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Bewitching the Beast
2019 Winner of Uncaged Book Reviews RAVEN award. Ethan Lockwood hates what he’s become—a slave to a parasitic monster whose victims’ names pepper the obituaries. He’s possessed by The Beast, a dragon who feeds off human spiritual energy. After a year of fighting The Beast’s demands, Ethan is losing the battle. The creature is taking over his mind, body, and soul. When he spies Tess, he can relate to her weary look and the sadness in her eyes, but her aura shines like a beacon, attracting The Beast. Ethan is forced to drain her energy, but for a split second, she subdues the creature inside him, compelling the spirit to slumber. How? Can she somehow free him from The Beast? Ethan chases after her. He can’t afford to let Tess die. Since her fiancé’s death, Tess Edwards struggles to find new meaning in life. She doesn’t expect that new meaning to involve a sexy photographer who says he’s possessed by an energy-stealing beast. He claims she’s in danger and that he’s the only one who can save her. Great. He’s a nut job—cute, but delusional. She doesn’t believe in dragon spirits and magic, not until she finds her grandmother’s Book of Shadows. She’s descended from witches, and the book warns her of her fate. Although the beast inside Ethan needs her alive, he isn’t the only one of his kind. There’s another, and he wants Tess dead.
322 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 15, 2018
About the author
Tamara Hughes
13 books182 followersA small town girl with a big imagination, Tamara Hughes had no idea what to do with her life. After graduating from college, she moved to a big city, started a family and a job, and still struggled to find that creative outlet she craved. An avid reader of romance, she gave writing a try and became hooked on the power of exploring characters, envisioning adventures, and creating worlds. She enjoys stories with interesting twists and heroines who have the grit to surmount any obstacle, all without losing the ability to laugh. To sign up for her newsletter go to: http://mad.ly/signups/113875/join
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
October 28, 2018
Reviewed by Shyla
Book provided by the author
Originally posted at Romancing the Book
This was a unique story in so many different ways. Ms. Hughes take on Dragons was fresh, interesting and incorporated one of my favorite places, Egypt, as well as some of their lore. The last thing Tess expects on her blind date is to wind up entangled with a sexy man with a dark secret. She took one look at the tall, dark, and brooding, Ethan Lockwood at a new years Eve party, and completely abandoned all caution and common sense. A steamy tryst in a closet set the wheels of fate into motion.
Their encounter proves to be more when Ethan shows up at her apartment and insists she’s in danger. When inexplicable accidents began to dog her every step, she’s forced to believe him. Possessed by a dark entity constantly battling for control, Ethan is a bundle of contradictions. Funny and protective one moment, he lapses into a cold, calculating being unexpectedly.
Despite his dual nature, the attraction between the two keeps them together. Their connection leads to the revealing of family secrets, and an identity, Tess had been purposely kept ignorant of. As life as she knew it ends, and her life is thrust in danger, the two are forced to depend on one another to stay alive. I liked Ethan a lot. Despite his situation, he wanted to the noble thing, and he fought tooth and nail to control the dark being inside him. He always had the beast intentions, and his remorse helped keep him separate from the heinous actions he committed will under the beasts’ influence.
I felt for Tess. She had a lot of tragedy in her life, that drastically affected her relationships. She was quirky, fairly likable, and surprisingly resilient. There were times her naivety and poor decision-making skills made me want to shake her. I enjoyed this story with its twists, turns, and magic, but there were moments I felt the story dragged.
Book provided by the author
Originally posted at Romancing the Book
This was a unique story in so many different ways. Ms. Hughes take on Dragons was fresh, interesting and incorporated one of my favorite places, Egypt, as well as some of their lore. The last thing Tess expects on her blind date is to wind up entangled with a sexy man with a dark secret. She took one look at the tall, dark, and brooding, Ethan Lockwood at a new years Eve party, and completely abandoned all caution and common sense. A steamy tryst in a closet set the wheels of fate into motion.
Their encounter proves to be more when Ethan shows up at her apartment and insists she’s in danger. When inexplicable accidents began to dog her every step, she’s forced to believe him. Possessed by a dark entity constantly battling for control, Ethan is a bundle of contradictions. Funny and protective one moment, he lapses into a cold, calculating being unexpectedly.
Despite his dual nature, the attraction between the two keeps them together. Their connection leads to the revealing of family secrets, and an identity, Tess had been purposely kept ignorant of. As life as she knew it ends, and her life is thrust in danger, the two are forced to depend on one another to stay alive. I liked Ethan a lot. Despite his situation, he wanted to the noble thing, and he fought tooth and nail to control the dark being inside him. He always had the beast intentions, and his remorse helped keep him separate from the heinous actions he committed will under the beasts’ influence.
I felt for Tess. She had a lot of tragedy in her life, that drastically affected her relationships. She was quirky, fairly likable, and surprisingly resilient. There were times her naivety and poor decision-making skills made me want to shake her. I enjoyed this story with its twists, turns, and magic, but there were moments I felt the story dragged.
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August 29, 2018*****DNF*****
Guest Review by mom, romance fanatic, and (someday) published author Summer Raines!
I tried so hard to give this book a chance. I forced myself to get halfway through, but it wasn’t easy. I wanted to stop reading at least ten times along the way, so when I got to the end of chapter eleven I ran for the hills, not caring what happened with the story OR the characters.
Let me share the two things I liked:
The Premise
Naïve Wisconsin native, Tess, thought she could take a bite out of the Big Apple and make her dreams come true. However, her world crashes around her when her fiancé passes away, leaving her hollow and disconnected. When she interacts with a sexy stranger in a night club on New Year’s Eve, she begins to feel alive again.
Ethan is drawn to the blonde like no one else. The problem is, he doesn’t know if he’s attracted to her, or if The Beast seeks to consume her. The demon dragon is a parasite, using Ethan against his will to leech spiritual energy from unsuspecting humans. When Tess momentarily keeps the dragon at bay, Ethan hopes that she can be his saving grace and stop his killing spree.
Together they discover that Tess has descended from a long line of witches. Can she learn the craft in time to save them both from their destiny? (Sounds great, right? Not so much.)
The Hero:
Ethan Lockwood has a biker/model look going for him. For me personally that’s the second all-time sexiest look, right on the heels of cowboy. He’s an Alpha hero, gentle when he needs to be and strong when he needs to be. He'll do his best to protect her, even if he dies trying.
Here’s what was seriously wrong with this book:
Tess doesn’t deserve his attention. She’s a petulant child. When she would act stubborn and say, “No” all I could picture was a child stomping their foot and holding their breath until Mommy and Daddy gave them ice cream for breakfast. She’s also TSTL but keeps insisting she knows what’s best. Ridiculous. I don’t believe she’d be intelligent enough to learn how to perform spells before she dies, much less in time to save Ethan.
The heroine’s POV- she hooks up with this stranger. He follows her home, and tries to push his way into her apartment. He then basically kidnaps her. (It’s for the greater good, but at 1st she isn’t privy to this info, and then she doesn’t believe in magic.) He keeps her until morning while he tries to explain she’s in danger because he’s possessed, and that The Beast has stolen her good energy. She escapes and makes it home where he shows up again. Then she lets him follow her to work, offering him scones and coffee along the way. (What the…?!?)
He’s camped outside her workplace, so Tess tells her best friend that Ethan thinks he’s possessed by an aura-sucking demon. Like any good bestie should, Holly says, “We could call the police and get him out of here.” To which Tess replies, “No. He seems nice enough.” (I swear to you… that’s actual dialogue.)
I told myself that magic was a factor. “Okay,” I argued with myself, “She’s not in a normal situation. There are forces involved pulling them to each other and therefore making her accept these creepy activities as okay to put up with.” I really wish the author would’ve gone that direction. Instead, the TSTL behavior was blamed on Tess’s “Midwestern nice,” which seems highly insulting to a large group of people. I’m “Southern polite” most of the time, but if I have a stalker I won’t be offering him iced tea or mint julips on my veranda! I’ll discreetly tell the cops, “HELP ME!”
Here’s what’s even more sad. The author didn’t just blame it on that.
1st Midwestern nice.
2nd Pre-Women’s Lib soft.
3rd Catholic guilt.
4th 19th Century woman inside her.
5th Giggly girl inside her.
… and I only read to the middle. My “post-women’s lib attitude” made me wanna hurl.
I frequently dog sit an adorable boxer. He follows me everywhere, so I lovingly refer to him as my stalker. Outside of that type of situation, STALKERS ARE NOT CUTE!!! If you let someone—who you think is certifiable—follow you around… the cops are going to find your body parts in that person’s trunk or freezer.
The premise was so promising, but not laced together well enough for me to read the rest of this book. It’s the epitome of the romance stigma and the very reason people look down their noses and say, “Ohhh. You write romance.”
Full disclosure: We received an ARC from the author, free of charge.
Don't forget to follow Romance Rehab for more rants, raves, and other fun romance-y stuff: http://www.romancerehab.com/
Guest Review by mom, romance fanatic, and (someday) published author Summer Raines!
I tried so hard to give this book a chance. I forced myself to get halfway through, but it wasn’t easy. I wanted to stop reading at least ten times along the way, so when I got to the end of chapter eleven I ran for the hills, not caring what happened with the story OR the characters.
Let me share the two things I liked:
The Premise
Naïve Wisconsin native, Tess, thought she could take a bite out of the Big Apple and make her dreams come true. However, her world crashes around her when her fiancé passes away, leaving her hollow and disconnected. When she interacts with a sexy stranger in a night club on New Year’s Eve, she begins to feel alive again.
Ethan is drawn to the blonde like no one else. The problem is, he doesn’t know if he’s attracted to her, or if The Beast seeks to consume her. The demon dragon is a parasite, using Ethan against his will to leech spiritual energy from unsuspecting humans. When Tess momentarily keeps the dragon at bay, Ethan hopes that she can be his saving grace and stop his killing spree.
Together they discover that Tess has descended from a long line of witches. Can she learn the craft in time to save them both from their destiny? (Sounds great, right? Not so much.)
The Hero:
Ethan Lockwood has a biker/model look going for him. For me personally that’s the second all-time sexiest look, right on the heels of cowboy. He’s an Alpha hero, gentle when he needs to be and strong when he needs to be. He'll do his best to protect her, even if he dies trying.
Here’s what was seriously wrong with this book:
Tess doesn’t deserve his attention. She’s a petulant child. When she would act stubborn and say, “No” all I could picture was a child stomping their foot and holding their breath until Mommy and Daddy gave them ice cream for breakfast. She’s also TSTL but keeps insisting she knows what’s best. Ridiculous. I don’t believe she’d be intelligent enough to learn how to perform spells before she dies, much less in time to save Ethan.
The heroine’s POV- she hooks up with this stranger. He follows her home, and tries to push his way into her apartment. He then basically kidnaps her. (It’s for the greater good, but at 1st she isn’t privy to this info, and then she doesn’t believe in magic.) He keeps her until morning while he tries to explain she’s in danger because he’s possessed, and that The Beast has stolen her good energy. She escapes and makes it home where he shows up again. Then she lets him follow her to work, offering him scones and coffee along the way. (What the…?!?)
He’s camped outside her workplace, so Tess tells her best friend that Ethan thinks he’s possessed by an aura-sucking demon. Like any good bestie should, Holly says, “We could call the police and get him out of here.” To which Tess replies, “No. He seems nice enough.” (I swear to you… that’s actual dialogue.)
I told myself that magic was a factor. “Okay,” I argued with myself, “She’s not in a normal situation. There are forces involved pulling them to each other and therefore making her accept these creepy activities as okay to put up with.” I really wish the author would’ve gone that direction. Instead, the TSTL behavior was blamed on Tess’s “Midwestern nice,” which seems highly insulting to a large group of people. I’m “Southern polite” most of the time, but if I have a stalker I won’t be offering him iced tea or mint julips on my veranda! I’ll discreetly tell the cops, “HELP ME!”
