Title: Stone Heart (2nd Edition)
Author: Sui Lynn
Genre: Fantasy, Paranormal
Length: Novella (131pgs)
Publisher: eXtasy Books (15th May 2013)
Heat Level: Explicit
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥4Hearts
Reviewer: Pixie
Blurb: Justin’s running from a past that refuses to let go. He finds refuge renovating an old gothic church. It’s been a century since the church’s gargoyles have awakened but Justin sees them and hears the beating of their Stone Hearts.
With renovations of his old Gothic church almost complete, Justin prepares for the grand opening of his gallery. Now content and happy, Justin feels safer than he has in a long time, but it’s shattered when he’s attacked and beaten in his own home!
When David finds Justin and leaves unwanted gifts, Justin’s no longer safe, day or night. His dreams of warm strong arms and dark wings are his only comfort, offering him an illogical security through the night.
Gargoyle, Cullen sits his post as he has for centuries, guarding the souls of those who enter the church. Awake for the first time in a century, he notices the new owner with curiosity and a possessiveness he’s never known before. Will Justin finally find peace, wrapped in dark wings and the beating of a Stone Heart?
Reader’s Advisory: Though Stone Heart is not officially part of the Elements of Love series; Stone Heart takes place in the same universe only pre-Apocalypse.
First published March 2012 with Silver Publishing.
Purchase Link: http://www.extasybooks.com/stone-heart/
Review: Justin has settled into the city where he hopes his stalker won’t find him. As he works on the old church, that he will call home, he talks to the gargoyles that guard his sanctuary. When he is attacked, he dreams that his favorite gargoyle comes to him to offer comfort and support. Cullen has spent much time listening to the human talk to him, now he finds that his human needs protection and he and his fellow gargoyles will ensure his protection.
Justin is an artist who is opening his own gallery. As he works on the old church, he awakens the gargoyles and they will protect him from those who would do harm. But, the gargoyles are helpless during the day, so Justin calls in an old friend. This is an interesting gargoyle story that I found wonderful for the simple fact that although they came alive at night they still turned to stone during the day and not even Justin’s love changes that, it really was refreshing.
Justin might have thought that he had fled his stalker, but the man just won’t give up. Cullen is really sweet in his need to protect Justin, but even he knows that he has limitations. Now, even though this story is focused on Justin and Cullen there are other things that are going on in the background that are just as interesting that involve Justin’s sister, her son and her high school sweetheart, you also have the other gargoyles Bob, Draco and Snout who make for interesting reading.
I really enjoyed this story and am looking forward to Sui Lynn’s future gargoyle stories. With this one, I will recommend it to those who love gargoyles, hot sex, an interesting story, a slightly more realistic gargoyle story (do not go there, I know it isn’t real so *raspberry*) and a happy ending for everyone involved. (Except Bob because his angel really is just stone.)