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Haven Ever After #1
Getting It On With Gargoyles
The small town of Ever, Massachusetts is idyllic and quaint. It’s also chock full of monsters. THEA
When my sister thrifts an aged map with iridescent lettering leading to a town called Ever, I roll my eyes. According to a quick internet search, the town doesn’t exist. We only manage to find it with the help of a sexy gas station owner who offers to come for me if I call him. Swoon .
I quickly learn that Shepherd isn’t actually human, nobody in town is. News flash—he’s a gargoyle—a dominant, possessive, creme-brulee-loving monster. That should terrify me, but something about him keeps me coming back. Maybe it’s the snark. Maybe it’s the delicious snacks. Maybe it’s his wingspan, which leads me to wondering about the size of other things. I digress.
No one realized that when I came through the town’s protective wards, something happened to them. Now the town—and my sisters—are in danger from a soul-sucking evil that’s constantly trying to burrow its way in.
Can Shepherd and I save the town and our shot at love, or will evil ruin our happily ever after? Getting It On With Gargoyles is the first book in the Haven Ever After monster romance series. Each book can be read as a standalone. If you're in the mood for possessive cinnamon roll heroes, look no further. Shepherd's got you covered. And he brings snacks.
When my sister thrifts an aged map with iridescent lettering leading to a town called Ever, I roll my eyes. According to a quick internet search, the town doesn’t exist. We only manage to find it with the help of a sexy gas station owner who offers to come for me if I call him. Swoon .
I quickly learn that Shepherd isn’t actually human, nobody in town is. News flash—he’s a gargoyle—a dominant, possessive, creme-brulee-loving monster. That should terrify me, but something about him keeps me coming back. Maybe it’s the snark. Maybe it’s the delicious snacks. Maybe it’s his wingspan, which leads me to wondering about the size of other things. I digress.
No one realized that when I came through the town’s protective wards, something happened to them. Now the town—and my sisters—are in danger from a soul-sucking evil that’s constantly trying to burrow its way in.
Can Shepherd and I save the town and our shot at love, or will evil ruin our happily ever after? Getting It On With Gargoyles is the first book in the Haven Ever After monster romance series. Each book can be read as a standalone. If you're in the mood for possessive cinnamon roll heroes, look no further. Shepherd's got you covered. And he brings snacks.
296 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 17, 2023
1,115 people are currently reading
5,001 people want to read
About the author
Hazel Mack
10books270followersHazel Mack writes small town cozy but scorching monster romance. High heat but lots of sweet is the name of the game. She lives in Raleigh, North Carolina with Mr. Mack, Baby Mack and a dog named Andy. Hazel Mack is the sticky sweet alter ego of dark(ish) romance author Anna Fury.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 555 reviews
December 10, 2023
4.5 A Little Off Kilter Stars �
I don’t want sweet and innocent. I want her to be as dirty and depraved as all the things I want to do to her. I want her to welcome my corruption because I’m a gentleman, but I fuck like a monster.
An antique map, and a little town called Ever that happens to be a magical haven filled with monsters that humans don't know exists. Yet for some unknown reason, triplet sisters, Thea, Wren and Morgan have been summoned there.
When stopping for directions, Thea encounters Shepherd, a man that is quick to welcome them all into town. It quickly becomes apparent that Shepherd believes that Thea is his mate. Intent on courting and keeping her, these three sisters are quickly exposed to the going ons of Ever, and who they actually are.
I adored everything about this magical place. The locals, the customs, homes that communicate with their owners and Shepherd's immediate devotion to Thea. And don't get me started on my favorite little Gargoyle Iggy, that melted my heart with his cuteness overload.
Getting It On With The Gargoyles was fantastical sweetness. It was slow burn, but you knew that once Shepherd finally unleashed his passion it would be scorching, and it really was! I think it was a great introduction to all the romances to follow. And, I freaking love the covers of this entire series.
I don’t want sweet and innocent. I want her to be as dirty and depraved as all the things I want to do to her. I want her to welcome my corruption because I’m a gentleman, but I fuck like a monster.
An antique map, and a little town called Ever that happens to be a magical haven filled with monsters that humans don't know exists. Yet for some unknown reason, triplet sisters, Thea, Wren and Morgan have been summoned there.
When stopping for directions, Thea encounters Shepherd, a man that is quick to welcome them all into town. It quickly becomes apparent that Shepherd believes that Thea is his mate. Intent on courting and keeping her, these three sisters are quickly exposed to the going ons of Ever, and who they actually are.
I adored everything about this magical place. The locals, the customs, homes that communicate with their owners and Shepherd's immediate devotion to Thea. And don't get me started on my favorite little Gargoyle Iggy, that melted my heart with his cuteness overload.
Getting It On With The Gargoyles was fantastical sweetness. It was slow burn, but you knew that once Shepherd finally unleashed his passion it would be scorching, and it really was! I think it was a great introduction to all the romances to follow. And, I freaking love the covers of this entire series.
August 10, 2023
Full review coming soon, but I absolutely adored this. It was so sweet and fluffy and FUN and I can't wait for book 2 �
Buddy read with Malli!
Buddy read with Malli!
October 25, 2023
Anna Fury takes a step away from her darker worlds and writes a steamy and cute as hell world under the pen name Hazel. The town of Ever is special and full of monsters from Gargoyles to Vampires to Trolls. When Althea (Thea) and her sisters, Wrenn and Morgan, are pulled to the town by a special map they discover their destinies are so much bigger than the ones they held in NY.
Thea meets Shepherd, the Gargoyle protector who sends her libido into a tailspin. She’s never felt the kind of connection she feels with him and wants to explore it. Shepherd meets Thea and knows she’s the woman to make his heart beat for the first time.
But humans mate differently than Gargoyles and he will have to use all his charm to court and woo her. Because there’s no way he can let her leave his life.
However, danger is brewing and when the girls discover they’re more than just human, it will take determination and fate to forge their path to a HEA.
Getting it On with Gargoyles was absolutely brilliant. The world building and action was exquisite and beautifully unique. The swoon factor in here was off the charts and the steam was so sweet and hot. Shepherd might be a cinnamon roll outside the bedroom but he’s a dominant and possessive being in his nest.
Thea was such an endearing and kind character. I loved her effortless sweetness and acceptance. She was a courageous and reflective character that matched Shepherd’s aura perfectly. Shepherd was everything I love in an alpha hero and I loved the way he took care of Thea.
The secondary characters in here were amazing and I’m begging Hazel to write faster because I need Wrenn’s story. And Morgans!!! The Keeper and Morgan were giving me all the feels. This ends on a HEA for the couple with so much more to come. Hazel knocked it out of the park with this steamy and sweet monster romance.
Thea meets Shepherd, the Gargoyle protector who sends her libido into a tailspin. She’s never felt the kind of connection she feels with him and wants to explore it. Shepherd meets Thea and knows she’s the woman to make his heart beat for the first time.
“A gargoyle’s role is to protect, and when I look down at Thea, I know I will protect her with every fiber of who I am."
But humans mate differently than Gargoyles and he will have to use all his charm to court and woo her. Because there’s no way he can let her leave his life.
“I’m going to pursue you, Thea. Consider this my formal statement of my intention.� His voice is pure gravel, and it shocks me when he nips hard at the skin beneath my ear.�
However, danger is brewing and when the girls discover they’re more than just human, it will take determination and fate to forge their path to a HEA.
Getting it On with Gargoyles was absolutely brilliant. The world building and action was exquisite and beautifully unique. The swoon factor in here was off the charts and the steam was so sweet and hot. Shepherd might be a cinnamon roll outside the bedroom but he’s a dominant and possessive being in his nest.
“But you’re not human,� she counters. “And apparently, neither am I. So what would a gargoyle do in a situation like this?�
“Oh, that’s an easy one.� My voice is hard gravel as I drag her head carefully back and bite my way up her neck to her ear, which gets the same rough treatment from my fangs. “A gargoyle would break you apart on his thick cock until you never want to leave his nest.�
Thea was such an endearing and kind character. I loved her effortless sweetness and acceptance. She was a courageous and reflective character that matched Shepherd’s aura perfectly. Shepherd was everything I love in an alpha hero and I loved the way he took care of Thea.
“What did you find, Thea?�
“So wet,� I groan, keeping my voice soft.
“If you were here, you’d—�
“Slide right in,� he breathes. “Put you up against the wall, pin you with one wing, and spank you with the other while I fuck you senseless. I’d be satisfied when you black out from the pleasure, my little witch.�
The secondary characters in here were amazing and I’m begging Hazel to write faster because I need Wrenn’s story. And Morgans!!! The Keeper and Morgan were giving me all the feels. This ends on a HEA for the couple with so much more to come. Hazel knocked it out of the park with this steamy and sweet monster romance.
“I was thinking about how I don’t want you to leave Ever. About how I want to please you so well that you’ll never want to go. I want to keep you, Thea.�
July 6, 2023
A quirky mix of steamy and sweet, I adored reading this delightful small town monster romance! Hazel Mack is a pseudonym used by author Anna Fury, who writes super steamy omegaverse romance, and I knew going in that at the very least, I could be guaranteed amazing chemistry between characters. But even knowing that, she exceeded my expectations. The bedroom scenes were hot and slightly kinky, and outside the bedroom the hero was a protective cinnamon roll who just wanted to bring his mate snacks and keep her safe. The heroine's two sisters were introduced to their own mates, for subsequent books in the series, and the chemistry was already apparent. Even though the one sister's mate was...shall we say...reluctant? Yes, that is the nice word for his behavior. I highly anticipate the angst when their book comes around.
Having lost their parents six months ago in an accident, the Hector sisters desperately need an escape from their everyday lives. After finding a map to a small town called Ever, they set out on a road trip and were able to find the town...and a whole lot more. Althea feels an instant attraction to the gas station owner, Shepherd, and it becomes obvious why when it's revealed to the sisters that Ever is no ordinary town. In fact, it's a town full of monsters, and they've been called there by town's mayor. And oh yes, Althea is Shepherd's mate. And the cherry on top of this messed up sundae is that they messed up the town's wards upon arrival, causing a breach and putting the town in serious danger. Now they must use their newfound powers - did I mention they're not exactly human either? - to save the town and each other from outside forces that seek to destroy them all.
Shepherd was exactly the right mix of sexy and sweet that every romance reader can appreciate. Not only does the man know how to make a girl feel protected, but he also knows how to make her moan...in and out of the bedroom. Yep, I said it. He makes snacks and he is a snack. A snack Thea partakes in happily and with great relish throughout the book. Shepherd never expected his mate to be a human woman, but he was not at all upset about it. After all, Thea was beautiful inside and out, and she bonded so quickly with the townspeople. She fit, not just in his world but theirs. Thea had to be strong for so long, so she welcomed Shepherd's strong embrace, and he helped her accept her new role in life without any expectations. One of my favorite parts of the book was seeing Thea and her sisters learn the town was full of monsters...and then slowly adapt to it. It was absolutely how I would have responded, honestly. I also loved the house they stayed in, with its themed rooms. I would have had a hard time choosing between them...
I am so excited for the next book, as well as future books planned. Each character has really melted my heart, and I want to see everyone get a happy ending.
**I received a free copy from the author and this is my honest review.**
Having lost their parents six months ago in an accident, the Hector sisters desperately need an escape from their everyday lives. After finding a map to a small town called Ever, they set out on a road trip and were able to find the town...and a whole lot more. Althea feels an instant attraction to the gas station owner, Shepherd, and it becomes obvious why when it's revealed to the sisters that Ever is no ordinary town. In fact, it's a town full of monsters, and they've been called there by town's mayor. And oh yes, Althea is Shepherd's mate. And the cherry on top of this messed up sundae is that they messed up the town's wards upon arrival, causing a breach and putting the town in serious danger. Now they must use their newfound powers - did I mention they're not exactly human either? - to save the town and each other from outside forces that seek to destroy them all.
Shepherd was exactly the right mix of sexy and sweet that every romance reader can appreciate. Not only does the man know how to make a girl feel protected, but he also knows how to make her moan...in and out of the bedroom. Yep, I said it. He makes snacks and he is a snack. A snack Thea partakes in happily and with great relish throughout the book. Shepherd never expected his mate to be a human woman, but he was not at all upset about it. After all, Thea was beautiful inside and out, and she bonded so quickly with the townspeople. She fit, not just in his world but theirs. Thea had to be strong for so long, so she welcomed Shepherd's strong embrace, and he helped her accept her new role in life without any expectations. One of my favorite parts of the book was seeing Thea and her sisters learn the town was full of monsters...and then slowly adapt to it. It was absolutely how I would have responded, honestly. I also loved the house they stayed in, with its themed rooms. I would have had a hard time choosing between them...
I am so excited for the next book, as well as future books planned. Each character has really melted my heart, and I want to see everyone get a happy ending.
**I received a free copy from the author and this is my honest review.**
July 27, 2023
- small town
- monsters
- fated mates
A secret small town filled with monsters? ✔️
Three sisters getting dropped head first into monster drama? ✔️
Dark and evil badness trying to ruin everything? ✔️
Getting It On With Gargoyles took a hot minute for me to get into. I didn’t instantly click with the writing style, and the pacing was a bit too slow for my liking, but once things got rolling I was intrigued.
Despite being on the fence for the majority of the book and talking myself out of DNFing 2x, I’m actually looking forward to seeing how this series plays out.
- monsters
- fated mates
A secret small town filled with monsters? ✔️
Three sisters getting dropped head first into monster drama? ✔️
Dark and evil badness trying to ruin everything? ✔️
Getting It On With Gargoyles took a hot minute for me to get into. I didn’t instantly click with the writing style, and the pacing was a bit too slow for my liking, but once things got rolling I was intrigued.
Despite being on the fence for the majority of the book and talking myself out of DNFing 2x, I’m actually looking forward to seeing how this series plays out.
October 29, 2023
Cute and cozy, but it felt like it went on forever only to then have an abrupt ending.
November 10, 2023
“Ever is one of hundreds of safe towns for monsters all over the world. �
Yo iba con la premisa de que iba a encontrarme una historia ligera para pasar el rato. En parte si la encontré, pero, me ha gustado muchísimo más de lo esperado. Podríamos decir que fui en busca de cobre, pero encontré bronce.
¿Saben a que me recuerda? A estas series/películas de brujas que son entretenidas, nada del otro mundo, pero donde les coges cariño a los personajes y a la historia.
Este libro me lo he leído en inglés. El nivel de idioma lo encuadraría entre un intermedio, intermedio alto. Al tratarse de fantasía humana no contiene tanto vocabulario especifico. Su prosa es ligera y amena. Lo recomendaría como primeras lecturas en inglés o ya cuando lleves pocos libros.
El argumento es simple: tres mellizas quieren pasar el finde en un pueblo y evadirse, sin embargo, cuando llegan se dan cuenta de que no es un pueblo cualquiera sino uno mágico y nada es lo que parece a simple vista. ¿Cliché y un poco dominguero? Sí, pero está muy bien.
En cuanto a las pegas que le encuentro es que desde un punto de vista objetivo les falta profundidad tanto en los personajes como en la historia. Tampoco estoy pidiendo peras al olmo, pero bueno, no me quejo. La puntuación es la que creo que se merece.
“Shall we begin girls? I don’t think I’ve ever been happier in my life.�
Yo iba con la premisa de que iba a encontrarme una historia ligera para pasar el rato. En parte si la encontré, pero, me ha gustado muchísimo más de lo esperado. Podríamos decir que fui en busca de cobre, pero encontré bronce.
¿Saben a que me recuerda? A estas series/películas de brujas que son entretenidas, nada del otro mundo, pero donde les coges cariño a los personajes y a la historia.
Este libro me lo he leído en inglés. El nivel de idioma lo encuadraría entre un intermedio, intermedio alto. Al tratarse de fantasía humana no contiene tanto vocabulario especifico. Su prosa es ligera y amena. Lo recomendaría como primeras lecturas en inglés o ya cuando lleves pocos libros.
El argumento es simple: tres mellizas quieren pasar el finde en un pueblo y evadirse, sin embargo, cuando llegan se dan cuenta de que no es un pueblo cualquiera sino uno mágico y nada es lo que parece a simple vista. ¿Cliché y un poco dominguero? Sí, pero está muy bien.
En cuanto a las pegas que le encuentro es que desde un punto de vista objetivo les falta profundidad tanto en los personajes como en la historia. Tampoco estoy pidiendo peras al olmo, pero bueno, no me quejo. La puntuación es la que creo que se merece.
“Shall we begin girls? I don’t think I’ve ever been happier in my life.�
November 28, 2023
I really enjoyed this series opener.
I loved this little monster town, and all its quirky inhabitants. Little Iggy, the young gargoyle, melted my heart. But Shepherd stole the whole freakin' show. His intense BDE was off the charts and his growly dirty talk had me fanning myself along with the h, Thea. The sizzling build up between Shepherd and Thea was exceptional.
Also, it has to be said that the spicy heat level was 11 out of 10 with Shepherd having horns, very agile wings, a prehensile tail, and special equipment *wink wink*. My personal favorite sexy feature on a man is muscular thighs. Thea was also of the same mindset, which is the first time I've read that in a book. Reading Thea ogling and drooling over Shepherd's bunching thighs as he walked and did tasks was the icing on top of this sexy, sexy cake.
Great start to a cute but steamy series. Excited to read the next one.
I loved this little monster town, and all its quirky inhabitants. Little Iggy, the young gargoyle, melted my heart. But Shepherd stole the whole freakin' show. His intense BDE was off the charts and his growly dirty talk had me fanning myself along with the h, Thea. The sizzling build up between Shepherd and Thea was exceptional.
Also, it has to be said that the spicy heat level was 11 out of 10 with Shepherd having horns, very agile wings, a prehensile tail, and special equipment *wink wink*. My personal favorite sexy feature on a man is muscular thighs. Thea was also of the same mindset, which is the first time I've read that in a book. Reading Thea ogling and drooling over Shepherd's bunching thighs as he walked and did tasks was the icing on top of this sexy, sexy cake.
Great start to a cute but steamy series. Excited to read the next one.
May 19, 2024
This shit was so bad but I still had fun with the world so maybe I’ll read the next one we shall see.
December 6, 2024
Whimsical paranormal world with all kinds of monsters!
The following ratings are out of 5:
Romance: 🩵🖤❤️💜
Heat/Steam: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Story/Plot: 📕📗📙📘
World building: 🌏🌍🌎🌏🌎
Character development: ☹️☺️😍😄
Narrator(s): 🎙🎙🎙🎙🎙
Narration type: Dual Narration
The heroine: Thea - she is a triplet and is usually the peacekeeper of the three. Her sisters Ren and Morgan are the other two of the trio. She is a petite blonde while one of her sisters is a tall redhead and the other is a curvy brunette. They are on a weekend getaway and trying to find a small town called Ever that Morgan found on an old map. Though the internet doesn’t show it as a town, so they have trouble finding the place. Thea is also a detective, though she thinks her skills have been on the fritz since their parents died not long ago.
The Hero: Shepherd - he is a tall, handsome, gargoyle who lives in the town of Ever, near the inn. He also works at the gas station. He grew up in Switzerland but moved to Ever when he was old enough to be out on his own. His brother moved to Ever when he got divorced so that Shepherd could help him raise his son.
The Story: The girls are surprised to see how quaint the town of Ever is. The town is always warm, due to it being in its own microclimate, which is a big change from New York City where the girls live. The Annabelle Inn, where they are staying is beautiful and filled with all kinds of artwork and gargoyles, with painted ceilings filled with macabre gargoyles. The rooms are themed, and each of the girls gets to choose a different themed room.
This was a good story; it was pretty much the definition of whimsical. There were definitely a bunch of supernatural secrets in the town of Ever. Thea loved the town from the very start. Though I was quite surprised at how the secrets of Ever were revealed. I quite liked it. Thea was attracted to Shepherd, and he wanted her from their first meeting, so he helps her come to terms with the paranormal world he lives in. The intimate scenes were quite steamy, and I loved the fact that Shepherd was not only protective, but he made treats for Thea and her sisters.
This audiobook was in dual points of view via dual narration and was narrated by Mason Lloyd and Mia Barron. I love Mason Lloyd in all the many of the Ruby Dixon books I have listened to. I like his style and the way he talks which works so well for alien and paranormal romance. Mia Barron has an expressive voice that is very pleasant. This is the first time I have listened to her and liked her quite a bit.
|ŷ||||
The following ratings are out of 5:
Romance: 🩵🖤❤️💜
Heat/Steam: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Story/Plot: 📕📗📙📘
World building: 🌏🌍🌎🌏🌎
Character development: ☹️☺️😍😄
Narrator(s): 🎙🎙🎙🎙🎙
Narration type: Dual Narration
The heroine: Thea - she is a triplet and is usually the peacekeeper of the three. Her sisters Ren and Morgan are the other two of the trio. She is a petite blonde while one of her sisters is a tall redhead and the other is a curvy brunette. They are on a weekend getaway and trying to find a small town called Ever that Morgan found on an old map. Though the internet doesn’t show it as a town, so they have trouble finding the place. Thea is also a detective, though she thinks her skills have been on the fritz since their parents died not long ago.
The Hero: Shepherd - he is a tall, handsome, gargoyle who lives in the town of Ever, near the inn. He also works at the gas station. He grew up in Switzerland but moved to Ever when he was old enough to be out on his own. His brother moved to Ever when he got divorced so that Shepherd could help him raise his son.
The Story: The girls are surprised to see how quaint the town of Ever is. The town is always warm, due to it being in its own microclimate, which is a big change from New York City where the girls live. The Annabelle Inn, where they are staying is beautiful and filled with all kinds of artwork and gargoyles, with painted ceilings filled with macabre gargoyles. The rooms are themed, and each of the girls gets to choose a different themed room.
This was a good story; it was pretty much the definition of whimsical. There were definitely a bunch of supernatural secrets in the town of Ever. Thea loved the town from the very start. Though I was quite surprised at how the secrets of Ever were revealed. I quite liked it. Thea was attracted to Shepherd, and he wanted her from their first meeting, so he helps her come to terms with the paranormal world he lives in. The intimate scenes were quite steamy, and I loved the fact that Shepherd was not only protective, but he made treats for Thea and her sisters.
This audiobook was in dual points of view via dual narration and was narrated by Mason Lloyd and Mia Barron. I love Mason Lloyd in all the many of the Ruby Dixon books I have listened to. I like his style and the way he talks which works so well for alien and paranormal romance. Mia Barron has an expressive voice that is very pleasant. This is the first time I have listened to her and liked her quite a bit.
|ŷ||||
Shelved as 'did-not-finish'
July 25, 2023DNF @ 11%
I wanted to like GETTING IT ON WITH GARGOYLES so much but the writing style wasn't working for me and it was a strange mix of Thea being really sad about her parents' recent passing and being super horny over Shepherd. The tone was just all over the place.
Content Warning: recent death of parents
I wanted to like GETTING IT ON WITH GARGOYLES so much but the writing style wasn't working for me and it was a strange mix of Thea being really sad about her parents' recent passing and being super horny over Shepherd. The tone was just all over the place.
Content Warning: recent death of parents
January 30, 2024
“𝚂𝚗𝚊𝚌� 𝚞𝚙, 𝚜𝚑𝚊𝚌𝚔 𝚞𝚙—𝚝𝚑� 𝚐𝚊𝚛𝚐𝚘𝚢𝚕𝚎 𝚖𝚊𝚕𝚎’� 𝚖𝚘𝚝𝚝𝚘. 𝚆𝚎’𝚟� 𝚐𝚘𝚝𝚝𝚊 𝚏𝚎𝚎𝚍 𝚢𝚊 𝚝𝚘 𝚔𝚎𝚎𝚙 𝚢𝚊.�
- Shepherd, the perfect guy, carrying homemade cookies.
This was a really fun read. The beginning was giving major Twilight Zone vibes (hello ) which I loved. Also, I'm a sucker for a 'newcomer meets ' story, and I really liked the cozy-but-not-saccharine world the author created.
I loved the sentient homes and most of the side characters, especially the MMC's adorable nephew. I really liked how Shepherd set out to woo the whole family. And I loved the main couple together. I wanted to know more about them.
Actually, my main complaint is this book spends too much time setting up storylines for other characters. This is my own pet peeve, but I want to read about the romance I paid for- not sit through a bunch of sneak previews. Especially since two of the future MMCs act like assholes. (Grumpy / jerky / starchy isn't a deal breaker for me - but with as much page time as they had, I personally didn't find them interesting. I just felt indignant on behalf of the women who'll get stuck with them 🤷♀�.)
𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘺 𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘱𝘪𝘤𝘬𝘴:
» There were some minor inconsistencies. For example, the FMC says her sister Morgan "is such a Leo." Then later Morgan calls herself a Scorpio. And both times, the audiobook says "Libra". Plus, they are triplets, so their charts would be nearly identical.
» FMC says “As long as you don’t call me a good girl... I feel like that’s so overplayed. It seems like every dude in the world got the memo that women love that. I’m over it, to be frank.� Really, every dude?? This truly is a fantasy story! 😂
� � · · · · · · � � � · · · · · · � �
» 𝗠𝗠𝗖: Shepherd (Gargoyle), ?age?, town security
» 𝗙𝗠𝗖: Thea (Human ), 28, police detective
𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝘀 + 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗲𝘀:
| small town | mundane fantastic | fated mates | slowinsta | competent fmc | small boob rep | protective mmc | low angst |
| ebook free on KU | dual 1st pov | audiobook available | 1st standalone in series |
🚦 Safety (� 𝒔𝒑𝒐𝒊𝒍𝒆𝒓𝒔!):
» 𝙢𝙖𝙞𝙣 𝙥𝙪𝙧𝙨𝙪𝙚𝙧: MMC
» 𝙤𝙬/𝙤𝙢/𝙤𝙥: No. And even though the title says "Getting It On With Gargoyles", there is only one gargoyle who gets it on! 😏
» 𝙥𝙪𝙨𝙝/𝙥𝙪𝙡𝙡/𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙨𝙩: Very mild.
