The Gargoyle and the Romance Writer
By Chloe Archer
Monsters Hollow, Book 2
Welcome to Monsters Hollow, where love knows no bounds—even in a town full of monsters!
A quirky romance writer in hiding. A sexy gargoyle lover turned bodyguard. A magical small town and a stalker that just won’t quit...
Ryder Thomas (aka Ryder St. James)
I assumed writing swoony romance novels about humans and Otherkind might attract some unsavory attention. But I never imagined I’d have an obsessive fan stalking me. Fortunately, my BFF Max has an in with a town he assures me can keep me safe.
As a former foster kid, I’m pretty resilient, but this situation is messing with my sleep and I’m on deadline for my next book!
About the only thing that can help at times like this is some regular mind-blowing… release. Trust me, solo methods just aren’t enough and hooking up with randos isn't my style. I need someone safe who can reliably rock my world in the bedroom and maybe help me with my research as a bonus!
Enter the hunky Scottish gargoyle who’s been flirting with me ever since I arrived to hide out in Mystic Hollow. We come up with an ideal no-strings and no-feelings arrangement until I leave town for my next book tour.
After all, romance is just a fantasy I write about in my books--right?
Vash DarkWing
From the moment I met Ryder, I wanted to know more about the bonnie, brave man who speaks his mind. With no filter.
When he proposes a few weeks of mutually beneficial shagging before his book tour starts, I immediately jump on the chance to, well, jump him. Just a bit of fun and maybe friendship.
Hell’s bells, but Ryder slips past all my defenses and wins my affections without even trying! Now, I’ll do whatever it takes to keep the man I love safe. Even if it means putting my heart as well as my life on the line.
The Gargoyle and the Romance Writer is a 106k cozy monster romance that features an inappropriately curious novelist, a sexy Scottish gargoyle with strong protective instincts, a specialty harness for aerial… shenanigans, a creepy stalker, and true love for the win. This is the second book in the Monsters Hollow series and can be read as a standalone.
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Excerpt
There’s an awkward pause and then Vash clears his throat. “How about I come around the B&B about seven and we go out to dinner?”
The little purring growl at the end of that invite makes my heart stutter in my chest in a very different way than receiving the letter did.
Vash and I butted heads a lot when we first met since we’re both equally stubborn, but the sexual attraction between us has been undeniable. Although he’s flirted and intimated he’d like to get to know me a whole lot better—and preferably naked—I’ve been avoiding any relationship entanglements with him. As much as I’m attracted to the super-hot gargoyle—insanely so—I’ve mostly steered clear of him since I arrived in town. Our dynamic definitely changed after he rescued me, and something softened between us as if we both silently agreed to a truce of sorts. I even approved having DarkWing Security provide professional protection during my upcoming book tour. But there’s just something about Vash that simultaneously draws me in and terrifies me. I don’t have a successful record in the real-life romance department, and I get the sense that Vash is way more than I can handle.
Besides, I’m just not in the right headspace to be with someone right now. Plus, I don’t want to start something when I know I’ll be leaving Mystic Hollow all too soon to go back to my regular life in Syracuse. It’s sad to admit, but I find I’m better at writing about love than actually experiencing it.
Anyway, dating the head of the firm hired to protect me on my book tour? I’d have to be a f*cking idiot to make my life even more complicated than it already is. No thanks.
Vash hurries on, his tone cautious, after I pause just a tad too long. “This would be a business dinner. We need to talk about the plan I’ve developed for your book tour. The schedule is airtight and will keep you safe, but I want to review it with you before implementing it with my team.” He clears his throat. “That is, if it’s all right with you.”
My stupid heart starts doing weird thumpy things in my chest again. Why does Vash DarkWing get that organ so flustered so damn easily?
I scowl. It’s all because he had to come to my rescue in such a dashing manner, just like some Scottish Highlander in a Julie Garwood novel. Minus the kilt, alas. My romance reader-author brain still hasn’t recovered and it makes me act like a fool.
Settle down. It’s business. On the plus side, that shouldn’t be too complicated, which is how I prefer things.
“Okay, I’ll see you at seven,” I say, super casual-like. I choose to ignore the extra thumpity-thump my heart does.
Enter the Giveaway:
To celebrate the release of The Gargoyle and the Romance Writer, Chloe is giving away a $15 Amazon Gift Card with a signed bookplate, or a Signed Paperback of the release!
Enter the Rafflecopter giveaway for your chance to win!
Check out Book 1: The Orc and the Manny
Monsters Hollow, Book 1
Welcome to Monsters Hollow, where love knows no bounds—even in a town full of monsters!
Targan Wildethorne
A confirmed bachelor, and a historian by training, I haven’t the faintest clue how to care for twin orclings when I unexpectedly become their guardian. I’d love to retreat into the comforting sanctuary of my study, surrounded by my books and papers, but first I need to hire someone to help me with the children. Someone who can teach me the ropes of this new role.
Thank the Light for the All-Species Specialized Employment Services! In my most dire hour of need, they find the perfect nanny—ahem, manny—to help me look after my young wards. Now I can finally get back to writing my history of orc folklore for a few hours a day.
Or so I thought.
Instead I find the captivating new man in my home far too distracting. Max is so much more than I had expected. I’ve never fallen for a human before, but I can’t get him out of my mind. Could he ever feel the same about an orc? Humans are usually too intimidated by our large size and outer appearance. Can Max look past my green skin and tusks to see a man with a heart that yearns for him? And if he does, when he learns the truth about the children will the danger on the horizon send him running?
Max MacLeod
Working with kids is totally my jam and I’m damn good at what I do. Just call me Maxy Frickin’ Poppins! When a new job prospect comes my way, I’m intrigued. A chance to move to Mystic Hollow (aka Monsters Hollow) to be a well-paid manny for two adorable orclings? Talk about a dream position. Sold! But when I lock eyes with the seriously sexy orc who’s their guardian—and my new de facto boss—for the first time, I’m a goner. Big, muscular, and green all over–he’s giving me full-on Hulk meets stern professor vibes—and I likeit.
As I get to know him, over meals with the kids during the day and soft-spoken conversations about history at night, I soon realize there’s so much more to Targan than the gorgeous orc who keeps starring in all my naughtiest dreams. He’s quite possibly the kindest, gentlest man I’ve ever met. And he accepts and appreciates every part of me and my flamboyant, full-figured fabulousness. I just want to feed and take care of him—and find out if he’s so deliciously big everywhere. Before I know it, I’m dreaming of being part of a forever family with him and his adorable twins. But an unexpected threat looms in the shadows that could threaten the safety of us all…
The Orc and the Manny is a (94k words) cozy small town M/M monster romance featuring a Hulkalicious silver fox orc professor who's better with books than kids, a flamboyant human manny with ALL the skills (think Nathan Lane in The Birdcage meets Mary Poppins), an age gap, a size difference, a three-headed hellhound and a feisty rescue Chihuahua, two adorable orcling twins, and copious amounts of orc…joy!
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About the Author:
Chloe Archer writes M/M sci-fi and paranormal rom coms with laugh out loud humor because she’s all about bringing the funny-sexy back. Oh, yeah!
She currently calls Minnesota home, but has lived abroad in places like Montreal, Edinburgh, and Tokyo. She’s hoping to relocate to Scotland permanently one day if the stars align.
Chloe is a fur mama to two adorable Yorkies, Jasper and Teddy, and she loves them in a crazy dog mama kind of way. When she isn’t busy writing, she enjoys visiting friends and family, traveling, reading, binge watching movies and TV shows, and practicing her karaoke skills. She does a mean cover of Pat Benatar and Cher, or so she’s been told.
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