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Heart of Steel #2
Stone Guardian: A Paranormal Protector Tale
When a disastrous date starts stalking her, Alethea's friends team up to help her summon a demon protector. She never expected the ancient spell to actually work. Or that the protector they summoned would be hotter than any man alive.
Stanley Steel definitely remembers dying. What he can't work out is why he's been woken up to serve as the bodyguard to a woman who's the spitting image to the one who killed him.
He's supposed to be protecting her from a stalker, but what if the real danger is him?
Stanley Steel definitely remembers dying. What he can't work out is why he's been woken up to serve as the bodyguard to a woman who's the spitting image to the one who killed him.
He's supposed to be protecting her from a stalker, but what if the real danger is him?
340 pages, Paperback
Published December 17, 2022
About the author
Demelza Carlton
935 books3,876 followersUSA Today Bestselling Author Demelza Carlton has always loved the ocean, but on her first snorkelling trip she found she was afraid of fish.
She has since swum with sea lions, sharks and sea cucumbers and stood on spray-drenched cliffs over a seething sea as a seven-metre cyclonic swell surged in, shattering a shipwreck below.
Sensationalist spin? No - Demelza tends to take a camera with her so she can capture and share the moment later; shipwrecks, sharks and all.
Demelza now lives in Perth, Western Australia, the shark attack capital of the world.
The Ocean's Gift series was her first foray into fiction, followed by the Nightmares trilogy. She swears the Mel Goes to Hell series ambushed her on a crowded train and wouldn't leave her alone.
She has since swum with sea lions, sharks and sea cucumbers and stood on spray-drenched cliffs over a seething sea as a seven-metre cyclonic swell surged in, shattering a shipwreck below.
Sensationalist spin? No - Demelza tends to take a camera with her so she can capture and share the moment later; shipwrecks, sharks and all.
Demelza now lives in Perth, Western Australia, the shark attack capital of the world.
The Ocean's Gift series was her first foray into fiction, followed by the Nightmares trilogy. She swears the Mel Goes to Hell series ambushed her on a crowded train and wouldn't leave her alone.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
September 6, 2022
Now we know what happened to those poor lads who had their hearts carved out of their bodies by the witch Carline in Heart of Steel.
The Stone brother's Uncle Stanley who they followed out to Frementle is actually a gargoyle who is brought back from the grave as a joke by the drunken prank of the Bell House girls to scare away Alethea's stalker.
Problem is they really do resurrect what Alethea believes to be a demon and he flies her away to her flat and he's got that sexy voice Alethea has been wishing for in a man. That voice makes her Knickers get all wet and almost every night since Stan appeared and especially when he reads those romantic novels with that VOICE she has to hide in the bathroom to take care of herself.
Stan still believes he's in love with Carline, but he must follow the advice of his cousins the Stone brothers if he's to break the curse and that will be no hardship for him. Will Alethea accept him now that she knows what he really is?
The Stone brother's Uncle Stanley who they followed out to Frementle is actually a gargoyle who is brought back from the grave as a joke by the drunken prank of the Bell House girls to scare away Alethea's stalker.
Problem is they really do resurrect what Alethea believes to be a demon and he flies her away to her flat and he's got that sexy voice Alethea has been wishing for in a man. That voice makes her Knickers get all wet and almost every night since Stan appeared and especially when he reads those romantic novels with that VOICE she has to hide in the bathroom to take care of herself.
Stan still believes he's in love with Carline, but he must follow the advice of his cousins the Stone brothers if he's to break the curse and that will be no hardship for him. Will Alethea accept him now that she knows what he really is?
April 22, 2023
After reading the reviews I’m seriously wondering if I got a different book. The first quarter was awful 😆 throughout almost the entire book the FMC’s name was spelled differently between Alathea and Alathia. Literally back and forth. HOW DOES THAT HAPPEN?? The last quarter is the only reason I gave this 2 stars instead of 1 and that’s being generous. This could’ve been a much better book as the premise is half way decent, but it fell short. We got no real explanation about Carline and how she did what she did to Stan. And Stan was still holding a torch for the psycho up until the last minute. Oh and the “stalker” was beyond lame and could’ve had a much bigger part in the story.
April 24, 2023
DNF AT 50%. I promised myself that I would walk away from books that were bad and this one was beyond bad. Poorly written, rushed plot and undeveloped characters.
December 18, 2025
A fun concept with uneven execution.
Stone Guardian blends paranormal romance with a protector fantasy, featuring a resurrected stone guardian named Stanley Steel and a heroine, Alethea, who accidentally summons him while trying to escape a stalker. The premise is bold and quirky—there’s magic, mistaken identity, and a slow-burn attraction between two unlikely leads. But while the setup is engaging, the delivery doesn’t always hold up.
Stanley is the standout. He’s gruff, confused, and emotionally guarded, with a backstory that adds intrigue. His resurrection and connection to Alethea (who resembles the woman who killed him) create tension that’s ripe for exploration. Unfortunately, the emotional payoff is limited. Their relationship builds slowly, but the chemistry is inconsistent, and the emotional stakes never fully land.
Alethea’s arc is underdeveloped. She’s meant to be vulnerable but resilient, navigating fear and attraction while dealing with a stalker. But her reactions often feel muted or inconsistent. The stalker subplot adds urgency, but it’s resolved too easily, and the emotional fallout is glossed over.
The writing is accessible but flawed. Several readers noted issues with pacing, character depth, and even basic editing—like inconsistent spelling of Alethea’s name. The story moves quickly, but some scenes feel rushed, and the emotional beats don’t always connect. Dialogue is functional but lacks nuance.
Other positives:
• A unique protector dynamic with a supernatural twist
• Stanley’s backstory adds depth and mystery
• The romance avoids insta-love and builds gradually
Negatives:
• Flat character development
• Rushed resolution of key conflicts
• Editing inconsistencies and uneven pacing
Overall, Stone Guardian is a light, trope-driven paranormal romance with a creative premise and a likable male lead. It’s best suited for readers who enjoy quirky protector fantasies and don’t mind a few rough edges. If you’re looking for emotional depth or polished storytelling, this one might fall short.
Stone Guardian blends paranormal romance with a protector fantasy, featuring a resurrected stone guardian named Stanley Steel and a heroine, Alethea, who accidentally summons him while trying to escape a stalker. The premise is bold and quirky—there’s magic, mistaken identity, and a slow-burn attraction between two unlikely leads. But while the setup is engaging, the delivery doesn’t always hold up.
Stanley is the standout. He’s gruff, confused, and emotionally guarded, with a backstory that adds intrigue. His resurrection and connection to Alethea (who resembles the woman who killed him) create tension that’s ripe for exploration. Unfortunately, the emotional payoff is limited. Their relationship builds slowly, but the chemistry is inconsistent, and the emotional stakes never fully land.
Alethea’s arc is underdeveloped. She’s meant to be vulnerable but resilient, navigating fear and attraction while dealing with a stalker. But her reactions often feel muted or inconsistent. The stalker subplot adds urgency, but it’s resolved too easily, and the emotional fallout is glossed over.
The writing is accessible but flawed. Several readers noted issues with pacing, character depth, and even basic editing—like inconsistent spelling of Alethea’s name. The story moves quickly, but some scenes feel rushed, and the emotional beats don’t always connect. Dialogue is functional but lacks nuance.
Other positives:
• A unique protector dynamic with a supernatural twist
• Stanley’s backstory adds depth and mystery
• The romance avoids insta-love and builds gradually
Negatives:
• Flat character development
• Rushed resolution of key conflicts
• Editing inconsistencies and uneven pacing
Overall, Stone Guardian is a light, trope-driven paranormal romance with a creative premise and a likable male lead. It’s best suited for readers who enjoy quirky protector fantasies and don’t mind a few rough edges. If you’re looking for emotional depth or polished storytelling, this one might fall short.