» 𝙨𝙚𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣:
» 𝟯𝙧𝙙 𝙖𝙘𝙩 𝙬𝙤𝙗𝙗𝙡𝙚:
» 𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜:
» 𝙨𝙚𝙭 𝙞𝙣𝙛𝙤:
» � 𝗖𝗪𝘀 (𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹):
🎧 𝑨𝒖𝒅𝒊𝒐𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝒏𝒐𝒕𝒆𝒔:
🎙𝗡𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆: Mason Lloyd + Mia Barron | dual | 7:30 h:m
Really liked it! Didn't love Mia's 'MMC' voice but on the whole they did a great job.
- Shepherd, the perfect guy, carrying homemade cookies.
This was a really fun read. The beginning was giving major Twilight Zone vibes (hello ) which I loved. Also, I'm a sucker for a 'newcomer meets ' story, and I really liked the cozy-but-not-saccharine world the author created.
I loved the sentient homes and most of the side characters, especially the MMC's adorable nephew. I really liked how Shepherd set out to woo the whole family. And I loved the main couple together. I wanted to know more about them.
Actually, my main complaint is this book spends too much time setting up storylines for other characters. This is my own pet peeve, but I want to read about the romance I paid for- not sit through a bunch of sneak previews. Especially since two of the future MMCs act like assholes. (Grumpy / jerky / starchy isn't a deal breaker for me - but with as much page time as they had, I personally didn't find them interesting. I just felt indignant on behalf of the women who'll get stuck with them 🤷♀�.)
𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘺 𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘱𝘪𝘤𝘬𝘴:
» There were some minor inconsistencies. For example, the FMC says her sister Morgan "is such a Leo." Then later Morgan calls herself a Scorpio. And both times, the audiobook says "Libra". Plus, they are triplets, so their charts would be nearly identical.
» FMC says “As long as you don’t call me a good girl... I feel like that’s so overplayed. It seems like every dude in the world got the memo that women love that. I’m over it, to be frank.� Really, every dude?? This truly is a fantasy story! 😂
� � · · · · · · � � � · · · · · · � �
» 𝗠𝗠𝗖: Shepherd (Gargoyle), ?age?, town security
» 𝗙𝗠𝗖: Thea (Human ), 28, police detective
𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝘀 + 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗲𝘀:
| small town | mundane fantastic | fated mates | slowinsta | competent fmc | small boob rep | protective mmc | low angst |
| ebook free on KU | dual 1st pov | audiobook available | 1st standalone in series |
🚦 Safety (� 𝒔𝒑𝒐𝒊𝒍𝒆𝒓𝒔!):
» 𝙢𝙖𝙞𝙣 𝙥𝙪𝙧𝙨𝙪𝙚𝙧: MMC
» 𝙤𝙬/𝙤𝙢/𝙤𝙥: No. And even though the title says "Getting It On With Gargoyles", there is only one gargoyle who gets it on! 😏
» 𝙥𝙪𝙨𝙝/𝙥𝙪𝙡𝙡/𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙨𝙩: Very mild.
» 𝙨𝙚𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣:
» 𝟯𝙧𝙙 𝙖𝙘𝙩 𝙬𝙤𝙗𝙗𝙡𝙚:
» 𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜:
» 𝙨𝙚𝙭 𝙞𝙣𝙛𝙤:
» � 𝗖𝗪𝘀 (𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹):
🎧 𝑨𝒖𝒅𝒊𝒐𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝒏𝒐𝒕𝒆𝒔:
🎙𝗡𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆: Mason Lloyd + Mia Barron | dual | 7:30 h:m
Really liked it! Didn't love Mia's 'MMC' voice but on the whole they did a great job.
February 2, 2024
It’s not bad, it’s just not my cup of bog water and that’s okay.
August 9, 2023
I'm still really on the fence with this one. It was cozy and cute and steamy where it needed to be but... maybe it was the writing style that threw me. The main character was a bit under developed too. I didn't really know what she liked - even though she said she was into the macabre that was never really shown through any actions of interest. I just wanted a bit more character-wise.
Shelved as 'did-not-finish'
August 7, 2023DNF at 39%. This book was kinda good but then I don't know. It feels like a slog so I'm going to move on to the next.
September 18, 2023
it was good but I have problems
First off we are suppose to believe the fmc is a cop it’s mentioned then dropped like a hot potato. Then they are from New York. Not in their behavior at all. I dinged the story stars for ridiculous backstories on the writer’s behalf since there was no need for that. It doesn’t remotely reflect in the character’s personality or anything. The sister’s don’t act like she is a cop either. So that was VERY annoying. Then we have the monster stuff okay fine but the cheese was over the top. The writing was good enough but the writer should have either changed the backstory or made believable characters.
First off we are suppose to believe the fmc is a cop it’s mentioned then dropped like a hot potato. Then they are from New York. Not in their behavior at all. I dinged the story stars for ridiculous backstories on the writer’s behalf since there was no need for that. It doesn’t remotely reflect in the character’s personality or anything. The sister’s don’t act like she is a cop either. So that was VERY annoying. Then we have the monster stuff okay fine but the cheese was over the top. The writing was good enough but the writer should have either changed the backstory or made believable characters.
August 27, 2023
2.5/5*
Nice world building potential but unfortunately poor execution in my opinion. Characters fell flat and the coziness/fantastical element barely shone through. Side characters seem to have more depth and potential than the main characters in this one
Nice world building potential but unfortunately poor execution in my opinion. Characters fell flat and the coziness/fantastical element barely shone through. Side characters seem to have more depth and potential than the main characters in this one
October 5, 2023
Okay so, this was pretty cute and I'm really glad it lived it up the adorable cover. It felt a liiiiittle slow, like the teeniest tiniest bit sluggish at some point, probably because it's the first book in a series and it was just digging in to everything but that quickly passed and it was easy to move along.
The triplets are a fun way to introduce multiple humans into a new monster world at the same time and I don't think I've read a monster romance with triplets before. I liked them all well enough and while it's clear they're meant to be very clearly distinguishable from each other, I feel like that wasn't quite as solidly established as it could have been. I'm not too worried about it since we're clearly getting into more books from their perspective and we'll have their personalities and differences much better defined from there.
The monsters in town are great so far. Shepherd sounds great, Alo and Iggy sound great, Catherine is interesting and a perfect character for the role she plays in their lives, the Keeper, Ohken, Miriam, the centaurs, there's quite a cast here introduced and I'm looking forward to getting to know them all better!
I enjoyed the worldbuilding of the monster world. I feel like it's a little different having the monster world hidden in little pockets like this AND have so few of them. Like this town has a population of 800 something and is one of the bigger havens, it sounds like? There are only 52 havens worldwide (a fact from the 2nd book - even though in book 1 it says there are hundreds?). That's not very many monsters globally! Although not all monsters live in havens, it sounds like it's not that many that live independently. I find this setup and dynamic really interesting. Even in books where the humans far outnumber the monsters (e.g. KM Shea's urban fantasy series I just read), there were still far more monsters than this overall. It REALLY hones in on the community and network feel but also the NEED for that cooperation.
BUT WHAT ABOUT THE ROMANCE? Listen, "Snack Up, Shack Up" may be the gargoyle motto but it's also now my motto. It's a life rule I didn't know I needed until now and there will be no shacking up without snacking up.
It was instalust for sure and pretty close to instalove given they're declaring love within a couple days of meeting BUT Shepherd holds off from any IMMEDIATE banging and tries to learn up about humans and take things more slowly than he's used to or ever expected by gargoyle standards, and I appreciated that. He also won lots of brownie points by putting in effort to get to learn Thea AND winning over her sisters. I wish that we, the readers, could have seen more of that learning of each other they do but it was more of a tell rather than show in that department. (e.g., we're told they go out to dinner or spend time talking but we don't see them doing the learning, we only zoom in on the tail end of things wrapping up or when the flirting is dialed up)
It's clear from here that the next two books will likely have something similar going on since Ohken states early in book 2 that trolls take their time and book 3 is about Alo, another gargoyle. Book 4 isn't announced yet but I'm thinking the book about The Keeper might be a bit more of a slow burn. If nothing else, it's a slow burn in that Morgan and The Keeper have their own stuff going on during the events of this book and possibly the rest of the books.
Last but not least, my favorite thing about this book is not the sentient houses, which can be really fun, but Iggy, the 5 year old frickin adorable gargoyle. It's not often I really see monster kids involved in monster romance stories unless they're the direct children of the main couple and he was a delight. I'm really looking forward to seeing a lot more of him in book 3!
The triplets are a fun way to introduce multiple humans into a new monster world at the same time and I don't think I've read a monster romance with triplets before. I liked them all well enough and while it's clear they're meant to be very clearly distinguishable from each other, I feel like that wasn't quite as solidly established as it could have been. I'm not too worried about it since we're clearly getting into more books from their perspective and we'll have their personalities and differences much better defined from there.
The monsters in town are great so far. Shepherd sounds great, Alo and Iggy sound great, Catherine is interesting and a perfect character for the role she plays in their lives, the Keeper, Ohken, Miriam, the centaurs, there's quite a cast here introduced and I'm looking forward to getting to know them all better!
I enjoyed the worldbuilding of the monster world. I feel like it's a little different having the monster world hidden in little pockets like this AND have so few of them. Like this town has a population of 800 something and is one of the bigger havens, it sounds like? There are only 52 havens worldwide (a fact from the 2nd book - even though in book 1 it says there are hundreds?). That's not very many monsters globally! Although not all monsters live in havens, it sounds like it's not that many that live independently. I find this setup and dynamic really interesting. Even in books where the humans far outnumber the monsters (e.g. KM Shea's urban fantasy series I just read), there were still far more monsters than this overall. It REALLY hones in on the community and network feel but also the NEED for that cooperation.
BUT WHAT ABOUT THE ROMANCE? Listen, "Snack Up, Shack Up" may be the gargoyle motto but it's also now my motto. It's a life rule I didn't know I needed until now and there will be no shacking up without snacking up.
It was instalust for sure and pretty close to instalove given they're declaring love within a couple days of meeting BUT Shepherd holds off from any IMMEDIATE banging and tries to learn up about humans and take things more slowly than he's used to or ever expected by gargoyle standards, and I appreciated that. He also won lots of brownie points by putting in effort to get to learn Thea AND winning over her sisters. I wish that we, the readers, could have seen more of that learning of each other they do but it was more of a tell rather than show in that department. (e.g., we're told they go out to dinner or spend time talking but we don't see them doing the learning, we only zoom in on the tail end of things wrapping up or when the flirting is dialed up)
It's clear from here that the next two books will likely have something similar going on since Ohken states early in book 2 that trolls take their time and book 3 is about Alo, another gargoyle. Book 4 isn't announced yet but I'm thinking the book about The Keeper might be a bit more of a slow burn. If nothing else, it's a slow burn in that Morgan and The Keeper have their own stuff going on during the events of this book and possibly the rest of the books.
Last but not least, my favorite thing about this book is not the sentient houses, which can be really fun, but Iggy, the 5 year old frickin adorable gargoyle. It's not often I really see monster kids involved in monster romance stories unless they're the direct children of the main couple and he was a delight. I'm really looking forward to seeing a lot more of him in book 3!
July 19, 2023
😩😩😩😩 i know many of my friends(i'm looking at you RL, Jess🫵🏻) will enjoy this BUT it was just so boring for me. it's actually 2.5�
first of all i KNOW he said gargoyles feel horny after fighting BUT i just don't feel like reading sexy times after she was attacked and he shredded some monster you know 😵�
the world building was too much 😩 i know she add many details because this will be a series but it's too much when you think of it as a standalone. we learned every little detail about the residents, environment etc.
also totally random thing that gives me ick: him calling her angel😬 that's totally a me thing but i hate it.
what i loved: keeper and morgan(third book probably) i know i'll enjoy their book %100, iggy because who wouldn't love a cute little gargoyle baby who likes to wrap his tail around your neck? 😍 that's all. i only liked two things 🫠
it's definitely not a standalone, it's hfn and we don't get any answers about anything. no ow/om and no third act. BUT it's a book that i kinda wish there was some kind of drama? 🤔
first of all i KNOW he said gargoyles feel horny after fighting BUT i just don't feel like reading sexy times after she was attacked and he shredded some monster you know 😵�
the world building was too much 😩 i know she add many details because this will be a series but it's too much when you think of it as a standalone. we learned every little detail about the residents, environment etc.
also totally random thing that gives me ick: him calling her angel😬 that's totally a me thing but i hate it.
what i loved: keeper and morgan(third book probably) i know i'll enjoy their book %100, iggy because who wouldn't love a cute little gargoyle baby who likes to wrap his tail around your neck? 😍 that's all. i only liked two things 🫠
it's definitely not a standalone, it's hfn and we don't get any answers about anything. no ow/om and no third act. BUT it's a book that i kinda wish there was some kind of drama? 🤔
March 16, 2025
This was so cute and fun😩 Thea and shepherd are the cutest and I can’t wait to read about all three sisters!!
October 13, 2023
2.5 stars
I actually really enjoyed the beginning of this story. It definitely had that cozy vibe to it. I love the notion of a magical hidden town. This sets up several different stories. Our h from this book, Thea with gargoyle Shepherd, and her two triplet siblings future stories, (Wren and Morgan). As well as a couple other monsters in the town.
