Thrifty Thursday: Gargoyle Edition #RebeccaChastain @booksbygayle @Lisa_Blackwood #LisaCarlisle #SEWendel @jennnixon #ThriftyThursday #Challenge #Giveaway

The purpose of Thrifty Thursday is to read a book which was free (at some point).

This is a collection of freebies I have read which are in the paranormal romance or urban fantasy genres .

Kindle freebie on January 23, 2022  (currently FREE at Amazon and Barnes & Noble as of writing this post)

Overall rating 4.02 with 1,849 ratings and  303 reviews

Mika Stillwater is a mid-level earth elemental with ambitions of becoming a quartz artisan, and her hard work is starting to get noticed. But when a panicked baby gargoyle bursts into her studio, insisting Mika is the only person she’ll trust with her desperate mission, Mika’s carefully constructed five-year plan is shattered.

Swept into the gritty criminal underworld of Terra Haven, Mika must jeopardize everything she’s worked so hard for to save the baby gargoyle from the machinations of a monster—and to stay alive…

It makes no sense with the villains a cliche and the odds ridiculous for our heroine but I really enjoyed the story.   Who knew I loved baby gargoyles so much?

Mika is a mid level earth elemental who has a talent with crystals.  She’s been saving her money doing freelance orders and working a full-time job to try to open her own shop.  A baby gargoyle bursts into her life and begs her to save her sibling.

Mika, along with her friend Kylie, put their lives on the line and all her savings to find and try to rescue the babies.  She turns out to have a skill with healing them.  The bad guys who kidnapped the babies to use for their magic aren’t so excited about giving up their free power trip.

I really would like to read more in this series because I found it uplifting and fun.  And I love baby gargoyles.

Kindle freebie on November 7, 2023  (currently $4.99 at Amazon and Barnes & Noble as of writing this post)

Overall rating 3.69 with 271 ratings and 41 reviews

A kindhearted but lonely librarian. Nancy is drowning under the weight of an abusive boyfriend, failing grades, and looming unemployment. While at work, she confides her deepest, darkest secrets to the gargoyle perched near her desk. But she’s unprepared when the strange stone statue comes to life.

A gentle gargoyle born under a curse. Treyton can’t believe it. In the past century that he’s been guarding the beloved Victorian library he calls home, the lonesome man never had anyone notice him until now. And he’s enchanted by the beautiful woman yearning for true love under his watchful gaze. But the witch who gave him life wants him back. And she’s willing to kill anyone who stands in her way.

Stone Guardian is the first in a series with gargoyles.  The main male character Treyton is a gargoyle.  Nancy is human and a librarian.  In the beginning, Nancy seems kind of TSTL with her putting up with an a*hole boyfriend and not really that interested in her school work, although she is near to graduating.  The pacing is rather slow with just Nancy’s troubles and imaginings.

Once, Nancy learns gargoyles are real and actually connects with Trey, it’s a little exciting. I liked learning about the town and its history, too.  The romance is sweet and seems unrealistic.  It’s a bit of fluff that just managed to keep my interest.  The next book,  Stone Protector,  is about Gram and I might like to read it.

Kindle freebie on September 22, 2024  (currently FREE at Amazon and Barnes & Noble as of writing this post)

Overall rating 3.97 with 422 ratings and 69 reviews

When an Avatar to the gods wakes to a new life, he finds the female half of his soul is missing. He soon learns she has been captured by their oldest enemy—the Lady of Battles. To save his soulmate, he will risk everything even if he must pay the ultimate price for his loyalty.

With the novella being pretty short, I still thought we got a sense of the two main characters. We were mostly in their thoughts.  The Sorceress is only 8 years old (so the cover while gorgeous is too old for her).  The Gargoyle is in a state of being born.   Dawn of the Sorceress shares the beginning of their connection.

It seems as though the Sorceress has been captured or given to the Battle Goddess and her parents are there too.  She and her father seem more captives with restraints, where the mother has more freedom.  The Sorceress has been testing her magic and with the Gargoyle’s magic she might be able to escape.

The Gargoyle and the Sorceress are apparently halves of a whole.  I got the impression they keep reincarnating together each time anything happens to them.  I have the next book which is much longer if I can get to it.

Kindle freebie on September 28, 2022  (currently $4.99 at Amazon and Barnes & Noble as of writing this post)

Overall rating 3.72 with 833 ratings and 155 reviews

The eclipse of the red Supermoon sends crowds into Boston for an evening hyped up for a night of passion, one not to be missed. Boston police officer Larissa Riley wants nothing to do with the media-driven event, but her friend convinces her they need a night out after all they've gone through. They visit a new gothic-themed club where Larissa is disturbed by the attractive stranger eying her.

Roman, a gargoyle shifter and commander of the Stone Sentries, patrols from the rooftop of a club on the night of the eclipse. The Supermoon bodes danger and he puts all his sentries on watch. When a blast of dark magic soars past him, he searches for its origin and fixes on a brunette. Something about her is different, demanding all senses be on high alert. Is she dangerous? Or is she in danger?

Deciding a night with a hot stranger would be good for her, Larissa invites Roman back to her hotel, unaware he is surveilling her. The night takes a dark turn as secrets are uncovered and danger moves in. Her beloved city is under attack. Larissa must decide who to trust before all is lost, including the fate of her closest friend.

Tempted by the Gargoyle was okay.  Some people might even really enjoy it. Paranormal romance isn’t at the top of my mood choice currently.  I didn’t find the characters or world developed enough for me.  Larissa is a cop and I wouldn’t expect her to be so weird about her relationships or meeting people.  She should have better people skills.

Larissa went out for a night of fun with her friend, Janie.  She doesn’t like to go out but Janie does and she wanted to support her.  Apparently, there are gargoyles in the city and they are watching out for evil which might hurt humans.   Demons arrive and gargoyles fight them.

Larissa is attracted to Roman, who is the leader of the local gargoyles. She flip flops on whether or not to have sex with him as a one night stand.  There is a fated mates angle.  She helps him fight the demons and learns more about herself, that she is not just a human.  I could have used just a little more plot and less sex. Larissa also had too many emotional battles in her head for me.

Kindle freebie on July 21, 2024  (currently available only in paperback at Amazon and Barnes & Noble as of writing this post)

Overall rating 3.50 with 746 ratings and 183 reviews

Stone Hearts is a prequel story for the upcoming PNR series War of the Underhill. Small and flightless, Carys lives on the fringes of her clan, pitied by other gargoyles and despised by her mother. Her lonely heart longs for a mate, one who can see past her malformed wings, but all she can think of is the haunting face she visits in an old well. Trapped for centuries, Gavriel roams the darkness of the Underhill, unable to escape the memories of his failures. His wounded soul craves freedom, but he finds solace in the mysterious maiden who visits him through a rift in his prison. Gargoyle and fae, separated by realms, connected by magick as ancient as the goddesses. Their love should be impossible—until one night, the barrier between realms begins to break…

The start of Stone Hearts was exciting with a good pace.  It sets up the history and connection of Carys and Gavriel.  Carys is a small and flightless Gargoyle.  Gavriel is a fae fighter, trapped in Underhill. This is a fated mates story.  They do get together and the story takes them from 574AD to sometime after 1945 (labelled as Present Day).

After they are together,  I found the pace so slow because it is alternating sex scenes and details of the time and place they are living.  But nothing further happens in this book on the war after the initial battle long ago when they met.  If I was more interested in history I might have enjoyed it more.  The author has notes at the end and has done extensive historical research.   The next book, Heartsong, looks like it continues War of the Underhill series, adding a new couple.

Kindle freebie on June 20, 2024  (currently $2.99 at Amazon and in Kindle Unlimited  as of writing this post)

Overall rating 4.47 with 32 ratings and 15 reviews

When Cyndra Raine inherits her grandmother’s crystal, she inadvertently awakens a lethal elemental force she doesn’t understand. Panicked and desperate, she flees the safety of her village, determined to find answers only to run into a man named Rune with the same abilities and questions.

Zorin has spent twenty-five years soaring over his island waiting for something, anything, to change. After sensing caster power he can’t ignore, he leaves the island and finds two casters under attack on the mainland. He’s shocked to learn Cyndra and Rune are ignorant of their lineage and the war that destroyed the world.

Intrigued by Cyndra and the immense power she possesses, Zorin promises her the truth about the past in exchange for her help. Inexplicably drawn to the winged man, Cyndra agrees to his terms and together they begin a journey that tests everything she knows about her world and discovers a connection to Zorin more profound than any she’s ever imagined.

Awakening has all kinds of good aspects but it didn’t really come together for me. I liked the characters well enough.  I was interested in their elemental magic.  There were mystery aspects about what happened in the world before the current dystopian life.  There was action and battles as the new casters – Cyndra and Rune are learning about their powers and go to find her cousin.  These are all good elements.

However, the details seemed to come out haphazardly. The goals of the characters shifted almost whimsically. We’re told about practicing their skills but we aren’t shown that happening.  Cyndra’s journal from her grandmother is something she reads to learn about casters but we don’t get all the information.  Most of what we get are meals, sleeping, traveling and attacks from the soulless and wraiths.

By the end we do know more, and the blurb for the second (and last?) book seems to reflect we might get more answers by pursuing an early plan they didn’t follow through in Awakening.  I am tempted to read Mirror Realm to see if it ties together  or finishes the plot lines here.  It does not end in a cliff hanger, but there are questions at the end still remaining.

Definition of Freebies for the challenge:

• Kindle or other platform freebies where you purchase it for $0
• Freebies through author newsletters that anyone can sign up and get for free
• Giveaways won or gifts received

These do NOT include Audible Plus, Kindle Unlimited, Prime Free Reading,  Prime First Reads, or library books.

FYI – My Thrifty Thursday post with my reviews and the linkups and giveaway will normally post on the 3rd Thursday of the month. Sometimes though, due to blog tours, mood reading, and other personal problems, it will be moved around. There WILL be one each month on some Thursday.  You can post your reviews any Thursday though on your own site.  The linkup will be open until the next month’s post is published. You can easily find all the Thrifty Thursday posts under the Features tab on my top menu.

(Reminder – If I get more than 10 linkups in a month, I will randomly pick one to select a prize from a list I send them which may include gift cards or giveaway books I have. (Open International))

Add your review link here: 

Giveaway:

The prize will be an $30 Amazon Gift card or $30 gift certificate at of Better World Books or $30 (2 months at Audible).  Open International.  Runs January 1, 2024 to January 6, 2025.

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You can sign up for the 2024 Thrifty Thursday Challenge HERE

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Anne - Books of My Heart

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I can't really remember any time when I wasn't reading. I LOVE books and what they give me. It's an opportunity to learn new things, see new places,live different emotions in a "safe" way. It lets me live in a new world.

I read all types of books but my favorites are urban fantasy and romantic suspense.I like some romance and some action / adventure / mystery in everything.I like sex in my books but please, only between TWO people.Intimate conversation is equally important to the sex in a book.It lets me see the characters.The other thing I enjoy is humor.

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