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Les Gargouillen #1
Carved in Stone
An Interpol agent who as a child had witnessed the murders of her parents by a demonic winged creature, Rachel Vandermere uses her position to find clues to her parents' killer, but while in Chicago to guard a diplomat, she finds herself drawn to the handsome and enigmatic Nathan Cross, unaware that he is actually a gargoyle assigned to protect humankind from evil. Original.
336 pages, Paperback
First published June 7, 2005
5 people are currently reading
341 people want to read
About the author
Vickie Taylor
41 books52 followersVickie Taylor wrote her first novel in 1997. Upon completion, she was too chicken to give the manuscript to anyone she knew to read, so she sent her baby off to a few contests to get some anonymous feedback instead. Little did she know how her life was about to change: a few months later, she had won all four of the Romance Writers of America chapter contests she’d entered, was a Golden Heart finalist and had sold the book to Silhouette Intimate Moments!
Since then, Vickie has written numerous romantic suspense novels for Silhouette Books and Berkley Sensation, garnering such recognition as the Daphne du Maurier Award of Excellence in Romantic Suspense, a four-and-a-half star “Top Pick” review in Romantic Times, and a coveted RWA Rita nomination for her work.
In 2006, Vickie continued her acclaimed paranormal series featuring Les Gargouillen (the Gargoyles) with FLESH AND STONE, the sequel to the smashing debut CARVED IN STONE. The third book in the series, LEGACY OF STONE, is now on bookstore shelves everywhere.
Vickie lives in a small town in north Texas dubbed “The Heart of Horse Country” where she rounds out her writing days raising horses, volunteering with the local Humane Society, and serving on a K-9 search and rescue team
Since then, Vickie has written numerous romantic suspense novels for Silhouette Books and Berkley Sensation, garnering such recognition as the Daphne du Maurier Award of Excellence in Romantic Suspense, a four-and-a-half star “Top Pick” review in Romantic Times, and a coveted RWA Rita nomination for her work.
In 2006, Vickie continued her acclaimed paranormal series featuring Les Gargouillen (the Gargoyles) with FLESH AND STONE, the sequel to the smashing debut CARVED IN STONE. The third book in the series, LEGACY OF STONE, is now on bookstore shelves everywhere.
Vickie lives in a small town in north Texas dubbed “The Heart of Horse Country” where she rounds out her writing days raising horses, volunteering with the local Humane Society, and serving on a K-9 search and rescue team
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
June 16, 2014
el primer libro de una trilogía erótica - fantástica, dónde nos encontramos con gárgolas. Con los protagonistas sentí bastante cercanía, y aunque volvemos a caer en el prototipo de hombre sacado de una revista por lo demás me agradaron bastante. Los personajes secundarios también han tenido su importancia y no han quedado tan en segundo grado como creía. Un poco predecible al final y que deja con bastantes preguntas sin responder. La acción se puede hacer bastante pesada en algunos puntos y la pluma resulta bastante sencilla.
Reseña completa: http://un-gran-mundo-imperfecto.blogs...
Reseña completa: http://un-gran-mundo-imperfecto.blogs...
May 29, 2018
I was looking forward to reading this. A book about gargoyle shifters? I think this could have been great but there was something missing for me. Maybe it was the storyline because I really liked Rachel and Nathan together.
August 30, 2009
Was in the mood for some Gargoyle romance - love the animated series from the 90s - and this was just the right thing. Not mindblowing, but entertaining enough.
November 3, 2008
I'm completely shocked that this book turned out to be good. I put off reading it because a gargoyle love story seemed too silly an idea; I couldn't imagine anything good coming of it. Fortunately, thr author is a lot more creative than I, and she did a very good job crafting a story that is interesting with exceptional character deveopment.
The premise of this trilogy is that gargoyles are similar to weres - humans that change into fantastic creatures at will. A magically spell initially created them over a thousand years ago and gave them the mission to protect people, which they now interpret to mean killing human psychos. )The stone gargoyles on buildings were based on the living gargoyles as a token of reverence back in the day.) Only males inherit the ability to change, but they can do so from a very early age, so the men have formed small congregations where they raise their sons and teach them to manage the beast inside. Unfortunately, this requires taking sons away from mothers, who the men are certain would not understand children sprouting horns. Any gargoyle who produces at least one son is later reincarnated, so many of the gargoyles have memories dating back hundreds of years.
This story is focused on a gargoyle named Nathan Cross, who is disallusioned with the gargoyle way of life and has vowed not to have any children so that is soul will finally die. He's been kicked out of his congregation and does not shift to his creature any more. He meets Rachel, an interpol agent, at an art show, where she is working an assasination attempt case. Nathan's old cronies from the congregation foil the attempt with his help, but his former best friend is killed in the process. Nathan and his dead friend are labled heros, but Rachel doesn't quite believe it. She's got an X Files type of obsession about monsters among us, and she just won't let this case go - she's sure there is more than meets the eye. Nathan spends the next weeks fighting his attraction to Rachel while attempting to stear her off the trail of his kind.
The premise of this trilogy is that gargoyles are similar to weres - humans that change into fantastic creatures at will. A magically spell initially created them over a thousand years ago and gave them the mission to protect people, which they now interpret to mean killing human psychos. )The stone gargoyles on buildings were based on the living gargoyles as a token of reverence back in the day.) Only males inherit the ability to change, but they can do so from a very early age, so the men have formed small congregations where they raise their sons and teach them to manage the beast inside. Unfortunately, this requires taking sons away from mothers, who the men are certain would not understand children sprouting horns. Any gargoyle who produces at least one son is later reincarnated, so many of the gargoyles have memories dating back hundreds of years.
This story is focused on a gargoyle named Nathan Cross, who is disallusioned with the gargoyle way of life and has vowed not to have any children so that is soul will finally die. He's been kicked out of his congregation and does not shift to his creature any more. He meets Rachel, an interpol agent, at an art show, where she is working an assasination attempt case. Nathan's old cronies from the congregation foil the attempt with his help, but his former best friend is killed in the process. Nathan and his dead friend are labled heros, but Rachel doesn't quite believe it. She's got an X Files type of obsession about monsters among us, and she just won't let this case go - she's sure there is more than meets the eye. Nathan spends the next weeks fighting his attraction to Rachel while attempting to stear her off the trail of his kind.
June 22, 2016
I spent quite a bit of time looking for this book and I hate to admit it but I was a bit disappointed. I loved the idea of the gargoyles and really saw some great potential but I didn't really get all that into this one. The story was slow to start, the heroine not necessarily memorable, and the hero, Nathan, I found to be kind of a jerk at times. Regardless I hoped it would get better and the ending was good if a little convoluted. I do already have the next two so I'm hoping she's gotten a little more in touch with her next characters for the following novels.
June 10, 2017
This book was fun. Me and my friends read it aloud to each other at the beach. However, we changed the girl love interest Rachel into a trans man named Ricky. We changed the pronouns. This change really made the book much better and I'd recommend doing this if you read it too.
February 7, 2012
Apparently people read these for the plot? I read them for the hot sex scenes.
That's a lie, I read them because Anna picks them for book club.
I pretty much laughed through this book.
That's a lie, I read them because Anna picks them for book club.
I pretty much laughed through this book.
September 18, 2024
September Readathon
1+
Picked this one up specifically hoping for it to be Bonkers, and not only is it not Bonkers, it's entirely too serious and self-important for its own good. It's also a not-quite cliffhanger, but I'll have to live forever in suspense of what happens next.
And, to be exactly and extremely That Guy, the first chapter at the Art Institute (including the notion it'll be easy to just walk home via Lake Shore Dr) gets very little right about it, and in the same few pages has a terrifically incorrect metaphor built around vultures.
"...the way vultures called their friends to share a fresh kill."
Vultures cannot call; they will sometimes hiss and sometimes grunt but that's the limit of their vocalizations. Vultures bicker and jostle for position, and might assert hierarchy, when at a carcass. Vultures are scavengers, they don't kill.
Like I said, I'm being *painfully* That Guy.
But, in defense of some aspects of That Guy, if you build an entire chapter and action scene around an existing and known place, get the descriptions right. If you invent your own metaphors, get those details right too. So, from the jump my hackles were raised, and they were never soothed.
It's a stilted read; the prose is dense, the cliches riddled, and there's no end to the clunky metaphors.
"Rachel's stomach plummeted like a skydiver without a parachute (when she jumped out of the cab {lol})..." and then the very next paragraph "...panic beat at her self-control like a wrecking ball on a condemned building."
"eyes wide like white dinner plates..."
"The flutter of a humingbird's wings would have sounded like a jet engine in the silence of the room."
There's so many more, but I won't go on. And I don't quote them to mock or to be cruel, I just can't take them seriously, or take them in as written in all seriousness (they'd suit a send-up of genre fiction). These few capture the essence of why.
The cast of characters and their personalities especially make it seem like it could easily be Gargoyles fanfic. Which could be amazing and great, as that show is amazing and great lol.
There's some real sexist undertones in the world-building and treatment of several characters. The heroine is one tough cookie cop and yet is forever getting herself into danger and requires rescuing; she's also super special to avoid her being treated with the same sexism that pervades the gargoyle society. The hero is flat, and masterful in unappealing ways.
Big, important moments happen off-page and are summarized. I almost always find that a letdown. Do the work to show those big important moments.
Taylor really leans into a structural sentence/paragraph habit of "But what/then, pose a question?" "Follow up with a pat declarative answer." These devices can be good but have more impact when they're used sparingly.
The second star is for the intricate lore building of the gargoyle world. Take that and package it into a D&D-style monster manual and you've got something.
1+
Picked this one up specifically hoping for it to be Bonkers, and not only is it not Bonkers, it's entirely too serious and self-important for its own good. It's also a not-quite cliffhanger, but I'll have to live forever in suspense of what happens next.
And, to be exactly and extremely That Guy, the first chapter at the Art Institute (including the notion it'll be easy to just walk home via Lake Shore Dr) gets very little right about it, and in the same few pages has a terrifically incorrect metaphor built around vultures.
"...the way vultures called their friends to share a fresh kill."
Vultures cannot call; they will sometimes hiss and sometimes grunt but that's the limit of their vocalizations. Vultures bicker and jostle for position, and might assert hierarchy, when at a carcass. Vultures are scavengers, they don't kill.
Like I said, I'm being *painfully* That Guy.
But, in defense of some aspects of That Guy, if you build an entire chapter and action scene around an existing and known place, get the descriptions right. If you invent your own metaphors, get those details right too. So, from the jump my hackles were raised, and they were never soothed.
It's a stilted read; the prose is dense, the cliches riddled, and there's no end to the clunky metaphors.
"Rachel's stomach plummeted like a skydiver without a parachute (when she jumped out of the cab {lol})..." and then the very next paragraph "...panic beat at her self-control like a wrecking ball on a condemned building."
"eyes wide like white dinner plates..."
"The flutter of a humingbird's wings would have sounded like a jet engine in the silence of the room."
There's so many more, but I won't go on. And I don't quote them to mock or to be cruel, I just can't take them seriously, or take them in as written in all seriousness (they'd suit a send-up of genre fiction). These few capture the essence of why.
The cast of characters and their personalities especially make it seem like it could easily be Gargoyles fanfic. Which could be amazing and great, as that show is amazing and great lol.
There's some real sexist undertones in the world-building and treatment of several characters. The heroine is one tough cookie cop and yet is forever getting herself into danger and requires rescuing; she's also super special to avoid her being treated with the same sexism that pervades the gargoyle society. The hero is flat, and masterful in unappealing ways.
Big, important moments happen off-page and are summarized. I almost always find that a letdown. Do the work to show those big important moments.
Taylor really leans into a structural sentence/paragraph habit of "But what/then, pose a question?" "Follow up with a pat declarative answer." These devices can be good but have more impact when they're used sparingly.
The second star is for the intricate lore building of the gargoyle world. Take that and package it into a D&D-style monster manual and you've got something.
June 14, 2021
Ah, two familiar staples in the romance genre: the Dark Secret crossed with the Monstrous Other. Nathan Cross looks human but he isn’t. Rachel Vandermere is hot on the trail of uncovering the truth about the monster that killed her parents when she was a child. Add that to the sizzling physical attraction and heated mental connection between our two romantic leads and you’ve got yourself a sure-fire recipe for a paranormal romance.
The heat between these two almost fries their brains every time they get together. You could cook eggs off their buttocks with the fire sparking between them. Yet he sees himself as a beast who can’t let her get too close and she only wants THE TRUTH (although what she’ll do if she ever gets it isn’t clear). So you can just flip through their zany adventures as she foolishly jeopardizes her life again and again and he rushes to her rescue even as he tells himself to stay away from her. Oh, these two nutty kids.
The author does put the expected sex on hold for a considerable while (there are sexually-laden shared dreams and one intense handjob first, however) so kudos to her for her extended literary foreplay. But I began to wonder why the actual event was delayed and a terrible suspicion popped into my hand—there is going to be a sequel.
My life is short and my to-be-read list is long and (lengthening all the time). I don’t care for reading book series but so many authors are driven to writing them. If I’d known ahead of time that this book would be one of them, I wouldn’t have bothered with it.
All this aside, this is a run-of-the-mill paranormal fantasy, complete with a secret society, ancient curse, alpha male, tough lady(who nevertheless becomes a damsel in distress) and a looming unknown evil for good measure. It’s not badly written and it isn’t as dull as the formulaic elements would imply. But there’s little that’s new here. If you’ve got other books to read, skip this series.
The heat between these two almost fries their brains every time they get together. You could cook eggs off their buttocks with the fire sparking between them. Yet he sees himself as a beast who can’t let her get too close and she only wants THE TRUTH (although what she’ll do if she ever gets it isn’t clear). So you can just flip through their zany adventures as she foolishly jeopardizes her life again and again and he rushes to her rescue even as he tells himself to stay away from her. Oh, these two nutty kids.
The author does put the expected sex on hold for a considerable while (there are sexually-laden shared dreams and one intense handjob first, however) so kudos to her for her extended literary foreplay. But I began to wonder why the actual event was delayed and a terrible suspicion popped into my hand—there is going to be a sequel.
My life is short and my to-be-read list is long and (lengthening all the time). I don’t care for reading book series but so many authors are driven to writing them. If I’d known ahead of time that this book would be one of them, I wouldn’t have bothered with it.
All this aside, this is a run-of-the-mill paranormal fantasy, complete with a secret society, ancient curse, alpha male, tough lady(who nevertheless becomes a damsel in distress) and a looming unknown evil for good measure. It’s not badly written and it isn’t as dull as the formulaic elements would imply. But there’s little that’s new here. If you’ve got other books to read, skip this series.
March 16, 2024
As a young child, Rachel witnesses her parents' murder by a monster. Ever since, she's been searching for monsters in an effort to prove she's not crazy. While chasing after an international assassin, Rachel encounters Nathan Cross at the same time she hears the same eerie whistle she recalled from her childhood. Convinced that she's on the right track to prove monsters exist, she devotes her time to running down the young man from the scene.
Although Nathan has been excommunicated from Les Gargouillen, he doesn't want Rachel to learn their secret. He accompanies her on her search as he attempts to steer her off the track. Along the way, he is drawn to Rachel's beauty and her determined spirit. When Von, the young gargoyle, brings danger to the entire congregation of Les Gargouillen, Rachel and Nathan must join forces to avert a tragedy.
Ugh. The synopsis should have read: 'Dark, brooding he-man meets naive blonde damsel in distress and they fall in love in a matter of days.' Boooooring. I can understand why Nathan was desperate to keep his kind secret from Rachel; that made sense. What I really disliked is that, once again, an author crafts a female lead who's supposed to be tough and competent (Interpol agent, ffs!) but who constantly needs the dark, brooding male lead to swoop in and save her. If you wanted her to be a helpless twit, then don't give her a badge and a gun! I expected better from Rachel. The entire storyline of Von and (human) Jenny was so Romeo and Juliet that I wanted to head desk. He's 18, and she's 17, but they're in loooooooooooooove. The ick factor was strong in this one.
Reading this was more of a chore than anything. I have at least one more book in the series, and it's getting donated along with this one. Giving it a score of three. It was well written; I simply didn't care for it.
Although Nathan has been excommunicated from Les Gargouillen, he doesn't want Rachel to learn their secret. He accompanies her on her search as he attempts to steer her off the track. Along the way, he is drawn to Rachel's beauty and her determined spirit. When Von, the young gargoyle, brings danger to the entire congregation of Les Gargouillen, Rachel and Nathan must join forces to avert a tragedy.
Ugh. The synopsis should have read: 'Dark, brooding he-man meets naive blonde damsel in distress and they fall in love in a matter of days.' Boooooring. I can understand why Nathan was desperate to keep his kind secret from Rachel; that made sense. What I really disliked is that, once again, an author crafts a female lead who's supposed to be tough and competent (Interpol agent, ffs!) but who constantly needs the dark, brooding male lead to swoop in and save her. If you wanted her to be a helpless twit, then don't give her a badge and a gun! I expected better from Rachel. The entire storyline of Von and (human) Jenny was so Romeo and Juliet that I wanted to head desk. He's 18, and she's 17, but they're in loooooooooooooove. The ick factor was strong in this one.
Reading this was more of a chore than anything. I have at least one more book in the series, and it's getting donated along with this one. Giving it a score of three. It was well written; I simply didn't care for it.
July 15, 2023
The plot was interesting, but my mind kept trying to insert characters from Disney's Gargoyles into the mix (Von? Brooklyn. Teryn? Hudson. It got to the point where I could just describe characters in the novel to my brother, and he'd fill in the blanks for me). Rachel Vandemere, though, was no Elisa Maza... and maybe that was the trouble. None of the characters felt altogether noteworthy, or in possession of standout traits that would differentiate them. (Nathan, though, grew on me a little by the end of it.)
I think the best credit to this book was the compelling world building, especially in regards to the mythos of the gargoyles as being tied to specific, historically-influenced art, the ways their customs and traditions are passed on, and how their social structure allows for the keeping of secrets. It was a distinctive and tragic and even resolved itself towards the end, which - when dealing with not so dynamic characters at times - was pretty notable in itself.
For all its depictions of a sexist society, and having a blonde and not-so-convincing agent as a main character, this book was, overall, way less sexist than I would have assumed it would be, with a publication date of 2008.
That being said, though... it was fair boring. You could guess the major plot twist from the literal prologue, and it felt like just waiting around for Rachel to catch up, and for Nathan to stop moping around. I didn't like any of the sex scenes, and I had a problem with some of the dialogue choices being a little too wacky.
But I still had a good time.
I think the best credit to this book was the compelling world building, especially in regards to the mythos of the gargoyles as being tied to specific, historically-influenced art, the ways their customs and traditions are passed on, and how their social structure allows for the keeping of secrets. It was a distinctive and tragic and even resolved itself towards the end, which - when dealing with not so dynamic characters at times - was pretty notable in itself.
For all its depictions of a sexist society, and having a blonde and not-so-convincing agent as a main character, this book was, overall, way less sexist than I would have assumed it would be, with a publication date of 2008.
That being said, though... it was fair boring. You could guess the major plot twist from the literal prologue, and it felt like just waiting around for Rachel to catch up, and for Nathan to stop moping around. I didn't like any of the sex scenes, and I had a problem with some of the dialogue choices being a little too wacky.
But I still had a good time.
November 30, 2023
Trigger Warnings:
SO RAPEY! Seriously! pregnancy prostitution (the gargoyles either pay women to have their children or have sex then steal the children and run away from the moms), sexual assault (the main male character mentally messes with the female character to take off her covers and expose herself so he can grope her), attempted rape on the main female character by 4 guys, SO MANY things said but not shown (gang rape, old lady beat into a coma, teenage girl beaten), the female character is drugged by the male character and gives him a blow job while they mind mate and she later yells "you drugged me", an over baring male who is a jerk/forceful/ and NOT coupling material, graphic deaths, teenage boy is almost beaten to death and it's graphic, angry mob, graphic fire scene, murder, I probably missed a few.
This was NOT an enjoyable read. I always do a goodreads hunt on a book before I buy it to see if anyone said key words I don't want to read about. I don't know HOW nobody had all of the ones I mentioned up there. This is a super Rapey book. The main male character is literally an a$$ to her the entire book. He's physically mean, mentally mean, his words are rude, there wasn't a dam* thing that made him any kind of a desirable mate. There is NO WAY a woman in real life, especially a cop, would just keep going back for more. It was insane. And none of it was necessary. There's a difference between a man who's scared and guarded compared to what this prick was.
SO RAPEY! Seriously! pregnancy prostitution (the gargoyles either pay women to have their children or have sex then steal the children and run away from the moms), sexual assault (the main male character mentally messes with the female character to take off her covers and expose herself so he can grope her), attempted rape on the main female character by 4 guys, SO MANY things said but not shown (gang rape, old lady beat into a coma, teenage girl beaten), the female character is drugged by the male character and gives him a blow job while they mind mate and she later yells "you drugged me", an over baring male who is a jerk/forceful/ and NOT coupling material, graphic deaths, teenage boy is almost beaten to death and it's graphic, angry mob, graphic fire scene, murder, I probably missed a few.
This was NOT an enjoyable read. I always do a goodreads hunt on a book before I buy it to see if anyone said key words I don't want to read about. I don't know HOW nobody had all of the ones I mentioned up there. This is a super Rapey book. The main male character is literally an a$$ to her the entire book. He's physically mean, mentally mean, his words are rude, there wasn't a dam* thing that made him any kind of a desirable mate. There is NO WAY a woman in real life, especially a cop, would just keep going back for more. It was insane. And none of it was necessary. There's a difference between a man who's scared and guarded compared to what this prick was.
September 24, 2024
Ya terminé de leer el libro y quede:😶
La verdad no es un mal libro considerando que lleva muchos años desde que se publicó porque es del 2007, pero sí quedé con muchas dudas que espero y se resuelvan en el segundo libro, pero siento que algunas cosas me parecieron muy WTF porque aparecían de la nada entonces a veces como que yo me perdía.
Bueno no sé si era yo que me confundía sola o el libro el que me confundía, pero igual estuvo entretenido, me reí muchas veces la mayoría de mis post its fueron comentarios míos riéndome o diciendo que Nathan me parecía tierno en ciertos aspectos del libro, porque si nos vamos al final debatible, aún así no diré que me arrepiento de haberlo leído, fue disfrutable.
La verdad yo lo recomendaría para pasar el rato pero tampoco esperen mucho del libro porque como dije es un libro viejito, entonces habrá muchas escenas como cringe y raras, yo es que me las tomo con humor pero allá ustedes, espero y les haya servido mi reseña.
La verdad no es un mal libro considerando que lleva muchos años desde que se publicó porque es del 2007, pero sí quedé con muchas dudas que espero y se resuelvan en el segundo libro, pero siento que algunas cosas me parecieron muy WTF porque aparecían de la nada entonces a veces como que yo me perdía.
Bueno no sé si era yo que me confundía sola o el libro el que me confundía, pero igual estuvo entretenido, me reí muchas veces la mayoría de mis post its fueron comentarios míos riéndome o diciendo que Nathan me parecía tierno en ciertos aspectos del libro, porque si nos vamos al final debatible, aún así no diré que me arrepiento de haberlo leído, fue disfrutable.
La verdad yo lo recomendaría para pasar el rato pero tampoco esperen mucho del libro porque como dije es un libro viejito, entonces habrá muchas escenas como cringe y raras, yo es que me las tomo con humor pero allá ustedes, espero y les haya servido mi reseña.
July 19, 2021
Yo no diría que sea un libro erótico - romántico ya que hay que esperar hasta más de la mitad del libro para que pase algo entre los protagonistas. Si bien hay mucho tonteo entre los dos todo el rato se centran más en investigar otras cosas.
También hay algunos momentos en los que las decisiones o las acciones que tomaban me resultaron fuera de lugar pero también hay momentos en los que se vuelve muy profundo y puedes sentirte identificado con algunas de sus preocupaciones (aunque ellos se preocupen por ser literalmente monstruos malditos y tú solo creas tener mala suerte o tomar malas decisiones😅), que es más de lo que uno se espera de la novela.
Ya quiero leer la continuación y saber qué pasa con el resto de personajes.
También hay algunos momentos en los que las decisiones o las acciones que tomaban me resultaron fuera de lugar pero también hay momentos en los que se vuelve muy profundo y puedes sentirte identificado con algunas de sus preocupaciones (aunque ellos se preocupen por ser literalmente monstruos malditos y tú solo creas tener mala suerte o tomar malas decisiones😅), que es más de lo que uno se espera de la novela.
Ya quiero leer la continuación y saber qué pasa con el resto de personajes.
January 28, 2020
DNF @ page 43.
February 20, 2010
Rachel Vandermere can never forget what she saw, what she heard, it has been burned into her memory as only a trauma from childhood can. What she saw were the monsters that only come out at night to haunt her dreams, now and forever. As an agent with Interpol, she has many resources at her disposal, but still she can't discover the monsters who took away her mother and father. She repeated the tale throughout her childhood, only to be called crazy. It's the one thing she will not tolerate, her sanity called into question.
Nathan Cross has lived many lifetimes, cursed with the immortality of his species, the Gargoyles, the protectors of humanity. When Rachel Vandermere crosses his path, his first desire is to protect, his second to mate. But he has sworn that this will be his last life of existence, he will produce no children in this life, his existence will end with his one true death. Until he meets Rachel, he has been able to fight The Awakening, fight the powerful need to change to his cursed Gargoyle form. But Rachel sends his senses reeling, his needs come pounding back to life. Though he has been excommunicated for his beliefs, he will sacrifice those firmly held beliefs to save his friends, family, and for Rachel herself.
Rachel is trapped in her search for the monsters until Nathan comes into her life. Then she's not so sure who the true monsters are. It couldn't be Nathan, though sour and taciturn, he has the greatest capacity to love that she's ever seen. It couldn't be her father, her eyes couldn't lie. Who are the true monsters that ripped her life apart?
Carved in Stone, Book One of the Les Gargouillen Series by Vickie Taylor is a new adventure in the genre of Urban Fantasy. Not often do I read a fantasy with shape shifting abilities that allow the characters to shift into creatures long forgotten, beasties of centuries past. Legend has it that the Gargoyles are the protectors of society, guarding what is held sacred. So it is with the story of the Gargouillen, cursed by an evil priest who promises to rid a village of the dragon Gargouillen that's been terrorizing the villagers if they convert to Christianity. But, in keeping his promise, he uses the villagers own pagan ritual magic against them. He curses the men of the village to everlasting immortality and forces them to become the monsters of nightmares. With every male child born, the soul of a departed Gargouillen is reincarnated to live again. In Carved in Stone, our hero, Nathan Cross has lived 14 lifetimes, but he has vowed that this lifetime will be his last, he will remain childless, and when this lifetime is finished, his soul will perish never to reincarnate again. He has been excommunicated from his congregation, his community, for his beliefs. If the younger men follow his example, their species will cease to exist, ending the curse but their existence as well. The Gargouillen are the protectors of humanity, charged with watching over the frail humans, but have they outlasted their usefulness? In this new millennium, are the Gargouillen still necessary? Rachel Vandermere, our heroine, is a new breed of woman, not dependent upon anything but herself. She has little fear of the unknown, only her nightmares bring her fear and then her monsters come to life, the monsters from her childhood who killed her mother and father before her eyes. The choking fire, the winged monster, and death was all she remembered. Could her child's eyes have been deceived? Nathan Cross is the monster that she dreams of and who steps into her life. But, his tenderness belies his monstrous form, making her question all she has thought to be true. How can she accept his love, when deep inside the monster lurks to be born again and again?
Carved in Stone was a sweet ride for me, I enjoyed meeting Les Gargouillen, an entirely different view of shape shifting, mythical beasts of old legends which can be any combination of beasties, from forest creatures to ancient beast. Urban Fantasy has become one of the genres of choice for me, and Vickie Taylor has yet to lead me down a path that I didn't want to go. Her alpha males are strong and powerful, yet tender and loving, capable of strong emotions. Her heroines are kick ass and not afraid to seek what they want, no matter what it is. If you want a different take on shape shifting in your Urban Fantasy, try Carved in Stone. I wasn't disappointed, not for a minute. I highly recommend this book for all readers who enjoy urban fantasy/paranormal romance. It was great fun.
I received this book from Anna at Anna's Book Blog. The opinions I've expressed are my own.
Nathan Cross has lived many lifetimes, cursed with the immortality of his species, the Gargoyles, the protectors of humanity. When Rachel Vandermere crosses his path, his first desire is to protect, his second to mate. But he has sworn that this will be his last life of existence, he will produce no children in this life, his existence will end with his one true death. Until he meets Rachel, he has been able to fight The Awakening, fight the powerful need to change to his cursed Gargoyle form. But Rachel sends his senses reeling, his needs come pounding back to life. Though he has been excommunicated for his beliefs, he will sacrifice those firmly held beliefs to save his friends, family, and for Rachel herself.
Rachel is trapped in her search for the monsters until Nathan comes into her life. Then she's not so sure who the true monsters are. It couldn't be Nathan, though sour and taciturn, he has the greatest capacity to love that she's ever seen. It couldn't be her father, her eyes couldn't lie. Who are the true monsters that ripped her life apart?
