Heart of Stone

Warren (Hungry Like a Wolf) launches a series with this solid paranormal romance. After museum docent Ella Harrow is accosted by a sleazy philanthropist, she teasingly chides a grotesque gargoyle statue for not protecting her. It springs to life, startling them both. Kees, a member of the Guild of Wardens, is puzzled to be woken from his magical slumber by a human with untrained magical abilities. Ella is drawn to Kees’s gorgeous new form as he explains the danger of the seven demons of the Dark, but problems quickly overshadow lust: the police search for the missing statue, Kees encounters dead ends in finding his team, and inexplicable events foreshadow encroaching evil. The sexual attraction between Kees and Ella is palpable, and readers will love watching the logical Kees fight the concept of emotions as Ella blossoms from a guilt-laden hermit into a gutsy heroine. Despite some repetition, this is a clever, wry tale that bodes well for future installments. (Jan.)