Isle of Dragon Bones by M. A. Frick

Robin’s Reviews 2026

Needing to change it up a bit, I requested the ARC of a romantasy, ISLE OF DRAGON BONES by M. A. Frick, a local Ohio author. The book’s premise is what caught my attention—What if Ariel from The Little Mermaid lost her memory, not her voice…and woke up in the bed of a retired Blackbeard, the Pirate? Oh, and add dragons. Sounds interesting, right? Keep reading!

Grumpy/Sunshine – Forced Proximity – Forbidden Love -Amnesia-Secrets-Dragons-Banter (Taming of the Shrew vibes) -Age Gap – Pirate

Book Summary

Ardenn pulls a young woman out of the sea, not sure if she’s even alive. Her wounds suggest someone tried to kill her. He debates saving her because if anyone learns his secrets, it will bring his demise…but he can’t just leave her.

When she wakes up in bed in a tiny cabin, she doesn’t know where she is, how she got there, nor who she is—not even her name. Ardenn, used to solitary life on his island, doesn’t welcome her company and offers no comfort for her situation. His gruff, grumpy demeanor brings out the feistiness and sharp tongue in the girl he names Kelpie, after a sea creature that lures men to their watery doom. She doesn’t let his size and gruffness intimidate her. She even does things on purpose to push his buttons.

Stuck together on this small island, their constant bickering includes his threat to return her to the mainland as soon as she’s capable. She’s scared of what and who might be waiting for her, and the thought of crossing the water in Ardenn’s boat brings up her worst fear, drowning. She doesn’t know how to swim. If he can’t get her back to the mainland before winter, they’ll be stuck together until spring.

Kelpie realizes she feels safe and protected by this gruff man who has experienced a life full of difficulties and doesn’t have time for nonsense. The longer they’re around each other, their harsh words become cover for the fondness growing between them, hinting at temptation and desire.

The second portion of the book begins with Ardenn discovering who she is while getting supplies on the mainland. He now realizes that any thought of a happily-ever-after on his little island is only a fantasy. It appears that no conclusion to this situation will end well for him. He quickly returns her, but her family is out for the blood of whomever took her, not yet understanding he was her savior, not the one who tried to kill her. Until her family realizes there’s so much more going on here, Kelpie’s life has been put in the line of fire again in a political clash over power.

My Thoughts

ISLE OF DRAGON BONES by M. A. Frick is a standalone but has ties to her Dragon House trilogy. I haven’t read the trilogy, and I didn’t feel lost anywhere. Perhaps reading her other books would give more insight into this world, but I didn’t feel confused. If anything, it made me curious about her other books set in this world.

Let me state there are no actual mermaids in this story, as teased in the book’s premise. Kelpie, a young woman, was found in the water and has lost her memory. That’s the similarity to The Little Mermaid. And, although this is an age gap romance, she is of age, and the age difference didn’t feel uncomfortable.

There’s a bit of Taming of the Shrew vibes here with two equally strong personalities. Hearing both POVs clarifies the reasoning behind their interactions and shows the gradual change to desire for each other, even with their doubts and reservations.

Ardenn doesn’t change who he is, but he lets down some walls and considers the possibility of a fuller life than he ever imagined, truly living, not just surviving. Readers get a lot of commentary in the characters’ heads that builds the sexual tension, but this is a “closed-door” romance. The flirty undertones of their verbal war add to the push-pull of their relationship begging the question, will they or won’t they?

The first part of the book, the slow burn in this romance, was a bit too slow for me. (This is why I would rate it a 4 out of 5 stars.) Later in the book it said they were on the island together for a month. I thought at least four to six months had passed. Yet, their bickering and the mystery about what Ardenn is hiding helped keep my interest. The author builds their everyday life of survival on the island (forced proximity). They fight over who gets to sleep in the one bed, whether or not the stray cat (Captain Pusserwack) gets to come inside, and her rearranging his things, but I would have cut it down a bit. So just as I was thinking, “Ok, let’s move on,” the story picks up. The second part of the book hooked me with more depth to Kelpie’s story, and the additional action as the stakes get higher.

Ardenn and Kelpie are characters that will stick with a reader. I had sympathy for Kelpie’s situation, but she still had agency. I loved how Kelpie broke through Ardenn’s walls to uncover the kind, protective man inside. Ardenn has a gruff demeanor from the rough circumstances he’s experienced in life, but Kelpie gives him a chance to soften his edges, at least for her, and hope for more than the life he’s been living.

While on the island, Ardenn and Kelpie are isolated from the world they live in. Only when the mainland becomes a larger part of the story do we see the “fantasy” in this romantasy. Dragons play a small part in this novel, yet an important one. The magic is minimal. This would be a good entry book into romantasy for those reasons. This book will whet your appetite for more of this world. I’m going to put the Dragon’s Heart trilogy on my TBR list, for sure!

Thank you to the author for an ARC of ISLE OF DRAGON BONES. The opinions are my own.

Order Your Copy

ISLE OF DRAGON BONES is currently a Kickstarter (linked here). If you love special editions and bonuses, go support the Kickstarter for ISLE OF DRAGON BONES. Be quick! The Kickstarter ends on October 31. After that, the “extras” go away. The public release is January 22, 2027. That’s when paperbacks and eBooks will be available on Amazon and copies with sprayed edges will be on M. A. Frick’s website (link here).

About the Author

M. A. Frick is a Northeast Ohio author who says she’s “a mere peasant who dreamed of being the fair maiden sacrificed to the dragon. After all, dragons make the best of companions.”

She has three children and her own knight in shining armor. Reading and writing about angsty romance with a least a little fantasy is her thing. “Honestly, what is a story without magic?” she says.

If You Like…

If you like the description of ISLE OF DRAGON BONES by M. A. Frick, click on these links for my past reviews on these recommendations: STOLEN MIDNIGHTS by Katherine Quinn and FOURTH WING by Rebecca Yarros.

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March 25, 2026February 23, 2026

Stolen Midnights by Katherine Quinn

Robin’s Rave Reviews 2026

Book Summary

I recently dove into a wonderful YA romantasy, STOLEN MIDNIGHTS by Katherine Quinn. Delacorte Press published it in February 2026.

Three Fates rule over Andalay, a land with haves and have-nots. The Fates give magical gifts (only to the elite) on their 18th birthdays, further separating the classes.

Wren, a nobleman’s daughter, has lived a life of ease and has been sheltered from the conditions of the poor. When Wren doesn’t get a gift on her birthday, she believes a mistake has been made and can’t let the thought go.

Damien, orphaned as an infant, does whatever it takes to survive in the poorest part of Andalay. He’s surprised when he receives a magical gift on his birthday, but he finds it a helpful tool for his thievery. Damien takes a job to steal a birthday gift from the Fates in mid-delivery. It’s intended owner was the daughter of a noble. When he looks inside the locket he’s stolen, he’s confused. It holds a picture of him.

When the thief strikes again at a ball, Wren chases after him. Their relationship starts in conflict, but it gradually turns them into a team. Damien opens Wren’s eyes to the economic and social disparity in their land. Together they uncover seedy activities going on in the government. This patriarchal society is about to be turned on its head.

My Thoughts

YA romantasy is not my usual go-to genre, but I wanted to switch it up. I ‘m glad I did because this one was a good read.

Damien is a morally gray character, a thief but with a good heart. Wren starts off as naive, but she becomes a strong, inquisitive character who wants to make things right. I enjoyed the good girl/bad boy trope with fun banter between the two. She’s all sunshine. He’s all grump. They’re an unlikely pair in a forbidden love.

STOLEN MIDNIGHTS has complicated family dynamics, secrets, a regency vibe, magical gifts, and plenty of action that kept my interest. The story reveals the problems of when the wealthy and privileged turn a blind eye to the needs of others and even exploit the vulnerable as a way to maintain what they have. Readers get to know the two main characters, seeing behind the walls they put up, through this dual POV.

Warnings: It’s a slow burn romance that leads to a consensual sex scene. Expect to also see some foul language.

This is the first part of a duology, so expect a cliff hanger at the end. I didn’t realize that when I picked it up. Even though I hate waiting for a sequel, I want more! I want more of the push and pull of Damien and Wren’s relationship, more about the background of the Fates, and more about the gifts they’ve been given and how it will come into play as they pry the lid off a jar of angry bees running the country.

About the Author

Katherine Quinn, a fantasy romance author and poet, lives in Houston, Texas, with her husband and three children. Ever since she read her first fantasy series, Katherine wanted to be a dagger-wielding heroine. Instead, she became a writer of adventures with strong heroines.

Katherine has a psychology degree from the University of Central Florida. She believes anything can be fixed with Starbucks and dark humor.

If You Like…

Considering buying it? Try Bookshop.org. I’m not an affiliate of Bookshop.org. I simply want to support their mission of supporting small, independent bookstores across the country. Here’s the Bookshop.org link.

If STOLEN MIDNIGHTS by Katherine Quinn sounds interesting, also check out my past reviews on these recommendations: The Book Witch by Meg Shaffer, The Unmaking of June Farrow by Adrienne Young, and Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros.

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May 23, 2025June 3, 2025

One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune

Robin’s Rave Reviews 2025

Readers, get ready for a one-two punch with ONE GOLDEN SUMMER by Carley Fortune, the sequel to EVERY SUMMER AFTER! Put these at the top of your summer romance reading list!

This spring I read EVERY SUMMER AFTER (link to my review) and LOVED it! Carley didn’t disappoint with the follow-up story, her new release, ONE GOLDEN SUMMER.

