What do you think?
Rate this book
Dragon Lovers #1
Betrothed to the Dragon
I’m engaged to a stranger, a man -- dragon. If I don’t marry him, I’m as good as dead.
I’ve been hiding all my life.
Unlike the rest of my once powerful family, I have no magic.
The immortal monster that ate them all, still hunts me.
And my grandmother thinks that the only way to save me from the monster is to marry me to another monster: a dragon.
Only this monster is perfection in human form: all rippling golden muscle and more gorgeous than anyone who shifts into a scaled monstrous beast has a right to be. His magic calls me, his heat enthralls me and my mind melts at the touch of his inhumanely hot hands on my skin.
There is no way I can marry him.
I know what he truly wants: access to my family’s power.
But I have no magic, no power of my own.
He thinks he knows what he’s getting with me.
I don’t play those games.
It’s better to run from a monster, than to marry one.
I’m no dragon’s treasure.
Even if my heart wishes otherwise.
I’ve been hiding all my life.
Unlike the rest of my once powerful family, I have no magic.
The immortal monster that ate them all, still hunts me.
And my grandmother thinks that the only way to save me from the monster is to marry me to another monster: a dragon.
Only this monster is perfection in human form: all rippling golden muscle and more gorgeous than anyone who shifts into a scaled monstrous beast has a right to be. His magic calls me, his heat enthralls me and my mind melts at the touch of his inhumanely hot hands on my skin.
There is no way I can marry him.
I know what he truly wants: access to my family’s power.
But I have no magic, no power of my own.
He thinks he knows what he’s getting with me.
I don’t play those games.
It’s better to run from a monster, than to marry one.
I’m no dragon’s treasure.
Even if my heart wishes otherwise.
220 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 12, 2018
2083 people are currently reading
959 people want to read
About the author
Kara Lockharte
23 books237 followersKara Lockharte is the author of the Space Shifters Chronicles. She loves writing romances with sexy alpha shifters and the strong heroines who can't resist them.
She lives on Planet Earth.
She lives on Planet Earth.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 230 reviews
Want to read
September 10, 2020🎁 FREE on Amazon today (9/10/2020)! 🎁
June 6, 2018
2.5 Stars
I really really wanted to like this story, but it missed the mark in so many areas.
This is a story about a young woman raised to know that she is Shen ( a tricky fox) and she learns she is betrothed to a dragon in order to protect her from The Devourer.
The premise of the story is good, however, there are so many moments of climax that are written as blase moments that you almost don't realize how critical these moments are. Over and over again the emphasis is put on some other minutely unimportant fact while the important parts are glazed over in one sentence.
Plus the writing was redundant and boring. I could use another round of edits as well.
I really really wanted to like this story, but it missed the mark in so many areas.
This is a story about a young woman raised to know that she is Shen ( a tricky fox) and she learns she is betrothed to a dragon in order to protect her from The Devourer.
The premise of the story is good, however, there are so many moments of climax that are written as blase moments that you almost don't realize how critical these moments are. Over and over again the emphasis is put on some other minutely unimportant fact while the important parts are glazed over in one sentence.
Plus the writing was redundant and boring. I could use another round of edits as well.
June 10, 2018
I just went on a wonderful and fascinating vacation in the new paranormal Lick of Fire world where Kara Lockharte has written the first book in her new Dragon Lovers series – Betrothed to the Dragon. I was completely caught up in hot and steamy new world full of strong, intriguing new characters that easily drew me in and insisted I stay and visit for a while. The romance is sweet with lots of sizzling passion and the fast paced story kept me on the edge of my seat with lots of thrills and adrenaline pumping action.
I have to say this is the first time I have visited one of Kara Lockharte’s worlds and I have to wonder Why? I mean it is full of unique elements and characters and she describes her scenes vividly and her characters are strong and well developed. So, I will be adding her books to my TBR pile and reading them as I await the next book in this series.
I have to say this is the first time I have visited one of Kara Lockharte’s worlds and I have to wonder Why? I mean it is full of unique elements and characters and she describes her scenes vividly and her characters are strong and well developed. So, I will be adding her books to my TBR pile and reading them as I await the next book in this series.
May 12, 2019
I feel like I missed half of the story, it was both too short and too long. The main character Sophie kept rambling on about her grandmother who never makes an appearance until right at the end when Sophie kills her. Yep, seems reasonable, but I didn't feel anything. Poor Sophie, who is so hated and looked down on by other shen. . . who is so weak and feeble. . . who is trained in self defence but any skills she has developed are useless against the evil villain that wants her dead. . .
At least she wasn't clumsy.
The super evil monster creature turned out to be some weird alien computer/robot/organic creature thing whose only purpose is to dissect magical lifeforms and accumulate knowledge. Uh, sure why not I guess. It's probably the easiest way to construct a villain, but it came across as lazy story telling. The evil guy that must be defeated by the good guys and the hero who is the only one ignorant of her incredible powers until the last minute when she saves the world while triumphant music plays in the background.
Nothing surprising happens from the beginning until the end. True love triumphs, or fated love, or whatever you want to call it. A quick easy read that was like popcorn for my brain, but stale and flavourless.
At least she wasn't clumsy.
The super evil monster creature turned out to be some weird alien computer/robot/organic creature thing whose only purpose is to dissect magical lifeforms and accumulate knowledge. Uh, sure why not I guess. It's probably the easiest way to construct a villain, but it came across as lazy story telling. The evil guy that must be defeated by the good guys and the hero who is the only one ignorant of her incredible powers until the last minute when she saves the world while triumphant music plays in the background.
Nothing surprising happens from the beginning until the end. True love triumphs, or fated love, or whatever you want to call it. A quick easy read that was like popcorn for my brain, but stale and flavourless.
July 26, 2021
Fede L. - per RFS
.
Salve, Fenici!
Finalmente, dopo gli ultimi quattro romanzi poco piacevoli, inizio a scorgere una piccolissima e minuscolissima luce in fondo al tunnel! Beh, non illudetevi troppo, però, in fondo ho detto piccolissima…
Ho da poco concluso, infatti, la lettura di Promessa al drago, primo volume della serie Amori draconici della Lockharte. Il romanzo, se così si può definire data la sua brevità, ci introduce in un mondo a noi lettori accaniti ben noto, seppur con qualche pizzico di novità. Si parla, appunto, di draghi, fate, kitsune, e chi più ne ha più ne metta; ma l’innovazione sta nella classificazione che l’autrice dà di questi esseri. Nel mondo da lei creato, vi sono solo tre “specie”: umani, shen e draghi. Tra i primi vi sono anche le streghe, dotate appunto di poteri sovrannaturali di bassa entità; ai secondi, invece, appartengono tutte le creature magiche note, come vampiri, geni, mutaforma, ecc. Mentre gli ultimi… beh, pare siano una “razza” a parte, veri e propri alieni, insomma.
La vicenda s’incentra su Sophie, una shen apparentemente difettosa, priva di magia, ma perseguitata dalla grande Distruttrice (Apollymi, sei tu??? Sfortunatamente pare proprio di no… [semicit. Dark Hunter]), che ha precedentemente sterminato la sua intera famiglia, lasciando come uniche superstiti la nostra protagonista e la nonna. Quest’ultima, per assicurare una valida protezione alla nipote anche dopo la sua morte, ha deciso di prometterla in sposa a un drago, nemici apparenti degli shen. L’incontro tra Sophie e il suo promesso sposo, però, avviene in modo parzialmente casuale. Hunter, infatti, si presenta a un convegno artistico che la donna tiene, senza però rivelarle nome o reale identità. Va via, ma poco dopo s’incontrano/scontrano durante una corsetta al parco. Il cellulare di lei si distrugge e lui si offre d’aiutarla. Ma proprio sul più bello, si svelano a vicenda, rovinando un momento di passione ardente… letteralmente!
Non starò qui a scendere nei dettagli, ma una cosa voglio dirla: pare che il bell’imbusto sia capace di sollevare la sua bella con una sola mano… con due dita ben piantate dentro di lei. Che??? Ma non è doloroso? La forza di gravità e il peso della ragazza hanno magicamente smesso di esistere? Sono ancora perplessa al riguardo…
Cooomunque, dopo esser andata via da casa di lui, Sophie torna al suo appartamento, ma trova una sottospecie di proiezione astrale della nonna che l’avverte di essere stata rapita dalla Distruttrice. Spaventata a morte, la giovane torna di corsa a casa del bel dragone, non trovandolo. Così, braccata dal nemico, decide di raggiungere il capanno/casa della nonna, poiché pieno di protezioni magiche. Quando, però, si ritrova segregata in casa e circondata da strani squali-lupo, ecco che interviene il suo bello a salvarla. Stipulano così un accordo: avrebbero stretto un sigillo draconico (e ho ben capito, una sorta di legame anche temporaneo), così che l’uno avrebbe avuto accesso alla magia dell’altra e viceversa. E come si potrebbe mai concludere un patto simile? Ma con una sanissima trombata, naturalmente!
Insomma, dopo una gran bella sveltina, i poteri della shen finalmente si sbloccano, ma le protezioni al capanno iniziano improvvisamente a cedere: la nonna è morta, non esiste altro motivo per cui ciò possa avvenire. Sophie, quindi, inizia a piangere a dirotto e il suo neo-trombamico la stringe tra le braccia e… ah, no scusate, libro sbagliato… lui se ne sbatte le… scatole. Continua, letteralmente, a parlare del più e del meno. Diciamo che è stata una reazione alquanto inaspettata, dato che poco prima quasi si giuravano amore eterno… mah.
Ma andiamo avanti. I due vengono tratti in salvo dalla combriccola di Hunter, due superpotenti draghi e un’abilissima hacker del tutto umana… che tempo dieci righe finiscono rapiti dal nemico.
Vabbè, non ve la porto per le lunghe. I due trombano ancora, l’aereo su cui si trovano crolla sull’isola della Distruttrice, organizzano l’assalto al suo covo e… zac, battaglia finale di nemmeno mezzo capitolo. Il tutto, ovviamente, avvenuto in meno di tre giorni, giorni in cui lui ha fatto almeno due docce al giorno e lei nemmeno una… ma siamo seri? Mi descrivi nel dettaglio il processo d’insaponamento del belloccio, mentre di lei neanche un accenno a un’eventuale lavatina leggera? Non per dettagli piccanti, sia ben chiaro, ma inizio ad avere seri dubbi sulla sua igiene personale.
Ironia a parte, il libro ha davvero un ottimo potenziale: bella storia, personaggi che incuriosiscono, descrizioni dei luoghi brevi e coincise, prive di troppi fronzoli inutili. È stato davvero un peccato che il tutto sia stato sviluppato in meno di 116 pagine. Ciò ha penalizzato non poco i vari sviluppi: le emozioni risultano superficiali e ovattate, le reazioni agli eventi quasi non pertinenti, mentre i fatti hanno un che di “frettello” e caotico. Poco chiari, infatti, sono stati alcuni passaggi, mal spiegati i poteri di entrambi i protagonisti e poca importanza e spessore sono stati dati all’innamoramento dei due giovani. Altra cosa non ben identificata è il tempo, o meglio le età dei personaggi: si parla di esseri antichi, ma in alcuni punti pare siano appena trentenni.
Oh, piccola chicca: nel romanzo è presente una pseudo-citazione a Gandalf… alquanto mal riuscita, però, se vista nel contesto!
Non. Puoi. Restare!
(Tratto dal Libro)
Insomma, non ci siamo.
L’editing risulta, poi, un po’ deludente, dato che è stato affidato a una casa editrice: l’italiano è tutto sommato corretto, ma molto elementare, pieno di ripetizioni e termini apparentemente poco appropriati alla situazione (forse errori di traduzione?), con qualche refusino sparso qua e là.
Il tutto è narrato in prima persona dal pov di Sophie, anche se, improvvisamente, ci sono un paio di frasi brevissime (appena soggetto e verbo con un solo complemento) in terza persona neutra.
Concludo la recensione dando un bel 3 d’incoraggiamento all’autrice, nella speranza che i successivi due romanzi, che sinceramente non vedo l’ora d’iniziare, siano più lunghi e, soprattutto, approfonditi.
Alla prossima, Fenici!
.
Salve, Fenici!
Finalmente, dopo gli ultimi quattro romanzi poco piacevoli, inizio a scorgere una piccolissima e minuscolissima luce in fondo al tunnel! Beh, non illudetevi troppo, però, in fondo ho detto piccolissima…
Ho da poco concluso, infatti, la lettura di Promessa al drago, primo volume della serie Amori draconici della Lockharte. Il romanzo, se così si può definire data la sua brevità, ci introduce in un mondo a noi lettori accaniti ben noto, seppur con qualche pizzico di novità. Si parla, appunto, di draghi, fate, kitsune, e chi più ne ha più ne metta; ma l’innovazione sta nella classificazione che l’autrice dà di questi esseri. Nel mondo da lei creato, vi sono solo tre “specie”: umani, shen e draghi. Tra i primi vi sono anche le streghe, dotate appunto di poteri sovrannaturali di bassa entità; ai secondi, invece, appartengono tutte le creature magiche note, come vampiri, geni, mutaforma, ecc. Mentre gli ultimi… beh, pare siano una “razza” a parte, veri e propri alieni, insomma.
La vicenda s’incentra su Sophie, una shen apparentemente difettosa, priva di magia, ma perseguitata dalla grande Distruttrice (Apollymi, sei tu??? Sfortunatamente pare proprio di no… [semicit. Dark Hunter]), che ha precedentemente sterminato la sua intera famiglia, lasciando come uniche superstiti la nostra protagonista e la nonna. Quest’ultima, per assicurare una valida protezione alla nipote anche dopo la sua morte, ha deciso di prometterla in sposa a un drago, nemici apparenti degli shen. L’incontro tra Sophie e il suo promesso sposo, però, avviene in modo parzialmente casuale. Hunter, infatti, si presenta a un convegno artistico che la donna tiene, senza però rivelarle nome o reale identità. Va via, ma poco dopo s’incontrano/scontrano durante una corsetta al parco. Il cellulare di lei si distrugge e lui si offre d’aiutarla. Ma proprio sul più bello, si svelano a vicenda, rovinando un momento di passione ardente… letteralmente!
Non starò qui a scendere nei dettagli, ma una cosa voglio dirla: pare che il bell’imbusto sia capace di sollevare la sua bella con una sola mano… con due dita ben piantate dentro di lei. Che??? Ma non è doloroso? La forza di gravità e il peso della ragazza hanno magicamente smesso di esistere? Sono ancora perplessa al riguardo…
Cooomunque, dopo esser andata via da casa di lui, Sophie torna al suo appartamento, ma trova una sottospecie di proiezione astrale della nonna che l’avverte di essere stata rapita dalla Distruttrice. Spaventata a morte, la giovane torna di corsa a casa del bel dragone, non trovandolo. Così, braccata dal nemico, decide di raggiungere il capanno/casa della nonna, poiché pieno di protezioni magiche. Quando, però, si ritrova segregata in casa e circondata da strani squali-lupo, ecco che interviene il suo bello a salvarla. Stipulano così un accordo: avrebbero stretto un sigillo draconico (e ho ben capito, una sorta di legame anche temporaneo), così che l’uno avrebbe avuto accesso alla magia dell’altra e viceversa. E come si potrebbe mai concludere un patto simile? Ma con una sanissima trombata, naturalmente!
Insomma, dopo una gran bella sveltina, i poteri della shen finalmente si sbloccano, ma le protezioni al capanno iniziano improvvisamente a cedere: la nonna è morta, non esiste altro motivo per cui ciò possa avvenire. Sophie, quindi, inizia a piangere a dirotto e il suo neo-trombamico la stringe tra le braccia e… ah, no scusate, libro sbagliato… lui se ne sbatte le… scatole. Continua, letteralmente, a parlare del più e del meno. Diciamo che è stata una reazione alquanto inaspettata, dato che poco prima quasi si giuravano amore eterno… mah.
Ma andiamo avanti. I due vengono tratti in salvo dalla combriccola di Hunter, due superpotenti draghi e un’abilissima hacker del tutto umana… che tempo dieci righe finiscono rapiti dal nemico.
Vabbè, non ve la porto per le lunghe. I due trombano ancora, l’aereo su cui si trovano crolla sull’isola della Distruttrice, organizzano l’assalto al suo covo e… zac, battaglia finale di nemmeno mezzo capitolo. Il tutto, ovviamente, avvenuto in meno di tre giorni, giorni in cui lui ha fatto almeno due docce al giorno e lei nemmeno una… ma siamo seri? Mi descrivi nel dettaglio il processo d’insaponamento del belloccio, mentre di lei neanche un accenno a un’eventuale lavatina leggera? Non per dettagli piccanti, sia ben chiaro, ma inizio ad avere seri dubbi sulla sua igiene personale.
Ironia a parte, il libro ha davvero un ottimo potenziale: bella storia, personaggi che incuriosiscono, descrizioni dei luoghi brevi e coincise, prive di troppi fronzoli inutili. È stato davvero un peccato che il tutto sia stato sviluppato in meno di 116 pagine. Ciò ha penalizzato non poco i vari sviluppi: le emozioni risultano superficiali e ovattate, le reazioni agli eventi quasi non pertinenti, mentre i fatti hanno un che di “frettello” e caotico. Poco chiari, infatti, sono stati alcuni passaggi, mal spiegati i poteri di entrambi i protagonisti e poca importanza e spessore sono stati dati all’innamoramento dei due giovani. Altra cosa non ben identificata è il tempo, o meglio le età dei personaggi: si parla di esseri antichi, ma in alcuni punti pare siano appena trentenni.
Oh, piccola chicca: nel romanzo è presente una pseudo-citazione a Gandalf… alquanto mal riuscita, però, se vista nel contesto!
Non. Puoi. Restare!
(Tratto dal Libro)
Insomma, non ci siamo.
L’editing risulta, poi, un po’ deludente, dato che è stato affidato a una casa editrice: l’italiano è tutto sommato corretto, ma molto elementare, pieno di ripetizioni e termini apparentemente poco appropriati alla situazione (forse errori di traduzione?), con qualche refusino sparso qua e là.
Il tutto è narrato in prima persona dal pov di Sophie, anche se, improvvisamente, ci sono un paio di frasi brevissime (appena soggetto e verbo con un solo complemento) in terza persona neutra.
Concludo la recensione dando un bel 3 d’incoraggiamento all’autrice, nella speranza che i successivi due romanzi, che sinceramente non vedo l’ora d’iniziare, siano più lunghi e, soprattutto, approfonditi.
Alla prossima, Fenici!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 13, 2018
*I received a free copy of this book which I voluntarily chose to write an honest review for.
Meet Sophie a Shen with no real powers who finds out that her grandmother made a deal to safely get them to America that involved betrothing her to a dragon. She would love to fight this but apparently he is the only one that can keep her safe when The Devourer comes hunting for her. There is some great world building going one here and it was awesome to see Sophie really starting to come into her own even with a dragon by her side. I am really enjoying all of these Lick of Fire books with this one not being an exception. If you like steamy paranormal romance books then you should really try this one. I really enjoyed it so I give it 4/5 stars.
Meet Sophie a Shen with no real powers who finds out that her grandmother made a deal to safely get them to America that involved betrothing her to a dragon. She would love to fight this but apparently he is the only one that can keep her safe when The Devourer comes hunting for her. There is some great world building going one here and it was awesome to see Sophie really starting to come into her own even with a dragon by her side. I am really enjoying all of these Lick of Fire books with this one not being an exception. If you like steamy paranormal romance books then you should really try this one. I really enjoyed it so I give it 4/5 stars.
May 24, 2019
This fast paced novella is the first of Kara Lockharte’s new series. Betrothed to the Dragon was filled with my favorite things; romance, magic, suspense, action, and most importantly Dragons! I look forward to the next installment of this series.
October 27, 2020
The romance itself was not that compelling and very rushed, but that’s not what I’m here to talk about. My main critique of this book is that the plot and work building made no sense
So from what I understand:
1. Earth had pre-human inhabitants called Shen who were all the supernatural beings of mythology. But the timeline is very unclear. The text refers to them as “the original inhabitants of Earth”. Does that mean they are pre-amoeba? Pre-plant life? Or just pre-human? Very unclear, I would appreciate some kind of diagram or a timeline.
2. I was also endlessly puzzled by where her parents came from and her exact relationship to all these Shen, but that’s something I can live with not knowing.
3. At one point, we bring up that earth has “magical nodes”. What does that mean?? Where are they?? What do they do??
4. Ok so here is where things get weirder. Aliens come from another planet fleeing something called the Devourer. Those aliens are ... dragons. What I don’t understand is when this happened. Was this recently? Prehistoric? Very unclear.
5. The whole sword thing was never explained; I still don’t know what it does.
6. OH MY GOD HOW COULD I FORGET THE SHARK WOLVES WHAT WAS UP WITH THAT
7. Also are Sophie and hunter immortal? Their relatives are but the two of them never mention it. Are they secretly like 5000 years old?
Honestly, I’m not sure I could even give an honest, unbiased critique of the plot because at no point did I know what was happening. At one point they were on a plane, there were some dream sequences, and then at the end the sequels were clunkily introduced. If you want to read some fantasy erotica and aren’t worried about a coherent plot — go crazy. If you want to know what’s going on — steer clear.
UPDATE: I’ve had some time to think about it and how did I not mention the whole thing where they have to “seal” dragon and Shen magic with sex??? How does that make sense. Furthermore, if I were introducing fire sex as an element to my plot I would have done a lot more with it than just one scene.
So from what I understand:
1. Earth had pre-human inhabitants called Shen who were all the supernatural beings of mythology. But the timeline is very unclear. The text refers to them as “the original inhabitants of Earth”. Does that mean they are pre-amoeba? Pre-plant life? Or just pre-human? Very unclear, I would appreciate some kind of diagram or a timeline.
2. I was also endlessly puzzled by where her parents came from and her exact relationship to all these Shen, but that’s something I can live with not knowing.
3. At one point, we bring up that earth has “magical nodes”. What does that mean?? Where are they?? What do they do??
4. Ok so here is where things get weirder. Aliens come from another planet fleeing something called the Devourer. Those aliens are ... dragons. What I don’t understand is when this happened. Was this recently? Prehistoric? Very unclear.
5. The whole sword thing was never explained; I still don’t know what it does.
6. OH MY GOD HOW COULD I FORGET THE SHARK WOLVES WHAT WAS UP WITH THAT
7. Also are Sophie and hunter immortal? Their relatives are but the two of them never mention it. Are they secretly like 5000 years old?
Honestly, I’m not sure I could even give an honest, unbiased critique of the plot because at no point did I know what was happening. At one point they were on a plane, there were some dream sequences, and then at the end the sequels were clunkily introduced. If you want to read some fantasy erotica and aren’t worried about a coherent plot — go crazy. If you want to know what’s going on — steer clear.
UPDATE: I’ve had some time to think about it and how did I not mention the whole thing where they have to “seal” dragon and Shen magic with sex??? How does that make sense. Furthermore, if I were introducing fire sex as an element to my plot I would have done a lot more with it than just one scene.
June 14, 2018
I love these books the Lick of Fire series and so far I have all of them but when I saw this book on Booksprout I had to have it plus Kara Lockharte is a fantastic author so I knew that this was going to be a great book. This has an original storyline and these days that’s hard to say with most paranormal dragon stories but I loved every bit of this story. This is Sophie’s and Hunter’s story, Sophie’s grandmother had just told her that she has been betrothed to someone since she was young and let’s just say that she wasn’t happy about it at all. When Sophie meets Hunter she falls for him hard and Hunter realises that she doesn’t know that it’s him she is betrothed to. A fantastic story a 5 plus ++++ ⭐️ read and I highly recommend this book it’s definitely well worth the read.
June 14, 2018
Bewitching start to new magical paranormal series! Grabbed my interest from the start with shifters, shen, monsters, dragons, creatures galore! Sophie is a shen with no magic whose Grandma has protected her from the evil that killed her parents. Now she learns she has another protector. Likeable, original characters and a good storyline equals a magical tale!
Voluntarily read ARC for honest review.
Voluntarily read ARC for honest review.
August 5, 2018
Full of love, the kind you die for, such is the foundation of this story. There is a great evil, lots of danger and yet there is a shimmer of hope that runs through the storyline. You are caught up in the tale from the first page until you reach the ending. You laugh, you cry and you go on wanting to see it through.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 15, 2018
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Betrothed to the Dragon (Lick of Fire) by Kara Lockharte is a Sci-fi, Paranormal, Action & Adventure Romance. A fast-paced, easy to fallow adventure with a good storyline and great characters. No cliffhanger and an HEA
Betrothed to the Dragon (Lick of Fire) by Kara Lockharte is a Sci-fi, Paranormal, Action & Adventure Romance. A fast-paced, easy to fallow adventure with a good storyline and great characters. No cliffhanger and an HEA
June 15, 2018
Wow kara lockharte this book was amazingly written once I started I couldn’t put it down till I was finished. If you love dragon shifter books then this book is for you. To find out what happens go buy the book you won’t be disappointed I wasn’t.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 10, 2020
The book was an odd mixture of 'pretty good' and 'okay'. I'm not sure which way I lean more towards. It was enjoyable but not memorable. For someone who is supposed to be a bad-ass in martial arts, she gets captured pretty quickly by the bad guys minions. You meet new characters, but you only talk to them for maybe 5% of the whole story. I know they will have spin-off books but I'm not sure I am looking forward to reading them. It's both developed and undeveloped. I don't really know how to explain it.
September 23, 2020
Quick(ish) Review
The Good: interesting worldbuilding
The Bad: the romance was ok, strong to start but peters out. The flow of the story felt a bit off and the action sequences were just ok.
The Bottom Line: I don’t know how I feel about this series but that final twist, which doesn’t impact the HEA here, has me intrigued enough to read the next book
The Good: interesting worldbuilding
The Bad: the romance was ok, strong to start but peters out. The flow of the story felt a bit off and the action sequences were just ok.
The Bottom Line: I don’t know how I feel about this series but that final twist, which doesn’t impact the HEA here, has me intrigued enough to read the next book
June 12, 2018
I am loving this series !!!
This is the first book in this new series and it has action, secrets, magic, dragons and an evil that needs to be destroyed.
Sophie is a shen, it she has no power and her grandmother just told her she was put in an arranged marriage when she was one.
Hunter, he is a dragon and he needs shen magic to defeat the devourer.
These two along with Hunters friends will battle risking their lives t make the world safer for their kind.
This is the first book in this new series and it has action, secrets, magic, dragons and an evil that needs to be destroyed.
Sophie is a shen, it she has no power and her grandmother just told her she was put in an arranged marriage when she was one.
Hunter, he is a dragon and he needs shen magic to defeat the devourer.
These two along with Hunters friends will battle risking their lives t make the world safer for their kind.
June 14, 2018
they are shen but all they wanted was to be human, they try to hide but when their grandmother tell them they are to marry a dragon. they are shocked and unsure where to go next. see where this all will lead
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 16, 2018
Unique and interesting to read
What a very well written and entertaining story to read. You have shifters and magic users an arranged marriage along with a love story. You have the ultimate bad guy from another world as well.
I enjoyed reading this story very much.
What a very well written and entertaining story to read. You have shifters and magic users an arranged marriage along with a love story. You have the ultimate bad guy from another world as well.
I enjoyed reading this story very much.
April 20, 2019
3 1/2 STARS
July 25, 2018
Wow!
Holy moly! This was a breath of fresh air that was much needed after the “meh” type romances I had been reading. 5 Stars for sure! Can’t wait for the next book in the series!
Holy moly! This was a breath of fresh air that was much needed after the “meh” type romances I had been reading. 5 Stars for sure! Can’t wait for the next book in the series!
July 28, 2018
Okay book
This book seemed to move very fast. The build of the relationship had pros and cons with the fast nature of the story building. I will continue the series though.
This book seemed to move very fast. The build of the relationship had pros and cons with the fast nature of the story building. I will continue the series though.
February 5, 2020
This was such a fantastic book! Not only is there awesome dragons but magic and a super sexy hero and smoking hot sex scenes. Loving it! Instantly jumping into book 2
February 17, 2019
https://celebrityreaders.com/2019/02/...
It was alright. This was an light, easy read. The characters were a bit superficial and one dimensional but the story helped to even it out. That said, the story wasn’t that great either. It seemed as if there were some bad guys that were after Sophia but the reason they are after her is a bit vague. Just a kind of all encompassing evil. And I that’s not really my thing, I like to know more about the background, it helps to build my connection to the characters and the story. I also didn’t like that the dragons existence was the reason the evil was there in the first place.
I don’t know, it was kinda all over the place with the saving the world stuff. And I found the romance to be a bit….extra? Like, it wasn’t necessarily needed to move forward in the story. They made it sound that way with the dragons ability to protect her, but even then he wasn’t really able to, so that fell short. And the romance just didn’t seem to be appropriate in the aspect of ‘the worlds gonna end but hang on, let me get my rocks off real quick’. if that makes sense.
At any rate, I will not be reading more in this series. But it did help to pass the time in between heavy reads.
It was alright. This was an light, easy read. The characters were a bit superficial and one dimensional but the story helped to even it out. That said, the story wasn’t that great either. It seemed as if there were some bad guys that were after Sophia but the reason they are after her is a bit vague. Just a kind of all encompassing evil. And I that’s not really my thing, I like to know more about the background, it helps to build my connection to the characters and the story. I also didn’t like that the dragons existence was the reason the evil was there in the first place.
I don’t know, it was kinda all over the place with the saving the world stuff. And I found the romance to be a bit….extra? Like, it wasn’t necessarily needed to move forward in the story. They made it sound that way with the dragons ability to protect her, but even then he wasn’t really able to, so that fell short. And the romance just didn’t seem to be appropriate in the aspect of ‘the worlds gonna end but hang on, let me get my rocks off real quick’. if that makes sense.
At any rate, I will not be reading more in this series. But it did help to pass the time in between heavy reads.
October 23, 2019
*Possible Spoilers*
2.5/3.0 stars
The pros:
-The idea of the story. If done right it could have been a great book.
-The intro of the story was done fairly well. I really liked the grandmother (killing her off was a mistake.)
-I liked the main love interest. I thought he was interesting, sweet, and at times the right amount of Alpha male.
The Cons:
-I'm not a huge fan of, "I've never had magical powers, but oh look suddenly I am because my powers were bound for my own protection! And now I'm suddenly the most powerful creature!." Trope. It's outdated and been used a lot. It doesn't make a character interesting. Often times it doesn't even make sense (as in this case). The story would have been no different had they allowed her powers from the start.
-I'm not a fan of rushed love. Okay as an author if you want to do isnta-love, where they are fated mates and can't get enough of each other upon sight thats fine. Or you want a slow burning romance, also great! but to have the main heroine go from, "I'm not interested in you in the least!" to basically falling over the man in a matter of a chapter or two makes it fell forced.
2.5/3.0 stars
The pros:
-The idea of the story. If done right it could have been a great book.
-The intro of the story was done fairly well. I really liked the grandmother (killing her off was a mistake.)
-I liked the main love interest. I thought he was interesting, sweet, and at times the right amount of Alpha male.
The Cons:
-I'm not a huge fan of, "I've never had magical powers, but oh look suddenly I am because my powers were bound for my own protection! And now I'm suddenly the most powerful creature!." Trope. It's outdated and been used a lot. It doesn't make a character interesting. Often times it doesn't even make sense (as in this case). The story would have been no different had they allowed her powers from the start.
-I'm not a fan of rushed love. Okay as an author if you want to do isnta-love, where they are fated mates and can't get enough of each other upon sight thats fine. Or you want a slow burning romance, also great! but to have the main heroine go from, "I'm not interested in you in the least!" to basically falling over the man in a matter of a chapter or two makes it fell forced.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 21, 2024
2 1/2 stars.
December 24, 2019
Duration: 3 hrs 46 mins.
Publisher: Smartia Publishing.
🔥Steamy scenes!🔥
I haven't read much paranormal romance (PNR) in years, and even then - with a bookshelf full of Laurell K. Hamilton - very little of it contained dragons. But I love Genevieve Cogman's Invisible Library series, and though that is more steampunky fantasy than PNR, that certainly helped endear me to the notion of dragon-shifters.
I still found that I was unprepared for quite how much suspension of disbelief this audiobook required, though. Once I settled into it and stopped expecting things to make sense (or to obey the laws of physics), I came to quite like the characters and was invested in their race to defeat The Devourer and save the day.
Sophie is as ordinary as Hunter is extraordinary, and though she cannot match his power or confidence, she's no pushover. Hunter was more reserved, and we learnt less about his background, but that implacable, predatory countenance suited his character. Though they had very little time to become acquainted, their magical bond strengthened throughout their quest. I would have been interested to see where it took them next, had the epilogue not wrapped up most of their story arc while passing the baton to the next couple.
Much of the story felt like YA fiction, especially the epilogue, but the raunchy bits are more adult than that, so I struggled to place it at times. New Adult, perhaps? The hero and heroine certainly ended up naked a lot. Not just in the intimate scenes, but - rather inexplicably - even in the midst of battle when the world was consumed by so much fire that it burnt their clothes off. (There are fourteen year old D&D dungeon masters making notes as we speak.)
The narrator, Victoria Mei, gave Sophie a voice that suited the character well, and remained enthusiastic and lively in her performance.
Though somewhat lightweight, this audiobook was well paced and a quick listen, full of lust, magic, and ancient battles between good and evil that held enough of my attention to be enjoyable.
I'd recommend Betrothed to the Dragon to lovers of paranormal romance who are looking for a fun taster to a new series, and those like myself who need an easy way back into the genre.
*I received this audiobook free of charge in the hope of an honest, unbiased review.
(Click here to buy this book, listen to a sample, or add it to your wishlist!)
You can read the full review on my blog.
If you liked this review then please join me for more!
| Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram |
Publisher: Smartia Publishing.
🔥Steamy scenes!🔥
I haven't read much paranormal romance (PNR) in years, and even then - with a bookshelf full of Laurell K. Hamilton - very little of it contained dragons. But I love Genevieve Cogman's Invisible Library series, and though that is more steampunky fantasy than PNR, that certainly helped endear me to the notion of dragon-shifters.
I still found that I was unprepared for quite how much suspension of disbelief this audiobook required, though. Once I settled into it and stopped expecting things to make sense (or to obey the laws of physics), I came to quite like the characters and was invested in their race to defeat The Devourer and save the day.
Sophie is as ordinary as Hunter is extraordinary, and though she cannot match his power or confidence, she's no pushover. Hunter was more reserved, and we learnt less about his background, but that implacable, predatory countenance suited his character. Though they had very little time to become acquainted, their magical bond strengthened throughout their quest. I would have been interested to see where it took them next, had the epilogue not wrapped up most of their story arc while passing the baton to the next couple.
Much of the story felt like YA fiction, especially the epilogue, but the raunchy bits are more adult than that, so I struggled to place it at times. New Adult, perhaps? The hero and heroine certainly ended up naked a lot. Not just in the intimate scenes, but - rather inexplicably - even in the midst of battle when the world was consumed by so much fire that it burnt their clothes off. (There are fourteen year old D&D dungeon masters making notes as we speak.)
The narrator, Victoria Mei, gave Sophie a voice that suited the character well, and remained enthusiastic and lively in her performance.
Though somewhat lightweight, this audiobook was well paced and a quick listen, full of lust, magic, and ancient battles between good and evil that held enough of my attention to be enjoyable.
I'd recommend Betrothed to the Dragon to lovers of paranormal romance who are looking for a fun taster to a new series, and those like myself who need an easy way back into the genre.
*I received this audiobook free of charge in the hope of an honest, unbiased review.
(Click here to buy this book, listen to a sample, or add it to your wishlist!)
You can read the full review on my blog.
If you liked this review then please join me for more!
| Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram |
June 11, 2018
first read by this author and first in a new series
Sophie is a Shen ( a species of magical being that can take many forms ) raised by her grandmother following the death of her parents. She is however hiding in plain sight working at a museum, pretending and passing for human, despite her truly powerful grandmother and parents she has no power.
Despite her lack of power she is wanted and tracked by the Devourer, an entity that has killed and destroyed many beings in its mission for knowledge.
But Sophie's time for hiding is coming to an end...on the day she finds out her Grandmother had bartered her off for protection and refuge into america. Sophie is adamant that she will not marry anyone for protection, especially when it turns out the hunky guy at the museum is actually her potential husband. It also turns out that her grandmother wasn't as honest regarding Sophies Powers or her future either.
I am not normally a fan of novellas, but this was such a great book...
It was action packed and really gripped me from the start. I loved the interaction between Sophie and Hunter.
My only bug bear would be that I would have adored a longer book, just to get better clarification on the Shen and Dragon species as a whole and for more moments between them ( Sophie and Hunter ) as a couple to allow for a more natural progression to their relationship.
I wanted to read more of her sassy stubborn nature and his dry sense of humour.
I will be reading the second in this series as the set up of future characters is too tempting not too. plus I'm looking forward to seeing how and where the series is going to progress to story wise.
Sophie is a Shen ( a species of magical being that can take many forms ) raised by her grandmother following the death of her parents. She is however hiding in plain sight working at a museum, pretending and passing for human, despite her truly powerful grandmother and parents she has no power.
Despite her lack of power she is wanted and tracked by the Devourer, an entity that has killed and destroyed many beings in its mission for knowledge.
But Sophie's time for hiding is coming to an end...on the day she finds out her Grandmother had bartered her off for protection and refuge into america. Sophie is adamant that she will not marry anyone for protection, especially when it turns out the hunky guy at the museum is actually her potential husband. It also turns out that her grandmother wasn't as honest regarding Sophies Powers or her future either.
I am not normally a fan of novellas, but this was such a great book...
It was action packed and really gripped me from the start. I loved the interaction between Sophie and Hunter.
My only bug bear would be that I would have adored a longer book, just to get better clarification on the Shen and Dragon species as a whole and for more moments between them ( Sophie and Hunter ) as a couple to allow for a more natural progression to their relationship.
I wanted to read more of her sassy stubborn nature and his dry sense of humour.
I will be reading the second in this series as the set up of future characters is too tempting not too. plus I'm looking forward to seeing how and where the series is going to progress to story wise.
May 14, 2019
It was like reading a fan fiction, which don't get me wrong I enjoy sometimes. With fan fiction, though, it's fun bc you know the world and many key details from the main storyline. As a main story this was so rushed. There's a good idea in there somewhere, but so so many questions were not answered. So many things were just written into existence with little to no explanation.
The two main characters had some good exchanges, but their dialogue consists mostly of them saying the other person's name or a typical romance line. I didn't feel invested in them, and there is almost no explanation as to why they effect the other like they do. This frustrated me to no end.
The ending was anti climatic bc the rest of the story was so rushed. Also there are a lot of writing inconsistencies in the story in general. She falls to her knees, and in the next paragraph he's holding her up so she's not falling to her knees even though we as the readers were never told she stood up. They are on the couch, then she's sitting down on the couch even though it was never written that she stood up. I could go on, but you get where I'm going with this. I found myself re-reading a few paragraphs bc I was so confused about some of the scene set-ups.
Overall I really wanted to like this story but it just left me wanting more and not in the good way. I usually don't like to give lower ratings to these types of books bc it takes a lot of time and courage for an author to put their works out there. But I just have to be honest about this one. In my opinion it could have been much better. I won't be continuing the series.
The two main characters had some good exchanges, but their dialogue consists mostly of them saying the other person's name or a typical romance line. I didn't feel invested in them, and there is almost no explanation as to why they effect the other like they do. This frustrated me to no end.
The ending was anti climatic bc the rest of the story was so rushed. Also there are a lot of writing inconsistencies in the story in general. She falls to her knees, and in the next paragraph he's holding her up so she's not falling to her knees even though we as the readers were never told she stood up. They are on the couch, then she's sitting down on the couch even though it was never written that she stood up. I could go on, but you get where I'm going with this. I found myself re-reading a few paragraphs bc I was so confused about some of the scene set-ups.
Overall I really wanted to like this story but it just left me wanting more and not in the good way. I usually don't like to give lower ratings to these types of books bc it takes a lot of time and courage for an author to put their works out there. But I just have to be honest about this one. In my opinion it could have been much better. I won't be continuing the series.
December 11, 2022
Okay, so we got Sophie & Hunter. Sophie's a shen who has no powers, apparently, while hunter is a hot sexy dragon. Sophie's grandmother is also a shen, a very powerful one & has been protecting Sophie all her life - Sophie's parents are dead so her grandma raised her, but to keep Sophie protected, she arranged an arranged marriage w/hunter, something Sophie hadn't learned till recently & after she met him at one of her lectures & almost went horizontal w/him after again running into him at the park.
That's when she learns she's in real danger & her grandmother is about die, which sucks because thay leaves her vulnerable to all sorts of attacks. Thankfully, though, hunter saves her - they then agree to a "sealing" but not a marriage becaue she wants to marry for love, not servitude, which he does explain that their "sealing" would give them both the ability to share each others powers, not just one sided, but still only wants a temporary "sealing", not a permanent one.
Sophie then learns, after her grandmother passes, that's shes something called a "justice" where she keeps the balance between magical & non magical entities by "erasing" magic to balance the scales, which has her completley freaked out because shes now afraid she'll take all of hunters powers & she'll be left w/no protection whatsoever.
Okay, so apparently grandma isn't dead yet.
Sooo, she just let herself be taken by the devourer then? Okay. Then there's grandma still whispering encouraging words to her. The devoured is a woman who admits to killing her grandma & parents. But is then interrupted by hunter reappearing.
That's when she learns she's in real danger & her grandmother is about die, which sucks because thay leaves her vulnerable to all sorts of attacks. Thankfully, though, hunter saves her - they then agree to a "sealing" but not a marriage becaue she wants to marry for love, not servitude, which he does explain that their "sealing" would give them both the ability to share each others powers, not just one sided, but still only wants a temporary "sealing", not a permanent one.
Sophie then learns, after her grandmother passes, that's shes something called a "justice" where she keeps the balance between magical & non magical entities by "erasing" magic to balance the scales, which has her completley freaked out because shes now afraid she'll take all of hunters powers & she'll be left w/no protection whatsoever.
Okay, so apparently grandma isn't dead yet.
Sooo, she just let herself be taken by the devourer then? Okay. Then there's grandma still whispering encouraging words to her. The devoured is a woman who admits to killing her grandma & parents. But is then interrupted by hunter reappearing.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 230 reviews