Beast Lord: Beauty and the Beast

Tangled Tales #3

by Elizabeth Rose

Book 3 (A twisted, tangled, romantic retelling of the fairy tale Beauty and the Beast.)

The curse of the de Bar siblings continues as Stefan de Bar, eldest of the seven, takes a small group of his brother's soldiers and goes on a search for his missing sister, Rapunzel. The witch, Hecuba, has stolen his sister and they have been spotted near Breckenridge Castle. Stefan's cautious nature and hesitance to make a decision is the cause of what turns into a deadly ambush. Bloodied and bruised, Stefan manages to take the castle, but in the process suffers severe damage to his face. He finds and confronts the witch, but this time she curses him, and it is possibly worse than the curses she's previously bestowed upon his twin brothers. He needs to love a woman and be loved in return before the last petal falls from a rose, or the beast that is emerging within him will consume him forever.

Bonnibel of Breckenridge returns home after 15 years to marry a man of her father's choosing that she's never even met. But when she gets to Breckenridge Castle, her father is missing, most his men are dead, and a beastly man named Sir Stefan de Bar has claimed the castle as his own. Thinking she'll gain his favors, she stitches up his face, but the man's anger is out of control and it causes his body to start to change into that of a beast. While all she wants to do is run, something deep in Stefan's eyes makes her want to stay. However, she has no choice when Stefan takes her as his prisoner.

Can Bonnibel not only find her father and a way to escape, but look past Stefan's outward appearance and learn to love the real man deep inside before it's too late? And will Stefan realize that love can't be forced but has to be earned and given freely from the heart? A battle of good and evil grows within a man who wants nothing more than to love a beautiful young maiden and be loved in return . . . before the last petal falls.

Genres: Romance, Fantasy, Beauty and The Beast, Retellings, Amazon, Ebooks, Audiobook

167 pages, ebook

Published July 7, 2016

About the author

Elizabeth Rose is the author of medieval, paranormal, fantasy and contemporary novels. While based on romance, her novels have complex plots, action and suspense. She loves writing bad boy tortured heroes and empowered feisty heroines.

Her books have won rave reviews, and been seen on The History Channel as well as Wild Chicago. Elizabeth's books have won and been finalists in many contests. Here is a partial list:

Highland Spirit - Highland Chronicles WINNER of the Raven Award.
Bedeviled - Portals of Destiny, WINNER Creme de la Cover Contest
Beguiled - Portals of Destiny, WINNER - Creme de la Cover Contest

RONE Award finalists include:
Doubting Thomas - Bad Boys of Sweetwater
Highland Steel - Highland Chronicles
Tristan - Pirate Lords
Igniting Andrew - Bad Boys of Sweetwater
Highland Secrets - Secrets of the Heart
Seductive Secrets - Secrets of the Heart
Forgotten Secrets - all Secrets of the Heart
Summer's Reign - Seasons of Fortitude

Kindle Book Review Awards finalist and semi-finalist:
Highland Secrets
Forgotten Secrets

International Digital Award finalist:
Highland Spring - Seasons of Fortitude

Golden Palm Finalist:
Mary, Mary - Once Upon a Rhyme

Raven Awards Best Cover finalist:
May Queen - Holiday Knights

Raven Awards Runner-Up:
Lady and the Wolf - Tangled Tales

Books and Benches Reviewer's Choice:
Restless Sea Lord - Legendary Bastards of the Crown

Sapphire Award Finalist:
Kyros' Secret - Greek Myth Fantasy Series

Romantic Times Reviewer's Choice:
Thief of Olympus - Greek Myth Fantasy Series

Seen on the History Channel:
The Oracle of Delphi - Greek Myth Fantasy Series

And More!

Elizabeth is known for her many series which include:

Below the Salt Series
Highland Outcasts
Portals of Destiny
Legacy of the Blade
Daughters of the Dagger
Elemental Magick Series
Bad Boys of Sweetwater: Tarnished Saints Series Greek Myth Fantasy Series
MadMan MacKeefe Series
Legendary Bastards of the Crown
Seasons of Fortitude
Secrets of the Heart
Second in Command
Pirate Lords
Highland Chronicles
Barons of the Cinque Ports
Tangled Tales Once Upon a Rhyme
Holiday Knights
Dark Encounters
Cowboys of the Old West
Working Man Series, and more!

Someday Elizabeth hopes to visit the castles of Scotland and England personally. However, she has been to the jungles of Peru and Machu Picchu which inspired her novels, Curse of the Condor and Bistro Bachelor.

Visit her website to view her latest books and to read excerpts of her work. http://elizabethrosenovels.com.

Reviews

[April · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beast Lord: (Beauty and the Beast) (Tangled Tales Book 3) by Elizabeth Rose is a variation of the old classic, "Beauty and the Beast", with a few surprises, well, lots of surprises, and magical elements. Each title can be read as stand alones.
Well written with a captivating and engaging cast of characters. The storyline is definitely unique, intriguing and shall I say, daring and entertaining.
Curses, witches, warlocks, secrets, a cursed hero, a damsel captured and a scorned witch, makes for a very entertaining and dare, I say, magical tale.
Fast paced, with plenty of action, passion, adventure and danger.
Once again, Ms Rose will capture readers hearts as they cheer on the characters, and hope good wins overy evil. There are many variations of "Beauty and the Beast", however, I must say, this is definitely a tangled, and uniquely entertaining tale. It's mesmerizing, captivating, seductive and tantalizing. I just love Fairy tales, but these characters may not find their HEA. A must read! If you enjoy variations of Fairy tales, romance, tangled messes and magic, then pick up "Beast Lord: (Beauty and the Beast) (Tangled Tales) for your reading pleasure.
Received for an honest review from the author.

Rating: 4.5
Heat rating: Mild
Reviewed by: AprilR

[DKC · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't think there's much to add to this review; my reviews of the first two books in the Tangled Tales deal with the shortcomings of the series, as I see them. Had lower expectations of this one, after the first two, so I actually enjoyed it more. However, once again, it was rushed in the telling, and character development was kept to a minimum.

Enjoyed the heroine a bit more, but it felt very odd to see such a switch of personality for Stefan. It was as if he just got "picked" for the role of Beast, because nothing that had been seen of him before hinted at this level of morose anger. Injury? Really? A$$hat brothers? Come on! Shoe-horn tactics again, to fit the fairy tale.

Bonnibel was a cute name to bring together the "beauty" and "belle" part, but she wasn't exactly easy to like. Still, her behavior was much more understandable than the previous 2 heroines, even if she was more bitchy than sweet. Her appeal is why this gets 2-stars.

Chemistry was on-and-off. I did read the next installment, but after 4 "meh" entries, I have abandoned this series. Going to go read Foxglove's series again...

[Vicki Highley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Elizabeth Rose's Tangled Tales series is getting better. I loved her take on Beauty and the Beast. Stefan de Bar and his family have been cursed by the rejected lover of their father. She has kidnapped their sister Rapunzel and they are trying to rescued her, unfortunately the castle is being attacked and they become involved. Stefan has been injured and Hecuba takes advantage of his injuries to slowly turn him into the Beast. Lady Bonniebel Harcourt arrives at the castle looking for her father and tell him she refuse to marry, instead she is held captive by Lord Stefan. I love how they fall in love and break the curse and discover the answers to a secret of the castle. I hope Elizabeth continues the series.

I received a copy from the author for a fair and honest review. I loved fairy tales when I was younger and I love them as adult.

[Star Montgomery · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my favorite stories in the Tangled Tales Series. Great play and tension between the hero and heroine. Author Elizabeth Rose has a magical imagination and pens a fun romance. I truly enjoyed the playful banter between Stephen and his squire. He’s the funniest, most unprofessional squire ever. You cannot help but love him and laugh at him. I also enjoyed the relationship and playfulness between the brothers, great teasing as brothers will do. All of this combined with a blooming romance made this book great fun.
I highly recommend it.

[Suzette · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very good rendering of the fairytale of Beauty and the Beast. Stefan is cursed by the witch and turning into a beast. Bonnibel is returning home for the first time in 8 years to find her father missing and her home taken over by a stranger. Both characters clash on ownership and how to run the castle. This is an ingenious way of telling a children’s tale for an adult audience. As in any fairytale there is a happily ever after as the Beast vanquishes the bad guy and wins the heart of the beautiful girl.

[AIDA A LORENZANA · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beast Lord Book #3 . in Tangled Tales. I like this book It was twisted in a way where Sir Stefan de Bar was transforming into a beast. Unlike his brothers where they shifted. Reading this story I felt like I was in the actual animated movie Beauty and the Beast. If I had any criticism, It's that in this series the brothers treated him unfairly, but all I love the Beast. Hecuba is one of my favorites.

[Sally Hannoush · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great cast of characters. The other brothers sound like they have had good stories in the past or good ones coming. This book being the first I've read in the series is actually the third one. I didn't have any problems reading it out of order but I think reading in order might bring better enjoyment. I like the lightness and darkness theme with being cursed by a scorned witch.

[M A SCAMMELL · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favourite fairy tales!

This is a great rendition of Beauty and the Beast. I love the nod to other tales to be told held within it. The way the ‘invisible’ servants are managed is brilliant. The interweaving of the hinted at characters from other stories by using the beasts brothers is inspired. Enjoy on a cold afternoon with hot chocolate!

[SHERRY · Rating 5 out of 5]

A new twist on fairy tales. i enjoyed this version of Beauty and The Beast. it makes it an version that enyone can enjoy. I like the witch being involved more than the original story. Guy gets the girl. :)

[Sonya · Rating 5 out of 5]

True Love Prevails!

I could almost hear the music playing in my mind along with the story. I loved this story!! Beauty always comes from within and looks fade over time.

[Viola · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightful

Lovely tale of wickedness, of love and of reclamation. Great rendition of a tale as old as time in a totally creative manner. Completely satisfying

[Marjorie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting love story

I loved the way you take fairy tales and make them into romance stories. It gives a break from all that is going on in our world right now.

[Jennifer Yeakel · Rating 4 out of 5]

After a wicked witch places a curse on Stephan de Bar he starts to turn into a beast.
Bonnibel Harcourt is on her way home to see her father, in hopes of changing his mind about her upcoming marriage.
She comes home to find out that her father has been taken and that Stephan claims her family home is his own.
Will Bonnibel be able to break this horrid curse

[Barb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beast Lord by Elizabeth Rose

Another tangled tale by Elizabeth Rose that I thoroughly enjoyed reading. I like how she has taken the childhood fairy tales and turned them into tangled tales for adults. There are twists and turns, magic and romance. I can't wait to read the next one!

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't care for this story very much. An ugly appearance doesn't account for the massive shift in Stefan's personality from the previous books - all of a sudden he's a mean guy who goes and claims the first castle he sees for himself. The relationship between him and Bonnibel felt too forced.

My review is for the Audible version.

[Michelle Dodd]

I didn't care for this story as much as the other 2 it was still an enjoyable read but I couldn’t connect with Stefan, An ugly appearance doesn't account for the massive shift in Stefan's personality from the previous books - all of a sudden he's a mean guy who goes and claims the first castle he sees for himself. This is a good book but stefan’s personality change was a bit annoying

[Alejandra Guerrero · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't like the brothers. They were bullies, along with their father, just disguised it as "banter". The witch made no sense. Why did she do any of the things she did? Just because the plot needed her to, that's why. Her father as well. And the villain. They just did the things they needed to do to advance the plot, their motivations be damned.

[Fran · Rating 1 out of 5]

not really worth finishing. he gets cursed the same day he decides to stop being so kind hearted. isn't the whole point is that he's cursed to learn to mend his ways? also neither character really caught my attention.

[Linda Jobes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Elizabeth Rose is a good story teller

A beauty and the beast that makes you keep reading to learn more about what is happening. Short story's but fun to read

[Terr · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was ok not the best story of the Tangled Tales Series.

[Joanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice twist on the tale. I love how he becomes the beast but doesn't always stay that way.

[Anne Blyth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fairytale with an interesting twist. Cleverly done with humour and drama. Looking forward to seeing what has been done with the remaining tales.

[Maria]

FREE today (June 3, 2022) on Amazon.

[A Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I felt that Stephen was arrogant in Hugh/Wolfs' story... Him being an angry Beast does come from an arrogant stance. The way you spun this story was genius; He became powerful but humble as well.
I wonder why the de Bar children didn't get powers, at least a little, since their dad was a Warlock?

[Cyn's Bookshelves · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was terrible. Not a single character was likable. The narration was really good and was one factor I didn't dnf, along with that it worked for the HRCYED 2 prompt and I was able to finish it quickly.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

***AUDIO***

A really unusual approach to the Beast and the castle staff made this a good story. I must say though that a couple of the brothers I really liked in previous stories I wanted to smack... MANY times!

[Coco.V]

🎁 FREE on Amazon & on Apple iBooks today (3/25/2023)! 🎁

[Peggy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beauty and the Beast is one of my favorite fairy tales. I enjoy reading variations of this theme set it different times and places, with and without magical elements (except love, of course). In Beast Lord, all the pieces are here: a cursed hero, a captured damsel, and the need for true love. There is also an angry, vengeful witch (loved and left by the hero‰Ûªs father, thus the anger issue), a family sired by said father (who is himself a warlock), the damsel‰Ûªs missing father, and a missing and unwanted suitor for the damsel. Yes, it‰Ûªs a mess. The story is somewhat similar to the original, a variation as I said. In order to break the curse, Stefan, the hero, must fall in love with and earn the love of a woman without her knowing that this is how to break the curse. When Bonnibel shows up at the castle to find her father and betrothed, he decides she‰Ûªs the one. Can he do it? It‰Ûªs a little iffy. She wants to find her father. He isn‰Ûªt exactly Prince Charming. There are some interesting twists in the story, one to do with Belle‰Ûªs love of books (teaser). The timeless lessons of the original story are here. Stefan must learn that to receive love and trust, you must give them. He must learn that love can be sought and encouraged, but not forced. Will he discover this truth, and can he and Belle find love before the last petal falls from the rose? Read this enjoyable tale and find out.

Oh, yeah, one more lesson. This one needs to be learned by Father de Bar. It has to do with the saying about a woman (in this case, witch) scorned. Stefan is not the first or only of his siblings to endure a curse from Father‰Ûªs former lover. Father should learn to use more care when choosing his paramours.

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Niki Driscoll · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once again Ms. Rose has taken a beloved fairy tale and given it a unique twist. Stefan is the brother who uses caution and tries to think before he acts. Because of this he is teased by everyone which hurts and makes him angry. This anger is the trigger to the curse that Hecuba has placed and it is changing him into an angry beast. Bonnibel is returning home to a marriage arranged by her father, what she finds when she gets there is her father kidnapped, someone else claiming to own her home and mysteries that need unraveling. Each story in the Tangled tales series is fun, entertaining and has great characters. As this is my favorite fairy tale, I am partial to this story and just loved the mystery involved. I enjoyed the play on names and could easily assign Disney names to quite a few characters. I thought it was well written, well thought out and keeps your interest. I did however, not like the actions of his brothers or his father. After everything they have been through I thought they would have been more understanding and not such bullies. Every story sets up the next story to come in a unique and interesting way leaving you anxious to see what will happen next. I look forward to the next tale .

[Christine Woinich · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a story about the beauty beneath the skin. Stefan feels anger and guilt for allowing people under his command die in a battle. He is disfigured and then cursed to become a beast. Bonnibel is a lovely young lady who sees the man beneath the beast. As they learn some secrets about her home, they fall in love. This is the first book in this series that I have read and I enjoyed it. I recommend this book.

I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion.