Heart of Stone

Gargoyles #1

by Christine Warren

From bestselling author Christine Warren comes a thrilling new series about a young woman caught between a rock and a hard place—between gargoyles and demons…

Ella Harrow is trying to carve out a normal life for herself. Well, as normal as an art geek with psychic abilities can hope for. As museum docent and gift-shop manager, Ella is able to keep her distance from people—and her powers in check—while surrounding herself with the artifacts she loves. But how on earth is she supposed to act normal when a thousand-year-old statue on the museum's terrace suddenly comes to life?

Heart of Stone

Not your ordinary gargoyle, Kees has been asleep for eons, waiting for a portent of evil to wake him from his slumber. Kees isn't a vision; he's a bat-winged guardian created to protect the world from the seven demons of the Dark. Somehow, Ella triggered his reawakening. Maybe the demons have been unleashed? Maybe his heart is finally ready to be chiseled open? The fate of the world isn't carved in stone…yet.

Genres: Paranormal Romance, Romance, Paranormal, Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, Magic, Demons

320 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 31, 2013

About the author

Born and raised in coastal New England, Christine Warren lived in the South and the Mid-Atlantic before hopping to the other side of the country to take up the life of a transplant in the Pacific Northwest. She completely bypassed those states in the middle due to her landlocking phobia. Hmm, need to research a scientific term for that...

When not scrambling frantically to complete her latest writing project, Christine spends most of her time as a crazy animal lady, hanging out with her dog Levi (he’s the one with the hair) and pretending to train him to have some manners. She also hangs out with her horse, Cal—a thoroughbred with a craving for strawberry licorice twists—her goddog, Merlin; and her best friend, fellow author Hannah Murray. In addition to playing with her pets, Christine’s hobbies include identifying dog breeds from photos of their underbellies, appreciating fine and not-so-fine wines, shopping for the perfect pair of Christian Louboutin shoes, and most of all reading things someone else had to agonize over.

She enjoys hearing from readers and can be reached via email sent to Christine@christinewarren.net or by postal mail to Christine Warren, PO Box 871900, Vancouver, WA 98687-1900.

http://us.macmillan.com/author/christ...

Reviews

[Christine Wallflower & Dark Romance Junkie · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Gargoyles are HOT Stars!!!



Somehow, watching while the monstrous, terrifying creature in front of you aimed a put-upon expression in your direction and then proceeded to transform himself into a vision out of Studs Monthly could really knock the wind out of a girl.

Yassssssss!!!!
What a fabulous start to a series, and one about Gargoyles at that! So once again I was looking for a fresh new series to start and I read the blurb for this book, had a look at the terrible reviews and thought, "Yep, this is the one." And boy was I right! I'm pretty sure by the end of the first chapter I was cartwheeling around the house and when I was a third of the way into the book I was alternating between bouts of extreme arousal to belly aching laughter! Yes.

"Why did you change form?"
He raised an eyebrow and stripped off the shirt that had appeared when he shifted.
"You think you'd like being fucked by a monster?"



One of the many reasons I loved this book was how easily the author built her world, not that it was very complicated since its urban fantasy. But Warren managed to keep me interested while laying out an entire back story for our characters. From telling us about the seven, the wardens and the guardians within a few chapters. And I didn't feel like I was cramming for end of your exams either!

Secondly. Gargoyles. I've never thought of gargoyles as attractive creatures, like Ella first said they are grotesque. So colour me surprised when Kees woke up after an eternity and proceeded to be mouth wateringly hot in human and gargoyle form. I kinda felt uncomfortable at times because the guy has a tail and horns and grey skin with a weird texture. But he's on the serious side of hot too! Forgive my emotions please.

The sight of his dark, gray-toned skin and heavy, lethal talons neither frightened nor disgusted her. They belonged to Kees, and in a very quiet, very secret corner of herself, Ella admitted that she did aswell. Whether he wanted her or not, she was his.



Now about the threat because gargoyles only wake up when there is imminent danger that would affect mankind. The Order of Darkness has been revived, and the guild's current status is unknown. Elle is a mage, an untrained one but she still has immeasurable power. Kees and Ella race against the rising force of The Order of Darkness trying to thwart their attempts at awakening the Seven. Waking the seven would be the end of the world as we know it.



Before I give the entire story away let me tell you that this was such an entertaining read! Scads of humour, hot hot sex, an unbelievably hot Gargoyle and a feisty and intelligent heroine! I'll be reading the second book as soon as possible. But yes I am very intrigued and impressed!

"Forever."
"Ah, sweet girl," he purred, his eyes sparkling brightly, "do I have some things to tell you about forever..."

[Angela · Rating 1 out of 5]

28 July 2014: $2.99 on Kindle - I obviously wouldn't recommend this, but if you're curious it is on sale...

Review:
DNF at 14%

Let me just get this off my chest: Ella. I hate you. You suck.

*points up* That, right there, will be the theme behind all of my thoughts.

It started off great. I actually kind of liked Ella. She made me laugh in the beginning, and I was getting ready to settle in and wait for the gargoyle to show up - yes, I've got a thing for gargoyles lately. But the gargoyle isn't who showed up first.

First, we're treated to a lovely scene where some guy assaults, grabs and holds onto our dear heroine - who bemoans the fact that no one is there to save her. Never mind this super-powerful gift she's got. She can't use that. Don't ask questions, she just can't! A hand bruising her arm, and one wrapped around her throat while the bad guy monologues, and kisses her and I'm glowering at my Kindle wondering when the hell she's going to knee him in the balls!

Finally, finally, she boxes his ear - well thank goodness for that. Next up, run! Get away, call the police, file a report. Does our wonderful heroine do any of that? Hell no. She stands there and looks at the asshole that just was choking her and starts to think nicer thoughts about him. Feels a bit sorry for him being hurt. Are you fucking kidding me??

THEN, we have the useless friend/boss that comes out - clearly she knows what was going on - and just decides to brush it all under the rug. Ignore it, and escort douchey-McAsshole out the door. Mind you, she's not escorting him out the door because he should be getting arrested, no the gallery's closed so he shouldn't be there anymore.

Clearly this guy's going to show up again to try and rape the dauntless heroine again at some point.

Ella then stares up at a centuries old gargoyle and asks why it didn't spring to her rescue. She's so busy bemoaning the fact that no man was around to help her she doesn't even notice the guy coming up behind her with a KNIFE. She screams.

The aforementioned gargoyle was apparently like "FINE. I'll help you!" and springs to life knocking the attacker out. What's our heroine do next? After all her whining and wishing for a big strong man to save her, you'd probably think she would drop to her knees in thanks.

Nope. Wrong again. Remember that super-special, super-strong power she has? NOW she uses it! Against the being that saved her. *headdesk* I get it, he's got horns and claws, a tail and wings - but really? He's talking to you, he's just saved you, he's saying he's not going to hurt you, he's asking logical questions....but HE'S the one you attack. Not the dude that tried to rape you, not the guy with the knife that clearly wanted to do something bad to you. Nope, the gargoyle that saved you.

Obviously, this scene pissed me the hell off. I nearly stopped there. But I did push myself a bit further.

Now clearly she doesn't trust or like the gargoyle (even when he transforms into a super-sexy human), but she still caves to pressure and invites him home with her. Seriously? Grow a spine!

Add in some whining about not being special - despite the super-POWERFUL (did I mention it's so powerful it scares her?) magic you've got going on and some truly mystifying moments where she doesn't even appear to think at all.

Then to top it all off when she and the gargoyle show up at her work the next morning (not even concerned about where the statue might have gotten to) and she sees her boss:

"I'm sorry, I'm being rude. Ella, is this a friend of yours?"

Oh no, he's just my mythological kidnapper slash cross to bear.

Again, I say to you Ella - grow a fucking spine. Meekly going along, and then bemoaning it, is not an awesome personality trait.

Also - go read Cory's dramatization in her review of the attempted rape scene - HILARIOUS!!

Buddy read with Cory and Sarah

[Carol [Goodreads Addict] · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book! Heart Of Stone is book one in the Gargoyles series by Christine Warren. I have not read many Gargoyle books but right away I had to throw away any preconceived ideas of what a Gargoyle was like. And if there really were guardian Gargoyles like the one in this book, I would surely want one for myself.

Ella Harrow is a 27 year old woman who works as a museum docent and also in the gift shop. She is not a people person, always keeps herself distanced from others as much as possible because she knows she is different. That she has something inside of her, something that she thinks is bad, a kind of magic. She does everything she can to keep it locked up because she knows that if she lets it out, people could die. But, one fateful night after a fund raising event at the museum, she is attacked outside on the terrace of the museum. And suddenly, to her aid comes the 7 foot tall stone Gargoyle that was perched there on his pedestal. What in the world is happening? How can this be? This isn’t real. How can a stone carving of a Gargoyle come to life?

Kees is 1000 years old. He and his 6 brethren were created to protect the world from evil demons. When they are not needed, they sleep as statues. Only an experienced warden should have been able to wake him up so how is it that this tiny woman was able to wake him? Guardian Gargoyles don’t have feelings or emotions. They were created for one purpose only and that is to protect humanity. So why did he feel this uncontrollable urge to protect Ella, to never let her out of his sight?

I loved Ella and Kees. Ella was both tough and soft. She had so much to accept both about herself and the world she lives in but she somehow keeps herself from falling apart. Kees struggles right from the start with how he feels about Ella. He calls her his “little human” which whenever he said it, it seemed so endearing. And these two together created some serious heat and I don’t mean anything to do with the weather. Who knew a Gargoyle was so ummm, sexy!

Watching them try to battle the evils that are after them and at the same time battle their feelings for each other made for a fast paced, sexy, suspenseful book. I could not put it down and now I can’t wait for the next one as Kees’s Brethren are awakened as well.

Thank you to NetGalley, Christine Warren and St. Martin’s Press for allowing me the opportunity to read this book.

Note: This book does contain some mature content and is for appropriate readers only

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

Buddy read with Ange & Cory

I was really looking forward to reading Heart of Stone, I haven't come across many paranormal romances where gargoyles are the main supernatural character but I've enjoyed the ones I have read so I had high hopes for this one. Unfortunately there were so many inconsistencies and things that bugged me about the story that I struggled just to finish it and I'm not sure it's a series I will be continuing with. It's hard to explain what I didn't like about the story without talking about what happens so, although I'll try to keep the spoilers to a minimum, you might not want to continue reading this review if you haven't read the book yet unless you don't mind being told part of the plot.

I thought I was going to like Ella at first, she is shy and keeps herself to herself but she was amusing and I was looking forward to seeing her come into her own as the story progressed. Unfortunately fairly early on she is attacked by a real creep who seems quite determined to rape her and her reaction really annoyed me. After passively accepting what is happening for ages Ella finally slaps her attacker and I started to think that she was going to stand up for herself (hooray!) but it isn't long before she starts to feel guilty and regret the fact that she might have hurt him (what?!). I was further irritated when her boss interrupts them, it is quite obvious that something untoward is going on but they all agree that it's probably best not to discuss what happened and agree to go on their merry way. At this point Ella starts wishing that someone had been there to protect her - even though she apparently has these special abilities that she could have used to defend herself but for some unknown reason she would rather be raped than use them!

