Love Set In Stone

by Staci Troilo

Damien was a loyal warrior, killed in battle in 1203. Because of his true heart, he was given the option to pass on to his eternal reward or exist in another state of being as a protector… until the time came when he could resume living the life he’d been cheated of. A soldier by nature, he chose the latter. Then he waited centuries—as a gargoyle—growing increasingly bitter about his choice. Then he sees her.

Rina is a hard worker and loyal friend. She just has the worst luck. One night, after saving her best friend from a violent assault, she finds herself at the attacker’s mercy. Then, out of nowhere, a savior comes and rescues her.

With only an angel to guide him, Damien must make the right choices to win Rina’s heart, or be forever damned as a grotesque mockery of the guardian he once was.

246 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2016

About the author

I grew up knowing family is paramount. I was blessed to spend time with extended family daily, not just on holidays or weekends. Because of those close-knit familial bonds, every day was full of love and laughter, food and fun.

Life took me away from that extended family for twenty years before I finally made it back. And while I'd done my best to keep the traditions alive across the miles, I realize there truly is no place like home.

Through my fiction, I share those traditions and the importance of relationships with you. Mystery or suspense, romance or mainstream, sci-fi or thriller—in my stories, family (however you define it) is paramount.

To learn more about me, visit me at http://stacitroilo.com or connect with me on social media.

Reviews

[Irene · Rating 4 out of 5]

I usually avoid novels that includes angels, demons, pacts with God and this sort of things, but Staci Troilo surprised me with this story in various ways.
Moving in the fantasy realm, the reader is bound to meet more vampires and werewolves than he can stand, so I was pleasantly surprised when I discovered that the main male character is nonother than a gargoyle (or maybe we should say a grotesque), frustrated by a long life of seemingly useless conversations with his protector. When he gets involved with a girl by saving her from an attack, the story kicks off at fast speed, grabs the reader's attention, and doesn't leave it till the end.
Intense action, a little intrigue, a lot of love (sweet love, hot love, very hot love) all plays together in a dark and gloomy Pittsburgh to create a pleasurable reading that's going to leave you wanting for more.
I would like to know more of some of the minor characters, such as Detective Urbani, and to know what happens to the main characters after they... but I won't tell you nothing more!

[Judith Post · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been reading lots of mysteries, back to back, so it was time to change it up. And this book was the perfect antidote! Damien was a warrior in the battle of Normandy. He's a man of honor. And when he died fighting for what he believed in and saw that he'd just killed a fellow warrior who'd once stood shoulder to shoulder with him, now made into an enemy by political ferment, he doubts his entire existence, that he's done the right thing. So, the angel Anael makes him a deal. If he'll serve as a protector, he can have a second chance to find his destiny and start a new life. Little does Damien know that being a protector means becoming a gargoyle who turns to stone in daylight and is only freed to help mortals at night. With such high stakes, I expected lots of angst. And Damien has plenty of that, but the interchanges between Damien and Anael made me laugh as the two bickered with each other. Somehow, with Troilo's fresh, fun dialogue and independent, outspoken characters, she permeated serious obstacles and consequences with massive doses of humor. The book was just plain fun to read! Who can resist an angel who cares so much that he's willing to bend the rules? A gargoyle who doubts himself and his worth, but is happy to grumble about the bad deal he thinks he's been handed? And Damien's soul mate--a smart woman with an equally smart friend whose banter kept me amused? All of the characters felt real. So did their dialogue.
And the story kept surprising me with twists I never saw coming. (And just saying, in my mind, I'm providing a happy ending for Umbria and Gretchen. I think they'd be perfect for each other).
Highly recommended.

[D.L. Finn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rina and Gretchen are good friends who leave work together late at night. They tell the bouncer who walks them out to their cars to go home to his family. Gretchen had forgotten something back inside, but they insisted they’d be fine. He reluctantly leaves and Rina ends up being brutally attacked by a cruel man. In steps Damien to her much-needed rescue. When the police arrive, Damien disappears, much to Rina’s confusion. While the police question Rina and Gretchen’s motives, the attacker makes it seem like he is their victim, but Rina is very much in danger. Damien feels a pull to Rina and wants to protect her but is afraid of her finding out the truth. He is a gargoyle during the day and a human who protects at night or used to. He died a warrior in the 1200s and was given a second chance with a few catches. I loved Damien’s unique and appealing character, along with his interaction with the angel, Anael. Rina was a strong female who went to school during the day and worked hard at night. She was barely scraping by, and I couldn’t help but root for her. Although they were from different times, the chemistry was undeniable. There were some surprising twists and corruption to clear up along the way. I couldn’t have guessed how this story could resolve, which I appreciate. A well-written and sometimes steamy romance that captured me and didn’t let go until the end. I would love to see more from these characters, including some of the minor ones, and can easily recommend “Love Set in Stone.”

[Janet Gogerty · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the deliciously outrageous concept of the gargoyle who has ended up in a USA city, waiting so many centuries to carry out his knightly destiny. Rina is no vapid female waiting to be rescued, she does not expect a lot from men after her dissapointing experiences, but somehow she can't resist Damien, though her brain is warning her... The story has plenty of twists and turns to make a love affair with a gargoyle destined to fail. A fantasy dark thriller that carries us onwards to a shock ending.

[Mae Clair · Rating 5 out of 5]

A paranormal romance, LOVE SET IN STONE has far more than a gargoyle and a human woman at its heart. It’s also a story of relationships, friendships, regrets, and even a bit of detective fiction. Damien is an ancient warrior who fought on the battlefields of France centuries ago. Due to a pact he made with the angel Anael, he now spends life as a gargoyle—stone during the day, only able to obtain his human form at night.

Life changes abruptly when he saves Katarina (Rina) Whitman from a violent attack. After centuries of waiting for a woman to be his soul mate, he realizes she is the one. But how to explain that the man she sees at night is actually a creature of stone during the day?

The author handles the romantic elements of the book wonderfully, making it easy to be swept up in the emotions of the characters. Both leads are extremely likable and their passion sizzles. Damien is a bit on the dark, brooding side, exactly as I would expect a gargoyle to be--especially one who has seen the horrors of war. I couldn’t wait for the “reveal” moment, and it did not disappoint.

In addition, there are several secondary characters who deserve their own stories. I’m hoping to see more of Detective Urbani, Gretchen, and especially, the angel Anael. It’s rare when I find a book with so many engaging characters, but LOVE SET IN STONE is rife with them—along with romance and danger. The ending is wholly satisfying, yet I could easily see this developing into a fabulous series. I already miss these characters and would love to see more of them!

[Jan Sikes · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story grabbed me from the opening and held me captive until the end. The characters came alive through the author's vivid descriptions and actions.
Rina is a college student working at a bar at night to make ends meet. Things take a turn for the worse when her best friend, Gretchen, is attacked one night outside the bar, and Rina attacks the attacker only to find herself hopelessly overpowered. That is until a mysterious man appears and rescues her.
Damien is a gargoyle made of stone by day, turning into a creature free to roam the city at night. But when he suddenly changes into human form after thousands of years, he is shocked. It is his innate need to protect Rina that brings about the change. He's waited over two thousand years to find his soulmate and be free of the curse that makes his life one of lonely misery. But how can this timeless creature ever hope to adapt to Rina's modern world? The author did a fabulous job of weaving this paranormal romance and helping the reader to believe in the impossible. I loved the side characters, especially the angel assigned to assist Damien on his journey. While the ending was somewhat shocking, it was the only true way the impossible union could happen. Great story. I highly recommend this to any readers who enjoy a well-written story.

[Gwendolyn Plano · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love Set In Stone is a paranormal romance that left me dazzled by its originality. With a gargoyle that becomes a champion, a lover, a human at nightfall, this story takes readers into the life of a young woman who falls in love with an impossibly complex man. He’s human, but not.

The story focuses on the growing attraction between Damian and Rina. The resulting romance draws us into their lives – and secondarily our own. We feel their passion, learn of the choices before them, suffer the dilemma, and accept the concluding surprise decision.

This is a well-written and absorbing story, one that I highly recommend. If you’re like me, you’ll never look at a gargoyle again without remembering Love Set in Stone.