Dragons Are Forever

Return to Dragon Isle #1

by Sophie Stern

A Fake Marriage Dragon-Shifter Romance

Anything can happen on Dragon Isle...

One feisty dragon + one desperate human = one fake marriage.

Jax needs a wife in a bad way. He stands to inherit an incredible fortune, but there's one caveat: he has to get married, like, yesterday. He can't touch the money until he's claimed a mate. He's got to stay married for an entire year, and then if they go their separate ways, it's no big deal. One year of marriage? He could do that. Only, all of the ladies on Dragon Isle are girls he grew up with. Nobody is going to take a chance on this. Nobody would buy it.

Then one drunken stranger changes everything...

Melissa has absolutely nothing going for her. When her husband caught her by surprise last year and filed for divorce, she was stuck with half of his debt and...nothing. She had nothing. They lost the house, the cars, and their savings accounts because apparently, Kyle had a secret gambling problem she knew nothing about. When a handsome stranger approaches her in a random bar with a strange offer, she's intrigued enough to say yes.

One year being married to a rich guy?

One year without sex or love or romance attached?

One year as long as she doesn't ask too many questions?

Melissa can't sign up fast enough.

Soon she discovers that Dragon Isle isn't a normal island, though. It's full of secrets, and she finds herself determined to figure out what Jax is hiding from her.

***DRAGONS ARE FOREVER is the first book in RETURN TO DRAGON ISLE. This is a spinoff of the DRAGON ISLE series by Sophie Stern. Reading the Dragon Isle books is highly encouraged, although not required in order to enjoy this story. Dragon Isle begins with STEPDRAGON, which is a quick read introducing the island, and is followed by MY LORD AND DRAGON.***

Genres: Paranormal, Dragons, Romance, Shapeshifters, Fantasy, Marriage Of Convenience, Fantasy Romance

210 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 1, 2021

About the author

Sophie Stern writes contemporary and paranormal romance <3 Visit her on Facebook for frequent updates!

http://facebook.com/sexysophiestern

Reviews

[Coco.V]

🎁 FREE on Amazon & on Apple iBooks today (1/30/2023)! 🎁

[Jessica]

Dragons are Forever is the first book in the Return to Dragon Isle series, a spin off of the original Dragon Isle series. Jax’s grandfather died, and his will stated that Jax could be the owner of his home, if he was married within 30 days. So he hatches a scheme with Mel to get married for a year. But neither expected real emotions to come into play. When danger comes knocking, will Jax and Mel survive to face their love?

Oh my goodness, I love the original series of Dragon Isle, so when Ms. Stern announced that she was returning back to the island, I was thrilled! And Jax and Melissa had an exciting book to start this new series! I really enjoyed reading about their connection that gets stronger every day. They had to learn to be vulnerable with one another, to share their secrets, and to trust their instincts when it came to each other and the safety of all they held dear. Mel is sweet and caring, curious and passionate, and I really enjoyed her character. Jax had pride in being a dragon shifter, and it was interesting that he had to adjust his thinking to having a human wife who might possibly be his forever mate. I loved their connection and steamy scenes, but I liked watching them build their relationship even more. I liked that we were introduced to some new characters, and if you had read the original series, there are some characters and locations you’ll recognize. It honestly felt a bit like coming home, haha! I really liked this book and I’m so excited to see where this series will lead us next!

[Lynn Stifle]

Jax has recently lost his grandfather and when reading of the will takes place he finds that he’s been given the mansion on Dragon Isle, but he must marry within 30 days, plus he has to stay married for a year. Melissa has been struggling to make ends meet after she got stuck paying her ex husband’s debts. Melissa and her friend Candy go out to a bar for drinks and there she meets Jax. After chatting and drinks, Jax tells Melissa about his grandfather’s will, then he proposes an idea to her. Melissa agrees and their journey begins. Such a great read and I can’t wait to see what’s next in this series.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Kathleen Bradbury (Bulfon)]

Charming, beautifully written, and hopelessly romantic. Isn't it just so great when you find one of those books that completely drags you in, makes you fall in love with the characters, and demands that you sit on the edge of your seat for every nail-biting moment of it? This is one of those books for me. Read this series. You won’t be disappointed.

[Megan]

I enjoyed this book overall and I'm looking forward to continuing the series soon.

Dragons, fake marriage and strangers who become lovers, what's not to like?

[Kathleen Bradbury (Bulfon)]

Charming, beautifully written, and hopelessly romantic. Isn't it just so great when you find one of those books that completely drags you in, makes you fall in love with the characters, and demands that you sit on the edge of your seat for every nail-biting moment of it? This is one of those books for me. Read this series. You won’t be disappointed.

[Angie Barnes]

Sophie Stern has written a 5-star book. This is the story of Mel and Jax. Jax is on Dragon Isle for the reading of his grandfather's will. Al is the attorney for his grandfather. When Al comes to Jax, he tells him that he gets the mansion but there is a clause that said he had to marry within thirty-day, and after that then the mansion would be put up of auction and the proceeds would go to the three remaining heirs. Jax said that it is not a problem. His family is shocked that he would say that. He tells them that he has met someone and they had plans to elope the next weekend, he lied. Jax has not met anyone since work is his only interest. Melissa (Mel) has lost everything when her husband Larry filed for divorce. He left her with a bunch of debts that were his and now she is paying them off. She is living with her friend Candy. Candy has decided to take Mel out for drinks and doesn't take no for an answer. They go to a bar and this is where she meets Jax. They end up talking and Jax tells her about his grandfather's will. Mel seems to be into Jax and after a little time, they come up with a plan for him and her to marry so he can get the mansion. The marriage would only be for a year and she would get a chance to start over. Once they are married, they go to Dragon Isle and live in the mansion. Things are going well for them and they are growing closer to each other. They are falling for each other but not saying a word about how they are feeling. They decide to have a party for his family and friends at the mansion and Jax invites Candy and Edgar without Mel knowing. He tells her that he has a surprise for her and when they get downstairs, Candy and Edgar step out from one of the rooms. Candy wants a tour of the mansion and Mel takes her towards the basement. The party is underway when Jax notices he has not seen Mel for a while. He asks Edgar if he has seen the girls and he said no. They head towards the basement and when they get down there, Mel and Candy are not there. Jax finds Al there instead, and asks "What are you doing here?" Al tells him that he is looking for some papers from his grandfather. Jax knows he is lying about something. When Jax and Edgar get back upstairs, he sees Mel and Candy. He goes up to her and asked "Where she had been?" He thought that she went to the basement. She tells him that they got halfway down and something didn't feel right so they went up to the second floor to look at the paintings. The next day, Jax went into his office and as soon as he got there he was told that his first appointment was waiting in his office. Something is not right since he knows he doesn't have an appointment. The person is his attorney. Jax is told that the papers that he had given him were wrong. His attorney tells him that what Al told him was false. Jax's grandfather had given him the house without him being married. After he and his attorney are finished, he tells his secretary that he is leaving for the day. Jax needs to get to Mel and tell her what he found out and also that he doesn't want things to be over between them. When he gets back home, he knows something is wrong. He can smell blood and it's Mel's blood. Jax goes looking for Mel. When he doesn't find her downstairs, he knows where she is. He goes upstairs to his grandfather's room and finds Mel there. She tries to stop him but it's not working. Al comes out after Jax calls him. Jax tells him that he knows what he did was a lie and that his attorney has all the information to come after him. Al turns into his shifter and attacks Jax. Jax turns into his dragon and they end up fighting. Mel is still tied up on the bed and the mansion is falling down around her. Al throws fire at Jax and he doesn't get out of the way in time and he is hurt. Jax looks toward the house and thinks of Mel. Jax hears a noise and sees another dragon coming in. It Edgar and he looks up at the house and hopes that Edgar catches what he is trying to say. Edgar takes off to get Mel. Mel sees the house on fire and thinks this is it. She will never get to tell Jax how she feels about him. She sees something coming and closed her eyes. She doesn't open them again until she feels the binds on her wrist being cut loose. It's a dragon and when she is free, it lets her know to get on it back. When she is on, the dragon takes off through the ceiling. When they land, she finds out that the dragon who saved her was Edgar, she asks about Jax. Edgar tells her that he is hurt and for her to go to him. When she gets to Jax, she sees he is hurt really badly. About that time, other dragons start to land, some of them try to save the house while others go to Jax. Mel is told that they have to get him medical attention. Candy is with her when Oliver comes over to her and tells her that Jax will be alright, and things will work out for her and Jax. She asked, "How do you know?" Oliver tells her that Jax loves her.
Will things work out between Mel and Jax?
This was a wonderful book and I would recommend it to anyone.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Elizabeth]

It's cute and sweet, but forgettable. Only a tiny bit of spice, which is fine, but I need more to stay invested, apparently. I loved that she agreed to marry him spontaneously, very cute premise.

[Cath]

This is book one of the Return to Dragon Isle series and tells the story of Jax and Mel. Jax’s grandfather died a few months ago and his friend Edgar accompanies him to the will reading, which is for family only. The lawyer Al, is a bit odd and Jax gets an odd vibe from him. There is only his parents and his sister there with him. His grandfather’s estate is quite large and all the business properties are split between his parents, his sister gets a large cash sum and he gets his grandfather’s mansion and land on Dragon Isle. But it comes with conditions! He must be married within 30 days and provide proof of that marriage, then stay married for at least a year, to then inherit it properly. He cannot sell it or make any changes to it until that year is up! It seems very odd to him that being married is a requisite for him to inherit, but as his sister is already married and settled down with kids, he thinks it must be a quirk of his grandfather, who he only ever saw for his childhood summer holidays. He tells them he already has a girl he is serious with and was going to tell them after the wedding, as he had been so busy with work.

Mel has finally gotten divorced, from the husband who ran up a load of debt in secret and left her without a penny! No car, losing her home, most of her possessions and more. Her best friend Candy let her stay on her sofa and even helped her get a job as a waitress at the club she danced at. The two of them had finally gone out to celebrate her divorce being finalised and ended up meeting Jax and his best friend Edgar, who Candy got on with immediately! As Mel and Jax were talking, he raised the matter of him needing to get married asap and he jokingly asked if she wanted to marry him and she said yes! It’s a strange offer and the more she stops and thinks about it, the more concerned she becomes, but she really has no other prospects and it is going to pay well and she will have no bills for a whole year, while being paid each month and then an even larger sum if she stays with him to the end of the year. No expectations of her, it is simply a fake marriage of convenience, so he can inherit the mansion and land on Dragon Isle, a place hard to get any land at all.

He has a big secret he isn’t willing to put out there straight away, but it may be a shocker for Mel, if she finds out by accident. He is a dragon shifter and she is human, which means his family and most friends will have to try and keep his status a secret and not talk openly about their normal lifestyle, especially when she meets all his family for the first time. Not that they are really very good at that and even he has a weird way of calling her a ‘human’ at times. She wants to know what Jax is hiding from her and since she doesn’t really know what to call shifters, she upsets him quite deeply. They have a lot to get used to about each other, but there is already a romantic spark between them, but whether that would be a good idea, when they would be separating in a year and it would just hurt one or both of them. They have a party at the mansion when they get settled, but an uninvited guest turns up and raises a few worries. This leads to a serious incident whilst Jax is at work, culminating in a huge confrontation. An exciting return to Dragon Isle and life for a human amongst all the shifters, mostly dragons obviously. I can’t wait to read more stories about Dragon Isle and all the adventures that will occur there. A HEA ending for the two strangers, who met by chance and agreed to a fake marriage for both their own needs at the time. I received an ARC copy of this book from BookSprout and I have freely given my own opinion of the book above.

[Rebecca Grove]

Jax's grandfather has just died and Jax and his family is listening to the will being read. When Jax is told that he was given the mansion on Dragon Isle but he has to be married within a month to claim it, he is shocked. Jax has been busy with work and hasn't dated for awhile but he lies to the lawyer and his family. He says he has been secretly dating and he will marry his girlfriend in the next couple of weeks. Now he is on a bride search with little success until he goes to the bar. There he meets Melissa. She is beautiful and kind and a good listener so Jax proposes to her and offers her money for being his wife for a year. She agrees and goes with him to Dragon Isle. Too bad Jax hasn't told her he is a dragon shifter and the island is full of shifters.

Melissa is struggling to make ends meet. Her divorce from her horrible husband is final but she got stuck paying off a lot of his debts. She is bankrupt and struggling to get by. She goes with her friend to the bar to celebrate her freedom and meets Jax. Jax is nice and kind. When he explains the rough situation he is in, she feels bad for him. She accepts his offer of marriage and plans to use the money to pay off her debts and give her a new start. She really likes Jax and might be falling for him when he reveals that he is a dragon shifter. Melissa doesn't know what to think.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Dee]

The addition starts with the book cover….yeah…yeah…yeah don’t judge a book by its cover they say ….well we all do it and this one here it is the scratch to your itch or better yet the filling to your oreos! Speaking of filling…..wait, that’s for later. Within the first chapters you get the panoramic view of whom you’re dealing with!
Can’t say I didn’t warn you!
Jax is a sexy as all get out shifter, a dragon no less in need of a wife to inherit the island and the said wife needs to stay married to him for a year in order for his inheritance to be fulfilled. Mel’s ex husband screwed her pretty much leaving her with all his gambling debt basically bankrupted. She is in need of a fresh start and Jax seems to have the answer marry him for a year and he will pay off her debt and she may have a little money left over. But what happens when emotional bonds weren’t on the menu, and attachments certainly weren’t supposed to form. However, when fate put things in place, people in place and love rears her beautiful head throwing yet another wrench into the works you get Jax and Mel but is it all enough for happiness?

[Judy Gittleson Hendrickson]

Dragon shifter Jax just lost his grandfather and the mansion and land is left to him if he gets married within 30 days and stays married for a year. He meets Melissa (Mel) and they can solve each others problems. He needs a wife and her divorce left her with hefty bills as her ex had been a secret gambler and drained everything. They get married with a contract that it will just last a year and he will pay off her debts. They did not plan on falling quickly in love or that she was his mate. Situations happen that cause grief and confusion but they are strong and have great friends and clan behind them.
The characters are a continuation of her other series of Dragon Island, so some of them are familiar. Love these main characters and how they face trouble. The storyline is full of action and romance, with surprises and twists - like the lawyer. The author builds a terrific world that is very visual. Loved their banter and antics of the couples. The ending was well done and we have a snippet of what is coming next. Can not wait to pick that book up.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Terri Pietrowski]

Dragons Are Forever
Following the death of his grandfather, Jax and his family are waiting for the reading of the will. Everyone got what they thought they would get, but for Jax, he inherit his grandfather house and land on Dragon Isle, but for one little problem, Jax has to be married and stay married for one year and he has 30 days to find a wife, but who.
After ten months moping around after her divorce, Mel’s friend, Candy convinced her to go out. That’s where they met two gorgeous guys, Jax and his best friend Edgar. After many drinks, Jax tells Mel his problem and two days later, Jax and Mel are married and heading to Dragon Isle. Both are surprise that they really like each other and got a long very well and soon Jax realizes that Mel is his true mate. But something is not right with this will, Jax had a friend look over the will and what he found caused Jax to confront his grandfather’s lawyer.
I am volunteering to leave a ARC review of this book.

[Mary Kirkland]

In order for Jax for inherit a fortune and a home on Dragon Isle, he needs to be married and soon. But he runs into Melissa at a bar and jokingly makes a marriage proposal, a fake marriage proposal that she would get paid for if she can fake things for a year. What's not to love about that? So they work out the incidentals and get married. The lawyer isn't thrilled and doesn't buy that these two are really in love. But Jax has fulfilled his part of the will so there shouldn't be any problems getting the house and fortune, right?

Wrong! Someone is out to get him and puts both he and Melissa in harms way. This relationship starts out fake but after spending time with each other they start to have real feelings for each other. But Jax has a big secret and Melissa is about to find out what it is. Watching these two fall for each other while trying to figure out who is out to get them was fun. Jax is such a nice guy and Melissa was great and just what he needed.

[lf]

Can't fight the fates when they decide to dive-bomb you with love

Dragons Are Forever is the first book in the Return to Dragon Isle series which is a spin-off from the Dragon Isle series. You do no have to have read the original series to read this series, but if you did then you will already be familiar with the island and the dragons.
This book was an excellent and entertaining start to the new series. Jax and Mel are wonderful together and they definitely heat it up in this fake marriage to something a lot deeper and way more permanent than either expected or wanted. But sometimes you just can't fight the fates which is what they both learn.

I received a copy of this book and am leaving my honest review. My opinions are all my own.

[Lisa Parker]

Jax's grandfather has died, at the reading of the will he learns what he inherits at a price. He will inherit the house and grounds on Dragon Isle if he gets married in 30 days. Jax is not even dating anyone but he tells his family and the executor that his getting married the next weekend.

Mel is recently divorced and her husband had a gambling problem and they lost everything, she is staying with a friend and hardly contributing to expenses.

When she is approached by Jax to a wedding in name only for a year she finds herself saying yes.

This book is a romantic suspense with betrayal and family secrets. I am looking for the next in the series.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[BusyM3]

I couldn't put this book down. This is the first book in this Return to Dragon Isle series. In this story we have Jax who is in need a wife to get this Grandfather's house on Dragon Isle. He meets Melissa in a bar and is drawn to her and proposes an idea to her. Marry him for one year and then she will have a big pay day at the end. Melissa is coming off a divorce and is in need of money. She agrees and this is their journey to their happily ever after. What will happen if real feelings come to the surface? I can't wait for book two.
The characters are engaging and fit well together, the story is well written. You will not be disappointed.

I am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Fay J]

Jax has been left with a problem, he can inherit his grandfather's house but he needs to be married to do it. He isn't really a playboy but he isn't one who is ready to settle down either. Well, seems like he has to ne now! Mel has been treated really poorly by her ex and despit the fact that is has pretty much ruined her life she has enough grace to still see the world for its possibilities. She meets Jax in a bar and he jokingly offers to marry her as he is in the market for a wife,. He is stunned when she says yes. That is when all the fun starts!

[Ruth]

This book is a slow and steady win! Exactly what I needed to curl up with today.
Meet Jax, he needs a wife to claim his inheritance. Mel, recently divorced needs to find love again.
Of course they meet. What follows is a series of ups and downs that keep things interesting without stressing out the reader.
And true love wins.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Janet]

A lie started it all. Jax's Grandfather passed and left his house and land to him. But Jax has to get married and live together for at least a year. A very good story. It sounds like something that could have happened. Mel is a sweetheart. You will enjoy the story very much and it is not that long of one either. I received a complimentary review copy of the book and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

[Kathy]

Jax needs a wife quickly and Mel needs a new start. They meet and soon after they join forces to provide what each needs. Neither thought they would develop feelings for each other. I liked the dialogue between Jax and Mel. They both made missteps but were willing to step back and review their actions. The whole story felt comfortable to me. I recommend this read.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[MaryAnn]

I like Dragons!! Who knew? Not me.

I loved the premise of the book. Ex husband rides of woman, divorced alone, couch surfing Kind woman goes out with friend they meet to men and oh what happens next....
I've never been fond of dragon shifter stories however this author writes like anyone could look up and see multiple dragons in the sky any where.
Can't wait for the next one

[fred jones]

Great story, nice to be back in Dragon Isle a few years further on. Two good strong characters and a few cameo appearances from old friends make this an enjoyable entertaining read. Intrigue, underhanded dealings make for an explosive climax quite literally. Nice start to this new series.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Juanita E. Arp]

I enjoyed reading this book, the interaction and chemistry between the characters of Mel (Melissa) and Jax is wonderful. The storyline, is entertaining, and filled with action and adventure. I can't wait for more from this author. I received this book as a FREE ARC copy to read and I voluntarily leave this review.

[Caroline Doig]

Jax is going to inherit a massive fortune but and that’s a big but he needs to get married and stay that way for a year and that’s where Melissa comes in when Jax meets Melissa at a bar and the craziness starts from there. I loved this story the characters, the action, danger and 🔥 passion and I highly recommend this book it’s well worth the read.

[Joanne]

She is recently divorced and he needs a wife. They meet at a bar. This one has drama, kidnapping and action. Loved the characters cannot wait for the next book.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Christinaraven]

I thought this was a cute, funny, quick read about a fake marriage that turns into a real one quickly once the 2 get to know each other. But of course how it happened was the fun entertaining part. Throw in some light danger and mystery and get a good story with a dragon twist.

[Catherine Edgar]

I have always enjoyed the Dragon Isle series. So I was extremely pleased that Sophie decide to do a spinoff of that series.

Can't wait for the next book to be out.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Phylis Collins]

Good story about a fake marriage and how they end up falling in love. It's a fun story to read, Dragons Are Forever is the first book in the Return to Dragon Isle series a spin-off from the Dragon Isle series.

[Lisa Bing]

I love this trope - fake marriage - and the author put together a fresh and exciting story based on this concept. So much chemistry, danger, betrayal and love come together to make these characters ones to feel invested in, and also make the book a whole reading experience. Good fun!