While Ella is standing around complaining to the gargoyle statue that he didn't rescue her she is so oblivious to her surroundings that a second attacker is able to sneak up behind her with a knife. Luckily this time the gargoyle decides it's time to step in and he comes to life and saves her. OK, I get that it would be a shock if a statue came to life in front of you but considering he just saved her life you might think that Ella would be grateful. Well, unfortunately you'd be wrong - in fact she starts screaming, calls him a monster and uses her super special ability to attack him. So she can't use her power to defend herself from the guy who is trying to rape her but she can use it to go after the gargoyle that just saved her from a knife attack? I'm sorry but I'm struggling to see the logic there!

Gargoyle, Kees, is actually surprisingly patient with her. He lets her get away with attacking him and he waits for her to calm down before questioning her to find out what has woken him up. I have to warn you there are quite a few plot holes when it comes to the gargoyles, they are supposed to be defenders of humanity who can only be woken up by their guardians when they are needed to protect the world from demons but unfortunately someone has been killing off the guardians and now most of the gargoyles have been lost. When Kees is in his statue form he is aware enough of his surroundings to keep fairly up to date with the latest technology and fashions, he even talks in a modern way in spite of the fact that he's been asleep for centuries, but he isn't aware of his current location and why he is no longer with his guardian. That just didn't make sense to me - either he's watching what is going on around him or he isn't, why would his knowledge be so selective? Surely he would at least have been aware of his location change even if he hadn't been able to wake himself up to do anything about it?

I'm not even going to keep writing about the things that didn't make sense because I'd be here all day so let's move on to the romance between Kees and Ella. You've probably already guessed by this point that I wasn't the biggest fan of Ella but for some reason I still had high hopes for Kees. I mean, here you have this protective alpha gargoyle who can not only fly but who can also transform into an incredibly sexy human - what's not to like about him? Well, his attitude for a start and unfortunately that was a major turn off for me. He is so determined to not show any emotions that he acts like, well, for want of a better word, stone. He is cold and hard and if I was Ella I'd have punched him on multiple occasions. They quickly give in to their attraction for each other and sleep together but since Kees is too scared to have any kind of feelings he then proceeds to pretty much ignore Ella and treat her like crap for the rest of the week. While he's busy being cold towards her she is for some strange reason busy falling in love with him - don't ask me why because I sure as hell couldn't figure it out. After a week of tension Kees finally decides that he really does want to be with her so they end up back in bed together, afterwards Ella confesses that she loves him and he doesn't respond which has her feeling like he's going to go back to giving her the cold shoulder and leaves her feeling devastated. So the next morning Ella leaves for work without before Kees wakes up and he has the gall to be annoyed with her because she left without saying goodbye. Seriously, are you kidding me?

You'd hope that since I didn't like either of the main characters and I didn't believe in the romance that at least there might be some decent fight scenes? After all, the gargoyles are supposed to protect the world from demons so that should lead to some pretty scary bad guys right? Unfortunately you'd be wrong again and not only are the bad guys pretty pathetic (and easy to guess!) but our hero and heroine are pretty damn stupid too. I'm not even sure how they survived to the end of the book if I'm honest. Does this series have potential? I'd have to say possibly, the fact that the next book features a different main couple does automatically makes me more interested in reading it. If there weren't so many holes in the world building then I would have loved the mythology but after being so disappointed with the first instalment I'm not sure I'll be able to bring myself to carry on reading this series.

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 - "Little Human." Stars.

So it turns out I am a bit of a freaky perv, who knew that Gargoyles could be so damn sexy! I want me a Guardian, and if Kees Livingston is anything to go buy, I CANNOT wait too meet his brothers!

You say gargoyle, I used to immediately think –



After reading Heart of Stone, I now think –



I. AM. SOLD

This book has everything, a hot sexy guy/gargoyle. A sassy, sharp and witty heroine. Action adventure, escapism and enjoyment.

”I am a Guardian. I was created centuries ago to protect humanity from the threat of darkness.”

Good versus evil. Dark versus light. With a few laughs and a little sexy time thrown in for good measure.

Was part of Kees’s Guardian magic the ability to wring blood from a stone? Or, in this case orgasms from an exhausted pussy?

Hell yeah! If there is a sign-up sheet, I am all over it!



She loved her Guardian no matter what he looked like, horns and all.

[Home Is Where the Wine Is Book Blog · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 GARGANCIOUS STARS!!!!



OK picture Ella Harrow a beautiful feisty twenty seven year old Assistant Curator. After being attacked by an arrogant prick outside of her museum one night she mysteriously awakes this.



A thousand year old gargoyle named Kees. He is a Guardian, a protector of good against evil. Now picture that turns in to this.



Yep you guessed it...pure sex on a stick.



This story was AMAZING. I could not wait to find out what happens next. Such an impressive original story that makes you want to run out and start humping statues...ok ok maybe not that bad.

If you love paranormal you HAVE to read this!!!!! NOW!



This book was given to me for a fair and honest review.
Read more on my blog Home Is Where the Wine Is Book Blog or Facebook Home Is Where the Wine Is Facebook page

[Marta Cox · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a huge fan of this author and have all the available books in her Others series which features werewolves, vampires ,fae and even demons so was extremely interested in this, the first of her new series that features gargoyles. This book introduces the reader to Ella a young independent woman who works in her local museum but Ella is no ordinary young woman as she has serious abilities that she tries to keep hidden. Believing herself psychic in some way she has learned that distancing herself is the safest thing to do. Having angered a patron of the museum Ella is trying to calm herself down when a stranger suddenly appears! Knowing that she's the last one there Ella starts to panic but the most amazing thing happens, the statue of a gargoyle comes to life and protects her!
Kees is no ordinary gargoyle. Not really made of stone but made of flesh and magic he is a guardian sent thousands of years ago to protect mankind from forces of evil and in particular the seven demons who command a group of dark hunters known as the Nocturnis .He has slept until now as he should only awaken when called and yet for some strange reason Ella's distress called to him. Fearing that the Nocturnis are close and have nefarious plans afoot Kees realises that Ella is special and convinces her that she possesses true magic. Magic that can be harnessed and used for good. Kees needs to find out just what has happened to his fellow guardians whilst he slept and more importantly he needs to protect Ella from those who would drain her magic and life force. Unfortunately events are transpiring to test Ella's resolve as she learns that everything she believed in may not be true. Gargoyles and magic exist, so too do demons but what happens if the demons try to take charge? Can Ella and Kees work together to save the lives of those on earth? Kees is determined to succeed with Ella's help but will the cost be too high?
This book was an absolute pleasure to read. Full of Ms Warrens usual flair for humour with plenty of popular culture references to laugh at. Loved the heroine Ella and her straightforward and independent attitude. She's one girl who refuses to be walked over! Kees is an alpha hero who made this reader smile, full of opinions and bravado and yet struggling so hard against admitting he might actually have feelings. He's a gargoyle so obviously he doesn't suffer from emotions! Does he? Well of course this is a romance and the hero gets the girl but then he pulls away and then ? Well you have to read it to find out just what does happen next.
Funny, sexy and with a good plot. Action and magic with more than a dash of romance. I really enjoyed this and look forward to finding out what happens next in this world that Ms Warren has created.

[Suzanne (Under the Covers Book blog) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ella Harrow never expected that the fate of the earth could rest on her shoulders, not when she is struggling to lead a normal life herself. But when Ella some how wakes a Guardian from his slumber her fight for a normal life ends as she is thrown into a world with magic, gargoyles and demons. But after centuries of slumber could Kees have been woken up too late, the demons forces have already nearly destroyed all those who oppose them and it seems there is only him and his little human Ella to stop them.

If you see some strange girl going from gargoyle to gargoyle saying a little prayer, don't worry that's just me seeing if I can wake up my very own gorgeous Guardian. It hasn't worked yet, but you never know. And you can't fault a girl for trying Kees was sexy, funny and would rip anyone apart who attempted to hurt Ella. I can see why Ella fell for him so quickly, perhaps a little too quickly, it wasn't quite insta-love but it was very close.

I have missed reading a Christine Warren book though, they are a great mixture of sexy and funny with a dash of action to keep it interesting. Her Gargoyles series doesn't seem to be any different, with its spunky heroine with her quirky and hilarious thoughts and the broody, slightly arrogant hero who seems a little baffled and a lot turned on by her. The story itself, although maybe not completely original and still secondary to the romance, was still good enough to keep me interesting and hopefully sustain itself through out the series.

This was a fun read with a great hero and heroine and although I may not have been dazzled by Heart of Stone, it is still worth picking up and giving a try.

* ARC provided by netGalley

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had such high hopes for Heart of Stone by Christine Warren, too bad I was seriously let down. I’m not even sure why I had such high hopes for this book, I don’t think I’ve read anything else by Christine Warren so it’s not like I have any real basis on whether or not I like her books. I guess the blurb had me excited for a gargoyle book. I was thinking this book would be a lot of action as good battled evil. You know epic battles and all that. What I got was not so much the case, oh there was good versus evil but it was mostly small skirmishes and the final battle scene was meh, a lot of build up to not much of a final battle. What the story did have was sex, I don’t think this book is supposed to be erotica, but it certainly wasn’t lacking in the sexy times. For me the sexy times didn’t really make up for the lack of character development. Both Ella and Kees were pretty one dimensional. Warren tried to give Ella a tragic past but it came so late in the book that it wasn’t all that believable and more of an afterthought. She had her big reveal about 85% through the book, but then it was just like eh.. ok. Kees, is an ancient gargoyle that believes that he feels no emotion and is better off without it. I get the point of it, and why he was made that way but it made his character very remote and hard to get to know.

The concept of the book and the series is intriguing, I just wish that it had been more interesting and fast paced. I had really wanted to love this book but it just didn’t turn out the way, which is a bummer. Instead I it was merely ok. I may check out the next book in the series, just to see what happens from here.

Rating:
3
*ARC provided through NetGalley for an honest review no other compensation was provided.

[Marianne · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars. The best thing about this novel, was the hot guy on the cover.

There simply wasn't anything original about this novel, except that the hero was a gargoyle instead of, say, a vampire or a demon. I can't really fault her writing, I just didn't *connect* with the characters.

Once again, an immortal defender of humanity finds his mate with a tragic past and a secret gift (for summoning) They're fated to save the world, against all odds, and I'm sure they will succeed, but I won't be cheering them on, because I'm not interested in reading anymore books in this series.

[Dianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Christine Warren’s Heart of Stone gives a whole new meaning to the term “rock hard.” Seriously, gargoyles do not present that hotter than blazes oozing sex appeal that many other Supernaturals have. When was the last time you looked at a gargoyle atop a building and said, “I want a piece of that!” ???? That is about to change, meet Kees Livingstone (yep), a Guardian who only can be called from his stone persona when evil is threatening to overtake the world, unleashing the demons of Hell on an unsuspecting world. So how did Ella Harrow’s distress awaken him for his slumber? What is the connection between these two? Together they will face down evil in their desperate search to awaken more guardians before it’s too late.

Never will I look at Gargoyles the same! Christine Warren has done a fabulous job of turning a beast of stone into one hot commodity! Creative, fast-paced and completely entertaining, this escape into the world of reading had me from the evil museum patron who wanted more from Ella than she was willing to give. The often distant and cold Kees finds his heart softening towards Ella as he learns she is clueless to the potential power she holds. Ella learns to see Kees with her heart, no matter the form he is in. Have two solitary beings finally found the magic of love? If the steam rising from my Kindle is any indication, I’m going to say it won’t be for lack of trying!

I received this copy from St. Martin’s Press in exchange for my honest review.

Series: Gargoyles, Book 1
Publication Date: December 31, 2013
Publisher: St. Martin's Paperbacks
Genre: Adult Paranormal Romance
Number of Pages: 305
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

[Ms. Nikki · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ella's got powers she's trying to keep under wraps, but a run-in with a creep named Stephen outside of the museum where she works accidentally awakens a gargoyle, Kees, who is sent to protect humans from the darkness.
Ella knows nothing of the Guardians who protect humans from the Order of Nocturnal Darkness (the nocturnis) who are trying to unite the Seven who will bring darkness upon the earth.
Kees needs to connect with the Guild of Wardens to find out what is going on and how an untrained magic user awakened him. When they arrive at his Warden's place they not only find out that he is dead, but that the darkness had something to do with it.
Kees and Ella set out to discover all they can, but they don't have much to go on. The Guardians are in hiding and the nocturnis are taking them out one-by-one whenever they make an appearance.

The plot of this story was seriously lacking. Twists and foreshadowing were practically non-existent .There was almost no progress from the beginning of the story to the end. It was simple: bad guys want to kill guardians so evil will be unleashed on the world and only Ella and Kees are able to do so at the time.

I thought Ella was going to be an interesting and snappy heroine, but instead she was a passive-aggressive whiner. She was on Kees' heels so tough that the guy would leave the room, not that he was any better with his denial of having any feelings for her. He would constantly call her "little human" and others which bothered me. Still, Ella was very persistent even when he humiliated her on different occasions. This did not make for a believable romance whatsoever.

The intensity and descriptions of the sex scenes didn't fit with the rest of the story. There was no smoldering, simmering passion that you would usually expect before a couple actually seal the deal.

I was disappointed with this read and cannot recommend it. It didn't have enough characterization or plot devices to sustain a novella, let alone a novel.

*I was given a copy of this title in exchange for an honest review*

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sexy Gargoyles who new. I don't think I have read a story about sexy Gargoyles before. If they are all like Kees I want more,lol. This was a really fun, sexy, with a little mystery story.
Ella is a little bit of an introvert she doesn't like people, parties or crowds. Occasionally her job as a curator at the local museum puts her in a position to raise funds. One night after one of these events Ella finds a man that she knows in the shadows. He approaches her and doesn't seem to know the meaning of the word no.
This massive Gargoyle statue, Kees awakens from his 1000 year slumber. Kees is confused as to why he has been awaken. All he knows is he needs to protect the human before him. That is his purpose to defend against the demons and protect. He has questions though how and who had awaken him from his long slumber.


This mystical creature turns into...


Kees is really sexy hot!


Ella

Ella is more than she knows she is, but what does that mean. Kees has an idea as to who and what she is. He is also surprised at his need to protect her. He isn't use to emotions.
These two were hot together both in the bedroom and out. They work together to fight the evils that are all around as they come to terms with all there feelings for each other.
Really enjoyable read! Look forward to the rest in this series:D

[Ann Lorz · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I found out that Warren was going to write about gargoyles I can't tell you how happy I was. I will admit to my slight love of Goliath from the cartoon show Gargoyles. Of course I was also a tiny bit worried that when I read Heart of Stone I would be busy comparing it to her other books and finding it lacking. But I'm happy to say that it never happened. I almost, remember I said almost, liked it better then her Other series. I loved both Ella & Kees. Their relationship is such a loving, sweet one. Reading on how Kees figures out he's has human emotions is so touching. I laughed, worried and even shed a tear or two. This is well worth your time. It's perfect for these cold days.


I received a ARC for a honest review.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is okay. I like the idea of gargoyles, which tissue not what these characters like being called, but whatever. I like the writing. What I wish it had was more characters, not something I usually ask for. The main characters were great, but there wasn't much more. I wanted more story, more world building. Again another series that may or may not be ccontinued base on whether the second book is available.

[Carolyn F.]

Gargoyle books for some reason float my boat but this book, not so much. The gargoyle seemed very stilted, yes I know he's from 1100s but it still was so stilted that it was hard to read. I wasn't really invested with the female lead either. So, at about page 40 I gave up. Maybe some day I'll give it another try.

[Vashti · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great start to a new series,can't wait for the next in what appears to be a very promising series from Christine Warren.

[Lover of Romance · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ella is not normal like everyone surrounding her. Ella possesses psychic ability, but one she keeps under wraps. Ever since her parents died in a fatal accident that she believes is her fault in her failure to keep a tight leash on her powers, she does everything possible to hide them, even from herself. One evening while working at a museum, she is attacked, and a gargoyle statue comes to life saving her. Kees is a guardian in the shape of a gargoyle, keeping demons away. His duty is to protect and destroy evil, but then he is awakened by a woman's cry, and every protective instinct he has goes into overdrive. He never expected to be put asleep for hundreds of years, or that he would yearn for this woman who fires his blood in a way he has never felt before. Ella is shocked to discover that certain gargoyles aren't normal statues, they are guardians, and the world is in trouble. That Kees and his fellow guardians are the only ones that stand in the way between evil demons and humanity. It will take Kees and Ella working together to destroy a enemy that seems to surround them on all sides, will they be able to rely on each other and their abilities, to survive the coming battle on the horizon or be destroyed?

I was able to obtain a copy of this ARC through St Martins Press via Netgalley. I only received this a few weeks ago, and after reading some amazing reviews, I knew I had to pick it up. I love shifter romances, and I was intrigued by the "gargoyle" theme this author has going here. The story starts out tame and normal, where nothing abnormal ever happens right? well, the story quickly escalates into a fierce battle of good vs. evil. After Ella gets attacked, Kees stays by her side, with a full Alpha Male personality calling her "Mine" whenever she attempts to get back to her normal routine. Kees is very old and has lived for centuries, and so he is bound to cause complications for a modern day woman right? Well their relationship is tested when evil stalks them, and as they search for aid in helping Ella develop her powers more, they start to realize how dire the situation is. That they, currently, are the only ones that have a chance to defeat the demons that are intent are destroying every guardian and mage out there, that are fighting to protect humanity. The story line is quite full of suspenseful scenes and dramatic action that heats the blood. Danger is around every corner, and my heart just went out to Kees and Ella for not getting much of a break. I enjoyed seeing the intense tone to the plot that kept me on the edge the whole way through.

Now let me talk a bit about the characters involved in the story. The two main characters, Kees and Ella, are wonderful together. From beginning to end there is a sizzling desire that you feel from the first moment Kees has been awakened. Kees is somewhat unique as far as shifters go, since he can turn from a stone beast to a gorgeous hunk of a male in a instant. He is from a older time, so has strong possessive traits especially when it comes to the one woman that matters more than life to him. I have to say that Kees definitely raised the heat meter sky high. There wasn't anything I disliked about him. He adapts quickly to modern life and I love the way he compromises with Ella time from time, but at others, their fights could be catastrophe at times--but enjoyable at the same time. Now Ella....how do I describe her adequately enough or how much I liked her spunk. One of my favorite aspects of Ella as the heroine is the inner strength she has, but her vulnerabilities that shine through and make her so real to the reader. Ella is the perfect mate for Kees, strong and capable, passionate and full of zeal for life. She brought such zest to the story and I enjoyed the sparks between this couple that never seemed to end. They also seemed to be a solid fighting couple too, especially considering what a novice Ella is.

Overall a surprisingly intense paranormal romance that will set you on a roller coaster of delights, twist and turns, dangers around every corner, and a plot guaranteed to give you a thrill of a adventure!! Hold tight, because Heart of Stone will give you a ride of a lifetime of two people that have discovered a fierce love while battling the greatest evil that threatens the destruction of the world!!!

[KathyAnne · Rating 2 out of 5]

I won a copy of this book through first reads giveaways...
I really loved the idea for this story... a gargoyle paranormal romance is definitely not something I've tackled before. Even though I like the overall foundation/idea for this story with Kees being one of seven guardians that protects humanity from evil and our heroine having this hidden talent for magic that somehow connects her with these guardians... the story just felt under-developed to me and the time line was way too fast.
Like other reviewers have already pointed out, I also had a huge problem with the opening chapters when the heroine decided it was just "easier" not to report the man to the police that had just tried to rape her. And then I was even more boggled that her "friend" was on board with just letting this slide... when you have friends like that who needs enemies?? Gosh, think this guy will do it again?? That's a winning bet for sure.
Later in the same scene when she is attacked a SECOND time (she really should just go home already) the Gargoyle awakens and saves her. Instead of using her magic to save herself from the two prior attacks...she uses her magic against the creature that just "saved her life" because he "frightened" her. LOL... women... they are so hard to figure out.
And then... in less than 48 hours... she's shagging the gargoyle... and, I have to share this one bit from a sex scene because I've never ever read anything like this before... I'm putting it in a spoiler link:
With a muffled roar, his restraint shattered. Gone was the slow, measured torment. Kees thrust inside her with the impact of a battering ram, forcing her tight channel to part around his invading shaft. She felt him so deep inside her, she pictured him bumping up against her heart.
Ouch!! I mean Ouch!! Note to self... no sex with gargoyles!
I think more attention to detail and a more realistic time line with the budding romance would have made this series more engaging and fun for me personally. But, as it stands, book one did not win me over enough to continue on with the series.

Sighhh.... time to move on...

www.ktbookreviews.com

[Angela (Angel's Book Nook) · Rating 2 out of 5]

~ 2.5 Heart of Stone Stars ~

Heart of Stone is book one in the Gargoyles series by Christine Warren.

I was at the bookstore browsing and the blurb caught my attention, so I picked this book up on a whim. I’ve read The Others series by Christine Warren before and enjoyed the books. Unfortunately, Heart of Stone just didn’t do it for me.

The whole book was slow and dragged along. The characters where not memorable nor did they impress me. I was also hoping for some great action/battle scenes, since the author did some good build up, but they where uninspiring.

Ella Harrow our heroine, was boring. She had this kick as ability/gift, but she never developed into a strong enough women with the confidence in herself or her ability. Kees our hero came off cold, overbearing, and I never really warmed up to him. He was grumpy and dictatorial. I guess for a gargoyle made out of stone this is what happens. The romance between our hero and heroine never felt complete to me.

Heart of Stone was not the book for me. If the blurb intrigues you, I urge you to give it a shot. Just because it did not work for me does not mean it won’t for you. 

*Disclaimer: I purchased this book for my own consumption. I was not given any type of copy for a review. All thoughts, comments and ratings are my own.

[Cassandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Thoughts - 4 out of 5 Unicorns - I really liked it!!
***Received the ebook from St. Martin’s Press for an honest review

The cover is very, well… yummy and great eye candy :) Love it!!

I have a fondness for gargoyles because of my dad. He used to call me and my sisters his gargoyles, and I loved Disney’s show Gargoyles too!! This is the 2nd book I’ve read with Gargoyles in it, and I think I like them as much as my shifter and vamp books.

This book started a little slow for me, but this happens when you have a new world and characters to learn about. Ella and Kees are awesome, and I think this series is going to be a fantastic one and will only get better with each book.

Ella is a strong woman who keeps everyone at arm’s length because of her past which you will have to read about because I refuse to ruin it for you. Her life changes on the terrace of the museum she works for. She meet Kees who turns her world upside down. They can’t explain that they are somehow connected. This book has tons of action fighting the bad guys, magic, and some very steamy scenes as well. I can’t wait for the next book.

I recommend this book to all my fellow paranormal romance fans & of course all of you who already love Christine Warren as I do.

[Dani C. (Polly's Place) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wowsers! Just to start I have been interested in Gargoyles since I was a teenager. I used to love watching the cartoon Gargoyles and I even had a few small ones that I decorated my bedroom with. Now as an adult I am still fascinated with them and I am so very happy that there is going to be a book series about them.

Heart of Stone by Christine Warren is just wonderful. The first in the Gargoyle series, this is a story that draws you in until the very last page. The adventure and romance between Ella and Kees is spot on and captivating. I love the history behind these Gargoyles and how it was made for modern times.

I find it a wonderful bonus that this was written by one of my favorite authors. I actually picked up this book because of her, I hadn’t even read the synopsis about it, I just had to read Ms. Warren’s latest book. Of course since I fell in love with this book I will be looking forward to getting my hands on the very next installment of this series!

[Douglas Meeks · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first book by Christine Warren and I am impressed. The story was exceptional and the romance was done well, not too much of the 'MINE!" type alpha character.

The story of a gargoyle coming to life is nothing new but this is a totally new direction of them being Guardians and only coming to life at certain times.

The romance was not rushed and Kees and Ella made a great couple for this very slow building romance.

What really made this such a riveting story is that you felt like they had almost no chance during the whole book but the ending chapters were great and the hook into the next book was done as well as any I have seen without using a cliffhanger.

Bottom Line: Great story, great romance, exceptional ending and can't wait to see what happens in the next book (it can't come soon enough) 4.5 rounded to 5 Stars

[harlequin {Stephanie} · Rating 1 out of 5]

ridiculous.

would have been a great ten page ad for what karmicly happens to perverts. gargoyle wakes smashes penis and returns to stone. story concluded.

doesn't even go anywhere near this territory. chick doesn't save herself and the boss showing up, and kinda saving her, was pointless. this is going to be a long drawn out tale about a girl and her stalker-rapist, who is a supernatural evil rapist-hunk-rich-guy. I'm not joking, this is the villain, around to do evil for evils sake. yep.

to make matters even worse I barely get to meet the gargoyle man before he slaps himself in some guy skin and no more claws or scales. I was expecting this, it is a tawdry romance after all, but he doesn't even get to maim anyone. pacifists. grrrrr.

[Bianca · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had to force myself to finish this book because I made a NYE resolution not to dnf any books this year... And right out of the gate I started this book which I just didn't enjoy at all.

[Notorious Book Tease · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has some very good world building. And the idea of gargoyle guardians who come to life to combat evil is very unique. Overall I enjoyed this book, but the heroine was a little much for my taste. She is kinda screechy and so resistant to any attempts of the hero to help her or feelings toward the hero. She eventually came around, but it was hard to get into their relationship at that point. I did appreciate the fact that she finds him equally attractive in his gargoyle state as she does in his human form. I liked the book and would recommend it for anyone looking for a different type of PNR.

[Sydney M Neblett · Rating 5 out of 5]

A different point of view

One minute you are innocently wishing for a miracle, the next he’s leaping into the fray to defend your honor with a battle cry that makes you scream. From the first crack of his stone façade until the last turn of the page, this story drew me in and kept me enthralled. The romance was a slow build, and the enemy came from every corner, but the author kept the story moving with skirmishes and revelations. And I absolutely loved the characters. This book was fantastic and I am looking forward to seeing what happens next.

[Tiffany (BookAndCoffeeAddict) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heart of Stone is the first book in Christine Warren’s Gargoyle series which follows the pairing up of gargoyle Guardians and unusual young women as they battle demons and their dark forces.

Ella is unusual in that she has a scary amount of magic bottled up inside her (she is not psychic at all really, unless you use a very loose definition of the word, so I found the book’s description a bit misleading here). She doesn’t like to be around people since she’s scared she might accidental hurt them with a burst of energy, so she works as a museum docent (fancy word for tour guide and/or person who explains the exhibits to guests) and gift shop manager – both of which are jobs that would force her to be around people constantly so I fail to see the logic there (I mean, seriously, if you want to avoid people, never EVER go into retail! Gift shop hmmph).

Kees (rhymes with peace as Ella so helpfully explains to the readers), is a gargoyle, but don’t call him that, he prefers Guardian. He and seven of his brothers were summoned by the Guild of Wardens (mages) to protect the world from The Seven – big bad evil that come together to form The Darkness (SUPER evil big bad). Having no idea why he was awakened from his stone-like slumber, Kees drags Ella along as he tries to figure out what’s going on – and the journey to save the world from evil begins (also they fall in love and stuff ;) )

With this book I found myself more interested in the whole “mages versus demons using Gargoyles as their super soldiers” plot than the characters. Ella in particular was pretty inconsistent. In the first few pages she’s meek and delicate, not even daring to really fight back when a man tries to force himself on her – this might be related to her not wanting to accidentally kill anyone with the energy she contains, but it made me think she was going to be a softer, more vulnerable character. Then she meets Kees, and after a minor freak out, she becomes sassy and sarcastic with him. I thought this new personality of hers might be a mask, but then they sleep together and the scene, told through her POV, is graphic and detailed, venturing into the almost crude in some parts, and I felt like I didn’t know this character at all – it just didn’t feel true to who she had been up until that point. And that was apparently some life-changing event, because after that Ella is more self-assured and she stands up for herself by being, not only sassy and sarcastic, but opinionated and stubborn (I like it her more like this anyway, so I was happy for the personality shift, but still.)

I enjoyed this book more in the second half as I was able to really get into the plot, so I would advise anyone who feels like giving up in the beginning to try sticking out a little longer. In the end we’re pretty much told who the next book will be about (Ella’s art restorer friend Felicity (Fil) located another Guardian gargoyle) and I can’t wait to read it, not only to follow the plotline through it, but because from what little we’ve seen of Fil, she seems like a character I’d like to get to know better.

In conclusion, not the most consistent of books, but still interesting and attention-holding enough that I plan to follow the series.

*I received an ARC of this book to review. You can find this review and others like it at BookAndCoffeeAddict.com, along with recommendations for a fantastic cup of coffee.

[Bea · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars

Oh hello, handsome man with scruffy face! Nice to see you. Yes, the cover totally drew me in. Then I read the blurb and it was appealing so I requested the book. And then it sat collecting dust on my Kindle, waiting for me to dust it off and read it. When COYER rolled around, I decided to dust it and read it.

I like gargoyles, I even have some in my living room so I am a sucker for books with gargoyles. Add in some romance and mystery and this should have been a sure win. Should have been. "Heart of Stone" has potential. The set up of Guardians (gargoyles), Wardens (magicians), and nocturnis (basically, the bad guys) is interesting and Warren has put some thought into it. But the story itself is weak.

Ella (and I do like that name!) has a dark and dangerous power inside her that she can't control and tries to keep bottled up. At a museum event, she's nearly raped and she plays the helpless damsel to perfection. Oh, she does hit him and then regrets hurting him, it wasn't nice of her. :( *smacks Ella* Really Ella? REALLY? Grow a spine or a set of balls or SOMETHING. Anyway, after her boss escorts the would-be rapist off the premises, Ella goes and pouts to her favorite gargoyle statue. She's then almost attacked by an assassin, well, someone with a knife, and the gargoyle comes to life. After he saves her, she goes into shock, and her power bursts forth and attacks the gargoyle. Umm, OK. She's almost raped, almost killed, but it's only when she's saved that her power comes out and it attacks her savior? Ooookay.

So, Ella is both irritated by Kees, the gargoyle, and attracted to him. She whines, sulks, and pouts, and occasionally, oh so occasionally!, shows some spunk and sass. Kees himself is condescending, patronizing, and stubborn. His favorite nickname for her is "Little Human"; yeah that's not condescending at all. *eye roll*

Kees begins training Ella in her magic, which is what her dark power really is, and the history of Wardens, which Ella has the potential to be, and Guardians, partners of the Wardens; they begin tracking other Wardens and Guardians; there's some sex; a little action; and a fair amount of boredom. It took me almost a week to read it and that's never a good sign. The pacing was slow with not as much action as I anticipated. And the romance? Meh. I didn't feel the heat, ever, not even during the sex scenes. I even put down the book twice in the middle a sex scene. O_o

Warren does have a sense of humor and a knack for description, such as:

Deep and intense, his eyes shone with an inner fire that burned so clearly, Ella was tempted to reach for a skewer and a marshmallow.


I didn't love "Heart of Stone" obviously, but I didn't hate it. Ella, though spineless and whiny, could be funny and did develop some strength as the story went on. Kees I never warmed up to. The world building is good, again not great, but there's lot of potential with rebuilding the Order of the Wardens and the battle between good evil. I might, at some point in the future, try a second book.

[♡ Sassy ~ Amy ♡ · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a great start to a new series by Christine Warren.

The first 5 or six books in her "The Others series was amazing, but she lost me with all the back tracking & renumbering of book in order in series. Like the 4th book came out after the 6th?? Anyway, since I really liked her first books in that series, I thought I would try this fresh start book...

I give it a 3.5 stars... The story was great & the plot was pretty original and interesting.

Ella is accosted by 2 different men in a matter of minutes, in the garden of the museum she is employed. The first is a previous guest at her fundraiser, and he waits for her in the back garden. Once he is caught & walked out the front by another employee. Ella sits and dis looking at a Gargoyle statue and a few minutes later, she's attacked again, by some nameless person. The Gargoyle comes to life, flings the attacker, sorta calms Ella & whisks her home in flight. This is how it began. Beyond that, it is a matter of world building & character introduction. Kees, the Gargoyle must team with Ella to fight the evil that is trying to crush the Guardian world, so it can rise again... Great premise.

I am wondering however if the reviewers before me totally missed the ADHD sense of the book. It threw the flow of the story totally out of whack. They are in a car, then not in a car. She's meeting someone, then driving down the road with them. It's future followed by past tense with a whole lot of present tense. HUNH!?! And the metaphors thrown by Ella the entire story totally detracted from the book. THEN!! She tells another character "Enough with the metaphors!"

In about 15 pages I noted the following metaphors:

- sticking to me like Velcro

- eat me with ketchup scary

- felt like an attempt at mouth to mouth resuscitation

- climb to the sun like a honeysuckle vine

- rock his Rip Van Winkle little world

- trying to get milk from a Boar Hog

-like something nasty on the sole of his shoe

- I wouldn't let you teach me to finger paint

- big floppy clown 'sues

- run a 1/2 marathon in really old sneakers

- with the speed of a hyped up greyhound

- winding up in Guantanamo Bay for 80 years

- moved with determination of a bull toward a red cape

- talked around like a frog on a dissection table

But believe me! I was sick of it enough that by the middle part of the book I was taking notes. This was a constant through out the book! This is only a SMALL portion in 1 1/2 chapters!! These were the only reason I knocked the stars down. I could start a group read drinking game!!