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Return of the Dragons #0.5

Dreaming of the Dragon Shifter

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Prequel to the Return of the Dragon series.

Dragon shifter Jayrian needs a Christmas miracle to save his clan, and his prince.

Even if dragons celebrated Christmas, Jayrian has far bigger problems to worry about when he discovers a threat to his sleeping prince on Christmas Eve. How can he wake the prince, save his clan, and end three hundred years of defeat when powerful enemy dragons guard the prince's sleeping chamber? Jayrian is going to need help, and a human librarian is his only answer.

Gretchen's life is ordinary and boring, and she longs for adventure outside the books she reads. Someone to take to her family Christmas dinner to stop the endless teasing would be good too. So when the hot man who's been hanging around the library shows up on Christmas Eve, she impulsively invites him to the Christmas party. But when an honest to goodness dragon lands on the front of her car, she realises she might have bitten off more than she can chew.

Even if Jayrian can convince her to help him, convincing his clan is another matter. And that's before he realises he might have just made the biggest mistake of all - falling for her.

Can Jayrian make the ultimate sacrifice for his clan, and give up the woman he's falling in love with?

Loyal Dragon Shifter is a novella length complete story with a happy ending. Previously available as Jayrian: Bringing Christmas to the Dragons.

162 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 8, 2015

713 people are currently reading
702 people want to read

About the author

Rinelle Grey

61 books182 followers
Rinelle Grey is no stranger to alternate lifestyles. She grew up in a variety of different homes, including a riverside shack with no electricity or running water, and even a tent. She and her sister spent their childhood chasing goats, climbing trees, eating peas and corn out of their mother’s vegetable garden, and occasionally rushing to get their correspondence school work in on time. Despite the difficulties of this lifestyle, she wouldn’t swap it for all the luxuries in the world (though she is rather fond of her running hot water and indoor plumbing now!)

She met her husband in ‘Family Therapy’, an elective they were both taking as part of their psychology degrees. It took several years for them to get together, in fact, their roleplaying characters got together before they did!

They married on the beach at sunrise in 2002, two months after Rinelle popped the question.

Although she had always loved to write, it wasn’t until her daughter was about eighteen months old that Rinelle started writing seriously. Probably not the best stage in terms of having spare time! And time only became scarcer when her daughter gave up her day sleep six months later. But by then, Rinelle had well and truly caught the writing bug, finding time somehow to continue with her passion. Her fast typing speed learnt from spending way too much time chatting on IRC, and the investment in an iPad when they came out, helped immensely.

Rinelle now lives on acreage with her husband and homeschooled daughter. In her spare time, she sells stock photography through an online site to support her family, and is hoping that writing will be able to add to that.

She loves to receive e-mails at rinelle@rinellegrey.com, or follow her on facebook or twitter.

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Community Reviews

5 stars
304 (39%)
4 stars
260 (33%)
3 stars
147 (18%)
2 stars
57 (7%)
1 star
11 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 100 reviews
Profile Image for Brenda.
5,083 reviews3,015 followers
December 13, 2015
Dragon shifter Jayrian was becoming more frustrated with his stubborn family – their prince had been asleep for three hundred years; the awakening was imperative, but only a human could help. The elders didn’t agree so it was up to Jayrian to convince them; so far his powers of persuasion weren’t working!

Gretchen loved her job as librarian – the small town in outback Australia where she’d lived all her life was just that – small. But though she looked forward to a future filled with more than her librarian work, she had become enamoured by a regular customer to the library. When Gretchen saw him once again on Christmas Eve, she impulsively invited him to join her family in their Christmas celebrations. She had no idea that that impulse would change her life forever – excitement and adventure were about to fill her future with Jayrian at the centre of it…

Bringing Christmas to the Dragons was a fun and short Christmas story by Aussie author Rinelle Grey. A prequel to the Dragon Ruins series, it is a quick, easy read filled with entertainment, light romance and fantasy. I highly recommend Grey’s work; if you enjoy fantasy/paranormal, you won’t be sorry.
Profile Image for Belinda.
1,331 reviews236 followers
December 18, 2017
3,75 stars. Free Kindle ebook
Gretchen works in a libary where she meets with Jayrian. At first she does not know he is a dragon. And she is totaly unaware of the big treat his lair is fasing and what he wants her to do.
A Nice christmas story. Aldo the end is cut short for me and you have to feel the treat I did not feel. That is te reason for the 3,75 stars.
Profile Image for Mary Kirkland.
770 reviews32 followers
July 5, 2020
Jayrian wanted to send Gretchen into the cave to wake up their prince who had been sleeping for over 300 years. The humans were going to start mining where the Prince slept and they would discover him which would be bad. But every time he brought it up with the elders they wouldn't hear of it.

A rival dragon shifter clan guarded the cave where the Prince slept but they couldn't go in because the cave was warded against all dragons except its own clan and his clan couldn't get near him but they wouldn't be able to detect a human which is why Jayrian wanted to send in one to wake him.

As Jayrian gets closer to Gretchen and let's her know what he is and what she would have to do to wake the Prince, he finds it harder and harder to let Gretchen be the one who has to go in the cave to the Prince even though it's his idea. The woman who wakes the Prince will also have to mate (have sex) with him to replenish his magic. The longer Jayrian is around Gretchen the more he knows that she is his mate and he can't let her go. Jayrian knows that having a relationship with a human is not something the elders will ever approve of but it's time for his people to try and get along with the humans. Gretchen has a plan and it's a good one. I don't want to say much more because that would give too much away but her plan is a really good one. I like how this ended.
Profile Image for Gemma.
834 reviews67 followers
January 14, 2021
This is a pretty fast and easy read. The character development is good and I imagine the following books are pretty good. I am curious what happens next, and will probably add them to my list to be read but won't be jumping straight into them just yet.
482 reviews1 follower
December 29, 2015
Bringing Christmas to the Dragons

Five stars is the highest rating I can give this story. There is everything to like and enjoy about this book. Other readers will enjoy this also. One word to rate this story :AWESOME
Profile Image for Jenny Prose.
746 reviews10 followers
January 1, 2018
Short story that is more about the dragons then about Christmas but all in all a cute short read.
Profile Image for Eldarwen.
581 reviews72 followers
August 22, 2018
It was an okay read.
The idea was good, the writing and execution thereof not quite so much.
Profile Image for Elaine.
4,427 reviews90 followers
January 31, 2023
Jayrian is a Dragon Shifter, who needs to save his Prince and his clan. The Prince is sleeping, but cannot wake him. Gretchen is a librarian. She's got the hots for Jayrian and takes him to a Christmas Eve party at her mother's. Jayrian shifts to a Dragon and convinces Gretchen to help him with his Prince.
A very enjoyable story with a HEA. 4☆
166 reviews
April 3, 2021
Adventure

Gretchen poor life as a librarian was boring and sad. She needed more and one day a surprised walked in her library just in time for Christmas. Best gift ever and one to last forever.
12.6k reviews189 followers
November 10, 2017
An adorable not to be missed story that was easy to read. Wished it could be longer but loved it anyway. Received a free book.
Profile Image for Susan Otto.
832 reviews9 followers
November 28, 2018
Terrific Dragon Romance

A dragon name Jayrian he's very frustrated with his hidden Clan, because he wants to protract his sleeping Dragon Prince. The Elders of his clan want to obey the rules that say dragons are to remain hidden and they're to protect the Prince's Chambers at Dragon Scale. Jayrian he spending time with his human Gretchen.

While on a journey to her parents house for Christmas, they are attacked by a lightning dragon. He passes the message along to let him kill the prince. After a disastrous meal they pack up the Christmas dinner , tree, and ornaments. They also went shopping for Christmas gifts to give the dragons.

The characters are relatable, stubborn, unique, and Jayrian is adorable and sexy. The description of the Outback in Australia is visually picturesque.

I gave this book five stars but it deserves more. I like reading paranormal romances written by my favorite author, Rinelle Grey. Highly recommended for an intriguing story about dragons from a different perspective. I certainly enjoyed the story and I believe the reader will too.

bookwormsuzy
Profile Image for Stephanie.
511 reviews4 followers
April 30, 2020
Such a great and fun short story! The sharing of Christmas spirit is always heart warming and finding a love at that time is an awesome bonus! Oh and a dragon on top of all that... AWESOME!!!!!! Jayrian and Gretchen are an adorable couple with a hesitant start and a rocky Christmas get together give them the push to be together. Jayrian has a lot of courage to stand up to his elders with his ideas and Gretchen has some big cajones to stand up to an unknown dragon! The Trima dragon tries to warn them off but it only solidifies Jayrian ideas and Gretchen, after standing up to the Trima dragon, is in for penny in for a pound! The Rian clan is old and sorta set in ways from 300+ years before and not easily swayed but Jayrian does his best to change their mind. Gretchen helps to change their view of humans and brings Christmas to them and ends up admitting her feelings for Jayrian...which in turn changes everyones perception....lets hope it changes for the better! Great feel good story!
I have enjoyed all of Rinelle Grey's stories so far... I received this story free in hopes a review left here. Enjoy the Story!
1,203 reviews8 followers
September 19, 2019
Wow great book

Really enjoyed this book a good taster for what is to come with the rest of the series dragons and humans working together. It took Jayrian and Gretchen to show them this. Gretchen a librarian keeps watch for her usual visitor but this day he hasn’t turned up yet Jayrian arrives sweaty and covered in dust and looking sad she invites him join her for a Christmas celebration with her family on the way their she finds out he is a dragon and the problems that his lair is having it ends up them taking the food meant for her families Christmas to the dragons liar to get them to listen to Jayrian on how to awaken the dragon prince up.
Enjoyed this book am looking forward to reading the next
Profile Image for Charlotte.
2,121 reviews80 followers
May 30, 2019
*WARNING* contains mild adult situations
Jayrian is a young dragon trying to find information from the humans in town. When Jayrian finds troubling information, he comes up with a plan, but the elders are so against humans that they discard it immediately.
Gretchen is the town librarian. There has been a man, a very nice, handsome man coming in daily talking to Gretchen and reading books.
Loyal Dragon Shifter is a very sweet story of a dragon man just trying to help his clan survive, but finds love instead. This story has very minimal intimate interactions, but that just makes the story better. There is a HEA and it comes with all the feels one looks for in a PNR.
Profile Image for Erin.
1,853 reviews32 followers
December 11, 2016
I is just cute how they like each other, but both don't dare to take the step.
But with Christmas being close and Jayrian being frustrated about the elder dragons, they come together.
On their way to her parents Gretchen discovers the truth about dragons and at her parents she finally stands up against her aunt, what a bitch.
I like the way they spent the night together, so hot!

She wants to do everything for him she thinks, but soon she finds there is a limit, because she loves him and can't rescue their dragon prince because of that.
Profile Image for Maryjane.
352 reviews1 follower
June 12, 2017
Bringing Christmas to the Dragons

Jayrain met Gretchen in the library in town and helped him learn his way with computers and books mostly about dragons. She invited him to Christmas dinner with her family to see what it was all about. On the way they met Ultrima sending a message to the clan via Jayrain and showing himself in dragon form. Which leads to Jayrain and Gretchen falling for each other, and a Christmas feast for the Dragons. And maybe a way to wake one of the prince's. If everything goes as planned. Great read for dragon lover's.
Profile Image for ReadingAllOverThePlace.
64 reviews
February 27, 2018
Not what I expected.....

The title alone threw me off, I had in my mind that I was not going to like this book. I gave it a chance because of the length and a previous review. I was so pleasantly surprised. The book moved at a nice pace and I found that I ran through it in no time ready to grab the next one. The intimate scene was just enough to warm the blood tastefully without jumping into another genre. I liked the characters and could see the interactions happening. I’m so glad I read this book and will be getting to next one.
22 reviews
December 24, 2016
A good book,

I chose this book because I like reading all kinds of books and when I read part of it I had to read it all, the female characters could be strong like her mother was when she kicked everyone out of her house and stood up to her mom and her sister, the daughter should have had the same spunk in standing up to her aunt, and the others.
Can't wait to read the other books in series.
895 reviews
November 25, 2017
Wonderful Story

Really special, a young human woman who wants to help so much she agrees to wake a dragon Prince who has been asleep for 300 years. She agrees to go straight into the dragon lair to bring her gifts and talk to them. But her love for the young dragon who has bought her to the lair has also changed what she can do to help. Can not wait to discover what they will do to save their prince.
305 reviews2 followers
May 8, 2018
A great start for this series!

This book was a great start to the series! I did read the first book in another series and it led me to this one as this happened beforehand! It was nice to read and really helps to understand the missing pieces in the other book I read! Amazing! Beautiful! Creative!
1,343 reviews4 followers
July 30, 2018
A librarian meets a dragon shifter and falls in love with him.

The Dragon shifter clan has problems, and he hopes she can help solve them, but first he has to get the clan elders to accept his ideas. This is a cliffhanger as well as fairly short both of which are annoying to me and cost a star.
Profile Image for Angie7.
979 reviews6 followers
March 31, 2019
Putting it together

Oh my gosh this certainly put it all together now it makes sense. Now I see why Gretchen in the scene where in the library Gretchen looks over captive Prince and Carla. Also Now understand what the urgency was to get him awake awesome. I'm still reading the first book but when I saw this book I had to get it. Laters got to reading
Profile Image for Sarah Stein.
Author 55 books518 followers
April 20, 2020
I enjoy a good dragon shifter romance. Though it didn’t have much of a sexual scene, there was a bit of tension between the two MCs. In order to save the dragon race, a human must wake the prince. Unfortunately, the one picked had already given her heart to another dragon. Looking forward to finding out who’ll wake the prince in book 2.
Profile Image for Jen.
Author 8 books115 followers
October 27, 2017
Sweet little novella

Question: how many names can you make that all end in —rian? No idea, but the author has set herself up there, ha! It was a sweet little instalove novella with an HFN if I ever saw one.
Profile Image for Tamye Whitener.
852 reviews27 followers
December 30, 2017
Not everyone brings home a dragon for Christmas.

I really enjoyed this unique look at not only how a human would react to discovering the guy she has the hots for is a dragonshifter, but how his clan would react to him bringing her to their lair.
Profile Image for Linda Elliott.
1,567 reviews9 followers
December 30, 2018
Morals Above All

Good plot and characters. The story flowed easily making for a quick read. Gretchen enjoys shifter books about dragoon. The reader goes with the dragon and Gretchen to her families for Christmas celebrations which is shortly stopped.
Profile Image for Deitriah.
262 reviews2 followers
July 17, 2019
This is a paranormal romance short to me. The Dragons need some one to wake the elder or king because the humans want to dig near him. They cannot risk it and in the process of this a dragon shifter falls for the Librarian.
Profile Image for shannon  Stubbs.
1,965 reviews12 followers
December 23, 2016
I liked it

I wished I read this book first before the other Dragon ruin stories. I like Jayrian and Gretchen. They make a nice couple in this story. I even like the dog.
Profile Image for Fran Rice.
276 reviews
November 10, 2017
Dragons are real

Bonding over books, an attraction from the beginning, asking him to your family Christmas dinner, then finding out dragons are real and he is one, hot!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 100 reviews

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