Reviewed by Sarina
TITLE: Blackstone Manor Box Set
AUTHOR: Kassandra Lea
PUBLISHER: JMS Books
LENGTH: 168 pages
RELEASE DATE: June 15, 2017
BLURB:
Masonry gargoyle Io is head over heels in love with the alpha Cinder, but it might take some convincing to get Cinder on board. What better way of catching Cinder’s eye than gifting him Blackstone Manor? Cinder has a soft spot for the rundown mansion. And once he notices Io, sparks fly.
Not everyone is happy about the idea of the two becoming a couple, however. Beta Ran’imy also has her sights set on Cinder, and she loathes Io. If she can just get him out of the picture …
From the first kiss to building Christmas snowmen together, Cinder’s about to learn that loving Io isn’t always easy.
Contains the stories:
Blackstone Manor: Masonry Gargoyle Io is determined to give his alpha and crush, Cinder, the greatest birthday gift he can imagine. Blackstone Manor. The old manor, slated for demolition, has captivated Cinder for years. Io will do whatever he has to, including crossing the line and potentially getting banished from the family.
Heart’s Triumph: The gargoyles Io and Cinder are still in the early stages of their relationship. Will their love be strong enough to withstand the Council and revenge?
Promised: Io wants to throw a Halloween party in the newly renovated Blackstone. Cinder isn’t exactly on board, harboring a secret from his lover. But how can he deny the love of his life a little fun around the spookiest time of the year? And after all, what could possibly go wrong?
A Gargoyle Christmas: It’s the most wonderful time of the year and all Io really wants is snow. And to find just the right gift for his husband, Cinder. Meanwhile, Cinder needs to appoint a new beta, find a gift for Io, and figure out what’s wrong with Daisy.
REVIEW:
I think I’ve read maybe four books that featured gargoyles in some fashion and its always nice to find a new story using such an underutilized paranormal creature. This box set contains the entire Blackstone Manor series (four stories) all about Cinder and Io and their changing relationship. There aren’t but a handful of characters outside of these two that show up over the course of the book but all of them were distinctive enough that they felt like more than just a cookie cutter fill in for when the author needed an extra, which was really nice. The main characters, Io and Cinder, were obviously the most flushed out but what I liked the most about them is that they were different, yet complimentary, to each other; I really liked seeing Io bring out Cinder’s playful side while Cinder gave Io the support and encouragement he needed.
All of the stories were on the shorter side, maybe encompassing at most 27% of the book so they were quick, easy to find time for reads. There wasn’t a great deal of angst or action in the book and what was there was over fairly quickly so this would be perfect for those that just want a nice paranormal romance with some bonus holiday feels thrown in. I honestly liked all the stories presented here but my favorite was the first one; it felt as though there was more set up in regards to the plot and I enjoyed seeing Io and Cinder get together. The only thing I do wish I’d gotten to see is the restoration of the manor since it was a focal point for every story and with Io being a Masonry Gargoyle, it would’ve been nice to see that side of him come out more.
This was a nice easy read that made for a good way to spend my free time on and off over the course of a day. If you enjoy paranormal but are tired of your usual vampire and shifter stories, I’d suggest giving this one a look.
RATING: 
BUY LINKS: