Today, I'm so pleased to share a fantastic medieval dragon series, The Dragon Archives by Linda K. Hopkins, with my readers. Be sure to check out her wonderful giveaway at the bottom of this post.
Forever a Dragon
My name is Linda K. Hopkins, author of The
Dragon Archives. Set in the medieval period, these tales tell of the dragons
that roamed the earth in days gone by. Creatures who loved, and were loved in
return. So what are they like, these huge, monstrous creatures that soar
through the sky?
Let me introduce you to one of the
characters from the Archives. Lydia Drake is the daughter of Aaron, the Dragon
Master, and his human mate, Keira. Like all dragons, Lydia came into the world
in human form, looking just like a human baby. She has fond memories of
Storbrook Castle, her ancestral family home, set deep in the Northern
Mountains. As a child she and her twin brother, Zach, spent long hours
wandering the mountains, discovering its secrets: hidden pools surrounded by
soft moss; little waterfalls that splashed their way down the mountains.
Dragging along a reluctant Zach, she would explore every cave and climb every
peak, desperate for the day she could fling herself over the edge and soar the
way her father did. In the evenings, she and Zach were often to be found in
their parents’ chambers. It was here that Aaron would lay on the floor and
allow his children to clamber over his broad back or cling to his wings while
Keira lay against his scaly hide, smiling and laughing at their antics.
Despite the human appearance, however,
Lydia was still the daughter of a dragon, and at the age of ten the changes in
her body were becoming evident. At times she felt as though a fire had been lit
within her, and she would groan in discomfort. Her skin was hot and itchy, and
ridges began forming along the length of her spine. She felt as though she was
growing a tail, but there was nothing to be seen. The flames moved from within
to without, and one day, in a fit of temper, she blew out a long stream of
flame. It took two years before the change was complete, still unseen to the
human eye, but clearly evident to the young girl. It was just a matter of time
before she took on her full dragon form.
It was a lovely day in early fall when it
happened. The sky was bright blue, and the last of the berries were out. Lydia
had spotted a cluster at the edge of a mountain, and within moments was
scooting along the branch of a tree overhanging the cliff.
“Lydia,” Zach had sighed, “come down. It’s
about time you learned to act like a lady,” he said, repeating Cook’s words.
“I will,” she said, “as soon as I get these
berries.” She reached, but the berries were too far away. If she could just stretch
a little further, she could get them. The branch was bending beneath her
weight, but she inched forward, her legs dangling above a drop of a few hundred
feet. The branched bowed a little more.
“Get down, Lydia,” Zach said, his voice
rising.
“Stop fretting, I’m fine,” she said as a
loud snap rang through the air. For a moment Lydia wondered what had happened,
before she felt herself tumbling from the branch. A few threads still held it
together, and she grabbed the end. “Zach,” she cried. She closed her eyes as
the heat within her started to build.
“I’m coming,” he yelled. He was crawling
along the branch. “Grab my hand,” he said, lowering his body against the branch
and reaching forward. The branch was bending further beneath the combined
weight, and she could feel her hands slipping.
“I can’t,” she said.
“You can,” he said. He leaned forward a
little further, making the branch sway, and her fingers slipped.
“Zach,” she cried. She could feel the panic
rising as the heat grew more intense. There was a ringing in her ears, when suddenly
she felt as though she were bursting apart. She heard Zach’s cry of surprise as
she exploded with light, and wings, bursting from her back, spread open. She
was no longer falling but hovering. She glanced around and saw that her body
was no longer that of a girl, but the huge, sleek body of a pale gold dragon. A
long tail swished through the air, and from the end of her long neck, she
peered down at Zach. “Race you home,” she said, as Zach laid his head against
the branch and groaned.
Bound
by a Dragon
The
Dragon Archives
Book
I
Linda
K. Hopkins
Genre: Fantasy Romance
Publisher: Linda K. Hopkins
Date of Publication: May 18, 2014
ASIN: B00KF3TVLG
Number of pages: 260
Word Count: 73,000
Book Description:
At twenty-two, Keira Carver needs
to find a husband, but the prospects in her small medieval village are not
pretty slim. So when Aaron Drake, a handsome stranger, takes up residence at
Storbrook Castle, set deep in the surrounding mountains, Keira takes notice.
Just as interesting is the fact
that a fire-breathing dragon has also moved into the neighborhood, and is
rumored to live in caves beneath the mountain fortress.
What exactly is the connection
between Aaron Drake and the dragon? And when the dragon rescues her from the unwanted
attentions of some village boys, who will set out to rescue her from the huge,
scaly, fire-breathing monster?
Available for Free
Excerpt
Bound by a Dragon:
Prologue
Keira watched as
the great beast circled slowly through the sky, blocking the sunlight for a few
seconds on each turn. Fire spewed occasionally from its mouth, dissipating in
the cool air before it could set anything alight. All around her people were
shouting, grabbing their children and running for their homes, slamming the
doors shut behind them before barring them from the inside. Keira shook her
head in amusement. A mere door wouldn’t stop a dragon – it could just burn the
house down! Anna was tugging on her arm, shouting at her to come, but Keira
shrugged her off.
The dragon had
taken up residence in the mountains some six months back, and although it was
regularly seen soaring above the village, it had yet to kidnap and devour a
single innocent maiden. And there were no reports of girls snatched from the
other villages, either. Keira knew the stories about the last dragon that had
lived in the area. For many years it had peacefully inhabited its mountain lair,
until one day it had suddenly turned on the village, burning down half the
homes before being killed by some brave soul. But the only questionable thing
this dragon had done was to take a few head of cattle and a couple of sheep.
And since the dragon always left some form of payment for the animal taken – a
small bag of gold, a few precious stones – the villagers didn’t complain too
loudly. These payments always far exceeded the worth of the animal. But still,
stories about dragons abounded, and the villagers were convinced that it was
just a matter of time before the dragon set the village alight and snatched the
village girls.
“Come on, Keira.”
Anna’s words broke through Keira’s thoughts, reminding her that her parents
shared the same fears as the other villagers. “Mother will be furious if we
don’t get back to the house now.”
“Stop pulling me.
I’m coming!” was Keira’s annoyed response. She glanced back at the sky one more
time, admiring the way the scales of the dragon caught the light, throwing back
a thousand rainbows against the sky. The dragon was heading away from the
village, but before Keira looked away, it turned its head and seemed to look
straight at her. Pulling her arm out of Anna’s, she drew herself upright and
stared straight back, meeting the golden eye of the dragon before it turned its
enormous body in a slow, fluid motion and lazily flew towards the mountains.
The
Dragon Archives
Book
II
Linda
K. Hopkins
Genre: Fantasy Romance
Publisher: Linda K. Hopkins
Date of Publication: Dec 15, 2014
ASIN: B00QPWFXBS
Number of pages: 195
Word Count: 51,700
Book Description:
Cathryn Forrester is a medieval
business woman, the daughter of a successful wool merchant. She has been
groomed from a young age to take over the family business, and has been quite
content to let her personal life be directed by what is best for the business –
including whom she will marry. And as a calmly pragmatic, infuriatingly
stubborn and altogether practical young woman, this suits her just fine. She
does not believe in love, after all.
So when Cathryn meets Favian Drake,
a man who knows that love is worth pursuing, her ideas about love and marriage
are put to the test. But Cathryn faces her greatest challenge when she
discovers that Favian is not exactly who – or what – he appears to be. Can she
learn to trust her heart and allow herself to love a dragon?
Excerpt
Pursued by a Dragon:
“You have to come
meet this most interesting man,” Peggy said softly, pulling Cathryn into the
circle. “He has just returned from travels abroad, and has been entertaining us
with some stories.” The bustle of Cathryn’s arrival in the group attracted the attention
of the man seated in the center, and he paused to glance up at the newcomer. As
Cathryn turned to look at the stranger, dark blue eyes met hers, sparkling with
amusement; she felt her eyes widen in surprise.
“Cathryn, this is
Favian Drake,” announced Peggy. “Master Drake,” she said, turning to Favian,
“this is Mistress Cathryn Forrester.” Cathryn stared at the man sitting before
her, the color rushing to her cheeks as Favian’s mouth stretched into a slow
smile. Pushing himself to his feet, he made a small bow in Cathryn’s direction
before turning to the people around him.
“Mistress Cathryn
and I are already acquainted,” he announced to the circle. “In fact,” he added
mischievously, casting a quick glance in Cathryn’s direction, “we became quite
well acquainted when I rescued her, uh, derriere, from becoming too familiar
with the mud!”
There was a ripple
of laughter through the group as Cathryn fought the blush that rose to her
cheeks.
“Really?” Peggy
said, laughing. “You didn’t tell me, Cathryn!”
“There wasn’t
really anything to tell,” Cathryn said with an airy wave of her hand. “The
incident was barely worth remembering. My packages were quite ruined, so
everything else was forgotten.”
Turning to Favian,
she gave him a sly look. “So it was you who was my rescuer, Master, er, Drake?
My apologies, I had quite forgotten.” She grinned as Favian gave a mocking
salute of defeat. “Now if you will excuse me, I am in desperate need of some
libation.” Turning on her heel, Cathryn walked away, her hands trembling
slightly as she tried to calm her chaotic thoughts. Behind her she could hear
her friends laughing, while someone chaffed Favian at his put-down.
A long passage ran
down the length of the hall, leading to the kitchens at the back of the house.
There were numerous doorways between the passage and hall, and it was to one of
these that Cathryn made her way now, cup of wine in hand, as she sought a
moment’s privacy to regain her composure. She had just stepped into the passage
when she felt warm fingers curl around her arm. Startled, she glanced around,
relaxing only slightly when she saw who it was tugging her towards a small nook
in the passage.
“Oh, it’s you,”
she said.
“Yes, you do
remember me, don’t you?” Favian asked. The passage was dingy, with the light
from the hall providing the only illumination, but even so, she could see the
flash of his eyes as he spoke. They seemed to be glowing with a faint yellow
light, and she stared up at him, fascinated. His hand was still on her arm, and
he gently stroked her skin, his warmth spreading through her at his touch.
Glancing down, he circled his other hand around her wrist below the bangle,
before meeting her gaze once more.
“You were very
rude,” she whispered.
“Yes,” he said, “I
was. I was curious to see whether you would deny knowing me yet again. I was
sure you would, and as it turned out, I was correct.” He trailed his finger
around her wrist, and she shivered. “I have a theory as to why you keep denying
me,” he said. His eyes seemed to glow even more as he leaned closer to her, the
heat from his body touching hers. Her back was against the wall, and she pushed
herself against the cool surface, trying to create some distance between them,
but he followed her, bending his mouth towards her ear.
“I think it is a
futile attempt to put me out of your mind,” he said softly. “I think the memory
of me pursues you at every turn, just as yours does me. Am I right?”
No, Cathryn wanted
to scream, but she could not make the falsehood form on her lips. Instead she
stared at him mutely as he watched her.
“I thought so,” he
said, with a note of satisfaction. He pulled back to gaze into her eyes for
another brief moment before turning away and walking back to the hall. Leaning
back against the wall, she closed her eyes, drawing in deep breaths in an
effort to still her racing heart. The man is relentless, she thought. If he
would just leave her alone, she could push him from her mind and forget about
him. She took a deep gulp of wine before turning back towards the room.
The
Dragon Archives
Book
III
Linda
K. Hopkins
Genre: Fantasy Romance
Publisher: Linda K. Hopkins
Date of Publication: April 28, 2015
ASIN: B00UK96U64
Number of pages: 257
Word Count: 91,600
Book Description:
Love is the only thing Aaron,
Dragon Master, truly fears. And when a scaly, fire-breathing monster loves a
frail human being, matters become even more complicated. As Aaron faces a rogue
dragon who is terrorizing the city, he and Keira must face their deepest fears
about each other and themselves.
But danger is always just around
the corner, and Anna, Keira’s sister, is not immune. Insecure, immature, and
only seventeen, Anna has her own issues to deal with – especially when she
meets Max, Aaron’s clansman. Her response to him in immediate, intense and
irrational.
Will her insecurities lead her to a
life of misery, or can she grow up enough to face what she really feels.
Excerpt
Loved by a Dragon:
As Anna neared the
room, she could hear Aaron and Keira’s voices through the door, but a third
voice made her pause. It was a man’s voice, but not Thomas. A visitor, maybe?
The door was slightly ajar, and pushing it open with her hand, she entered the
room, pausing once more when she saw the stranger sitting in a chair directly
across from the doorway. She barely heard Aaron speaking as she stared at the
man slowly rising to his feet, his gaze locked on hers. A slight smile played
around his mouth, while his eyes held a challenge that Anna could not decipher.
Perhaps it was the bold stare, or the challenging smile, or the graceful way he
pulled himself up to his full height, but whatever it was, Anna felt a wave of
dislike for this stranger sweep over her. She stared back at him, her eyes
narrowing as his smile grew wider, taunting her, as though he were fully aware
of the immediate, intense and irrational reaction towards him. The smile was
meant just for her, she knew that straight away, a silent communication between
them, and she disliked him even more for it. And she knew, with unerring
instinct, that despite his appearance of youth, this was no inexperienced boy
who could easily be dismissed. This person standing before her was the fulfillment
of her deepest fears. A man who could easily gain mastery and control over any
woman he chose. This knowledge was based on intuition, rather than rational
thought – all she knew in that moment was that she hated him.
As though speaking
from far away, Aaron’s voice addressed her.
“Anna, this is
Max.”
“Max?” With an
effort Anna pulled her gaze away from the man standing before her, but not
before she saw his lips twist with arrogant humor.
“Yes. Max Brant.
He will be staying at Storbrook as our guest.”
“I see.” Anna
nodded as she turned back to the guest. “Max.”
“Anna.” He was
still staring at her, and she dragged her eyes away, biting her lip. Her name
rolled off his tongue with an air of familiarity which she immediately
resented, but before she could think of an adequate retort, he was speaking
again. “I saw you playing in the snow earlier today,” he said. His words made
her glance back at him. Was he laughing at her?
“Yes,” she said.
She sat down on one of the chairs near Keira, who was watching their exchange
in silence.
“You looked like
you were having fun.” This time she met his gaze with narrowed eyes. He was
definitely taunting her.
“Tell me,” she
said, “how long will you be visiting Storbrook?”
Once again Max
grinned at her, but it was Aaron who answered.
“As long as he
wishes.”
“I see.” Anna
turned to Keira. “When do you wish to start decorating?” she asked. Keira
opened her mouth to respond, but before she said anything, Max was speaking
again.
“Why do I get the
feeling you wish me gone, Anna?” he asked. Out the corner of her eye, Anna
could see both Keira and Aaron look at Max in surprise.
“I have no idea,”
she said. “Just stay well away from me, and I’m sure we will get along
famously!”
Beside her Keira
gasped softly.
Max’s smile widened
as he considered Anna. “Well, that shouldn’t be a problem. I have no desire to
keep company with a shrew!”
Anna’s eyes
narrowed again as she rose to her feet. “And I don’t fancy being burned by a
dragon!”
Max took a few
steps forward, closing the distance between them until he stood right before
her. “Perhaps, darling, a little burning is exactly what you need! You might
even enjoy it!”
Anna’s pulled her
hand back, and it flew through the air to land on Max’s cheek with a resounding
slap. He didn’t move, but his expression turned mocking.
“Is that all
you’ve got?”
Anna gasped, and
spinning on her heel, walked away from him and towards the doorway. She had
only gone a few steps when she paused, then turning, stalked back to Max,
stopping a few inches away as she poked her finger into his chest.
“Don’t ever calling me ‘darling’
again,” she ground out, then turning once more, marched out of the room. Her
legs were trembling as she walked, while her hands shook with rage. The
arrogance! The insolence!
Dance
with a Dragon
The
Dragon Archives
Book
IV
Linda
K. Hopkins
Genre: Fantasy Romance
Publisher: Linda K. Hopkins
Date of Publication: October 29,
2015
ASIN: B013HA3JJS
Number of pages: 343
Word Count: 110,000
Book Description:
When Max flew away from Anna in a
blazing stream of flame, she was determined to forget the shape-shifting,
fire-breathing dragon. But five years have passed, and still his memory leaves
an ache in her heart. A memory that Garrick Flynn, her childhood friend, would
love to erase. When given the chance to travel to the city, the center of
medieval life, Anna jumps at the opportunity. But danger and intrigue are never
far away as she joins the royal court and serves as companion to the queen.
Is
it possible to have a second chance at the deep and passionate love she once scorned?
Excerpt
Dance with a Dragon:
Anna was nearing the stairs when a voice made
her glance around. Max was in the midst of a small group of women, Jane among
them, laughing at some joke. Changing direction, she headed his way.
“Master Brant, I
would have a word with you,” she said, stopping behind Max’s back. She saw one
of the women raise her eyebrows, while another whispered something to Jane. Max
stared at Jane for a long moment, before turning slowly from the group and
looking Anna up and down. He turned back to the women.
“Ladies,” he said,
“will you please excuse me. It would appear that I am wanted.” He grinned at
Anna, who scowled back. He followed her as she walked away from the group,
stopping when she turned to face him.
“Did you speak to
the king?” she demanded.
Max’s smile
vanished as he glanced at the group of women watching them curiously, then
taking her by the arm, led her to the far wall.
“I did,” he said.
“Why?”
“Why? Because the
prince wants you in his bed, and will coerce you into accepting. How did you
think he would react when you didn’t show up in his apartments this evening? Do
you really think Rupert is the kind of man to take ‘no’ for an answer? He would
have forced you to do his will one way or another.”
“I would not have
allowed him to! I would have made sure I was never alone with him.”
“Anna,” Max said,
a note of impatience creeping into his voice, “You live under the same roof as
him. Would you have avoided the hall? And the passages? You enjoy roaming the
gardens and the wilderness. Would you have been content to remain indoors? And
even if you did manage to avoid seeing him, there are plenty of people at the
palace prepared to do his bidding. Your lack of willingness to do as he wished
would only have added to the thrill of the chase.”
“Well, now he
intends to make me pay. The king threatened him with exile, and he is not
happy.”
“Exile, hmm? The
king must have a lot of respect – or fear – for Aaron if he is willing to go
that far.” Anna lifted her eyebrows in unspoken question. “I reminded him that
you are under Aaron’s protection, and it might be in his best interests to keep
his brother’s behavior in check.”
“You should have
left it alone,” she said. “Your interference has made things worse.” Max leaned
closer, and she could smell the fire emanating from him.
“My interference,”
he said through clenched teeth, “has saved you the anguish of being forced
against your will.”
“You are so
arrogant,” she hissed. “I never asked for your protection. You should have left
well alone.”
“I’m being
arrogant? You haven’t changed at all, Anna! Still the same foolish little girl
you always were. I have saved you more times than I can remember, and you
continue to look at me with disdain.” He glared down at her, and she could see
the flames growing at the back of his eyes. With a low growl, he pushed himself
away from the wall, and turning his back to her, strode away, flinging the door
that led to the courtyard open with a hand clenched into a fist.
About
the Author:
Linda K. Hopkins lives in Calgary,
Canada, in the shadow of the Rocky Mountains, with her husband and two
daughters, but originally hails from South Africa, and also spent a few years
living in England. Linda loves reading, dark chocolate, coffee and travel.
Sometimes she even tinkers on the piano, but sadly, her teenage daughter is the
better musician!
Tour
giveaway
$20 Amazon GC
4 comments:
Did someone say DRAGONS??????
The books look amazing.
Thanks. I hope you enjoy it.
I'm guessing Anna will find a way to have a second chance at deep and passionate love.
I love how all the covers of this series match so well together!
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