Beast

Estill County Mountain Man #1

by Pepper Pace

This modern re-telling of the Beauty and the Beast Fairytale is the story of Lt. Christopher Jameson AKA Beast, a Marine born with a severe facial deformity.

Award winning author Pepper Pace gives us an enticing twist with the introduction of Ashleigh, a plus size beauty with identity issues. This adult romance will leave you questioning the definition of beauty.

Adult themes include: sex and language and is intended for adult readers only.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary Romance, Interracial Romance, Contemporary, Beauty and The Beast, Military Fiction, Erotica

401 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 22, 2012

About the author

Who is Pepper Pace?

Pepper Pace is the pen name used by the author. Born and raised in Cincinnati, she has always enjoyed creativity. At a very young age, Pepper had a gift for art and would spend most of her spare time drawing images that she later began adding stories behind. Soon writing became more important than the illustrations and though she still loved art, it took a back seat to her real love.

Pepper wrote her first novel when she was 12 years old and had written 2 more by the age of 18. Too shy to share her work with anyone, Pepper stock piled her many stories into notebooks until she came upon Literotica.com and was compelled to share her craft.

Pepper became instantly popular and won several awards each year in which she submitted a story to the site. After receiving popular feedback, she grew in confidence and created a popular blog entitled Writing Feedback where she encourages her readers to interact with her on topics concerning, music, writing, art and pop culture, and can be contacted at her blog:
pepperpacefeedback.blogspot.com/

Pepper lives in Cincinnati where many of her characters also reside.

Other Websites:

http://pepperpacefeedback.blogspot.com/
http://pepperpace.tumblr.com/

Reviews

[Danielle The Book Huntress · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my goodness. This is one of those that has a sappy romantic like myself sighing. A lonely, isolated man. A woman who 'has it together' or so it seems, but is a wreck on the inside. And they find each other.

The Beauty and the Beast retelling doesn't get old for me. After all, I am a die-hard romantic and a die-hard fairy tale lover. Pepper Pace does both so well here. Yet, instead of the Beast being grumpy and surly, Christopher is the sweetest teddy bear (although he probably resembles a Grizzly bear) imaginable. I loved him!

Pace challenges the reader here. Our Beauty has a significant weight problem. And the weight problem isn't her issue, but the emotions underneath it, the ones that caused her weight issues, and the results of them. If you've ever been overweight, you know how it is for Ashleigh. The comments that hit like barbs, because someone thinks they have the right to say something or the fact that they are insensitive, because they've never struggled with weight problems. The assumptions made about you because of your weight.

On the other side, she doesn't make Ashleigh into a completely harmless victim. Ashleigh has some shallowness issues to work through. But that's the beauty of this story. She is able to see the beauty beneath the horrible scars and disfigurement that Christopher has. I truly loved the emotional connection between Christopher and Ashleigh. And there was also a very sensual component to this book, for romance readers who need that in their stories. Lots of spice and hot love scenes to go with an emotional love story that feels so authentic and timeless.

When I got to 38% on my Kindle and love declarations were made, I wondered what else could happen in this book. Well, plenty. This is a love story about not just two people finding each other, but also also finding their way to healing. Making a life together in spite of obstacles they both face.

When you read these kinds of stories, the stubborn person in you is determined to be upset if the problem is fixed, such as the heroine losing weight, or the hero getting his disfigurement repaired. But is that truly fair to the story for the characters not to go through that passage 'just because'? After all, it's easy to stay where you are. Even harder to take that step of faith to change something about yourself for the right reasons. In this case, the resolution made so much sense and only added to this story.

If I could change anything? That's a matter of personal tastes, and I'm sure many will disagree with me. However, I could have done without some of the graphic language in the love scenes. While they were scintillating and the chemistry powerful, I guess I didn't need to read certain terms when it came to body parts. That's a small quibble.

I'm personally no grammar stickler, but there were a couple issues there. I feel bad even pointing them out because a 100% accurate book doesn't necessarily tell a story that I love, like this somewhat imperfect one does. Overall, I found the writing very poised, professional, and so emotionally-stirring that I couldn't help but give this a five star rating.

This was a beautiful love story. That's kind of ironic, because this story is about how what's on the surface doesn't show you everything. That what is at the heart is worth fighting for in the end.

Highly recommended to romance readers who enjoy a more sensually descriptive love story, or just any old sap who can't resist a tried and true love story.

[~*~Princess Nya Vasiliev~*~ · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 out of 5 Stars! WOW WOW WOW!!!

I could not put this book down. I love absolutely everything about this story. This one is a gem that will certainly touch your heart. To my core I felt what these two main characters were feeling.

Christopher! Totally fell in love with this man. Don't think I've ever read such a perfect combination of an Alpha/Beta male on the written page. Couldn't imagine what his shoes would feel like if I were the one who had to wear them, but I felt him just the same.

Ashleigh- I love her. I cried with and for her. Cheered her on. Got ticked & screamed at her, but ultimately just prayed her personal prison of suffering would end. Cos the bottom line is, she deserved better. Way better. These two (Christopher & Ashleigh) were beautiful together. Just beautiful. Who they are in their own right, and who they became not just for themselves, but for each other was nothing short of incredible.

I've seen in some reviews where others felt that the pace of this one slows in some areas of the story. IMO, the pacing was perfect. It kept me interested and eager to know what was going to happen next. I think this one flows beautifully.

You have alot of interesting secondary characters & plots that blend great within the story. This story, I would call an "Onion" of the fiction world. There are definitely alot of layers peeled back as you go. Each one that is revealed is just as intriguing, beautiful, heartfelt, and shocking in its own right.

