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Dragon Kin #0.1
Can't Get Enough
Renowned for his fighting prowess, Ailean the Wicked has a new conquest in mind—the gorgeous dragoness Shalin the Innocent. While he’s saving her from her enemies, he plans to prove that even in human form a bad-boy dragon can show a girl a good time that’s truly off the scale . . .
Originally published in Everlasting Bad Boys. (Also previously published in What A Dragon Should Know SUPER Edition [15Aug2010] as an extra.)
Originally published in Everlasting Bad Boys. (Also previously published in What A Dragon Should Know SUPER Edition [15Aug2010] as an extra.)
204 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 1, 2008
184 people are currently reading
1260 people want to read
About the author
G.A. Aiken
56 books4,433 followersA.K.A. Shelly Laurenston
New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author G.A. Aiken, Originally from Long Island, New York, lives on the West Coast and spends most of her time writing and making sure her rescued Pittie doesn’t love everyone into a coma. When she’s not writing about sexy dragons, she’s writing about sexy wolf, lion, tiger, and other fang-filled predators under the name Shelly Laurenston. Find out more about this New York Times and USA Today Bestselling authors books at www.shellylaurenston.com.
New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author G.A. Aiken, Originally from Long Island, New York, lives on the West Coast and spends most of her time writing and making sure her rescued Pittie doesn’t love everyone into a coma. When she’s not writing about sexy dragons, she’s writing about sexy wolf, lion, tiger, and other fang-filled predators under the name Shelly Laurenston. Find out more about this New York Times and USA Today Bestselling authors books at www.shellylaurenston.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 86 reviews
January 24, 2021
***Previously read in Everlasting Bad Boys***
I'm so glad this novella is published on its own.
Shelly Laurenston writes her Dragon Kin series under the name G.A. Aiken.
I love her Dragon Kin series. The world she creates is fun and entertaining. This novella was wonderful to read! It's quick, cute, and funny! Fans of the Dragon Kin series will want to read and toughs whom have not read will enjoy the story as well.
It's about Ailean the Wicked also know as Ailean the Whore as well as many other names and Shalin the Innocent. Ailean a dragon male does not want to settle down, but eventually finds that one dragoness whom he can't live without and has to help save her from a mean princess bent on revenge.
Audio April 2020: I listened to Can't Get Enough in Everlasting Bad Boys. I couldn't get enough ^_^! I loved the audio and had a blast with Shalin and Ailean. It's so nice to revisit the Dragon Kin series and see where they came from. I just read in Laurentson's latest newsletter that she's going to be publishing this story on it's own. Finally!! I've been waiting. I hope the audio comes out on it's own too, but I'll have to wait and see.
Rated: 5 Stars
I'm so glad this novella is published on its own.
Shelly Laurenston writes her Dragon Kin series under the name G.A. Aiken.
I love her Dragon Kin series. The world she creates is fun and entertaining. This novella was wonderful to read! It's quick, cute, and funny! Fans of the Dragon Kin series will want to read and toughs whom have not read will enjoy the story as well.
It's about Ailean the Wicked also know as Ailean the Whore as well as many other names and Shalin the Innocent. Ailean a dragon male does not want to settle down, but eventually finds that one dragoness whom he can't live without and has to help save her from a mean princess bent on revenge.
Audio April 2020: I listened to Can't Get Enough in Everlasting Bad Boys. I couldn't get enough ^_^! I loved the audio and had a blast with Shalin and Ailean. It's so nice to revisit the Dragon Kin series and see where they came from. I just read in Laurentson's latest newsletter that she's going to be publishing this story on it's own. Finally!! I've been waiting. I hope the audio comes out on it's own too, but I'll have to wait and see.
Rated: 5 Stars
June 9, 2023
1st read: August 2021
2nd read: June 2023
This is a good novella and a fun read. It has many sweet, steamy, and funny parts. A book that can make me grin is always welcome.
Two things that I didn't love about the book: The hero's past "exploits" were discussed too much in the beginning. And the heroine didn't always communicate with the hero like she should've, which caused some minor problems.
********************
Original review:
I love this novella. It's just perfect. Sweet and sexy, with a bit of silliness. Perfect.
2nd read: June 2023
This is a good novella and a fun read. It has many sweet, steamy, and funny parts. A book that can make me grin is always welcome.
Two things that I didn't love about the book: The hero's past "exploits" were discussed too much in the beginning. And the heroine didn't always communicate with the hero like she should've, which caused some minor problems.
********************
Original review:
I love this novella. It's just perfect. Sweet and sexy, with a bit of silliness. Perfect.
March 28, 2021
As with the other prequel, this is a more relaxed tale exploring the history of a mighty dragon clan. There are some similarities to one of the main stories, but this is a bit more light-hearted, and fun. The romance proceeds nicely, and everyone gets what they deserve.
I don't recommend reading this before reading most of the main line.
I'll be reading anything new in this series.
I don't recommend reading this before reading most of the main line.
I'll be reading anything new in this series.
October 2, 2022
Reviewed for THC Reviews
"4.5 stars" Can’t Get Enough is a short-novel-length story that falls between About a Dragon and What a Dragon Should Know in G. A. Aiken’s Dragon Kin series, as per the author’s recommended reading order, although chronologically it’s the first of the series. This one tells the story of Ailean the Wicked and Shalin the Innocent who are the parents of Bercelak the Great, the hero of the novella Chains & Flames, and the grandparents of several of the dragons featured in the main novels. Ailean has a penchant for sleeping around and has no designs on settling down with a mate anytime soon. However, Shalin has always intrigued him from the moment he met her at the royal court. When he learns that Princess Adienna has sold Shalin to the Northern Lightning Dragons as a mate, he refuses to let that happen and takes her to his lands in Kerezik, where he introduces her to his large, loud family. Shalin has always had a thing for Ailean, too, so despite his family trying to maintain her “innocence,” they eventually can’t stay away from each other. But later on, in a fit of temper over feeling ignored, Shalin nearly kills Ailean and returns to court, where the Queen is about to move forward with the plan to give her to one of the Lightning Dragons. But Shalin is surprised when Ailean comes to plead for her hand anyway and even more shocked that the Queen agrees to give him a chance. But first Shalin will have to forgive him for the slight and they’ll have to fight off the Lightning Dragons who are none too happy about this development.
Ailean has many names, one of which is Ailean the Whore. As he’s being chased through the streets naked by the father of his latest conquest after being found in her bath, Ailean ducks into a school, where he encounters Shalin in the library. He knows her as a companion to the princess. When he visited the royal court, he actually wanted to pursue Shalin, but much to his chagrin, ended up in bed with Princess Adienna instead. However, because a rumor has persisted that Ailean left the princess’s bed to be with Shalin, the princess now hates her. When Ailean finds out that Adienna sold Shalin to the Lightning Dragons, he doesn’t hesitate to scoop Shalin up and take her to his family. Ailean is considered to be a bit of an odd-ball among dragons, having an intense fascination with humans and their customs and preferring to remain in his human form most of the time. In fact, he lives in a castle with human servants who know what he is and whom he protects rather than eats. Having Shalin so close is a major temptation to Ailean, but his family, believing her to be an innocent as her name suggests, won’t let him near her at first because of his rakish ways. Eventually he gets around their roadblocks and the more time he spends with her the more he realizes he’s falling in love with her and wants her to be his mate. But after a misunderstanding in which Shalin nearly kills him and then runs off back to the royal court, Ailean will have his work cut out for him earning her forgiveness and fighting for their future together. I have to admit that in Chains & Flames, Ailean came off as a bit of a crackpot, but I actually fell for him in this story. He still throws his family members out windows sometimes, but despite his eccentricities and his playboy ways, he turned out to be an appealing hero. I like the way that he pursues Shalin and fights for her and their future, even after she took such drastic actions, but that he respects her enough to allow her time and space to make up her own mind about whether to mate him.
Shalin comes from a quiet, scholarly family. She lost her mother and the only relative she has left is her ofttimes absent-minded father who is getting older. She has served the Princess for quite some time, but because of the rumors surrounding her and Ailean, the Princess has turned on her. Ever since she met Ailean, she’s been very attracted to him, so when he takes her to his castle to keep her safe from the Lightning Dragons, she desperately wants to find out if he’s really as good a lover as everyone says he is. Of course, it’s only a matter of time until she finds out just that. Although not entirely “innocent” as her name implies, she’s had just two lovers and only in her dragon form, so making love in her human form is a new experience for her and one that she discovers she enjoys quite well. Having always been rather quiet and bookish, being around his loud, boisterous family is a novel adventure as well, but she soon realizes that they genuinely like her and don’t ignore her like most others do. Another new thing is Ailean’s penchant for staying in human form and his practice of surrounding himself with human soldiers and servants, as well as keeping animals as pets, when most dragons would makes meals out of all of the above. It was cute watching Shalin come to appreciate both the puppy and the devil horse that no one else can tame, which Ailean gifts to her. Of course, there’s eventually trouble in paradise when Shalin feels slighted by Ailean and lashes out with her sharp dragon tail, nearly killing him in his human form. This is the only part of the story that confused me a little, because I felt like Shalin’s reaction seemed disproportionate to the problem. I admit, though, that I was extremely tired and dozing off while reading this part of the story, and even though I went back and reskimmed it, I might have missed something. Otherwise, I really liked Shalin and thought she was a great heroine, perhaps my favorite of the series so far, because aside from that one outburst, she was less violent than the others and more scholarly which was relatable to me.
Aside from that one part where Shalin tries to kill Ailean, I thoroughly enjoyed Can’t Get Enough. If not for that, I probably would have given it the full five stars. Even though that part seemed overblown and somewhat out of character for Shalin, I understand that perhaps the author was trying to express that in spite of her quiet, scholarly nature she could be dangerous just like the other heroines of the series so far and was no one to be trifled with. I did very much like the bookish part of Shalin’s characterization, which is so much like my own. She also can be kindhearted, and even after lashing out at Ailean, a part of her still wanted to comfort him. When he came after her, her heart still wanted him in spite of all that had happened. I thought Ailean and Shalin were a well-matched couple. Their personalities fit together like the pieces of a puzzle and Ailean’s weird and wonderful family became family to Shalin, too, so that she no longer had to be virtually alone in life. Yet, she still had plenty of space to spend time in Ailean’s library that he didn’t even realize existed.:-) The only characters in common with the other books was Bercelak who is seen as a new hatchling in the epilogue and Adienna who is queen by the time Bercelak gets his story. Overall, Can’t Get Enough had a good balance between the romance, the passionate love scenes, and the action/adventure that made it a great story and another fun addition to the series. Can’t Get Enough was originally published in the multi-author anthology, Everlasting Bad Boys, before being reprinted as a stand-alone ebook.
