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A dragon trapped in his human form. A fledgling enchantress with a saucy blog. And a decades-old love spell that might have succeeded after all.

Sophie Whynot can't watch another one of her friends get married or have a baby when her own prospects for love are dire. Scratch that, catastrophic. This trip to the Smoky Mountain village to stay with her gran is a much-needed reset. A chance to get her blog off the ground and learn about the magic her grandmother practices. A chance to get to really know herself.

Tyson Drake knows exactly who he is, and it was stolen from him when Sophie's grandmother cast a love spell on his dragon thunder half a century ago. The spell was supposed to help him find his mate, but instead, doomed him to walk the earth as a human. Not a mate in sight. And nothing he's tried to get his fire back has worked.

But when his feelings for Sophie intensify, is he willing to take a chance on another Whynot enchantress, or will her magic be the end of him?

188 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 20, 2019

538 people are currently reading
820 people want to read

About the author

Kristen Strassel

133 books314 followers
Kristen Strassel is far cooler than she’ll make herself sound in this bio. She enjoys spending time with the voices in her head—nudging the characters toward those bad decisions and a happily ever after. When she’s not writing, she’s often still in the land of make-believe—doing makeup for film and television. And when she’s not doing any of that, she enjoys making her house look like a Pinterest board, watching football, and road trips to the middle of nowhere.

Connect with Kristen!
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5 stars
296 (38%)
4 stars
242 (31%)
3 stars
153 (19%)
2 stars
58 (7%)
1 star
25 (3%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 85 reviews
Profile Image for Denise.
3,721 reviews
April 20, 2019
Oh boy, oh boy. I was eagerly awaiting the next series by this author (if you haven't read The Real Werewives of Alaska series, you should) and this book did not disappoint.

Sophie has come to Summerland for a fresh start. Her single status among her group of friends finally reached the oh-hell-no point and she cracked. Selling everything she owned and fleeing to her grandmother's house, she is all for reinventing herself. She has always wanted to explore her magic and her grandmother is teaching her, albeit slowly, to cast some spells. She has started a blog on sex toys and is enjoying the testing phase, ahem. When she goes to a yard sale with her grandmother she is literally shocked when she meets a hunk of a man who apparently has an ongoing fued with her granny. What is that all about and why is her grandmother referring to him as "lizard breath"?

Tyson and his family are the last remaining North American dragons, or they would be off they could actually take their dragon forms. Unfortunately, a love spell cast fifty years ago by Nora Whynot had gone horribly wrong and the Drakes not only haven't found their mates, they've lost their dragons. He can't believe what had happened when he first saw Nora's granddaughter, the jolt of electricity that went through him could only mean one thing, he had finally found his mate.

I was given an advanced copy of this book by the author. My review is voluntary.
6,527 reviews27 followers
May 8, 2019
After reading the previous series by this very talented author I was looking forward to this series and I wasn't disappointed I actually think this book shoes sign that this series will be even better Who doesn't love dragon shifters

This is the story of Sophie and Tyson Tyson is a member of a dragon family that had a love sell placed on it fifty tears ago something went wrong and now they can't change into their dragon form at all and nn of them have met mates The person who cast that spell was Sophie's grandmother. Sophie has come to stay with her grand mother to learn about magic and to also escape her friends who are all pairing up. When her an Tyson meet at a garage sale there is an instant spark between them Can Sophie break the spell as her grandmother expects Does the jolt of electricity between them mean that they are in fact mates You will have to read to see what happens between them
Profile Image for Elizabeth.
569 reviews
March 16, 2023
This book was free on Amazon, so I took a chance on a new to me author who will be attending a book signing I’m going to. Needless to say, I will not be purchasing anymore of the series.

I like the idea of this story and the group of dragon shifters that this series will revolve around. The execution not so much. The story lacked character development. IMO, it was like multiple versions of this story were written and then smushed together haphazardly. It’s also a slow burn, and while normally I would complain about that for a shorter book, it worked quite well for this story. However, the scenes meant to be spicy did nothing for me. The spicy scenes were more detailed than needed for some parts and not enough for others.

