What do you think?
Rate this book
Flirting with Fangs Trilogy #2
How to Date a Dragon
Let the Sparks Fly
Bliss Russo thought nothing exciting ever happened in her life. Until her building caught on fire, and she had to be carried out of the flames in the arms of a gorgeous fireman. Sure, her apartment is now in shambles, and she'll have to start her huge work project completely from scratch. But at least her love life is finally looking up…if only she can find her red-hot rescuer again.
Dragon shapeshifter Drake Cameron is the last of his clan, and the loneliness is starting to claw at him. He's met only one woman who might be able to stand the shock of his true nature. After all, she barely batted an eyelash when her home burned down. And feeling her curves against him was just as hot as the inferno. Just when he thinks he'll never track her down, she walks into his firehouse—with no idea what she's about to get herself into…
Bliss Russo thought nothing exciting ever happened in her life. Until her building caught on fire, and she had to be carried out of the flames in the arms of a gorgeous fireman. Sure, her apartment is now in shambles, and she'll have to start her huge work project completely from scratch. But at least her love life is finally looking up…if only she can find her red-hot rescuer again.
Dragon shapeshifter Drake Cameron is the last of his clan, and the loneliness is starting to claw at him. He's met only one woman who might be able to stand the shock of his true nature. After all, she barely batted an eyelash when her home burned down. And feeling her curves against him was just as hot as the inferno. Just when he thinks he'll never track her down, she walks into his firehouse—with no idea what she's about to get herself into…
352 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published September 3, 2013
70 people are currently reading
841 people want to read
About the author
Ashlyn Chase
55 books458 followersAshlyn Chase has been a registered nurse for 20 years. During those years, she wrote articles for professional journals and a thesis, but eventually, thank goodness, discovered the joy and freedom of writing fiction.
Ashlyn considers herself lucky. Her degree in behavioral sciences is a combination of psychology and sociology, so she has worked with and studied people most of her life. She never has to write out exhaustive character sketches to understand her characters or predict how they will behave. That doesn't mean they don't surprise her. Sometimes they take her on grand unexpected journeys. For her, it gives "character driven novels" a whole new meaning.
Ashlyn has learned to go with the flow. To enjoy the journey is not only one of her writing goals, but also a challenge in life so she tries to follow where the story takes her. As such, she has lived in 17 different places over the years. At last, she's all settled down and comfy in New England.
Is there a grand design or do we decide our own fates? Perhaps if the powers-that-be have a plot, then they also give us the right to revise it. Ashlyn has certainly made detours on her path, but she thinks she's better for it. She's having fun at any rate and hopes that if she enjoys the journey, so will those around her—including her readers.
Ashlyn considers herself lucky. Her degree in behavioral sciences is a combination of psychology and sociology, so she has worked with and studied people most of her life. She never has to write out exhaustive character sketches to understand her characters or predict how they will behave. That doesn't mean they don't surprise her. Sometimes they take her on grand unexpected journeys. For her, it gives "character driven novels" a whole new meaning.
Ashlyn has learned to go with the flow. To enjoy the journey is not only one of her writing goals, but also a challenge in life so she tries to follow where the story takes her. As such, she has lived in 17 different places over the years. At last, she's all settled down and comfy in New England.
Is there a grand design or do we decide our own fates? Perhaps if the powers-that-be have a plot, then they also give us the right to revise it. Ashlyn has certainly made detours on her path, but she thinks she's better for it. She's having fun at any rate and hopes that if she enjoys the journey, so will those around her—including her readers.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 143 reviews
June 18, 2017
For this review and more visit my blog
How to Date a Dragon sounded great and I couldn’t wait to start it but fairly early into it I realized that this book was not quite what I was hoping it would be. Generally speaking it was alright but I couldn’t shake the opinion that in all areas this book was just trying too hard.
This novel tries to blend urban fantasy, thriller and quirky romance all into one and to be honest that just didn’t work for me at all. I don’t think that books have to stay in one particular genre but this was just all over the place, one page it was trying to build suspense the next it was attempting hipster romance. It just didn’t match for me and I struggled.
Then there were bits that I found just plain weird. There is an evil character who speaks in a barely understandable Jamaican accent essentially just because she feels like it, this character is frankly ridiculous from the minute she appeared and I just couldn’t take her seriously. Then there are the gods looking down from above who kept appearing out of nowhere for a page and then disappearing again. It was generally a page of snark that again just didn’t fit. I think this book was trying too hard to be funny and cool but for me it failed.
The writing was okay but lacked detail and sometimes the dialogue felt forced but I had no trouble envisioning what was going on. I also struggled with the characters and found them quite boring. Bliss was alright but Drake was a wet blanket.
I think I know what the author was trying to do here but for me it just didn’t work. I hope others have more luck with it than I did.
The publisher provided me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
How to Date a Dragon sounded great and I couldn’t wait to start it but fairly early into it I realized that this book was not quite what I was hoping it would be. Generally speaking it was alright but I couldn’t shake the opinion that in all areas this book was just trying too hard.
This novel tries to blend urban fantasy, thriller and quirky romance all into one and to be honest that just didn’t work for me at all. I don’t think that books have to stay in one particular genre but this was just all over the place, one page it was trying to build suspense the next it was attempting hipster romance. It just didn’t match for me and I struggled.
Then there were bits that I found just plain weird. There is an evil character who speaks in a barely understandable Jamaican accent essentially just because she feels like it, this character is frankly ridiculous from the minute she appeared and I just couldn’t take her seriously. Then there are the gods looking down from above who kept appearing out of nowhere for a page and then disappearing again. It was generally a page of snark that again just didn’t fit. I think this book was trying too hard to be funny and cool but for me it failed.
The writing was okay but lacked detail and sometimes the dialogue felt forced but I had no trouble envisioning what was going on. I also struggled with the characters and found them quite boring. Bliss was alright but Drake was a wet blanket.
I think I know what the author was trying to do here but for me it just didn’t work. I hope others have more luck with it than I did.
The publisher provided me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
January 7, 2015
So so so boring my eyeballs fell out in revolt. It's not badly written where you think spellcheck, but it's more boring than watching golf, or grass grow.
January 16, 2020
I should have known this book was going to be trash after the first chapter.
Bliss (because of course that's her name) is in a Greeting Cards competition (face palm) and she is afraid to lose all of the work she has done when her apartment is set on fire one night. This unbelievably hot fireman(see what I did there) picks her up and carries her out, even though she protests that he needs to save her laptop because all of her designs are saved on it. This being 2013 she apparently couldn't be bothered to save anything to GoogleDocs or Cloud or ANYTHING because SHE DOESN'T TRUST THE INTERNET AND HER DESIGNS WOULDNT BE SAFE THERE. Of course, he's a freaking dragon (named Drake...Drake the dragon...) so fire is no problem and he runs in and saves her laptop. She is so excited she passionately grabs him into a kiss...
this is all in the first 2 short chapters.
So then of course, they fall in love, somehow they are both wildly attractive and haven't been with anyone in so long because she is too "snarky and opinionated" and he is "looking for another dragon to mate with and those are hard to come by". First world problems. Then some gods and goddesses show up at one point and another punk rock lady dragon wants to get "down to business" with Drake, all while Bliss is in this worthless Greeting Card competition. Her greeting card company name is Hall-Snark.... (vomits everywhere).
This book literally had me retch in a few parts. The sex scenes were an absolute disaster and I found myself quickly flipping through them. Everything in the relationship happened way too fast, and yet the book itself was so boring. This is what doesn't make sense... it was boring, but because this story was such a trainwreck filled with horrid characters I didn't care about and romance cliches up the wazoo I HAD TO KNOW WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN.
The ending was also nauseating
10/10 would definitely throw in the trash.
Bliss (because of course that's her name) is in a Greeting Cards competition (face palm) and she is afraid to lose all of the work she has done when her apartment is set on fire one night. This unbelievably hot fireman(see what I did there) picks her up and carries her out, even though she protests that he needs to save her laptop because all of her designs are saved on it. This being 2013 she apparently couldn't be bothered to save anything to GoogleDocs or Cloud or ANYTHING because SHE DOESN'T TRUST THE INTERNET AND HER DESIGNS WOULDNT BE SAFE THERE. Of course, he's a freaking dragon (named Drake...Drake the dragon...) so fire is no problem and he runs in and saves her laptop. She is so excited she passionately grabs him into a kiss...
this is all in the first 2 short chapters.
So then of course, they fall in love, somehow they are both wildly attractive and haven't been with anyone in so long because she is too "snarky and opinionated" and he is "looking for another dragon to mate with and those are hard to come by". First world problems. Then some gods and goddesses show up at one point and another punk rock lady dragon wants to get "down to business" with Drake, all while Bliss is in this worthless Greeting Card competition. Her greeting card company name is Hall-Snark.... (vomits everywhere).
This book literally had me retch in a few parts. The sex scenes were an absolute disaster and I found myself quickly flipping through them. Everything in the relationship happened way too fast, and yet the book itself was so boring. This is what doesn't make sense... it was boring, but because this story was such a trainwreck filled with horrid characters I didn't care about and romance cliches up the wazoo I HAD TO KNOW WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN.
The ending was also nauseating
10/10 would definitely throw in the trash.
August 24, 2013
After meeting Drake briefly in the first book, I was eager to read a book with him as the main character. Love dragons!!!! Oh, and I really liked the paranormal world that Ms. Chase created particularly the people and the setting around the bar, Boston Uncommon. The tone of this series is so cute and quirky. So yeah, I was eager to continue with this second installment in the series. Just so you know, its probably best that you begin with the first book for the world building and some of the recurring characters to be fully appreciated.
Bliss Russo has made it as a finalist in a greeting card competition, but yikes her building is on fire and all her work is stored on her laptop with no back-ups. She wheedles the hunky firefighter who came to her rescue into going back for her computer. Unfortunately, the damage is done. She now has to re-work her cards, find a place to stay away from her interfering mother and find a temporary job that can help her get back on her feet and concentrate on the competition that will launch her card company if she wins. Enter best friend, Claudia, to the rescue. Claudia gives her a part-time job as a waitress where she manages at the bar, Boston Uncommon, and Claudia arranges for her to share the apartment upstairs above the bar for a more than reasonable rent. Bliss jumps at the chance and meanwhile she starts up a relationship with that delicious fire fighter who rescued her, Drake Cameron.
Drake is a dragon shifter and one of the last of his kind. He wants to honor his mother's dying wish that he find a female dragon, mate and do his part to continue the race. Moving to Boston to check out the rumor of other dragons there turned out to be a wash, but he doesn't give up and tries to find a female dragon through an on-line dating service. In the meantime, he can't get his mind off the feisty human woman who he rescued and got him to do the stupid stunt of going back for her computer that got him suspended. He tries to find her only knowing her first name. That doesn't prove successful and neither does the one female dragon who answers his dating service post. She's a psycho and proves more than ever that he'd rather find Bliss. If only he can convince her not to run in terror when she discovers that he's a dragon.
Soon after Drake and Bliss start dating, Drake learns that the female dragon, Zina, isn't as done with him as he is with her. Bliss is none too pleased to discover that he left things open with Zina so she wonders if he's trustworthy, but then when Drake reveals more including his dragon side and that Zina is dangerous she has more to concern herself with.
Okay, I found this book just as fun and quirky as the first one. I liked Drake a lot and was really cheering for him to find his special someone. I found the relationship between Bliss and her mom hilarious. But Bliss' personality wasn't to my taste. Her character was well-written and all that, but I just didn't connect with her because I found her snarkiness and her total absorption in her card competition even to the point of sending Drake back into a fiery building more rude and self-centered than funny. Drake seem to like her bossy, irascible nature so I finally just went with it and enjoyed the story unfold. Drake and Bliss weren't shy about their lusty attraction and jumped into the passion quickly. Their poor relationship did end up developing, but they had so many interruptions between the vengeful Zina, Bliss' well-meaning roomie Angie, the interfering gods and Bliss' family. In the end, I had fun trying to keep up with all the antics.
All in all, it was a fun read that entertained me well. Those who enjoy their paranormal on the lighter side and their romance filled with heat should give this one a try.
My thanks to Sourcebooks and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Bliss Russo has made it as a finalist in a greeting card competition, but yikes her building is on fire and all her work is stored on her laptop with no back-ups. She wheedles the hunky firefighter who came to her rescue into going back for her computer. Unfortunately, the damage is done. She now has to re-work her cards, find a place to stay away from her interfering mother and find a temporary job that can help her get back on her feet and concentrate on the competition that will launch her card company if she wins. Enter best friend, Claudia, to the rescue. Claudia gives her a part-time job as a waitress where she manages at the bar, Boston Uncommon, and Claudia arranges for her to share the apartment upstairs above the bar for a more than reasonable rent. Bliss jumps at the chance and meanwhile she starts up a relationship with that delicious fire fighter who rescued her, Drake Cameron.
Drake is a dragon shifter and one of the last of his kind. He wants to honor his mother's dying wish that he find a female dragon, mate and do his part to continue the race. Moving to Boston to check out the rumor of other dragons there turned out to be a wash, but he doesn't give up and tries to find a female dragon through an on-line dating service. In the meantime, he can't get his mind off the feisty human woman who he rescued and got him to do the stupid stunt of going back for her computer that got him suspended. He tries to find her only knowing her first name. That doesn't prove successful and neither does the one female dragon who answers his dating service post. She's a psycho and proves more than ever that he'd rather find Bliss. If only he can convince her not to run in terror when she discovers that he's a dragon.
Soon after Drake and Bliss start dating, Drake learns that the female dragon, Zina, isn't as done with him as he is with her. Bliss is none too pleased to discover that he left things open with Zina so she wonders if he's trustworthy, but then when Drake reveals more including his dragon side and that Zina is dangerous she has more to concern herself with.
Okay, I found this book just as fun and quirky as the first one. I liked Drake a lot and was really cheering for him to find his special someone. I found the relationship between Bliss and her mom hilarious. But Bliss' personality wasn't to my taste. Her character was well-written and all that, but I just didn't connect with her because I found her snarkiness and her total absorption in her card competition even to the point of sending Drake back into a fiery building more rude and self-centered than funny. Drake seem to like her bossy, irascible nature so I finally just went with it and enjoyed the story unfold. Drake and Bliss weren't shy about their lusty attraction and jumped into the passion quickly. Their poor relationship did end up developing, but they had so many interruptions between the vengeful Zina, Bliss' well-meaning roomie Angie, the interfering gods and Bliss' family. In the end, I had fun trying to keep up with all the antics.
All in all, it was a fun read that entertained me well. Those who enjoy their paranormal on the lighter side and their romance filled with heat should give this one a try.
My thanks to Sourcebooks and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.
July 6, 2014
I picked this up because the cover and premise of a dragon/firefighter tempted me, but while there was never anything 'wrong' with this book, it asked me to make too many suspensions of disbelief without having a clear cosmology to make those suspensions not jarring. Somebody in a computer business who was afraid to back up her work? Mother Nature wants to be rid of dragons, but then a wizard can undo an omnipotent being's work? The villain ... meh. The family ... meh. A major arsonist is loose in Boston, but the media isn't all over it? I felt as though the book didn't have a clear direction and suffered as a result of it. Even the sex scenes fell kind of flat. I felt as if I was reading a cross between a Sherrilyn Kenyon novel and P.C. Cast's House of Night series, but it never quite found the edginess of Kenyon nor the YA snark of Cast. And then there was the insta-love and how readily the hero blabbed he was a creature which had been hunted to the edge of extinction.
I did like Hephasteus, though...
This story could have been great. Perhaps it might be with a re-edit? But for now, I have no choice but to give it two stars. Sorry :-(
I did like Hephasteus, though...
This story could have been great. Perhaps it might be with a re-edit? But for now, I have no choice but to give it two stars. Sorry :-(
July 10, 2014
Let me start this off by saying I really wanted to like this book. It sounded like it could be a fun, light and humorous romance with a paranormal twist (of course I based this off of reading the back and first few pages in the library). In reality it was simply okay, I guess. I didn't love it, in fact I didn't like most of it but I didn't absolutely hate it either, so that's…something.
How to Date a Dragon is misleading as a title since the two main characters don't really do much "dating" (go out to places, getting to know you kinds of things) with the exception of the first date. And BAM - in love with each other. The writing itself isn't that awful but I found it a bit choppy and unfocused as if the author couldn't decide what to focus on more. It just felt like the author was trying too hard and the book suffered. And there is a general lack of description and setting that this book should've had some of.
The Story:
There was not enough romance for a romance novel. It started off okay and just went downhill from there. I mean with the whole Bliss worried about her competition, where she'll live, what she'll do and then Drake and hotness and sexy time (I swear sometimes this girl had just sex on the mind). Let's not forget the other stuff -the oh no, Danger! Crazy chick, Gods and Goddess, Crazy Chick Danger, Delusional Dragons, Fires, Oh look another insane chick (who is not the aforementioned crazy chick), Kidnapping, Escape, Crazy Chick strikes again, Drake in trouble with boss, Oh look Bliss' "insane" family, Crazy chick - again, Powers that be smite the crazy chick, Happy happy, the end. That about sums it up. I probably missed somethings, possibly mixed things up but with all that going on there wasn't a lot of time for the romance part to bloom.
Confused?
I am and I read it. I don't need everything to make sense, honest. But I need something. Some kind of acceptable explanation on some things. This book just asked me to suspend disbelief too many times without any build up whatsoever. What do I mean by this? Take Bliss who just astounded me (and not in a good way) on so many levels (I'll get back to her later). Or the all-powerful Mother Nature/Gaia who apparently can be 'blocked' from doing her will by a voodoo priestess. That same all-powerful Gaia who for some reason couldn't freaking stop the villain all throughout the book yet "punishes" her at the end (how I have no idea but she's "all-powerful" right?). Not to mention these Gods/Goddesses just popping up randomly for a page or two and then poof. And of course no one is going to notice the dragon spreading fires in Boston. I mean, because that's just not obvious when it's clear she would've had to fly to spread so many fires, and when she kidnapped Bliss. And the "protection" at the Bar…yeah, not feeling it. That was just pathetic - they were alerted and the villain still got in and did her damage.
I'm not sure who the editor was but they missed something on Page 204 - "Her hair dark fell forward…" It was small but kind of hard to miss, and did nothing to improve my feelings toward the book. Some of the dialogue and text was just odd and jarring for me (Just keep reading, you'll see what I mean). This book also had a hard time showing instead of telling. Like the fact Bliss is "snarky". Yes, I got it first few times, but mostly what I got was whiny and you've got to be kidding me. And again didn't get to see them fall in love, in fact I still don't know how they fell in love.
And don't get me started on that unfulfilling ending. No. Just no.
The Characters:
The 'heroine" is Bliss Russo and she is one of the most TSTL heroines i've seen in a while. If there was anyone with no sense of self-preservation, or common sense it's this girl. Yes. Girl, not woman because she acts like a girl despite being 27 years old. An immature, ungrateful girl who should be so lucky to have anyplace to go.
"Forget that my home and all my belongings except my precious laptop are toast. I have to go back to Winthrop and live with my annoying parents for who knows how long…"
And a girl who should be so lucky to have a great friend like Claudia who finds her a place to live and a job (it's unfortunate Claudia pretty much disappears from the story after serving her purpose - some best friend of Bliss' right?). Of course she also has a wonderful new beau - Drake Cameron whom she irrationally gets mad at for meeting the Crazy Chick (date) once, before they hooked up. And of course she is great in emergency situations. First fire - wants to go back into a burning building and get her laptop, then wants the fireman (Drake) to go back in for it. How about when she thinks Drake is having an allergic reaction to the two percocet she gave him after he got beat up?
"Oh, no! He's snoring. I'm afraid for him Angie."
Really? No, Really. (Remember the weird/jarring dialogue I mentioned?)
Or how about when she sees the bank on fire near the bar (after being told about the threat to her life and to stay in the bar), it's a natural reaction to worry about her Greeting Card copies on the CD she put in a safety deposit box at that bank (nevermind she has the original at the bar she just left ) and to run out towards the burning bank not telling anyone what's going on or where she's going. And into the villain. And it's always a good idea to be sassy to a fire-breathing female dragon who thinks you stole her "mate". I mean because everyone could be so lucky to also have God's on their side (well, sort of) and be "saved" while in the potty, yes because that's what she said, first it was toilet then it was potty;
"There's nothing quite so embarrassing as being caught on the potty."
Because being embarrassed is so much more important than being grateful someone has come to save your stupid ass. Okay, I could just keep going on and on about Bliss but that would take up the entire review. Point is she was immature, lacking in common sense, stubborn (not always a bad thing) but she has to have things her way, and a little ugh. On the other hand she is honest and straight-forward and brave (or stupid, kinda the same thing sometimes) she doesn't faint or cry or get hysterical…well - not as much as some of the other crazy chicks in this novel. So there is that.
Drake is just not what I expected from a Dragon. He's a bit of a doormat, nothing about him really screams Alpha male (but that's okay, I don't always need or want that). He's a genuinely "nice guy" who is understanding, willing to compromise (and by that I mean give Bliss whatever the hell she wants if he can), and is also willing to talk and be honest (which is a plus). On the other hand he gets beat up by girl dragons and spends time screaming "Taxi" when faced with her, in his defense she is an insane, creepy dragon who can breathe fire and is immortal, and he had a reason for doing this. He's not the most impressive, powerful dragon. That's okay because he makes great boyfriend material. If only we got to see more of the romance I probably could've appreciated him more.
I liked Hephaestus (Vulcan). I liked Sadie and Anthony. I didn't like just about everyone else. And I have to ask what is with all the temper-tanturm throwing females in this book? There is Bliss, Gaia, Zina and Ruxandra. One temper-tantrum throwing female is enough, four is overkill.
Zina is just a crazy, sociopathic nut. She makes no sense. She comes up with harebrained schemes (some of which actually succeed - somewhat). And is apparently "untouchable" to Gaia. Gaia, or Mother Nature the omnipotent entity that created all. Who can't stop a single dragon or even slow her down for the matter and was curtailed from fulfilling her will by a voodoo priestess, one of her "creations". It just doesn't make sense. She does all these things to Zina after Vulcan brings her to Gaia. Blink and you'll miss it - apparently the punishment happens without us seeing so I felt cheated. Couldn't you have beat her up a little or something? Taken away her immortality like Gaia did to Drake's family? And more importantly, why didn't she do it before?! And is that It? Why would you even give her a chance to reproduce? What happened to eliminating all dragons? ARGH.
Ruxandra - I don't even know why she was here. I mean seriously - crazy-can't-take-a-hint-ex-girlfriend just pops up for no apparent reason (kind of like the Gods). Why?
As for the other characters - most of them just popped in and popped right back out, like Ruxandra.
Overall:
I didn't like it. I tried. I can't recommend it. The story, the characters, the neat little unfulfilling ending - no, No, NO. Maybe someone else will like it. It wasn't for me - it hit too many of the wrong buttons for me to enjoy it. There were a few brief moments I enjoyed but mostly I didn't. 1.5 stars.
How to Date a Dragon is misleading as a title since the two main characters don't really do much "dating" (go out to places, getting to know you kinds of things) with the exception of the first date. And BAM - in love with each other. The writing itself isn't that awful but I found it a bit choppy and unfocused as if the author couldn't decide what to focus on more. It just felt like the author was trying too hard and the book suffered. And there is a general lack of description and setting that this book should've had some of.
The Story:
There was not enough romance for a romance novel. It started off okay and just went downhill from there. I mean with the whole Bliss worried about her competition, where she'll live, what she'll do and then Drake and hotness and sexy time (I swear sometimes this girl had just sex on the mind). Let's not forget the other stuff -the oh no, Danger! Crazy chick, Gods and Goddess, Crazy Chick Danger, Delusional Dragons, Fires, Oh look another insane chick (who is not the aforementioned crazy chick), Kidnapping, Escape, Crazy Chick strikes again, Drake in trouble with boss, Oh look Bliss' "insane" family, Crazy chick - again, Powers that be smite the crazy chick, Happy happy, the end. That about sums it up. I probably missed somethings, possibly mixed things up but with all that going on there wasn't a lot of time for the romance part to bloom.
Confused?
I am and I read it. I don't need everything to make sense, honest. But I need something. Some kind of acceptable explanation on some things. This book just asked me to suspend disbelief too many times without any build up whatsoever. What do I mean by this? Take Bliss who just astounded me (and not in a good way) on so many levels (I'll get back to her later). Or the all-powerful Mother Nature/Gaia who apparently can be 'blocked' from doing her will by a voodoo priestess. That same all-powerful Gaia who for some reason couldn't freaking stop the villain all throughout the book yet "punishes" her at the end (how I have no idea but she's "all-powerful" right?). Not to mention these Gods/Goddesses just popping up randomly for a page or two and then poof. And of course no one is going to notice the dragon spreading fires in Boston. I mean, because that's just not obvious when it's clear she would've had to fly to spread so many fires, and when she kidnapped Bliss. And the "protection" at the Bar…yeah, not feeling it. That was just pathetic - they were alerted and the villain still got in and did her damage.
I'm not sure who the editor was but they missed something on Page 204 - "Her hair dark fell forward…" It was small but kind of hard to miss, and did nothing to improve my feelings toward the book. Some of the dialogue and text was just odd and jarring for me (Just keep reading, you'll see what I mean). This book also had a hard time showing instead of telling. Like the fact Bliss is "snarky". Yes, I got it first few times, but mostly what I got was whiny and you've got to be kidding me. And again didn't get to see them fall in love, in fact I still don't know how they fell in love.
And don't get me started on that unfulfilling ending. No. Just no.
The Characters:
The 'heroine" is Bliss Russo and she is one of the most TSTL heroines i've seen in a while. If there was anyone with no sense of self-preservation, or common sense it's this girl. Yes. Girl, not woman because she acts like a girl despite being 27 years old. An immature, ungrateful girl who should be so lucky to have anyplace to go.
"Forget that my home and all my belongings except my precious laptop are toast. I have to go back to Winthrop and live with my annoying parents for who knows how long…"
And a girl who should be so lucky to have a great friend like Claudia who finds her a place to live and a job (it's unfortunate Claudia pretty much disappears from the story after serving her purpose - some best friend of Bliss' right?). Of course she also has a wonderful new beau - Drake Cameron whom she irrationally gets mad at for meeting the Crazy Chick (date) once, before they hooked up. And of course she is great in emergency situations. First fire - wants to go back into a burning building and get her laptop, then wants the fireman (Drake) to go back in for it. How about when she thinks Drake is having an allergic reaction to the two percocet she gave him after he got beat up?
"Oh, no! He's snoring. I'm afraid for him Angie."
Really? No, Really. (Remember the weird/jarring dialogue I mentioned?)
Or how about when she sees the bank on fire near the bar (after being told about the threat to her life and to stay in the bar), it's a natural reaction to worry about her Greeting Card copies on the CD she put in a safety deposit box at that bank (nevermind she has the original at the bar she just left ) and to run out towards the burning bank not telling anyone what's going on or where she's going. And into the villain. And it's always a good idea to be sassy to a fire-breathing female dragon who thinks you stole her "mate". I mean because everyone could be so lucky to also have God's on their side (well, sort of) and be "saved" while in the potty, yes because that's what she said, first it was toilet then it was potty;
"There's nothing quite so embarrassing as being caught on the potty."
Because being embarrassed is so much more important than being grateful someone has come to save your stupid ass. Okay, I could just keep going on and on about Bliss but that would take up the entire review. Point is she was immature, lacking in common sense, stubborn (not always a bad thing) but she has to have things her way, and a little ugh. On the other hand she is honest and straight-forward and brave (or stupid, kinda the same thing sometimes) she doesn't faint or cry or get hysterical…well - not as much as some of the other crazy chicks in this novel. So there is that.
Drake is just not what I expected from a Dragon. He's a bit of a doormat, nothing about him really screams Alpha male (but that's okay, I don't always need or want that). He's a genuinely "nice guy" who is understanding, willing to compromise (and by that I mean give Bliss whatever the hell she wants if he can), and is also willing to talk and be honest (which is a plus). On the other hand he gets beat up by girl dragons and spends time screaming "Taxi" when faced with her, in his defense she is an insane, creepy dragon who can breathe fire and is immortal, and he had a reason for doing this. He's not the most impressive, powerful dragon. That's okay because he makes great boyfriend material. If only we got to see more of the romance I probably could've appreciated him more.
