Stone Heart is releasing Saturday and I'm so excited. Stone Heart was written in the Elements of Love world, but it is not part of that story line. It was written in current time, where Adel's Purr and book 2 Nico's Fire which is releasing in May, were both written in the future.
Stone Heart is a separate stand alone story of gargoyle love. Adel's Purr just wasn't enough for me to get my fill of gargoyles and they will probably appear in more of my works as time goes on. As a little explored paranormal character, gargoyles are an unknown quality and although I love my vampires and shifters, I really enjoy writing for some of the lesser known creatures that go bump in the night as well.
So those of you who are part of Silver Publishing's VIP program will be able to down load your copy in advance of its release, while the rest of us wait until Saturday. As always, you can download your Kindle and Nook copies, as well as other ereader formats directly from the Silver website without waiting for them to appear on Amazon or B&N. I hope you all enjoy the story and I look forward to hearing your comments.
Justin Anderson is running from a past that refuses to let go. He finds refuge in the renovations of an old gothic church. But the church has its own secrets, Gargoyles. Living stone, they protect those within from evil. It's been a century since they've been seen. But Justin sees them.
Cullen sits his post as he has for centuries, guarding the souls of those who enter the church. But the church, old ad rundown, has been sold to a private investor. A man he finds he's drawn to and feels incredibly protective of.
Justin dreams, of warm arms and dark wings, are his only comfort when he's attacked by a stalker, offering him an illogical sense of security through the night, accompanied by the beating of a Stone Heart.
Excerpt:
Chapter 1: Renovations
April 12, 2010
Justin Anderson stared up at the large stone church. The For Sale sign pounded into the grass of the front lawn proclaimed the Gothic structure to be vacant; it provided a phone number for interested parties to contact the realtor representing the property.
“Tracy, isn’t she magnificent?” Justin beamed at his sister. Tracy was his twin, although you wouldn’t know it to look at them. Where he had a slight build, often called willowy, and was fair complected with his short dark golden blond hair and blue eyes, his sister’s long tresses were dark brown almost black with eyes to match. She had a heavier body, after the birth of her son, but they both stood five foot eight inches tall. She often called him her big brother, which he acknowledged he was, although he’d only been born ten minutes ahead of her. Despite their differences, they were as close as any pair of twins, and inseparable when together.
Tracy frowned up at the dark structure. “It’s creepy, Justin.”
“Well, now maybe—but there’s sooooo much potential!” Justin trotted up the stone stairs to the Gothic arched entry, grabbing the wrought iron handle on the heavy oak door—it was locked.
“What are you doing?” Tracy ran up and grabbed her brother’s arm, dragging him back down to the sidewalk.
“I’m going to buy her. I think she’s perfect! Look, there’s plenty of room. I could have everything all in one place—my studio, my gallery and my apartment. Can’t you just see how it’d all fit together?”
Tracy pulled on Justin’s arm, trying to get him to move on past the roughhewn stone, down along the side of a walled-in garden behind the church.
“No! Justin, this place is—well, it’s going to need too much work. Surely there are other places to consider that would be more appropriate?” Tracy frowned as Justin jumped alongside, trying to see over the six-foot wall into the garden.
“Nothing nearly as perfect as this place would be. I really love it.”
“You buy this place and you’re crazier than I thought, big brother.” Tracy chuckled and rolled her eyes, despite her obvious misgivings, amused at her brother’s excitement. “Are you sure? Don’t you think living in a church would be creepy?”
“Of course not. Why, I think she’s perfect. I just hope I can afford to buy her.”
“Why do you keep calling the church a ‘her’?”
“Because she’s a beautiful old lady and she deserves to be treated kindly. Everything about her structure is ornate and Gothic. The architect who designed her—he did so with loving care and artistry. What better place for an art gallery than a building so carefully created?”
“Okay, so I see a rundown old church and you see a piece of fine art. Figures.”
“No, really. The main level can be divided between the gallery and my studio. The kitchen can stay where it is and I can put the laundry room in there, as well as a mudroom going out to the garden. My private living area can be upstairs.” Justin practically oozed excitement as he pointed to the pictures of the inside of the church he’d printed from the realtor’s online site.
Taking his arm and giving it a tug, she pulled him back down the sidewalk toward their parked cars. “I can’t even begin to think how much updating this money pit is going to need. You realize a building this old will have to be completely rewired to handle the load of the lighting you’ll need for the art, as well as your computer system. Who even knows what shape the kitchen and plumbing are in or if the place even has a working bathroom?”
Justin grinned, “You worry too much. She’s perfect and what’s not perfect I can fix.” Justin only had eyes for the artistry before him and ignored Tracy’s attempts at common sense.
“Fine, but don’t say I didn’t warn you.” Tracy threw up her arms in surrender.
Justin put his arm around her waist and pulled her against him. “I’m going to make this the most fabulous art gallery. Now I just need a name… maybe… Stone—something.”
“It used to be called ‘Sacred Heart’.” Tracy started walking down the sidewalk towards her car.
“Well, there you have it. ‘Stone Heart Gallery’. Perfect.”
“You’re simply crazy. But I love you anyway.” Tracy groaned.
****
Wishing you Love and Butterflies,
Sui Lynn~~
