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Everyone has a little bit of darkness in them. Hallie’s denied her own inner demons for months, running whenever someone gets too close to illuminating things she’d rather keep hidden. On the run from her past yet again, she fakes some credentials to join an archaeology expedition to the Sumatran jungle that sounds like the perfect way to escape. Out of her depth, she struggles not to let her teammates know she’s not really one of them, but she learns the dragon temple they discover might provide answers to questions she'd been afraid to ask.

The first night inside the temple she awakens to an invisible presence bringing her to heights of pleasure she’s never known before. He then disappears into the darkness without a word. She chases a shadow that might just be a hallucination, but pleasure like that can’t be all in her head.

When she finds her shadow man, she also comes face to face with her own darkness. She is forced to reconcile her past in order to embrace the person who will finally give her a reason to stop running.

50 pages, ebook

First published April 14, 2014

185 people are currently reading
749 people want to read

About the author

Ophelia Bell

141 books968 followers
Ophelia Bell is the author of the super steamy Sleeping Dragons series. Ophelia loves hot alpha heroes, especially if they’re dragons, but believes the world needs more alpha heroines, so has made it her mission to make that happen. Ophelia grew up on a rural farm in North Carolina and now lives in Los Angeles with her sexy tattooed alpha husband and five-and-a-half attention-whoring cats (one of them is exceptionally large and might actually be a dragon in disguise).

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5 stars
356 (37%)
4 stars
294 (30%)
3 stars
222 (23%)
2 stars
64 (6%)
1 star
15 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews
Profile Image for Shurrn.
561 reviews902 followers
January 19, 2015
It's official...
I want my own Dragon...

Darkness was a perpetual irritation, particularly for a creature like Kol. He was not only trapped in it, he was part of it. For centuries he lived without light...
By Book Four of this series - which I highly recommend you read in order - the team is succumbing to the allure of the Dragon Temple. They are conducting the ritual room by room - performing sexual rites which awaken the dragons.

The temple is full of them - Dragons which appear to be carved from jade in a kaleidoscope of colors... They are actually live dragons, frozen in their hibernation... Waiting for their chance to wake and take to the skies once more...

It turns out, not all of the dragons within the temple have been asleep. One has been protecting his sleeping brethren.

KOL
Technically, he was asleep. At least his body was. But his magic, unique to black dragons, allowed him to manifest through his breath. While his physical body slept on, frozen in black jade, the shadow of his breath coalesced into a smaller, human form and lurked about the temple like a ghost ensuring the security of all who slept within.
Kol has been awake for five hundred years. He exists as a shadow, patrolling the temple alone. His body might be frozen in a black jade coffin, but his spirit roams freely, and his mind torments him with memories of a past he can never reclaim.

His loneliness is a punishment handed down for committing a sin against his race - he fell in love with a human woman and refused to mark her (thereby ensuring her loyalty).

History cannot repeat itself - Kol must mark the human who chooses him in order to fulfill his part of the ritual.

HALLIE
"I just want one woman. One sweet morsel to savor for the next few decades after this temple is finally opened. Someone whose world I can change enough to see in her eyes how much I mean to her and her alone."
Hallie is a fraud. She knew she had no business applying to accompany this team into the jungles in search of a mythical Dragon temple. She falsified her records in order to flee the country.

She has been on the run from danger - in the form of a powerful ex-lover - but within the temple she finds an entirely new type of peril.

Kol must mark Hallie as his...
Hallie must trust enough to belong to someone...

Seems the ghosts of Hallie's past are every bit as dark as Kol's shadow. The two must come together willingly in order to continue the ritual...
Profile Image for Pam.
1,093 reviews1,069 followers
September 17, 2014
3.5 stars
Even love has a dark side.


 
 Six Ivy League-educated archaeologists make the find of a lifetime, an elusive dragon temple. Little do they know they were all destined to be there at this exact place, at this exact time. For 500 hundred years the dragons have been frozen in their temple, waiting for the right time when their human mates will wake them. Seducing them in by weaving their dragon magic until they are mindless with need. Six phases of the ritual, they are aroused and restless, they each must give up their nirvana to a sleeping dragon to wake them and begin each phase, the power of each union will help to fill the Queen’s well. Then, when the time comes, she will awaken and call the rest of the brood to the skies.
___________________________________

Who would ever thought that there was so much hope and love trapped in the shadows. For Kol, the tormented possessive black dragon, who has been trapped in darkness for centuries, only wants one thing.
“I just want one woman. One sweet morsel to savor for the next few decades after this temple is finally opened. Someone whose world I can change enough to see in her eyes how much I mean to her and her alone.”

And that one woman is Hallie, the one who isn't really who she says she is, the one running from her own demons, the next in line to start the phase. Can they both find redemption and another chance in the shadows???

Shadows is another sexy tale, taking the whole dragon sex to another level. With each book the author gives us different ways to find pleasure and this is no different. Although the tale explored am area that doesn't do much for me, it was still an enjoyable erotic read to add to the collection.
Profile Image for Ana.
2,038 reviews6 followers
February 10, 2019
Shadow Lover.....

Kol has lived as a shadow watching over the other dragons in stasis, his rebellion 500 years ago earned him the punishment of shadow of the temple, unable to sleep always in perpetual watch. His rebellion came from a need to never force the mating mark on a human especially the human he loved back then. Now he becomes the shadow lover of one of the humans that have come to awaken the dragons from their stasis and she is more than he could have ever imagined. She accepts his dragon form and will have him now before his human one. The prize he has received far outweighs the punishment he endure for 500 years.

For readers 18, or older due to the sexual content.
701 reviews1 follower
December 7, 2022
500 Jahre streift Kol durch die Hallen und bewacht als Schatten seine schlafenden Drachengeschwister bis er endlich Menschen wittert die die Hallen entdeckt haben . Nun ist die Auferweckung aller Drachen nahe.
Während die anderen sich bereits mit ihren Partnern vergnügen muss Kol Hallie erst noch verführen . Was nicht so einfach ist denn Hallie ist Männern gegegnüber sehr mißtrauisch bedingt durch ihrer Erfahrungen mit ihrem Ex.
In dieser Story ist nicht wo viel Sexappel wie in den anderen dafür mehr Tiefgang was die Lust weiter zu lesen mächtig erhöht. Ich bin gespannt wie es mit den anderen beiden Männern weiter geht
Profile Image for Tai Nelson-Barnes.
2,833 reviews75 followers
February 19, 2019
I have to admit the shadow dragons are my favorite. They are dark and sneaky and just plain creepy but man I enjoy them.

Kol has been lurking all over and watching all the dirty deeds going on. When he sees Hallie he knows he has found his mate. Reading this book can kind of creep you out, to be honest, but it is so awesome on the same side. I really enjoyed it.
Profile Image for Sarah.
2,130 reviews30 followers
July 16, 2022
Book 4
Hallie has many secrets especially about the fact she’s not doing a PhD or a student of any kind but running from a distressing past.
Kol is the keeper of the temple which means he’s been looking after all the sleeping dragons for five centuries.
Kol is a darker dragon and has a upsetting past too so you can tell they hit it off straight away.
More story in this one and less sex but great as always
Profile Image for Shani.
315 reviews31 followers
September 13, 2014
Again another solid back story in this volume. You really get to know what makes both Kol and Hallie tick in this one. Sexy and hot.
Profile Image for Rhonda Hicks.
4,642 reviews83 followers
December 21, 2025
Kol has lived as a shadow, watching over the other dragons in stasis. His rebellion 500 years ago earned him the punishment of being the temple's shadow, forcing him into a state of perpetual watch without the ability to sleep. This rebellion was driven by his strong conviction that he would never force the mating mark on a human, especially the one he loved. Now, he has emerged as the shadow lover of a human who has come to awaken the dragons from their stasis, and she surpasses everything he could have ever imagined. She embraces his dragon form and desires him before even considering his human form. The prize he has gained far exceeds the punishment he has endured for five long centuries.

This book was incredible! Hallie's tough exterior commanded attention, and her emotional backstory took me by surprise, making her character all the more compelling. Kol is an equally captivating character; his readiness to let Hallie choose him showcases true chivalry. The book’s sexual nature is, as always, fantastic, but what truly sets it apart is the deep emotional resonance that enhances the story.
Profile Image for Alysha Johnson.
149 reviews
October 20, 2024
If you are looking for a read that is more spice than anything else, this is the omnibus for you. It follows a group of explorers searching for the lost temple of the dragons. Each book follows the story of each explorer and the dragon they encounter. The omnibus is a fun, short read but don’t expect too much of a build up or deep dive into each character. Although I enjoyed the books, the ending was a bit flat and felt it just ended.
Profile Image for Leah Eugenia.
Author 23 books10 followers
March 12, 2025
Okay, there is something very...

Erotic about being touched by a shadow, and hearing his whispers in your mind. Hallie's request to experience Kol's dragon form shocked me to some extent, but Kol thinking of how to give her what she asked for safely, touched me deeply.

I really felt something special for Kol and all he'd been through. He deserved some happiness, and so did Hallie.
Profile Image for Katie Turner.
51 reviews
October 1, 2025
500 years locked away in a Jade stone body but still awake and able to roam the halls as a shadow.

Kol the shadow dragon punished to stay awake watching over the other sleeping Dragons is conflicted by his duty. luckily for him modern women are more in control of themselves so Hallie easily sees through his deception and calls him out on it demanding honesty or nothing happens.

Gotta love a strong female!
582 reviews6 followers
October 30, 2016
Still Enjoying this Interesting Tale

This part of the story, though still holding my interest, felt a little bit weird for my imagination. Overall, I'm still interested in the next two concluding parts of the story but I have to admit parts of this portion were pushing what I would think the characters would want it do. Still a good enough story to hold my interest.
629 reviews8 followers
August 12, 2024
We finally get some decent backstory on Kor, Hallie, and Kris... and much more depth in the larger story. Hallie is not who she has presented herself to be, but she's exactly where she's supposed to be and the mate that Kor needs. In a world of excesses, both desire a simplicity that is unexpected.

This is my favorite of the six stories in Sleeping Dragons.
Profile Image for Sky P.
393 reviews4 followers
January 10, 2025
Hallie is apart of an archaeological expedition into a dragon temple and on the run from her past. She starts having dragon magic induced sex dreams and sees, feels and hears a shadowed figure. Turns out it’s Kol, a black jade dragon. Some dragon sex ensues…on to the next book. I thought the series was getting hotter but this one wasn’t as spicy as the last 2.
Profile Image for Kristie Anderson.
138 reviews
March 23, 2025
interesting

Overall this is a good quick read, but it could easily be improved by adding more details to the backstory of the characters and really giving them time to process the past before moving on.
Profile Image for Kara Coens.
830 reviews5 followers
May 18, 2017
I love the character and the interactions between them. I was hooked right from the start. I read the entire series through.
Profile Image for Ciru.
1,723 reviews
November 7, 2018
This one by far had the best love story.
Still as smutty, but very sweet.
Loved the ending and the transition into the next book.
Profile Image for Thinxsphinx.
361 reviews1 follower
January 15, 2020
3.75 stars

Punishment, revelation, integrity, and running from the past bonds Callie and Kol in this contemporary erotic paranormal romance. 3.75 stars
Profile Image for Tami.
486 reviews1 follower
January 24, 2020
Better and better

I can't wait to read how Kris and Corey and the queen are brought into the storyline. Can't wait to read it
Profile Image for Phoenix Rainez.
Author 4 books14 followers
July 5, 2020
ADULT FANTASY ROMANCE

Toss aside your vampires and werewolves and make way for the extremely sexy dragon shape shifters, brought to life by a human hand.
Profile Image for Emily Lindsey.
Author 4 books21 followers
July 11, 2021
A hot and sexy addition to the series, Oh my Godzilla! These books are hot. The ritual was unique from the ones before it but still a fun, short read!
Profile Image for Denise.
1,440 reviews8 followers
December 19, 2022
Loved it!

The world building is getting more in-depth than ever. It makes me want to hang out with them and see what I can get up to.
Profile Image for Melissa.
1,224 reviews14 followers
July 31, 2023
Dark abd broody

This story might be my favorite so far. I really liked Kol's backstory. Hallie has a dark past as well. Their connection is perfect for each other.
Profile Image for BMO.
51 reviews2 followers
March 12, 2024
they laugh at me because I'm eeeemmoooo
Profile Image for Michelle Guiraud.
203 reviews1 follower
August 12, 2024
Guys, I have one word for you: fist-fucking.
🤛🏼🤛🏼🤛🏼
If that is your jam, go for it.
Me at this point, I am just curious to know how the story ends.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Sabrina Wannet.
537 reviews4 followers
December 21, 2024
sexy in the dark, he is the shadow, the feared one. But he feels more like a softy in the book. He really cares about the girl just like she deserves.
557 reviews1 follower
February 23, 2025
Kol is so sweet. 500 years of being alone could have made him a grumpy fool. Hallie was definitely is perfect fated mate!
1,157 reviews1 follower
July 11, 2025
Shadows

Kol is the last that needs a human. Hallie is that one if they can get through some issues. They come to the conclusion that they were meant to be.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews

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