Audiobook Sample
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- Title: Dragons Don’t Date
- Author: Cassie Alexander, Kara Lockharte
- Narrator: Victoria Mei
- Length: 00:44:30
- Version: Abridged
- Release Date: 24/11/2020
- Publisher: Findaway Voices
- Genre: Romance, Science Fiction & Paranormal, Romance, Science Fiction & Paranormal
- ISBN13: 9.78E+12
The desert night air was cool against my skin as I pulled into a roadside diner outside Tucson, the kind of place where the neon sign buzzes and the coffee never stops flowing. I’d been driving for hours with only audiobooks for company, and that’s when Victoria Mei’s voice first danced through my speakers, bringing to life Cassie Alexander and Kara Lockharte’s delightful paranormal romance ‘Dragons Don’t Date.’ The experience reminded me of those magical evenings in Oaxaca – where stories weren’t just told, but performed with such intimacy you felt the characters breathing beside you.
This prequel to the Prince of the Otherworlds series offers something refreshingly human in its supernatural premise. The story follows nurse Andi and dragon shifter Damian Blackwood’s unlikely connection through a dating app – a modern twist that had me chuckling as I remembered my own disastrous attempts at digital romance while traveling through Lisbon last summer. The authors weave a tale that’s equal parts sweet and sizzling, with dialogue that crackles like embers in a campfire.
Victoria Mei’s narration is nothing short of alchemy. She captures Andi’s pragmatic warmth and Damian’s controlled intensity with such nuance that I found myself parked outside that Tucson diner for twenty extra minutes, unable to pause their story. Mei’s performance particularly shines in the text message exchanges – she gives each notification ping a distinctive personality, making the digital communication feel as tangible as handwritten letters. There’s a scene where Damian sends cat pictures that had me grinning like I was back in Santiago, watching my hostel mates swipe through dating profiles together.
The worldbuilding deserves special mention. While brief (this is a prequel short story after all), the hints of supernatural politics and dragon lore create an intriguing backdrop. It reminds me of how the best travel writing works – showing you just enough of a place’s hidden corners to make you desperate to explore more. The authors balance the paranormal elements with grounded human emotions, particularly in Andi’s relatable struggle with work-life balance and Damian’s fish-out-of-water experience with modern dating.
If I had one critique, it’s that the story left me wanting more – both in length (at just under an hour, it’s a brief but satisfying listen) and in secondary character development. But much like that perfect street food you discover in Bangkok, sometimes the most flavorful experiences come in small packages.
For listeners who enjoy the witty banter of Helen Hoang’s ‘The Kiss Quotient’ mixed with the supernatural elements of Thea Harrison’s ‘Dragon Bound,’ this audiobook offers a perfect afternoon escape. The production quality is excellent, with crisp audio that makes Mei’s voice feel like she’s sitting across from you in your favorite café.
As someone who’s spent more nights than I can count in anonymous hotel rooms, I’ve come to appreciate stories that create instant connection, and this one does so with charm and heat. It’s the literary equivalent of finding that perfect local guide who shows you the soul of a place – in this case, the tender heart beneath Damian’s dragon scales and the fiery spirit behind Andi’s practical exterior.
With pen in hand and miles yet to travel,
Marcus Rivera
