Flesh and Stone (Les Gargouillen, Book 2)

I really like this series. It shocked me, though, when the book started with the hero of this book killing the hero of the previous book! Yikes. There's a nice conflict for the hero between his way of life, which he fervently believes in, and his heart.

Connor Rihyad has infiltrated a congregation of villainous gargoyles where Mara Kincaide and several other women are being held against their will. The women are being used as broodmares to create an evil Les Gargouillen army. Mara has gotten herself trapped in a house full of strange creatures. Discovering that Connor is one of them is a shock, but she is determined to save the women. Together, Connor and Mara fight to save themselves and all of the Les Gargouillen from a foe they thought long gone. If you've read Carved In Stone you'll find the beginning of Flesh And Stone shocking and explosive. I recommend reading Carved in Stone first to get a better understanding of the plot and a more satisfying read out of this story. Flesh And Stone has a dark edge. It's thrilling and exciting. Connor and Mara make a great team. They are passionate, strong and courageous. The third story in this magical saga promises even more drama and danger. I'm anxious to read it next! Nannette reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

I really enjoyed this book. There was a great plot, whereas so many romances have none at all. Conner has infiltrated a rogue gargoyle camp when he meets up with Mara, a human woman that is also purposely there to find answers of her own. Mara is definately an admirable character with her own skeletons in her closet that she was strong enough to overcome. She and Conner make an amazing pair. Something else I liked about this book is that many times authors try to recapture the same story as the first book, especially if it was successful, but basically repeating the story with different characters. Taylor, instead has an altogether new story with new characters. The only thing in common is Conner is from the gargoyle community. I found the story fast pace and fun to read. I look forward to more from this series, which we will get when we finally meet Levi, the younger brother from the first in the series.

Vickie Taylor's second Gargoyle book is just as intriguing as the first. For those unfamiliar with the series, the Gargoyles are a race of men cursed to be the protectors of humans while in the guise of beasts. Connor Rihyad has always subscribed to the Old Ways where the Gargoyles remain hidden from humans yet protecting them even at the risk of his own life. Connor agrees to go undercover after the Chicago congregation's home was decimated by the Minnesota congregation (see CARVED IN STONE). The Minnesota congregation, led by their Wizenot, has eschewed the role of protector for humans and is instead kidnapping women to use for breeding purposes; the Wizenot hopes to create his own powerful army of Gargoyles. Mara Kincaide is one of the kidnapped women, but like Connor, she also has a secret mission- to find and rescue her best friend, Angela. Mara breaks through Connor's barriers and together they formulate a plan to keep the women safe while Connor completes his mission. I won't spoil the story but I will tell you that Nathan and Rachel return to play pivotal roles while the mystery behind the Minnesota Wizenot and the search for Rachel's brother is revealed. Highly recommended!

Undercover gargoyle Connor Rihyad "kills" his former Chicago leader Nathan Cross in order to join the Minnesota sect that recently tried to raid his home group. He is to learn from inside why they wanted to steal the male children. He succeeds to a degree though his new associates do not trust him. His covert work has several immediate hitches as he detests that this gargoyle sect has kidnapped women to rape as breeding sex machines so that they can have many male offspring and he feels especially connected to human Mara Kincaid. From the start, she impresses him with her courage that the other gargoyles fail to notice as she like all women are beneath them. He vows to protect her even as she too is furtively trying to learn what happened to her friend Angela. To his shock Connor soon concludes that an unknown mastermind has a plan to use the Minnesota group to change the world as gargoyles will no longer follow their ethical reason for living by protecting humanity and instead rule the world. FLESH AND STONE is an intriguing paranormal romantic fantasy that makes believers out of readers that gargoyles exist. The action-packed story line starts off with a shocker at least to fans who read the previous novel (see CARVED IN STONE for his tale) when Connor "kills" Nathan and never slows down until he knows what his desires are and confronts mano a mano the nasty Devlin. Vickie Taylor (apropos name for a writer of gargoyle thrillers) provides her audience with a fabulous suspense filled thriller. Harriet Klausner