Here’s what’s even more sad. The author didn’t just blame it on that.
1st Midwestern nice.
2nd Pre-Women’s Lib soft.
3rd Catholic guilt.
4th 19th Century woman inside her.
5th Giggly girl inside her.
… and I only read to the middle. My “post-women’s lib attitude” made me wanna hurl.
I frequently dog sit an adorable boxer. He follows me everywhere, so I lovingly refer to him as my stalker. Outside of that type of situation, STALKERS ARE NOT CUTE!!! If you let someone—who you think is certifiable—follow you around… the cops are going to find your body parts in that person’s trunk or freezer.
The premise was so promising, but not laced together well enough for me to read the rest of this book. It’s the epitome of the romance stigma and the very reason people look down their noses and say, “Ohhh. You write romance.”
Full disclosure: We received an ARC from the author, free of charge.
Don't forget to follow Romance Rehab for more rants, raves, and other fun romance-y stuff: http://www.romancerehab.com/
August 19, 2018
Wow! This book starts out with a bang! Tess, who is grieving the loss of her fiance, is plagued with numbing grief. This leads to behave uncharacteristically while at a nightclub on New Year's Eve. This leads down a path toward peril, self-discovery and also new love. Tess's grandmother had warned her about a "beast," but Tess paid no attention. Little did she know she came from a long line of Wiccan practitioners, and witchy magic might be the only thing that could save her and the man who has sworn to protect her from the potential harm he has caused.
Ethan is possessed by a parasitic dragon spirit who forces him to feed off the positive energy aura of its victims, making those unfortunates vulnerable to all kinds of harm when negative energy floods in to take its place. When he meets Tess at a nightclub, things are set in motion that could lead to Ethan's salvation or to his destruction, and neither can deny the emotional and physical attraction to the other.
I really enjoyed this fast-paced, roller-coaster ride of this paranormal romance.
Ethan is possessed by a parasitic dragon spirit who forces him to feed off the positive energy aura of its victims, making those unfortunates vulnerable to all kinds of harm when negative energy floods in to take its place. When he meets Tess at a nightclub, things are set in motion that could lead to Ethan's salvation or to his destruction, and neither can deny the emotional and physical attraction to the other.
I really enjoyed this fast-paced, roller-coaster ride of this paranormal romance.
September 7, 2018
I just found a new favorite paranormal romance author! This book has everything you need from sex appeal to cleverly plotted action. Ethan and Tess are just swoon worthy. Once I picked this book up, I never set it down.
The moment Ethan locked eyes on Tess I got the chills. Ethan is a man in peril, drained of hope by the creature residing in him. After losing her fiance, Tess can't seem to move on. This book is action packed! It begins with a sexy fling between Tess and Ethan in a bar, a fling which changes both their lives forever. Ethan has put Tess in danger and has to fight not only the beast within him, but another who wants her dead. The forbidden romance between these two will have you flipping the pages in anticipation. Smart and sexy, fast-paced, well-executed. Not to mention hot, hot, hot! I highly recommend this!!!
The moment Ethan locked eyes on Tess I got the chills. Ethan is a man in peril, drained of hope by the creature residing in him. After losing her fiance, Tess can't seem to move on. This book is action packed! It begins with a sexy fling between Tess and Ethan in a bar, a fling which changes both their lives forever. Ethan has put Tess in danger and has to fight not only the beast within him, but another who wants her dead. The forbidden romance between these two will have you flipping the pages in anticipation. Smart and sexy, fast-paced, well-executed. Not to mention hot, hot, hot! I highly recommend this!!!
July 26, 2019
I'm always impressed when the author of a book within a genre category comes up with something new and unique. Tamara Hughes does this quite well with the Beast in "Bewitching the Beast". I've read a variety of paranormal romances, but most of them tend to rely on stock paranormal types. The Beast is something entirely new, at least to me. He is an aura/energy-devouring dragon spirit who inhabits the body of a human. So, we have the human man and the beast spirit inside him, both of whom take in interest in our heroine Tess. Tess herself is a regular person....or so she thinks. It turns out that she comes from a line of witches, although she has never known anything about this life. Her involvement with the Beast brings out her latent talent, however, and she realizes that she needs to learn how to use it (and FAST) to save both her own life and that of the man she is having increasingly strong feelings for.
