What do you think?
Rate this book
Beasts Among Us #1
Beauty is the Beast
Gretchen is a 24-year-old-hairstylist with secrets: She likes to chase squirrels and howl at the moon. She’s also not really 24.
When one of her coworkers turns up dead in the salon, she suspects that the murderer isn’t entirely human. When another stylist is murdered, and then another, she goes on the prowl. A circus with a secret side show catches her attention, as does her former pack, and a group of visiting vampires.
Her only outlet is her music, but that will only keep her wolf on a leash for so long with a killer on the loose.
When one of her coworkers turns up dead in the salon, she suspects that the murderer isn’t entirely human. When another stylist is murdered, and then another, she goes on the prowl. A circus with a secret side show catches her attention, as does her former pack, and a group of visiting vampires.
Her only outlet is her music, but that will only keep her wolf on a leash for so long with a killer on the loose.
409 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 20, 2018
32 people are currently reading
133 people want to read
About the author
Jennifer Zamboni
7 books55 followersJen loves books. Reading them, writing them, reviewing them, and collecting them. (She claims it’s not hoarding) Urban fantasy is the name of her game, and being a mom is her day job. She also is a licensed cosmetologist, though she no longer works in a salon. She lives in the boondocks of Maine with her husband, 2 girls, 2 dogs, 3 cats, and 1 vocally insistent cockatiel.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews
March 12, 2019
Gretchen and her friends are at the center of the first of a series of murders that target hairdressers. With a pack of wolves visiting the area and a freaky circus having just set up outside town, there are a lot of suspects. To be honest, I never had one clue who the villain was.
This is quite an unusual shifter, vampire, paranormal story that has just a touch of romance in it. There is a ton of shifting as the heroine is a werewolf. Her roommates are a vampire and Persephone, the wife of Hades. We even have quite a bit of him here as well.
This book has a lot of character development and not really just the main characters. There are secondary characters all over the place and while some bring a heightened sense of drama, others highlight Gretchen’s daily life. I’m flabbergasted at how detailed and realistic Gretchen’s shifts were, as well as what she experienced after a shift. Kudos for that to the author. That’s not something you can research.
This isn’t a fast paced read and it’s pretty lengthy. While Gretchen’s actual thoughts were not repetitive, some of this story felt repetitive in that we are given details regarding when, where and how this heroine spends her days. However, if you set all of that aside, you really do end up with a very well written story that appears to be setting these characters up for a paranormal war.
Read via Kindle Unlimited
Heroine POV
Safe – not really what I would consider a romance
Triggers
This is quite an unusual shifter, vampire, paranormal story that has just a touch of romance in it. There is a ton of shifting as the heroine is a werewolf. Her roommates are a vampire and Persephone, the wife of Hades. We even have quite a bit of him here as well.
This book has a lot of character development and not really just the main characters. There are secondary characters all over the place and while some bring a heightened sense of drama, others highlight Gretchen’s daily life. I’m flabbergasted at how detailed and realistic Gretchen’s shifts were, as well as what she experienced after a shift. Kudos for that to the author. That’s not something you can research.
This isn’t a fast paced read and it’s pretty lengthy. While Gretchen’s actual thoughts were not repetitive, some of this story felt repetitive in that we are given details regarding when, where and how this heroine spends her days. However, if you set all of that aside, you really do end up with a very well written story that appears to be setting these characters up for a paranormal war.
Read via Kindle Unlimited
Heroine POV
Safe – not really what I would consider a romance
Triggers
January 14, 2019
"I hoped to enjoy this one, but to no avail. I kept reading hoping it would get better but there was no change. I enjoyed the world building but the story felt all over the place and as a result I never had a connection."
Beauty is the Beast did not deliver as I expected. There were interesting moments, but then there were times when I felt like giving upon this one. However, I persevered to the end and made a few interesting discoveries.
Based on the title, one may perceive that the story is a fairy tale retelling. This however was not the case. Beauty is the Beast tells the story of three friends who are cosmetologists and are the owners of a beauty salon and spa. The thing that separates these three ladies from their counterparts was their other worldliness. Yes, they were non-humans. There is Gretchen a werewolf, Lacey Marie a vampire and Persephone the Greek goddess.
What I Liked.