However, after the towns orientation for new residents the story starts to drag a lot. I was very bored for a big chunk of the story. The romance is a fated mate situation but it’s a nauseatingly paced slow burn. They don’t crack until like 80%. I think I was supposed to be rife with anticipation but I was just bored and annoyed it was drug out so unnecessarily. The actual spice was ok but it wasn’t worth all that wait and build up.
I actually stumbled across this after seeing the second book in the series being recommended somewhere. I decided to read this one first and now I’m not really interested in reading the second one. I *might* come back for Morgan’s book which isn’t out yet. Book 3 is about Shepherds brother instead of Morgan. I’m doubtful that Morgan’s book is going to live up to the anticipation.
No virgins
No OW/OM drama
No cheating
no separation
No breakups
HEA for couple
Safety - it’s safe but hella boring.
I actually really enjoyed the beginning of this story. It definitely had that cozy vibe to it. I love the notion of a magical hidden town. This sets up several different stories. Our h from this book, Thea with gargoyle Shepherd, and her two triplet siblings future stories, (Wren and Morgan). As well as a couple other monsters in the town.
However, after the towns orientation for new residents the story starts to drag a lot. I was very bored for a big chunk of the story. The romance is a fated mate situation but it’s a nauseatingly paced slow burn. They don’t crack until like 80%. I think I was supposed to be rife with anticipation but I was just bored and annoyed it was drug out so unnecessarily. The actual spice was ok but it wasn’t worth all that wait and build up.
I actually stumbled across this after seeing the second book in the series being recommended somewhere. I decided to read this one first and now I’m not really interested in reading the second one. I *might* come back for Morgan’s book which isn’t out yet. Book 3 is about Shepherds brother instead of Morgan. I’m doubtful that Morgan’s book is going to live up to the anticipation.
No virgins
No OW/OM drama
No cheating
no separation
No breakups
HEA for couple
Safety - it’s safe but hella boring.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 17, 2024
Rating: 2/5
Format: eBook (Kindle Unlimited)
What in the actual cringe was this????
I went into this knowing that monster romances can be hit or miss for me, but honestly, the monster aspect wasn’t even the biggest issue here. The writing felt incredibly amateurish, and I struggled to take it seriously. A standout early red flag? A single-word sentence in the internal monologue: “Shudders.� That pretty much sums up how I felt through most of this book.
I didn’t have high expectations, but even those weren’t met. The concept of a small-town gargoyle romance could have been quirky fun, but the execution just wasn’t there.
Format: eBook (Kindle Unlimited)
What in the actual cringe was this????
I went into this knowing that monster romances can be hit or miss for me, but honestly, the monster aspect wasn’t even the biggest issue here. The writing felt incredibly amateurish, and I struggled to take it seriously. A standout early red flag? A single-word sentence in the internal monologue: “Shudders.� That pretty much sums up how I felt through most of this book.
I didn’t have high expectations, but even those weren’t met. The concept of a small-town gargoyle romance could have been quirky fun, but the execution just wasn’t there.
March 6, 2024
2.5� DNF 20% I seem to be in my Monster Era lately, so I decided to try this one on for size. Unfortunately it was very, very slow without anything to justify the pacing. 🥱 I felt like most of the time was spent repeating the same ideas and internal thoughts over and over again, without much of anything interesting actually happening. When they left the Town Hall meeting to go talk some MORE about orientation packets and how shocked the sisters were, I let myself off the hook. Cute idea, not a great execution.
March 19, 2024
It has some good thoughts, but it feels like it was written by a teenager. "I know you have questions...Do you have questions?... Hold your questions... Just know I have questions" Questions, Questions, Questions. I'm not sure the word is real anymore.
August 29, 2023
Actual rating: 4.5 �
Content/Trigger Warnings: Mentions loss of parents, grief, depictions of anxiety, scene of gun use, violence, blood, gore, explicit sex scenes
Author Content/Trigger Warnings: Light references to paternal death by accident & one scene with slight gore
Aaahhhh, I really loved my time reading this book! This is the gargoyle book I've been waiting for! The cozy setting, the slow build of the relationship, a story plot that I'm fully invested in, characters I adore, this book was just everything I was hoping it'd be. The cozy fantasy vibes are strong with this romance book and now I'm just sitting here, vibrating with excitement until book two comes out.
If you're a lover of cozy fantasy reads, I highly recommend listening to this while reading this book. It just adds a little something extra while reading and getting immersed in Ever.
Slow burn romance have been a bit hit or miss for me, but this book really builds Thea and Shepard's relationship on trust, exploring one another, getting to know each other's likes and dislikes, but the piece I loved the most was both of them becoming invested in each other's family members. It really stole my heart away when we got passages of Iggy and Thea bonding, becoming close to one another. They were some of the most wholesome, precious moments that were the best surprise. Plus, the way Shepard factors in taking Thea's sisters, Wren and Morgan, out for dinner, baking them snacks, and just making sure they were doing okay really warmed my heart.
Speaking of the sisters, the bond these three sisters have just had me by the throat. Sibling relations/bonds always do me in with books. As the oldest sibling to four other siblings, seeing how loving, protective, and close all three sisters were just really hit close to home for me. Also, the way they refer to each other as the Sanderson sisters was just everything. You know I love a good movie reference and Hocus Pocus being one of my favorites just made these sisters more loveable. I will say, I think out of all the sisters, I think Morgan's story will hit me the hardest. While I loved this first book in this series, I couldn't really connect with Thea because it's very clear she's a daddy's girl and I definitely resonate more with Morgan on being no one's favorite, while also being the oldest sibling. So I really excited for Morgan's story to come out. Also, please, the way these girls are close with their aunt Lou and the way I'm close with my own auntie, I need aunt Lou to have her own story, please and thank you!
I also want to say I love the way this book is set up and how the author can expand on this world, these characters because we're given so much to be curious about. When I say I'm eager to learn more about Ever, about the Keeper, the Hearth, Wesley, the thralls, and just so much I want to know and the author has this first book laying the ground work for a full blown series. The way the details are given, but given just enough that it's not information dumpy and you write down little notes of what's connected to what, and the little bread crumbs you find. I just really enjoyed how the author did the details in this book. I don't think everyone will like the way the details or done, but I personally enjoy this pacing to a much bigger picture.
I did have one issue with this book and thankfully it wasn't enough to hinder my enjoyment of this book. My issue was close to the end where Shepard and Thea are having an intimate moment, and the author writes this scene of Shepard punishing Thea for the life threatening situation she was in, and basically using sex as a means to force her to agree that she won't ever get involved with helping protect Ever, despite she wants to do so. It really bothers me when authors write scenes like this because I'm just not a fan of using violence as a means to make a point in a private moment or using a moment that's very intimate and vulnerable in the bedroom as a means to manipulate someone into something they clearly don't agree with. This is more so a personal thing, as a reader and person, as I've had years of the whole run-a-round of abusive, toxic relationships and have been in a loving, healthy marriage for ten years now, and I can say that I just have no tolerance or patience for scenes like this in books anymore. I'm really hoping as this series progresses we see less scenes like this and we see these characters learn you can't force/control, manipulate, or do this to someone you supposedly love and is your mate. It's not okay in the real world and it's shouldn't be okay in fictional worlds.
Overall, I went into this book wanting a fun time and that's what I got, and so much more! I'm very excited about book two and I'm eagerly waiting for any details about Morgan's story. I just really love this place, these characters, and I'm so invested in the story itself. It's even more special because I got to buddy read this with one of my favorite people and I just have a lot of love for this book. I don't think everyone will enjoy this book, but for me, oh this was so much fun, friends!
Buddy read with Destiny �
All thoughts, feelings, experiences, and opinions are honest and my own.
||
Content/Trigger Warnings: Mentions loss of parents, grief, depictions of anxiety, scene of gun use, violence, blood, gore, explicit sex scenes
Author Content/Trigger Warnings: Light references to paternal death by accident & one scene with slight gore
"The reality is, I feel invested in this place and the people we've met, even after a short time. One person in particular."
Aaahhhh, I really loved my time reading this book! This is the gargoyle book I've been waiting for! The cozy setting, the slow build of the relationship, a story plot that I'm fully invested in, characters I adore, this book was just everything I was hoping it'd be. The cozy fantasy vibes are strong with this romance book and now I'm just sitting here, vibrating with excitement until book two comes out.
If you're a lover of cozy fantasy reads, I highly recommend listening to this while reading this book. It just adds a little something extra while reading and getting immersed in Ever.
"That's the moment I know I won't be able to let her go. Not now. Not ever. I don't care what I have to do to convince her to stay, but it's happening."
Slow burn romance have been a bit hit or miss for me, but this book really builds Thea and Shepard's relationship on trust, exploring one another, getting to know each other's likes and dislikes, but the piece I loved the most was both of them becoming invested in each other's family members. It really stole my heart away when we got passages of Iggy and Thea bonding, becoming close to one another. They were some of the most wholesome, precious moments that were the best surprise. Plus, the way Shepard factors in taking Thea's sisters, Wren and Morgan, out for dinner, baking them snacks, and just making sure they were doing okay really warmed my heart.
Speaking of the sisters, the bond these three sisters have just had me by the throat. Sibling relations/bonds always do me in with books. As the oldest sibling to four other siblings, seeing how loving, protective, and close all three sisters were just really hit close to home for me. Also, the way they refer to each other as the Sanderson sisters was just everything. You know I love a good movie reference and Hocus Pocus being one of my favorites just made these sisters more loveable. I will say, I think out of all the sisters, I think Morgan's story will hit me the hardest. While I loved this first book in this series, I couldn't really connect with Thea because it's very clear she's a daddy's girl and I definitely resonate more with Morgan on being no one's favorite, while also being the oldest sibling. So I really excited for Morgan's story to come out. Also, please, the way these girls are close with their aunt Lou and the way I'm close with my own auntie, I need aunt Lou to have her own story, please and thank you!
"Iggy flaps over to Wren, alighting on her thigh and holding his hand out. He waits until she tentatively wraps her fingers in his before speaking. "Dad lets me hold his hand when I'm nervous, so you can hold mine. I promise we're super nice, plus you live next door to me and Dad. We're cool neighbors! I'll come over whenever you feel scared, okay? That's what gargoyles do. I'll protect you."
I also want to say I love the way this book is set up and how the author can expand on this world, these characters because we're given so much to be curious about. When I say I'm eager to learn more about Ever, about the Keeper, the Hearth, Wesley, the thralls, and just so much I want to know and the author has this first book laying the ground work for a full blown series. The way the details are given, but given just enough that it's not information dumpy and you write down little notes of what's connected to what, and the little bread crumbs you find. I just really enjoyed how the author did the details in this book. I don't think everyone will like the way the details or done, but I personally enjoy this pacing to a much bigger picture.
I did have one issue with this book and thankfully it wasn't enough to hinder my enjoyment of this book. My issue was close to the end where Shepard and Thea are having an intimate moment, and the author writes this scene of Shepard punishing Thea for the life threatening situation she was in, and basically using sex as a means to force her to agree that she won't ever get involved with helping protect Ever, despite she wants to do so. It really bothers me when authors write scenes like this because I'm just not a fan of using violence as a means to make a point in a private moment or using a moment that's very intimate and vulnerable in the bedroom as a means to manipulate someone into something they clearly don't agree with. This is more so a personal thing, as a reader and person, as I've had years of the whole run-a-round of abusive, toxic relationships and have been in a loving, healthy marriage for ten years now, and I can say that I just have no tolerance or patience for scenes like this in books anymore. I'm really hoping as this series progresses we see less scenes like this and we see these characters learn you can't force/control, manipulate, or do this to someone you supposedly love and is your mate. It's not okay in the real world and it's shouldn't be okay in fictional worlds.
Overall, I went into this book wanting a fun time and that's what I got, and so much more! I'm very excited about book two and I'm eagerly waiting for any details about Morgan's story. I just really love this place, these characters, and I'm so invested in the story itself. It's even more special because I got to buddy read this with one of my favorite people and I just have a lot of love for this book. I don't think everyone will enjoy this book, but for me, oh this was so much fun, friends!
Buddy read with Destiny �
All thoughts, feelings, experiences, and opinions are honest and my own.
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September 25, 2024this is exactly how i expected this book to go.
March 31, 2025
I read this book in one sitting and I can't wait to dive into the next one - the town, the found family - I fell in love with the whole vibe - and I like Thea's jokes, absolutely refreshing to read such an FMC.
February 27, 2024
Hated it within 8%, who stays at a bnb that serves breakfast at 8am but they leave to go to the diner a little after 7?
That and other types of inconsistencies bother me!
And right off the bat 🦇 felt his voice go to her clit. Nope
That and other types of inconsistencies bother me!
And right off the bat 🦇 felt his voice go to her clit. Nope
July 4, 2023
This book is like a warm hug with all the spice I expect from this author. I love the town of Ever and the monster residence. I already need books for everyone.
I cannot wait for more!
I cannot wait for more!
September 24, 2023
Amazing. Superb. 10/10. Will do better review later but holy shit this book was perfect. Cozy small town monster romance with my favorite type of monster!
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