In addition to the new character element, the plot is also excellent. The reader learns about this world works along with Tess, because it's not something we already know about, that already has fairly established "rules". This adds an interesting element to the plot. Everything plot-wise makes sense, and the end rings true based on everything that has come before. It IS a pretty surprising ending, but I won't say more to avoid spoilers.
The romance itself is very believable. Despite the rough start (Tess never intended to see Matt/Beast again after the first night), their circumstances draw them together. The unwanted-close- proximity-leads-to-love storyline has (of course) been done before, but this time it honestly rings true. Both parties fight their feelings (for vastly different reasons), but we see how time and circumstances eventually bring them closer together. This storyline is so much more well done in this book than it typically is.
All in all, I cannot recommend "Bewitching the Beast" highly enough for fans of QUALITY paranormal romance!
In addition to the new character element, the plot is also excellent. The reader learns about this world works along with Tess, because it's not something we already know about, that already has fairly established "rules". This adds an interesting element to the plot. Everything plot-wise makes sense, and the end rings true based on everything that has come before. It IS a pretty surprising ending, but I won't say more to avoid spoilers.
The romance itself is very believable. Despite the rough start (Tess never intended to see Matt/Beast again after the first night), their circumstances draw them together. The unwanted-close- proximity-leads-to-love storyline has (of course) been done before, but this time it honestly rings true. Both parties fight their feelings (for vastly different reasons), but we see how time and circumstances eventually bring them closer together. This storyline is so much more well done in this book than it typically is.
All in all, I cannot recommend "Bewitching the Beast" highly enough for fans of QUALITY paranormal romance!
July 4, 2019
I received this book through a email freebie newsletter, and I sort of accidentally started reading it. I didn't plan to begin reading it because I'm reading something else right now, but the synopsis sounded so good...and next thing I knew, I was 18% of the way in!
I really enjoyed this book, and I was surprised by a twist that I should have seen coming but didn't. I adored Ethan, and Tess was a wonderful, fierce heroine. I wasn't sure how I'd feel about her because she was mourning the loss of her fiance at the beginning, but I thought the author did an excellent job balancing Tess as a character. She wasn't a caricature of a grief-stricken woman. She was fully fleshed out and three-dimensional.
I also really liked the touch of ancient Egyptian mythology. I'm a mythology buff, and I hadn't heard about this story. I need to look to see if the author based her version on a myth, or if she created it -- but mythology, even fictiously related? Count me in! The storyline related to the myth was certainly unique -- in a great way that I had never imagined.
Great book, good pacing, and I thought it was hilarious toward the beginning when Ethan's like, "I'm not crazy." I can't wait to read the next book in the series (which I discovered has only just come out!).
SPOILER:
The only thing that irritated me was the idea of the ancestral, familial line of Wiccans. The religion of Wicca has only been around since the 1950s. Gerald Gardner, considered the father of Wicca, claimed that he was initiated into a coven that extended back in time through the Burning Times, but this claim is considered false by most academics and scholars. It was annoying, but I tried to ignore it and keep reading because the story was excellent otherwise.
I really enjoyed this book, and I was surprised by a twist that I should have seen coming but didn't. I adored Ethan, and Tess was a wonderful, fierce heroine. I wasn't sure how I'd feel about her because she was mourning the loss of her fiance at the beginning, but I thought the author did an excellent job balancing Tess as a character. She wasn't a caricature of a grief-stricken woman. She was fully fleshed out and three-dimensional.
I also really liked the touch of ancient Egyptian mythology. I'm a mythology buff, and I hadn't heard about this story. I need to look to see if the author based her version on a myth, or if she created it -- but mythology, even fictiously related? Count me in! The storyline related to the myth was certainly unique -- in a great way that I had never imagined.
Great book, good pacing, and I thought it was hilarious toward the beginning when Ethan's like, "I'm not crazy." I can't wait to read the next book in the series (which I discovered has only just come out!).
SPOILER:
The only thing that irritated me was the idea of the ancestral, familial line of Wiccans. The religion of Wicca has only been around since the 1950s. Gerald Gardner, considered the father of Wicca, claimed that he was initiated into a coven that extended back in time through the Burning Times, but this claim is considered false by most academics and scholars. It was annoying, but I tried to ignore it and keep reading because the story was excellent otherwise.
November 4, 2018
Uncaged Review: A shifter romance with a lot of twists and turns. I’m not a big fan of shifter romance books as they never seen to hold my attention. This book is very different, Tess meets a leather clad jacket guy called Ethan at a bar on New Year’s Eve so anything goes right? Ethan is extremely good looking and mysterious. A few dark secrets he is reluctant to share with Tess. I really enjoyed this book. I think there’s going to be a follow up to this. Which I’m very excited to read when it’s out. Reviewed by Jennifer
July 2, 2019
Tess is trying to find meaning after the death of her fiancé, she meets Ethan, who is possessed by a beast who is gaining more control over his body and forcing him to steal the energy from humans. Tess’s grandmother has warned her of the beast is there a way for her to save Ethan? Fast-paced read with lots of drama and suspense. The characters are great and the story really draws you into this paranormal read. I was hooked from beginning to end.
October 12, 2019
It was only suppose to be a one night stand in her loneliness to be with someone even though she didn't realize she was chosen. But Tess and Ethan find that they are totally in over their heads and they enlist her mother to help them because Tess is special in a way she has no knowledge of. Her mother intervenes and it is definitely needed when she finds out that Ethan is much more than he seems. I purchased this book and I am providing an honest review.
December 21, 2019
Goodness, Tess has her hands full, she is in revelation overload and the heat and fight are both on. Ethan, or the beast, was a bit scary and his predicament made this read like a thriller. Once the intensity builds up, it is full speed ahead until the end, romance is more like an after thought. Plot is very interesting though as we learn along with the characters how this couple can attempt the seemingly impossible and to bewitch the beast forever.
June 14, 2019
I really enjoyed the book. Ethan and Tess find each other at the right time. They are both in very bad places when they meet but she brings him unexpected comfort. She finds out about a world she never knew existed and they really save each other from their loneliness. It is very well written and keeps your interest from start to finish.
I am voluntarily reviewing a copy I received.
I am voluntarily reviewing a copy I received.
November 30, 2018
Magical! Delightful! Absolutely thrilling!
Read full review in the 2018 Nov issue of InD'tale Magazine.
Read full review in the 2018 Nov issue of InD'tale Magazine.
January 26, 2019
This book grabbed me from the very beginning and held my interest. I really enjoyed the writing style of this author. The characters were likeable from the start and had me rooting for them the whole way through! Great action, great characters, awesome action!
July 18, 2019
A Must Read
This is a must read. Tess and Ethan have a few demons to fight . This book is full of action and passion. Read along with their ups and downs.
This is a must read. Tess and Ethan have a few demons to fight . This book is full of action and passion. Read along with their ups and downs.
Read
June 17, 2020DNF @ 30%
October 1, 2021
So good, a riveting paranormal romance that leaves you wanting more.
January 20, 2022
awesome
November 9, 2019
Fantastic! Not your typical romance novel. Very well written and drew me in from the start. I especially enjoyed the accurate representation of the midwestern persona and found myself laughing out loud thanks to the main character’s wit. This book was provided for an honest review. Highly recommend!
June 19, 2024
I enjoyed this take on dragons. I struggled a bit with the budding romantic relationship, particularly at the beginning, but overall, it was a good read. I’d definitely consider more books by this author for future reading.
Want to Read
March 20, 2024Purch Amz April 23, 2021
November 26, 2018
Throughout the whole story I felt like I should have known something from a previous book / series.... therefore getting into this plot was not an easy feature and until the very end I could not completley relate to the characters which only left me with 3 stars for this plot
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews