Shifting Heat by Lynne Connolly
Paranormal Romance
August 17, 2011
E-Book
Ellora’s Cave

Reviewed by Mandi

A computer geek at heart, Andros grew up with muscular dystrophy. Working for STORM, an agency that represents the interests of Talents (those with supernatural powers) his disease was slowly eating away at his body. But luckily for him, he was transformed into a dragon shifter, and one shift later, he was cured, set to live hundreds of years. Now at the full moon, he is forced to shift into a dragon, something he is slowly becoming familiar with. He is also getting use to the fact that he no longer needs crutches – a big change for him.

In this world, Talents have only recently come out to the public and many still don’t trust them. Faye’s parents were both dragon shifters, so shifting after going through puberty was no shock to her. She is a professor, dating another professor, Harken who has an agenda against STORM. He feels like STORM wants to make every Talent come out to the public, even those who would rather remain anonymous. He convinces Faye and others that STORM’s objective is to take Talents and experiment on them against their will. But now Harken is in STORM’s custody and Faye needs to break him out.

Her plan – find someone to coerce so she can steal the STORM security bracelet so she can get in and free Harken. That person she finds is Andros. After meeting him by chance while they are both in their dragon form, they have a very playful encounter in the sky. Since it is the full moon, their sexual appetites are very increased, and they both end up together in their human form for some sexy time. But Faye doesn’t forget her agenda, and after she drugs Andros with some jacked up wine, she steals his bracelet and runs to free Harken. But all is not as it seems. Who she thought were the bad guys just might be on her side and vice versa.

Shifting Heat is the first I’ve read in Lynne Connolly’s STORM series, but I think it does great as a stand alone. I really enjoyed this one. The world is filled with all sorts of supernatural people, all coming to terms with being open to the public and deciding if that is the route they want to take. All having to deal with government organizations and the fight to keep their independence yet make sure humans stay safe. Andros is just figuring out how to be a dragon, and although his shifting cured his disease, his brain has yet to fully accept this. He spent so much of his life disabled, with pitying looks, and unable to fully do everything he wanted to do, that now he has endless possibilities it is overwhelming.

From the start Andros and Faye hit it off. They do have a bump in the road when Faye drugs him after sleeping with him (sigh) and then steals his security bracelet to free Harken. But, once Faye sees that Andros and his company are really on her side, Andros accepts Faye was duped. Maybe a little too easily, as she used him after she had sex with him. But from here there really is no conflict in their relationship as they become closer with each other. I found their relationship really sweet – with plenty of sex scenes to keep this book hot.

The suspense in this book also kept me on my toes. There is deceit and trickery – sorcerers and lots of psi action. Faye’s backstory becomes intermingled with the current day bad guy stuff. I enjoyed how Faye and Andros work together along with the other supporting characters. I was a little let down with the very, end and how the suspense part gets wrapped up. It came abruptly and I expected a little more,

Otherwise, this one flows really well and has a nice romance. I’m very interested to go back and read more of this series.

Rating: B

Recent Reviews:
Goodreads

Author’s Website l Series Listing

Kindle l Nook l Ellora’s Cave l ARe