There are some really sweet swoon-worthy moments, and the story fully embraces that love is magic, but all in all it fell flat for me.
29 reviews1 follower
October 4, 2025
There were so many grammar mistakes that it would ruin almost any story for me. But I also felt like we only got half of the book?! Like every second chapter is missing. It jumped from scene to scene. It was more tell than show. For example, Sophie's grandma is supposedly teaching her magic, but we don't actually see anything. And then suddenly she knows how to cast spells...
Also, the H and h don't actually have any real relationship. Yes, they talk about love and magic, but that's all they do. They don't really know anything about each other.
Oh, and last thing, there are so many contradictions with what they say and do that it makes my head spin.
Profile Image for Alejandra Guerrero.
1,698 reviews5 followers
November 10, 2025
DNF 41%
I was frustrated with the grandmother. She's obnoxious, rude, and an overall bitch, but everyone acts like that's quirky and funny and supposed to be endearing. The woman cast a spell 50 years ago because she made a deal with a thunder of dragons to attract their mates, it backfired and the dragons have been trapped in human form ever since. But has she even tried to help them? Tried to reverse or break her spell? No! All she has done for fifty years is call them "lizard breath" and other childish names, act like they are unreasonable for being mad at her, and tell everyone they are her enemies. She actively works against them, by preventing one of them from getting a box that could potentially have the power to break the spell. Then around 30% in she's got a 180 and now wants to "help" by forcing this guy to mate with her granddaughter. They're all on board, of course, because she is his mate, but the way it's presented made it feel forced. Like, let things progress naturally, woman!
The pacing was weird, and sometimes it felt like the version I got was missing several pages. There were several holes in the plot and a lot of contradictions. Like one page Sophie says her grandmother hasn’t taught her any spells, and two pages later she’s casting one like she’s been doing it for years.
The dialogue was cringe and most of the time it felt stiff. I read about 40% before deciding this wasn’t getting any better and DNFing.
85 reviews
January 29, 2020
I enjoyed this book. It has elements that I enjoy: magic and dragons. The plot moves along briskly.
18 reviews
January 26, 2020
Dragons are the best!

I love a good Dragon story! This is one of the best. Good characters and a great story line. It involves a witch whose spell doesn't appear to be working. Then it does. I don't want to give it away but you have to buy this one. The series too.
Profile Image for Julie.
1,635 reviews2 followers
January 27, 2020
Exciting story

Sometimes it takes awhile for a love spell to work.
Pretty good world building, although there is still a lot to learn about the town and mythology.
I liked the way they drew out each other’s strengths.
552 reviews2 followers
December 28, 2019
Loved Sophie And Tyson's Story!

Loved Sophie and Tyson's story and characters. Well written. There is magic everywhere. All the characters are great, especially Gran. Can't wait to read Monique and Chance's story.
Profile Image for Shannon Risdon.
708 reviews
Read
December 22, 2019
Addictive, hot, and magical

Thoroughly enjoyed this tale! Dragons and witches, secrets and mystery - you will be very hard pushed to put it down! Amazingly written with just the right level of detail, heat, pace and magic...definitely the beginning of an addictive series to add to my TBR :-)
Profile Image for Frances Law.
1,123 reviews14 followers
September 28, 2019
A love spell gone wrong.

When is a dragon not a dragon? When he is trapped in his human body and no longer able to shift into his dragon form. The thunder of Summerland asked Nora Whynot, a young enchantress, to cast a love spell since they hadn’t found any dragon mates in hundreds of years, but something went wrong and they didn’t find love and neither could they change. Tyson is the youngest member of the thunder and is the only one who still holds hope.
Sophie is Nora’s grandmother but has always been told by her mother that there is no such thing as magic. She, however, has always felt that her grandmother is the only person who understands her and she has had something’ inside her trying to get out for years. She calls it her tingly sense. Now life has led her to Summerland to live with her grandmother while she tries to get a blog up and running. Instead she quickly becomes involved with magic and shifting when her grandmother’s tarot reading shop is attacked. She and Tyson had only just met but the sparks were already flying - literally.
Finding out if Sophie will find her magic and Tyson will be able to change again is a lot of fun. A fun read.
Profile Image for Sassy Angel.
2,887 reviews
June 15, 2019
This was an amazing story. I loved every moment of it. I can’t wait to read the rest of the series. Kristen Strassel has a way of drawing you into the action and the love story from the first page. I didn’t want this story to end.

Sophie has come to stay with her grandmother who is an entrantress. She wants to learn from her as well as regroup and refocus her life. She meets Tyson who is a dragon shifter. He and his thunder believe that they are cursed when a spell that her grandmother cast didn’t do what they wanted. Now things are changing for the better. Tyson and Sophie are to mate and hope that the curse will be lifted. Will they get their happy ending?

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
3,219 reviews25 followers
May 7, 2019
Sophie moves to Summerland, Tennessee to stay with her grandmother and meets Tyson Drake.
Moving to Summerland, Tennessee to stay with her grandmother Nora had Sophie hoping for a new start and plans to start a new blog. Going to a yard sale with Nora she finds a cute dragon pin but Nora is drawn to a jeweled box but a tall hunk is also interested and Nora beats him to buy it. Sophie is unable to get the man at the yard sale out of her mind and dreams of him. Dragon shifter Tyson Drake is annoyed that Nora beat him to the box but finds her granddaughter unforgettable so he asks her for date when he spots her in the coffee shop. A Dragon shifter romance to relax and enjoy.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Raina.
4,194 reviews34 followers
May 19, 2019
A hot and adventurous beginning to a dragon shifter romance. But there is so much more than dragons. Magic is real even if most people don’t believe in it. But one botched spell may have caused these dragons the ability to shift. Now fifty years later things will change for the good or bad. I liked both of the main characters. Sophie believes in magic and wants to learn from her Gram. She is definitely an interesting character and blushes a lot when talking about her blog. And Gram is one funny and maybe a little crazy old woman. And Tyson is a romantic at heart. So expect some mystery and plenty of magic to be thrown around.
3,057 reviews17 followers
April 22, 2019
Dragons and Magic!!

The Rocky Mountain Thunder has not been able to shift to their dragons for years. When Sophie goes to live with her Gran, she meets Tyson who recognizes her as a potential mate, and solution to his shifting problem. But should he date the granddaughter of the woman who caused the problem in the first place?



Magic, mates and intrigue combine into an entertaining story!!

*** I am voluntarily leaving my honest review of this book ***
Profile Image for Sydney M Neblett.
2,660 reviews26 followers
April 30, 2019
The love of a good man, umm dragon, wait.....mate
Such a great story! These dragons are new, okay so really they are very old, come with a ton of baggage, and are desperately craving the love of their mate. Basically everything we look for in a good book. The author did not let us down, the story is engaging and will keep you interested until the very last page. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series.
4,624 reviews
May 6, 2019
Fun paranormal romance! Sophie is the last single girl from her group and her dating situation is dire so she decides she needs a blank canvas and moves with her grandma. Tyson is a drag who has been trap in his human form of too long after Sophie gram did a love spell that has render him and his family with no way to shift.
Prepare yourself for magic, mates, love and mischied.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
44 reviews1 follower
September 20, 2019
Dragons, magic, love and danger what a heady combination.

Wow just wow is about the best I can say. Sophie had me laughing so hard I almost had an accident. Tyson is a man who make me believe in love at first sight. When these two get together the sparks fly. I loved it when they worked together.
Nora is just like my granny and she believed you could do anything with the right incentives.
Good reading!
91 reviews1 follower
January 31, 2024
not worth price of admission

If I had gotten this book through KU, I probably would have DNFed it. TikTok advertised it as this erotic fantasy, but it was false advertising. It was about as spicy as an old school bodice ripper from the 80’s. The sad part is it had so much potential and the scenes where they discussed her blog I thought, yeah here comes the spice…but that was just a big old tease. Add in how short the book was and it just wasn’t worth what I paid for it.
Profile Image for Scarolet Ellis.
7,445 reviews53 followers
May 18, 2019
Love Spell by Kristen Strassel is an awesome story that I have read. This is book number one in this awesome start to a brand new series that I can not get enough of. I highly recommend this story to everyone who loves reading about dragon shifters in their stories.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Helena.
241 reviews2 followers
September 27, 2019
Classic romantic love story with a twist of magic

A love spell gone wrong? Or so Tyson Drake and his fellow dragons thought? Until Sophie Whynot came along and triggered the love spell.
He was the only dragon who didn't stop believing in the spell. She was the one who always believed in magic. Finding each other was fate. Off to read the next book in the series. Happy writing.
1,033 reviews2 followers
October 3, 2019
A Dragon and an Enchantress

Gran cast a spell on the Dragon thunder sat their request. They were closing their power. Her granddaughter came to live with her so she could learn magic. It seems the spell worked after a lol as she met Tyson and they were drawn together. Various twists and turns make for an interesting story.
Profile Image for Kathleen Bradbury (Bulfon).
16.4k reviews216 followers
July 7, 2019
A well written book with an interesting story line. The characters are strong and the story flows quickly and smoothly. I enjoyed reading this story.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Erin.
399 reviews
March 27, 2022
This made NO SENSE. There was no plot, no character development and jumped around like a crack addicted jumping bean. I really wish negative star reviews were a thing because this sucked arse and should be burned not read.
Profile Image for Suez.
839 reviews
September 28, 2019
This is a forbidden, fast paced journey for Sophie and Tyson. Their instant chemistry will definitely capture your attention and not let go. This is a voluntary review of an advanced copy
1,140 reviews2 followers
November 25, 2019
Never give up.

After fifty years under the spell of an enchantress, Tyson and the rest of the thunder have the opportunity to be able to shift to their their form.
Profile Image for D Call.
666 reviews29 followers
September 21, 2020
Good shifter romance

I liked the story. This is my second time reading it.

Who doesn't want to discover that, by being true to yourself, you find something beyond your wildest dreams? Sophie has a breakdown, sells everything, and goes to live with Gran, the only one who's believed in her. She discovers she has magic, the hottest guy ever is a dragon, and he's attracted to her.

Character development is adequate; Sophie has feelings of inadequacy as a woman and as an enchantress, Tyson isn't sure he still believes in magic, they find healing in each other. Setting is almost non-existent; it could've been any small town anywhere in the US. Plot moved at an adequate pace, giving time for relationship development.

Do I need to read books before this one: no
Would I read more of the series: probably
Cliffhanger: no

POSSIBLE TRIGGERS
Sex: two scenes, some BDSM, sex toys
Language: 61 F words, 6 Lord's name in vain, 42 S words
Violence: murder, arson

FAVORITE QUOTE(S)
“If someone can’t appreciate you for who you are, they don’t deserve you.”

“I can’t wait to get old enough to [not care in the least] about pissing off an entire room of people before making my grand exit.”

I’d write a thank you letter to every asshole that was too stupid to take this incredible woman on a second date. I hadn’t even kissed her yet. I had no idea what she tasted like, but I knew it would instantly become my favorite flavor.

I was still a novice when it came to magic, but one of the most important tenets was to pay good fortune forward. Never hoard gifts. Share with those in need.

Love isn’t perfect. Nothing is, and that’s what makes it beautiful.

“Love is a union we take seriously, for we believe it to last forever. We only spend so long in our physical bodies, but there is a life beyond what we can comprehend. Love is the magic that helps answer those questions. It soothes the pain and highlights our greatest joys. Love is the power by which we live our lives.”

CRITIQUE (spoilers)
It's a little creepy that Tyson keeps thinking Sophie looks just like Nora did 50 years ago. Did he have a thing for Nora?

These guys are the Smoky Mountain Thunder. They're worried because the Rocky Mountain Thunder died out. The Andes Mountain Thunder comes for the wedding. I infer that they protect the area surrounding their mountain ranges. So why are they solely focused on Summerland?
Displaying 1 - 30 of 85 reviews

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