Xavier’s Hatchlings
Finn
Theodore
Milo
George
Dover
Hadley
Finn Manning had so much on his plate, he wasn’t sure which end was up. He’d been there six months, and the pile of work on his desk hadn’t diminished by one sheet of paper. None of the construction projects the family had lent the money for had even been started. The foreman was a bully, and Finn had had enough.
Rachel Merkel had … a bully, and Finn had had enough.
Rachel Merkel had literally felt the earth move from beneath her feet. The plates she had been stacking at the restaurant crashed around her when she hit the floor. Her sister-in-law Sandra, instead of being concerned, threatened to fire her. Rachel was wondering how that worked, considering she owned the majority share in the restaurant, but instead of arguing with her, she clocked out and went home.
After a heated argument with her brother, Chad, about Sandra, Rachel quit to keep the peace. Then, Rachel felt the earth move again. This time she was sick with it.
Finn had felt it too through an unseen connection and came to Rachel’s rescue. He didn’t know the woman, but he had an overwhelming need to help her. As soon as he caught her scent, he knew what she was to him.
Rachel, not entirely human herself, could sense Finn was a dragon, and she felt the connection when he did. What she wasn’t sure about was what all came with it—the Mannings—all the parents, brothers, aunts, and uncles—it was overwhelming….
more
At one time there were thousands of dragons roaming the earth and filling the skies. Now there were only about one-third of that left because the human race was tracking them down and killing them from fear and then to use the bodies for all manner of things. Even the Dragon Queen and their children had been brutally murdered leaving the King with no zeal for life and wanting to be with his true heart. The King’s brother, Xavier, had also lost his wife but he was blessed to still have his six sons. That’s why he received the spell from a witch to allow them to change into humans and be able to blend it. The men would still be able to turn back into their dragons when it was safe, but they stood a better chance of survival if they could shift back and forth. The only problem? In order for Coop to enact the spell and share all this power with his sons, it would cost him his life. But as every parent knows, there is no price too steep to protect their child. His final warning was to always be careful of the slayers because they would know who the boys were once they found their mate and fell in love since the magic they would share would become so powerful. “Xavier’s Hatchlings” is each son’s story and begins with “Finn” and his mate Rachel. Kathi S. Barton has given us a storyline with characters that are absolutely relatable. There are some I love and then some I loved to hate. There’s plenty of action, adventure, intrigue, and danger. There’s also fated mates, nosy families, magical gifts, and abilities. OH!! Did I mention there are Fairies, Witches, Warlocks, and spirits in the storyline as well? From other reviews, I realize this is a continuation of another series but this is my first book in the overall storyline and I’m thrilled with it. Congratulations, I’ll be following this series closely and backtracking for previous ones.
I was lucky enough to be given an ARC of this book and this is my honest and unbiased review.
Finn is the first installment of the second generations Manning Dragons.
If you read the Manning Dragons series by Kathi S. Barton, you probably were anxiously awaiting to see Tristan’s kids when we got the little teaser at the end of his book.
Finn and his brothers have moved away from home to help continue their parents quests to help little towns and the people who may need help to survive a falling economy or even to help bring new jobs and a better sense of community.
Finn is the oldest of Xavier’s children as such feels the weight to help his brothers succeed as well as prove to his parents they are doing their best. One of Finn’s powers is being able to talk with anything of the Earth, including buildings. When one such building tells him of the evil inside he’s anxious to help. But his little idea of help actually in turn helps to bring him to his mate.
Rachel Merkel has tried to get along with her sister in law for the sake of her brother. However, she’s pushed her to the last straw and now it’s time to put Sandra in her place and make it known that she is nothing but a place holder in the restaurant and actually works for Rachel.
The events of Finn helping also brought him a connection to his mate which allows him to help her when she’s overwhelmed and sick with the pain of her heart breaking from her brother. With on whiff, Finn knows who Rachel is to him as does Rachel. She may have been adopted and knows she’s not entirely human, but one thing she knows is being in Finn’s presence brings her peace. Which she will need more of if she’s to take on the craziness that is her sister in law.
Here’s my dilemma with this book…
The Manning Dragon’s series seemed to have been set in modern times. But when you jump through time to get to Finn’s book, he is suppose to be 300 years old…yet this book still reads as if it’s set in the same time period as the uncle and father’s series. If a book is suppose to have a dragon that has seen the boom in inventions like computers, phones, electricity…then it shouldn’t have been in the previous series either.
**I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book**
Love this with wonderful characters from past series.
Loved Finn and Rachael
Set a few hundred years after the Manning Dragons. Xavier and Cindi’s 6 boys are all grown up. They have moved away to another part of the country, to spread the charitable work their family foundation does.
Finn Manning finds his mate in Rachael Merkel, after an encounter with a trapped spirit. Rachael is hurting both physically and emotionally. She lost her much loved adopted parents and fears she is losing her best friend and beloved brother Chad to his manipulative wife who hates her. Finn’s family make her welcome. Finn and Rachael take their time, something he learned from his parents.
He helps Rachael and Chad mend their bond.
Sandra is determined to get what she thinks is owed to her.
Rachael learns about her biological parents.
A great continuation of the Manning series. Loved Finn and Rachael, sweet and steamy. Hope Chad finds his mate. A nice set up for Theo’s story.
The first book in the Xavier’s Hatchlings series a well written short story that kept me turning pages. Finn Manning and Rachel Merkel’s story there is suspense, drama, danger, arson, villains, magic, and romance. I want to read the next book. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Finn and Rachel were both experiencing bad days but an episode that Rachel was experiencing will draw Finn to her side. One these two meet their souls connect and a bond forms but it is not all paradise for these two because Rachel’s world Is about to shift again when home truths are revealed. In the end family ties will be restored and some severed. This story draws you in and have you glued to the pages.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I love this author and her books. I really enjoy reading about her characters. I can not wait for more to read from this author.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The author has pulled you in and never lets go. We are given dragons, faeries and wolves, as well as humans. The story has danger, suspense and love. Cannot wait for more of these people to be brought to life for us.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.