Title: The Gargoyle in the College
Author: Alina Riley
Publication Date: October 21, 2024
Genres: Paranormal Romance
Protagonist Gender: Female
Laura is a college freshman who prefers her own company to the stress of socializing but, wanting to fit in, she decides to accept the invitation of her classmates - and regrets it. While out that night, the students begin hazing the statue of a gargoyle that stands in the middle of the road, climbing all over it, kicking at it, and spraying it with shaving cream. Feeling sorry for it, she comes back later to clean it up . . . and makes an impression.
So much so that, when someone tried to rob her a few nights later, the gargoyle comes to her rescue, literally swooping her off her feet and carrying her to safety!
Yes, in this, the first of Alina Riley's The Gargoyle Next Door series, the gargoyles around us are very real, assigned to secretly watch over and protect their territory. They're not generally supposed to show themselves to humans, but Gisett is curious about the young human woman and the kindness she's shown him.
What follows is a wonderful opposites-attract story where neither is sure what's right of them to want, to desire, or to crave, and where worries about role and purpose keep interfering with personality. It's a slow-burn romance that develops the characters beautifully, making you believe that a massive stone gargoyle could be soft enough to love. Their banter is fun and flirtatious, and there's a wealth of little mythological world-building details embedded in the story to make you believe in this world.
The Gargoyle in the College is a fabulous read, perfect for the softer side of the season, with just enough spooks and scares to lead us to a HEA. The sex, when it comes, is passionate and fun, with some kinky little details that enable cross-species intimacy. Having already read the second book, with its castle, orcs, fae, and gargoyle, I can promise you there's so much more of this world to discover, and more romances to be enjoyed.
Rating: ♀ ♀ ♀ ♀ ♀
My sincere thanks to the author for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
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