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Gargoyles #5
Hard to Handle
The only male among four sisters, Michael Drummond is no stranger to women’s strength and formidable will. But when a fierce woman warrior from another realm bursts into his life, bringing with her a battle between good and evil, Michael is overcome by an explosive dose of desire that only this stunningly beautiful woman can inspire.
The first and only of her kind, Ash is a lone female gargoyle, a creature destined to protect mankind from Demons determined to unleash their darkest forces.
But her bone-deep instinct to do battle is turned off-kilter by her untamed attraction to the dangerously handsome human she can’t stay away from. If they manage to keep the world safe, can they turn the passion crackling between them into a love that will withstand the test of time?
The first and only of her kind, Ash is a lone female gargoyle, a creature destined to protect mankind from Demons determined to unleash their darkest forces.
But her bone-deep instinct to do battle is turned off-kilter by her untamed attraction to the dangerously handsome human she can’t stay away from. If they manage to keep the world safe, can they turn the passion crackling between them into a love that will withstand the test of time?
296 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published February 7, 2017
60 people are currently reading
1174 people want to read
About the author
Christine Warren
42 books1,830 followersBorn and raised in coastal New England, Christine Warren lived in the South and the Mid-Atlantic before hopping to the other side of the country to take up the life of a transplant in the Pacific Northwest. She completely bypassed those states in the middle due to her landlocking phobia. Hmm, need to research a scientific term for that...
When not scrambling frantically to complete her latest writing project, Christine spends most of her time as a crazy animal lady, hanging out with her dog Levi (he’s the one with the hair) and pretending to train him to have some manners. She also hangs out with her horse, Cal—a thoroughbred with a craving for strawberry licorice twists—her goddog, Merlin; and her best friend, fellow author Hannah Murray. In addition to playing with her pets, Christine’s hobbies include identifying dog breeds from photos of their underbellies, appreciating fine and not-so-fine wines, shopping for the perfect pair of Christian Louboutin shoes, and most of all reading things someone else had to agonize over.
She enjoys hearing from readers and can be reached via email sent to Christine@christinewarren.net or by postal mail to Christine Warren, PO Box 871900, Vancouver, WA 98687-1900.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/christ...
When not scrambling frantically to complete her latest writing project, Christine spends most of her time as a crazy animal lady, hanging out with her dog Levi (he’s the one with the hair) and pretending to train him to have some manners. She also hangs out with her horse, Cal—a thoroughbred with a craving for strawberry licorice twists—her goddog, Merlin; and her best friend, fellow author Hannah Murray. In addition to playing with her pets, Christine’s hobbies include identifying dog breeds from photos of their underbellies, appreciating fine and not-so-fine wines, shopping for the perfect pair of Christian Louboutin shoes, and most of all reading things someone else had to agonize over.
She enjoys hearing from readers and can be reached via email sent to Christine@christinewarren.net or by postal mail to Christine Warren, PO Box 871900, Vancouver, WA 98687-1900.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/christ...
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February 7, 2017
Hard to Handle is book five in the Gargoyles series by Christine Warren. In this installment the battle continues against the evil that is threatening mankind and all we hold dear. But the newest addition to the band of Guardians is not another sexy male guardian but a female.
Michael Drummond or Drum, owns a bar called Skin and Bones in Dublin, Ireland and lives a happy if not uneventful life. If you can call uneventful when you are the brother of four sisters. The Drummond family, though, do have gifts that set them apart from others. Drum can find things, something he considers a silly parlor trick. But his sister, Maeve, has the gift of sight. The Drummond family is tight knit, the bond of love that ties them together goes deep. That is how this all began, Drum not wanting his sister to be out alone that night, the night his life changed. The night he met Ash.
In the previous books we have met four guardians, gargoyles that were awoken from their stony slumber by their female wardens who would eventually become their mates. All four of these guardians were hot, sexy and alpha males. Historically, guardians were always male, until Ash woke up. She is just as shocked. She knows she is the first of her kind. She has no idea why she was awoken or who woke her. Michael and his sister, Maeve, are the only ones present and neither of them are wardens. But she has no choice but to accept their help until she can figure things out.
“She was a warrior who couldn’t find the battlefield, and off it, her purpose became unclear. The only foe she could see at the moment was uncertainty, and against that, her axe was useless.”
It doesn’t take long for the evil to seek out Ash and it becomes clear in the heat of battle that Drum possesses gifts he wasn’t even aware he had. It also becomes clear that Drum is her warden. In the beginning their relationship consisted of bickering and anger. Drum did not want this. But the more time they spent together, the attraction became stronger until they could no longer fight it.
“His last thought was that the woman above him had just changed his life forever. After this, he would never have to watch her walk away, because wherever she wanted to go, he would go right behind her.”
As Ash and Drum gather forces for the epic battle, their bond continues to grow. Ash, though, believes that the fate of her four brothers finding their mates would not apply to her. She believes that after the evil has been vanquished, she will be sent back to live as stone until she is needed once again. But she can’t imagine the pain of leaving Drum. She is determined to absorb every bit of joy from their bond as she can in the time she has with him.
“Somehow, in the last few days full of chaos and fear and danger, this unhuman woman had become Michael Drummond’s true north. Whenever he looked around, his compass pointed straight at her.”
I have to say that with this one, I missed some of the humor I enjoyed in the first books. But as always, the last twenty percent of this one was intense as the showdown was upon them. During this time the bond between Ash and Drum had grown so strong that I finally really felt their connection. There are a lot of details regarding the dark forces at work. Perhaps it’s the length of time between books but I did have a bit of trouble keeping the details straight. There are supposed to be seven guardians and since five have awoken so far in this series, I assume there will be two more books. I look forward to the guardians finally winning over evil and getting their chance at living happily ever after with their mates in peace.
Michael Drummond or Drum, owns a bar called Skin and Bones in Dublin, Ireland and lives a happy if not uneventful life. If you can call uneventful when you are the brother of four sisters. The Drummond family, though, do have gifts that set them apart from others. Drum can find things, something he considers a silly parlor trick. But his sister, Maeve, has the gift of sight. The Drummond family is tight knit, the bond of love that ties them together goes deep. That is how this all began, Drum not wanting his sister to be out alone that night, the night his life changed. The night he met Ash.
In the previous books we have met four guardians, gargoyles that were awoken from their stony slumber by their female wardens who would eventually become their mates. All four of these guardians were hot, sexy and alpha males. Historically, guardians were always male, until Ash woke up. She is just as shocked. She knows she is the first of her kind. She has no idea why she was awoken or who woke her. Michael and his sister, Maeve, are the only ones present and neither of them are wardens. But she has no choice but to accept their help until she can figure things out.
“She was a warrior who couldn’t find the battlefield, and off it, her purpose became unclear. The only foe she could see at the moment was uncertainty, and against that, her axe was useless.”
It doesn’t take long for the evil to seek out Ash and it becomes clear in the heat of battle that Drum possesses gifts he wasn’t even aware he had. It also becomes clear that Drum is her warden. In the beginning their relationship consisted of bickering and anger. Drum did not want this. But the more time they spent together, the attraction became stronger until they could no longer fight it.
“His last thought was that the woman above him had just changed his life forever. After this, he would never have to watch her walk away, because wherever she wanted to go, he would go right behind her.”
As Ash and Drum gather forces for the epic battle, their bond continues to grow. Ash, though, believes that the fate of her four brothers finding their mates would not apply to her. She believes that after the evil has been vanquished, she will be sent back to live as stone until she is needed once again. But she can’t imagine the pain of leaving Drum. She is determined to absorb every bit of joy from their bond as she can in the time she has with him.
“Somehow, in the last few days full of chaos and fear and danger, this unhuman woman had become Michael Drummond’s true north. Whenever he looked around, his compass pointed straight at her.”
I have to say that with this one, I missed some of the humor I enjoyed in the first books. But as always, the last twenty percent of this one was intense as the showdown was upon them. During this time the bond between Ash and Drum had grown so strong that I finally really felt their connection. There are a lot of details regarding the dark forces at work. Perhaps it’s the length of time between books but I did have a bit of trouble keeping the details straight. There are supposed to be seven guardians and since five have awoken so far in this series, I assume there will be two more books. I look forward to the guardians finally winning over evil and getting their chance at living happily ever after with their mates in peace.
February 7, 2017
I had to seriously harden my heart for this review. Plus talk myself into it. Be brave. Because I feckin' (to use Michael Drummond's Irish slang) was disappointed.
This is a house-published book by an author with 30-some books under her belt. It is the fifth in a paranormal gargoyle series that averages ratings above four stars. I hope the other four were better, because I was underwhelmed by the lack of chemistry between the love interests, ticked off at the pacing, and irritated by the hyperactive, scattershot approach to the demonic minions and the mystical hyperbole it takes to conquer them. Maybe these deficiencies would not have been so glaring if I had read the first four books in the series, but I didn't. I walked away from this book thinking it tried to be a standalone and didn't come close to achieving it.
Female gargoyle Ash has been suddenly called to life in Dublin, Ireland to fight evil spawning in the region. On the night of her birth, she encounters brother / sister duo Michael and Maeve Drummond. There is an instant attraction on Drum's part to the Amazonian warrior with wings and shapely thighs. Sadly, the love connection is hampered by the coldness of Ash and the immaturity that leeches out between Maeve and her brother. There is a considerable amount of disrespect between the siblings (Maeve smacks Drum in the back of the head in front of a complete stranger, and it becomes a "thing" in the novel, plus he is continually chided by the women in his life for his lack of manners). I think these little arguments were supposed to be cute; it simply made Drum seem even less of a hero to me. Add in his constant yelling and grousing and grumpiness, and I was truly turned off his character at the beginning. Fortunately, Warren seems to have forgotten that quirk in his personality by late in the book.
The pacing. It was a problem. Certain things are repeated again and again. If I had to read one more time about how irritated Drum was at having his bartender life interrupted by the stone woman, I was going to scream. And that was just in the first 25% of the book. There were also inconsequential scenes that would receive undue attention, such as the PAGES devoted to setting up a camp site and cleaning a burn wound, while what truly interested me - Drum learning his Warden magic - got ONE SENTENCE. Grrrr.
Finally, there is a lot of telling, preaching and inside the head convincing, rather than experiencing. The sermon on love conquering all at the end was a purely lazy device. So was the clumsy explanation of the dimensions, the planes, the Seven, the Shadow, the Darkness, the ghouls - yeah, you get the point. Both Ash and Drum had to have conversations inside their head to convince themselves they were in love. It certainly couldn't have been done through romantic tension (because there was none) or through imminent danger because the author was too busy throwing yet another mystical being and new magical talent out for there to be an emotional epiphany. The cornucopia of villains was ridiculous. Most were lucky to last for two pages. Such a missed chance for the development of a true villain or terror. It felt like Harry Potter on steroids at times, and the villains were less menacing. I expected more since we are constantly told it is an end of the world scenario. Sadly, the protectors of the Earth are a nitwit band of humans and gargoyles who digress into comparisons with Road Runner and Wile E. Coyote, and worry about their "preplan plan" and their "actual plan plan."
Book source: ARC from NetGalley.
This is a house-published book by an author with 30-some books under her belt. It is the fifth in a paranormal gargoyle series that averages ratings above four stars. I hope the other four were better, because I was underwhelmed by the lack of chemistry between the love interests, ticked off at the pacing, and irritated by the hyperactive, scattershot approach to the demonic minions and the mystical hyperbole it takes to conquer them. Maybe these deficiencies would not have been so glaring if I had read the first four books in the series, but I didn't. I walked away from this book thinking it tried to be a standalone and didn't come close to achieving it.
Female gargoyle Ash has been suddenly called to life in Dublin, Ireland to fight evil spawning in the region. On the night of her birth, she encounters brother / sister duo Michael and Maeve Drummond. There is an instant attraction on Drum's part to the Amazonian warrior with wings and shapely thighs. Sadly, the love connection is hampered by the coldness of Ash and the immaturity that leeches out between Maeve and her brother. There is a considerable amount of disrespect between the siblings (Maeve smacks Drum in the back of the head in front of a complete stranger, and it becomes a "thing" in the novel, plus he is continually chided by the women in his life for his lack of manners). I think these little arguments were supposed to be cute; it simply made Drum seem even less of a hero to me. Add in his constant yelling and grousing and grumpiness, and I was truly turned off his character at the beginning. Fortunately, Warren seems to have forgotten that quirk in his personality by late in the book.
The pacing. It was a problem. Certain things are repeated again and again. If I had to read one more time about how irritated Drum was at having his bartender life interrupted by the stone woman, I was going to scream. And that was just in the first 25% of the book. There were also inconsequential scenes that would receive undue attention, such as the PAGES devoted to setting up a camp site and cleaning a burn wound, while what truly interested me - Drum learning his Warden magic - got ONE SENTENCE. Grrrr.
Finally, there is a lot of telling, preaching and inside the head convincing, rather than experiencing. The sermon on love conquering all at the end was a purely lazy device. So was the clumsy explanation of the dimensions, the planes, the Seven, the Shadow, the Darkness, the ghouls - yeah, you get the point. Both Ash and Drum had to have conversations inside their head to convince themselves they were in love. It certainly couldn't have been done through romantic tension (because there was none) or through imminent danger because the author was too busy throwing yet another mystical being and new magical talent out for there to be an emotional epiphany. The cornucopia of villains was ridiculous. Most were lucky to last for two pages. Such a missed chance for the development of a true villain or terror. It felt like Harry Potter on steroids at times, and the villains were less menacing. I expected more since we are constantly told it is an end of the world scenario. Sadly, the protectors of the Earth are a nitwit band of humans and gargoyles who digress into comparisons with Road Runner and Wile E. Coyote, and worry about their "preplan plan" and their "actual plan plan."
Book source: ARC from NetGalley.
February 10, 2017
. . . love is the greatest weapon the Light has against the Darkness. Love is a source of happiness, of joy, of contentment. It’s a source of life, because people who love each other build lives together. They build families together. The Light doesn’t care who’s male and who’s female and which on carries the sword in the family. The Light just wants us to love.
Aaahhh! That line was so beautiful and had me feeling all mushy inside! I loved this read. I loved that there was a role reversal, because Ash is the first female Guardian in the history of their existence and she was such a warrior. Definitely no damsel in distress here! She was freakin AWESOME!
Lol, her H, Drum took some getting used to. I admit at first I found him to be too much of a scaredy-cat and I wanted him to be more assertive but after taking a step back and reevaluating him, I can see that his reactions (although OTT) seemed the kind of reaction a normal average guy would have when faced with the end of humanity as we know it. I get it, doesn’t mean I had to like how long it took for him to stop his whining and step up, but I get him a bit better now. Once he accepted his role in the grand scheme of things he was 100% better imo.
This had some crazy fight scenes that were done really well and the smexy times were pretty hot. Especially if the fast and hard variety is up your alley. This is part of an ongoing series and this is the fifth installment so there are four other couples we see and hear about that, if you’re not familiar with, might get a bit confusing trying to keep them straight. I didn’t think it effected the story’s impact at all and I was still able to really get into Ash and Drum’s story.
The romance was speed-of-light fast! One minute Drum is mistrustful, resentful and a huge mother effin jerk to Ash and then BAM! He’s overruled by his libido and all up in that poor little gargoyle! I definitely think that a bit more time could have been invested in Drum and Ash getting over their initial dislike for each other before things went down that road, but it all worked out in the end and I was just happy Ash got her mate! Oh, and that the end of the world as we know it was averted . . . until the next book! Haha!
*** ARC provided for an honest review ***
Aaahhh! That line was so beautiful and had me feeling all mushy inside! I loved this read. I loved that there was a role reversal, because Ash is the first female Guardian in the history of their existence and she was such a warrior. Definitely no damsel in distress here! She was freakin AWESOME!
Lol, her H, Drum took some getting used to. I admit at first I found him to be too much of a scaredy-cat and I wanted him to be more assertive but after taking a step back and reevaluating him, I can see that his reactions (although OTT) seemed the kind of reaction a normal average guy would have when faced with the end of humanity as we know it. I get it, doesn’t mean I had to like how long it took for him to stop his whining and step up, but I get him a bit better now. Once he accepted his role in the grand scheme of things he was 100% better imo.
This had some crazy fight scenes that were done really well and the smexy times were pretty hot. Especially if the fast and hard variety is up your alley. This is part of an ongoing series and this is the fifth installment so there are four other couples we see and hear about that, if you’re not familiar with, might get a bit confusing trying to keep them straight. I didn’t think it effected the story’s impact at all and I was still able to really get into Ash and Drum’s story.
The romance was speed-of-light fast! One minute Drum is mistrustful, resentful and a huge mother effin jerk to Ash and then BAM! He’s overruled by his libido and all up in that poor little gargoyle! I definitely think that a bit more time could have been invested in Drum and Ash getting over their initial dislike for each other before things went down that road, but it all worked out in the end and I was just happy Ash got her mate! Oh, and that the end of the world as we know it was averted . . . until the next book! Haha!
*** ARC provided for an honest review ***
February 4, 2017
Hard to handle 'Hard to Handle' by Christine Warren is book 5 in the "Gargoyles" series. This is the story of Michael Drummond 'Drum' and Ash. I have not read the other books yet so for me this is a standalone book. Drum has a bar in Ireland called Skin and Bones where he also has all sisters for siblings. But they do have a few special gifts that sets them apart. Drum is able to find things. When out with his sister she senses something and shortly after Ash appears. Ash is a woman Gargoyle who job is to protect humans. Her brothers have found their mates and Ash is certain that she will not. But the more she gets to know Drum and they start to discover more 'gifts' he didn't even know he had. It starts to work out that he might be her Warden. This was a exciting read that has made me want to read the other books in this series! "My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read."
February 7, 2017
As a long time fan of this authors Others series it was a no brainier for me to read this her new Gargoyle series and what fun it has been so far. With this the fifth instalment though she takes a whole new departure and introduces the very first female Guardian! Yep there have always been seven male Guardians to rise up alongside their human Wardens and battle the evil Demons but this time surely someone has made a mistake? Well Ash looks and acts like her Gargoyle brothers and she too knows her sacred duty but how can she proceed without a Warden to guide her?
Well allow me to introduce Drum. He is part of an Irish family who have what I can only describe as 'talents'. Powers, abilities if you will that his family have found pretty useful. Yet when Drum and his young sister Maeve get caught up with Ash it's clear she is going to need more than just human help , she will need to find her Warden and luckily Drum has the ability to somehow find things so perhaps a person won't be too difficult? It's going to have to be quick though as the Order of Eternal Darkness have just decided to step up their game!
I really liked the idea of a warrior woman stepping up and upping the ante. Yet I just found the first half of this slightly less frantically paced than usual. It took me a while to realise what was wrong and then after a situation occurs that necessitates other Guardians and Wardens getting involved I knew what had niggled away at me. You see Ash whilst brave and driven isn't as snarky or funny as previous heroines. So when they appear and it's all lets get cheeky, wind each other up and generally be humourous whilst trying to save the world the lighter touch just worked.
