Spark of Desire

Dragons in the Wind #1

by J. Kearston

I’ve been marked for death, but these dragons are determined to set me free.

All shifters are cursed, but me more than anyone. With barely any abilities to speak of, staying two steps ahead of the monster stalking my every move has been nearly impossible. But a freak robbery that goes awry brings my life on the run crashing to a bloody halt.

I need to run again, but my escape from the hospital is complicated by a doctor with eerily colored eyes that see far more than I want him to. He and his friends have decided I’m theirs to protect, want me to believe I’m safe with them, but I know the truth.

I will never be safe. Not when freedom comes at a price I’m not willing to pay.

Mark-mates are supposed to be someone’s missing piece, but somehow my jagged edges fit into three different puzzles. Trading one captor for three is out of the question, yet my stalker won’t turn a blind eye to Stone, Kodiak, and Raiden. Not when they’ll shatter his delusions that I’m fated to be his.

They’re everything that he’s always feared, and I don’t think even I’ll escape his wrath this time.

*Slow burn (with book 2 bringing the steam)
*Abused fmc running from a psychotic stalker
*Super sweet dragon mates

* This is a darker themed paranormal romance where the heroine loves all of her men, and contains some graphic details, so please read the note in the beginning of the book before choosing to read. It's the first of a three book series that follows the same characters, and as such, will end with a cliffhanger, but this is my primary project until the series is completed. It's set in the same universe as my Thrown to the Wolves series, and takes place at nearly the same time frame. While it can be read independently, you might enjoy the character crossovers and references more if you begin with that series -again, NOT necessary to enjoy this one, though. **

Genres: Dragons, Fantasy, Paranormal, Romance, Shapeshifters, Why Choose, Paranormal Romance

240 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 3, 2022

Reviews

[Rebecca Dixon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished ‘Spark of Desire,’ Book 1 in the Dragons in the Wind series by Author J. Kearston and it was GREAT 🤩! (FYI, I’m not affiliated with the author and there are NO spoilers! 🙌🏻)

So ummm… did you like Psycho Shifters by Jasmine Mas 😁😁😁?? Did you like the whole scar 🩹 ⛑ thing and dudes being like all PROTECTIVE 😠 over the FMC when they SEE 👀 the scars??? Yeahhh... this TOTALLY has those vibes!! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

Ok so FIRST 👆🏻 let me tell you how I found this book 🙌🏻! I was searching 🏃🏻‍♀️Amazon and UP ⬆️ pops a book 📕 that has been recently released, but already has over 100 ratings with ALL 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 🤯! That REALLY got my attention 😲😲😲 because that is DEFINITELY more than a few ARC readers! And BOY are those ratings RIGHT 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻!

So the story begins with a strong 💪🏻 FMC that is ON THE RUN 🏃🏻‍♀️ FROM A DRAGON 🐉 STALKER 👀. Let me say that again for those in the back. ON. THE. RUN 🏃🏻‍♀️. FROM. A. DRAGON 🐉. STALKER 👀! Yeah, so immediately… I. AM. ALL. IN. 👏🏻🙌🏻👏🏻 I meannnnnn… we are talking about a BIG Haunting 👻 Adeline 🔫 🍑 fan so yeppers, I’m in it ✅👏🏻👏🏻

OK. But in walks some cinnamon roll Dragons 🐉 to save the day and usually I’m not a big cinnamon roll fan (yup in the book world and real world… yeah, yeah I know 🙄.. I be crazy 🤪 & all that, yo.) But I digress 😆… in comes THREE big cinnamon rolls and I actually really dig them 😍😍😍. Throw in the scars 🩹 I was telling you about before and yup, I was pretty hooked from the get-go! 🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻

This is the first book in the series and yesum, it ends on a cliffhanger 🪨 . But I thought it was a GREAT 🤩🤩🤩 cliffhanger… I LOVED ❤️ it and I would TOTALLY 💯 advise just giving it a go even though Book 2 isn’t out yet. And BONUS 💰, apparently there is an EARLIER series in this SAME world 🌎 that you could hop 🏃‍♂️ to when this is done to help take the sting 🐝 away (It’s Pack Promised…. I haven’t read it yet, but if you love wolves 🐺 , this author, and RH’s 💃🕺🕺🕺… give it a go!) FYI – I didn’t feel like I lost out on anything by reading this book first, so totally up to you if you want to do the same thing I did and dive 🏊‍♀️ into this one STAT 🚨!!

So if you like a strong 💪🏻 FMC WITH SCARS 🩹and on the RUN 🏃🏻‍♀️ from a STALKER 👀, three cinnamon roll MCs that are also kicka$s 🤺 DRAGONS 🐉 , a super slow-burn 🔥 , and a great cliffhanger 🪨 that gets you EXCITED 🤩 for the next book … give this series a shot! It’s FREE on KU and you never know, it just may fly 🦋 straight from your TBR to one of your FAV 💋🤌🏻 hidden dragon 🐉 gems 💎 of a book!)

[Annelie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ok read

Interesting start for this serie. I like series with broken FMC and possessive fated mates.
I just found the storyline not very original, it felt like reading a patchwork of different storylines I read in other books🧐 but it was ok.
I just hope that the serie won't fade and keep its originalty!

[Alex(Books-In-A-Storm) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I fucking loved this one so much. The ending made my jaw drop and now I can't wait to read the next book. It's going to be so much fun.

[Spasticnontastic · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

[Klizbet · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

The romance is slow burn, but unfortunately, so is the plot. The storyline creeps along, barely moving forward at all. The only real momentum happens at the very end. Still, I’m intrigued enough to continue.

The world-building isn’t great, though. If I hadn’t already read the previous series set in this world, I’d be really confused. It feels like the author put all the effort into world-building in the other series and forgot this one needs it too.

Character development is also slow. I think this was intentional? We get vague hints about the characters’ pasts, but for the most part, the guys are still blank slates. I’m not overly attached to any of them yet, but I’m not completely indifferent either… so that’s something.

So far, it feels like the guys are only interested in Amara because she’s their fated mate. I don’t sense any real emotion toward her beyond protectiveness. Amara, for her part, is too wary and scared to feel much for them yet—maybe just a tentative sense of safety.


- 👀 POV: Multiple, first person
- 📖 Urban Fantasy
- ❣️ Reverse Harem
- 🎱 Tropes: abused FMC, stalker, fated mates, protective mates
- 🧁 FMC: abused and spent her entire life in some sort of captivity, on the run from her stalker. She’s wary and has a ton of PTSD. She’s a dragon shifter who can’t shift.
- 🌎 2/5 World-building Stars
- ⭐️ 2.5/5 Plot-line Stars
- 🤓 3/5 Character Development Stars
- 👥 Harem: 3 dragon shifters
- 🍒 Virgins: None
- ♥️ 2/5 Romance Stars
- 🌶 0/5 Spicy Stars (no spice, just some very mild sexual tension)
- 🔥 Slow Burn
- 👄 Kinks: none
- 🚫 No: MM, OW, Cheating, bullying, dub/non-con
- ‼️ Triggers: history of abuse and torture, captivity, violence, assault

[mspotts · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

This review is for the three books in the series.

The Good
- The writing and FMC characteristion were top notch. I absolutely love the way J Kearston writes her heroines. They're always smart, witty and just generally real. It's a nice change of pace from the helpless damsels and mouthy badasses you tend to see in RH.
- Slow burn RH is always a nice surprise. Getting to watch the relationships develop over time without sex or instalove is my kryptonite.

The Bad
- The MMCs were a bit meh. I loved Kodi, I liked Stone, but Raiden...yeah he was just a disappointment. For three powerful ancient dragons they sure fucked up a lot. We kept being told how badass and awesome they were but it didn't exactly match up with what was shown. I expected better tbh.
- Nothing happened. The plot was slow and got slower with each passing book. Combined with the slow romantic development and stilted sex scenes, I lost interest quickly.

Overall I think the first book was a 4, but the second and third were more like 2/3s. Thus the 3 ish star rating.

[Betteroffwithbooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kearston has yet again outdone herself. Spark of Desire is a vivid story that is beautifully written. She has a talent that just keeps me coming back for more.

This is the first book in a new series and damn does it pack a punch. While this is a shared world with the Thrown to the Wolves series, it’s a whole new shifter ball game. This time with sexy alpha dragons!

Amara’s story is tragic and dark. Leaving her jaded, broken and untrusting of anyone. I see a spark in her though and I can’t wait for her to come out of her shell. To because the strong female dragon I know she is going to be.

The guys… oh man, the guys. They are adorable, hilarious and so protective. It’s impossible not to fall in love with them all. However, Kodiak is my current favorite and I’m claiming him as my own.

This book drew me in and refused to let me go. I’m invested now and I need to unravel all the secrets and mysteries as soon as possible. I can’t wait to see where this series goes from here!

[Taylor Jefferson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fine but predictable. I enjoyed Kodiak’s chaotic energy. She is late twenties but the men are centuries old and I felt the age gap. Not in a great way but as I kept reading I got over it. It’s 50/50 whether I’ll pick up book 2.

[Jane · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNFed at 60%. felt super dull and i didn’t connect to the characters at all. writing style wasn’t for me.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Spark


J. Kearston first introduced the world of Demon shifters with the Thrown to the Wolves series (which was a must-read) and now she's back in the same world with the Dragons in the Wind series. The first book Spark of Desire was an awesome read.


A few familiar faces... I think this is the first story where I knew of the harem first. The three guys in Amara's Harem were first introduced in the Thrown with the Wolves series, it was interesting getting to know them as main characters. Stone, Kodiak, and Raiden are legion (the dragon version of a pack, a family) and they could be more different. Stone is a caregiver but his guilt from his past clouds his judgment, I feel for him he's a nice guy but with a little bit of darkness. Kodiak "Kodi" is so likable with his upbeat flirtatious nature, sure he has a serious side and a dark past but he moves past it looking for the good in life. While Raiden is the youngest of the group he's also the leader, like the others he also has a dark past and takes on a lot not just as the leader of their family but as one of the main leaders of Khalida, a shifter safe haven and takes on a lot of that responsibility as well. My heart goes out to all the guys, they are truly good men who only want to make their mate happy.


Amara needs a little happiness, her life is nothing but a series of bad events and has left its scars both psychologically and physically. Amara is strong, she has managed to endure so much all by herself, it's good that she's not alone anymore. The guys are with her, helping in any way she allows them, helping her learn to trust when so many have betrayed that trust. Amara has her struggles but at least she's trying to overcome her issues. Amara is spunky and clever, it's kept her alive but not living, with the guys she may get the change that.


The whole shifters are demons thing is a very unique twist to things and if I'm honest I would suggest reading the Thrown to the Wolves series first to get a better handle understanding but it isn't necessary. Some characters see their condition as a curse some don't, it's complicated. Getting to know the dragon shifters was interesting, their senses aren't what I thought they would be, their power is different as well, and who knows what else I've missed. Of course, there are the mate marks and legions with the twisted views on females that are common in shifter stories but it was the darker elements, people on the run, false identities, torture, murder, shifter safe-havens, and more, that's the real meat of the story.


Sparks of Desire was a fantastic start to Amara's story. It was very entertaining with a stalker running around, a bar most fandoms would love, great guys, a strong mfc, and a mysterious villain who is absolutely psychotic. Seriously the stuff this guy does is mind-blowing and he's nowhere near done. The story ended with a newcomer who I can only guess to be one person and I've only just realized who they might truly be. I can't wait for the next book in Amara's story, Shred of Darkness, to see if I'm right.

[Noemi · Rating 4 out of 5]

My heart ached for Amara. She didn't deserve what she went through, and not that she has a shot at happiness, she can't believe it. It's hard for Amara to let her walls down and open her heart to Kodi, Raiden and Stone. They can protect her and love her, but her stalker won't let them be as he believes that she's his. Amara's guys need to step up their game to show her they are worthy and can help her in any way she needs.

[Artemis Cienfuegos · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think I wanted more from this book than I got and that was a bummer

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet, overprotective cinnamon roll dragon shifters. Nothing original. But an enjoyable read nonetheless…even with the low spice level.

[Raquel | mommagracereads · Rating 5 out of 5]

A new story in the Cursed Shifter universe and I’m excited to see where this goes! Although you can read this universe series out of order, starting with Thrown to the Wolves will give a better understanding to the events going on.

Amara is on the run from her stalker, doing whatever she can to survive and keep moving. A situation where she was in the wrong place at the wrong time lands her in the hospital. Fun fact about these shifters? Long enough time of ill care, and their advanced healing isn’t so advanced.

She meets Stone after waking up in the hospital where she’s understandable freaked out. From there on, it’s a journey of gaining trust. This story is slow burn and low steam, but trust me- it’s important for this book.

Shortly after meeting Stone, she meets his legion brothers, before realizing that’s what they are to each other. Raiden, Kodiak, and Stone show her that sometimes, men can be trusted. Physical contact is okay and not something to fear. Granted, dragons do have a reason to avoid skin-on-skin contact, what with once glancing touch could mark them both.

I loved the moments of bonding between the 4 of them. Amara slowly comes out of her shell, although her trauma doesn’t just disappear, which is great for the authenticity of her character. With the help from the guys, she stops running, and it’s a waiting game for her stalker to escalate things. That bit of suspense thrown in from this aspect is a great touch.

Super excited for the next book!

[Adrienne McFarlane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great read by J. Kearston. Amara has been on the run for 10 years. After landing in the hospital, she encounters a doctor who wants to help her. Eventually she begins to trust him and his 2 friends. However, her stalker continues to escalate. The story is different from the usual shifter books. The cliffhanger ending makes me eager to see what happens next.

[Megmund · Rating 2 out of 5]

Lacklustre with poor characters and a poorer plot, not to mention victim blaming women in abusive relationships

Firstly I’ll start with the good. I really liked the heroine and how the book is written in general. The first half of the story I really enjoyed, but around that point things started slowing down exponentially. It becomes very sedentary and all of the build up screeches to a halt

I found all the love interests underwhelming, and considering their backstory they are supposed to be larger than life, ancient dragons, but you really don’t see that at all. I didn’t feel any chemistry between them and the FMC, and neither does she from her inner monologue. They have no gravitas, and act like children with very narrow world views

And speaking of world views, that is what dropped this from a three star ‘I might read the next one’ to a two star ‘yeah this isn’t for me’. This is not spoilers, this is all presented early on in the world building: in this shifter world it is commonplace for shifters to sell their daughters to packs/legions/etc as mates. This is detailed in every example we are presented with as non consensual. This, in my book, is sex trafficking. Now, we again learn straight away that our main protagonist was a victim of this trade, and that her love interests helped build the society that perpetuates this. They express they don’t agree with it, but they do jack shit to stop it.

MINOR SPOILER AHEAD

The cincher for me was at the 95% mark the guys go to settle a dispute amongst some Wolf shifters abusing their mate, a mate who was sold in the tradition we’ve seen before and clearly does not want to be in the situation, but has chosen to accept it as her sacrifice secures an alliance that spares other women the abuse. All of the protagonists (including the FMC) then put the blame on the woman for choosing to stay with them. I truly have no words. She reiterates that she doesn’t have a choice and they are so blasé about it, insinuating it’s simple for her to leave and she should grow a backbone. Like EXCUSE ME! She, and every other female shifter, is in this position because in the 10,000 years you’ve supposedly been alive you’ve done a piss poor job of leading.

So yeah, 2 stars. Not egregiously bad but I hate the protagonists’ apathy towards the people they are supposed to be safeguarding and blaming victims of sex trafficking for not being strong enough to fight back against a society that does not care about them

[Book Life With Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spark of Desire, the first in the Dragons in the Wind series by J. Kearston was an absolutely fantastic read and I can’t wait for the second book!! Set in the same universe as the Thrown to the Wolves series, this storyline is equally enthralling and will grab you right from the start and hold you till the very end!

Amara, our fierce independent heroine, is a rare female dragon that has been on the run, hiding, for ten years dealing with the pain and trauma of previous abuse. Moving from town to town she’s determined to stay hidden from those that would hunt her or mean her harm—until fate intervenes and places her in the path of the three men that could change everything for her: Stone, Raiden and Kodi. The thing is, while these three sexy men are all equally amazing, capable and tough as hell—are they able to save Amara from the one that’s determined to keep her to himself at all costs?

Overall, if you’re a fan of fantasy, paranormal dragon shifter RH romances then this is the one for you! Especially if you’re a fan of Kearston’s other series as seeing some of her other beloved character making appearances was absolute perfection!!!

[AHCuteArt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Why did you read this book?
It was a highly-rated reverse harem romance.

What format did you read this book in?
Read it as an ebook on Kindle.

Is this an educational book or a book for entertainment?
I read this book for pure entertainment purposes.

What genres do you think this book belongs to?
Crime, Fantasy, Romance, Suspense

What was your favorite part in the book?
I think my favorite part of the book is when the guys tell her the truth about being the female lead's fated mate. Even though they were fated to be together, they guys gave her the option to leave, especially after they realized she had been abused in the past.

Who would you suggest this book to?
Anyone who likes reverse harems, heavy drama, dark fantasy, and slow-burn romance.

What is your general opinion/ rating of this book?
I usually like slow-burn romances, but I couldn’t get into this one. I felt terrible for what happened to the female lead and the life she had to lead. The biggest issue I had with the book was how over-the-top the villain of the story was. He’s like the boogieman and somehow can track the FL everywhere. I wasn’t a fan of the amount of abuse in this book, either. It was really over the top, and there wasn’t enough “light” to balance out the “dark” in this story for me. Also, some of the world-building was a bit confusing. Especially when it came to Stone’s history. Overall, not a bad RH shifter romance if you like dark content, it just wasn’t for me.

Are there any cliché scenes or concepts? (If yes, does the author add something unique to them?)
Magical fated mates, but the author adds her own twist. Fated mates are seen as more of a curse than a blessing and many of the dragon kind wear gloves to avoid being marked.

How intense are the intimacy scenes?
There are none.

At what “burn” level is the romance?
This is a slow burn.

Love interests, how many of them are there and what gender?
There are 3 love interests, all of them males, and the MC fated mate.
Kodiak—the punk rock/ bad boy of the group.
Stone - - is a doctor and an ancient shifter.
Raiden—Is the head of the shifter help network.


EXTRA
Any trigger warnings?
Racial and Religious: Racism, Microaggressions, Prejudice, Genocide
Mental Health: Cutting, Scars, Trivializing Mental Illness, Romanticized Mental Illness, PTSD, Emotional Abuse, Controlling Parents, Panic Attacks, Trauma, Confrontation Rapist/Abuser, Nightmares about Traumatic Events, Non-consent behavior
Sexual Content: Sexual Predator, Sexual Abuse, Human Trafficking, Sex Slaves, Sexual Assault
Violence and Death: Death, Death of a Loved One, Animal Death, Graphic Deaths, Mass Death, Murder, Burning People, Extreme Violence, Gore, Torture, Mutilation, Child Abuse, Physical Abuse, Domestic Abuse, Animal Cruelty, Escalating Violence, Described Blood, Graphic Violence
Other: Slut Shaming, Drugging Someone Against Their Will, Body Shaming, Female Oppression, Forced Marriage, Kidnapping, Bullying, Profanity, Sexism

[The Bodacious Bibliophile · Rating 2 out of 5]

I give this book a reluctant 2️⃣⭐️

I don’t even know where to start. First of all, I hate all the MMC’s names. Like are you seriously gonna name a dragon shifter after a type of bear? And then the other guy gets stone? Let’s not forget Raiden, which sounds like a bug spray.

Besides the names being dumb, the FMC was just way too whiny and the constant victim for me. Like I understand that she had an abusive ex-boyfriend. But there was literally nothing else to her personality other than that. I mean, except for the fact that she’s also extremely sexist towards men.

There aren’t many authors nowadays, that know how to properly write a main male character, or any male character. They struggle with writing it from a man’s POV. They basically make the men look like men on the outside but act and talk as if they were women or how a female writer would want a man to sound, which is also basically like a woman.

Every man in this book is a pig, misogynist, abusive, etc. Like literally everyone except for her males of course. They are good and that’s only because they goddess worship her. They never have any of their own personality or ever go against anything she says or think of anything other than what she would want them to think. She can do no wrong in their eyes and they could only hope one day to be as amazing as her. Even though these males are hundreds of years old, And have been living as good men and going to war to save and help people until this day work in professions that help people. They’ve been doing this for hundred some thousands of years yet they could never be as amazing as the 28-year-old FMC who hasn’t done shit in her life other than have a shitty abusive ex-boyfriend.

And outside of all that bullshit the story was also just extremely extremely slow and boring. Like nothing happened at all until the cliffhanger of course.

And for them being dragon shifters that are 700/500/10,000 years old. They live in a small ass house that has such poor security that her ex could just constantly leave stuff on their doorstep. And this ex could also like scramble their security cameras, even though one of the mates is like a tech whiz . Yeah, none of that makes sense.
They had no chemistry at all. Like I felt it maybe slightly with her and Kodiak, but there was just not enough there. And especially the character Stone, he was supposed to be like 10,000-year-old demon that basically made shifters. But he was just as bland and boring as cornflakes. Like this guy was one of the most forgettable characters ever he hardly also had any page time. And he was super timid and awkward, which just goes against what you would think a bad ass dragon shifter that is 10,000 years old would be.
Basically none of this fucking book made any sense. I honestly don’t know what the hell this author was doing.

There were too many eye roll moments and too much corny shit and just too much toxic femininity in it that I just couldn’t enjoy it. Even writing this it makes me wanna lower my score to two stars. I would not recommend.

[Tabitha · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cannot find a single flaw! (Okay, that’s not strictly true; I did find a typo on page 266 of the ebook, but other than that one little apostrophe…) These MMCs do everything so, so right!

FMC is a dragon shifter who can’t shift and thinks of herself as defective. But she’s got bigger problems; she’s on the run from a man only known as Malcolm who murdered her parents, imprisoned her and subjected her to horrific abuse, leaving her badly scarred. Before she met him, it’s briefly mentioned that her parents kept her in even more horrific conditions until she reached marriageable age, and then tried to shop her around to the highest bidder. Even after escaping from Malcolm, she just can’t seem to catch a break, and is frequently revictimized, making her incredibly wary; the entire book is just about the journey of FMC learning to trust again, and although she isn’t fully healed by the end (which is realistic for c-PTSD) I’d say the MMCs have just about managed to stem the bleeding.

Each of the MMCs is centuries old (some older) and has his own scars, but is sensitive, understanding and reassuring when FMC needs it most. They pay attention to FMC’s triggers and avoid or work around them. They give her space when she needs it, a listening ear when she needs to talk, reassurances when she’s uncomfortable, simplicity when she’s overwhelmed, choices when she needs an out. There will never be an Only One Bed trope—they’ll get two hotel rooms, or give up their own rooms without a thought, and without pressuring FMC or making a big deal out of it. There will never be some big secret no one wants to tell her that she has to figure out on her own and confront her with it. Every time an issue comes up, everybody lays their cards on the table and they talk it out. It’s a refreshing, mature approach that perfectly suits characters that are hundreds of years old. They shouldn’t be making rookie mistakes, and they don’t!

This is how it SHOULD feel when you find your fated mate—like the pieces just fit together beautifully. The only problems are either actively caused by the villain, or by the trauma he put her through, and it makes the story so much stronger for it. Yes, Malcolm is out there, and that creates tension, but without more information or catching him in the act, he’s a needle in a haystack. I can’t wait to read the next book to find out what happens when they finally catch up to him!

[Paula Sabol (Never Choose Fantasy) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spark Of Desire by J Kearston is a slow-burn paranormal romance.  Amara has spent a long time on the run and has suffered abuse and betrayal most of her life; on top of this, she is a dragon shifter with little power.  When she gets injured, she ends up in the hospital, where she runs across Stone and his legion.  When Stone discovers that Amara is his mate, he has his brother Kodiak stay close to protect her.  When she reaches out to Kodiak for help, the men eventually come clean but allow her to leave, following her from afar. As her stalker continues to circle, she ultimately gives the men a chance.  Will they protect her and allow her to remain herself, or will they prove to be like everyone else, biding their time and waiting to betray her?

      Spark Of Desire begins with drama and action, immediately setting the bar and keeping my interest.  The characters are intriguing, with all having a backstory explaining their personalities and behaviors.  Their trauma bent them to become the strong, thoughtful, considerate men they are.  I enjoyed watching Amara come alive with their support and understanding.  The story is filled with sweetness and humor.  Despite all Amara and the men have been through, readers can see they are damaged but not broken.

   I rated Spark Of Desire with 4 out of 5 stars.  The story was captivating, with lots of secrets.  The world-building was fascinating, providing readers with an understanding of the origins of shifters and some basic history and rules. There were a few places when decisions were made that I felt like I missed something; not sure if it was the writing or my understanding, but even after rereading, I still was a little confused. This is the first book in a slow-burn reverse harem romance series where the characters work on building trust, not lust. I have a feeling the following books in the series will be spicier. There are some dark discussions of the character's pasts and the behaviors of others in their world.  If you have triggers, please check the content warning, as the main character has a history of abuse.  If you enjoy paranormal reverse harem stories that include fated mates and shifters, don't miss the beginning of this thrilling series!

[Murphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first book by this author, and it will not be my last. I was captivated with the story and needed to know what happened next. That being said, I am aware this is a crossover series. I have not read the original and never felt lost or like I didn't know what was going on.

This book starts off with Amara. Having been in hiding, on the run or held captive for the entirety of her life, she knows nothing else. She is tired. Tired of always looking over her shoulder, tired of never being able to settle down. After being in the wrong place at the wrong time, she awakes to find herself in the hospital just getting out of surgery.

When Amara meets Stone, Kodiak, and Raiden, she is distrustful and doesn't believe a word that comes out of their mouth. But when their knowledge of knowing the right people can get her, her next proof of documentation, she gives them a chance. What she doesn't see coming is that these guys are ready to offer her more than the paperwork, but a part of their Legion when they all realize they are mark-mates.

After being stalked and tormented, she is struggling with being with a shifter who wants her for more than what she can give them... Now giving them a chance, she realizes that she put a target on their backs too. Will the Dragons be able to protect her and keep their promises? Will the man that killed her family have all the tricks up his sleeve to get to her again? Will the guys be able to earn her heart? And will her Dragon ever make its way out!?

I enjoyed this book a lot and am thoroughly looking forward to the rest of the series! While this was a slooowwww burn, I am hopeful for more in book two. I loved the background of each character and am hoping for the best and ultimate demise for Amara's stalker. lol. This page turner kept me on top of each page that I couldn't seem to turn fast enough. The backbone Amara has is prideful and understandable, but I love that slowly the guys were getting her to open up and let her guard down!

*Overall 4.5/5
*Heat 1/5 (Looking forward to book 2)
*Slow Burn
*Multiple first person POV
*Ends on light cliffhanger

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amara, a rare female dragon shifter, has been held captive or concealed her entire life. She is emotionally and physically running on fumes and hates always being on high alert for potential danger. Fighting for her freedom and safety has made Amara strong and independent. She’s had a traumatic past filled with heartbreak and tragedy, but she accepts her fate and doesn’t wallow in self-pity. An unfortunate incident changes the trajectory of Amara’s future when she awakens in a hospital and meets Stone, Kodiak, and Raiden. Her mates. The men have to prove they are trustworthy and Amara must accept help from her mates to help fight her battles.

It was so refreshing to read about a tortured female heroine that wasn’t whiny and didn’t make reckless decisions. I loved Amara and was rooting for her to learn to trust her men and allow them to love her unconditionally. This was a slow burn and was truly perfect. This book does end on a cliffhanger but hopefully we don’t have to wait too long for the second installment!

This is a new author for me and I am totally hooked! I am excited to read her interconnected series in the same universe. I absolutely love when authors write different series that have crossovers with characters. Fans of M. Sinclair and R.L. Caulder will devour J. Kearston books!

Tropes: Paranormal romance, fantasy romance, fated mates, tortured heroine, reverse harem, dragon shifters
Heat: 1/5

[Seraphia Bunny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spark of Desire is the first book in the Dragons in the Wind series, and trust me, when you pick this book up you're not going to want to put it down! Amara is on the run. She's always trying to stay a step ahead of the one who is stalking her. He's hurt her, and intends to make her his own. But she can't allow that. She won't allow that. Not after everything that he has put her through...done to her. But getting close to someone who's not human? That's not an option either. But her options are about to be taken from her...whether she likes it or not.
Spark of Desire is a tantalizing novel that pulls you deeper and deeper as you read to get more of Amara's story and understand just what happened to her. She tries so hard to avoid any skin-to-skin contact with shifters to avoid exactly what ends up happening to her. You feel for her, but then when she meets the first of her mates, a spark of hope blooms inside you for her. This girl is on edge literally all the time. Guessing, second-guessing, and creating scenarios in her head. It's exhausting to read, but just image how it must be for her!
The storyline is well done and kept me page-turning. I was eager for more before I was even halfway through the book! LOL! But when you get to the end! OMG!! I need more and I need it now!!!
I'm rating this book 5 out of 5 stars. I can't wait to find out what happens next and how these characters handle it all.

[Amanda Crossland · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting book

I liked this book. The fmc has had a life full of people that hurt her when they were supposed to protect her. She was determined to live, even on the run and I admired that. The writer created a flawless story. Where she’s timid in some areas but sassy in others. Not afraid to speak her mind and run away when the need called for it. It was a bit slow for the most part. I expected a bit more action, whether it was in the bedroom or with her stalker/ex. That ending left more questions than answers. I was also confused to what was going on when they all arrived at the meeting with the wolf shifters. I had to go back a chapter or two to see if I missed any discussion that mediated between a female wolf and her “supposed” mates that beat her. I thought they were there to get Jack the double crosser. I suspect that a lot of ground work was laid in this book to pave the way for the next one. The knowledge their all Legion mates while the fmc hadn’t completed the bond with all of her men, left lots to be desired. Even if she didn’t mean for the bond to start with the first two, she is waiting for the right time to make that connection with him. I suspect their bedroom antics will be quite the read, hopefully in the next book. The fmc let down her walls when she decided to really give the relationship a chance and I can’t wait to see how it develops.

[Ines · Rating 4 out of 5]

Now that I’ve finally found her, may the gods have mercy on any soul that attempts to take her from me.

*4,5 star review

In a world where all shifters have to face a curse, female shifters have the hardest life of all. With too little of them, they are the one thing every shifter male wants, and is prepared to kill for. Amara's life has been filled with suffering and loneliness because of this, until her life on the run starts crashing down around her. But perhaps the one thing she tried to avoid at all costs, might ultimately be her salvation.

"Spark of Desire" starts with a bang, and got me interested from the very first chapter. I like Amara's character, and I think the author managed to give her a very believable personality, keeping into account all she's been through. While I'm usually not a big fan of protective harems, I do like the men fate picked out for Amara. There is enough going on around them to keep the story interesting, and I enjoyed their interactions with Amara and among themselves. I have even developed a soft spot for Kodiak.

I'm already looking forward to the next book in this series, and I got interested enough in the world building to check out "Thrown to the Wolves" as well.

[Andrea Green · Rating 5 out of 5]

DRAGONS - yep Alpha, Broody, Delicious, Protective Male Dragons plus a Murder Bird and one Broken Female M/C who has learnt to survive on her own and this is a reciepie for an absolutely Brilliant Book - Its Slow Burn but you wouldnt know it due to the sizzle and brilliantly told storey!

"The mark of death makes sense now." A dark sound reverberates through my lips into hers as I recapture her mouth. Picking her up, I force her to wrap her legs around my waist as I walk off of the dance floor.
"What do you mean?" Palming both of my cheeks, she pulls back with a teasing spark in her eyes. "Because a dragon that kisses like that should come with a warning label."

I just love the above quote its one of so many that are memorable in this brilliant book by teh talented JRK! Lots of sizzle, plus humour with cliff hanger reveal that knocks you for six!

I am not sharing any more as you just really need to read this - no review will do it justice, I absoluteley love, love, love this book and really cant wait for teh second on to be ready!

Triggers - Amara comes from being brought up caged and hiidden from the world by her parents, rescued and then abused for years before she escapes - plus there is alot of stalking in this book

[Anna McCauslin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kearston warned this would be slow burn until book 2, but don't let that deter you from reading. Spark of Desire still has repressed steam that practically had my electronic pages curling with smoke. And even without that bit of steam on the pages, the plot thickening around Amara would have kept me hooked anyway. This book has darkness steeped in the pages, even without long graphic descriptions of abuse. The flashbacks are enough to imbue a stalker-psycho vibe that gives the best Criminal Minds episode a run for its money.

The lore described with dragons and touch gave a crisp edge of drama even with the slightest movements, and the aching touch starvation that exists as a result had me wincing in sympathy. I'm impressed with the harem/legion that has formed around Amara, and I'm quickly taking bets on how the spicy side of the relationship will develop with Stone, Raiden, and Kodiak. I feel like there must be, should, something other than just sweetness with all of them, and Kearston will hopefully bring the same dimension and depth to the physical as she has the emotional. I am eagerly awaiting the second book, and hope the timeline on it is brought forward so I can continue my newest favorite dragon series.

[Deb Barringer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spark of Desire, book 1 of J. Kearston's Dragons in the Wind series, is a rollercoaster ride that will keep you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end! The storyline is fast-paced and very well written, filled with twists and turns, danger, secrets, tragic history (trigger warning), intrigue, subterfuge, pack politics, sexual tension and sweet slow burn romance. I love how this story unfolds. It is a true slow burn romance, but hardly a slow burn book. The plot is so much more, and the FMC is perfect (or should I say perfectly flawed?). Amara isn't some Amazon Warrior looking to take her bite out of the world, nor is she a damsel in distress searching for the easiest way out. She is real. She is running for her life, but she isn't looking for anyone to bail her out. Yet when her mates accidentally get involved, she's smart enough to hear them out instead of kicking them to the curb and running away. The characters are well developed and engaging. I loved that everyone got a POV, making character development that much deeper. Everyone still holds secrets, each carry scars - both visible and emotional. There is so much of this story waiting to be told. I can't wait for the next installment!

[Nikki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amara has found her freedom. In a world where her very being puts her in danger from many sources, freedom and vigilance walk hand in hand. An unfortunate encounter at a gas station threatens both.

Raiden , Stone, and Kodiak have centuries under their belts. They have fought and bled to keep their world safe for all who wish to live peacefully. One slip of a glove brings it crashing down.

Now Amara has to choose to keep running, seek her freedom with no relief from the monster of her past who is hunting her or give these three warriors a chance to show her life could and will be different. The Garrison clan has an unexpected blessing in their midst, they know Amara is theirs, but can they move beyond who they used to be to unite themselves in a common purpose again?

This series opener is fraught with tension and intrigue from start to finish. The slow burn is the best kind - you know things are going to explode when we get there. And that ending?!? I was expecting something of the sort but totally wasn’t ready for how it played out! Now I’m waiting, slightly patiently, for the next one.