Rating: 4 🌈

Stone Heart is the finale to Jenn Burke’s terrific The Gargoyles of Arrington trilogy. Teague O’Reilly, the object of the curse, as well as the only brother not to have found his soulmate, is currently caught up in a fabricated plot, one that has him mate bound to a shifter under false pretenses. That would be Chris Holt, a bear shifter whose cursed sleuth can’t shift properly or have young. A prophecy said a trio of gargoyle brothers would lead them home so he trapped Teague into a bond without thinking of the consequences to Teague and others.

The other being Frankie, a mountain lion shifter who’s found his way through some very dramatic events to the O’Reilly brothers mansion and into Teague’s life.

Burke is giving the last book and relationship a new aspect from the previous two. Teague has been resigned to dying, especially since finding out that Chris has deceived him. However, the twist is both Chris and Frankie are not only mates but believe Teague is their mate too. So there’s a potential for a triad relationship between the three people if they all can work through the huge issues and raised barriers.

That includes the fact that Teague is asexual and doesn’t want a sexual relationship with his “mate’, a barrier Teague has raised in his mind without any evidence that it wouldn’t work out. Teague is ace , terrific representation which puts his soulmate bonding into a different light than his brothers. Both Chris and Frankie, the would be soulmates , are definitely sexual beings. So there is a need for communication. There’s the issue of age (younger) within Teague’s mind,but, tbh , everyone is younger than the O’Reilly brothers who’ve lived hundreds of years.

The author has to tackle each element that serves as a barrier to their triad soulbond and do so while finishing off the arc theme of a vengeful Fae determined to get her promised son or bring death to all.

That’s a plentiful task for Burke to take on in one novel, let alone also get rid of the curse on Chris which would allow his bear clan to become full bear shifter once again.

Did I feel all the elements were fully explored and narratively explained to their fullest potential here? Not really. I think Burke had too many interesting topics and side storylines that needed fulfillment for that to happen.

Terrific aspects of this book? The ace representation , Frankie working through his feelings of inadequacy, and the abiding love of the O’Reilly brothers for each other. Teague has been a consistently strong character and watching him grow and develop as a partner here in his own right has been one I wanted to see. I just wish I found the chemistry between the three of them to be more believable. Perhaps it just didn’t work for me, not the triad, but that we had no prior background for this to happen.

Other storylines I found less filled out? The police department element which was never well based or executed. Chris’ sleuth’ curse ending . That requires way more explanation. And then the quick work that was made of Muirloch. Plus that other last revelation.

I did love that almost bittersweet scene at the end with all three brothers reflecting on those missing loved ones and where they all ended up. It’s a lovely quiet moment and a perfect way to end the trilogy.

While Stone Heart may not have been my favorite of the series, I did enjoy it. And I’m definitely recommending all three books that make up this remarkable arc!

The Gargoyles of Arrington:

✓ Stone Wings #1

✓ Stone Skin #2

✓ Stone Heart #3 – finale

Buy Link:

Stone Heart: An M/M/M Enemies-to-Lovers Paranormal Romance (The Gargoyles of Arrington Book 3)

Description:

Maybe his heart isn’t made of stone after all…

Centuries ago, Teague O’Reilly and his brothers were cursed to be gargoyles, and their only hope for freedom was to find their true loves. Teague knows he’ll be cursed forever—who would love someone who doesn’t want sex?

Chris Holt does. The bear shifter tricked Teague into binding their souls together in hopes of ending the Holt family curse. He didn’t realize how that jeopardized Teague’s chances to find true love, except… Chris is pretty sure he might be it. Him and Frankie.

Younger than the two other men, Frankie’s had a difficult life as an orphaned mountain lion shifter. He knows he belongs to both Teague and Chris, and Chris knows it too. But they’ll need to work a certain type of magic to convince the asexual gargoyle that there’s more to love than sex.

When the dark, fae-like creature who’s been tormenting them for months resurfaces with a new plan to subjugate them, Frankie will do anything to protect his men.

Anything.

Stone Heart features a male/male/male triad relationship between an oblivious asexual gargoyle, a gay himbo bear shifter, and a fierce gay mountain lion shifter. There’s also a cabin with only one bed, lots of self-discovery, and a huge found family. It’s the final book in the Gargoyles of Arrington series and has the hardest-won happily ever after, I promise.