Reading Write Now: Dragonflies by Samantha Fontien with Giveaway

TITLE : Dragonflies: The Duncan Peters Files

AUTHOR : Samantha Fontien

HOSTED BY : Orchard Book Club

Synopsis

***This book contains explicit sexual scenes and is recommended for readers 18 ***

From the Author of ‘How to catch Butterflies’ book 1 & 2 comes the first, standalone book in her New Dragonflies Series.

Who is Duncan Peters?

He is a Scholar from Cambridge University, a calculated killer, in her Majesties Armed Forces. He can blend into any surroundings and uses these skills to his full potential. He is a ladies’ man that believes in the motto love

em and leave em.

We also meet his best friend, Rubin Miller, his brother in arms, who as been there, through everything, from attending the same University , to fighting alongside him, in the Armed Forces. There is nothing these two have not shared, women included. Can these wild men be tamed?

Join these two men on the roller-coaster that is their lives and get a better feeling is why Duncan is, well, Duncan.

Book Trailer

Iva's Review

"When we honestly ask ourselves which person in our lives means the most to us, we often find that it is those who, instead of giving advice, solutions or cures, have chosen rather to share our pain and touch our wounds with a warm and tender hand. "

Henri Nouwen. (Born Jan 24th 1932 - died October 2nd 1996)

Samantha Fontiens' Dragonflies - The Duncan Peters Files, is not a romance novel, though there is romance. Nor is it an erotic tale of two lads getting their share of multiple women while they refuse to commit to any one female, though there is plenty of erotic encounters. Instead the book is about a friendship that spans over 20 years. One that sees it's way through heartbreak and grief and which never waivers even when love does manage to tame the two friends.

The author has used multiple perspectives to write her story, though the main thread does lie with Duncan. The transitions between the points of view can be somewhat unclear during the beginning of the book, but do become easier to pick up on as the book progresses.

Duncan is an interesting man. He is well educated and clever, with a virility that echoes from the page and makes you want to play the distressed maiden. There is a deep seeded need within Duncan to be loved and to love which obviously stems from his childhood. He loves fiercely and wholeheartedly once he gives his heart to someone, and this of course is his strength but also, at times, his biggest weakness.

Rubin Miller is Duncan's best friend. He too has a fondness for the ladies, but is less likely to give his heart willingly. Rubin has a more mischievious and playful streak, than Duncan, and of course an impressive libido to match. Underneath the surface though is a man of substance who is a little scared of being vulnerable to love, though he would never admit that even to himself. The care that he offers to others in need and the acts of kindness he performs will have you hoping that he overcomes that which haunts him and finds the girl that he can trust his heart to.

There are lots of secondary characters within the story and all are interesting and well written, with well developed personalities that added to the story.

The timeline spans over 20 years so there are jumps in time. These are all well documented by the author and only once did I backtrack trying to work out what had happened and where the characters were at. I believe the author needs to be applauded on successfully writing a book that covered so many years without the characters or the story becoming tiresome. Not many authors can do that.

The sex scenes exhibit a beautiful flowing prose that make you drool at the sexual prowess of both these dynamic men and wish you were the woman at their mercy. In contrast there are some definitely well researched historical facts that come across as a report rather than a story. The change in style is distracting, but the facts are interesting and appropriate to the story.

At about the 55% mark in the book, the pace of the story increases with some intense plot points that have you glued to the page. This is where the story goes from good to fantastic and the writing picks up its pace to stride confidently alongside it. You will be completely caught off guard by how much you have come to love these two men and that is purely due to the talent of the author.

This is one book that really captures the essence of friendship and reminds us how valuable it is. It tells us to never walk away from something or someone when you or they are at the lowest points in life, and to open your heart to the wonders of love lest you never get a chance to do so.

Dragonflies gets 4 1/2 hearts. I do believe that although it isn't necessary

to have read "How to Catch Butterflies, books 1 and 2," it is beneficial to do so.

Author Bio

I’m a Happily Married,MUM of 2 very loved children One has just turned into a teenager so far (fingers crossed) a great one. I LOVE Music, I am the daughter of Musicians, I was reared with a Guitar in one hand and a pen in the other.