This is a great book! The writing and dialog are awesome. The characters are so engaging they suck you into the story! I highly recommend checking out this book!

I received Eight Simple Rules for Dating a Dragon by Kerrelyn Sparks from NetGalley in exchanged for a fair review. This is the third book of her Embraced series but can be read as a stand-alone.
****I am not a huge fan of paranormal romance and yet, I had heard a lot about Kerrelyn Sparks from my book club and was curious. I was pleasantly surprised I enjoyed the book.****
Gwennore is and Elf that is also Embraced- born on a special night- that gives her special powers. In this instance, Gwennore is a healer. General Silas Dravenko has served the royal family and is intent on saving them. When Gwennore is thrown into his world, Silas convinces her to stay and help save his country with her healing abilities. But as they work together, both Gwen and Silas are drawn to one another. Both struggle with the attraction; Gwen wants to be with her family and Silas is hiding secrets. As the book continues, Gwen learns of Silas’ secrets and begins to wonder if she can ever trust him.
This was a wonderful introduction to Kerrelyn Sparks. She draws the reader in with her wonderful description of a beautiful land as well the banter between all characters. The fact that Sparks took the time to fully develop the secondary characters as well made the book extra special. I also enjoyed the fact that while she included characters from the other books of the series, it wasn’t overwhelming. Just enough to make a person curious. I will be continuing the series and look forward to reading more of Sparks. #EightSimpleRulesForDatingADragon #NetGalley

Kerrelyn Sparks has a way with words that will draw you in and wont let go till the final page. While looking after her pseudo niece Eviana, who gets taken by a dragon, Gwennore grabs on to the dragon not willing to let the little girl get taken. Because of her Elf status Gwennore is rejected and thought to be a bane of exsistance and the people don't trust her. She meets Silas the Georgous General aka Prince of Norveshka who arranges to take Eviana home the next morning if she agrees to help him solve the curse that is supposedly killing off all the Queens and Kings of the kingdom. He also arranges to take Eviana home the next morning. This book is full of tension of the good variety and secrets and mysteries that I just devoured it in one sitting I really cant wait to get and read the next sister of this series.

I received an ARC of this book and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

A kidnapping of a child brings Gwennore into Silas' life. Gwennore is part elf, Silas a dragon. Silas was raised thinking the Elves were the enemy. He doesn't understand why Gwen affects him like she does or if she has other plans...such as betrayal to his land.

Silas is a General in his lands military, he is also next in line to become King. He has never wanted to be King and hopes if he can "cure" the curse on his family then his brother can remain King. Is it a curse or is there other sinister acts in place?

I really enjoyed this story. I have read most of this author's books and she always amazes me with her visions and insights.

Gwennore is a delightful you woman and a healer. Being in a land where an elf was not to be trusted was really hard on her plus her healing abilities always arose doubts. She handles it all with grace and patience while trying to help Silas and learn about her parentage.

I enjoyed this book and look forward to more!

Book Talk I 3 16/18

Traci Kenworth

 

Eight Simple Rules for Dating a Dragon by Kerrelyn Sparks. St. Martin’s paperback. Mar. 27, 2018.



As always blurb from Amazon: EIGHT SIMPLE RULES FOR DATING A DRAGON
“Deeply satisfying, delightfully swoon-inducing.”—Publishers Weekly on Kerrelyn Sparks’s Love at Stake series

TRUTH—OR DARE?

Gwennore is an Elf able to track down the cause of a certain illness and heal it—a valuable asset to her people. But when she is thrust into the realm of the dragons, she discovers a haunted place of power, passion, and magic—one that is plagued by an ancient curse. When she meets the smoldering General Silas Dravenko, Gwen knows she’s entered a whole new world of trouble. She’s been raised never to trust a dragon. So why does making a deal with the devil feel so good?

Silas has no way of saving the royal family he’s served for years. But when a beautiful, innocent elf comes bursting into his world, Silas is awakened to desire in a way he’s never felt before. But how can he trust a sworn enemy. . .and how can he live without her, in Eight Simple Rules for Dating a Dragon by New York Times bestselling author Kerrelyn Sparks.



Book Review: Gwennore finds herself captive of General Gorgeous when her blood sister’s daughter is kidnapped by a dragon and she herself is carried by the dragon she names Puff. She is able to communicate with the dragons somehow. When they drop her and her niece in the courtyard of a rival palace, she discovers the queen has had her niece kidnapped and believes her to be her daughter. Her ladies-in-waiting and the guard agree with her for fear of reprisal. Gwennore is sentenced to the dungeon but General Gorgeous comes to her rescue. He convinces the palace that she and he are lovers and tells her he will return the princess to her kingdom the next day to avoid war with two of the kingdoms of her blood sisters.

He discovers that Gwennore has a healing touch and knows the queen is being poisoned. She’s the first person who believes like him that his people aren’t cursed and anyone who marries into the three dragon clans is cursed with madness. His mother fell to the curse despite his pleas to her and he and his sister, Sorcha were sent away. Sorcha is one of Gwennore’s blood sisters. His brother, Petrus, is king and rumored to be going mad as well. As Gwennore and the general investigate the discover plot upon plot and the truth may be harder to bear than they can guess.



LOVED! This is apparently the third book, but I didn’t have much trouble following the story line and now I’m curious to go back to the former books. I see there may be two more books in the series. The storyline flowed well, the characters were interesting. The plot kept me guessing. All the books are linked together which as I mentioned, I may go back through and see what they’re about. I enjoyed Gwennore’s story and look forward to more by Kerrelyn Sparks.

**** stars!

These books are so much fun. Each sister will get their fortune told from playing a game they made up called the seeing stones. After the telling, they go through life and look for signs of the stones and who they fall in love with. They are all on high alert because an evil plan is afoot in the world, and the kingdoms must come together to battle it.

Eight Simple Rules for Dating a Dragon by Kerrelyn Sparks
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I dropped into The Embraced series with book # 3 and could tell that I was missing some of the world building and backstory. I think that I would have enjoyed the first part of the book more if I had read the first two. Even so I had no trouble keeping up with Gwennore, who is an elf and General Silas Dravenko who is a dragon. If course the fact that he was a dragon was the big secret in the first part of the book. I knew before Gwennore but it did not take her that long to catch on. I enjoyed the tension and humor in the book. Silas had great dialog and it kept the tone light in spite of the tension generated by the plot. Gwennore is a very strong character who has suffered a great many insults because she is an elf. Turns out she is just half elf and the other half makes her even more important to the story line. Much is solved and much is left unsolved as the story ends. This is a fun series and I look forward to the next book in the series.

I received a free copy of the book in return for an honest review.

Another win by Kerrelyn Sparks, I've discovered you really can't go wrong with this author. This was a beautifully written book, and I've never said that before. This is such a unique world that it can just draw you in and leave you wanting more.

Received ARC in exchange for honest voluntary review from NetGalley

Eight Simple Rules for Dating a Dragon is my favorite in the series. It will make you laugh and cry.

Your heart breaks a little in Eight Simple Rules for Dating a Dragon. First for Gwennore, the only elf among the five sisters who grew up together in the convent on the Isle of the Moons. Until leaving the convent and traveling on the mainland, Gwennore was never subjected to prejudice because of what she is. Her sisters have always accepted her and loved her no matter her genes. But in both of the Kingdoms that her sisters, Luciana and Brigitta, are now Queens, the aristocrats look down on Gwennore for being an elf. With the coloring and her pointed ears, she easily stands out and instead of finding the beauty in Gwennore, who is lovely, sweet and kind, but all they can see is an undesirable elf.

Overhearing the men at Court talk about her with derrision, makes Gwennore spend more time with the children and in an attempt to get away from the courtiers during a picnic, she goes picking flowers with Luciana’s daughter in a field away from the others. This allows the little girl to be kidnapped by a dragon. Gwennore grabs on as well so she can be there to protect the little girl. Even though Gwennore’s actions reflect her love and bravery for her sister’s daughter, even in the kingdom of Norveshki, Gwennore cannot get away from the prejudice of being an elf, or should I say, especially in Norveshki since they are constantly at war with the neighboring elf kingdom of Woodwyn. It is only Silas and a few of his friends who accept Gwennore for herself and see only her good qualities.

But Gwennore isn’t the only one suffering in this story, Silas Dravenko is one of three families cursed by the Ancient Dragons long ago. He has lost most of his family to madness and his brother’s wife, the current Queen is is barely holding on to her sanity. As the Queen’s illness progresses, Silas fears for his brother’s sanity as well. It is the King who ordered the princess to be kidnapped to replace the Queen’s own children who died. Norveshki is already at war with Woodwyn and the King’s action will cause Norveshki to fight a war against KIngs Leofric and King Rupert as well if Silas doesn’t act quickly. Silas is alone in a kingdom full of courtiers, none of whom want anything to do with the cursed royal family. Even as he falls in love with the brave, beautiful Gwennore, she knows she cannot stay in a kingdom that hates her and knowing she is right to want to leave, won’t help him when his future looks so bleak. Silas needs Gwennore’s help in solving the mystery of this age old “curse” or he could lose everything that matters.

While we search for ways for Gwennore and Silas to break the curse over Silas’s family and get a happily ever after, there is one character whose problem might not be solveable. King Leofric has found love with his Queen Luciana in How to Tame a Beast in Seven Days, we still see a sadness in him. We watch Leo, blessed with the ability to control lightening, look longingly upon anyone hugging his children. By luck, Leo is able to touch his wife but he now fears touching his own children for fear of killing them with his electricity. It is heartbreaking to know that he is still denied the basic comfort of touch with anyone else by Luciana.

I loved seeing Gwennore hold her head high no matter who was sneering at her, but this story will still pulled on all your heartstings and cause a sob or two. But don’t forget that this is a Kerrelyn Sparks’ novel, so there will be more than a few chuckles between all the tears.

Gwen is embraced and she is an elf, even though she is loved by her adopted sisters, who are also gifted like her, Gwen feels like an outsider. Visiting one of her sisters who is now a queen, Gwen gets a lot of disdain from the people at court simply because she is an elf. To escape scrutiny, she takes a walk to pick flowers with her niece when they are kidnapped by dragons. Gwen finds she can talk with her dragon, which she names Puff, since he won’t tell her his name and Puff promises he will fix this misunderstanding and return both her and the princess. Silas is the general of the dragon realm and Gwen is drawn to him even as she wants to get away from him. The realm is under an ancient curse and there is danger lurking in the castle. Gwen makes sure Luciana’s daughter is returned safely in exchange for her help in solving the ancient mystery and bringing the realm back to their former glory. The mystery in this was awesome and actual comes from several different directions, some obvious, others, not so much. This series is amazing and I can’t wait for the rest to come out, I couldn’t put this book down.

This story takes place a little after book two and now it’s Gwennores turn. After having the telling stones picked for Gwennorr she knew her time was coming but until then she lived with her sisters. Life was good she had all the people she loved around her and it couldn’t have been better. Except for the people who hated her because she has elf blood. Her family loved her deeply but others thought less and of her.

One day getting away from people talking about her Gwennore took her niece Eviana our to collect flowers for her mother’s birthday while enjoying their time together a dragon flew over them and took Eviana. Afraid but unwilling to let her niece go Gwennore grabbed ahold and planned to stay with her niece till the dragon dropped her and another caught her and kept her safe. Gwennore doesn’t know how her day turned out like it did for her niece to be taken and then to find out she can talk to dragons and hear them in her head. The dragon who saved her promises to get her to her niece safely and that’s what he does, only to find once she is reunited with Eviana more troubles are yet to come.

Now that they are in Norveshki, the land of the dragons Gwen learns that their queen has asked for Eviana’s capture and everyone seems to afraid to defy the queen except for the general who the dragon promised would help her. Seeing Silas Gwennore can’t believe her eyes not only is her gorgeous but he saves her niece. But there’s a catch Silas needs Gwennore’s help and he wants her for himself. With Norveshki is turmoil Gwen agrees but the more time she spends with Silas the harder it is to deny her feeling go and stop his advances.

As Silas and Gwen work together to save his land they fall in love but saving Norveshki and the king and queen may be harder than they thought with and old villain set on their ruin and soon the realize that even if they can defeat this villain Silas people may never accept Gwennore in their land.

I love this series, they stories are so amazing and detailed. The world that has been built in this series is so intricate and detailed(other word). Not only do we get an amazing romance but the story in this book is honestly enough on its own, and that’s coming from an exclusive romance reader here. This story continues with the struggles that the last two books had and because of that we get to see the previous main characters in this book as well.

Silas is a great hero and I fell in love with him right away, Gwen is smart and strong and her and Silas fit perfectly together. We learn more about who they are fighting against in this book but because this whole series has one main storyline it is not finished yet. I have to say I can’t wait to see joy only what happened next, we do know who our next heroine is and I can’t wait to see how this will all turn out. My one complaint is that the end is a little too abrupt and fast. I wish the ending had been given a little more time but otherwise this is a phenomenal book, that I had holy recommend.

I loved Silas and Gwennore’s story! Silas is doing all he can to protect his brother, solve the mystery of why his country is in danger of dying out, and all the while falling in love. Gwennore thinks they’re moving too fast only to quickly realise she really can’t do without him.. Romance, Intrique, and a bit of magic goes a long way in this story! 5 stars!

Kerrelyn Sparks’ latest in the Embraced Series is an entertaining, whimsical read that I could not put down!

Gwennore is an elf and one of the Embraced, children born with magical gifts and secreted away for their protection as babies, never to know their families. When Gwennore is abducted by a rogue Dragon, she ends up in the kingdom of Norveshka under the protection of General Silas Dravenko, heir to the throne and dragon extraordinaire.

