Reviewed by: Sue Eaton

TITLE: The Gargoyle and the Romance Writer

SERIES: Monsters Hollow #2

AUTHOR: Chloe Archer

PUBLISHER: Self Published

LENGTH: 395 pages

RELEASE DATE: April 30, 2024

BLURB:

Welcome to Monsters Hollow, where love knows no bounds—even in a town full of monsters!

A quirky romance writer in hiding. A sexy gargoyle lover turned bodyguard. And a stalker that just won’t quit…

Ryder Thomas (aka Ryder St. James)

I assumed writing swoony romance novels about humans and Otherkind might attract some unsavory attention. But I never imagined I’d have an obsessive fan stalking me. Fortunately, my BFF Max has an in with a town he assures me can keep me safe.

As a former foster kid, I’m pretty resilient, but this situation is messing with my sleep and I’m on deadline for my next book!

About the only thing that can help at times like this is some regular mind-blowing… release. Trust me, solo methods just aren’t enough and hooking up with randos isn’t my style. I need someone safe who can reliably rock my world in the bedroom and maybe help me with my research as a bonus!

Enter the hunky Scottish gargoyle who’s been flirting with me ever since I arrived to hide out in Mystic Hollow. We come up with an ideal no-strings and no-feelings arrangement until I leave town for my next book tour.

After all, romance is just a fantasy I write about in my books–right?

Vash DarkWing

From the moment I met Ryder, I wanted to know more about the bonnie, brave man who speaks his mind. With no filter.

When he proposes a few weeks of mutually beneficial shagging before his book tour starts, I immediately jump on the chance to, well, jump him. Just a bit of fun and maybe friendship.

Hell’s bells, but Ryder slips past all my defenses and wins my affections without even trying! Now, I’ll do whatever it takes to keep the man I love safe. Even if it means putting my heart as well as my life on the line.

REVIEW:

I enjoyed returning to Monsters Hollow, this is such a feel-good series with lovely, sweet characters who fall in love.

Ryder grew up in foster care and as a result is stubbornly self-sufficient, tenacious, blunt, and outspoken, the epitome of a twink.  He is tougher than he looks and can hold his own, after being in foster care he has learnt how to defend himself.    He is a best-selling Romance Author whose books feature romances between different Otherkind species and humans.   He researches all the Otherkind in his books, learning as much as possible to write realistic stories.  He bubbles over with all the questions in his head, unfortunately he finds that other people usually find his curiosity annoying.  The irony is that despite writing best-selling romances he has never been in love.  His best friend Max found love in Monsters Hollow and persuaded him to come and hide out there, after a fan started stalking him.

Enter Vash, a Gargoyle who runs a security company who protects high profile clients, he is also the best friend of Targan and agrees to provide the security for Ryder’s book tour.   I really liked that Vash is Scottish and was impressed that Chloe captured his Scottish brogue so well.  When Ryder proposes a friends with benefits type of arrangement.  Vash jumps at the chance to get to know the writer better, he realises that whilst he might be interested in progressing into a relationship, he needs to go slow.  Vash counter proposes a series of non-dates, where Ryder can ask him any questions he wants about Gargoyle’s, vital research he wants to do for a book he is writing, this is an opportunity Ryder can’t pass up.

The non-date dates are funny and show the quirky side of Ryder and how much effort Vash puts in, to win Ryder over.  Ryder has so many barriers and walls in place, left over from his traumatic childhood.  It was great that all the other characters from the series pop up in this book, as well as some new characters.  The best friend relationship between Ryder and Max is so strong and heartwarming, and you find out more about their shared past.

As the stalker ups his game, it becomes obvious that as soon as Ryder leaves the protection of Monster Hollows the stalker will strike.  Vash is determined to protect Ryder no matter what.  Will Vash be able to break down Ryder’s walls and show him he is worthy of being loved?  Or will the stalker strike and take Ryder away from everyone and everything in knows?

I enjoyed the book and all the snippets of Ryder writing, made me laugh, the thought of an author, writing an author, writing a book tickled me immensely.   A real feel good romance.

RATING:

BUY LINKS: 

Amazon