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The Beast of Blackthorne Castle
A beast of a duke…
When Miss Emma Drake travels to Northumberland to answer an ad for a companion, she learns very quickly that her new employer is as mysterious as he is powerful. A scarred duke, known as the Beast of Blackthorne, his intimidating presence leaves her quaking in her slippers.
The rumours about him might frighten most ladies away but she’s as desperate as she is determined to find her future. Besides, she’s no family to go back to and no money to even book passage if there were. She is well and truly trapped with the beast.
But the longer she stays, the more she sees the man underneath the scars, and she begins to wonder. What is true and what is just rumor? And is there a heart under his rough exterior and difficult past that might just beat for her?
This is a SWEET Regency romance with a grumpy scarred hero and a sunshine heroine.
When Miss Emma Drake travels to Northumberland to answer an ad for a companion, she learns very quickly that her new employer is as mysterious as he is powerful. A scarred duke, known as the Beast of Blackthorne, his intimidating presence leaves her quaking in her slippers.
The rumours about him might frighten most ladies away but she’s as desperate as she is determined to find her future. Besides, she’s no family to go back to and no money to even book passage if there were. She is well and truly trapped with the beast.
But the longer she stays, the more she sees the man underneath the scars, and she begins to wonder. What is true and what is just rumor? And is there a heart under his rough exterior and difficult past that might just beat for her?
This is a SWEET Regency romance with a grumpy scarred hero and a sunshine heroine.
315 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 13, 2024
405 people are currently reading
229 people want to read
About the author
D.K. Quinn
5 books18 followersD K Quinn loves nothing more than curling up with a large cup of a tea and a regency romance. She adores the drama and the dresses of the past – even though she is quite happy with all the comforts of the present! She loves living in England and visiting historic sites like the beautiful city of Bath. She shares photos of her visits – as well as upcoming releases and sales! - on her Facebook page facebook.com/authordaphnequinn
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
February 25, 2024
Clean sweet romance
There were only two maybe three kisses in the book but this story about a mysterious duke and his Mothers companion is very pleasant. She comes to his castle hoping for a job after her Father dies. Her aunt and Uncle seem to want to get rid of her or so she thinks and she takes off for her destiny. She meets the duke and his wonderful mother and they give her the job. She eventually is courted by another male but she is in love with the duke but knows he is out of her league. But is she really? I liked watching them fall in love. And his Mama is quite the matchmaker and it has a very sweet ending. Pure fantasy and I did enjoy it.
There were only two maybe three kisses in the book but this story about a mysterious duke and his Mothers companion is very pleasant. She comes to his castle hoping for a job after her Father dies. Her aunt and Uncle seem to want to get rid of her or so she thinks and she takes off for her destiny. She meets the duke and his wonderful mother and they give her the job. She eventually is courted by another male but she is in love with the duke but knows he is out of her league. But is she really? I liked watching them fall in love. And his Mama is quite the matchmaker and it has a very sweet ending. Pure fantasy and I did enjoy it.
October 12, 2024
Good
A lovely rendition of an old classic. Well done. I especially enjoyed that there wasn't a horrid antagonist to deal with. Enjoyed the characters and especially Rachel being a part of the good ending. Lovely.
A lovely rendition of an old classic. Well done. I especially enjoyed that there wasn't a horrid antagonist to deal with. Enjoyed the characters and especially Rachel being a part of the good ending. Lovely.
January 12, 2025
Nice and sweet
This is a lovely little romance. A 'Beauty and the Beast' tale which I enjoyed. I liked the characters and the setting. The story meandered a bit, and at times, I found the pace dragged, but overall, it's a lovely little sweet romance. Nice ending.
This is a lovely little romance. A 'Beauty and the Beast' tale which I enjoyed. I liked the characters and the setting. The story meandered a bit, and at times, I found the pace dragged, but overall, it's a lovely little sweet romance. Nice ending.
October 29, 2024
I loved the setting, so dreamy! Super cool that it's based on a real castle. The hero and heroine were such noble people, I was rooting for them all the way!
June 3, 2024
Non-Beastly Duke and Sunny, Plucky Heroine
Historical authors, unfortunately, often like to make out in their titles that the hero is a “beast” of some sort. It's probably a nod to the Beauty and the Beast story. My opinion is that unless the hero is truly awful, the word shouldn't be used—and might I also add that the hero should never truly be a beast!
Thankfully, this hero is not remotely beastly, although he does have a bit of a reputation in the small town near where his castle is located. The hero has a tragic backstory that I won't detail here which has caused him to withdraw from even the local society, giving rise to the rumors.
The heroine has been recently orphaned, and because she is of age, her guardian aunt and uncle want to marry her off quickly to get her off their hands. She doesn't want to become the wife of just any man who will take her and decides to boldly not just answer an advertisement for a companion but to actually go to the work location and apply in person.
I loved how this book is set at the sea. I was lucky enough to live for a decade on the Pacific Ocean. The author captures much of what it is like to live on the sea, including unpredictable weather--though this book didn't quite have as much unpredictability as I would have liked to see. However, I did not feel as though the author truly understood what living seaside means. She stated several things that just didn't jibe but with what I know from living by the sea for so long. For instance, she repeatedly states the air is “salty.” I never considered the sea to smell salty! The aroma of sea air is complex, reflecting the sea’s inhabitants and what the sea does to the shoreline. It is not simply “salty”! She also states that the ocean water spritzes the face. Again, never my experience … and I walked along the cliffs and shore nearly daily! For one thing, you'd have to actually be very close to the incoming water and a breaking wave to get any water “spritzing” in your face—and the heroine was not that close. A cool moisture often pervades the air around the ocean, but it doesn't feel like a spritz, more like a very fine mist that you just happen to be enveloped in. To me, the verb “spritz” is active … as in being spritzed or spritzing; mist is definitely more passive and gentle. I also was amused when the hero rolled up his breeches to not get them wet when he wanted to dip his feet into the ocean, but then just moments later he sat in the sand close enough that he could dip his toes in! He would certainly have a soggy bottom!
But on to the story! I absolutely adored the hero’s mother, the dowager duchess. She clearly cares deeply about her son and is concerned about his withdrawal from society, his pensive moodiness, and the way he continued to punish himself for events that transpired 10 years prior. She and the heroine hit it off immediately, and the mother can clearly see that the heroine is having an unexpected effect on her son. I loved the interactions between the heroine and the hero as well as the interplay between her and the duchess. With her kindness and sunny disposition, she slowly dragged the duke—kicking and screaming nearly!—out of his shell, even making him consider brief forays into their local society. She came to understand his reticence and pain on a profound level quickly, and she was always quick to express her concern when she could tell he was struggling or out of his depth. Very sweet.
The only thing I wish the author did differently, other than not using “beast” in the title, would have been to tie up the aunt and uncle thread more definitively. They were such a part of the very beginning, the catalysts setting the romance in motion, that it would have been nice to bring the book full circle. How would these two respond to their niece becoming a duchess? Other than these quibbles, I found this a thoroughly enjoyable book with complex, fascinating characters who came alive on the page.
Historical authors, unfortunately, often like to make out in their titles that the hero is a “beast” of some sort. It's probably a nod to the Beauty and the Beast story. My opinion is that unless the hero is truly awful, the word shouldn't be used—and might I also add that the hero should never truly be a beast!
Thankfully, this hero is not remotely beastly, although he does have a bit of a reputation in the small town near where his castle is located. The hero has a tragic backstory that I won't detail here which has caused him to withdraw from even the local society, giving rise to the rumors.
The heroine has been recently orphaned, and because she is of age, her guardian aunt and uncle want to marry her off quickly to get her off their hands. She doesn't want to become the wife of just any man who will take her and decides to boldly not just answer an advertisement for a companion but to actually go to the work location and apply in person.
I loved how this book is set at the sea. I was lucky enough to live for a decade on the Pacific Ocean. The author captures much of what it is like to live on the sea, including unpredictable weather--though this book didn't quite have as much unpredictability as I would have liked to see. However, I did not feel as though the author truly understood what living seaside means. She stated several things that just didn't jibe but with what I know from living by the sea for so long. For instance, she repeatedly states the air is “salty.” I never considered the sea to smell salty! The aroma of sea air is complex, reflecting the sea’s inhabitants and what the sea does to the shoreline. It is not simply “salty”! She also states that the ocean water spritzes the face. Again, never my experience … and I walked along the cliffs and shore nearly daily! For one thing, you'd have to actually be very close to the incoming water and a breaking wave to get any water “spritzing” in your face—and the heroine was not that close. A cool moisture often pervades the air around the ocean, but it doesn't feel like a spritz, more like a very fine mist that you just happen to be enveloped in. To me, the verb “spritz” is active … as in being spritzed or spritzing; mist is definitely more passive and gentle. I also was amused when the hero rolled up his breeches to not get them wet when he wanted to dip his feet into the ocean, but then just moments later he sat in the sand close enough that he could dip his toes in! He would certainly have a soggy bottom!
But on to the story! I absolutely adored the hero’s mother, the dowager duchess. She clearly cares deeply about her son and is concerned about his withdrawal from society, his pensive moodiness, and the way he continued to punish himself for events that transpired 10 years prior. She and the heroine hit it off immediately, and the mother can clearly see that the heroine is having an unexpected effect on her son. I loved the interactions between the heroine and the hero as well as the interplay between her and the duchess. With her kindness and sunny disposition, she slowly dragged the duke—kicking and screaming nearly!—out of his shell, even making him consider brief forays into their local society. She came to understand his reticence and pain on a profound level quickly, and she was always quick to express her concern when she could tell he was struggling or out of his depth. Very sweet.
The only thing I wish the author did differently, other than not using “beast” in the title, would have been to tie up the aunt and uncle thread more definitively. They were such a part of the very beginning, the catalysts setting the romance in motion, that it would have been nice to bring the book full circle. How would these two respond to their niece becoming a duchess? Other than these quibbles, I found this a thoroughly enjoyable book with complex, fascinating characters who came alive on the page.
February 25, 2025
Meh. Nope. Not gonna make myself finish this. Read to about 18%, skimmed to 44%, simply couldn't make myself suffer the rest. It's supposed to be historical fiction, but it felt like the only research done was on the location. The mores were all over the place, and the blithe thumbing of the nose to social strata and conventions and even common sense suspended my disbelief right out the window.
The characters had no depth, and the logic was... not logicking, shall we say. Just the methods of conveyance (or lack thereof) had me wincing over their nonsensicality. The time period seemed loosey-goosey, and although there might have been a date given somewhere, I sure couldn't tell you when this was set based on the behavior of the characters or descriptions of the dress, manners, or locations.
The "beastliness" of the duke felt forced, very told, and the gossip surrounding him made no sense (ah yes, he ran back into a burning building to rescue his father, got trapped under a fallen beam and gravely injured so that he couldn't even make it out of the building himself and had to be dragged out by rescuers, and everyone thinks he let his father burn to death on purpose so he could inherit the duchy. yes. very convincing.). The heroine's reactions to him felt likewise forced ("he's so intimidating! so scary! he looks like a lion! but for some reason I'm attracted to him and always clumsy in his presence, and I pity him and want to help him"), because he's never actually shown to be anything more than taciturn and a bit socially awkward and they had no chemistry to explain her having some sort of feelings.
And to think I was so excited about the premise of this. 😭
1.5 stars
The characters had no depth, and the logic was... not logicking, shall we say. Just the methods of conveyance (or lack thereof) had me wincing over their nonsensicality. The time period seemed loosey-goosey, and although there might have been a date given somewhere, I sure couldn't tell you when this was set based on the behavior of the characters or descriptions of the dress, manners, or locations.
The "beastliness" of the duke felt forced, very told, and the gossip surrounding him made no sense (ah yes, he ran back into a burning building to rescue his father, got trapped under a fallen beam and gravely injured so that he couldn't even make it out of the building himself and had to be dragged out by rescuers, and everyone thinks he let his father burn to death on purpose so he could inherit the duchy. yes. very convincing.). The heroine's reactions to him felt likewise forced ("he's so intimidating! so scary! he looks like a lion! but for some reason I'm attracted to him and always clumsy in his presence, and I pity him and want to help him"), because he's never actually shown to be anything more than taciturn and a bit socially awkward and they had no chemistry to explain her having some sort of feelings.
And to think I was so excited about the premise of this. 😭
1.5 stars
June 4, 2024
This is the first book of the author's that I've read and I will be reading more from her. This is the author's debut and book 1 in A Wish Upon a Castle Series. The book's blurb lets you know what to expect. The Beast of Blackthorne Castle is told through Emma and Nathaniel's third person pov and is a sweet grumpy and sunshine romance.
CW: loss and injuries caused by a fire
Spice: sweet kisses
Having no one to care for her, Emma is determined to make her own way as a lady's companion. Though it's a new experience for her, she's up for the challenge. When she meets Nathaniel, the Duke and her employer, the mystery surrounding him makes her curious about him. Because of past events, Nathaniel has kept to himself and the rumors about him have left him with a bad reputation and no desire to be a part of society. Yet, as he spends more time with Emma, she brings a joy to his castle, and life, that he had been missing. I liked that Emma didn't let her circumstances bring her down and tried seeing the positive in others. I liked that she wanted to get to know Nathaniel but didn't pry. Her attitude allowed Nathaniel to slowly open up. They were opposites and their romance was a slow burn but it was sweet. I liked seeing the relationship that Emma developed with his mother too. It was a lighthearted read and I really enjoyed this one.
CW: loss and injuries caused by a fire
Spice: sweet kisses
Having no one to care for her, Emma is determined to make her own way as a lady's companion. Though it's a new experience for her, she's up for the challenge. When she meets Nathaniel, the Duke and her employer, the mystery surrounding him makes her curious about him. Because of past events, Nathaniel has kept to himself and the rumors about him have left him with a bad reputation and no desire to be a part of society. Yet, as he spends more time with Emma, she brings a joy to his castle, and life, that he had been missing. I liked that Emma didn't let her circumstances bring her down and tried seeing the positive in others. I liked that she wanted to get to know Nathaniel but didn't pry. Her attitude allowed Nathaniel to slowly open up. They were opposites and their romance was a slow burn but it was sweet. I liked seeing the relationship that Emma developed with his mother too. It was a lighthearted read and I really enjoyed this one.
November 18, 2024
Genre: Historical Romance
Rating: 4/5 ⭐️
Spice: 0/5 🧼
Summary: Emma has just lost the most important person in her life—her father—and with his passing, he left her nothing to build a future on. Desperate for a fresh start, she comes across an advertisement for a companion position at a castle and decides it’s her best chance to begin her journey toward independence.
Thoughts: This was such a sweet and simple love story with a lot of lovely elements. One of my favorite parts was the mother—she was ahead of her time, incredibly kind, and so welcoming. Her character added so much warmth to the story.
I also appreciated the slow burn between the couple. Their connection and the progression of their feelings felt authentic and well-paced, which made their romance all the more enjoyable.
That said, I do wish the plot had been developed a bit more. The repeated mentions of an aunt and uncle hinted at potential conflict, but nothing ever came of it. It felt a little out of place to keep bringing it up without tying it into the story.
Overall, this is a truly sweet romance set against the backdrop of a gorgeous castle. The author’s descriptive writing really brought the setting to life and made it easy to escape into the story.
Rating: 4/5 ⭐️
Spice: 0/5 🧼
Summary: Emma has just lost the most important person in her life—her father—and with his passing, he left her nothing to build a future on. Desperate for a fresh start, she comes across an advertisement for a companion position at a castle and decides it’s her best chance to begin her journey toward independence.
Thoughts: This was such a sweet and simple love story with a lot of lovely elements. One of my favorite parts was the mother—she was ahead of her time, incredibly kind, and so welcoming. Her character added so much warmth to the story.
I also appreciated the slow burn between the couple. Their connection and the progression of their feelings felt authentic and well-paced, which made their romance all the more enjoyable.
That said, I do wish the plot had been developed a bit more. The repeated mentions of an aunt and uncle hinted at potential conflict, but nothing ever came of it. It felt a little out of place to keep bringing it up without tying it into the story.
Overall, this is a truly sweet romance set against the backdrop of a gorgeous castle. The author’s descriptive writing really brought the setting to life and made it easy to escape into the story.
September 4, 2024
Emma needs to get away from her Aunt and Uncle, whom plan to marry her off to the first man to come along. Emma finds an ad in a paper for a lady’s companion and she travels to Northunberland to apply for the position. She finds out that the Duke of Blackthorne’s mother is the lady she would be a companion to, but the duke himself is a powerful man, and with the rumors swirling around that he murdered his father in a fire – he’s very intimidating and stand offish. But Emma takes the job with no prospects or money and finds a different man than the rumors would have her believe.
This is a sweet, exciting adventure of finding love and independence in a time where women had few rights. Even though Nathaniel is a troubled man, he finds he looks forward to his time with Emma, even though he’s shunned people for ten years. This was an easy read and if you like a sweet, slow-burn romance, with a good cast of characters, this would be a nice choice.
This is a sweet, exciting adventure of finding love and independence in a time where women had few rights. Even though Nathaniel is a troubled man, he finds he looks forward to his time with Emma, even though he’s shunned people for ten years. This was an easy read and if you like a sweet, slow-burn romance, with a good cast of characters, this would be a nice choice.
May 25, 2024
Sweet, clean Regency romance
I loved Emma and Nathaniel's story. Emma's father passed away, leaving her nothing. Her uncle and aunt came to help her sell everything to pay her father's debts and take on the care of 25 year old Emma. They had plans to find her a husband. Emma didn't want that and decided to make her own way in life. Nathaniel, the Duke of Coldingham, was a recluse and had been for 10 years since his father died in a fire that could have taken his and his mother's lives also. He advertises for a companion for his mother as he knows his mother would get out and do more if she had a companion. Emma applies for that position in person. This is a beautiful story of a man who has made himself a recluse because of rumors and a scarred leg (from the fire) and a sweet woman who wants to have some security in life. I highly recommend this story.
I loved Emma and Nathaniel's story. Emma's father passed away, leaving her nothing. Her uncle and aunt came to help her sell everything to pay her father's debts and take on the care of 25 year old Emma. They had plans to find her a husband. Emma didn't want that and decided to make her own way in life. Nathaniel, the Duke of Coldingham, was a recluse and had been for 10 years since his father died in a fire that could have taken his and his mother's lives also. He advertises for a companion for his mother as he knows his mother would get out and do more if she had a companion. Emma applies for that position in person. This is a beautiful story of a man who has made himself a recluse because of rumors and a scarred leg (from the fire) and a sweet woman who wants to have some security in life. I highly recommend this story.
August 15, 2024
I hate to dump on something so earnestly written. So painfully earnestly written.
This book is 98% introspection, and the characters’ thoughts weren’t unique or interesting in any discernible way. So many musings, so many repetitive musings, followed by more musings. Argh! I was so happy to discover a few sentences of dialogue to break the monotony I almost cried. I’ve read everything in this book—the characters, the situations, the thoughts, the actions or complete lack thereof—a million times and almost always done better.
I would have given it two mercy stars but I almost died of boredom so I can’t.
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This book is 98% introspection, and the characters’ thoughts weren’t unique or interesting in any discernible way. So many musings, so many repetitive musings, followed by more musings. Argh! I was so happy to discover a few sentences of dialogue to break the monotony I almost cried. I’ve read everything in this book—the characters, the situations, the thoughts, the actions or complete lack thereof—a million times and almost always done better.
I would have given it two mercy stars but I almost died of boredom so I can’t.
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December 11, 2024
First time reading this author, but won't be the last!
Such a lovely story!! I really enjoyed Nathaniel's character. He was the perfect "beast". And the ambiance!! Every scene I felt I was there. Visiting Northumberland just made it to my list of go to places and rose to the no. 1 spot!! Literally looking for where to stay on a cliff by the ocean. That's how amazing the descriptions of the castle and Northumberland were. They seemed like characters themselves in the story. I especially loved how the weather also played a part in the storytelling. It was subtle but lovely and poetic. Really want ro re-read this story again. And I'll be checking out what other books this author has
Such a lovely story!! I really enjoyed Nathaniel's character. He was the perfect "beast". And the ambiance!! Every scene I felt I was there. Visiting Northumberland just made it to my list of go to places and rose to the no. 1 spot!! Literally looking for where to stay on a cliff by the ocean. That's how amazing the descriptions of the castle and Northumberland were. They seemed like characters themselves in the story. I especially loved how the weather also played a part in the storytelling. It was subtle but lovely and poetic. Really want ro re-read this story again. And I'll be checking out what other books this author has
April 24, 2024
I have been on a regency kick, and I don't think it's stopping anytime soon. Again, I love this book! Emma is sweet and so very brave. She picked up her life to start over somewhere new. There was no guarantee that she would land on her feet. I admire her so much for that. Nathaniel suffered much for something that wasn't his fault. The way he was treated, especially as a Duke, was awful. I'm so glad Emma was able to see past all his gruffness and pain and fall in love with the amazing man he is. Agnes is hilarious and probably my favorite part of the book! She's such a wiley one, and she knew that both Emma and Nathaniel belonged together.
May 29, 2024
Sweet Romance
If you're looking for a sweet, clean romance, set in a centuries old castle, then
The Beast of Blackthorn Castle by D.K. Quinn should fit the bill.
All of the characters are likable and the little bit of drama and angst is palatable. The author does a fine job of bringing to life not only the characters, but also the times and location. (Note to rigid historical buffs, you will need to suspend a few rules, but it won't hurt too much.)
This stand-alone tale has a sweet ending and an even sweeter epilogue.
Content 411: This sweet romance is super clean. There is no swearing, and only a couple of non-described kisses.
If you're looking for a sweet, clean romance, set in a centuries old castle, then
The Beast of Blackthorn Castle by D.K. Quinn should fit the bill.
All of the characters are likable and the little bit of drama and angst is palatable. The author does a fine job of bringing to life not only the characters, but also the times and location. (Note to rigid historical buffs, you will need to suspend a few rules, but it won't hurt too much.)
This stand-alone tale has a sweet ending and an even sweeter epilogue.
Content 411: This sweet romance is super clean. There is no swearing, and only a couple of non-described kisses.
October 19, 2024
Quick Review:
4.5/5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Beauty and the Beast Retelling
Sweet romance
Grumpy/Sunshine
Wow, what a sweet romance! It had me hooked from start to finish, and I just adored all the characters. They were so well-developed and relatable, which made the story even more engaging.
The plot had some predictable bits, but honestly, it just added a comforting familiarity that I appreciated. Those heartfelt moments and charming interactions kept me up reading until 1 am, and I was genuinely invested in how it would all turn out.
Overall, it was a delightful read that left me feeling all warm and fuzzy inside.
4.5/5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Beauty and the Beast Retelling
Sweet romance
Grumpy/Sunshine
Wow, what a sweet romance! It had me hooked from start to finish, and I just adored all the characters. They were so well-developed and relatable, which made the story even more engaging.
The plot had some predictable bits, but honestly, it just added a comforting familiarity that I appreciated. Those heartfelt moments and charming interactions kept me up reading until 1 am, and I was genuinely invested in how it would all turn out.
Overall, it was a delightful read that left me feeling all warm and fuzzy inside.
November 16, 2024
This was a quick, clean and proper, historical romance with a touch of angst and chemistry. It was a slow burn, as we get out first kiss at 75%. It's written in 3rd person, dual POV with still gives us an insight into our main characters minds and which was great to read - so many emotions they went through and I felt them all.
I truly loved this sweet story and I read it in a day.
It was clean, so no sex on page, no mentions of sex, no innuendos. It was very proper and I enjoyed it's clean style.
I truly loved this sweet story and I read it in a day.
It was clean, so no sex on page, no mentions of sex, no innuendos. It was very proper and I enjoyed it's clean style.
May 23, 2024
A Cast of Likeable Characters
Emma is determined to find her own path to deal with the loss of her father and home. A companion is the perfect solution and with no confirmation or contact she travels days to a remote area to apply for the job. Does she get it? Does the Earl and his family intervene? Are rumors true about the Duke?
I can recommend this for any age as an enjoyable escape into Emma's world.
Emma is determined to find her own path to deal with the loss of her father and home. A companion is the perfect solution and with no confirmation or contact she travels days to a remote area to apply for the job. Does she get it? Does the Earl and his family intervene? Are rumors true about the Duke?
I can recommend this for any age as an enjoyable escape into Emma's world.
August 17, 2024
3½ stars
This is a clean, sweet beauty and the beast type story with a lovely ending. I would have liked to know whether or not she ever had a response from her aunt and uncle though . To be honest, I didn't 'feel' the spark or build-up to love between Nathaniel and Emma as clearly as I would have liked. I really liked the dowager duchess. She was a very warm, down to earth character, despite her rank. I would like to read the next book in the series.
