Druid in Drag by Deirdre O'Dare

51n+7T6LY3LTitle: Druid in Drag

Series: The Thin Green Line 05

Author: Deirdre O’Dare

Genre: Fantasy, Paranormal

Length: Novella (83pgs)

Publisher: Amber Allure (2nd December 2012)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥2 ½ Hearts

Reviewer: Pixie

Blurb: Ren Coulter is used to working alone. As a special agent in the Paranormal Operations Unit of the border patrol, his mission is to infiltrate the compound of a reputed drug lord named Mendoza and learn the source of a dangerous and addictive new drug. He decides to go undercover in drag, disguised as a glamorous young woman in the hopes of catching Mendoza’s notorious roving eye. Yet even before Ren meets the drug lord, he encounters Darzul, one of Mendoza’s striking bodyguards. Despite his lone-wolf habits, Ren sees advantages in working together with the man.

Darzul Onaygan has been sent from his home world of Arzula to blend in with the earthlings and help them fight off the evil alien invaders. Bisexual as most Arzulans are, many even able to switch gender at will, he finds Ren attractive in both his guises. Yet Darzul knows it takes more than hot sex to build a partnership. While outside threats may force them to work together, that alone cannot forge a bond. Trust comes slowly and not without a hitch, but soon they must also rely on one another to survive.

Can Ren and Darzul live long enough to not only to accomplish their mission, but also to become real partners?

Purchase Link: http://www.amberquill.com/AmberAllure/DruidDrag.html

Review: Ren is working undercover for the Paranormal Operations Unit of the border patrol (POU) to discover the source of a new drug that’s emerged, infiltrating the compound in drag seems to be the best way to get answers, and he gets more than he bargained for when he comes into contact with Darzul, his targets bodyguard. Darzul has been sent by the council on his home-world Arzula to discover where the new evil is coming from, when he comes across ‘Rena’ and finds that ‘she’ isn’t all that ‘she’ seems they end up working together because they have the same goal. But much more than that is the attraction that builds between them; can they get to the bottom of the case, explore their attraction, and live long enough to build something together?

This story had a lot of potential with its mix of paranormal, fantasy and sci-fi and that aspect was quite satisfying although I do wish it had been slightly more developed and fleshed out. Ren is a very interesting character and even he isn’t quite sure what he is, with a mix of witch and maybe druid, being male but with a slight feminine taste but knowing he is quite happy with who he is while loving the silky slide of female clothing. Darzul is a being that while male he could also be female if he wanted, he is from Arzula and while being distantly related to the elves (Ren gulped. “Whoa. You look like a weird elf who fell into the Easter Bunny’s color kit or something.”) Darzul’s race has developed differently.

The main storyline of finding the new exotic drug and its source is interesting and I wish it had been more developed. The relationship side between Darzul and Ren was slightly disappointing. The first sex scene between them lacked build up and did absolutely nothing for me at all. I felt no connection between the characters other than the initial attraction and the later sex scenes were little better. It all felt too rushed. This storyline has great potential but needs more fleshing out and development, while the characters need to have more relationship development where we, the reader, can see it.

I will recommend this to those who love fantasy, paranormal with a dash of sci-fi, an interesting storyline and a happy ending.