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Fated for love... or fated to fight?

Dragon shifter Rafael Hart, one of three elite Dragonsworn guards, will not accept failure. He must protect the royal family from any and all threats, including their ancient enemy: dragon slayers. When one infiltrates their lair, it’s his job to destroy the threat even if her scent is as enticing as her lush curves.

Lola Moreau hails from a line of dragon slayers, but her quiet life producing weapons for the cause is thrown into disarray with the threat of an arranged marriage. Seeking to prove her new weapons are too valuable to discontinue her work, Lola sneaks into dragon territory to test them. Her mission goes spectacularly wrong when she’s captured by an irresistible foe.

Despite her upbringing, Lola can’t help warming to the sexy dragon who keeps her close. The heat between them is undeniable and makes her question everything she thinks she knows about shifters.

When an old threat returns to wreak havoc, Rafe must determine if Lola is behind the latest attacks. And if she can be trusted, which way will she turn when she’s caught between the man she’s grown to love and the family that wants to destroy him?

194 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 18, 2016

83 people are currently reading
168 people want to read

About the author

Cecilia Lane

53 books221 followers
If you'd like to be notified of new releases and special sales, subscribe here: http://cecilialane.com/CLML

Cecilia grew up in a what most call paradise, but she insists is humid hell. She escaped the heat with weekly journeys to the library, where she learned the basics of slaying dragons, magical abilities, and grand adventures.

When it became apparent she wouldn’t be able to travel the high seas with princes or party with rock star vampires, Cecilia hunkered down to create her own worlds filled with sexy people in complicated situations. She now writes with the support of her own sexy man and many interruptions from her goofy dog.

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5 stars
73 (44%)
4 stars
48 (29%)
3 stars
30 (18%)
2 stars
8 (4%)
1 star
5 (3%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
Profile Image for Jennifer Hill.
86 reviews
April 16, 2017
I am a dragon Fangirl

I made a mistake and read the third book in this series first, but immediately went and got number one and two. Short, fun, sexy reads with some danger and lots of heart. I am really glad I found the series.
Profile Image for Ingrid Stephanie Jordan.
1,862 reviews24 followers
November 24, 2017
Title:  Smoulder  
Series: Dragonsworn #1
Release Date: #AlreadyReleased
Author: Cecilia Lane
Reviewer: Ingrid Stephanie Jordan
Serial: Standalone, No Cliffhanger 
Genre:#PRN #DragonShifters #Slayers
#5Stars☆☆☆☆☆
••••••••••••••
     Wow this was different and I loved it. The book catches you from the first page, to the end taking you on the ride of your life. Oh Yes "DragShifterrific".
     Lola Moreau is a Human Dragon Slayer she wishes. If she wasn't held back by her crazy brothers she could be. A women's place is in the yada, yada, yada! BAH! So they thought but she would teach them she could fight. WRONG!!! This only gets her into trouble let alone captured.
      Rafael Hart it's a Dragon Shifter who was sworn to take care of Princess Cassandra de Rege with his life if need be. Rafe, Levi and Brody were Dragonsworn to have his symbol burned into his chest with a drop of blood is an honor not many have. Taking care and guarding the Princess was basically nothing, finding a slayer and watching her proved to be far tougher for Rafe, especially when he realizes she is his Mate.
     OMG this book is Dynamite will book #2 be the same?
     A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book and my comments here are my honest opinion.
Profile Image for Julie Jefferies.
371 reviews3 followers
December 26, 2016
Rafe has finally fulfilled his life's destiny, he has become a dragonsworn. His duty to protect the royal baby. Lola has spent her whole life knowing how evil dragon shifters are, they will name, destroy and kill anything in their way, all she wants is to protect other humans from the dragon abominations. When her brothers won't let her fight, she sneaks out to kill a dragon on her own, but when the dragon she tries to kill saves her life, she may have to rethink what she's been taught her whole life. Rafe can't believe that woman that just tried to kill him is his mate, luckily the consort has announced that Lola is not to be harmed. Rafe must glean information from Lola, but the secrets she keeps could destroy all the dragons she's growing to like.

This was a fabulous story. It made you realize that everything isn't as it seems, and that sometimes the enemy are actually your allies. Rafe's instant acceptance of Lola was just beautiful. The ending was great. This was an absolute pleasure to read.

I received a copy of this book for a VOLUNTARY, completely honest, and non-incentivized review
Profile Image for Karen.
1,424 reviews2 followers
September 7, 2017
Dragonsworn

This is a good read and an entertaining series opener. Rafe is a Dragon shifter and the leader of a team of Dragon guards assigned to protect the heir. When a woman breaks into the tower where the royal family lives, Rafe corners her near an upper floor balcony. He the watches as she leaps into space.
Lola Moreau is a slayer, indoctrinated from birth. Her only hope of avoiding an unwanted marriage is to prove her worth by testing scale penetrating bullets she's developed. To do that, she sneaks into a tower she's sure houses dragons. But she is apprehended before reaching her goal, then is plucked from the air when her chute fails to open. And the Dragon who saved her is charged with keeping an eye on her, which he does in his apartment. Life among the dragons is nothing like what she was trained to believe. But just as she's learning the reality of their world, and beginning to think she might have a future with them, her trustworthiness is called into question. Where do her actual loyalties lie?
Profile Image for Steff griffiths.
99 reviews16 followers
November 21, 2017
I have read quite a lot of shifter books, dragons especially and I have to say this one is up there with the top, an emotional rollercoaster of guilt, betrayal, love and Drama. Rafe and Lola story was a great series starter, with introducing the characters, the story setting and explaining a little bit of the story to come.

I absolutely enjoyed the hell out of this book, seriously couldn't but it down and only took me a little while to read it. from page one to the end I was plagued with questions that made me want to read to the end and start on the next one to see if they get answered.

I will definitely recommend to any shifter fans especially dragons, but also to anyone who likes a good story and a bit of drama. thank you Cecilia Lane for the opportunity to read and review this for you, cannot wait to read any others in the series.
Profile Image for Laura.
2,157 reviews18 followers
July 24, 2017
Rafe is a dragon shifter who just received the highest honor of protecting the heir. Lola is from a family of dragon slayers and she wants to prove her worth by testing her weapons on an actual dragon. She and Rafe are thrown together but fight their attraction because they are supposed to be sworn enemies. They grow closer and starting seeing different sides of their enemy. When things eventually come to a head they have to figure out who's side they're on.

This was short, sexy and fun. Though the two were drawn to each other they didn't immediately give up trust each other and fall in love. I appreciated that their relationship developed in a more believable way. I'm definitely interested enough to read further.
Profile Image for Amy.
650 reviews5 followers
September 29, 2017
This is the first time I've read this author. The cover drew me in, and the idea of dragon/slayer romance. But from the start I was not clear on the ages of the main characters. Lola seems young, and her storming the tower is a bit…unbelievable. I was hoping for a more kickass Buffy the Slayer type, but Lola has no training at all. She's just stuck in an environment where women aren't valued for anything but marriage. I’m disappointed that it didn't go the way I thought.
The world seemed a bit too much of a mix of 'modern.' Guns? But why are humans/slayers living on compounds? Didn't really get much narrative on why the world is the way it's portrayed.
Overall left wanting more and wishing it was more show/feels than tell.
843 reviews6 followers
December 4, 2017
I love shifter stories especially dragon shifters. “Smoulder” is an exciting fun story. Rafe is a dragon shifter who is in charge of protecting the heir. Lola is a dragon slayer who is trying to prove her worth to her family by killing a dragon. She has been brought up to believe that dragon shifters are evil monsters that must be destroyed. When Lola infiltrates the dragon shifters headquarters she is apprehended . When she tries to escape, Rafe saves her from a deadly fall. Instead of executing Lola she is kept at headquarters and Rafe is assigned as her guard. Lola is his Rafe's mate but because of their differences he tries to fight the attraction. This book is fast-paced, suspenseful, romantic, and steamy. I was captivated from the beginning. A one-click must.
Profile Image for KelticKat.
727 reviews31 followers
August 24, 2018
Yum - dragon shifters

Yep! This was a yummy steamy insta bowl of dragon shifter-ness and perfect for a quick escape from my everyday work!

Really like the characters of Rafe and Lola and their attraction to each other. Of course with almost every shifter story there is the immediate “insta” matey-ness and there were some toe-curling moments as well.

Still not sure about the whole “tracker” issue and if they ever took care of that - but good story.
1,478 reviews3 followers
July 27, 2022
Something happened to Lola that she never intended or expected - she fell in love with a dragon named Rafael. Being that she is part of a dragon slayer clan, this is a big NO-NO. But it's not long before Lola realizes that everything she was taught about dragons is wrong. Rafael knows that Lola is his fated mate but is having a hard time with it because she is a dragon slayer. But love rules over all the objections. This is a well written story with lots of action and a happily ever after.
Profile Image for Popcorn.
442 reviews
May 20, 2017
Surprised

This was a very nice read. No cliffhangers :-) for me that is huge. The story is about not accepting other species or even knowing much about them. Then finding out you were wrong. If you want a quick read, this is your book. As an avid reader it is worth the purchase.
272 reviews
February 19, 2017
Burning fire

Love can be found in different ways, when you are taught to hate something or someone you have never met or seen it is hard, but when you finally realize there is nothing but love there for you.. it's like coming home.
Profile Image for Carolyn Brown.
405 reviews5 followers
May 11, 2017
Great start to series

I love dragon shifter stories and this is no exception.
Raf and Lola are true mates with a lot or obstacles to overcome, can a dragon slayer change her ways and mate with a dragon?
This story takes you through all the dangers that they face
Profile Image for Vivian.
1,599 reviews7 followers
December 29, 2016
A lot of world building info not there. From the three chapters I read, the story just didn't work for me. I quit reading. I'm glad I paid 99 cents for it.
Profile Image for Jill Pearson.
27 reviews2 followers
September 21, 2017
Dragon vs slayer

When a sexy dragon shifter and a dragon slayer get together sparks will fly. If you're looking for good fast read, this book is for you.
Profile Image for Krista.
181 reviews
October 31, 2017
Just couldn't get into this one. It was short, and thought I might just blow through it, but instead was flat bored and am leaving it as DNF.
Profile Image for Pat .
4,153 reviews20 followers
February 11, 2018
This book was fantastic. A sexy dragon sworn to protect the next heir but then meets his fated mate. Nothing goes right at the start then a kidnapping whatever next. I would recommend this book.
Profile Image for Rebekah.
635 reviews25 followers
November 8, 2020
I want to see an actual world in this series. The book was much too short to really establish any kind of relationship or other. I liked the dragons though. Classic.
77 reviews
March 17, 2022
wow

Loved it. This book shows that love true love has no color nor difference of life styles. Just a beautiful thing
243 reviews
February 16, 2017
I voluntarily read this advanced readers copy. I didn’t realize before starting this book that it is a spinoff of Fated Hearts Club Series. I really enjoyed that some of the characters are from the other series. The author pulled me into this and refused to let me leave it until the story ended. I enjoyed the plot and the interactions between the characters. I only hope there will be more stories in this series as I enjoy the author’s writing.
Profile Image for Emily Pennington.
20.8k reviews362 followers
December 20, 2016
Rafe entered the room to a gathering of people. He and two others would be Dragonsworn to the new King and his Consort, a guardian and protector to them and to their child, Cassandra. They would teach and guide Cassandra until she reached adulthood and could protect herself as they would have taught her.

Lola was in her father’s lab, working on weapons for killing dragons. Her brothers came in, roughhousing, and almost knocked her test tubes over. They told her soon she would be married off and unable to work in the lab. She was upset by that. She wanted to train and fight with the men, not fulfill the role they had planned for her. So she sneaked out with her new weapons to the highest building in the Azra Valley where the dragons lived. She had no idea that their security cameras followed her every move!

This was such a good book! I thoroughly enjoyed reading it and highly recommend it. It goes much deeper than a dragon slayer tale. It shows us how stifling it can be to be pressured to live within an expected role regardless of your abilities or dreams. And it explores pre-conceived notions and how misleading those can be until you open your mind and heart. An excellent tale!
Profile Image for Linda Levine.
4,644 reviews25 followers
December 20, 2016
You really can't predict who will be your mate when you are a dragon shifter. Lola is from a family of dragon slayers and is determined to prove herself worthy of being one. She sneaks out to go test her weapons and ends up captured by the dragons. Rafael is a dragon shifter who protects the royal child and is shocked to find the intruder is his mate. He has to balance the safety of the dragons with his desire to protect his mate.