August 3, 2023
I love the idea of a gargoyle romance and you know I love a man with horns wings and a tail but this book didn’t have enough smut/sexual tension and the plot that it tried to give instead was very weak. For starters, I am not a big fan of people from a different time learning about technology of today and things like that, it always seems unrealistic to me that they just accept certain things. Also ALOT of this book was spent with the leading male wanting and talking about another woman which definitely killed the mood and their romance. Also he was interested at first as to why he was killed and alethia was looking into it but never actually gave him an answer so alot of the plot was wasted there with no conclusion. The sexual tension that normally makes books like this thrive, even if it was a slow burn, wasn’t present. Stan was reading her smut books every night and it took till chapter 40 for them to finally have a moment where he noticed she was super horny while he read, like that could have been included much earlier and helped their sexual tension grow. Also he didn’t even decide to sleep with her until he had everything explained by some random characters (probably characters from other books the author has written). But it definitely caused his eventual giving-in-to-lust moment to be cheapened because it seems like he just did it because these boys told him too. Overall, the few sex scenes were pretty hot but the plot was very disjointed and there were lots of missed opportunities with the sexual tension that should have made a smutty romance book like this worth reading even if the plot wasn’t good.
August 29, 2022
🎇Time travel magic makes Stan a stone boy😉
3.5-4 🌟 stars
This story has a nice dose of whimsy as Stan, the male paranormal lead, attempts to adapt to a world two hundred years later than he was used to before his heartwrenching (literally) demise at the hands of a woman he was devoted to.
Pandemic-era Western Australia is the modern setting and the social distancing and isolation required by the government's attempt to fight the disease's spread set up a perfect opportunity for house-sitting archeologist Alethia to get to know her protector from the past.
Alethia is the quintessential young, professional woman, a bit salty in her language, pretty strident in her attempts to educate Stan about the independent modern woman and more than a little starved for some intimate attention from the opposite sex. An internet date gone wrong brings Stan to Alethia's rescue. There's a good deal of will they-won't they and I think that part of the story got somewhat repetitious. The heat simmers throughout before releasing the steam at the climax(!).
Some new energy hits the plot towards the end when they meet folks from the Heart of Stone series. I would recommend reading that series before this story as the magic that imbued the male leads there spills over here.
Not my favorite of Carlton's paranormal romances but it kept my interest to the end. I, personally, would like more about the early years in the Swan Colony of Western Australia. I read a complimentary advance copy of the story; this is my voluntary and honest opinion.
3.5-4 🌟 stars
This story has a nice dose of whimsy as Stan, the male paranormal lead, attempts to adapt to a world two hundred years later than he was used to before his heartwrenching (literally) demise at the hands of a woman he was devoted to.
Pandemic-era Western Australia is the modern setting and the social distancing and isolation required by the government's attempt to fight the disease's spread set up a perfect opportunity for house-sitting archeologist Alethia to get to know her protector from the past.
Alethia is the quintessential young, professional woman, a bit salty in her language, pretty strident in her attempts to educate Stan about the independent modern woman and more than a little starved for some intimate attention from the opposite sex. An internet date gone wrong brings Stan to Alethia's rescue. There's a good deal of will they-won't they and I think that part of the story got somewhat repetitious. The heat simmers throughout before releasing the steam at the climax(!).
Some new energy hits the plot towards the end when they meet folks from the Heart of Stone series. I would recommend reading that series before this story as the magic that imbued the male leads there spills over here.
Not my favorite of Carlton's paranormal romances but it kept my interest to the end. I, personally, would like more about the early years in the Swan Colony of Western Australia. I read a complimentary advance copy of the story; this is my voluntary and honest opinion.
September 9, 2022
Stanley Steel doesn't remember his death but he knows that the last woman he saw was the woman who killed him and when he is summoned he appears in front of that very woman. Still, she is chanting something and she looks different he thinks she is Carline the woman he loved and never said a word to until the night that she took his other family member's lives while they were trying to do unsavory business at the mill and she had to protect the mill. What she did to Stan was even worse because Caroline did something to him that he may have to deal with for the rest of his life on earth because it is not Caroline but Alethea Caroline Bell a young archeologist working on her Ph.D. project and excavating on the site at the cemetery. Her cousins decide she needed a protector when a man she met for a date and she saw how he acted and looked and she had to leave but he starts to stalk her and they go to the cemetery at night so they can do the ceremony but before they can complete the summons the security guard was opening the gate and she sent her cousins through the gate they came in but twisted her ankle as she continues to chant and all of a sudden Stanley Steele appears before her and he explains who he is and why he is there and vows to protect her with his life forever as long as she doesn't send him back all he remembers is the dark after seeing Caroline. He believes he is a demon but that might not be the case. Enjoyed the storyline and the characters were very entertaining. I read a copy via BookFunnel without obligation. I volunteered an honest review.
September 3, 2022
Loved Stan, though he is a little hard-headed, lol. Stanley Steel fell in love with Carline Steel (distant relative) at first sight. Unfortunately, her brother William did not consider Stanley to be good enough for his sister and she didn't even know who he was. He and his cousins ended up indenturing themselves to a man who was going to the Swan River Colony in Australia. Their payoff is to be forty acres of land apiece after five years of indentured labor. The Steel cousins earned their land and went off to the Governor's office to do the transfer. While there, they learned that William and his sister were also in Swan River. Stan is determined to kidnap Carline and "save" her from her brother's machinations. Things go horribly wrong and Carline kills them all.
Fast forward a couple hundred years. Alethea has gotten nothing from her on-line dating except a stalker. One of cousins offers to call her a demon protector to scare off her unwanted boyfriend. Alethea doesn't really believe Callie can actually do it, but what the heck. That's how she ends up with Stan. The hot demon with the panty melting voice...and wings. But is he really a demon? And why does he keep talking about some dead woman named Carline?
I was given an advanced copy of this book by the author. My review is voluntary.
Fast forward a couple hundred years. Alethea has gotten nothing from her on-line dating except a stalker. One of cousins offers to call her a demon protector to scare off her unwanted boyfriend. Alethea doesn't really believe Callie can actually do it, but what the heck. That's how she ends up with Stan. The hot demon with the panty melting voice...and wings. But is he really a demon? And why does he keep talking about some dead woman named Carline?
I was given an advanced copy of this book by the author. My review is voluntary.
September 2, 2022
A new group of friends joins the Steel's stories and the mystery that surrounds them. We got to know what Stanley Steel’s fate after Carline was and how he kept himself questioning it all the time. I recommend reading 'Heart of Steel' first, which is currently free, to better understand Stanley's predicament since the reader will know in advance the answers he was looking for. The action revolved around the relationship between Alethea and Stanley, who recognized himself as Alethea’s Protector, seemingly of everyone and everything. His internal struggle and what he thought of himself was funny. There were a lot of feelings that Stanley had to work with. Alethea, who had lacked a satisfying love relationship for a long time, made me laugh with her comments that made me visualize the scenes and chuckle. The friends were not far behind and especially Callie, who I must not take my eyes off her. This story promises more mystery and action with the grouping of relatives from both sides. I was intrigued by the new news.
June 8, 2023
Nope
Where to start. Unless KU is missing pages parts of this story are disjointed. Parts of the storyline are missing and it jumps around a lot. The beginning is hard to follow as you need a minute to catch up to the fact it is occurring in two time periods. After several chapters the time lines mesh and you can follow a bit better. There is some funny dialogue and references but that’s were it ends. The MMC is a brick wall that takes his job way to seriously and FMC is so horny that she can overlook the hot version of Dewey Riley that has a hard on for a women that isn’t even alive anymore. The story leaves some major unanswered questions about how he became a stone protector, this witchy woman, and his other family member’s who were turned into stone protectors. The spice is meh. The 183 virgin mysteriously is great in bed. I am not a DNF’er so I read this whole thing, but I will not be reading anymore of the series.
Where to start. Unless KU is missing pages parts of this story are disjointed. Parts of the storyline are missing and it jumps around a lot. The beginning is hard to follow as you need a minute to catch up to the fact it is occurring in two time periods. After several chapters the time lines mesh and you can follow a bit better. There is some funny dialogue and references but that’s were it ends. The MMC is a brick wall that takes his job way to seriously and FMC is so horny that she can overlook the hot version of Dewey Riley that has a hard on for a women that isn’t even alive anymore. The story leaves some major unanswered questions about how he became a stone protector, this witchy woman, and his other family member’s who were turned into stone protectors. The spice is meh. The 183 virgin mysteriously is great in bed. I am not a DNF’er so I read this whole thing, but I will not be reading anymore of the series.
August 31, 2022
This is Stanley Steele's story. In the 19th century, Stan is in love with Carline Steele. He decides he is going to marry her, but she does not even know he exists. She kills him and his three cousins. He awakes in 2020 after being called by Alethia Bell and her friends to protect her from a stalker. He believes he is a demon and that Alethia is Carline Steele as she looks like her.
This is another interesting stone guardian book from the pen of Demelza Carlton.
I received this as an ARC and enjoyed it.
This is another interesting stone guardian book from the pen of Demelza Carlton.
I received this as an ARC and enjoyed it.
October 18, 2022
A delightful bodyguard romance. Alethia Bell's almost date was a disaster-turned-stalker. Stanley Steel has never gotten over Carline. When fate brings Alethia and Stan together, things don't go the way they want. They go the way they need. A thoroughly fascinating story. I wonder where the series will lead next.
Easy-to-read. Entertaining. Happily Ever After. Page-turner. Romantic. Steamy. Tear-jerker. Tragic. Twisted. Unpredictable. Whimsical. Wonderful characters.
I received a review copy of this book from a third party. This is my honest review.
Easy-to-read. Entertaining. Happily Ever After. Page-turner. Romantic. Steamy. Tear-jerker. Tragic. Twisted. Unpredictable. Whimsical. Wonderful characters.
I received a review copy of this book from a third party. This is my honest review.
August 31, 2022
I enjoyed the return of the stone protectors in this fun series based in Western Australia. This time get to meet Alethia who is a PhD student who ends up calling a stone guardian names Stan. And then the fun really begins as these two start interacting as Stan guards Alethia from her stalker. Good story and fun characters. Enjoyed it and it made me laugh. In my honest opinion, a good addition to the series.
August 31, 2022
What a do-over! The author has shown her mastery of romantic story-telling yet again, expanding on the Stone family's history (what is it about the Stone men and their propensity for being made into gargoyles?) with this story of a "demon" meeting the "witch" who cursed him in his second attempt at courtship. The second attempt is so different from the first! Christine Warren's fans should find this a fun read!
I received an ARC from the author and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received an ARC from the author and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
November 8, 2022
A Fun, lighthearted paranormal romance
Liked: character building, emotional growth, strong heroine, solid common sense, and realistic communication between protagonists
Disliked: novella length - it was over too soon
This series is set in the same universe as, and is a follow-on to, Carlton's Broken Chains series, with a slight tie in to The Devil's Work. All of the gargoyle books are enjoyable, leaning more toward real life problem solving than action/adventure.
Liked: character building, emotional growth, strong heroine, solid common sense, and realistic communication between protagonists
Disliked: novella length - it was over too soon
This series is set in the same universe as, and is a follow-on to, Carlton's Broken Chains series, with a slight tie in to The Devil's Work. All of the gargoyle books are enjoyable, leaning more toward real life problem solving than action/adventure.
November 26, 2022
Another good book about the Stone gargoyle protectors. Funny and sexy book with good storytelling. Stan arrived as a gargoyle but thought he was a demon for his past but come to find out there was more going on. Alethia had a protector but didn't know where Stan came from and was very glad he arrived. They both got a big surprise about his family. Stay tuned, more from the next book in the series.
January 16, 2024
Stan
This is the second book in the trilogy. I liked the first book more but Althea and her cousins were a hoot. Stan's cousins more so. These two books were the first ones I have read from this author. She writes a bit different than other authors I'm use to. Not bad! Just different. I loves the archeology theme in the story lines. It makes reading about the past fun for me anyway. Give it a go.
Kathy
This is the second book in the trilogy. I liked the first book more but Althea and her cousins were a hoot. Stan's cousins more so. These two books were the first ones I have read from this author. She writes a bit different than other authors I'm use to. Not bad! Just different. I loves the archeology theme in the story lines. It makes reading about the past fun for me anyway. Give it a go.
Kathy
August 29, 2022
I have been waiting for Stanley Steel's story for what seemed like forever. And after reading Stone Guardian I really felt for Stanley and his cousins. Stanley being called forth by his beautiful killer's doppelgänger Alethea was quite the twist and had me cheering for Stanley to get his HEA. I can't wait to read Callie's story next in Stone Champion!
August 30, 2022
Loved this continuation of this universe with the Guardians. Stanley was mentioned in earlier books so it was great to finally get to know a little bit more of him. The adaptation to modern life is entertaining to read. I wish there was a bit more build up to Alethia and Stanley’s relationship but for a short read it make sense.
September 2, 2022
Received this as an ARC I leave my honest review. This author’s style of writing will have you begging for more! Stan Steel is cursed in 1834. Two hundred plus years later he is called as a protector. This story escalates quickly into a forbidden romance. Or is it the only way to break a curse? Be prepared for a long night of reading and dreaming of the plot! It is epic!
May 21, 2023
I have been a firm fan of this author, for many years and knew I'd enjoy this Protector series. This is Alethea and Stanley's story. Stanley is summoned be her friends to keep her safe from a bad date, now stalking her. But Stanley has a past connection to a woman who looks just like Alethea. It's a great story, as are others in this series. Some I still need to add to my collection. :)
June 20, 2023
Loved this
This is the first book in this series that I've read. The verdict: I need this spell NOW.
That Voice is my always my weakness and with Stan having it he's pretty near ideal. If only finding your mate was really that easy...
Carline sounds like a real piece of work and I hope we learn her fate in the rest of this series
This is the first book in this series that I've read. The verdict: I need this spell NOW.
That Voice is my always my weakness and with Stan having it he's pretty near ideal. If only finding your mate was really that easy...
Carline sounds like a real piece of work and I hope we learn her fate in the rest of this series
September 7, 2022
Not much happened in this book. It was okay, but the characters didn’t get together til the end and they still didn’t really know each other. It ended on a cliffhanger, so you’ll have to buy the next book to see what jwooene
November 4, 2022
Love at first sight
What a journey Stanley Steel had to find out what happened to him. He thought he was a demon but instead he was a gargoyle. Then he fell in love with Alethia with hope of breaking the spell.
What a journey Stanley Steel had to find out what happened to him. He thought he was a demon but instead he was a gargoyle. Then he fell in love with Alethia with hope of breaking the spell.
November 11, 2022
An enduring curse
Bound by a witch he thought he loved Stan is awakened to become the protector of a woman who looks just like her. Can the curse be broken and can he find a new love? You’ll find the answers and more in this story.
Bound by a witch he thought he loved Stan is awakened to become the protector of a woman who looks just like her. Can the curse be broken and can he find a new love? You’ll find the answers and more in this story.
November 15, 2022
An interesting beginning to a series.
Demelza does a fantastic job on putting her own twist on gargoyles. You can't help but laugh at Stan and how he is so worried about ruining Alethia.
A great read!
Demelza does a fantastic job on putting her own twist on gargoyles. You can't help but laugh at Stan and how he is so worried about ruining Alethia.
A great read!
November 16, 2022
This is the story of Alethea and Stan. Their interactions had me laughing as Stan tries to navigate this new world. I enjoyed every minute of this story. I received an arc of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 30, 2023
Stone Guaridan
Stone Guardian: A Paranormal Protector Tale written by Demelza Carlton. You never know what you will get when you summon a demon protector. You may just get a hunk of burning love! Whew! Is it hot in here?
Stone Guardian: A Paranormal Protector Tale written by Demelza Carlton. You never know what you will get when you summon a demon protector. You may just get a hunk of burning love! Whew! Is it hot in here?
April 15, 2023
Sad i had to DNF.. i absolutely couldn't stand Stan's mentality and obsession without foundation and the way Aleatha's girls were, like, the worst kind of "typical" girl group while constantly talking about "getting good dick." Also, the fact that it was set in 2020, but had everything opening 3 months after covid lockdown was offputting when it's 2023 and we're still dealing with it..
March 4, 2024
Wonderful story to a new series.
Alethia and Stan story. Wonderfully written and I had to keep reading it to the end. You will enjoy the story. It's about a gargoyle. Happy reading. No spoilers here.
Alethia and Stan story. Wonderfully written and I had to keep reading it to the end. You will enjoy the story. It's about a gargoyle. Happy reading. No spoilers here.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews