Sunstone's Fire

Cursed in Stone, Book 1

By: Lia Davis

Narrated by: Michael Ferraiuolo

Length: 2 hrs and 3 mins

Publisher's summary

A fatal kiss, forbidden love - cursed in stone.

Aspiring author Nate Wilson wants some space from his overbearing family and a job he doesn't like. A week on the Oregon coast sounds like paradise and just what he needs to get the creative juices flowing. Unfortunately, his plans are derailed when a storm moves in and a ghostly figure flashes in his headlights, sending him skidding off the road and into a tree. Lucky for him, he ends up in front of a bed and breakfast, and the beautiful owner may do more to spur his creativity than any beach could.

Hesitant witch and inn owner, Haylee Clark is cursed. Well, not her exactly - at least not yet - but all of the women in her family have suffered the same fate. They fell in love, only to have that passion turn sour and their husbands die tragically, leaving them brokenhearted. So far, Haylee has done well to avoid that destiny, but when the captivating Nate Wilson crashes into her life, he awakens something within her that she never thought to feel.

When the pair stumbles upon a hidden room where Haylee's grandmother used to conduct her rituals, they unknowingly unleash a dark entity hell-bent on destruction, and discover that a family heirloom is the source of the Clark family curse. Despite the spell, they can't deny their attraction, and give in to the magic between them. But the closer Haylee and Nate get, the more the curse tries to tear them apart. If they don't find a way to defeat the evil, they may lose more than their hearts.

©2016 Lia Davis (P)2016 Lia Davis

Not great but good..

This was a quick little listen, and it was kind of cute. It was based on a demon that lived in a B&B’s basement and Nate and Haylee had to figure out how to rid the house of it. Since it was only a novella everything was answered in a hurry and Nate and Haylee fell in love in 3 days’ time. And that’s how long Con had to be human, before he turned back into a gargoyle in the graveyard. I'm assuming there is or will be other books since Con's story doesn't seem to be over. Not a cliffhanger but it was left open for more.

There was one sex scene, which was very boring and short. And the F-bomb was used 2 times.

As to the narrator: Hmmm.. Not sure how I felt about him. HE did read with some emotion BUT there were times when NATE sounded too feminine for me, which was odd since the narrator was a man. I listened to Michael Ferraiuolo in other books and he was fabulous, but in this book, not so much. This will definitely NOT stop me from listening to him.

just as good

When I heard about this Gothic romance I was ecstatic. Read it and now I want to hear it. In my younger days read the Gothic romance as fast as I could but as time has gone writers have seem to gotten away from them, not so many. They are full of everything-ghosts,paranormal and of course romance. The atmosphere is different even, it has to be in the right setting like this one is in Oregon. There is a bed and breakfast run by Haylee which is good for him since something causes him to skid and into a tree. Oh can not forget the prologue either with another ingredient that is in the form of a gargoyle who is searching to break his curse and then there is the curse on Haylee's family. There is a good foundation also in this series dealing with stones that ties each and fits perfectly in the writing. I am already captivated plus now in deep eating up every word. He is there on a retreat you might say but she will find out what he really desires. Then too they will desire each other but there is the matter of searching for what will get loose and all kinds of mysterious things. She too is special with the history in her family she will have to believe she has it in her to do what needs to be done. Fighting evil is a big job but the joy was reading them doing it. This author has gone and done it she will give a fabulous conclusion to this one but also the lead to the next one, so with my love renewed on this type of novel it will be anticipation to say the least.

Weird coincidence??

This story was very strange for me considering I live in the town it was set in and there are real people with the SAME names as the main characters that I grew up with. Also there really is a creepy cemetery that has an old legend about witchcraft tied to it(not anything close to what the story talks about but still)
With that being said the book wasn't horrible but it kind of felt rushed with missing parts. I understand the time frame of 3 days doesn't leave a lot of room but it appeared things were just thrown in with no smooth transition to make it longer. For example the mention of why she didn't practice magic suddenly at the end with no hint at it earlier. With added details and explanations I think this story has the potential to be a really good book but feels like an unfinished rough draft as is.

Good book

Good quick read with plenty of romance and magic. The story is a good start to what promises to be a series about love through the ages.