Reviews

Fake Dating the Dragon by Lilith Stone

booksjenrecs's review

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hopeful lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This was another fun and steamy addition to Stone's Motham City Monsters series, and I loved Min and Ethan's dynamic from the very beginning. 

After the vampire shenanigans in the last book, Ethan is finding it hard to get the local city council to approve his proposed land purchase and subsequent airport expansion. As a dragon, it's important to Ethan to get people off the ground and flying through the sky. But he first needs to enter into a (fake) relationship with a human if he has any hope of getting the council to sign off on the land deal. Enter Min. She's a human in need of cash to save her family's bookstore. Ethan's a rich dragon in need of a human. On paper, it's perfect. In person? They can't deny how real their feelings are in this fake relationship. 

I love each new trope and monster that Stone introduces into this series. Ethan and Min's romance shows what a true monster is (and it's not the scaly, green dragon with wings). Like the other monster main characters in this series, Ethan proves that it's what's on the inside that counts and some of the worst monsters are the ones who look human. 

I loved Min. As a book-loving introvert myself, I thought Min was very relatable. I thought she was even more so because of her love of monster romance. Min was basically the embodiment of the quiet, monster romance-loving girlies, and I loved that. 

Overall, this was a sweet and spicy addition to the series (hello, dragon anatomy!). I loved Min and Ethan's romance, Min's growing relationship with Ethan's family, and the over-arching Motham City story. There were plenty of references to prior books and some returning faces, but Fake Dating the Dragon can be read as a standalone for those looking for a good dragon romance. 

thesammf's review

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funny hopeful lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

litwitchbitch's review

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adventurous emotional funny hopeful lighthearted tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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booksandroswell's review

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5.0

Obsessed as always with this author 

Book number 4 in the Motham City Monsters series and it’s my favourite one so far! 
These are all perfect cosy monster romances with extra spice! 
Eric and min had so much tension and chemistry they truly are favourite couple in this series. And bonus point for no pointless drama within the relationship. 

The side character really shone through in this book Eric’s mum and brother were troubled but loveable and mins way of bringing the family together just added so much more to the story! 

I Loved reading more of the back story to Motham and the war that lead to the wall being built. Can’t wait to read more from this author definitely an auto read author for me! 

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

fleetylou's review

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funny lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

my_throne_of_books's review

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5.0

I absolutely loved this book. This is book four in the Motham City Monsters series and I have really loved every book so far!
Minerva owns a little bookstore just outside Motham city. It has been in her family for ages but now the humans want to sell the land and she can't afford to buy it. Ethan is a dragon entrepreneur in need to buy new land from humans. But they are hesitant to see to a monster without human connections. So they decided to fake date as he will get the land he wants and she gets the money for her bookstore. 
Fake dating is so one of my fave tropes and I really loved this one too! They really connect so well together. I loved how Minerva also embraced his family and how well they got along. Especially Ethan's brother as he doesn't have a great relationship with him and Minerva really helped.
I can definitely recommend this one if you want a cute steamy monster romance book! You can also catch up with the first few books that features a minotaur, gargoyle and orc.
Thanks to Lilith Stone for this eARC in exchange for an honest review. 

la_biblio_fille's review

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emotional funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

 PLEASE NOTE: POTENTIAL SPOILERS AHEAD 

A quirky bookshop owner with a cat - I love it already! 

Two of my unintentional trends as of late continue in Fake Dating the Dragon (FDD); there’s a map included in this wonderful book and it’s Dual POV (between Min and Ethan). It is also the fourth book in the Motham City Monsters series, but having not read any of the three prior books I can attest that it does not hinder the experience to read FDD without them. 

FDD is honestly just the sweetest story. I can undoubtedly see this becoming one of my comfort reads. It’s a quick, quality novel and I hope anyone interested gives it a read. 

I really relate with Min; as written in Chapter 4:
      No matter, she lived inside her books anyway. Her stash of monster romances kept her going. 

I feel this in my soul! It’s honestly unreasonable how validated I felt reading this line. If you know me, you know I’m a mood reader and lately I’ve been on a monster romance kick. Min is, apparently, my literary twin. 

I love how easily Min fits into Ethan’s family and helps repair the strains that have occurred since his father’s passing. It’s heartwarming and comforting to have in a novel, resonating with how accepting my partner’s grandparents have been with me since I only have one grandparent of my own still with me. 

Baby Theo is quite the plot twist in and of himself, so I hope we get more of this family’s story! I’d love to know how Cressida and Beau react to Theo’s plot twist. 

Quintin is 🤢 and my mind cannot be changed about this. 

FDD is also a perfect depiction of the still-prevalent racism and inequality in society. Monsters are treated as less-than, even though they are integral to the economy and community success. Hopefully reality can progress as I’m sure the fictional economy would given more time in the universe. People are people – just treat them with respect and let them live their lives. 

Ultimately, this was an unexpectedly powerful read that I will keep close to my heart. If you give this a read, let me know what you think! 

XOXO 

gadering's review

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emotional funny hopeful lighthearted mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

Gah! I want to live in Motham City!! 
Another fantastic book in the series, full of all the heat and heart that we've come to expect. Two fated mates, literally written in the history books, finding each other through a mutually beneficial fake dating scenario. 
This book gave the author the opportunity to show off their truly stellar world building skills, and delve deeper into the monster/human history that's built Motham City into what it is.
I've said this with every book in this series, but I eagerly await the next book!

noriboo's review

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funny lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This was a lovely lowstakes, minimal angst story about Minerva (Min) and Ethan.
I liked the worldbuilding around the history of Motham city, a city founded by a Mothman. That gave me a giggle. 
The romance is a slowburn, but our couple had enough tension and flirting going on to keep my attention. I enjoyed seeing how Min changed the dynamic in Ethan's household for the better and helped him in regards to his relationship with his younger brother. 
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timap's review

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funny lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes

4.5

Ethan, the male draconic humanoid lead, needs a human fiancée for his request to expand his business into human land to be approved. Min(evra), the female human lead, desperately needs funds to buy the land and keep her father’s bookstore that serves monsters (a minority group) open.

When their situations are raised with a professional problem solver, she brings them together for a fake relationship that should solve both their issues…

This story is dual POV, well written, and a fun, fast-paced, fake relationship romance in the author’s existing world (though it truly stands alone). I enjoyed Ethan’s change of focus from entirely fulfilling his father’s legacy wishes to a more balanced life. I enjoyed Min’s awareness of her own preferences and desires, and her growing willingness to pursue them. I enjoyed the relationship development. I enjoyed the resolution and the sweetness of the epilogue.

I received a complimentary copy from the author and this is my voluntary honest review.