Carved in Stone, Book One of the Les Gargouillen Series by Vickie Taylor is a new adventure in the genre of Urban Fantasy. Not often do I read a fantasy with shape shifting abilities that allow the characters to shift into creatures long forgotten, beasties of centuries past. Legend has it that the Gargoyles are the protectors of society, guarding what is held sacred. So it is with the story of the Gargouillen, cursed by an evil priest who promises to rid a village of the dragon Gargouillen that's been terrorizing the villagers if they convert to Christianity. But, in keeping his promise, he uses the villagers own pagan ritual magic against them. He curses the men of the village to everlasting immortality and forces them to become the monsters of nightmares. With every male child born, the soul of a departed Gargouillen is reincarnated to live again. In Carved in Stone, our hero, Nathan Cross has lived 14 lifetimes, but he has vowed that this lifetime will be his last, he will remain childless, and when this lifetime is finished, his soul will perish never to reincarnate again. He has been excommunicated from his congregation, his community, for his beliefs. If the younger men follow his example, their species will cease to exist, ending the curse but their existence as well. The Gargouillen are the protectors of humanity, charged with watching over the frail humans, but have they outlasted their usefulness? In this new millennium, are the Gargouillen still necessary? Rachel Vandermere, our heroine, is a new breed of woman, not dependent upon anything but herself. She has little fear of the unknown, only her nightmares bring her fear and then her monsters come to life, the monsters from her childhood who killed her mother and father before her eyes. The choking fire, the winged monster, and death was all she remembered. Could her child's eyes have been deceived? Nathan Cross is the monster that she dreams of and who steps into her life. But, his tenderness belies his monstrous form, making her question all she has thought to be true. How can she accept his love, when deep inside the monster lurks to be born again and again?
Carved in Stone was a sweet ride for me, I enjoyed meeting Les Gargouillen, an entirely different view of shape shifting, mythical beasts of old legends which can be any combination of beasties, from forest creatures to ancient beast. Urban Fantasy has become one of the genres of choice for me, and Vickie Taylor has yet to lead me down a path that I didn't want to go. Her alpha males are strong and powerful, yet tender and loving, capable of strong emotions. Her heroines are kick ass and not afraid to seek what they want, no matter what it is. If you want a different take on shape shifting in your Urban Fantasy, try Carved in Stone. I wasn't disappointed, not for a minute. I highly recommend this book for all readers who enjoy urban fantasy/paranormal romance. It was great fun.
I received this book from Anna at Anna's Book Blog. The opinions I've expressed are my own.
February 26, 2017
Una fabulosa historia que muestra el mito de las gárgolas de una manera muy particular. Aunque esperaba otra cosa cuando empecé a leer, lo cierto es que me ha fascinado desde el principio hasta el final. Los personajes son muy carismáticos y especiales, me he enamorado especialmente de Patrick, un niño-gárgola que puede cambiar a dragón.
La historia de amor es muy interesante, especialmente en cuanto a las escenas eróticas que, en su mayor parte, suceden a través de un enlace mental de forma paralela a lo que va sucediendo entre ellos en la realidad.
Muy original y de lectura ágil, no resulta pesado a pesar de las narraciones de historias pasadas y orígenes de la especie. Queda perfectamente introducido con un prólogo que nos da las pautas e inicia el misterio, que no se resuelve prácticamente hasta la última página.
Incluso ha terminado por gustarme Connor y eso que no lo soportaba al principio... ¡Merece mucho la pena la lectura! Yo seguiré con la serie porque promete.
La historia de amor es muy interesante, especialmente en cuanto a las escenas eróticas que, en su mayor parte, suceden a través de un enlace mental de forma paralela a lo que va sucediendo entre ellos en la realidad.
Muy original y de lectura ágil, no resulta pesado a pesar de las narraciones de historias pasadas y orígenes de la especie. Queda perfectamente introducido con un prólogo que nos da las pautas e inicia el misterio, que no se resuelve prácticamente hasta la última página.
Incluso ha terminado por gustarme Connor y eso que no lo soportaba al principio... ¡Merece mucho la pena la lectura! Yo seguiré con la serie porque promete.
May 4, 2008
A paranormal fantasy romance with the hard-boiled edge of a police thriller, combine to make CARVED IN STONE a most excellent read. From page one to the last nail-biting paragraph, Vickie Taylor manages to hook the reader into her world of gargoyles, reincarnation, second chances, and true love.
For Nathan Cross, looks are deceiving. He may look like a man, and a drop-dead gorgeous one at that with his black eyes and jet-black hair, but underneath the human exterior lies a gargoyle-a being created centuries ago to protect humankind from evil. Reincarnated a total of fourteen times, Nathan has had enough. He rebels at his orders, refusing to impregnate a human, and even leaves the congregation of the Council ruled by Teryn, the gargoyle's Wizenot.
Living under the guise of an art history professor at Chicago University, Nathan has nothing left to do with his days but enjoy art-the one and only thing that still brings his joy. That is until he runs into Rachel Vandermere at the Chicago Museum of Fine Arts. Suddenly, living a life of exile, alone as he's been for years, doesn't seem so appealing.
Rachel knows from the moment she sees Nathan at the museum's patrons gala that he's not what he seems to be. Too good-looking for his own good, knowledgeable beyond belief, and with shadows hidden behind his dark eyes, Rachel knows for a fact that seeing isn't always believing. Still convinced that winged creatures from Hell killed her parents several years ago, she knows that the vibes she's getting from Nathan will cause her to be a laughingstock. Unheeding to the voice of reason, Rachel sets out to prove once and for all that her imagination hadn't played tricks on her the night of her parents' deaths.
Fast-paced dialogue, haunting characters, and a paranormal world where gargoyles and things that go bump in the night are all too common, CARVED IN STONE is a wonderful book for romance lovers of all genres.
For Nathan Cross, looks are deceiving. He may look like a man, and a drop-dead gorgeous one at that with his black eyes and jet-black hair, but underneath the human exterior lies a gargoyle-a being created centuries ago to protect humankind from evil. Reincarnated a total of fourteen times, Nathan has had enough. He rebels at his orders, refusing to impregnate a human, and even leaves the congregation of the Council ruled by Teryn, the gargoyle's Wizenot.
Living under the guise of an art history professor at Chicago University, Nathan has nothing left to do with his days but enjoy art-the one and only thing that still brings his joy. That is until he runs into Rachel Vandermere at the Chicago Museum of Fine Arts. Suddenly, living a life of exile, alone as he's been for years, doesn't seem so appealing.
Rachel knows from the moment she sees Nathan at the museum's patrons gala that he's not what he seems to be. Too good-looking for his own good, knowledgeable beyond belief, and with shadows hidden behind his dark eyes, Rachel knows for a fact that seeing isn't always believing. Still convinced that winged creatures from Hell killed her parents several years ago, she knows that the vibes she's getting from Nathan will cause her to be a laughingstock. Unheeding to the voice of reason, Rachel sets out to prove once and for all that her imagination hadn't played tricks on her the night of her parents' deaths.
Fast-paced dialogue, haunting characters, and a paranormal world where gargoyles and things that go bump in the night are all too common, CARVED IN STONE is a wonderful book for romance lovers of all genres.
January 30, 2012
Las gárgolas son de mis personajes literarios favoritos, siempre que veía la serie de television "Gargoyles" o imaginaba un libro sobre estas increíbles criaturas y lo he leído gracias a un intercambio con Beleth.
La idea de la autora es muy buena y la podría haber llevado a buen puerto si la hubiese desarrollado un poco mas y no metiese tanta paja entre medias.
El inicio del libro es atrayente y como suceden las cosas en las primeras paginas me imagine que Vickie lo llevase por otros derroteros....a mitad del libro lo quería dejar porque no cumplía mis espectativas pero algo me impulso a seguir y para el final mejoro mucho.
Con un ritmo bastante discontinuo y a veces algo alocado me descoloco en diversas ocasiones.
Sentí una rabia al terminanarlo...mira que cuando una idea es buena pero el autor no la sabe dar forma eso me pone frenética pero mas aun cuando quería leer por encima de todas las cosas algo sobre estas criaturas que llenaron mis comidas cuando era una cría y parte de mi adolescencia...así que seguí leyendo.
Nathan me cautivo por como es, su forma de pensar y en lo que se puede convertir eso la autora no duda en describirlo, pero lo que es ella aunque tiene carácter Rachel es un poco pesada y reiterativa.
También debo de entonar el "mea culpa" porque cuando vas con una idea preconcebida, suele pasar lo que a mi me acaba de ocurrir...que me esperaba algo distinto y me dejo un poco por los suelos, pero como son dos libros, me gustaría leerlos y poder emitir un juicio mas acertado o mejor respecto a esta autora y sus "Gargolas" asi que por el momento la daré el aprobado con la esperanza de que mejore en un futuro próximo.
No podria hablar mucho del libro, pero he hechado de menos mas magiay menos sexo.
La idea de la autora es muy buena y la podría haber llevado a buen puerto si la hubiese desarrollado un poco mas y no metiese tanta paja entre medias.
El inicio del libro es atrayente y como suceden las cosas en las primeras paginas me imagine que Vickie lo llevase por otros derroteros....a mitad del libro lo quería dejar porque no cumplía mis espectativas pero algo me impulso a seguir y para el final mejoro mucho.
Con un ritmo bastante discontinuo y a veces algo alocado me descoloco en diversas ocasiones.
Sentí una rabia al terminanarlo...mira que cuando una idea es buena pero el autor no la sabe dar forma eso me pone frenética pero mas aun cuando quería leer por encima de todas las cosas algo sobre estas criaturas que llenaron mis comidas cuando era una cría y parte de mi adolescencia...así que seguí leyendo.
Nathan me cautivo por como es, su forma de pensar y en lo que se puede convertir eso la autora no duda en describirlo, pero lo que es ella aunque tiene carácter Rachel es un poco pesada y reiterativa.
También debo de entonar el "mea culpa" porque cuando vas con una idea preconcebida, suele pasar lo que a mi me acaba de ocurrir...que me esperaba algo distinto y me dejo un poco por los suelos, pero como son dos libros, me gustaría leerlos y poder emitir un juicio mas acertado o mejor respecto a esta autora y sus "Gargolas" asi que por el momento la daré el aprobado con la esperanza de que mejore en un futuro próximo.
No podria hablar mucho del libro, pero he hechado de menos mas magiay menos sexo.
July 29, 2025
Rachel has dedicated her life to hunting monsters. Since the murder of her parents by an inhuman creature, Rachel has risked people’s good opinion of her and her very career trying to find these things. Now, she’s closer than ever.
Nathan has separated himself from the people her loves and the only life he’s even known because he no longer wishes to live as an animal. He never chose to be La Gargouille though he’s lived many lives, dying and reincarnating for generations but now he wants to end the cycle. This life will be his last and that notion was enough to have him banished from his people. But now that a pretty cop is getting too close and asking all the right/wrong questions- Nathan once again finds himself back in the fold in an attempt to foil her successes.
He never imagined falling in love. Rachel never imagined that once she found the monsters she’s been hunting, they would be far closer to home.
I enjoyed this book for what it was. It was fairly short, only 300 pages or so and that made it a condensed story – good and bad. Good because I didn’t think there was a lot of story to really work with, Bad because I didn’t feel like I got the chance to really know these characters. Both had a decent amount of both trauma and development over time to get over it, but I could have stood a bit more. The one great aspect of this book was the ending and the meaning behind the tale. I loved the message and the execution of it.
Hard to rate because I felt this was in-between a 3 star and a 4 star. So I think I’ll give it the benefit of the doubt and put it at a soft 4 star.
Nathan has separated himself from the people her loves and the only life he’s even known because he no longer wishes to live as an animal. He never chose to be La Gargouille though he’s lived many lives, dying and reincarnating for generations but now he wants to end the cycle. This life will be his last and that notion was enough to have him banished from his people. But now that a pretty cop is getting too close and asking all the right/wrong questions- Nathan once again finds himself back in the fold in an attempt to foil her successes.
He never imagined falling in love. Rachel never imagined that once she found the monsters she’s been hunting, they would be far closer to home.
I enjoyed this book for what it was. It was fairly short, only 300 pages or so and that made it a condensed story – good and bad. Good because I didn’t think there was a lot of story to really work with, Bad because I didn’t feel like I got the chance to really know these characters. Both had a decent amount of both trauma and development over time to get over it, but I could have stood a bit more. The one great aspect of this book was the ending and the meaning behind the tale. I loved the message and the execution of it.
Hard to rate because I felt this was in-between a 3 star and a 4 star. So I think I’ll give it the benefit of the doubt and put it at a soft 4 star.
February 16, 2014
Publicado en Historias Imaginarias
Tome Deseos de Sangre de la estanteria sin saber mucho del libro, pero la idea de las gárgolas era nueva para mi, y aunque no estaba muy segura de poder creérmela, la autora lo hizo muy fácil. Lo disfrute, tanto Rachel como Nathan son protagonistas de la historia y me llamaron la atencion lo suficiente como para seguirla leyendo. La portada (del libro publicado por Grupo 62 – Talismán) podría ser mejor, y también podrían dar algún indicio de que el romance para adultos. Hay escenas bastante candentes que me sorprendieron porque no sabia que seria de ese estilo, pero me engancho desde el primer capitulo. Al terminarlo me ha dejado con ganas de mas, pues me pareció que se muy rápido.
Si te gusta el romance paranormal, Deseos de Sangre es una buena opcion para comenzar una serie distinta. Me interesaron las gargolas, espero conseguir leer el resto de los libros.
Tome Deseos de Sangre de la estanteria sin saber mucho del libro, pero la idea de las gárgolas era nueva para mi, y aunque no estaba muy segura de poder creérmela, la autora lo hizo muy fácil. Lo disfrute, tanto Rachel como Nathan son protagonistas de la historia y me llamaron la atencion lo suficiente como para seguirla leyendo. La portada (del libro publicado por Grupo 62 – Talismán) podría ser mejor, y también podrían dar algún indicio de que el romance para adultos. Hay escenas bastante candentes que me sorprendieron porque no sabia que seria de ese estilo, pero me engancho desde el primer capitulo. Al terminarlo me ha dejado con ganas de mas, pues me pareció que se muy rápido.
Si te gusta el romance paranormal, Deseos de Sangre es una buena opcion para comenzar una serie distinta. Me interesaron las gargolas, espero conseguir leer el resto de los libros.
November 10, 2020
No tenía ni idea que era literatura erótica, tal vez el tema de la edición en español adicional a los temas de sintaxis también desmejoró el impacto del erotismo.
El tema de las gárgolas me fascino ya que es interesante un tema nuevo y fresco entre tanta lectura que hay; sin embargo eso no lo es todo para que el libro sea bueno. No hay personajes tan bien definidos que te generen intriga o querer saber algo más de ellos, la historia, repito, si tiene un trasfondo diferente y genuino que atrae pero el desarrollo no tanto.
Deja bastantes preguntas al final y ese es el preciso momento en el que entro en shock... y me entero (otra sorpresa) que el libro es parte de una trilogía y me faltan dos y por ello ese final tan seco...
Tengo problemas para dejar historias inconclusas, no es que me muera por leer los otros dos (el tercero al parcer no está en español) pero si necesito que pasa con los perosnajes paar tener el panorama completo.
El tema de las gárgolas me fascino ya que es interesante un tema nuevo y fresco entre tanta lectura que hay; sin embargo eso no lo es todo para que el libro sea bueno. No hay personajes tan bien definidos que te generen intriga o querer saber algo más de ellos, la historia, repito, si tiene un trasfondo diferente y genuino que atrae pero el desarrollo no tanto.
Deja bastantes preguntas al final y ese es el preciso momento en el que entro en shock... y me entero (otra sorpresa) que el libro es parte de una trilogía y me faltan dos y por ello ese final tan seco...
Tengo problemas para dejar historias inconclusas, no es que me muera por leer los otros dos (el tercero al parcer no está en español) pero si necesito que pasa con los perosnajes paar tener el panorama completo.
January 9, 2011
I love gargoyles or as the correct term - grotesque. This story I enjoyed. There aren't that many stories with this mythical creature. There is something very attractive and sexy about a man who can become rock hard. This story is the typical love story where one of characters is blinded by revenge. Then of course they fall in love with one of those "killers" who destroyed their life. When a blanket statement is applied across the board to a specific race/ethnicity, what else is going to happen? Eh. Still it was a light read.
October 26, 2011
3.5 stars. It would have rated a 4 except the pacing at the beginning was slow. The first 100 or so pages was pretty much "I want her, I want her, I want her,....I can't have her." (repeat over and over again). The book picked up toward the end and turned out pretty good. The end was good enough to make me want to pick up the next in the series.
May 20, 2011
This was good. I like that it was a true mix of gargoyle. Animals all mixed to make one creature and not a duplicate in the bunch. It should be interesting to see what the future reads will be like. Although I enjoyed the book. I am unable to read romance right now. Hits to close to the heart for me and I need a break. So.
May 13, 2015
It was a decent book. I wasn't really a fan of the writing, though. There were a looot of sex scenes and sometimes I felt I was reading something like 50 shades of Grey. Too many pages wasted showing how much the two main characters wanted to have sex with each other. I bet it could have been done in fewer words. I didn't care that much about the characters but the ending was good enough.
March 4, 2008
Girl meets gargoyle.
July 18, 2008
Read this book awhile ago. A very good first "series" book. The Author sets up her world and the characters in it yet leaves questions for the next books to answer.
August 24, 2008
Gargoyle. Repetitive. Tries way too hard. Don't bother with her
February 21, 2009
I was hoping this would be good, it has gargoyles! it wasn't. Moral: gargoyles don't always make everything better.
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