So much more happening in the second half which definitely worked for me. Drum and Ash are clearly going to be a good team but he did kind of spring things on her. One minute she's a stone creature who can become flesh and the next she's being kissed by an inebriated Drum with no idea why he wants to kiss her! A slight spoiler in that their physical relationship takes off quickly with the innocent Ash suddenly giving barrel racing cowgirls a run for their money and I was kind of tempted to shout yeehaw !
I did enjoy the story and I'm left wondering if any of Drews siblings will feature again. Maeve was certainly interesting but the rest of Drews family with the possible exception of his mum didn't seem to be as vivid which given their 'talents' seemed a shame. Luckily though with two Guardians and their mates popping in it turned out to be a book that entertained me and Ash finally got to see that love could conquer all
These are my voluntary thoughts on an advance reader copy and is my honest opinion
Well allow me to introduce Drum. He is part of an Irish family who have what I can only describe as 'talents'. Powers, abilities if you will that his family have found pretty useful. Yet when Drum and his young sister Maeve get caught up with Ash it's clear she is going to need more than just human help , she will need to find her Warden and luckily Drum has the ability to somehow find things so perhaps a person won't be too difficult? It's going to have to be quick though as the Order of Eternal Darkness have just decided to step up their game!
I really liked the idea of a warrior woman stepping up and upping the ante. Yet I just found the first half of this slightly less frantically paced than usual. It took me a while to realise what was wrong and then after a situation occurs that necessitates other Guardians and Wardens getting involved I knew what had niggled away at me. You see Ash whilst brave and driven isn't as snarky or funny as previous heroines. So when they appear and it's all lets get cheeky, wind each other up and generally be humourous whilst trying to save the world the lighter touch just worked.
So much more happening in the second half which definitely worked for me. Drum and Ash are clearly going to be a good team but he did kind of spring things on her. One minute she's a stone creature who can become flesh and the next she's being kissed by an inebriated Drum with no idea why he wants to kiss her! A slight spoiler in that their physical relationship takes off quickly with the innocent Ash suddenly giving barrel racing cowgirls a run for their money and I was kind of tempted to shout yeehaw !
I did enjoy the story and I'm left wondering if any of Drews siblings will feature again. Maeve was certainly interesting but the rest of Drews family with the possible exception of his mum didn't seem to be as vivid which given their 'talents' seemed a shame. Luckily though with two Guardians and their mates popping in it turned out to be a book that entertained me and Ash finally got to see that love could conquer all
These are my voluntary thoughts on an advance reader copy and is my honest opinion
February 12, 2017
Review courtesy of All Things Urban Fantasy:
I don’t think I’ve read too many stories featuring gargoyles, and I loved that Ash, the heroine in HARD TO HANDLE is the first female gargoyle to ever exist. She’s been summoned because evil is brewing, and she’s ready to fight with claws, wings and a giant two headed axe. She rocked, but it was her romantic interest that really sold the book for me.
Although he isn’t a giant winged stone creature, Drum isn’t as helpless as an everyday human. His family has various gifts, and his centers on finding lost things. He’s always passed it off as a parlour trick, because he knows that if it’s known about or can be used to find missing people, he won’t allow himself not to use it. It made for a particularly interesting character, who wants to help people, and knows once he starts, his conscience won’t let him stop. It’s very rare in paranormal romance to find male characters who show weakness, especially fear. Drum’s protectiveness of his family is the only thing that convinces him to help Ash when she needs to find her Warden, the human who summoned her.
There are fun bits of humour throughout, which keep the tone light even though the characters are facing the end of the world.
“I always thought it was kinda there in the name. Hell. Mouth. Seems pretty self-explanatory. Didn’t you guys get Buffy the Vampire Slayer over here?”
“Please, God and Saint Peter, don’t tell me we’re going to have to deal with the vampires.”
Dag looked disdainful [...] “Do not be ridiculous. Such creatures do not exist.”
“Well, that’s something, I suppose.”
The writing is much better than other paranormal romances I’ve read before, with the characters examining their feelings with eloquence and interesting metaphors that make reading a breeze even between the action scenes. Although there was a bit of a drag when the book inevitably caught up readers to the four previous books’ heroes and heroines, I quickly forgave it and hopped back into the action. HARD TO HANDLE does feel like a middle of the series book, but there was enough fun and action to make it worth reading whether you’re into the series already or not.
I don’t think I’ve read too many stories featuring gargoyles, and I loved that Ash, the heroine in HARD TO HANDLE is the first female gargoyle to ever exist. She’s been summoned because evil is brewing, and she’s ready to fight with claws, wings and a giant two headed axe. She rocked, but it was her romantic interest that really sold the book for me.
Although he isn’t a giant winged stone creature, Drum isn’t as helpless as an everyday human. His family has various gifts, and his centers on finding lost things. He’s always passed it off as a parlour trick, because he knows that if it’s known about or can be used to find missing people, he won’t allow himself not to use it. It made for a particularly interesting character, who wants to help people, and knows once he starts, his conscience won’t let him stop. It’s very rare in paranormal romance to find male characters who show weakness, especially fear. Drum’s protectiveness of his family is the only thing that convinces him to help Ash when she needs to find her Warden, the human who summoned her.
There are fun bits of humour throughout, which keep the tone light even though the characters are facing the end of the world.
“I always thought it was kinda there in the name. Hell. Mouth. Seems pretty self-explanatory. Didn’t you guys get Buffy the Vampire Slayer over here?”
“Please, God and Saint Peter, don’t tell me we’re going to have to deal with the vampires.”
Dag looked disdainful [...] “Do not be ridiculous. Such creatures do not exist.”
“Well, that’s something, I suppose.”
The writing is much better than other paranormal romances I’ve read before, with the characters examining their feelings with eloquence and interesting metaphors that make reading a breeze even between the action scenes. Although there was a bit of a drag when the book inevitably caught up readers to the four previous books’ heroes and heroines, I quickly forgave it and hopped back into the action. HARD TO HANDLE does feel like a middle of the series book, but there was enough fun and action to make it worth reading whether you’re into the series already or not.
February 6, 2017
My Thoughts - 5 out of 5 Unicorns - I loved it!!
***I choose what I read and review based on what intrigues me!!
The cover is deceiving because you think you are looking at the Guardian, but you are not! Tricky Tricky!
This is the 5th book in the series, and it is for adults only due to the steamy content. I highly recommend reading the series in order because the characters are much better when you understand them through their own book story :)
This book departs from tradition, and I loved it! I was very confused in the beginning, but I don’t usually read the blurbs because I like to be surprised. And I was surprised!
At first I thought Drum was a tool, but he was protective where his family was concerned which I admired. I think he didn’t realize how much potential he had in the wake of his mom and sisters’ talents and thinking his was nothing of value and only a parlor trick. I grow fond of him especially his protective streak. Ash is a typical warrior and also more lost than most Guardians due to the circumstance surrounding her. She is just as protective as Drum, and it makes for entertainment for sure! Of course, I really loved when Kylie and Wynn joined with snarky conversations that are most amusing. I couldn’t put this book down, and I’m sick as a dog right now!
I highly recommend this book and series to all readers to love rock hard men…and woman….get your minds out of the gutters…gargoyles rule! You definitely want to read if you love Christine’s work too! I can’t wait to see what Christine sculpts next!
***I choose what I read and review based on what intrigues me!!
The cover is deceiving because you think you are looking at the Guardian, but you are not! Tricky Tricky!
This is the 5th book in the series, and it is for adults only due to the steamy content. I highly recommend reading the series in order because the characters are much better when you understand them through their own book story :)
This book departs from tradition, and I loved it! I was very confused in the beginning, but I don’t usually read the blurbs because I like to be surprised. And I was surprised!
At first I thought Drum was a tool, but he was protective where his family was concerned which I admired. I think he didn’t realize how much potential he had in the wake of his mom and sisters’ talents and thinking his was nothing of value and only a parlor trick. I grow fond of him especially his protective streak. Ash is a typical warrior and also more lost than most Guardians due to the circumstance surrounding her. She is just as protective as Drum, and it makes for entertainment for sure! Of course, I really loved when Kylie and Wynn joined with snarky conversations that are most amusing. I couldn’t put this book down, and I’m sick as a dog right now!
I highly recommend this book and series to all readers to love rock hard men…and woman….get your minds out of the gutters…gargoyles rule! You definitely want to read if you love Christine’s work too! I can’t wait to see what Christine sculpts next!
December 16, 2016
I have read all of these gargoyle books and while all of them have been good I felt like we were getting into a bit of a rut with them, this book brings us out of such a thought and adds a bit more humor into the mix also which was a welcome addition.
Ash and Drum were a good match once they decided not to hate each other. The romance was done well and the overall plot was very good although I would have enjoyed seeing some of the secondary characters fleshed out a bit more (his family).
There is a good amount of action which makes for a good story, the sex was IMHO a bit overdone but not horribly and it had a few things that did NOT go like you thought things were going to go which is usually a good thing and I felt it was here.
Bottom Line: I really enjoyed this story possibly more than I did the last 2 but I have loved them all but the last one to really "knock my socks off" was book 1 but there is an overarching storyline that we are slowly getting to and looks like it will be one of those battles to save the Earth but the real reason I like these books is usually the romance from unsuspecting females with previously hunks of rock :) While I AM an action oriented reader I would have liked a bit more romantic comedy interjected in the next one as this one did and maybe less prior knowledge. 4 Stars and highly recommended.
Ash and Drum were a good match once they decided not to hate each other. The romance was done well and the overall plot was very good although I would have enjoyed seeing some of the secondary characters fleshed out a bit more (his family).
There is a good amount of action which makes for a good story, the sex was IMHO a bit overdone but not horribly and it had a few things that did NOT go like you thought things were going to go which is usually a good thing and I felt it was here.
