For the invigorating third Brothers of Ash and Fire paranormal (after Mikhail), Smith turns her attention to Rurik, the youngest of the three Barinov brothers, who, as their designated battle dragon and family protector, has sworn to never claim a mate. His plans are thrown into disarray when he meets biochemist Charlotte MacQueen, who’s supposedly in Moscow on holiday. What he doesn’t realize is that she’s on an unsanctioned mission for the Brotherhood of the Blood Moon, the paranormal hunting organization run by her family, and she has every intention of pumping Rurik for information to help stop an imminent war among the dragon families of Russia. But the two discover an unexpected connection that swiftly ignites into a full-fledged mating between them—much to the dismay of their respective families, who are being manipulated into conflict by mutual enemies. Now they must find a way to preserve their relationship and their loved ones. Right from the start, this story is clever, sexy, and just a little dangerous, with a sense of fun and solid worldbuilding. Though part of a series, it still works as a standalone, offering up a satisfying, pleasurable romance. (BookLife)