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Her Grumpy Stone Guardian: Gwen and Kanza: Part 1
Gwendolyn
I'm hunting my best friend's killer. The police want me to believe an animal attacked and killed her. There must be an epidemic of savage animals because I have found dozens of deaths neatly hidden away, all with the same signature. So when I get a tip it's happened again, I can't help myself. The truth is out there. I have to find it. But instead I meet him. The grumpyliscious lumbersexual holding down a barstool. He's the perfect distraction to make it through the nightmare hours. For once I don't dread the night. When I wake up and he's gone, I tell myself it's for the best. I wasn't staying anyway.
Kanza
The only lead on my missing twin just turned up dead, and if I'm not careful, they're going to pin the murder on me. As a gargoyle I'm used to hiding what I am. Pretending to be a human to shake a shifter tail at a bar is routine. Picking up a girl is just part of the act. But Gwen is so delightfully raw and real that I forget the fact that I'm using her. When our paths cross the next day, I realize the fates are pulling us together, and Gwen isn't all that she appeared to be. She's hunting the same monster I am, only she thinks they're human.
Gwen asks the right question to the wrong monster and sets events in motion we cannot stop. The monster we've been hunting is now the one stalking us for sport, and televising it no less. I only hope that I can protect her. I'm smaller, slower, and weaker than other gargoyles, but I was born with the same drive to protect as they were. I'll get her out of this alive, or I'll die trying.
I'm hunting my best friend's killer. The police want me to believe an animal attacked and killed her. There must be an epidemic of savage animals because I have found dozens of deaths neatly hidden away, all with the same signature. So when I get a tip it's happened again, I can't help myself. The truth is out there. I have to find it. But instead I meet him. The grumpyliscious lumbersexual holding down a barstool. He's the perfect distraction to make it through the nightmare hours. For once I don't dread the night. When I wake up and he's gone, I tell myself it's for the best. I wasn't staying anyway.
Kanza
The only lead on my missing twin just turned up dead, and if I'm not careful, they're going to pin the murder on me. As a gargoyle I'm used to hiding what I am. Pretending to be a human to shake a shifter tail at a bar is routine. Picking up a girl is just part of the act. But Gwen is so delightfully raw and real that I forget the fact that I'm using her. When our paths cross the next day, I realize the fates are pulling us together, and Gwen isn't all that she appeared to be. She's hunting the same monster I am, only she thinks they're human.
Gwen asks the right question to the wrong monster and sets events in motion we cannot stop. The monster we've been hunting is now the one stalking us for sport, and televising it no less. I only hope that I can protect her. I'm smaller, slower, and weaker than other gargoyles, but I was born with the same drive to protect as they were. I'll get her out of this alive, or I'll die trying.
- GenresParanormal
310 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 31, 2023
31 people are currently reading
105 people want to read
About the author
Sidney Bristol
122 books955 followersIt can never be said that NYT & USA Today Bestselling author Sidney Bristol has had a ‘normal’ life. She is a recovering roller derby queen, former missionary, and tattoo addict. She grew up in a motor-home on the US highways (with an occasional jaunt into Canada and Mexico), traveling the rodeo circuit with her parents. Sidney has lived abroad in both Russia and Thailand, working with children and teenagers. She now lives in Texas where she splits her time between a job she loves, writing, reading and fostering cats.
Sidney is represented by Nicole Resciniti of the Seymour Agency.
Sidney is represented by Nicole Resciniti of the Seymour Agency.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
November 1, 2023
I was gifted an ARC for my honest review.
I enjoyed this book until that very last page where I was screaming for more. I love a paranormal hate/love romance. This is exactly what you get with these two. Then, they are tossed into a situation where they have to trust each other to survive. It gets crazy all up in these pages.
For me, I had to really invest in unfetstanding what was who and who was what. Once you know about the paranormal and the monsters, your mindset set will change.
The writing was descriptive, and you became immersed in the experience. There's only one issue for me, and that is Dungeons and Dragons, I have no knowledge about how it works, so for a laymen like myself, reading this may also have the same issue.
I enjoyed this book until that very last page where I was screaming for more. I love a paranormal hate/love romance. This is exactly what you get with these two. Then, they are tossed into a situation where they have to trust each other to survive. It gets crazy all up in these pages.
For me, I had to really invest in unfetstanding what was who and who was what. Once you know about the paranormal and the monsters, your mindset set will change.
The writing was descriptive, and you became immersed in the experience. There's only one issue for me, and that is Dungeons and Dragons, I have no knowledge about how it works, so for a laymen like myself, reading this may also have the same issue.
November 15, 2023
Good Book
I loved the two main characters. She has a lot of heart. He hides his behind a grumpy attitude. They both are looking for the same thing. They both ended up in a heck of a mess. The author warned us there would be a cliffhanger, and oh boy, was there ever! Thankfully the next book comes out in less than a month. I preordered my copy.
I loved the two main characters. She has a lot of heart. He hides his behind a grumpy attitude. They both are looking for the same thing. They both ended up in a heck of a mess. The author warned us there would be a cliffhanger, and oh boy, was there ever! Thankfully the next book comes out in less than a month. I preordered my copy.
March 20, 2024
This book opens with a blog post by the main female character, Gwendolyn McNeilis. In it we learn why she's dedicated to finding the person responsible for the way her best friend lost her life even though the official COD is Animal Attack.
Then we begin the story with Gwen entering the town of Harappa just as the mist it's known for rolls in from the mountains. She finds the street she wants and counts the alleys to get to the latest Animal Attacker scene. She then calls her friend Kyle Lynn, a coroner with whom she plays D&D, he gave her this tip before the public knows about it thanks to another coroner friend.
Gwen does a video with him as she walks the scene, it's been thoroughly cleaned, she would even say power washed including the trash bin. There's nothing left here to find. Before she ends that call, we also learn more about their D&D gaming which is pretty amusing.
After finding a motel, she heads across the street to a bar. As she's about to enter she practically gets run over by a big guy, he apologizes and holds the door for her.
That guy is Kanza, he's being followed by a Nue enforcer, the official unofficial government in this city. Since the fall of the main paranormal government, states and sometimes city to city have a localized government. Kanza is looking into Colin's death, because his twin brother Micco is still missing. The Nue won't look kindly on him doing so. Last he heard, Micco was working undercover on a big case that brought him here to Harappa. Jacy his brother's partner had been pretty much run out of town for investigating in Nue territory for another government. So here is Kanza trying to figure out what went down.
He enters The Chugger, a humie bar, to shake his tail, unfortunately, the shifter follows him inside. He watches his neighbor Luis play pool for a bit then decides he's going to have to find a way to shake the enforcer.
That's when he spots Gwen, he'd be using her which is far more his brother's style than his, but he really has no choice. He doesn't expect what he finds as they start to talk.
Gwen doesn't expect to see her one-night stand again, but when she does, he's angry at her because of what she's investigating. He doesn't know the reasons behind what she does. All he knows is that she's found information that could be very dangerous to her. A point that is proven within a few minutes.
Things get more than just a little dangerous from here, and both Gwen and Kanza are fighting for their lives. The circumstances require they learn to trust each other, and they gradually do that and find they are quite the team. So much so that the people behind everything aren't pleased and think up more stuff to do them in.
I think I held my breath through a lot of this book, the situations are scary and deadly. There is even some romance and sizzle thrown in that totally fits the scenarios. All leading to an OMG cliffhanger ending.
I am so glad the next book is already out!
Then we begin the story with Gwen entering the town of Harappa just as the mist it's known for rolls in from the mountains. She finds the street she wants and counts the alleys to get to the latest Animal Attacker scene. She then calls her friend Kyle Lynn, a coroner with whom she plays D&D, he gave her this tip before the public knows about it thanks to another coroner friend.
Gwen does a video with him as she walks the scene, it's been thoroughly cleaned, she would even say power washed including the trash bin. There's nothing left here to find. Before she ends that call, we also learn more about their D&D gaming which is pretty amusing.
After finding a motel, she heads across the street to a bar. As she's about to enter she practically gets run over by a big guy, he apologizes and holds the door for her.
That guy is Kanza, he's being followed by a Nue enforcer, the official unofficial government in this city. Since the fall of the main paranormal government, states and sometimes city to city have a localized government. Kanza is looking into Colin's death, because his twin brother Micco is still missing. The Nue won't look kindly on him doing so. Last he heard, Micco was working undercover on a big case that brought him here to Harappa. Jacy his brother's partner had been pretty much run out of town for investigating in Nue territory for another government. So here is Kanza trying to figure out what went down.
He enters The Chugger, a humie bar, to shake his tail, unfortunately, the shifter follows him inside. He watches his neighbor Luis play pool for a bit then decides he's going to have to find a way to shake the enforcer.
That's when he spots Gwen, he'd be using her which is far more his brother's style than his, but he really has no choice. He doesn't expect what he finds as they start to talk.
Gwen doesn't expect to see her one-night stand again, but when she does, he's angry at her because of what she's investigating. He doesn't know the reasons behind what she does. All he knows is that she's found information that could be very dangerous to her. A point that is proven within a few minutes.
Things get more than just a little dangerous from here, and both Gwen and Kanza are fighting for their lives. The circumstances require they learn to trust each other, and they gradually do that and find they are quite the team. So much so that the people behind everything aren't pleased and think up more stuff to do them in.
I think I held my breath through a lot of this book, the situations are scary and deadly. There is even some romance and sizzle thrown in that totally fits the scenarios. All leading to an OMG cliffhanger ending.
I am so glad the next book is already out!
October 28, 2023
"Aw, is that a compliment? Do you maybe like me just a little?"
"The moment has passed. you're on my last fucking nerve."
-Grumpy sunshine
- forced proximity
- plus size fmc
- touch her and die
its like a mix of murder mystery and hunger games if it was streamed on the dark web for paranormal monsters.(I mean hunger games in the sense that the main characters are forced into a survival situation, so very loosely)
It was unlike any monster romance I have read, I am 100% invested in Gwen and Kanza as well as the other characters we are introduced to along the way.
I love our fmc Gwen's personality, her humor was everything and I loved that she played D&D. she is a murder blogger and after stumbling upon the body of her best friend at a young age she has never really been able to let go of the idea that it was not just an animal attack. she finds a similar animal attack which leads her to the town that our grumpy gargoyle with a major chip on his shoulder lives. they meet at a bar and Kanza uses her to escape some shady characters and things just escalate from there in the best and worst way possible for Gwen and Kanza.
Kanza is the very definition of a grump, and I am here for it, he gives off that broken guy energy that I melt for every time I read about it in books...I can't help it they are my kryptonite!!!
fair warning this book does end on a cliff hanger that left me trying to turn the pages on my kindle even though I knew there were no more pages.
"The moment has passed. you're on my last fucking nerve."
-Grumpy sunshine
- forced proximity
- plus size fmc
- touch her and die
its like a mix of murder mystery and hunger games if it was streamed on the dark web for paranormal monsters.(I mean hunger games in the sense that the main characters are forced into a survival situation, so very loosely)
It was unlike any monster romance I have read, I am 100% invested in Gwen and Kanza as well as the other characters we are introduced to along the way.
I love our fmc Gwen's personality, her humor was everything and I loved that she played D&D. she is a murder blogger and after stumbling upon the body of her best friend at a young age she has never really been able to let go of the idea that it was not just an animal attack. she finds a similar animal attack which leads her to the town that our grumpy gargoyle with a major chip on his shoulder lives. they meet at a bar and Kanza uses her to escape some shady characters and things just escalate from there in the best and worst way possible for Gwen and Kanza.
Kanza is the very definition of a grump, and I am here for it, he gives off that broken guy energy that I melt for every time I read about it in books...I can't help it they are my kryptonite!!!
fair warning this book does end on a cliff hanger that left me trying to turn the pages on my kindle even though I knew there were no more pages.
April 18, 2024
Love and effort went into making this book so much more than a bog-standard fantasy romance and it SHOWS. I think it’s funny that the author used the “grumpy/sunshine” trope as her naming scheme for this series because this book is so un-tropey, in the best possible way.
The characters are intelligent, charming and delightfully geeky. When the villains get one over on them, it’s because the villains are genuinely powerful, frightening, or got the jump on them when they weren’t expecting it, but it never feels like the MCs did something absurdly stupid to get themselves in that position. Conversely, when the MCs succeed, it feels earned and satisfying.
Their misunderstandings are understandable and are solved through emotional intelligence and empathy, not third-act breakups or needless groveling. They have genuinely compatible personalities and interests; it’s not all “fate” and lust driving their choices. There is a lot going on behind the scenes that we don’t understand, but I’m excited to read book 2 and find out!
The characters are intelligent, charming and delightfully geeky. When the villains get one over on them, it’s because the villains are genuinely powerful, frightening, or got the jump on them when they weren’t expecting it, but it never feels like the MCs did something absurdly stupid to get themselves in that position. Conversely, when the MCs succeed, it feels earned and satisfying.
Their misunderstandings are understandable and are solved through emotional intelligence and empathy, not third-act breakups or needless groveling. They have genuinely compatible personalities and interests; it’s not all “fate” and lust driving their choices. There is a lot going on behind the scenes that we don’t understand, but I’m excited to read book 2 and find out!
June 3, 2024
4 or 5....
I couldn't decide on 4 or 5 star in this one. The format took some getting used to...and some of the narrative seemed long...but much of the info became more understood as the story progressed. Definitely worth giving a chance...interesting characters, lots of intertwined mysteries and a mix of bad guys...although will say when it warns there is a cliffhanger....it's more of a CLIFFHANGER!!! Need part two of Gwen and Kanzas tale...and hoping those evil so and sos get the kind of payback I am hoping for!
I couldn't decide on 4 or 5 star in this one. The format took some getting used to...and some of the narrative seemed long...but much of the info became more understood as the story progressed. Definitely worth giving a chance...interesting characters, lots of intertwined mysteries and a mix of bad guys...although will say when it warns there is a cliffhanger....it's more of a CLIFFHANGER!!! Need part two of Gwen and Kanzas tale...and hoping those evil so and sos get the kind of payback I am hoping for!
January 18, 2024
Great story!
I really love the story, but the issue is the ending. The cliffhanger was so abrupt that it felt like an incomplete thought. I can't wait to dove into the next story. I really like this Grumpy hero in the making, and I can't wait to see how he saves the day. I bet it'll be explosive.
I really love the story, but the issue is the ending. The cliffhanger was so abrupt that it felt like an incomplete thought. I can't wait to dove into the next story. I really like this Grumpy hero in the making, and I can't wait to see how he saves the day. I bet it'll be explosive.
January 31, 2024
I appreciate that the main character isn’t the most beautiful tiny little gnome woman, it’s refreshing. It doesn’t feel too forced that she’s not anything special but there is a little taste of it. I didn’t rate it higher because I didn’t finish wanting to continue on with the characters. The underdog story just doesn’t engage my brain.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews