Dear Draco

Dragon Tale #2

by Tara Bennett

Montgomery had made it. He is one of the most recognized musicians in the world, he’s got good friends, a dragon to help with his anxiety, and his pick of men. So why does it feel like something is missing?

Arthur’s struggle with OCD has left him feeling vulnerable. When a chance encounter with the local hero reveals Montgomery Wilson, his celebrity crush, struggles too he realizes he is not alone.

They bump into each other, there are some sparks; it isn’t until they get to spend time together they sense something more.

When Montgomery hatches a plan to get Arthur his own dragon, even if they don’t really know each other yet. He realizes that not only will this help Arthur improve his life, but will also fill his heart.

But will this marriage of convenience tear them apart?

Genres: M M Romance

505 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 30, 2024

Reviews

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I so want a Dragon pet!! We learned in the first book, that dragons are only available to a legacy or the very rich. Montgomery is a big time rock star with anxiety issues. He has a pet dragon Drake as his support animal. While home from the finish of his world tours, Montgomery meets Arthur who has his own anxiety & OCD issues. They become fast friends & soon lovers. Montgomery's Dragon is a great help to Arthur but because Arthur doesn't fit the bill, Montgomery offers to marry Arthur so he can get his own dragon. Although they both know they are each other's person, Arthur has second thoughts but decides to say yes. This is a well written story that shows even though he's a dragon a support animal is priceless. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Marion · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the 2nd book in the Dragon Tale series. Each book in the series is a standalone. This is the story of Montgomery and Arthur. Montgomery is a famous rock singer and leader of the band Draco. Because he suffers from crippling anxiety attacks, Montgomery has his own support animal. A dragon named Drake. He helps calm Montgomery down and recognizes when a panic attack is imminently. Without Drake there would be no Draco. Arthur is the band teacher at Titanburg High School. He too suffers from an illness, OCD. The illness makes him believe that doom is pending when it kicks in. Always going to the worst case scenario and unable to move from that point. When Montgomery is home for his final concert of the tour, he meets Arthur for the first time. Montgomery rescues a "devil weasel" from under Arthur's house. Then when they meet again at Christmas, the seeds of interest are sown and slowly begin to grow. This is their story. I liked how Montgomery could recognize a panic attack and knew what steps to take to help alleviate it. As both had challenges, they respected each other and didn't downplay the seriousness of their illness. While there are a lot of challenging times ahead for this couple; there is also a lot of love and warmth as well. I enjoyed following along on their adventure. The book is written well and is easy to read.

I received a complementary advanced readers copy of this book from the author and I am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Janet · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another long love story

This book had just as many issues as the first book, with an editor and proofreader needed just as much as Hots Shots needed one. There were continuity errors, wrong tenses and far too many missing speech marks. I didn't mention it in my review of Hot Shots, as it appeared to be the author's first book, but the language is very stilted and formal because Tara hardly ever uses contractions. Everybody uses contractions when they're speaking but Mont and Arthur didn't, just as River and Aaron didn't either, and it spoilt the rhythm of the story.
I liked Arthur and Mont as characters and I loved that Tara gave them obsessive OCD and crippling social anxiety respectively. They were sweet men who were perfect for each other.
It's not often I say this but there were too many sex scenes, and you could cut out three quarters and there'd still be enough to show their physical connection and compatibility and the story wouldn't be lacking either.
The series title is 'A Dragon Tale' and that's a bit of a misnomer. Yes, there are dragons but they aren't the main focus. They are incredibly cute in both books but I would have loved Arthur to get his dragon a lot sooner as we barely saw him and that's such a shame. At least we saw Mont's dragon from the very start. In Hot Shots, the story starts with River bringing his dragon home and his mentor, Aaron, arriving with his own dragon immediately.
I will be reading the next book, although I'm not sure who it will star. Tara made me think it could be an MM, or one of those men with a different man, or an MMM with all three, but none of them have dragons nor can I see a way for them to get one easily, so maybe it will star two completely new characters and Tara was just teasing us.

[Jeanette Waters · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hot Shots, book one, was a wonderful way to be introduced to this author's world. It was a story of a rich man who wants a dragon companion as a status symbol (at first). Dear Draco is an entirely different type of book.