I liked Hephaestus (Vulcan). I liked Sadie and Anthony. I didn't like just about everyone else. And I have to ask what is with all the temper-tanturm throwing females in this book? There is Bliss, Gaia, Zina and Ruxandra. One temper-tantrum throwing female is enough, four is overkill.
Zina is just a crazy, sociopathic nut. She makes no sense. She comes up with harebrained schemes (some of which actually succeed - somewhat). And is apparently "untouchable" to Gaia. Gaia, or Mother Nature the omnipotent entity that created all. Who can't stop a single dragon or even slow her down for the matter and was curtailed from fulfilling her will by a voodoo priestess, one of her "creations". It just doesn't make sense. She does all these things to Zina after Vulcan brings her to Gaia. Blink and you'll miss it - apparently the punishment happens without us seeing so I felt cheated. Couldn't you have beat her up a little or something? Taken away her immortality like Gaia did to Drake's family? And more importantly, why didn't she do it before?! And is that It? Why would you even give her a chance to reproduce? What happened to eliminating all dragons? ARGH.
Ruxandra - I don't even know why she was here. I mean seriously - crazy-can't-take-a-hint-ex-girlfriend just pops up for no apparent reason (kind of like the Gods). Why?
As for the other characters - most of them just popped in and popped right back out, like Ruxandra.
Overall:
I didn't like it. I tried. I can't recommend it. The story, the characters, the neat little unfulfilling ending - no, No, NO. Maybe someone else will like it. It wasn't for me - it hit too many of the wrong buttons for me to enjoy it. There were a few brief moments I enjoyed but mostly I didn't. 1.5 stars.
July 5, 2018
I read this for a themed book club gathering for Harlequinesque/romance novels. Disclaimer: I am not an expert on this front, so excuse me if I can't really compare it to other similar ones. I chose one with a supernatural vibe to make it more interesting. I know I should read these light-heartedly, but... Alas, I cannot.
That being said: WHY DID I DO THIS TO MYSELF. Why introduce a big bad if the big bad has really no relevance whatsoever? Why did the book have about twenty different endings? Why are people so into greeting cards that crowds actually gather to gasp and watch in awe as some price is being dealt? How can a girl who doesn't back up her work and is scared of big bad hackers be called "tech savvy", not to mention (spoilers) "muse of the internet"? Why is the writing so bad?
I gave this two stars because during the first fifty pages I actually laughed out loud because of how silly the writing was. It kept me entertained for half an hour, until it was just... bad.
Excuse me while I now depart for my book club meeting to share some of the most mind-boggling quotes and my pain.
That being said: WHY DID I DO THIS TO MYSELF. Why introduce a big bad if the big bad has really no relevance whatsoever? Why did the book have about twenty different endings? Why are people so into greeting cards that crowds actually gather to gasp and watch in awe as some price is being dealt? How can a girl who doesn't back up her work and is scared of big bad hackers be called "tech savvy", not to mention (spoilers) "muse of the internet"? Why is the writing so bad?
I gave this two stars because during the first fifty pages I actually laughed out loud because of how silly the writing was. It kept me entertained for half an hour, until it was just... bad.
Excuse me while I now depart for my book club meeting to share some of the most mind-boggling quotes and my pain.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 2, 2019
DNF on page 125. I was tempted to read to the end to see if the villain ever gets redeemed but I have a bad feeling the author is just playing her as straight evil (even though she's the most awesome, relatable character.) I just couldn't read further.
This ticks every box on the trashy romance checklist. A straight-laced man who desperately wants to have kids. A lady protagonist who is passionate about her greeting card business (omg.) Subtle notes of fat-shaming. Unsubtle notes of racism. Male lead is slightly stalkery. Several characters are low-grade sexist. The female lead is vapid, and when she (rarely) does assert herself, she immediately says something like "aw shucks, I'm being bossy again!" The male lead is a creeper.
If you're looking for a good dragon romance, try Dragon's Bait by Vivian Vande Velde. Give Date a Dragon a pass.
This ticks every box on the trashy romance checklist. A straight-laced man who desperately wants to have kids. A lady protagonist who is passionate about her greeting card business (omg.) Subtle notes of fat-shaming. Unsubtle notes of racism. Male lead is slightly stalkery. Several characters are low-grade sexist. The female lead is vapid, and when she (rarely) does assert herself, she immediately says something like "aw shucks, I'm being bossy again!" The male lead is a creeper.
If you're looking for a good dragon romance, try Dragon's Bait by Vivian Vande Velde. Give Date a Dragon a pass.
November 26, 2018
Liked the book hated the ending. Great love story horrible ending... idk how else to put that the ending sucked...
January 25, 2017
I've never been so bored reading in my whole entire life, but I have to read this fucking book since I stupidly bought the damn thing.
Here's the thing: I've wrote somewhat like this before, so I can't judge too harshly at this author. The writing makes sense, but there's that feeling you get when someone is trying so hard to impress and cram every little pizzazz into a contemporary romance. I get it. It's hard to make the perfect romance. Let alone a paranormal one. If you're jumping over the place with multiple sub-genres (i.e. suspense, chick-lit, humor, erotic), it begins to lack in every category. The humor fell flat, the sex fell flat, and you can blink and the suspense disappears in a ball of smoke (ha, dragon puns). Sometimes sticking with two genres helps and then you can write naturally where the reader will analytically catch more to the writing whether it was the author's intention or not.
I don't hate Bliss, but I couldn't really connect with her. I felt no sympathy, malice, or irritation with the character. That's hard for a reader to keep moving forward with a story when you have no emotional twinge or curiosity towards the people in the story. I just only felt boredom with her. However, she wasn't the only character that made me yawn.
I suppose book covers do sell, but Drake did nothing to make his male main role anywhere spicy. For a dragon who's supposed to be hotter than curry, it felt like I was tasting vanilla ice cream with the guy. For once, I'm grateful he's not some alpha prick, but I wished he was a little stronger. And I'm not talking about lugging around heavy furniture kind of strength. There needs to be more of a dangerous appeal. Even if he can get his ass kicked by a girl, that would show that even strong men can get hurt and there's that idea for readers don't have to worry about gender imbalance.
Which leads us to the antagonist. What a dull creature she was! Zina is more confusing than threatening to me. It's fine if the villain is psychologically imbalanced, but using a fake accent on the first date doesn't help lure the man in. Of course, she does create damage, but it doesn't help her in the very least on gaining a dragon mate. So, it's safe to say she isn't a really bright cookie, just a spoiled brat. I, a small mortal, could easily squish her puny existence into the ground. I like my antagonists fucking nuts and scary as hell.
Aside from the cardboard side characters and annoying parents, what bothered me a little is the stereotypes used in this story. It wasn't blatant, but easily catchable. I get that some Italians are traditional with getting married and having a passel of kids, but I'm sure a lot of them are alright mixing with other ethnicities and races or not even pushing their kids to marriage too soon and let love sink in first. On page 60, there was something sighing like a disappointed Jewish mother. Not insulting, but what's the significance behind it? I guess I've been surrounded by unorthodox different people all my life that I couldn't catch the idea of it. I'm assuming Zina is black or colored since she has dreads and is Caribbean. Not saying that black people can't be villains (if that's what you call her in this story), but I guess I'm getting tired of reading so much on white straight people. I'll really need to look elsewhere to broaden my romance reading.
There is an idea of heritage with dragons which is okay. I love learning about origins like the next history junkie. But with the author jumping all over the place with her writing on trying to be spunky and fresh with her characters, we don't really get a solid idea on how dragons came about. Just where some came from and how they're dying off not mating with other ones and Roman/Greek gods and goddesses fucking them over. We don't get some of a scientific fiction explanation on anything or how they were born from ashes in some amazing way. The author just plants them in the story and we're just expected to go with the flow. Nothing intrigued me.
If there was a contest on making supernatural creatures boring, this book nailed. I know that sounds harsh, but maybe our real society already faces pending doom from their own follies that it dulls our interests with them. I wasn't getting wet from this book.
Here's the thing: I've wrote somewhat like this before, so I can't judge too harshly at this author. The writing makes sense, but there's that feeling you get when someone is trying so hard to impress and cram every little pizzazz into a contemporary romance. I get it. It's hard to make the perfect romance. Let alone a paranormal one. If you're jumping over the place with multiple sub-genres (i.e. suspense, chick-lit, humor, erotic), it begins to lack in every category. The humor fell flat, the sex fell flat, and you can blink and the suspense disappears in a ball of smoke (ha, dragon puns). Sometimes sticking with two genres helps and then you can write naturally where the reader will analytically catch more to the writing whether it was the author's intention or not.
I don't hate Bliss, but I couldn't really connect with her. I felt no sympathy, malice, or irritation with the character. That's hard for a reader to keep moving forward with a story when you have no emotional twinge or curiosity towards the people in the story. I just only felt boredom with her. However, she wasn't the only character that made me yawn.
I suppose book covers do sell, but Drake did nothing to make his male main role anywhere spicy. For a dragon who's supposed to be hotter than curry, it felt like I was tasting vanilla ice cream with the guy. For once, I'm grateful he's not some alpha prick, but I wished he was a little stronger. And I'm not talking about lugging around heavy furniture kind of strength. There needs to be more of a dangerous appeal. Even if he can get his ass kicked by a girl, that would show that even strong men can get hurt and there's that idea for readers don't have to worry about gender imbalance.
Which leads us to the antagonist. What a dull creature she was! Zina is more confusing than threatening to me. It's fine if the villain is psychologically imbalanced, but using a fake accent on the first date doesn't help lure the man in. Of course, she does create damage, but it doesn't help her in the very least on gaining a dragon mate. So, it's safe to say she isn't a really bright cookie, just a spoiled brat. I, a small mortal, could easily squish her puny existence into the ground. I like my antagonists fucking nuts and scary as hell.
Aside from the cardboard side characters and annoying parents, what bothered me a little is the stereotypes used in this story. It wasn't blatant, but easily catchable. I get that some Italians are traditional with getting married and having a passel of kids, but I'm sure a lot of them are alright mixing with other ethnicities and races or not even pushing their kids to marriage too soon and let love sink in first. On page 60, there was something sighing like a disappointed Jewish mother. Not insulting, but what's the significance behind it? I guess I've been surrounded by unorthodox different people all my life that I couldn't catch the idea of it. I'm assuming Zina is black or colored since she has dreads and is Caribbean. Not saying that black people can't be villains (if that's what you call her in this story), but I guess I'm getting tired of reading so much on white straight people. I'll really need to look elsewhere to broaden my romance reading.
There is an idea of heritage with dragons which is okay. I love learning about origins like the next history junkie. But with the author jumping all over the place with her writing on trying to be spunky and fresh with her characters, we don't really get a solid idea on how dragons came about. Just where some came from and how they're dying off not mating with other ones and Roman/Greek gods and goddesses fucking them over. We don't get some of a scientific fiction explanation on anything or how they were born from ashes in some amazing way. The author just plants them in the story and we're just expected to go with the flow. Nothing intrigued me.
If there was a contest on making supernatural creatures boring, this book nailed. I know that sounds harsh, but maybe our real society already faces pending doom from their own follies that it dulls our interests with them. I wasn't getting wet from this book.
July 6, 2014
Bliss Russo is the designer and owner of a greeting card company that she started with her sister, Hallsnark Cards. Right now, Bliss is a finalist in a competition which could make Hallsnark Cards, if she can just finish her final designs in time and win it. But it seems like the fates are against Bliss as a fire starts in her apartment and she loses everything. The only good thing is the hunky fireman who rescued her and then went back in to get her laptop.
Drake Cameron is a fireman who knows all about hot things and taking risks. After all he is one of the few dragons left in existence and he is living right along side with humans. The night that Drake rescued an up and coming greeting card designer, she grabs is total attention. Her defiance and general feistiness leads Drake to once again break the rules to help her out.
Bliss can’t get the sexy fireman out of her mind and goes to thank him, only to find out he got in trouble for helping her out. Drake is torn because his body really wants to get to know Bliss better and see if their instant attraction could go anywhere, but he knows that he really should find a female dragon to mate with. Heart and head battle until yet another fire brings Drake and Bliss back together. Bliss can’t believe that yet another fire has threatened her designs and life. Drake tried doing what his head said with bad results. Now, he is going to follow his heart and go forward with a relationship with Bliss. Suddenly it seems like bad things happening surround them. Drake’s bad date has decided to take out the competition and Bliss is on the menu, but is that the only one threatening their future together?
One hot fire brings an even hotter passion into flame when a dragon meets his mate for the first time in How to Date a Dragon. First off, I have to state that I absolutely love Bliss and Drake together and their rollercoaster beginning. The many mishaps that happened to Bliss and Drake, both together and individually, had me laughing in several places. While I could see why Drake tried to find another dragon to mate with, I could see that Bliss was the one for him. Bliss gave me a guide on the determination needed to reach a goal as I watched as her worked on finishing her designs and fulfilled the other things necessary to hopefully win the contest, but with the fires, her new boyfriend and her family being anything but a Rockwell family, it wasn’t always an easy task. I was really surprised by the group that came to Drake and Bliss’s assistance. I found that a total left turn but a wonderful addition to the story. Once all the danger was over, I was yet again impressed by the last decisions that Drake and Bliss made when offered what seemed like a dream future and who made it. Bliss and Drake knew what they wanted in their future and how they wanted it for sure. I really hated when I ran out of pages in the book.
How to Date a Dragon is full of spunky humor combined with the spice of passion and suspense. I truly loved Bliss and Drake’s story from start until finish and hope that someday I will have a chance to see how they are doing. I just had to Joyfully Recommend How to Date a Dragon as a must read and a wonderful addition to a paranormal lover’s library.
This book was reviewed by Jo for Joyfully Reviewed (JR), and was provided by the publisher/author at no cost to JR for the purpose of being reviewed.
Drake Cameron is a fireman who knows all about hot things and taking risks. After all he is one of the few dragons left in existence and he is living right along side with humans. The night that Drake rescued an up and coming greeting card designer, she grabs is total attention. Her defiance and general feistiness leads Drake to once again break the rules to help her out.
Bliss can’t get the sexy fireman out of her mind and goes to thank him, only to find out he got in trouble for helping her out. Drake is torn because his body really wants to get to know Bliss better and see if their instant attraction could go anywhere, but he knows that he really should find a female dragon to mate with. Heart and head battle until yet another fire brings Drake and Bliss back together. Bliss can’t believe that yet another fire has threatened her designs and life. Drake tried doing what his head said with bad results. Now, he is going to follow his heart and go forward with a relationship with Bliss. Suddenly it seems like bad things happening surround them. Drake’s bad date has decided to take out the competition and Bliss is on the menu, but is that the only one threatening their future together?
One hot fire brings an even hotter passion into flame when a dragon meets his mate for the first time in How to Date a Dragon. First off, I have to state that I absolutely love Bliss and Drake together and their rollercoaster beginning. The many mishaps that happened to Bliss and Drake, both together and individually, had me laughing in several places. While I could see why Drake tried to find another dragon to mate with, I could see that Bliss was the one for him. Bliss gave me a guide on the determination needed to reach a goal as I watched as her worked on finishing her designs and fulfilled the other things necessary to hopefully win the contest, but with the fires, her new boyfriend and her family being anything but a Rockwell family, it wasn’t always an easy task. I was really surprised by the group that came to Drake and Bliss’s assistance. I found that a total left turn but a wonderful addition to the story. Once all the danger was over, I was yet again impressed by the last decisions that Drake and Bliss made when offered what seemed like a dream future and who made it. Bliss and Drake knew what they wanted in their future and how they wanted it for sure. I really hated when I ran out of pages in the book.
How to Date a Dragon is full of spunky humor combined with the spice of passion and suspense. I truly loved Bliss and Drake’s story from start until finish and hope that someday I will have a chance to see how they are doing. I just had to Joyfully Recommend How to Date a Dragon as a must read and a wonderful addition to a paranormal lover’s library.
This book was reviewed by Jo for Joyfully Reviewed (JR), and was provided by the publisher/author at no cost to JR for the purpose of being reviewed.
September 3, 2013
4.5 Stars! Dragon shifters, romance, and humor
A laugh out loud funny read at times.
A snarky greeting card designer, a risk-taking fireman with a secret, a vicious female shifter in heat, and a spate of unexplained fires breaking out all over town will keep you turning the pages.
What job could one of the last dragon shifters do in the modern world? He’s got the perfect job. He’s a fireman and a sexy one too. His shifted form is impervious to fire and heat and he uses this to his advantage. The only problem is he can’t resist taking what others who don’t know about his dual nature consider unnecessary risks. He’s already in hot water with his captain when he lets a beautiful woman talk him into going back into her burning apartment…for her laptop!
He’s feeling the pressure to continue his species and clan even though he is very attracted to the laptop owner. He does what others do and goes looking for a dragon mate. Unfortunately he finds her. She’s not exactly what he envisioned or what he had in mind, even if she is one of the rare female dragon shifters left. Regrettably, she thinks he would make a great mating partner, and she will stop at nothing to get him to mate with her. This includes getting rid of any obstacles like snarky human greeting card designers.
Read as things heat up between the human and dragon shifter while the fireman tries to put out the female dragon’s flames of desire for him.
Ashlyn Chase’s paranormal characters and worlds are different because she doesn’t just stick to the usual vampires, werewolves, and typical shifters – although she does those well too. She usually includes a multitude of paranormal species in her books which make things interesting. Very funny things happen when the paranormals and supernaturals try to coexist with the humans without the humans being aware of their existence. Ms. Chase is also very good at making each of the stories in her series standalone while featuring characters from the previous books as secondary characters.
Fans of MaryJanice Davidson, Kerrelyn Sparks, and Katie MacAlister will adore Ashlyn Chase’s paranormal romance.
A laugh out loud funny read at times.
A snarky greeting card designer, a risk-taking fireman with a secret, a vicious female shifter in heat, and a spate of unexplained fires breaking out all over town will keep you turning the pages.
What job could one of the last dragon shifters do in the modern world? He’s got the perfect job. He’s a fireman and a sexy one too. His shifted form is impervious to fire and heat and he uses this to his advantage. The only problem is he can’t resist taking what others who don’t know about his dual nature consider unnecessary risks. He’s already in hot water with his captain when he lets a beautiful woman talk him into going back into her burning apartment…for her laptop!
He’s feeling the pressure to continue his species and clan even though he is very attracted to the laptop owner. He does what others do and goes looking for a dragon mate. Unfortunately he finds her. She’s not exactly what he envisioned or what he had in mind, even if she is one of the rare female dragon shifters left. Regrettably, she thinks he would make a great mating partner, and she will stop at nothing to get him to mate with her. This includes getting rid of any obstacles like snarky human greeting card designers.
Read as things heat up between the human and dragon shifter while the fireman tries to put out the female dragon’s flames of desire for him.
Ashlyn Chase’s paranormal characters and worlds are different because she doesn’t just stick to the usual vampires, werewolves, and typical shifters – although she does those well too. She usually includes a multitude of paranormal species in her books which make things interesting. Very funny things happen when the paranormals and supernaturals try to coexist with the humans without the humans being aware of their existence. Ms. Chase is also very good at making each of the stories in her series standalone while featuring characters from the previous books as secondary characters.
Fans of MaryJanice Davidson, Kerrelyn Sparks, and Katie MacAlister will adore Ashlyn Chase’s paranormal romance.
April 19, 2014
When I think of dragons I think of majestic beings soaring over the land bringing protection or terror. Breathing fire and collecting as much treasure as they can, which just happens to be a lot. When given the power to transform into human form they became the stuff of wet dreams; strong, loyal and so damn hot/sexy. With the ability to transform to human they are also able to live for centuries. So I was happy and ready to start reading when I saw the cover to How to Date a Dragon…and Survive the Heat.
The first few pages had me hooked, Bliss is my kind of female character. She is strong, independent and had a very great sense of humor. First things first her humor is not for the tender hearted or for those who get offended easily. She tells it like she sees it and at the beginning of the book she’s in a competition for greeting cards. Her cards are for those occasions that normal cards don’t cover; breakups, mother-in-laws meddling, brothers pranks going wrong, etc. She has a mom who wants her to get married, to an Italian, and make lots of babies. She has a father who is loving but distant and two brothers who drive her crazy.
Drake is every woman dream. He is strong, loyal and a fireman. Because he’s a dragon he is fireproof and a perfect man to run into buildings most firemen are unable to. He’s runs into Bliss building and the way they meet had me laughing for a while. He had dreams of finding a nice dragon lady and having a bunch of dragon babies. He’s hoping to carry on the dragon race, even if he had to do it single handedly. He even gives online dating a try, can you say disaster.
If these two characters are not enough, enter a crazy Mother Nature and some other major and minor gods/goddesses and a psycho female dragon in heat.
This book is a hot read and that’s before you get to the sex. I didn’t know that this was the second book in this series but I am looking forward to reading the first one, Flirting Under a Full Moon.
The first few pages had me hooked, Bliss is my kind of female character. She is strong, independent and had a very great sense of humor. First things first her humor is not for the tender hearted or for those who get offended easily. She tells it like she sees it and at the beginning of the book she’s in a competition for greeting cards. Her cards are for those occasions that normal cards don’t cover; breakups, mother-in-laws meddling, brothers pranks going wrong, etc. She has a mom who wants her to get married, to an Italian, and make lots of babies. She has a father who is loving but distant and two brothers who drive her crazy.
Drake is every woman dream. He is strong, loyal and a fireman. Because he’s a dragon he is fireproof and a perfect man to run into buildings most firemen are unable to. He’s runs into Bliss building and the way they meet had me laughing for a while. He had dreams of finding a nice dragon lady and having a bunch of dragon babies. He’s hoping to carry on the dragon race, even if he had to do it single handedly. He even gives online dating a try, can you say disaster.
If these two characters are not enough, enter a crazy Mother Nature and some other major and minor gods/goddesses and a psycho female dragon in heat.
This book is a hot read and that’s before you get to the sex. I didn’t know that this was the second book in this series but I am looking forward to reading the first one, Flirting Under a Full Moon.
September 11, 2013
From the first few pages this book had me entertained, "he swiveled and mumbled through his mask. "Really? I'm here to save you, and you spank me?" I knew I'd love Drake with all the playfulness he had about him, "he laugh. "Seriously? First you grab my a**, and now you're hitting on me?" Being in his mind was an adventure all on it's own, "he suddenly realized what she was smiling at - his big, rock-hard erection, and her expression was turning into a leer." Bliss she's a interesting character I loved her as well, she is always aims to please, "of course I want to shag you sill, but there are a few details I need to clarify for my own peace of mind first - then I'll shag you silly." I really did enjoy this book so, so much.
March 26, 2014
Bliss Russo normal life has taken a sharp turn to big trouble. She is burnt out of her apartment and looses all the work she has put into a reality show greeting card company competition. Her rescuer is a gorgeous fireman, Drake Cameron, who just happens to be a dragon. A female dragon comes into the story wrecking Bliss's card project. There are more fires, secrets, Mother Nature, and family to cause problems in both Bliss and Drake's lives.
February 14, 2014
This is the second book that I've read by this particular author and I have to say I really enjoy her style of writing. She has a mixture of humor, romance, and adventure, that one put together, just make an excellent read. I can't wait to read another book from her!
June 15, 2016
If I owned the copy I read, I'd light it on fire.
July 12, 2019
I love books about dragons and doesn't Dragon shifter's but this one is a complete disappointment it is not all what it's played up to be a Dragon shifter romance. Maybe it's just not her something I don't know but the main character the heroin the female is completely annoying and frankly I think she is one in every you are a bad name in her asinine stupidity. Maybe this book will tell some people I don't know but if you're looking for a female lead role with brains and backbone. This is one not what you're looking for. She tries to be but it is comes off as being incredibly juvenile and if you ask me. Her stupidity knows no bounds out. I just cannot stomach any more of this book
June 23, 2020
An extra star for Zina, the best part of the book. Unfortunately she's the "bad guy" which you can tell because she's covered in tattoos/piercings, has a Jamaican accent, likes to pick on self righteous alpha males and is dominating instead of a subservient quiet "nice" girl like the MC. And that's not even going into the other stereotypes in the book. Also how do you expect me to like a guy who instantly judges a woman based on her piercings/tattoo, motorcycle and accent?
What a shame. If Zina was the MC instead of Bliss i'd probably would've finished it.
What a shame. If Zina was the MC instead of Bliss i'd probably would've finished it.
January 2, 2021
Bliss Russo is on a reality show about greeting cards she has a fire and meets firefighter Drake. he's a hunk with amazing eyes. He puts himself in danger for her computer with the cards she thinks he is on fire he's fireproof. He is in trouble with the chief. She is homeless. her friend gets her a job and a place to stay. a paranormal bar. Drake hangs out in romance follows a great story. no more spoiler enjoy.
January 12, 2023
1. Weirdly racist, from BOTH pov characters’ perspectives.
2. Has a line in the first chapter about how men wouldn’t mind being forced into sexual slavery.
3. Juvenile writing with flat characters and a greater mythology that was a mess.
3a. Has the Greek pantheon present (with an incorrect hierarchy) but also a throwaway line about Noah’s ark?
I think I may legitimately light my copy on fire. Tough to finish.
2. Has a line in the first chapter about how men wouldn’t mind being forced into sexual slavery.
3. Juvenile writing with flat characters and a greater mythology that was a mess.
3a. Has the Greek pantheon present (with an incorrect hierarchy) but also a throwaway line about Noah’s ark?
I think I may legitimately light my copy on fire. Tough to finish.
July 9, 2017
How to Date a Dragon by Ashlyn Chase
Light-hearted paranormal romance where the heroine is introduced to the world of dragons, vampires, goddesses and others. A bit of suspense and family dynamics are also key to this well-written and entertaining romance.
Second in a series, but stands easily on its own.
It was adorable and I will read more by this author.
Light-hearted paranormal romance where the heroine is introduced to the world of dragons, vampires, goddesses and others. A bit of suspense and family dynamics are also key to this well-written and entertaining romance.
Second in a series, but stands easily on its own.
It was adorable and I will read more by this author.
March 18, 2019
I did not finish this book, the writing just felt immature. Like something I'd expect from a teenage writer on fanfiction.net. Not bad grammatically bad, but everything was presented from the point of someone who just hasn't lived much yet or hadn't thought through how things really work.
I may give this author another chance.
I may give this author another chance.
July 19, 2019
I was excited about this book because of the whole dragon-shifter thing, but it just fell flat. It tried to be really funny, especially with Bliss’s snarky cards, but the humor didn’t work for me. I also didn’t like the Mother Earth character. She just seemed unnecessary.
I did like Drake though! He was nice and genuine. He wasn’t over-bearing AND he was honest with her. Solid love interest.
I did like Drake though! He was nice and genuine. He wasn’t over-bearing AND he was honest with her. Solid love interest.
June 29, 2020
DNF'd cuz the book is hella racist. Made me wonder if the author had ever met a Jamaican person before, let alone considered how harmful it would be Jamaican/Black/POC readers to constantly describe a culturally significant hairstyle like dreadlocks as Dirty. WTF. Trash. As in, this is the only book I have ever literally thrown in the trash instead of donating.
July 9, 2017
Loved it
I have really enjoyed reading this series so far and can't wait to read the next book. I started reading Ashlyn due to a signing I'm going to and I'm loving her books. They're funny and I love all the characters.
I have really enjoyed reading this series so far and can't wait to read the next book. I started reading Ashlyn due to a signing I'm going to and I'm loving her books. They're funny and I love all the characters.
January 3, 2018
I’m really tired of all the horribly written books in the fantasy romance genre. This was yet another poorly written, and poorly plotted book. The story was rushed, the dialogue was atrocious, and the whole “Mother Nature” element was a train wreck.
September 28, 2018
I really wanted to love it... for me there was just something missing between the 2 main characters that didn’t work for me. I love the idea and world created! I enjoyed Bliss’ “snarky” character. But for me the connection between the two felt forced.
February 1, 2019
I enjoyed this book but I felt like it kind of plateaued towards the end. Like their relationship didn't have any more room to grow. Plus one second Bliss is like I don't want to have kids but then when mother nature gifts her with the ability to have children she is like I've wanted them all along. Kind of confusing for a reader.
July 24, 2019
More fun. The snark is flying high and it doesn't hurt a bit. Now I know how Drake and Bliss got together and multiple other things I've read about in later books (since I almost never seem to read series in order). I enjoyed this a lot. Well done.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 143 reviews