WINGS OF CHANGE - Bianca D’Arc

Dragon Knights, Book 5

Part of the I DREAM OF DRAGONS, Volume I print anthology

Samhain - www.samhainpublishing.com

ISBN: 1-59998-669-8

September 2007

Erotic Fantasy Romance    

Rating: Red Hot!

Draconia - Medieval times

Lucia is a tavern wench in Draconia. However, Lucia is no ordinary barmaid, she can speak mind to mind with magical creatures like dragons. An ailing dragon, Reynor, who’s taken refuge in the tavern where she works, gives Lucia the courage to head to the Castle Lair to demand someone help him before it’s too late.

Sir Marcus, a dragon knight, is impressed by Lucia’s bravery in seeking help for Reynor. Few women are strong  enough to approach a dragon, much less go and seek help for one. Finding out that she can speak to Reynor only adds to her allure, it seems Lucia would make a wonderful knights’ wife, and he’s more than willing to take her for his own.

Sir Kaden is guilt stricken that his dragon partner, Reynor, suffered such a grievous injury, It’s all his fault, because if he would have done a better job of flying in that fateful attack, Reynor wouldn’t be so ill now. Lucia assures him that Reynor places no blame on him, in fact, he blames himself, that’s why he didn’t let anyone know he was dying. Sweet Lucia, now there’s a woman a knight could love.

Linea, Marcus’s dragon partner, is Reynor’s mate, which means of course that if Lucia agrees, she would be Marcus and Kaden’s mate, as knights (who are paired by their dragon partners matings) share their mate. But if Reynor can’t be saved, this is one family that will end before it begins.

Bianca D’Arc has a real talent for weaving together the lives of many interesting and unique characters. You just never know how important a character may become in the wider scheme of this world. For instance, take Lucia; once upon a time she was a lady, her ability to talk to magical creatures and the secrets of her past will have an effect on Draconia and all of its allies and enemies that no one would dream possible. Unfortunately it’s that very past that proves a stumbling block when she considers a relationship with Marcus. He is quite obviously a gentleman, and Lucia no longer regards herself as fit company for such a man. Kaden, on the other hand, reminds her of the rough hewn Jinn warriors she knows, and as such, he poses no threat to her confidence. Each man brings out feelings of possessiveness and affection within her heart, but if she can’t overcome her worries, they’ll never have the happiness they so richly deserve. Of course, even if Lucia accepts the truth, that still leaves Kaden and his guilt. Can he accept that sometimes bad things just happen, that it doesn’t mean he’s a bad person unworthy of Reynor, or Lucia’s, love? And then there’s Marcus, Lucia brings out instincts in him that are far more representative of barbarians than gentlemen, can he give her the time and space she needs to accept him for her own?

Linea is a wise dragon, she knows just when to push and when to gently guide someone in the right direction, whether it’s her own stubborn mate, or the humans she cares about most. Poor Reynor, it’s not difficult to imagine guilt driving you to suffer in silence, thank goodness he found Lucia. When you’re trying to convince a woman to be your mate, it’s not a bad idea to show her just how happy such a union can be, that’s why the trios of Hal, Jures and Candis from the Northern Lair and Bellon, Jeth and Marta from the Castle Lair, are so important to Kaden and Marcus’s cause. King Roland and his mate, Lana, as well as Prince Nico and his mate, Riki, are also people of importance, not just because they’re royalty, but because they’re great friends and their special talents are needed if all is to come right in the end.

You can definitely enjoy WINGS OF CHANGE regardless of whether or not you’ve read the other books in the series, but to have a better understanding of the world these characters live in and the interplay between them, it might be helpful if you do. Stop by Bianca’s website www.biancadarc.com for a complete listing of the Dragon Knights series and their proper reading order. Then head on over to Samhain to get your copy of WINGS OF CHANGE and any other books you need. Passion, emotion, dragons, knights and ladies fair, what more could you need in a book?

Lori Ann