Meeting the Author Rena Rockford

So we talked with Rena after a few technical glitches! We all thoroughly enjoyed this books, and had plenty of questions after the open ending we were left with! We were all happy to hear there is a sequel in the works, and it's in fact a planned trilogy! Yay! When it will be available we don't know, but we will be keeping our eyes open for it.
Rena explained that she's been writing since she was a child, but stopped during college. Once she got back into the game, she wrote a series which she queried, and decided to try to write something different. She first queried this book with this title in Pitcharama and ended up signing with Curiosity Quills because of it.
She made the creatures humanoid as a way to help this age old legends something that could live and hide among us. She explained the she pictured the dragon's scales being similar to bird feathers which need to be preened regularly, and because the MC wasn't aware of her dragon state, her acne became a side effect of not preening. So in the next book, her acne should be ore controlled, but she will still use makeup as a means to "hide" herself. She also said the asthma seemed like a logical choice for fire breathing.
We tried our hardest to get details for the next books from Rena, but she was great at grinning and not giving out spoilers!
We have all added, (some even bought) Rena's most recent release, Of Pens and Swords to our TBR pile as we anxiously await the next book in this fun series.
The general consensus: WE NEED MORE FUN READS!!!

Book swag!

Next month's read, thanks to the hubby, is my own Princess of Tyrone.

Team Reviews of Acne, Asthma, and Other Signs You Might Be Half Dragon by Rena Rocford

From Goodreads:
Allyson fights acne, not trolls. As an inhaler-carrying member of the asthma society, she just wants to meet the father who turned her mother into a paranoid, move-across-the-nation freak. Now she’s trying to fit in at yet another school, but for the first time in her life, she has a best friend, Beth. When Allyson accidentally spits fire at kidnappers in the mall, she realizes why her father isn’t in the picture: she’s half dragon. Her acne? Emerging scales. Her asthma? The side effects of her dragon’s fire breath. Instead of freaking out, unflappable Beth reveals her own troll heritage and explains how things work with the supernatural creatures hiding within the modern world of smartphones and skyscrapers.

When trolls kidnap a unicorn, Beth gets blamed. Allyson is determined to prove Beth’s innocence and keep her friend off the unicorn chopping block. When they start looking for the kidnappers, they get a call from the last person they expect: Allyson’s father. He tries to warn them off, but he’s been put under a spell by the kidnappers to keep the victims from escaping. Nothing short of death can stop him. Now Allyson must choose between killing the father she’s always dreamed of, or letting her best friend die for a crime she didn’t commit.

Our Reviews:
Katie:

I first saw this in the Pitcharama contest run by Aussie Owned and Read. It intrigued me back then, and so I waited for this release eagerly. This story didn't disappoint! Action packed, full of adventure, friendship, and a sassy heroine, this novel with an extremely long title that really grabs your attention, has the makings of a fun read for anyone seeking something for pure pleasure. Allyson was an absolute delight to follow as she rushed through a steep learning curve. She reacted naturally, and often humorously to the situations thrust upon her, and with a heart full of fierce loyalty. A clean read I'd definitely recommend!

Emily:
I loved this book. The title has you thinking it's going to be a fun fantasy book about a teenager finding herself and the secret she possesses, it's so much more. I was hooked from the beginning and I am so ready to see what happens next. I loved the characters, the story, the writing. I was very impressed but this awesome book.

Suzi:
I thought this was a very well written book. Allyson is a teenager who moves around a lot. She is finally at a school where she has a friend and then she finds out who she really is. Her mom has kept a really big secret from her, her whole life and it changes everything she ever believed was real. It would be nice to know what happens to her appearance after she is able to fully turn into a dragon. Like does she still have severe acne and have to use all the makeup still? Overall, it was a fun read that keeps you guessing through the whole thing. I am interested it what will happen next.

Jackie G:
This book started off very slow for me. But then, it took off. I really enjoyed this book. Who would have ever thought acne and asthma could be signs of something greater. This girl has had quite a life. Her mother has kept a very big secret from her. She never realized the reason for so much moving. I would recommend this for anyone. I am hoping that the story continues with future books. Very well done.