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Dragon's Treasure

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Bestselling author Candace Ayers brings you SHORT "lunchtime quickie" reads—condensed romances intended to be read in under 2 hours!

Dragon scales and bridal veils—billionaire shifters find their fiery mates!

A bespoke suit, impeccable table manners, and perpetual scowl.
He insists on sitting in my section at the bistro where I waitress.
But he’s the grumpiest man alive. He never cracks a smile.
Imagine my surprise when we end up husband and wife!

All I wanted was to make my grandfather's dying wish come true.
Now I’m married to Mr. Grumpilicious.
But as I say “I do,” I can't help but wonder, what's hiding behind those brooding eyes?
Is this the start of a dreamy love story or an epically bad life choice?

This is a SHORT, feel-good, instalove-inspired, fated mates dragon shifter romance.
The main tropes in this story Grumpy/sunshiny, curvy heroine, fated mates, and arranged marriage.


This series is a spin-off of the Wolves series.

112 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 9, 2024

390 people are currently reading
48 people want to read

About the author

Candace Ayers

288 books535 followers

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5 stars
538 (63%)
4 stars
210 (24%)
3 stars
92 (10%)
2 stars
8 (<1%)
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2 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
Profile Image for Cheryl.
2,101 reviews61 followers
August 18, 2024
Grumpalious

Maxwell comes into the diner and always sits in Zoe's section. Her nickname for him is Grumpalious since he never smiles.

Well Zoe applies to the BFB to marry so her Grandfather can walk her down the aisle before he passes.

Low and behold it's Maxwell that's waiting for her.
Profile Image for Coline.
1,380 reviews17 followers
May 18, 2025
3.5✨

Sympa. Zoé et Maxwell sont mims.
Profile Image for Alara Monroe.
19 reviews
February 10, 2024
In "Dragon's Treasure," a novella by Candace Ayers, readers are treated to a delightful fusion of fantasy and romance. This story, centered around Zoe, a pragmatic waitress, and Maxwell, a grumpy billionaire dragon shifter, exceeds expectations with its engaging narrative and well-crafted characters.

Zoe's quest to fulfill her dying grandfather's last wish intertwines with Maxwell's urgent need to find a wife for the continuation of his species, propelling the story forward with a compelling blend of personal and fantastical elements.

Maxwell's shifter identity is more than a mere fantasy trope; it's integral to the plot and adds depth to his character. The conflict arising from his dual nature, especially towards the end, brings a unique twist to the romance, enhancing the couple's connection. The relationship between Zoe and Maxwell unfolds with a realistic push and pull, fitting the insta-love genre while avoiding feeling too rushed.

Ayers' writing style is accessible and engaging, balancing descriptive detail with a fast-paced narrative. This makes "Dragon's Treasure" a perfect quick read for those looking for a blend of romance and fantasy.

Earning a well-deserved 4/5 rating, "Dragon's Treasure" is highly recommended for anyone in the mood for a quick and hot read (pun intended).

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
967 reviews9 followers
February 6, 2024
Excellent!

Zoe is a waitress at Sugar and Spice Bistro, working double shifts, trying to keep up with her grandfather’s medical expenses. Her grandfather’s dying wish is that he gets to walk her down the isle when she gets married. She would do anything for the man who raised her after her parents were killed. With no prospects in site, she signs up for the Brides for Beasts program, but she is running out of time. Just when she has given up hope, she gets a match!

Maxwell doesn’t want a mate, but he will take whoever BfB matches him with to help save his species. He and his dragon are both not on board! But when he shows up at the church and see’s Zoe, the waitress that he has been fixated on, he is very pleased!

Zoe is shocked when she sees it’s one of her customers who she is marrying. She can’t believe the customer they have dubbed “grumpilicious” is who she is going to marry! But she will do anything for her grandfather.

These two definitely start out on the wrong foot. It’s actually very cute to see how they dance around each other, neither on wanting to admit they are actually attracted to each other. This is a cute book, well written and a great addition to the series.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Emily Pennington.
20.7k reviews362 followers
February 11, 2024
Zoe and Maxwell’s Story . . .

Zoe Davis is a waitress at the Sugar & Spice Bistro. The last wish of Zoe's beloved grandfather is to walk her down the aisle at her wedding. To make that possible, she signed up for an arranged marriage through Brides for Beasts. She finds dragon shifter Maxwell Zeller, a customer at the Bistro who always sits in her section, has been matched to her! She had been thinking that she would have her grandfather walk her down the aisle and soon after get an annulment. She did not read the contract that she has to live under her husband’s roof. But unknown to her, since he knew how close she was to her grandfather, as his wedding gift to her, Maxwell has Zoe’s grandfather moved into his mansion so that she will be with him and he can receive continuous private medical care. Her grandfather is delighted with the arrangement. Maxwell is a very thoughtful, loving, and generous husband. So is Zoe finally ready to meet Maxwell’s dragon? And with the constant medical care and the new meds provided to her grandfather, will she have another wonderful surprise to be grateful for as his health improves? Has she begun to realize how much she loves her new husband… and how much he loves her?
Profile Image for Curvy Girl Book Nerd   (Jen S).
4,578 reviews64 followers
February 17, 2024
Dragon's Treasure is part of the Brides for Beasts series. It's a short and steamy, grumpy-sunshine, opposites-attract, arranged marriage, paranormal, curvy girl gets her dragon shifter romance. Zoe is a curvy waitress with a heart of gold. Maxwell is hunky, grumpy, billionaire dragon shifter. He also has a bit of a crush on Zoe and goes to the diner every day to see her. Zoe takes care of her ailing Gramps, and his dying wish is to see her married. She ends up signing up for an arranged marriage. When she ends up marrying Maxwell, her grumpy customer from the diner, they ara both shocked, to say the least. Is this fate intervening? Can they get their happily ever after? Will Zoe be ok married to a dragon shifter? I loved this couple. Maxwell was a big old cinnamon roll, and Zoe totally deserved him. Their chemistry was pure fire, and the ending was super happy. This was my first book by these 2 authors but not the last. I loved it!!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Ellie (On a break, mostly rereading).
797 reviews17 followers
February 9, 2024
Dragon's Treasure is the second book of Candace Ayers and Kym Dillon's Brides for Beasts: Dragons, the newest spin off in the Brides for Beasts world.

This is a quick read, under an hour, and it may be read as a standalone. Although the next book does have a cross over character, but again that won't be a big deal.

The concept is simple. In a world where shape shifters keep to themselves, they need a way to find brides. Brides for Beasts is the matchmaking service that has brides and their shifter beau's completely unknown to each other until the moment of the wedding.

Well, that is not quite the truth in this case. This story is a charming grumpy meets sunshine romance, where an elusive billionaire is interested in the waitress at a small diner - and they are matched to each other. They just somehow have to make their match work.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Reader_for_LifeTLG.
2,752 reviews17 followers
March 24, 2025
Her grumpy dragon, his most precious treasure - Grumpilicious is what the ladies at Max's preferred lunchtime venue call him. He should have known Zoe was destined to be his for as much time as he spent there eating bad food (his words, not mine). When they meet at the altar, he is determined to make her happy. But she has other plans that don't include an eternity with him. Whaaaat? Getting her under his roof by moving in her Gramps is his best move, keeping her close to him, getting to know her. How could she not fall for the man who takes such good care of them?

This is an excellent addition to the series, the grumpy dragon finding someone who makes him smile effortlessly. I love how he handled Brad, Zoe's cheating ex and sadistic boss. Max should have taken a chunk out of him for being so horrible. Gramps is a card, his health the reason Zoe wed in the first place. He got the wedding and the great-grands he wanted, as well as his own HEA.
1,353 reviews12 followers
February 14, 2024
If you want a sweet story without the saccharine aftertaste, this is most definitely it. Zoe has a heart of gold. She works hard and is determined to do all she can to not only look after her grandfather but to see him happy. The only way to do this is to apply to be a bride and hope her groom will be kind. She takes a big risk and you cannot help but like her. She's not silly or feisty but she is real. Maxwell, or rather Max, is well know but being somewhat gruff and standoffish but that doesn't mean that he is unkind. He is battling his inner self and they are often at odds yet never more so in sync when they see who has been matched to him when he, reluctantly and only for the furtherment of his species you understand, takes a bride.
What more could you ask for?
1,414 reviews11 followers
February 7, 2024
Another Great Dragon read within the BFB series.

A short fast paced novella with wonderful characters, a great storyline and a swoon worthy Dragon shifter who couldn’t believe his luck with the bride he’d been blessed with.

All Zoe wanted to do was to make her Grandfather happy and that was to see her married. Entering the programme, she couldn’t believe who her groom was, the sexy grumpy man from the bistro she worked at.

These Dragon shifters are caring, romantic, sexy and very passionate.
Enjoy!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
3,178 reviews27 followers
February 10, 2024
I loved Dragon's Treasure: Book 2 of Brides for Beasts: Dragons. Zoe signed up for BFB but it was just supposed to be a quick wedding for her grandfather to see. She wasn’t expecting Maxwell, Grumpalicious, to be her husband. She wasn’t expecting him to give her the world but that’s what he wants to do. Maxwell is grumpy and he knows it but, he wants his wife for keeps. Now he just needs to convince her. This was a short and sweet story. I loved the storyline and the characters. He’s a broody dragon and she’s a glass half full kind of gal. I would definitely recommend this book and the series.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Lisa Bing.
6,216 reviews71 followers
February 10, 2024
This was a fun fast-paced addition to the series and I loved how it was a grumpy/sunshine romance. Maxwell needs a mate, any mate, but he's more than thrilled when he sees he's been matched up with Zoe, a diner waitress that he's been eying for a while ;P She can't believe that her desire to make her Gpa happy by seeing her married gets her grumpalicious customer Maxwell as her arranged groom. These two definitely start out on the wrong foot and it was fun to watch them dance around each other, not admitting they had feelings for the other. I really enjoyed following them along to the HEA in this well written and entertaining read :D
Profile Image for Charmaine Nouwen.
5,468 reviews23 followers
February 15, 2024
Dragon's Treasure: Grumpy Billionaire Curvy Girl Romance: Brides for Beasts: Dragons Book 2 And this is Zoe and Maxwell's story..She is a waitress and help takeing care her grandfather who raised her after her parents death..He is a dragon shifter and a grumpy billionaire who owned MZ Media...Zoe's grandfather is sick and his dying wish is to walk her down the isle on her wedding day so She applied at BfB for an arranged marriage and matched her to Maxwell who needs a wife for the continuation of his species..A wonderful read,quick,sweet,enjoyable,steamy and intense..

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Carole.
2,036 reviews15 followers
February 6, 2024
Dragon’s Treasure is the second book of this enticing series of Dragon shifter billionaires finding their forever mate.
I’m loving this storyline that may be a short read but fills the pages and heart with good writing and just enough story to leave you satisfied.
Zoe and Maxwell are wonderfully crafted characters and their story sweet and spicy with surprises, a small dose of drama and lots of love that made their pairing a scrumptious read.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Becky.
1,683 reviews4 followers
February 11, 2024
Such a great dragon-shifter book! It has the grumpy dragon, Maxwell, and the sweet woman who wins his heart, Zoe. They are both registered through the Brides for Beasts (BrB) looking for their match. Zoe is registered because she wants to marry before her Grandfather dies. Maxwell is registered to save his dragon lineage. I loved how they fell for each other and got their HEA. I will be reading this book again. Not sharing any spoilers ;) this was a great read!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
4,660 reviews9 followers
February 25, 2024
This well-written book 2 in The Brides for Beasts: Dragons Book Series has strong main Characters, well-constructed world and entertaining story. These characters are exciting, have chemistry, and are well-crafted with unique personalities and detailed histories. There is drama, arranged-marriage, insta-love, and romance.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Barbara.
19.2k reviews8 followers
February 7, 2024
The second story in the Brides for Beasts: Dragons, Zoe and Maxwell meet through the Brides for Beasts program. A short novella with very god characters, a well written story that held my interest. I enjoyed seeing them get their happy ending. I received a copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
7,160 reviews33 followers
February 11, 2024
Another amazing read in this series Brides for Beasts: Dragon Series. This is the story of grumpy dragon shifter Max and his mate Zoe. Their story will hold your attention all the way through. They fit well together and have steamy chemistry. I am looking forward to reading more from this author and series. A must read.

I am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Andrea Fernandez .
4,815 reviews22 followers
February 14, 2024
Maxwell & Zoe

An intoxicating and deliciously addictive pairing of two people who needed to find each other. Maxwell and Zoe are absolutely cute together. He’s grumpy and she’s rainbows & sunshine but they fit perfectly together. This may be a short story but it packs a big punch. I enjoyed everything about this story. I can’t get enough of this BfB series.
2,298 reviews16 followers
February 20, 2024
Maxwell and Zoe. Shes the yang to his ying. Shes a rainbow waitress and hes a grimpy billionaire dragon shifter. She wants to fulfill her grandfathers last wish and he needs a wife for his species to continue. Short and sexy and loved it and the.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Robin Ann.
1,395 reviews3 followers
March 6, 2024
Dragon's Treasure: Grumpy Billionaire Curvy Girl Romance

Book 2 of Brides for Beasts: Dragon's was as romantic as expected. Going into a "blind" marriage one doesn't expect it to be a secret crush! Once they acknowledge their feelings for each other and reveal their secrets, they get their HEA.
Profile Image for Angela.
976 reviews39 followers
September 11, 2024
fantastic read

As I said in the review for the first book in this series, it truly takes a special author to be able to write a novella that feels complete and doesn’t leave me scratching my head.

✅novella
✅dragón shifter
✅arraigned marriage
✅billionaire
✅grumpy sunshine
✅curvy heroine

45 reviews
June 10, 2025
It was okay but...

My only issue with this story is after Zoe married Maxwell she wanted to continue to work under her ex's management knowing that after marrying Maxwell her career choices were endless. Why would she get an annulment if he set up a whole suite for her granfather? Sometimes the female is too independent they make no sense
198 reviews
August 2, 2025
Great Series

I love the short read. Great when you want to get away from the heavy hitting series that sometimes gets to be too much. Just want to add I would do exactly like Zoe when she found out about Max secret. Definitely want a ride! Thank you Ms. Ayers for these wonderful stories.
1,121 reviews7 followers
February 11, 2024
Loved this story! Short, sweet and steamy with some plot along with the spice. The FMC is a hilarious dorky ball of sunshine and the MMC is grumpy but head over heels in love with her.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
1,845 reviews6 followers
February 14, 2024
This book was insanely good. I read it in one sitting simply because I could not get enough. I am totally looking forward to the next book in this series and hoping it is just as good. I voluntarily read and reviewed this book.
5,450 reviews32 followers
February 23, 2024
This second installment of the series kept me reading in one sitting thanks to the entertaining characters and engaging story line. I can't wait to see what this dynamic duo have in store for us next.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
1,167 reviews1 follower
March 7, 2024
Great story and series

I loved this book. The characters, Maxwell and Zoe, are so great. Him with his frowny face and her with her positive outlook and smile were meant to find a beautiful happy ever together
2,788 reviews2 followers
April 5, 2024
Treasure is Zoe

Zoe is hard working in order to care for her grandpa. Zoe being a bride is grandpa's dream so Zoe signs up for an arranged marriage and is stunned to be matched to Maxwell.
Thank you Ms. Ayers for the upbeat ending that brings smiles.
452 reviews2 followers
August 3, 2024
one of my favorites

Ok this one is currently claiming the top spot in this series. Definitely a fairy tale with unbelievably sweet Max. Would like some background on Grandpa there - maybe some shifter way back in the family?
Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews

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