Bottom Line: I really enjoyed this story possibly more than I did the last 2 but I have loved them all but the last one to really "knock my socks off" was book 1 but there is an overarching storyline that we are slowly getting to and looks like it will be one of those battles to save the Earth but the real reason I like these books is usually the romance from unsuspecting females with previously hunks of rock :) While I AM an action oriented reader I would have liked a bit more romantic comedy interjected in the next one as this one did and maybe less prior knowledge. 4 Stars and highly recommended.
February 7, 2017
3.5 Stars!
I read a gargoyle story years ago on fan fiction and really liked it so I was very curious about this book. Being a female gargoyle, Ash was a great character. I had no issues with her as this role even though you might associate a gargoyle as male. Also I think the author did a good job of making her attractive. Gargoyle's in general are not pretty. This was definitely a unique story and while I had no issues with Ash as a gargoyle, I didn't like Drum at first. He came off as a bit of a coward to me in the beginning. He wanted to get rid of Ash as soon as he met her and wasn't going to help her if it wasn't for his sister nagging him into it. I just like a stronger male in my stories. Overall, a great read and I really want to try one of the other books with the male gargoyles. This can be read as a standalone. ARC provided by NetGalley.
I read a gargoyle story years ago on fan fiction and really liked it so I was very curious about this book. Being a female gargoyle, Ash was a great character. I had no issues with her as this role even though you might associate a gargoyle as male. Also I think the author did a good job of making her attractive. Gargoyle's in general are not pretty. This was definitely a unique story and while I had no issues with Ash as a gargoyle, I didn't like Drum at first. He came off as a bit of a coward to me in the beginning. He wanted to get rid of Ash as soon as he met her and wasn't going to help her if it wasn't for his sister nagging him into it. I just like a stronger male in my stories. Overall, a great read and I really want to try one of the other books with the male gargoyles. This can be read as a standalone. ARC provided by NetGalley.
December 1, 2016
The next installment of Christine Warren's Gargoyle series introduces us to a twist in the plot. Guardians are supposed to be male, they have always been male, until now. Ash is summoned after one of her brethren is destroyed and she doesn't understand why she exists. Michael is present when she is summoned and he is very hard-headed in his belief that magic does not exist. Even when it is before his eyes he wants to refuse its, and Ash's, existence which of course brings tension between the couple. He hates the fact that he is thrust into a world he doesn't want to belong to and he takes his anger out on Ash. Their passion when it happens is so explosive, I loved it. They were intense and once they give in, it is all over for the both of them. They, individually, of course, acknowledge that the other is their mate. Ash doesn't believe she will have a happy ending like her brothers because she is female and the story of the original 7 Guardians finding their mates can't include her because she isn't into females. She wants Michael but doesn't believe she will end up having him as her mate. The battles are intense and two previous Guardians and their mates come to aid Ash and Michael save his sister and the world from another Demon being freed from its prison. I enjoyed their story, I loved their passion, and I was entertained from beginning to end. Warren knows how to tell a tale of love, passion, and excitement. This was a Netgalley read.
August 21, 2016
A gargoyle is summoned from the earth to resist the Dark- there is supposed to be an assisting Warden to greet her, instead she finds Maeve a woman who sees the future and her brother Drum who can tell you where lost things are found. This motley crew are challenged with resisting one of the greatest challenges presented by the Dark in Aeons...
February 10, 2017
will post review tomorrow
April 2, 2017
Solid 3 stars.
The premise of a female gargoyle Guardian "Ash" was interesting. Unfortunately, Drum as the ignorant male "Warden" was a bit of a jerk. And it was hard to believe that all it took was a romp with Ash for him to change so drastically.
There were a lot of repetitive introspection that got a bit tired, but I did like it when some of the previous couples make an appearance to help with the latest disaster. And I hope Drum's younger sister Maeve gets her own Guardian, because she seems quite plucky.
The premise of a female gargoyle Guardian "Ash" was interesting. Unfortunately, Drum as the ignorant male "Warden" was a bit of a jerk. And it was hard to believe that all it took was a romp with Ash for him to change so drastically.
There were a lot of repetitive introspection that got a bit tired, but I did like it when some of the previous couples make an appearance to help with the latest disaster. And I hope Drum's younger sister Maeve gets her own Guardian, because she seems quite plucky.
March 31, 2017
I enjoyed reading this story and i loved the characters in it. Despite the fact the main characters are lacking in development, the story had a lot of twist and turns which mad e up for the lack in the main characters in the story. The first female guardian in this series and Ash is like her gargoyle brothers and she needs a mate and here comes Michael. A must read for paranormal fans everywhere.
February 7, 2017
Originally posted on NallaReads
The only male among four sisters, Michael Drummond is no stranger to women’s strength and formidable will. His Dublin pub, the Skin & Bones, is his refuge, a reassuringly masculine retreat. Until a fierce woman warrior from another realm bursts into his life, bringing with her a battle between good and evil…and an explosive dose of desire.
The first and only of her kind, Ash is a lone female gargoyle, a creature destined to protect mankind from Demons determined to unleash their darkest forces. But her arrival on Earth is more confusing than she expected: her bone-deep instinct to do battle is matched only by her untamed attraction to stubborn, stalwart Drum. If they manage to keep the world safe, can they turn the passion crackling between them into a love that will withstand the test of time?
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**ARC received from the author for an honest review**
When The Darkness' threat looms closer than ever before how will The Light find a new way to stop them? For the first time in Guardian history, Ash has awoken as the first of her kind, a female Guardian in the midst of a war between good and evil. Michael Drummond has always been around gifted women, sisters with innate abilities who tend to save the day. But when his sister's premonitions lead him to Ash's claws...he's got to open up to a whole new world he never new existed.
The past books in the series has featured all sassy female Wardens and male Guardians whose attitudes reflect their stony nature. This book was so refreshing that Warren decided to go with a female Guardian! Drum was his own style..not quite sassy but sarcastic and stubborn. The banter between the stone faced Ash and Drum was so entertaining to read. I loved Warren's take on Drum's female family members and their "abilities". They were just enough of old Irish tales that it held a sense of superstition behind them.
We got to see a glimpse into each of the previous Guardians lives and even Wynn and Kylie joined in he adventure when The Darkness's operations moved to the eastern world. Warren always writes the perfect amount of action and suspense as to how the Wardens and Guardians can save the day. In theory we'll have two more novels and two more Guardians to discover!!!
A SEDUCTION STRONGER THAN STONE
The only male among four sisters, Michael Drummond is no stranger to women’s strength and formidable will. His Dublin pub, the Skin & Bones, is his refuge, a reassuringly masculine retreat. Until a fierce woman warrior from another realm bursts into his life, bringing with her a battle between good and evil…and an explosive dose of desire.
The first and only of her kind, Ash is a lone female gargoyle, a creature destined to protect mankind from Demons determined to unleash their darkest forces. But her arrival on Earth is more confusing than she expected: her bone-deep instinct to do battle is matched only by her untamed attraction to stubborn, stalwart Drum. If they manage to keep the world safe, can they turn the passion crackling between them into a love that will withstand the test of time?
ADD IT TO YOUR GOODREADS
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CONNECT WITH CHRISTINE
Christine Warren is the author of the Novels of the Others, including New York Times Bestsellers Big Bad Wolf, Walk on the Wild Side, and One Bite with a Stranger. Born and raised in coastal New England, Christine Warren now lives as a transplant in the Pacific Northwest. When not writing (as if that ever happens), she enjoys horseback riding, playing with her pets, identifying dogs from photos of their underbellies, and most of all reading things someone else had to agonize over. She has been assimilated by Twitter (as @ChrstineWarren) and Facebook, where you can follow her thoughts and witness her being ridiculous firsthand, and she always enjoys hearing from readers via email sent to Christine@ChristineWarren.net.
February 7, 2017
Hard to Handle' by Christine Warren is book 5 in the Gargoyles series and wow it feels as fresh as if I was picking up and reading book 1. In this book, it is the story of Michael Drummond and Ash.
In this book, we are introduced to the first female Guardian/ gargoyle-- This book departs from tradition, because in previous books there were the male guardians to the female human Wardens but in this book, we have a female gargoyle which is totally awesome. Ash looks and acts like her Gargoyle brothers , she knows her what her sacred duty is but how can she proceed without a male Warden to guide her? Ahh that is where Michael Drummond aka Drum comes in.
Drum is part of an Irish family and they have certain talents or abilities. These abilities have come in pretty useful to him and his family, including his sister. Drum owns a bar , comes off at first as kind of a jerk but that is surface glance. He is very protective of his family and a bit unsure where he fits in because he doesn’t think he has any of their talents when he does, his hasn’t come thru yet. Oh he will grow on you and his interaction with this female Gargoyle is unique—Ash is fierce and independent –there is a chemistry, a heat between them. He doesn’t know what to make of her but he is interested in her. She has come to save the world and is ready for battle while Drum is trying to figure out what is going on.
There is a bit more action in this book than in previous books, in my opinion. There is also a lot more sexual tension and humor between the MC. The action and romance is great and while some spots did run slow, overall it was a good read. I loved Drum’s sister and I hope she gets her own book soon. Overall, this was a solid Gargoyles read and I look forward to the next in the series.
My rating: 4.5 stars ****
"I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book in exchange for an honest review***
In this book, we are introduced to the first female Guardian/ gargoyle-- This book departs from tradition, because in previous books there were the male guardians to the female human Wardens but in this book, we have a female gargoyle which is totally awesome. Ash looks and acts like her Gargoyle brothers , she knows her what her sacred duty is but how can she proceed without a male Warden to guide her? Ahh that is where Michael Drummond aka Drum comes in.
Drum is part of an Irish family and they have certain talents or abilities. These abilities have come in pretty useful to him and his family, including his sister. Drum owns a bar , comes off at first as kind of a jerk but that is surface glance. He is very protective of his family and a bit unsure where he fits in because he doesn’t think he has any of their talents when he does, his hasn’t come thru yet. Oh he will grow on you and his interaction with this female Gargoyle is unique—Ash is fierce and independent –there is a chemistry, a heat between them. He doesn’t know what to make of her but he is interested in her. She has come to save the world and is ready for battle while Drum is trying to figure out what is going on.
There is a bit more action in this book than in previous books, in my opinion. There is also a lot more sexual tension and humor between the MC. The action and romance is great and while some spots did run slow, overall it was a good read. I loved Drum’s sister and I hope she gets her own book soon. Overall, this was a solid Gargoyles read and I look forward to the next in the series.
My rating: 4.5 stars ****
"I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book in exchange for an honest review***
January 3, 2017
I was excited to see that another Christine Warren novel was out! But after starting this novel I realized that the reason it feels like it's been so long since I've read one of her novels is because I've missed the last two books in this series! It was a bit of a shock, but that didn't take away from the suspense or fun in this book.
I really liked the turn around that the Guardian is a never before seen female Guardian. And that she was inexplicably called forth as a female because her Warden and mate were one and the same. Even if he didn't know he was a Warden in the first place. I really liked Michael (Drum)'s character. It was great to see this from the male perspective. Not only that but even though he's a male of power and his family has abilities he's almost a skeptic on top of that. It was fun. Until he starts shooting electricity he is of the 'leave me out of it' mentality.
I wasn't as big of a fan of Ash, but I think it was because I'm used to the Guardian being male and I liked Michael so much that it made it harder to get behind Ash. She also had some weird mental quirks based on how she interpreted the knowledge/memories that she had that threw me off.
All in all, a decent book that makes me want to go back and read the ones I've missed. Kylie and Dag's book sounds like it was super good!
I really liked the turn around that the Guardian is a never before seen female Guardian. And that she was inexplicably called forth as a female because her Warden and mate were one and the same. Even if he didn't know he was a Warden in the first place. I really liked Michael (Drum)'s character. It was great to see this from the male perspective. Not only that but even though he's a male of power and his family has abilities he's almost a skeptic on top of that. It was fun. Until he starts shooting electricity he is of the 'leave me out of it' mentality.
I wasn't as big of a fan of Ash, but I think it was because I'm used to the Guardian being male and I liked Michael so much that it made it harder to get behind Ash. She also had some weird mental quirks based on how she interpreted the knowledge/memories that she had that threw me off.
All in all, a decent book that makes me want to go back and read the ones I've missed. Kylie and Dag's book sounds like it was super good!
January 31, 2017
The Drummond family is filled with “gifts” so one night, when Michael Drummond goes to pick his sister up and she is running as if the bats of hell are on her heels, he doesn’t question why but picks up his heels and follows her. Lightning flashes, the earth trembles and his world changes in that instant. Why? A female gargoyle comes to life and battles evil before his eyes. Not being a pushover and rather curmudgeonly he eventually does what is “right” with a push and prod from his sister then from his internal good-meter. He eventually realizes his purpose, as does female gargoyle Ash, and the story is on. With trips to the countryside, visions, magic, visits from other gargoyles and their warden-mates, a kidnapping and near sacrifice, unfolding of information that will eventually lead to the tying up of the series and a HEA but not an end to the series the story was busy indeed. I liked the book and found it an easy read. I would like to find out how the series will end. I believe that with seven gargoyles mentioned there are probably two more books expected in the series. That said, since there must always be seven gargoyles to be available to fight evil there is potential for future gargoyle books or a future gargoyle series.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC. This is my honest review.
3.5 Stars
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC. This is my honest review.
3.5 Stars
January 2, 2017
3 stars = I liked it but with 'nits'. Hard to Handle twists the series formula by doing a gender swap in the leading roles. No rock hard gargoyle hero this time around, instead the first ever female Guardian and a hunky Irish pub owner who doesn't acknowledged his own magic take center stage in the fight to save the world.
I liked this for the most part, even though I am a nut for gargoyle guys, the warrior woman leading lady was awesome when in fighting mode. I liked less her angst-y moments of lamenting that she won't get the 'mate' promised to all of her brethren - it didn't seem as needy/vulnerable when the guys went through it. And I missed seeing the awakening to emotion that the guys went through too, since this was her first rodeo she doesn't hae those eons of detachment to overcome. I did like the reluctant hero and liked even more his family - his mom was awesome.
I was also mixed on the cameos of past leads (I still find the Yiddish spouting techie Warden annoying) but overall I still am looking forward to the next but don't see how this series can get stretched out for too many more books unless the romances start taking more of a back seat to the back ground arc.
ARC via NetGalley
I liked this for the most part, even though I am a nut for gargoyle guys, the warrior woman leading lady was awesome when in fighting mode. I liked less her angst-y moments of lamenting that she won't get the 'mate' promised to all of her brethren - it didn't seem as needy/vulnerable when the guys went through it. And I missed seeing the awakening to emotion that the guys went through too, since this was her first rodeo she doesn't hae those eons of detachment to overcome. I did like the reluctant hero and liked even more his family - his mom was awesome.
I was also mixed on the cameos of past leads (I still find the Yiddish spouting techie Warden annoying) but overall I still am looking forward to the next but don't see how this series can get stretched out for too many more books unless the romances start taking more of a back seat to the back ground arc.
ARC via NetGalley
September 9, 2017
Title: Hard to Handle - A Beauty and Beast Novel - Gargoyles Series Book 5
Author: Christine Warren
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Published: 2-7-2017
Pages: 305
Genre: Romance
Sub-Genre: Science Fiction & Fantasy, Paranormal, Gargoyles, Erotic Romance, Gothic
ISBN: 9781250077387
ASIN: B01IA6FO0G
Reviewed For NetGalley and St. Martin's Press
Reviewer: DelAnne
Rating: 4.25 Stars
A SEDUCTION STRONGER THAN STONE
The only male among four sisters, Michael Drummond is no stranger to women’s strength and formidable will. His Dublin pub, the Skin & Bones, is his refuge, a reassuringly masculine retreat. Until a fierce woman warrior from another realm bursts into his life, bringing with her a battle between good and evil…and an explosive dose of desire.
The first and only of her kind, Ash is a lone female gargoyle, a creature destined to protect mankind from Demons determined to unleash their darkest forces. But her arrival on Earth is more confusing than she expected: her bone-deep instinct to do battle is matched only by her untamed attraction to stubborn, stalwart Drum. If they manage to keep the world safe, can they turn the passion crackling between them into a love that will withstand the test of time, in Hard to Handle, the next Gargoyle paranormal romance by New York Times bestselling author Christine Warren.
With a looming threat to humanity on the rise, Spar has no time to fall for the woman who’s pure beauty commands his soul. But even the most fearsome beast of all doesn’t get to choose who steals his heart…
Don't miss the other books in the Gargoyle series:
Book #1: Heart of Stone
Book #2 Stone Cold Lover
Book #3: Hard as a Rock
Book #4: Rocked by Love
Book #5: Hard to Handle
Book #6: Hard Breaker
Take one hot gargyle gardian and on stunned art restorer, mix them together and you have one hot paranormal romance to schorch your eyes with. Felicity is calm, cool and collected until she happens on Spar, then its her intellect ang heart that fights to accept and win the heart of this ancient warrior of times gone by. Spar has done his time in battle and only the attraction to this beauty in peril will draw him from his slumber. Fast paced, Fun read.
Surrounded by females most of his life, Drum is not sure what to make of Ash, the only female CGargoyle Guardian. (Maybe, Maybe not) Filled with humor and some situations that leave Drum Fummoxed the two work around the contrast and hope to find a happy medium. Human, Gargoyle, kind of unusual, but doable. A fun paranormal read to while you afternoon on.
My rating of "Hard to Handle - A Beauty and Beast Novel - Gargoyles Series Book 5" is 4.25 out of 5 stars.
Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01IA6FO0G/...
B&N Link: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/hard...
Books-A-Million Link: http://www.booksamillion.com/p/Hard-H...
Google Play Link: https://play.google.com/store/books/d...
Indigo Link: https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/...
Kobo Link: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/hard...
GoodReads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
The Reading Room Link: https://www.facebook.com/permalink.ph...
Twitter Link: https://twitter.com/DelAnne531/status...
Author: Christine Warren
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Published: 2-7-2017
Pages: 305
Genre: Romance
Sub-Genre: Science Fiction & Fantasy, Paranormal, Gargoyles, Erotic Romance, Gothic
ISBN: 9781250077387
ASIN: B01IA6FO0G
Reviewed For NetGalley and St. Martin's Press
Reviewer: DelAnne
Rating: 4.25 Stars
A SEDUCTION STRONGER THAN STONE
The only male among four sisters, Michael Drummond is no stranger to women’s strength and formidable will. His Dublin pub, the Skin & Bones, is his refuge, a reassuringly masculine retreat. Until a fierce woman warrior from another realm bursts into his life, bringing with her a battle between good and evil…and an explosive dose of desire.
The first and only of her kind, Ash is a lone female gargoyle, a creature destined to protect mankind from Demons determined to unleash their darkest forces. But her arrival on Earth is more confusing than she expected: her bone-deep instinct to do battle is matched only by her untamed attraction to stubborn, stalwart Drum. If they manage to keep the world safe, can they turn the passion crackling between them into a love that will withstand the test of time, in Hard to Handle, the next Gargoyle paranormal romance by New York Times bestselling author Christine Warren.
With a looming threat to humanity on the rise, Spar has no time to fall for the woman who’s pure beauty commands his soul. But even the most fearsome beast of all doesn’t get to choose who steals his heart…
Don't miss the other books in the Gargoyle series:
Book #1: Heart of Stone
Book #2 Stone Cold Lover
Book #3: Hard as a Rock
Book #4: Rocked by Love
Book #5: Hard to Handle
Book #6: Hard Breaker
Take one hot gargyle gardian and on stunned art restorer, mix them together and you have one hot paranormal romance to schorch your eyes with. Felicity is calm, cool and collected until she happens on Spar, then its her intellect ang heart that fights to accept and win the heart of this ancient warrior of times gone by. Spar has done his time in battle and only the attraction to this beauty in peril will draw him from his slumber. Fast paced, Fun read.
Surrounded by females most of his life, Drum is not sure what to make of Ash, the only female CGargoyle Guardian. (Maybe, Maybe not) Filled with humor and some situations that leave Drum Fummoxed the two work around the contrast and hope to find a happy medium. Human, Gargoyle, kind of unusual, but doable. A fun paranormal read to while you afternoon on.
My rating of "Hard to Handle - A Beauty and Beast Novel - Gargoyles Series Book 5" is 4.25 out of 5 stars.
Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01IA6FO0G/...
B&N Link: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/hard...
Books-A-Million Link: http://www.booksamillion.com/p/Hard-H...
Google Play Link: https://play.google.com/store/books/d...
Indigo Link: https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/...
Kobo Link: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/hard...
GoodReads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
The Reading Room Link: https://www.facebook.com/permalink.ph...
Twitter Link: https://twitter.com/DelAnne531/status...
August 26, 2018
Like her brothers before her, Ash bursts to life immediately aware that something has gone terribly wrong in the world and that this is why she has been summoned. Normally, when a Guardian awakens, a Warden is present to inform of them about what the danger is and to help formulate a plan to keep the Seven in check. Like her brothers before her, Ash must deal with the fact that her newly minted Warden doesn't have the slightest clue about what is going on, or even that he is a person of power. With a threat looming, Ash barely has time to think about the ramifications that she is the first female Guardian ever and that she is developing feelings for Michael. The fate of the world is at risk and Ash and Michael are simply unprepared to meet it.
Unlike the other books in this series, Warren tried to infuse a little more humour into the story. Anyone who has siblings and has retained a close relationship with them into adulthood should be able to see themselves reflected. Sure, Michael and his four sister are all adults now and are living active and busy lives but that doesn't mean they won't rat each other to their mother or engage in puerile games to get what they want. At times, this approach had me laughing and thinking about my own younger brothers.
As a male love interest Michael was as crotchity as an old man. I understand that he would have been overwhelmed by a honest to goodness gargoyle coming to life and learning that the forces of evil were aligning but the way that he treated Ash throughout the novel was truly disturbing. I don't think that Michael actually ever moved past sexualising her and so when he declared love, which is the habit in paranormal series, it didn't fit for even a moment. Michael barely saw Ash as human let alone an individual person with feelings which could be hurt. This of course was magnified by the fact that the evolution of Michael's relationship with Ash mostly happened through internal monologue rather than shared experiences.
One of the things that I have loved about the Gargoyles series is that it felt explicitly feminist and I am sad to report, it seems that Warren decided to drop this approach in Hard to Handle. While it was funny to see Michael's interactions with his siblings and mother, it was particularly problematic the way that gender was treated. Warren actually sought to frame Michael as a oppressed by having so many women in his life. Really? Being surrounded by women is hard? If that were not enough, Michael constantly used the feminine as a pejorative.
In the retelling, he imagined he would change the scream to a hoarse, manly shout of surprise; but in the moment, the high pitch of his girlish exclamation sounded like a harmony to the unearthly shriek that shook the air around them. (pg 7)
He might have soiled himself, or at the very least, whimpered and cried like a little girl. Very bad for his image. (pg 15)
He screamed, a small part of his mind shaking free of the error to wonder whether or not he sounded like a little girl. (pg 95)
He opened his mouth to release another, girly wordless scream and heard instead his own voice bellow in an unfamiliar tone of command. (pg 98)
Michael's very understanding of masculinity itself is extremely problematic
Read More
Unlike the other books in this series, Warren tried to infuse a little more humour into the story. Anyone who has siblings and has retained a close relationship with them into adulthood should be able to see themselves reflected. Sure, Michael and his four sister are all adults now and are living active and busy lives but that doesn't mean they won't rat each other to their mother or engage in puerile games to get what they want. At times, this approach had me laughing and thinking about my own younger brothers.
As a male love interest Michael was as crotchity as an old man. I understand that he would have been overwhelmed by a honest to goodness gargoyle coming to life and learning that the forces of evil were aligning but the way that he treated Ash throughout the novel was truly disturbing. I don't think that Michael actually ever moved past sexualising her and so when he declared love, which is the habit in paranormal series, it didn't fit for even a moment. Michael barely saw Ash as human let alone an individual person with feelings which could be hurt. This of course was magnified by the fact that the evolution of Michael's relationship with Ash mostly happened through internal monologue rather than shared experiences.
One of the things that I have loved about the Gargoyles series is that it felt explicitly feminist and I am sad to report, it seems that Warren decided to drop this approach in Hard to Handle. While it was funny to see Michael's interactions with his siblings and mother, it was particularly problematic the way that gender was treated. Warren actually sought to frame Michael as a oppressed by having so many women in his life. Really? Being surrounded by women is hard? If that were not enough, Michael constantly used the feminine as a pejorative.
In the retelling, he imagined he would change the scream to a hoarse, manly shout of surprise; but in the moment, the high pitch of his girlish exclamation sounded like a harmony to the unearthly shriek that shook the air around them. (pg 7)
He might have soiled himself, or at the very least, whimpered and cried like a little girl. Very bad for his image. (pg 15)
He screamed, a small part of his mind shaking free of the error to wonder whether or not he sounded like a little girl. (pg 95)
He opened his mouth to release another, girly wordless scream and heard instead his own voice bellow in an unfamiliar tone of command. (pg 98)
Michael's very understanding of masculinity itself is extremely problematic
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May 8, 2017
A Gargoyle amazon warrior woman hell yes!
I just love reading books where women can take care of and defend themselves, who can kick-ass just as well as the men do, wielding weapons and shouting out a battle cry all I can say is 'you go girls'!!! In this book we have our first and only leading heroine female Gargoyle Guardian Ash, who is summoned to replace a fallen Guardian who was destroyed while in his stone form in Dublin Ireland. Upon her arrival dressed in a belted tunic, with her long waist length braided hair and wielding a double edged axe she is a sight to behold and sets a certain Irish pub owners blood to boiling. In the wrong place at the wrong time Michael Drummond aka Drum owner of the 'Skin and Bones' pub is waiting for his little sister to finish a class so he can take her back to their parents house for the night. When all hell breaks loose they are faced with a nocturni sorcerer and a Gargoyle Guardian fighting it out between them leaving Drum and his sister Maeve wondering what the hell is going on. Drum is the only male in a family with four other female siblings, he's tired of being controlled and dictated by women so when he meets Ash he's automatically on the defensive as he recognizes the strong female in her and knows hes going to get steam rolled by her if he doesn't. Plus he resents having himself or his family be involved in this fight of good vs evil, he just wants his life to return to normal and send Ash on her merry way as far from him as possibly even though the sight of her sets his pulse on fire, she is literally his deepest darkest fantasy come to life. Drum starts off seeming quite short tempered, rude, insensitive and just a jerk really, his determination to get rid of Ash and away from himself and his family make you dislike him a little. Especially how he treated and spoke to Ash sometimes, I actually felt bad for her as she kept desperately trying to get him to do the right thing so thank goodness that eventually he changes his tune and mellows out a little towards her and what he should be doing making you see him in a whole different light. Their passionate scenes were SMOKING HOT!!! Sweat inducing, mouth hanging open, pulse racing and fantasy worthy action you had to fan yourself to read through or risk going up in flames it was just that good. My only negative comment on this book would be that the first four chapters were too slow paced not much happens aside from the first battle scene introducing the characters and some minor incidents it was mainly explaining the history of the Light and the Darkness and the search for Ash's Warden. But straight after that it's a non stop roller coaster ride of action, suspense and magic with some very funny characters from the previous books making an appearance.
I just love reading books where women can take care of and defend themselves, who can kick-ass just as well as the men do, wielding weapons and shouting out a battle cry all I can say is 'you go girls'!!! In this book we have our first and only leading heroine female Gargoyle Guardian Ash, who is summoned to replace a fallen Guardian who was destroyed while in his stone form in Dublin Ireland. Upon her arrival dressed in a belted tunic, with her long waist length braided hair and wielding a double edged axe she is a sight to behold and sets a certain Irish pub owners blood to boiling. In the wrong place at the wrong time Michael Drummond aka Drum owner of the 'Skin and Bones' pub is waiting for his little sister to finish a class so he can take her back to their parents house for the night. When all hell breaks loose they are faced with a nocturni sorcerer and a Gargoyle Guardian fighting it out between them leaving Drum and his sister Maeve wondering what the hell is going on. Drum is the only male in a family with four other female siblings, he's tired of being controlled and dictated by women so when he meets Ash he's automatically on the defensive as he recognizes the strong female in her and knows hes going to get steam rolled by her if he doesn't. Plus he resents having himself or his family be involved in this fight of good vs evil, he just wants his life to return to normal and send Ash on her merry way as far from him as possibly even though the sight of her sets his pulse on fire, she is literally his deepest darkest fantasy come to life. Drum starts off seeming quite short tempered, rude, insensitive and just a jerk really, his determination to get rid of Ash and away from himself and his family make you dislike him a little. Especially how he treated and spoke to Ash sometimes, I actually felt bad for her as she kept desperately trying to get him to do the right thing so thank goodness that eventually he changes his tune and mellows out a little towards her and what he should be doing making you see him in a whole different light. Their passionate scenes were SMOKING HOT!!! Sweat inducing, mouth hanging open, pulse racing and fantasy worthy action you had to fan yourself to read through or risk going up in flames it was just that good. My only negative comment on this book would be that the first four chapters were too slow paced not much happens aside from the first battle scene introducing the characters and some minor incidents it was mainly explaining the history of the Light and the Darkness and the search for Ash's Warden. But straight after that it's a non stop roller coaster ride of action, suspense and magic with some very funny characters from the previous books making an appearance.
