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The Red Dragon's Mate
Paranormal investigator Clark Banning is in Maine to try to get to the bottom of the local legend of the Red Dragon of Piney Bay. While he isn’t sure this episode will ever air since his show is on the chopping block with the streaming channel, he has just enough work ethic left to see the investigation through.
But Clark didn’t count on a nosy innkeeper, a committee of busybody old ladies, witnesses who didn’t see a single useful thing, or his complete inability to resist a man who’s way too young for him. And when Clark discovers that there really is a dragon, he’s horrified to realize the past five years of his life were a lie, not the truth he thought he was living.
Discovering that the man he’s been panting after is a dragon shifter who believes Clark is his mate lets Clark leave his past behind and move toward his future. But does that future include debunking paranormal phenomena, or should he let these stories fade back into legend?
This 30,000-word/120-page book has a hot and steamy instalove story with an age gap, mild angst because of some painful memories, unreliable witnesses, shifted smexiness, and a bunch of supportive dragons with a HEA ending.
But Clark didn’t count on a nosy innkeeper, a committee of busybody old ladies, witnesses who didn’t see a single useful thing, or his complete inability to resist a man who’s way too young for him. And when Clark discovers that there really is a dragon, he’s horrified to realize the past five years of his life were a lie, not the truth he thought he was living.
Discovering that the man he’s been panting after is a dragon shifter who believes Clark is his mate lets Clark leave his past behind and move toward his future. But does that future include debunking paranormal phenomena, or should he let these stories fade back into legend?
This 30,000-word/120-page book has a hot and steamy instalove story with an age gap, mild angst because of some painful memories, unreliable witnesses, shifted smexiness, and a bunch of supportive dragons with a HEA ending.
124 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 30, 2022
61 people are currently reading
327 people want to read
About the author
Delaney Rain
28 books307 followersEmerging author of gay erotic paranormal romances featuring monsters and the men who love them.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 80 reviews
April 5, 2022
Loved this sweet and sexy love story!
Loved these two MCs and the settings they fall in love in. Awesome storytelling! Love Ms. Rain's writing! Can't wait for her next book!
Loved these two MCs and the settings they fall in love in. Awesome storytelling! Love Ms. Rain's writing! Can't wait for her next book!
April 6, 2022
2.5
The Red Dragon's Mate starts as cute and refreshingly superficial story where Clark tries to save his paranormal show by investigating dragon sightings somewhere in a small coastal town. Of course all the inhabitants are quirky oddballs and while Clark's usual MO is to show that there is nothing to show, they believe it will increase tourist numbers, so the support is overwhelming but not exactly helpful.
In such a setup characters are one dimensional and attraction is a question if your kink is matching. After all it's about mating and if it's not insta-love it has to be insta-lust and it's fun watching Wyatt's flirty but straight-forward approach. Nothing complicated or angsty here and it would have been a remarkably nice read if Ms. Rain had left it there but for unknown reason she had to add a story about past trauma after Clark's first encounter with the red dragon and therefore put a bright spotlight on missing character layers or a budding relationship based completely on an enthusiastic piercing kink and appealing mating scent. After that the fun wasn't the same anymore and the story turned into the usual I-found-my-mate story with a detour about dragon reproduction (thankfully off-page and not exactly mpreg).
The Red Dragon's Mate starts as cute and refreshingly superficial story where Clark tries to save his paranormal show by investigating dragon sightings somewhere in a small coastal town. Of course all the inhabitants are quirky oddballs and while Clark's usual MO is to show that there is nothing to show, they believe it will increase tourist numbers, so the support is overwhelming but not exactly helpful.
In such a setup characters are one dimensional and attraction is a question if your kink is matching. After all it's about mating and if it's not insta-love it has to be insta-lust and it's fun watching Wyatt's flirty but straight-forward approach. Nothing complicated or angsty here and it would have been a remarkably nice read if Ms. Rain had left it there but for unknown reason she had to add a story about past trauma after Clark's first encounter with the red dragon and therefore put a bright spotlight on missing character layers or a budding relationship based completely on an enthusiastic piercing kink and appealing mating scent. After that the fun wasn't the same anymore and the story turned into the usual I-found-my-mate story with a detour about dragon reproduction (thankfully off-page and not exactly mpreg).
March 30, 2022
so cute
This whole series of short monster books by Delaney are like little doses of supernatural happiness in an otherwise heavily saturated overly dramatic MM genre. They’re short, sweet, sexy, and I love me some monsters and their humans. Can’t wait for more.
This whole series of short monster books by Delaney are like little doses of supernatural happiness in an otherwise heavily saturated overly dramatic MM genre. They’re short, sweet, sexy, and I love me some monsters and their humans. Can’t wait for more.
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July 24, 2022DNF @ 63%.
Another case of it's me and not the book. I just didn't care for the heroes, so I didn't want to finish it. Ugh!
Another case of it's me and not the book. I just didn't care for the heroes, so I didn't want to finish it. Ugh!
April 6, 2022
Proof and belief
A very cute paranormal romance with small town hijinks and paranormal research mishaps.
Clark started up a paranormal research show with a personal plan to disprove paranormal incidents. His investigations have helped him feel at peace but the show is going to be cancelled for lack of ratings with no evidence being found. Clark heads to an odd small town where he finds very involved townspeople, an unexpected attraction to a waiter, and possibly some real evidence.
This was a sweet and easy story. The connection to Clark's past as well as his reaction when the paranormal started to prove true felt very real and really refreshing. It was a difficult journey but also one he needed to make to heal from his past. The over involved town made it light and fun as this was going on and Clark was figuring things out. Then Wyatt and the hot times they had together were both sexy with these adorably sweet moments that made it all worth it. The only odd part that was glazed over was Clark's dislike of children at the beginning of the book which is never mentioned again. Otherwise it was a sweet and fun story of paranormal mates and new life chances.
A very cute paranormal romance with small town hijinks and paranormal research mishaps.
Clark started up a paranormal research show with a personal plan to disprove paranormal incidents. His investigations have helped him feel at peace but the show is going to be cancelled for lack of ratings with no evidence being found. Clark heads to an odd small town where he finds very involved townspeople, an unexpected attraction to a waiter, and possibly some real evidence.
This was a sweet and easy story. The connection to Clark's past as well as his reaction when the paranormal started to prove true felt very real and really refreshing. It was a difficult journey but also one he needed to make to heal from his past. The over involved town made it light and fun as this was going on and Clark was figuring things out. Then Wyatt and the hot times they had together were both sexy with these adorably sweet moments that made it all worth it. The only odd part that was glazed over was Clark's dislike of children at the beginning of the book which is never mentioned again. Otherwise it was a sweet and fun story of paranormal mates and new life chances.
October 15, 2022
The two MC's Clark and Wyatt are very sweet together. The story overall is also very low angst and I like the paranormal hunter angle.
I didn't enjoy it as much as I enjoyed The Demon's Mate: A Gay Paranormal Romance with Hellfire sadly. There was so much else going on, so many secondary characters that we couldn't concentrate on Clark and Wyatt getting to know each other. Wyatt was devoted to Clark right from the start. I would have loved to see him rushing into the kitchen after first meeting Clark being all happy and nervous and antsy and bustling about wanting to create the most perfect burger his mate will have ever eaten in his life or something. Something to make them more 3dimensional as characters and get a better feel for them. Meeting all those secondary characters took away valuable pages that could have been dedicated to them as a person.
And another thing... this book edges really hard on bestiality IMO. First Wyatt was described as being an actual dragon and then we were told that Clark had to do the deed or the nasty WITH THAT dragon to make dragon babies... He just had to see him as Wyatt in whatever form. So.... yeah.... IDK... I really don't know why this freaks me out a bit and not Earth Fathers Are Weird, maybe it's the fact that in this, "Rick" is an actual alien and has no human form and he looks how he looks but is an aware and functioning being. Yeah, that must be it.
Oh and one last thing, no human MC I've read from this author so far has any concern whatsoever about protection. And they seem to live in the real world thus in ours, sooo... Just wondering.
So, very sweet between the MC's in the moments they had together but not her best work so far. Still enjoyed the read.
I didn't enjoy it as much as I enjoyed The Demon's Mate: A Gay Paranormal Romance with Hellfire sadly. There was so much else going on, so many secondary characters that we couldn't concentrate on Clark and Wyatt getting to know each other. Wyatt was devoted to Clark right from the start. I would have loved to see him rushing into the kitchen after first meeting Clark being all happy and nervous and antsy and bustling about wanting to create the most perfect burger his mate will have ever eaten in his life or something. Something to make them more 3dimensional as characters and get a better feel for them. Meeting all those secondary characters took away valuable pages that could have been dedicated to them as a person.
And another thing... this book edges really hard on bestiality IMO. First Wyatt was described as being an actual dragon and then we were told that Clark had to do the deed or the nasty WITH THAT dragon to make dragon babies... He just had to see him as Wyatt in whatever form. So.... yeah.... IDK... I really don't know why this freaks me out a bit and not Earth Fathers Are Weird, maybe it's the fact that in this, "Rick" is an actual alien and has no human form and he looks how he looks but is an aware and functioning being. Yeah, that must be it.
Oh and one last thing, no human MC I've read from this author so far has any concern whatsoever about protection. And they seem to live in the real world thus in ours, sooo... Just wondering.
So, very sweet between the MC's in the moments they had together but not her best work so far. Still enjoyed the read.
April 11, 2022
I really do love this author and the great characters and monster loving she writes us. Definitely an auto-buy for me!
Clark hosts a paranormal investigation reality TV show, and his most recent story - and possibly last one - is to try and debunk the rumors of a dragon flying around a small town. He's super skeptical (for reasons) and is pretty much going through the motions. That is, until Wyatt steps into his life - and he discovers that this red dragon might be more than just locals taking bad photos and hyping up false stories.
I absolutely loved Wyatt and Clark together - I loved that Wyatt just knew what he wanted and wasn't afraid to go for it. His confidence in wanting Clark was just wonderful. The townies being all in on the secret was also fun.
There are elements of mpreg as far as explaining how it is possible, but it's a skip-it-all-to-post-mpreg-at-epilogue set up here. So don't let that deter you from reading this one!
Clark hosts a paranormal investigation reality TV show, and his most recent story - and possibly last one - is to try and debunk the rumors of a dragon flying around a small town. He's super skeptical (for reasons) and is pretty much going through the motions. That is, until Wyatt steps into his life - and he discovers that this red dragon might be more than just locals taking bad photos and hyping up false stories.
I absolutely loved Wyatt and Clark together - I loved that Wyatt just knew what he wanted and wasn't afraid to go for it. His confidence in wanting Clark was just wonderful. The townies being all in on the secret was also fun.
There are elements of mpreg as far as explaining how it is possible, but it's a skip-it-all-to-post-mpreg-at-epilogue set up here. So don't let that deter you from reading this one!
June 13, 2022
THE RED DRAGON'S MATE was the perfect weekend read -- short, sexy, low-angst and I loved Clark and Wyatt together. The set up of Clark investigating a small town's Red Dragon legend was a great way to bring Clark and Wyatt together. Wyatt was flirty and charming and the way he had Clark wrapped around his claws had me laughing. Also bonus points for a pierced MC!
Content Warning: past wrongful institutionalization
Content Warning: past wrongful institutionalization
July 23, 2023
This was a short, sexy, and low-angst fated mates romance that I enjoyed. Clark is in town to investigate the Red Dragon legend and quickly realizes that this isn’t a hoax when he meets the red dragon for himself. Wyatt was a charming and flirty man who instantly had Clark wrapped around his finger. Clark and Wyatt had instant chemistry and were really hot together. I look forward to reading more of Rain’s books now.
Trigger Warnings: past wrongful institutionalization
Trigger Warnings: past wrongful institutionalization
June 7, 2022
3.5 adorable
August 5, 2022
I'm sorry but dragon fucking?! This author is killing me, and I'm loving it.
April 3, 2022
Fun
Cute shortbread. I enjoyed this book quite a lot. Clark is tired. He has been chasing myths to prove they are just that..but there is something magical in Piney Bay. I loved this take on the supernatural community and this family of read dragons is absolutely adorable.
Cute shortbread. I enjoyed this book quite a lot. Clark is tired. He has been chasing myths to prove they are just that..but there is something magical in Piney Bay. I loved this take on the supernatural community and this family of read dragons is absolutely adorable.
May 17, 2022
2.5 It's fine. It starts off cute and fun but in the second half it sort of loses steam. There are a few things that don't make a lot of sense either (are fated mates real? is it just a compatibility?) but overall it's a cute and fast read.
September 26, 2022
❤️ Wyatt + Clark ❤️
⋆°꒰☁︎꒱
"You're definitely my mate, aren't you, Clark? You're right now thinking about putting your ass in the air for my dragon cock."
(/ε＼*)
⋆°꒰☁︎꒱
"You're definitely my mate, aren't you, Clark? You're right now thinking about putting your ass in the air for my dragon cock."
(/ε＼*)
April 25, 2022
I wasn't sure what to expect from this little story but I was pleasantly surprised to find a sweet and fun read. Okay, so one thing didn't sit quite right with me... umm yeah, that was just a little bit weird. Taking that out of the equation this story kept me entertained.
QUICK THOUGHTS
-- Quick easy read -- Shifter-Dragon/Human pairing -- oh my supernatural beings are real who knew lol -- fated mates -- insta everything -- mpreg (off page) -- age difference (11 years) -- small town -- quirky townspeople -- sweet -- loved the MCs... Wyatt & Clark -- great family and friends -- could have used another proof read -- a few typos and such (nothing horrible) -- first time reading this author -- looking forward to reading more of her work
May 2, 2023
Short, sweet and sexy. It was just a bit too short for my liking, I've read a lot of novellas in school and that was always my problem with them it's just too short and I want more! That's what happened with this, the main story ended on a high note and the epilogue jumped WAY too far ahead for my liking. Still a good story with a lot of steam. Will definitely continue to read this author.
March 30, 2022
Such a cute story!
This was absolutely adorable. It was sweet and fun and little sexy too. I especially loved Wyatt who was such a mischievous sweetheart (those piercings!).
This was absolutely adorable. It was sweet and fun and little sexy too. I especially loved Wyatt who was such a mischievous sweetheart (those piercings!).
April 1, 2022
(There is an element of mpreg but not on page.) I really thought this was an adorable read. Loved Wyatt. There isn't much to the story, pretty much the blurb tells most of it. It was shallow and would have been soooo much better more fleshed out but I really liked it as a sweet read.
September 1, 2022
Cute.
Dragons are my favorite paranormal beings so it's an easy five star for me. The only thing I don't appreciate is its length. I hope it's longer.
Dragons are my favorite paranormal beings so it's an easy five star for me. The only thing I don't appreciate is its length. I hope it's longer.
September 12, 2022
3.5 stars
April 1, 2022
Just adorably sweet. And HAWT!! 🥵
March 31, 2022
The blurb gives a clear view of the story so I'm not going to describe it again.
The story is novella-length, and while I think it would have worked better if it was slightly longer and more developed, I genuinely enjoyed reading this.
Clark and his love interest have great chemistry and the sexy times start very early in the story. Clark's investigation and the secondary characters were just interesting enough to get me going, and the investigation thankfully didn't drag out unnecessarily long. I also liked that it became clear pretty soon how Clark felt about his job and his current investigation.
The author did a great job describing Clark's struggles with the discovery of the paranormal world and coming to terms with a past paranormal event.
The transition from freaking out to accepting the paranormal world could be considered a bit fast but that is how the author writes her stories and I like it: no unnecessary doubts/freaking out for a long time but trusting that gut feeling when it comes to falling in love with a paranormal creature. I know I would be the same. Give me sweet monsters over dark and cruel ones everyday.
The story is sweet, sexy, light and filled with sentences that made me laugh or smile. Perfect for a rainy day or to lift your mood - but you can read it anytime you like.
If you're unfamiliar with the author's work, don't expect slow-burn, suspense, (relationship) angst, annoying exes and all that stuff. Just adorable 'monsters' and the people who love them.
Content warnings:
The story is novella-length, and while I think it would have worked better if it was slightly longer and more developed, I genuinely enjoyed reading this.
Clark and his love interest have great chemistry and the sexy times start very early in the story. Clark's investigation and the secondary characters were just interesting enough to get me going, and the investigation thankfully didn't drag out unnecessarily long. I also liked that it became clear pretty soon how Clark felt about his job and his current investigation.
The author did a great job describing Clark's struggles with the discovery of the paranormal world and coming to terms with a past paranormal event.
The transition from freaking out to accepting the paranormal world could be considered a bit fast but that is how the author writes her stories and I like it: no unnecessary doubts/freaking out for a long time but trusting that gut feeling when it comes to falling in love with a paranormal creature. I know I would be the same. Give me sweet monsters over dark and cruel ones everyday.
The story is sweet, sexy, light and filled with sentences that made me laugh or smile. Perfect for a rainy day or to lift your mood - but you can read it anytime you like.
If you're unfamiliar with the author's work, don't expect slow-burn, suspense, (relationship) angst, annoying exes and all that stuff. Just adorable 'monsters' and the people who love them.
Content warnings:
May 15, 2022
These books are like crack. Sweet, fluffy, crack.
September 9, 2023
This is absolutely the second best book I've ever read by this author. I've read several of their books now and while I've never disliked one, each has a consistent problem with pacing that makes things feel too rushed. This book, on the other hand, gives great, believable explanations for any pacing issues. Why was Clark in this small town for a short period of time? His job sent him there. Why did he jump in the sack with someone he just met? He has a specific fetish. And here's the best part - why did he just accept that the guy he was screwing was a red dragon? He didn't. It took him hours before he was able to work through the mental walls he had put into place, and even then it came with a breakdown. Plus, there's backstory that explains why it only took him hours and not much much longer. This book all fits together really well compared to the author's other work, and I really enjoyed it. My only complaint is that not only was the end cheesy (which was kind of expected so no big deal there), but it felt like a push to tie things up neatly in a happily ever after. I understand the desire for it to end that way, but it could have ended without the epilogue and it would have been just lovely. I didn't need a time skip and a push for the happy family sitcom ending, it was implied quite well at the end of the previous chapter. I never thought I'd advocate to make one of Delaney Rain's books shorter, but this one was actually one chapter too long.
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August 24, 2025DNF @49% 24th Aug 2025.
Delaney’s books can be a hit or miss. This one’s a miss for me.
Well, this wasn't what i expected at all. Here i was hoping for a beefy dragon guy only to be let down when i see a thin tall "kid" instead. All lean lookin. That dampened the mood quickly. But i had a Sunday to waste so i thought why not? But no.
i don't like how Wyatt is called a kid, or boy. That sounds bad, very bad. Felt very uncomfortable. Feels very predatory. That's my sole reason to dnf. i'm not going to read adults scenes when that word is strewn everywhere. Just NO.
i liked the interview aspect of it. How every time we can see it on page of him asking for permission to record the convo. i'm glad nothing was off page or skipped over.
This has a lot of show and very less tell and so naturally i loved that.
// i rate sex different from sex acts (which i don’t rate) and all my reviews reflect that. The views are my personal and may not align with yours. Only read if you’re ok with that. Else, please skip this next part.
The sex? This has 1 sex scene that i know of, and happens 42% in. It happened in a blur and i didn't quite get it. i should've gone back and reread the part but it wasn't interesting. Happens way too fast. Had good foreplay tho- rimming. But nothing much else. Also has 1 sex act.
i didn’t stick around to read more so…
Delaney’s books can be a hit or miss. This one’s a miss for me.
Well, this wasn't what i expected at all. Here i was hoping for a beefy dragon guy only to be let down when i see a thin tall "kid" instead. All lean lookin. That dampened the mood quickly. But i had a Sunday to waste so i thought why not? But no.
i don't like how Wyatt is called a kid, or boy. That sounds bad, very bad. Felt very uncomfortable. Feels very predatory. That's my sole reason to dnf. i'm not going to read adults scenes when that word is strewn everywhere. Just NO.
i liked the interview aspect of it. How every time we can see it on page of him asking for permission to record the convo. i'm glad nothing was off page or skipped over.
This has a lot of show and very less tell and so naturally i loved that.
// i rate sex different from sex acts (which i don’t rate) and all my reviews reflect that. The views are my personal and may not align with yours. Only read if you’re ok with that. Else, please skip this next part.
The sex? This has 1 sex scene that i know of, and happens 42% in. It happened in a blur and i didn't quite get it. i should've gone back and reread the part but it wasn't interesting. Happens way too fast. Had good foreplay tho- rimming. But nothing much else. Also has 1 sex act.
i didn’t stick around to read more so…
March 31, 2022
Why delaney? Why?!
I'm greedy! I want more Wyatt and Clark! This story was sweet and funny and every bit as sexy as you can expect from Delaney rain. As always some bounds were shoved to the side and I freaking LOVED it. Heat level was scorching. The build up was awesome, the characters were endearing and honestly I could just live staring at Wyatt and Clark like a creeper.
I loved the scene in the woods. "Clark screamed and flailed. The dragon screamed and flailed." I laughed my butt off picturing this and it was so totally in line with the characters. Every page of this was fantastic and I seriously can't wait to reread this!
I'm greedy! I want more Wyatt and Clark! This story was sweet and funny and every bit as sexy as you can expect from Delaney rain. As always some bounds were shoved to the side and I freaking LOVED it. Heat level was scorching. The build up was awesome, the characters were endearing and honestly I could just live staring at Wyatt and Clark like a creeper.
I loved the scene in the woods. "Clark screamed and flailed. The dragon screamed and flailed." I laughed my butt off picturing this and it was so totally in line with the characters. Every page of this was fantastic and I seriously can't wait to reread this!
May 15, 2022
Not my kind of book.
I prefer an actual story, character development, growing feelings, drama... and this didn't hit the spot as it lacks any substance.
This book was well written and funny enough, but within just a few pages came a sex scene that felt like it came out of nowhere. It doesn't help that the older MC keeps calling the love interest a kid, and commenting about how young he must be. Awkward.
The entire little story around this couple, the dragons, the job, the research, can be scrapped, because the main focus here is clearly the erotica. I personally just prefer something more mysterious, dramatic, that draws me in, and not just sex scenes.
I prefer an actual story, character development, growing feelings, drama... and this didn't hit the spot as it lacks any substance.
This book was well written and funny enough, but within just a few pages came a sex scene that felt like it came out of nowhere. It doesn't help that the older MC keeps calling the love interest a kid, and commenting about how young he must be. Awkward.
The entire little story around this couple, the dragons, the job, the research, can be scrapped, because the main focus here is clearly the erotica. I personally just prefer something more mysterious, dramatic, that draws me in, and not just sex scenes.
September 5, 2022
A cute filler novella, but with maaaaaaybe a bit more steam than I felt it actually needed.
Since it was a fated mates story, it felt pretty insta-love, but I didn't really mind; although, I could've totally done without the sex-while-shifted into dragon form bits.
3.5 stars.
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June 21, 2023
This was really good overall. A bit of mystery, busybody grandmas, supernatural creatures, etc. But there was some trauma that Clark endured in the past that surfaced in Piney Bay, so a bit of angst as well. Also there was a sex scene in dragon form. Wyatt was super cute, and I loved how he kept giving Clark things to court him. It was very insta-lust/instalove, but it was a novella so made sense for the pacing overall. The epilogue was adorable, and I’d honestly read way more of this couple. Clark had a fetish for piercings too, and Wyatt was more than happy to offer his up for licking/sucking at anytime. 4 out of 5 stars?
May 12, 2024
Clark is the host for a soon to be cancelled paranormal investigation show, Is It Out There?. Prowl network is looking to axe the show. It's simply not getting the ratings it used to.
To try to save the show, and his career, Clark travels to a small Maine town to investigate dragon sightings. He's skeptical, to say the least, until he comes face to face with a big red dragon and finds his mate.
After reading the Bigfoot series I wondered about how Clark and the other host of Is It Out There?, Max, met their respective mates. This is Clark's story. It's very well told. Short and funny.
To try to save the show, and his career, Clark travels to a small Maine town to investigate dragon sightings. He's skeptical, to say the least, until he comes face to face with a big red dragon and finds his mate.
After reading the Bigfoot series I wondered about how Clark and the other host of Is It Out There?, Max, met their respective mates. This is Clark's story. It's very well told. Short and funny.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 80 reviews