She was destined to save his heart of stone…Bookish museum curator Rebecca Clark has given up on dating. Real life men aren’t nearly as perfect as the men in the paintings and statues she sees every day at her job. But one night she whispers a prayer to the universe to send her the perfect man. She had no idea a goddess is listening… lover but when he sleeps with the wrong woman and leaves her unsatisfied, he finds himself cursed by none other than the Goddess of love herself. After living two centuries trapped as a marble statue, Aphrodite gives Devon one chance to redeem himself or he’ll face an eternity of made of stone. He must prove he can satisfy a woman’s every desire without satisfying his own.
When Rebecca discovers a naked man in her art gallery instead of a priceless statue at midnight she has no idea he’s the answer to her prayers. Aphrodite has sent Devon to be Rebecca’s perfect man. Can Devon earn Rebecca’s love and trust by proving his selflessness or will it be too late?
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This was a short read, but still cute and sweet. If you liked Fantasy Lover by Sherrilyn Kenyon, this is a similar story.
Rebecca Clark is a museum curator & has given up on dating because she’s found men to be selfish. Devon Blake was Regency London’s most wicked lover but then he slept with Aphrodite the Goddess of love & left her unsatisfied so she cursed him & for two hundred years he’s been trapped in a marble statue, Aphrodite gives Devon one chance to redeem himself or he’ll face an eternity of made of stone. He must prove he can satisfy a woman’s every desire without satisfying his own for a week. Working late Rebecca discovers a naked man in her art gallery instead of a priceless statue, she has no idea he’s the answer to her prayers. Especially as ‘he’s catnip for women’.
Another page turning brilliant novella from the author, which I read in one sitting. The characterisation is very good. Devon’s bewilderment with the twenty first century is very well portrayed & hilarious. It’s their selflessness that brought a tear to my eye. This was a lovely read usually time travelling novels have us going back in time so for the hero to travel forward was refreshing & so very entertaining
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
Oh my goodness, what a jewel this story was to someone who primarily reads historical romances, mostly Regency, Medieval, and Victorian. I have read historical romances written by Lauren Smith, which I’ve greatly enjoyed. I was a bit reluctant to read a time travel romance that is set in the present, but because it was written by Lauren Smith, I thought it was worth my time. I am so glad I took the chance. Of Sand and Stone is a perfectly delightful novella, about two characters who were meant to be together. I laughed, was close to tears in some parts, but it was a sweetly romantic, satisfying read I thoroughly enjoyed. Read it. You’ll like it.
Delicious, romantic, swoony, clever, and funny. Even in a short novella, Smith put a lot of great things in it. Rebecca is sweet, though a bit jaded. Devon was a selfish rake in his time, but the punishment of a goddess and Rebecca’s care and affection may inspire him to do better. Loved this story!
What could be more delightful to a modern girl to have a handsome rake from Regency times drop into your lap? Not much I can think of except to go back to Regency times! Rebecca Clark was so over dates with guys just did not measure up to her expectations. Working at the museum, she was always seeing the perfect man portrayed in the statues and paintings.. Well by a magical twist, one of the statues comes to life! Devon Blake, one of Regency London’s most notorious lovers, finds himself released from a spell and brought to life with a chance to redeem himself. This is such a fun novella and will keep you smiling and even laughing out loud at times while Devon tries to understand modern times. If you love time travel with a really neat spin, this is the story for you! Loved it..
Publisher’s Description:
She was destined to save his heart of stone…
Bookish museum curator Rebecca Clark has given up on dating. Real life men aren’t nearly as perfect as the men in the paintings and statues she sees every day at her job. But one night she whispers a prayer to the universe to send her the perfect man. She had no idea a goddess is listening…
Devon Blake was Regency London’s most wicked lover but when he sleeps with the wrong woman and leaves her unsatisfied, he finds himself cursed by none other than the Goddess of love herself. After living two centuries trapped as a marble statue, Aphrodite gives Devon one chance to redeem himself or he’ll face an eternity of made of stone. He must prove he can satisfy a woman’s every desire without satisfying his own.
When Rebecca discovers a naked man in her art gallery instead of a priceless statue at midnight she has no idea he’s the answer to her prayers. Aphrodite has sent Devon to be Rebecca’s perfect man. Can Devon earn Rebecca’s love and trust by proving his selflessness or will it be too late?
My Thoughts:
I pushed this short novella ahead of my other reads just because of the nature of this read. I had recently finished Grigori, a Dragon Shifters romance also by Lauren Smith and could not put it down. I don’t read as much paranormal as I do historical romance titles, but since Grigori was so good and this one was short, I could hardly wait.
I was not disappointed.
Rebecca loves her job as a museum coordinator and when a fabulous marble statue of a nude man by an unknown artist comes her way she stays over to make sure he has center stage in the exhibit.
She has been left alone in the museum when to her surprise the statue is no longer made of marble but manifests itself as a flesh and blood and very nude man.
Surely this is just her overactive imagination working overtime! What has actually become of the statue and where did this confused, if gorgeous man come from?
Devon was in his time known as London’s most wicked rake, but his one flaw as a lover was that he always reached his own satisfaction but never gave his partners the same. He left one woman too many unsatisfied. That bed partner was the goddess of love and for his misdeeds she turns him to stone.
What will it take to make Rebecca believe Devon’s remarkable and far fetched tale? Will this lead to more between this time traveling man and the woman who brought him back to life?
I enjoyed this short read very much. I gave it 4.5 of 5.0 stars for storyline and character development and a sensual rating of 3.75 of 5.0 flames. Since Devon must give his new lover satisfaction without finding his own that limits the intimacy but it is combustible beyond measure when it finally occurs.
I received a complimentary digital ARC of this book as a member of Lauren Smith’s Private Review League to read. This in no way affected my opinion of this title which I read and reviewed voluntarily.