This is the love story of two neurodivergent men. Drake is a service/therapy dragon for world famous pop star, Montgomery Wilson. Mont has crippling anxiety and without Drake, his band would never have achieved fame. Arthur Bloom is a high school music teacher. In Mont's home town. His OCD has made for a lonely life. Arthur is sure that no man could put up with his ticks. His disability locks him in a cycle where his brain presents worst case scenarios and causes crippling panic attacks.

The two men meet cute. At a family dinner that Brenda, another teacher and Mont's sister-in-law, convinces Arthur to attend. There's instant attraction and chemistry between Mont and Arthur. With Drake's help, the two work hard to develop a new normal.

A sweet story, the book kind of crept up on me. There's no 'aha, there be dragons' fanfare, Drake is not simply a plot device, or a pet. A working animal, Drake is integral to the main theme. To moving the story along. Arthur's panic attacks feel very real. Not gonna lie, there'll be tears. Mont's love and patience, and his insecurities come through beautifully.

About a third of the way in, I wasn't sure that this book was as good as it's predecessor. Two thirds in, I was thinking 'oh, another sex scene'. By the end, I was all in, cheering the two men on.

This wasn't an easy read. It was thoughtful and lovingly written. Could have done with a little less smexy times. But thoroughly enjoyable.

[Tashyka · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first novel in this author's series, Hot Shots, provided a great entry point into her universe. The protagonist, a wealthy guy, desires a dragon as a status symbol in the novel. There is no comparison to the genre of Dear Draco.

Two neurodivergent males fall in love in this novel. Montgomery Wilson, a famous music star, uses Drake as a service/therapy dragon. Neither Drake nor Mont's band would have been as successful as they are now if Mont hadn't suffered from severe anxiety. Arthur Bloom teaches music at the secondary level. The town where Mont was born and raised. Living with obsessive-compulsive disorder has been isolating for him. No man, in Arthur's opinion, could endure his ticks. He is unable to break the vicious cycle of his disability-related panic attacks caused by his brain's tendency to imagine the worst-case situations.

They make a charming couple. While Mont's sister-in-law Brenda, who is also a teacher, talks Arthur into going to a family dinner. Mont and Arthur hit it up right away and have great chemistry. They put in a lot of time and effort to establish a new routine with Drake's guidance.

A charming tale, I found myself engrossed in the book gradually. Drake is more than just a plot device or a pet; there is no "aha, there are dragons" fanfare. The central concept relies heavily on Drake, a working animal. In order to advance the plot. I can really relate to Arthur's panic attacks. There will be tears, I will admit that. Mont's vulnerabilities, as well as his love and patience, are portrayed exquisitely.I received an advance review copy and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Caroline Griffith · Rating 4 out of 5]

I truly did not think the chemistry, love, found found and just overall storyline could rival River and Aaron from Hot Shots but wow. Montgomery and Arthur seem miles apart truly opposites. One is a mega rockstar and the other teaches band at the high school in Titansburg. We are first introduced to Montgomery trying to keep the peace and status quo of the band's success with the help of Dusty. A chance invitation to the holidays places Montgomery and Arthur in the same space and truly the rest is history. Flirting ramps up to a true connection which can be explored thanks to a baby and opportunity to move home to Titansburg thanks to a tour break. The chemistry in this 🥵🥵🥵, I thought Aaron and River were hot and heavy but damn. Chapter 29, enough said. This couple goes from 0 to 100 and skipping some of the normal steps to help Arthur with his OCD. He has already seen how much Drake, Montgomery's dragon does for his anxiety and has started to do the same for Arthur as well. As dragon ownership has strict guidelines they must take a huge leap in order to help Arthur in this endeavor. Just as in Hot Shots, there is too much happiness and joy so Tara needs to rip out our hearts out around before Arthur can receive his dragon. There is a HEA and it proves that the right person can bring you back from the depths of your personal hell. The way neurodivergence is portrayed is well done, it shows the disorders and the ways they affect day to day life as opposed to making it a cartoon version of the most basic definition. I definitely learned a lot. I am looking forward to Book 3, and hopefully it gives us some insight into 3 special men 🤞🏾🤞🏾🤞🏾.

