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Conduit #1
Taken by the Beast
Taken by the Beast
A Sexy Beauty and the Beast Spin Off
When Charisse Bellamy takes the job at New Haven’s first ever Night Club, it’s only intended as a short term solution to make ends meet. But she soon discovers there is no resisting the pull of her new boss, Abram. Despite worrying how her feelings for Abram will impact her budding relationship with police deputy Dalton, she can’t seem to stay away, and it’s not until a missing girl is found chained up in Abram’s home that this beauty realizes one of her romantic interests is a beast.
Beasts have infiltrated the towns. The cities. The government.
Blood will be spilled. Wars will be fought. Magic will be bartered.
And there's only one person who can bridge the worlds between Conduits and Supplicants.
If she fails, human lives will be reduced to nothing more than a source.
255 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 12, 2015
978 people are currently reading
1072 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 235 reviews
July 26, 2016
Gah! This story had SO much potential. Seriously, it could have been amazing and yet I can't quite put my finger on what it was that didn't work! A little predictable, but yet any spin on "beauty and the beast" will be. A part of me thinks that, had she taken out the paranormal aspect of it, it might have worked better? Not completely sure. I didn't feel a connection between the two main characters. Everything was rushed, forced, fake. There wasn't enough build up to truly make you believe them or believe IN them. I felt like the main character was too busy trying to prove to everyone that she wasn't afraid of anything. That she didn't need anyone to help her or take care of her. Every page she reminded us of how independent she was, and yet with every page she did something stupid that required saving. I did enjoy the small amount of wit and the pop culture/fashion references. Despite a few errors, the writing wasn't all that bad. Like I said, lots of potential but in my opinion it just didn't hit the mark for me. Copy provided in exchange for an honest review.
July 1, 2015
Read as part of the "Secret Worlds" book collection.
After her mother's death, Charisse returns to her home town to recharge. Her best friend Lulu needs help and companionship as she nears the end of her pregnancy and Char is happy to assist. She thinks the change from big city life will be relaxing. It would be...if not for the rash of mysterious deaths and disappearances.
Charisse quickly discovers that New Haven is no longer an innocent small town. She meets two very different men. Dalton is Lulu's baby brother--turned hot police detective. He's investigating the disappearances. Abram is a surly man looking to open a night club...and who just happens to need a manager.
The story wasn't bad, but I found several things annoying.
#1: If Char is beautiful enough to be a famous, successful plus size supermodel, why is everyone so obsessed with her weight in small town America? Enough with the BBW references already!
#2: What kind of nutty twit romps through the forrest and takes contemplative strolls wearing $11000 Italian heels?
#3: Why is this woman not more curious about her odd employer and the weird locked room in his night club...and why does she keep going back??
I had trouble liking any of the characters or finding their decisions to be believable. There were also numerous editing errors in the electronic edition. Despite the flaws, the story was readable and the protagonist may be more relatable to someone else.
After her mother's death, Charisse returns to her home town to recharge. Her best friend Lulu needs help and companionship as she nears the end of her pregnancy and Char is happy to assist. She thinks the change from big city life will be relaxing. It would be...if not for the rash of mysterious deaths and disappearances.
Charisse quickly discovers that New Haven is no longer an innocent small town. She meets two very different men. Dalton is Lulu's baby brother--turned hot police detective. He's investigating the disappearances. Abram is a surly man looking to open a night club...and who just happens to need a manager.
The story wasn't bad, but I found several things annoying.
#1: If Char is beautiful enough to be a famous, successful plus size supermodel, why is everyone so obsessed with her weight in small town America? Enough with the BBW references already!
#2: What kind of nutty twit romps through the forrest and takes contemplative strolls wearing $11000 Italian heels?
#3: Why is this woman not more curious about her odd employer and the weird locked room in his night club...and why does she keep going back??
I had trouble liking any of the characters or finding their decisions to be believable. There were also numerous editing errors in the electronic edition. Despite the flaws, the story was readable and the protagonist may be more relatable to someone else.
April 18, 2016
This was an interesting, book with many wonderful twists. An excellent enjoyable book with plots you don't see coming. As you're reading along you think things are going one way, only to find out that they are going in a completely different way. It's nice not to be able to anticipate everything as you're reading along. This book has everything needed in it, it's relatable, well developed characters. A love story, mystery, murders, monster's (I'll let you find out what kind), betrayal, deep friendships, curses, and a sleepy small little town with lots creepy woods. People who are not what they seem, and others that are exactly what they seem lol.
This book was a joy to read, and I look forward to reading the next book in this series.... yay there is a next book. It sounds like it should be a good one also. It seems the main characters have quite a journey ahead of them, and I am ecstatic to go on the journey with them.
I'll let you know what I think of the next book...
This book was a joy to read, and I look forward to reading the next book in this series.... yay there is a next book. It sounds like it should be a good one also. It seems the main characters have quite a journey ahead of them, and I am ecstatic to go on the journey with them.
I'll let you know what I think of the next book...
July 17, 2015
Trashy Summer Read #1
It's like Beauty and the Beast grew up and got a hilarious new name. The book starts out with a love triangle that you just know is going to be difficult to resolve. There's also a twist on witchcraft, werewolves, and magic that's interesting enough to keep me turning pages. There are a few unfortunate things, like the idea that a plus size model that could make it in NYC is somehow denigrated in the midwest for being fat, her constant heel wearing in the fuckin woods, and . Thankfully, since this is a trashy summer read I can completely skip over caring about that too much and enjoy it for what it is, a quick reading paranormal romance to distract me for a couple hours.
It's like Beauty and the Beast grew up and got a hilarious new name. The book starts out with a love triangle that you just know is going to be difficult to resolve. There's also a twist on witchcraft, werewolves, and magic that's interesting enough to keep me turning pages. There are a few unfortunate things, like the idea that a plus size model that could make it in NYC is somehow denigrated in the midwest for being fat, her constant heel wearing in the fuckin woods, and . Thankfully, since this is a trashy summer read I can completely skip over caring about that too much and enjoy it for what it is, a quick reading paranormal romance to distract me for a couple hours.
June 29, 2015
Taken by the Beast was really interesting and I found myself living everything that heroine went through, which I think it is one of the most important things for me when I am reading a story. I can't wait to read more to this story, it is still haunting my dreams!
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November 25, 2019🎁 FREE on Amazon today (11/25/2019)! 🎁
June 28, 2015
This is absolutely a fantastic book! I requested a copy to review because I love paranormal. The first chapter grabbed my attention and the book held it the entire way through. I was kept guessing the entire time. The characters had me in such a snare I was yelling at them, sympathizing or laughing with them. This book had passion, intrigue, and unpredictability. I read the review copy 3 times, then bought the book the day I came out. I have read it twice more since then. This book is a definite MUST READ!!!!
June 15, 2015
As a new partnership between Rebecca and Connor I wasn't expecting anything but an excellent book and OMG I've just read one. I had no clue how this was going to end half way through the book but what a terrific ending. As this is the first book in the conduit series I cannot wait for book 2 to arrive in the fall. EXCITING, ENJOYABLE and very READABLE this book is slick, fast moving dialogue and worth every one of its 5 STARS AWARDED. An ABSOLUTE MUST for your to read shelf.
September 17, 2015
I just couldn't relate to the characters in this book. The way the Author portrays them and writes about did not let me want to be them or meet them which is something I like when I'm reading.
August 7, 2018
Taken by the Beast - a review by Rosemary Kenny
Taken by the Beast is Conner Kressler and Rebecca Hamilton's modern paranormal retelling of the traditional fairytale Beauty and the Beast - but anything further from the Disney version it would be hard to imagine - as with all the books in the Conduit Series by this imaginative duo of authors.
The MCs are Dalton a police deputy (what is it about men in uniform!?!!) and Charisse Bellamy and is set in the remote town of New Haven, their hometown. Desperate for additional income Charisse goes to work at New Haven's first night club, where she's predictably attracted to her darkly attractive new boss, Abram - who's also a shifter! Despite her having poor self-confidence and a number of young women's (all of whom, unbelievably, look like Charisse), mangled corpses appearing in the woods on the edge of town, Charisse is drawn there and gets a real shock!
Of course being a modern fairytale, after the Beast rescues her, she rescues him right back (a la Pretty Woman) and all comes right, (despite a slight cliffhanger ending to link to the next book in the series), for their HEA ending! poor editing/proofreading makes this a four instead of five-star rating, but nevertheless, a good choice for fans of modern fairytales with feisty females as MCs.
Taken by the Beast is Conner Kressler and Rebecca Hamilton's modern paranormal retelling of the traditional fairytale Beauty and the Beast - but anything further from the Disney version it would be hard to imagine - as with all the books in the Conduit Series by this imaginative duo of authors.
The MCs are Dalton a police deputy (what is it about men in uniform!?!!) and Charisse Bellamy and is set in the remote town of New Haven, their hometown. Desperate for additional income Charisse goes to work at New Haven's first night club, where she's predictably attracted to her darkly attractive new boss, Abram - who's also a shifter! Despite her having poor self-confidence and a number of young women's (all of whom, unbelievably, look like Charisse), mangled corpses appearing in the woods on the edge of town, Charisse is drawn there and gets a real shock!
Of course being a modern fairytale, after the Beast rescues her, she rescues him right back (a la Pretty Woman) and all comes right, (despite a slight cliffhanger ending to link to the next book in the series), for their HEA ending! poor editing/proofreading makes this a four instead of five-star rating, but nevertheless, a good choice for fans of modern fairytales with feisty females as MCs.
November 14, 2019
I bought this book because I am doing a course with Rebecca Hamilton and I wanted to get a taste of her writing. Cheeky, I know. ;-)
Taken by the Beast is a steamy shifter romance, but it doesn't take one long to make the connection to Beauty and the Beast. It is a sexy modern retelling of the classic tale with a twist.
The story is fast-paced and keeps you guessing at every turn. The next thing you know you're on the last page and you find yourself browsing online searching for the second book in the series. Oops, LOL.
The heroine of the story is a voluptuous city girl and she is decidedly clumsy in the beginning. Her character slowly grows throughout the book, and I have a feeling that she will mature as the series continues.
The beast, oh my, is one seriously hot wolf shifter with only one goal - to protect his beauty at all costs... and maybe to ravish her every now and then.
Taken by the Beast is a steamy shifter romance, but it doesn't take one long to make the connection to Beauty and the Beast. It is a sexy modern retelling of the classic tale with a twist.
The story is fast-paced and keeps you guessing at every turn. The next thing you know you're on the last page and you find yourself browsing online searching for the second book in the series. Oops, LOL.
The heroine of the story is a voluptuous city girl and she is decidedly clumsy in the beginning. Her character slowly grows throughout the book, and I have a feeling that she will mature as the series continues.
The beast, oh my, is one seriously hot wolf shifter with only one goal - to protect his beauty at all costs... and maybe to ravish her every now and then.
December 22, 2019
Well I finished it.
So I started into this book not expecting great plot or great character development, but I did expect some. I just wanted an easy romance read to get to my book goal.
I made several notes throughout the book where the heroine was in the middle of danger and then the authors would describe some bizarre trait of hers. It just didn’t work. Also I GET IT! You’re s curvy model. It doesn’t make you any less. Ok. I agree. You don’t need to mention it every single chapter. Also the characters didn’t sync up and there was literally no believable development that led to the main characters getting together. At all. Also it kept trying to be modern feminist and then it would also just decide “nah”. There is a way to write romance with a feminist lead. But this isn’t it. At all. And it’s a series. God. No thank you.
So I started into this book not expecting great plot or great character development, but I did expect some. I just wanted an easy romance read to get to my book goal.
I made several notes throughout the book where the heroine was in the middle of danger and then the authors would describe some bizarre trait of hers. It just didn’t work. Also I GET IT! You’re s curvy model. It doesn’t make you any less. Ok. I agree. You don’t need to mention it every single chapter. Also the characters didn’t sync up and there was literally no believable development that led to the main characters getting together. At all. Also it kept trying to be modern feminist and then it would also just decide “nah”. There is a way to write romance with a feminist lead. But this isn’t it. At all. And it’s a series. God. No thank you.
January 9, 2019
I enjoyed it. But I was annoyed by it as well. Charisse was always so stubborn. It drove me nuts. It was obvious how the ending was going to go with it being a story based on a beauty and the beast. And that's fine because i never get sick of reading beauty & the beast reimaginings.
I won't go on to read the next books in the series. Im happy with the somewhat happy ending I just don't feel like I have it in me to follow the other books. This one was just too high maintenance for me.
I won't go on to read the next books in the series. Im happy with the somewhat happy ending I just don't feel like I have it in me to follow the other books. This one was just too high maintenance for me.
January 18, 2019
Loved this take on Beauty and the Beast! I can't wait to read the others!
June 27, 2015
Taken by the Beast hit all of the high points of great paranormal fantasy. The world-building is unique and interesting, and the authors don't hit you over the head with it in an infodump right at the beginning. Instead, you --- and the heroine --- are left wondering what exactly is going on for the first half of the book, which keeps you turning pages as fast as you can.
Speaking of the heroine, she also sucks you in from page one, when she's misplaced her pregnant best friend's young son. A washed up supermodel returning to her small-town roots, Charisse is both strong and lovably klutzy and you'll end up rooting for her to find a good guy...even if it might be hard to tell which of the contenders that is right off the bat.
I don't want to ruin the story by writing much more, but suffice it to say that Taken by the Beast is full of twists, suspense, and an engaging love story. There's a teaser in the prologue, but the story itself ends quite solidly in this book. A great start to an enticing new series!
Speaking of the heroine, she also sucks you in from page one, when she's misplaced her pregnant best friend's young son. A washed up supermodel returning to her small-town roots, Charisse is both strong and lovably klutzy and you'll end up rooting for her to find a good guy...even if it might be hard to tell which of the contenders that is right off the bat.
I don't want to ruin the story by writing much more, but suffice it to say that Taken by the Beast is full of twists, suspense, and an engaging love story. There's a teaser in the prologue, but the story itself ends quite solidly in this book. A great start to an enticing new series!
June 28, 2015
Taken By the Beast is a modern twist on Beauty and the Beast with a steamy attraction between Charisse and her hot, mysterious boss. I speed-read through the tense ending, and I absolutely loved the set-up for the second book. Charisse was a refreshing character for the most part, and I really admired how she took matters into her own hands at certain points in the story.
I had a few quibbles with the story, however. Charisse's many runway/modeling anecdotes/similes often drained the tension and made me somewhat annoyed with her that she was thinking about these things when her life was in peril. Also, I figured out who the other beast was at the 60% mark, but I knew who the Ice Truck Killer was in Dexter right away, so predicting is probably my one and only super power.
All in all, this was a solid, enjoyable read, and I'll definitely be checking out the sequel!
I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I had a few quibbles with the story, however. Charisse's many runway/modeling anecdotes/similes often drained the tension and made me somewhat annoyed with her that she was thinking about these things when her life was in peril. Also, I figured out who the other beast was at the 60% mark, but I knew who the Ice Truck Killer was in Dexter right away, so predicting is probably my one and only super power.
All in all, this was a solid, enjoyable read, and I'll definitely be checking out the sequel!
I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
June 30, 2015
I received this book for an honest review!
I absolutely loved this book! We meet Char and she doesn't fit in no matter what she does or where she goes, she grew up in New Haven but she feels like she doesn't belong. Abram is new to town by just a few months and is trying to open a new club but needs help because he is anti-social and doesn't know how to interact with people. Char starts working for Abram as his new manager and has the club up and running in time for the grand opening, but Abram isn't there to see it. That's when everything goes wrong, a dead girl falls through the roof and the whole town is in an uproar.
I don't want to give too much away but Abram is amazing, he is frustrating, caring, sinful, and just about everything. Char is an ex model who just wants to make her boss open up a little but finds that there is more to his story than just what is on the surface!
I absolutely loved this book! We meet Char and she doesn't fit in no matter what she does or where she goes, she grew up in New Haven but she feels like she doesn't belong. Abram is new to town by just a few months and is trying to open a new club but needs help because he is anti-social and doesn't know how to interact with people. Char starts working for Abram as his new manager and has the club up and running in time for the grand opening, but Abram isn't there to see it. That's when everything goes wrong, a dead girl falls through the roof and the whole town is in an uproar.
I don't want to give too much away but Abram is amazing, he is frustrating, caring, sinful, and just about everything. Char is an ex model who just wants to make her boss open up a little but finds that there is more to his story than just what is on the surface!
June 27, 2015
Conner Kressley and Rebecca Hamilton have put together an intense and exciting first book of a series and I wasn't sure what to expect as I settled in on the deck facing the ocean this morning. I didn't even notice the tides turning or the chill in the wind as the day passed, or the color of my skin as the tan turned into a little tender pink of a burn - that's how much this book sucked me in.
The evolution of Charisse from the inept babysitter of her best friends kid that opens the book, to the heroine at the end really is a journey of smiles and a lot of nail biting thrown in. The chemistry between her and Abram burns right off the page and the twists this book takes are refreshing and unexpected.
Looking forward to the next installment of this captivating series.
The evolution of Charisse from the inept babysitter of her best friends kid that opens the book, to the heroine at the end really is a journey of smiles and a lot of nail biting thrown in. The chemistry between her and Abram burns right off the page and the twists this book takes are refreshing and unexpected.
Looking forward to the next installment of this captivating series.
August 1, 2015
I was lucky enough to win this book and really enjoyed it. Charisse is a plus size model returning to her hometown after nursing her sick mother and is staying with her childhood friend while she tries to get back on her feet but she needs to find a job. Abram she literally drops on in the town, owns the new nightclub he is setting up tall and handsome there is a strong pull there but she fights it. This story has so many mysteries and girls are getting killed added love triangle between Charisse, Abram and hunky Dalton who is little brother to best friend and also the detective investigating all the murders......... this story had me gripped it was where I had to keep reading to find out the end.
July 25, 2015
This book takes a love triangle to a whole new level. Add that to the fact that it is actually a paranormal story, the reader then ends up with double amount of twists and turns. can't wait to see where this writer takes this series from here. Definitely kept me turning the page just to see what would happen next. It is a fictional fairy tale paranormal romance. The key word is fictional so just like any other fairy tale (Beauty & the Beast for example) there are points it won't seem real so the reader needs to know in advance to just enjoy it for what it is.
July 25, 2015
Taken by the beast
Wow!!!
What a modern twist on a classic fairy tale.
Who knew that when two amazing writers put there heads together we would get such a wonderful brain child.
Wonderful story, easy to follow plot and a great group of characters that I loved, even some I loved to hate.
I can not wait to see what other wonderful stories these two stunning minds come up with next.
Wow!!!
What a modern twist on a classic fairy tale.
Who knew that when two amazing writers put there heads together we would get such a wonderful brain child.
Wonderful story, easy to follow plot and a great group of characters that I loved, even some I loved to hate.
I can not wait to see what other wonderful stories these two stunning minds come up with next.
July 26, 2015
I was gift this book. I started it this afternoon and have now just finished (2:30am) I was hooked! At the beginning I thought Charisse was going to be a strong person, due to her career path. Turns out she is just as unsure about life as every other women. I loved the constant butting head with Abram, even down to the smallest thing. Totally absorbing story, written well. Really looking forward to the following installments. Thank you!
November 7, 2016
Taken by the beast
Charisse takes a job at the only night club in New Haven . She is enjoying the job and wants the owner. Her best friends brother Dalton is also interested in Charisse. There are strange things going on and when I body falls into the night club things get even stranger. Chloe soon realizes her boss Abram is not just a man and her budding relationship with Dalton is not what it seems. As she is running for her life new details arise and she has to survive
Charisse takes a job at the only night club in New Haven . She is enjoying the job and wants the owner. Her best friends brother Dalton is also interested in Charisse. There are strange things going on and when I body falls into the night club things get even stranger. Chloe soon realizes her boss Abram is not just a man and her budding relationship with Dalton is not what it seems. As she is running for her life new details arise and she has to survive
July 26, 2015
Know that is the best beauty and the beast
This is like the adult version of beauty and the beast. Char and Abram go through hell and back to be together. There are times I am truly afraid for her and all that she has to go through and she does it with such style too. Abram does not think he deserves her love. A every silly man.
This is like the adult version of beauty and the beast. Char and Abram go through hell and back to be together. There are times I am truly afraid for her and all that she has to go through and she does it with such style too. Abram does not think he deserves her love. A every silly man.
July 27, 2015
The Miracle and the Monster
This book showed promise, more towards the end then at the beginning. I found all the references of name brand clothing tedious. Who wears five inch heels in the woods? Charisse Bellamy, maybe. Monsters and witches, curses and fangs. The second book sounds good, if sleeping beauty is your thing.
This book showed promise, more towards the end then at the beginning. I found all the references of name brand clothing tedious. Who wears five inch heels in the woods? Charisse Bellamy, maybe. Monsters and witches, curses and fangs. The second book sounds good, if sleeping beauty is your thing.
August 1, 2015
Not your typical shifter romance story!
I loved that taken by the beast wasn't your typical shifter story! Girl meets shifter than they instantly fall in love, nope this story they didn't get along at first but over time the pull towards each other brought this love story. I can't wait to read the next book and see where they head to next!
I loved that taken by the beast wasn't your typical shifter story! Girl meets shifter than they instantly fall in love, nope this story they didn't get along at first but over time the pull towards each other brought this love story. I can't wait to read the next book and see where they head to next!
July 26, 2015
I dnf and I was 72% in. I just couldn't anymore. The writing was actually pretty good and had some funny moments. But the supposed sexual tension between Abram and Char was just awkward and not hot at all. I couldn't understand why she was drawn to him there was no chemistry.
June 26, 2015
Once I started I could not stop till the end. Found myself shouting, laughing at it, overall a brilliant book.
July 26, 2015
too weird,
Even for me. I just couldn't get into the whole idea of it. It's too bad though, because I did have high hopes.
Even for me. I just couldn't get into the whole idea of it. It's too bad though, because I did have high hopes.
January 3, 2022
This failed on all levels
Characters
Too many of them and the main three weren't thought out properly. Lulu and ester didn't need to exist. Dalton was given too much character development. The weaknesses of the centuries old beast weren't thought through properly. Nor the concept of reanimation. A body decomposes. The main female protagonist is just a jack of all trades. Except you never researched models because they can be into martial arts, dance, and or yoga and often have to be in pain for hours. Any of those details could have helped in certain scenes.
World Building
Disney fairytale meets a stupid magic system. The world building is probably one of the two main reasons this is such a mess. Tiny detail that irritated me Connecticut and monasteries. Do your research. But back to the rest of the lazy world building. People that can have magic used against them, people who control magic, and people that are magic. Except the people that can have magic acted against them physically can handle magic. And people who are magic have no defenses against the people who wield magic. Not a single thing to keep them from dying seems like crappy evolution to me. Did they just rely on benevolence in the past? Then magic itself is about balance except when it isn't. Nothing balanced about the reason, the climax, or the reanimated. Disney never builds good worlds that's why they have Pixar. Belle has the best complete world of the princesses because she has a hobby. That it happens to be reading is just a bonus. The fact that that is omitted in favor of spouting designer brands is never forgotten. She's not even a designer she just likes to drop names. Commit to something research it and write it.
Plot
Deus ex machina at the end. I know it's supposed to be a fairytale but that's just lazy. The witch who couldn't do anything without blood suddenly has telepathy. I think if you two would have started with the hero's journey and then plugged in Disney elements as you went instead of the other way around it would have stood you in better stead. And better yet throw away Disney entirely and embrace the non-copyrighted Grimm Fairytale. The one that is him and her. He treats her with kindness and all he asks is she not ask to go home. But she does ask, promising to comeback, and forgets her promise until it's almost too late.
She begs forgiveness and is willing to do anything if he not die. Thus breaking the curse. Char could have been the cause of his death.
Writing
Honey, do I even need to tell you both that this thing needed another editorial once-over. I saw that own strike through along with some pronoun mishaps. But the writing itself is too juvenile to handle this story. Hand me a well crafted sentence out of this muck and I'll hand out another star. And I can enumerate every aspect of those abysmal sex scenes but frankly I'd just rather forget they exist. The apology was poorly done with all the tension and result of walking a dog. And the wet paint was the most novel idea of that whole business.
Pacing
Pacing is my favorite measure of a work. Pacing can make or break a novel. The pacing left this one in pieces on the shore line waiting for the seagulls to pick it clean. The first half of the book is unnecessary. Lulu, dating Dalton, Ester and the Castle made for a disjointed narrative. The house in the woods is key. Everything important happens there. The Castle has the girl and the paint. The girl could be a red herring for humans that was left on his doorstep. The wet paint was as interesting as watching it dry. Start with the girl on his stoop while they are in the middle. Dalton does his thing and nothing changes. Dalton could have been responsible directly instead of Ester and that no longer needs her. The door in the Castle doesn't exist because the Castle no longer exists, the door in the house can be a magic cell. And if I can fix the book by cutting off the front then it didn't need to be written.
Characters
Too many of them and the main three weren't thought out properly. Lulu and ester didn't need to exist. Dalton was given too much character development. The weaknesses of the centuries old beast weren't thought through properly. Nor the concept of reanimation. A body decomposes. The main female protagonist is just a jack of all trades. Except you never researched models because they can be into martial arts, dance, and or yoga and often have to be in pain for hours. Any of those details could have helped in certain scenes.
World Building
Disney fairytale meets a stupid magic system. The world building is probably one of the two main reasons this is such a mess. Tiny detail that irritated me Connecticut and monasteries. Do your research. But back to the rest of the lazy world building. People that can have magic used against them, people who control magic, and people that are magic. Except the people that can have magic acted against them physically can handle magic. And people who are magic have no defenses against the people who wield magic. Not a single thing to keep them from dying seems like crappy evolution to me. Did they just rely on benevolence in the past? Then magic itself is about balance except when it isn't. Nothing balanced about the reason, the climax, or the reanimated. Disney never builds good worlds that's why they have Pixar. Belle has the best complete world of the princesses because she has a hobby. That it happens to be reading is just a bonus. The fact that that is omitted in favor of spouting designer brands is never forgotten. She's not even a designer she just likes to drop names. Commit to something research it and write it.
Plot
Deus ex machina at the end. I know it's supposed to be a fairytale but that's just lazy. The witch who couldn't do anything without blood suddenly has telepathy. I think if you two would have started with the hero's journey and then plugged in Disney elements as you went instead of the other way around it would have stood you in better stead. And better yet throw away Disney entirely and embrace the non-copyrighted Grimm Fairytale. The one that is him and her. He treats her with kindness and all he asks is she not ask to go home. But she does ask, promising to comeback, and forgets her promise until it's almost too late.
She begs forgiveness and is willing to do anything if he not die. Thus breaking the curse. Char could have been the cause of his death.
Writing
Honey, do I even need to tell you both that this thing needed another editorial once-over. I saw that own strike through along with some pronoun mishaps. But the writing itself is too juvenile to handle this story. Hand me a well crafted sentence out of this muck and I'll hand out another star. And I can enumerate every aspect of those abysmal sex scenes but frankly I'd just rather forget they exist. The apology was poorly done with all the tension and result of walking a dog. And the wet paint was the most novel idea of that whole business.
Pacing
Pacing is my favorite measure of a work. Pacing can make or break a novel. The pacing left this one in pieces on the shore line waiting for the seagulls to pick it clean. The first half of the book is unnecessary. Lulu, dating Dalton, Ester and the Castle made for a disjointed narrative. The house in the woods is key. Everything important happens there. The Castle has the girl and the paint. The girl could be a red herring for humans that was left on his doorstep. The wet paint was as interesting as watching it dry. Start with the girl on his stoop while they are in the middle. Dalton does his thing and nothing changes. Dalton could have been responsible directly instead of Ester and that no longer needs her. The door in the Castle doesn't exist because the Castle no longer exists, the door in the house can be a magic cell. And if I can fix the book by cutting off the front then it didn't need to be written.
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