This one is a gripping, romantic, erotic, emotional, & all consuming read. I HIGHLY recommend that you read it :)

[Deloris · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first Pepper Pace book and I feel like a total idiot. Why did I wait so long to read one of her books. I know why Misconceived notions of the type of stories she writes. This book was called Beast a man who was deformed due to a a Cleft Palate and bad surgery at a young age. when I read the description I said no I can't read that it will be sad and definitely not sexy. Like I said I am a Idiot this books is Very sexy and sweet the love story is wonderful. I fell in love with Christopher just like Ashleigh ,I saw past his face to the beauty within him. I rooted for him and I was so proud of myself and Ashleigh for doing it. This story about love pure and simple love that starts from the inside out. You know what I'm about to do look for another Pepper pace book to read !

[Ingie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Written August 29, 2014

3 1/2 Stars - Nice, thoughtful and romantic ... and two lovable characters

A twisted Beauty & Beast romance. — A Beast with a destroyed face and a plus sized Beauty who has identity issues.



A good nice one! I liked to listening to this story, well narrated and a kind of simple ears entertainment.

********************************************************

Ashleigh Dalton is a short plump (plus-size), beautiful light-skinned Af-Am woman in her mid-thirties. She is a smart, friendly, funny and successful in her career, as an analyst for the government, but she is still a single waiting for Mr Tall Gorgeous Dream Man. Ashleigh thought she maybe already had that man but she’s just found out that her so called boyfriend of three years just married his "other" girlfriend (of six months). A slim and slender girl of course!!!

~ Life kind of sucks for dear Ashleigh, and everything is mostly because she is too chunky and fat (her opinion). Nice goodlooking men don't want to date the chubby girls - at least not as future girlfriends or wifes. ~ Time to make a difference: be at the gym every morning at 6:30. ...Puffing and panting, it's hard work.

Special Ops Marine, Lt. Christopher Jameson, is a shy huge (6.7) white country boy, who works with security in the same building as Ashleigh. He was born with misshaped facial aesthetics due to bilateral cleft palate. Sadly was his parents poor people and with that were these defects unfortunately not cared for by the best surgeons and doctors then when he was a small child. The scars are to be honest horrifying but his aka-name, Beast, has Christopher primarily for his very tough strong style on the battlefield.

~ Christopher runs on the treadmill, is muscular and well shaped, eat lots of healthy food, plays guitar and has a cat - but otherwise he's very lonely. Most often, he pulls the hood over his head and run past so that no one will stare at him.

... Like, you guessed, they meet in the basement gym and soonish the sparks fly between these two.

********************************************************

Overall is Beast an sweet important story. It deals with many important topics and current issues in a good and natural way. It is about your appearance, dieting, food and nutrition, fitness and exercise, family and skin-color, and various prejudices.

The Beast is kind and safe - The Beauty must find her way ~ Christopher & Ashleigh are two nice main charaters. I liked them and I enyoyed their story. I felt for them and with them. They were a perfect match. They are both two young lonly characters seeking for love. They have both many flaws and external shortcomings, an ugly scared face and a too plump body, compared to today's appearance ideals. This is of course a romance, and you know what happens in romances.

1) Lose weight and work off a few pounds of fat and let your beautiful hair gently blowing free from tight knots. 2) Put away any ugly glasses and buy a very sexy dress. 3) Put on your sexiest heels and new minimal black lace underwear -
...and it's all easy fixed.

A lucky romance Cinderella, or a male Cinder, has blossomed again. ~ Exactly that way wasn't it this time, but almost. ~ I must point out that they were both very, very much worth it.

********************************************************

This narrator LaShone Garth made it good in many ways. I don't know, but I felt that she lisps a little bit - very charmingly. She also had a soft girlie voice (black?) for Ashleigh. I liked her voice.

~ Listening to smexy hot scenes? Sometimes it feels both embarrassing and a bit corny to listening to some sexy moanings and hot mutterings read high and loud for you by a narrator. (I usually turn down the volume and think about when it's time to change the laundry in the washing machine, or what is needed for dinner, or the upcoming review.)

********************************************************

The first half of the book was very promising and really good. I had big hopes for something new and fresh, but then it started to sway slowly. Unfortunately a little too much in the end. The heroine Ashleigh became more and more an anxious damsel in distress instead of a tough independent girl. Perhaps ended it also a bit too sugary sweet. I kind of missed my two very interesting characters who were there first. Left was almost a new pair of Barbie & Ken. ~ Not my Beauty & Beast

But regardless everything: Beast actually was a quite nice goodfeel romance.

I LIKE - Yes I do, it is a B&B story

[Rain · Rating 3 out of 5]

**2.5 stars**
I read so many glowing reviews of this book, that I was excited to get started. While it was a sweet story, the execution was VERY awkward. The writing felt clumsy, and the intimate scenes were written like a anatomy textbook. (It could be that I'm just used to slang rather than the correct names for body parts.)

The two MC's were incredibly sweet, and I loved their relationship. There was depth to each of them that felt real and unreserved. My biggest dislike was that it had ALL the issues. It felt like whiplash as yet another topic was tossed into the story.

-Weight insecurities
-Childhood obesity/shaming
-Cheating (Not the MC relationship)
-Diabetes
-Racism
-Gay rights/discrimination
-Facial disfigurement
-Homeland security
-Both MC's had low self-esteem
-Unexpected pregnancy
-Interracial dating
-Eating disorder/binging/purging
-Depression
-Money disparity
-Dementia
-HIV
-Family trauma

The end really bothered me He has facial reconstruction that takes over two months and he comes out looking like a movie star and ALL the women want him.

This book reminded me a bit of Bone Deep or Broken so if you liked those, you might enjoy this one.

[SamJ ★Needs a HEA★ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this.

I finished reading it and I was just "awwwwww"

Tbh, I love this sort of story.

A few issues I had would be that you would be reading and all of a sudden it was a week, 2 weeks, a month later. occasionally, the timeline would be confused, at one point, it was one day since the hero had spoken to someone, and then in the next paragraph in the same scene it was a month since he had spoken to that someone.

But, only very minor issues, and it was still 5 stars for me, as I just loved the story and the characters.

[Nessa Mcvea · Rating 2 out of 5]

We need to talk about this book. I have so many conflicting feelings you guys.
1. The introduction is so minimal and then we immediately jump into the protagonist wanting to do real physical damage to her beau (DeAngelo). Now I understand why. You needed a hook to bring your readers in. I do get that. However, the moment I start reading your editing is the most distracting thing. Perhaps because the ENTIRE (and I do not exaggerate, I do mean the entire) work is so obviously unedited. There are websites for that (grammarly for example).
2. Your over use of ellipses takes away from every single dramatic moment you mean for them to help. An ellipsis is used to either signify the omission of words, or the trailing off of a sentence, not the changing of a thought or a dramatic pause.
3. Your entire first scene is totally copied from a Jill Scott : song, and I need you to know that I am on to you.
4. I love Lance, but he is problematic, and we will come back to that later on. As the single solitary fat female friend in my social circle, I rather Identify with being set up with someone I'm not remotely interested in. However, the problem I have is that Kendra wasn't worried about Ash being attracted to who she picked for her, she just wanted Ash to settle. First strike against Kendra. Oh my goodness, you don't even know how happy it made me to find out that Christopher also eats his leftover Spaghetti cold.
5. My dear friend, you cannot at all do metaphors. It's okay. They aren't for everyone. That description for his ass being like two boulders is first and foremost terrible, and secondly, it is in no way artful of properly descriptive. Boulder booty? Really Pepper? Really?
6. There is no way in Hell that this woman saw this man's back muscles and though " Nice". You're bullshitting. I'm on to you.
7. Okay. The rage I felt when those stupid mother fuckers made fun of her while she was working out was so unholy. I know that. I live that everyday. It's so real. THAT is relatable.
8. I mean I knew they called him beast, I assumed it was because of his size, not because of his disfigurement. Kudos on the curveball. That is good writing.
9. Pepper now I need you to sit down and realize that there is NO WAY i'm going to believe this heffa fainted all of three times. I'm not doing it. it is not only unrealistic but it's also bullshit. Step ya cookies up pep.
10. You are not about to tell me that " Warm buttered toast" Is the metaphor you are using to describe this woman Pepper Pace. I know you are a black woman. You can do better. Even if you have to use "brown sugar" It's better that goddamned " Warm buttered toast". You have GOT to do better, because that metaphor is SORELY lacking.
11. This is where I realized Christopher had tree trunk thighs. Well done. Mazel Tov. Nicely done.
12. Oh my! The southern gentleman you created him to be is flawlessly structured. Very very nice Pep.
13. Why would you say that she looked like buttered toast, and then make them give her a piece of buttered toast Pepper? What the hell is wrong with you?
14. Girl if you don't start editing your goddamned books. THERE IS NEVER A COMMA BETWEEN TOUGH OR COOKIE WHEN YOU ARE SAYING SOMEONE IS A TOUGH COOKIE. YOU ONLY NEED A COMMA TO SIGNIFY A GODDAMNED PAUSE. JESUS PEPPER, GET IT TOGETHER.
15. Why the fuck did DeAngelo's BUM ASS just pop up at the hospital, and why did her friends just let him stay? I don't give a single solitary fuck if he was an emergency contact. They are the WORST friends for not telling him to get the hell out of that hospital room. " I'm your friend too" NO THE FUCK YOU ARE NOT.
16. Pepper that dismissal is everything I ever needed. She better tell DeAngelo " Goodluck. Goodbye. And lose my number." Tiny lil problem here though Pep. YOU CANNOT START A SENTENCE WITH THE WORD AND UNLESS THERE IS A PROPERLY PLACED COMMA. STEP YOUR GRAMMAR UP. EDIT YOUR WRITING.
17. Christopher is such a cutie patootie. I love that he's nervous about asking her out, but there is NO WAY he is that oblivious. She doesn't hide her emotion OR her attraction well.
20. I don't give a fuck if Debbie's old married with kids ass come to apologize to Christopher. FUCK. DEBBIE. Fifteen year old me would have dated the shit out of fifteen year old Chris. Debbie can eat a dick.
21. THANK GOD! I swear to god I thought he would never ask her out.
22. There is nothing on this Earth that is more attractive to me than a man who knows how to cook. Praise the Lord!
23. DAAAAAAAMN PEPPER. BACK AT IT AGAIN WITH THAT TERRIBLE TOAST METAPHOR.
24. You can do better. " Sex" is a played out word to use for " VAGINA". Quit your shit Pepper.
25. " Delicious fountain". Pepper bihh P L E A S E STOP.
26. "She’d never been this close to a white man’s penis" Didn't even need to be said. Unnecessary. See what happens when you don't fucking edit Pepper? You leave stupid shit in your writing.
27. " Hard pipe" YOU. NEED. TO. DO. BETTER.
28. I have never been so worried about anyone walking into a house full of country white people in my LIFE.
29. They fuckin again? Damn fam.
30. " Slick opening" is tactless and tasteless and you KNOW it. DO BETTER PEPPER. BE BETTER PEPPER.
31. Yo HOW MANY TIMES ARE THEY ABOUT TO FUCK DUDE?!?! This is all like with in a two page span. SLOW THE FUCK DOWN PEPPER.
32. This is one reason Lance is problematic. THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS BEING A BLACK WOMAN IN HEART. THAT IS NOT A JOKE. THAT IS NOT FUNNY.
33. You are KILLING me. How could he go missing like that?!?! LITERALLY WHAT THE FUCK PEPPER.
34. Her being pregnant is predictable. Her being athletically thin is an ABSOLUTE cop out. You know that. It's the lazy way out. You also lose your message that way Pep.
35. "EMPTIES THE CONTENTS OF HIS TESTICLES INTO HER WOMB" you need someone standing over your shoulder just telling you not to write tasteless tactless shit because WOW, was that unnecessary. It also almost made me put the book down Pep. You need to be more careful.
36. Please abandon metaphors Pepper Pace. They are not for you.
37. I don't even know how many more times I am gong to say this Pepper, but BITCH EDIT YOUR SHIT.
38. Pepper. What is the purpose of DeAngelo showing up yet AGAIN. He is scum. We know this. Unnecessary drama takes away from a good story even MORE than shitty grammar and poor editing.
39. PEPPER YOU DON'T KNOW HOW TO EDIT. YOU ALSO DO NOT HAVE ANY CONCEPT OF PROPER GRAMMAR. AND YET, YOU SOMEHOW FIGURED OUT THAT THE WORD CALLIPYGIAN BELONGS IN YOUR WORK. WELL I HAVE SOME NEWS FOR YOU. IT DOESN'T FIT TOO WELL IN THE SAME SENTENCE AS TWO ERRONEOUSLY USED ELLIPSES, I'LL TELL YOU THAT MUCH.
40. Good Lord! Ash's sisters are absolute vipers. How sad. That makes me hurt for her.

In closing, I will say that Ash losing the weight for herself and becoming healthier for her is good but there is ABSOLUTELY no need for her to be stick thin. You lose your message that way. You also are very unrealistic in writing that Chris was some Adonis after those surgeries. What little bit of your message you could have salvaged was ruined in him becoming miraculously handsome. Your editing was the MAJOR overall issue. You either need a new editor, or you need to hire someone to look your shit over, because it distracted me through the ENTIRE book. **mic drop**

[Karen · Rating 1 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this story, but there were a few things that prevented that. The first and foremost was the lack of copy editing. I realize that most people don't care about grammar, but there were so many mistakes, I was taken right out of the story. The constant switching of POV made my head spin. Lastly, I wanted a bit more tension between the main characters before they got together.

[★Codie Abibliophobic ★ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Edit: Review to come

[Vallsykes · Rating 4 out of 5]

“I’m learning, sweetheart. Just…please be patient with me. It’s hard to undo a lifetime of insecurities.”

She gave him a solemn look. “I know.”

3.5 stars for overall plot
4 stars for the story it wants to be

This story is a spin on the old tale, Beauty and the Beast, but really, the beast is more than a scarred man who falls in love with a beauty.

In this story, both the hero and the heroine carry a beast inside of them, the hero with his inward loneliness and outward isolation due to his deformity, the heroine with her self-seeking vanity and battle with obesity. Furthermore, there are outside "beasts" that are battled as well, in the form of other people's superficiality, prejudices and ignorance. Yet these are never so strong as the struggle both the hero and heroine face as they learn to trust and accept that "good" IS out there, just waiting for them to grasp it. To "see" it! Benefit from the beauty of it.

Beast is aptly named even if the cover is a poor complement. It hits upon some deep issues, sometimes, in almost very poignant ways(meaning:I was touched, but not floored by them). More to the point, some changes in the characters' circumstances, I questioned, but totally understood why this writer took those routes.

This is one of those times when I, as a reader, was taken by the sentiment and intentions in the author's purpose, but recognized some slight mis-fires in execution. It's a story that's written a little rough-around-the-edges, but it MERITS attention.

[Monique · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow...Pepper Pace does it again. I think that out of all of her books that I've read so far, this is my favorite. Sure, there were editing issues, but this story was just beautiful.
I actually liked both characters: the female protagonist - Ash - didn't make me want to give her a beat down. As for Beast...he has got to be one of the best male characters around, disfigured face and all.
I like when characters grow and learn from life's lessons, and the H/h in this story did just that.
4.5 stars!

[Cate Wells · Rating 5 out of 5]

Third entry in "romances that changed my life." (Still working title.) WARNING! This review is 100% plot spoiler! I can't talk about why this book sticks with me unless I spoil the heck out of it. Okay? Here we go...
.
.
.
.
.
As the title suggests, this is a beauty and the beast re-telling. It's an interracial romance. The hero is a Marine with a facial deformity from birth. When we meet the heroine Ashleigh, she's where we've all been - in the gym, trying to get in shape to get over a loser boyfriend. (In my twenties, I dumped a dude and lost 106 lbs. So, like, 300 total, lol.)

So, already, this story is speaking to me, but then Pepper Pace does something I have never seen a romance author do before. The heroine becomes ill (and, of course, our hero is there to rescue her), and she is diagnosed with diabetes.

Type II diabetes.

Romance authors don't DO this, right? (I imagine you see it in women's fiction, but I'm not a reader.) In romance, heroines fall ill or live with conditions like diabetes, but I have never read an initial diagnosis of a chronic disease in romance. (I'm not cocky enough to think there aren't a ton out there. I know romance is essentially infinite.) For me, personally, though, this was the book.

It stretched the definition.

So much romance is a perfect MC meeting another perfect MC. They have problems, but not like *our* problems. And don't get me wrong, I will gobble up this kind of romance and always have.

But romance can be spicy and moving and satisfying - and REAL. REALLY real.

I've recently been diagnosed with a chronic disease - sarcoidosis - and this story means even more to me now. Sarcoidosis is not schmexy. I sat through a support group last night where a doctor showed PowerPoint slide after slide of eyeballs impacted by ocular sarcoidosis, and let me tell you, NOT hot. Not at all.

But that does not disqualify me from romance. (My husband wouldn't stand for it.) That doesn't mean I don't get to see myself in the story.

As long as authors like Pepper Pace are spinning fairy tales for real people going through real sh*t, the world's a more magical place. The best of life co-exists with some of the worst. That's real. And it's wonderful.

[Gisele Walko · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am completely biased, because I think everything Pepper Pace does is perfect. That being said.....This is the most fantastic version of Beauty and the Beast. All re-tellings of fairytales should be this unique and well written. I loved Christopher and Ashleigh, how they were both flawed but still perfect, and how they found love and support in each other.

[Suzanne (Under the Covers Book blog) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Christopher aka "Beast" has a badly mangled face, all people ever see when they look at his scarred face and massive body is a monster, never really knowing the man he is underneath. Ashleigh has had her heartbroken once again, men thinking they can walk all over her just because she is plus sized. When the two meet can they both get past their own prejudices and insecurities and create their own Beauty & the Beast fairytale?

I may have found a new author to stalk, Pepper Pace has completely blown me away with this book! I love a good Beauty and the Beast retelling, so chucking in a six and half foot tall marine and a plus sized heroine and I am in book heaven with no intention of leaving.

As soon as I started reading about Beast, I knew I would love him he was a gentle giant and extremely lonely as no one, especially women, saw past his disfigured face. When I say disfigured I mean Phantom of the Opera style scarred and not just a little scar that goes across his check and make him look both sexy and dangerous. I liked that Ms Pace was brave enough to go all out and make a genuinely scary and ugly looking hero and although I like to say and think I would never judge someone by looking at their face, I am honest enough to say that I very well might have done, and if I had I would have lost out on one amazing guy, he is definitely having a starring role in my book boyfriend harem.

With Ashleigh, it took me a while to warm up to her and it seemed liked it was deliberate, she was a bit shallow and despite knowing people judged her by her appearance she did exactly the same to everyone else. But as the book progressed and you got to know Ashleigh and you see her and Christopher's relationship bloom I found myself starting to really like and respect her.

This was a fabulous romance, it was sweet but intense; the chemistry between Chris and Ashleigh built gradually and then exploded off the page. Beast was solely focused on the two main characters it had no minor intrigue or suspense plot going on in the background; there were no crazy exes or long forgotten enemies, I liked that it unashamedly followed the romance without adding unnecessary plot elements in.

This was a fantastic read, already I can feel the urge to reread it, it had unforgettable main characters, a passionate romance and although the writing may not be very polished it made up for it with lots of heart. I highly recommend this!

[Layeshia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book that I probably wouldn't have ordinarily bought based on just looking at the cover however this was a very nicely told story very modern beauty and the beast! The story is about racial couple with insecurities about there appearance. These insecurities have been something that bothered him for a lifetime sort crippled them a bit. But each finds something other needs in each other. The story is written by pepper pace I am never disappointed when I l read one of her books she always has an interesting twist to all of her stories definitely a five star read and I highly recommend this book.

[Theodora Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Description: When plus-size beauty, Ashleigh, meets Chris, a “beast” of a marine with a face disfigured from a cleft palate at the gym, sparks fly. But can she overcome her baggage and make an HEA happen with the best man she’s ever had the honor of dating? BEAST quite deservedly made it to the semi-final rounds of this year’s Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award contest.

The Good: I’m so late on this, that I doubt anyone who reads this review hasn’t actually already read the book yet. But I’m going to just go ahead and add to the gush fest.

This book is sooooooo good. I love that the heroine is plus-sized and struggles with both self-esteem issues and Type 2 diabetes. Ashleigh is incredibly relatable and I could not recommend this book more to women with similar issues.

You will be hard put not to fall in love with Christopher, he’s such a wonderful and caring hero, a sensitive guy with an alpha body, you can’t beat that. Loved his loneliness, loved his damaged face, loved everything about this guy–he’s so well-drawn.

And as for his and Ashleigh’s relationship, I’ll quote the note I made on my Kindle while reading this: “so fucking romantic.”
BEAST is a very full and satisfying book and totally worth the price–in fact, I would say it’s underpriced. Oh, and the sex scenes are great.

The Bad: The too long last act and epilogue throws off the book’s overall structure. You totally won’t mind, though, as these characters are hard to say goodbye to. Also, see editing issues.

The Naughty: Erotic. Sex in the woods. Lots and lots of sex.

Editing issues: My version was purchased before the ABNA version came out, so the following may no longer be of issue. Several typos. Weirdly formatted on my Kindle with random paragraph breaks. Loads of missing commas.

Publisher: Pepper Pace

Length: 367 pages

Final Grade: A

Happy Reading,
Theodora from irbookreviews.com

[SassafrasfromAmazon · Rating 5 out of 5]

5.0⭐️Fantastic "Beauty & the Beast" novel Review originally written in November 2012 I am stunned. What an amazing book! I am a sucker for a really good Beauty & the Beast story, but this book seems to have transcended other books with similar themes; talk about taking it to another level!!! I love how the heroine worked through her weight issues and eventually recognized her shallow views about one's worth vs. one's outward appearance. I enjoyed her journey. The hero is to die for. He described himself as "ugly", and by the description, one may have initially thought that way. But as Ashleigh very gradually found out, Christopher was so much more than his face. Christopher had character, integrity and was so beautiful on the inside, that Ashleigh began to see past his facial deformity. Oh, and the sex was off the chain. Christopher had to work through his demons too. It was exciting to read how Ashleigh and Christopher just fit so well together, how they struggled through their insecurities, and made it work. There was a twist near the end that I never expected--fabulous! This is the kind of "meaty" novel I just crave. Needless to say, I've purchased several other works by this author, and I look forward to reading them and savoring them. Bravo, Ms. Pace!

(BTW, for sticklers like me when it comes to grammar and editing problems that seem to be quite prevalent in recent eBooks, in this book, there may have been a few typos and/or misplaced words that should have been removed during the editing process; however, they were not egregious and did not overly detract from the continuity of the story).

[AvidReader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow!!
It was a slow burn book where it starts with an ‘ok let’s do this’ to ‘now I’m really liking it’ to ‘this is getting better and better’ to ‘Wow’!
I loved beast and his family. As for the heroine I disliked her initially but she matured and transformed to a strong heroine infront of my eyes. Later when We meets her family her personality is justified.I loved their romance and family gatherings. Both is written beautifully. There are some powerful messages in this book. Beast’s marine friends just made me aww! And uncle Ray , Mr Jameson and commander Bruce gave this story a very beautiful realistic touch.
Epilogue was just fantastic.
Recommended.

[Emilia Redington · Rating 4 out of 5]

The cover is misleading, I'm so happy that I decided to read this story. I love how both characters grew and developed and worked towards a better self. Sweet story.

[McGee Magoo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I feel like I can't even come up with a review good enough for this book. Or one that doesn't have spoilers.

There are just some tropes that get to me, you know? If an M/C is disfigured or disabled--BRING IT ON! I want to read that book ASAP. The angst level is so deliciously high, I'm in love by the time I've finished reading the synopsis. Okay, add to that a heroine that is a BBW (Big Beautiful Woman)--which is another of my favorite things--and I'm practically weeping tears of joy. But wait--can it be?--another potential angst-creating plot-twist?? An inter-racial romance?! **SWOONING--SLAPPING FACE TO REGAIN CONSCIOUSNESS** Do you hear the angels singing? Because I do.

And on a side-note, in the introduction, the author Pepper Pace says this: "...there are some tears as well as some laughs but there is also plenty of very hot sex." PLUS--I got this at a bargain for 99 pennies on Amazon. The synopsis was worth 99 cents, okay. It could fuel fantasies for years.

You're probably thinking that there I was, not even done reading the Introduction and I'd already deemed this a 5-star read, which, unfortunately might have set me up for a huge let-down. And I'll admit that the angst level didn't quite meet my expectation. But part of me was relieved that I didn't have to endure watching Christopher be harassed or made fun of or anything that was cruel. And while Ashleigh's weight and image and health issues were a key point in the story, it didn't cause any too great amount of distress for me, either. AND considering that Christopher was white and his family (who he was very close to) were damn near hill-billies, I figured we'd get some conflict about race from that angle. In a way I was happy that the story really didn't go there, but it was the last chance for some real meaty "Oh, my God", conflict. So, hardly anyone cared that Christopher didn't have a face, hardly anyone cared that she was fat and no one cared that they were an inter-racial couple.

Yet, I still absolutely loved it. Pepper Pace knows how to tell a story and she sure knows how to create multi-faceted characters. Were there a few grammar/spelling mistakes? Yes--but the only thing that comes to mind was the word "in" used where "and" should have been. That's it--so not worth docking any stars. Was it a little cliched? Yeah, but this is romance--romance that says right away that this is a modern-day fairy tale. If "cliche" bothers you, you're reading the wrong genre. And while I'm mentioning the "fairy-tale" aspect to this, remember that this is a take on Beauty and the Beast and magic did abound in that tale, so expect some less-than-believable stuff to happen.

I devoured this book and can't wait to try out other Pepper Pace books.

[Emily · Rating 2 out of 5]

BEAST is your standard Beauty and the Beast trope romance. However, by the end the author had me convinced that the real "beast" was the heroine. I found this book to be deeply disappointing! I picked it up anticipating a BBW romance, and I got the opposite. In fact, I felt that the romance took a backseat to the heroine's food issues and poor body image. I almost set it down several times because of all the fat-shaming. The hero wasn't the problem, the heroine was.

Ashleigh meets our beast, Christopher, in the sub-basement gym of the federal building she works in. They end up sharing the gym together in the early mornings while Ashleigh is frantically running herself into the ground on the treadmill. She decides to go through a lifestyle change, which I'm all for, but her reason for doing it is because her hot ex, DeAngelo, married another woman while they were still together, and she felt he "dumped" her because she was fat and he was ashamed of her. NOT a good reason to diet yourself into black-out. That's exactly what she does. She works herself so hard that she actually faints at the treadmill. And if that's not enough, you find out she's diabetic! Of course, because a large woman must be diabetic. I'm not trying to diminish the issue of healthy eating and making good choices, but when you have a heroine that's so wrapped up in her size, it completely distracts from the story. She eventually starts HEALTHY exercising and eating habits, but the focus never strays from her dieting. Oh, and Chris' buddies call her "Little Trooper" because she runs herself into the ground every time she works out, like a Marine would do.

The only reason I'm giving this book two stars is because the author has a great taste in music, and Christopher was a sweetheart. Apparently, loving Ashleigh for who she was wasn't good enough for her. Now I'm off to look for some body positive BBW romances.

[Jooniebug · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok.....here comes Ms Pace with her beautiful, fantastic love story. Christopher and Ashleigh....aaaawwwww...I just love Christopher and what he stood for. Ashleigh sound adorable and LOVES Christopher for exactly who he was and not what he looked like. Ms Pace tells a story that we can all relate to cos we are not perfect and we all have our insecurities. This book tells a story about inner beauty and seeing a person for who they are. I so love this story, it had deep emotions, feelings, reality and most importantly LOVE! The sex scene was FABULOUS and not tacky at all. I will say to ALL women to get this book and read it, you will feel beautiful no matter what you think you look like. The only draw back I have is that the book ended! Trust me you do not want this book to end....Juicy ended I felt like crying and when I finished reading Beast, I also felt like crying! Common ladies buy this book NOW!!

Pepper thank you for this beautiful story. I so am glad the heroine was not 20 years older than the hero! Aha! ;-)

[Victoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

What do you get when an overweight, slightly shallow black woman meets a disfigured, lonely, white Marine? A great twist on an old classic!

Beast by Pepper Pace was a totally random pick for me and a little different than the normal romances I pick out. I saw someone post that it was on sale, read the blurb, and immediately downloaded it. The story was a great mix of a lot of things I really like. It was part sweet and part sexy, part real, part fairy tale. There was definitely some humor thrown in too!

The story was well written and was easy to read. The characters were well developed and I loved both. Ashleigh was a likable heroine but had some obvious flaws. Outside of being a bit shallow, she had some pretty serious self-esteem issues which resulted in different types of destructive behavior, both emotional and physical. I get sick of perfect heroines and maybe that's why I really liked Ashleigh so much. She was smart, successful, and very likable, flaws and all!

I’m not African American and I’ve never been obese but that didn’t stop me from identifying with certain aspects of Ashleigh’s personality. A few things really resonated with me , some made me laugh and others made me cringe.

She always wished that she was the star of a John Hughes movie because then she would always have a happy ending. There would be some achingly handsome guy holding a boom box above his head right outside her window, or the school jock would dump the cheerleader girlfriend for her. But in reality the cheerleader always got the man.

The fact that Lance was obsessed with those movies as much as Ashleigh was had me laughing more than once. Maybe it's my age, but who doesn’t love the Breakfast Club and Pretty in Pink? The fact that they had a running commentary on Andy not choosing Ducky was classic!

When Ashleigh begins working out and is totally psyching herself out to work harder… I’ve totally done that.

Then she began pedaling. I’m getting skinnier, she thought. Each pedal I’m getting skinnier. Each bead of sweat is a drop of fat melting off my body. Push it girl, push it…

And the part that made me cringe? The negative thoughts Ashleigh has about herself. I’ve definitely had periods in my life where I can look back and realize I put alot of pressure on myself to be a certain way (someone better, someone thinner, someone smarter). I think as woman, there are definitely a lot of pressures that can build up and result in really negative internal thoughts. Reading the negativity that was such a part of Ashleigh’s mindset just made me remember how easy it is to create certain standards for ourselves that can be really difficult to achieve.

I am not good enough. I am a selfish, shallow, slut, bitch.
… I wish I was anybody but me.

I loved the development that I saw in Ashleigh and the self-acceptance of both herself and others. I think the author did a great job of showing the journey Asheigh goes on to get to a healthier place, especially for a lighter book like Beast.

The world makes you feel ugly. Your friends when they say, ‘if only you would lose weight,’ are really saying, ‘you are not as good as the rest of us.’” Kendra gave her a hurt look. “Oh, they don’t mean to hurt you or pass judgment or call you ugly. But in my case, I put two and two together and what I came up with is that I wasn’t good enough. But, as long as I could have beautiful men loving me I could pretend.

“I wish I knew then what I know now; it doesn’t matter what people look like on the outside, because if you love them they are beautiful.”

As much as I identified with Ashleigh, Christoper stole the show for me. He is the type of character that you can't help but love. I absolutely adored Christopher from the moment he was introduced until the very last page. He is the type of hero you can’t help rooting for. I don’t want to give anything away but will say that I was a little disappointed when it was revealed where Chris had been on his “mission”. (After thinking about it though, I’m glad he got the mission he did.)

The romance was sweet and sexy, a favorite mix of mine!

“Your lips are so perfect.” He said softly. And then she felt his soft mouth kissing her lightly. “You are so damn beautiful…”

She opened her eyes and gave him a serious look. “Christopher… you are the one that’s beautiful.” She lifted her head. “And not just on the inside. You’re beautiful on the outside, too. To me… you’re perfect.”

She could see several emotions move across his face before his eyes half closed and his light eyelashes created a frame through which she could see the eyes that she loved so much. And they watched her with a little bit of trepidation.

“You say that to me… and if you’re not careful you might end up stuck with me.” It was a warning.

“You’re making this difficult.” Her eyes never moved from his face. “I think that’s what I’m trying to tell you. I want to be stuck with you.”

This is my first book by this author but it likely won’t be my last. I loved the characters,her writing was solid, the steam level was good.I think the author really succeeded in touching on a lot of serious topics but still keeping the story a sweet, sexy read. Most of the romances I read, I enjoy but quickly forget. Christopher is probably a hero I'll be thinking about for a while. FOUR "FEEL GOOD" STARS for Beast!

[Chappy · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars
I really enjoyed getting to know Ashleigh and Christopher. They are both strong MCs but flawed in their own way. They felt so real to me as each of them was dealing with physical issues. Chris with his facial deformities and Ashleigh with her weight.
Very endearing story and I couldn't put it down,

[Marllie · Rating 1 out of 5]

CW for Eating Disorders, Racism, Fat Shaming, Homophobia and a mention of past Sexual Abuse as a child



I was incredibly disappointed in this book. I adore beauty and the beast retellings and when I found out the heroine was plus size I was even more excited. The Heroine however was vapid, shallow and very juvenile. I can't believe this woman was in her 30s as she read like a teenager. The Hero was such a lovely cinnamon roll and quite frankly was way too good for the Heroine Ashleigh.
Bulimia was brought up in the last 100 ish pages and was not dealt with appropriately at all and felt like a plot device. Therapy is not brought up and she is almost cured when her man comes back except the one time he enables a food binge with her which enraged me. Chris the Hero also makes the decision to get facial reconstruction but not because he wants to but because he's afraid Ashleigh will leave him.
It bugged me that it is said multiple times that they accept each other for who they are but they both still change the things that they're insecure about. Ashleigh ends up stick thin and 'finally sexy' and Christopher's face ends up looking perfect and how did fat Ashleigh manage that?! This book wasn't body positive, the surgery scenes were incredibly inaccurate (he goes down on her with stitches in his lips WTF?!) and the overall message to me was you can only be happy if you're thin, look great and you're not single.
The reason that a girl in Christopher's past wasn't with him was not because of his looks but because she was being sexually abused by a family member. This was incredibly triggering for me personally and to see it used as an unnecessary plot device was very upsetting.
Also 'warm buttered toast' is the strangest way I've heard skin described and every time I read it I cringed. Very disappointing I don't think this author is for me quite frankly

[Lenlyn01 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adored this story it had so many eliments that drew me in and I always appreciate the lenthyness of her books. This story was so profound and greatly told it was one of my favorites. The love Ms. Pace gives the two main characters Chris/Ashleigh is outstanding. His mother was one of my fav additional characters. At first Kendra was getting on my nerves and being not a cool friend but my feelings changed for her. Lance was a great friend to Ashleigh glad him and Rick worked it out. The epilogue tied everything together...Another job well done Ms. Pepper Pace...I can't wait until the next one. The interracial couple is always a bonus for me....coming from two different worlds and finding that coomon ground despite major differences and disabilities...No other author I read has done it like Ms.Pace...A round of applauds.

[Elise-Pinterest+Goodreads=The Perfect Book Boyfriend · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the story of Christopher large scarred Marine. He was born with a bilateral cleft lip, palate and had facial deformities. His family was poor and did not have the money to have it fixed properly. The surgeon that repaired it, left him horribly scarred and, because he is so large, he is terrifying to look at. The heroine, Ashleigh, is overweight short and has just been dumped by her boyfriend (who married someone else while dating her). She has believes she needs to lose weight but does not want to workout in front of others. She begins to workout in the sub-basement gym of her company's building, where she meets Christoper. This is a very sweet story and the romance is written beautifully. I particularly appreciated the medical facts. Not many people know the pain that kids with cleft lips and palates go through. I would definitely loan this book. TTFN-Sandy

[Michelle [Helen Geek] · Rating 3 out of 5]

02/17/2013 -- Brief Rating explanation

Overall Rating = 3 Stars
Book Cover / Book Blurb = 3 / 2 = 2.5 Stars
Writer’s Voice = 3 Stars
Character Development = 4 Stars
Story Appreciation = 3.5 Stars
Worth the Chili = 2 Stars [$4.99 Amazon – not available B&N]


This is an inter-racial story taken loosely from the Disney "Beauty & the Beast" model. When you read the blurb you think this H gets wounded causing the extensive facial damage. This is not the case. The heroine is a larger, light skinned African American girl with real self-image issues. In the end these two come together in a decently written story. This book was recommended by a few people on a string I follow. Glad I got this opportunity and will be on the lookout for other books by this author.

For a different twist in a time worn tale, check this one out.

Happy Reading!

[Fashionista · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pepper Pace does it again! She always manages to weave a story with so much relatibility. I loved the duality of Chrisopher - the fact that he was insecure at times but still an Alpha male! I love military men - So Sexy! You'll be crying one moment; laughing the next and totally captivated by the Hot love scenes and unconditional love between the H and the h. Also, I love the fact that the author's characters have a disability or imperfection according to the world. Ms. Pace helps us as humans to recognize and celebrate our own so-called imperfections-knowing that we will be loved inspite of and because of them. ;-)

[Rita · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was fantastic. Loved it! You never know what a person goes through in their own skin. I could feel how each person felt whether is was weight or a facial disfigurement. This author touched on so many things in the book. Bulimia, Racism, dementia, etc. Beauty should be seen from the inside, but in this day and age it isn't. The two most unlikely people fell in love. Now, how many times have you seen a couple in real life and couldn't figure how they got together. You never know who you will fall in love with. Excellent read!