Guest Reviewed by Gyn
Title: Beauty’s Beast
Author: Amanda Ashley
Hero/Heroine: Erik/Christine
Genre: M/F Historical Paranormal
Length: 352 pages
Publisher: Kensington Books
Release Date: September 2, 2014
Available at: Kensington Books, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, All Romance Ebooks and Kobo
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads
Blurb: Beauty
Fair of face and figure, Kristine is young, innocent, pure. Yet she has been condemned to the gallows for killing a man. The only one who can save her is a lord so infamous that some say he is the son of the Devil himself. . .
And the Beast
Erik Trevayne is called the Demon Lord of Hawksbridge Castle, but few know of the curse he lives under. Or the terrifying changes slowly gnawing away at his humanity. When he weds her, all he wants of Kristine is a son. But when he beds her, a wild hope is born–that love that can tame even the most monstrous of beasts…
Review:
Once Upon a Time… If you’re the kind of reader that gets a certain chill when you read those four little words than Beauty’s Beast by Amanda Ashley will be a good addition to your fairy tale collection. The cover is very catching with all its red flowy-ness and the hot mysterious hunka man. The woman on the cover is a bit misleading considering that the actual heroine of the story is a small, pale seventeen-year-old blonde-haired girl. Speaking of which, it was a bit off-putting when at the beginning of the story we’re informed of Kristine’s age. When the much older Lord Eric, a very dark and cold character, rescues her from execution only to throw her into his marital bed, I have to admit I was feeling a bit squicky. But if you can get past it, and maybe find your hedonistic side, I found that it all made the story feel a bit dirty and not in a bad way. There’s something about a man who only undoes the fly of his breeches that feels incredibly erotic. I think the author did a good job of balancing on the edge between wicked sexy and wicked nasty.
Anyways, on to the bulk of the tale! An enlightening prologue sets up the story in general, informing us of the curse that has befallen Eric Trevayne. From there the story started out with promise. Kristine is awaiting her execution for committing murder and we get a glimpse of a quiet yet strong character. When Lord Trevayne sweeps in wearing a heavy cloak and circles her like cattle before announcing she will do the reader begins to realize that this is not going to be you typical singing birds and hearts and flowers kind of fairy tale.
From here the story progresses in a fairly cliché manner. I was a bit disappointed with the lack of imagination. Kristine is showered with fancy dresses and servants while Eric remains the anguished and tormented beast who doesn’t want anything to do with Kristine outside of the bed. But, like your typical Beauty and the Beast story, he ends up falling for her and slowly begins to hope.
It was right around the sixty-percent mark that something finally happened that was surprising and unique and I was like, “Oh, yes! This could be very exciting.” ****SPOILER**** Eric happens across the path of some werewolves who take him in, thinking he is one of their own stuck in the change. I thought for sure a shifter plot would abound from here but it went absolutely nowhere. And in addition, a female wolf offers him a chance to be her mate when he completely transforms and he plans to take her up on it! For me, I want my fairy tale hero to scream, “Never! I have one true love and would rather live alone as a beast than ever be with another!!” ****END SPOILER**** Unfortunately, the whole thing went nowhere and ended up being a very odd and, in my opinion, negative and unnecessary addition to the story.
The last third of the book is filled with a little more excitement as Kristine and Eric battle his curse and the evil witch who placed it on him. The ending went quickly and was too abrupt and convenient for my liking but it was pretty much what I was expecting. Overall this will tickle your fancy if you’re looking for a simple and different edition of the classic beauty and the beast tale. There are gloomy castles, racing horses and billowing dresses! Every fairy tale lovers highest hopes are fulfilled, including the happily ever after!
Overall Impression: It was good
*I received a copy of this book from the publisher in return for a fair and honest review.*
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