The kingdom of Norvesha is slowly dying from a old curse. Can Gwennore’s healing powers save the kingdom? Can she trust herself and follow the eight simple rules to win a dragon’s heart?

I received an advance reader copy from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

Book 3 in the Embraced series, this is Gwennore’s story. She is one of the five young women raised together on an island hidden away because of their special gifts and talents that have been feared in the past. Gwennore is an elf who has the ability to identify an illness and figure out how to treat it. While she is spending time with her some of her sisters who have become queens in different provinces, a young girl in her care is kidnapped by a dragon. Gwen enlists the help of another dragon to follow into a neighboring kingdom. Her kind have long been considered the enemy in the dragon land of Norvekshi. Gwen captivates General Silas Dravenko who desperately needs her help to figure out what illness has befallen his queen who is married to his brother. Silas bargains with her to stay and help and also find a solution for the people of his land who are suffering much from what is thought to be a curse.

Since Gwen has been away from the island, she has been treated with fear and suspicion by the people in her sisters’ new kingdoms although she has never lived with the elves. They seem to have bad relations with their neighbors, near and far. Silas is immediately drawn to Gwen; he is very determined to make her his own. Some aspects of this story are a bit predictable; however, it is still an enjoyable sweet fantasy romance. The humor in this series gives it a Princess Bride vibe. Dragon shifters are always good fun and make particularly enjoyable heroes.

"The first rule for dating a dragon is that whenever he takes you for a ride, you hold on tight and never let go."

I loved this book, It captured my attention from beginning to end. Gwennore has grown up in a land where she doesn't feel like she quite fits in. She is dedicated and loyal to her family, but it's never been quite enough. Silas is a general for a country that has great secrets to hide, and can't figure out why he is so attracted to it's newest "visitor". Together they make a fiery duo, two puzzle pieces that twist and turn before they find that they fit. And then, you have dragons! Need I say more? It was an engaging storyline filled with characters that were well developed, and amusing. Though it is part of the Embraced series of books, it can be read as a stand alone without feeling too lost.

"Be still. He bent his long neck, angling his head downward so he could study her with gleaming gold eyes. I have you."

Trite, overused, paranormal fantasy. Other writers are better at it. Apparently, dragons are 2018s vampires. Same story, different supernatural creatures.

I love Kerrelyn Sparks!! Everything she writes is gold to me and this book was just as good as the rest. It had humor, sexy times, and Sparks! It had all the hallmarks of her other books with an added hero that has something a little "extra" and I love paranormal romances. If you've loved her other books then you'll love this one.

I was given an ARC copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own and do not reflect anyone else's.

4.5 Star!
I love, love, love this series! It's a wonderful fairy tale for adults full of romance, humor, and magic. Gwen is struggling with happiness right now, she can hear how some people dislike and gossip about her because she is different. But she loves her adopted sisters and doesn't think twice when her niece is kidnapped by a dragon. She hitches a ride with another dragon to a nearby kingdom to make sure that her niece stays safe. Unfortunately, there is a sadness in the story as the kingdom is suffering from a curse and children are in danger, if born at all. The queen has lost her own children and it's driving her insane. Gwen, a healer, also meets the military leader, Silas who asks her to help discover what may be causing some of the problems in the kingdom. Silas is a strong, swoon-worthy hero who falls so hard for Gwen and I loved the banter between the two. Gwen makes some new friends and grows into a woman with more confidence and learns more about her past and family ties. It was fun to visit with characters from the previous stories and there is a more sinister action in the thread with the evil Chameleon and the havoc he always causes. Ms Sparks does it again with a this multi-layered tale that will be devoured by her long-time fans!
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion

In her new series, Sparks has left the vampires behind to embrace a fantasy realm where people are born with magical powers and dragons soar overhead. Eight Simple Rules for Dating a Dragon, the third book in the series, follows Gwennore, an elfish healer, as she travels to a neighboring kingdom to try to discover the cause of the curse that plagues the royal family - and her potential suitor - the General Silas Dravenko. Royal intrigue, heated glances and some serious flirting follow. Although it isn't as overtly humorous as the Love at Stake novels, the Embraced series delivers that Kerrelyn Sparks excels at, a world continuity that check in on previous protagonists and offers new insights into the characters. It it always good for old characters to return, even if only in side scenes. If you are looking for a light paranormal romance with a fantasy bent, look no further.

I haven't read one of Sparks books for a long time, but I certainly enjoyed this one. The world building was very well written and I liked the leads as well as most of the secondary characters. The big secret was blatantly obvious but it didn't take anything away from the story. I would be very interested in reading more of this world.