Book Tour for Forever: The Dragon Wars by Rebecca Royce (Review & GIVEAWAY)

Today brings you a big story in a small package as Rebecca Royce makes a return visit to give a glimpse of her new release, Forever: The Dragon Wars.  So keep reading to get my impressions of this paranormal read and make sure to leave a comment to be entered to win an Amazon GC......

Devin Owen has come back from the Dragon war a changed werewolf. Lena Knox knows he’s her mate even if he doesn’t seem to know it. But will the war outside ruin their chances before they can embrace happiness?

EXCERPT:

“You’re my mate, Devin. I’ve known it since the first time I was in your company when I was seven years old.”
Devin gripped the side of the table he stood next to like she’d struck him. “No.”
“No?” She hadn’t expected the pain of his rejection. She’d known he might not believe her at first. Tears she refused to shed clogged her throat. “It’s not ‘no.’ I’m your mate, such that I am.”
Lena knew she wasn’t an ideal Female specimen. Her skin frequently broke out in horrible bouts of acne, although she looked pretty clear at the moment, her chin jutted out too far, her hands were not dainty, and when she shifted, her Wolf form frequently had trouble coming to a stop at high speeds. More than once she’d collided into trees, bushes, and other Wolves.
But she knew she was a nice person. She could work hard, and she never asked anyone for anything but common decency. She’d be a good mate to him, and he shouldn’t be rejecting her outright.
Unless he found her absolutely repulsive to look at…
“You’ve made a mistake. Whatever you thought you smelled when you were a child was the wild fantasy of a young girl. You should be over it by now.”
She sighed. “Devin, I can still smell it. I promise when you get to know me you’ll find out I’m not wildly fanciful. I live in the real world.”
“I can’t smell it on you. Not at all. I’m sorry, Lena. You seem like a nice kid, but if you can really smell mating from me, then it’s one of those rare occasions where one Wolf feels something the other doesn’t.”
Lena had heard about those situations. It was every young Wolf’s deepest fear. Something went askew with the chemistry. One Wolf felt mated and the other one didn’t. They could even mate with someone else.
“I think you should go home and work on getting over whatever this is because, at least for my part, it is not a mating.”
Lena’s heart might explode from her chest. She turned on her heel. What else was there to say, really? He’d said no. He didn’t feel it. She’d waited fifteen years for him to come home, and it had been for nothing.

BUY LINKS:   AMAZON   |   BOOKSTRAND

MY IMPRESSIONS OF THIS BOOK:

It's said that good things come in small packages and that's exactly my feelings in regards to this new novella by Rebecca Royce.  Forever: The Dragon Wars is a fast-paced story with lots of action taking place. There's emotional struggles, issues of PTSD, and an unique paranormal battle raging between werewolves and dragons that's decimating the werewolf community.

Devin has returned home after years in captivity a damaged man, both physically and mentally.  Years of torture have left him with scars inside and out that he's having difficulty healing.  If only he were able to shift into his wolf form, then he'd not feel so broken and lost.  The war has taken that ability from him though and he has no idea how to get it back.  I ached for everything he'd been through.  War didn't make him feel like a hero, it robbed him of his life.  To see someone so strong brought so low makes you wonder if the real cost of war is worth it.  His fateful meeting of neighbor Lena is just what he needs though to heal him even though he fights the attraction every step of the way.  It's not until Lena's life is put in jeopardy that he realizes what she truly means to him.  The man took his sweet time realizing it, but the wolf wastes no time in claiming what's his.

Lena may be young but she's an admirable heroine.  She's hardworking and loyal as the rest of her family deteriorates from old age and drugs. She's known from a young age that Devin was her mate and has waited patiently for him to come home.  He's not the same man she once knew, and even though he denies what she knows to be true, sets out to help him heal as any proper mate would do.  Their relationship starts out as friends where he helps her fix up her home but soon morphs into more.  She's tired of remaining pure and Devin is more than happy to give her what they both want in numerous steamy encounters.

Lena and Devin are a great couple despite their big age difference. She's very mature for her age as she deals with adult issues on her own.  Devin needs the sunshine and unconditional loyalty she bequeaths him and it's her inner strength that feeds his and allows his wolf to return in the nick of time.  The ending is a bit abrupt though no less satisfying.  This is an entertaining start to what I presume to be a new series.  The paranormal elements are intriguing and I look forward to digging deeper into this long fought war.  Ms. Royce has once again created a satisfying story that nicely balances romance and action.

My rating for this is a B+

*I received this book from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.

AUTHOR INFO:

As a teenager, Rebecca Royce would hide in her room to read her favorite romance novels when she was supposed to be doing her homework. She hopes, these days, that her parents think it was well worth it.
Rebecca is the mother of three adorable boys and is fortunate to be married to her best friend. They’ve just moved to Texas where Rebecca is discovering a new love for barbecue!
She's in love with science fiction, fantasy, and the paranormal and tries to use all of these elements in her writing. She's been told she's a little bloodthirsty so she hopes that when you read her work you'll enjoy the action packed ride that always ends in romance. Rebecca loves to write series because she loves to see characters develop over time and it always makes her happy to see her favorite characters make guest appearances in other books.
In Rebecca Royce's world anything is possible, anything can happen, and you should suspect that it will.

Website:  http://www.rebeccaroyce.com/books.html

**********GIVEAWAY**********

Rebecca will be awarding a $50 Amazon Gift Card to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour.

-To be entered, leave a comment, along with your email addy.

-Winner will be chosen randomly from all comments made throughout the tour, so the more you comment the greater your chances of winning.  A list of all participating blogs can be found here.

-Giveaway ends at 11:59 PM CST on 4/12.