Dragon shifter romance just happens to be one of my favourites. I liked this but I’m sad to say I didn’t love it. I enjoy the world that the author has created. This book takes place in Russia with hot Russian dragons. And how scrumptious they are.

The brothers Grigori, Rurik and Mikhail are the last of the Barinovs.

Book one is Grigori’s book, multi-millionaire and one of the oldest dragons. He is somewhat sentimental when it comes to Barrow’s journal that documents what they are which is kept at the Russian State Library. But one day an American requests the book and learns all the dragon secrets in it although she doesn’t believe what she is reading.

Madelyn Haynes has travelled to Russia to find out more about dragons as she has always been fascinated by them. She has also felt as if she never belonged but once she meets Grigori that all changes and her own secrets and past come to light. Madelyn is truly magnificent. She is quiet with an inner strength.

There is instalust and love but as they are mates and paranormal romance it works. But the chemistry between them is somewhat flat for me. I’m sure others will see it differently. Different strokes and all that.

The Barinovs and the Drakors have been rivals for a very long time. The Romanovs have been wiped out. The treaty has been broken and now an all-out war is on the horizon.

The plot is very similar to other dragon books that I have read before that is why it only gets three stars and I felt it to be somewhat predictable. I also felt as if it is too slow paced.

Nevertheless it is still a cute, sexy and somewhat cheesy read. I will be reading Mikhail’s book as I am intrigued by him. The exiled loner.

Grigori (Brothers of Ash and Fire #1) The first book in a new series by Lauren Smith... I give it 4 1/2 stars...Grigori is a centuries old dragon...Madelyn a college professor who is haunted by dreams of a dragon and is researching if dragons ever existed in any form. She finds a book in a Russian library with drawings of three men ..Grigori, Mikhail and Rurik...and tales of dragons...Madelyn has a secret she doesn't even know...I enjoyed Grigori and Madelyn coming together and their HEA.. can't wait for the next book Mikhail's story.

I love dragon shifters. I think they may be tied with wolves as my favorite type of shifter in a romance. Although I am also partial to lions...in any case, dragons are center stage in this one, and we have the pleasure of meeting the first of the three Barinov brothers, Grigori and his mate Madelyn. Madelyn is in Russia (seriously this author kicked it up a notch and made the dragons Russian...swoon) to write a paper on dragons. When she requests a book from the royal library, she ends up getting more than she bargained for in the form of a 6 foot 4 smokin hot businessman/dragon who kidnaps her and demands answers. Soon answers are the least of Grigori's problem when he, Madelyn, and his brother are pulled into a dragon war with another clan.

I enjoyed this one a lot. It was well written and well paced. The plot was engaging and kept me turning the pages. The author does an excellent job of world-building without it taking over the story completely. Weaving it with actual history was a nice touch. This is a true mate story, and so the attraction is pretty instant. Therefore there is no OW/OM drama. The heroine was a virgin, and the hero hadn't been with anyone in a long while. It was a slow burn but here are a few sex scenes. I would have liked to have some spicier scenes. This one wasn't heavy on the secondary characters. The main one being Grigori's brother Rurik. Who I enjoyed very much and can't wait to read about. I have a feeling I know who his heroine is going to be. Both main characters were extremely likable. I adored Grigori. He was sweet and sexy. I would probably label him alpha-lite. I loved Madelyn equally as much. She was sweet and strong when she needed to be. Lastly, it was all wrapped up in a sweet epilogue that gives a hint of what is coming up in the next book.

More like a 3 ½ stars. I haven’t read a book by Lauren Smith before. I really enjoyed this one. A little predictable at times but not so much that it ruins the story for you. Madelyn is something that I don’t believe I have encountered in another story before. Something new and interesting to me. I will definitely read the other two when they come out.

It was a great read. Love the characters and plot. Great twists and turns.

Madelyn Haynes has always had a fascination with dragons. She is in Russia to study the ancient books on lizard like dinosaurs, they must be where the folklore around dragons started.
Dragon shifter, Grigori Barinov has been alerted to someone investigating dragons and accessing a certain book that could cause him and his family problems.
Our heroine has got a lot of surprises coming, some about the world around her and even some about herself. She can´t remember her parents because they died when she was tiny. Her nightmares are the reason for her obsession with dragons.
Our hero has to protect his family above all. There are other dragons who would love to wipe them out. He and his brothers are the last of his family line. As an apex predator there is not much that can kill them. His father wiped out the only other creatures besides other dragons that could.
We have some surprising battle scenes and a love scene that had me giggling. Our heroine is a knockout. This is the start of a series with wonderful characters. There is a bit of intrigue that may carry through to the next books, because we know there is someone who works for the family and their enemy.
The brothers will hopefully all get their own story. I will certainly be reading them to find out.

Dragons are always great! I thought this was a great start to Lauren Smith's new dragon shifter trilogy. I enjoyed the characters and background/world building; and the storyline was interesting. There was some romance but very little sex. I am definitely looking forward to the next book in the series.

Review goes live on Butterfly-o-Meter Books on Oct 3 at 00.00 am gmt+2 and will show up on Goodreads sometime later.

In a Flutter: Fun
Fluttering Thoughts:
Worldbuilding: The Moscow, Russia setting was interesting and a nice change. I loved the Fire Hills. The world of dragon shapeshifters, thunderbirds, and animosities between dragon clans was nice.
Characters: Madelyn was endearing from the get-go. She’s obviously bookish, fact that all of us will love ofc, and she’s very passionate about her research.
Grigori – man, I feel your pain! – was all hot alpha make, with a pretty much 3000 yo singleton status of doom – brooding, smoking hot, and frustrated. Roar xD
I can’t say I felt any particular chemistry going on between them, though there were hot moments there for sure. I didn’t really connect with the characters much either, something that keeps happening to me with POV switches and third person narratives.
Plot: The story was based on the virgin, fated mates trope – with a bit of kidnapping lol. Despite that, it didn’t go in the dark direction at all – it was sweet romance, in fact. The combo doesn’t really do it for me, and I think I’m developing a pet peeve for the kidnapping thing by and large, which sort of dampened my enthusiasm. The story had a nice pace and it was engaging nonetheless.
Writing: Third person, past tense narrative, his/her POV.
Curb Appeal: Cool cover, hooking blurb – impulsive buy material for my dragon romance moods.

I recommend Grigori to fans of dragon romance with a cool side of Russian history, fated mates, kidnapped virgin flavor. It was fun and a good start for a new series for sure, but I just didn’t feel the vibe all the way myself.

I received this ARC copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. So thank you netgalley and publishers.
This is my first book by this author. It is a story about Grigori and Madelyn, she has always been fascinated with Dragons. Madelyn wants to prove that dragons exist. While is working on getting a degree in mythology in Russia she comes across a old book. Grigori is then called immediately, so he can find out who is interested in the family book. I'm not going to say anymore because I don't want to give the story away but I loved this book and can't wait for the next book in the series!! :)

This was a pretty good book that I mostly enjoyed. I liked how it took place in Russia, as that seems to never happen with dragons. I liked some of the characters more than others, but all of them were still interesting. Grigori and Madelyn made a pretty good couple that seemed to have similar personalities, and while I hate insta-love, theirs didn't have me constantly annoyed by it. But Grigori's brother was definitely my favorite. He was just fun.

Madelyn's life changes all because she checked out a journal she found in a library while researching in Russia. She didn't know who it belonged to, and never expected dragons to be real. Grigori plans to confront the person who was reading about him and his family, but he never expected to find out it was his true mate. And a mortal no less. Despite the risks, he kidnaps her. But Madelyn doesn't fight it nearly as much as her brain is telling her to because she is already falling for this dragon-man. She wants to learn more about what Grigori really is and help protect him and his brother. But it's her they need protection from when a secret about her own past and parentage comes out.

There are two dragon families in control of Russia. There is a treaty between the two, but when it's broken it comes down to Grigori to fight against their leader. When we get this fight, it was actually pretty good. But not nearly as good as when the enemy learns what Grigori's mate truly is.

As this ended well enough to be a stand a lone, I was curious as to what could possibly happen next that it's to be a series. Then I got to the very last page and found out. I'd definitely check out the next book when it comes out.

'Grigori' by Lauren Smith is the First Book in a New Series called "Brothers of Ash and Fire". This is the story of Grigori Barinov and Madelyn Haynes.
Madelyn has always been fascinated with Dragons and now has taken it so far as her job. Madelyn set out to prove that dragons did exist at one time. While working on her PhD in mythology in Russia she happens upon a book about Dragons by a author a first she thinks is do real research but then in his book he showcases a family that are dragon shifters. Madelyn gives the book back because she knows that book is not about a real siting.
Grigori has been alerted that some one requested his family book from the Library. Grigori rushes over to the Library to try and catch the person who is interested in his family. Grigori thinks there is a threat there and wants to know who is trying to look into Dragons. Grigori tracks down Madelyn who he feels a instant attraction too and his Dragon doesn't want to let her go.
Madelyn is afraid of Grigori at first. Who wouldn't be when someone enters your hotel room demand answers from you and then you are taken to his home. But it doesn't take Madelyn long to start to feel something for Grigori but how will she react to his big secret?
I appositely love Ms. Smith writing and try to read ever book she puts out. I totally enjoyed this book and can't wait for the next book about one of Grigori brothers!
"My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read."
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The book is amazing. When I started reading couldn't put it down I read it one day.Keep up the magnifysent work.You should write more paranormal books.Grigori Barinov is the eldest in an ancient line of dragon shifters.He is the guardian of his family’s lands and fortune. Sworn to protect their history and magic.He won’t rest until he neutralizes any threat to their existence. Madelyn Haynes has never fit in. As an adopted child she grew up in a loving home but never felt as though she belonged. Plagued by mysterious dreams she’s had of a silver scaled beast ever since she was a little girl, she is convinced dragons are real.

I'll be honest. I've read this author before. I've read both her historical and contemporary novels. So imagine my surprise when this PNR came across my lap. To say I was shocked is an understatement. Why? Because I'm a true PNR lover and I couldn't wait to get my hands on this one!

Madelyn Haynes is a professor. She's obsessed with history, but Dragons have always been a personal interest of hers. She dreams about them and can't stop thinking that she needs to know more. So she's in Russia, researching Dragon's origin, when she comes across a book. But this isn't just any book, its a journal. A detailed journal written by a man who claims strange things. Things that shouldn't be viewed upon being real. So why does it feel so...familiar?

Grigori Barinov is a Dragon shifter. He's been alive for thousands of years, protecting his family and treasures. Now it looks like a mistake hundreds of years ago could jeopardize not only his family, but the entire Dragon race. He must find Madelyn to see what her true intentions are. But he gets more than he bargains for. He gets what he's been waiting for his entire life...his mate.

This was such a good introduction to the series. I love me some Dragons and this doesn't disappoint. We are taken on a journey through Russia and Russian history, learning of Dragon shifters as well as other creatures. The way this story unfolds is beautiful. And the way Grigori and Madelyn come to be mates is captivating. Characters have been established and enemies have shown their hand. Now that these two have found each other, I can't wait to see what the rest of this series will bring. Especially considering they now have some work to do. After all, Dragon's love them some jewels.

reviewed by Chris

Love Dragons
Very good dragon mystery,suspense,romance.
Love Grigori who finds his mate Madlyn who always believed that dragons did exist.
If you like dragon stories you will like this one.

When it comes to PNR Lauren Smith delivers every time and the opener to her Brothers of Ash and Fire series couldn't have been any more perfect.

"Mates become one beating heart, one infinite soul."

Dragon shifters are one of my guilty pleasures and the eldest of the three Barinov siblings, Grigori—every gorgeous, unassuming, protective, suit-wearing inch of him—quickly became very much of a guilty pleasure. As he did for Madelyn, who visits Russia to work on her PhD and whose theory that dragons aren't simply a myth, is about to be proven right.

“What does it mean when your eyes change colors?”
“It can mean many things. Excitement, anger, but...it mainly means arousal.”

Absolutely everything in this story worked for me: the fact that this story was very much Madelyn's as Grigor's, the intimate, tender and passionate connection between them, the perfectly timed humour, the overall atmosphere and I loved how Russian history was woven into the story. But it's when the Barinov's enemies, the Drakor's, discover Grigori has found his mate and she's human that this story really kicks into action as the tension levels begin to soar.

“All that matters is that I found you. After nearly two thousand years of being alone, I found you.”

These men have already stolen my heart and with youngest brother, Rurik bringing my kind of humour and Mikhail leaving me intrigued having being exiled by their father and away from his brothers for 200 years, I absolutely can't wait to get my hands on the rest of this series.

This book was good. It wasn't great but it was enjoyable. My biggest problem was I didn't feel like the chemistry between the characters was real. It felt incredibly forced and it was awkward. Other than that I did like it. I love dragon shifters. And honestly most shifter books are pretty similar and this one really was similar to some other ones Ive read in the past. But I still liked it!

A new take on the world of dragons, this book was mesmerizing and romantic! I loved all of the unique aspects of the dragon world that Lauren Smith created, and I'm excited to say that she has perhaps sparked an interest in a dragon paranormal subgenre in the romance world that wasn't quite there before. Most of the time, if you have a shifter in a romance, they're wolves or big cats. Instead, Lauren has fantastically brought to life dragon shifters and the political dramas within their society. Very interesting to read, and thankfully, it's only the beginning of a brand new series!

Madelyn Haynes must prove that dragons once existed if she is to keep her job. A professor at a university, specializing in medieval mythology, she has come to Russia to explore the idea that maybe dragons aren't so much of a myth after all. While researching in a library, she comes across a journal, written two centuries ago, that details fantastic tales of a man who lived with three dragons, the Barinov brothers: Mikhail, Rurik, and Grigori. Unbeknownst to her, they are still very much alive, and when the eldest, Grigori, learns of how close she has come to discovering their secret, he kidnaps her until he can determine how much she knows. But Grigori isn't the only one with secrets, and Madelyn's may be the biggest of them all.

I loved the chemistry between Madelyn and Grigori! Although it is quickly known that she is his true mate, the love that blossoms between them is very real. Grigori's protective behavior towards Madelyn is swoonworthy, particularly towards the middle of the story when her life is put in danger by his own brother. She is obviously the most important person in the world to him, and it warms the heart to read about his devotion to her. When I learned her secret, I held my breath, thinking that this would be the moment when Grigori turns into a jerk, but instead, he thinks she is amazing. Her secret just made her all the more appealing to him.

I can't wait to read the next book in the series, featuring the exiled brother, Mikhail! It's going to be great!

4.5 Stars Grigori is a great start to the Brothers of Ash and Fire. This is an exciting, action-packed story and my first read by Lauren Smith, however it won’t be my last. Grigori and Madelyn are great characters and the storyline engaging. I will be recommending this to readers.

This book was better than I thought it would be, I had never read anything from this author before as was looking for my next book to lose myself in and this book did not disappoint. Lets just say that I stayed up well past my bedtime finishing this book. I don't want to give too much away but I can't wait until the next release so I can see how the story unfolds. In a nutshell this book is about self-discovery and creating your own tribe that you didn't even know that you were looking for.

Another solid story by Ms. Smith. Excellent romance all around.