Review: Dragon Mine
Rating: 1 out of 5
Date: 07 24, 2013
No. Just no.I bought this because I found it on a list of books that contain a specific plot twist I usually enjoy, and I usually like this author's work. I couldn't even finish it though because it made me angry. I get the tendency that some authors have to fall back on the 'you're my mate, so we're instantly in love/lust' plotline, but I hated the way it was handled in this book.Neil and Ryan had spent many years as sex slaves, with the physical, mental and emotional trauma that entails.  I've seen authors handle this type of situation in a realistic, sensitive manner, but it is barely even addressed in this book before the main characters begin a physical relationship. Instead, the author would have us believe that all of that just disappeared when they met Gabe, because of the mating bond. The author had them willing and even eager to jump into bed with Gabe within 24 hours of meeting him, even though he was a large intimidating man similar to the men who held them, the men they were apparently terrified of.I consider this a cop out, using the instant love, instant trust 'mating bond' because an author is too lazy to, or incapable of actually addressing the deeper issues involved in the aftermath of abuse. I realize this is fiction, and fantasy fiction at that, but really, if you can't write about this kind of issue in anything even remotely resembling a realistic manner, then don't write about it at all.