A FOUNDATION OF STONE AND HEART

He's a six-hundred-year-old gargoyle built to endure. She's a master mason with a crumbling past. To save their town, they'll have to build a foundation that can withstand the weight of the world.

Elara Vance is done with "fixer-uppers." After a burnout divorce from a man who saw her competence as a hobby, she's returned to the small mountain town of Oakhaven to restart her life as a historical preservationist. Her first job? Saving the St. Jude's Clock Tower, a crumbling Victorian masterpiece that is the literal anchor of the town.

It's the kind of impossible job she lives for-until she meets the site's "safety consultant."

Silas Vane is a pillar of the community. He owns the local masonry yard, he knows the heartbeat of every stone in the valley, and at seven feet tall with skin like granite, he is the town's worst-kept secret. He is also a gargoyle who has been watching over Oakhaven for six centuries. He is ancient, immovable, and terrifyingly gentle.

When a ruthless developer threatens to demolish the tower, Elara and Silas must forge an unlikely partnership. They are two masters of their craft, communicating through the language of lime-mortar, load-bearing walls, and shared labor. But as they work through blizzards and sabotage to stabilize the spire, a slow-burn attraction begins to radiate between them-a heat more intense than the core of the earth.

Silas has spent a lifetime watching from the shadows, convinced he is too monstrous for a human life. Elara is afraid to trust a foundation she can't measure with a laser level. As the tower begins to fracture, they must decide what is worth saving: the past they're clinging to, or the future they could build together.

A FOUNDATION OF STONE AND HEART is a standalone, steamy cozy monster romance featuring a seasoned, capable heroine and the gargoyle who would move mountains to protect her.

Perfect for fans of T. Kingfisher, Ruby Dixon, and readers who love their monsters protective and their heroines competent.

The Vibe Check:

• Seasoned Romance: Mature protagonists (40+) who have lived, loved, and aren't afraid of a little grit.


• Monster Next Door: A high-EQ gargoyle hero who is a pillar of his community.


• Competence-Focused: A heroine who knows her way around a tool belt and a hero who respects her craft.


• Size Difference & Protective Energy: Heavy on the protective "He Falls First" tropes.


• Cozy Setting, High Stakes: All the warmth of a small town with a structural mystery that keeps you on edge.