Hi there! Today I’m sharing a release day review for a new M/M paranormal romance from Sean Michael. SEDUCED BY THE TIDE is the second book in his Dragon Soul series, and I liked it even more than BRANDED BY FLAMES. All the books in this series feature one of the five centuries-old Beteferoce dragon shifter brothers finding love with his perfect mate.

About the book:
Deke has yet to meet a man who gives him a rush. Coast Guard rescue has kept the dragon shifter busy, but there’s no harder work than finding a mate. Then comes Bryan. Bearded and inked, the personal trainer turned mechanic smells of grease, sweat and red meat. How irresistibly human can you get? And when it comes to hot, slamming sex, they’re the perfect fit. Now all Deke has to do is to tell Bryan what he really is, and what he has planned for them.

Bryan has never met anyone like Deke, a consuming lover with a body so arousing it damn near hurts. And he knows how to use every inch of it. Yet he can’t shake the feeling that Deke is hiding something. Just not this—the stud he’s falling for is a centuries-old dragon who has marked him as a mate.

Bryan has to admit that something inside him is changing. For the first time ever, he’s satisfied, body and soul. If Deke really is telling the truth, this could be his destiny—if he’s ready to face it.

My Review:
Deke is the youngest of the dragon-shifter Beteferoce family and isn’t quite convinced his eldest brother, Jake, is telling the truth about finding his “mate,” Shae, but he’s willing to check out this arrangement and see for himself. Plus, Deke noticed that Shae’s neighbor and good friend, Bryan, is a fit specimen he’d like to get to know better. With Jake and Shae being obnoxiously in love, and thoroughly uncivilized in their sexy behavior, Deke is more-than-happy for Bryan’s offer of a spare bedroom in his home.

And let the sexytimes begin…

Bryan doesn’t usually fall into bed with a guy. He hasn’t actually had a partner in years; not since he and Shae didn’t work out. But, Deke is turning all his knobs in just the right way, much to Bryan’s dismay. How can he be so consumed by a man so quickly? And, won’t he be heart-broken when Deke returns to his Coast Guard duties hours away?

During Deke’s week-long visit he learns for certain that he and Bryan are true mates, just like Jake and Shae, but he’s due to report for duty so he vows not to begin the bonding process until he can work out an extended leave. This, by the way, is triggered by fluid-exchange so Deke is careful to stay covered up. Well, except for, oh man! Deke!!

Deke’s so sure of his love, he tries to tell Bryan who he really is, and it all goes sideways. He had no idea how Bryan’s previous history with the paranormal would skew this experience, but Deke holds faith that he’ll be able to win Bryan’s heart back, just as soon as he can get more time. The problem? The physical binding has already begun…

Bryan can’t understand what’s happening to him once Deke leaves. He’s lethargic and ill, and fevered, and unable to manage even the most basic tasks like doing the mechanic work he loves or feeding himself. Good thing Shae and Jake are looking in on him. While Deke manages his details for the Coast Guard, he craves Bryan, and fears what will happen if he shows up on Bryan’s doorstep. And, it’s even worse when he arrives.

I liked this book better than the first, for a few reasons. There’s a lot more tension, the sexytimes don’t take over as much, and Bryan and Deke really have to build trust. I liked how Bryan was a man who’d had a dark past, and his growing love and trust for Bryan helped him to overcome old hurts. I think I was expecting to meet Bryan’s long-lost brother at some point, and I will admit a touch of dismay when that didn’t happen, but that’s only because I’m a greedy reader–it had no impact on this story. For me, I’m hooked on the Beteferoce brothers finding eternal love, and I hope we get some insight on the Fae tattoo artist who seems to be linking them.

Interested? You can find BRANDED BY FLAMES on Goodreads, Carina Press, Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Kobo. I received a review copy via NetGalley.

About the Author:
Often referred to as “Space Cowboy” and “Gangsta of Love” while still striving for the moniker of “Maurice,” Sean Michael spends his days surfing, smutting, organizing his immense gourd collection and fantasizing about one day retiring on a small secluded island peopled entirely by horseshoe crabs. While collecting vast amounts of vintage gay pulp novels and mood rings, Sean whiles away the hours between dropping the f-bomb and persuing the kama sutra by channeling the long lost spirit of John Wayne and singing along with the soundtrack to “Chicago.”

A long-time writer of complicated haiku, currently Sean is attempting to learn the advanced arts of plate spinning and soap carving sex toys.

Barring any of that? He’ll stick with writing his stories, thanks, and rubbing pretty bodies together to see if they spark.

Catch up with Sean on line on his website, blog, Facebook and twitter.

Thanks for popping in and keep reading my friends!