February 9, 2017
Hard to Handle by Christine Warren is the 5th book in her Gargoyles series. This is the first book I am reading in this series, and it did read very well as a standalone, as Warren does give us information on the some of the other characters from the previous books. In the first 4 books, the hero is a male gargoyle , who is a restored from stone, when the threat of demons and hell become real. They are considered Guardians to protect humans from the darkness. For each Gargoyle, there is a Warden, who helps them.
In Dublin, Ireland, Michael Drum (Drum)mond is pulled away from the pub he runs, becuase his sister, Maeve, has a vision of extreme danger from monsters. On the way home, the earth quakes and it is not an earthquake. What they perceive is a monster with wings, is actually a Guardian being summoned to life, as a terrible darkness is about to endanger all their lives. Ash, our heroine in this story, is the first female Guardian, and she enlists the aid of both Maeve and Michael to find the warden who requires her help. Wheras, Maeve, who has the sight and sees visions of the future, is more than ready to help Ash; but Drum wants nothing to do with monsters, demons and wants to head back to his pub. But then they are attacked, and Ash is able to save them. Ash is able to take a form of human female, when not being the Gargoyle. In a short time, she will discover that Drum, who treats her rudely, is in fact the Warden she has been looking for. I thought that early on, Drum was easy to dislike, and even though he is being pulled into something he knows nothing about, I did feel he went overboard in his distaste for Ash, or her quest.
What follows is a very exciting action packed adventure, where Ash and Drum must try to find and kill the demons, and along the way they both begin to have feelings for each other. When the danger escalates, Maeve will find information on the other Guardians/Wardens, and some will come from America to Ireland to help with the war. I loved meeting two of the previous heroes, and it was fun to watch them learn about each other. The last third of the book was intense, with lots of action and dangerous situations, which had you sitting on the edge of your seat.
Hard to Handle has a nice ending, but the war has just begun. Drum and Ash’s romance heats up with a happy conclusion. The Demons are still around, and all the Guardians and Wardens will find themselves together at some point in future books. Excellent suspenseful adventure, written very well by Christine Warren. One day I need to go back and read the earlier books.
Barb
The Reading Cafe
In Dublin, Ireland, Michael Drum (Drum)mond is pulled away from the pub he runs, becuase his sister, Maeve, has a vision of extreme danger from monsters. On the way home, the earth quakes and it is not an earthquake. What they perceive is a monster with wings, is actually a Guardian being summoned to life, as a terrible darkness is about to endanger all their lives. Ash, our heroine in this story, is the first female Guardian, and she enlists the aid of both Maeve and Michael to find the warden who requires her help. Wheras, Maeve, who has the sight and sees visions of the future, is more than ready to help Ash; but Drum wants nothing to do with monsters, demons and wants to head back to his pub. But then they are attacked, and Ash is able to save them. Ash is able to take a form of human female, when not being the Gargoyle. In a short time, she will discover that Drum, who treats her rudely, is in fact the Warden she has been looking for. I thought that early on, Drum was easy to dislike, and even though he is being pulled into something he knows nothing about, I did feel he went overboard in his distaste for Ash, or her quest.
What follows is a very exciting action packed adventure, where Ash and Drum must try to find and kill the demons, and along the way they both begin to have feelings for each other. When the danger escalates, Maeve will find information on the other Guardians/Wardens, and some will come from America to Ireland to help with the war. I loved meeting two of the previous heroes, and it was fun to watch them learn about each other. The last third of the book was intense, with lots of action and dangerous situations, which had you sitting on the edge of your seat.
Hard to Handle has a nice ending, but the war has just begun. Drum and Ash’s romance heats up with a happy conclusion. The Demons are still around, and all the Guardians and Wardens will find themselves together at some point in future books. Excellent suspenseful adventure, written very well by Christine Warren. One day I need to go back and read the earlier books.
Barb
The Reading Cafe
June 8, 2017
Hard to Handle by Christine Warren is the fifth book in the Gargoyle series. This is the only book from the series so far that I would say a newcomer would be able to fully enjoy without the prior books as reference. While those that have read the entire series will still get more out of the read, those that are picking this book up without having read others will still be able to fully understand and enjoy the action.
The only male among four sisters, Michael Drummond is no stranger to women’s strength and formidable will. His Dublin pub, the Skin & Bones, is his refuge, a reassuringly masculine retreat. Until a fierce woman warrior from another realm bursts into his life, bringing with her a battle between good and evil, and an explosive dose of desire. The first and only of her kind, Ash is a lone female gargoyle, a creature destined to protect mankind from Demons determined to unleash their darkest forces. But her arrival on Earth is more confusing than she expected: her bone-deep instinct to do battle is matched only by her untamed attraction to stubborn, stalwart Drum. If they manage to keep the world safe, can they turn the passion crackling between them into a love that will withstand the test of time.
Hard to Handle is a nice twist on the series, with our guardian and warden in switched genders. I liked that Drum is still alpha male personality wise, but smart enough to let go and let Ash take the lead in things she is better suited for than he. I really enjoyed the characters in this installment- not just our couple and returning players from previous book, but also Drum's family. I think the family connection and interplay goes a long way into showing the depth and fun or Drum's character. I think the danger level got more intense here, and I liked the way it answered more questions about the darkness and battle being fought. I did get a little impatient with the fighting, only because I wanted to see how Drum and Ash finally admitted that they loved each other and all that. I was very happen when I read how that happened, it was sweet and funny and pretty much perfect for the book, and series.
Hard to Handle is a good addition to the series, and is more accessible to those that have not read earlier books in the series than the others. It was consistent with what I expected, but did not wow me. I admit to skimming some of the fight scenes just to get to more character and relationship developments, but I am sure that's just because I was impatient to see how that was handled.
The only male among four sisters, Michael Drummond is no stranger to women’s strength and formidable will. His Dublin pub, the Skin & Bones, is his refuge, a reassuringly masculine retreat. Until a fierce woman warrior from another realm bursts into his life, bringing with her a battle between good and evil, and an explosive dose of desire. The first and only of her kind, Ash is a lone female gargoyle, a creature destined to protect mankind from Demons determined to unleash their darkest forces. But her arrival on Earth is more confusing than she expected: her bone-deep instinct to do battle is matched only by her untamed attraction to stubborn, stalwart Drum. If they manage to keep the world safe, can they turn the passion crackling between them into a love that will withstand the test of time.
Hard to Handle is a nice twist on the series, with our guardian and warden in switched genders. I liked that Drum is still alpha male personality wise, but smart enough to let go and let Ash take the lead in things she is better suited for than he. I really enjoyed the characters in this installment- not just our couple and returning players from previous book, but also Drum's family. I think the family connection and interplay goes a long way into showing the depth and fun or Drum's character. I think the danger level got more intense here, and I liked the way it answered more questions about the darkness and battle being fought. I did get a little impatient with the fighting, only because I wanted to see how Drum and Ash finally admitted that they loved each other and all that. I was very happen when I read how that happened, it was sweet and funny and pretty much perfect for the book, and series.
Hard to Handle is a good addition to the series, and is more accessible to those that have not read earlier books in the series than the others. It was consistent with what I expected, but did not wow me. I admit to skimming some of the fight scenes just to get to more character and relationship developments, but I am sure that's just because I was impatient to see how that was handled.
February 10, 2017
A SEDUCTION STRONGER THAN STONE
The only male among four sisters, Michael Drummond is no stranger to women’s strength and formidable will. His Dublin pub, the Skin & Bones, is his refuge, a reassuringly masculine retreat. Until a fierce woman warrior from another realm bursts into his life, bringing with her a battle between good and evil…and an explosive dose of desire.
The first and only of her kind, Ash is a lone female gargoyle, a creature destined to protect mankind from Demons determined to unleash their darkest forces. But her arrival on Earth is more confusing than she expected: her bone-deep instinct to do battle is matched only by her untamed attraction to stubborn, stalwart Drum. If they manage to keep the world safe, can they turn the passion crackling between them into a love that will withstand the test of time?
Review:
In this next installment of this series, another Guardian has awoken. This time it is the first female Guardian. I liked the switch up. It was fun to see how the others reacted to this revelation. Then to have the Warden be the male lead to some interesting twists in the book and series. I liked that there is a lot of tension at first between Ash and Drum and some definite love/hate going on. I think it makes sense to the story. I mean you are a gargoyle and just wake up and then encounter Maeve and Drum who have powers but have no idea about all the supernatural world around them definitely makes for a lot of emotions and tension between all. Then of course neither Drum or Ash want to admit to the attraction they have for each other. You have to take a leap with the insta-love but other than that, they are super steamy together. There is also a lot of action in this story as the fight with the Darkness escalates. Of course, we get to see the other Guardians and Wardens also.
The Author does an great job of not making the reader feel lost if reading these out of order. My recommendation is to read them in order. They each build on the other and the storyline continues from one book to the next as they try to save the world from The Darkness. I do love the snarky/witty dialogue that this Author comes up with, even in tense situations there is some levity.
3.5Stars
*I voluntarily read an advance reader copy of this book provided by the publisher.*
@ChristineWarren @SMPRomance
The only male among four sisters, Michael Drummond is no stranger to women’s strength and formidable will. His Dublin pub, the Skin & Bones, is his refuge, a reassuringly masculine retreat. Until a fierce woman warrior from another realm bursts into his life, bringing with her a battle between good and evil…and an explosive dose of desire.
The first and only of her kind, Ash is a lone female gargoyle, a creature destined to protect mankind from Demons determined to unleash their darkest forces. But her arrival on Earth is more confusing than she expected: her bone-deep instinct to do battle is matched only by her untamed attraction to stubborn, stalwart Drum. If they manage to keep the world safe, can they turn the passion crackling between them into a love that will withstand the test of time?
Review:
In this next installment of this series, another Guardian has awoken. This time it is the first female Guardian. I liked the switch up. It was fun to see how the others reacted to this revelation. Then to have the Warden be the male lead to some interesting twists in the book and series. I liked that there is a lot of tension at first between Ash and Drum and some definite love/hate going on. I think it makes sense to the story. I mean you are a gargoyle and just wake up and then encounter Maeve and Drum who have powers but have no idea about all the supernatural world around them definitely makes for a lot of emotions and tension between all. Then of course neither Drum or Ash want to admit to the attraction they have for each other. You have to take a leap with the insta-love but other than that, they are super steamy together. There is also a lot of action in this story as the fight with the Darkness escalates. Of course, we get to see the other Guardians and Wardens also.
The Author does an great job of not making the reader feel lost if reading these out of order. My recommendation is to read them in order. They each build on the other and the storyline continues from one book to the next as they try to save the world from The Darkness. I do love the snarky/witty dialogue that this Author comes up with, even in tense situations there is some levity.
3.5Stars
*I voluntarily read an advance reader copy of this book provided by the publisher.*
@ChristineWarren @SMPRomance
June 12, 2017
Michael /Drum was a man blessed with four independent sisters. Drum had a persistant tingling at the back of his neck had plagued him with an reachable itch for the last six months. Through dreams Drum was having persistent dreams of things he refused to name and would prefer not to remember. Drum impressed on his family not to take silly chances in today’s world. The family was meant to stick together and watch each others back Drum owns a bar called Skin And Bones. Drum and his family has gifts that set them apart Drums gift is he can find things. His sister Maeve has the gift of sight. Drun did not like his sister being out alone at night. That was the night he met Ash and his life was changed forever. Ash was the first of her kind and she has no idea why she woke up or woke her up. Ash is a woman Gargoyle who is to protect humans. The Order of Darkness is a threat coming closer to being a problem. Drum and Maeve .are the only ones there and they aren’t Wardens. But Ash has to accept their help. It didn’t take long for evil to come after Ash. In the heat of the battle Drum discovers he has more gifts that he hadn’t known about and is actually a warden. Drum and Ash are very attracted to each other.
I liked this story but had mixed feelings. I had some trouble with things being repeated like Drum complaining about having his life interrupted by Ash Also there was too many villains and they didn’t last very long. I did like the fighting scenes. At times this drags for me. I liked the plot. I didn’t like Drums whining it took him awhile to man up and this annoyed me so as I said I had mixed feelings.
I liked this story but had mixed feelings. I had some trouble with things being repeated like Drum complaining about having his life interrupted by Ash Also there was too many villains and they didn’t last very long. I did like the fighting scenes. At times this drags for me. I liked the plot. I didn’t like Drums whining it took him awhile to man up and this annoyed me so as I said I had mixed feelings.
July 9, 2017
More of a 3.25 I think.
I wanted to like this one, if only because the Guardian was a female. Alas, it was done in by secondary characters.
I almost felt sorry for the H but... he was so whipped it was almost embarrassing and really, if I had a family like that, I might have run screaming into the night. Why he still lived close enough for certain ones to show up on his doorstep, I dunno.
His kid sister, spoiled manipulative little brat. I was like, "oh well" when she got grabbed. I wanted to punch her in the face pretty much every time she opened her mouth.
Of course we get Kylie and Wynn (those two give me a headache - they converse with each other like 4th graders).
Thought to ponder, has any of the wardens accepted his or her new lot in life *in the context of this series?* Seems every one of them has been in some form of denial. That sort of plot device gets old after a while, as does the snarky/bitchiness every woman of power seems to possess.
And of course #5 is now free. Since this particular series has a sell-by date, and there's two more, I'm assuming the last one will feature some anti-climatic battle between the forces of good and evile that somehow gets shoehorned into half a chapter.
Remind me again why I'm reading this? Oh; right. Gargoyle romances are rare as hens' teeth. Too bad that none seem to actually be all that. :/
I wanted to like this one, if only because the Guardian was a female. Alas, it was done in by secondary characters.
I almost felt sorry for the H but... he was so whipped it was almost embarrassing and really, if I had a family like that, I might have run screaming into the night. Why he still lived close enough for certain ones to show up on his doorstep, I dunno.
His kid sister, spoiled manipulative little brat. I was like, "oh well" when she got grabbed. I wanted to punch her in the face pretty much every time she opened her mouth.
Of course we get Kylie and Wynn (those two give me a headache - they converse with each other like 4th graders).
Thought to ponder, has any of the wardens accepted his or her new lot in life *in the context of this series?* Seems every one of them has been in some form of denial. That sort of plot device gets old after a while, as does the snarky/bitchiness every woman of power seems to possess.
And of course #5 is now free. Since this particular series has a sell-by date, and there's two more, I'm assuming the last one will feature some anti-climatic battle between the forces of good and evile that somehow gets shoehorned into half a chapter.
Remind me again why I'm reading this? Oh; right. Gargoyle romances are rare as hens' teeth. Too bad that none seem to actually be all that. :/
October 8, 2021
Book five in a six book series. Book one - great, Book two - good, Books three and four ok I guess which brings us to this book
Unfortunately by the time I was four chapters in I really had lost interest. The author is just repeating the plot ad nauseum. Change the main characters, change the location but that is it, the same story that started in book one but has really lost its charm in the fifth telling.
Don't get me wrong, not for one moment did I expect great literature I mean really, we are talking Gargoyles here but I did expect that someone who has written so many books would manage to put something new in each book. Oh I am sorry, she did, she made the gargoyle female, still didn't change the plot. Boy/girl (depending on which book you are reading) is walking near church/museum and is attacked by hooded crazy. Statue of Gargoyle awakens and saves the day. Gargoyle is all buff and manly/ buff and girly and decides human is its one true mate. Human of course goes along with this mostly. They spend the whole book trying to deny attraction while hunting down hooded crazies. Couple and friends defeats crazies but not the big bad crazy, decide to stay together....... que next book
Do I have any hope for the last book.... no not really... oh well five gargoyles down one to go
Unfortunately by the time I was four chapters in I really had lost interest. The author is just repeating the plot ad nauseum. Change the main characters, change the location but that is it, the same story that started in book one but has really lost its charm in the fifth telling.
Don't get me wrong, not for one moment did I expect great literature I mean really, we are talking Gargoyles here but I did expect that someone who has written so many books would manage to put something new in each book. Oh I am sorry, she did, she made the gargoyle female, still didn't change the plot. Boy/girl (depending on which book you are reading) is walking near church/museum and is attacked by hooded crazy. Statue of Gargoyle awakens and saves the day. Gargoyle is all buff and manly/ buff and girly and decides human is its one true mate. Human of course goes along with this mostly. They spend the whole book trying to deny attraction while hunting down hooded crazies. Couple and friends defeats crazies but not the big bad crazy, decide to stay together....... que next book
Do I have any hope for the last book.... no not really... oh well five gargoyles down one to go
September 20, 2017
I've really enjoyed Christine Warren's gargoyle series. There are 7 Guardians who wake from stone when they're needed to fight the Darkness and the 7 Demons that the Darkness wants to raise. The Guild usually provides Wardens who aid the Guardians informing them of the current threat but the Guild and each Guardian has a new Warden. In "Hard to Handle", the fifth book of the series, Ash awakens as the lone female Guardian which makes her wonder why. She's also confused as to why there was no Warden to greet her. She awakens to find an acolyte of the Darkness as she protects two humans. Michael, aka Drum, and his sister Maeve, Drummond are running from something Maeve sees in a vision when they cross paths with Ash. Drum is the lone male with four sisters and all the siblings have some form of magic. Maeve tells Ash that Drum can find her Warden but shortly after he fails to do so she realizes he's her Warden. In addition to fighting the Darkness, Ash and Drum fight a deep and irresistible attraction to each other.
"Hard to Handle" is a wonderful read with twists and turns both on the emotional side and in the fighting.
"Hard to Handle" is a wonderful read with twists and turns both on the emotional side and in the fighting.
June 5, 2017
For a series that started "rock-solid", only the first two books in the Gargoyles series have been truly worth reading. In "Hard to Handle" the relationship between Ash and Michael seems to be adversarial until suddenly it isn't. It's not very clear what Ash sees in Michael but suddenly they are together. It must be physical attraction because Michael is a boring character who is uncertain about everything. Michael's mother and sisters are much more interesting characters than is Michael. The action that develops with the Darkness and the Hellmouth is too similar to the battles in the previous two books and so this book is lacking the excitement that was present in the first two novels in this series. I'll keep reading the final two books, but only because I'm curious to learn how the Light ultimately conquers the Dark.
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