Heartsworn

Return to the world of Heartsong! A reclusive researcher gets the shock of a lifetime when the (very attractive) gargoyle statue in her rose garden awakens and claims her as his mate.She’s known him all her life…June Parkhurst is a prodigy, a conservator, and…an empath. Yet, her empathic abilities don’t feel like a gift; they’re a curse, one that’s driven her into isolation.Overwhelmed by the feelings of others and her own grief, June sticks to what she loves most: statues. She’s always been fascinated by them, especially the gothic masterpiece in her family’s rose garden.He’s watched over her for years…For centuries, Alaric has despaired. Cursed to stone by the cruel Faerie Queen, Alaric has watched the world pass him by. He holds desperately onto a fleeting hope—that one day, June will come to understand what he’s known for years: she is his heartsong.Magick stolen can be reclaimed, and curses cast can be broken…A new museum with enigmatic owners has just opened, full of statues just like hers. Unable to resist, June emerges from seclusion determined to find answers about her statue. Yet, nothing is what it seems in this curious place, and June can’t ignore how…alive the statues feel.The mysterious statues and their owners are just the start of the strangeness. During an attack by masked thieves, June swears one of the statues comes to life and flies away. But that’s impossible. As impossible as the whispers she hears from her beloved statue…mate.Tropes:• Monster romance• Museum mystery• Domestic bliss• Protective monster mmc• Nerdy fmc• Neurodivergent fmc• Healing/comfort over grief• Fated mates• Forced proximity

S. E. Wendel is a California native who grew up with animals; her ginger tabby is her current writing partner and lets her know when it’s time to take a break (by laying on her keyboard). She graduated from the University of California, Davis, with a master’s in creative writing and uses her time to build worlds, characters, and their stories. She enjoys true crime, pink nail polish, and all the beautiful landscapes of California.