Rating: 3.5🌈
Stone Wings, the first book in a new Jenn Burke paranormal romance series, is a quick, entertaining tale.
The premise? A old Irish family is cursed. The parents killed and their sons become gargoyles. They sleep for 100 years and are awake for 25 before returning to another 100 years slumber cycle.
Interesting story and Burke uses both English and Irish spellings for names and descriptions in keeping with her theme and universe. The family is the O’ Raghaillighs, now the O’Reillys in the US. Originally five sons, due to circumstances explained in the story, the family is down to Teague, Drew, and Rian O’Reilly.
They have been awake and now have just two years to go before they must sleep again. But the magic of the curse is off, things are going off schedule and they are worried.
Aside from the brothers, there’s a human guardian family to watch over them through the years while they slumber. The latest guardian is Josh Palleson, who’s father was guardian before him.
Burke does a interesting job with the brother Gargoyles. Each has a different look, and magical ability. Over the years they’ve adapted to human society as much as possible. One, Teague, is a police officer. Drew, the romantic lead here, is a mechanic with his own shop.
Plus there’s a hidden supernatural world of shifters, witches etc. that humans aren’t aware of.
The curse can be broken by finding true love. Like most fairytales.
However, I always had issues with that.
And I do here.
I like the gargoyles. Why do breaking curses mean giving up what’s the coolest thing about them?
Curse broken. Boom . You are now a vulnerable, non magical prey animal Congratulations.
I’m sure that’s a grand thing. Especially if , say, you or anyone you care about is at odds or maybe war with a bunch of paranormal beings.
But you be the new you.
Why does everyone think being human is all that grand? Why not something new , fairytale wise? Change the human into a gargoyle?
I don’t know. I’d like to see some fresh elements, some new territory explored.
Maybe in the next story. Burke’s series is just getting started. I’ll see where it goes.
The characters are interesting. The storyline too. And I like gargoyles. If this sounds like something you’d like, check it out.
Synopsis:
His curse can only be lifted with true love, but can true love come from a fake date?
Being the personal assistant to a trio of cursed gargoyle brothers who sleep for a hundred years and wake up for twenty-five wasn’t a career proposed by Josh’s high school guidance counselor, but it’s a job that he’s eminently suited for. Not to mention a job his family has been doing for generations. The brothers are truly excellent bosses, but Josh is surprised when Drew offers to pretend to be his date for his high school reunion. And even more surprised by a supposedly fake kiss that feels as real as a kiss can get.
Drew and his brothers owe Josh and his family for watching over them each time they turn to stone for a hundred years, and for helping them reintegrate into the world when they wake up. The least he can do is pose as Josh’s boyfriend for a night. Even though true love can break his curse, he knows he won’t find it with Josh. Nothing that real can come from a lie. Or can it?
When the fake boyfriend situation stretches into two nights, and then more, Josh and Drew can’t fight the attraction blazing between them. There’s no harm in exploring it, right? No expectations. But when paranormal danger comes to Arrington, Josh and Drew are going to have to battle for every moment of peace…and maybe a real happily ever after too.
STONE WINGS is a 50,000 word male/male paranormal romance featuring a mechanic who happens to have wings and is a literal monster in bed, a personal assistant who’s always had a crush on him, stone skin or not, and a relationship that’s going to take a leap of faith to give the fairytale a happy ending.
The Gargoyles of Arrington series:
✓ Stone Wings #1
â—¦ Stone Skin – January 2023
â—¦ Stone Heart – June 2023
Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words 