I liked the story a lot. Lola has been told all kinds of horror stories about dragons and shifters so she is sure she will be killed when she is caught. Being around them, allows her to open her mind. Rafael hopes that opportunity will allow her to open her heart too. I really liked how protective he was of her even when it put him in a bad place with the dragon shifters. He is determined to keep her safe from any harm. They have a real connection and have to navigate thru a lot of obstacles to find a way to be together.

I am voluntarily reviewing a copy I received.
Profile Image for Jessica Mitchell.
2,051 reviews20 followers
December 20, 2016
Seriously I hope there's a book two.
Two very different people will clash together to change their way of life forever in a way they never thought would happen.
Lola may have grown up in a compound where women are basically treated like dirt. Making their weapons is a small gift not to be put in the kitchens. Only to have a husband soon and have some kids to replace those that are getting to old to fight. She doesn't want that life. She wants more in life and doesn't realize the adventure she will take upon herself will change her life forever. Especially when she meets him....
Rafe is a Dragon shifter and a Dragonsworn. One of the guards who protects the royal family. But mainly a little royal dragon baby till she is of age. Life was going great, till she stepped in and then all plans went askew. He knows something that she doesn't about herself. But he also can't bring himself to hurt her for the valuable information about her compound either.... Rafe is stuck between two.... a wall and a hard place.
Profile Image for Donna Hokanson.
1,694 reviews35 followers
December 20, 2016
Learning the truth of the other side
In a world where there are Dragon Shifters, there are also Dragon Hunters. The Hunters still believe that Dragons are bad and the lowest of lows, who kill and capture their pray.
Lola is from a family of dragon hunters. Only in their culture women are only good for cooking and cleaning and breeding more hunters. She use to work in the lab with her dad and still does even though he’s gone. Her brothers are threatening to marry her off. She wants to prove herself and her new weapon only for things to go wrong and she get captured.
Rafe, the head Dragonsworn volunteers and is tasked to protect Lola and try to get information out of her. But his attraction the her is unlike any he has ever had before.
This is a story of the two sides meeting and finding out the other isn’t as bad as was thought to be. It’s a well written and very entertaining self-contained story to read.
Profile Image for Hsu Lee.
1,743 reviews9 followers
December 20, 2016
ARC - I voluntarily offered to review this book and my opinions are honest!

This is a great read!
This book was a good example of brainwashing
Lola grew up believing that dragons were monsters.
No exceptions to the rule.
If you see a dragon, you should fear for your life
Dragon slayers existed to protect humans from dragons.
Rafael is the new appointed Dragonsworn.
His job was to protect the daughter of the regent Lucas + Penelope.
Lola infiltrated the Dragon's stronghold to see if she could discover their weakness.
What she found instead was Rafael.
Now that she was interacting w/ the dragon, she is discovering that what she was thought was wrong.
Also, there was the growing attraction to between Lola & Rafael.
Spoiler Alert! - Lola is Rafael's mate.
I love reading about the interaction between Lola & Rafael.
In the end, Lola chose Love instead of hate.
Great HEA!
3,080 reviews19 followers
December 20, 2016
Right from the first page of this book
it grabs your attention and keeps it to
the last page.
Lola is working on something that she hopes
will kill dragons that here brothers can use in there work
as dragon slayers. This group are very behind the time with the
way they think .
One night Lola left the compound to try to kill a dragon to get some respect
Things did not go as plan she was court before she could do any harm.
This is where Rafe comes in to the story. The King Dragon makes it is responsible
to make sure Lola dose no harm to any body.
Things are going alright until here brothers rescue her and takes Rafe as well.
Lola knows what her brothers are going to do to Rafe and her.
Will Lola be able to free herself and Rafe in time.
I hope this is a start to a new series if it is its going to be one fantastic read.
I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book.
Profile Image for Dee Archer.
664 reviews4 followers
December 21, 2016
Delightful story of Rafe & Lola. Rafe is a dragon shifter, a guardian of the Royal family's princess. Lola is a human raised in a community of dragon haters, people who train to be dragon slayers. Being female, Lola has little say about her life. So when the men decide to arrange a marriage for her, she runs away into dragon land. Under Rafe's protection, she learns about the kindness of the dragon people. She finds that everything she was taught about them is untrue. Love shifter stories and this one is a gem. It deals with bias, prejudice and a misguided education. It also addresses the challenges of a relationship between two people from two different worlds. I  voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book. Five stars.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews

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