Calming a Demon Heart

Title: Calming a Demon Heart

Author: Charlie Richards

Publisher: eXtasy Books

Publisher URL: http://www.extasybooks.com/

ISBN/BIN: 978-1-77111-882-8

Genre: {M/M} Paranormal Series

Rating: 3.5 Nymphs

Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Dragon Minx

Gargoyles aren’t real. That’s what Matthew Beakman always believed until he learns his brother Marty’s life has been saved by one and he’s romantically involved with another.  He’s thrilled Marty’s alive and wants to thank the gargoyle responsible but learns that the huge red gargoyle—Vane—doesn’t like humans.  Undaunted by the warning, Matthew follows Vane, determined to accomplish his self-appointed task. He’s attracted to the heavily-muscled male and is excited with the idea of meeting him. And when Vane presses him against the wall and growls, it makes his body tingle.

Calming a Demon Heart is the newest release in Charlie Richards’ A Paranormal’s Love series. Due to the recurring characters and ongoing storyline, the books should be read in order.

Gargoyles aren’t written about often, which is why I enjoy this series. They give a slightly different slant to what could be considered usual in the shifter genre and the variety is a nice change. There’s also the shock factor—gargoyles—something out myth, even more so than werewolves and vampires. It certainly makes the mating interesting. At least in this release Matthew’s a little ahead because he already knows they exist, which increases the pace of the storyline immediately.

I don’t know what to make of the Vane we meet in Calming a Demon Heart. Previously he’s all bad-ass, someone you don’t want to mess with. Here he’s so different—an uncertain, wounded individual, haunted by his past. It didn’t mesh with the Vane I already had in my head. It’s not that the descriptions here of what happened in his past aren’t well done, it’s putting the *two* Vane’s together I have trouble with. Matthew I thoroughly enjoyed. He’s experienced in life—in ways that Vane isn’t, so he can help his new mate move out into the world, making him comfortable.

Overall the pacing is good, I enjoyed the inclusion of numerous previous characters, there’s action, danger, and plenty of sizzling hot sex. The ending is in two parts and while pretty satisfying I wish we’d been able to see both portions. It’s here several new shifters species are added to the series and hopefully they’ll be possible mates in future books. Maybe we’ll see a little variety in who is mated.