Review: Treasure for Treasure (Being(s) in Love, #7) by R. Cooper

In the nineteenth century, the dragon Dìzhèn put the small coastal town of Everlasting under her protection. Her family was supposed to carry on the tradition, but all of Dìzhèn the Great’s heirs eventually left rather than live in the shadow of such a powerful dragon.

Only the youngest dragon of the current generation remains: Zarrin, the softhearted disgrace of his family. He might be weak, small, and afraid, but he is determined to show the humans they have not been forgotten… one human in particular. The problem is, Zarrin can barely get that human to talk to him.

It should be a dream come true to have a dragon trying to get his attention. But Joe refuses to bow to Zarrin like everyone else. Yes, Zarrin is sexy, oddly gentle for a dragon, and stares at Joe with a gaze so hot it makes him shiver. But hurt, mistrustful Joe can’t believe Zarrin’s promises that he’s here to stay. Joe doesn’t realize he is the treasure Zarrin has been looking for his whole life, a treasure he once let slip through his fingers out of fear. Now, to win Joe’s trust, Zarrin has to be brave and become as strong as Dìzhèn herself.

Most charming version of 'Mine!' I've ever read :)
R. Cooper doesn't make it easy, though, with the need to read between the lines and having to wait as information is dribbled out, but it is so worth it.  I like this 'Being(s)' world; the history, the rules, all the little details.  But it's the characters who make these books for me.  And this story had awesome characters.

I loved Zarrin, that shy dragon who, once he got his hands on his treasure, wasn't so shy anymore. He is such a great character- adorable and sweet, unsure of his place but so very determined to protect the town and his treasure.  And that determination revealed itself in a lovely dominant way, as an assured tormentor in bed and fierce guardian in town. More characters like this, please!

And Joe. He broke my heart with his defensiveness, that mix of anger and hurt, vulnerability and hope. Because of his wariness and uncertainty, he managed to hold his own against the confusing dragon, not making it easy for Zarrin, but once he trusted, once he believed, it was beautiful to witness.

Zarrin and Joe together gave us a sweet, but intense, romance overlaid with such passion...*fans self*
Their story made me laugh, made me melt, and yes, made me hug my ereader. Definitely one for my favorites shelf, to be read again and again.

Side notes:
Joe's mother was awesome, and Zarrin's reaction to her was priceless :)

Although part of the Being(s) in Love series, this can be read as a stand-alone.

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Review: Just Jack by Meredith Russell

When the line between fairy tales, magic, and the real world become blurred, can love really conquer anything?

Leo Marsh is having a bad day. He just caught his boyfriend cheating on him, and not for the first time, then he falls, quite literally, for a man who has to be too good to be true....
When Leo slips and falls on some ice in front of Jack, Jack sees something all too familiar in Leo's eyes. For over fifty years, Jack has existed in a solitary life of ice and bitterness. Just like Leo, he was betrayed by a man he loved, and swore no one would ever break his heart again: he gave up on love, and it seemed love had given up on him.

But if by fate or magic, Jack and Leo find their paths crossing for a second time, and with a little guidance from friends, dare to take a chance on each other. The problem is, Jack isn't the charming and uncomplicated guy Leo thinks he is. When Jack gave away his ability to love, he became something else, someone cold and unloving. He became Jack Frost.

As Jack and Leo get closer, Jack is left torn and confused. Jack yearns for anything that reminds him of his humanity, but the truth is, he feels nothing, not warmth, not love, and he knows he might never be able to love Leo the way he deserves to be loved.

Books that blur the lines between fantasy and reality are a favourite of mine. Reading is my number one for of escapism and I like the fact that worlds created are not restricted by what we know about this world but only by an author's imagination.

In Just Jack, Meredith Russell creates just such a world. Jack - a real life Jack Frost - had his heart broken years ago and he vowed to never love again.The supernatural took that vow and turned him into one of many Jack Frosts, cold hearted mischief makers. For Leo Frost the day he wants to vow to never love again is the day that he meets Jack and for both of these men life is about to change.

Though this book is on the light-hearted side of writing it explores the love we share with fellow humans, as friends, as lovers and how it is an integral part of being human. A heart is easily broken but is it really better to close ones self of from all hope of love? In a world where Jack has wondrous abilities with ice but a cold heart we share his venture into trusting again.

Is it possible for him to trust again? And how much of a hand does fate have in Jack and Leo's interactions? I enjoyed this story, it was just different enough to catch my interest with the age old debate of love and love lost at its heart.