World Building: I found the world the author created intriguing and definitely worth the visit. The concept that Hades, the god of the dead and husband of Persephone kept the supernatural world in line was intriguing and unique. In addition, there was the alpha changers for each of the species. They changed select humans into vampires or werewolves. Known as Faes and are considered the strongest beings in the supernatural world, with Hades and Persephone being the head.
The Characters.
I found the characters unique and intriguing, both the humans and non-humans. I enjoyed spending time with them and getting to know them, but none could top Gretchen, a 150-year-old dominant werewolf, but is not a member of a pack. Determination, strength, loyalty and a desire for justice were traits she embodied.
The secondary characters brought their own blend of originality to the story.
The Ending
Strangely enough, after the bombshell discovery at the end. I am curious to know, how Gretchen will handle the aftermath of the betrayal. I do have questions and I am curious to know the answers.
What I did not Like.
The Story
The story lacked fluidity. It was all over the place and filled with unnecessary details, which made it difficult for me to get into the story. I put the book aside several times as a result.
The mystery element took a back seat throughout the story. What I found strange in regards to this aspect of the story was the depth of the investigation, which took place to figure out the killer’s identity. In fact, there was only one attempt on Gretchen’s part to determine the identity. Then for the rest of the story the focus was on her development. Then BAM! at the end the killer’s identity came to light without any warning. It came out of the blue as there was no build up to this moment. The story focused on the development of the characters rather than the murders, which should have been of grave concern seeing that the victims were all hairdressers.
I received lessons in the proper cleaning of equipment used in the hairdressing. I also learnt of the different types of haircuts. I get that the setting is in a beauty salon, but I thought all of this information was unnecessary. This contributed to the lengthiness and slow pacing of the story.
I am still trying to figure out the role of the circus in the story.
Conclusion/Recommendation
This has the potential to be a good story. I loved the concept but it needed better execution.
Beauty is the Beast did not deliver as I expected. There were interesting moments, but then there were times when I felt like giving upon this one. However, I persevered to the end and made a few interesting discoveries.
Based on the title, one may perceive that the story is a fairy tale retelling. This however was not the case. Beauty is the Beast tells the story of three friends who are cosmetologists and are the owners of a beauty salon and spa. The thing that separates these three ladies from their counterparts was their other worldliness. Yes, they were non-humans. There is Gretchen a werewolf, Lacey Marie a vampire and Persephone the Greek goddess.
What I Liked.
World Building: I found the world the author created intriguing and definitely worth the visit. The concept that Hades, the god of the dead and husband of Persephone kept the supernatural world in line was intriguing and unique. In addition, there was the alpha changers for each of the species. They changed select humans into vampires or werewolves. Known as Faes and are considered the strongest beings in the supernatural world, with Hades and Persephone being the head.
The Characters.
I found the characters unique and intriguing, both the humans and non-humans. I enjoyed spending time with them and getting to know them, but none could top Gretchen, a 150-year-old dominant werewolf, but is not a member of a pack. Determination, strength, loyalty and a desire for justice were traits she embodied.
The secondary characters brought their own blend of originality to the story.
The Ending
Strangely enough, after the bombshell discovery at the end. I am curious to know, how Gretchen will handle the aftermath of the betrayal. I do have questions and I am curious to know the answers.
What I did not Like.
The Story
The story lacked fluidity. It was all over the place and filled with unnecessary details, which made it difficult for me to get into the story. I put the book aside several times as a result.
The mystery element took a back seat throughout the story. What I found strange in regards to this aspect of the story was the depth of the investigation, which took place to figure out the killer’s identity. In fact, there was only one attempt on Gretchen’s part to determine the identity. Then for the rest of the story the focus was on her development. Then BAM! at the end the killer’s identity came to light without any warning. It came out of the blue as there was no build up to this moment. The story focused on the development of the characters rather than the murders, which should have been of grave concern seeing that the victims were all hairdressers.
I received lessons in the proper cleaning of equipment used in the hairdressing. I also learnt of the different types of haircuts. I get that the setting is in a beauty salon, but I thought all of this information was unnecessary. This contributed to the lengthiness and slow pacing of the story.
I am still trying to figure out the role of the circus in the story.
Conclusion/Recommendation
This has the potential to be a good story. I loved the concept but it needed better execution.
Want to read
January 26, 2020🎁 FREE on Amazon today (1/26/2020)! 🎁
March 24, 2019
I love paranormal reads and this one had good characters. There was the Fae, Werewolf, and Vampires. Someone is killing off hairdressers and Gretchen, Percy and Lacey-Marie are worried. The story does keep you guessing on who the murder is.
Good points
- Interesting characters
- Twist of who the murderer is
- Interesting secondary characters
- Loved the characters in the circus
What I did not like
- The story did drag. There was many points that did not add to the story.
- Would have liked to know more about the main characters backstory
- Would have liked more about the murders, the suspense for this took a backseat
Good points
- Interesting characters
- Twist of who the murderer is
- Interesting secondary characters
- Loved the characters in the circus
What I did not like
- The story did drag. There was many points that did not add to the story.
- Would have liked to know more about the main characters backstory
- Would have liked more about the murders, the suspense for this took a backseat
February 12, 2019
This did not end how I expected it too. I'm looking forward to book two. :) :)
January 15, 2019
An amazing book! I can not wait for the sequel I hope it is soon! Very well written and very well laid out! A fun and quick read for anyone who likes vampires and werewolves! Plus well, it's a murder mystery and most of those you can guess the kill, I definitely did not guess this one!
Looking forward to books 2 and 3!
Looking forward to books 2 and 3!
October 18, 2018
In my humble, completely biased opinion, this book is amazing! I can't wait for people to download it onto their Kindles on October 24th!
Werewolves, and vampires, and fae, oh my! Hairdressers and a serial killer. Badass women and music. Not convinced yet? Why not?
Dive in and explore what if!
Werewolves, and vampires, and fae, oh my! Hairdressers and a serial killer. Badass women and music. Not convinced yet? Why not?
Dive in and explore what if!
January 30, 2019
Three ladies live in a house that has a salon in it and their hairdressers. They are Gretchen who is a werewolf, Percy who is a goddess, and Lacey-Marie who is a vampire the house is owned by Percy the salon is owned by all three of them. Penny a girl who works for them is found dead by Gretchen in the salon with blood all over the place. They ship the salon for a day and open up the next day. Within a week another hairdresser is killed, then another one is killed, and another one is killed. Then Hades Percy's husband comes to visit, he is the Greek God of the dead. Gretchen is not sure that she likes him. Then the circus comes to town and they attended and attend the dinner at the circus where they discover four freaks three of the freaks are real but the fourth one is called a werewolf but he's not a werewolf he simply has a lot of hair. To discover the rest of the book and what happens and who happens to and why it happens you have to read the book. It's a paranormal story, ministry, and a little romance it's a good book though I don't really care for paranormal stories.
January 31, 2019
Beauty is the Beast by Jennifer Zamboni is a wonderful story to read. This is the first time to ever read anything from this author and I just fell in love with this story and author. Jennifer Zamboni is now one of my favorite authors and I highly recommend this story to everyone who loves reading about wolf shifters.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 25, 2024
So good!
That's where it ended???!! Well, now I HAVE to read the next 2.5 books!! Don't you hate it when authors have you craving more of their books?! I sure don't! I love it. I can't wait to see if the slasher gets what they deserve, if the new couple will spice things up, and what will happen to all the fae.
That's where it ended???!! Well, now I HAVE to read the next 2.5 books!! Don't you hate it when authors have you craving more of their books?! I sure don't! I love it. I can't wait to see if the slasher gets what they deserve, if the new couple will spice things up, and what will happen to all the fae.
October 28, 2018
A great paranormal mystery!
A wonderful paranormal book full of werewolves, vampires, Gods and more!
Life is going pretty good for our main three characters working at a salon in Maine, while keeping what they truly area secret from the local populace. Thar is until a serial killer starts attacking hairdressers in their area, and turns things upside down.
Each character was uniquely written with their own personalities that vibed well with each other. I liked the fact that our paranormal friends were not overly glamorized, but living everyday lives despite their obstacles, making them more relatable.
The storyline well written with a look at all parts of the main character's life (work, band, pack business), while also adding in conflicts and twists in between.
Overall a highly enjoyable read that captivated my attention from the beginning and kept me turning page after page!
A wonderful paranormal book full of werewolves, vampires, Gods and more!
Life is going pretty good for our main three characters working at a salon in Maine, while keeping what they truly area secret from the local populace. Thar is until a serial killer starts attacking hairdressers in their area, and turns things upside down.
Each character was uniquely written with their own personalities that vibed well with each other. I liked the fact that our paranormal friends were not overly glamorized, but living everyday lives despite their obstacles, making them more relatable.
The storyline well written with a look at all parts of the main character's life (work, band, pack business), while also adding in conflicts and twists in between.
Overall a highly enjoyable read that captivated my attention from the beginning and kept me turning page after page!
October 30, 2019
I really enjoyed this book. I loved the relationships between the characters and the love story. The mixture of vampires, faes, and werewolves kept me intrigued. I definitely plan on reading the second book. I have to see what happens!
October 29, 2018
Wow
That ending was cruel!! Like how could it end just like that!! Like does Gretchen get her HEA with Doug! What happens to her now ex bff! So much I need answers to great book btw
That ending was cruel!! Like how could it end just like that!! Like does Gretchen get her HEA with Doug! What happens to her now ex bff! So much I need answers to great book btw
January 31, 2019
Gretchen is a hair stylist and supposedly 24yrs old. Is that really the truth? There’s suspense and murder by something that isn’t human. Awesome.
February 17, 2019
I really enjoyed the universe building in this book. The author lays out a wide foundation for future stories! I really liked the main character, and I was hoping for a bit more depth into her story.
June 25, 2019
I love the story. Great story line. I can't wait to read more from this author
March 20, 2019
Very interesting and entertaining book about werewolf hairdressers, vampires, the circus and a serial killer. Throw in there some mystery and suspense and what more could you ask for from a paranormal book? This was a fast paced read and will keep you invested from the very first page. Great debut novel! Can't wait to see what happens next.
March 18, 2019
This was a fun and fast paranormal story. Gretchen works at a salonas as hair dresser. She also works with Lacey Marie and Percy. What people don't know is Gretchen is a werewolf, Lacey Marie is a vampire and Perxy is fae who is married to a god. Things are going great till one of there friends is murdered then more murders are happening. Gretchens old pack cames looking for her and want her back. The characters are great and you get sucked in. Cant wait for book 2
March 14, 2019
Gretchen, Lacey Marie and Percy are all hairdressers and own a salon together. The thing that makes them different is that none of them are human. Gretchen is a werewolf, Lacey Marie is a vampire and Percy is the fae wife of Hades. Hairdressers are turning up dead, a circus with a secret freak show comes to town, the pack suddenly wants Gretchen and Lacey Marie's "father" all turn up within a short time.
I wasn't sure what to expect from this book. I didn't do any reading about it before jumping in. What an interesting paranormal twist. Loved that the werewolf and vampire have become best friend and are also friends with Percy. We had mystery, paranormal romance and some laughs. If you want a light, fun read this is for you.
I wasn't sure what to expect from this book. I didn't do any reading about it before jumping in. What an interesting paranormal twist. Loved that the werewolf and vampire have become best friend and are also friends with Percy. We had mystery, paranormal romance and some laughs. If you want a light, fun read this is for you.
January 14, 2019
WOW
This story was spellbinding, I found it hard to put down.
The author chose an interesting collection of supernaturals and they worked really well together.
Usually I am not a big fan of urban fantasy but I found it hard to put this book down right from the beginning.
Awesome story.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This story was spellbinding, I found it hard to put down.
The author chose an interesting collection of supernaturals and they worked really well together.
Usually I am not a big fan of urban fantasy but I found it hard to put this book down right from the beginning.
Awesome story.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 16, 2019
Gretchen is the heroine of this story and she is a hairdresser who is also a werewolf. She along with her friends run a salon. When one of her friends is killed she goes on the hunt for who or what killed her. She keeps her wolf in check with her music and is in a band. She has a lot going on and she has an added problem with her old pack back and wanting her to come home to them.
Great job keeping attention on the storyline and can't wait for book 2 .
Great job keeping attention on the storyline and can't wait for book 2 .
March 13, 2019
A 3.5
A vampire, a Greek Goddess and a werewolf run a beauty salon. No it's not the start of joke but the start of a quirky interesting book. There is drama, murders, a circus oh and a visit from Hades. Without giving too much away I will say it's an enjoyable read and interesting concept. If you are looking for something a bit different then this could be the book for you.
A vampire, a Greek Goddess and a werewolf run a beauty salon. No it's not the start of joke but the start of a quirky interesting book. There is drama, murders, a circus oh and a visit from Hades. Without giving too much away I will say it's an enjoyable read and interesting concept. If you are looking for something a bit different then this could be the book for you.
