To Kiss a Dragon by G. A. Aiken
931497
Another hit in a great series, "To Kiss a Dragon" by G. A. Aiken (aka Shelley Laurenston) is fantastic!  Her characters are very believable and HOT!  Can't wait for more to come out.
613390
Gork is different from other dragons. His heart is big, his horns aren't and he faints. At the WarWings Military Academy he is called Weak Sauce and he is the lowest in his class. However, he doesn't let any of this get to him. Tomorrow he is to graduate from high school and tonight he needs to ask a female to be queen. It could go one of two ways, she could say yes and they will go off together to other planets, or he could end up being a slave.

This is a combination of love story, fantasy and just so much fun. The author has such an imagination, it is hard to believe this could be a debut novel. Teens will be able to relate to it as they empathize with Gork and cheer him on.

This would be an enjoyable book for this age reader and I recommend it. I was given this book by NetGalley and Knopf Doubleday Publishing in exchange for my honest review.

This book may be purchased from Amazon HERE!

Or at Barnes and Noble HERE!
3794096
Loved this book. Dragons  are such mystical creatures, the way Julia presents them in the book is wonderful. I could not stop reading it. Now starting on the second and I can't put it down. Thank you Julia and please keep them coming.
1807959
I really enjoyed this book it reminded me of Anne McCaffrey's Pern series but with Magic and alternate god world creation going on. If you like Dragon bonding books, coming of age books, and also how to and physics books, you will like this book.  I have gotten tired recently of some YA books trending towards sullen, temperamental characters.  This is a great coming of age book of a very well mannered very likeable character and his friends.

** Following text has spoilers, so don't read further if you don't want to spoil the book***

I am not a great grammar check person, but I didn't notice any problems in that regard.  So I was never thrown out by that problem that sometimes haunts independent authors.

This book, as I mentioned, is slightly similar to McCaffrey's White Dragon book in the following ways:

1) The dragon knows its name on birth.  However at least it is so far not all the same sounding name and having hard time pronouncing the riders name.  I liked the Dragon's name, Anaya, was so very neat!

2) That the dragons were created to work with humans to defend against a life threatening other life form. In this stories case,  nasty life/magic stealing nahual.

3) Holds are created by a family or group of people "holding" onto an area successfully.  This is similar to the Pern books. However, the way the holds or "Caers" were created are somewhat different.

4) Craft Halls: farmer craft, animal craft, and different but very cool, magic halls!

5) The binding happens at birth.  In this case after feeding.

6) The main character had to help the dragon birth due to a thicker than usual shell.

7) The dragon can talk to mind to mind.

However, there are cool things that are different

Magic is in all animals and humans.  Some have it to lesser or greater degree.
Teenagers are can be sent off to other holds to try apprenticing different areas till they find one they like.
The magic follows alot of physics rules: kinetics, vectors, etc. I found this very fun following the theories on how the magic was applied.  Also that each person saw how to use magic differently.

I also enjoyed the how to's on the other crafts.

The dragon's maternal knowledge inheritance was also very neat.  It made the dragon Anaya very interesting!

As the summary says, there has to be the one who does something first.  This is the story of the first human who is able to link with a dragon to defend against the nahauls (as the trickster creation god intended).

I hope you enjoy this one as well and I am really hoping for a sequel!
4677571
Why you should read it: G.A. Aiken (aka Shelly Laurenston) is by far one of my favorite authors. I find myself constantly laughing or giggling maniacally over one of her characters inner monologues  or more likely outer ones! The Dragon Kin books are especially amazing to me, because all of her heroines are strong, butt-kicking women who can handle whiny dragons with one hand tied behind their back. The audio versions are amazingly narrated and can be a danger if you are driving (laughing and spit-takes do not make for safe driving).

INTERVIEW WITH G.A.

Jessie: We readers ADORE the names you come up with for the dragons! Tell us about Aiden the Divine!

G.A.: I have to admit, I love coming up with the names for my Dragon Kin characters. I especially love legitimately giving heroines in a romance series names like Branwen the Awful, Ghleanna the Decimator, or Morfyd the Black Dragon of Despair, Killer of the Innocent, Annihilator of Souls. That last one is totally unfair to Morfyd, though  as everyone knows shes a white She-dragon. Heh.

As for Aidan the Divine, hes what the M&igrave;-runachs are not used to. A smart, rational Berserker who considers it his job to keep his brethren alive. Not on the battlefield, they can manage that on their own. But out in the world, where the M&igrave;-runachs collective mouths get them into trouble, thats where Aidan really steps in and rules. At the very least, he keeps them from getting gutted by the women of the Cadwaladr Clan. Not an easy job for any male.

Jessie: Which was your favorite scene to write?

G.A.: Theres a scene with Brannie, Aidan, the M&igrave;-runach, and Keita the Viper in a castle and Keita is attempting to get information out of a hostage. Its the scene right after that when Brannie and the M&igrave;-runach start to truly understand how dangerous Keita the Viper actually is. I really enjoyed that. I also love any scene where my Daughters of the Steppes are involved. Or anything with Annwyl. After all these years, I still love writing about Annwyl the Bloody.

Jessie: Branwen and Aiden have a slower-burning romance story line. How did you ensure readers would stay enthralled with their romance?

To read more of the interview head over to HEA!
2016664
ARC - I voluntarily offered to review this book and my opinions are honest!

This is a great read!
This book was a good example of brainwashing
Lola grew up believing that dragons were monsters.
No exceptions to the rule.
If you see a dragon, you should fear for your life
Dragon slayers existed to protect humans from dragons.
Rafael is the new appointed Dragonsworn.
His job was to protect the daughter of the regent Lucas + Penelope.
Lola infiltrated the Dragon's stronghold to see if she could discover their weakness.
What she found instead was Rafael.
Now that she was interacting w/ the dragon, she is discovering that what she was thought was wrong.
Also, there was the growing attraction to between Lola & Rafael.
Spoiler Alert! - Lola is Rafael's mate.
I love reading about the interaction between Lola & Rafael.
In the end, Lola chose Love instead of hate.
Great HEA!
4595416
A wonderful read. If you like dragons this is a must read. Fantastic plot and characters. I volunteered to read this advance copy of this book.
443102
Wow. This book is awesome! If you love dragons, fantasy, romance or all three this is the book for you. I found this book action packed, funny, sweet and most of all a fast, fun read. I've been reading a lot of fantasy lately and let me tell you this one is great. I love Jenabel she's the perfect female heroine. The only complaint I had was some of the sequences seemed rushed. I would love to have known more Dragon history. I think with some more world & history building, this novel would be the perfect dragon fantasy story. I did like the splash of romance through out the story, it made the story that much more enjoyable.
2109157
I only bothered to read Shelly Laurenston's story because I'm addicted to the Dragon Kin series xD!! I loved seeing Ailean and Shalin as young dragons. Ailean is a man-whore, he basically sleeps with every woman he comes across, which ends up getting him in trouble with everyones daddy! Shalin is entitled Shalin the Innocent because she is sweet, shy and timid, or so everyone thinks. Unfortunately for Shalin, she's caught Aileans eye, and more importantly his jealous lovers' eye who wants nothing more than to punish Shalin. Shalin ends up having no choice but to rely on Ailean and his clan to protect her, otherwise she'll be wingless trapped with barbarians.
4792616
Dragon Wars
Author: Emily Fogle

Terrific creative fantasy. Get lost in another world, with incredibly intense emotions, and the growth of a young boy who goes from his worst fears of a playground bully to protecting those he loves with honor and glory. A page turner akin to a fantasy version of C.S. Lewis where honor, glory, and love rule above evil and darkness.
The author does an excellent job of character development as well as pictoral descriptions. You feel like you are part of the new world. I was wrapped in dragon scales, and felt the coldness darkness.
Many praises for this first time novel. I can't wait to see more from Ms. Fogle.
Reviewed AB - 4/17/2013

I received this book for a fair review.
4814360
It is true you can't judge a book by it's cover. I love the Light Dragons novels. I usually gravitate towards vampires or werewolves, once I picked up any of Katie MacAlister's Dragon novels I just can't put it down. Very awesome book!! Dragons are way cooler.
259352
My favorite books and noveletts are the Dragons. This book is my next favorite! Great characters a traitor, and a treasure hunt. Of course romance. Again blending of characters from different books. It's all about the characters to me!
4865089
From Shelly Laurenston/G.A.Aiken newsletter :

" Hi, all.

Remember in the last newsletter I made a casual joke about that mystery dragon book thats listed on Amazon? I said, maybe well just name the next dragon book that so only the release date will need to be changed.

Wellguess what?

Yes. Thats right. It was decided to simply make TO KISS A DRAGON the title of Dragon #7, which Im working on now. The release date for the next full-length dragon kin book will be December 2014, and until Im done writing said book, thats all you guys will get out of me on that."

From Goodreads
[...]
2356701
This is the 5th and latest book in G.A.Aiken's wonderful dragon series. It concerns the war going on in the far north, and introduces some new members of the Cadwalader clan, as well as old favorites.  While all these books [[ASIN:1420103733 Dragon Actually (Dragon Kin, Book 1)to[ASIN:1420108891 The Dragon Who Loved Me(Dragon Kin, Book 5)]are romances, there is also plenty of action, suspence and humor in each.  Ms. Aiken (a.k.a. Shelly Laurenston)is a superb writer, and these are well worth reading.
3942141
G.A. Aiken has created the most interesting and endearing characters with her Dragon Kin series.  I read Dragon Actually and fell head over heels in love with Fearghus the Destroyer and love how he and Annwyl the Bloody fell in love.  I love the relationship she has created for them, the fears, the strengths and the dedication they have about themselves and for eachother.

I also adore the backstory, "Chains & Flames" about Fearghus's parents, Bercelak and Rhiannon included in this book.  I love how she wrote the males in this series.  Bercelak and Fearghus both remind me of my husband so that makes me extremly partial to her writing.  Her books are filled with humor, creative content and a very believeable work filled with some that work magic and most that don't. And to say that the rest of the family is something is an understatement! Love them all!!

As the rest of the series progresses, the stories about other family members of Fearghus the Destroyer's take place and I grew to love all of the characters more and more with each passing book.  It is best to read them in order. Each female love interest is very different from eachother and are unique and loveable in their own ways.

I have read the series from start to finish so far four or five times now, I've lost count.  Because I just love the characters and the world she has created around them.  I could read about this family forever!!
3278112
A dragon lives. The book was unexpected and challenging. I can't wait to read the next book. The adventure is only beginning.
4206270
I like this book I hope there will be more of the Dragon book . I will be looking for them. Keep up the good work.