This is the third book in the 'Embraced' series and although this book earned a 4 star rating from me instead of 5 stars like the other books, it was still a good read. Ms. Sparks knows how to create intrigue, mystery and romance between Silas and Gwennore. Gwennore has the power to detect illness and she agrees to try and help General Silas Dravenko even after being kidnapped by a dragon. Gwen does her best to not succumb to the charms of "General Gorgeous" as she names him. Silas has never met a woman who stirs his passion like Gwen. He respects her gift as she tries to unravel an ancient 'curse' affecting his people, but he never wants to let her go and wants the beautiful elf for his own.

I liked Silas especially his sense of humor that keeps Gwen on her toes. I would have enjoyed more scenes of these two getting to know each other, but overall this was a fun read. I can't wait to see what the next 'Embraced' sister's story will be. Fans of romance and dragons will enjoy this story.

I haven't read a really great fantasy novel in a while, until now. The concept was fresh, without being too much/too complicated of world building. The romance was believable, and the characters were interesting. I hope to read more in this series.

This wasn't my favorite.. It was good but Something about Silas bothered me. Maybe because everything was a joke to him? He was very sarcastic to the point that I had no idea when he was being serious. I don't know but I really didn't like him. And Gwennore wasn't much better. She kept falling all over Silas even when he lied to her. So yeah the characters in this book weren't my favorite.. Now the story itself was really good. I loved the idea behind the cursed barbarians. So that part was good. But the characters kind of brought the whole thing down for me.

*** I received this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for allowing me access to this title. ***

All we want as adults is live in a fairytale fueled by our imaginations. A preverbal fairytale that comes true! Thankfully there are fantastical books like this series that allows us to envision what our adult lives would look like if we were in an actual fairytale! That is, if we out grew princesses and the hero’s that try to rescue them and became the dragons that lurk deep in our subconscious! This tale is about Gwen who did just that! She is a dragon who really doesn’t need a hero to save her or to worry about a knight in shiny armor slaying her to save some helpless princess! No, instead she has Silas and his carnal thirst to contend with. They are hopelessly adorable!
Though she is a fierce dragon, Gwen is a naive in the ways of love and seeing her squirm under Silas’ slicing gaze and overt sexual innuendo is totally priceless. The side characters are also completely delightful, and I enjoyed every part of this novel!
I would recommend this story to anyone who loves the thrill of a long slow burn and the excitement of the pinnacle of the crescendo of the finale! Brava!

(I had previously reviewed this title, but it seems my review never saved!)

I enjoyed the book and it kept me hooked; however, it felt flat in terms of how much there were dragons in the book. I expected to reveal to take place later or there to be more mystery in regards to the identities to the dragons.

Some items I took away:
The romance was sweet, but almost seemed like insta-love.
Silas was A+++++, also all his officers!
Gwenmore was initially really boring, but then she started to trust in herself and her abilities..
There was a lot of re-explaining situations that the reader already read, so it was really repetitive.
The middle of the book had a lot of filler.

Dragon shifter novels are my jam! If there is one coming out I am so there, ready to love the mean, typically hunky slightly angry dragon and hoping all the while that they can be tamed. So, as soon as this one came out I was there. Give it to me, please! Only, I didn’t realize that this was book three in a series. Normally I read a series in order, so it did throw me for a loop when I realized half way through that this one was the third book. At least then all the inside stuff that I was missing made more since to me.

Gwen is an Elf, one who was raised away from other elves on a magical island where people born like her are sent. She has created her own family with a group of girls that were also sent to the island, her “sisters”. She was playing with her niece who got kidnapped by a dragon, so she does what any loving aunt would do and hitches a ride with the same dragon to protect her niece. Once they are delivered to the royal family, she promises the brother of the king (Silas) to find out what is poisoning his people as long as her niece stays safe.

Silas is a good royal brother, he wants only for his brother to be a great king. He is happy out of the limelight and does not understand what is going on with either his brother or his wife. He will do anything to protect his people though, even it means trusting an elf. I love when he reacts to Gwen’s affection for a dragon. He is a good general for his people, and he does put their needs over his own.

Gwen has faced a lot of racism over who she is. The suitors in her sisters country are none to kind about what they really feel. So she keeps to herself and her family. Letting a dragon in was a big step, can she dare let a human in? I loved her interactions with the dragon, with humans sometimes not so much. She seemed to be more open with the dragon and less prone to insecurities.

The chemistry between these two is slow to build. Once it happens though, sparks begin to fly. The book starts of a little on the slow side, which was probably the author laying the groundwork for the world building. The dual points of view was a nice touch but after a while, I felt that the switching began to make the book seem like it was repeating itself.

I do recommend this one if you are looking for a good dragon shifter book. However, if I could have it to do over again I would probably have read the series in order.

My Rating 3 out of 5 stars

Favorite Quote “I’ve fought enough battles, seen enough of my people die, to know that success is never guaranteed.”

Other People
Eviana- Gwen’s niece
Dimitri- Silas’ besties
Aleksi- Silas’ besties
Brody- Gwen’s bestie

I had to force myself to read this book, repeatedly. I would start and loose interest, put it away for awhile, then try again. I got to the point that I gave it a final chance. Well, I am glad I did! Once I got into the story and the characters everything else fell into place.

This is a paranormal romance set in an alternate reality and world. The people living there are born with powers that emerge depending on when/where they were born. Elves are looked upon as lower than low and class division is in full swing. There are shifters and an assortment of other paranormal creatures in the book, too. All of these things add up to a richly detailed world full of interesting characters and secondary characters.

I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series, after I get done reading the first two in the series.

I would like to thank NetGalley for giving me a galley of this book.

Quirky, fun and yet somber at times, Ms. Sparks' latest series is one not to miss. I love this dragon theme and I particularly like these special children born on a specific night when both moons are present. This family made by choice rather than blood is endearing. With the latest sister, Gwennore up as the latest sister to find love, her trials are no less than her sisters.

Gwennore is a spunky elf who knows her value in spite of those deriding her appearance and specifically her identity as an elf. The last thing she is expects, is to be abducted by dragons and held captive by a mad queen. Gweenore is ideally suited for the situation she finds herself in. She is able to protect her young niece and possible solve a centuries old curse.

This story hits many of the emotions which pulls a reader into the story. We fear for Gwennore and her niece's life. Anger and frustration definitely appear as she fights her captors only to learn there is no reasoning with a delusional woman in power. There is more than gloom and doom as her interactions with General Silas is amusing and at time frustrating. The two of them are so well matched. They balance each other and if they didn't have so many political constraints, they could be so happy together.

Gwennore's story continues to build out this new world of The Embraced. I eagerly look forward to new books in this series. They are easy to consume and a decadent reward after a hard week at work. This book is recommended to romance readers who enjoy fantasy and happily ever afters.

Eight Simple Rules For Dating a Dragon is the third book in The Embraced series by Kerrelyn Sparks. While newcomers to the series will be able to enjoy the romance portion of the story, I think those that are reading the series in order will get more from the read, because of the ongoing intrigue and danger that carries through the series.

Gwennore has a talent, able to track down the cause of an illness and heal it, she’s a valuable asset to her people. But when the kidnapping of a young girl thrusts Gwennore into the very heart of the realm of the dragons, she discovers not only a place of power and magic, but also a haunted land, plagued by an ancient curse that all but ensures extinction to the royal family. When she meets the smoldering General Silas Dravenko, they strike a bargain to save the country from its cursed illness and return the kidnapped girl. Silas has no way of curing the family he’s loyally served for years. But when a beautiful elf, long considered the enemy of the dragons, comes bursting into his world, Silas is awakened to passion and desire in a way he’s never felt before. But can he trust a sworn enemy to save the very existence he holds dear? And can their love survive those that threaten to tear them apart?

Eight Simple Rules For Dating a Dragon is a story that captured me from the very start. Gwennore is sweet and strong, and constantly looked down on by most people because of her heritage. Like her sisters she was raised with no knowledge of her family, so has no idea who her parents are, or when an elven girl would be sent to the convent to be raised. When she hitches a ride on a dragon to stay with her kidnapped she had no idea what would happen next. She is dropping into a kingdom where the rulers are losing their minds, plots are underway, everyone is afraid, and poison could be anywhere. Silas is intrigued by Gwen, and needs to get to the bottom of the plots swirling around them. Secrets abound, as does attraction, but can they overcome it all to find a way? I liked that bother characters were strong, and that they stayed true to themselves through the book. I really loved Gwen's character, she is the perfect combination of soft and caring with a backbone of steel when needed. I also liked that at no point did Silas underestimate her, her had full respect for the women in his life, and acknowledges their skills and strengths. As I have come to expect from from Sparks, the secondary characters are as well crafted and interesting as the main players. I am eager to see some more of them interact and hopefully see them find their own happy endings in future books.

Eight Simple Rules For Dating a Dragon is a nice addition to the series, and I am very much looking forward to what comes next.

Gwennore is an elf who grew up on the isle of moon with her adopted sisters. Now that they are moving away and marrying, Gwennore feels a little lost. However, when she visits them at their kingdoms, some of the locals pick on her. While avoiding more rude locals, a dragon takes her niece, so she jumps on him to try to protect her. Little did she know that her life was about to change.
I loved the next adventure in this series. I thought that Siles and Gwennore were there perfect fit for eachother. The story and the characters were very well written and there were a number of funny spots in this book. I can’t wait for the next one. I highly recommend.
**I voluntarily read and reviewed this book

Gwennore is an Elf and has lived her life feeling lost....luckily for her a Dragon swoops in and saves the day when she needs him the most

General Silas Dravenko has many secrets but when Gwen walks into the room he can't help but want to keep her safe no matter what secrets he must reveal.

Gwen and Silas go on a journey that has many twists and turns but will it lead to romance? Read and find out!

I voluntarily read an advanced review copy of this book

This book was very good. I loved trying to figure out just who was doing what and every secret that Kerreyln put before her reads. While some of the mysteries were very predictable others will really leave you surprised. I feel like the nurse in me had a problem with the cure to stop an illness that was plaguing many people but outside of that I loved this addition to the series and can not wait for more.

Totally Worth Breaking Rules For!

Like Alice falling through the rabbit hole, as Gwen tries to do a good deed she is whisked away on a magical adventure...one that, unlike Alice, she realizes she doesn't want to return home from. This series just keeps getting more entertaining, leaving me waiting on pins and needles for the next one! Thank You, Ms. Sparks for writing such imaginative tales.

I enjoyed seeing Gwennore become strong and confident in herself. It was difficult for her as an elf to be surrounded by the dragon folk, who saw her as the enemy. She was selfless and brave to stay and try to heal the ills of the Norveshka people even though many wanted her dead. She made true friends and learned that she very much belonged there. It was sweet to watch her relationship with Silas grow. There are so many twists and turns going on in this story. It definitely keeps your attention and keeps you guessing. I look forward to the next installment of the Embraced.

Overall, I'm a big fan of this series. However, this installment left me disappointed. Although similar in concept to the first two entries, I was somewhat disappointed. I didn't feel the chemistry with been Gwennore & Silas.

A wonderful tale that follows Gwennore in the 3rd installment of The Embraced.. Gwennore travels to Norveshka where she encounter General Silas Dravenko, a dragon. There are some strange happenings going on in Norveshka and though Silas is wary of the elf, Gwennore he understands her reticence to people who have often ridiculed her. Together they decide to help each other out in their separate quests. She to find a missing girl and him to find out what is really going on, on this island. This was filled with sarcastic witty comments and laugh out loud moments, but for me the most important part is DRAGONS!!!! Love them and no book written about dragons could ever be bad in my opinion. Loved it! 4 stars

4.5 stars

A wonderful continuation to a captivating series! Leaving the Isle of Mist has brought surprises for all the sisters, but the condemnation Gwennore feels is harsher than she could have imagined. Once she's carried away to the land of dragons she comes to realize that there's still more she doesn't know. Having never met another elf before, she doesn't see how she's different from all the others. And while she's initially afraid in this foreign place, she's drawn to the land, the dragon and the man. What follows is an engrossing tale about discovering who you are, how to harness your power, believe in yourself and let yourself be loved.

It’s a wonderful ride and I can’t wait for the next installment.

I received an ARC of this book, from the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I enjoyed this latest installment in the series and look forward to the next one.

The Good, The Bad, and Everything In Between
The Good
-I liked the characters, both Gwennore and Silas, and they do have some chemistry when the story was focused on their romance.
-The story starts off strong and the “curse” of the Norveshki people intrigued me. Focusing in on those aspects would have been the thing to do, except...

The Bad and Everything in Between
-Lord, the recaps killed me. The story bogged down with the repetition. Something would happen in a scene, and then I’d have to read the characters dissect those same actions, then repeat the reasons why x,y, and z can’t/won’t happen and then move on.

The Bottom Line 2.5 stars
This was ok. What’s kept me coming back is this group of sisters, by choice if not by blood. The setup for entire series has so much potential, and I would like to know what’s going to happen to the remaining characters, such as Sorcha, Maeve and Brody.

I just wish the writing could support these ungainly middle sections, because so far, the stories start strong and end relatively well. I may read the next one, but not sure I’d rush out and do so. I wouldn’t recommend this unless you’re a diehard Kerrelyn Sparks fan.

First off, I want to comment on the model for the cover of the book. Can we say “Yum?” He is what I pictured Silas would look like. Thank you to whoever had to good sense to choose this model. He will help boost sales on this book.

I had an “Oops, I did it again” type of hiccup when I signed up to review this book on NetGalley. Usually, if I get the hint that the book is part of series, I look it up on Goodreads and make my decision. As it turns out, I didn’t see the “A novel of the Embraced” on the blurb that NetGalley puts up. Or the series list that Goodreads has. I was distracted when accepting this book. I am glad I did. Eight Simple Rules for Dating a Dragon was a great read. I did get lost with some of the references made about the plotlines of the earlier books and the Chameleon.

The plotline for Eight Simple Rules for Dating a Dragon was interesting. Gwennore is an Elf who was raised on a secret island with 4 other girls. They all have had the misfortune of being born when the two moons of their world eclipse. Any child who is born when that happens is born with a magical power.

Gwennore was watching her adopted sister’s 3-year-old daughter when a dragon suddenly appears and snatches the toddler up. Gwennore clings to the dragon in a desperate attempt to rescue her. After being thrown from the dragon and being caught by another, Gwennore is brought to the land of Novreshka. A land that is dangerous. A land that Gwennore will fight for her life, to get to the bottom of an ancient curse, to heal the people of Novreshka, and for the love of a man who has many secrets. What Gwennore doesn’t know is that her secrets, secrets that have been hidden from her, could be the undoing of everything that she has fought so hard for.

I liked Gwennore even though I felt bad for her. She was not accepted outside of her sisters because she was an Elf. That whole scene with those Lords made me mad. She was too sweet to even stick up for herself and she refused to let Brody shift and bite them. I did think that when she spoke Novreshkaish, it was a little odd. But when she told Silas where she learned it from, I laughed. She was speaking like they did centuries before. I liked that she was willing to do anything to find a cure for the curse that was affecting Novreshka. I figured out her parentage fairly early in the book. I did think it took her a little longer to figure out the connection between Puff and Silas. I figured it out before her…lol.

I loved Silas. I thought he was awesome the entire book. He would do anything for his family. But if it crossed a line, which kidnapping Gwennore’s niece did, he was willing to right the wrong. He was such a mystery in the first half of the book. I liked how the author gradually leaked his background. His biggest secret, though, I guessed halfway through the book. I like it when the main character can make me laugh. Silas certainly did. He was a cheeky bugger.

There is Instalove in Eight Simple Rules for Dating a Dragon. I don’t like Instalove. I know most people do but I like a believable romance. One where the love is built up. Not one where all it takes is one look and bam, you are in love. Strangely, it does work in Eight Simple Rules for Dating a Dragon. But just because it works, doesn’t mean I will start liking Instalove.

The chemistry between Gwennore and Silas was off the charts off. The author did a great job of maintaining that spark between them until they had sex. And let me tell you about the sex. Holy crap was it good. Silas couldn’t have picked a better place to deflower Gwennore. At their version of the North Pole, under the Northern lights. It was beautiful and unbelievably sexy.

What I didn’t like was that past books were referenced. While the author did a great job of following up with an explanation about what the characters were talking about, I still felt that I was out of the loop.

I loved how the author kept the secret of the dragons a secret until almost the end of the book. Saying that I did guess the secret halfway through the book. I also liked how the author connected that secret to the issues that had befallen the kings and queens. It made for a very interesting read.

The end of the book was not what I expected. It was a bittersweet ending. Silas’s happiness was tempered by something that happened towards the end of the book. The author ended Silas and Gwennore’s romance in a way that satisfied me. But she didn’t end all the storylines. She left enough leeway that you know there will be a book 4. I am wondering if it will be Maeve or Sorcha???

What I liked about Eight Simple Rules for Dating a Dragon:

A) Fun, flirty storyline

B) Gwennore and Silas’s romance

C) Plot twists were kept secret until they were revealed

What I didn’t like about Eight Simple Rules for Dating a Dragon:

A) 3rd book in a series

B) Instalove

C) Past books were referenced and leaving me confused

I would give Eight Simple Rules for Dating a Dragon an Adult rating. This is a book that I wouldn’t let anyone under the age of 21 read. There are explicit sex and violence. No language. There is one scene where a man is pushed into a boiling hot spring and boiled alive. I didn’t easily get that scene out of my mind.

There are trigger warnings in this book. They would be: kidnapping, murder and attempted murder. If you are triggered by any of these, I would suggest not to read the book.

I would recommend Eight Simple Rules for Dating a Dragon to family and friends. I would include a warning about the triggers. I would reread this book and I would happily read the rest of the series.

I would like to thank St. Martin’s Paperbacks, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review Eight Simple Rules for Dating a Dragon.

All opinions stated in this review of Eight Simple Rules for Dating a Dragon are mine.

**I chose to leave this review after reading an advance reader copy**