Heart of Stone (The Stone Series Book 1)

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Everyone who caught a glimpse of it marveled at its condition, for nearly a millennium of exposure to the elements had smoothed away remarkably few of the details that made it such an impressive work of art. The museum's director had supposedly gloated for weeks after acquiring it a couple of years ago, and frankly, Ella couldn't blame him. Carefully, she crossed to the far side of the terrace to perch at the feet of her favorite work of art in the museum's entire collection. Its familiarity and looming presence comforted her, made it possible for her to think and be and regain her balance.

Heart of Stone Series by D.H. Sidebottom - Goodreads Heart of Stone Series by D.H. Sidebottom - Goodreads

The assistant museum director raised her eyebrows and pursed her lips. "The two of you certainly startled me," she said. "I knew you were out here, of course, Ella, but I was afraid you might have hurt yourself."

Not Your Ordinary Faerie Tale is a delightful read from the first word to the last. Christine Warren has created two amazing characters, given them an incredible plot and laced the story with witty conversations, lots of snark and a hefty portion of danger.” — Single Titles

Heart of Stone (Stone, book 1) by Dakota Willink Heart of Stone (Stone, book 1) by Dakota Willink

The temptation of it shook her. Memories of what happened the last time she'd given in to the temptation flooded her. She recalled what it meant to stop fighting, when she'd been just a child and the energy battering at her had left her feeling overwhelmed, alone and hopeless, a freak of nature with a decidedly unnatural talent. But when a thousand-year-old statue, complete with fangs and wings comes to life, how is Ella supposed to react? She’s never seen anyone more hard-bodied, deadly…or disastrously desirous than the male who now stands before her. Hence, all the ribbing she took about being in love with Sir Arthur. The comments might have bothered her, if she hadn't dated infinitely worse male specimens. Stepping aside, she gestured toward the ballroom doors. "Now, seeing how late it is, please allow me to walk you out. Tonight was a wonderful success for the museum, and I'm certain Dr. Lefavreau will express his gratitude to you the very next time he sees you. Shall we?"Stanley's eyes, pale blue and cold, hardened along with his grip. His fingers dug into the flesh of her upper arm with enough force to leave bruises. "I'm sure Dr. Boucher would be the first to tell you that alienating one of this museum's largest benefactors is a poor way to do your job, Ella, my sweet. But even if she were shortsighted enough not to, I'm more than happy to correct her oversight." And something else, something that frightened Ella more than even the assault. It twisted his lips and carved lines into the surface handsomeness of his features, transforming them into a macabre mask of evil. His hand shifted on her throat, forcing her head up, angling it to the side until the moonlight caught and illuminated her features. His eyes glittered with lust and fury.

Heart of Stone (2023 film) - Wikipedia Heart of Stone (2023 film) - Wikipedia

I admit I got a little bit of a scare from Mr. Stanley here," Ella said, her voice tight but determinedly cheerful. The last thing she wanted was some kind of nightmarish scene involving lodging a complaint about the lecher's behavior, or even worse, filing some sort of assault charge with the city police. "I didn't think there was anyone still here but you and me. He startled me." Five minutes after the last guest of the Friday evening fund-raising gala had exited the front doors of Georgia House, the historic building that housed the main museum gallery, Ella gave in to the pressure she'd felt building all through the evening. She rolled her eyes, blew a raspberry, and thumbed her nose simultaneously. It was childish of her, but satisfying. Setting herself apart from other writers in her field, she really does have a unique voice that stands out from the rest. This idiosyncratic style of hers has allowed her to make some innovative and creative interpretations of the romantic genre format. Using this approach, readers are left not quite knowing what to expect from her and her work, giving it a really distinctive perspective. Leading the way with her character-driven stories, she pushes the boundaries at every chance she can get, making her work extremely exciting. Ella liked to think the artist had seen him as she did—a fierce guardian, willing to battle evil on its own terms, determined to protect his charges against any harm.For some people, Ella knew, shyness made interacting with strangers an uncomfortable and embarrassing experience, but Ella wasn't shy; she was terrified. Crowds scared her—more than spiders, more than the threat of global war, more than the boogeyman. Without warning, Stanley jerked away, releasing her mouth and leaving her with the taste of her own blood in her mouth. With people all around her, she could never predict what might happen, and the constant tension of holding on to her self-control made her head pound and her nerves fray. Being an antisocial hermit just made life easier.

The Stone Series by Dakota Willink - Goodreads

And that wasn't even considering what other things might happen here in this place full of history and artifacts. Old things, especially old things full of talent and beauty, held power of their own, and they could be destroyed if she was so weak as to lose control. If she couldn't hang on, those same things could feed the madness. Left alone, she felt the tension drain from her in an abrupt rush, leaving her dizzy and weak-kneed. She needed to sit for a minute and remind herself how to breathe. Her first series would go on to be translated into five different languages, and she is constantly being recognized for various awards. This acclaim has seen her become a bestselling novelist, and she also writes under the name of Marie Christy for several different projects. She is an outspoken member of the literary community, contributing to different outlets, such as the ‘Blunder Woman Productions’ project. Pulses of restless energy battered at her weakened barriers, but she refused to let them overwhelm her. If they did, not only would she be unable to fend off Stanley's advances, but she'd also find herself barely able to function for days, if not weeks, to come.She also didn't doubt he was surprised to have his incipient lie about being the injured party in any circumstances involving her burst like an overinflated party balloon. She could practically see his desire to scratch the itch caused by her refusal to cooperate with him, and Bea's untimely interruption. This book is heartfelt, dealing with all its drama in the real-world, effectively reflecting it every step of the way. The story itself is engaging, and it’s easy to see why this series became so successful with its worldwide audience and following. Fully invested in the characters and their outcomes, the story has many twists and turns, constantly managing to surprise the whole way. You know, that pleasant little scene never would have happened if you'd been doing your duty," she griped half-humorously to the silent guardian. "You're supposed to repel evil. Talk about lying down on the job." Drinking wine and nibbling canapés might not sound like a year in a Stalinist gulag, but having to do it in the midst of five hundred elegantly dressed strangers while maintaining a polite smile in the face of their inane conversations and pretending to laugh at their lame jokes ranked even worse in Ella's mind. She'd rather volunteer for the hard labor. Ella listened to her friend and colleague's laughter follow her through the hall and into the historic mansion's stately ballroom, which now housed an impressive collection of paintings, antique furniture, and historic objets d'art. She'd worked for the assistant curator for more than two years now, and Bea knew her well enough to understand that when Ella said she hated crowds and that making small talk with strangers gave her hives, she wasn't kidding.