Review: HIDDEN DRAGON...
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 09 5, 2013
(This is a section of a full review that was originally posted on SnarkyMomReads, covering both "Dragon Mine" and "Dragon Rising".)This is a TWO-FER!  Yep, two novellas in one review, because they share a story arc.  Now, before you panic - NO, you do not have to read both of them at the same time (unless you have OCD tendencies like me - then yes, schedule time for both back-to-back).  While the story arc is referred to in both novellas, the action & romance focuses on two separate couples - and each couple has their own book.  If you want the answer to the mystery right away, be ready to read both right away.  If you are more interested in the romance, they are both easily read as stand-alone stories."Dragon Mine" and "Dragon Rising" are novellas in the HIDDEN series, where Jaime Rush has created a world of "Hiddens" (dragons, gods, wizards & angels) that is both imaginative and addictive.  It is a contemporary novel where the paranormal are actually "hidden" to "Mundanes" (humans - that'd be you & me), and is so well crafted it makes you really wonder about some of the things that go bump in the night.  (Was that really a microburst storm that passed through last night... or a tulpa fight?)The Hidden novellas feature a mystery about Elle's Mom, Tara - did someone cause her disappearance?  As the number of missing Hiddens adds up, who, or what, is behind it all?Dragon Mine (A Hidden Novella) is the 99 page story of Elle and Kirin ($1.99).  Elle is a mage and Kirin is a dragon shifter, who were first loves but broke up because Elle's father didn't approve of her dating a dragon - especially when Kirin's father is the one accused of killing Elle's mother.  Upon his return to town, Kirin runs into Elle and they are immediately thrown into a life & death situation that means they must put aside their disappointments in each other and rely on the love they still have for each other.  We also get an introduction to some of the gods that originally created the Hiddens, and can see how their machinations affect their progeny.  (There is a bet... and the loser has to spend a full day in a human daycare with the screaming kids.)  There is a HEA here... and while the story arc is continued in "Dragon Rising", you aren't left with an angry "WTF??!!!!?" reaction when you get to the book's end.  Yes, you'll be curious about the mystery, but at least your questions are answered about the relationship with Elle & Kirin.Bottom line?  Nice length of novella reads and really great introduction to the Hidden world.  Jaime Rush's writing is sexy and smooth - and I'm really looking forward to the next 3 books!  THUMBS UP!!