March 11, 2019
Great read. This book is not my usual cup of tea however I must admit it was a fantastic book and I am looking forward to book 2. I was amazed that these three paranormal creatures could live together, work together and be great friends all at the same time. Definitely recommended.
March 10, 2019
Interesting mixture of the supernatural and a murder mystery. Can't wait to see what happens next.
January 17, 2019
This is an amazing story. A wolf, a vampire and a goddess are hairstylists and own a salon. It all works well until someone starts killing beauticians. This is one of the most imaginative and quirky stories I have read in a long time It is engaging and exciting, and I couldn’t put it down. Hades is fabulous, too. This book is definitely a keeper.
March 6, 2019
Beauty is the Beast is a fast paced read, full of drama and action that will leave you wanting more. I so can not wait for book 2. I received a free copy of this book.
March 2, 2019
Book two can't come quick enough for me. Who can pass up a book that has hairdressing werewolves and vampires. A heart racing murder mystery that has you on the edge of your seat and an ending that you weren't expecting with the anticipation of the next book. Well this book definitely had all that and more. Well done!
December 18, 2018
Gretchen is not only a hairdresser but is also in a band where she plays the violin. Her bandmates don’t know all her secrets though because every full moon Gretch locks herself into a cage while she embraces her beast—a werewolf. Along with Gretchen we meet her salon coworkers, a vampire and a mythical goddess. They live and work inside a mansion in a sparsely populated area of Maine. It seems a very routine sort of existence until hairdressers throughout the area are murdered. Not much is being told about the victims which also raises red flags. With the circus in town filled with freaks, and Gretchen’s pack from Texas showing up there seems to be many suspects among the paranormal community.
This is a fast-paced mystery that I found to be well-written. With a world filled with vamps, werewolves, and a variety of fae creatures, there was plenty of action and even a bit of romance.
This is a fast-paced mystery that I found to be well-written. With a world filled with vamps, werewolves, and a variety of fae creatures, there was plenty of action and even a bit of romance.
April 28, 2019
WOW! WHAT DID I JUST FINISHED READING?! Werewolves, Goddess/Fae and Vampires...What a Combo!! BEAUTY IS THE BEAST by Jennifer Zamboni had me Intrigued from the Very Beginning of the Book and never a Dull moment page after page!!
Once I started reading, I devoured this book in ONE Sitting since there is So much Adventure and Different Unique TWISTS and TURNS INTO the UNKNOWN!! It was such Suspenseful thriller of Epic proportions and just when you Think you figured it Out....BOOM!! NOPE!! TOTALLY SPEECHLESS with its Dark and Entertaining secrets but gonna Warn you that Have your Jaw Dropping several times!
DEFINITELY A MUST READ BOOK AND definitely looking forward to read more of Jennifer Zamboni!! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Once I started reading, I devoured this book in ONE Sitting since there is So much Adventure and Different Unique TWISTS and TURNS INTO the UNKNOWN!! It was such Suspenseful thriller of Epic proportions and just when you Think you figured it Out....BOOM!! NOPE!! TOTALLY SPEECHLESS with its Dark and Entertaining secrets but gonna Warn you that Have your Jaw Dropping several times!
DEFINITELY A MUST READ BOOK AND definitely looking forward to read more of Jennifer Zamboni!! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
March 10, 2019
I really wanted to like this book, Wolfy stories I love but this book for me, didn’t deliver...
I struggled through the pages and often had to skip pages to wade through.
It starts out with us getting to know Gretchen, who’s 24 *coughcough* and is a werewolf, sharing her life with 3 friends, all in the same business, and all who have been together for many years. This is pretty much all I read, it’s all about Gretchens character development, throwing in different characters, and a circus, and then with the killer unveiled right at the end, with what I felt was no lead up...
I’m sorry, but for me, this book was not my cup of tea... lavender or otherwise lol
I struggled through the pages and often had to skip pages to wade through.
It starts out with us getting to know Gretchen, who’s 24 *coughcough* and is a werewolf, sharing her life with 3 friends, all in the same business, and all who have been together for many years. This is pretty much all I read, it’s all about Gretchens character development, throwing in different characters, and a circus, and then with the killer unveiled right at the end, with what I felt was no lead up...
I’m sorry, but for me, this book was not my cup of tea... lavender or otherwise lol
Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews