Secret Agent Gargoyle

Monsters, PI, Book 1

De: Ava Ross

Narrado por: Stephen Borne, Elle Sonali

Do I dare trust my heart to Secret Agent Gargoyle?

Angie: When my beer kegs turn up missing days before a big event, I hire Monsters, PI to track down my beer. Who's assigned to my case? Tuvid, the gargoyle who wrongfully accused me of gnome-theft.

Tuvid's seven feet of gargoyle muscles with a killer smile. So, when our not-one-night-stand results in a marriage proposal—solely to save his gargoyle rep—I know I'm in trouble. My business plans don't include marrying a gargoyle, but Tuvid's impossible to resist.

Tuvid: I met Angie while I was wrapping up a local investigation involving stolen gnomes. I was given the wrong address, and I accused her of stealing the little guys. I was determined to make amends. Plus ask her out, but she didn’t return my calls.

Then we're locked inside her microbrewery's storage, and who should unlock the door? Her mom and mine. It's clear we've been together all night, though we didn't do anything—well, not much. But gargoyles are old-fashioned, and my reputation will be shattered unless we get married.

I'm going to track down her beer kegs in time for the brew-off. And when the case is closed? Angie's going to be my bride.

Contains mature themes.

©2024 Ava Ross (P)2024 Tantor Media

Cold Storage, Hot Chemistry

The following ratings are out of 5:
Romance: 💙💚💜❤️
Steam: 🔥🔥🔥
Chemistry: 🧪🧪🧪🧪🧪
Story/Plot: 📕📗📙📘
World building: 🌏🌍🌎🌏
Character development: ☺️🤣🙁😘
Narration: 🎙🎙🎙🎙
Narration Type: Dual Narration

🦸🏼‍♀️ Heroine Spotlight: Angie
In a world where monsters have stepped out of the shadows and into everyday life, Angie is just trying to keep her microbrewery afloat. When her prized stout kegs vanish days before the Monster Mash brew-off—a competition that could launch her brand into viral stardom—she turns to Monsters, P.I., a detective agency run by an orc with a nose for trouble. Angie’s mission? Recover the stolen brew and claim her rightful place on the Monster Beer Blog.

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🦸🏻‍♂️ Hero Spotlight: Tuvid
Tuvid is a seven-foot-tall gargoyle with a granite jawline and a heart that’s already spoken for. As the newest agent at Monsters, P.I., he’s still learning the ropes—and it shows when he mistakenly accuses Angie of gnome theft thanks to a botched address. But fate (and a glowing mating mark) has other plans. From the moment he touches her, Tuvid knows Angie is his destined mate. Now he just has to convince her she’s not only innocent—but his.

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🔥 Plot Snapshot
Tuvid takes on Angie’s case, eager to prove his detective chops and win her heart. After a rocky start, Angie warms to his apology and gives him a tour of her brewery, sharing the legacy her late uncle left behind. Their chemistry simmers as they chase clues and dodge flirtation—until a night locked in cold storage turns steamy. Found the next morning by both their mothers (because of course), they’re nudged into an engagement that feels more comedic than cosmic, especially since they’re fated mates already.

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❤️‍🔥 What Worked

• Ava Ross delivers another fun, monster-meets-mate romp with a quirky premise and plenty of heat.
• Tuvid and Angie are all-in from the start—lusty, curious, and emotionally open, which keeps the pace brisk and the tension delicious.
• The mystery adds just enough intrigue to balance the romance, making this more than just a steamy interspecies meet-cute.

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🤨 Room for More

• The forced engagement after one night in a freezer? A bit much. Especially when fate already stamped its approval. It felt more like a sitcom setup than a serious emotional beat.

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🎧 Narration Vibes
Dual POVs, dual narrators: Stephen Borne and Elle Sonali
Elle Sonali’s performance is smooth and expressive—her voice feels lived-in, not read. Stephen Borne nails Tuvid’s gravelly charm, but his female voices miss the mark, pulling listeners out of the moment. A duet narration would’ve elevated the intimacy and pacing. Both narrators lean into the camp a little too hard at times, giving the story a cartoonish edge that doesn’t always match the emotional stakes.

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📝 Final Thoughts
Ava Ross blends monster lore, romantic tension, and brewery drama into a fast-paced, flirty adventure. While some plot turns lean silly, the chemistry and charm carry the story. If you’re in the mood for gargoyle swoon, beer-fueled banter, and a heroine who knows her hops, this one’s worth a listen.