G. A. Aiken, also known as Shelly Laurenston, is a master wt writing paranormal romance with exciting plots, incredible world building, hilarious moments and off-putting characters. Bring the Heat is a perfect example of that and it was a joy to read.

I confess that I have a bit of a hard time remembering all of the returning characters, but I did a quick check on the blurbs of previous novels in the series and I was all set. I love how much page time we got with all these past characters and couples, it made me so happy.

The main couple in Bring the Heat is Brannie and Aidan, they are so amazing together. However, their romance is not one of those full of obstacles, other than maybe their own resistance. Therefore, we get to spend more than half of the book with a bunch of other fantastic characters and story lines specially with the newest generation.

All in all Bring the Heat is superb and an awesome addition to the Dragon Kin series. Yes, the romance could have fit into a novella, but giving us a full-length novel was a brilliant move, specially in a novel that feels like the end of an arch for the series. That way we got some closure from other characters and it opened up new opportunities for new story lines and books.

If you enjoy Aiken and Laurenston sense of humor, writing style and books, you will absolutely love this book!

My minute or so of lazy Googling didn’t give me a definitive answer, but this book feels like a partial conclusion (or at least a pivot point) in G.A. Aiken’s long running Dragon Kin series, since it resolves a couple conflicts in the series and checks in with tons of past characters. If you haven’t read the whole series, I’d argue you can still pick up the book and enjoy yourself, but I do think you’ll get more out of it if you’ve read at least a couple other books from the series. (You especially should read book 1 because that’s Annwyl’s book, and I love me some Annwyl!)

This time, the hero is Aidan the Divine, and the heroine is Branwen the Awful. If you’ve ever read a Dragon Kin book you know the names are totally ridiculous (and OMFG so hard to keep track of), but I do love the way the women are usually given brutal and powerful titles while the men often get the pretty and silly ones. In the grand tradition of the series, Branwen does indeed live up to her brutal name. She’s a tough, deadly military leader, but I really loved that she also has a lightness that some of the other heroines of the series don’t have. And Aidan is a cute match for her. He’s gorgeous and kind, and he is clearly smitten with Branwen even at the start of the book. He knows he has to wait patiently for Branwen to come around, though, and it showed how perfect a match he was for her.

But, this series isn’t really about relationship development. There’s no deep dive into characterization, no slow build up of tender feelings. All the books follow a similar formula, with lots of sex and lots of the woman being too busy kicking butt to realize that maybe she actually likes the guy attached to the penis she’s been enjoying, until she finally gets a clue and it’s the end. The appeal of this series for me is the way it’s so female-centric. The tone was set in book 1 with Annwyl, who is the baddest ass of all the badass warriors. (Seriously, she makes a major appearance in this book and she literally single handedly conquers hell. This lady ain’t messing around.) There’s been a lot of talk about female rage in fiction recently, and this series has that in spades. The women don’t get victimized, don’t get pushed around, don’t get dominated. They are the meanest, the strongest, and the smartest, and they rule the world. It is an incredibly satisfying fantasy, and I love to pick up a Dragon Kin book after I’ve read a few too many books about women getting held back, abused, slut shamed, and murdered. 

I think this book is one of my favorite installments in this series because I liked seeing the past characters and I enjoyed Branwen and Aidan. If you’ve read any of the others I think you might like it too. If you have read some and didn’t enjoy them, or if you don’t like raucous, funny, violent fairytales, you should probably move along.

Grade: 4 out of 5

Bring the heat finished the story arc about the zealots who have been the main enemy for our heroes a couple of books now. The main couple in the book are Ghleanna´s daughter Branwen and Eihbears friend Aidan. There was not a lot of drama in their courtship, Aidan was quite laid-back and Branwen was refreshingly down to earth and normal compared to some of the other heroines in this series who were a tad too much (.cough...daughters of the steppes..cough). We also get to meet most of the couples from earlier books, some even have POV chapters which was very nice! The book also end on a satisfying note but still leaving the future open for a potential new threat! I do hope the twins and Rhi gets their own books!

It's Aidan the Divine and Branwen The Awful's story but there's two side story of keita searching for ren and lord salebri ,Chramnesind's priests and zealots war between dragons and annwly. So there's too much going on , not much time for romance between aidan and branwen . This book is lack of some romance really but so much fun and jokes and moments to crack up . I'm in love with all these dragons and their crazy family. I can't think a life without them . I can read to the age of 80 and still can laughing out loud for every line. I love new characters like ren and his mom and siblings . Everyone torture their most loved ones just for shits and giggles :D I wonder what the hell brigida was thinking choosing that boy as an apprentice. She's the real enemy now , or what. So exciting :D Can't wait for the next one.

So damm funny!!! I laughed out loud more than once, this was an amazingly Hot and funny book!!!!! A keeper for sure!

Aiken, even eight books in, manages to keep the hilarity, heat, and hijinks fresh. Loved this!

HE SAYS . . .
I, Aidan the Divine, am . . . well, divine. My name was given to me by the Dragon Queen herself! I’m a delight! Cheerful. Charming. And a mighty warrior who is extremely handsome, with a very large and well-hidden hoard of gold. I am also royal-born, despite the fact that most in my family are horrendous beings who don’t deserve to live. And yet, Branwen the Awful—a low-born, no less—either tells me to shut up or, worse, ignores me completely.

SHE SAYS . . .
I’ll admit, I ignore Aidan the Divine because it annoys him. A lot. But we have so much to do right now, I can’t worry about why he keeps staring at me, or why he always sits so close, or why he keeps looking at me like he’s thinking about kissing me. We have our nations to save and no time for such bloody foolishness . . . no matter how good Aidan looks or how long his spiked tail is. Because if we’re going to win this war before it destroys everything we love, we’ll have to face our enemies together, side by side and without distractions. But if we make it out alive, who knows what the future will hold . . .

Our story takes us to the ongoing battle between the God Chramnesind’s followers/Zealots and the rest of the world. They’ve been taking over/killing anyone who won’t claim Chramnesind as their God and that’s anyone who gets in their way. Annwyl, her children aka The Abominations, her husband Fearghus and his entire family are fighting along with any nation they could get to fight with them. Despite that it seems that the Zealots are winning the fight . Things during the opening battle start to go all wrong…Annwyl is sucked into a well that suddenly disappears, mountains start collapsing and witches are singing spells all around them.

Branwen the Awful is fighting with members of the Mì-runach when the mountain they’re standing on collapses. They manage to get away and plan to get back to their battalions but are intercepted by Brannie’s cousin Keita the Viper. After being told by her aunt, Queen Rhiannon, and her mother that she must go with the Mì-runach and protect Keita while she heads to the Eastlands, Brannie is pissed. She wants to get back to her men but ends up “protecting” Keita instead.
While they travel and run into trouble after trouble we read about what’s going on at the front, on the queen’s mountain, Annwyl who’s in hell, and with other characters. Brannie and Aidan, who are great friends decide that as a diversion they’ll sleep together but it means nothing and when Brannie is done, she’s done – no questions asked. Of course Aidan is going to agree to anything he can in order to be with Brannie (we can tell he loves her). But when it comes time to call it all off are either of them truly ready to say goodbye?

This was another fabulous story. I loved how Aiken made this pretty much a fight for your life with a love story thrown in. It’s tough and gritty and there’s not a lot of romance. I don’t expect romance, however, as I know that most of the dragons in her stories aren’t the sweet, romantic types. If she had tried to throw sappy romance into the story I would have been greatly confused. Lol.

The battle scenes as well as the behind the scenes plotting was awesome. The dragons of Garbhan Isle, the Iron Dragons, the Daughters of the Steppes, the Eastlanders (whatever they are) added so much to the story and made it interesting, intriguing, humorous and sexy. If you’ve loved the Dragon Kin series then you won’t want to miss this book. If you haven’t read the series then I wouldn’t recommend starting with this book as you’ll be damned confused.

Rating: 4 out of 5

This will post as a guest review on Book Binge.
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The Dragon Kin series is one of my favorite paranormal series, definitely my number one when it comes to dragons, and I'm always thrilled when it's time to experience this world again! Bring the Heat was no exception and while it may have taken me a couple of days to actually finish it, trust me it was not by choice. If I could have read it non-stop until I was done, I would have because it was utterly, utterly fantastic!

I loved both Aiden and Brannie a lot, but I think Brannie edged out Aiden just a little bit, so I'll talk about him first. With a name like Aiden the Divine, you would expect the kind of I'm-the-best-ever attitude like what you get with Gwenvael that's more amusing instead of annoying, but that's not really who Aiden is. He's calm, rational, smart, and a peacekeeper. Aiden pretty much always has a level head and he's also very sweet. He's wonderful and completely nuts about Branwen - I know you'll love him just like I do!

Branwen the Awful is a total BOSS! She's almost exactly like her mother Ghleanna the Decimator and has mad fighting/battle skills. Brannie is fearless and bold and nothing and no one can touch her. She is fierce and strong and everything you can be proud of in a heroine. That doesn't mean that she's cold or not any fun, though, because she can be warm and fun. Brannie isn't shy or afraid to let loose or show emotion - she is amazeballs and I adored her!

As with any new Dragon Kin book, I was excited to read Bring the Heat, although for some strange reason, my brain felt like I had already read about Aiden and Branwen, but I'm crazy as that was so not the case and I'm glad about that because then we wouldn't have this book and that would be a loss. Bring the Heat was jam-packed with action, fighting, twists and turns, and plenty of moments that were entertaining and kept me in the edge of my seat. There was so much going on, but in a good and fascinating way and I enjoyed every minute of it. Bring the Heat was marvelous and epic and I can't wait for more to come!

While Bring the Heat can be read as a standalone, it would probably be better to read the series in order both for a little clarity and so you can appreciate it more. It's told from multiple points of view and Aiden and Brannie do get their HEA.

~ A Hopeless Romantic's Booklandia, 5 Stars

5 Big beautiful stars I loved this story. I have been waiting for Aidan and Branwen’s story and was not disappointed. Things are even more difficult with a challenge looming ahead of them. If they succeed they will secure the land they love but if not they could see the Zealots take control. With all the dragons we have followed and loved this book was well written and another great addition to the Dragon Kin series.

This was hilarious, thrilling, and steamy! I have always loved Brannie and was stoked for her book. It did not disappoint. Aidan fit Brannie to a T! I loved how this book visited with some of the previous dragons, abominations and mate. Love the Stepps women! I caught myself laughing aloud quite often. This is one author I always enjoy.

I loved this book, yet another to this series where the male and female leads are both funny and strong characters. I also really enjoyed the characters I'd come to love in previous books from the series though I'm not sure anyone new to the series would have enjoyed these as much

Bring the Heat (Dragon Kin) is SCORCHING HOT! Ancient mountains have been turned to rubble and Annwyl is missing. Aiden and Branwen will follow Keita on a mission. During this time Branwen an Aiden will fall closer together and in bed together. What Branwen doesn't know is Aiden has fallen for her. One of my favorite moments in the book was when Caswyn at her horse that was dying. Here he is just chomping down on the horse with no idea he was doing anything wrong. Aiden is trying to hold Branwen back from killing Caswyn. He just looks at them, Caswyn that is, and just tells them that the horse was already dying and he was hungry. All Branwen wants to do is kill him for eating her favorite horse. There is many more bust out laughing moments throughout the book. I love all the books in this series, and recommend them to everyone. Branwen and Aiden are just right for each other! They help to balance each other out. I give BRING THE HEAT 5/5 STARS.

Hilarious! Such a smary, funny romance. Page turning delight!

I enjoyed Aidan and Brannie's story, but thought that it was too short, like everything was a little rushed.

I sooooo loved it all!! I was worried about Ren but I'm thankful about what happen at the end. I love all her books from both authors. ive read a lot of books from both. This book made me laugh and kept me on the edge of my seat though most of it. I want my friends to read it. I love the whole series so far. I cant get enough of this book. I especially like what happen in the end with the queen. she always seems to find a outlet to her "madness" sorta speak. lol

I really like this author. But i can't seem to get into her dragon series. I absolutely LOVE her shifter series and cannot wait till the next one is released.

I was so happy to have received an early copy of this book. I am a big fan or G.A. Aiken. Her Dragon Kin series is amazing with funny, brave, bad ass characters who are just part of a big family who reflect an actually family with mothers arguing with daughters and siblings getting into fights with each other. All while taking you on an adventure through miles of danger and a bit of romance that gets your heart beating fast. This new installment was amazing. I got to see all my favorite characters and got to fall in love with new ones. There is a war going on and I had to keep reading to learn the outcome as fast I could. This series is worth every minute. Highly recommend. A MUST READ SERIES.

Still working on this. Will eventually post to Goodreads. I don't post negative reviews on booksellers sites unless the book is atrocious.

I loved it!

I'll be honest and admit that though I loved the first book in this series Dragon Actually, several of the stories since then, while well written, have left me rather underwhelmed with the so-called main characters or main plot threads being overwhelmed to people and events that are supposed to be occurring on the periphery. That's not to say that the books weren't enjoyable, because they were (I don't think G.A. Aiken aka Shelly Laurenston is capable of writing anything that is ever less than entertaining!) however I was always dissatisfied because I loved the stories and always expected more! This one however was absolutely excellent! It was a lovely romance, an epic adventure and totally hilarious! The characters were great and unlike some of the previous stories the main characters weren't having to fight subordinate plot threads for page time!

I won't go into any detail about the plot as the synopsis tells you all you need to know. This is book 9 in the series and although it can be read as a stand alone there are so many, many references made to previous books and characters from previous novels that I think you'd probably be hopelessly lost if you read this first! Plus Aiken/Laurenston is a brilliant writer and an absolute pleasure to read so why not start at the beginning! I will say that it was nice that this finished the Zealot story arc as it had been going for some time. There were also some interesting hints given about possible future characters so fingers-crossed there are plenty more books to come in the series!

*ARC provided by NetGalley and the publisher in return for an honest review*