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Tales of Love & Lore #2
Dragons & Dumplings
Fire and ice don’t mix. Or so they’ve been told…
Fire drake Mei Flameborn is perfectly content waitressing at her family’s fiery little diner in the magical town of Willowmere—well, mostly. Sure, she wishes her traditional parents would trust her with more responsibility, especially when it comes to experimenting with her own recipes. For now, she sneaks in her culinary creations after hours…and dreams of proving herself.
Enter Yuri a frost dragon scholar with a chilly stare, a closet full of button-ups, and the audacity to order Dragonfire Dumplings without the spice. He’s the worst kind of regular—picky, aloof, and distractingly handsome—and he keeps showing up like clockwork.
But when Yuri unexpectedly helps Mei out of a tight spot, she offers him a she’ll help him dig up ancient lore for his research, if he’ll help her craft a new signature dish impressive enough to win her parents’ approval in time for the town’s biggest event of the year—the Harvest Feast.
As sparks fly and frost thaws, Mei finds herself falling for the one dragon who shouldn’t tempt her heart, and starts to wonder if her so-called enemy might just be the one dragon who truly sees her. But old grudges between fire and ice run deep, and if their growing bond comes to light, it could burn everything to ashes.
Can two elemental opposites create the perfect recipe for peace and love—or will centuries of rivalry leave them out in the cold?
Opposites attract, sparks fly, and love is on the menu in this sweet, slow-burn, small-town romantasy full of cozy charm, found family, and magical comfort food.
Fire drake Mei Flameborn is perfectly content waitressing at her family’s fiery little diner in the magical town of Willowmere—well, mostly. Sure, she wishes her traditional parents would trust her with more responsibility, especially when it comes to experimenting with her own recipes. For now, she sneaks in her culinary creations after hours…and dreams of proving herself.
Enter Yuri a frost dragon scholar with a chilly stare, a closet full of button-ups, and the audacity to order Dragonfire Dumplings without the spice. He’s the worst kind of regular—picky, aloof, and distractingly handsome—and he keeps showing up like clockwork.
But when Yuri unexpectedly helps Mei out of a tight spot, she offers him a she’ll help him dig up ancient lore for his research, if he’ll help her craft a new signature dish impressive enough to win her parents’ approval in time for the town’s biggest event of the year—the Harvest Feast.
As sparks fly and frost thaws, Mei finds herself falling for the one dragon who shouldn’t tempt her heart, and starts to wonder if her so-called enemy might just be the one dragon who truly sees her. But old grudges between fire and ice run deep, and if their growing bond comes to light, it could burn everything to ashes.
Can two elemental opposites create the perfect recipe for peace and love—or will centuries of rivalry leave them out in the cold?
Opposites attract, sparks fly, and love is on the menu in this sweet, slow-burn, small-town romantasy full of cozy charm, found family, and magical comfort food.
- GenresRomance
171 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 1, 2025
6 people are currently reading
41 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
January 16, 2026
Cozy, seasonal, comforting fantasy romance with food, vibes, and low-stakes magic.
Fire dragons, frost dragons, a magical small town, a family diner, and a grumpy scholar ?Yeah. I know what lane this book is in, and I am always a fan of it. This feels very much like one of those reads you curl up with when you want something warm, whimsical, and easy to sink into without emotional devastation.
This book is charming, with that opposites-attract dynamic done in a soft, cozy way rather than an angsty one. I love both main characters and how they were such opposites.
I also really love the blending of fantasy elements with everyday life here. Dragons running diners, ancient lore mixed with recipe experimentation, and a town festival as the emotional anchor of the story? That’s exactly the kind of fantasy I gravitate toward when I want something comforting rather than epic and stressful.
As always, she makes perfect seasonal cozy fantasy romance- the kind you read for vibes, characters, and gentle emotional payoff. If you enjoy fantasy romances that lean more sweet than dramatic, with food, culture, and a soft enemies-to-lovers undertone, this one is absolutely worth picking up.
Fire dragons, frost dragons, a magical small town, a family diner, and a grumpy scholar ?Yeah. I know what lane this book is in, and I am always a fan of it. This feels very much like one of those reads you curl up with when you want something warm, whimsical, and easy to sink into without emotional devastation.
This book is charming, with that opposites-attract dynamic done in a soft, cozy way rather than an angsty one. I love both main characters and how they were such opposites.
I also really love the blending of fantasy elements with everyday life here. Dragons running diners, ancient lore mixed with recipe experimentation, and a town festival as the emotional anchor of the story? That’s exactly the kind of fantasy I gravitate toward when I want something comforting rather than epic and stressful.
As always, she makes perfect seasonal cozy fantasy romance- the kind you read for vibes, characters, and gentle emotional payoff. If you enjoy fantasy romances that lean more sweet than dramatic, with food, culture, and a soft enemies-to-lovers undertone, this one is absolutely worth picking up.
November 15, 2025
I enjoyed "Dragons & Dumplings." It earns a solid four stars for having genuinely unique characters and a sweet, enjoyable opposites-attract romance. The core concept—mixing elemental fantasy with a cozy, low-stakes setting—is fun and the author's writing is generally strong and engaging. You can tell the author truly loves her characters and world. It's also nice to see different cultures represented in fantasy, instead of having them all based on caucasion cultures.
I tend towards darker stories, so it felt a little light for me at times, but that's just a personal preference. If you are looking for a high-heart, low-angst fantasy escape, this is a charming addition to the cozy romantasy genre.
I tend towards darker stories, so it felt a little light for me at times, but that's just a personal preference. If you are looking for a high-heart, low-angst fantasy escape, this is a charming addition to the cozy romantasy genre.
November 9, 2025
This story is pure magic! The world of Willowmere feels warm and alive, filled with charm, food, and slow-burn chemistry that will melt your heart. Mei and Yuri’s dynamic—fire and ice, spice and calm—is perfection. The writing is cozy and vivid, with just the right mix of romance, humor, and fantasy. It’s like a Hallmark movie meets a dragon fairytale with delicious food scenes. Perfect for romantasy lovers who adore opposites-attract stories and magical small towns!
November 5, 2025
The writing is warm and immersive, filled with mouthwatering food descriptions and whimsical world-building that makes Willowmere feel like a place you’d love to visit. I adored Mei’s determination to prove herself and Yuri’s quiet, mysterious charm. Their journey from rivals to partners had me smiling the entire time.
November 22, 2025
I was very excited to read the next book in this series and Vanna Woods met my expectations with this one! It was nice for me to read a book that’s perfect for around when Thanksgiving nears and best of all this one has fire and ice dragons in it! Loved it all the way and Mei and Yuri’s love story is soooooo fire and ice, lol! Definitely recommend!
November 13, 2025
A Deliciously Magical Love Story. This book is a heartwarming romantasy filled with charm, humor, and a touch of spice. It’s a cozy tale where fire and ice collide, mixing love, magic, and mouthwatering food into the perfect recipe for comfort and adventure.
January 12, 2026
I absolutely adored this story and little world of many creatures. the love between our two main characters was so refreshing and sweet to unravel as the story went on. I can't wait to read more from this author.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews