FIRESTORM FOREVER (Dragonfire #11) by Deborah Cooke-a review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date May 13, 2015

This flame will burn for all time…

Three key firestorms mark the culmination of the Dragon’s Tail Wars, pitting the dragon shifters known as the Pyr against the evil Slayers. The Slayers have struck a blow against mankind, in bringing a pestilence from the ancient world, which is spreading like wildfire through the human world. Sloane Forbes, the Apothecary of the Pyr, knows it is his duty to find the cure, but the solution is elusive, his beautiful neighbor is distracting, and time is running out.

In moving to a remote farm in the California hills, Samantha Wilcox has left her demanding career behind by choice and on principle. It’s too painful to remember her own failures as both mother and physician, and not a point of pride that she fell short of the measure, so she’s determined to start fresh. She’s going to live differently, following her instincts and savoring life’s pleasures—like the hot sex with no commitment offered by her mysterious, sexy neighbor. He’s no more of an herb farmer than she is a tarot card reader, but Samantha is determined to keep their illusions intact—at least until she discovers not that Sloane’s one of the Pyr, the dragon shifters are responsible for the epidemic that stole her son’s life. When the firestorm sparks between these estranged lovers, can Samantha resist its dangerous attraction on principle alone? As Slayers and Pyr gather for the final battle, can Samantha and Sloane work together to save the world and build themselves—and their respective kinds—a future?

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REVIEW: FIRESTORM FOREVER is the final (and lengthy) installment in Deborah Cooke’s adult, contemporary Dragonfire paranormal romance series focusing on a group of dragon shifters known as the Pyr. The Pyr are currently at war with the Slayers where only one species of ‘dragon’ will survive the final battle. With the approach of three lunar eclipses the Pyr will see three of their own enter the long awaited ‘firestorm’ revealing their destined mates. While the firestorms burn, the power of the darkfire crystal is all consuming and a portent for life or death.

Told from third person point of view FIRESTORM FOREVER is an ensemble storyline where all of the previous storyline couples play an active role throughout the story and three Pyr will find their fated mates. Sloane, Marco and Drake will each enter their own firestorm, but not before, becoming sexually and romantically involved with his own intended female. As all three females struggle with the reality of dragon shifters, two will be focused on the destruction of the Pyr.

FIRESTORM FOREVER follows the approach to the final battle between the Pyr and the Slayers. Jorge’s control over the remaining Dragon’s Blood Elixir reveals a distasteful but inventive method to remain immortal but in doing so threatens Erik with each and every incarnation.

We get a glimpse into the growing Pyr families; their children, their futures, their undying love for one another. There is also the introduction of another supernatural power whose purpose will be revealed in a spinoff series. The Dragon Legion warriors, Dragon’s Egg discovery and the history between Erik and the Slayers will be addressed in a future series and prequel spinoff. FIRESTORM FORVER is not the end of the Dragons but the beginning of another chapter with Deborah’s Dragon storylines.

FIRESTORM FOREVER is the culmination of eleven novels and several novellas focusing on the history of the dragon shifter; the pledge to protect humans; and his oath never to reveal his true identity. Deborah Cooke’s fascinating world of the Pyr is entertaining, inspiring and intoxicating; the characters are colorful, engaging and intense; the premise animated, wondrous and imaginative. There are moments of heartbreak and sorrow; wonder and power; romance and love. The requisite evil is rarely contained and at times impossible to destroy. The Dragonfire series captured my imagination; the dragons will capture your heart !

Reading Order
Kiss of Fire
Kiss of Fury
Kiss of Fate
Winter Kiss
Harmonia’s Kiss (Novella)
Whisper Kiss
Darkfire Kiss
Flashfire
Ember’s Kiss
Kiss of Danger (Dragon Legion Novella 9.1
Kiss of Darkness (Dragon Legion Novella 9.2)
Kiss of Destiny (Dragon Legion Novella 9.3)
Serpent’s Kiss
Firestorm Forever

Reviewed by Sandy

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SERPENT’S KISS
(Dragonfire #10)
by Deborah Cooke
Genre: adult, contemporary, paranormal,romance

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date April 30, 2014

One spark can banish every shadow in his heart.

The dragon shape shifter Thorolf is known for an impressive lineage, raw power in battle, and an impulsive indulgence of his appetites. The last has made him an outcast from his fellow Pyr, and even his hunt for their dangerous opponent, the Slayer Chen, hasn’t helped. Beguiled and weakened by Chen’s ally Viv Jason, Thorolf finds himself drawn into a trap, as bait to lure his fellow Pyr to extinction. The only one to come to his aid is a woman he already knows to be a thief—does he dare to trust her with not just his own life but the survival of his kind?

Chandra is a sorceress who has trained all her life for a battle against evil that she knows will shape the future. She has never wasted time on the pleasures of the physical realm, much less experienced passion—until the firestorm sparks between herself and Thorolf, demanding more from her than she ever expected to give. Will the firestorm provide new power, or be a dangerous distraction that gives Chen the chance to triumph forever?

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REVIEW: SERPENT’S KISS is the tenth instalment in Deborah Cooke’s contemporary, romance Dragonfire paranormal series. The Pyr are shape shifting dragon warriors whose duty it is to protect humankind. The continuing series focuses on a dangerous threat against the Pyr who is determined to destroy the last of the dragons and their mates. This is Thorolf and Chandra’s storyline.

Thorolf has been missing for twenty two months and in all the time no one had considered that perhaps he was in trouble. When Erik, the leader of the Pyr, sent Thorolf away for revealing their existence to humans, no one suspected that Thorolf would walk into a trap that could very well bring about the demise of the dragons on earth. An ancient dragon whose need for power and Dragon’s Blood elixir will target the easy going Thorolf using a seductive female as the bait-one that is not Thorolf’s intended mate.

Deborah Cooke pulls the reader into a storyline that is the beginning of the end. SERPENT’S KISS is the second to last instalment in the Dragonfire series and with it comes the conclusion to a battle that has raged between the Slayers and the Dragons for most of the series and throughout each consecutive instalment. SERPENT’S KISS focuses on the possible demise of the race of dragons; the battle between good and evil; and a mythological storyline about a warrior huntress whose destined mate has been drawn to the dark side without his consent. There are many references to Norse mythology and the interference of the gods in human evolution.

The storyline is slow to build and the relationship between our leading couple takes a back seat to the overall premise. There is very little romance and the attraction between Thorolf and Chandra felt forced-there was the instant attraction of the firestorm but the reality of the situation was more chemical than physical. I did not get the impression that love was in our couple’s future. Chandra continued to push Thorolf away and in the end, Thorolf discovered that Chandra had been lying to him about her true intent.

SERPENT’S KISS is a story about betrayal and family; power and greed. Most of the previous storyline characters play a secondary role throughout the novel. Erik will once again question his ability as the leader of the Pyr but it will take the collective of dragons to save one of their own from himself and Slayer Chen.

I did have one concern and it involves the title and the cover image. Serpent’s Kiss by Thea Harrison/Serpent’s Kiss by Deborah Cooke both involve dragon shifters and both covers use Sam Bond as the cover model. Initially I thought this was a re-release thinking I had previously read the story then realized it was a new release from Deborah Cooke. I am wondering how many other readers had a moment of confusion with the duplicity of the title and image?

Reviewed by Sandy