The Smoke Thief (The Drakon, Book 1)

Product Details

• ISBN13: 9780553588040
• State: NEW
• Notes: Maker New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.

Description

For centuries they’ve lived in secret among northern England’s green and misted hills. Creatures of extraordinary beauty, power, and sensuality, they possess the ability to shape-shift from human to dragon and back again. Now their secret–and their survival–is threatened by a temptation that will break every boundary....

Dubbed the Smoke Thief, a daring jewel thief is confounding the London police. His wealthy victims claim the master burglar can walk through walls and vanish into thin air. But Christoff, the charismatic Marquess of Langford, knows the truth: the thief is no ordinary human but a “runner” who’s fled Darkfrith without permission. As Alpha leader of the dra´kon, it’s Kit’s duty to capture the fugitive before the secrets of the tribe are revealed to mortals. But not even Kit suspects that the Smoke Thief could be a woman.

Clarissa Rue Hawthorne knew her dangerous exploits would attract the attention of the dra´kon. But she didn’t expect Christoff himself to come to London, dangling the tribe’s most valuable jewel–the Langford Diamond–as bait. For as long as she could remember, Rue had lived the life of a halfling–half dra´kon, half mortal–and an outcast in both worlds. She’d always loved the handsome and willful Kit from the only place it was safe: from afar. But now she was no longer the shy, timid girl she’d once been. She was the first woman capable of making the Turn in four generations. So why did she still feel the same dizzying sense of vulnerability whenever he was near?

From the moment he saw her, Kit knew that the alluring and powerful beauty was every bit his Alpha equal and destined to be his bride. And by the harsh laws of the dra´kon, Rue knew that she was the property of the marquess. But they will risk banishment and worse for a chance at something greater. For now Rue is his prisoner, the diamond has disappeared, and she’s made the kind of dangerous proposition a man like Kit cannot resist....In this bewitching novel, Shana Abé transports us into a world of exhilarating romance and magic.


From the Hardcover edition.

---

Customer Reviews

Not for kids, and a waste of my time
I thought this looked like a nice series for my 13 year old daughter, to help pique her interest in books, since her best friend has the whole series. I enjoy fantasy, and thought it was fairly well written to start.
Wrong. I will not let my daughter read these. I only read this one, but it was enough. As other 1-star reviews have said, the hero is a bully who thinks rape is not a problem as long as he's overwhelmed by lust, which he barely disguises as love in his own mind. If you don't want your kids reading graphic descriptions of sexual intercourse, avoid this series.

2009-12-29 | Zephyr (Seattle, WA) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 1

---

Great magical shapeshifter book!
This book was amazing. Just reading the prologue was great. The book is about Clarissa who is a halfling. Half Dragon and Half Human. She grows up in thier secret city taunted and abused by the other children, and dismissed as only a halfling by the adults. At 17 Clarissa disappears. She is thought to have drowned in a nearby pond. Many years later Christoff who is now the Alpha, figures out that the Smoke Thief is one of them and is determined to capture and bring them back to the secret city of Darkfrith. Without giving any more of this book away, suffice it to say that this was a magical read. Incredible amount of magic, shapeshifting, romance, adventure. It had it all. I liked the writing style, the way Ms. Abe describes scenes is absoulutely breathless. Her details of the characters and areas in the book are so clear and precise, you really can visualize it easily while reading. I recommend this book highly. On to The Dream Thief which is her next book in the series.

2009-07-24 | littleflwers (INDIANA USA) | Helpful Votes: 1 | Rating: 5

---

The drakon world and all its beauty
It took me a long time to even sit down and try and read, you know the books that just don't grab you and make you want to fall asleep and never pick up the book again, this book was given to me by my mother in law,(the very first book that grabbed my interest and got me really begining to enjoy reading) and I thought well I will try it. From the very begining I could not put it down, it was one of those books that you are up until 2 or 3 in the morning and just have to know what happens next, so much that I had to buy the next in the series dream thief and then queen of the dragons just to know what happened. It has a hint of romance blended with the power of dragons. A must read for any one who loves the supernatural and wishes that there could be another world out there and you could be in it.

2009-06-08 | Helpful Votes: 1 | Rating: 5

---

An Excellent Beginning for a unique trilogy.
Shana Abe' has described a very believable world for interesting creatures. The book grabed my attention and involved me emotionally very quickly. It was hard to put down. I actually read the third book (Queen of Dragons) first, so was already interested in the characters, but feel I would've been just as involved and as quickly had I not already "known" them. If you enjoy science fiction/fantasy and/or romance, I would highly recommend this book (and the whole trilogy)!

2009-05-24 (Coastal SC) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 5

---

A Fairy-Tale Paranormal Romance (a bit more Grimm's than not)
In this paranormal romance (it seems to be marketed as a fantasy, but to me it falls squarely in the romance genre), a race of dragon shape-shifters try to exist hidden among ordinary humans in 18thC. Europe. They have settled at Darkfrith in the North of England and have developed rather draconian rules for their society. It is forbidden to leave Darkfrith without permission. All "runners" will be hunted down and either brought back, if they are a precious breeding female, or killed if they are male.

Clarissa, as a half-human drakon, has never fit in. She risks everything to begin a daring new life in London, using her unusual skills, such as being able to turn into smoke, to become a master thief. Unfortunately her exploits bring her to the attention of Christoff, Marquess of Langford and Alpha leader of the drakon, who is charged with hunting her down.

There have been fantasy-romances before, and plenty of alpha-heroes, but the best thing about this tale is the rich, magical, fairy-tale quality of the writing. Many of the descriptions are enchantingly beautiful. But the fairy-tale feeling also creates a bit of a distance between the reader and the characters. I found the main characters both interesting and sympathetic, but sometimes their thoughts and motivations were obscure. It was still a pretty little tale that is worth at least a quick read.

2009-05-17 (L.A., CA USA) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 4

---

The Treasure Keeper

Product Details

• Notes: Sort New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• ISBN13: 9780553806854
• <a title='Condition Guide' href='/content/Condition_and_S hipping_Guide.htm' target='_blank'>Click here to prospect our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices</a>
• State: NEW

Description

With such novels as Queen of Dragons and The Dream Thief, Shana Abé has created a unique and vividly imagined world that exists side by side with our own—a realm populated by a race of supersensual men and women whose power to change shape permits them unlimited acts of pleasure…and ever-present danger. Now the survival of the drákon rests in the hands of a young woman with untried and unexpected powers—and the powerful Alpha male she must break every drákon law to save.

The drákon are at war, surrounded by an enemy they have every reason to fear. The sanf inimicus are no ordinary human beings but the most dangerous of hunters. They’ve sworn to exterminate the shape-shifters whose presence they now can detect, and they’ve already claimed a prize prisoner: Lord Rhys Langford.

It’s a blow the drákon clans feel from Darkfrith, England, all the way to the Carpathian Mountains of Transylvania. But it strikes no one harder than Zoe Cyprienne Lane. A mere seamstress’s daughter, Zoe isn’t even in the same league as Rhys. In fact, as an unwed male in the Alpha line, according to drákon custom, he owns her. So nothing could be more outrageous—or personally ruinous—than the mere notion that she might set out on her own to find her childhood friend...and first true love.

But the unexpected is exactly what Zoe intends to do. For years she’s been hiding two extraordinary Gifts that have set her apart from other drákon females: the power to become invisible and the power to feel others’ emotions. Now, guided by a link to Rhys—his presence and touch as electric as if he were beside her in the flesh—Zoe uses both Gifts to infiltrate the sanf inimicus. And for Rhys, whose time is running out, Zoe is his last lifeline to a world—and a love—he never thought he’d regain. Only together again, hunter and huntress, can they save the drákon from the traitor in their midst who would destroy them all.

---

Customer Reviews

disappointment!
I hadn't ever heard of this series before reading this book, so I don't have the attachment to the series. From reading this book, I have no interest in reading any of the other books in the series. It felt to me that the whole book was simply a build up to the several sex scenes, and the the author became bored and finished the book by throwing in a random villian. It didn't even feel like an ending. I feel like the plot had a lot of promise, but wasn't developed well. I was very disappointed.

2009-09-03 | Nicole (usa) | Helpful Votes: 1 | Rating: 2

---

Great book
I love these books from Shana Abe and you can get them cheaper on amazon then anywhere else

2009-08-16 | carolan2005 (ok) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 5

---

Such a let down...
I was so, very sad when this book ended; the story started of very well and was strong in many ways. However, too many of the plot's central characters fall flat- take Hayden for example, Zoe's fiancé, he never tries to put a move on Zoe or show any kind of passion for her. You think that this will be explained down the road, but it never is. And it is the same for the antagonist character too. When this book ends you are left with so many unanswered questions. Another down-fall of this story is the heroin herself: I felt as though she should have expressed more emotion towards Ryhs; Ryhs should have had more of an effect on her throughout the book. All-in-all I was very disappointed.

2009-08-10 | Corrine (Baltimore, MD USA) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 3

---

The romance of the Drakon moves to Paris
The Treasurer Keeper is the fourth book in the Drakon series. The drakon are surrounded by an enemy almost as strong as they are. The sanf inimicus have sworn to slay the drakon and they have captured young Lord Rhys Langford. In a similar time, James Hayden, suitor of Zoe Cyprienne Lane sets out to see what can be learned. When he ceases communication with Zoe, she follows the trail to Paris. It was always thought that Zoe had not been born with any of the gifts of the drakon, such as the ability to turn to smoke or drakon. But she has kept secret her ability to become invisible and to feel the emotions and thoughts of others. During her search for James, a strong mind link is forged between her and the missing Lord Ryhs. The story readily describes the sights, sounds and smells of Paris in the late 1700s. The developing romance between Zoe and Rhys is at times humorous and at others sensuous. But it does lack some of the color, beauty and magic of The Smoke Thief, the first in the series.

2009-06-30 | punxsygal (Wisconsin) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 4

---

Well-done blend of fantasy and romance
Zoe Cyprienne was a perfectly ordinary dragon girl, dreaming of a family, a home. Like almost every other female dragon, she couldn't transform, but that was all right--until she developed an unusual talent. The fate of talented female dragons was written in the law--they were to be married into the chief's clan to preserve the magic in their genes. And when Zoe discovered she could turn invisible, she knew she'd be given to too-sexy Rhys Langford, younger son of the Alpha.

Rather than accept her fate, Zoe hides her talent and accepts the marriage offer of a male dragon. But when the dragons of England discover that they aren't alone, and that a group of humans have sworn themselves to eradicate dragons from the earth, Zoe's fiance is sent to investigate. And when his letters abruptly stop, Zoe decides to violate the laws of dragonkind and seek him out. What she doesn't expect is to run into the very active spirity of Rhys.

Author Shana Abe combines fantasy and romance in her intriguing dragon stories. Readers will both empathise with Zoe's struggle to create a normal life for her and shake their heads at her blindness to Rhys's attraction and affection. Abe's ornate prose lends an air of gravity to her story-telling, as if she were recounting ancient legend rather than spinning a modern tale. The historical setting (18th Century England and France) adds to this other-worldly air.

I confess I struggled a bit with Zoe's blind holding onto the idea of her loser-fiance. After all, she couldn't stand his smell and he didn't seem to be attracted to her at all. I know it was important to the story, but I would have liked to see some reason for her to continue to want him rather than Rhys. Also, I thought there was a lot of time spent setting the stage rather than moving the story forward. Still, I thought Abe did an excellent job creating a story that will appeal both to romance and straight fantasy readers.

2009-06-16 | BooksForABuck.com (Dallas) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 4

---

Queen of Dragons

Product Details

• Ready: NEW
• ISBN13: 9780553588064
• Notes: Stigmatize New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• <a title='Condition Guide' href='/content/Condition_and_S hipping_Guide.htm' target='_blank'>Click here to intent our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices</a>

Description

They are the stuff of glittering legend, supersensual creatures able to shape-shift from human to smoke to dragon. Now they face an enemy determined to destroy their dazzling world of magic and passion. Queen of Dragons It’s a stunning claim: the existence of a lost drákon tribe. And it comes from an intriguing source: a woman calling herself Princess Maricara of Transylvania. Alpha lord Kimber Langford, Earl of Chasen, can’t ignore the possibility. For whoever this unknown princess may be, she’s dangerous enough to know about his existence—and where to find him. And indeed, it isn’t long before Maricara breaches the defenses of Darkfrith and the walls around Kimber’s heart. Yet the princess arrives with urgent news: a mysterious serial killer is targeting the entire drákon race. To save their kind, Kimber and Mari must ally themselves body and soul in a battle that can spell their salvation, their extinction…or both.

---

Customer Reviews

Great book
I love these books from Shana Abe, They are a perfect mix of ramance and fantasy

2009-08-16 | carolan2005 (ok) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 5

---

Definately a "middle of the series" book
I love Shana Abe's stories of the drakon. This one was an interesting story with a good resolution to the romance, but a weak resolution to the outside conflict. In fact, there was no resolution at all to the outside conflict ... I am assuming you will need to read the next book for a resolution. I loved Kimber (the hero) - strong, loyal to family, intense leadership.

As other reviewers have mentioned, you really need to read the 1st 2 books (Smoke Thief and Dragon Thief) before reading this one. If I had not read these 1st 2 books I would probably give this book only 1 or 2 stars. But if this book is meant to build anticipation for the next, then it succeded - I can't wait to read the next to find out more about the people hunting the drakon!

2009-07-28 (Maryland USA) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 3

---

Doesn't make me want to continue the series
I agree with most of what the previous reviewer had to say. It was rather disappointing. I thought that I would be reading the end of a trilogy - not a book attempting to hook us into a continuing saga. There are the unresolved issues of the sanf, the younger brother, the pieces of draumr, what happened to the parents, Amalia's disappearance and Zane's masquerade. Come on! I was more disgusted than anything else and finished the book rolling my eyes and sucking my teeth.

The only point on which I disagree with the previous reviewer is that of Maricara's age at her marriages/engagements - I don't think it was entirely unrealistic for the time period. While I don't approve of marrying off a 9 year old or even a 15 year old - we must remember that we're talking about a time period when girls did marry young and the average life expectancy was low. As long as the girl had had her first flux it was considered "ok". So, even though I don't like it I can see Ms. Abe's point.

Anyway...this is definitely one to get at the library. It will lessen your frustration. Personally, I don't plan to continue the series as it lost all interest for me.

2009-02-21 (Dakar) | Helpful Votes: 1 | Rating: 3

---

Another good one.
Definitely worth the wait. While I think character development is still a little bit lacking, I do think this series improves with every novel. This book is relatively low on the smut scale, so if you're not into back to back sex scenes, this could be the series for you.

2009-01-06 (Virginia, United States) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 4

---

Stuck in the Middle
Princess Maricara of Transylvania is the leader of a lost clan of drakon and Alpha lord Kimber Langford will do what he must in order to investigate the possibility going so far as to have a betrothal agreement drawn up between them. In many ways this is in order to keep this mysterious woman under control for she knows of him and exactly how to find him. And yet once these two people get together it's not long before Maricara penetrates the walls surrounding Kimber's heart. But before he can come to grips with this, he must deal with a serial killer that is targeting the whole of drakon race. Kimber and Maricara are forced into a battle that could either become their salvation or their extinction.

This story was fair to middling. If you have not read the previous two titles, you will find this almost confusing. Having had the pleasure of reading the previous titles in this series, I was left wondering when exactly I would actually come to care for Maricara or even the rest of the cast of characters. The title seemed more of a synopsis of previous titles and a set-up for the next. Which is sad since I was anticipating this story from the get-go. All in all it was a fair read, no great shakes, but not horrid either. Fair to middling...

2008-12-26 (Illinois) | Helpful Votes: 1 | Rating: 3

---

The Secret Swan

Product Details

• Notes: Label New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• <a title='Condition Guide' href='/content/Condition_and_S hipping_Guide.htm' target='_blank'>Click here to look on our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices</a>
• Fitness: NEW
• ISBN13: 9780553582000

Description

Shana Abé has captured the imagination of readers everywhere with her superbly sensual tales of forbidden love. Now she weaves the exquisite story of a man and woman torn apart by fate--who realize years later that love's second bloom is the one that matters most.

The Secret Swan

At fifteen Lady Amiranth St. Clare became the bride of Tristan Geraint. She thought all of her dreams had come true--until she learned on her wedding day that Tristan had married her only for her bloodline. A week later Tristan deserted her for the glories of battle. Heartbroken, Amiranth felt she'd been abandoned, not knowing that Tristan had become a prisoner of war--nor that he would one day return to the life he didn't know he wanted until it was taken away. Eight long years pass before Tristan finally comes home. A beautiful woman greets him in the garden, claiming to be Amiranth's cousin. Yet somehow she seems hauntingly familiar, with an ethereal radiance that stirs him deep within his heart. Is she really his wife, grown into a lady of breathtaking beauty--or another woman who has awakened within him a passion he has never known? To discover the truth, Tristanmust reveal the secrets of what happened those years he was away--and find the love that was closer than he ever imagined....

---

Setting: England 1349

Sensuality: 7

With one look, 9-year-old Lady Amiranth St. Clare fell hopelessly in love with Tristan Geraint, while Tristan never gave the girl a second glance, that is until her family agreed to an arranged marriage. At 15, Amiranth thinks her dreams are coming true until she overhears Tristan tell a friend that he is marrying her only for her impeccable bloodlines. His words cut her to the bone, and when he leaves her a week after the wedding to fight for his king in France, she feels betrayed and abandoned. Neither of them know that Tristan will be wounded, imprisoned, and absent from England for eight long years--years that teach Amiranth bitter lessons about men, life, and trust.

The memory of his young wife has kept Tristan sane during torture and isolation. He returns to find a beautiful, hauntingly familiar woman who claims to be Amiranth's cousin, Lily, and she tells him that his young wife has died in the plague that has decimated England.

Both Tristan and Amiranth (posing as Lily to escape her former life) have deep secrets they refuse to share, and both are drawn inexorably to each other. Now Tristan must not only accompany Amiranth to safety, but he must find a way to retake his position as Earl of Haverlocke, a title now claimed by his younger brother. He needs Amiranth's help to do so, and the two strike a bargain, working together in a castle filled with intrigue and treachery. They can't trust the nobles that surround them, but can they trust each other when eight years apart have taught them to rely on no one but themselves?

The Secret Swan is a tale of two people wedded as youthful strangers, separated, and brought together again as adults who have been tested by time and heartache. This deeply emotional and intense story not only has superb characterization, but also features a terrific plot, a complex villain, and a wonderful setting. Author Shana Abé just keeps getting better and better with each new novel, so if you love fine historical romance, don't miss The Secret Swan. --Lois Faye Dyer

---

Customer Reviews

wow.a real winner.
i love this book. i dont usually bother writing any review about a book i liked but i had to make an exception with this one. a very poignant and touching story. good job ms.abe

2010-01-25 | galpearl (Houston) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 5

---

Nothing memorable
This book was a pleasant read with some nice moments, some illogical or unrealistic scenes, but all in all, it was a typical romance novel: easy to read, easy to forget.

2009-06-23 | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 3

---

BEST romance ever!!
I read "The Secret Swan" for the first time in 2002 and it instantly became one of my favorite novels and most definitely my favorite Romance novel of all time. Over the years I've read this book so many times and each time I've fallen in love with it even more. Tristan and Amiranth are two wonderfully REAL characters with REAL problems. Everything from the dialogue to Abe's wonderful imagery is such a pleasure to read. The chemistry between her characters is amazing and the plot is very believable for its time and setting.
Overall, a highly recommended read!

2008-09-22 | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 5

---

4.5 Stars
Very Enjoyable, and original! This book is an intense, emotional and powerful story, you've got to read. I am giving the book a solid 4.5, it's getting a .5 deduction for a little slowness at the beginning of the story, as the writer is taking you from eight years ago, to the current time of the story. However, it is an extremely important part of the story; she sets up Amiranth's love at first sight with Tristan and the loss she feels when he leaves for the war. Fast forward eight years and he comes home with secrets and his wife, with just as many. Combine that, with a desperate need to reclaim his title and life and love, and ladies, you have yourself this fine fine story!

2008-07-12 (St. Petersburg, FL United States) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 5

---

Eh... Just So-So
I've read Shana Abe before. My mom accidentally picked up a borrowed copy of "Smoke Thief" before I got to read it. She was bored at first, but then I noticed she couldn't put it down. :) The funny thing was that I asked her about it later and she said it was the most sexually explicit or risque thing she'd ever read. So I had to read it after that shining endorsement. I had to know if my mom's sensibilities were more sheltered than mine. (Of course)

A friend wanted to know -- was this book as risque as those Drakon books? My answer: Yep.

I think a lot of it just has to do with the author's preferences. Yes, some of it is gratuitous but other parts are used to make a point. Since sexuality happens to be a rather large part of life anyway...

The plot of this one is fairly medieval (I must be on an unconscious kick). The main character (whose name escapes me because it was hard for me to say so I always glossed over it: Amalgarin?) a plain girl infatuated with the Tristan (easy enough to remember) is arranged to be married to him. Tristan didn't really want to get married and so leaves immediately after the wedding for France to fight in a war after doing the whole consumation thing.

Eight years later he returns to the castle where he left his young wife to find only one woman remaining - a beautiful girl named Lily (also easy to remember) who claims to be the cousin of his late wife. 'Late' because she died of the plague. Yes, that plague.

They both get sick and there is a lot of personal history backtracking for them. Which is a bit annoying really. Also Tristan seems to be bipolar. A lot. He's all melancholy about his lost wife but is all hyped up about Lily.

It's readable and even enjoyable in parts, but I definitely liked the Drakon series much better. I'll have to try the Mermaid one to see if the pattern holds or if this was a fluke...

2008-05-21 (Cincinnati, Ohio United States) | Helpful Votes: 2 | Rating: 3

---

Intimate Enemies: A Novel

Product Details

• Notes: Tag New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• ISBN13: 9780553592764
• Shape: NEW

Description

From Shana Abé, author of The Truelove Bride and A Kiss at Midnight, comes this exquisitely emotional, beautifully written novel about two warring clans on a Scottish isle united by a fragile pact... and the hearts of two unforgettable lovers.

Lauren MacRae is only a woman. But her father's death has left her the leader of the Clan MacRae. Now it is up to her to defend her beloved Isle of Shot from the invading Northmen, even if it means going to her clan's sworn enemy, the powerful English overlord, Arion du Morgan, for help. But Arion's raven hair, green eyes, and smoldering sensuality soon make Lauren forget just why she turned to him—as he awakens within her a wayward desire....

Like Lauren, Arion risks the mutiny of his soldiers by forming this risky alliance. But he was brought up to believe that the Isle of Shot belongs not to the Clan MacRae, but to England—and he will defend it to his dying breath. Once, when they were children, Arion saved Lauren from a tortuous fate. Now, the copper-haired beauty has somehow found a way to banish the emptiness in his soul. And as they join forces to fight for the land they both love, he will risk everything—even his very life—to claim what is his.

---

Setting: Scotland, 1177

Sensuality: 7

Beautiful Scotswoman Lauren MacRae first met the Englishman Arion du Morgan as a child, when he saved her life. Years later, they meet again as adults when she repays the debt by saving his life during battle with a common enemy, the Vikings. Their families have always been fierce enemies, each claiming ownership of the Isle of Shot. As leader of Clan MacRae, Lauren risks the anger of her clan when she accepts Arion's proposal to join forces in a desperate attempt to save the island from being conquered by the Northmen. The uneasy alliance forces them into each other's company, and Lauren and Arion find themselves falling in love. There are huge obstacles, however, for Lauren is promised to another, and her sense of honor and duty to her clan and absent fiancé compel her to deny her feelings for Arion. Their sacrifices may be for naught, for someone Lauren trusts schemes to betray her, and both she and Arion may die if they don't find a way to meld the forces of Scot and English against the powerful traitor.

This is an intense novel with a heroic hero willing to give his life and all he owns for the love of one woman. What's unusual is that Shana Abé has created a heroine who matches the hero not only in honor and inner strength, but also in her power and control as leader of her clan. The setting of a wild, unsophisticated island off the coast of Scotland is vivid, the secondary characters interesting, and the villain chilling in his betrayal. Intimate Enemies is classic historical romance at its best. --Lois Faye Dyer

---

Customer Reviews

good Read; a little bit predictable
Good Romantic Read. However, the geographical/territorial tale is a bit unrealistic whereby England and Scotland share equal ownership of an island within the historical setting of the book. The romance is enjoyable with the heroine's bravery being above average. Due to the fact that the heroine's betrothed is introduced so late in the book, readers can undeniable guess the evil plot that will unravel towards the end of the story. The clan's indecision regarding its leadership and ally struggles pretty much reminds you a little bit of the similar clan issues described in so many Scottish-taled books and movies (i.e. Braveheart).

This book lacks a bit of imagination, suspense and intrigue. The relationship between the two protagonists is definitely witty and thus why the rating is slightly above average.

2009-12-14 | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 4

---

Lovely story!
I read this book in a day, very rare for me anymore, and I really enjoyed it. Ms. Abe writes in a lyrical style that is beautiful, and it was very romantic even when there was a lot of adventure-which I also liked. Arion is more interesting that most romance heroes, he's a terrific character. The heroine Lauren was just as well written, a strong caring woman. I really liked these two together and the story was fast paced and intriguing.

2009-08-01 | susan3000 (Jersey Shore) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 5

---

Average
I don't like Abe's writing style. I felt somehow detached from the main characters, from the story, from everything. I couldn't feel what the heroes felt. And all the battles were tedious. Not to mention that both Lauren and Arion were severely injured several times and magically healed in just a few days. Still, I liked the way Lauren was torn between duty and desire. And she wasn't too stubborn - most of the time. The way everything turned out in the end and the Scots and the English became friends all of the sudden was ridiculous. All in all, the book is not so bad, but nothing special as well.

2009-01-25 | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 3

---

Wonderful
This is one of the best romances that I have ever read--you won't be disappointed!

2008-12-07 | P. Jackson | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 5

---

Shana Abe Guarantees a good one!
Shana Abe doesn't just write Historical Romance, she's created her own genre, Historical Adventure Romance. This includes all 3 books I've read of hers, and am now on a quest to get her backlist. What you need to know about Shana Abe, if you haven't read her, is that her stories are intense and emotional. Her books seem to have a goal that has an unattainable happy ending for both hero and heroine, but while she's winding the HEA, you are just plunged into a rich story line of characters, scenery, and emotions and at the end of the book you can finally breath again because you've been holding your breath to see how her story will end.

In Intimate Enemies, Lauren and Arion are enemies that are temporarily working together to defeat Vikings that threaten their island. In briefly coming together, each are drawn to the other, despite being groomed from birth to hate the other. So there is internal conflict and external conflict. Shana Abe makes you feel the tension that each of these felt with each other and their families. After several injuries and denials about their feelings, the couple's ending FINALLY comes with such a sweet reward, and the last few paragraphs of the book is something that I'll pick up and reread again and again. The heroine wasn't too feisty, even though she had to lead her clan, with the weight of the world on her shoulders. He was honorable man, even though he didn't want to be sometimes, they were both likable characters who so deserved the love that each of them needed from the other. Definite Keeper.

2008-11-11 (St. Petersburg, FL United States) | Helpful Votes: 1 | Rating: 5

---

The Dream Thief (The Drakon, Book 2)

Product Details

• <a title='Condition Guide' href='/content/Condition_and_S hipping_Guide.htm' target='_blank'>Click here to notion our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices</a>
• Notes: Mark New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• ISBN13: 9780553588057
• Shape: NEW

Description

In the remote hills of northern England lives a powerful clan with a centuries-old secret. They are the drákon, shape-shifters who possess the ability to Turn—changing from human to smoke to dragon. And from the very stones of the earth, they hear hypnotic songs of beauty and wonder. But there is one stone they fear....

Buried deep within the bowels of the Carpathian Mountains lies the legendary dreaming diamond known as Draumr, the only gem with the power to enslave the drákon. Since childhood, Lady Amalia Langford, daughter of the clan’s Alpha, has heard its haunting ballad but kept it secret, along with another rare Gift....

Lia can hear the future, much in the way she hears the call of Draumr. And in that future, she realizes that the diamond—along with the fate of the drákon—rests in the hands of a human man, one who straddles two worlds.

Ruthlessly clever, Zane has risen through London’s criminal underworld to become its ruler. Once a street urchin saved by Lia’s mother, Zane is also privy to the secrets of the clan—and is the only human they trust to bring them Draumr. But he does nothing selflessly.

Zane’s hunt for the gem takes him to Hungary, where he is shocked to encounter a bold, beautiful young noblewoman: Lia. She has broken every rule of the drákon to join him, driven by the urgent song of Draumr—and her visions of Zane. In one future, he is her ally. In another, her overlord. In both, he is her lover. Now, to protect her tribe, Lia must tie her fate to Zane’s, to the one man capable of stealing her future—and destroying her heart....


From the Hardcover edition.

---

Customer Reviews

Historical Paranormal Romance set in the 18th Century
Lady Amalia Langford , the daughter of the alpha of the Drakon has always regretted that she is unable to turn into a dragon; the rest of her family is gifted but she seems to be the exception. Lia discovers however that she has the ability to hear the song of Draumr (the Dreaming Diamond)which seems to be growing stronger. If Draumr ever fell into the wrong hands; the Darkfrith Drakon could face annihilation. Lia's parents the Marquess and Marchioness of Langford send for Zane; the only human who knows about the Drakon to bring them Draumr. Zane was a protege of Rue Langford known as the Smoke Thief of London. They will pay him handsomely if he is successful in bringing back the diamond.Zane agrees to their bargain and sets forth for Hungary. Lia Langford has the ability to dream about the future and in her dreams; Zane is her lover and enemy. He possesses Draumr and uses it against her family and tribe. To prevent this from happening , Lia sets out for Hungary to find Zane and take the diamond. Zane is surprised to find Lia in Hungary and tries his best to convince her to go back to England. He does not know about her ability to hear Draumr . Lia convinces him that he needs her to find the diamond. Reluctantly they travel together to find Draumr. During their travels, Lia discovers she has another Gift.Her feelings for Zane grow as they travel and she longs for him to return her affection, but Zane cannot imagine that Lia would want to share his life.He has never been in love before. He will have to make sacrifices before they can be together and face the ultimate test. For unbeknownst to both Lia and Zane; a powerful enemy wants Draumr and will stop at nothing to get it.

This is the third book of the Drakon series that I have read. I haven't read the Smoke Thief (book one)but I have read Queen of Dragons and the Treasure Keeper. It is not necessary to read the books in order but it would help to understand the characters and their motives better.I found this story to be interesting and an overall good read. The shape-shifting dragon concept is fascinating and different from many paranormal romances that feature shape shifters. Zane changes from a self serving thief to someone who considers others .

2010-03-02 (Pinetta, FL USA) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 4

---

A good continuation of the Drakon trilogy.
Shana Abe' continues the Drakon trilogy with The Dream Thief which was not quite as fast paced or riveting as The Smoke Thief, but still an absorbing read. It was interesting to see how the characters evolved through this story and definitely explained some of the character motivations in the third book: Queen of Dragons. I would recommend reading the books in order, although I read the Queen of Dragons first and there aren't really any spoilers. If you like science fiction/fantasy and/or romance these books definitely are a must read.

2009-05-24 (Coastal SC) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 4

---

Thief of Hearts and Diamonds
Zane, the urchin boy who served the beautiful Smoke Thief of the first book has now grown into a sleek and dangerous master thief, one of the few humans allowed to know about and work with the drakons, dragon shape-shifters who live hidden amongst 18th. century English society. He is bidden to search for the legendary diamond, the Draumr, by the drakon lord, for a reward that will make him wealthy. He sets off for the Carpathian Mountains, where the diamond was rumored to be hidden.

Lia is the young daughter of the Lord and Lady of the drakons, but has always felt unimportant since she cannot change nor seem to exhibit any powers. However, she may have precognition and a special sense for the diamond, although no one believes in her. She feels Zane is important to her future and that of the drakon, and she has always secretly had feelings for him. Against all the harsh rules of the drakon, she is determined to aid him in finding the diamond, a jewel that is also crucial to the survival of her people.

Again, the best thing about the tale is the beautiful language Abe uses. But Zane and Lia are also fascinating characters. I think I like this tale the best of the Drakon books.

2009-05-17 (L.A., CA USA) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 4

---

fabulous
this book was simply wonderful, with a surprising amount of depth. i absolutely loved it :)

2009-04-24 (CA) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 5

---

Much better than Smoke Thief; more adventure fantasy than pure romance
This is book two in the Drakon Series by Shana Abe' that started with "The Smoke Thief". I actually liked this book quite a bit better than the first one. It helped that I knew to expect a story that was more of a romance than a fantasy.

This book follow's Rue's daughter, Lia, and Rue's ex-assistant thief, Zane. In this book Rue hires Zane to go and retrieve the Draumr, a dangerous diamond that can control drakon. Little does Rue know her daughter Lia has been hearing Draumr's song her whole life and has also been dreaming of Zane. Shortly after taking off on his quest Zane is joined by Lia who has abandoned her boarding school in her own search for the diamond. They are uneasy partners through the wilderness and two questions must be answered; will they find the diamond and when they do what will Zane do with it?

I liked this book much better than the first one. Zane is a much more like-able lead man; he has that "I am tough" thing going on with a good dash of vulnerability. He is not so overly alpha like a lot of the romance leads are. Lia is also an interesting character; she has interesting magical abilities and a toughness that comes and goes.

This book is more of an adventure, a quest, than "The Smoke Thief" was. There is less intrigue and more drudging through the wilderness; which I actually enjoyed. The intrigue is still there, the romance is definitely still there. Overall this is a fantasy romance. The characters spend of a lot of time thinking about each other and dreaming about one another. There is some explicit sex, but it is tastefully done.

Overall this was a sweet story and a pleasant read. I thought both the plot and the characters were more enjoyable than the last book. If there is one thing Abe' does well it is sensual writing. Everything in her books is sensual from the description of a room, to the description of a fight, to the sensual love scenes. Everything is saturated in silky golden colors, or dripping in diamonds, the wind caresses, and Lia's hair tumbles in gentle waves of gold. Abe's writing is a bit over the top in sensuality but it is still a pleasure to read. It's a bit like a cupcake with heaping loads of frosting, sprinkles, sugar, and a cherry on top. It is something I read once in a while and enjoy but I don't think I would like to read it all the time. Abe' is very creative in her descriptions and really makes the surroundings in her stories come alive to all of your senses.

I liked that this was more of a fantasy than the first book. So far it looks like there are two more books coming up for this series "The Dragon Queen" and "Treasure Keeper". I will probably read them both...eventually.

2009-03-18 | Devourer of all books fantasy (Minneapolis, MN) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 4

---