Book Info
Author: Mell Eight
Series: Supernatural Consultant
Release Date: April 20, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-951880-87-3
Format: ePub, Mobi
Cover Artist: Natasha Snow
Category: Literary/Genre Fiction
Genre: Paranormal, Young Adult
Word Count: 33300
Book Length: Novella
Sex Content: N/A
Pairing: MM
Orientation: Gay
Identity: Cisgender
Warning: kidnapping, imprisonment, and mention of medical testing
Excerpt
Dragon Consultant
Mell Eight © 2020
All Rights Reserved
The phone started ringing out in the main office just as Dane was finishing up with his last client of the day. He had to suppress an eager smile—Dane could only think of one reason for the phone to ring so late—and refocused his attention on his current client. Dane had been expecting the client on the phone to call a week ago; he could wait ten more minutes.
“Mrs. Hempstead, I assure you the pixies are not the ones harming your prized roses. In fact, I’m fairly certain that the pixies are the only reason your roses are still alive, given the extensive damage in your garden.” Dane tried to speak slowly and calmly so the elderly Mrs. Hempstead would understand and hopefully not get angry. It was probably a lost cause, though. She screamed pretentious and arrogant from the large pearl necklace around her wrinkled neck to the expensive mink coat she was wearing on a warm spring evening. She was used to hearing yes to everything she asked, so Dane telling her she was wrong would probably not go over well.
“If it isn’t those disgusting pixies, then what is destroying my roses?” she snapped, her back regally straight and her eyes flashing with anger. Dane was shivering with fear in his chair…not. “You are supposed to be the premier consultant on everything supernatural. I expect results!”
Dane kept his face pleasant through sheer force of will. He had known this reaction was coming, but that didn’t make it any more fun.
“The teeth marks on the bushes were quite distinctive,” Dane continued gamely. “I would suggest that you keep your dog away from that part of your garden if you want your rosebushes to bloom at all this year.”
She gasped, one silk-gloved hand flying to her chest as if Dane had uttered the most offensive thing she had ever heard. “Diamond would never do something like that!” The Chihuahua in question chose that moment to fart loudly in its carry-purse on the floor next to her chair, an action Mrs. Hempstead completely ignored.
“I have found the pixie family from your garden a new home where their abilities will be properly appreciated. You shouldn’t be bothered by their presence any longer.”
She sniffed in disdain. “Well, at least you’ve done as I asked. I’m sure my rosebushes will recover now that they’re gone. Contact my solicitor for payment.” She got to her feet smoothly, turned, and walked out of his office without a single word of thanks. Her roses would be dead by the end of the week; he’d bet that damned ankle-biter currently destroying her designer purse would ensure that.
Mrs. Hempstead didn’t dawdle on her way out of the office. Barely thirty seconds later, Dane heard the outer door shut with a click. The phone on his desk lit up, and his secretary’s voice sounded through the speaker.
“You have a call on line two. It seems important; he insisted on holding until you were done with your meeting.”
“Thanks, Becky,” Dane replied into the speakerphone. The lights on the phone all vanished as Becky hung up, except for the button blinking for line two. Each line belonged to a different type of client thanks to a nifty spell that made his life so much easier. Mrs. Hempstead would have gone to line three, as an ordinary human. Supernatural creatures lit up line one. Line two was for anything remotely associated with the government.
Dane picked up the phone, hit the button, and held the handset to his ear. He already knew who would be calling and why, but a touch of professionalism never hurt.
“This is Dane, your local supernatural consultant,” Dane said, his voice stiff with formality. “How may I help you today?”
“Why aren’t you already traveling to the mountain in question?” the voice on the other end snapped.
“Why, hello, Jacobson. So nice to hear from you!” If he was going to give Dane flack, Dane would give it right back. Jacobson was the ignorant fool in charge of the local division of the SupFeds, or the Federal Bureau of Supernatural Investigation, the branch of the federal government that oversaw all supernatural issues that had to do with the police or military. Jacobson was a human without the slightest magical ability. He relied on those who had power, like Dane, with far too little foresight. He simply didn’t understand just what he was dealing with whenever he called Dane.
If he did, he would be a whole heck of a lot politer.
“You know exactly why I’m calling. The FAA is talking about calling up the Air Force for a strike.”
“All for a dragon harassing a couple of airplanes?” Dane asked, skeptical that things would be so bad for such a little problem.
“How about multiple dragons? We’ve had sightings of at least one red and one blue dragon in the area.” Now that was an interesting fact that hadn’t made the news. “They’ve attacked three planes and forced an additional dozen to turn back. We’re diverting flights right now, but it’s not sustainable. We need those dragons contained as soon as possible. If you don’t step in, we’re going to have to take drastic action. I’ve sent all the information we’ve been able to gather to your email.”
The phone clicked and Jacobson was gone. He had hung up on Dane. What a bastard. One of these days someone was going to eat him, and Dane would get a nasty phone call from his successor asking Dane to figure out how, who, and why. Dane occasionally wondered how he would explain that Jacobson was an ignorant dick while still maintaining his professionalism. It really wasn’t a phone call he was looking forward to.
2kasmom –
Dane is the local Supernatural Consultant. Whenever a being that is not human may be causing trouble, he is the one everyone calls. Then he gets a request to control some dragons.
Mercury is a precious and rare dragon. He starts a family with his helping other dragons who were trapped and experimented on by human scientists. While he is ill, the kits meet Dane and soon he sees they look like a family.
I was absolutely surprised by this story. I loved reading about the dragons, and different features they each had. Such an imaginative and colorful book. The story is weaved with a mystery that has captivated me and now I want to read the next installment to this series. I was eagerly turning the pages and recommend this lovely read.
***This copy was given in exchange for an honest review only.
Elaine White –
** I WAS GIVEN THIS BOOK FOR MY READING PLEASURE **
Copy received through Netgalley
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Dragon Consultant (Supernatural Consultant, #1) by Mell Eight
★★★★★
101 Pages
POV: 3rd person, dual POV
Content Warning: kidnapping, imprisonment and mention of medical testing of minors
#FoundFamily #PNR #ForcedProximity #SingleParent #MMRomance #MysteryToSolve
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Wow!
Honestly, I’ve been a fan of Mell Eight since I first picked up one of their books back in 2016, and I’ve always loved their writing style, their storytelling. This book has been on my TBR for years! When it was re-published by NSP, I knew I couldn’t wait any longer to read it. It had a beautiful new cover, no doubt new edits, and I could start the series without the rest of the series being completed, meaning slightly less pressure to immerse myself for the commitment of a 4-book-series.
I’m so glad I did. This book was amazing!
Dragon Consultant is everything it says on the tin and more. Not just dragons, not just the supernatural, and not just as sweet and lovely as the cover implies. It had heart, warmth, danger, family, and a journey. It’s a combination of sad stories, happy families, and found families.
When it comes to the characters, I was bowled over by Dane. He was so unique, with a mystery that remained hinted at but unsolved until late into the book. I loved that we learned more about him with every page, with every encounter with the kits, and every interaction with Mercury. Mercury was just as interesting; unconscious when we first meet him, and then such a protective father to his kits. Together, they had great chemistry, and an amazing adventure ahead.
I floved the kits! I absolutely fell in love with snarky Nickel, withdrawn Copper, and my heart melted with every glimpse of little Lumie. I loved how all the dragons were named after elements, just as their nature demanded. It was a great piece of storytelling that, instantly related their name to their power, purpose and nature. So clever!
I can’t wait for Book 2.
~
Favourite Quotes
“Dane had to hide a grin; Nickel really was the cutest little potential murderer when he sounded like that.”
Teresa Eick –
Reviewer: Teresa – Fallen Angel
Summary:
This book was an unexpected joy from the many paranormal situations, baby dragons, evil government agents, to a sick papa dragon the story was filled with hilarious situations that never let up. The small dragons, called kits, varied from mischievous to blood thirsty keeping Dane of his toes wondering what part of his house would be destroyed next! Poor Dane was hired to find and get rid of dragons who were disrupting air traffic in the area dragons, but he never expected that one assignment would change the course of his life. It should be noted that the babies had endured capture and testing by the government who treated them like animals so their behavior was at least at times understandable, but their blood thirsty threats were over the top. Adding Mercury, their Papa and the gorgeous dragon shifter, into the mix altered Dane’s life giving him desires and ideas that he had never thought he wanted before. Dane never had a chance once Mercury and his children stole his heart. I will be waiting for the next book in the Supernatural Consultant series!