[Suzanne Irving · Rating 3 out of 5]

Two guys with dragons and problems

The things that I like about this book
The representation of people who suffer with mental problems and the way they are portrayed and respected
The overall story is great with horses, dragons and lots of emphasis on supportive family
The dragons are just so cute and I want one
The family that Montgomery has is marvelous and the characters and ranch are well written

The things that I didn’t like about this book
It was just way too long. I got bored (and I very rarely get bored by a book) and started skipping some parts especially the s€x scenes which brings me to my next point
Way too many s€x scenes. I’m all in favor of this type of scene and I’ve even picked up books just because someone gave it a one star review for too many s€x scenes.
The language is too often stilted especially the dialogue. I don’t know if English is a second language for Tara Bennett but this dialogue is way too formal for any American never mind ranchers. A few more contractions might help.
I read the first book in this series and enjoyed the concept but I think this book needs a dispassionate editor to come along and cut about a third of it out. 410 pages are not needed to tell this story.

[Debby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Montgomery, the lead singer of Draco, feel as if he has made it in spite of his anxiety. He has his best friend, Ryan, and his dragon, Drake, to help him cope. He still feels as if something is missing. Arthur has always admired Montgomery. To escape his homophobic parents, he takes a job in a small town that turns out to be Montgomery’s home town. Arthur has his own issues. His OCD has kept anyone from staying around. When the two meet, there is a spark and as they get to know each other, that spark grows. Montgomery hatches a plan to get Arthur his own dragon, but it is not sure if that will help their relationship or not.

It is incredible to watch as two men each with a disability learn to handle a relationship and love. It does come with many bumps and bruises. Communication and understanding are required and that is not always an easy thing to do. The dragons really help and I know I am not alone in saying I want one of my very own. I look forward to more great stories and wonderful dragon pets.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book and this is my unbiased opinion.

[L H · Rating 5 out of 5]

It would not seem that Montgomery and Arthur have a lot in common beyond their love of music and the fact that they both make their living through music. Montgomery is a rock star and Arthur a band teacher. Arthur admires Montgomery and when he finds out that the town he is teaching in is Montgomery's hometown and that Montgomery tends to visit the high school and band when he is in town. They are destined to meet and when they do they come to realize that they have more in common than just music. Each manages his own mental health issues and there is a spark between them. When Montgomery hatches a plan to help Arthur get a dragon, as a support animal, and it involves a marriage of convenience, what starts out as well meaning becomes so much more. These two have some things to work through to find their way to what worked for them both, their dragons and allowed them to manage their conditions in a way that helped them build their lives together. But where they landed made their journey worth it. Loved the dragons!
I received an ARC from GRR and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Beverly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a massive heart tugger. Montgomery has his own demons to fight, but Arthur's demons have limited his life so much that it's crippling. Montgomery takes Arthur's OCD head on and very slowly he helps him begin to have a life and accept his love. But life happens, and Montgomery has an accident and Arthur believes it's his fault and regresses. Even injured , Montgomery proves what a true rock star husband he is, and does major things from his sick bed to help Arthur get out from under his disease. Everyone deserves to have a man like Montgomery. He was the ultimate keeper of hearts, and he was fantastic with Arthur. This was an emotional rollercoaster that will crush your heart, and then heal it again. Mindblowing, heart tugging, raw , gripping, and compelling. I survived all the emotions!!!! You'll love this. Montgomery's dad and his straight talk had me Lmao. I voluntarily read a free copy of this book provided by book sirens and am giving an honest opinion.

[Lea Gesser · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book will hold you and won't let you go until you finish it. Living with a mental illness is no small feat. Especially if it affects your entire life. Your head, your brain is fooling you. You need someone very strong to catch you if you fall. And this book tells the story of Montgomery [Draco] and Arthur. And of course his dragon. This book has everything, lots of love, trust and hope and perseverance. Draco, who as the singer of his band also has a mental illness, meets Arthur the man of his dreams. Arthur who leads a tightly controlled life due to his OCD. It brought me to tears, those moments when he becomes so obsessed. And Draco who, despite his own condition, supports Arthur and his family. The more Arthur's background is revealed, the clearer it becomes what this man has suffered. This book should be read, if only because of what people with mental illness experience and what a little support can do for them. Great story, will definitely read it again

[Elaine Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Drake, a service/therapy dragon, aids world-famous pop star Montgomery Wilson in coping with crippling anxiety, crucial to his band's success. Arthur Bloom, a high school music teacher with OCD, lives a lonely life dominated by worst-case scenarios and panic attacks. Their chance meeting at a family dinner sparks instant attraction. With Drake's support, they navigate their challenges and forge a new normal. Drake isn't just a plot device but an integral part of the story's theme. Arthur's realistic panic attacks evoke emotion, while Mont's love and patience shine through his own insecurities. It's a sweet, tear-inducing tale where love triumphs over adversity. The book is funny, all the characters are likable and outspoken, especially Monty's dad, and I enjoyed it from start to finish.

[Deb Kel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the first book and this is the 2nd book in the Dragon Tale series but can be read as standalone. In this book the main characters are Montgomery who is leader of the band Draco, and Arthur who is a music band teacher and suffers from OCD. Montgomery suffers from crippling anxiety attacks and has a support animal, a dragon Drake!!! Drake plays a key part in helping keep Montgomery safe and identifying when he is going to have an attack. Montgomery meets Arthur a couple of times before a relationship develops and as they both strive to overcome their health challenges with some major hurdles that take us on an emotional roller coaster journey. The help they give each other slowly develops into a lovely, caring, warm relationship. Beautiful read.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[PN_booklover · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars - This is the second book in this series but they are two quite different standalone stories. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. Arthur and Montgomery have very different lives and struggle with different types of anxiety disorders. I loved reading how they navigate their struggles to eventually have their HEA. There is so much to like about this book but I don't want to say anymore as I will spoil it. If I have a criticism, then it would be the format of the text. Some times it was not clear who was saying what because of how it was written or laid out. If you like a hot MM romance with all the feels then this book is for you.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Claire Turvey · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good concept, needs work

The underpinning concepts of this book are interesting and sound, but it has continuity and tense issues that signify a need for more editing. It also has a large number of proofreading errors. While this book is significantly shorter than the previous instalment in this series, it is still a hard slog to read due to the almost relentless immersion in the characters’ trauma and anxiety. While I’m all for the honest portrayal of anxiety and other issues in fiction, and of course everybody’s experience within any disorder is unique, there were inconsistencies in the portrayal of the characters’ anxiety which reduced the readability and believability of the story.

Full disclosure: I was given an ARC of the book, however this review is my own honest opinion.

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely LOVE this series. I would so love to have my own little dragon to help me with my anxiety. Montgomery is the lead singer of Draco who has a dragon Drake to help with his extreme anxiety and Arthur who has OCD and leaves his homophobic parents and becomes the band teacher at the high school. Arthur has had a crush on Montgomery for a long time and can't believe he wants to be with him. I loved how Montgomery helped Arthur with his issues and decided to get married so he could get his own dragon to help. Such a sweet story until the Devil Bull I knew something was going to happen. Look forward to reading the next book in this great series. I received an ARC of this book for my honest review.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

My thoughts:
I prefer my dragons to be shifters!
I am somewhat disappointed that the stories are not more connected... grrr
I always find myself thinking that the story is just a tad bit too long, but that's just my opinion!
I love how both MCs always show great support for each other!
I wish I found the little dragons to be as adorable as so many others do...
I will definitely be reading #3 because I just can't help myself!

I think a lot of the enjoyment that I get from these books is from the fact that I truly enjoy this author's writing style and, the little dragons do bring a smile to my face from time to time! 🥰

[Carlissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

So far, Dear Draco is my favorite book in this series. As a neurodivergent individual who suffers from anxiety and OCD, I could relate to Montgomery and Arthur so much! Their struggles were beautifully written and they are honestly so sweet and supportive of each other.

In the first story, we see the dragons being used as companions, and in this story, they are used in an emotional support animal way. They are still cute and funny in the story.

Other than the way that Arthur and Montgomery communicate and take care of each other, Mont's family and friends are my favorite part of the story!

I can't wait to read the next book. This one was a 5-star read for me!

[Raven and Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

I want my own little dragon. This is a good story. Montgomery and Arthur hit it off immediately. I think it is interesting that this is kind of sold like a fake arrangement when these two are already trying to make a possible relationship work before the whole idea is come up with to get Arthur a dragon of his own. It it sweet with some rough patches mostly due to Arthur’s struggles. It is worth a read though and the Wilson family.

[Mitch Mallhi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved the characters in this book as well as their quirks it was amazing to read a couple that is so different and both struggle greatly with different things come together and work so hard to understand and except each other it was heart warming to read about the depth of their caring and heart breaking to read about their biggest struggles I do love a good happily ever after though it was an amazingly detailed book that I have recommended to my friends

[K-Me · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am loving this world where people have support dragons. We get this small fantasy element to balance with the very real-life struggles. I kind of really want my own dragon, especially after meeting Drake here! The real hero of this romance is Mont though. Despite his own mental issues and other tragic events his main focus is always Arthur. Yes, there is emotional angst, but all the sweet and spicy intimate connections make it all worth enduring.

[Traci S · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the first book in the series and this was also a sweet couple. I love the idea of little dragons as support animals, it’s an interesting premise I’ve not come across before. Plus, Drake, Montgomery’s little dragon is absolutely lovely in this. I also loved how kind Montgomery and Arthur to each other. The story it’s quite focused on mental health, with two really lovely main characters that are easy to root for.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

[Ida Umphers · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed Montgomery and Arthur as a couple, found their reason for a "fake" marriage plausible within the world the author has created and loved seeing their relationship become a real one. The use of the support dragons to aid in alleviating/minimizing the panic attacks was interesting and I felt the author took the character's struggles seriously and never minimized the crippling effects they had on the character's lives.

[Leonie Duncan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it and I loved it some more!!! Montgomery and Arthur's story is a very special one. There is so much love and understanding between these two. Both have issues with medical/mental health problems and who better to understand the struggle. Add one and then a second adorable little dragon into the mix and it's special. I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

[Janelimay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed the story. Loved the characters. Like this author's tug between the characters. CAVEAT - editing is still poor. (I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.)

[Kristen Arkley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very touching MM romance book. It does deal with mental health issues and the little dragons that help them fight for their love. This is the second in a new series, and you'll want to start with the first book to understand the world they live in. But I recommend them.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dragons, I LOVE THEM, SO MUCH!! This is book two in the Dragon Tale series. This is a well written story with lovely characters and a fantastic dragon named Drake. I really liked Montgomery and Arthur. I definitely recommend this book and series.

[zen_s]

[dnf @ 6%] i don't really get the premise, is it set in a paranormal setting or what? because where will dragon come from? i'm not sure is it because i didn't read the first book or what, so i cannot understand about this dragon thingy.

[Sheena · Rating 4 out of 5]

- mental health rep
- rock star

This is the second in the Dragon Tale series, but can be read as a standalone. The dragons in this series aren't shifters, but pets. In this case, therapets for both MCs. Montgomery suffers badly from anxiety and his dragon, Draco, helps greatly with that. Arthur also has his own struggles with OCD, but without the therapet dragon to help him.

The two meet when Montgomery returns home, near where Arthur lives and works and they have an instant connection. Arthur of course knows who Montgomery is, but quickly forms a relationship over text at first, and then in person when Montgomery returns home. This story doesn't shy away from the complexities of Arthur's illness, and shows the reality of someone living in the shadow of severe OCD. I did like this story for the most part, I liked how Montgomery accepted Arthur and instantly brought him into his family, when Arthur had been abandoned by his own.

This isn't always an easy or fun read, but it was enjoyable although could have benefitted from more dragons 😂

[Tanya · Rating 5 out of 5]

He has made it and everything is going well and he feels something is missing. They struggle with OCD and they are about to bump into him, his crush star. They will find they have a lot in common. How will it all go? Can love form? Will they make it? See how it will all go