Although these novels could be read as stand-alones, I would highly suggest reading EVERY SUMMER AFTER first to get the background of the characters. EVERY SUMMER AFTER is the romance between Percy (Persephone) and Sam set at their lake cottages at Barry’s Bay. Carley’s new book, ONE GOLDEN SUMMER, returns to the same location, but we get the romance between Alice and Charlie, Sam’s brother.

One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune – Book Summary

“Good things happen at the lake.” – Nan

Alice spent the summer with her grandmother at the lake when she was seventeen. She watched three teens, two boys and one girl, from a distance, wishing she could be part of their group but being too shy to introduce herself.

Photo of a Nikon camera — Photo by Nick Demou on StockSnap

That summer, Alice got her first camera. One shot, capturing a carefree moment of the three teens speeding across the lake in a yellow boat, started Alice’s path to a photography career. Now in her thirties and unhappy with following someone else’s vision in her commercial photography business, she takes time off to care for Nan after a hip replacement. She also hopes to recapture her joy of photography during her time away from work. Alice arranges for them to spend the summer in the same lake cottage to cheer up her grandma while she recuperates.

Amazingly, the person preparing the cabin for their visit is the neighbor Charlie, one of the boys from the boat photo. Although readers may remember Charlie as the “bad boy” from the first book, he’s now in his thirties. Readers want to see if Charlie can redeem himself.

Adult Alice decides to live this summer doing all the things she was too scared to do when she was seventeen. She creates a summer bucket list to break out of her introverted shell. Charlie seems to have a photogenic memory from the quick glance he sneaks of her list. Throughout the summer, he helps Alice check off the activities.

Alice tries to keep her distance from flirtatious Charlie. They have great banter, and conversation is easy, but she’s getting over a recent break-up. Charlie says he just wants to be friends, even though their chemistry is on fire when they’re around each other.

For the first time, Alice feels like she can totally be herself around a guy and likes that Charlie sees her for who she is. Even though she has always played it safe, and he continues to give her mixed signals, several times she tries to take their relationship to the next level and gets shot down.

With the baggage of deep personal loss, his past actions and a secret he holds, he doesn’t feel he deserves a HEA. He pushes her away, knowing he desires to do the opposite.

My Thoughts

Alice and Nan have a sweet, caring relationship. I like many things about their connection, but especially that they were doing sewing projects together at the cabin. (If my mother-in-law were still with us, that would be her, doing projects with her grandkids!)

The romance is a slow burn, since Alice isn’t sure she’s ready for a new relationship and Charlie insists he wants to just be friends. The push/pull of ‘will they/won’t they’ chemistry makes for great reading. They can fool themselves, but the reader knows where it’s heading! Take note: this book is not a “sweet” romance. It has some heat to it. The build is wonderful with the one step forward, two steps back approach.

Charlie tells Alice she’s trouble, recognizing he has met his match, IF he lets her in. Although Charlie is still a flirt with a huge ego in this book, we get to see the real Charlie that hides behind the mask. Gorgeous Charlie is smart, quick-witted, humorous, charming, and caring. He goes out of his way to help Alice and Nan, even becoming friends with Nan without ulterior motives. Charlie even makes opportunities for Alice to complete her bucket list while he also completes a sweet project for Sam and Percy.

I’ve heard people in the reading community ask, “Who’s your book boyfriend?” I never had an answer. No one stood out. Now I do-Charlie Florek, the same character I didn’t overly like in the first book! I appreciated seeing him mature into an adult. Like most people, he hid his insecurities behind a mask, until he meets Alice who sees right through him.

Even in EVERY SUMMER AFTER, we see hints that adult Charlie has changed. I like that Carley let the “bad boy” mature. He becomes a better person who doesn’t have to suffer his whole life for teenage mistakes.

Consider purchasing EVERY SUMMER AFTER and/or ONE GOLDEN SUMMER by Carley Fortune through these links on Bookshop.org to help support independent mom and pop bookstores. I like to support MacIntosh Books on Sanibel Island with their recovery after Hurricane Ian. (I don’t receive any commission from this. I simply want to help independent bookstores.)

About the Author

Carley Fortune is an award-winning journalist, having worked as an editor at some of Canada’s top publications. Now, she’s a #1 New York Times and #1 Globe and Mail bestselling author, as well.

Carley was born in Toronto but lived in the suburbs of Sydney, Australia until age 8. That’s when her family permanently moved to Barry’s Bay, a tiny lakeside town in Ontario, Canada, the setting for EVERY SUMMER AFTER and ONE GOLDEN SUMMER. She currently lives in Toronto with her husband and two sons.

If You Like…

After devouring EVERY SUMMER AFTER and ONE GOLDEN SUMMER by Carley Fortune, you may like these books: THE SUMMER I TURNED PRETTY by Jenny Han and LOVE AND OTHER WORDS by Christina Lauren. I’ve included a link to Bookshop.org for both of them as well. Happy reading!

Drop me a comment below! What are you reading that you’d recommend? Who are your favorite authors? Ask me a question about books and/or writing. I’d love to hear from you!

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