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Handsome Beast
Once upon a time ...
A modern re-telling of a favorite fairy tale -- with a twist.
On the day after Thanksgiving, thirty-year-old lawyer Nic Graziano takes a bus to remote upstate New York to carry out his foolproof suicide plan. Apparently, he needed an idiot-proof plan, because now he's soaking wet, cold, and hopelessly lost in the woods – who would have thought dying of exposure was so difficult? Wide awake for what feels like the first time in weeks, he blunders through the dark, following the scent of wood smoke to a remote house. Pounding on the front door gets him nowhere, so he breaks in, passes out on the kitchen floor, and wakes up naked –- and alone -- in Gavin Lovatt’s sinfully comfortable bed.
Instead of calling the police, Gavin offers Nic a hot meal and a change of clothes. And more, if Nic can believe the looks Gavin is giving him, making Nic think that a few days of hot rebound sex with a good-looking man is exactly what he needs before going home and rebuilding his life.
Gavin turns out to be funny, affectionate, and sexy as hell, and if Nic can just keep reminding himself this is temporary, everything will be fine. And yes, Nic has questions, lots of them -- like how come a wealthy man in a huge house has no apparent household help -- but he can’t seem to remember to ask. On top of that, Gavin disappears every single night, only to reappear in the morning. Nic doesn’t expect Gavin’s life to stop because he’s here, but he will not tolerate being lied to again.
Nic is the first guy to admit that everybody has baggage, but not everybody has creepy supernatural baggage … and the truth may be stranger than Nic could ever imagine.
A modern re-telling of a favorite fairy tale -- with a twist.
On the day after Thanksgiving, thirty-year-old lawyer Nic Graziano takes a bus to remote upstate New York to carry out his foolproof suicide plan. Apparently, he needed an idiot-proof plan, because now he's soaking wet, cold, and hopelessly lost in the woods – who would have thought dying of exposure was so difficult? Wide awake for what feels like the first time in weeks, he blunders through the dark, following the scent of wood smoke to a remote house. Pounding on the front door gets him nowhere, so he breaks in, passes out on the kitchen floor, and wakes up naked –- and alone -- in Gavin Lovatt’s sinfully comfortable bed.
Instead of calling the police, Gavin offers Nic a hot meal and a change of clothes. And more, if Nic can believe the looks Gavin is giving him, making Nic think that a few days of hot rebound sex with a good-looking man is exactly what he needs before going home and rebuilding his life.
Gavin turns out to be funny, affectionate, and sexy as hell, and if Nic can just keep reminding himself this is temporary, everything will be fine. And yes, Nic has questions, lots of them -- like how come a wealthy man in a huge house has no apparent household help -- but he can’t seem to remember to ask. On top of that, Gavin disappears every single night, only to reappear in the morning. Nic doesn’t expect Gavin’s life to stop because he’s here, but he will not tolerate being lied to again.
Nic is the first guy to admit that everybody has baggage, but not everybody has creepy supernatural baggage … and the truth may be stranger than Nic could ever imagine.
114 pages, Paperback
First published June 16, 2012
About the author
J.J. Cassidy
17 books37 followersJ.J. Cassidy has worked for a riding stable, been a receptionist, an insurance clerk, and a freight forwarder. After that came the job at the steamship line, the Japanese Securities firm and the bank that doesn't exist anymore.
She's worked with animals -- dogs, primarily -- since 1994, and is much happier that way.
She's worked with animals -- dogs, primarily -- since 1994, and is much happier that way.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
December 2, 2012
2.7*
Hmmm...well, I'll start out by saying I love fairy tales and as with most of them the 'extra ordinary and magical' aspect gives them some leeway.
The main story of Nic finding Gavin's almost totally hidden and unfindable house and the friendship and 'love' that developed was good and I liked the part of what happens to the memories, but there is one or two issues that caused me to just not enjoy the story as much as I would have liked!
So, after looking forward to this book I have to say I was a bit disappointed.
Hmmm...well, I'll start out by saying I love fairy tales and as with most of them the 'extra ordinary and magical' aspect gives them some leeway.
The main story of Nic finding Gavin's almost totally hidden and unfindable house and the friendship and 'love' that developed was good and I liked the part of what happens to the memories, but there is one or two issues that caused me to just not enjoy the story as much as I would have liked!
So, after looking forward to this book I have to say I was a bit disappointed.
July 1, 2013
This was a short, nice rendition of the "Beauty and Beast" fairy tale.
There were some things I had issues with (e.g., the reason for Nic to go to the woods in the first place - or how fast he got over his depression - was a bit unbelievable) - but then this is a fairy tale, so being a bit over the top might just be part of the course.
I was actually surprised by how much I liked this. I'm not a big fan of fairy tales usually - they often feel outdated to me - but this one was a nice exception. The writing, the story pacing, it all was well done, and the sex scenes were hot.
I'd assume this isn't for everyone, but I definitely liked it!
There were some things I had issues with (e.g., the reason for Nic to go to the woods in the first place - or how fast he got over his depression - was a bit unbelievable) - but then this is a fairy tale, so being a bit over the top might just be part of the course.
I was actually surprised by how much I liked this. I'm not a big fan of fairy tales usually - they often feel outdated to me - but this one was a nice exception. The writing, the story pacing, it all was well done, and the sex scenes were hot.
I'd assume this isn't for everyone, but I definitely liked it!
February 28, 2013
Best M/M interpretation of "Beauty and the Beast" I've read. I thought the reason for leaving was much better than others I've read and the complications afterward that kept him away were perfect. One of the sexiest things I've read in a while too.
February 27, 2026
3.5 stars
March 11, 2013
I wonder sometimes what is it that makes me love these little fairytales so much, but then I think, does it really matter? This cute adaptation of “Beauty and the Beast” made me smile, laugh out loud, cry, fall in love, it broke my heart, got me angry and by the end had me jumping for joy and smiling until my cheeks hurt. Ahh! Revenge can definitely be sweet sometimes.
Nic and Gavin were great MC’s both of them deserved to find happiness after having not such great things happen in their lives. Nic has a jerk of a boyfriend, who I just hated and poor Gavin lived in an era where not marrying a women just wasn’t done so what happens between him and his wife was one thing that broke my heart. While normally Gavin’s story would make me roll my eyes in a contemporary story this is a fairytale, so pretty much anything goes with me as long as the MC’s and I get that very important HEA. How Nic and Gavin get their HEA is...well ...if you want to know I recommend you sit back, relax and read this very sweet Fairytale. Enjoy!
I’d like to thank Alec for recommending this to me I loved it!
May 8, 2021
Modern-day MM retelling of Beauty and the Beast. Some of the villains are self-righteously punished or threatened.
June 11, 2025
DNF 20%
*sigh* a guy cured his depression and suicidal thoughts by dipping his ass in cold river or whatever that was. i believe cold shower would have done the trick for him and author didn't need to bring up serious topics here to drop them as yesterday's trash.
mc just wants to get laid and nothing beyond it.
it could have easily been a story of a guy breaking up with his ex, taking cold shower, going for a hike then hooking up with handsome stranger.
i dunno i expected something else from this book when i picked it up
*sigh* a guy cured his depression and suicidal thoughts by dipping his ass in cold river or whatever that was. i believe cold shower would have done the trick for him and author didn't need to bring up serious topics here to drop them as yesterday's trash.
mc just wants to get laid and nothing beyond it.
it could have easily been a story of a guy breaking up with his ex, taking cold shower, going for a hike then hooking up with handsome stranger.
i dunno i expected something else from this book when i picked it up
June 10, 2013
I totally loved the author's A Hard Dazed Knight so I was delighted to discover this gem when I went looking for the prequel Before the Knight and hopefully sequel. Alas, still no sequel.
Handsome Beast is a re-telling of Beauty and the Beast. Nic, a lawyer, has just discovered that not only has his boyfriend cheated on him with a woman but plans to marry her, too. Nic was not out to his family but the ex-boyfriend fixed that as well. With his father and uncle's disgust ringing in his ears, Nic takes a bus to upstate New York with the idea of letting himself freeze to death.
Falling into a near-frozen ditch changes his perspective and Nic fights his way through the rimy woods until he reaches a fin-de-siècle robber-baron castle and passes out. When he comes to, a handsome man, Gavin, is waiting for him. They begin a re-bound relationship, Nic is going to return to NYC and he's not looking for anything serious. While Nic comes to care for Gavin very much, Gavin mysteriously disappears every night. Nic is done with lies and deception and so he leaves. How does it end? It's a fairy-tale, .
I liked how the author tied up loose ends and avoided anachronisms, it's a perfectly sensible fairy-tale. Normally I deplore misogyny in m/m stories; I don't agree with other reviewers that that is the case here with the ex-wife. And as for Nic's 'plan,' his life doesn't suck as bad as he thought it did, maybe deep down he knew this along and that is why he didn't try harder to kill himself. Just re-read for the third time.
Handsome Beast is a re-telling of Beauty and the Beast. Nic, a lawyer, has just discovered that not only has his boyfriend cheated on him with a woman but plans to marry her, too. Nic was not out to his family but the ex-boyfriend fixed that as well. With his father and uncle's disgust ringing in his ears, Nic takes a bus to upstate New York with the idea of letting himself freeze to death.
Falling into a near-frozen ditch changes his perspective and Nic fights his way through the rimy woods until he reaches a fin-de-siècle robber-baron castle and passes out. When he comes to, a handsome man, Gavin, is waiting for him. They begin a re-bound relationship, Nic is going to return to NYC and he's not looking for anything serious. While Nic comes to care for Gavin very much, Gavin mysteriously disappears every night. Nic is done with lies and deception and so he leaves. How does it end? It's a fairy-tale, .
I liked how the author tied up loose ends and avoided anachronisms, it's a perfectly sensible fairy-tale. Normally I deplore misogyny in m/m stories; I don't agree with other reviewers that that is the case here with the ex-wife. And as for Nic's 'plan,' his life doesn't suck as bad as he thought it did, maybe deep down he knew this along and that is why he didn't try harder to kill himself. Just re-read for the third time.
May 26, 2017
The best "Beauty and the Beast" remake I've read so far. It felt like a solid 4+ Star read all the way through but the epilogue pushed it to a full 5 Stars.
If you enjoy Fairy Tale remakes I highly recommend.
If you enjoy Fairy Tale remakes I highly recommend.
February 2, 2013
3.5 stars. Will definitely read more from this author.
June 17, 2014
Actually a pretty good retelling of a familiar fairytale, with a happy ending.
A nice read.
September 12, 2015
Nic & Gavin.
I really am fond of the Beast & Beauty tale: my favorite one along with Peau d'Ane...
So a rewriting of this tale MM style: just too nice a treat for me!!
I really am fond of the Beast & Beauty tale: my favorite one along with Peau d'Ane...
So a rewriting of this tale MM style: just too nice a treat for me!!
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews