Never Hollowed By The Stare

boys love manga | MM romance | indie music | giveaways and more

Never Hollowed By The Stare
  • Home
  • REVIEWS+RECS
    • MANGA
    • BOOK REVIEW
    • SOUNDTRACK
    • QUOTE
    • TRAILER
    • DESERT ISLAND CASTAWAYS
    • BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS
    • Reviews A-Z
    • MINI MOVIE REVIEWS
  • MEMES+TAGS
    • MUSIC MONDAY
    • LAST YEAR I WAS READING
    • FLICKer FADE SUNDAY
    • TAGS
    • MISC POSTS
    • PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE
    • FIRST LINES FRIDAY 56
  • TOURS & BLITZES
    • COVER REVEAL
    • GIVEAWAYS
  • About + Ratings
    • ABOUT + RATINGS
    • ADVERTISE WITH US
  • Policy + Contact
  • Home
  • REVIEWS+RECS
    • MANGA
    • BOOK REVIEW
    • SOUNDTRACK
    • QUOTE
    • TRAILER
    • DESERT ISLAND CASTAWAYS
    • BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS
    • Reviews A-Z
    • MINI MOVIE REVIEWS
  • MEMES+TAGS
    • MUSIC MONDAY
    • LAST YEAR I WAS READING
    • FLICKer FADE SUNDAY
    • TAGS
    • MISC POSTS
    • PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE
    • FIRST LINES FRIDAY 56
  • TOURS & BLITZES
    • COVER REVEAL
    • GIVEAWAYS
  • About + Ratings
    • ABOUT + RATINGS
    • ADVERTISE WITH US
  • Policy + Contact

Archives

  • June 2025 (62)
  • May 2025 (84)
  • April 2025 (71)
  • March 2025 (83)
  • February 2025 (72)
  • January 2025 (75)
  • December 2024 (90)
  • November 2024 (82)
  • October 2024 (96)
  • September 2024 (71)
  • August 2024 (99)
  • July 2024 (96)
  • June 2024 (94)
  • May 2024 (94)
  • April 2024 (93)
  • March 2024 (100)
  • February 2024 (94)
  • January 2024 (85)
  • December 2023 (85)
  • November 2023 (84)
  • October 2023 (97)
  • September 2023 (93)
  • August 2023 (100)
  • July 2023 (100)
  • June 2023 (97)
  • May 2023 (100)
  • April 2023 (76)
  • March 2023 (106)
  • February 2023 (104)
  • January 2023 (109)
  • December 2022 (118)
  • November 2022 (128)
  • October 2022 (122)
  • September 2022 (107)
  • August 2022 (118)
  • July 2022 (104)
  • June 2022 (112)
  • May 2022 (114)
  • April 2022 (61)
  • March 2022 (115)
  • February 2022 (88)
  • January 2022 (92)
  • December 2021 (90)
  • November 2021 (114)
  • October 2021 (118)
  • September 2021 (127)
  • August 2021 (84)
  • July 2021 (114)
  • June 2021 (113)
  • May 2021 (119)
  • April 2021 (112)
  • March 2021 (122)
  • February 2021 (101)
  • January 2021 (90)
  • December 2020 (121)
  • November 2020 (127)
  • October 2020 (129)
  • September 2020 (120)
  • August 2020 (131)
  • July 2020 (131)
  • June 2020 (138)
  • May 2020 (118)
  • April 2020 (109)
  • March 2020 (105)
  • February 2020 (99)
  • January 2020 (111)
  • December 2019 (112)
  • November 2019 (94)
  • October 2019 (74)
  • September 2019 (54)
  • August 2019 (51)
  • July 2019 (54)
  • June 2019 (47)
  • May 2019 (43)
  • April 2019 (53)
  • March 2019 (41)
  • February 2019 (41)
  • January 2019 (47)
  • December 2018 (52)
  • November 2018 (51)
  • October 2018 (56)
  • September 2018 (61)
  • August 2018 (55)
  • July 2018 (59)
  • June 2018 (90)
  • May 2018 (60)
  • April 2018 (60)
  • March 2018 (57)
  • February 2018 (51)
  • January 2018 (50)
  • December 2017 (45)
  • November 2017 (50)
  • October 2017 (52)
  • September 2017 (35)
  • August 2017 (50)
  • July 2017 (12)
  • June 2017 (12)
  • May 2017 (21)
  • April 2017 (87)
  • March 2017 (16)
  • January 2017 (5)
  • December 2016 (4)
  • November 2016 (25)
  • October 2014 (67)
  • September 2014 (109)
  • July 2011 (7)
  • June 2011 (14)
  • May 2011 (77)
  • April 2011 (25)
  • March 2011 (5)
  • Uncategorized

    BLOG TOUR: A Highland Gargoyle’s Lucky Star by Chloe Archer (Giveaway)

    October 23, 2024 / No Comments
    Read More
    neverhollowed

    You May Also Like

    COVER REVEAL: Wicked Games by Willow Dixon (Excerpt & Giveaway)

    May 15, 2025

    RELEASE BLITZ: Strawberry Kisses by Charlie Novak (Excerpt & Giveaway)

    November 15, 2020

    FLICKer: The Jealous Sea

    May 30, 2024
  • Uncategorized

    BLOG TOUR: The Gargoyle and the Romance Writer by Chloe Archer (Excerpt & Giveaway)

    May 6, 2024 / No Comments
    Read More
    neverhollowed

    You May Also Like

    RELEASE BLITZ: Power Forward by Jodi Oliver

    March 28, 2025

    COVER REVEAL: A New Enemy by Cara Dee

    September 10, 2021

    RELEASE BLITZ: Over A Barrel by Layla Reyne

    November 14, 2023
  • Uncategorized

    NEW RELEASE: Scales & Stone by Jessamyn Kingley (Excerpt)

    November 9, 2023 / No Comments
    Read More
    neverhollowed

    You May Also Like

    RELEASE TOUR: Ready To Cash Out by K.L. Hiers (Excerpt & Giveaway)

    August 1, 2024

    PREORDER BLAST: Dangerous Attraction by Oliver Takely (Giveaway)

    October 18, 2024

    BLOG TOUR: Don’t Let Me Drown by Andy Siege (Excerpt)

    May 23, 2025
  • Uncategorized

    COVER REVEAL: Scales & Stone by Jessamyn Kingley (Excerpt)

    October 26, 2023 / No Comments
    Read More
    neverhollowed

    You May Also Like

    FLICKer FADE SUNDAY: Dreamcatcher

    December 1, 2019

    RELEASE TOUR: All American Boys Series by Various Authors (Giveaway)

    April 6, 2022

    COVER REVEAL: The Christmas Oaks by V.L. Locey (Giveaway)

    November 5, 2019
  • Uncategorized

    RELEASE TOUR: Stone Wings by Jenn Burke (Excerpt)

    September 5, 2022 / No Comments
    Read More
    neverhollowed

    You May Also Like

    BLOG TOUR: All The Stars by Duckie Mack (Excerpt & Epic Giveaway)

    October 7, 2021

    NEW RELEASE BLITZ: My Dragon My Dom by Dulce Dennison (Excerpt & Giveaway)

    December 25, 2021

    COVER REVEAL: The Dating Disaster by Saxon James (Giveaway)

    July 4, 2022
  • Uncategorized

    COVER REVEAL: Gargoyle Birthright by Jessamyn Kingley (Excerpt)

    August 18, 2022 / No Comments
    Read More
    neverhollowed

    You May Also Like

    FAVORITE COVERS: August 2022

    September 6, 2022

    FLICKer: Ayaneh (2019)

    July 28, 2022

    NEW RELEASE BLITZ: Ground Of Insurrection by Mell Eight (Excerpt & Giveaway)

    September 30, 2021
  • book,  Uncategorized

    REVIEW: Taking His Confession by P.J. Friel & Saffron Hart

    June 10, 2022 / 2 Comments

    Cloth & Stone: Taking His Confession – P.J. Friel & Saffron Hart

    Sparks fly when a man of the cloth teams up with a cursed creature of stone to save a troubled teen from a ruthless drug lord. 

    Gideon Fawkes longs to meet the handsome young deacon who teaches at St. Anthony’s Boys Academy. There’s just one problem. Gideon is a gargoyle, and he’s pretty sure Deacon Cruz only dates humans.

    Cordero Cruz knows a lot about forgiveness. It’s the cornerstone of his calling. Too bad he can never offer it to himself. Because of him, people died, and there’s no redemption for that kind of mistake.