Note: This book contains a little explicit language and a lot of steamy sexual content, including a couple of scenes of mild bondage, which could be objectionable to sensitive readers.
"4.5 stars" Can’t Get Enough is a short-novel-length story that falls between About a Dragon and What a Dragon Should Know in G. A. Aiken’s Dragon Kin series, as per the author’s recommended reading order, although chronologically it’s the first of the series. This one tells the story of Ailean the Wicked and Shalin the Innocent who are the parents of Bercelak the Great, the hero of the novella Chains & Flames, and the grandparents of several of the dragons featured in the main novels. Ailean has a penchant for sleeping around and has no designs on settling down with a mate anytime soon. However, Shalin has always intrigued him from the moment he met her at the royal court. When he learns that Princess Adienna has sold Shalin to the Northern Lightning Dragons as a mate, he refuses to let that happen and takes her to his lands in Kerezik, where he introduces her to his large, loud family. Shalin has always had a thing for Ailean, too, so despite his family trying to maintain her “innocence,” they eventually can’t stay away from each other. But later on, in a fit of temper over feeling ignored, Shalin nearly kills Ailean and returns to court, where the Queen is about to move forward with the plan to give her to one of the Lightning Dragons. But Shalin is surprised when Ailean comes to plead for her hand anyway and even more shocked that the Queen agrees to give him a chance. But first Shalin will have to forgive him for the slight and they’ll have to fight off the Lightning Dragons who are none too happy about this development.
Ailean has many names, one of which is Ailean the Whore. As he’s being chased through the streets naked by the father of his latest conquest after being found in her bath, Ailean ducks into a school, where he encounters Shalin in the library. He knows her as a companion to the princess. When he visited the royal court, he actually wanted to pursue Shalin, but much to his chagrin, ended up in bed with Princess Adienna instead. However, because a rumor has persisted that Ailean left the princess’s bed to be with Shalin, the princess now hates her. When Ailean finds out that Adienna sold Shalin to the Lightning Dragons, he doesn’t hesitate to scoop Shalin up and take her to his family. Ailean is considered to be a bit of an odd-ball among dragons, having an intense fascination with humans and their customs and preferring to remain in his human form most of the time. In fact, he lives in a castle with human servants who know what he is and whom he protects rather than eats. Having Shalin so close is a major temptation to Ailean, but his family, believing her to be an innocent as her name suggests, won’t let him near her at first because of his rakish ways. Eventually he gets around their roadblocks and the more time he spends with her the more he realizes he’s falling in love with her and wants her to be his mate. But after a misunderstanding in which Shalin nearly kills him and then runs off back to the royal court, Ailean will have his work cut out for him earning her forgiveness and fighting for their future together. I have to admit that in Chains & Flames, Ailean came off as a bit of a crackpot, but I actually fell for him in this story. He still throws his family members out windows sometimes, but despite his eccentricities and his playboy ways, he turned out to be an appealing hero. I like the way that he pursues Shalin and fights for her and their future, even after she took such drastic actions, but that he respects her enough to allow her time and space to make up her own mind about whether to mate him.
Shalin comes from a quiet, scholarly family. She lost her mother and the only relative she has left is her ofttimes absent-minded father who is getting older. She has served the Princess for quite some time, but because of the rumors surrounding her and Ailean, the Princess has turned on her. Ever since she met Ailean, she’s been very attracted to him, so when he takes her to his castle to keep her safe from the Lightning Dragons, she desperately wants to find out if he’s really as good a lover as everyone says he is. Of course, it’s only a matter of time until she finds out just that. Although not entirely “innocent” as her name implies, she’s had just two lovers and only in her dragon form, so making love in her human form is a new experience for her and one that she discovers she enjoys quite well. Having always been rather quiet and bookish, being around his loud, boisterous family is a novel adventure as well, but she soon realizes that they genuinely like her and don’t ignore her like most others do. Another new thing is Ailean’s penchant for staying in human form and his practice of surrounding himself with human soldiers and servants, as well as keeping animals as pets, when most dragons would makes meals out of all of the above. It was cute watching Shalin come to appreciate both the puppy and the devil horse that no one else can tame, which Ailean gifts to her. Of course, there’s eventually trouble in paradise when Shalin feels slighted by Ailean and lashes out with her sharp dragon tail, nearly killing him in his human form. This is the only part of the story that confused me a little, because I felt like Shalin’s reaction seemed disproportionate to the problem. I admit, though, that I was extremely tired and dozing off while reading this part of the story, and even though I went back and reskimmed it, I might have missed something. Otherwise, I really liked Shalin and thought she was a great heroine, perhaps my favorite of the series so far, because aside from that one outburst, she was less violent than the others and more scholarly which was relatable to me.
Aside from that one part where Shalin tries to kill Ailean, I thoroughly enjoyed Can’t Get Enough. If not for that, I probably would have given it the full five stars. Even though that part seemed overblown and somewhat out of character for Shalin, I understand that perhaps the author was trying to express that in spite of her quiet, scholarly nature she could be dangerous just like the other heroines of the series so far and was no one to be trifled with. I did very much like the bookish part of Shalin’s characterization, which is so much like my own. She also can be kindhearted, and even after lashing out at Ailean, a part of her still wanted to comfort him. When he came after her, her heart still wanted him in spite of all that had happened. I thought Ailean and Shalin were a well-matched couple. Their personalities fit together like the pieces of a puzzle and Ailean’s weird and wonderful family became family to Shalin, too, so that she no longer had to be virtually alone in life. Yet, she still had plenty of space to spend time in Ailean’s library that he didn’t even realize existed.:-) The only characters in common with the other books was Bercelak who is seen as a new hatchling in the epilogue and Adienna who is queen by the time Bercelak gets his story. Overall, Can’t Get Enough had a good balance between the romance, the passionate love scenes, and the action/adventure that made it a great story and another fun addition to the series. Can’t Get Enough was originally published in the multi-author anthology, Everlasting Bad Boys, before being reprinted as a stand-alone ebook.
Note: This book contains a little explicit language and a lot of steamy sexual content, including a couple of scenes of mild bondage, which could be objectionable to sensitive readers.
February 1, 2022
Ailean the Wicked and Shalin the Innocent are the grand-parentals of the main crop of royal dragons down the road. While they might not seem well matched on the surface (Ailean being very...generous with his attentions and Shalin forced to keep herself locked down pretty tight thanks to the temper and vindictiveness of the current princess - who Shalin happens to be a companion to), they get along amazingly well.
As Ailean puts it, when a dragon meets his special someone, he knows. (I might have paraphrased, but you get the point.) Ailean might have been wicked and wild, but a chance encounter with Shalin has him suddenly laser-focused on her and suddenly no other dragoness would do.
As for Shalin, she's keeping herself buttoned down and under wraps and managed to fade into the background so she won't be noticed. Did she notice Ailean as he cut his amorous swath through every other dragoness? She sure did, but tangling in the sheets with him would bring a whole lot of heartache she doesn't want to get involved in. So she admires from afar and goes about her merry (although slightly boring) way.
Then suddenly they're forced to spend time together and THINGS HAPPEN. Shalin gets absorbed into the Cadwaladr Clan and figures some things out about what she wants out of life. Ailean is happy to admit Shalin's the lady dragon for him and that's that. *thumbs up*
-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal
As Ailean puts it, when a dragon meets his special someone, he knows. (I might have paraphrased, but you get the point.) Ailean might have been wicked and wild, but a chance encounter with Shalin has him suddenly laser-focused on her and suddenly no other dragoness would do.
As for Shalin, she's keeping herself buttoned down and under wraps and managed to fade into the background so she won't be noticed. Did she notice Ailean as he cut his amorous swath through every other dragoness? She sure did, but tangling in the sheets with him would bring a whole lot of heartache she doesn't want to get involved in. So she admires from afar and goes about her merry (although slightly boring) way.
Then suddenly they're forced to spend time together and THINGS HAPPEN. Shalin gets absorbed into the Cadwaladr Clan and figures some things out about what she wants out of life. Ailean is happy to admit Shalin's the lady dragon for him and that's that. *thumbs up*
-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal
August 17, 2021
Well, this is bittersweet. After this there is no new to me Dragonkin to read. This is it. The final novella. And I will never have the joy of a new to me Dragonkin story again.
Guess it's time to start on Shelly Laurenston's backlist.
Guess it's time to start on Shelly Laurenston's backlist.
October 31, 2020
Can't Get Enough is a charming tale detailing the meeting, lives, conflicts and, ultimately, love of Ailean and Shalin, the dragon parents of beloved Bercelak, who is the father of the rollicking dragons of the Dragon Kin series.
Since I fell in love with the crazy, battling, fiercely loving Cadwaladr dragon clan while reading the series books from 1 to the end, I'm obviously a big fan of author G.A. Aiken. I read Can't Get Enough with great pleasure, as the embarrassingly (to the grandchildren) passionate and eccentric dragons Ailean and Shalin are brought to life but not deeply explored in the main series. The story of how these two met, the battles they shared, both with and against each other, and how they fell in love was a terrific telling filled with fighting, political intrigue, sex and humor. Just as much fun as I'd hoped it would be.
If you're a fan of the Dragon Kin series (or even if you're not), I definitely recommend this companion story.
Since I fell in love with the crazy, battling, fiercely loving Cadwaladr dragon clan while reading the series books from 1 to the end, I'm obviously a big fan of author G.A. Aiken. I read Can't Get Enough with great pleasure, as the embarrassingly (to the grandchildren) passionate and eccentric dragons Ailean and Shalin are brought to life but not deeply explored in the main series. The story of how these two met, the battles they shared, both with and against each other, and how they fell in love was a terrific telling filled with fighting, political intrigue, sex and humor. Just as much fun as I'd hoped it would be.
If you're a fan of the Dragon Kin series (or even if you're not), I definitely recommend this companion story.
October 10, 2023
3.75 "I want to be left alone in a cave with a library for a couple of years" stars
This was a light-hearted and fun novella. I really liked how chaotic the dragons were.
Some questionable parts but enjoyable overall.
This was a light-hearted and fun novella. I really liked how chaotic the dragons were.
Some questionable parts but enjoyable overall.
October 23, 2023
I loved this one, and I just wanted more more more! So good. I am now excited to continue with this series.
March 28, 2024
I have heard of the story of fergus' grandfather but to read it, it is an entire different thing. Sweet and sweeter as the great dragon tried to kill his father since he was born 😂
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 9, 2022
Can’t Get Enough was another enjoyable read from this series. I am truly enjoying these books. I loved seeing how Shalin and Ailean got together.
July 21, 2024
Series: Dragon Kin #0.1
Rating: 4 stars - It was really good
FYI this story was originally published in the anthology Everlasting Bad Boys.
Ailean the Wicked (also known as Whore) is running from an angry mob of soldiers when he comes across Shalin the Innocent. The one dragon who he always thought was adorable but never got a chance with. Weeks after their brief encounter, he is still determined to have her.
I loved these two. They were total opposites but balanced each other out. They bickered and fought but it really was just foreplay for them. Shalin was thought to be innocent and shy but Ailean knows that there is a tough dragoness inside of her. I love that he never held her back or prompted her to change. He actually pushes her to be more of herself. Also I love that he gave her a dog and a horse.
Ailean may have been known as a whore but he was actually a great guy. He takes care of his people and is a great fighter. He just doesn't know how to keep it in his pants until he meets Shalin. His family was great. I loved how crazy and combative they were. Also I loved that we got a glimpse of their future with the epilogue and that nothing had changed between them. They were still bickering and in love.
This was a very captivating start to this fantasy world filled with dragon shifters and magic. Laurenston’s writing just pulls you in and makes you want more. I can’t wait to see Shalin and Ailean’s children find love.
You can also find my reviews at Red-Haired Ash Reads.
Rating: 4 stars - It was really good
FYI this story was originally published in the anthology Everlasting Bad Boys.
Ailean the Wicked (also known as Whore) is running from an angry mob of soldiers when he comes across Shalin the Innocent. The one dragon who he always thought was adorable but never got a chance with. Weeks after their brief encounter, he is still determined to have her.
I loved these two. They were total opposites but balanced each other out. They bickered and fought but it really was just foreplay for them. Shalin was thought to be innocent and shy but Ailean knows that there is a tough dragoness inside of her. I love that he never held her back or prompted her to change. He actually pushes her to be more of herself. Also I love that he gave her a dog and a horse.
Ailean may have been known as a whore but he was actually a great guy. He takes care of his people and is a great fighter. He just doesn't know how to keep it in his pants until he meets Shalin. His family was great. I loved how crazy and combative they were. Also I loved that we got a glimpse of their future with the epilogue and that nothing had changed between them. They were still bickering and in love.
This was a very captivating start to this fantasy world filled with dragon shifters and magic. Laurenston’s writing just pulls you in and makes you want more. I can’t wait to see Shalin and Ailean’s children find love.
You can also find my reviews at Red-Haired Ash Reads.
November 27, 2020
I Literally, Can’t Get Enough
If you’ve read other books from this dragon loving world, you’ve read references to how the infamous Ailean the Wicked and Shalin the Innocent came together. The thrown battle ax and such amusing stories always sounded so entertaining. Now we get all the delicious details of their falling-in-love story, and it does not disappoint. Absolutely loved this addition to my, by far, absolute favorite series of all. Aiken (and Shelly Laurenston) are my number 1 favorite authors. I always feel so much lighter and happier after reading one of her books. I am so grateful I discovered her and her incredible books yeas ago. Totally recommend this and all of her books.
If you’ve read other books from this dragon loving world, you’ve read references to how the infamous Ailean the Wicked and Shalin the Innocent came together. The thrown battle ax and such amusing stories always sounded so entertaining. Now we get all the delicious details of their falling-in-love story, and it does not disappoint. Absolutely loved this addition to my, by far, absolute favorite series of all. Aiken (and Shelly Laurenston) are my number 1 favorite authors. I always feel so much lighter and happier after reading one of her books. I am so grateful I discovered her and her incredible books yeas ago. Totally recommend this and all of her books.
January 4, 2023
It took me a little to get into the main male character. Ailean is a scoundrel. A womanizer. Every time he tried to be charming I got the ick because he's over 150 years old and been with hundreds of women, boasting how he OS a hit it and quit it kind of dragon.
Our fmc at the start is smitten with him. She's torn because of her friend and prior obligations but overall her inner monologues are about how she wants to bone him and him flirting with her is an honor and compliment. double yuck.
It got better once we saw more personality from them both. I love Ailean's family dynamic and it made him a more likeable character to see him joking around and caring about family than when he was going on and on about how much he loved women.
Some fun bickering dialogue as well.
Our fmc at the start is smitten with him. She's torn because of her friend and prior obligations but overall her inner monologues are about how she wants to bone him and him flirting with her is an honor and compliment. double yuck.
It got better once we saw more personality from them both. I love Ailean's family dynamic and it made him a more likeable character to see him joking around and caring about family than when he was going on and on about how much he loved women.
Some fun bickering dialogue as well.
November 21, 2024
So, since it's been a while since I've read Dragon Actually and its accompanying novella Chains & Flames, I hadn't realized until the very end that this story was about Fearghus the Destroyer's grandparents. Though, Shalin's personality does at least explain why Fearghus always wanted to be left alone, despite the rest of his family being boisterous and meddlesome.
And speaking of Shalin, I love that she was an introverted only-child of a dragoness, solely wanting to be left alone to read in peace. She's basically me, minus the dragon shifter part. Although, I also appreciate Ailean's loud, extroverted dragon clan, and how close they all were and how protective they were of each other — at least, in the sense of 'I can mess with my family, but nobody else better mess with them'. Even though I prefer being left to my own devices, I do envy those sorts of familial bonds.
I also love Ailean himself, despite his well-earned reputation for being a big ol' ho. Even though he didn't want to settle down, he could at least see that he was falling for Shalin, to the point that he knew he couldn't live without her. Hell, even before then, he was already very protective of his dragoness, saving her from being taken by the Lightning dragons from the north. (Speaking of the Lightning dragons, small tangent: one would figure that Lightning dragons would, by definition, be immune to lightning, but apparently, that only means that they attract lightning more than any other type of dragon, making it even deadlier for them. Someone please explain to me what kind of sense that makes, because I can't wrap my head around the logic.)
One issue I had, however, was the inclusion of that one trope where the heroine refuses to believe the hero has genuine feelings for her. Or maybe it's the romcom misunderstanding trope. Either way, Ailean kept declaring his feelings and intentions towards her, and she honestly mistook it for him wanting to keep her around while he continued with his little 'conquests'. Like, how daft can you be?! (Although, we do get a funny little scene out of the whole thing wherein Ailean can't talk and only Shalin can understand his gestures and claw-stomping.)
Other than that, though, Ailean and Shalin made for a lovely couple. Especially when they officially became an item and Ailean not only offered Shalin all the books in his castle's library but a quiet place in which to read them (not to mention, offered to move Shalin's father, her only living parent, to a nearby cave).
Overall Verdict: 9 boisterous dragon clans out of 10
And speaking of Shalin, I love that she was an introverted only-child of a dragoness, solely wanting to be left alone to read in peace. She's basically me, minus the dragon shifter part. Although, I also appreciate Ailean's loud, extroverted dragon clan, and how close they all were and how protective they were of each other — at least, in the sense of 'I can mess with my family, but nobody else better mess with them'. Even though I prefer being left to my own devices, I do envy those sorts of familial bonds.
I also love Ailean himself, despite his well-earned reputation for being a big ol' ho. Even though he didn't want to settle down, he could at least see that he was falling for Shalin, to the point that he knew he couldn't live without her. Hell, even before then, he was already very protective of his dragoness, saving her from being taken by the Lightning dragons from the north. (Speaking of the Lightning dragons, small tangent: one would figure that Lightning dragons would, by definition, be immune to lightning, but apparently, that only means that they attract lightning more than any other type of dragon, making it even deadlier for them. Someone please explain to me what kind of sense that makes, because I can't wrap my head around the logic.)
One issue I had, however, was the inclusion of that one trope where the heroine refuses to believe the hero has genuine feelings for her. Or maybe it's the romcom misunderstanding trope. Either way, Ailean kept declaring his feelings and intentions towards her, and she honestly mistook it for him wanting to keep her around while he continued with his little 'conquests'. Like, how daft can you be?! (Although, we do get a funny little scene out of the whole thing wherein Ailean can't talk and only Shalin can understand his gestures and claw-stomping.)
Other than that, though, Ailean and Shalin made for a lovely couple. Especially when they officially became an item and Ailean not only offered Shalin all the books in his castle's library but a quiet place in which to read them (not to mention, offered to move Shalin's father, her only living parent, to a nearby cave).
Overall Verdict: 9 boisterous dragon clans out of 10
July 22, 2022
Ever since Ailean slept with Princess Adienna she has been obsessed. And when she hears the rumour that he left her bed to find Shalin she is furious and determined to do everything in her power to get rid of Shalin. Shalin is exiled, but even that backfires when Ailean and Shalin cross paths and share a kiss. Adienna decides she needs to get rid of Shalin once and for all and comes up with a plan to sell her to the Northern dragons as a mate.
When Ailean hears the trouble Shalin is in because of him, he is determined to fix it. But the more time he spends with Shalin the more he likes her - until Ailean is the one obsessed. Ailean will need to use every trick at his disposal to convince Shalin that they belong together.
Like all the other books I've read by G.A. Aiken this was really funny and very sexy. Shalin's temper was fierce and it was highly amusing that the whole Cadwaladr Clan always believes her over Ailean. I love the whole clan dynamics and it was nice to see Shalin find herself and her place in the castle. There were a few rather quick scene changes that felt a bit abrupt, but overall a great read. 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4.
Family Tree: Ailean and Shalin are the parents of fifteen children including including Hew, Adain, Cai, Rhys, Baudwin (named after Shalin's father), Ghleanna (#0.4: Dragon on Top), Maelona, Caerwyn, Addolgar (#0.2: A Tale of Two Dragons) and Bercelak (Chains and Flames found at the back of #1: Dragon Actually).
Bercelak falls in love with Rhiannon - a white dragon who is the daughter of Adienna. Rhiannon and Bercelek have Fearghus (#1: Dragon Actually), Morfyd, Keita (#4: Last Dragon Standing), Eibhear (#6: How to Drive a Dragon Crazy), Briec (#2: About a Dragon) and Gwenvael (#3: What a Dragon Should Know).
When Ailean hears the trouble Shalin is in because of him, he is determined to fix it. But the more time he spends with Shalin the more he likes her - until Ailean is the one obsessed. Ailean will need to use every trick at his disposal to convince Shalin that they belong together.
Like all the other books I've read by G.A. Aiken this was really funny and very sexy. Shalin's temper was fierce and it was highly amusing that the whole Cadwaladr Clan always believes her over Ailean. I love the whole clan dynamics and it was nice to see Shalin find herself and her place in the castle. There were a few rather quick scene changes that felt a bit abrupt, but overall a great read. 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4.
Family Tree: Ailean and Shalin are the parents of fifteen children including including Hew, Adain, Cai, Rhys, Baudwin (named after Shalin's father), Ghleanna (#0.4: Dragon on Top), Maelona, Caerwyn, Addolgar (#0.2: A Tale of Two Dragons) and Bercelak (Chains and Flames found at the back of #1: Dragon Actually).
Bercelak falls in love with Rhiannon - a white dragon who is the daughter of Adienna. Rhiannon and Bercelek have Fearghus (#1: Dragon Actually), Morfyd, Keita (#4: Last Dragon Standing), Eibhear (#6: How to Drive a Dragon Crazy), Briec (#2: About a Dragon) and Gwenvael (#3: What a Dragon Should Know).
April 19, 2021
Ailean, the Wicked has bedded every female he can. And after one kiss, he's set his sights on a dragoness that wants nothing to do with him.
Shalin, the Innocent secretly lusts after Ailean. But she can never have him.
There is one that wants him, she is obsessed with him, and she will do anything to get Ailean to her bed. Even selling Shalin to their northern frenemies.
I first read this in Everlasting Bad Boys. I'm glad it's now it's own book.
G.A. Aiken's books have a lot of humor, sexy times, humor, interesting characters, humor, great world building... did I mention humor? The quick whit and blunt honesty kept me laughing even when I didn't expect it.
The only thing that bothered me about this book was the "selling of Shalin". She wasn't a servant, nor a slave. So, I'm not sure how this angle didn't raise more eyebrows. It seemed that one of high rank could sell one of lower rank and not have any repercussions. I know it added to the story angle. It was the only thing I didn't like.
Shalin, the Innocent secretly lusts after Ailean. But she can never have him.
There is one that wants him, she is obsessed with him, and she will do anything to get Ailean to her bed. Even selling Shalin to their northern frenemies.
I first read this in Everlasting Bad Boys. I'm glad it's now it's own book.
G.A. Aiken's books have a lot of humor, sexy times, humor, interesting characters, humor, great world building... did I mention humor? The quick whit and blunt honesty kept me laughing even when I didn't expect it.
The only thing that bothered me about this book was the "selling of Shalin". She wasn't a servant, nor a slave. So, I'm not sure how this angle didn't raise more eyebrows. It seemed that one of high rank could sell one of lower rank and not have any repercussions. I know it added to the story angle. It was the only thing I didn't like.
December 5, 2023
3.5 stars but I can’t round it off to a four the beginning was fun then it dragged. Then the end end was fun again this is a dragon shifter romance. She was a handmaiden to the princess, but then she went to a human school because she likes to study and read, the princess is obsessed with a dragon and he’s like a playboy. He meets her by chance and they’ve met before they’ve always been attracted to each other. There’s a rumor going around that they are together again, which is not true so to protect her, he takes her to his castle, and they fall in love there. I am not a fan of the miscommunication trope instead of her just telling him why she was mad at him. She basically just slit his throat. The ending was funny banter with the new little dragon baby that was hilarious, but it was OK, I will try out the next one in the series just because the parts that I liked I really liked them but I did felt that it dragged and I’m not a fan of that little bit of miscommunication but it was enjoyable it was OK I’ll read another one in this series
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 26, 2020
I have read this series a couple of times but never in order.
I am now reading these in chronological order this time and finding it flows well this way.
This was first read in EVERLASTING BAD BOYS and was pleased when CAN’T GET ENOUGH was released on its own.
It is now a prequel for the main series but I love seeing how these great characters, Shalin the Innocent and Ailean the Whore, met in earlier times.
Meeting the older but still crazy Cadwaladr characters that are only mentioned or have minor parts in later books as it mainly revolves around all of the offspring.
Newer rereleases and covers are now available but I am not paying twice for the same book.
I am now reading these in chronological order this time and finding it flows well this way.
This was first read in EVERLASTING BAD BOYS and was pleased when CAN’T GET ENOUGH was released on its own.
It is now a prequel for the main series but I love seeing how these great characters, Shalin the Innocent and Ailean the Whore, met in earlier times.
Meeting the older but still crazy Cadwaladr characters that are only mentioned or have minor parts in later books as it mainly revolves around all of the offspring.
Newer rereleases and covers are now available but I am not paying twice for the same book.
November 3, 2020
Won for free via a Goodreads Giveaways (which I never win and the fact that I won on one of my favorite authors is just phenomenal)
I love this series and reading the story of Ailean and Shalin just makes you understand the actions and background of the characters in the main story line. I read this book after reading "Chains & Flames" so a few things from that book made more sense after reading this one, so there were a few ah ha moments. Also loved how the Cadwalader Clan all try and "protect" Shalin from Ailean believing her name of Shalin the Innocent. To actually get to find out how she got that name was just stellar. Oh and Nightmare? One of my favorite non-talking characters.
I love this series and reading the story of Ailean and Shalin just makes you understand the actions and background of the characters in the main story line. I read this book after reading "Chains & Flames" so a few things from that book made more sense after reading this one, so there were a few ah ha moments. Also loved how the Cadwalader Clan all try and "protect" Shalin from Ailean believing her name of Shalin the Innocent. To actually get to find out how she got that name was just stellar. Oh and Nightmare? One of my favorite non-talking characters.
December 16, 2020
You'll smile until your face hurts!
I certainly did! I can't remember anything else I've read that had me smiling, and laughing, from start to finish. Even the fighting is funny! Who didn't want to chuck a sibling out the 3rd story window, "because they should always be aware"? This book has it all, with non-stop action, though the bulk of it may be family fighting, love, both sweet and amusing, a really good story, and so many wonderful characters both good and bad that you could possibly turn them into their own stories! What a great idea, right?
I certainly did! I can't remember anything else I've read that had me smiling, and laughing, from start to finish. Even the fighting is funny! Who didn't want to chuck a sibling out the 3rd story window, "because they should always be aware"? This book has it all, with non-stop action, though the bulk of it may be family fighting, love, both sweet and amusing, a really good story, and so many wonderful characters both good and bad that you could possibly turn them into their own stories! What a great idea, right?
November 18, 2021
I really love the author’s dragon shifter books. These shifters are all so over the top! Ailean the Wicked (or the Beautiful or the Killer or the Bold or the Whore) is no exception – his various monikers are proof of that! Fortunately, so Shalin the Innocent, so she can handle Ailean the (choose a moniker). This story of a courtship is fraught with action, misunderstandings, slaps and invasions and much blood and gore as well as much gut-wrenching laughter. Such a fun steamy read when life needs an uplift!
September 22, 2022
Somehow when borrowing the rest of the books from library missed this one.
Ailean the Wicked, among other names for the blue dragon, and Shalin the Innocent, not aptly named by any means by the way, are the two who created many progeny that feature in this series with stories of their own.
However for me after reading how it all came to be Ailean and Shalins beginning story pretty much took first place for me in many ways.
The entire series is a hoot but also has great character development and storylines that are executed well each time for me.
Ailean the Wicked, among other names for the blue dragon, and Shalin the Innocent, not aptly named by any means by the way, are the two who created many progeny that feature in this series with stories of their own.
However for me after reading how it all came to be Ailean and Shalins beginning story pretty much took first place for me in many ways.
The entire series is a hoot but also has great character development and storylines that are executed well each time for me.
January 16, 2024
Shalin the Innocent wouldn't mind sleeping with Ailean the Wicked but doing so would set off the rampant jealousy of her princess who is obsessed with the male. So she's been sent to the human realm to protect her.
However, Ailean sees her after a night of debauchery with another woman and he kisses her. When word gets back to the princess, Shalin is suddenly sold to a dragon in the Northlands. Ailean is irate. But he's going to get his woman.
The origins of Bercalek. Too short but adorable.
However, Ailean sees her after a night of debauchery with another woman and he kisses her. When word gets back to the princess, Shalin is suddenly sold to a dragon in the Northlands. Ailean is irate. But he's going to get his woman.
The origins of Bercalek. Too short but adorable.
October 17, 2020
Won this in a Goodreads contest although I would have bought It anyway. Very enjoyable story if you missed the crazy dragon kin books. I had always wanted to know the story of Shalin the Innocent and Ailean the Whore. They were a great albeit unexpected match. Loved the Calawaldr clan who are absolutely nuts. It was fun getting the story of the grandparents of the dragons in the books. If you are a fan of this series I would definitely recommend this novella.
October 22, 2020
I have been enjoying the Dragon Kin series for several years now, and was pleased when "Can't Get Enough" was released on its own. These are great characters, and the world building in this series is fantastic. I have one other book in the series to finish reading, and I'll probably start over again.
November 7, 2020
Hurrah!
I love the Aiken dragons. They are manly (and womanly) dragons, full of sass and vim and vinegar. The dialog will leave you laughing at unexpected moments. Each book is its own plot, but there is an over-arching line between each book. You do not have to read each preceding book but you will want too.
I love the Aiken dragons. They are manly (and womanly) dragons, full of sass and vim and vinegar. The dialog will leave you laughing at unexpected moments. Each book is its own plot, but there is an over-arching line between each book. You do not have to read each preceding book but you will want too.
January 11, 2021
Finally...got to buy this short story alone!!!!!
This was the book That started my love of books from this author, & I can honestly say that I have yet to get bored rereading it as many times as I have done. If your looking for fun, loving, interesting & crazy dragons the this is the book for you!!!!!
This was the book That started my love of books from this author, & I can honestly say that I have yet to get bored rereading it as many times as I have done. If your looking for fun, loving, interesting & crazy dragons the this is the book for you!!!!!
February 13, 2024
Beautiful beginning
I've read all of the Dragon Kin books in the series and was thrilled to find the one where it all started... with Ailean and Shalin. It didn't disappoint. The humor, action and family bond stayed true from the first book to the last (?). I'm not embarrassed to say that I wish there were more in the series.
I've read all of the Dragon Kin books in the series and was thrilled to find the one where it all started... with Ailean and Shalin. It didn't disappoint. The humor, action and family bond stayed true from the first book to the last (?). I'm not embarrassed to say that I wish there were more in the series.
October 11, 2020
Goodreads Kindle Copy Win
Bad boy dragon protects a damsel in distress as he shows her a good time. Typical bad boy and good girl fall in love story. This is a prequel in the series. It was an alright read.
Bad boy dragon protects a damsel in distress as he shows her a good time. Typical bad boy and good girl fall in love story. This is a prequel in the series. It was an alright read.
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