This is a clean, sweet beauty and the beast type story with a lovely ending. I would have liked to know whether or not she ever had a response from her aunt and uncle though . To be honest, I didn't 'feel' the spark or build-up to love between Nathaniel and Emma as clearly as I would have liked. I really liked the dowager duchess. She was a very warm, down to earth character, despite her rank. I would like to read the next book in the series.
May 23, 2024
exactly as the blurb said
I enjoyed reading this story very much. The scenery was described beautifully, so it was very easy to imagine and enjoy. The words painted wonderful pictures. The characters were not overly deep, but their stories were very interesting, so I enjoyed the characters as well.
I enjoyed reading this story very much. The scenery was described beautifully, so it was very easy to imagine and enjoy. The words painted wonderful pictures. The characters were not overly deep, but their stories were very interesting, so I enjoyed the characters as well.
May 26, 2024
I didn’t see “sweet” in the description before I snagged this freebie and was already into it but I stuck with it and it wasn’t bad. There were some weird word choices that weren’t caught by an editor but at least they didn’t dominate the book—and mercifully. •sweet” did not mean saccharine and stomach-turning, just no sex scenes.
June 9, 2024
Finding her dream
Great story, wonderful story line great characters.A heart warming story of one young lady, looking to make her way in the world. One young Duke feeling along in the world and with rumors keeping him to himself. They will forge a love for a new beginning.
Thank you ♥️
Great story, wonderful story line great characters.A heart warming story of one young lady, looking to make her way in the world. One young Duke feeling along in the world and with rumors keeping him to himself. They will forge a love for a new beginning.
Thank you ♥️
September 6, 2024
A standard regency romance.
The Beast of Blackthorne castle is your standard kindle unlimited clean regency romance fare. Nothing particularly stands out - good or bad. Perhaps the self doubt of the main characters is a little overwrought at points. But still an enjoyable read if this genre is your thing.
The Beast of Blackthorne castle is your standard kindle unlimited clean regency romance fare. Nothing particularly stands out - good or bad. Perhaps the self doubt of the main characters is a little overwrought at points. But still an enjoyable read if this genre is your thing.
January 30, 2025
A simple no nonsense regency romance with a fine set of characters, a simple plot which builds towards a happy ending. I found this distinctly refreshing after some other overblown dramas in this genre.
My only slight criticism is that I would have liked a bit of gentle humour thrown into the mix.
My only slight criticism is that I would have liked a bit of gentle humour thrown into the mix.
April 28, 2025
This is more of a grumpy/sunshine match-up. But the castle does have an impressive library.
The main characters were all relatable, kind-hearted, and empathetic.
The pace of the story was good, and the plot kept my attention.
The story was sweet and clean, and there was no faith element to it.
The main characters were all relatable, kind-hearted, and empathetic.
The pace of the story was good, and the plot kept my attention.
The story was sweet and clean, and there was no faith element to it.
January 25, 2024
Very sweet book. A little too PG for my taste, but it is very well written, and has me sympathizing with the heroines situation. I would read this again when I'm in the mood for a gentle romance. Great starter for a younger person who is just getting into romance novels.
March 19, 2025
I liked this book a lot. I almost felt the sea spray every time Nathanial walked on his beach. I also liked the romance element of the book. Without giving too much away, I was rooting for Emma and Nathanial almost as soon as they met! A good read, and well worth your time.
January 29, 2024
Sweet story, but very PG. Only a few chaise kisses.
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February 28, 2024Paused at 26%
March 17, 2024
Sweet Clean Regency Romance
Loved this story. Sweet and clean. Had a beauty and the beast feel to it. Highly recommend. Clean - kissing only.
Loved this story. Sweet and clean. Had a beauty and the beast feel to it. Highly recommend. Clean - kissing only.
May 26, 2024
The Beast
Checked out the castle, Blackthone was modeled after. That place is huge, it would seem empty with a staff of twenty-five. Really enjoyed the story.
Checked out the castle, Blackthone was modeled after. That place is huge, it would seem empty with a staff of twenty-five. Really enjoyed the story.
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