jenn-burke-10855-b
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07X3T8JYJ
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/ca/en/ebook/the-dragon-ceo-s-assistant
B&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-dragon-ceos-assistant-jenn-burke/1132374115?ean=9781644055175
Apple Books: https://books.apple.com/ca/book/the-dragon-ceos-assistant/id1471192566



Synopsis for The Dragon CEO's Assistant:

The heart remembers.

When Aidan Bishop staggers out of the woods, naked and suffering from amnesia, he needs to relearn who he is and where he fits in the world.

His boss, nearly five-hundred-year-old dragon Nassim, head of a successful tech company, hurries to claim his wayward assistant and guide him back into the life he disappeared from. As they get to know each other again, Aidan wonders if their relationship went deeper than employer and employee. But Nassim isn’t telling, and Aidan has a secret of his own… even if he doesn’t know it yet.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/48057624-the-dragon-ceo-s-assistant


Teaser

“What can I do for you, detective?” he asked as he settled into one of the chairs.
Morgan chose the seat at the head of the table.“Sorry to bother you at work, Mr. Bishop, but I had a few additional questions.”
“I thought you closed my case.”
Morgan smiled crookedly. “Officially it is. But I have a problem letting go of cases with unanswered questions.”
Aidan returned his smile and relaxed a little. “I can understand that. I appreciate you continuing to look into it. How can I help you?”
“Have you remembered anything else?”
Aidan’s smile faltered. “No.”
“That sucks.”
The blunt statement startled a laugh out of Aidan. “To put it mildly.”
“Then I don’t suppose you know why your employment history might have some discrepancies?”
“What in my what?”
“Discrepancies. In your employment history.” Morgan flipped to a spot in his notepad and pulled out a folded sheet of paper, which he smoothed open and placed on the table. Aidan couldn’t read it from where he was sitting, but it looked like a résumé.
His résumé.
All of the tension he’d let go raced back into his shoulders. “Where did you get that?”
The crooked smile widened. “I’m a cop.”
But had his résumé been a part of the materials for the investigation into Aidan’s disappearance?
“So see here? It says you worked for the law firm Bartholomew and Beaudoin last year. Except according to public record, they moved the firm out west to Winnipeg the year before.”
Morgan could have been speaking a different language for all the sense that sentence made to Aidan. “I don’t understand.”
Morgan picked up Aidan’s résumé and frowned at it. “Maybe the date was written down wrong.”
“That has to be it. Why would I lie about my employment history?”
Morgan shrugged and folded the paper again. “To get this job.”



EXCERPT
“You’re in deep shit, Nassim.”
With a soft chuckle, Aidan sat back down at his desk and told himself he shouldn’t listen to the conversation happening between the brothers, but the door was open and the office was really quiet…
“I told Inas I wasn’t coming tonight,” Nassim rumbled.
“And you thought she’d be okay with that, why?”
“Faz, I can’t.”
“I get it,” Fazl said, his voice low. “But your family obligations don’t disappear just because—”
“She understands.”
“Our sister has a huge heart. Of course she understands. That doesn’t mean she isn’t disappointed you won’t be there for her eard al’usra.”
“I’m not comfortable leaving him alone.”
Aidan frowned at the image of Mace Windu on his desk calendar, not really seeing it. Had Nassim picked up on how he needed someone nearby all the time?
They rarely saw each other after dinner most nights—Nassim went upstairs to his office to do whatever, and Aidan amused himself with his laptop or books—but he was always aware that Nassim was only a dozen or so steps away. Aidan knew he’d have to get over this fear eventually.
Maybe—maybe he should make an effort tonight.
“So bring him along.”
Aidan’s eyes widened.
“Fazl.” Nassim’s voice was intense and full of warning. “No. He’s not ready to—”
“Merry gods. It’s a family party, Nassim. Not—”
“Don’t take that tone with me. You know we’re overwhelming on the best of days, and he’s not… he’s not ready.”
“He’s not? Or you’re not?”
Why would that even be a question? Why would Nassim not be ready for Aidan to meet his family? Maybe he didn’t want to blur the lines between his personal and professional lives any more than they already were. The situation was weird. How many employees lived with their CEO boss temporarily because they had nowhere else to go? But the wording Fazl used... that was even weirder.
Two things were clear, though—Nassim had to attend this family event, and he didn’t want Aidan there. So time to suck it up and be a big boy.
Biting his lower lip, he stepped up to the open door and rapped softly on the frame. “I don’t mind being alone. You can drop me off and go.”
Nassim’s gaze shuttered. “No.”
“It sounds like this is an important family thing. I’m not going to do anything but stay in the apartment and—”
“No.”
Fazl reached across the desk and smacked Nassim on the back of the head. “Enough.”
“Asshole. Just because you’re older, you—”
“Wait,” Aidan said. “He’s older?”
“By about fifteen years,” Fazl confirmed happily.
“But… you’re…”
“Younger-looking?” Fazl flicked the silver at Nassim’s temples, and Nassim arched back, away from his fingers. “Poor baby bro went gray early.”
“Because I’ve had to deal with you all my life.”
Fazl laughed.
A smile flickered across Nassim’s lips and then disappeared as he regarded Aidan. “I don’t want to leave you alone.”
“Moron,” Fazl said under his breath. Then, louder, “Aidan, since my brother is being a stubborn ass, I have a question for you.”
Nassim’s eyes flashed. “Faz—”
“Would you come to our family event tonight?”
“Uh....” Aidan’s gaze traveled between the brothers. “If I wouldn’t be intruding, I—”
“You would be more than welcome,” Fazl assured him. He turned to Nassim. “There. See? Easy.”
Nassim ignored him and moved around the desk to come closer to Aidan. “We don’t have to go. Seriously.”
“Is there a reason I shouldn’t go? Will it be a problem for a human to be present?”
Nassim pressed his lips together. “No.”
“Then I—” He glanced between Fazl’s wide, welcoming grin and Nassim’s gentle frown and solidified his decision. “I’d love to go.”
“Excellent,” Fazl said with a clap of his hands.
“Do you need a ride?” Nassim asked grudgingly as his brother slipped through the doorway past Aidan.
“You and your cars. No, I’m good.”
Rolling his eyes, Nassim said, “For the gods’ sakes, don’t scare the humans.”
“No promises.” Fazl waggled his brows as he headed out the door.
Aidan watched him leave, his brain working overtime. “Is he—”
“Going to transform and fly? Over a heavily populated area with humans who aren’t used to seeing dragons in the sky? Yes. Yes, he is.” Nassim sighed. “We’d best get going if we’re to get there on time.”
“There meaning...?”
“My family’s estate and caves. It’s a couple of hours to the west.”
“Caves?” Aidan murmured. But Nassim was already busy packing his laptop into his messenger bag, leaving Aidan to contemplate what the hell he just agreed to.



Order here:

Dreamspinner Press
Amazon US
Kobo
B&N
Apple Books

Author Bio:



Jenn Burke has loved out-of-this-world romance since she first read about heroes and heroines kicking butt and falling in love as a preteen. Now that she’s an author, she couldn’t be happier to bring adventure, romance, and sexy times to her readers.

Jenn is the author of a number of paranormal and science fiction romance titles, including the critically acclaimed Chaos Station science fiction romance series (authored with Kelly Jensen) from Carina Press.

She’s been called a pocket-sized and puntastic Canadian on social media, and she’ll happily own that label. Jenn lives just outside of Ottawa, Ontario, with her husband and two kids, plus two dogs named after video game characters…because her geekiness knows no bounds.


Author links:


Win an amazing prize package for the "The Dragon CEO's Assistant" release!

a Rafflecopter giveaway