Review: Dark Embers by Tessa Adams

Dark Embers (Dragon’s Heat #1)
Tessa Adams
Published: 2010 (NAL)
Purchase at: Book Depository or Amazon

Rating (out of 5): 4 stars

Phoebe has been researching lupus ever since it claimed her mother and sister. Unfortunately, Harvard has just nixed her grant money. That’s when Dylan enters her life. The dragon king is losing members of his clan to a vicious illness, and he thinks getting human help from this top researcher may save them. While his big, biker-like looks make her wary — despite their appeal — the $3 million he’s offering could keep her research going. She agrees to come with him to New Mexico and work with his healers to find the answer.

Phoebe loves the desert, but has avoided returning because it reminds her of a dark past. Putting it aside, she tries to throw herself into work, but Dylan makes for a good distraction. Neither can deny the chemistry between them. Each touch leads to another, and another, and, well, you get the idea. Dylan isn’t sure how to handle it. He’s been searching for his mate for 400 years. He’s the last pure-blood in the line and without an heir. He knows he needs a dragon mate, but the more time he spends with Phoebe the less he wants to give her up.

We won’t give anything away, but Phoebe will unravel the cause of the illness, Dylan’s throne will be challenged and the two will most certainly fall in love. Also, she totally rides him while he’s a dragon in a non-sexual way that is somehow still titillating. Tessa Adams has a knack for keeping the heat turned up without becoming overtly raunchy. Sneaky lady. (I loved it.)

What really made the romance in Dark Embers work for me is the way Dylan and Phoebe challenged each other. Sure the territorial “mine” type thing is part of that, but I really mean the way preconceived notions are banished and each is forced to face a new truth, one where love is possible. (Yeah, I know it sounds cheesy, but it was just so sweet.) You’ll see the HEA coming, but — trust us — you won’t mind. With mind-bending sex, sweet romance and an underlying mystery plot, Dark Embers is sure to please paranormal romance fans.

If you need a taste, you can read a short excerpt from the beginning of Dark Embers on Adams’ site.

Sexual content: Multiple graphic sex scenes.