    But a lack of humanity and a heart filled with guilt are nothing compared to a young man’s life. When a merciless criminal threatens Cordero and one of his students, Gideon will have to risk more than his stony hide to protect them. Cordero must do the unthinkable to prove he’s deserving of the gargoyle turned guardian angel. But when their road to hell is paved with good intentions, they must learn only trust and redemption can pave the way for love.


    Among the various supernatural boyfriends found in paranormal romance, gargoyles are a rarity. The Cloth & Stone series immediately grabbed my attention because of its gargoyle MC.

    Taking His Confession opens the series from the 1st person POV of Deacon Cordero Cruz. He just saw the little brother of his late best friend talking to the city’s most notorious mob boss. Alarmed, he tried to get answers from the young man and learned he owed the mobsters a huge sum of money for a failed drug run. Money they couldn’t afford, barely having any to support his mom and siblings.

    Unknown to the people in St. Anthony’s, a watcher sat perched on its rooftops. Gideon Fawkes was cursed to be a gargoyle for almost a century. He has a special interest in the young deacon. Special enough for him to break cover when mobsters were out to get the Cordero.

    I have had this on my TBR since last year. I was hesitant to start on this because I usually steer clear of religion-themed books. Cordero’s internal dialogues are examples of why I do.

    Most of it boils down to “I am not worthy. I don’t deserve to be happy.” I wasn’t too keen on the self-flagellation, but happily, the authors managed to avoid crossing over to miserable. They were still able to let Cordero’s brighter personality shine through.

    And Cordero might angst over his so-called unworthiness, but there was no angsting over his sexuality. I loved that he was totally comfortable with it and had no hesitations about sleeping with Gideon.

    The deacon is the kind of man who bears all the world’s troubles on his shoulders. A selfless individual who prays for everyone else’s well-being except for himself. It’s why he stood out among the sea of prayers that the gargoyle hears everyday.

    Gideon used to be a rum runner back in the 1920s. He turned into a gargoyle one day after committing a crime. I found some of his thoughts on a divine being echoing some of my own. I wondered why he still believed. But then, turning into a stone at sunrise and back into a man by sunset is divine punishment if ever there was one.

    The plot interweaves the romantic development of Cordero and Gideon’s relationship with that of them teaming up to to protect Cordero’s students from the mobsters. Cordero and Gideon are compelling characters who very effectively drove the story forward, sweeping me along effortlessly with their woes and insecurities, joys and triumphs, and the occasional streak of humor. Usually from Gideon. I love this gargoyle! His POV is more fun than Cordero’s.

    The romance was sweet. I would even say it was kinda cute. It was a tender and fragile relationship filled with fears, misunderstanding, and also, love. Alas, it imploded after Gideon’s ridiculous decision to storm the mob boss’s mansion by himself without careful reconnaissance.

    Cordero was a complete mess for a while there, plus an even more ridiculous decision by Gideon to push the love of his life away. Fortunately, the two came to their senses and started working together for real. The story moved faster at this point, more action-packed and suspenseful with lotsa things going bang!

    Even with the negative thoughts and the bad decisions, Taking His Confession is a well-written book that kept me riveted. It ends with a cliffy HFN, so it’s best read when you have all three books on hand. This dramatic tale of the deacon and his gargoyle boyfriend is dark and full of heartache, but it’s also sweet, even hopeful, and most definitely gripping.

    Rating:
    4 Stars – minor quibbles but I loved it to bits

    Soundtrack: Holy Trouble
    Artist: Christian Cohle
    Album: Holy Trouble


    If you like my content, please consider using my Amazon affiliate links below to buy your copy of Taking His Confession books. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying Amazon purchases at no additional cost to you.

    US| UK

    If you like my content, please consider supporting me on Ko-fi or PayPal. Your donations will help keep this website going. Thank you so much!

    Read More
    neverhollowed

    You May Also Like

    MUSIC MONDAY: 405 by Metronomy x Biig Piig

    October 11, 2021

    NEW RELEASE BLITZ: The Depths Of Time by Lori Fayre (Excerpt & Giveaway)

    September 8, 2021

    COVER REVEAL: Waiting On Forever by E.M. Lindsey (Excerpt & Giveaway)

    March 25, 2022
  • Uncategorized

    NEW RELEASE: Coven by Claire Marta

    June 17, 2021 / No Comments
    Read More
    neverhollowed

    You May Also Like

    LAST YEAR I WAS READING…(March 31, 2021)

    March 31, 2021

    NEW RELEASE BLITZ: Elemental Ride by Mell Eight (Excerpt & Giveaway)

    July 3, 2021

    NEW RELEASE BLITZ: A Spoonful of Sugar by A.E. Lister & Mistletoe Menage by Lily Harlem (Giveaway)

    December 9, 2021
  • Uncategorized

    COVER REVEAL: Coven by Claire Marta

    June 1, 2021 / No Comments
    Read More
    neverhollowed

    You May Also Like

    BLOG TOUR: Some Place Like Home by Gin Vane (Excerpt & Giveaway)

    July 7, 2023

    RELEASE BLITZ: Open Hearts by K. Evan Coles (Excerpt & Giveaway)

    October 3, 2020

    BLOG TOUR: Novas Got Nerve by B.L. Jones (Excerpt & Giveaway)

    July 10, 2022

You can never have too much MM romance or indie music. Welcome and enjoy your stay!

FOLLOW NEVER HOLLOWED BY THE STARE

Follow Never Hollowed By The Stare on WordPress.com

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Follow Me

June 2025
M T W T F S S
 1
2345678
9101112131415
16171819202122
23242526272829
30  
« May    

If you like my content, please consider using my Amazon affiliate links to get a copy of your favorite MM romance & yaoi manga. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying Amazon purchases at no additional cost to you.

As a more ethical alternative, you can also use Bookshop.org to buy paperbacks and MP3 CD audiobooks and help support independent bookstores.

Rakuten Kobo UK
Alibris: Books, Music, & Movies

DISCLAIMER

Book images and promotional materials are from Goodreads or media kits provided for blog tours, cover reveals and release blitzes. Manga covers and other images are sourced through Google image search. The two dorks in the header image is from a manga by TogaQ & Kikuchi Neko. The cat logo is my own design. Reviews and other writings found in the blog are mine unless otherwise stated. All Buy Links to Amazon and Bookshop in my posts contain affiliate links.

Support This Site

If you like my content, please consider supporting me on Ko-fi. Your donations will help keep this website going. Thank you so much!

Never Hollowed By The Stare Follow

🌈boy's love manga | MM romance | music | giveaways and more 🐾

neverhollowed
neverhollowed Never Hollowed By The Stare @neverhollowed ·
18 Jun

PROMO BLITZ: To Defend a Damaged Duke by Fearne Hill



https://neverhollowed.com/2025/06/18/promo-blitz-to-defend-a-damaged-duke-by-fearne-hill/

Reply on Twitter 1935418872984740004 Retweet on Twitter 1935418872984740004 Like on Twitter 1935418872984740004 1 Twitter 1935418872984740004
neverhollowed Never Hollowed By The Stare @neverhollowed ·
18 Jun

DESERT ISLAND CASTAWAYS: Oliver Takely

Our favorite  MM authors a.k.a. castaways are asked, what books, songs and luxury item would they take to a desert island?

#desertislandbooks

Reply on Twitter 1935418475695972696 Retweet on Twitter 1935418475695972696 Like on Twitter 1935418475695972696 Twitter 1935418475695972696
neverhollowed Never Hollowed By The Stare @neverhollowed ·
18 Jun

After spending the year suffering as a reality TV villain IRL, Alec Braud will do anything to get his redemption arc.

BOOK TOUR: America’s Not-So-Sweetheart by Blair Hanson



https://neverhollowed.com/2025/06/17/book-tour-americas-not-so-sweetheart-by-blair-hanson/

Reply on Twitter 1935418129053561070 Retweet on Twitter 1935418129053561070 Like on Twitter 1935418129053561070 1 Twitter 1935418129053561070
neverhollowed Never Hollowed By The Stare @neverhollowed ·
18 Jun

Falling for a royal guard with glowing eyes and a lethal energy punch? Definitely not on my Terrafeara survival bingo card. But here we are.

PROMO BLITZ: Kael by Becca Seymour



https://neverhollowed.com/2025/06/17/promo-blitz-kael-by-becca-seymour/

Reply on Twitter 1935417593986244689 Retweet on Twitter 1935417593986244689 Like on Twitter 1935417593986244689 1 Twitter 1935417593986244689
Load More
Rakuten Kobo UK
SEARCH NOW:
by title
by author
2025©Never Hollowed By The Stare