Genre: Fantasy, Romance
LGBTQ+ Category: Gay
Reviewer: Maryann
Get It On Amazon
About The Book
Nate Mortimer is hot, funny, and kissing him is like falling into the sun.
He’s also the last man I should ever be with.
He’s smooth, wealthy, and practically dragon royalty. Me? I’m just a dragon from the Cornish countryside. Or so I like people to think.
I’m investigating the Fortescues, one of the richest, most powerful dragon families in Britain. Problem is, I’m not the only one who’s undercover. Every time I turn around, Nate’s in my way.
Can I trust him? He has his own issues with the Fortescues. Those dragons are dangerous, and his plotting could draw me into a lethal power struggle. His emotional baggage and troublesome ex? Also problematic.
And none of that helps me keep my mind—or hands—off him.
If I’m not careful, falling for the wrong dragon-shifter could cost me so much more than just my heart…
In the Dragon’s Lair is an m/m paranormal romance. Book 2 in the Wings over Albion series, it can be read as a standalone.
The Review
Nate Mortimer is thrity, and works for his grandfather, Abimelech “Bim” Mortimer, in Mid-Level Investor Relations. Out of the top four richest Dragon Banks, Bim’s is number one. Nate has undertaken an investigation for Bim because Mortimer Bank has been under a series of cyberattacks.
He’s on his way to the Circus of Bath England, a place he is familiar with. He once dated Charles Fortescue and will have to seek permission from his father, James, to be in the Fortescue Dragon territory. Under the guise of doing research for a book he wants to write about Jane Austin’s time in Bath, he will seek permission from James to be in their territory.
The break-up was very painful for him. Charlie was cruel and abusive in the nasty things he said about Nate, and he cheated. It’s was a struggle for Nate to return to the Fortescue home, as he is still confused about his feelings for Charlie.
When he calls on the Fortescues, he meets Charlie’s sister Ella, who seems she thinks he has returned to start up a relationship with Charlie again. She takes him to a get-together of the Fortescues and visiting families. As he needs a drink, he heads to the bar and is caught ogling the bartender by Charlie, himself, who is being rude and shows signs of having had too much to drink. When Nate tells Charlie he needs to see James, they wind up in James’s study. Just Nate’s luck, he gets Charlie to leave him alone in the study. But Nate is interrupted when the bartender shows up saying he was in need of a break, and then he gets caught by Ella in a comprising position with the bartender. He has think quickly. He finally gets to talk with James, and is welcomed to stay in Bath at the Fortescue home while he does his research.
The Teague Dragons from Cornwell is a much lesser family, and has been invited to the Fortescue home. Margaret, the Cornish Dragon’s leader, and her nephew Alexander have brought other relatives for possible matchmaking.
When Alex relates what happened in the study with Nate, Margaret tells Alex to get to know him. He tags along to the Old Theatre Royal to do more research on Jane Austen. He learns that Nate is a Mortimer, and now he has all kinds of doubts about the man he was snogging in the study.
As Alex and Nate get to know each other, their Dragon feelings start to grow, but the doubts linger. The more information they share, the more they both become suspicious of James. And neither one realizes the danger that’s coming their way.
The author includes many historical sites and information mixed in with the story: The Circus in Bath 1754 England, designed by John Wood the Elder; Robert William Elliston actor and theatre owner; the Old Theatre Royal; Pulteney Bridge; Old Abbey; Jacobs Ladder and more. There is also some fun speculation about Jane Austen.
Fielding pens another fantastic tale with In The Dragons Lair, the second story in the “Wings Over Albion” series, filled with dysfunctional families, attempted murder, jealousy and corruption. I highly recommend this book – I was thoroughly entertained by it, and hope Fielding has more stories planned for the “Wings Over Albion” series.
If you haven’t yet, it’s also worth reading The Red Dragon of Oxford, the first book in the series. It introduces Rufus and his brother Nate Mortimer, and their history in the Mortimer family, and Rufus’s love interest, Mark Stevens.
The Reviewer
Hi, I’m Maryann, I started life in New York, moved to New Hampshire and in 1965 uprooted again to Sacramento, California. Once I retired I moved to West Palm Beach, Florida in 2011 and just moved back to Sacramento in March of 2018. My son, his wife and step-daughter flew out to Florida and we road tripped back so they got to see sights they have never seen. New Orleans and the Grand Canyon were the highlights. Now I am back on the west coast again to stay! From a young age Ialways liked to read.
I remember going to the library and reading the “Doctor Dolittle” books by Hugh Lofting. Much later on became a big fan of the classics, Edgar Alan Poe, Mary Shelley, Bram Stoker and as time went by Agatha Christie, Ray Bradbury and Stephen Kingand many other authors.
My first M/M shifter book I read was written by Jan Irving the “Uncommon Cowboys” series from 2012. She was the first author I ever contacted and sent an email to letting her know how much I liked this series. Sometime along the way I read “Zero to the Bone”by Jane Seville, I think just about everyone has read this book!
As it stands right now I’m really into mysteries, grit, gore and “triggers” don’t bother me. But if a blurb piques my interest I will read the book.
My kindle collection eclectic and over three thousand books and my Audible collection is slowly growing. I have both the kindle and audible apps on my ipod, ipads, and MAC. So there is never an excuse not to be listening or reading.
I joined Goodreads around 2012 and started posting reviews. One day a wonderful lady, Lisa Horan of The Novel Approach, sent me an email to see if I wanted to join her review group. Joining her site was such an eye opener. I got introduce to so many new authors that write for the LGBTQ genre. Needless to say, it was heart breaking when it ended.
But I found a really great site, QRI and it’s right here in Sacramento. Last year at QSAC I actually got to meet Scott Coatsworth, Amy Lane and Jeff Adams.